US07852159B2
An adaptive biasing technique improves fully differential gain boosted operational amplifiers transient characteristics and reduces power consumption. An adaptive biasing module includes a bias generation module and a bias replication module. The bias generation module generates a first control signal (VCMNB) and the first control signal is applied as an output common mode of a differential booster (inside the bias replication module). The bias replication module is coupled to the bias generation module for equalizing a common mode of the differential booster with the first control signal (VCMNB).
US07852153B1
A post-distortion method for cascading amplifier stages in a two-stage microwave power amplifier and a dynamic biasing method using back-end processing for correcting nonlinearity in the power amplifier output. A first or driver stage biased in a near-A region with low distortion is cascaded with a second or power stage biased in a near-C region with high efficiency. The amplitude and phase responses of the two stages compensate another to yield a more linear overall gain for the overall power amplifier. The dynamic biasing scheme modulates the source to drain voltages of the transistors used in the amplifier stages based on the harmonics in amplifier output in order to minimize the harmonics and correct non-linearity in the output.
US07852148B2
In one embodiment, a sensing circuit includes a sense transistor and a compensation circuit to improve the accuracy of a sensing signal formed by the sensing circuit.
US07852143B2
A system that includes: multiple transistors that comprise a first transistor that is maintained in a weak inversion state; wherein sources of the multiple transistors are coupled to a low current source; wherein drains of the multiple transistors are coupled to a voltage supply source; a first amplifier that has a positive input, negative input and an output; wherein the positive input receives an input voltage; wherein the negative input is coupled to a source of the first transistor; wherein the output is coupled to a gate of the first transistor and to a multiplication and subtracting circuit; a multiplication and subtraction circuit that is coupled to the first amplifier and outputs an output signal that equals a difference between the input voltage and a product of a current reduction variable and a voltage reduction signal; wherein the voltage reduction signal is associated with a current reduction factor; wherein the output signal is provided to a second transistor that is maintained in weak inversion; and wherein the second transistor outputs, in response to a reception of the output signal, a current that is responsive to the pixel output signal, is proportional to the low current and is inversely proportional to the current reduction variable and the current reduction factor.
US07852137B2
A device capable of bidirectional on-off switching control of an electric circuit. Included is a normally-on HEMT connected between a pair of terminals of the device. A normally-off MOSFET of relatively low antivoltage strength is connected between the HEMT and one of the pair of terminals, and another similar MOSFET between the HEMT and the other of the terminal pair. A diode is connected in inverse parallel with each MOSFET, and two other diodes are connected between the gate of the HEMT and the pair of terminals respectively. The switching device as a whole is normally off.
US07852131B2
A receiver circuit capable of controlling setup/hold time includes a first phase transmission unit configured to generate a first output signal by detecting input data according to plural detection levels while being synchronized with a first clock signal, and controlling setup/hold time of the first output signal based on a level of a first offset voltage, a level converter configured to control a voltage level of the first output signal according to a first code, and a second phase transmission unit configured to receive an output signal of the level converter for as a second offset voltage while being synchronized with a second clock signal, to generate a second output signal by detecting the input data according to the detection levels, and to control setup/hold time of the second output signal.
US07852124B2
A correlated double sampling circuit and method for providing the same are disclosed. The circuit may include an amplifier, a plurality of capacitors, and a switch matrix. The amplifier provides a reset voltage replica and a signal voltage replica. The switch matrix controls a plurality of switches to perform correlated double sampling over at least three phases. The first phase for sampling the reset voltage replica on a first and second capacitors. The second phase for sampling the reset voltage replica and the kTC noise on a third capacitor. The first phase producing a thermal kTC noise from the first and second capacitors. The third phase for subtracting a charge representing the signal voltage replica, the kTC noise and the reset voltage replica, combined, from the charge sampled in the second phase to provide an output voltage. The method for providing low noise correlated double sampling includes controlling the plurality of switches to provide the at least three phases.
US07852123B1
A comparator circuit includes a bias stage, a first current source, a second current source, and a comparator stage. The bias stage includes a first input, a second input, an output that generates a bias voltage, and a first load, wherein differential reference voltages are applied to the first and second inputs. The first current source generates a bias current based on the bias voltage and inputs the bias current to the bias stage. The second current source generates the bias current based on the bias voltage. The comparator stage communicates with the second current source and includes a first input, a second input, and a second load, wherein differential input voltages are applied to the first and second inputs of the comparator stage. The comparator circuit compares the differential input voltages to the differential reference voltages based on the bias current, the first load, and the second load.
US07852122B2
A transmission circuit, which transmits a differential signal having pulse time larger than a predetermined minimum pulse time, includes: a driving unit for feeding the differential signal as a potential difference between two transmission lines; a driven unit for operating on the basis of the differential signal by receiving the differential signal by the potential difference between the two transmission lines; and a connecting resistor for electrically connecting the two transmission lines. Further, a connecting MOS transistor may be provided near a receiving end of the driven unit.
US07852118B2
A conditional level shifter circuit is used to substantially eliminate sneak current from occurring in an integrated circuit device having two or more logic circuit modules in different voltage domains. Sneak current is caused when a signal between the two or more logic circuit modules in different voltage domains is at logic “0” and one of the logic circuit modules is biased at a voltage level above the true ground, VSS, of the integrated circuit device. The conditional ground restoration circuit shifts the virtual ground logic “0” to the true ground level. This eliminates sneak current and logic level corruption.
US07852102B2
The magnitude of an amplitude waveform of an electromagnetic wave generated when irradiating a pulse laser beam to a structure A including diffusion regions provided in the structure of a semiconductor device to be inspected is compared with the magnitude of an amplitude waveform of an electromagnetic wave radiated when irradiating the pulse laser beam to a structure A of a reference device measured in advance, and the detection sensitivity of the electromagnetic wave is corrected (S14). Thereafter, measurement errors caused by variations in the detection sensitivity of electromagnetic waves of an inspecting apparatus are eliminated by inspecting the semiconductor device as an inspection target, so that the quality of the semiconductor device is precisely determined (S16).
US07852096B2
A circuit board tester that uses an axial translation to bring a unit under test (UUT) into physical and electric contact with a series of electrical probes. The element on the tester that comes into contact with the UUT, on the side opposite the probes, is both spring-loaded and removable. For a first configuration in which a UUT has a heat sink, an internal heat sink snaps into the top of the tester. When the UUT is tested, the heat sink on the UUT contacts the internal heat sink and depresses it slightly into the top, under the influence of a spring-loaded support. For a second configuration in which the UUT has no heat sink, a block snaps into the top of the tester, and is spring-loaded through a series of receptacles to a module that contacts the UUT during operation.
US07852091B2
Apparatus and method are described for measuring the location and speed of an object, such as instrumentation on a movable platform, disposed within a pipe, using continuous-wave, amplitude-modulated microwave radiation.
US07852090B2
Various systems, methods and apparatus are described for detecting an excessive or faulty ground current in a conductive wire or electronic device. A ground current detector is coupled to a known earth ground to determine whether other ground lines are carrying excessive, faulty and/or leaking currents. If these types of unsafe conditions are detected, then a user can take appropriate action to locate and correct these problems.
US07852086B2
In an arrangement to correct eddy currents in a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus, the gradient coil having a primary gradient sub-coil and a secondary gradient sub-coil connected in series with the primary gradient sub-coil, the secondary gradient sub-coil is coupled with the primary gradient sub-coil such that the same magnitude gradient current flows through both (but in different directions) in order to compensate for magnetic field distortions of the primary gradient sub-coil. The primary gradient sub-coil has a first impedance while the secondary gradient sub-coil has a second impedance. A tuning impedance is connected in parallel with at least one of the two impedances.
US07852082B2
A remote control system for a modulatable device is provided. The remote control system comprises a receiver system coupled to the modulatable device and configured to obtain an output characteristic of the modulatable device, the receiver system being located remotely with respect to the modulatable device. The system further comprises a command signal setting system coupled to the receiver system and configured to use the output characteristic to generate a drive command signal and a bias system coupled to the command signal setting system and configured to receive the drive command signal and set a bias point of the modulatable device based on the drive command signal. The bias system is located locally with respect to the modulatable device. The command signal setting system and the bias system are coupled via a first optical conduit.
US07852074B2
A method and apparatus useful to determine characteristics of fluid flow, such as fluid holdup and flow velocity. The apparatus comprises a flow tube, a permanent magnet, a first set of coils, and a second set of coils. The first set of coils creates a radio frequency magnetic field within the flow tube with a series of refocusing pulses. The second set of coils encodes velocity information onto the fluid molecules using rotating frame zeugmatography that is later decoded and used to estimate the fluid flow velocity.
US07852073B2
Sensor assemblies and methods are described that facilitate the use of a long-range torsional guided-wave inspection system for inspecting pipes, tubes, or other longitudinal cylindrical structures, with a partial excitation and detection around the pipe circumference. The sensor assemblies comprise a plate-type magnetostrictive sensor probe positioned beneath a compressible/expandable bladder and an inverted U-shaped frame that retain and position the sensor probe against the external wall of the pipe under inspection. Preferably, a magnetostrictive strip is positioned in direct contact with the pipe wall over which the plate magnetostrictive sensor probe is positioned. The probe is preferably curved to match the curvature of the external surface of the pipe. A pad may be positioned between the probe and the magnetostrictive strip to improve compliance with irregular pipe surfaces. The frame (and therefore the sensor assembly) is held in place by a belt that encircles the pipe and may be tensioned in order to pull the frame against the pipe, and through the compressive force associated with the bladder, direct the magnetostrictive sensor probe against the surface of the pipe or against the magnetostrictive strip positioned on the surface of the pipe. Methods are described for placement of the magnetostrictive strip and the positioning of the magnetostrictive sensor probe.
US07852070B2
A highly accurate displacement sensor using GMR elements for detecting displacement of a physical quantity such as angle provides a diminished waveform distortion of output voltage. At least two Wheatstone bridge circuits having a predetermined angular offset are installed, with each bridge circuit including a plurality of GMR elements. Each of the GMR elements has a fixed magnetic layer set to a predetermined magnetization direction. An AC power supply is used, and displacement of a physical quantity, such as a rotational angle, is detected on the basis of AC-modulated outputs from the bridge circuits.
US07852060B2
In one embodiment, a power supply controller is configured to operate a plurality of switches in a buck-boost mode to control an output voltage wherein at least one switch of the plurality of switches is enabled for a substantially fixed portion of a cycle of the buck-boost mode.
US07852055B2
A switching regulator includes a switching transistor to switch in accordance with an input control signal, an inductor charged with an input voltage in response to a switching operation by the switching transistor, a switch signal generator to detect an inductor current flowing through the inductor from a voltage at a connection point between the switching transistor and the inductor and output a predetermined switch signal after a time in accordance with the input voltage when detecting the inductor current is zero, and a controller to perform a PWM control or a PFM control on the switching transistor in accordance with the switch signal output from the switch signal generator to keep an output voltage output from the output terminal at a predetermined constant voltage. The controller performs the PFM control when the predetermined switch signal is continuously input thereto from the switch signal generator one or more times.
US07852053B2
A power supply system delivers current to a load at a corresponding load voltage. The power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. Each power conversion phase comprises a phase switch and a phase inductor. In one embodiment, activation of a corresponding phase switch (e.g., a field effect transistor such as a MOSFET) electrically couples a voltage input (e.g., Vin) to an inductor electrically coupled to deliver current to a load. A controller (e.g., a processor device) associated with the power supply system is configured to monitor the load and/or a change in the current delivered to the load. Based on the monitoring, the controller modifies a relative timing of an initiation and duration of on-times of the phase switches in order to alter a rate-of-change of the current delivered by the power supply system.
US07852050B2
A device for control of power flow in a three-phase ac transmission line. The device includes a series transformer unit, a shunt transformer unit, and a reactance unit.
US07852045B2
According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.
US07852044B2
In the field of portable electronic devices in the future, portable electronic devices will be desired, which are smaller and more lightweight and can be used for a long time period by one-time charging, as apparent from provision of one-segment partial reception service “1-seg” of terrestrial digital broadcasting that covers the mobile objects such as a cellular phone. Therefore, the need for a power storage device is increased, which is small and lightweight and capable of being charged without receiving power from commercial power. The power storage device includes an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave, a capacitor for storing power, and a circuit for controlling store and supply of the power. When the antenna, the capacitor, and the control circuit are integrally formed and thinned, a structural body formed of ceramics or the like is partially used. A circuit for storing power of an electromagnetic wave received at the antenna in a capacitor and a control circuit for arbitrarily discharging the stored power are provided, whereby lifetime of the power storage device can be extended.
US07852037B2
This application describes a motor designed to operate as a reluctance machine at low speeds and as an induction machine at high speeds. The drive waveform is composed of one or more harmonics to be used to match the reluctance pattern of the stator-rotor, causing the rotor to rotate due to the reluctance effect, and one or more other harmonics to induce current in the rotor, causing the rotor to rotate due to the induction effect and the subsequent interaction of the stator and rotor magnetic fields. The two effects are generally not applied simultaneously.
US07852036B2
When the magnitude of a traverse signal exceeds a predetermined level, the value of a microstep drive signal is changed by one microstep angle so that the rotation angle of the stepping motor changes in a rotation direction in which the magnitude of the traverse signal decreases. A determination is made as to whether or not the magnitude of the traverse signal becomes a predetermined level or less. When the magnitude of the traverse signal does not become the predetermined level or less, the magnitude of the microstep drive signal is returned to the pre-change value and the value of the microstep drive signal is incremented by an additional microstep angle so that the rotation angle of the stepping motor changes in a rotation direction in which the magnitude of the traverse signal decreases.
US07852031B2
A machine tool capable of automatically correcting an orientation of a workpiece or machining attachment based on detection results from position detectors that the machine tool inherently has. The machine tool comprises: position detectors; position deviation determining means; contact detection means that detects a contact between a probe and a surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment based on a position deviation; movable axis stopping means; coordinate value detection means; inclination determining means; and correction means. The inclination determining means moves linear axes to perform detection of contacts between the probe and the surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment at least two different points, and determines an inclination of the workpiece or the machining attachment using the obtained coordinate values. The correction means corrects a mounting error of the workpiece or the machining attachment, or corrects the machining program based on the determined inclination.
US07852024B2
A vehicle mirror device includes a drive unit to turn a mirror unit with respect to a base unit. The drive unit includes a motor and a control circuit. The motor is driven with a battery voltage. A current supply to the motor is cut OFF when a motor current flowing in the motor exceeds a threshold, and the control circuit changes the threshold depending on the battery voltage.
US07852023B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering controller in which a redundant system equal to that with a relay is configured, without incurring the upsizing or deterioration in reliability, of the controller. An electric power steering controller involving the present invention is provided with a motor for providing a steering system with output torque; a motor driving circuit for driving the motor; a microcontroller for calculating a current to be applied to the motor; a gate driver for driving a plurality of switching devices constituting a bridge circuit, based on the result of the calculation by the microcontroller; and a switching portion for cutting off the power supply to the gate driver.
US07852015B1
A solid state light module incorporating light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a metal substrate, a solid state lighting system employing such modules, and method of replacing LEDs of the light modules are provided. The metal substrate may allow for lower LED junction temperature and, hence, a longer device lifetime. In addition, the metal substrate may allow for the potential omission of a heat sink, which may reduce light module size, when compared to conventional solid state light emitters.
US07851999B2
A light emitting device includes an insulating board, a metal member, a light emitting element, a conductive member, and a transparent member. The insulating board defines a through hole. The metal member is inserted into the through hole. The light emitting element is mounted on the top surface of the metal member. The conductive member is formed on the insulating board and is electrically connected to the light emitting element. The transparent member covers the light emitting element and the top surface of the insulating board. The metal member has a substantially stepped rectangle in a cross-sectional view. The top surface of the substantially stepped rectangle of the metal member projects higher than the top surface of the insulating board. The insulating board is mated with the metal member.
US07851991B2
There is provided an organic electroluminescence device includes: a pair of electrodes formed of an anode and a cathode; and an organic compound layer provided between the pair of electrodes, in which the organic electroluminescence device contains a cesium suboxide in which an element ratio A/B calculated from an area ratio of a peak A at a binding energy of 726.0 eV±0.5 eV corresponding to a Cs3d5 orbital measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to a peak B at binding energy of 531.0 eV±0.5 eV corresponding to an O1s orbital measured by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is in a range of 3.1 to 7.3. The organic electroluminescence device has excellent light emitting property that is not largely impaired even after the device is driven for a long time period.
US07851988B2
Phosphor from the class of the oxynitridosilicates, having a cation M which is doped with divalent europium and having the empirical formula M(1-c)Si2O2N2:Dc, where M=Sr or M=Sr(1-x-y)BaYCax with x+y<0.5 is used, the oxynitridosilicate completely or predominantly comprising the high-temperature-stable modification HT.
US07851986B2
The display device module according to the present invention comprises a pixel circuit section including at least one light emitting area, each light emitting area being formed on an overlying area of a first electrode and a second electrode on a substrate; at least one first line connected to a first end portion of the first electrode; at least one first auxiliary line to a second end portion of the first electrode; at least one second auxiliary line having a connecting bar formed at one end thereof; at least one second line connected to the second electrode; and at least one dummy line having a connecting bar formed at one end thereof, the dummy line being disposed not to contact with the pixel circuit section. The display device module of the present invention further comprises a device-driving unit mounted on a mounting area adjacent to the pixel circuit section, and connected electrically to the first and second lines, or a connecting means mounted on a mounting area adjacent to the pixel circuit section and connecting an exterior device-driving unit and the pixel circuit section. The above connecting means is a film on which a device-driving unit is mounted, wherein the film is connected to the pixel circuit section via the first and second lines.
US07851979B2
A piezoceramic multilayer actuator has at least one outer electrode which can expand and provides at least two current paths between a supply potential connecting area of the outer electrode and a respective inner electrode, with which the outer electrode makes contact, of a piezo-stack of the multilayer actuator.
US07851976B2
A micro movable device includes a base substrate, a fixed portion bonded to the base substrate, a movable portion having a fixed end connected to the fixed portion and extending along the base substrate, and a piezoelectric drive provided on the movable portion and the fixed portion on a side opposite to the base substrate. The piezoelectric drive has a laminate structure provided by a first electrode film contacting the movable portion and the fixed portion, a second electrode film and a piezoelectric film between the first and the second electrode films. At least one of the movable portion and the fixed portion is provided with a groove extending along the piezoelectric drive.
US07851959B2
A magnetic gap is provided between a permanent magnet of a rotor and an auxiliary magnet pole portion which is arranged adjacent to the permanent magnet in a peripheral direction. A gradual change in a magnetic flux density distribution of a surface of the rotor is obtained and a cogging torque and a torque pulsation are restrained. By obtaining a reluctance torque according to the auxiliary magnetic pole, a permanent magnet electric rotating machine in which the cogging torque and the torque pulsation are restrained can be obtained and further an electromotive vehicle having the permanent magnet electric rotating machine can be provided.
US07851957B2
A magnetic bearing assembly for a rotatable support apparatus includes a first stationary section, a second section disposed on the first section and a shaft member secured to the base section and passing through the first section. The shaft member defines an axle for rotation for the first section wherein the magnetic bearing assembly is defined by at least one pair of magnets disposed in relation to the shaft member, the at least one pair of magnets including magnetic face surfaces aligned such that a repelling field is established between the at least one pair of magnets, wherein the first section is attached to at least one of the magnets.
US07851954B2
A vehicle drive device includes a motor generator (MG2), a power control unit controlling the motor generator (MG2), and a case housing the motor generator (MG2) and the power control unit. The power control unit includes a first inverter driving the motor generator (MG2) and a voltage converter boosting a power supply voltage to apply the voltage to the first inverter. A reactor L1 which is a component of the voltage converter is disposed such that at least a portion of a core comes into contact with the case for heat exchange. Consequently, the heat is dissipated to the case having a large heat capacity for integral housing, to thereby allow the heat dissipation performance of the reactor (L1) arranged in the limited space to be ensured.
US07851950B1
A power distribution system for computer systems in a computer room of a data center includes a first transformer and a second transformer. The first transformer transforms three-phase source power to three-phase intermediate power in a set of intermediate power lines. The intermediate power is transmitted in the set of intermediate power lines to a second transformer in or under the computer room. The second transformer transforms the three-phase intermediate power to operating power in a set of operating power lines at an operating phase-to-neutral voltage between about 220 volts and about 260 volts. The output of the second transformer is coupled to power distribution units in server racks in the computer room.
US07851936B2
A water current power generation system is provided, including a plurality of flotation tubes joined by a body structure; a plurality of ballast chambers joined by a body structure; a plurality of induction type power generation units disposed within housings associated with one or more of the flotation chambers, ballast chambers and body structure; and a plurality of propellers disposed in mechanical communication with each of the induction type generator units. Methods and means of deploying, positioning, maintaining, controlling and operating the system are also provided, as are detailed descriptions of novel inductor type generators used to obtain power from fast moving water currents, flotation tanks for tensioning the system against a submerged anchoring system disposed on an associated seafloor, and fluid-filled ballast chambers equipped with multiple sub-chambers that lend precision control and continuous adjustability to the system.
US07851933B2
An input shaft rotates at variable rotation rates and is driven by a variable source of energy or power such as by the propeller of a wind-driven electrical generator. The input shaft is connected to a clutch which is connected to an output shaft and which is operable to rotate the output shaft at a preselected or constant rotation rate. The clutch has a first rotor which electromagnetically interacts with a second rotor to create a torque to cause the second rotor to rotate. The interaction of the first rotor and the second rotor may be varied electrically or mechanically to vary the torque and in turn the rotation rate of the second shaft. The shaft is preferably connected to a synchronous generator; and the rotation rate of the output shaft is controlled so that the generator supplies power at an essentially constant rotation rate.
US07851917B2
A wiring structure includes a first wiring, a first interlayer dielectric film having a first opening, a second wiring formed with a first recess portion on a region corresponding to the first opening, a second interlayer dielectric film having a second opening and a third wiring so formed as to cover the second interlayer dielectric film, wherein an inner side surface of the second opening is arranged on a region corresponding to the first recess portion and formed such that an opening width of a portion in the vicinity of an upper end increases from a lower portion toward an upper portion.
US07851916B2
A method and system is disclosed for better packaging semiconductor devices. In one example, a semiconductor device package comprises a package substrate, at least one die with an orientation of <100> placed on the substrate with electrical connections made between the package substrate and the die, and an underfill fillet attaching the die to the substrate with the underfill fillet reaching less than 60% of a thickness of the die on at least one side thereof.
US07851910B2
The invention relates to a process for the multi-stage production of diffusion-soldered joints for power components with semiconductor chips, the melting points of diffusion-soldering alloys and diffusion-soldered joints being staggered in such a manner that a first melting point of the first diffusion-soldering alloy is lower than a second melting point of the second diffusion-soldering alloy, and the second melting point being lower than a third melting point of a first diffusion-soldered joint of the first diffusion-soldering alloy.
US07851893B2
A semiconductor device is made by providing a substrate having an interconnect structure, providing a plurality of semiconductor die each having a through silicon via (TSV), mounting the semiconductor die to the substrate to electrically connect the TSV to the interconnect structure, depositing an encapsulant between the semiconductor die, and forming a shielding layer over the encapsulant and semiconductor die. The shielding layer is electrically connected to the TSV which in turn electrically connects to the interconnect structure to isolate the semiconductor die from interference. The shielding layer is electrically connected to a ground potential through the TSV and interconnect structure. The semiconductor die includes solder bumps which are electrically connected to contact pads on the substrate. The substrate also includes solder bumps electrically connected to a conductive channel in the interconnect structure which is electrically connected to the TSV. The substrate is singulated to separate the semiconductor die.
US07851889B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for fabricating semiconductor devices with reduced bipolar effects. One apparatus includes a semiconductor body (120) including a surface and a transistor source (300) located in the semiconductor body proximate the surface, and the transistor source includes an area (310) of alternating conductivity regions (3110, 3120). Another apparatus includes a semiconductor body (120) including a first conductivity and a transistor source (500) located in the semiconductor body. The transistor source includes multiple regions (5120) including a second conductivity, wherein the regions and the semiconductor body form an area (510) of alternating regions of the first and second conductivities. One method includes implanting a semiconductor well (120) including a first conductivity in a substrate (110) and implanting a plurality of doped regions (5120) comprising a second conductivity in the semiconductor well. An area (510) comprising regions of alternating conductivities is then formed in the semiconductor well.
US07851868B2
A method is disclosed for forming at least two semiconductor devices with different gate electrode thicknesses. After forming a gate dielectric region, and determining whether a first or second device formed on the gate dielectric region expects a relatively faster gate dopant diffusion rate, a gate electrode layer is formed on the gate dielectric region wherein the gate electrode layer has a step-structure in which a portion thereof for the first device has a relatively larger thickness than that for the second device if the first device has a relatively faster gate dopant diffusion rate.
US07851863B2
A static electricity countermeasure component comprising; a ceramic substrate; at least two extractor electrodes opposingly disposed and mutually separated on the ceramic substrate; an over-voltage protective material layer disposed to cover a portion of each extractor electrode and a gap between the extractor electrodes, containing a metal powder and a silicone-based resin; an intermediate layer disposed over the over-voltage protective material layer, containing an insulating powder and a silicone-based resin; and a protective resin layer disposed over the intermediate layer.
US07851862B2
A method for making floating body memory cells from a bulk substrate. A thin silicon germanium and overlying silicon layers are formed on the bulk substrate. Anchors and a bridge are formed to support the silicon layer when the silicon germanium layer is etched so that it can be replaced with an oxide.
US07851856B2
A semiconductor package may comprise a semiconductor substrate, a MOSFET device having a plurality cells formed on the substrate, and a source region common to all cells disposed on a bottom of the substrate. Each cell comprises a drain region on a top of the semiconductor device, a gate to control a flow of electrical current between the source and drain regions, a source contact proximate the gate; and an electrical connection between the source contact and source region. At least one drain connection is electrically coupled to the drain region. Source, drain and gate pads are electrically connected to the source region, drain region and gates of the devices. The drain, source and gate pads are formed on one surface of the semiconductor package. The cells are distributed across the substrate, whereby the electrical connections between the source contact of each device and the source region are distributed across the substrate.
US07851855B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate provided with an active region including a gate forming area, a source forming area and a drain forming area. A recess is formed in the gate forming area. A gate is formed over the gate forming area that is formed with the recess and includes an insulation layer formed at an upper end portion of a side wall of the recess that is in contact with the source forming area. A source area and a drain area are formed in the active region on opposite sides of the gate.
US07851850B2
Non-volatile memory devices and arrays are described that utilize reverse mode non-volatile memory cells that have band engineered gate-stacks and nano-crystal charge trapping in EEPROM and block erasable memory devices, such as Flash memory devices. Embodiments of the present invention allow a reverse mode gate-insulator stack memory cell that utilizes the control gate for programming and erasure through a band engineered crested tunnel barrier. Charge retention is enhanced by utilization of high work function nano-crystals in a non-conductive trapping layer and a high K dielectric charge blocking layer. The band-gap engineered gate-stack with symmetric or asymmetric crested barrier tunnel layers of the non-volatile memory cells of embodiments of the present invention allow for low voltage tunneling programming and erase with electrons and holes, while maintaining high charge blocking barriers and deep carrier trapping sites for good charge retention.
US07851843B2
A structure of a DRAM cylindrical capacitor includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, an amorphous silicon spacer, a polysilicon plug, a HSG layer, a conductive layer and a capacitor dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate and includes an opening. The amorphous silicon spacer is disposed on the sidewall of the opening, wherein the polysilicon plug is exposed by the opening. The polysilicon plug includes a notch, and the internal surface of the notch is at the same plane as the internal surface of the amorphous silicon spacer. The HSG layer is disposed on the surface of the amorphous silicon spacer. Furthermore, the conductive layer is disposed on the HSG layer and the capacitor dielectric layer is disposed between the HSG layer and the conductive layer.
US07851841B2
A method and apparatus for an electronic substrate having a plurality of semiconductor devices is described. A thin film of nanowires is formed on a substrate. The thin film of nanowires is formed to have a sufficient density of nanowires to achieve an operational current level. A plurality of semiconductor regions are defined in the thin film of nanowires. Contacts are formed at the semiconductor device regions to thereby provide electrical connectivity to the plurality of semiconductor devices. Furthermore, various materials for fabricating nanowires, thin films including p-doped nanowires and n-doped nanowires, nanowire heterostructures, light emitting nanowire heterostructures, flow masks for positioning nanowires on substrates, nanowire spraying techniques for depositing nanowires, techniques for reducing or eliminating phonon scattering of electrons in nanowires, and techniques for reducing surface states in nanowires are described.
US07851837B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes unit pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each unit pixel includes a light-collector and light-receiver. The light-collector includes light-transmitting films that form a refractive index distribution and multiple zones, each of which has a width equal to or shorter than a wavelength of incident light. For each central unit pixel, a center axis of the light-receiver matches a central axis of the light-collector. For each peripheral unit pixel, a central axis of the light-collector is displaced from the central axis of the light-receiver toward the center of the imaging area. The line width of each light-transmitting film of a central unit pixel is different than the line width of each light-transmitting film of a peripheral unit pixel in a same relative position, and the sum of line widths of the central unit pixel differs from the sum of line widths of the peripheral unit pixel.
US07851834B2
Embodiments of a cascode amplifier (CA) include a bottom transistor with a relatively thin gate dielectric and higher ratio of channel length to width and a series coupled top transistor with a relatively thick gate dielectric and a lower ratio of channel length to width. A cascode current mirror (CCM) is formed using a coupled pair of CAs, one forming the reference current (RC) side and the other forming the mirror current side of the CCM. The gates of the bottom transistors are tied together and to the common node between the series coupled bottom and top transistors of the RC side, and the gates of the top transistors are coupled together and to the top drain node of the RC side. The area of the CCM can be substantially shrunk without adverse affect on the matching, noise performance and maximum allowable operating voltage.
US07851826B2
A method manufactures semiconductor chips each comprising a component implanted in the semiconductor. The method includes collectively implanting components onto a front face of a semiconductor wafer and fixing the a plate of a transparent material onto the front face of the wafer. Fixing the plate of transparent material is preceded by a step of depositing, on the front face of the wafer, at least one layer of polymer material forming an optical filter. Application is particularly to the manufacturing of imagers.
US07851824B2
A light emitting device includes: a light emitting layer; an n-type contact layer made of a compound provided on the light emitting layer; a composition modulation layer provided on the n-type contact layer; and a transparent electrode provided on the composition modulation layer. The composition modulation layer consists of a plurality of elements which constitute the compound. A composition ratio of one of the plurality of elements is higher in the composition modulation layer than in the compound. Alternatively, the light emitting device includes: a light emitting layer; an n-type contact layer made of a compound provided on the light emitting layer; a metal layer provided on the n-type contact layer; and a transparent electrode provided on the metal layer. The metal layer is made of a metal having a lower work function than the compound.
US07851817B2
A (100) silicon substrate is prepared having an insulating film formed on front and back surfaces of the silicon substrate. A resist pattern is formed on the insulating film and partially etched to form an etching mask on the front and back surfaces. The silicon substrate is subjected to anisotropical etching dependent upon an orientation to form a concave horn and a through hole, the concave horn having a bottom with a (100) plane and four inclined sidewalls with a (111) plane, and the through hole gradually narrowing from the front and back surfaces toward an inside of the silicon substrate and having a bottleneck portion with the (111) plane at an intermediate position in the silicon substrate. An LED chip is mounted on the bottom of the concave horn to form an LED package. The LED package is provided which presents high wiring reliability and simplified manufacture processes.
US07851807B2
A layer-stacked wiring made up of a microcrystalline silicon thin film and a metal thin film is provided which is capable of suppressing an excessive silicide formation reaction between the microcrystalline silicon thin film and metal thin film, thereby preventing peeling of the thin film. In a polycrystalline silicon TFT (Thin Film Transistor) using the layer-stacked wiring, the microcrystalline silicon thin film is so configured that its crystal grains each having a length of the microcrystalline silicon thin film in a direction of a film thickness being 60% or more of a film thickness of the microcrystalline silicon thin film amount to 15% or less of total number of crystal grains or that its crystal grains each having a length of the microcrystalline silicon thin film in a direction of a film thickness being 50% or less of a film thickness of the microcrystalline silicon thin film amount to 85% or more of the total number of crystal grains making up the microcrystalline silicon thin film.
US07851803B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a channel region which is formed above the substrate by printing, wherein a relationship L≧2a is satisfied where L is a channel length of the channel region and a is a minimum dimension among pattern dimensions and inter-pattern dimensions in the same layer as patterns that define the channel length L; and a relationship W≧2b is satisfied where W is a channel width of the channel region and b is a minimum dimension among pattern dimensions and inter-pattern dimensions in the same layer as a pattern that defines the channel width W.
US07851797B2
There is a problem in that, in a liquid crystal display panel in which a color filter is formed on an opposing substrate, it is necessary to assemble an element substrate and the opposing substrate by extremely high precision position alignment, and when this precision is low, the aperture ratio decreases and the display becomes darker. With the present invention, red color filters (R) are formed on driving circuits (402, 403), peripheral circuits, and a color filter (405d) for protecting a pixel TFT portion (407) is formed for each pixel.
US07851796B2
A display device capable of keeping the luminance constant irrespective of temperature change is provided as well as a method of driving the display device. A current mirror circuit composed of transistors is placed in each pixel. A first transistor and a second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain current of the first transistor is kept in proportion to the drain current of the second transistor irrespective of the load resistance value. The drain current of the first transistor is controlled by a driving circuit in accordance with a video signal and the drain current of the second transistor is caused to flow into an OLED, thereby controlling the OLED drive current and the luminance of the OLED.
US07851791B2
Provided is a thin film transistor (TFT) which uses CIS (CuInSe2), including Se, which is a chalcogen-based material, and can provide a rectifying function, and electric and optical switching functions of a diode. The TFT according to the present invention includes, a substrate, a gate electrode formed on a portion of the substrate, an insulating layer covering the substrate and a gate electrode, a plurality of CIS (CuInSe2) films formed on the insulating layer so as to cover the region where the gate electrode is formed; and source/drain regions separated from each other so as to comprise a trench exposing a portion of a surface of the CIS films.
US07851788B2
To provide an organic transistor which can achieve a reduced leak current from a gate electrode. An organic transistor including a substrate 1, a pair of a source electrode 4 and a drain electrode 5, an organic semiconductor layer 6 provided between the source electrode 4 and the drain electrode 5, and a gate electrode 2 provided in association with the organic semiconductor 6 with a gate insulating layer 3 interposed therebetween, wherein the gate insulating layer 3 has a stacked structure including at least an organic insulating layer 3a and an inorganic barrier layer 3b.
US07851783B2
A method of fabricating a nanotube field-effect transistor having unipolar characteristics and a small inverse sub-threshold slope includes forming a local gate electrode beneath the nanotube between drain and source electrodes of the transistor and doping portions of the nanotube. In a further embodiment, the method includes forming at least one trench in the gate dielectric (e.g., a back gate dielectric) and back gate adjacent to the local gate electrode. Another aspect of the invention is a nanotube field-effect transistor fabricated using such a method.
US07851778B2
The present invention relates to a non-volatile electrical phase change memory device comprising a substrate, a first interlayer dielectric film deposited on the substrate, a bottom electrode layer formed on the first dielectric layer, a second interlayer dielectric film formed on the bottom electrode layer, a phase change material layer deposited on the second interlayer dielectric film, and a top electrode layer formed on said phase change material layer, the bottom electrode layer being brought into contact with the phase change material layer through a contact hole which is formed in the second interlayer dielectric film and filled with the phase change material or bottom electrode material, so that the phase change layer and the bottom electrode layer come into close contact with each other,wherein an interfacial control layer is formed at the interface of the contact hole between the phase change layer and the bottom electrode layer, said interfacial control layer having strong chemical bonds with the phase change material as well as electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity values lower than those of the bottom electrode material.
US07851775B2
An apparatus for monitoring the consumption of fluid by a user, particularly fluids being drank from a container. The apparatus may be used with wide variety of container types. The fluid monitoring unit uses a pair of gears in rotational engagement with each other such that fluid passes around them and rotation of at least one gear is indicative of fluid consumption. The gears in at least one exemplary embodiment are arranged to have low frictional resistance with respect to each other and their respective axles such that the gears quickly and easily rotate and over a wide fluid flow range. This allows the apparatus to accurately and consistently monitor fluid flow from very low flow rates to high flow rates and therefore provide very reliable consumption information. The apparatus in one exemplary embodiment includes an electromagnetic drinking straw embodiment that allows a user to monitor the consumption of fluids from virtually any container type.
US07851770B2
The invention relates to a device for optical excitation, in particular luminescent excitation of biomolecules (40) in a fluid sample, comprising a multiple wavelength generator which generates at least one array of spots (60) with different wavelengths at least one defined area of the device.
US07851769B2
The invention relates to a motorized manipulator for positioning a TEM specimen holder with sub-micron resolution parallel to a y-z plane and rotating the specimen holder in the y-z plane, the manipulator comprising a base (2), and attachment means (30) for attaching the specimen holder to the manipulator, characterized in that the manipulator further comprises at least three nano-actuators (3a, 3b, 3c) mounted on the base, each nano-actuator showing a tip (4a, 4b, 4c), the at least three tips defining the y-z plane, each tip capable of moving with respect to the base in the y-z plane; a platform (5) in contact with the tips of the nano-actuators; and clamping means (6) for pressing the platform against the tips of the nano-actuators; as a result of which the nano-actuators can rotate the platform with respect to the base in the y-z plane and translate the platform parallel to the y-z plane.
US07851761B2
Multi-band polarized receiver-emitter THz domain visualization device that includes a group of elemental receiver units made from a resonant system sensitive to frequency and polarization, a micro-bead solid-state voltage amplifier in the gate of a differential FET system. The detection is based on the carrier perturbation method detected by a set of double gate comparator circuits that further generates an integrated signal driven to a digital analog converter. The signal from here is accessing event-based memory used to generate the 3D images. Multiple detection modules are coupled into a triangular detection element detecting a multitude of frequencies, in a cascade of bands from 2 mm to 1 micron. This THz chromatic detector is integrated in a surface morph array, or in an image area of a focusing device generating a pixel of information with band, amplitude, polarization and time parameters, driving to a complex 3D substance level visualizations.
US07851753B2
The invention provides an apparatus and a method each capable of highly accurately reviewing at a high speed very small foreign matters and pattern defects occurring during a device production process for forming a circuit pattern on a substrate of semiconductor devices, etc. An objective lens having high NA is installed inside a vacuum chamber for an inspection object having a transparent film formed on the surface thereof and an illumination optical path is formed inside the objective lens so that dark visual field illumination can be made and reflected and scattered light of foreign matters or defects on the surface of the inspection object can be detected with high sensitivity.
US07851751B2
A method for analyzing a mixture of components includes forming precursor ions from the components, alternately causing the precursor ions to pass to and to by-pass a fragmentation device, to form product ions from the precursor ions that pass to the device and to form substantially fewer product ions from precursor ions that by-pass the device, and obtaining mass spectra from product ions received from the device and from precursor ions that by-passed the device. An apparatus for analyzing a sample includes an ion source for forming precursor ions from the components of the sample, a fragmentation device for forming product ions from the precursor ions, a by-pass device disposed upstream of the fragmentation device for switchable by-pass of the fragmentation device, and a mass analyzer.
US07851743B2
The present invention achieves an ion mobility spectrometer which is small-sized but has higher selectivity. In an interior of a drift tube, air flow moving from a detector side to an ion source side is generated, and there are arranged, in order from an upstream side of the air flow to a downstream side thereof, a first region where a flow rate increases in a flow direction, a second region where the flow rate is constant, and a third region where the flow rate decreases. Light irradiation mechanisms for dissociating an ion are provided in the second region.
US07851739B2
A projection apparatus includes an illuminating unit, an imaging unit, a lens unit, and a control unit. The illuminating unit includes a light source, and a light source driving module operable to drive the light source to provide an illumination beam. The imaging unit is operable so as to modulate the illumination beam into an image beam. The lens unit is disposed on an optical path of the image beam for projecting the image beam. The control unit is coupled electrically to the illuminating unit and the imaging unit. The control unit is configured to execute an activating thread for initializing the imaging unit after controlling initial driving of the light source by the light source driving module, and a monitoring thread for monitoring the light source driving module for a success signal that indicates successful provision of the illumination beam by the light source.
US07851737B2
A lighting system control device charging system and method including a control device charged from a light source in a lighting system, including control photovoltaic cell 28 responsive to control light 46 from the light source and generating control charging power 44; a capacitor storing the control charging power 44 and generating control supply power 42; and a control microcontroller unit (MCU)/transceiver 24 powered by control supply power 42 and generating a communications signal 40 to the lighting system. The control microcontroller unit (MCU)/transceiver 24 monitors charge state of the capacitor and directs the lighting system to increase the control light 46 when the charge state is below a low charge setpoint.
US07851725B2
An active laser energy delivery system includes a relay imaging system. Input optics arranged to receive the laser energy, a transmitting mirror having adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted processing head including an optical assembly are configured to direct laser energy toward the movable target image plane. The laser energy follows an optical path including an essentially straight segment from the transmitting mirror to the receiving mirror, having a variable length and a variable angle relative to the input optics. Diagnostics on the processing head facilitate operation.
US07851721B2
A device handler for testing and sorting electronic devices has a testing station operative to test the electronic devices and to classify them according to different binning characteristics. A buffer assembly receives electronic devices which have been classified at the testing station, and the buffer assembly further comprises a first loading region having a plurality of receptacles and a second loading region having a plurality of receptacles. An output station is operative to unload electronic devices according to their different binning characteristics from either one of the first or second loading region of the buffer assembly for storage while electronic devices are being loaded onto the other loading region.
US07851720B2
A capacitive touch switch which is used, for example, in a control device for an electronic domestic appliance, includes a sensor area as part of a capacitive sensor element having a capacitance which changes when touched. A measuring electrode, which is coupled to the sensor area, is disposed on a printed circuit board and is at a first potential. An additional electrode, which is disposed near the measuring electrode, likewise on the printed circuit board, is electrically insulated from the measuring electrode and is at a second potential, which is different from the first potential. The additional electrode brings about a shielding of the measuring electrode and thus an output signal of an associated sensor circuit that is less sensitive to interference. A circuit configuration for a capacitive touch switch and a control device for an electronic domestic appliance, are also provided.
US07851717B2
A light-guide sheet includes a light transmissive film substrate, and luminescent protrusions formed at predetermined points on the substrate. At least one of the substrate and each of the luminescent protrusions is colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light more than blue light. Alternatively, a reflective layer colored to a color tone that absorbs yellow light more than blue light is provided on at least one of the top and bottom faces of the substrate.
US07851709B2
A circuit board includes a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of shielding walls. The shield walls are disposed between the signal lines. Each shield wall includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a rectangular groove, a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The lower surface is opposite to the upper surface. The rectangular groove extends from the upper surface to the lower surface. The first metal layer is disposed on the upper surface. The second metal layer is disposed in the rectangular groove and electrically connected to the first metal layer.
US07851708B2
In a composite body, a frame body includes a frame member and a plurality of connection members formed by bending thin metal plates. The frame member includes a through-hole and extends along a peripheral portion of a substrate body. Each of the plurality of connection members has a first strip and a second strip continuously connected to opposed ends of a middle strip. The connection members are disposed in the frame member. Each of the first and second strips of the connection member is exposed on a major surface extending around the through-hole. The first strip and the second strip extend in a direction in which the connection members face each other, and opposed ends of the middle strip are continuously connected to the first strip and the second strip on the side adjacent to the through-hole. The middle strip extends through the inside of the frame member.
US07851704B2
A modular wiring system and method. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising an electrical box having a first side wall, a second side wall and a back, and an opening through the first side wall (the side walls and the back define an internal cavity). The system further comprises an electrical backing insert comprising at least six electrically conductive paths, the at least six electrically conductive paths extending from a first end of the electrical backing insert to at least a medial portion of the electrical backing insert. The electrical backing insert is releasably coupled within the internal cavity, and wherein the at least six electrically conductive paths on the first end of the electrical backing insert are accessible through the opening on the first sidewall.
US07851684B1
A string anchor bracket useful is mounted to the underside of a bridge plate for anchoring a guitar string to a guitar bridge. The anchor bracket has plurality of notches on an anchor bracket plate spaced apart by depending members that depend from the plate at its forward edge forming slots that lead to corresponding notches.
US07851680B2
The present invention includes non-transgenic domesticated tomato plants that express flavonols in the flesh and peel of the tomato fruit, and includes the seeds and fruits of such plants. The method of the invention includes assaying tomato plants for expression of one or more of the flavonol biosynthesis genes in the flesh and/or expression of CHI in the peel. The method of the invention includes selecting wild tomato species that express CHI in the fruit peel, and/or one or more genes of the flavonol biosynthesis pathway in the flesh, and introgressing the genetic factors responsible for this expression from the wild tomato species into a domesticated tomato plant using traditional breeding techniques.
US07851679B2
The present invention relates to the regulation of reproductive development, particularly to the genetic ablation of reproductive tissues in angiosperm and gymnosperm species. Reproductive-preferred promoters, regulatory elements, and cytotoxic nucleotide sequences are disclosed herein, as are constructs and methods for genetic ablation.
US07851678B2
A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘RITMO’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 20 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, relatively narrow, green color foliage, measuring about 25 cm in length and about 2.4 cm to 2.7 cm in width; superior floral bract production; bracts have a unique orange color which distinguishes this cultivar from typical Guzmania; round, spike-like inflorescence, measuring about 5 cm in height and about 11 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.
US07851668B2
Disclosed is a method for maintaining and/or improving skin health in the area of a wearer covered by an absorbent article. The absorbent article includes a vapor permeable backsheet, a liquid pervious topsheet positioned in facing relation with the backsheet, an absorbent core located between the backsheet and the topsheet. The absorbent article also includes skin care compositions thereon for maintaining and/or improving skin health.
US07851666B2
The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles including one or more discrete components. Representative discrete components include the nonwoven layer of the outer cover, the absorbent core, the bodyside liner, fasteners, ears and attachment panels. The discrete components include a material having a Surface Topographic Variance value of 30 micrometers or greater. The material includes a printed block having a Printed Block Sensor Value that is about three times greater than a Sensor Value for the area of the material outside of the printed block.
US07851664B2
A xylene isomerization process includes introducing gas comprising hydrogen and a base to a reaction zone in which a catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal and a zeolite support resides. In one embodiment, the base may be formed in situ within the reaction zone from nitrogen and hydrogen that are introduced to the reaction zone. In another embodiment, the base is introduced directly to the reaction zone. The conditions in the reaction zone are effective to reduce the catalyst. A stream comprising C8 aromatics, e.g., xylenes and ethylbenzene may then be fed to the reaction zone containing the reduced catalyst. The reaction zone may be operated at conditions effective to isomerize the xylenes and hydrodealkylate the ethylbenzene. The xylene loss during the isomerization of the xylenes is lowered as a result of using the catalyst reduced in the presence of the gas comprising a base and hydrogen.
US07851662B2
High assay reaction-derived decabromodiphenylethane product is produced and provided. The process comprises feeding diphenylethane, a partially brominated diphenylethane, or both subsurface into the liquid phase of a reaction mixture formed from components comprising excess liquid bromine and aluminum-based Lewis acid bromination catalyst. The temperature of the reaction mixture, the catalyst concentration in the excess bromine in the reaction mixture, and the feed time are coordinated in the processes to produce high assay reaction-derived decabromodiphenylethane product. Ways of effecting such coordination are described.
US07851660B1
A process for making perillyl alcohol is disclosed. The process comprises isomerizing a starting material comprising trans-isocarveol at a temperature within the range of 100° C. to 220° C. in the presence of a Group 5 metal catalyst to produce perillyl alcohol. We surprisingly found that trans-isocarveol, which can be selectively produced from a commercially available mixture of cis- and trans-LMO, can be isomerized directly to perillyl alcohol. Yields of perillyl alcohol are improved when the isomerization is performed under an inert atmosphere and/or in the presence of a phenolic antioxidant. Performing the isomerization in the presence of a high-boiling alcohol and/or distilling the perillyl alcohol product from the reaction mixture in the presence of a high-boiling alcohol, enhances yields and maximizes catalyst use. The resulting distillation residue, which contains recovered Group 5 metal catalyst, is valuable for catalyzing additional trans-isocarveol isomerizations.
US07851659B2
A method is provided for producing a benzaldehyde compound represented by the formula (2): wherein Q1 and Q2 represent a hydrogen atom etc., including the step of reacting a compound represented by the formula (1): wherein X represents a chlorine atom etc., and Q1 and Q2 are respectively the same meaning as above, with a secondary nitroalkane and a base in the presence of an alkali metal iodide.
US07851653B2
An antimicrobial polymer is disclosed containing silicon-containing quaternary ammonium groups, the polymer including in its structure repeating units of Formula II: R3N+R0nSiX′4-nY− (II) wherein each R and each R0 is independently a non-hydrolysable organic group; each X′ is —OR′, —OH or —O—Si, wherein R′ is an alkyl group of 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, or an aryl group of 6 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 0 to 3; and Y is an anionic moiety suitable to form the salt of the repeating units of Formula II. Also disclosed are methods of making such a polymer and imparting sustained antimicrobial properties to a substrate using the polymer.
US07851651B2
(S)-Pregabalin, which has the chemical name (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, is useful in anticonvulsant therapy, primarily due a mechanism that serves to promote the production of gamma-amino butyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. The invention encompasses new processes for synthesizing (S)-Pregabalin. The invention also comprises certain new compounds that are useful synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of (S)-Pregabalin.
US07851647B2
Alkoxy[13C]methyl phenyl sulfone is a precursor to the production of Lithium (E)-β-Alkoxy[1,2,3-13C3]acrylate and thence Alkoxy (E)-β-Alkoxy[1,2,3-13C3]acrylate. Alkoxy (E)-β-Alkoxy[1,2,3-13C3]acrylate can then serve as a precursor for the production of a number of other isotopically labeled compounds. Similar chemistry using Alkoxy[14C]methyl phenyl sulfone as the precursor can yield 14C labeled compounds. High purity precursors ensure that the new compounds are also highly pure.
US07851643B2
A method of manufacturing an ester composition comprising ethyl esters of linear monocarboxylic acids having 6 to 26 carbon atoms from a vegetable or an animal oil, neutral or acid, virgin or recycled, the method comprising: a stage 1 of reaction of vegetable or animal oil with methanol, in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a combination of at least one metallic oxide and alumina or a combination of at least two metallic oxides and possibly alumina, and a stage 2 of reaction of the product from stage 1 with ethanol in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst as defined for stage 1, so as to obtain from vegetable or animal oils, a mixture of fatty acid esters rich in fatty acid ethyl esters and a glycerin of high purity.
US07851640B2
Various chromanone, flavanone and abyssinone compounds as can be prepared enantioselectively using a chiral thiourea catalyst.
US07851636B2
This invention relates to compounds of formula (I) which are activators of glucokinase and thus may be useful for the management, treatment, control, or adjunct treatment of diseases, where increasing glucokinase activity is beneficial.
US07851634B2
The application relates to novel alkanamides of the general formula (I) where X is —CH2— or >CH—OH; (A) R1 is e.g. an optionally substituted heterocyclyl radical or an optionally substituted polycyclic, unsaturated hydrocarbon radical where X is hydroxymethylene; R2 is C1-C6-alkyl or C3-C6-cydoalkyl; R3 are each independently H, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-6-alkoxycarbonyl or C1-C6-alkanoyl; R4 is C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl or unsubstituted or substituted arylC1-C6-alkyl; R5 is C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-hydroxyalkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkanoyloxy C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-aminoalkyl, C1-C6-alkylamino-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-dialkylamino-C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkanoylamido-C1-C6-alkyl, HO(O)C—C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkyl-O—(O)C—C1-C6-alkyl, H2N—C(O)—C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkyl-HN—C(O)—C1-C6-alkyl, (C1,-C6-alkyl)2N—C(O)—C1-C6-alkyl, C2-C8-alkenyl, C2-C8-alkynyl, cyano-C1-C6-alkyl, halo-C1-C6-alkyl, optionally substituted aryl-Co-C6-alkyl, optionally substituted C3-C8-cycloalkyl-Co-C6-alkyl or optionally substituted heterocydyl-Co-C6-alkyl; to a process for their preparation and to the use of these compounds as medicines, especially as renin inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension.
US07851624B2
Provided is a rosuvastatin triol and its use as a reference standard for analysis of rosuvastatin. Also provided are methods for preparation of rosuvastatin.
US07851622B2
The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I. Additionally, the present application provides pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to Formula I and optionally at least one additional therapeutic agent. Finally, the present application provides methods for treating a patient suffering from an MCHR-1 modulated disease or disorder such as, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression or anxiety by administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a compound according to Formula I where R1, R1a, R1b, A, R3, R4, R5, R5b and R6 are as defined herein.
US07851615B2
The invention relates to iRNA agents, which preferably include a monomer in which the ribose moiety has been replaced by a moiety other than ribose. The inclusion of such a monomer can allow for modulation of a property of the iRNA agent into which it is incorporated, e.g., by using the non-ribose moiety as a point to which a ligand or other entity, e.g., a lipophilic moiety is directly, or indirectly, tethered. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such modified iRNA agents.
US07851613B2
The present invention provides recombinant expression cassettes comprising a fungal 3′ termination sequence which is functional in a plant. The recombinant expression cassettes comprise a plant promoter operably linked to a coding sequence having a stop condon, and the fungal termination sequence. The fungal 3′ termination sequence is heterologous to the coding sequence. The fungal 3′ termination sequence comprises structural features including a cleavage site, a positioning element, and an upstream element. The present invention also comprises methods for construction of the plant expression cassettes and introducing the cassettes into plant cells.
US07851609B2
The invention discloses the Chlamydia PMPE and PMPI polypeptide, polypeptides derived therefrp, (PMP-derived polypeptides), nucleotide sequences encoding said polypeptides, antibodies that specifically bind the PMP polypeptides and PMP-derived polypeptides and T-cells specific for PMP polypeptides and PMP-derived polypeptides. Also disclosed are prophylactic and therapeutic compositions, including immunogenic compositions, e.g., vaccines, comprising PMP polypeptides or PMP-derived polypeptides or antibodies thereto. The invention additionally discloses methods of inducing in animals an immune response to Chlamydia cells, Chlamydia elementary bodies, and/or cells expressing Chlamydial proteins, e.g., cell infected with Chlamydia.
US07851602B2
Glucopyranosyl-substituted ((hetero)cycloalkylethynyl-benzyl)-benzene derivatives of the general formula I where the groups R1 to R6 as well as R7a, R7b, R7c are defined according to claim 1, including the tautomers, the stereoisomers thereof, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof. The compounds according to the invention are suitable for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
US07851598B2
Method of identifying a modulator of CD28 comprising comparing a structural model of a candidate modulator with a structural model of CD28 to thereby determine whether the modulator will bind to CD28, wherein the structural model is derived from, or comprises, structural coordinates of a crystal of: (i) CD28, (ii) a fragment of CD28, or (iii) a homologue of (i) or (ii). The crystal of CD28 in a soluble form complexed with the Fab fragment of a mitogenic (superagonistic) antibody has been obtained and used for the determination of the 3D-structure of the receptor. The application also relates to modulators of superagonistic signalling for any receptor of the CD28 family, i.e. to superagonistic antibodies and chimeric proteins thereof, and to the screening of the superagonistic modulators. In the methods of screening, the binding of the candidate modulators to a portion of the receptor proximal to the cell membrane is investigated.
US07851596B2
There are disclosed therapeutic compositions and methods using isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a human myeloid progenitor inhibitory factor-1 (MPIF-1) polypeptide (previously termed MIP-3 and chemokine β8 (CKβ8 or ckb-8)); a human monocyte-colony inhibitory factor (M-CIF) polypeptide (previously termed MIP1-γ and chemokine β1 (CKβ1 or ckb-1)), and a macrophage inhibitory protein-4 (MIP-4), as well as MPIF-1, M-CIF and/or MIP-4 polypeptides themselves, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same.
US07851593B2
The invention is directed to compositions of mutated binding proteins containing reporter groups, analyte biosensor devices derived therefrom, and their use as analyte biosensors both in vitro and in vivo.
US07851585B2
The invention relates to polyacetal compositions comprising a mixture of (i) a polyacetal resin, (ii) p-aramid particles and (III) a vinyl-terminated dimethyl siloxane polymer. These compositions are useful in preparing molded articles exhibiting a good balance between high self-lubricating properties and wear resistance, and especially useful in articles that are in motion with respect to other parts they are in contact with.
US07851583B2
An oxirane compound of following Formula (1), such as glycidol, is reacted in the presence of a powdered activated carbon, where necessary, with an initiator such as a polyhydric alcohol, an aliphatic alcohol, or an aliphatic carboxylic acid, to yield, for example, a polyglycidol, a polyglycidol alkyl ether, or a polyglycidol alkyl ester. wherein R1 and R2 may be the same as or different from each other and each represent one selected from hydrogen (H); a branched- or straight-chain alkyl group having one to thirty carbon atoms or an aryl group; and a functional group represented by —CH2-M, wherein M represents OH, F, Cl, Br, or —OR3, wherein R3 represents an alkyl group having one to twenty carbon atoms, allyl group, or an aryl group. A target compound can be obtained in a high yield with high quality according to this invention, from which the catalyst can be easily separated.
US07851570B2
Compounds are provided that are useful as precatlysts in the polymerization of olefins such as ethylene and propylene. Other compounds are useful as intermediates in the production of such precatalysts.
US07851563B2
The invention provides a silicone gel composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane represented by an average composition formula (1) shown below: RaR1bSiO(4-a-b)/2 (1) (wherein, R represents an alkenyl group, R1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group that contains no aliphatic unsaturated bonds, and a, b and a+b are numbers that satisfy specific numerical ranges), and containing at least one alkenyl group bonded to a silicon atom within each molecule, (B) a component composed of: (B-1) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane represented by an average composition formula (2) shown below: (HR22SiO1/2)c(R32SiO)d(R4SiO3/2)e (2) (wherein, R2, R3 and R4 represent monovalent hydrocarbon groups that contain no aliphatic unsaturated bonds, and c, d and e are numbers that satisfy specific numerical ranges, provided that c+d+e=1), containing at least three hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atoms within each molecule, and containing at least two (R4SiO3/2) units within each molecule, and (B-2) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane represented by an average composition formula (3) shown below: R5fHgSiO(4-f-g)/2 (3) (wherein, R5 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group that contains no aliphatic unsaturated bonds, and f, g and f+g are numbers that satisfy specific numerical ranges), containing either one or two hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atoms within each molecule, and containing either one or two hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atoms at molecular chain terminals.
US07851558B2
A thermally stable brominated butadiene copolymer, such as brominated styrene/butadiene block copolymer, brominated random styrene/butadiene copolymer or brominated styrene/butadiene graft copolymer, preparation of the brominated butadiene copolymers, use of the brominated butadiene copolymers as a flame retardant additive and polymeric compositions, both foamed and non-foamed, that incorporate a flame-retarding amount of brominated butadiene copolymer.
US07851555B2
A gasket material comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and a thermoplastic polymer have a melting point lower than the melting point of PTFE. Preferred thermoplastic polymers comprise fluorinated thermoplastic polymers, and most preferred fluorinated thermoplastic polymers comprise fluorinated ethylene propylene and perfluoroalkoxy copolymer. The PTFE component preferably comprises full density PTFE, and a filler material may optionally be added. The PTFE component is present in the gasket material in an amount from approximately 50% to less than 100%, based on the total weight of the gasket material, and the thermoplastic polymer is present in an amount from greater than 0% to approximately 20%, based on the total weigh to the gasket material.
US07851554B2
Disclosed is a propylene impact copolymer comprising a first polypropylene having an MFR1 within the range from 15 to 40 dg/min; a second polypropylene having an MFR2 within the range from 50 to 190 dg/min; an elastomeric polymer; and wherein the propylene impact copolymer has an MFRICP within the range from 6 to 18 dg/min; a 1% Secant Flexural Modulus of greater than 150 kpsi (1030 MPa); and an Izod Impact at 25° C. of greater than 10 ft-lbs/in (530 J/m). The impact copolymer may be produced in a two or three tandem-reactor system wherein the catalyst composition used in the second reactor to produce the second polypropylene is different from the catalyst composition used in the first reactor to produce the first polypropylene.
US07851552B2
The invention relates to a polymeric composition having elastomeric properties over wide temperature ranges, of the type that comprises polymers and/of copolymers which are derived from substituted or non-substituted vinylaromatic monomers and compatible, homogeneous diene monomers. The inventive composition is based on stereoregular polymers and does not require the use of compatibilizer agents. The invention further relates to the method of obtaining said compositions and of hydrogenating same without the need for additional catalysts or methods.
US07851538B2
A novel elastomer material having an absorption coefficient for laser light of 0.5-2.5 mm−1, preferably being a base thermoplastic elastomer compounded with a colorant which comprises a Pantone 4597C pigment mixed with a carrier material. The elastomer is suited for use as a pharmaceutical vial closure which can be punctured by a filling needle and the puncture hole heat sealed by a focused laser.
US07851535B2
The present invention relates to a composition designed to be a release agent applied to the surface of a molding apparatus and method of using the composition in molding operations. The composition includes a siloxane composition, hydrophilic matting particles, a cross linking agent, a binding agent having hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics. The composition may optionally include a carrier. The composition is designed to be applied to the surface of a mold, allowing for repeated use without the need for re-applying the composition between uses.
US07851534B2
There is provided a thermally conductive sheet containing: a binder component, a modified liquid polyolefin, and at least one thermally conductive filler selected from the group consisting of metal oxide and metal hydroxide. The thermally conductive sheet can have good moldability, and the surface of the sheet is inhibited from being contaminated by bleeding or the like. Further, the sheet can have good flexibility maintained for a long period of time and is inhibited from deteriorating or emitting an offensive odor due to decomposed matter of an organic phosphorous compound even when an organic phosphorous compound is contained.
US07851526B2
Polymers initiated with furanones and compositions containing such polymers are suitable for use in making textiles, medical devices, delivery agents, packaging materials, coatings for such items, and the like.
US07851522B2
An aqueous adhesive composition includes a polymer adhesive material having a pH of less than 7, a cationic thickener or an anionic thickener formed from at least one anionic monomer having a pKa of less than 3, and water. The adhesive composition has a stringing length of 9 cm or less and a sag distance of 10 mm or less.
US07851512B2
The present invention provides a novel combination comprising artemisinin in the form of tablets and related dosage forms for pediatric use, such as granules, suppository, suspension syrup and dry powder, for the treatment of human malarias including multiple-resistant subtertian malaria, tertian malaria and quartan malaria. The combination is comprised of artemisinin, piperaquine and primaquine. Clinical tests in Southeast Asia countries where malaria is epidemic demonstrate that, apart from having high and rapid therapeutic effect possessed by the most excellent domestic and foreign artemisinin-type anti-malarial drugs, the present combination is also featured with shorter course of treatment, less side effect, lower material cost, and more convenience for administration, and its ability of rapidly killing gametophyte and cutting off infection source thereby blocking spreading of malaria is a further improvement.
US07851508B2
The present invention provides new chemical compositions with desirable biological activity and toxicity profiles for the enhanced treatment of malaria.
US07851502B2
Pharmaceutical formulations are provided which are in the form of capsules or tablets for oral use and which include a medicament dapagliflozin or its propylene glycol hydrate and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier therefor, which formulation is designed for immediate release.
US07851497B2
To provide an improved fungicidal composition for agricultural or horticultural use, and a method for controlling plant diseases by applying the composition to plants.A fungicidal composition for agricultural or horticultural use, which comprises at least one imidazole compound of the formula (I): wherein R is a C1-6 alkyl group or a C1-6 alkoxy group, and n is an integer of from 1 to 5, and propamocarb hydrochloride, as active ingredients; and a method for controlling plant diseases by applying the composition to plants.
US07851495B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also relates to processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US07851492B2
This invention relates to the use of ERG channel openers for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, and to the use of specific compounds for such treatment. In a separate aspect the invention provides novel compounds useful as ERG channel openers.
US07851479B2
A pyrimidinedione derivative of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof exhibits excellent inhibitory activity against hepatitis C virus.
US07851476B2
Crystalline forms of 1-benzoyl-4-[2-[4-methoxy-7-(3-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-[(phosphonooxy)methyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-3-yl]-1,2-dioxoethyl]-piperazine its salts and solvates thereof are herein set forth, as are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline form(s), as well of methods of using the crystalline form(s) in the treatment of HIV and/or AIDS, and methods for obtaining such crystalline form(s).
US07851475B2
A compound of formula I wherein R, Ra and Rb are as defined in the specification, processes for their production, their uses, in particular in transplantation, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US07851474B2
Dipiperazinyl ketones and related analogues are provided, as are methods for their preparation and use. Such compounds may generally be used to modulate ligand binding to histamine H3 receptors in vivo or in vitro, and are particularly useful in the treatment of a variety of disorders in humans, domesticated companion animals and livestock animals. Pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic methods are provided, as are methods for using such ligands for detecting histamine H3 receptors (e.g., receptor localization studies).
US07851472B2
The compounds of formula I in which R1 and R2 have the meanings as given in the description are novel effective PDE2 inhibitors.
US07851452B2
This invention provides methods of inducing apoptosis in a bcl-6-expressing cell and methods of treating a subject with a cancer comprising a bcl-6-expressing cell, comprising administration of a composition that reduces the amount of the bcl-6 protein or of an mRNA molecule encoding same, a composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule complementary to or corresponding to a region of the mRNA molecule, or a vector expressing the nucleic acid molecule. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a sequence corresponding to or complementary to accessible regions of bcl-6 mRNA, and vectors, cells, compositions, and kits comprising same.
US07851450B2
The invention relates to a ganglioside mixture, consisting of gangliosides, of the following general formula: (sugar)-OCH2—CH(—NH—CO—R1)—CH(OH)—CH═CH—R2, wherein (sugar) represents a sugar radical, the group —CO—R1 represents an acyl-fatty acid which is bonded to the radical of the molecule in the form of an amide, R1 represents a straight saturated alkyl radical having at least 10 C-atoms and R2 represents a straight, saturated alkyl radical having at least 10 C-atoms or a straight alkenyl radical having at least 10 C-atoms and one, two or three double bond(s). Said mixture is characterised in that at least 10 wt. % of the gangliosides of the general formula I are of the group —CO—R1 and the acyl-fatty acids are a C20:0 fatty acid. Said mixtures exhibit an improved biological activity.
US07851441B2
A low-molecular-weight water-soluble elastin having a molecular weight of about 10,000 to 30,000 and a high-molecular-weight water-soluble elastin having a molecular weight of about 30,000 to 300,000 are provided, 79% to 84% of the constituent amino acids of the elastin comprising proline, glycine, alanine, and valine, 2% to 3% comprising aspartic acid and glutamic acid, 0.7% to 1.3% comprising lysine, histidine, and arginine, and 0.2% to 0.4% comprising desmosine and isodesmosine. The low-molecular-weight water-soluble elastin that is obtained may be used in a functional food or a medicine. Such a high-purity water-soluble elastin may be produced by obtaining pure insoluble elastin by subjecting animal body tissue to a collagen removal treatment and then fragmenting the insoluble elastin by means of a solubilizing liquid. It may be produced simply, merely by adjusting the concentration of an alkaline solution and the reaction time without recovering insoluble elastin from the animal body tissue.
US07851439B2
Organic compounds that are useful for the treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of diseases are described.
US07851438B2
Methods and materials are provided for the production of compositions of erythropoietin protein, wherein said compositions comprise a pre-selected N-linked glycosylation pattern as the predominant N-glycoform.
US07851435B2
The present invention relates to reindeer bone formation inducing protein called bone morphogenetic protein 3c (BMP-3c), nucleotide molecules encoding the protein and host cells expressing the protein. The present invention relates also to the use of said BMP-3c for treating disorders related to bone and cartilage formation. Osteogenic devices and pharmaceutical compositions containing the protein are also disclosed.
US07851427B2
Resist stripping agents, useful for fabricating circuits and/or forming electrodes on semiconductor devices for semiconductor integrated circuits with reduced metal etch rates, particularly copper etch rates, are provided with methods for their use. The preferred stripping agents contain low concentrations of a copper salt with or without an added amine to improve solubility of the salt. Further provided are integrated circuit devices and electronic interconnect structures prepared according to these methods.
US07851414B2
Useful microemulsions have corrosion inhibitors in the internal phase and an external phase, where the corrosion inhibitor has a surfactant property that helps define the microemulsion. For example, the corrosion inhibitor itself may have its pH adjusted so that it also serves the role of surfactant. The corrosion inhibitors form microemulsions with particle or droplet diameters of about 10 to about 300 nm. The microemulsions may be oil-in-water, water-in-oil or bi-continuous.
US07851411B2
α-Cyanoacrylates of the formula I, where: R1 is ORa wherein Ra is hydrogen, substituted alkyl, branched alkyl, branched alkenyl, cycloloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, phenylalkyl or alkylimino; is NRbRc wherein Rb is hydrogen, alkyl which may be substituted, alkenyl, alkynyl; Rc is hydrogen, alkyl which may be substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, phenylalkyl or alkylimino; or Rb and Rc form an alkandiyl-chain which may be substituted; or is SRd wherein Rd is hydrogen, alkyl which may be substituted, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, phenylalkyl or alkylimino; R2 is alkyl which may be substituted; is alkenyl or alkynyl; R3 is alkyl may be substituted; is alkenyl or alkynyl; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, cyano or alkyl; and their agriculturally useful salts, processes and intermediates for their preparation; and the use of these compounds or of compositions comprising these compounds for controlling undesirable plants are described.
US07851400B2
The present invention concerns a catalyst for the production of high density polyethylene, by homopolymerising ethylene or copolymerising ethylene and an alpha-olefinic comonomer comprising 3 to 10 carbon atoms, prepared by the steps of: a) selecting a silica support with a specific surface area larger than 300 m2/g; b) treating the silica support with a titanium compound, in order to introduce titanium into the support, or with an aluminium compound, in order to introduce aluminum into the support; c) either treating the titanated silica support with an aluminum compound, in order to introduce aluminum into the titanated silica support, or treating the aluminated silica support with a titanium compound, in order to introduce titanium into the aluminated silica support; d) depositing a chromium compound on the titanated and aluminated silica support to form a catalyst; e) activating the catalyst of step d) under air in a fluidised bed at a temperature of from 600 to 800° C.
US07851383B2
Method and system for forming gate structure with controllable oxide. The method includes a step for providing a semiconductor substrate and defining a source region and a drain region within the semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, the method includes a step for defining a gate region positioned between the source region and the drain region. Moreover, the method provides a step for forming a first layer overlaying the gate region. The first layer includes silicon nitride and/or silicon oxynitride material. Also, the method includes a step for forming a second layer by subjecting the semiconductor substrate to at least oxygen at a predetermined temperature range for a period of time. The second layer has a thickness less than 20 Angstroms.
US07851376B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming a compressive stress nitride film overlying a plurality of p-type field effect transistor gate structures produced on a substrate through a high-density plasma deposition process. Embodiments include generating an environment filled with high-density plasma using source gases of at least silane, argon and nitrogen; biasing the substrate to a high frequency power of varying density, in a range between 0.8 W/cm2 and 5.0 W/cm2; and depositing the high-density plasma to the plurality of gate structures to form the compressive stress nitride film.
US07851370B2
A patterning method is provided. In the patterning method, a film is formed on a substrate and a pre-layer information is measured. Next, an etching process is performed to etch the film. The etching process includes a main etching step, an etching endpoint detection step, an extension etching step and an over etching step. An extension etching time for performing the extension etching step is set within 10 seconds based on a predetermined correlation between an extension etching time and the pre-layer information, so as to achieve a required film profile.
US07851367B2
A substrate plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber of which an interior is evacuated under a predetermined vacuum condition; an RF electrode which is disposed in the chamber and configured so as to hold a substrate to be processed on a main surface thereof; an opposing electrode which is disposed opposite to the RF electrode in the chamber; an RF voltage applying device for applying an RF voltage with a predetermined frequency to the RF electrode; and a pulsed voltage applying device for applying a pulsed voltage to the RF electrode so as to be superimposed with the RF voltage.
US07851363B2
A pattern forming method includes forming a spin on dielectric film on a substrate, washing the spin on dielectric film by using a washing liquid, drying a surface of the spin on dielectric film after the washing, forming a photosensitive film on the dried coating type insulation film, emitting energy rays to a predetermined position of the photosensitive film in order to form a latent image on the photosensitive film, developing the photosensitive film in order to form a photosensitive film pattern which corresponds to the latent image, and processing the spin on dielectric film with the photosensitive film pattern serving as a mask.
US07851361B2
A laser ablated wafer for a semiconductor device, such as a MOSFET or other power device, and a method of producing such a wafer to achieve a lower electrical resistance are provided. The method includes forming first holes, slots or trenches on a first surface of the wafer and focusing a laser beam to form second trenches on a bottom surface of the wafer, and filling the trenches, for example using aluminum or other metallic filling, to provide conductive electrodes or conductive surfaces for the semiconductor device. In such a wafer each trench on the second surface may be deeper, for example more than one hundred microns deep and tens of microns wide.
US07851360B2
Organometallic precursors and methods for deposition on a substrate in seed/barrier applications are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, the organometallic precursor is a ruthenium-containing, tantalum-containing precursor or combination thereof and may be deposited by atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition and/or physical vapor deposition.
US07851356B2
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit includes forming landing pads in an array region of a substrate, individual ones of the landing pads being electrically coupled to individual ones of portions of devices formed in the substrate in the array region. The method also includes forming wiring lines within a peripheral region of the substrate. Forming the landing pads and forming the wiring lines includes a common lithographic process being effective in both the array and peripheral regions. The wiring lines and the landing pads of the integrated circuit are self-aligned.
US07851355B2
To provide a technology capable of improving reliability and manufacturing yield of a semiconductor device by reducing variations of electrical characteristics in connection hole portions. After a semiconductor wafer is placed over a wafer stage provided in a chamber for dry cleaning treatment of a deposition system, dry cleaning treatment is performed to a principal surface of the semiconductor wafer by supplying reducing gas, sequentially, heat treatment is performed to the semiconductor wafer at a first temperature of 100 to 150° C. by a showerhead which is maintained at 180° C. Next, after the semiconductor wafer is vacuum transferred from the chamber to a chamber for heat treatment, heat treatment is performed to the semiconductor wafer at a second temperature of 150 to 400° C. in the chamber, thereby removing a product remaining over the principal surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US07851348B2
A method of creating a unified chip involves performing front-end processing on a first wafer, the front end processing creating multiple devices on the wafer, performing back-end processing on a second wafer, the back end processing creating layers of interconnected metal traces arranged to interconnect at least some of the multiple devices to each other, and bonding the first wafer to the second wafer such that the multiple devices on the first wafer are interconnected to each other by the metal traces of the second wafer.
US07851345B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a solder bump formed on its surface. A contact pad is formed on a substrate. A signal trace is formed on the substrate. The pitch between the contact pad and signal trace is less than 150 micrometers. An electroless surface treatment is formed over the contact pad. The electroless surface treatment can include tin, ENIG, or OSP. A film layer is formed over the contact pad with an opening over the signal trace. An oxide layer is formed over the signal trace. The film layer and surface treatment prevent formation of the oxide layer over the contact pad. The film layer is removed. The solder bump is reflowed to metallurgically and electrically bond to the contact pad. In the event that the solder bump physically contacts the oxide layer, the oxide layer maintains electrical isolation between the solder bump and signal trace.
US07851342B2
The formation of electronic assemblies including a die having through vias is described. In one embodiment, a method includes providing Si die including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and forming a via extending through the Si die from the first surface to the second surface. The via is formed to have a larger width at the first surface than at the second surface, the larger width at the first surface being no less than 100 microns. The method also includes placing a plurality of particles in the via, wherein at least some of the particles comprise a polymer and at least some of the particles comprise a metal. The method also includes heating the die and the particles in the via to cross-link at least part of the polymer in the via, and cooling the die to solidify the polymer and form a electrically conductive composite including the cross-linked polymer and the metal in the via. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07851335B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive composition that enables to produce conforming products with a high manufacturing yield and without breaking or chipping of the chips in the picking-up step and that enables to stably connect a wire without contaminating a wire pad part disposed at the circumference of a bonding surface during a wire bonding step that is performed after die bonding, even in the case of chips being reduced in a thickness.The adhesive composition of the present invention comprises: (A) an acrylic polymer; (B) an epoxy resin; (C) a thermosetting agent; and (D) a silicone compound having a specific side chain.
US07851315B2
A field effect transistor and a method of fabricating the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor includes: a silicon body, a perimeter of the silicon body abutting a dielectric isolation; a source and a drain formed in the body and on opposite sides of a channel formed in the body; and a gate dielectric layer between the body and an electrically conductive gate electrode, a bottom surface of the gate dielectric layer in direct physical contact with a top surface of the body and a bottom surface the gate electrode in direct physical contact with a top surface of the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode having a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness, the first region extending along the top surface of the gate dielectric layer over the channel region, the second thickness greater than the first thickness.
US07851310B2
A method for forming semiconductor device, which simultaneously forms a trench MOS transistor device, and an embedded schottky barrier diode (SBD) device in a semiconductor substrate. The embedded SBD device has lower forward voltage drop, which reduces power dissipation. In addition, the voltage bearing ability may be modified easily by virtue of altering the dopant concentration or the width of the voltage bearing dopant region, or the thickness of epitaxial silicon layer. Furthermore, extra cost of purchasing SBD diode may be saved.
US07851308B2
A semiconductor device includes a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. A first conductivity type drift layer is formed on a surface of the first conductivity type semiconductor substrate, and a second conductivity type base region is produced in the first conductivity type drift layer. The second conductivity type base region has a trench formed in a surface thereof. A trench-stuffed layer is formed by stuffing the trench with a suitable material, and a second conductivity type column region formed in the first conductivity type drift layer and sited beneath the trench-stuffed layer. A first conductivity type source region is produced in the second conductivity type base region, and both a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode layer are produced so as to be associated with the first conductivity type source region and the first conductivity type drift layer such that an inversion region is defined in the second conductivity type base region in the vicinity of both the gate insulating layer and the gate electrode layer.
US07851302B2
Capacitors are formed in metallization layers of semiconductor device in regions where functional conductive features are not formed, more efficiently using real estate of integrated circuits. The capacitors may be stacked and connected in parallel to provide increased capacitance, or arranged in arrays. The plates of the capacitors are substantially the same dimensions as conductive features, such as conductive lines or vias, or are substantially the same dimensions as fill structures of the semiconductor device.
US07851300B2
A trench gate MOSFET and a fabrication method thereof includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a semiconductor substrate, and then forming a second epitaxial layer formed over the first epitaxial layer, and then forming a body region over the second conductive type second epitaxial layer, and then forming a circular cross-section in a portion of the body region by performing an ion implantation process on the body region such that a bottom area thereof has a circular cross-section.
US07851280B2
An organic electroluminescent display (“OELD”) includes an organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”), a circuit region, and an interlayer dielectric (“ILD”) layer. The OLED is disposed in each of a plurality of pixels arranged on a substrate. The circuit region includes two or more thin film transistors (“TFTs”) and a storage capacitor. The ILD layer has two or more insulating layers and includes a first region disposed between both electrodes of the storage capacitor and a second region covering the TFTs. At least one of the insulating layers has a window exposing the insulating layer directly beneath the at least one insulating layer so that that the ILD layer is thinner in the first region than in the second region. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce an occupation area of the storage capacitor while maintaining the necessary capacitance of the storage capacitor and expanding the area of the luminescent region.
US07851270B2
A manufacturing process for a chip package structure is provided. First, a patterned conductive layer having a plurality of first openings and a patterned solder resist layer on the patterned conductive layer are provided. A plurality of chips are bonded onto the patterned conductive layer such that the chips and the patterned solder resist layer are disposed at two opposite surfaces of the patterned conductive layer. The chips are electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer by a plurality of bonding wires passing through the first openings of the patterned conductive layer. At least one molding compound is formed to encapsulate the patterned conductive layer, the patterned solder resist layer, the chips and the bonding wires. Then, the molding compound, the patterned conductive layer and the patterned solder resist layer are separated.
US07851267B2
A method for assembling a power module includes providing a casing with a plurality of receiving elements. At least one substrate carrying at least one semiconductor chip is provided within the casing. At least one support element is provided. An elastically stressed cover is arranged over the at least one support element, and the cover is released so that the elastically stressed cover is restrained by the at least one support element and the plurality of receiving elements.
US07851266B2
A microelectronic device wafer includes an adhesive molded in-situ on the wafer. Adhesives and wafers are positioned in molds and a method that includes drawing in the molds at least a partial vacuum and partially curing the adhesive provides an in-situ molded adhesive that is positioned on the wafer. The adhesives can be in liquid, solid, or other forms prior to molding. During molding, the adhesive can be partially cured by heating or irradiating.
US07851262B2
A manufacturing process for a chip package structure is provided. First, a patterned conductive layer and a patterned solder resist layer on the patterned conductive layer are provided. A plurality of chips are bonded onto the patterned conductive layer such that the chips and the patterned solder resist layer are disposed at two opposite surfaces of the patterned conductive layer. The chips are electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer by a plurality of bonding wires, wherein the chips and the bonding wires are at the same side of the patterned conductive layer. A molding compound is formed to encapsulate the patterned conductive layer, the chips and the bonding wires. Then, the molding compound, the patterned conductive layer and the patterned solder resist layer are separated.
US07851261B2
An encapsulated semiconductor package includes a substrate including a chip mounting area and inner contact pads on its upper surface and at least two semiconductor chips, each having an active surface with a plurality of chip contact pads and a passive surface. A first semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip mounting area. A spacer block including a first and a second mounting face lying in essentially parallel planes is positioned between and attached to the first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip. The mounting faces of the spacer block have a rounded outline.
US07851260B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. As a part of the method, one surface of a substrate is molded with resin where the substrate and the resin are heated in a first heating process and maintained in a flat condition. The substrate and the resin are returned to room temperature while being maintained in the flat condition after the first heating process. The resin is cut after the substrate and the resin are returned to room temperature from a surface of the resin that is opposite the surface of the resin where the substrate contacts the resin. The substrate is left intact when the resin is cut. Thereafter, the substrate is separated.
US07851252B2
The present invention provides patterned features of dimensions of less than 50 nm on a substrate. According to various embodiments, the features may be “Manhattan” style structures, have high aspect ratios, and/or have atomically smooth surfaces. The patterned features are made from polymer brushes grafted to a substrate. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the features may be determined by adjusting the grafting density and/or the molecular weight of the brushes. Once the brushes are patterned, the features can be shaped and reshaped with thermal or solvent treatments to achieve the desired profiles. The chemical nature of the polymer brush is thus independent of the patterning process, which allows for optimization of the polymer brush used for specific applications. Applications include masks for pattern transfer techniques such as reactive ion etching.
US07851247B2
A method of fabricating a micro-electromechanical system microphone structure is disclosed. First, a substrate defining a MEMS region and a logic region is provided, and a surface of the substrate has a dielectric layer thereon. Next, at least one metal interconnect layer is formed on the dielectric layer in the logic region, and at least one micro-machined metal mesh is simultaneously formed in the dielectric layer of the MEMS region. Therefore, the thickness of the MEMS microphone structure can be effectively reduced.
US07851245B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, the gate electrode including a first portion of a metal oxide layer and a metal layer; a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate so as to be insulated from the gate electrode, the pixel electrode including a second portion of the metal oxide layer; a gate insulating layer disposed on the substrate to cover the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, the semiconductor layer including a channel region corresponding to the gate electrode, and first and second regions disposed outside the channel region; a first electrode connected to the first region of the semiconductor layer; a second electrode connected to the second region of the semiconductor layer and the pixel electrode; an ohmic contact layer disposed between the first region of the semiconductor layer and the first electrode and between the second region of the semiconductor layer and the second electrode; a pixel defining layer disposed on the substrate to cover the first electrode, the second electrode, the semiconductor layer, and the pixel electrode, the pixel defining layer including an opening through which the pixel electrode is partially exposed; an organic light-emitting layer disposed on the pixel electrode exposed through the opening; and an opposite electrode covering the organic light-emitting layer.
US07851241B2
There are provided a scribing step of performing scribing in a state in which a protective material is applied on at least one surface of a brittle material substrate, and a first scribing device that performs this scribing step. Accordingly, it is possible to form a vertical crack that reaches deep inside of the substrate, while effectively removing cullets produced at the time of severing the substrate, thus performing precise severing along a scribe line.
US07851234B2
A method is disclosed for controlling the sheet resistance of copper trenches formed on semiconductor wafers. The method includes forming a plurality of copper-filled trenches on a wafer, measuring the sheet resistance of each of the plurality of copper-filled trenches, and comparing the measured sheet resistance values to a predetermined sheet resistance value. Photolithography steps performed on subsequent wafers are adjusted according to a difference between the measured sheet resistance values and the predetermined value. In one embodiment, this adjustment takes the form of adjusting a photolithographic extension exposure energy to thereby adjust the cross-section of the resulting trenches.
US07851229B2
Improved single-container, two-phase optical assays for analytes are provided which are faster and require less steps than conventional two phase optical assays. The assays of the invention involve first mixing and incubating an assay mixture including a buffer, solid particles (e.g., agarose beads), an analyte-containing sample, and an affinity agent operable to bind analyte(s) to the solid particles, followed by separation of the mixture into a particle-rich phase and a substantially particle-free phase. In one aspect, the settling step is gravity-induced and is instrumentally monitored to determine when substantially full separation has occurred. Thereafter, the respective phases may be photometrically measured to obtain qualitative and/or quantitative information about the analyte(s). It has been found that measurements taken with only one sensor set before and after settling of the particle-rich fraction give scientifically valid results as a two phase optical assay.
US07851228B2
The disclosure relates generally to neurodegenerative disorders and more specifically to a group of presenilin/G-protein/c-src binding polypeptides and methods of use for modulating signaling and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
US07851226B2
A method and apparatus for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes in a reaction cell. The reaction cell is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10−7 M.
US07851223B2
Methods to detect emphysema by assessing phospholipid transfer protein in lung lavage are described.
US07851221B2
The invention provides a system for designing, operating, monitoring and/or diagnosing a chemical reaction, particularly a hydrotreating process, using a fixed bed catalytic reactor.
US07851217B2
A process for producing a tissue transplant construct for reconstructing a human or animal organ. The process may include the steps of: (a) isolation and two-dimensional cultivation of organ-specific tissue cells; (b) application of the organ-specific tissue cells to a biocompatible, collagen-containing membrane; and, (c) cultivation of the organ-specific tissue cells on the membrane with biochemical and mechanical stimulation of the organ-specific tissue cells. Tissue transplant constructs and methods for using tissue transplant constructs are also taught.
US07851214B2
The present invention relates, in general, to a methodology or the generation of nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses (Pringle, 1991) from cloned deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA). Such rescued viruses are suitable for use as vaccines, or alternatively, as plasmids in somatic gene therapy applications. The invention also relates to cDNA molecules suitable as tools in this methodology and to helper cell lines allowing the direct rescue of such viruses. Measles virus (MV) is used as a model for other representatives of the Mononegavirales, in particular the family Paramyxoviridae.
US07851208B2
An optical reader system and method are described herein that can detect a lateral and/or angular misalignment of one or more biosensors so that the biosensors can be properly re-located after being removed from and then reinserted into the optical reader system. In one embodiment, the biosensors are incorporated within the wells of a microplate.
US07851192B2
Compositions and methods are provided that relate to a modified DNA cleaving enzyme having at least 35% amino acid sequence identity with T7 Endo I. The modified enzyme includes two catalytic centers separated by a β-bridge where the β-bridge contains at least one mutation having an effect of altering enzyme cleavage activity compared to the unmodified enzyme. Activities associated with the modified DNA cleaving enzyme that can be modulated in different reaction conditions include at least one of: (a) non-sequence specific nicking activity; (b) cleaving the second strand of a duplex DNA at a preexisting nick site to produce a linear duplex with a single strand overhang; (c) non-sequence specific DNA cleavage; (d) cleaving DNA flanking a mismatch; and (e) cleavage at a cruciform structure in a DNA duplex.
US07851191B2
Disclosed are nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for acetolactate synthase, acetolactate synthase regulatory regions, α-tubulin promoter, a promoter from a Thraustochytriales polyketide synthase (PKS) system, and fatty acid desaturase promoter, each from a Thraustochytriales microorganism. Also disclosed are recombinant vectors useful for transformation of Thraustochytriales microorganisms, as well as a method of transformation of Thraustochytriales microorganisms. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used for the expression of foreign nucleic acids in a Thraustochytriales microorganism as well as for the deletion, mutation, or inactivation of genes in Thraustochytriales microorganisms.
US07851182B2
A polypeptide-dimer built of two identical monomeric fragments comprising the domains 1 to 3 of the extracellular (soluble) part of glycoprotein (gp)130 and a certain polypeptide spacer are described, which are covalently linked with each other and which bear significant advantages concerning their production rate in host cells, their improved purification and their potential to bind to IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor complexes. Furthermore, a pharmaceutical composition containing said dimeric molecule and various medical uses are described.
US07851174B2
Method for quantitatively determining cholesterol in high density lipoproteins and reagents therefor
A method for quantitatively determining cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein in a sample, which comprises: reacting a sample with i) cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase or ii) cholesterol esterase, an oxidized coenzyme and cholesterol dehydrogenase in an aqueous medium comprising i) nonionic surfactant, polyanion and albumin or ii) a combination of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkylamine or polyoxyethylene alkenylamine and a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether sulfate and an anionic bile acid derivative, and measuring the formed hydrogen peroxide or a reduced coenzyme; and a reagent used therefor.
US07851170B1
Hybridoma cell lines which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies which selectively bind to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis have been produced. Cells of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis in biological samples may be detected and quantified by contacting the sample with the antibodies to form a M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis/antibody immunocomplex when M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis is present, which immunocomplex may then be detected. The monoclonal antibodies also may be incorporated into kits for the detection and quantification of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis.
US07851169B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting and inhibiting squamous cell carcinoma using agents that target the laminin 5 alpha 3 G4-G5 domain.
US07851167B2
This invention provides populations human cells of the cardiomyocyte lineage. The cells are obtained by causing cultures of pluripotent stem cells to differentiate in vitro, and then harvesting cells with certain phenotypic features. Differentiated cells bear cell surface and morphologic markers characteristic of cardiomyocytes, and a proportion of them undergo spontaneous periodic contraction. Highly enriched populations of cardiomyocytes and their replicating precursors can be obtained, suitable for use in a variety of applications, such as drug screening and therapy for cardiac disease.
US07851162B2
The present invention relates to methods and kits for determining a predisposition and surveillance protocols for developing cancer of various sites due to specific mutation in at least one allele of CHEK2 gene and/or at least one allele of NOD2 gene and/or at least one allele of CDKN2A gene.
US07851156B2
The present invention provides for methods of assaying the activity of a polymerase enzyme by using a Scintillation Proximity Assay (SPA) without the need of primers modified with affinity tags. The methods of the present invention can be practiced with any number of RNA and DNA polymerase enzymes.
US07851152B2
This invention provides methods, apparatus and kits for the quantitative and qualitative characterization of the nucleic acid molecule's behavior by modify the nucleic acid molecules to incorporate selected fluorescent base analogues (FBAs). The methods generally place one or more fluorescent base analogue into a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., an oligonucleotide) to replace the corresponding normal base(s), arrange fluorescent base analogues as intrinsic fluorescent probes by using direct excitation, indirect excitation, and excimer emission labeling schemes, introducing so modified nucleic acid molecules into the matrix with interested condition and measuring the fluorescent properties of the modified nucleic acid molecules at the specific emission wavelength of FBA(s). The apparatus is designed to irradiate the FBA(s) incorporated nucleic acid molecule at a wavelength in the range of 240 nm-280 nm and detect the fluorescent activities at the specific emission wavelength of the respective FBA(s). The kit provides oligonucleotides modified by multiple FBAs in the position of critical portions. It utilizes simultaneous indirect excitation labeling scheme for qualitative and quantitative investigation of nucleic acid molecules' interaction in vitro and in vivo.
US07851151B2
Provided are a HNF-1 α gene including a novel single-nucleotide polymorphism and a protein encoded by the HNF-1 α gene, a polynucleotide associated with MODY3 diabetes based on the HNF-1 α gene, a microarray and a diagnostic kit including the polynucleotide, and a method for diagnosis of MODY3 diabetes.
US07851143B2
Provided are in vitro and in vivo methods for determining whether a patient with Fabry disease will respond to treatment with a specific pharmacological chaperone.
US07851139B2
A pattern forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes forming a resist layer on a semiconductor substrate, selectively exposing the resist layer, developing the selectively exposed resist layer, decomposing photosensitizer in the resist layer after developing the resist layer, removing the photosensitizer or acid generated from the decomposed photosensitizer, applying a shrink material on the developed resist layer after removing the photosensitizer or the acid generated from the decomposed photosensitizer, performing a heating process for the resist layer on which the shrink material is applied, and removing a part of the heat-processed shrink material.
US07851134B2
In order to improve a method for producing a structure of polymerisation picture points (9) in a light-sensitive layer (2) of printing plates (3), in particular flexo-printing plates, as an image of picture data composed from a matrix (17) of picture points, by way of structured exposure with a light source, to the extent that an improved tonal range of the print picture is achieved and simultaneously that the manufacturing time is reduced, it is suggested for each polymerisation picture point (9) to be produced by an individual exposure sequence (6, 8, 11) which on the one hand is selected in dependence on the surface density of the polymerisation picture points (9) to be set at the location (A, B, C, D) of the polymerisation picture point (9) and one the other hand in dependence on the picture data.
US07851131B2
A photosensitive adhesive composition comprising: (A) a polyimide having a carboxyl group as a side chain, whereof the acid value is 80 to 180 mg/KOH; (B) a photo-polymerizable compound; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator.
US07851126B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor, which comprises: a support; an image-recording layer; and a protective layer, in this order, wherein at least one of the image-recording layer and the protective layer comprises a phosphonium salt having a specific structure, and a lithographic printing process, which comprises: exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor; supplying an oil-based ink and a fountain solution comprising a phosphonium salt having a specific structure to the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor on a printing machine to remove an unexposed area of an image-recording layer; and conducting printing.
US07851119B2
The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoconductor capable of reducing latent electrostatic image stability defects caused by adhesion/adsorption of an electric discharge product formed by a charger in an image forming process, degradation of charge transportability and cleaning defects caused when removing a residual toner. The electrophotographic photoconductor has a conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer which contains at least a binder, a charge generating material and a charge transporting material and is formed on the substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer contains an injection material composed of at least any one of one wax selected from paraffin waxes, Fisher-Tropsh waxes, polyolefin waxes and a polyorganosiloxane compound in an area from the surface of the photosensitive layer to 50% of the thickness thereof in the thickness direction of the electrophotographic photoconductor, and the content of the injection material is 3% by mass or more to the content of the binder.
US07851115B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a substrate; an undercoat layer thereover wherein the undercoat layer contains a metal oxide and an iodonium containing compound; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer.
US07851113B2
Overcoat layers, which may be useful for reducing torque in electrophotographic photoreceptors, are provided. The overcoat layers include a polymer matrix having a particulate inorganic lubricant and a particulate fluoropolymer uniformly dispersed therein. Also provided are electrophotographic photoreceptors that include a substrate and the overcoat layers, electrophotographic imaging apparatuses that include such photoreceptors, and methods for forming the photoreceptors.
US07851110B2
A secure photomask including a substrate having one or more pattern layers formed thereon and a blocking aperture disposed below the one or more pattern layers that prevents at least one of unauthorized use and copying of the photomask.
US07851106B2
Provided is a fuel cartridge detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, wherein the fuel cartridge is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed at the rear end of the liquid fuel; a follower auxiliary member which has no fluidity and is insoluble in the liquid fuel is inserted into the follower; and at least one protruding part is formed at an upper end part of the follower auxiliary member.
US07851100B2
The invention provides an MEA-gasket assembly (1) comprising: an MEA (5) having a polymer electrolyte membrane (5A), catalyst layers and gas diffusing layers (5C); a plate-like frame (6) which is joined to a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (5A) so as to enclose the MEA (5), the portion being located in a peripheral region of the MEA (5) and which has a plurality of fluid manifold holes (12, 13, 14); and an annular gasket (7) formed on both faces of the frame (6), wherein an annular gap formed between the inner peripheral edge of the annular gasket (7) and the outer peripheral edges of the gas diffusing layers (5C) is at least partially closed.
US07851095B2
An anode structure for incorporation into a fuel cell includes a first region having one or more electrocatalysts, in which the first region is adjacent to the fuel inlet when the anode structure is incorporated into a fuel cell, and a second region having one or more electrocatalysts, in which the second region is adjacent to the fuel outlet when the anode structure is incorporated into a fuel cell. The first region is better at promoting the electrochemical oxidation of carbon monoxide than the second region.
US07851092B2
The present invention is generally related to electrolytes containing novel redox shuttles for overcharge protection of lithium-ion batteries. The redox shuttles are capable of thousands hours of overcharge tolerance and have a redox potential at about 3-5.5 V vs. Li and particularly about 4.4-4.8 V vs. Li. Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides electrolytes comprising an alkali metal salt; a polar aprotic solvent; and a redox shuttle additive that is an aromatic compound having at least one aromatic ring with four or more electronegative substituents, two or more oxygen atoms bonded to the aromatic ring, and no hydrogen atoms bonded to the aromatic ring; and wherein the electrolyte solution is substantially non-aqueous. Further there are provided electrochemical devices employing the electrolyte and methods of making the electrolyte.
US07851089B2
An electrode plate for a battery includes a current collector having a substrate and a plurality of protrusions that are carried on the substrate; and an active material layer that is carried on the current collector. The protrusions include a conductive material that undergoes plastic deformation more easily than the substrate. A lithium secondary battery includes the above electrode plate.
US07851084B2
A core/shell polymer (A), comprising: a rubbery core comprising a crosslinked vinylidene fluoride copolymer (a) having a vinylidene fluoride content of 30-90 wt. % and a shell comprising a vinylidene fluoride polymer (b) having a vinylidene fluoride content which is larger than in the crosslinked vinylidene fluoride copolymer (a) and at least 80 wt. %, in a weight ratio (a)/(b) of 30/70-90/10. The vinylidene fluoride-based core/shell polymer (A) is excellent in mechanical properties including flexibility and resistance to nonaqueous electrolytic solutions, is capable of forming a composite electrode layer showing excellent flexibility and adhesion to an electroconductive substrate in combination with a powder active substance and is therefore suitable for use as a binder for nonaqueous electrochemical devices.
US07851071B2
A novel derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom with a structure made by bonding special groups to benzimidazole, a material for an organic electroluminescence (EL) device comprising the derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom and an organic electroluminescence device comprising at least one organic compound layer containing a light emitting layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes, wherein the device contains the derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom. An organic EL device achieving elevation of luminance and of efficiency in light emission even under low driving voltage is obtainable by an employment of the derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom for at least one layer composing organic compound layers of the EL device.
US07851070B2
A diffusion barrier alloy film has a diffusion barrier layer which has more excellent diffusion barrier properties than an Re—Cr alloy film, and can stand usage at higher temperatures (e.g., 1150° C. or higher). The diffusion barrier layer is made of an Re—W alloy σ phase containing 12.5 to 56.5% of W in terms of atomic composition and the remainder of Re excluding unavoidable impurities. A metal base has a surface coated with a diffusion barrier layer. If required, the diffusion barrier layer has a surface coated with a diffusion alloy layer containing 10% or greater and less than 50% of Al, Cr, or Si in terms of atomic composition, providing a high-temperature apparatus member.
US07851065B2
An extreme low resistivity light attenuation anti-reflection coating structure in order to increase transmittance of blue light. The coating structure includes a substrate and a coating module. The coating module is formed on a front surface of the substrate and composed of a plurality of mixture coating layers, a plurality of Al-based oxide coating layers and a plurality of metal coating layers that are alternately stacked onto each other. Each mixture coating layer is composed of silicon carbide compound and Ti-based oxide.
US07851064B2
Methods for synthesizing carbon nanotubes and structures formed thereby, includes forming carbon nanotubes on a plurality of synthesis sites supported by a first substrate, interrupting nanotube synthesis, mounting a free end of each carbon nanotube to a second substrate, and removing the first substrate. Each carbon nanotube is capped by one of the synthesis sites, to which growth reactants have ready access.
US07851054B2
Multilayer optical films having one or more reflection bands are provided. The films include alternating polymeric layers configured to selectively reflect and transmit visible light at a design angle of incidence, where the selective reflection includes first and second visible reflection bands. At least one of the first and second visible reflection bands is a first-order reflection.
US07851052B2
A coating system on a fibrous substrate, such as a fibrous ceiling panel, having a first surface and a second surface. A first coating is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and includes a first binder and a first filler material. A second coating may be disposed on the second surface of the substrate. The second coating includes a second binder and a second filler material. The first coating and the second coating expand at different rates in the presence of humidity in order to help prevent sagging of the substrate in presence of humidity. The first coating is preferably a hydrophobic coating having a large particle size, high elastic modulus filler material. The second coating is preferably a hydrophilic coating having a lower concentration of high elastic modulus material and a polymer having a hydrophilic moiety.
US07851051B2
An improved roofing material having an upper and lower surface in which a thin layer comprising re-melted polypropylene or other suitable plastic is adhered to at least a portion of its lower surface.
US07851046B2
Before a thermally sprayed coating is deposited onto a cylindrical internal surface of a cylinder bore 3a rough surface 13 is formed to increase the adhesion of the thermally sprayed coating. After forming the rough surface is completed, an internal diameter measurement surface that is smoother than the rough surface is formed on an axial end section of the internal cylindrical surface. The internal diameter of the cylinder bore is measured at the internal diameter measurement surface with an internal diameter measuring instrument. An appropriate thickness for the thermally sprayed coating is determined based on the measurement result.
US07851045B2
The invention concerns a transparent substrate whereof part at least of the outer surface has the form of a web comprising protuberances, 80% of them at least, having heights ranging between 40 and 250 nm, mean diameters between 1 and 500 nm, 80% at least of the distances between two neighbouring protuberances ranging between 1 and 500 nm. The invention further provides two methods for making said substrates and its use in a transport vehicle glazing, for a building, or for an indoor or outdoor decorative element, for urban environment or for household appliance, in a lenticular screen or microprism substrate, in an engraved glass substrate for lamp or display, and in a chemical or biochemical microreactor.
US07851044B2
An image display device is provided that can be reduced in size and weight by using an EL and can display a clear image whose color does not change by any of reflected light or transmitted light. The image display device includes an opaque first image layer on a surface of which a first image is formed, the first image layer being made of a sheet-like material and being provided with a plurality of holes, a second image layer that is placed on a back surface of the first image layer and is made of a transparent sheet on which a second image is formed, the second image being visible through the plural holes, and a lighting system for illuminating the second image from a back, the lighting system being placed on a back surface of the second image layer.
US07851038B2
A three-part laminated surface construction can be shaped and molded by hand and will retain that shape until the particular need is met, such as controlling the flow of liquids and resins, or establishing a protective cover. The surface construction includes a center sheet of lead with rubber layers secured over the lead. The perimeter of the rubber layers are secured together. The lead sheet can be provided with outer flaps, one soft rubber side and the other rubber side abrasion-resistant for folding around and protection from sharp objects.
US07851036B2
A shoe is fabricated from an upper structure and a sole structure wherein the sole structure contains a gas-filled cushioning device composed of a multi-layer film formed into a gas-filled membrane having an interior compartment enclosing at least one capture gas. The multi-layer film comprises an outer layer of an elastomeric thermoplastic material such as a polyurethane, an inner layer of an elastomeric thermoplastic material such as a polyurethane and a barrier layer interposed therebetween which is derived from a combination of at least one ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and up to about 50 wt. % of an aliphatic thermoplastic urethane.
US07851034B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit surrounded by two glass substrates, with at least one spacer element being disposed adjacent to and/or cradling the VIG and with a sealant sealing the entire unit at each end of the VIG, thereby reducing the chances of the VIG being damaged and/or improving the insulating features of the entire window unit. In certain example embodiments the spacer may be substantially U-shaped, whereas two pillar-like spacers may be used in connection with certain other example embodiments. The spacer element(s) may be butyl-based, foam-based, warm-edge spacer element(s), etc. The sealant may be polysulfide based, one- or two-part silicone based, polyurethane based, a dual seal equivalent sealant product, a hot melt butyl based sealant product, etc. The R-value of the window unit may be at least about 11, but typically is about 15-16, when measured at the center of the lite.
US07851019B2
An apparatus and method improves heating of a solid precursor inside a sublimation vessel. In one embodiment, inert, thermally conductive elements are interspersed among units of solid precursor. For example the thermally conductive elements can comprise a powder, beads, rods, fibers, etc. In one arrangement, microwave energy can directly heat the thermally conductive elements.
US07851013B2
A plurality of through holes having an equal size are formed in an underlay substrate. Positions of the plurality of through holes are suitably set according to the shape of a substrate sheet. Specifically, an equal number of through holes are formed in each of end blank corresponding regions that, when the substrate sheet and the underlay substrate are overlapped with each other, overlap with end blank regions of the substrate sheet, of the underlay substrate. In addition, the through holes are formed at equal spacing in portions excluding the end blank corresponding regions in a blank corresponding region, which overlaps with a blank region of the substrate sheet, of the underlay substrate.
US07851009B2
The present invention provides a meat-like food material having a favorable flavor and a meat-like mouthfeel by heating and pressurizing ingredients including a vegetable protein ingredient, a milk whey protein ingredient and water as the main ingredients with an extruder to obtain a swollen product, and a fried meat-like food product by reconstituting said meat-like food material with a seasoning liquid followed by frying, as well as a glazed fried meat-like food product by coating said fried meat-like food product with a glaze.
US07851007B2
The present invention provides a rush juice powder which is mainly made from rush containing a high percentage of dietary fiber and having an antibacterial function and an anti-inflammatory function, has an extremely high function to eliminate active oxygen through interaction with a matcha (powdered green tea) in addition to the original functions of rush, and further is easy to drink. A rush juice powder contains a powdered rush which is made by soaking a rush in hot water for a blanching treatment, drying the blanched rush by hot-air and then pulverizing the dried rush. Both a matcha (powdered green tea) and a cyclic oligosaccharide are blended at a respectively determined ratio to the powdered rush.
US07851006B2
The present invention relates to oral compositions and beverage products, which include taste potentiators to enhance the perception of active substances contained therein. More specifically, some embodiments provide potentiator compositions, which include at least one active substance, such as a sweetener, and at least one potentiator, such as a sweetness potentiator, which enhances the sweetness of the composition upon consumption.
US07850998B2
An antiviral composition and a method of treating viral conditions comprising colloidal silver, silver nitrate, or both, and an antiviral natural herb or a natural herb from the Rutaceae family, such as Ruta graveolens, Myrtaceae family, such as Melaleuca alternifolia, Cupressaceae family, such as Thuja occidentalis, and the Moraceae family, such as unripe fig, or any combination thereof.
US07850990B2
Compositions which comprise delivery vehicles having stably associated therewith non-antagonistic combinations of two or more agents, such as antineoplastic agents, are useful in achieving non-antagonistic effects when combinations of drugs are administered.
US07850989B2
A product and method for treating dehydration in neonatal calves. The product is administered to dehydrated calves during treatment, to the exclusion of milk replacers or electrolytes.
US07850988B2
Highly compactable granulations and methods for preparing highly compactable granulations are disclosed. More particularly, highly compactable calcium carbonate granulations are disclosed. The granulations comprise powdered materials such as calcium carbonate that have small median particle sizes. The disclosed granulations are useful in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical tableting and provide smaller tablet sizes upon compression than previously available.
US07850983B2
Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living, core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.
US07850982B2
Compositions are provided which include a polymer made at least in part from a polyoxyalkylene copolymer, such as a poloxamer. The polymer may be combined with a second component to form a blend or emulsion. The resulting composition may be utilized to form medical devices, drug delivery devices, or coatings for other medical devices.
US07850980B2
The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotide molecules that encode Chlamydia polypeptides which can be used in methods to prevent, treat, and diagnose Chlamydia infection. In one form of the invention, the polypeptides relate to the 98 KDa OMP antigen designated CPN100686 RY 54 (SEQ ID No:14, encoded in one form by SEQ ID NO:1).
US07850979B2
A method for generating a T cell immune response in a host involving administering a vectored vaccine comprising a non-replicating or replication impaired viral vector expressing the translation product of a mycobacterial antigen 85A gene. Vectored vaccines and uses thereof are also provided. Also provided is a method of inducing a CD8 and a CD4 memory T cell response against an antigen using an adenovirus vector expressing an antigen or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
US07850976B2
The invention provides an insulin resistance improving agent and a therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes, which contain a C-terminal globular domain of adiponectin, adiponectin, or a gene for the domain or adiponectin. The invention also provides a method for improving insulin resistance and treating type 2 diabetes by administering the aforementioned agent(s).
US07850973B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of Aβ in the brain of a patient, such as Alzheimer's disease. Such methods entail administering an immunogenic fragment of Aβ, lacking a T-cell epitope, capable of inducing a beneficial immune response in the form of antibodies to Aβ. In another aspect, the immunogenic fragment of Aβ is capable of elevating plasma Aβ levels. The immunogenic fragments comprise linear or multivalent peptides of Aβ. Pharmaceutical compositions comprise the immunogenic fragment chemically linked to a carrier molecule which may be administered with an adjuvant.
US07850966B2
The present invention concerns novel antibody variants, particularly anti-HER2 antibody variants having substitutions at positions within the variable domains of the heavy and light chains.
US07850963B2
Disclosed are human VEGF-2 antibodies, antibody fragments, or variants thereof. Also provided are processes for producing such antibodies. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder comprising administering to an animal, preferably a human, an effective amount of one or more VEGF-2 antibodies or fragments or variants thereof.
US07850961B2
A small percentage of cells within an established solid tumor have the properties of stem cells. These solid tumor stem cells give rise both to more tumor stem cells and to the majority of cells in the tumor that have lost the capacity for extensive proliferation and the ability to give rise to new tumors. Thus, solid tumor heterogeneity reflects the presence of tumor cell progeny arising from a solid tumor stem cell. We have developed a xenograft model in which we have been able to establish tumors from primary tumors via injection of tumors in the mammary gland of severely immunodeficient mice. These xenograft assay have allowed us to do biological and molecular assays to characterize clonogenic solid tumor stem cells. We have also developed evidence that strongly implicates the Notch pathway, especially Notch 4, as playing a central pathway in carcinogenesis.
US07850958B2
A recombinant double stranded RNA (dsRNA) nucleocapsid useful for the expression of dsRNA expression cassettes encoding passenger genes, such as, but not restricted to, vaccine antigens, bioactive proteins, immunoregulatory proteins, antisense RNAs, and catalytic RNAs, replicates in bacterial hosts and includes a P8 protein shell and three dsRNA segments where one of the segments includes a cap independent translation enhancer (CITE) operationally linked to a passenger gene.
US07850957B2
The present invention relates to a genic expression adenoviral hybrid vector characterized in that it contains at least the following elements, oriented in the direction 5′ to 3′: i. a first chain of adenoviral origin comprising a first inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequence and a signal sequence for packaging of the adenovirus; ii. a first non-encoding stuffer sequence; iii. a sequence corresponding to a tissue specific promoter; iv. a chain of cDNA derived from an alphavirus, the sequence of which is partly complementary to an alphaviral RNA sequence, comprising at least a sequence encoding for at least one exogenous gene of interest; v. a polyadenylation sequence; and vi. a second adenoviral inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequence, it preferably relates to an adenoviral hybrid vector comprising as exogenous gene of interest the therapeutic gene of mammalian interleukin IL-12 and even more preferably human interleukin hIL-12; and to the use of the hybrid vector in a process for transferring genetic material to a cell, particularly a tumor cell that preferably expresses alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and to its use for inducing an immune response against foreign antigens.
US07850955B2
Gelling agents which contain a specific N-acylamino acid monoamide monoalkyl ester have a melting temperature of about 100° C., are capable of solidifying a wide variety of oily base materials including silicones, and do not cause “sweating” while retaining a practical level of gel strength. When applied to skin, the resulting gels have a good feeling, good spreadability, and good fittability to skin.
US07850953B2
The present invention concerns a composition for the permanent shaping of human hair used both for the permanent waving of human hair with an excellent waving effect as well as for the straightening of curled hair comprising at least one ubichinone of the formula where n is a number between 1 and 10 at a concentration of 0.0001 to 1% by weight calculated to total composition.
US07850944B2
A method for generating hydrogen and/or synthesis gas in a production facility where little or no export steam is produced. Most or all of the high pressure steam produced from the waste heat from the process is used in the steam-hydrocarbon reformer with little or no steam export. The method uses oxygen enhanced combustion which may involve oxygen lancing and/or oxygen-enrichment. Plant efficiencies using the method and prior art-type methods are compared.
US07850942B2
A method of making mesoporous carbon beads comprises steps of providing a nucleophilic component such as phenolic compound or phenol condensation prepolymer, dissolving the nucleophilic component in a pore former, together with at least one electrophilic cross-linking agent such as formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, furfural and hexamethylene tetramine, dispersing the resulting solution into a mineral oil to form beads, condensing both the component and the agent in the presence of the pore former to form beads of porous resin, removing the beads from the mineral oil and carbonizing the beads to form mesoporous carbon beads.
US07850931B2
A mobile deactivation apparatus for deactivating contaminants within a defined region that includes a source of a vaporous deactivating agent, a gas handling system, a support member, a drive means, a control system, and a power system is disclosed. The gas handling system dispenses the vaporous deactivating agent to the defined region. The support member is movable in the defined region and supports the source of the vaporous deactivating agent and the gas handling system. The support member can be propelled by the drive means. The control system is programmed to control the operation of the gas handling system and the drive means. A power system is provided to supply power to the mobile deactivation apparatus.
US07850918B2
Embodiments of the invention contemplate an apparatus that determines gas sorption properties of a large number of material samples simultaneously, by sequentially measuring the pressure in a plurality of sample chambers until all chambers have reached equilibrium pressure. In most applications, it is most useful to quantify the sorption capacity of a material under specific conditions, i.e., at a certain temperature and pressure. Because sorption capacity is determined by bringing a material sample to an equilibrium state with a dosing gas, detailed kinetic data related to the sorption properties of a material are not absolutely necessary. Therefore, complete pressure-time curves are not typically necessary, and only the equilibrium pressure of a material sample for a given quantity of dosing gas is required.
US07850913B2
The present invention provides a paraffin-penetration treatment method for a tissue preparation, which is capable of enabling sufficient penetration of paraffin even into a tissue preparation, into which paraffin can hardly penetrate by a conventional paraffin-penetration treatment method. When the penetration of the paraffin into the tissue preparation is performed by immersing the tissue preparation in molten paraffin after a dehydrating and a degreasing treatments, the method comprises the steps of: immersing the tissue preparation in the molten paraffin so as to allow the paraffin to penetrate into the tissue preparation; cooling the tissue preparation so as to solidify the paraffin having penetrated thereinto; and immersing the tissue preparation in the molten paraffin again so as to melt the paraffin having penetrated thereinto, and the above described solidification treatment and melting treatment are conducted at least once for one tissue preparation.
US07850912B2
A method and apparatus for continuous workflow processing of biological samples. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a probe for dispensing one or more reagents from one or more reagent containers onto one or more biological sample carriers. The method and apparatus includes processing each biological sample according to a respective sequence of protocol steps which may be ordered by a scheduler protocol. The method and apparatus also includes network capability for connectivity with additional equipment for receiving or transmitting pertinent data via the network.
US07850911B2
A system comprising a moisture containing cleansing article and a visual pH indicator changing color at a pH above 4.0. The system can comprise a buffer, having preferably a pKa above 5.5. The system can comprise a set of instructions for evaluating moisture containing cleansing articles. The pH buffer of the system can have a pKa value equal to or greater than the pH of the color change of the visual pH indicator. The pH of color change of the visual pH indicator can be equal to or greater than the pH of the lotion. The system can be used to evaluate the pH of moisture containing cleansing article lotions and to quantify the ability to neutralize alkalinity such as the alkalinity provided by residues of feces and urine over time on the skin of a baby.
US07850899B2
A web is made by first extruding multicomponent filaments from a spinneret and then passing the extruded filaments through a process air shaft. Cold air is directed against the filaments in the process air shaft to cool and aerodynamically stretch the filaments while excluding the entry of other air into the process air shaft. The cooled and stretched multicomponent filaments are then deposited in a mat on a support, and then the mat of multicomponent filaments to a web is consolidated by subjecting it to water jets at a pressure of 10 bar to 200 bar such that the multicomponent filaments fuse together at crossover points and the filaments have a considerable free length between crossover points where they are fused. Finally the web is heat treated to crinkle the filaments thereof and bulk of the web.
US07850897B2
A method and device are provided for manufacturing a unitary caul sheet to be used in creating a composite material fuselage for an airplane. Specifically, a generally tubular shaped tool having a hollow interior cavity defining a fuselage IML surface is provided. In the method, a caul sheet material such as polyurea is applied to the IML surface before an armature is inserted into the interior cavity of the tool. Then, a filler material is introduced between the armature and the caul sheet material. Further, steam is injected to form the filler material into an infrastructure. Then, the caul sheet material is cured before the tool is removed from the caul sheet material to expose the caul sheet to receive composite material.
US07850894B2
Various methods are provided for forming tissue holding devices having predetermined shapes suitable for use in surgical applications, and devices formed in accordance with such methods are also provided. These methods include press forming methods, and press forming methods in combination with profile punching. Tissue holding devices formed in accordance with such methods include various configurations for a core and a plurality of tissue holding elements extending outwardly from the core.
US07850887B2
Method of forming a plastic element include dispensing a quantity of a liquid precursor material into a first die mold, positioning a carrier tape on the first die mold above the dispensed liquid precursor material, bringing a second die mold into contact with the carrier tape and the first die mold, and applying pressure to the first die mold and the second die mold. The liquid precursor material may include a liquid silicone.
US07850879B2
A method for in-mold coating of an injection molded thermoplastic lens that resides in an injection molding machine oriented to a horizontal parting line. An optical lens is initially formed by injecting molten thermoplastic resin into an edge-gated lens-forming cavity held closed under a primary clamp force. The mold is opened at a time when the lens is rigid enough to retain its shape. An unpressurized full metered charge of coating is applied onto the center of the lens. The coating is co-molded by ramping up the clamp force from zero to a secondary clamp force less than the primary clamp force to compress the coating into a uniformly thick, fringe-free layer.
US07850877B2
A coating composition comprising 100 pbw as solids of a synthetic resin emulsion and 1-300 pbw of a non-halogen flame retardant in which phosphorus and nitrogen-containing non-halogen flame retardant particles are surface coated with a functional group-containing organosilicon resin is applicable to vehicle interior materials such as car seats, floor mats and ceiling members.
US07850876B2
The present invention is directed to a composition consisting essentially of: a) from about 60 to about 99 mole % of SnO2, and b) from about 1 to about 40 mole % of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of i) Nb2O5, ii) NbO, iii) NbO2, iv) WO2, v) a material selected consisting of a) a mixture of MoO2 and Mo and b) Mo, vi) W, vii) Ta2O5, and viii) mixtures thereof, wherein the mole % s are based on the total product and wherein the sum of components a) and b) is 100. The invention is also directed to the sintered product of such composition, a sputtering target made from the sintered product and a transparent electroconductive film made from the composition.
US07850875B2
An ink composition includes a metal microparticle, a dispersion medium having water as a main ingredient, a dispersant for dispersing the metal microparticle into the dispersion medium, and a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol that is trivalent to hexavalent and solid under normal conditions, and whose concentration is 5 to 20 weight % relative to a total weight of the ink composition.
US07850867B2
This invention relates to compositions and an assembly process for the manufacture of liquid crystal displays. The assembly process is especially advantageous because it can be easily scalable to roll-to-roll continuous manufacturing of liquid crystal displays. The invention is directed to a photoalignable top-sealing composition for top-sealing a liquid crystal display cell.
US07850864B2
There are proposed a plasma treating apparatus and a plasma treating method using the same capable of improving the durability of site, member and parts in a chamber used for plasma etching in a corrosive gas atmosphere, which are exposed to the plasma atmosphere, and improving the resistance to plasma erosion of a coating formed on the surface of the member or the like in the corrosive gas atmosphere and preventing the occurrence of particles of a corrosion product even under a high plasma power. As a means therefore, in a plasma treating apparatus wherein a surface of a body to be treated in a chamber is subjected to a plasma treatment with an etching gas, at least surfaces of sites of the chamber itself exposing to the plasma atmosphere, or surfaces of a member or parts accommodated in the chamber are covered with a composite layer including a porous layer made from a metal oxide and a secondary recrystallized layer of the metal oxide formed on the porous layer.
US07850855B2
The present invention relates to methods of using recycled rubber including recycled rubber from tires to absorb hydrocarbons. The method is particularly applicable to absorbing waste or contaminating hydrocarbons from solid surfaces or particles where hydrocarbons may have been spilt or otherwise have contaminated the surfaces. The methods may also be used for removing spilt hydrocarbons from a liquid such as crude oil spills at sea.
US07850854B2
A method and apparatus for adsorbing perchlorate in a fluid and successively destroying it. Perchlorate in the fluid is removed by adsorption on an adsorbent in a column. The adsorbent is then regenerated by desorbing perchlorate, and the perchlorate in the regenerant is then chemically destroyed.
US07850851B2
A process for treating waste water to remove phosphorous and nitrogen in a treatment system including an anaerobic zone (5) containing an anaerobic mixed liquor having organisms which release phosphorous into the anaerobic mixed liquor; an anoxic zone (7) containing an anoxic mixed liquor having organisms which uptake phosphorous and denitrify the anoxic mixed liquor and an aerobic zone (9) containing an aerobic mixed liquor having organisms which uptake phosphorous and nitrify the aerobic mixed liquor; the process including the steps of providing wastewater to be treated into the anaerobic zone (5) and communicating anaerobic mixed liquor from the anaerobic zone (5) to the anoxic zone (7). The anoxic mixed liquor is then communicated from the anoxic zone (7) to the anaerobic zone (5) and the anoxic mixed liquor from the anoxic zone (7) to the amble zone (9). The aerobic mixed liquor is applied to a feed side of a membrane filter (10) to produce a treated effluent from a filtrate side of the membrane filter (10). Oxygen-containing gas bubbles is flowed past the feed side of the membrane filter (10) to remove accumulated solids. At least some of the material rejected by the membrane filter (10) is communicated to a degassing device (20) to remove some or all of any dissolved oxygen contained in the rejected material and the degassed material is communicated to the anoxic zone (7).
US07850845B2
A filter with installation integrity permits fluid flow only in a first installation condition and not in a second undesired or mis-installation condition, including improper alignment or mounting of a filter element in a housing, an incorrect replacement filter element, absence of a filter element, and an incorrect housing cover. A magnetically actuated valve has a piston controlling fluid flow according to installation condition.
US07850839B2
A method of measuring a quantity of a substrate contained in sample liquid is provided. This method can reduce measurement errors caused by a biosensor. The biosensor includes at least a pair of electrodes on an insulating board and is inserted into a measuring device which includes a supporting section for supporting detachably the biosensor, plural connecting terminals to be coupled to the respective electrodes, and a driving power supply which applies a voltage to the respective electrodes via the connecting terminals. One of the electrodes of the biosensor is connected to the first and second connecting terminals of the measuring device only when the biosensor is inserted into the measuring device in a given direction, and has a structure such that the electrode becomes conductive between the first and second connecting terminals due to a voltage application by the driving power supply.
US07850824B2
An apparatus is described for cleaning papermaking felt by applying a low concentration of a cleaning solution through the oscillating needle nozzles. The detergent is applied intermittently while paper is being manufactured. Each cleaning period lasts for at least the length of time required for the nozzles to cover the entire surface of the felt, and preferably twice that period of time. The application of cleaning solution is then discontinued for a period of time. This cycle is repeated continuously as the paper is being manufactured. The apparatus includes a first cleaning chemical reservoir, a second cleaning chemical reservoir, a high pressure pump coupled to the first and second reservoirs, and a control unit having programming for selectively injecting the chemicals.
US07850817B2
A polishing apparatus has a plurality of polishing units. Moving mechanisms for moving top rings between polishing positions on polishing surfaces and wafer receiving/delivering positions are provided in each of the polishing units. Linear transporters are provided for transferring a wafer between a plurality of transferring positions including the wafer receiving/delivering positions. Pushers for receiving and delivering the wafer between the linear transporters and the top rings are provided at the transferring positions as the wafer receiving/delivering positions.
US07850815B2
A technique which solves the problem of conventional laminating apparatuses that a substrate may be deformed when released by pushing lift pins against the substrate held on an adhesive member by suction. An upper table inside a chamber has, on its substrate holding face, an elastic plate provided with an elastic body, a vacuum suction means and a purge gas blow means. A plurality of adhesive pins are provided on an adhesive pin plate which can move up and down independently from the upper table. The upper table and the elastic plate have through holes through which the adhesive pins can move and the adhesive pins have adhesion means at their tips.
US07850811B2
A steerable kink resistant access device is provided having an elongated body and a steerable portion. The access sheath has an outside diameter sufficiently small so that it may be inserted into a body cavity or conduit. The access sheath typically has two internal lumen, a first lumen sized and configured as an access to a surgical site and a second lumen sized and configured to contain a tensioning device that, when acted upon, will deflect the steerable portion. The tensioning device may be directly or remotely attached to an actuation device that operates to control the tensioning and loosening of the tensioning device.
US07850809B2
An apparatus for producing an elastomeric nonwoven laminate including a plurality of elastomeric strands joined to a nonwoven web in a controlled distribution is provided. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a plurality of elastomeric strands onto a cooled surface of a rotating drum, which transports the strands in parallel alignment to a nip formed between two rollers rotating about parallel axis. The drum transfers the plurality of strands to the nip in a controlled distribution where it is bonded with the nonwoven. The apparatus also includes elements which automate the apparatus for creating the elastomeric nonwoven laminate.
US07850799B2
In association with movement of an affixation roller, a movement position of the affixation roller is detected by a rotation sensor based on a rotation amount of a motor. A control device changes and controls an amount of an adhesive tape to be fed forcibly based on a result of the detection, and keeps a tensile force applied to the adhesive tape in the affixation of the adhesive tape to the semiconductor wafer within a preset range.
US07850796B2
An aluminum alloy fin material for brazing, characterized by comprising an aluminum alloy comprising more than 1.4% by mass but not more than 1.8% by mass of Fe, 0.8% by mass or more but 1.0% by mass or less of Si, and more than 0.6% by mass but not more than 0.9% by mass of Mn, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities,wherein 80% or more of the surface area, as viewed from the surface layer of the fin plane, is occupied by recrystallized grains with a length of 10 mm or more, in a direction rolled.
US07850795B2
While securing the building-up ability and crack resistance, to provide a build-up wear-resistant copper alloy and valve seat. The build-up wear-resistant copper alloy and valve seat are characterized by having a composition of nickel: 5.0-24.5%, iron: 3.0-20.0%, silicon: 0.5-5.0%, boron: 0.05-0.5%, chromium: 0.3-5.0%, one member or two members or more selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium: 3.0-20.0%, by weight %, and the balance being copper and inevitable impurities.
US07850791B2
Alloys containing aluminium are characterised by an outstanding oxidation resistance at high temperatures, that is based on, inter alia, the formation of a thick and slow-growing aluminium oxide layer on material surfaces. If the formation of the aluminium oxide layer reduces the aluminium content of the alloy so far that a critical aluminium concentration is not reached, no other protective aluminium oxide layer can be formed. This leads disadvantageously to a very rapid breakaway oxidation, and the destruction of the component. This effect is stronger at temperatures above 800° C. due to the fact that, often at this point, metastable Al2O3 modifications, especially θ- or γ-Al2O3, are formed instead of α-Al2O3 that is generally formed at high temperatures. The above-mentioned oxide modifications are disadvantageously characterised by significantly higher growth rates. The invention relates to methods whereby aluminium-containing alloys advantageously form an oxidic covering layer predominantly consisting of α-Al2O3, at a temperature higher than 800° C., especially in the initial stage of oxidation, and thus have a significantly improved long-term behaviour.
US07850788B2
A clean in place gassing manifold comprises a gassing module comprising a hub, the gassing module and the hub being formed as a unitary device; and a complimentary clean in place module for coupling the gassing module, the complimentary clean in place module comprising a head that inserts into the hub of the gassing module. The gassing module coupled with the complimentary clean in place module allow a cleaning solution to be pumped through the coupled modules at and above a minimum flow rate and a minimum velocity for effective cleaning.
US07850786B2
Described is a space-conserving integrated fluid delivery system particularly useful for gas distribution in semiconductor processing equipment. The system includes integrated fluid flow network architecture, and may include, in addition to a layered substrate containing fluid flow channels, various fluid handling and monitoring components. The layered substrate is diffusion bonded. Subsequent to diffusion bonding, a stainless steel diffusion bonded part may advantageously be treated to enhance corrosion resistance using a series of steps designed to bring more chromium to the surface of the steel.
US07850778B2
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior passages that provide reactant gas to an interior portion of a densely packed nanotube forest as it is growing. In some embodiments, a continuous-growth furnace is provided that includes an access port for removing nanotube forests without cooling the furnace substantially. In other embodiments, a nanotube film can be pulled from the nanotube forest without removing the forest from the furnace. A nanotube film loom is described. An apparatus for building layers of nanotube films on a continuous web is described.
US07850766B1
Systems and methods are provided for substantially reducing undesired cumulative effects by preferentially heating the active particles. By preferentially heating the active particles, the active particles are “cleaned” of substances that may reduce or negate particle activity. In addition, preferential heating may reduce active particle adsorption of binder.
US07850759B2
Multimode and single mode microwave energy is used to improve the extraction of metals from chalcogenide minerals. In one process microwave energy is used to comminute the mineral after which the mineral is reacted with acid in the presence of microwave energy. Following treatment the mineral is removed and the extracted metal is recovered from the acid. In another process chalcogenide minerals are exposed to the magnetic field maximum or the electrical field maximum of a single mode electromagnetic energy. This treatment causes a phase separation between metals and silicates within the mineral leaving metal rich regions from which the metal can be readily recovered by traditional methods.
US07850758B2
A particle is provided with simultaneous delivery of a fertilizer and an active agent that when adhered to foliage causes a chemical burn thereto. A hydrophobic coating is provided intermediate between the fertilizer core and the active agent to inhibit moisture absorption by the particle that renders the particle tacky and therefore adherent to target foliage. The active agent granule is adhered to the hydrophobic coating or at least partially embedded therein based on the nature of the formation process. The particle is also provided that includes a second fertilizer layer exterior to the hydrophobic coating with the second fertilizer layer is substantially devoid of water soluble nitrogen compounds. Active agent granules are then adhered to the second fertilizer layer. The resultant particles reduce chemical burning associated with combined fertilizer and active agent usage, especially under dispersant conditions of high temperature and high humidity.
US07850756B1
A housing, which may be a filter housing, has break-away lock structure preventing movement in response to normal release force, and breaking-away from a housing section upon excessive release force, such that the housing may be re-assembled using the same housing sections, without having to use a new housing section to replace an old housing section otherwise having a non-re-mountable broken-off lock member.
US07850748B2
A fuel reformer burner for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system includes a first tube through which a fuel for a fuel reformer is supplied and a second tube through which anode-off gas (AOG) is supplied from a fuel cell stack. The second tube is not connected to the first tube, and an inlet line through which an air is supplied is connected to the first tube.
US07850743B2
An electrode assembly including a first electrode strip having a first electrode collector coated with at least a first electrode active material, an exposed portion of the first electrode collector attached with a first electrode tab; a second electrode strip having a second electrode collector coated with at least a second electrode active material and is rolled together with the first electrode strip, an exposed portion of the second electrode collector is attached with a second electrode tab; and at least one inter-electrode strip separator is positioned between the first and second electrode strips, wherein at least one sheet of protective separator, which is extended from the inter-electrode strip separator, is further positioned on a side of the first electrode strip attached with the first electrode tab.
US07850739B2
An attachment system secures a residual limb to an artificial limb in a comfortable and substantially non-rotational manner. The attachment system offers proximal anchoring of the residual limb in a hard socket, by connecting a side surface of a residual limb liner to the side surface of the socket. Preferably, this connection is accomplished using an extension member extending from the liner through a portion of the socket interior, through the socket wall, and attaching to a latch mechanism. The preferred attachment system requires no clearance in the bottom of the socket well because neither the extension member nor the latch mechanism is located between the distal end of the residual limb/liner and the bottom of the well. The attachment system is preferably disposed entirely along the side of the limb and the side of the socket.
US07850732B2
A sacral prosthesis for a partial or complete sacrectomy has a central body with a platform on a superior face thereof; first and second arms extending superiorly and laterally from the central body, with the arms including respective terminal portions for anchoring to a respective ilium. The terminal portions are held spaced from one another and the central body is suspended by the arms such that the platform is disposed inferiorly to the terminal portions at a fixed position relative thereto. The sacral prosthesis supports a spinal column against inferior displacement by supporting a vertebral body with the platform, while advantageously simultaneously preventing relative lateral displacement of the ilia. The sacral prosthesis may advantageously be formed of a radiolucent material.
US07850731B2
A spinal implant and method of implanting a spinal implant that has a spacer and a plate configured to be fastened to a plurality of vertebral bodies. The plate is coupled to the spacer, with the spacer and the plate being angularly adjustable with respect to each other.
US07850725B2
The present invention concerns novel stent apparatuses for use in treating lesions at or near the bifurcation point in bifurcated cardiac, coronary, renal, peripheral vascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, urinary and neurovascular vessels and brain vessels. More particularly, the invention concerns a stent apparatus with at least one side opening which may further comprise an extendable stent portion laterally extending from the side opening and at least partly in registry with the wall of the side opening. Devices constructed in accordance with the invention include, singularly or in combination, a main expandable stent comprising at least one substantially circular side opening located between its proximal and distal end openings, which side opening may further comprise an expandable portion extending radially outward from the edges of the side opening; and a branch stent comprising proximal and distal end openings and which may further comprise a contacting portion at its proximal end, and which may optionally be constructed to form either a perpendicular branch or a non-perpendicular branch when inserted through a side opening of the main stent. The stents of the invention are marked with, or at least partially constructed of, a material which is imageable during intraluminal catheterization techniques, most preferably but not limited to ultrasound and x-ray.
US07850723B1
A system and method for temperature control of the human body includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. Cooling is provided while monitoring an EEG signal of a patient, and employing the same to monitor a depth of hypothermia of the patient.
US07850722B2
A method, device, and system for treatment of urinary tract disorders is provided. The device includes a catheter having multiple lumens for insertion into a urinary bladder and for providing fluid flow within the bladder and within the fluid reservoir within the urethra. The device further includes an anchor to be placed within the bladder. A port hub having multiple ports is connected at a proximal end of the catheter. A method of treatment includes providing heated fluid to a urinary bladder and to a fluid reservoir for insertion into an adjacent organ such as the urethra. Simultaneous treatment or separate treatment may be done. Optionally, a medicated solution may be added to the heated fluid. Additionally, pressure may be adjusted so as to optimize the therapeutic effect.
US07850717B2
A bone anchor including a bone engaging element and an implant engaging element. The bone engaging element includes a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material and extending at least partially along a length of the first portion, and with the second portion of the bone engaging element positioned between the first portion and adjacent bone tissue when the bone engaging element is engaged with the bone to provide an interface with the adjacent bone tissue. In one embodiment, the first portion of the bone engaging element exhibits a first level of rigidity and the second portion exhibits a second level of rigidity less than the first level of rigidity. In another embodiment, the bone engaging element includes external threads, with the second portion of the bone engaging element defining at least a portion of the external threads.
US07850716B2
Mechanisms for connecting an elongated member for orthopedic support or therapy to bone or other tissue are disclosed. Embodiments may include a receiver member with a channel for accommodating an elongated member such as a spinal rod and a channel for accommodating a bone-engaging member, a bone-engaging member that is insertable into the channel in the receiver member, and a lock member for locking the receiver member, bone-engaging member, and elongated member together. The channels may be variously oriented with respect to each other. Methods for using such embodiments are also disclosed.
US07850708B2
An embolic protection device for capturing emboli during treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a basket and a filter attached to the basket. The basket has a deployed state and an undeployed state. The basket includes a reticulated body having an outer diameter. The reticulated body includes a plurality of struts connected together in a singly staggered configuration distally along a longitudinal axis to a distal end. The plurality of struts of the reticulated body is configured to fold along the longitudinal axis. The basket has a proximal stem proximally extending from the body. The filter portion has a lip attached to the distal end defining an opening of the filter portion when the basket is in the deployed state for capturing emboli. The filter portion extends from the lip to a filter end.
US07850707B2
An ultrasonic surgery apparatus enabling smooth surgery. The ultrasonic apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic chip, a vibration inducing unit which induces ultrasonic vibration to the ultrasonic chip, an aspiration unit which aspirates tissue emulsified by vibration of the ultrasonic chip, a detection unit which detects a clogging condition of the ultrasonic chip, a footswitch, having a pedal, for emitting an output signal which is based on a depression amount or a depression position of the pedal, and a control unit which controls at least one of ultrasonic power and a pulse-duty ratio of the ultrasonic vibration based on the output signal from the footswitch and a detection result obtained by the detection unit.
US07850704B2
Methods, devices and systems facilitate retention of a variety of therapeutic devices. Devices generally include an anchoring element, which has been designed to promote fibrotic ingrowth, and an anchored device, which has been designed to firmly engage the complementary region of the anchoring element. The anchoring element may be placed in a minimally invasive procedure temporally separated from the deployment of the anchored device. Once enough time has passed to ensure appropriate fixation of the anchoring element by tissue and cellular ingrowth at the site of placement, the anchored device may then be deployed during which it firmly engages the complementary region of the anchoring element. In this manner, a firm attachment to the implantation site may be made with a minimum of required hardware. Some embodiments are delivered through a delivery tube or catheter and while some embodiments may require laparoscopy or open surgery for one or more of the placement procedures. Some embodiments anchor devices within the cardiovascular tree while others may anchor devices within the gastrointestinal, peritoneal, pleural, pulmonary, urogynecologic, nasopharyngeal or dermatologic regions of the body.
US07850703B2
An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel includes spaced-apart arms, and an anvil connected to those arms, where that anvil has a blunt distal end. The anvil is insertable into the target vessel. One or more connectors, such as staples, may be deployed from each arm to connect the graft vessel to the target vessel.
US07850698B2
A trialing assembly for use during knee replacement procedures to determine size and position of a tibial plate implant as well as the size and thickness of the articular surface prior to implantation of the implant. The trialing assembly includes a broaching plate having a tibia engaging bottom surface adapted for placement atop a tibia and an opposite top surface, the bottom and top surfaces extending between an anterior edge and a posterior edge of the broaching plate. The broaching plate includes an anterior rail and a posterior rail protruding superiorly from the top surface and extending along the anterior and posterior edges, respectively. A trialing plate is configured to removably fit atop the broaching plate between the anterior and posterior rails. The trialing plate includes an engagement member extending from a superior surface of the trialing plate and adapted to engage with an articular surface provisional.
US07850694B2
Osteotome for the removal of bone and of bone tumors, as well as of ligaments and fibrocartilagineous tissue, during surgery, comprising a pair of blades slidably coupled so that respective distal ends thereof be closable the one against the other for the removal of a bone fragment, pneumatic propelling means for the blades, and a trigger for the operation of the propelling means by a user.
US07850688B2
The invention relates to an electrosurgical instrument comprising two limbs that have an articulated connection and that can be actuated in the manner of a cutting or clamping tool. The instrument includes opposing electrode parts with coagulation surfaces on distal ends of its limbs for holding a vessel or tissue and for passing a current through said vessel or tissue to coagulate the latter and also current supply devices that supply the coagulation current from a high-frequency generator to the electrode parts. One of the coagulation surfaces is convex, at least in a first central section, and the opposing coagulation surface is concave, at least in a second central section. The radius of curvature of the concave coagulation surface is greater, at least in the second central section, than the radius of curvature of the convex coagulation surface in the first central section. The curvatures run along longitudinal axes of the distal ends in such a way that a vessel or tissue that is held between the distal ends runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes and is retained with a pressure that increases towards the first and second central sections.
US07850681B2
A cryoplasty catheter and method for preventing or slowing reclosure of a lesion following angioplasty. The cryoplasty catheter includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a dilatation balloon disposed at the distal end. An intake lumen and exhaust lumen are defined by the shaft to deliver coolant to the balloon and to exhaust or drain coolant from the balloon. The method in accordance with the present invention includes cooling a lesion to aid in remodeling the lesion through dilatation and/or freezing a portion of the lesion adjacent the dilatation balloon to kill cells within the lesion to prevent or retard restenosis.
US07850680B2
An infusion source provides for a fluid supply and an irrigation line interconnecting the fluid supply with an irrigation lumen of an ocular handpiece. An accumulator is disposed in fluid communication with irrigation line and the irrigation lumen includes an expandable wall for enabling accumulation of fluid within the tubular member during occlusion of the aspiration lumen, and enhanced flow of the fluid of the irrigation lumen upon clearing of the occlusion.
US07850679B2
A mitral hook instrument for use particularly in heart valve operations. The mitral hook is used in particular for grasping or hooking secondary chords for lysis procedures. The interior surface of the hook has a groove or channel to facilitate use of a scalpel to cut a chord or other member which has been grasped and exposed by the hook. Also, markings are preferably provided on the distal end of the mitral hook instrument in order to assist the surgeon.
US07850670B2
An absorbent article is provided with a chassis having an anterior portion and a crotch portion and a belt coupled to the chassis. The belt has end portions extending outwardly beyond side edges of the chassis. The end portions of the belt are configured to be fastened between the crotch portion and the anterior portion, and the belt is configured to draw the crotch portion toward the anterior portion of the chassis about a body portion of a wearer to limit sag and leakage at the crotch portion of the chassis.
US07850665B2
The present invention provides an injection delivery system for the injection delivery of at least two fluid doses to a small bird by penetrating the skin of the recipient bird with at least one injection needle. The present injection delivery system comprises an injection needle device and a metering device. The injection needle device can either be a stationary unit or a hand held device.
US07850664B1
A system and method for reducing the risk of contamination of a sterile biopsy system via using a sterile sheath with an exterior structure to aid in opening the sheath, and further having a self-sealing target disposed at an opposing closed end of said sheath.
US07850661B2
The invention relates to a safe support device for a syringe, said support comprising a support sheath for the body of a syringe, and safety means which comprise an inner sheath suitable for sliding relative to said support sheath between a waiting retracted position, in which said inner sheath is substantially retracted inside said support sheath, and an active protection position, in which said inner sheath projects from said support sheath. The inner sheath has a free end portion formed by a flexible end-piece. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a safe support device and a syringe having a body, a piston and a needle disposed at one end of said body.
US07850654B2
A vascular closure device including a sheath with one or more orifices therein to detect blood flow, indicating that the sheath has entered an artery and the relative position of the sheath within the artery. Thus, the sheath can be moved and positioned relative to the artery without having to completely extract the sheath from the artery after initial penetration.
US07850650B2
A safety shield is capable of being moved on a needle assembly to cover a sharp tip of the needle assembly. The shield can be locked in place over the sharp tip by a locking mechanism. The safety shield has a locking mechanism for locking the shield in place covering the sharp needle tip. The safety shield also has an unlocking mechanism that can move to release the locking mechanism and allow the shield to be moved to uncover the sharp tip. A reset member may include projecting portions that can be received through the shield to actuate the unlocking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism.
US07850642B2
A methods using a robotic catheter system to perform a procedure on a patient includes generating a control signal corresponding to movement of a master input device, and moving a plurality of drive elements of an instrument driver in response to the control signal, the drive elements operatively coupled to a corresponding plurality of control elements of an elongate guide instrument, the control elements secured to a distal end of the guide instrument and moveable axially relative to the guide instrument such that movement of the drive elements causes a corresponding movement of the guide instrument distal end.
US07850640B2
A device, method, and computer program product for controlling a dispensing device adapted to be capable of dispensing contrast media as part of a medical imaging procedure The device comprises a controller device, user interface, injector portion, and a storage device such that a user of the device may initialize multiple dispensing functions in the injector portion and user interface via a user input The method and computer program product for controlling a dispensing device comprises receiving a user input from a user interface and directing the dispensing device to perform multiple dispensing functions, including actuating the injector portion and updating the user interface, in response to a user input.
US07850623B2
An elongate medical device including an inner elongate member, a reinforcing member, and an outer tubular member is described. The reinforcing member may be a helically wound continuous wire including a first portion having a first cross-sectional profile, a second portion having a second cross-sectional profile, and a transition region located between the first portion and the second portion. The first cross-sectional profile may be different from the second cross-sectional profile. In some embodiments, the first cross-sectional profile may be circular or non-circular and the second cross-sectional profile may be circular or non-circular.
US07850615B2
A pressure sensor is deployed in the right atrium and is in contact with the tissue of the fossa ovalis. The fossa ovalis acts as a membrane and the pressure sensor determines the relative and/or absolute pressure within the left atrium while remaining within the right atrium. A variety of embodiment are provided to deploy and anchor the sensor into the proper position.
US07850611B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving the resolution and quality of an image formed by signals from an array of receivers. Multiple receivers introduce variations in arrival times that can be less than the period of an operating signal, and also less than the period associated with a sampling operation. Thus, multiple receivers allow sampling of fine features of reflected signals that would be considered beyond the resolution associated with the operating signal. Use of multiple receivers also provides an effective sampling rate that is greater than the sampling rate of an individual receiver. Similar advantages can be obtained using multiple transmitters. Such advantageous features can be used to obtain high resolution images of objects in a medium in applications such as ultrasound imaging.
US07850609B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasound probe having a plurality of piezoelectric transducers to transmit ultrasound waves to a subject and to receive echoes from the subject, a driving unit which generates a plurality of driving signals corresponding to the plurality of piezoelectric transducers to generate the ultrasound waves therefrom, a Doppler signal detecting unit which detects Doppler signals based on the echoes, a spectrum data generating unit which generates spectrum data based on the detected Doppler signals, and a display unit which displays the spectrum data. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus further comprises a controller which controls the driving unit to switch, in synchronization with a biomedical signal of the subject, a high-power mode in which amplitude of the driving signal is relatively high and a low-power mode in which amplitude of the driving signal is relatively low.
US07850602B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for removing a cover from a medical instrument includes a flexible cover configured to cover at least a portion of a medical instrument, an insertion element coupled proximate a first end of the flexible cover, a pair of substantially parallel perforations formed in the insertion element, a pair of substantially parallel score lines formed in the cover and aligned with the pair of substantially parallel perforations. A portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations is removable from the insertion element and a portion of the flexible cover between the pair of substantially parallel score lines is removable from the flexible cover when a force is applied to the portion of the insertion element between the pair of substantially parallel perforations.
US07850595B2
A transferring and holding device and method for holding infants having lifelines, such as IV tubes, monitor wire leads, and ventilator tubes, connected thereto. In one embodiment, the device includes a support surface adapted to hold an infant; a boundary attached to and bolstering the support surface; and at least one securing mechanism adapted to secure the lifelines and to impede the lifelines from being disconnected from the infant. The support surface preferably has openings to enable skin-to-skin contact between the infant and a person holding the infant, and at least a portion of the support surface can be a nonabsorbent, open-weave webbed material. The boundary may include a foam member, and/or a flexible plastic or metal member to provide structural support.
US07850593B2
A pumping system 10, FIG. 1, provides a physiological pulsatile flow and includes controller 121, a pump drive head 50 coupled to a motor 12 and a fluid housing 52 having at least one port 60. The port 60 includes a ball valve retainer region 69, a valve seat 73, and an occluder ball 71 disposed in the ball valve retainer region 69. During operation, the motor 12 forces the fluid in and out the fluid housing 52 and causes the occluder ball 71 to move from a first position whereby the fluid cannot pass through the port 60, to a second position whereby the fluid moves annular to and generally around the occluder ball 71. This movement creates a slight flow reversal that “breaks up” any blood clots that may form. The pumping system may be used as part of a cardiopulmonary bypass system, a ventricular assist device (VAD) and/or a heart pump.
US07850591B2
Methods and apparatus to magnetize particles and objects either on the surface of the skin or inside the body are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for measuring the magnet field strength emanated by an object are also disclosed. The object may be in a body, such as a surgically implanted device. The object may also be cream externally applied to skin, the cream containing particles that can be magnetized. The object may also be a pill that can be swallowed.
US07850590B2
A separator includes a centrifuge drum having a vertical rotational axis and a feed line to feed a product to be centrifugally processed. Further included is a drive spindle having an impeller to drive the centrifugal drum, which drive spindle is rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing device and which is supported on a machine frame by an elastic support. Also included is a lubrication arrangement and a drive device including an electric drive motor having a stator and a motor rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle.
US07850587B2
A roller has an outer tubular member, a central shaft, a connecting member that connect the outer tubular member and the central shaft at a central area of an axis of the roller, connecting the outer tubular member and the central shaft, a bend adjustable mechanism disposed between the outer tubular member and the central shaft at both ends of the roller, a first bearing structure that engages the outer tubular member and the bend adjustable mechanism; a second bearing structure that engages the bend adjustable mechanism and the central shaft; and a rotation preventing mechanism that prevents rotation of the bend adjustable mechanism. The bend adjustable mechanism has a plurality of spacer structures that individually adjust a distance between the first bearing structure and the second bearing structure in a radial direction of the roller.
US07850580B2
A resistance exercise apparatus comprises a frame, a guide mounted on the frame, a resistance support movable relative to the guide along a path; and a resistance assembly for applying a resistance during an exercise. The resistance assembly includes a first resister having a first resistance, and a second resister having a second resistance. The first resistance and the second resistance are selectively and independently applied by the first resister and the second resister during an exercise. The first resister and the second resister are each arranged substantially symmetrically relative to the path.
US07850572B2
A vehicle automatic speed change power transmission control includes a control arrangement with overshoot/undershoot protection logic. The control is used with an electro-hydraulic pressure control module featuring a linear solenoid, and which supplies a hydraulically-actuated clutch configured to effect gear changes. The overshoot/undershoot protection logic is configured to detect when a commanded increase/decrease clutch pressure satisfies a clutch pressure threshold and to then activate the protection logic. Once the protection logic is activated, large command pressures increases/decreases are implemented in a series of stages having variable gains. The first stage has an aggressive gain and achieves 50-80% of the commanded clutch pressure. The second stage has a reduced gain and achieves 90% of the commanded clutch pressure. The third stage has a still further reduced gain and achieves about 100% of the commanded clutch pressure.
US07850559B2
A hydraulic tensioning system (10) for an endless drive (1) of an internal combustion engine (2). In an operating mode, the piston (9) of the tensioning system (10), which is supplied with a hydraulic fluid, is supported against a tensioning rail (6) with a non-positive fit, with the rail pre-tensioning the traction drive element (4). If the hydraulic fluid in the tensioning system (10) is not sufficient, the tensioning rail (6) is supported on an elastic end stop (13a) of the system (10).
US07850551B2
A mobile practice target is described, which includes a framework comprising a base support and at least one substantially vertical support extending above the base support and an angled support above the vertical support, together with a pocket comprising a resilient material having at least one front opening parallel to the vertical support capable of receiving a football propelled from the horizontal direction, and a top opening parallel to the angled support for receiving a propelled football from above. A baffle is secured to the top of the front opening which can absorb the momentum of the propelled football and/or deflect the propelled football downward into the pocket. A mobility means associated with the base support is provided to facilitate transport of the mobile practice target. The mobile practice target captures and contains propelled footballs and prevents them from bouncing out of the pocket when traversing the front opening.
US07850543B2
A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. A dense insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The dense insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.
US07850538B1
A dual purpose putting and chipping golf club has a golf club head with a golf ball impact face vertically split into a pair of angularly divergent impact surfaces; a vertical putting surface and an obtusely angled chipping surface which face in the same horizontal direction.
US07850535B2
The embodiments may relate to games or sports using tangible projectiles. A tethered ball game embodiment may include a play ball and a tether that may be connected to the play ball and a sensor head assembly. The tether may be elastic. The sensor head assembly may have a force sensor to determine an impact power imparted to the play ball, a spin sensor to determine a rotational value of the play ball, a travel path sensor to determine a path of travel of the play ball, and a play ball strike sensor to determine a strike to the play ball. The tethered ball game also includes a target device and a player feedback system having lights and audio feedback, all controlled by a controls system.
US07850529B2
A combination of an annular spacer, and a thrust washer in the opening of the spacer. The spacer and the thrust washer being connected by sacrificial tabs dimensioned to be stronger toward one of the spacer and thrust washer so that upon breaking of the sacrificial tabs, the tab remnants will stay with the one of the spacer and the washer to which it was more strongly attached. A trunnion on a spider of a universal joint and the trunnion is to be connected to a yoke arm. The trunnion being received in a trunnion cup. The spacer and the thrust washer combination being toward the bottom of the cup. An array of needle bearings around the periphery of the trunnion inside the cup. An annular seal in the cup sealing around the installed trunnion.
US07850517B2
A lottery gaming system utilizes one or more distribution groups of game play records. The gaming system preferably distributes a distribution group of game play records to each of a number of assignment components in the gaming system. Various ones of the play records are assigned from a distribution group in response to game play requests from respective players. The game play records that remain unassigned after a collection condition is met are collected and used to form a new distribution group available for re-distributing to an assignment component in the gaming system.
US07850510B2
A straight type power grinder includes an elongate housing having a handle with a power controller at its rear end, and a neck portion at its forward end supporting an output shaft connected to a rotation motor. The neck portion is formed with an integrated mounting flange for a grinding wheel guard. The neck portion and the mounting flange form an auxiliary handle for a comfortable manual support of the grinder during operation.
US07850509B2
The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus includes a top ring body for holding the substrate, an elastic pad for contacting the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further includes a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for contacting the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus also includes a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.
US07850501B2
Techniques are provided for manufacturing a light-emitting device having high internal quantum efficiency, consuming less power, having high luminance, and having high reliability. The techniques include forming a conductive light-transmitting oxide layer comprising a conductive light-transmitting oxide material and silicon oxide, forming a barrier layer in which density of the silicon oxide is higher than that in the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer over the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer, forming an anode having the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer and the barrier layer, heating the anode under a vacuum atmosphere, forming an electroluminescent layer over the heated anode, and forming a cathode over the electroluminescent layer. According to the techniques, the barrier layer is formed between the electroluminescent layer and the conductive light-transmitting oxide layer.
US07850500B2
A method of fabricating an organic light emitting display is provided, in which, a first electrode is formed above a substrate having first and second regions, respectively, an emission layer is formed in the first and second regions, a second electrode is formed on the emission layer in the first and second regions, and a reflecting layer pattern is selectively formed on the second electrode in the second region.
US07850496B1
A lubrication draining and filling system provides oil passages that direct a flow of liquid oil from a bottom region of an oil sump, located within a rotatable portion of the marine propulsion system, to a discharge port which is connectable in fluid communication with a device that can sufficiently lower the pressure at the discharge port to induce the upward flow of oil from the lower portion of the oil sump within the gear case. The cavity of the oil sump within the gear case is disposed within a rotatable portion of the marine propulsion device while the discharge port is located within a stationary portion of the marine propulsion device. A transitional region comprises a space located between the stationary and rotatable portions. The oil can therefore flow from a rotatable portion, into the space, and then from the space into the stationary portion which allows it to be removed from the marine propulsion device.
US07850494B2
A cable connector having a one-piece body with a termination end for terminating an electrical cable and a clamping end for clamping to a terminal post is provided. The cable connector's clamping end may include a pair of spaced apart deformably movable clamping arms for supporting the terminal post therebetween. A lever attached to the movable arms may also be provided where the lever may be actuable between a first position urging the arms towards one another to clamp the clamping end to the terminal post and a second position urging the arms apart so as to unclamp the arms from the terminal post to permit removal of the connector body from the terminal post.
US07850490B2
An electrical connector, such as a circuit board connector, includes a housing having therein a divided multi-connector element. The electrical connector is adapted to electrically connect with a substrate, such as a circuit board. The divided multi-connector element includes a divided electrical contact configuration that includes a first group or subassembly of electrical contacts physically separate from an adjacent and second group or subassembly of contacts. The first group of electrical contacts and second group of electrical contacts each include a row of lower contacts and upper contacts. The second group of electrical contacts has an identical but mirrored configuration as the first group of electrical contacts.
US07850484B2
There is provided a connecting apparatus for connecting to an electronic apparatus including a connector, the connecting apparatus including: a body that includes a base portion and a back portion substantially perpendicular to each other so as to define a holding space for holding the electronic apparatus; a connector provided on the base portion, and to be connected with the connector of the electronic apparatus; and a positioning unit which adjusts the electronic apparatus to a predetermined position with respect to the base portion in a state where the connector of the electronic apparatus is connected to the connector of the connecting apparatus.
US07850481B2
The present invention relates to modular jack and method of assembling thereof. The modular jack allows a portion of the stripped jacket of a cable to be contained within the housing of the jack. This ensures that the wires terminate with the insulation displacement contact very close to the point at which the wires are still twisted. A strain relief tab ensures that an external force on the cable does not interfere with the connection that the internal insulated wires make with the insulation displacement contacts of the conductive terminal, ensuring a reliable electrical connection. Termination is made by displacing the wire contact portion of the conductive terminal to pierce the insulation of the insulated wires.
US07850480B2
An electrical component (1) includes a bracket (30) and a connector (10) that is mountable to a mount hole (R2) of a casing (R). The bracket (30) prevents loose movements of the connector (10) until immediately before the connector (10) is mounted into the mount hole (R2) while permitting loose movements of the connector (10) in the course of mounting the connector (10) into the mount hole (R2).
US07850478B2
A power supply has an outer shell and a retention bar. The outer shell has a rear panel and a cover. The rear panel has a socket and two guide slots. The cover has two pivot slots and two pivot mounts. Each pivot slot is formed through the cover adjacent to a corresponding guide slot. The pivot mounts are formed from and protrudes inwardly from the cover and have pivot holes formed therethrough. The retention bar is mounted in the pivot holes of the pivot mounts and has a clip and two protrusions. Therefore, when the power supply is mounted in a casing of a machine, the retention bar simultaneously fastens the power supply to the casing and a plug to the power supply.
US07850473B1
An electrical connector including a housing provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing, a conductive shell mounted on the housing for covering partially the same and provided with a holding member for engaging with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the same, and a releasing member formed in the housing with a first end portion thereof operative to be in contact with the holding member and a second end portion thereof operative to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell, wherein the releasing member is moved so that the first end portion thereof causes the holding member to be released from engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing when the second end portion thereof is pushed toward the inside of the conductive shell under a condition wherein the holding member is put in the engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing.
US07850470B2
The present disclosure is directed to conductive connector attachments for use in electrically connecting printed circuit boards to absorbent products such as diapers, training pants, incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and the like. Specifically, various configurations and methods of securely attaching conventional conductive hook and loop attachments to printed circuit boards are disclosed.
US07850466B2
A connector assembly includes a housing and a contact. The housing extends from a front end to an opposite back end. The housing includes an interior chamber inwardly extending from the front end that is configured to receive a mating connector through the front end of the housing. The contact is joined with the housing and extends between a mating end and a mounting surface. The mating end is configured to engage a mating contact of the mating connector. The mounting surface is configured to be mounted to a substrate to electrically couple the mating connector with the substrate. The housing extends through an opening in the substrate such that the housing protrudes from opposite sides of the substrate.
US07850461B2
Disclosed is a mechanical device that can be used to help maintain a connection between an electrical tail and an electronic device such as a touch sensor screen. The mechanical device deflects upon installation over the tail and the electronic device so that pressure caused by spring action helps maintain the connection. The mechanical device also includes a cutout region designed so that the tail can freely pass through the mechanical device.
US07850458B2
Embodiments of electrical connectors and related methods of manufacture are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US07850456B2
A device system and method for simulating laparoscopic procedures, particularly for the purposes of instruction and/or demonstration. The system comprises one or more virtual organs to be operated on. The organ comprises a plurality of elements, each element having neighboring elements; and a plurality of tensioned connections connecting neighboring elements over said organ, such that force applied at one of said elements propagates via respective neighboring elements provides a distributed reaction over said organ. In addition there is a physical manipulation device for manipulation by a user; and a tracking arrangement for tracking said physical manipulation device and translating motion of said physical manipulation device into application of forces onto said virtual organ. The system is capable of simulating organs moving, cutting, suturing, coagulations and other surgical and surgery-related operations.
US07850452B2
A dental implant and a dental implant assembly comprises a dental implant having a longitudinal-axial-pre-load. The dental implant has an insert portion, and an outer shell portion. The insert portion of the implant is affixed within a longitudinal-axial opening of the outer shell portion of the implant. The affixation of the inner portion within the axial opening of the outer shell portion of the implant applies a pre-load in a longitudinal axial direction on the implant. The dental implant assembly further comprises an abutment and a retaining screw. The abutment is adapted to be attached to the dental implant. The retaining screw is adapted fasten the abutment to the dental implant.
US07850451B2
A set of customized orthodontic brackets are provided with slots that are arranged substantially parallel to the tooth surface. The archwire, in an as-manufactured condition, has a portion of substantial arcuate extent, which is canted relative to the occlusal plane. The brackets are designed on a computer as a combination of three-dimensional virtual objects comprising the virtual bracket bonding pad and a separate virtual bracket body retrieved from a library of virtual bracket bodies. The virtual brackets can be represented as a file containing digital shape data and exported to a rapid prototype fabrication device for fabrication of the bracket in wax or other material and casting the wax prototype in a suitable alloy. Other manufacturing techniques are also contemplated, including milling and laser sintering.
US07850449B2
In an embodiment, heat treatment equipment comprises a process tube, an exhaust duct connected to the process tube, and, during operation, exhausting gases present within the process tube. The heat treatment equipment also comprises a hollow pressure control member interposed between the process tube and the exhaust duct, the pressure control member being operatively connected to the process tube and the exhaust duct respectively, and including one or a number of openings. Negative pressure is avoided in the process tube during heat treatment processes so that unwanted gas and impurities cannot enter the process tube from outside.
US07850445B2
A device and method of preheating oil for use in a multi oil burner that uses a heated liquid to convey heat energy to oil. The device is made of a thermally conductive material which has a passageway for oil and a passageway for a heated liquid. Heat energy from the heated liquid conductively transfers to the oil within the device. This method of preheating oil for combustion eliminates carbon creation and minimizes oil preheat temperature fluctuations thereby significantly lowering the cost and maintenance to operate a multi oil combustion system.
US07850439B2
The invention relates to a vent plug for a tire vulcanization mold used for a vent hole of the mold, the tire vulcanization mold, and a manufacturing method for the tire using the mold. The vent plug includes a plug holder with a hollow ventilation portion and a plug head within the ventilation portion. The plug holder includes a tapered seat portion, an inside diameter of which becomes smaller toward a mold rear side, and a cylinder portion located at the mold rear side of the seat portion. The plug head includes a tapered head portion, an outer diameter of which becomes smaller toward the mold rear side, a base body portion located at the mold rear side of the head portion, and a slit portion communicating with the ventilation portion from an upper end face of the plug head.
US07850438B2
To provide a scroll type fluid machine which can ensure that even when the pressure ratio of the pressure P1 of its high pressure chamber (back pressure chamber) to the pressure P2 of its low pressure chamber (P1/P2) is low, its orbiting scroll be pressed against its fixed scroll without having its orbiting scroll increased in diameter to prevent any leakage of a fluid through between the front end face of the wall of its orbiting scroll and the bottom face of the end plate of its fixed scroll. The scroll type fluid machine has an Oldham's keyway (17) formed along the edge of the back side of the orbiting scroll end plate (13a) for holding one end portion of an Oldham's ring (10) slidably, and a sealing member (18) has a tongue part (18a) formed to cut off the flow of any fluid from the back pressure chamber to the Oldham's keyway (17).
US07850432B2
An ion pump having emissions containment. The ion pump includes an anode constructed from a plurality of tubes and a cathode constructed from plates positioned on opposite sides of the anode and positioned apart from the anode. The anode and cathode are positioned within a gastight housing having a gas inlet. A blocking shield assembly is provided within the line of sight between the gas inlet and the cathode. The blocking shield assembly is also provided within the line of sight between the gas inlet and any surface within the ion pump that itself is within the line of sight of the cathode. The blocking shield assembly prevents photons and neutral particles from being emitted from the ion pump.
US07850431B2
Embodiments of the present invention are related to a pumping system that accurately dispenses fluid using a multiple stage (“multi-stage”) pump. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide for control of a feed stage pump to regulate fluid pressure at a downstream dispense stage pump. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a pressure sensor at the dispense stage pump determines the pressure in a dispense chamber. When the pressure reaches a predefined threshold, the dispense stage pump can begin to increase the available volume of the dispense chamber, thereby causing the pressure in the dispense chamber to drop. As the pressure decreases/increases at the downstream pump, the pressure applied by the upstream pump can bed increased/decreased.
US07850424B2
An intermediate-pressure turbine is divided into a high-temperature, high-pressure side high-temperature, intermediate-pressure turbine section 11a and a low-temperature, low-pressure side low-temperature, intermediate-pressure turbine section 11b, the component members of the high-temperature, intermediate-pressure turbine section 11a are formed of austenitic heat-resistant steels or Ni-based alloys, and the high-temperature, intermediate-pressure turbine section 11a is operated by steam having a temperature of 650° C. or more. Other turbines are mainly formed of ferritic heat-resistant steels. Thus, a steam turbine power plant having high thermal efficiency and being economical can be provided.
US07850422B2
A device is for adjusting guide blades of a gas turbine. The guide blades are each connected to an adjusting ring via an adjusting lever, so as to be able to swivel, a first end of the, or each, adjusting lever engaging with the adjusting ring, and a second end of the, or each, adjusting lever, opposite to the first end, engaging with an end of a shaft or shank of the respective guide blade. The adjusting ring is assigned a rotor of a torque motor, a stator of the torque motor concentrically surrounding the rotor of the torque motor.
US07850416B2
A turbo-machine (1), including a stator (2), internally coated with a running-in layer (6), a rotor (4) within the stator (2), wherein the turbo-machine (1) supplementally includes a device for parallel displacement and rotation of the rotation axis of the rotor (10) about the axis of symmetry of the stator (2). By means of this device the gap width between stator (2) and rotor (4) is minimized and therewith the economy of the turbo-machine (1) is increased.
US07850415B2
A machine for palletizing substantially parallelepipedic objects such as packing cases, comprising a grouping station for forming objects into a group able to form a layer of a palletized load, which grouping station includes a fixed reference stop adapted to stop an object conveyed thereto by an abutment conveyor; a layer-forming surface extending laterally opposite to the reference stop; a motorized thruster adapted to displace the object located against the reference stop to a predetermined zone of the layer-forming surface corresponding to the position it is to occupy in the layer being formed; and an automatic control system adapted to control the drive means so as to position laterally opposite the reference stop a zone of the layer-forming surface which is to receive the object located against the reference stop, and to control of the thruster so as to displace the object onto that zone of the layer-forming surface.
US07850410B1
Fastener apparatus including a self-adjusting and automatically self-leveling head separate from a threaded shank portion. An embodiment of the apparatus provides a self-leveling head portion defining an annular conical recess and lip portion sized to receive a seal. A threaded shank resides within an annular cup center of the self-leveling head and has a thread-free portion seated by the compressed seal creating a water tight seal.
US07850399B2
This invention relates to a method of splicing pile cages, to a set of components therefor, and to assembled pile cages, and in particular to a method of splicing together two pile cages of a reinforced concrete pile. The method employs two pile cages which are each assembled from a number of cage bars and at least one frame, one of the pile cages having a suspension band adjacent to one of its ends, the other pile cage having at least one support plate adjacent to one of its ends, the support plate having a hole therethrough. One of the pile cages is lifted into a pile hole with its end projecting therefrom, and the second pile cage is lifted over the first pile cage and lowered until a part of the cage bars of the second pile cage overlap a part of the cage bars of the first pile cage, and the hole in the support plate lies below the suspension band. A suspension bolt is inserted through the hole in the support plate so that a part of the suspension bolt lies underneath a part of the suspension band, whereby the first and second pile cages can be lifted together with the suspension bolt engaging the suspension band.
US07850398B2
A jackup rig having a built-in capability of driving and extracting piles without need for dedicated pile drivers or extractors. The jackup rig provides an ice breaking functional capability, supplied by a jacking system, for operating in icy waters.
US07850390B2
A frame is comprised of plural frame members, each of which has plural projections and plural recesses in opposed relationship to the respective projections of the corresponding frame member. The frame is assembled by snapping selected ones of the frame members together so that the projections of a selected one or more of the frame members are urged into nesting engagement with the recesses of a selected other one or more of the frame members. Selected ones of the frame members are equipped with locking tabs to maintain the frame members in their assembled configuration and to counteract a force tending to disengage the projections from the respective recesses.
US07850388B2
An apparatus for coupling with a mating coupling module to facilitate the joining of two disjoined structures without requiring precise alignment between the disjoined structures during the coupling of them may include a rotating drive mechanism, a hollow cylindrical body operatively connected to the rotating drive mechanism, wherein the hollow cylindrical body has at least one internal spiral channel, and at least one connector claw positioned within the hollow cylindrical body and guided by the internal spiral channel, wherein the at least one connector claw is configured to extend outwardly from the coupling module to engage the mating coupling module when brought in close proximity but not necessarily in precise alignment with the mating coupling module.
US07850377B2
A mounting structure for a plurality of lenses, wherein at least three lenses are arranged with their optical axes set to coincide with each other, the lenses located at both ends in the optical axis direction are provided with parts facing each other, and the mutually facing parts of the lenses are fixed to each other with an adhesive. The mounting structure, wherein all the lenses except the lenses located at both ends in the optical axis direction are fixed in the state of being clamped between the lenses located at both ends in the optical axis direction by shrinkage during curing of the adhesive.
US07850374B2
An optical transmitter module and method for making the module utilizes a housing structure having an integrated lens. The housing structure includes an output opening, which has a central axis along a first direction, to receive an optical fiber. The optical transmitter module further comprises conductive pins that are attached to the housing structure such that the conductive pins extend from the housing structure in a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The optical transmitter module further comprises a light source mounted on one of the conductive pins such that light from the light source is emitted along the first direction toward the integrated lens of the housing structure to transmit the light into the optical fiber.
US07850372B2
In an optical connector with optical fibers in which silica glass optical fibers with resin coating layers remaining attached are connected in optical fiber openings of a ferrule made from resin, at least a part of the resin coating layer of the optical fiber is glued to an inner face of the optical fiber opening, an outer diameter of the resin coating layer of the optical fiber is less than or equal to 125 μm, and the Young's modulus of the resin coating layer is less than the Young's modulus of the ferrule, and the Young's modulus of the resin coating layer is 1500 to 10000 MPa.
US07850366B2
A sheet 1 for shielding soft X-rays comprises a first outer sheet, an interlayer sheet, and a second outer sheet. In the first outer sheet a port for supplying ionized air is formed. In the interlayer sheet a passage for the ionized air, which passage communicates with the port for supplying the ionized air, is formed. In the second outer sheet a port for discharging the ionized air, which port communicates with the passage for the ionized air, is formed. The sheets 2, 3, and 4 are stacked and adhered so that the sheet 1 has one or more portions 9 for transmitting the ionized air, which portions connect the port for supplying the ionized air, the passage for the ionized air, and the port for discharging the ionized air.
US07850364B2
A concrete batch plant is disclosed including a frame and a transit mixer drum having an open end and a closed end. The drum is configured to be utilized both with the concrete batch plant and on a transit mixer truck. The drum may be pivotally coupled to the frame of the concrete batch plant for movement between a first position in which the open end is positioned to receive cement from a cement supply and to receive aggregate from an aggregate supply and a second position in which the open end is positioned to discharge the mixed cement and aggregate. Further, the drum may be a polymeric drum including an interior surface formed by a plurality of complementary molded helical polymeric sections joined along a helical seam.
US07850359B2
An optical film of a display and a method for producing the same are provided. The display includes a light source and an optical film. The light source provides the first light. The optical film includes at least one coating layer. The coating layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The coating layer is adapted to absorb the first light from the first surface to excite a second light to emit through the second surface. The intensity of the second light is larger than that of the first light.
US07850347B2
The present invention provides a light source generally comprising one or more edge emitting elements, each having a substantially same or similar emission spectrum, or respective emission spectra/colours, and a number of heat extractors thermally coupled thereto. Driving means are also provided to drive the edge emitting elements. Output optical means, such as reflectors, lenses, diffusers, collimators, filters and the like may also be included to collect, mix and/or redirect light emitted by the edge emitting elements to produce a desired optical effect. The light source may also comprise an optional control feedback system adapted to monitor an output of the light source and adjust the driving means and/or output optical means to maintain a desired or optimal output.
US07850340B2
A display apparatus includes a display part to display an image thereon, a front cover to surround a front surface of the display part, a light source unit having a plurality of light sources and a light source supporter to support the plurality of light sources to emit light toward a predetermined illumination target, and a light reflector provided on a side of the front cover to reflect light emitted toward the predetermined illumination target, and having the predetermined illumination target. Thus, the display apparatus uses a plurality of light sources to improve an external appearance.
US07850321B2
An embodiment of the invention discloses a wavelength converting system capable of emitting a second electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength in response to a first electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength, wherein an energy level of the first electromagnetic radiation is higher than that of the second electromagnetic level, and a positive correlation is between the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
US07850312B2
A projector determines horizontal and vertical tilt angles. Using the tilt angles and the inherent properties of the projector, keystone correction corner points for the image can be computed. The keystone correction corner points can be used to perform keystone correction on the image.
US07850304B2
Significantly faster state transitioning time between the optimal optical density for viewing 2D Movies as 3D movies through Continuous Adjustable 3Deeps Filter Spectacles can be achieved by using multiple layers (multi-layer) of electronically controlled variable tint materials to fabricate the right and left lenses of the 3Deeps spectacles. The use of multi-layered lenses may result in as much as a 50% decrease in transition time between states. The invention also relates to Multi-Use Electronically Controlled Continuous Adjustable 3Deeps Filter Spectacles that house within a single spectacle frame several layers of optoelectronic material in which each layer of electronically controlled relates to a different method of viewing.
US07850303B2
A face protector includes a one piece shield in which an optical center is displaced away from the normal straight ahead line of sight toward an activity specific line of sight to minimize image shift that occurs when a direction of gaze passes across the edge of the shield. An apex of the shield is formed at a forwardmost point of the shield, or a virtual extension of the shield, when the shield is in an as worn position on a wearer. In particular examples, an optical axis extends through the optical center, at a non-zero angle to the normal straight ahead line of sight and substantially parallel to the activity specific line of sight, with the optical center being placed away from the apex. In particular examples, the optical axis is closer to (or coincident with) an activity specific line of sight of one of the right or left eye. The face protector is particularly useful in activities such as sports, for example hockey, football, or baseball which involve activity specific lines of sight. In one disclosed embodiment, the optical center is positioned at or below a bottom edge of the shield so that a hockey player can view an object on the ice below the lower edge of the shield with reduced image shift.
US07850301B2
The present invention illustrates various methods of attaching a pair of eyeglass lenses or a lens shield to an eyeglass frame using magnets or magnetically attractive material. The magnetic attachment methods are beneficial because they allow the user to have interchangeable lenses or shields for indoor and outdoor use, enhancing their visual acuity during work or play. The lenses may be tinted, prescription, protective eyewear, or plano. The magnetic lenses are convenient and user friendly, allowing intuitive, tool-less interchangeability with no need to twist or stress the frame. These methods of attachment require no specific instructions or tools when the user replaces lenses.
US07850292B2
A flow path connecting device includes a first flow path having a first connector and configured to channel fluids, a second flow path having a second connector and configured to channel fluids, a moving unit configured to move at least one of the first and second connectors, to interconnect the first and second connectors so that the first and second flow paths are communicated with each other, and to separate the first and second connectors from each other, and a control unit configured to control the moving unit, when the first and second connectors separate from each other, to set a relative speed of the first and second connectors to a first speed or less in a period from a start of the separation till a lapse of predetermined time, and set the relative speed to a second speed that is higher than the first speed after the lapse of the predetermined time.
US07850288B2
An ink jet recording head comprising: a nozzle orifice for jetting ink; an ink chamber communicating with the nozzle; a diaphragm for pressurizing ink in the ink chamber; a piezoelectric thin film on the diaphragm; and an electrode for the piezoelectric thin film wherein the piezoelectric thin film and the electrode are patterned to the same shape.
US07850281B2
An inkjet nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; a pair of electrical contacts positioned at one end of the assembly and connected to drive circuitry; and a thermal bend actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening, the actuator comprising: an active beam connected to the electrical contacts and extending longitudinally away from the contacts, the active beam defining a bent current flow path between the contacts; and a passive beam fused to the active beam, such that when a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam heats and expands relative to the passive beam resulting in bending of the actuator, wherein the actuator has a working face for generating a positive pressure pulse in the ink during the bending of the actuator, the working face having an area of less than 800 square microns.
US07850280B2
The present invention provides a light irradiating apparatus comprising a plurality of light emitting elements which emit light of a specific wavelength region and form elliptical light images on a surface to be irradiated, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are mutually arranged so that the light images are made continuous along their major axis directions. Further, the invention also discloses the above-mentioned light irradiating process and an image recording process.
US07850279B2
A liquid droplet ejecting head including: a piezoelectric element that includes a piezoelectric body, a first electrode disposed on one side of the piezoelectric body, and a second electrode disposed on the other side of the piezoelectric body; a first layer on one side of which the second electrode of the piezoelectric element is disposed; a second layer disposed on the other side of the first layer; a first electrical wire formed between the first layer and the second layer; and a second electrical wire that connects the first electrical wire and the second electrode, is provided.
US07850278B2
A capping device for a printhead comprises a metal body having a U-shaped transverse profile and defining a plurality of holes through an upper surface thereof; an integral spring constructed from a side wall of the metal body, the integral spring adapted to bias the capping device away from a side of a channel in which the capping device is installed; and an elastomeric seal attached to an inner side of the upper surface of the metal body, said elastomeric seal keyed to the metal body by the holes.
US07850268B2
A recording method includes transferring recording data to a recording head having a nozzle array at a read timing for each of nozzle groups of the nozzle array according to information on misalignment of the nozzle array, and a driving the recording head for each of the groups for predetermined periods by inputting the transferred recording data. Each respective predetermined period includes a plurality of drive start timings for recording. One of the drive start timings is selected for each of the groups according to the information on the misalignment of the nozzle array.
US07850267B2
In a method of controlling drive of a function liquid droplet ejection head in which a plurality of nozzle arrays are arranged, the nozzle arrays have function liquid droplet ejection amounts which are different from each other per unit nozzle. The drive of the plurality of nozzle arrays is controlled by using a single drive signal having a plurality of ejection pulses corresponding to the plurality of nozzle arrays in one print cycle. Thus, even if a plurality of nozzle arrays having function liquid droplet ejection amounts which are different from each other per unit nozzle are disposed in one function liquid droplet ejection head, easy drive control is possible without lowering printing throughput.
US07850265B2
There is provided a capacitive load driving circuit which applies a driving signal to a capacitive load. The driving circuit includes: an operational amplifier outputting a difference signal between signals from an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal, and setting a loop gain; a pulse width modulator pulse-width-modulating the difference signal outputted by the operational amplifier, and outputting resultant digital signal; a digital voltage amplifier amplifying a voltage of the digital signal; a first filter smoothing a digital signal from the digital voltage amplifier, and supplying a smoothed signal to the capacitive load as the driving signal; an impedance converting circuit converting an impedance of an output signal of the first filter; and a first feedback circuit feeding-back the driving signal, which is outputted from the first filter, to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier via the impedance converting circuit.
US07850254B2
An extreme emergency braking system including at least two brake modules, a pedal feel emulator in communication with at least one of the brake modules by way of a first communication line, an electric park brake switch assembly in communication with the brake modules by at least a second communication line, and an electric circuit adapted to supply at least a first voltage to a first one of the brake modules and a second voltage to a second one of the brake modules, the supplied voltages being indicative of a state of the switch assembly, wherein the first communication line is independent of the second communication line.
US07850249B2
A floor covering removal machine for removing a floor covering that is secured to a floor that includes a drive frame formed with an underside caster assembly, and feed, ejection, and oppositely arranged cutter sides. A variable speed, reversible, motorized drum is mounted about the frame and cooperates with a gripping idler roller that is releasably biased toward the drum to establish a grip interface which conveys the floor covering from the feed to the ejection sides. In operation, the floor covering is pulled through the grip interface and thereby removed from the floor. The machine also may include a collapsible guide handle extending from the drive frame and a motor speed control. Optional retractable floor covering cutters are included that are deployable in a floor contour-following configuration. An optional alignment laser pointer is mounted on the frame for alignment during operation.
US07850248B2
A hydraulic system useful in combination with a hoist for raising or lowering a truck bed to and from a truck frame, including safely and controllably lowering said truck bed to said truck frame by gravity alone, is provided.
US07850243B2
A reclining adjuster has a lower bracket fixed to a seat cushion; an upper bracket fixed to a seatback and connected to the lower bracket so as to be rotatable about a shaft; a lock mechanism capable of having a locked state where rotation of the upper bracket relative to the lower bracket is locked and a released state where the lock is released; and an emergency lock mechanism for preventing relative rotation between the lock mechanism and the upper bracket when it occurs. In the emergency lock mechanism, when a cam projection of an outer toothed ring gear is pressed in the circumferential direction by a cam pin of a disk member by the relative rotation therebetween, the outer toothed ring gear meshes with both inner teeth of the lower bracket and inner teeth of the upper bracket.
US07850239B1
A chair to minimize muscle strain as a person sits in or rises providing an identical pair of elongated parallelepiped back frames having a vertically extending upper portion, a rearwardly extending lower portion with a parallelepiped connection member extending perpendicularly therebetween to connect the back frames. A parallelepiped crossbar extends between a pair of front legs. A spring assembly having a parallelepiped upper mount member, a parallelepiped lower mount member, and a single coil spring therebetween is secured to the lower edge of the back frame lower portion. The selective placement of a user's weight upon the seat positions the spring into either a compressed state, wherein the seat is parallel to a floor surface, or an uncompressed state, wherein the seat is at an angle to the floor surface.
US07850233B2
An infant carrier includes a shell and a carry handle coupled to the shell. The carry handle includes first and second side arms coupled to the shell.
US07850229B2
A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body frame, a closure connected to the vehicle body frame, a garnish connected to the vehicle body frame, and a closure stopper seat body disposed between the garnish and the vehicle body frame. The closure is movable between an open position and a closed position. The stopper seat body is configured to absorb an impact from the movable closure when the movable closure moves toward the closed position. The closure stopper seat body can be used with a number of different closures including a door, a tailgate, a trunk lid, and the like.
US07850227B2
The present invention provides a vehicle front structure which can efficiently absorb collision energy regardless of collision modes. In at least one embodiment, a load transmission member arranged on inner side faces of a front corner part of a subframe has a male member attached to a front frame and a female member attached to a side frame. When a local load is fed to the front frame, the male and female members engage with each other, whereby the front frame is restrained from rotating in such a direction as to approach the side frame, while the fed collision load is transmitted to the side frame through the load transmission member. When a collision load is fed onto an axis of the side frame, the male and female members separate from each other to block the load transmission through the load transmission member.
US07850221B2
A cowling structure is provided for a motorcycle in which a radiator is disposed behind a front wheel of the motorcycle. The cowling structure includes a main cowling and a sub cowling. The main cowling covers a periphery of the radiator from the front of a handlebar. The sub cowling is provided in the rear of the cowling through a space. The sub cowling is separate from the cowling. The cowling structure allows wind to effectively hit a radiator, and reduces a force necessary for inclining a vehicle body at the time of cornering.
US07850218B2
The present invention relates to a handling clamp, designed to grasp a stem fixed to a load and equipped with at least one attachment means. The stem is capable of moving between a lower position in the handling clamp and an upper position in the handling clamp when the handling clamp is closed on the stem. When the stem is in the lower position, the handling clamp is capable of being locked closed. When the stem is in the upper position, the handling clamp is capable of being unlocked. The handling clamp of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in the aluminium industry.
US07850214B2
A closure safety interlock system is provided for a pressure vessel having a closure assembly with a primary locking system. The closure safety interlock defines a secondary locking system for assuring that the primary locking system may be opened only by following a proper sequence, thereby minimizing misuse of the primary locking system. The closure safety interlock includes a blocking member movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position for blocking movement of a primary lock when in the engaged position and until a release mechanism in the primary lock has been activated. A mechanism is provided for moving the blocking member from the engaged position to the disengaged position once the release mechanism has been activated.
US07850211B2
A wedge-threaded tubular connection includes a pin member and a box member, wherein each of the pin and box members include an engaged thread area, and a clearance gap volume formed between corresponding roots and crests of the pin and box members and arranged along an axial length of the engaged thread area according to a distribution profile. The clearance gap volume distribution profile is configured having a greater clearance gap volume proximate a central portion of the engaged thread area and progressively less clearance gap volume towards each of the distal ends of the engaged thread area.
US07850210B2
The invention relates to a plug-in coupling for fluid systems having two coupling parts connectable to one another, which each have coordinated catches for connecting them together, one of the coupling parts having an end union section, by means of which it can be plugged into the other coupling part, and one of the coupling parts having at least one end retaining section carrying its catches, by means of which section it grips over an outer peripheral contour of the other coupling part, on which the coordinated complementary catches are formed. In order to achieve a simplified means of detachment whilst ensuring ease of assembly and a highly stable connection of such a plug-in coupling, it is proposed to provide a separate release part, which in the assembled state is held on the first coupling part and/or the second coupling part and which serves for separating the locking connection between the catches of the first coupling part and the catches of the second coupling part.
US07850209B2
The invention relates to a tube assembly for connecting a first tube to a second tube, wherein a connection end of the first tube and a connection end of the second tube form a swivel joint, a rotational axis of the swivel joint and a tube axis of the first and the second tube form an angle α, and the first tube is rotatable relative to the second tube in the region of between 0° and 2α.
US07850206B2
The present invention relates to a mud flap lifting system for raising and lowering a pair of mud flaps connected to a rear portion of a vehicle and suspended behind corresponding rear wheels of the vehicle. A shaft extends between the mud flaps. First and second sheaves are disposed on the shaft, wherein each of the sheaves is aligned with one of the mud flaps. A pair of cables is provided, each of the cables having a first end connected to one of the sheaves and a second end connected to the correspondingly aligned mud flap. A motor is coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft is axially rotated upon actuation of the motor. Each of the cables is coiled around the corresponding sheave upon rotation of the shaft in a first direction, thereby raising the mud flaps.
US07850202B2
Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) to a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and the vehicle occupant (28). The apparatus (10) further includes a fill tube (22) for delivering inflation fluid to the protection device (14). The protection device (14) includes an opening (104) through which the fill tube (22) extends and a portion (106) adjacent the opening that forms a friction fit around the fill tube (22). The friction fit forms an effective seal for preventing inflation fluid leakage through the opening (104).
US07850190B2
An NH3 applicator implement is equipped with a hitch arrangement for automatically effecting a connection with a tongue of an NH3 nurse tank wagon. A quick-connect coupler assembly is provided for connecting the transfer hose of the nurse tank wagon to the supply hose of the implement. The quick-connect coupler assembly includes a first coupler section mounted to the applicator implement for powered, guided movement into engagement with a second coupler section mounted to the tongue of the nurse tank wagon. An electro-hydraulic control system including relay logic is used to first lock the fully coupled coupler sections together and then to engage the flow of NH3 by remote actuation of a main on/off valve located at the nurse tank.
US07850187B1
The invention includes a righting and kickstand device to support a motorcycle by connection with a lower intermediate frame section of the motorcycle with the device angled downwardly toward the ground to support the motorcycle tilted at an angle toward the device. In the preferred embodiment, the device includes a fluid actuated cylinder connected to the motorcycle with a pivot connection device. A piston rod extends from the cylinder with a foot device structurally attached to the lower end of the piston rod with the foot device designed to rest on the ground. A fluid pressure device is provided to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder to force the piston rod to its downward position.
US07850186B2
A bicycle frame includes a head tube, a seat tube and at least one tube connected between the head tube and the seat tube. The at least one tube includes a first longitudinal tube connected to the head tube and a second longitudinal tube connected to the seat tube, a transverse tube is connected between the first and second longitudinal tubes. The transverse tube includes a receiving space in which a lock or a light device is received.
US07850175B2
Footwear has a sole for supporting a foot of a wearer, a first pair of wheels projecting from opposite sides of the sole adjacent the heel, and a second pair of wheels spaced in front of the first pair and projecting from opposite sides of the sole adjacent the arch portion of the sole. The footwear is convertible from a wheeled configuration to a non-wheeled configuration by opening a cover plate normally covering a downwardly facing, recessed region of the heel, removing the wheel axles from wheel axle mounting grooves in the recessed region, then re-closing the cover plate over the heel region.
US07850174B2
A plasma processing apparatus and a focus ring enables to perform uniform plasma processing over the entire surface of a substrate to be processed to thereby improve in-surface uniformity of plasma processing compared with conventional cases. The focus ring is disposed on a susceptor 2, which serves to mount thereon a semiconductor wafer W and further functions as a lower electrode, to surround a periphery of the semiconductor wafer W. The focus ring 6 includes a ring member of a thin plate shape disposed to surround the periphery of the wafer W while maintaining a gap therebetween and a lower ring body installed below the semiconductor wafer and the ring member of the thin plate shape.
US07850171B2
A gaming table, method and device including a plurality of rotors interchangeably operable in a decoupled mode and a coupled mode. The system includes a rotor coupler and a coupler actuator. The system provides an award associated with an indication of a combination of symbols of the rotors.
US07850164B2
A cassette for a currency note dispensing machine, in which the cassette is slidably mounted to easily fill with currency note, can receive various kinds of currency note by adjusting a currency note guide, and prevent wrong mounting of a push plate to smoothly pay the currency note. The cassette includes a cassette housing formed in a box shape with an upper surface opened, in which currency note vertically stands up and stacks, slidably mounted to a main frame of the currency note dispensing machine, and having a groove for establishing sheet separating means at one side of a rear plate so that currency note contacts with the sheet separating means after one edge of the currency note is supported, and a push plate supporting the currency note stacked between a front plate of the cassette housing and the rear plate and coupled to a resilient member to press the currency note toward the rear plate of the cassette housing.
US07850161B2
A pressing member pressed against a sheet stack portion can be moved to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet by the aligning portion is not prevented and a pressing position where the aligned sheet S1 is pressed against the sheet stack portion. Moreover, a regulation member for regulating upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet in a conveyance direction can be moved in association with movement of the pressing member to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet S1 by the aligning portion is not prevented and a regulating position where upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet S1 in a conveyance direction is regulated.
US07850160B2
A sheet processing apparatus, including: a booklet making section for making a booklet by covering a sheet bundle comprised of a plurality of sheets with a cover in a U-shape; a folding section for forming a fold-line on a coversheet, which covers the booklet made by the book making section; cover sheet conveyance section for conveying the coversheet; a measurement section for measuring a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control section for controlling operations of the cover sheet conveyance section and the folding section to determine a folding position on the coversheet and form a fold-line on the folding position; wherein the folding position has been determined based on size information of the coversheet, size information of a sheet of the sheet bundle and thickness information of the sheet bundle measured by the measurement section.
US07850155B2
A sheet folding apparatus including: a conveyance device having a first pair of rollers for nipping and conveying a paper sheet; a folding device disposed downstream of the conveyance device in a paper sheet conveyance direction, the folding device having a second pair of rollers for nipping and conveying the paper sheet, wherein the conveyance device conveys the paper sheet to the folding device by making the paper sheet bent toward the folding device, and the folding device conveys the bent paper sheet to fold the paper sheet; and a folding assist member for pushing the paper sheet so that the paper sheet moves toward the folding device, the folding assist member being pivotally arranged to be capable of rotating downstream of the conveyance device in the conveyance direction.
US07850153B2
The invention relates to an upholstery spring device (1), especially for upholstery cushions, mattresses, or similar, comprising a plurality of upholstery spring elements (2). The aim of the invention is to create an upholstery spring device (1) which can be used with a great degree of flexibility while being simple and inexpensive to produce. Said aim is achieved by an upholstery spring device (1) comprising a plurality of adjacent upholstery spring elements (2) which are joined to each other by means of a flexible connecting device (5, 120) so as to form a joint unit.
US07850149B2
Disclosed is a nozzle assembly which includes a nozzle housing and a valve element axially slidable therewithin between a closed and an open position. The nozzle housing has a housing inlet and a housing outlet fluidly interconnected by a plurality of housing passages. The valve element has a truncated conical valve body including a conical outer surface and a concave inner surface with a plurality of valve apertures extending through the valve body. The outer surface is sealingly engagable to a valve seat formed in the housing outlet such that the flow of cooling water through the valve apertures is prevented when the valve element is in the closed position. The outer surface and valve seat collectively define an annular gap when the valve element is axially displaced to the open position such that a portion of the cooling water flowing through the annular gap may pass through the valve apertures.
US07850144B2
An elevator hoist apparatus includes a stationary frame member, a main shaft, a stationary element disposed to said stationary frame member, a rotary frame member supported on said main shaft and extending in a radial direction in axial opposition to said stationary frame member, a rotary element disposed to said rotary frame member in opposition to said stationary member, a brake unit including a brake portion extending through an opening in said stationary frame member, and a rope sheave disposed to said rotary frame member for rotation therewith. The brake unit includes a brake portion disposed in a hollow portion of the stationary frame member of the stationary member and extending through the opening portion and disposed to the inner circumference of the stationary frame member or the rotary frame member. The magnetic path for the brake unit extends through one portion of the rotary frame member or the stationary frame member. Small-size and high performance are realized.
US07850143B1
A ball valve assembly for controlling flow of a mixture. The ball valve assembly includes a body with a cavity therein and a ball positioned in the cavity with a passage therethrough, and a low-pressure valve seat and a high-pressure valve seat for locating the ball therebetween. The ball is movable between an open position, in which flow of the mixture through the passage is permitted, and a closed position, in which flow of the mixture through the ball is substantially prevented. The low-pressure valve seat includes one or more scallops formed to permit movement of at least a portion of the solid particles past the low-pressure valve seat when the ball is in the open position.
US07850138B1
A battery hold-down clamp effective to resist theft of a battery from a vehicle, such as an RV, boat, automobile, and the like. One version includes a metal strap that is bent to form a loop having a cross-section profile substantially in agreement with a held cross-section of a battery, or battery container. The metal strap is hinged, to permit the loop to be opened for its installation. A portion of anchor structure and the battery are then enclosed within the loop. The strap resists moving the battery away from the anchor structure. After the strap is placed around a battery and anchor, a lock is installed to resist opening of the loop and extraction of the battery in a radial direction. A structural interference may be formed between the installed strap and protruding structure associated with the battery, thereby resisting extraction of the battery from the loop in an axial direction.
US07850130B2
A support arm which utilizes a material with material properties such that the support arm may be easily placed into a position within a range, yet at the edges of this range have elastic properties.
US07850120B2
The invention relates to de-icing and anti-icing procedures performed on airplanes on the ground, wherein a fluid is sprayed from the boom or arm of a de-icer installation onto the aircraft. A spray-regulating system is incorporated in aircraft anti-icers comprising a tank (1) with anti-icing fluid, a fluid pump (2) with a drive motor (6), and a hose or pipeline (7) between the pump (2) and a spray nozzle (3) located on an elevating boom, arm or operator's platform so that the fluid can be pumped from the tank (1) to the spray nozzle (3), said system further comprising a central control unit (5), a pressure-signal-generating pressure sensor (4) located proximate to the inlet of nozzle (3), and a regulating device (8) for the motor (6) to adjust the motor momentum, wherein a constant pressure upstream of the nozzle (3) and consequently over said nozzle (3) is maintained by said control unit (5) producing a signal calculated on a pressure signal received from the sensor (4) and the pressure required upstream of the nozzle (3), and said signal being transmitted to the regulating device (8), which then adjusts the momentum of the pump motor (6) and thereby adjusts the flow rate and or pressure rate in the pipeline (7).
US07850118B2
A structural element includes the following elements: a carrier element, a reinforcing element, and a sheathing element. At least a portion of the reinforcing element is enveloped by the sheathing element and the reinforcing element is embedded in the carrier element. Materials of the elements are selected to inhibit crack initiation or propagation in the elements and/or from one element to another. An intermediate layer of a different material may be added between elements to further inhibit crack initiation and propagation and to inhibit corrosion, such as galvanic corrosion.
US07850117B2
A fuselage structure comprises a plurality of elements that in longitudinal direction are interconnected by weld joints; a plurality of circumferential ribs that are connected to the plurality of elements and that extend so as to be substantially perpendicular in relation to the longitudinal direction of the elements; and a plurality of clips that are arranged between the elements and the ribs such that said clips do not cover the respective weld joints.
US07850114B2
This invention relates to a flat sanitary door handle mechanism incorporating a self-contained mechanical user-operated continuous material advancing system whereby the person touches a fresh length of material while using the flat door handle to open the door thus avoiding hand exposure to the surface of the flat handle which may have been contaminated by previous users. This is achieved by the pull and release of the flat door handle by the user, without any external source of power, the action of which replaces the used length of material with a fresh length and makes the handle ready for use by the next person.
US07850113B1
Cord organizers including a first shell, a second shell, and a spindle connecting the first shell and the second shell. The inside face of the first shell is held proximate the inside face of the second shell with a gap there between. The cord organizer is configured to allow the user to manually wind the cord around the spindle. The cord organizer may comprise containment surfaces extending from the inside face of the first shell and/or the inside face of the second shell as well as opposing elastomeric grips connected to the inside faces of the shells, so that the elastomeric grips encircle the spindle to receive and clamp the connection end and the listening end of the cord between the first elastomeric grip and the second elastomeric grip. A cord restraint is used to hold the cord close to the spindle and the inside face of one of the shells.
US07850104B2
The subject matter herein relates to coal mills and, more particularly, inferential pulverized fuel flow sensing and manipulation within a coal mill. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and software to manipulate a primary air flow rate and a coal feed rate into a coal mill to produce a target pulverized fuel flow. Some embodiments include sensing a differential pressure between two or more locations within a coal mill to estimate a recirculated load of coal at one or more stages within the coal mill.
US07850103B2
A crusher system includes a gyratory crusher, which has a crushing head, on which a first crushing shell is mounted; a frame, on which a second crushing shell is mounted; and a driving device, which is arranged to cause, by means of a rotating eccentric, the crushing head to execute a gyratory movement for crushing material. The crusher system includes a device for generating a signal that indicates the current tendency of the crushing head to spin; a device arranged to establish, based on the signal, a maximum allowable rotational speed for the eccentric; and a device arranged to adapt the rotational speed of the eccentric to a rotational speed that is lower than the maximum allowable rotational speed.
US07850098B2
A spray head for a power sprayer configured to generate a continuous sheet-like water shield around a center stream of water is disclosed. A water delivery device for use with a sink is disclosed, the water delivery device may produce a stream of water surrounded by a continuous shield of water.
US07850094B2
A rotary sprinkler is provided that includes a housing having a riser assembly and a rotatable nozzle turret on an upper end of the riser assembly. The sprinkler includes an arc setting assembly that enables part-circle operation of the turret and a selector assembly that permits selection of either part-circle or full-circle operation of the nozzle turret where the components of the selector assembly are generally separate from the components of the arc setting assembly.
US07850080B2
A card payment system includes a purchases assistance system linking online merchants of goods or services, including digital goods, with the operator of the card issuance system. Merchants can use the purchases assistance system to seek help from the Issuer for resolving disputes related to purchases of digital goods of which the provisioning may have failed, to trade better commercial terms from the Issuer in exchange for providing details of products purchased by cardholders, to verify the balance of debit cards and request a reservation of funds from the Issuer to lower their financial risks prior to certain types of transactions, or to signal to the Issuer special loyalty rewards associated with specific purchases.
US07850079B2
A method and a computer-controlled, multi-function device for generating and dispensing retail cards such as gift cards and loyalty cards and for collecting customer survey information. The device includes a reader such as a magnetic strip reader for receiving payment for the gift card from the customer. A card inspector determines whether the gift card is electronically readable and if not, disposes the card in a bad card hopper. If the card is readable, the device dispenses the card to the customer. An electronic survey apparatus obtains customer information and stores it in an external server. The customer information may include customer responses to survey questions or customer contact information. An external interface enables survey questions to be automatically uploaded to the device and for responses and customer contact information to be downloaded from the device.
US07850074B2
The invention allows for multiple card orientations and multiple card directions of travel through use of multiple opposed magnetic stripe reader heads within a POS terminal card reader track. In one embodiment, the various opposed heads are offset along the card reader track. The POS terminal also accommodates smart card and contactless instrument readers and includes features for electronic signature capture, user display interaction, multi-tasking capabilities, check reading and age and identity verification.
US07850067B1
A device for initiating automatic retrieval of content using a plurality of three-dimensional elements is provided. The device comprises a plurality of three-dimensional elements producing a color pattern. The color pattern is associated with an item of interest and is used to obtain a content related to the item of interest.
US07850057B2
A friction stir system for processing at least a first workpiece includes a spindle actuator coupled to a rotary tool comprising a rotating member for contacting and processing the first workpiece. A detection system is provided for obtaining information related to a lateral alignment of the rotating member. The detection system comprises at least one sensor for measuring a force experienced by the rotary tool or a parameter related to the force experienced by the rotary tool during processing, wherein the sensor provides sensor signals. A signal processing system is coupled to receive and analyze the sensor signals and determine a lateral alignment of the rotating member relative to a selected lateral position, a selected path, or a direction to decrease a lateral distance relative to the selected lateral position or selected path. In one embodiment, the friction stir system can be embodied as a closed loop tracking system, such as a robot-based tracked friction stir welding (FSW) or friction stir processing (FSP) system.
US07850051B2
A device including a valve body defining a first passageway, a valve seat, and a flow aperture extending through the valve body and coupled in fluid communication with the first passageway. A valve member formed of an elastic material overlies the valve seat, defining a normally closed, axially-extending valve opening therebetween. The valve member is movable between a normally closed position engaging the valve seat, and an open position with at least a segment of the valve member spaced away from the valve seat to connect the valve opening in fluid communication with the flow aperture. A hermetically sealed variable-volume storage chamber stores therein multiple portions of the fluid and is connectible in fluid communication with the one-way valve assembly. A pump pumps discrete portions of fluid from the chamber, through the flow aperture and through the valve opening to dispense the portions of fluid therethrough.
US07850045B2
A dispenser for flowable material includes a cylinder, a piston in and slidable along the cylinder for pressing and thus dispensing flowable material contained in the cylinder, and a shaft extending into the cylinder for sliding the piston. The shaft incorporates a thumb piece for engagement by the thumb of a user to drive the shaft in a forward direction into the cylinder for sliding the piston to dispense flowable material. The thumb piece is slidable along the shaft. A unidirectional clutch between the thumb piece and the shaft is operable in the forward direction to fix the thumb piece to the shaft such that the shaft may be driven forward by the thumb piece and is inoperable in an opposite, rearward, direction to release the thumb piece from the shaft such that the thumb piece can slide rearward along the shaft for operation at another position.
US07850031B2
The invention relates to a housing for receiving electric lines and/or connections, comprising a first housing part and a second housing part, said housing parts being connected to one another by means of at least one hinge. Said hinge defines a rotational axis about which the first housing part and the second housing part can pivot against one another, wherein a first hinge part of said hinge is affixed in the first housing part and wherein a second hinge part is affixed in the second housing part. One of the hinge parts is an axle extending in the direction of the rotating axis. The other hinge part is a fixing part extending in peripheral direction of the axle. At least one recess is arranged in one of the hinge parts while at least one protrusion is arranged in the other hinge part so that said protrusion engages in the recess in a given rotational position and/or in different rotational positions over a given rotational angle area.
US07850025B2
A method for controlling the orientation of a crane load is described, wherein a manipulator 416 for manipulating the load is connected by a rotator unit to a hook suspended on ropes 410 and the rotational angle φL of the load is controlled by a control unit using the moment of inertia JL of the load as most important parameter. The control unit is an adaptive control unit wherein the moment of inertia JL of the load is identified during operation of the crane based on data obtained by measuring the state of the system.
US07850017B2
A wine rack for mounting on a wall or other surface, the wine rack including at least a first and second pair of support members. In one embodiment, the first pair of support members may support at least a first and a second wine bottle in a substantially parallel relation to the wall, wherein the second bottle is positionable proximate the wall, and wherein the label of the first wine bottle is visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack. The second pair of support members may support at least a third and a fourth wine bottle in a substantially parallel relation to the wall, wherein the fourth bottle is positionable proximate the wall, and wherein the label of the third wine bottle is visible to the person standing in front of the wine rack. In one example, a pair of frame elements may be attached to the support members in order to mount the support members to the wall.
US07850016B2
A device for supporting a group of pipes during temporary storage, the device being composed of: an elongated pipe supporting element having a pipe supporting surface; and at least one safety stop assembly including a pipe stop member and at least one fastening element, wherein the pipe stop member is movable relative to the pipe supporting element between a stop position and a retracted, or withdrawn position, the stop member being operative, when in the stop position, to prevent removal of pipes from the pipe supporting element, and the stop member being operative, when in the retracted, or withdrawn, position, to allow removal of pipes from the pipe supporting element, and the at least one fastening element being connectable between the pipe supporting element and the pipe stop member for holding the pipe stop member in the stop position.
US07850013B1
A locking mechanism to minimize access to a portion of a rack-mounted electronic device is provided. The locking mechanism includes a bar supported at one end to a first vertical post of the rack, and a locking member supported at a second end of the bar for locking to a second vertical post. In one embodiment, the bar is pivotally supported at the one end to the first post. The bar is movable between an open position where unimpeded access to a first portion of the electronic device is provided, and a closed position to restrict removal of components from the first portion of the electronic device. A clearance space may provided between the bar and the electronic device in the closed position to allow a user to access an electronic component to remove power from the component, but not to fully remove the component without unlocking the locking member.
US07850012B2
The present invention provides methods for separating one or more components of interest from a sample containing particulates and soluble materials. The method comprises the steps of: (a) filtering a sample through silica filter media whose surface silanol groups have reacted with one or more silanes, and (b) simultaneously capturing particulates and binding a soluble component to the silica filter media. The bound soluble component of interest is subsequently eluted from the silica filter media. In one embodiment of the invention, unwanted soluble materials are captured by the treated silica filter media and desired component of interest is recovered from the flow-through. In another embodiment, different components of interest are recovered from both the eluate and the flow-through. Preferred treated silica filter media are silane-treated rice hull ash or diatomaceous earth with functional quarternary ammonium group or functional sulphonate group. The present invention also provides silane-treated silica filter media.
US07850010B2
The present invention provides a screen for separating materials according to particle size. The screen has a body, a plurality of fingers, and a plurality of rods. The fingers may be integrally formed with the body. The rods are supported within the body and extend within the fingers to provide structural stability.
US07850007B2
An apparatus for carrying and storing watercraft propellers comprises a soft-shell enclosure having a rigid bottom member. The apparatus further comprises means for securing the propeller within the enclosure. An embodiment of the apparatus may shaped in the form of a cube or other parallelepiped with an opening symmetrically bisecting the enclosure along the top and the sides, or a top with a single panel defining the bottom of the enclosure. Alternatively, the apparatus may have a cylindrical shape. An embodiment of the invention may further comprise an inflatable support member for protecting the propeller.
US07850003B2
A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.
US07850001B2
A modular conveyor belt having longitudinal grooves on the top and bottom of the belt. Pairs of rollers are installed between the links within these grooves such that the rollers do not project over the surface of the belt but are completely integrated into the body. The rollers may be installed directly onto the pivot rods. The belts are supported by rails that enter into the longitudinal grooves to engage with the rollers to carry the belt as it moves. The grooves on the bottom side of the single modules are curved in such a way that the slots form a circle when the belt moves around a sprocket. This configuration allows for steel disks to be installed between the sprockets on the driving and idling shaft. The disks help to support the belt and to improve smooth running of the belts around the sprocket under a high load by taking the radial forces acting when the belt is under high tension.
US07849994B2
A method of processing documents by receiving at least a batch of documents and a separator card in an input receptacle of a document processing device. The separator card includes a conductive material disposed on one side, and a barcode indicative of the source of the batch of documents. The documents and separator card are transported via a transport mechanism past an evaluation unit and a field-effect sensor, respectively. The document processing device evaluates each document, determines whether the document meets or fails predetermined criteria, and detects the presence of the conductive material when a separator card is transported past the sensor. The source identification information from each separator card is entered into a memory of the document processing device after all the documents from the corresponding batch of documents have met the predetermined criteria. Feeder operation is paused between each batch long enough to verify that the previous batch closed successfully. Pausing feeder operation to address document anomalies before subsequent batches are processed promotes batch integrity and reduces operator confusion.
US07849989B2
A one-way clutch is provided with an outer ring having a cylindrical wall on an inner circumference thereof, an inner ring having cam surfaces formed thereon, rolling elements arranged between the outer and inner rings to perform transmission of a torque between the outer and inner rings, and springs biasing the rolling elements, respectively. The inner ring is provided on its outer circumferential wall with recesses such that lube-oil receiving and accumulating parts are formed between the cylindrical wall of the outer ring and the outer circumferential wall of the inner ring.
US07849985B2
A pilot plate torque transmitting assembly for a torque converter, including: a pilot plate arranged to be rotationally connected to a housing for the torque converter; a piston plate for a clutch; and at least one spring assembly rotationally connecting the pilot plate and the piston plate. The at least one spring assembly is arranged to be axially disposed between the piston plate and the housing for the torque converter. In some aspects, the piston plate is arranged to form at least a portion of a pressure release chamber for the clutch with the housing, and the assembly includes a channel between the piston plate and the pilot plate and arranged to be in fluid communication with the release chamber. In some aspects, the pilot plate or the piston plate is stamped.
US07849979B2
A brake drum includes a generally cylindrical sidewall that is open at one end and at least partially closed by an endwall at its other end. The sidewall preferably has a thickness that vanes along its axial length and preferably is thickest at the end closest to the endwall. In one implementation, the outer surface of the sidewall is generally frustum shaped in cross section with a straight radially tapered outer wall. In another implementation, the outer surface of the sidewall is generally concave or sloped from the first end to a second end spaced from the endwall. In another implementation, the outer surface of the sidewall is generally convex.
US07849973B2
An evacuation support system for a double-deck elevator allows people stranded in a building to evacuate to an evacuation floor upon an occurrence of a fire in the building including a plurality of floors. The evacuation support system includes an evacuation support apparatus including a rescue floor setting mechanism, and a double-deck elevator including a connected car including an upper car and a lower car which are vertically connected to each other. The rescue floor setting mechanism determines two adjacent floors among respective floors satisfying a predetermined condition as candidate rescue floors and sets, based on a floor on which the fire occurs, at least any one of the candidate rescue floors as the rescue floor. The double deck elevator performs an evacuation operation for moving the connected car in a reciprocating manner between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor based on a command from the evacuation support apparatus.
US07849969B2
The machine tool lubrication device comprises connection means grippable automatically by a manipulator of the machine tool, lubricant dispensing means, and dispensing control means operable by the machine tool.
US07849947B2
A motorcycle frame structure in which a pair of left and right main frame sections extend rearward and downward from a head pipe and are integrally provided with engine hangers each hanging downward from the intermediate portion of the main frame, such that weight reduction of the main frame is enabled while preventing strength reduction. A front edge of an engine hanger is formed to be inclined forwardly upwardly toward the head pipe. A main frame is provided with a through-hole above the engine hanger. A reinforcing portion extending generally parallel to the front edge of the engine hanger is provided in the main frame to longitudinally transverse the through-hole.
US07849941B2
A universal linkage assembly for a power machine is disclosed. The universal linkage is adaptable for different control configurations or patterns. For example, in embodiments disclosed, the linkage assembly includes a first control interface connectable to one of a first or second joysticks to operate one of a left or right drive motor or other function and a second control interface connectable to either the first or second joystick to operate the other of the left or right drive motor or other function with separate joysticks or the same joystick depending upon the control pattern desired.
US07849940B2
A drill bit having a plurality of cutters on its lower surface, each of which can having a plurality of PDC cutter elements disposed thereon. The cutting surface on each of the cutters is mounted in in an orientation that allows drilling of oversize boreholes which enables the drill bit to be turned more easily to facilitate the boreholes being drilled on a smaller radius. The placement of the cutters on each of the blades enables the drill bit to drill both vertically and laterally.
US07849938B1
A ground augering assembly comprising a dirt dispersing plate having a forward dirt screeding face and having a lower augering depth stopping face; a “C” clamp for alternatively mounting on to and releasing from an auger blade; and a rotation facilitating helically threaded lug, eyed plate, and helically threaded nut combination interconnecting the dirt dispersing plate and the “C” clamp.
US07849937B2
In a method for producing a cased horizontal string bore extending from a well shaft, a starter drill pipe is driven into the rock mass surrounding the well shaft. A hydraulically driven drill motor is arranged in the starter drill pipe and rotates a drilling tool protruding from the leading end of the starter drill pipe. The drill motor is fixed against rotation and axial displacement by a clamping device. When the final depth of the string bore is reached, the drilling tool is retracted into the starter drill pipe by axial movement of the clamping device and a free space is formed at the drift face of the string bore. The free space is filled and sealed by injection of a quick-setting, expanding filling compound. Afterwards, the clamping device, the drill motor and the drilling tool are removed from the drill pipes.
US07849936B2
A directional drilling apparatus for use in the directional drilling of bore holes is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of cutting elements movably mounted with respect to a rotatable body member, wherein the cutting elements are movable between first, radially retracted, positions and radially extended, positions for cutting. A rotary valve is provided for synchronising the movement of the cutting elements between their respective extended and retracted positions in accordance with the rotational position of the body member in the bore hole being drilled. Control of the directional drilling system is affected by synchronised movement of the cutting elements from an inner to an outer radial position in accordance with the angular position of the drill bit. A near bit stabiliser contacts with the portion of the well bore which was not removed with the dynamic cutters and this contact exerts a force onto the drill bit.
US07849934B2
Drill bits and methods for sampling sensor data associated with the state of a drill bit are disclosed. A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprises a bit body and a shank. The shank further includes a central bore formed through an inside diameter of the shank and configured for receiving a data analysis module. The data analysis module comprises a plurality of sensors, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured for executing computer instructions to collect the sensor data by sampling the plurality of sensors, analyze the sensor data to develop a severity index, compare the sensor data to at least one adaptive threshold, and modify a data sampling mode responsive to the comparison. A method comprises collecting sensor data by sampling a plurality of physical parameters associated with a drill bit state while in various sampling modes and transitioning between those sampling modes.
US07849916B2
An apparatus for use with a process liquid for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor-processing target comprises first and second tanks adapted for holding process liquid, at least one fluid level sensor carried by the first tank for monitoring the amount of process liquid in the first tank, and a valve coupled to one of the at least one fluid level sensor and configured to increases the flow of process liquid from the second tank to the target when the amount of process liquid in the first tank drops to a first predetermined amount. The first tank may include first and second compartments partially separated by a divider with a top whereby process liquid in the first compartment flows over the top of the divider into the second compartment.
US07849912B2
The energy consumption during electroslag remelting is determined to a considerable extent by the heat losses of a slag bath on the wall of a water-cooled ingot mould. A process and an ingot mould suitable for carrying it out wherein these heat losses may be avoided for the most part. Remelting thus takes place in a short, two-part sliding ingot mould known per se, except in the start-up phase, during normal block construction, the metal surface is always kept in the lower, water-cooled part of the ingot mould- that is below the line of separation between water-cooled part and insulated part of the same—by corresponding control of the relative movement between ingot mould and remelting block, so that the distance between the surface area of the metal surface on the one hand and the planes determined by the line of separation between cooled part and insulated part on the other hand, is at least 5 mm, but 100 mm at the most.
US07849904B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for applying tear tape to a packaging substrate. Features of the system include a tear tape applicator unit comprising a laser/tear tape unwind assembly and a tear tape applicator assembly and a winder comprising an unwind roll and a rewind roll. A packaging substrate is advanced from the unwind roll to the rewind roll. The tear tape applicator unit interfaces the winder such that at least one portion of a tear tape is cut by the laser/tear tape unwind assembly and applied to the web of packaging substrate by the tear tape applicator assembly. Features of the method include advancing a web of a packaging substrate along a rewinding line from an unwind end to a rewind end, cutting at least one portion of a tear tape, advancing said at least one portion of said tear tape toward said rewinding line, and applying said at least one portion of said tear tape to said web.
US07849895B2
The present invention provides a pneumatic tire which can obtain a high wet drainage performance, roadholding ability, and wear-resistant property without sacrificing other capabilities A directional pattern is formed by a circumferential wide major groove, a first narrow circumferential minor groove, a second narrow circumferential minor groove, a first transverse groove, a second transverse groove, and a third transverse groove. The circumferential wide major groove is provided in a center region in a tire width direction of a tread. The first narrow circumferential minor groove is arranged on the outside in a tire axis direction of the circumferential wide major groove. The second narrow circumferential minor groove is arranged on the outside in the tire axis direction of the first narrow circumferential minor groove. The first transverse groove is extended from a tread end and coupled to the circumferential wide major groove. The second transverse groove is arranged between the first transverse grooves, and the second transverse groove is extended from the tread end and terminated while not coupled to the circumferential wide major groove. The third transverse groove is arranged between the first transverse groove and the second transverse groove, and the third transverse groove is extended from the tread end and terminated between the first narrow circumferential minor groove and the second narrow circumferential minor groove.
US07849889B2
A machine and process function to fill cavities with metered amounts of particulate material. An applicator wheel includes a series of equally spaced apart peripheral pockets each having a perforated bottom wall, and a vacuum manifold inside the wheel includes a vacuum chamber for supplying vacuum to the perforated bottom walls of the pockets as the wheel rotates. Particulate material from a filling chamber of such material outside the wheel is withdrawn into the pockets by the vacuum chamber. A downstream vacuum relief on the vacuum manifold functions to discharge particulate material from the pockets into the cavities at a predetermined discharge location on the wheel. Adjustment structure is connected to rotatably adjust the position of the vacuum manifold within the applicator wheel to thereby advance or retard the discharge location depending upon the speed of the machine.
US07849885B2
A hose member having a central region surrounded by a circumferential portion comprising a number of metal tubes that are substantially parallel to each other and wound in a helical manner around a longitudinal axis of the hose member. The central region may be defined by a carrier made of a polymeric material, or a longitudinal central cavity.
US07849872B2
Multiple unique keyed fluid connectors that are not cross-connectable with each other are described. Each keyed fluid connector comprises a first body including a first mating surface and having a first fluid fitting disposed in a first port in the first mating surface; a second body including a second mating surface opposable to the first mating surface and having a second fluid fitting disposed in a second port in the second mating surface, the second fluid fitting connectable to the first fluid fitting; and a keying feature comprising at least a first pin extending from one of the first and second bodies and disposable in a first hole in the other of the first and second bodies. The connectors are particularly useful in providing a robust system for selecting a particular electrolyte from among several containers of different electrolytes, and dispensing it into an implantable power device.
US07849860B2
Methods and apparatus for direct coronary revascularization wherein a transmyocardial passageway is formed between a chamber of the heart and a coronary blood vessel to permit blood to flow therebetween. In some embodiments, the transmyocardial passageway is formed between a chamber of the heart and a coronary vein. The invention includes unstented transmyocardial passageways, as well as transmyocardial passageways wherein protrusive stent devices extend from the transmyocardial passageway into an adjacent coronary vessel or chamber of the heart. The apparatus of the present invention include protrusive stent devices for stenting of transmyocardial passageways, intraluminal valving devices for valving of transmyocardial passageways, intracardiac valving devices for valving of transmyocardial passageways, endogenous tissue valves for valving of transmyocardial passageways, and ancillary apparatus for use in conjunction therewith.
US07849848B2
A firebowl assembly is provided which includes a firebowl and a stand for the firebowl. The stand has a first, erected mode wherein the stand supports the firebowl and a second, folded mode wherein the stand is adapted to be received within the firebowl for storage therein. The stand includes a support ring for supporting the firebowl in the first state of the stand and a plurality of legs pivotably connected to the ring and pivotable between (i) an erected state in the first mode of the stand and (ii) a folded state in the second mode of the stand.
US07849844B2
An internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas catalyst, a first exhaust gas sensor that is arranged for use in lambda control, and a second sensor that is arranged for trim control. The measuring signal of the second sensor is used to determine a NOx quality value depending on the HC quality value and the NOx correction factor. A lambda quality value is determined depending on an actual value and a basic set value of the air/fuel ratio. An error indicator is determined depending on the lambda quality value and the NOx quality value, the error indicator being representative of a mixture component error in a first range and being representative of an exhaust gas catalyst error in a second range. At least one control parameter of a trim control and/or the trim set value of the trim control is adapted depending on the NOx correction factor.
US07849838B2
A branch pipe is coupled to a middle portion of an outside-air connection pipe. A fresh-air inlet of the branch pipe opens into the outside air. A check valve is provided in the branch pipe. The check valve restrains air in the outside-air connection pipe from flowing out into the outside air via the branch pipe and allows the outside air to flow into the outside-air connection pipe via the branch pipe when an inside pressure of the outside-air connection pipe decreases to a specified negative pressure. The fresh-air inlet of the branch pipe is positioned at a specified level higher than a fresh-air inlet of the outside-air connection pipe and disposed in a space formed between wheel house panels and a mud guard.
US07849837B2
In an working machine in which: an engine and a fuel tank for the engine are mounted on a machine body; an air cleaner mounted outside the machine body has a cleaner case including a cylindrical case body and a lid body being mounted on one end of the case body, and a cleaner element being housed in the cleaner case and dividing the inside of the cleaner case into a pre-purification chamber and a post-purification chamber; and an air-outlet pipe is connected to an intake system of the engine with an intake duct interposed therebetween, a canister capable of absorbing a vaporized fuel generated in the fuel tank is attached to the fuel tank or the machine body; a purge joint communicating with the post-purification chamber is provided to the lid body of the air cleaner; and a purge conduit extending from the canister is connected to the purge joint. Accordingly, it is possible to take a vaporized fuel generated in the fuel tank into the engine by utilizing the lid body of the air cleaner.
US07849834B2
An internal combustion engine is provided with a control arrangement for influencing exhaust gas pressures and the level of In-Cylinder-Charge-Dilution (ICCD) so as to provide cycles with different emission characteristics. The exhaust gas pressure may be influenced by adjusting a combustion parameter between various cycles. The adjustment of the combustion parameter may, for example, include an adjustment of the injection timing, a change in shot mode, or a change in fuel quantity. By making such adjustments, cycle-to-cycle exhaust gas pressure variations may be introduced so as to influence future combustion events and reduce overall emissions and noise levels.
US07849829B2
A camshaft may include a first shaft, a first lobe member fixed to the first shaft, a second lobe member fixed to the first shaft, and a third lobe member. The first lobe member may include a first lobe portion and a first bearing portion extending axially from the first lobe portion. The second lobe member may include a second lobe portion and a second bearing portion extending axially from the second lobe portion toward the first bearing portion. The third lobe member may include a first end that is rotatably supported on the first bearing portion and a second end that is rotatably supported on the second bearing portion.
US07849826B2
A valve system includes a first valve provided on an intake or exhaust port; a second valve provided on another intake or exhaust port; a first cam unit on a camshaft, defining first and second lobe heights; and a second cam unit on the camshaft, defining a third lobe height. The first cam unit moves the first valve by a distance of either the first or the second lobe height, and the second cam unit moves the second valve by a distance of the third lobe height.
US07849824B2
The engine has at least one cylinder (2) each with at least one and preferably multiple air intake valves (25′, 1) into the cylinder, and at least one exhaust port (51) at a lower position above the bottom position of the piston (53). A blower (4) is arranged to force air into each cylinder via each intake valve as the piston moves around the bottom position, the blower not supplying enough pressure to keep each intake valve open during upward motion of the piston, such that during upward motion of the piston, compression occurs within each cylinder, and such that during downward motion of the piston the blower forces air into each cylinder via each intake valve once each exhaust port is uncovered by the downward motion, and out of each cylinder via each exhaust port. The air intake valves are positively actuated by controlled air pressure differentials, for example by each intake valve having a valve disk (85) to close against a valve seat (1), a valve shaft (86), and lower and upper guide disks (87, 88). The lower and upper guide disks run in guide bores (89) and act as actuating pneumatic pistons, the guide bores extending between an air supply chamber (3) receiving air from the blower and a vacuum plenum (84). The guide disks thereby respond to a pressure differential between the vacuum plenum and the air supply chamber to actuate the valve.
US07849820B1
Machine for alternating conveyor belt livestock loading with pre-loader having conveyor belt, main conveyor section having lift section, top section, and conveyor belt, swing belt section having conveyor belt, and autoloader section having plurality of conveyor belts.
US07849816B2
A feed dispensing apparatus comprising a hopper to contain feed and a large sheet of metal adjustably attached below the base of the hopper. The base of the hopper has small openings to allow for feed to fall from the hopper to the sheet of metal below the hopper. The feed dispensing apparatus also comprises a motor and a fan blade which operate to disperse feed through the gap between the base of the hopper and the sheet of metal. The gap between the base of the hopper and the sheet of metal is adjustable in order to ensure that a specific type of varmint cannot gain access to the feed in the hopper.
US07849815B2
This application discloses a practical plasma processing apparatus capable of plasma confinement without plasma-density non-uniformity and electric power loss. The apparatus comprises a plasma shield that surrounds a plasma generation region to prevent plasma from diffusing. The shield has at least one opening. The apparatus comprises a diffusion prevention electrode for preventing the plasma from diffusing through the opening of the plasma shield. The surface of the plasma shield exposed to the plasma is made of insulator. The diffusion prevention electrode is located where electrons diffusing toward the opening or having diffused through the opening from the plasma flow into itself.
US07849814B2
A plasma generating device provided with a plasma generating chamber (10) and a high-frequency antenna (1) arranged in the chamber (10) for generating inductively coupled plasma by applying a high-frequency power to a gas in the chamber (10) from the antenna (1). The antenna (1) is a low-inductance antenna formed of a first portion (11) extending from the outside of the chamber (10) into the chamber (10), and a plurality of second portions (12) diverging from an inner end (11e) of the first portion (11) in an electrically parallel fashion, and having a termination (12e) directly connected to the inner wall of the grounded chamber (10). The surface of the antenna (1) is coated with an electrically insulating material. Frequency of the high-frequency power applied to the antenna may be in a range from 40 MHz to hundreds of megahertz. The plasma generating device can generate desired plasma by suppressing disadvantages such as abnormal discharge, matching failure and others, and can be constructed so that a desired processing such as film deposition can be performed.
US07849805B2
A primary air system for a combustion plant provides a flow of primary air to at least one coal pulverizer, which emits pulverized coal in a downstream direction to a furnace. The primary air system includes a first primary air line for feeding hot primary air to the coal pulverizer and a second primary air line for admixing of cold primary air into the hot primary air line at a mixing location positioned upstream of the coal pulverizer. A control system shuts off the flow of primary air to the coal pulverizer, when the coal pulverizer is being repaired or serviced while the furnace is in operation. The control system includes a first flow control butterfly valve disposed in the first primary air line at a position upstream of the mixing location and a second flow control butterfly valve disposed in the second primary air line at a position upstream of the mixing location. A shut-off butterfly valve, disposed in the primary air line intermediate the mixing location and the coal pulverizer, includes a tandem wing supported at a cental location and movable between an open position and a closed position. The tandem wing has parallel, first and second wings forming a space therebetween. A pressure relief line provides fluid communication with the space between the first and second wings when the tandem wing is in the closed position. A pressure relief butterfly valve is disposed in the pressure relief line.
US07849803B2
An expandable table of the type in which a number of table top sections are caused to move outwardly and expand upon rotation of the table top and a center alignment assembly for such an expandable table. The center alignment assembly includes a first plate member adapted to be secured to a center portion of a guide plate of the expandable table, a plurality of fasteners arranged to be attached to the plate member to define a plurality of receiving structures, and a plurality of second plate members adapted to be secured to each of a plurality of separate table top sections moveably arranged over a top surface of the guide plate, wherein each of the plurality of second plate members includes a projecting member adapted to be received in one of the receiving structures.
US07849801B2
A railway tank car is provided having a manway formed in a body of the tank car. The tank car includes a manway cover plate coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed over at least a portion of the manway. A protective housing assembly is coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed around the manway cover plate. A plurality of structural supports are arranged around an outer perimeter of the protective housing assembly and are coupled to the protective housing assembly and to the body of the tank car.
US07849792B2
Objects to be printed are loaded one-by-one onto a conveyor extending through and upstream from a printing station in a longitudinally extending row in groups each having a predetermined number n of longitudinally aligned objects and a longitudinal length equal to n times a predetermined step length and with the groups separated in the row from one another by an empty gap having a short length equal to n−1 times the predetermined step length. The thus oriented objects are moved by the conveyor through the printing station in alternating long steps having a long length equal to n times the predetermined step length and short steps equal to n−1 times the predetermined step length such that with each long step one of the groups is positioned in the printing station. In the printing station the objects are taken off the conveyor, printed, and returned to the conveyor between the long steps.
US07849791B2
A round baler has a tailgate moveable between a closed position in which the tailgate extends along the back side of the baling chamber and an open position in which a completely formed bale can be discharged from the baling chamber and a controller programmed to open and close the tailgate in response to a bale discharge signal. The tailgate opens and closes initially relatively quickly and then more slowly as the tailgate approaches the fully open or fully closed position, the rate of opening and closing being determined by the period of time lapsing from the bale discharge signal.
US07849788B2
A method of infrared heat-processing of nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts and mixtures thereof in order to reduce the microorganism level thereof is provided wherein the nuts are sequentially moisturized by application of water and then subjected to infrared radiation, preferably through a series of treatment cycles. Nut treatment apparatus (10) includes opposed banks of infrared heaters (38, 40), with plural water application stations (48, 50, 52) along the length of the heater banks (38, 40).
US07849787B2
A rolled shell and stuffer apparatus, particularly useful for deep frying, utilizes a number of structures which together provide the ability to quickly produce a large number of stuffed taquito type shells having high quality. The basic components of the system include a shell mold having an outer diameter of about 0.5 inches for example, formation mandrel, a rolling support, a frying support, a removal support, a stuffing system, and an optional handling tool. As will be seen, the degree of interrelatedness of these components can vary, but the result is a uniformity of high quality product which enables a wider range of food stuffing.
US07849785B1
A disposable packaging form is provided for brewed, hot drinks. The invention allows a user to brew the hot drink, squeeze out the brewed contents, and stir the contents of the hot drink. Each action can be performed multiple times before disposal. The present invention frees the user of the inconvenience of having to collect, wash, or dispose of the stirrers, squeezers and bags of the hot drink individually. A beverage apparatus has a rigid rod, a first manipulator connected to the rigid rod near the top of the rigid rod, and a second manipulator connected to the rigid rod near a bottom end of the rigid rod, a porous enclosure material, and beverage brewing contents within the enclosure. The second manipulator is a bottom cup and may be made as one unit with the rigid rod, serve as a stand, or serve as a caddy for a tea bag.
US07849773B1
The invention RADIAL ARM FRAMEWORK WITH INTEGRAL ROOF PITCH ANGLE SAW GUIDE is designed to accurately control the cutting of roof pitch angles 0/12-12/12 to the right or left pitch angle in ribbed metal panels 3′ wide or more for hips and valleys in buildings. Roof pitch angles can easily be changed according to an integrated guide plate.
US07849772B2
A rotary cutting apparatus includes a cutter drum having at least one cutting member and an anvil drum having a rotary axis, arranged in a cutting relationship to one another, and a pressure actuating device for subjecting pressure on said cutting member in relation to the anvil drum. The pressure actuating device includes a pair of levers rotatable about at least one hinge having a horizontal axis. The horizontal axis is parallel to but non-concentric with the rotary axis. In addition, a frame supports the cutter drum and the anvil drum in a rotatable relationship. The pair of levers are releasably connected to the bearing housing, respectively, in such a way that the anvil drum is allowed to be removed from the frame.
US07849771B2
This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product.
US07849770B2
A cutting apparatus cuts shrink wrap film residing in a roll. The apparatus includes a first roller pair receiving the film from the roll and carrying the film away from the roll; and without the need for a second roller pair to receive the cut sheet of film. Film snap-back is prevented by cutting the film between a shear deck with teeth and a rotating blade with teeth intermeshing with the teeth of the shear deck. A method for cutting a sheet of shrink wrap film, includes: feeding the film into a first roller pair; and cutting the film between the first roller pair and the second roller pair using a rotating knife with a number of teeth intermeshing with a shear bar with teeth.
US07849765B2
A bicycle shift operating device is basically provided with a first operating member, a second operating member, a shift wire take-up element and a wire winding/release mechanism. The second operating member is operatively coupled to the first operating member to move with the first operating member during movement of the first operating member, and to move the first operating member during movement of the second operating member. The shift wire take-up element is rotated in a first rotational direction by the first operating member and in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction by the second operating member. The wire winding/release mechanism is operatively coupled to the shift wire take-up element and the first and second operating members to selectively hold the shift wire take-up element in one of a plurality of shift positions.
US07849762B2
A scalable and adaptable, six-degree-of-freedom, kinematic positioning system is described. The system can position objects supported on top of, or suspended from, jacks comprising constrained joints. The system is compatible with extreme low temperature or high vacuum environments. When constant adjustment is not required a removable motor unit is available.
US07849760B2
A speed changer is used to control derailleurs using cables from a single rotating handle, the deraileurs being connected respectively to an elastic return element. The speed changer includes at least two cable-maneuvering mechanisms. The mechanism for maneuvering the cable of the rear derailleur, which rotates integrally with the handle, can cause the rear cable to loosen or tighten when the handle is rotated in one direction. The speed changer is characterized in that the rotating assembly, formed by at least one mechanism for maneuvering the rear cable and the handle, can be connected to rotate intermittently with the mechanism for maneuvering the front cable of the front derailleur which, depending on the direction in which the handle is rotated, can cause the front cable of the front derailleur to tighten or loosen.
US07849754B2
A method is provided for sampling hot gas. The method includes inserting a probe into a flow of hot gas, and collecting a sample of the hot gas with the probe. The sample of the hot gas is quenched prior to an analysis of the sample.
US07849746B2
A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that is provided in the oscillation loop and converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, and a GCA as a comparator that is provided in the oscillation loop and outputs a signal corresponding to a comparison result between an output from the current-voltage converter and a given voltage. The GCA outputs a first high-level voltage or a low-level voltage during oscillation startup, and outputs a second high-level voltage or the low-level voltage in a steady oscillation state. The first high-level voltage is a voltage higher in potential than the second high-level voltage.
US07849745B2
Sensing structures are provided which are designed using non-conventional designs. These sensing structures have improved sensitivity and noise floor at low frequencies.
US07849743B2
An acceleration sensing device includes a movable sensing member, a frame member and a supporting member. The supporting member is coupled between the movable sensing member and the frame member so as to support the movable sensing member. The acceleration sensing device further includes a covering member disposed above the movable sensing member, with a gap between the covering member and the movable sensing member. The acceleration sensing device still further includes internal electrodes, interconnection films, external electrodes and a resin film. The internal electrodes are arranged around the covering member. The interconnection films are disposed on the frame member so as to be coupled to the internal electrodes. The external electrodes are disposed on the interconnection films. The resin film is disposed on the frame member so as to seal the covering member.
US07849742B2
An out-of-plane sensing device is provided. A proof mass is movable with respect to a substrate. A frame is positioned on the substrate and encloses the proof mass. At least one spring connects the proof mass to the frame so that the spring will exert a force on the proof mass to make the proof mass move back to its equilibrium position when the proof mass moves perpendicularly to the substrate. An electrode extends from the proof mass toward the frame. A counter electrode extends from the frame toward the proof mass, wherein the projection of the electrode onto the substrate overlaps with that of the counter electrode onto the substrate.
US07849729B2
Air leaks in a vacuum bag are detected using a leak detection film covering the inside face of the bag. The film includes a gas permeable binder carrying oxygen sensitive material that changes in physical appearance at the location of an air leak. The film may be adhered to the inside face of the bag or may form a separate membrane that is placed over a layup being molded in the bag. The film may be illuminated with light having a wavelength selected to cause the film to luminesce.
US07849728B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity, and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems.
US07849725B1
An air cannon apparatus and system for test launching golf balls. The apparatus includes a barrel sized to slidably receive a golf ball, an air pressure tank coupled to the barrel by an air control valve, a golf ball air clamp assembly for holding a golf ball for rotation about a spin axis within and transverse to the barrel, and a servomotor coupled to the air clamp assembly for controlledly spinning the golf ball prior to launching. The air control valve releases a charge of pressurized air from the air pressure tank into the barrel against the spinning golf ball simultaneous with releasing the clamp whereupon the golf ball is launched from the barrel. The system also includes a frame assembly for lockable positioning of the apparatus at a selected inclination angle and a system controller. The apparatus is selectively rotatable to vary the angular orientation of the spin axis.
US07849718B2
A deadbolt device for a door is disclosed that has a linkage assembly enclosed within a handle. The linkage assembly extends from a first end to a second end and is moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position. A lock housing extends through the door and includes a guide channel that extends from an interior side of the lock housing to an exterior side of the lock housing. A locking member, at least a portion of which is in the guide channel, is operatively connected to the linkage assembly and is moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position, which correspond to those of the linkage assembly. A biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the locking member and biases the locking member to its locked position. A dogging member is moveably connected to the lock housing such that the dogging member can move from an undogged to a dogged position.
