US07876633B2

An integrated circuit includes multiple memory circuits including memory cell arrays different in size, a BIST circuit which has a cell sequential transition test processor and which outputs a test cell address, a transition direction specification signal and an active signal. The integrated circuit has adjustment circuits which are provided respectively for the memory circuits and which replace the test cell address with the test cell address in a memory cell array area, or which convert the active signal into a signal indicating non-execution when the test cell address outputted from the BIST circuit corresponds to a cell in a virtual cell array being in an area outside the memory cell array.
US07876626B2

A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged at intersections of word lines and bit lines; a read/write circuit operative to execute data read/write to the memory cell; and an operational circuit operative to compare certain length data read out by the read/write circuit from plural ones of the memory cells with certain length data to be written in the plural memory cells to make a decision, and create a flag representing the decision result. The read/write circuit inverts each bit in the certain length data to be written in the memory cells in accordance with the flag, and writes only rewrite-intended data of the certain length data and the flag. The read/write circuit reads the certain length data together with the flag corresponding thereto, and inverts each bit in the certain length data in accordance with the flag.
US07876623B2

A non-volatile memory device and programming process is described that increases the programming voltage of successive programming cycles in relation to the percentage of the data bits that failed programming verification during the previous programming cycle and were not correctly programmed into the memory array. This allows for a faster on average program operation and a more accurate match of the subsequent increase in the programming voltage to the non-volatile memory device, the specific region or row being programmed and any changes due to device wear. In one embodiment of the present invention the manufacturing process/design and/or specific memory device is characterized by generating a failed bit percentage to programming voltage increase profile to set the desired programming voltage delta/increase. In another embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatus are related for the programming of data into non-volatile memory devices and, in particular, NAND and NOR architecture Flash memory.
US07876615B2

A programmable non-volatile device is operated with a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a source/drain region and allows for variable coupling through geometry and/or biasing conditions. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through variable capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. Multi-state embodiments are also possible. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications.
US07876614B2

The flash memory device of the present invention is configured to program a plurality of bits per unit cell, wherein a program condition of a selected bit is set according to whether a program for the most previous bit to the selected bit for programming is skipped or not skipped. As a result, an accurate programming and reading operation is possible even in case a program for a middle bit is skipped.
US07876613B2

Multi-bit flash memory devices are provided. The multi-bit flash memory device includes an array of memory cells and a page buffer block including page buffers. Each of the page buffers has a single latch structure and performs a write operation with respect to memory cells according to loaded data. A buffer random access memory (RAM) is configured to store program data provided from an external host device during a multi-bit program operation. Control logic is provided that is configured to control the page buffer block and the buffer RAM so that program data stored in the buffer RAM is reloaded into the page buffer block whenever data programmed before the multi-bit program operation is compared with data to be currently programmed. The control logic is configured to store data to be programmed next in the buffer RAM before the multi-bit program operation is completed.
US07876607B2

Using the voltage across a threshold switching cell to sense the state of the cell, rather than sensing current through the cell, may result in a faster read. In some embodiments, current consumption during reading of conductive states may be reduced by using a capacitor coupled across the cell.
US07876595B2

A register having a track with a first electrode is at the first end to supply a current to the track in a first direction and a second electrode at the second end to supply a current to the track in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. A first domain wall anchor and a second domain wall anchor are positioned proximate the track between the first electrode and the second electrode. Each of the domain wall anchors has a ferromagnetic pinned layer and a barrier layer proximate the track, with the barrier layer between the track and the ferromagnetic pinned layer. The ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization orientation pinned perpendicular to the magnetization orientation of the track.
US07876588B2

In a device and a method for controlling an electromechanical power converter (10), particularly of an electric motor and/or generator, comparatively cost-effective switches (14, 18) can be used without drastically decreasing the serviceable life of the entire system. A number of controllable switches (14, 18) can be used for controlling the converter (10), and dividing up a switching load, which is caused when connecting e.g. short-circuiting converter connections (21, 22), to a number of switches (14, 18) over the serviceable life.
US07876585B2

A voltage providing circuit for generating an output voltage, which includes: a plurality of oscillating circuits, for providing clock signals with different frequencies; a detection circuit, for generating a detection result according to a reference voltage and the output voltage; a selecting unit, coupled to the oscillating circuits and the detection circuit, for selecting one of the clock signals according to the detection result; and a charge pump circuit, for controlling a charge pump according to the clock signal selected by the selecting unit to generate the output voltage.
US07876583B2

A flyback converter with forced primary regulation is disclosed. An example flyback converter includes a coupled inductor including a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. The first winding is coupled to an input voltage and the second winding is coupled to an output of the power converter. A switched element is coupled to the second winding. A secondary control circuit is coupled to the switched element and the second winding. The secondary control circuit is coupled to switch the switched element in response to a difference between a desired output value and an actual output value to force a current in the third winding that is representative of the difference between the desired output value and the actual output value. A primary switch is coupled to the first winding. A primary control circuit is coupled to the primary switch and the third winding. The primary control circuit is coupled to switch the primary switch to regulate the output of the power converter in response to the forced current.
US07876582B2

A switch controller compensates the total on-time delay of the switch in a switching power converter. The intended on-time of the switching transistor for the present switching cycle is reduced by the time difference between the actual on-time and the intended on-time of the switching transistor in the previous switching cycle in the switching power converter. The total delay of the switch in the switching power converter, including propagation delay, switch turn-on delay, and switch turn-off delay, can be compensated in real time, cycle by cycle.
US07876574B2

An electric equipment assembly is sized and configured to be disposed in a machine chamber of an outdoor unit. Reduction in size of the electric equipment assembly is achieved and simultaneously visibility and serviceability of a highly frequently accessed element are ensured, while employing a structure in which a control circuit board is covered by a protection cover. The electric equipment assembly includes a frame having a substrate attachment plate to which a control circuit board mounted with various electric components is attached and a substrate protection plate which covers the control circuit board. The outer surface of the substrate protection plate has a first auxiliary attachment portion formed thereon, to which a first auxiliary circuit board different from the control circuit board and mounted with a highly frequently accessed control element is attached.
US07876573B2

A stacked mounting structure includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and an intermediate substrate which has a space accommodating therein components to be mounted. A first contact (connecting) terminal and a second contact (connecting) terminal are formed on the first substrate and the second substrate, and have a wire which is formed on a side surface of the intermediate substrate. By formation of the intermediate substrate to be on an inner side than an edge surface of the substrates, a part of the two contact terminals respectively are exposed. One end of the wire is connected to an exposed portion of the first contact terminal, and the other end of the wire is connected to an exposed portion of the second contact terminal.
US07876572B2

A wiring board of the present invention includes a dummy wiring in a semiconductor-chip mount area on which a semiconductor chip is to be mounted. The dummy wiring is arranged in a manner such that all wiring-lines included in the dummy wiring each have a free end within the semiconductor-chip mount area. This prevents a defect due to vaporization and expansion of moisture inside a semiconductor apparatus, with a simple structure and without raising costs.
US07876554B2

A notebook computer includes a host, a supporting frame and a display portion. The supporting frame is pivotally connected with the host and comprising a sliding slot. The display portion has a sliding member, which is pivotally connected with the supporting frame and slidably connected with the sliding slot, wherein the sliding member comprises a through hole. The signal cable is led through the through hole and extended within the supporting frame to electrically couple the display portion and the host. The signal cable comprises a bendable section. The signal cable is moved substantially along a plane by adjusting a bent angle of the bendable section when the display portion is slid along the sliding slot.
US07876541B2

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit protects a gate oxide of elements in an internal circuit against ESD. During an ESD test, if the sum of driving voltages of ESD protectors connected between a power pad and a ground pad is higher than the gate oxide breakdown voltage of elements in the internal circuit, the structure of the ESD protector is changed or another ESD protector is additionally provided so as to protect the gate oxide of the elements in the internal circuit against ESD.
US07876528B2

In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention allow a more reliable leak inspection to be performed on the second cover and to prevent defects caused by joining the secondary cover. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a ventilation path from a ventilation hole on an inner cover to a space between the inner cover and an outer cover. An outer peripheral end of an adhesive layer is apart from a joining section, which is exposed in the space. Helium gas flowing out of the ventilation hole flows to the space via the ventilation path and remains within the space. This enables detection of leakage of the helium gas from the joining section to be performed more easily.
US07876524B2

When a rotation shaft reaches a first standstill position, a contact piece is received in a first hooked groove. A grasping mechanism unit is forced to enjoy a change in the attitude around the rotation shaft by the rotation angle of 90 degrees. When the rotation shaft further reaches a first terminal position, the grasping mechanism unit is forced to restore the predetermined attitude around the rotation shaft by the rotation angle of 90 degrees. The linear motion of the rotation shaft is in this manner interconnected to the rotational movement of the grasping mechanism unit in a library apparatus. A pulley, a timing belt and an electric motor can be omitted from the driving mechanism for the grasping mechanism unit. This results in a simplified structure. The production cost is thus reduced. The transporting mechanism can have a longer service life.
US07876523B1

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of spiral tracks, wherein each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted by a sync mark at a sync mark interval. The head is positioned over the disk and used to read the spiral tracks to detect a plurality of spiral-to-spiral times each representing a time between consecutive spiral crossings. A velocity of the head is estimated in response to the spiral-to-spiral times, and velocity feedforward compensation values are generated from the estimated head velocity. A control signal is generated to position the head over the disk in response to the velocity feedforward compensation values. When the detected spiral-to-spiral times are substantially constant, position feedforward compensation values are initialized in response to the velocity feedforward compensation values.
US07876517B2

A method and apparatus for measuring latency in a communication path is provided. The technique includes driving a signal such as a square wave on the communication path, such as a write path such that it travels around the write-read path, and sensing a returned signal at one end of the write-read path. A square wave signal corresponding to the square wave driven on the write path is delayed by a predetermined phase thus generating a delayed signal. The returned signal and the delayed signal are mixed, producing a mixed signal. The mixed signal is integrated to obtain an integrated output. The phase by which the delayed signal is shifted is successively adjusted. Returned signals are mixed with such delayed signals until the integrated output is equal to zero. The phase shift amount that results in a nulled integrated output, less a quarter cycle of the square wave, is equal to the round trip latency of the write-read path.
US07876515B2

A camera module includes a barrel unit, an image sensing unit, and a voice coil motor. The image sensing unit has an image sensing surface. The barrel unit defines an optical axis. A first projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the image sensing surface along the optical axis. A second projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the receiving space of the movable part along the optical axis. The voice coil motor includes a hollow fixed part, a movable part, and a base. The base includes a shielding part and a through hole defined in the shielding part. A third projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the through hole of the shielding part. The third projection boundary lies between the first and the second boundaries.
US07876511B2

There is provided an imaging optical system including: a first lens element having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element having an object-side planar surface in contact with an image-side surface of the first lens element and an image-side planar surface; and a third lens element having an object-side surface in contact with an image-side surface of the second lens element, wherein the object-side surface of the first lens element and an image-side surface of the third lens element are aspherical, and the third lens element has a point of inflection formed within an effective aperture thereof such that the image-side surface is convexed toward an image plane at a central portion to have positive refractive power and concaved toward the image plane at a peripheral portion to have negative refractive power.
US07876504B2

An optical die, which is intended to be placed in front of an optical sensor of a semiconductor component, has an optically useful zone having an optical axis and exhibiting a variable refractive index. Specifically the refractive index of the die is variable in an annular peripheral zone lying between a radius Ru enveloping the useful zone and a smaller radius Ro. The index is varies as a function of radial distance from a higher value near the smaller radius Ro to a lower value near the radius Ru. The function of the variable refractive index lies between a maximum and minimum profile.
US07876496B2

An integrated optical-amplification module includes a housing member, a first input optical terminal configured to receive an optical signal, a second input, optical terminal that can receive a pump light, and an output optical terminal that can output a combined optical signal comprising at least a portion of the optical signal and a portion of the pump light. The integrated optical-amplification module also includes an optical combiner fixedly installed relative to the housing member. The optical combiner can receive the pump light and the optical signal and an optical prism fixedly installed relative to the housing member. The optical combiner can merge the pump light and the optical signal to form the combined optical signal. The optical prism can direct at least a portion of the optical signal through free space to the optical combiner.
US07876494B1

There is provided an electronic paper display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The electronic paper display device includes first and second electrodes opposing each other, a plurality of rotary bodies disposed between the first and second electrodes and having electrical and optical anisotropy, elastomer matrix blocks each surrounding at least one of the plurality of rotary bodies and spaced apart from each other, and an optical adhesive formed between the elastomer matrix blocks. The electronic paper display device achieves a high contrast ratio and a relative low driving voltage. Also, the use of the optical adhesive facilitates the adhesion of the first and second electrodes, and blocks the vaporization of dielectric liquid filing a cavity, thereby ensuring high reliability.
US07876489B2

A display includes an array of light modulators that define a display plane, a light guide and front- and rear-facing reflective surfaces. The light guide includes a plurality of geometric light redirectors, and at least 50% of the light guide's rear surface is parallel to the display plane. The rear-facing reflective surface is parallel to the display plane and includes a plurality of apertures.
US07876488B2

The present invention provides a mirror device, comprising: a substrate; a mirror disposed approximately in parallel to the substrate above the substrate; and a hinge supported on and extended approximately perpendicularly from the substrate for supporting the mirror, wherein the hinge is connected to the mirror with a first edge part of the hinge buried in the mirror.
US07876486B2

F-theta lenses, included in scanning lens systems, are arranged on a main scanning plane facing an optical deflector and substantially linearly symmetrically on the main scanning plane with reference to a rotational center of the optical deflector. Each f-theta lens has a no-power portion in the main scanning direction. Synchronization-detecting light passes through the no-power portion of the f-theta lens, thus enabling reduction in color shift due to temperature variation in an image forming apparatus without increasing the cost and complexity in controlling color shift.
US07876482B2

A method for compensating for a wavelength mismatch between a readout reference beam and a recording reference beam in a holographic storage system is described. In order to compensate for a wavelength mismatch in a first step the wavelength mismatch is determined. In a second step the direction of at least part of the readout reference beam is adjusted relative to a holographic storage medium in dependence on the determined wavelength mismatch by defocusing the readout reference beam or by adjusting the focal length of an objective lens for focusing the readout reference beam into the holographic storage medium.
US07876476B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a scanner unit which performs an exposure process by irradiating beams to the image carrier, a scanner supporting plate which supports the scanner unit, a pair of sidewall frames which supports both lateral ends of the scanner supporting plate, a beam structure which is disposed between the pair of sidewall frames in at least one of a front side and a rear side of the scanner unit, and a reinforcing plate which is disposed opposite to the scanner supporting plate with interposing the scanner unit therebetween and is disposed between the pair of the sidewall frames in a non-fixed state to the scanner supporting plate and the scanner unit.
US07876463B2

In an image outputting system, a monitor simultaneously outputs a plurality of input image data. A management server stores a management table including display starting time regarding each piece of image data. A detecting unit detects an event which requests the monitor to display new image data. A determining unit determines whether or not new image data corresponding to the detected event can be output to the monitor based on the output management information regarding each piece of the image data stored in the storing unit. When it is determined that the new image data can be output to the monitor, the monitor outputs the new image data instead of previous image data determined based on the output management information among image data previously output.
US07876456B2

Methods for providing compensation for non-uniform response of a light source and wavelength detector subsystem of a chromatic point sensor (CPS) are provided. Light from the light source is input into an optical path that bypasses the measurement path through a CPS optical pen and provides the bypass light to the wavelength detector to provide a raw intensity profile distributed over the pixels of detector. The resulting set of raw intensity profile signals are analyzed to determine a set of error compensation factors for wavelength-dependent intensity variations that occur in the raw intensity profile signals. Later, the error compensation factors may be applied to reduce distortions and asymmetries that may otherwise occur in the shape of the signals in the peak region of CPS distance measurement profile signal data. The disclosed methods may provide enhanced accuracy, robustness, field-testing, and interchangeability for CPS components, in various embodiments.
US07876451B2

A position-measuring device includes a light source, a first grating, a second grating and photodetectors, light from the light source, which is split into partial beams of different directions at the first and second grating, being directed via a deflecting element to the detector. The deflecting element for incident partial beams having different directions has different regions, so that all partial beams directed from the deflecting element to the detector are approximately parallel.
US07876450B2

A beam of coherent laser light with linear polarization oriented at 45 degrees to vertical is expanded, and passes through a quarter-wave plate with the fast axis oriented vertically, creating circularly polarized light. The light then passes through a non-polarizing 50/50 beamsplitter. A partial reflector then collinearly reflects a portion of the beam, which is used as the reference beam. The transmitted light passes through a linear polarizer oriented at 45 degrees to vertical, and is focused via a lens onto the sample of interest. Light scattered from this region is re-collimated by the lens and the directed through the linear 45 degree polarizer and through the partial reflector, where it recombines with the reference beam. One use of the invention is to detect microparticles in water.
US07876449B2

A laser interferometer includes: a laser source for emitting a laser beam while stabilizing a center wavelength of the laser beam by modulating the laser beam using a modulation signal of a predetermined frequency; and a reference mirror and a measurement mirror for reflecting the laser beam. The laser interferometer further includes: a sampling unit for acquiring a sampling value by sampling interference light reflected by the reference mirror and the measurement mirror with a sampling frequency that is a multiple by an integer of two or more of a frequency of the modulation signal; and an average calculator for calculating an average value by averaging a time-series sampling value acquired by the sampling unit in accordance with the sampling frequency. The laser interferometer calculates a displacement of the measurement mirror based on the average value calculated by the average calculator.
US07876447B2

Apparatus for determining a parameter of a sample has an optical sensor in the form of a monofibre waveguide having a distal end coated with a film that is placed in a sample. The waveguide has an input channel connected to a radiation light source and an output channel connected to a photodiode and amplifier to receive signals representative of the interference patterns created at the interface between the film and the sample. A computer receives the signals via an analogue to digital converter for processing the information and providing a measurement of the parameter. The measurement of the parameter may be used to control a process or system.
US07876446B2

An interferometric confocal method and assembly for terabyte volume optical data memories couples two-beam spectral interferometry to chromatic confocal technology and permits a longitudinal splitting of foci in the memory volume, with the foci having limited diffraction. A spectrometer is located downstream of the interferometer with confocal discrimination in the beam path. A diffractive optical zone lens (DOZE) with a usage of the first diffraction order is introduced into the interferometric beam path to achieve longitudinal chromatic splitting. The interferometer can be a fiber-coupled interferometer with a retroreflector in the fiber-coupled reference arm and with wavelength-dependent optical path difference modification by dispersion or diffraction. The optical path difference in the interferometer is set so that easily detectable wavelets are formed from detectable interferograms by spectral analysis.
US07876442B2

An analyzer is provided with a light irradiation device. The light irradiation device includes a light source, and a rotatable filter section, which has a plurality of optical filters having different light transmission characteristics, and irradiates an analyzing object with light that passed through the optical filters arranged in a path of the light from the light source while the filter section is rotating, by successively switching the optical filters by rotating the filter section. The analyzer is also provided with an analyzing means for analyzing characteristics of the analyzing object, based on optical information obtained from the analyzing object irradiated with the light by the light irradiation device while the filter section is rotating.
US07876437B1

An apparatus and method for measurement of the stress in and thickness of the walls of glass containers is disclosed that uses fluorescence to quickly and accurately ascertain both the thickness of the stress layers and the wall thickness in addition to the stress curve in glass containers. The apparatus and method may be used to quickly and accurately measure both the stress in and the thickness of the side walls of glass containers throughout the circumference of the glass containers. The apparatus and method are adapted for large scale glass container manufacturing, and are capable of high speed measurement of the stress in and the thickness of the side walls of glass containers.
US07876435B2

A method to determine and correct broadband background in complex spectra in a simple and automatized manner includes carrying out a background correction with respect to broadband background before a calibration step. The background correction may involve recording a spectral graph and smoothing the recorded spectral graph, determining all values in the initially recorded graph having a value higher than the value of the smoothed graph and reducing such values to the value of the smoothed graph, and repeating these two steps. The background graph obtained is then subtracted from the initial graph. The smoothing of the graph is carried out by moving average, where each intensity value I at the position x in the spectrum is replaced by an average value. The characteristics of the found peaks can be stored in a file so that the calibration can be used at any time.
US07876421B2

A light meter for measuring photometric quantities includes a telephotometer having a photo detector to receive light energy entering the telephotometer. A light metering valve, for the purpose of providing a variable field of view, is located in the body of the telephotometer generally at the focal plane of the objective lens of the telephotometer. A controller, which includes a digital processor in communication with the photo detector will process information from the photo detector and from a range finder included in the system to output light intensity of a target light source.
US07876417B2

An optical lithography system that has extended depth of focus exposes a photoresist coating on a wafer, and includes an illumination sub-system, a reticle, and an imaging lens that has a pupil plane function to form an aerial image of the reticle proximate to the photoresist. The pupil plane function provides the extended depth of focus such that the system may be manufactured or used with relaxed tolerance, reduced cost and/or increased throughput. The system may be used to form precise vias within integrated circuits even in the presence of misfocus or misalignment.
US07876405B2

The present invention relates to a reflective spatial light modulator enabling improvement of light resistance and prevention of damaging of the liquid crystal layer. The reflective spatial light modulator controls phases of the incident light and a reflected light while reflecting light made incident from a front side, and comprises a liquid crystal layer, a dielectric multilayer film, and a phase shift layer. The liquid crystal layer is filled with a liquid crystal comprised of a light modulating material, and modulates the incident light. The dielectric multilayer film reflects the incident light. The phase shift layer is disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric multilayer film to shift phases of the incident light and the reflected light at an interface of the liquid crystal layer.
US07876403B2

A novel optical compensation film is disclosed. The film comprises at least a first optically anisotropic layer and a second optically anisotropic layer, the first optically anisotropic layer having an in-plane retardation of 0 to 10 nm and an in-thickness direction retardation of −400 to −80 nm, the second optically anisotropic layer having an in-plane retardation of 20 to 150 nm and an in-thickness direction retardation of 100 to 300 nm, and at least either one of the first and second optically anisotropic layer being a polymer film.
US07876391B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight. The liquid crystal display device has a hole in the screen. The hole of the liquid crystal display panel has a first protecting member; and the hole of the backlight has a second protecting member. The liquid crystal display panel hole and the backlight hole form a common hole. The common hole has a third protecting member. With this structure, the viewer can see another display in the liquid crystal display screen without feeling a noticeable difference.
US07876377B2

A digital camera having a housing and a lens assembly receiving in the housing, includes a touch screen, a right shutter button, a left shutter button, and a selection switch. The right shutter button is configured for right-handed activation of a shutter function of the lens assembly of the digital camera. The left shutter button is configured for a left hand to turn on the lens assembly of the digital camera. The selection switch is electronically connected to the left, right shutter buttons and the touch screen. The selection switch is configured for selecting and activating one of the left, right shutter buttons to turn on the lens assembly of the digital camera. The selection is also configured for changing a relative position of the image-displaying area and the virtual button area in response to the left shutter button and the right shutter button that is activated.
US07876372B2

Disclosed is a digital camera with a live view display function, which is designed to make dust less noticeable. The digital camera includes an image pickup device that receives a subject light flux which has passed a photographing lens and outputs a subject image signal, a dust-proof optical element arranged in front of the imaging surface of the image pickup device, and a display device that provides a live view display of the subject as a move image based on the output of the image pickup device. The digital camera executes a dust removal operation of vibrating the dust-proof optical element in response to initiation or stop of a live view display by the display device.
US07876370B2

An image capture apparatus includes a high frequency signal extraction unit, a first filter unit, a second filter unit and a level setting unit. The high frequency signal extraction unit extracts a high frequency signal from an input signal. The first filter unit applies a horizontal band-pass filter to the input signal. The second filter unit applies a vertical band-pass filter to the input signal. The level setting unit sets a level, which is used to remove a noise component from the high frequency signal, to one of a first level and a second level lower than the first level. The level is set to the first level, if the input signal is obtained from a first area including low contrast. The level is set to the second level, if the input signal is obtained from a second area including small pattern.
US07876368B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for applying a slimming effect to a subject in a digital image on a camera. An exemplary method may comprise compressing the digital image in one dimension so that a subject appears thinner. The method may also comprise selecting a portion of the compressed image on both sides of the subject. The method may also comprise stretching only the selected portion of the compressed image to retain an aspect ratio of the original digital image.
US07876367B2

An imaging apparatus includes a selecting part selecting a first mode where correction of dark area gradation is not performed or a second mode where the correction is performed, and a correcting part performing the correction of improving lightness of dark area gradation of an image data when the second mode is selected; wherein an exposure calculating part calculates a brightness value for exposure control by calculating at least one of the maximum brightness value, the average brightness value, and a central part brightness value based on an output of a photometry part and by adding results by weighting addition; and determines a correction value by adding the results by weighting addition and corrects the brightness value for exposure control based on the correction value if the second mode is selected. Therefore, optimum exposure adjustment that depends on the correction can be performed.
US07876366B2

An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device carries out an exposing operation for exposing an object scene and an amplifying operation for amplifying a raw image signal generated by the exposing operation, according to a set imaging parameter. A CPU selects one program chart satisfying a parameter condition, from a plurality of program charts stored in a flash memory, and extracts three imaging parameters from the selected program chart. The extracted imaging parameters are set to the imaging device. The imaging parameter here includes exposure time, amount of aperture, and AGC gain as parameter elements. In addition, the parameter condition includes an AGC gain condition in that each of three AGC gains defining respectively the three imaging parameters is equal to or less than a predetermined value and an exposure time condition in that three exposure times defining respectively the three imaging parameters are shorter.
US07876362B2

An image sensor circuit includes a pixel array, a plurality of column analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, and at least two memory blocks. Each column ADC circuit is connected to receive analog pixel signals provided from corresponding pixel circuits of the pixel array, and is configured to convert the received analog pixel signals into digital pixel signals. Each memory block is connected to receive digital pixel signals provided from corresponding column ADC circuits of the plurality of column ADC circuits. At least two of the at least two memory blocks are connected to receive digital pixel signals that are provided from corresponding column ADC circuits that are located to a same side of the pixel array. Each memory block of the at least two memory blocks includes a plurality of memory cells, one or more sense amplifiers connected to the memory cells by a readout bus, and a memory controller.
US07876354B1

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for executing a setup protocol. A camera and a visual display device are coupled to a computer. Images are generated by the camera upon activation of the camera. A series of setup tests are then conducted on the images generated by the camera to determine whether the camera and surrounding environmental elements satisfy predetermined criteria of an intended computer vision application for optimal running of the intended computer vision application on the computer. The series of setup tests comprises at least one setup test selected from a library of setup tests.
US07876348B2

A laser scanning unit for a laser printer includes a frame connected to a casing, an optical system module installed on the frame directly for generating laser beams according to print data, an optical scanning module fixed on the frame for reflecting the laser beams generated by the optical system module, a curved lens for reflecting the laser beams reflected from the optical scanning module, and a reflector module installed on the frame directly for reflecting the laser beams reflected from the curved lens to an organic photo conductor.
US07876346B2

A thermal printer includes a first module having a motor and a thermal head support member to fix a thermal head, the thermal head support member having a fixed blade part working as a blade and an a second module being detachably coupled with the first module, the second module having a platen roller, a movable blade member and a movable blade member movement mechanism to move the movable blade member, wherein the movable blade member is disposed to face the fixed blade part and driving force of the motor is conveyed to the movable blade member movement mechanism, and thereby a cutter part is formed.
US07876337B2

According to the present invention, when video resolution is changed, the TV receiver selects resolution having a priority to the graphics resolution requested by the application depending on the application types, or the TV receiver selects graphics resolution appropriate for video format resolution, thereby the TV receiver enables the clear display of graphics without causing any distortion.
US07876332B1

A computer-implemented graphics system that includes a rasterizer and a shader has a mode of operation in which primitive coverage information is generated for real sample locations and virtual sample locations for use in anti-aliasing. An individual pixel includes a single real sample location and at least one virtual sample location. In some instances, a primitive may cover only virtual sample locations and does not cover a real sample location. These instances can be identified in the coverage information sent from the rasterizer to the shader, so that the shader can determine whether or not it can write color information, depth information and/or stencil information for the real sample location to a framebuffer.
US07876329B2

Provided are methods for managing texture data in Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The methods include receiving, into an arbiter, a preload request configured to request processing of texture data in advance of shader processing and receiving, into the arbiter, a dependent read request configured to request processing of texture data after shader processing. The methods also include receiving, into the arbiter, a capacity signal from a texture buffer and determining, utilizing the virtual buffer capacity signal, a selected request corresponding which of the preload request and the dependent read request is granted. The methods further include processing, in a texture processor, texture data corresponding to the selected request.
US07876317B2

An apparatus and method of producing a three-dimensional structural sketch (3DSS) and a computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program for executing the method is recorded are provided. The apparatus includes a property-detecting unit detecting a unary property of each part of a predetermined two-dimensional sketch and relational properties of the parts; a node-generating unit receiving the detected unary properties and the parts and converting the parts into nodes having three-dimensional shapes together with the detected unary properties; and a node-arranging unit receiving the detected relational properties and the nodes, arranging the nodes according to the detected relational properties, and generating a three-dimensional structural sketch, wherein the unary property includes geometric property and the relational property include topologic property. Thus, the apparatus can easily produce a 3DSS and update the produced 3DSS.
US07876312B2

A writing device is provided for color electronic paper which is capable of performing full color display. The writing device includes a head unit, a head unit moving mechanism which moves the head unit in a first direction, a feeding mechanism which moves electronic paper, and a controller. The head unit includes a writing head, an LED which emits light of three primary colors, an image sensing element consisting of a CMOS sensor, and an optical system. The writing head includes an optically transparent head main portion provided with pixel electrodes, and a common electrode (counter electrode). In the controller, an arrangement of three types of microcapsules in a microcapsule layer is detected to perform electric field formation for each of the pixel electrodes based on a detection result.
US07876307B2

There is described a method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector array, the method comprising the steps of illuminating under a determined gradient by means of the coherent light source the surface portion at a determined flash rate; detecting by means of the photodetector array speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for a first flash; detecting a second speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for a second flash; extracting motion features of two different types from the detected first and second speckled light intensity patterns; determining a measurement of the relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated surface portion based on a comparison of motion features extracted; wherein before the step of determining a measurement of the relative motion, the method further comprises the step of keeping only pairs of neighbouring motion features including one motion feature of both different types.
US07876306B2

The present invention relates to a mouse device having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism. The tilt wheel encoding mechanism includes a scroll wheel, a wheel carrier and a multi-direction switch unit. The scroll wheel is operable by a user. The wheel carrier has a receptacle for receiving the scroll wheel therein such that the scroll wheel is rotatable in the receptacle. By using the multi-direction switch unit to generate plural triggering signals, this encoding mechanism is simplified.
US07876301B2

A system provides an image displaying technique that provides stable high contrast even in an area having high brightness. Based on information about an average brightness level of a digital luminance signal, black-correction processing which decreases a brightness level by offsetting the brightness level to the minus side, and increase processing which increases a contrast gain within a dynamic range, are performed for an analog luminance signal or a digital luminance signal, enabling improvement in contrast even where brightness is intense.
US07876299B2

A method of illuminating a pixel on a display to a desired brightness level that includes dividing a time required to reach a maximum brightness level into one or more time slices, varying a pixel voltage associated with the pixel according to a sequence of voltage values over the one or more time slices, and gradually increasing the brightness of the pixel according to the pixel voltage.
US07876298B2

A spatial light modulator clocking method, called fast-clear, which employs embedded clear hardware in the SLM to enable the fast-clear bit to generate least-significant short-bit periods and without any bit ordering restrictions. In this method, fast data clears 34 are inserted between block data loads 32,36 within a frame refresh period. This method virtually eliminates the artifacts associated with the earlier reset-release timing method without the bit-ordering restriction of the jog-clear method.
US07876295B2

The invention proposes a circuit for an element of a light-emitting display. The element comprises a current control means, first and second switching means and a light-emitting means. In one embodiment, a signal holding means is provided. In addition, a light-emitting display having a plurality of elements is proposed. Furthermore, a method for driving the elements and the light-emitting display is proposed, and also a control signal for use with the method.
US07876291B2

A display panel drive device of reduced area occupied by circuit elements. The display panel drive device includes an output stage circuit having a low side selector circuit constituted by connecting in series inverters and a buffer circuit, n-channel IGBTs, a Zener diode and resistance respectively connected between the gate and emitter of the IGBT, a buffer circuit, and a high side selector circuit including an inverter. The buffer circuit includes a high side Pch-MOS operated by a logic signal from the high side selector circuit and a low side Nch-MOS operated by a logic signal of the low side selector circuit.
US07876289B2

Medical overlay mirror methods and related systems.
US07876278B2

The present invention relates to a dual-feed antenna. The invention provides an antenna comprising first and second electromagnetic radiation paths which join to form a common third electromagnetic radiation path, wherein the first path is rotatable with respect to the second path. In this way, two antenna feeds can be directed independently of one another, whilst combining the electromagnetic radiation paths from the antenna feeds then allows a common set of components to be used in signal analysis or generation.
US07876265B2

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing improved position-location (e.g., time-of-arrival) measurement and enhanced position location in wireless communication systems. In an embodiment, an access point may replace information (e.g., data) transmission by a “known” transmission (or “reference transmission”) at a predetermined time known to access terminals in the corresponding sectors. The access terminals may use the received reference transmission to perform a position-location measurement, and report back the measured information. The access point may also send a reference transmission on demand, e.g., in response to a request from an access terminal in need for a location-based service.
US07876261B1

A radar system has a phased-array antenna and plural local oscillators for controlling local transmit/receive units. The local oscillators are slaved to a master oscillator. The analog clock signal paths are subject to relative changes in electrical length. The electrical lengths of the signal paths are measured by phase-detecting forward- and reverse-direction clock signal flows. The phase-detected information for each signal path is a measure of the time delay. The radar command processor receives the measure of time delay and corrects the radar operation in response thereto.
US07876259B2

An air traffic control automatic dependent, WAAS/GPS based, surveillance system (ADS), for operation in the TRACON airspace. The system provides encryption protection against unauthorized reading of ADS messages and unauthorized position tracking of aircraft using multilateration techniques. Each aircraft has its own encryption and long PN codes per TRACON and transmit power is controlled to protect against unauthorized ranging on the ADS-S aircraft transmission. The encryption and PN codes can be changed dynamically. Several options which account for available bandwidth, burst data rates, frequency spectrum allocations, relative cost to implement, complexity of operation, degree of protection against unauthorized users, system capacity, bits per aircraft reply message and mutual interference avoidance techniques between ADS-S, ADS-B Enroute and Mode S/ATCRBS TRACON are disclosed. ADS messages are only transmitted as replies to ATC ground terminal interrogations (no squittering). Derivative surveillance backup systems provide an anti-spoofing capability.
US07876258B2

A collision sense and avoidance system and method and an aircraft, such as an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and/or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), including the collision sense and avoidance system. The collision sense and avoidance system includes an image interrogator identifies potential collision threats to the aircraft and provides maneuvers to avoid any identified threat. Motion sensors (e.g., imaging and/or infrared sensors) provide image frames of the surroundings to a clutter suppression and target detection unit that detects local targets moving in the frames. A Line Of Sight (LOS), multi-target tracking unit, tracks detected local targets and maintains a track history in LOS coordinates for each detected local target. A threat assessment unit determines whether any tracked local target poses a collision threat. An avoidance maneuver unit provides flight control and guidance with a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat.
US07876255B2

A controlling device, such as a universal remote control, that uses visual and/or audio cues, such as sounds, color, patterns, shapes, etc., to indicate a relationship between a function key and an intended target appliance for a command transmitted in response to activation of the function key.
US07876253B2

A D/A conversion circuit for performing D/A conversion at high speeds. The D/A conversion circuit includes a resistor string including a plurality of resistor elements connected between a low-potential power supply and a high-potential power supply. A plurality of first switch groups are connected to the connection nodes between the resistor elements for selectively outputting voltages at the connection nodes. The outputs of the switches of the first switch groups are connected in common to a corresponding one of the nodes. The plurality of nodes are connected to an output terminal of the D/A conversion circuit via a second switch group. Predetermined switches of the first switch groups are connected in parallel to third switches to apply voltages to the nodes.
US07876246B1

A monitoring device in an analog-to-digital converter, the monitoring device including a monitoring module configured to receive a first radio frequency signal provided by a first radio frequency modulator and a second radio frequency signal provided by a second radio frequency modulator. The first radio frequency signal being associated with a laser data and a radio frequency input signal. The laser data being associated with a radio frequency oscillator signal. The second radio frequency signal being associated with the laser signal and the radio frequency oscillator signal. The monitoring module is configured to determine a modification factor based on the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal.
US07876245B2

A parallel-to-serial converting circuit includes a first alignment unit configured to receive and serially align parallel data included in a first group selected from a plurality of parallel data and to output serially aligned parallel data. The parallel-to-serial converting circuit also includes a second alignment unit configured to receive and serially align parallel data included in a second group selected from a plurality of parallel data and to output serially aligned parallel data. The parallel-to-serial converting circuit further includes a third alignment unit configured to serially align and output the serially aligned parallel data that is output from the first alignment unit and the second alignment unit. The first alignment unit and the second alignment unit drive an output node in response to activated data of received parallel data.
US07876242B2

A method for decoding a Manchester-II encoded DISPLAYPORT compatible signal is provided. In this method, several counters are reset. A unit interval (UI) counter is incremented for each UI received upon receipt of a valid UI, and the value of the UI counter is compared to a plurality of threshold values after the UI counter is incremented. When the value of the UI counter exceeds each of the threshold values, for each clock cycle, a sum counter is incremented corresponding to the exceeded threshold value, and a plurality of window lengths are calculated, where each window is calculated based at least in part on the value of one of the sum counters at predetermined values of the UI counter.
US07876236B2

Devices, systems, and methods for reinforcing a traffic control assembly are provided. In some embodiments, a retrofitted traffic control assembly configured to reinforce a traffic signal assembly in high wind conditions is provided, where the assembly includes a clamping assembly having clamping members that at least partially surround an existing traffic signal disconnect hanger, and bar members positioned substantially perpendicular to the clamping members. In certain embodiments, stiffening members may be placed in, on, or adjacent to a traffic signal and/or a traffic signal disconnect hanger to further reinforce the traffic signal assembly. Also provided are connection assemblies for reinforcing the portion of a traffic control assembly positioned between a traffic signal disconnect hanger and an upper span wire, for example.
US07876234B1

A gauge gives a driver of a tow vehicle a visual cue that the trailer is at a proper depth within the water to recover a boat onto the trailer. The gauge has a tubular member that has a top with a red light bulb and a green light bulb thereon. A housing is attached to the tubular member and longitudinally adjusted along a length of the tubular member as needed. A switch, controlled by a float, is located within the housing, such that when there is no water in the housing, the float is at rest and causes the switch to connect the red light bulb to electricity. As water enters the housing, the float rises with the rising water level in the housing and causes the switch to disconnect the red light bulb from and connect the green light bulb to the electricity.
US07876217B2

An apparatus including a sensor configured to sense a physical quantity, an actuator configured to manipulate the physical quantity in a predefined manner, and a detection circuit configured to output an alarm signal in case the sensor does not react to the manipulation of the physical quantity in an expected way.
US07876214B1

A location-based and preference-based system and method for matching information such as the attributes and/or characteristics profiles of restaurants with the expressed preferences of mobile users to alert and direct such users to any restaurants having information matching the user's express preferences. The system and method also permits users to submit restaurant reviews that may be accessed by others for the matching restaurants. In particular, the system comprises a mobile device such as a GPS-capable PDA that stores the user's preferences and communicates with a server that contains or accesses the profiles of the restaurants to compare the profiles and preferences. Comparison of the user's preferences with the various profiles allows the user only to be informed of those restaurants that it is likely to be interested in, while providing access to third party reviews of the restaurants. The system and method thus provides for a mobile real-time point of interest exchange network.
US07876211B2

A method, apparatus and system are provided that receive an alarm record and compare the alarm record to a suppression description that describes an alarm to be suppressed. A suppression flag of the received alarm record is set in accordance with a result of the comparison. A suppression trigger message may be received and compared to the suppression description. The suppression description may be enabled in accordance with the result of the suppression trigger message comparison and the alarm record compared to the suppression description only if the suppression description is enabled.
US07876207B2

In a wake-up control device for waking up a peripheral circuit such as a transmitter/receiver in a radio communication device, during a standby time in which an RF unit and a processing unit are powered off by a switch, an RF signal is received to produce a detection signal by a detector. The detection signal is transferred to the wake-up controller to be sampled. The header and other fields are detected and counted. A control signal is in turn produced by the respective counts to turn on the switch.
US07876205B2

A system and method for detecting use of a wireless device is disclosed. In one embodiment, wireless device activity data is received from a wireless network. User account data is searched using selected parameters from the wireless device activity data to identify one or more subscribers that are or were using a wireless device. One or more subscriber vehicles or vehicle monitoring systems associated with each of the one or more subscribers are identified. Vehicle operation data from one or more vehicle monitoring systems is received. The vehicle operation data is used to determine whether any of the one or more subscriber vehicles were moving during use of an associated wireless device.
US07876203B2

The system includes a detector display having visual indicators arranged in a pattern representing a monitored area near the vehicle desired to be monitored. The visual indicators represent physical locations within the monitored area. An indicator controller is operatively associated with the detector display for actuating the visual indicators to display an object location in the pattern that corresponds to the location of an object in the monitored area. A proximity sensor is included in communication with the indicator controller for detecting the physical location of objects within the monitored area. A detection signal is transmitted by the proximity sensor to the indicator controller in response to detecting an object, wherein the indicator controller is operable to actuate the visual indicators in response to the detection signal to display an object location in the pattern that corresponds to an object location in the monitored area.
US07876200B2

In an in-vehicle theft call apparatus, when a relevant vehicle is in a non-stopped state, an electric power supply from an in-vehicle battery is maintained to both a Cellular wireless section and a PCS wireless section. Thus, a wide range wireless communication area can be secured. In contrast, when the vehicle is in a stopped state, an electric power supply from the in-vehicle battery is maintained to only one of the Cellular wireless section and the PCS wireless section while being interrupted to the other. Thus, a communication signal can be transmitted appropriately in an event of call state; further, power consumption can be improved.
US07876197B2

Methods and systems for preventing unauthorized use of a mobile asset are described. The method for providing access to the mobile asset can include providing a control device on the mobile asset. The control device is in communication with the mobile asset to selectively control whether the mobile asset is enabled for operation. The method also includes storing data in the control device that identifies a group of potential operators who are permitted to operate that mobile asset. This stored data includes unique password data for each potential operator in the permitted group. Further, the method includes receiving an identifier and password from an accessing operator and comparing by the control device of the received identifier to the stored data to order confirm that the accessing operator is a potential operator. Moreover, the method includes comparing by the received password to the stored data in order to confirm that the password matches the unique password data, and, if the comparisons are satisfied, controlling the mobile asset to be enabled for operation by the accessing operator.
US07876190B2

A double-tuned circuit includes a primary side tuned circuit having a first air-cored coil and a secondary side tuned circuit having a second air-cored coil. The first air-cored coil and the second air-cored coil are opposed to each other so that one opening end of the first air-cored coil and one opening end of the second air-cored coil are capable of being coupled to each other on a coil mounting surface. The coil mounting surface is provided with a first conductive pattern formed adjacent to the first air-cored coil in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the first and second air-cored coils, and both ends of first conductive pattern are connected to a ground.
US07876186B2

An electromagnetic actuator having an annular pole piece and an annular armature with surfaces formed thereon through which a magnetic flux passes. The armature is axially movable relative to the pole piece between a first position and a second position. Magnetic flux is efficiently transmitted between the pole piece and the armature and the pole piece can be employed to guide the armature for movement thereon.
US07876176B2

An acoustic wave filter device includes first to fourth longitudinally coupled resonator type surface acoustic wave filters that are configured such that the first and second filters are connected to a first balanced signal terminal, the third and fourth filters are connected to a second balanced signal terminal, and a transmission phase of a signal output from the first balanced signal terminal relative to an input signal differs by about 180 degrees with respect to a transmission phase of a signal output from the second balanced signal terminal relative to an input signal. In addition, the number of pairs of electrode fingers of at least one of IDTs of at least one of the first to fourth longitudinally coupled resonator type surface acoustic wave filters is different from the number of pairs of electrode fingers of corresponding IDTs of the remaining first to fourth filters.
US07876174B2

A power line coupler for communicating data signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having one or more overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. One embodiment comprises a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first power line conductor and the second end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a first terminal of the communication device. The embodiment further includes a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to a second power line conductor, and the second end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a second terminal of the communication device.
US07876172B2

A balanced-unbalanced conversion element for realizing easy adjustment of a phase balance of two balanced signals is provided. The balanced-unbalanced conversion element includes a first ¼-wavelength resonant line coupled to a first balanced terminal, a second ¼-wavelength resonant line coupled to a second balanced terminal, and a ½-wavelength resonant line. The ½-wavelength resonant line includes a first open-end-side line coupled to an unbalanced terminal and the first ¼-wavelength resonator and a second open-end-side line coupled to the second ¼-wavelength resonator. In addition, a width of the first open-end-side line differs from a width of the second open-end-side line.
US07876165B2

A ring-based multi-push voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) generates a multi-push output signal using a control voltage. The ring-based multi-push VCO includes a plurality of delay cells, a plurality of buffer amplifiers, and a bias unit. The delay cells connect each other in sequence to form a ring structure, and each delay cell connects with the respective buffer amplifier. The bias unit connects with the buffer amplifiers to output the multi-push output signal. The control voltage supplied to the delay cells is utilized to control the frequency of the multi-push output signal, and the ring structure formed by the delay cells is to multiply the frequency of the multi-push output signal to increase the frequency tuning range.
US07876160B2

A power amplifier includes a plurality of amplification paths in which at least one amplification path is selectively enabled and disabled, wherein each amplification path includes an output impedance modification element and an output phase shift element that is operable independently from the output impedance modification element, and wherein the output impedance modification element in each amplification path provides selective impedance for each amplification path.
US07876159B2

A multi-frequency and multi-mode power amplifier is provided. The amplifier has a carrier power amplifier and a peaking power amplifier. The carrier power amplifier receives a first signal and outputs a first amplified signal, in which a first transistor size adjusting unit is included to adjust an equivalent transistor size based on a mode indication signal. The peaking power amplifier receives a second signal and outputs a second amplified signal, in which a second transistor size adjusting unit is included to adjust an equivalent transistor size based on the mode indication signal.
US07876152B2

A level-shifting amplifier is provided for level-shifting an input signal with a voltage magnitude that exceeds a supply voltage of the amplifier. In operation, the amplifier has an input impedance of greater than 100 MOhms.
US07876151B1

Systems and methods to achieve an IC audio volume control requiring minimum silicon area and having an accurate volume control gain setting are disclosed. A resistive element in form of a R/2R ladder is deployed between an output node of an operational amplifier and an input node of the circuit. All resistors of said resistive element are unit resistors having a same resistance, wherein said unit resistors are arranged in parallel or series combinations to achieve a resistance desired. A first number of switches are deployed between nodes of the R/2R ladder and an inverting input of the operational amplifier. Furthermore a second number of switches are deployed between nodes within resistor units of the R/2R ladder and the inverting input. The circuit invented could have a single input or a differential input, or a single ended output or a differential output.
US07876149B2

Disclosed herein is a harmonic quadrature demodulation apparatus and method. The harmonic quadrature demodulation apparatus includes an input terminal for externally receiving an input focused signal, a harmonic phase estimation unit for estimating a second-order harmonic phase component from the input focused signal. The second-order harmonic detection unit includes an in-phase component extractor, a quadrature component extratctor, a Hilbert transformer, an adder and a low pass filter. The in-phase component extractor extracts an in-phase component of the input focused signal. The quadrature component extractor extracts a quadrature component of the input focused signal.
US07876145B2

A control system architecture for quantum computing includes an array of qubits, which is divided into a plurality of sub-arrays based on a first direction and a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction, a plurality of control lines each coupled to a corresponding sub-array of qubits in the first direction, a plurality of enable/unenable lines each coupled to a corresponding sub-array of qubits in the second direction, a controls signal source that generates a control signal, wherein the control lines are used to apply the control signal commonly to one or more sub-arrays of qubits in the first direction, an enable/unenable signal source that generates a enable signal, wherein the enable/unenable lines are used to apply the enable signal independently to the corresponding sub-array of qubits in the second direction to set a bias point of each qubit of the corresponding sub-array of qubits in the second direction between a first position, in which the qubit is unenabled and not responsive to the control signal, and a second position, in which the qubit is enabled and responsive to the control signal.
US07876142B2

A latch inverter includes a first PMOS transistor, a second PMOS transistor, a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a first level-adjusting unit and a second level-adjusting unit. The first level-adjusting unit changes the voltage level of the source of the second PMOS transistor in advance, and the second level-adjusting unit changes the voltage level of the drain of the second NMOS transistor in advance.
US07876141B2

A generator of synchronization pulses intended for at least two registers, including a first input intended to receive a clock signal and at least one output intended to deliver the pulses on the clock input of said registers, and at least one second input intended to receive a signal for forcing the output, independently from the clock signal, to make said registers transparent.
US07876139B2

A delay locked loop (DLL) of a semiconductor device has a relatively small area and low current consumption while having a function of correcting a duty ratio. The semiconductor device includes a split unit configured to receive and split a reference clock to output a first clock corresponding to a first edge of the reference clock and a second clock corresponding to a second edge, a voltage generation unit configured to generate a first voltage corresponding to a duty ratio of the first clock and a second voltage corresponding to a duty ratio of the second clock, a voltage comparison unit configured to compare levels of the first and second voltages with each other, and a clock delay unit configured to receive one of the first and second clocks to delay the received clock of which delay amount is determined in response to an output signal of the voltage comparison unit.
US07876131B2

A dynamic logic gate has a device for charging a dynamic node during a pre-charge phase of a clock. A logic tree evaluates the dynamic node with a device during an evaluate phase of the clock. The dynamic node has a keeper circuit comprising an inverter with its input coupled to the dynamic node and its output coupled to the back gate of a dual gate PFET device. The source of the dual gate PFET is coupled to the power supply and its drain is coupled to the dynamic node forming a half latch. The front gate of the dual gate PFET is coupled to a logic circuit with a mode input and a logic input coupled back to a node sensing the state of the dynamic node. The mode input may be a slow mode to preserve dynamic node state or the clock delayed that turns ON the strong keeper after evaluation.
US07876124B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for the implementation of a novel architecture to support download sequencing techniques for circuit configuration data. Sets of configuration data from nonvolatile memory may be sequentially transferred to volatile memory to support reconfigurable circuit elements, for example, for use in a clock generator. Different programmable circuit elements may use configuration data, but have different ramp-up times before stable operation. With early download sequence positioning of configuration data, and corresponding immediacy in initiation of operation, certain clock elements are able to commence initiation of operation while remaining clock elements are provided with configuration data from a latter portion of the download sequence.
US07876122B2

An array substrate is provided with thereon a display area in which plural pixels are arranged in a matrix shape. Output-side mounting terminals for a source driving circuit chip, which is COG-mounted on a frame area on the outside of the display area, have a plural-row zigzag arrangement. Inspection terminals individually provided in correspondence to the output-side mounting terminals have a zigzag arrangement opposite to the zigzag arrangement of the output-side mounting terminals in a terminal-row direction. Additionally, the output-side mounting terminals and the inspection terminals are disposed below the source driving circuit chip.
US07876110B2

Method and apparatus for simulating electrical pipe-to-soil impedance of a coated segment of a pipeline includes simulating a current injection point to a buried pipe section, simulating a first output signal from a magnetometer positioned at a first location over the buried pipe section, simulating a second output signal from a magnetometer positioned at a second location over the buried pipe section, simulating bonding of pipe coating of the pipe section, and simulating soil resistance of a soil environment surrounding the buried pipe section. The invention includes both field-test simulation with calibration pipe samples, and bench-test simulation using electronic simulation of the pipe coating. The simulations may be used for test and general calibration of MEIS pipeline coating inspection systems.
US07876104B2

The invention relates to an electric interface device (11) for transmitting electric power between a vehicle and an implement that can be coupled to said vehicle (42), which is especially an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle. The inventive electric interface device (11) comprises a vehicle interface (14), an implement interface (24), and electric wires (20, 22, 30, 32, 58, 62), by means of which the vehicle interface (14) can be connected to an electric power source (10) of the vehicle (42) and the implement interface (24) can be connected to an electric consumer (12). The vehicle interface (14) is embodied so as to be complementary to the implement interface (24) and can be reversibly connected to the implement interface (24). The invention further relates to a vehicle (42) and an implement encompassing an electric interface device (11). The disclosed electric interface device (11) is characterized by a measuring apparatus (34) that is allocated to the vehicle interface (14) and/or an actuator (52) which is assigned to the vehicle interface (14). The measuring apparatus (34) makes it possible to quantify at least one electric state variable of the electric power transmitted between the vehicle (42) and the implement, and/or the actuator (52) makes it possible to modify at least one electric state variable of the electric power transmitted between the vehicle 42) and the implement.
US07876103B2

The system consists of an LED failure detection circuit to provide protection against individual LED catastrophic failure. When LED clusters are arranged in a series-parallel configuration, it is important to detect individual LED failure in order to avoid uncontrolled luminous intensity reduction and/or light uniformity degradation. The circuit compares the voltage levels on LEDs with similar position but situated in different chains. In normal conditions, the voltage levels are substantially similar to one another. In case of individual or multiple LED failure, open or shortcircuit, the circuit sends a signal to the automatic turn off circuit that initiates the lamp forced turn off sequence.
US07876102B2

A mixed mode tool uses an inductive source and detects galvanic currents and/or potentials at electrodes in proximity to a borehole wall to produce a resistivity image of the earth formation. Alternative, the magnetic field produced by a galvanic current is detected by an antenna coil and used to produce a resistivity image.
US07876096B2

A flexible elongate structure, such as a flexible riser (10) for connecting oil and gas wells to floating production platforms, comprising at least one layer (20) of steel wires near the surface which extend at least partly along the length of the structure, can be monitored by inducing a magnetic field in the steel wires using an electromagnetic coil, and monitoring the magnetic flux density near the surface of the structure so as to detect if any wires have broken. Measurements are made at two different frequencies, the lower frequency giving an output dependent both on stresses and on the number of adjacent wires in the layer (20), and the higher frequency giving an output primarily dependent on the number of these wires. By comparing these two measurements a corrected output parameter (P) may be obtained that is indicative only of stress. A break in a wire can be expected to change the stress in that and adjacent wires.
US07876095B2

An apparatus is provided for determination of at least one interface of a slag layer on top of a molten metal. The apparatus has a carrier tube and a measuring head arranged on one end of the carrier tube with a body fixed within the carrier tube and an end face facing away from the carrier tube. The apparatus further includes an oscillator arranged within the measuring head and an induction coil connected with the oscillator and arranged outside of the body and in front of its end face.
US07876093B2

A method for assembling an eddy current inspection device includes at least partially positioning a first tip assembly within a cavity defined by a proximity probe case. The first tip assembly defines a bore therethrough. The first tip assembly is sealingly coupling to the proximity probe case. A second tip assembly is at least partially positioned within the cavity and sealingly coupled to the first tip assembly.
US07876092B2

A multiple-rotation absolute encoder attached to an actuator provided with a motor and a reduction gear comprises a multiple-rotation value counter for counting a multiple-rotation value representing a number of rotations of a rotating shaft of the motor from a predetermined origin; a memory part for storing a reduction ratio R of the reduction gear; and a counter-controlling part for setting a range of the count value of the multiple-rotation value counter from zero rotations to (R−1) rotations on the basis of the reduction ratio R stored and maintained in the memory part, resetting the count value to zero when the rotating shaft makes a single rotation in a forward direction from a state in which the count value is (R−1), and setting the count value to (R−1) when the rotating shaft makes a single rotation in a reverse direction from a state in which the count value is zero. The rotation-angle position within a single rotation of the output shaft can be specified without the multiple-rotation value counter overflowing, even when the actuator rotates continuously in one direction.
US07876085B2

The present invention discloses a quasi-resonant valley voltage detecting method, comprising the steps of: generating a valley detection signal by detecting a valley of a first quasi-resonant signal; generating a count value by counting the valley detection signal; and determining a level transition instance of a gating signal according to the count value, wherein the level transition instance of the gating signal is pulled back by the valley detection signal to trace the valley of the first quasi-resonant signal. The present invention also provides a quasi-resonant valley voltage detecting apparatus.
US07876084B2

A method for the determination of a motor voltage limit, wherein a clutch actuator of an automated shift transmission remains motionless, including the steps of (a) raising or lowering a withstand voltage by an increment ΔU, starting from a current withstand voltage (Ucurr), and (b) determining whether the clutch actuator moves under the changed withstand voltage.
US07876083B2

A tuner having one or more digitally controllable tuning components may be coupled to an analog feedback compensation network in a target switching power supply controller to adjust the compensation while the power supply is operating. A communication interface couples the tuner to a host having a software interface to enable a user to adjust the values of the tuning components. The tuner may include components to adjust the values of a feedback network, an input network, a ramp adjust component, etc., on the target controller.
US07876081B2

A comparator-system DC-DC converter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a control unit 200 which has a comparator section 20, 40 which compares the output voltage of the voltage conversion section with a reference voltage and determines a predetermined ON width of the ON pulse of the control signal Ssw or a predetermined OFF width of the OFF pulse of the control signal Ssw, and frequency control means 25 which compares the control signal Ssw with reference clock Cref and adjusts the ON width or OFF width so that the frequency of the control signal Ssw is constant. The frequency control means 25 detects a state where the output current of the voltage conversion section 100 is 0 A or a state where the output current is going to be 0 A and stops the processing to adjust the ON width or OFF width.
US07876080B2

A power converter for and method of producing a monotonic rise in output voltage at start-up. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a switch and an error amplifier coupled to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a comparator with an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the switch and an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the error amplifier configured to enable the switch to conduct for a duty cycle. Additionally, the switch is configured to be turned off at a start-up of the power converter until a voltage of the output terminal of the error amplifier provides a duty cycle for the switch corresponding to an output characteristic pre-charge condition.
US07876074B2

An amplifier having improved distortion characteristics is set forth. The amplifier includes an interleaved PWM amplifier that generates interleaved PWM pulses in response to a modified input signal and one or more carrier signals. The interleaved PWM pulses of the amplifier are used to drive a power stage, such as an opposed current power stage. The amplifier also includes an interleaved PWM generator that provides interleaved PWM pulses in response to the modified input signal and one or more further carrier signals. The carrier signals used by the PWM generator may differ in phase from the carrier signals used by the interleaved PWM amplifier to generate its interleaved PWM pulses. One or more feedback circuits are employed in the generation of the modified input signal. More particularly, the feedback circuit(s) generates the modified input signal based on an input signal that is to be amplified and the interleaved PWM pulses of the interleaved PWM generator.
US07876063B2

An axial gap type motor/generator is provided with a stator, a rotor and an alternating current control device. The alternating current control device executes alternating current control of a single phase or multiple phase alternating current flowing in the coils. The alternating current control device includes a superpositioning control section and a frequency component control section. The superpositioning control section produces the alternating current by superpositioning a plurality of frequency components including a first order fundamental wave component and a plurality of higher harmonic wave components that have frequencies equal to integer multiples of a frequency of the fundamental wave components and are of orders that are equal to values of the integer multiples. The frequency component control section controls a relationship among the frequency components such that two pairs of the frequency components whose orders differ by two are aligned with respect to each other.
US07876046B2

A lower dielectric layer which increases internal light reflectivity, and a plasma display panel (PDP) including the lower dielectric layer. The lower dielectric layer includes a white pigment of which concentration increases along a direction of light emitted outward from the inside of the PDP to effectively increase the internal light reflectivity.
US07876033B2

An electron tube of the present invention includes: a vacuum vessel including a stem portion made of quartz and formed with an opening; a lid portion connected to the stem portion via a joining member made of aluminum so as to seal the opening, having a recess portion depressed to a vacuum side in the opening, and made of Kovar; a voltage applying section arranged in the vacuum vessel; and wiring for electrically connecting the voltage applying section and the lid portion.
US07876032B2

The invention relates to a light unit, comprising a concave reflector (7) with an outlet opening and an axis, whereby the reflector encloses a light source running in the direction of the axis. The light source is enclosed at a separation from an open-ended cylindrical protective tube (16), with a glare shield (19), provided at the open end of the protective tube. The glare shield (19) is a sheet, cupped over the burst-protection tube, whereby the glare shield comprises a semi-circular end piece with a given maximum diameter, on which a straight cylindrical section of greater diameter is mounted which itself is further provided with an offset screen (21).
US07876031B2

A piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device formed of a piezoelectric thin film of AlN on the +C plane and having the polarization strength of not lower than 0.63×10−20 F/V and an information processing unit using the same are disclosed. This is the result of the inventors having studied the factors other than the C-axis orientation affecting the electromechanical coupling factor and developing a method of improving the electromechanical coupling factor in view of the occasional fact that the electromechanical coupling factor cannot be improved by improving the C-axis orientation and the electromechanical coupling factor required for the piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device is not obtained. In such a case, the receiving sensitivity of the receiving system may be deteriorated and the transmission strength of the transmission system is required to be increased undesirably having an adverse effect on the power saving efforts.
US07876030B2

An ultrasonic transducer includes: piezoelectric elements; a pair of clamping members which clamp said piezoelectric elements; and a cover member which is crimped to at least one of said pair of clamping members in a state where said cover member cooperates with said pair of clamping members to surround said piezoelectric elements.
US07876023B2

Disclosed is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane sensor wherein the main component of terminal electrodes is contained in the vicinity of the surface of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. The membrane sensor is hardly electrostatically charged and thus prevented from electrostatic discharge damage and/or the attraction of dust, dirt or the like.
US07876022B2

A piezoelectric generator includes a piezoelectric ring having upper and lower plane surfaces and a first quality factor (Q-factor), a sound-wave conducting gasket acoustically coupled to the upper plane surface, a metal resonator ring positioned acoustically coupled to the conducting gasket, the metal resonator ring having a second Q-factor substantially greater than the first Q-factor, and at least one bent elastic pusher extending from a periphery of the metal resonator ring. In the generator, an external diameter of the conducting gasket is less than half of an external diameter of the metal resonator ring and the piezoelectric ring, the conducting gasket, and the metal resonator ring are concentrically aligned with respect to a rotational axis.
US07876021B2

A surface acoustic wave device includes a LiTaO3 substrate, and an IDT having a high reflection coefficient, which has a relatively high electromechanical coupling coefficient k2, and which can obtain superior resonance characteristics and/or filter characteristics. In a surface acoustic wave device in which a plurality of grooves is provided in an upper surface of a LiTaO3 substrate and an IDT having a plurality of electrode fingers made of a metal filled in the plurality of grooves, the following equation is satisfied:(ρ3×C44)1/2>1.95×1011, where ρ represents the density of the metal defining the IDT, and C44 represents the stiffness thereof.
US07876012B2

A dynamoelectric machine comprising a stator having a plurality of slots and teeth, armature windings wound around the teeth, and a rotor disposed inside the stator, wherein an alloy member is disposed in the inner periphery of the stator and the magnetic compensator has its surface or inside thereof a high resistance layer.
US07876002B2

An actuator in which, when a supporting shaft, where a mirror (control object) is provided, is tilted by receiving an electromagnetic force of a magnetic driving mechanism, small balls of a supporting mechanism move in an axial direction in a space provided between an outer base and an inner ring member. Therefore, the supporting shaft and the inner ring member holding the supporting shaft swing. At this time, since the inner ring member swings around a rotational fulcrum as center, the supporting shaft can swing around one rotational fulcrum as center at all times. A plurality of laid members serving as a rotation restricting member prevent rotation of the supporting shaft in a direction around the axis.
US07875999B2

A PDA, which functions as an electronic unit, includes power supply which includes a fuel cell unit and an auxiliary power supply which is charged by an output of the fuel cell unit. A non-use state of the PDA is detected by non-use detection unit. Upon detection of the non-use state by the non-use detection unit, the output from the fuel cell unit is stopped and an output of the auxiliary power supply is shut off.
US07875998B2

A power control circuit includes an isolation circuit for receiving a separate image signal and outputting a start signal, and a driving circuit for outputting a direct current (DC) power to start a power module. The other power control circuit includes a first signal generating circuit, for generating a first signal; a second signal generating circuit, for receiving a DC power and outputting a second signal upon receiving a first signal; a driving circuit, for outputting a DC power to start a power module after receiving the second signal; an isolation circuit, for receiving the separate image signal and outputting a start signal; and a control circuit, for outputting a DC power to start the power module after receiving the start signal. The operation of the power control circuit can be suspended, when the display device is in a standby state, thereby reducing power consumption in the standby state significantly.
US07875996B2

An electronic product includes an application specific semiconductor chip (ASIC) device which includes in its circuitry both a linear regulator module configured to be coupled to an optional external capacitance and a capless regulator module configured to be coupled to internal capacitance of the electronic product. Control logic of the ASIC device is responsive to a regulator selection signal for selecting one of the linear regulator module and the capless regulator module for use in powering the ASIC device. The control logic may select the linear regulator module for certain times of operation and the capless regulator module for other times of operation.
US07875994B2

An airbag device includes an airbag control IC constructed with a control signal generating circuit, a high-side switching element and a low-side switching element. Based on a signal for controlling the low-side switching element, on a signal for controlling a safety switching element and on a check mode signal, the control signal generating circuit adjusts the timing of the signal for controlling the high-side switching element so that the high-side switching element is turned on last. Therefore, the high-side switching element is turned on last. This suppresses the occurrence of an overshoot current.
US07875990B2

The wind-energy power machine and storage energy power generating system and wind-driven power generation system belong to the field of wind-energy power machine and power generating and equipments technology. The wind-energy power machine consists of a center rotating body, several frame portions and a wind pressure push mechanism provided in each frame portion; the central rotating body of the wind-energy power machine is vertically and rotationally installed on the special high frame structure which has wind collection wall, it has extremely high wind utilizing efficiency and power generating effect through the large scale motor and power generating system constituted by vertical or the horizontal integrated system or the combined system of integration of vertical series connection and parallel connection.
US07875972B2

Disclosed is a multilayer thermal interface material which includes a first layer of metallic thermal interface material, a buffer layer and preferably a second layer of thermal interface material which may be metallic or nonmetallic. The multilayer thermal interface material is used in conjunction with a semiconductor device assembly of a chip carrier substrate, a heat spreader for attaching to the substrate, a semiconductor device mounted on the substrate and underneath the heat spreader and the multilayer thermal interface material interposed between the heat spreader and the semiconductor device. The heat spreader has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), CTE1, the buffer layer has a second CTE, CTE2, and the semiconductor device has a third CTE, CTE3, wherein CTE1>CTE2>CTE3.
US07875963B1

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor package (e.g., a QFP package) including a uniquely configured leadframe sized and configured to maximize the available number of exposed leads in the semiconductor package. More particularly, the semiconductor package includes a generally planar die pad or die paddle defining multiple peripheral edge segments. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a plurality of leads. Some of these leads include bottom surface portions which, in the completed semiconductor package, are exposed and at least partially circumvent the die pad, with other leads including portions which protrude from respective side surfaces of a package body in the completed semiconductor package. The semiconductor package also includes one or more power bars and/or one or more ground rings which are integral portions of the original leadframe used to fabricate the same.
US07875961B2

A semiconductor substrate, of GaAs with a semiconductor layer sequence applied on top of the substrate. The semiconductor layer sequence comprises a plurality of semiconductor layers of Al1-yGayAs1-xPx with 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1. A number of the semiconductor layers respectively comprising a phosphorus component x which is greater than in a neighboring semiconductor layer lying thereunder in the direction of growth of the semiconductor layer sequence. Two semiconductor layers directly preceding the uppermost semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layer sequence have a smaller lattice constant than the uppermost layer.
US07875959B2

The channel of a MOSFET is selectively stressed by selectively stressing the silicide layers on the gate electrode and the source/drain. Stress in the silicide layer is selectively produced by orienting the larger dimensions of the silicide grains in a first direction and the smaller dimensions in a second, perpendicular direction, with one of the directions being parallel to the direction of carrier movement in the channel and the other direction being perpendicular thereto.
US07875946B2

In order to improve reliability by preventing edge breakdown in a semiconductor photodetector having a mesa structure such as a mesa APD, the semiconductor photodetector includes a mesa structure formed on a first semiconductor layer of the first conduction type formed on a semiconductor substrate, the mesa structure including a light absorbing layer for absorbing light, an electric field buffer layer for dropping an electric field intensity, an avalanche multiplication layer for causing avalanche multiplication to occur, and a second semiconductor layer of the second conduction type, wherein the thickness of the avalanche multiplication layer at the portion in the vicinity of the side face of the mesa structure is made thinner than the thickness at the central portion of the mesa structure.
US07875945B2

A photovoltaic device including a rear electrode which may also function as a rear reflector. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the rear electrode includes a metallic based reflective film that is oxidation graded, so as to be more oxided closer to a rear substrate (e.g., glass substrate) supporting the electrode than at a location further from the rear substrate. In other words, the rear electrode is oxidation graded so as to be less oxided closer to a semiconductor absorber of the photovoltaic device than at a location further from the semiconductor absorber in certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, the interior surface of the rear substrate may optionally be textured so that the rear electrode deposited thereon is also textured so as to provide desirable electrical and reflective characteristics. In certain example embodiments, the rear electrode may be of or include Mo and/or MoOx, and may be sputter-deposited using a combination of MoOx and Mo sputtering targets.
US07875940B2

A micromachine for a high-frequency filter which has a high Q value and a higher frequency band is provided. The micromachine includes an electrode provided on a substrate, an inter-layer insulation film composed of a first insulation film and a second insulation film which are provided on the substrate in the state of covering the electrode, a hole pattern provided in the second insulation film in the state of reaching the electrode, and a belt-like vibrator electrode provided on the second insulation film so as to cross the upper side of a space portion constituted of the inside of the hole pattern.
US07875939B2

In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance.
US07875938B2

An LDMOS device and method of fabrication are provided. The LDMOS device has a substrate with a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate. An insulating layer is provided on a portion of the substrate between the source and the drain region, such that a planar interface is provided between the insulating layer and a surface of the substrate. An insulating member is then formed on a portion of the insulating layer, and a gate layer is formed over part of the insulating member and the insulating layer. By employing such a structure, it has been found that a flat current path exists which enables the on-resistance to be decreased while maintaining a high breakdown voltage.
US07875935B2

A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate; an N-channel field-effect transistor including a first gate insulating film on the silicon substrate, a first gate electrode on the first gate insulating film and a first source/drain region; and a P-channel field-effect transistor including a second gate insulating film on the silicon substrate, a second gate electrode on the second gate insulating film and a second source/drain region. Each of the first and second gate electrodes includes a crystallized nickel silicide region containing an impurity element, the crystallized nickel silicide region being contact with the first or second gate insulating film, and a barrier layer region in an upper portion including an upper surface of the gate electrode, the barrier layer region containing an Ni diffusion-preventing element higher in concentration than that of a lower portion below the upper portion.
US07875927B2

In a semiconductor device, a memory region and a logic region are provided on one silicon substrate. A trench is provided in the silicon substrate in the memory region, a memory cell transistor is provided in the memory region and a logic transistor is provided in the logic region. The memory cell transistor includes a first gate electrode constituted by a metal material. The first gate electrode is provided to be buried in the trench and to protrude outside of the trench. The logic transistor includes a second gate electrode constituted by same material as the metal material constituting the first gate electrode.
US07875924B2

An embedded flash memory device and a method for fabricating the same which reduces the size of a memory device using logic CMOS fabricating processes and enhancing a coupling ratio of the memory device. The flash memory device includes a coupling oxide layer on an active area of a semiconductor substrate, a first control gate formed on and/or over the coupling oxide layer and a second control gate formed on and/or over and enclosing lateral sidewalls of the coupling oxide layer and the first control gate.
US07875921B2

A non-volatile memory device for 2-bit operation and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The non-volatile memory device includes an active region and a gate extending in a word line direction on a semiconductor substrate, and crossing each other repeatedly; a charge storage layer disposed below the gate, and confined at a portion where the gate and the active region cross; a charge blocking layer formed on the charge storage layer; a tunnel dielectric layer formed below the charge storage layer; first and second source/drain regions formed in the active region exposed by the gate; and first and second bit lines crossing the word line direction. The active region may be formed in a first zigzag pattern and/or the gate may be formed in a second zigzag pattern in symmetry with the first zigzag pattern.
US07875914B2

Disclosed are a switch mode power amplifier and a field effect transistor especially suitable for use in a switch mode power amplifier. The transistor is preferably a compound high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) having a source terminal and a drain terminal with a gate terminal therebetween and positioned on a dielectric material. A field plate extends from the gate terminal over at least two layers of dielectric material towards the drain. The dielectric layers preferably comprise silicon oxide and silicon nitride. A third layer of silicon oxide can be provided with the layer of silicon nitride being positioned between layers of silicon oxide. Etch selectivity is utilized in etching recesses for the gate terminal.
US07875904B2

In a protection circuit of an input/output terminal I/O, three types of PNP bipolar transistors are included. In a first PNP type bipolar transistor 10A, the emitter thereof is connected to the input/output terminal I/O, the base thereof is connected to a high-potential power supply terminal VDD, and the collector thereof is connected to a low-potential power supply terminal VSS. In a second PNP type bipolar transistor 10B, the emitter thereof is connected to the input/output terminal I/O, and the base and the collector thereof are connected to the high-potential power supply terminal VDD. In a third PNP type bipolar transistor 10C, the emitter thereof is connected to the low-potential power supply terminal VSS, and the base and the collector thereof are connected to the high-potential power supply terminal VDD.
US07875899B2

A light-emitting diode package 1 of the present invention is a light-emitting diode package including: a diode group 2D made of a plurality of light-emitting diode chips 2 connected in series and a lead group 3 connected to the diode group 2D, in which the lead group 3 includes: a pair of external leads 31 and 32 as terminals of the diode group 2D and auxiliary leads 33 the number of which is one less than that of the light-emitting diode chips 2, in which the plurality of the light-emitting diode chips 2 are arranged in one line on a first external lead 31 of the pair of external leads 31 and 32, in which the auxiliary leads 33 are arranged on one or both sides of a row made of the plurality of light-emitting diode chips 2, and in which the adjacent light-emitting diode chips 2 of the plurality of light-emitting diode chips 2 are connected in series via the auxiliary leads 33.
US07875892B2

A light-emitting device used in a linear array of a plurality of them includes a semiconductor light-emitting element, a substrate on which the semiconductor light-emitting element is mounted, and a light-transmitting sealing resin formed on the front surface of the substrate to seal the semiconductor light-emitting element. Of each of the peripheral edge surfaces of the substrate and the sealing resin, at least one side surface that faces in the direction of the array is inclined in the array direction.
US07875881B2

Objects are to solve inhibition of miniaturization of a memory element and complexity of a manufacturing process thereof and to provide a nonvolatile memory device and a semiconductor device each having the memory device, in which data can be additionally written except at the time of manufacture and in which forgery or the like caused by rewriting of data can be prevented, and a memory device and a semiconductor device that are inexpensive and nonvolatile. The present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes a plurality of memory elements, in each of which a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer disposed beside the first conductive layer, and a mixed film that are disposed over the same insulating film. The mixed film contains an inorganic compound, an organic compound, and a halogen atom and is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
US07875875B2

A quantum dot semiconductor device securing sufficient gains without depending on polarization and a manufacturing method thereof. On a first barrier layer, a multilayer quantum dot is formed by repeatedly stacking alternately a quantum dot layer and a second barrier layer. On a quantum dot layer as an uppermost layer of the quantum dot, a third barrier layer which keeps local strains in the quantum dot layer is formed. On the third barrier layer, a fourth barrier layer which compensates compressive strains from the second barrier layer is formed. Therefore, the fourth barrier layer made of tensile strain materials compensates accumulation of compressive strains caused by stacking of a multilayer quantum dot layer. The third barrier layer prevents tensile strains in the fourth barrier layer from directly impacting on the quantum dot layer, so that local strains can be effectively cancelled. Thus, the above-described semiconductor device can be realized.
US07875871B2

In the present invention a metal oxide or nitride compound which is a wide-band-gap semiconductor abuts a silicon, germanium, or alloy of silicon and/or germanium of the opposite conductivity type to form a p-n heterojunction. This p-n heterojunction can be used to advantage in various devices. In preferred embodiments, one terminal of a vertically oriented p-i-n heterojunction diode is a metal oxide or nitride layer, while the rest of the diode is formed of a silicon or silicon-germanium resistor; for example a diode may include a heavily doped n-type silicon region, an intrinsic silicon region, and a nickel oxide layer serving as the p-type terminal. Many of these metal oxides and nitrides exhibit resistivity-switching behavior, and such a heterojunction diode can be used in a nonvolatile memory cell, for example in a monolithic three dimensional memory array.
US07875868B2

A charged particle beam irradiation system comprises a high-speed steerer (beam dump device) 100 disposed in a course of a beam transport line 4 through which an ion beam is extracted from a charged-particle beam generator 1. The beam dump device 100 is provided with dose monitoring devices 105, 106 for measuring a dose of an ion beam applied to a beam dump 104 so that the intensity of the ion beam can be measured without transporting the ion beam to irradiation nozzles 15A through 15D. Thus, the system is capable of adjusting the intensity of an ion beam extracted from a synchrotron without operating each component of a beam transport line, and an irradiation nozzle.
US07875867B2

An electron generating device extracts electrons, through an electron sheath, from plasma produced using RF fields. The electron sheath is located near a grounded ring at one end of a negatively biased conducting surface, which is normally a cylinder. Extracted electrons pass through the grounded ring in the presence of a steady state axial magnetic field. Sufficiently large magnetic fields and/or RF power into the plasma allow for helicon plasma generation. The ion loss area is sufficiently large compared to the electron loss area to allow for total non-ambipolar extraction of all electrons leaving the plasma. Voids in the negatively-biased conducting surface allow the time-varying magnetic fields provided by the antenna to inductively couple to the plasma within the conducting surface. The conducting surface acts as a Faraday shield, which reduces any time-varying electric fields from entering the conductive surface, i.e. blocks capacitive coupling between the antenna and the plasma.
US07875866B2

An electron beam recording apparatus includes: a displacement detection unit including at least three displacement sensors disposed at each different angle in a radial direction of the turntable; a shape calculation unit for calculating, based on the detected displacements by the at least three displacement sensors, shape data corresponding to displacements of side surface of the turntable in the radial directions; a rotation runout computing unit for computing, based on the shape data and at least one displacement detected by the at least three displacement sensors, rotation runout of the turntable including a rotation asynchronous component and a rotation synchronous component; and a beam irradiation position adjustment unit for adjusting an irradiation position of the electron beam based on the rotation runout.
US07875864B2

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for reducing particle contamination of a surface of an object such as a reticle used in an EUV lithography system. An exemplary apparatus includes a thermophoresis device and an electrophoresis device. The thermophoresis device is situated relative to and spaced from the surface, and is configured to produce a thermophoretic force, in a gas flowing past and contacting the surface, sufficient to inhibit particles in the gas from contacting the surface. The electrophoresis device is situated relative to a region of the surface contacted by the gas and is configured to deflect particles, having an electrostatic charge, in the gas away from the region as the gas flows past the region. In an example, the thermophoresis device produces the thermophoretic force by establishing a temperature gradient in the gas relative to the surface, and the electrophoresis device includes an electrode situated and configured to produce a voltage gradient relative to the region of the surface sufficient to attract charged particles away from the region of the surface.
US07875857B2

An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis system for analysing an insulating sample 20, and a method of XPS analysis. The system comprises an X-ray generating means 30 having an exit opening 32 and being arranged to generate primary X-rays 46,56 which pass out of the exit opening in a sample direction towards a sample surface 22 for irradiation thereof. It has been found that the X-ray generating means in use additionally generates unwanted electrons 258 which may pass out of the exit opening substantially in the sample direction and cause undesirable sample charging effects. The system further comprises an electron deflection field generating means 380,480,580 arranged to generate a deflection field upstream of the sample surface. The deflection field is configured to deflect the unwanted electrons away from the sample direction, such that the unwanted electrons are prevented from reaching the sample surface.
US07875852B2

A passive infrared detector assembly including a detector housing comprising a window transparent to far infrared radiation, at least one sensor sensitive to the far infrared radiation and disposed within the detector housing and an anti-masking subassembly, including at least one light guide having a serrated light aperture, the light aperture defining a plurality of teeth like portions and a plurality of grooves and being disposed close to the outside of the window, at least one infrared light emitter operative to emit near infrared radiation via the light aperture of the at least one light guide and a near infrared radiation receiver operative to receive radiation emitted by the at least one near infrared light emitter and to measure the level of received near infrared radiation and to provide a masking alarm signal upon detection of a predetermined change in the level of the received near infrared radiation.
US07875851B1

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates utilizing a resolution enhancement for a circuit feature. A scanning electron microscope component (104, 204, 304, 404) can provide at least one two-dimensional image of the circuit feature. An image analysis engine (106, 206, 306, 406) can analyze the two-dimensional image. An advanced process control (APC) engine (108, 208, 308, 408) can generate at least one instruction for at least one of a feed forward control and a feedback control and a process component (102, 202, 302, 402) can utilize the at least one instruction to minimize an error.
US07875847B2

An analytical instrument may be docked in a stand. The stand provides electrical power, cooling, gas to purge air from an analytical gap within the instrument and/or other supplies or services to the instrument. The stand contains a contactless memory, such as an RF-ID tag, which stores information about the supplies and/or services the stand is capable of providing to the instrument. The instrument reads the stand's contactless memory and automatically sets operational parameters of the instrument in accordance with the supplies and/or services the stand is capable of providing. Thus, the instrument may automatically operate in an enhanced mode, such as at a higher x-ray beam power, as a result of being mounted in the stand.
US07875830B2

A laser processing machine head, a laser processing machine head monitoring system, and a method of monitoring an optical element of a laser processing machine feature a light-transmissive optical element and an optical element holder defining a cavity in which the optical element is retained against rotation. A light source mounted to the holder directs a beam of light into the optical element through a peripheral surface of the optical element. A light receiver is responsive to light from the light source reflected through the optical element. Monitoring a signal from the light receiver allows a status of the optical element to be assessed.
US07875820B2

A switching device includes a housing having an exterior surface with at least one opening in the surface. An inner edge of the opening is for receiving and securing solid bodies. At least a portion of the inner edge of the opening includes an integral weld tab which is raised above a level of the exterior surface. A sensing body includes a sensing structure operable to sense at least one condition. The sensing body has an outer surface that is disposed partially within the housing and secured to the edge of the opening by the weld tab, wherein the weld tab provides weld material physically bonding the outer surface of the sensing body to the housing.
US07875816B2

A control panel assembly of a laundry device is disclosed, by which a manipulation of buttons (200) is facilitated by improving button configurations of the laundry device. The present invention includes a control panel (100) provided to a front side of a body and a keypad provided to the control panel, the keypad (200) having a plurality of button groups (200a, 200b, 200c, 200d) enabling a washing to be performed by selecting a plurality of operational conditions once.
US07875804B1

A method for forming an electrical interconnect on an integrated lead suspension or suspension component of the type having a stainless steel layer, a conductive lead layer and an insulator layer separating the stainless steel and conductive lead layers. An aperture is formed through only the insulator layer to expose the stainless steel layer at an interconnect site. An interconnect mask is applied around the interconnect site. A first conductive material is electroplated onto the stainless steel layer at the interconnect site to form a plated interconnect between the spring metal layer and the conductive lead layer. The mask is then removed. An electrical interconnect between the stainless steel and conductive lead layers including an aperture only through the insulator layer and an electroplated conductive material interconnect extending between both the spring metal layer and the conductive lead layer.
US07875803B2

A bushing for electrical current and/or voltage through a grounded plane. A substantially rotationally symmetrical insulating body surrounds a central electrical conductor. The bushing includes a sealing member for gas/liquid sealing between the conductor and the insulator body. The bushing includes a compressible sealing element, which forms a gas/liquid seal, integrated with the insulating body, between the conductor and the insulating body. A method of manufacturing a bushing.
US07875802B2

A conductive wire includes a thermoplastic filament having a circumference and a plurality of coating layers dispersed about the circumference of the thermoplastic filament. The coating layers include a plurality of conductive layers comprising aligned carbon nanotubes dispersed therein and at least one thermoplastic layer between each pair of conductive layers.
US07875792B2

The present disclosure relates to a device for concentrating light onto a photovoltaic target. In one embodiment, the device may include a transparent concentrating lens having an outside surface and a top and bottom portion wherein the bottom portion may be configured to receive concentrated light. A photovoltaic strip including a conducting strip are then provided along with film adhered to at least a portion of the outside surface of the concentrating lens wherein the film engages the lens and positions the photovoltaic strip at the lens bottom portion. A dielectric fluid may then be located between the lens and the film.
US07875791B2

A method for manufacturing thermopile carrier chips comprises forming first type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs on a first surface of a substrate and afterwards removing part of the substrate form a second surface opposite to the first surface, thereby forming a carrier frame from the substrate and at least partially releasing the thermocouple legs from the substrate, wherein the thermocouple legs are attached between parts of the carrier frame. First type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs may be formed on the same substrate or on a separate substrate. In the latter approach both types of thermocouple legs may be optimised independently. The thermocouple legs may be self-supporting or they may be supported by a thin membrane layer. After mounting the thermopile carrier chips in a thermopile unit or in a thermoelectric generator, the sides of the carrier frame to which no thermocouple legs are attached are removed. A thermoelectric generator according to the present disclosure may be used for generating electrical power, for example for powering an electrical device such as a watch. It may be used with a heat source and/or heat sink with high thermal resistance, such as a human body.
US07875788B2

A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.
US07875785B2

An instructional device and associated method for illustrating the positions of keys and their associated notes on a keyboard are provided. The instructional device includes key markers that are adjustably mounted on a support structure in a configuration corresponding to the keys of a keyboard. The key markers correspond in size to the keys of the keyboard and are adjustable between the ends of the group of markers. Indicators are provided on the markers to indicate a chordal relationship between a respective one of the markers and the other markers. Thus, the device can be used, e.g., to indicate the position of the keys on a piano keyboard and, further, to indicate the relationship of the keys and associated notes to one another, such as by identifying various chordal relationships. In addition, the device can be adjusted to thereby illustrate such key positions and note relationships in connection with an inversion of one or more of the key markers relative to the others.
US07875781B2

A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘TINTO’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 21 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, relatively narrow, green color foliage, measuring about 23 cm in length and about 2.0 cm to 3.5 cm in width; superior floral bract production; bracts have a unique wine red color which distinguishes this cultivar from typical Guzmania; round, singular inflorescence, measuring about 6 cm in height and about 13 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.
US07875775B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV374246. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV374246, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV374246 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV374246 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV374246.
US07875774B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV146461. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV146461, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV146461 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV146461 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV146461.
US07875771B1

A novel maize variety designated PHH05 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHH05 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHH05 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHH05 or a trait conversion of PHH05 with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHH05, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHH05 and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07875769B1

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016497. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016497. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016497 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016497 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07875767B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5219547. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5219547. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5219547 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5219547 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07875754B2

A method of operation for producing high yield of alkylate product using catalytic reactors. The catalytic reactors which cycle between reaction mode and catalyst regeneration mode have their contents exchanged with each other at the beginning of each cycle in order to increase the yield of the desired product. This exchange increases the yield by minimizing the contact of reactant in reaction mode with regenerant utilized in regeneration mode. Thus, reducing/preventing the undesirable alternate reaction between the two, which consumes the reactant making it unavailable for the production of the desired product.
US07875751B2

A novel process for the preparation of highly purified carotenoids from plant extracts, especially the marigold flower extracts, is disclosed. The process includes the formation, isolation and purification of carotenoids, primarily lutein and zeaxanthin, at lower temperatures with the use of at least a polar solvent and at least a non-polar solvent. The highly purified carotenoids so obtained are useful for human consumption, such as nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals.
US07875749B2

An aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt as a guest compound of a clathrate hydrate, having a property of producing the clathrate hydrate when cooled, and further containing a phosphate of an alkali metal added thereto. A clathrate hydrate produced by cooling an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium salt and a phosphate of an alkali metal, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is the guest compound.
US07875748B2

Disclosed are compounds represented by formula (1), wherein m, X, R1, R2, R3, R1′, R2′, R3′, and Ar are described herein. The inventive cyclopentadienone compounds can be used as core materials for an organic electroluminescence element or other optical devices. The invention also describes methods for preparing compounds of formula (1).
US07875746B2

A photosensitive composition comprising: (A) a compound capable of generating a compound having a specific structure upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation, a pattern forming method using the photosensitive composition, and a compound capable of generating a compound having a specific structure upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation.
US07875743B2

Manufacture a novel bis(formylphenyl)alkane according to General Formula (1), as well as a novel polynuclear phenol derived therefrom, by causing a bis(hydroxymethyl-hydroxyphenyl)alkane to react with hexamethylene tetramine in the presence of an acid and hydrolyzing the reaction product, and then using the obtained bis(hydroxy-formylphenyl)alkane as a direct material and causing this material to react with halogenated alkoxycarbonyl hydrocarbon in the presence of a base.
US07875740B2

The iron-containing catalyst suitable for use as a catalyst contains a) iron or a mixture containing iron and an iron-based compound. The iron has an average crystallite size ranging from 1-35 nm measured by X-ray diffraction.
US07875706B2

Disperse dyes of the general formula (I) where D is a diazo component derived from a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic amine, K is an aromatic radical of the formula and the substituents are each as defined in the first claim. Further described are the preparation and the use of the dyes according to the invention.
US07875701B2

The invention relates to conjugates of formula (III) or (IIIa), or a salt thereof, their use as radiopharmaceuticals, processes for their preparation, and synthetic intermediates used in such processes.
US07875697B2

Poly(orthoester) polymers, and methods of making and using such poly(orthoester) polymers are provided. The poly(orthoester) polymers can be useful for applications including, for example, medical devices and pharmaceutical compositions. In a preferred embodiment, the poly(orthoester) polymers are biodegradable.
US07875692B2

A polysiloxane having a phosphorylcholine group represented by the following general formula (1). To develop a method to obtain a polysiloxane having a phosphorylcholine group with ease and great versatility and provide a polysiloxane having a phosphorylcholine group in order to obtain a polysiloxane that has a wide range of application as a biocompatible material and a cosmetic material.
US07875686B2

Polymeric compositions for semiconductor applications comprising 10 to 99 wt. % of norbornene-type cycloolefin monomers represented by one or more of Formula I(a), I(b), and optionally I(c) and/or I(d), 0.0005 to 0.5 wt. % of an addition polymerization procatalyst, and optionally: up to 0.5 wt. % of a cocatalyst, up to 59 wt. % of a crosslinking monomer, up to 50 wt. % of a viscosifier, up to 20 wt. % of a thixotropic additive(s), up to 80 wt. % of a filler, up to 10 wt. % of an antioxidant, and up to 0.6 wt. % of an antioxidant synergist, the total of the components of the formulation adding up to 100%. Such formulations are mass polymerized, or cured, to form polymeric compositions that have properties desirable for a variety of specific electronic, microelectronic, optoelectronic and micro-optoelectronic applications such as die attach adhesives, underfill materials, prepreg binders, encapsulants, protective layers, and other related applications.
US07875674B2

An inorganic matrix building material with enhanced water impermeability is prepared by curing an inorganic curable matrix and at least one particulate hydrophobic silicone resin substantially uniformly incorporated within the matrix, the at least one hydrophobic silicone resin being selected from the group consisting of a TD resin, an MQ resin, an MT resin, an MQT resin, and combinations thereof. In certain particular instances, the at least one hydrophobic silicone resin is a TD resin. The curing takes place at elevated temperature, optionally at elevated pressure.
US07875671B2

A method for preparing a polymeric composition, the method comprising introducing a functionalized polymer and a filler. Mixing the functionalized polymer and filler to form a first masterbatch, adding additional polymer to the first masterbatch, and mixing the additional polymer and the first masterbatch.
US07875663B2

A polyolefin composition which comprises: (a) a polyolefin containing transition metal catalyst residue (excluding metallic co-catalyst residues) at a level below 5 ppm based on the weight of the polyolefin; (b) optionally a first stabilizing component consisting of a phenolic antioxidant or mixture of phenolic antioxidants; (c) optionally a second stabilizing component consisting of a phosphite antioxidant or a mixture of phosphite antioxidants; and (d) a third stabilizing component which acts also as a color suppressant and which is a polyfunctional alcohol, amine or amide or mixtures thereof, with at least one of (b) and (c) present and with the proviso that if the phosphite antioxidant is trilauryl phosphite it must be used in combination with another phosphite. The preferred stabilizing components (b) is 1,3,5-tris(4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-2,6 dimethyl,benzyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)-trione or mixed tocopherols. The preferred stabilizing component (c) is Tris(mono-nonylphenyl)phosphite, Tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl)phosphite or bis(2,4-di-t-butyl phenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite. The preferred stabilizing component (d) which also acts as a color suppressant component (d) is dipentaerythritol or tri-isopropanol amine. The preferred polyolefins are polypropylene and polyethylene. The polyolefin composition also may contain a hindered amine stabilizer (HAS) and an acid scavenger (e.g. calcium stearate).
US07875656B2

A foamable sealant composition having a density, when foamed, of from 0.4 to 1.8 g/cc, and containing a latex binder, foam-generating composition, foam stabilizer, rheology modifier and water, is provided. Also provided is a method of sealing a vehicle using the foamable sealant composition.
US07875651B2

Disclosed and claimed are flavanols, e.g. epicatechin, compositions such as pharmaceutical compositions containing an effective amount of flavanols, e.g. epicatechin, and methods of treatment or prevention of hypertension using the same.
US07875647B2

A heteroaryl-pyrazole compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is effective as a cannabinoid CB1 receptor inverse agonist or antagonist, which is useful for preventing or treating obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the inventive heteroaryl-pyrasole compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a pharmaceutical composition containing same, and a method for preventing or treating obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders.
US07875633B2

A compound represented by the formula (I) is contained as an active ingredient: wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or the like, or R1 together with a nitrogen atom to which L, Z2 and R1 are attached may form an aliphatic nitrogenated heterocyclic group and R1 and R2 together with a nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form an aliphatic nitrogenated heterocyclic group; X represents a methine group or a nitrogen atom; Y represents —CH2—O—, —CH═CH— or the like; Z1 represents a single bond, a C1-4 alkylene group or the like; Z2 represents a single bond or a C1-4 alkylene group; L represents a methylene group, a C3-8 cycloalkylene group or the like; and Ar represents an aromatic carbocyclic group or the like. The compound is useful as a pharmaceutical for a central nerves system disease, a cardiovascular disease or a metabolic disease.
US07875630B2

The present invention provides a novel process for preparing pleuromutilin derivatives, novel salts of mutilin 14-(exo-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ylsulfanyl)-acetate or solvates thereof, novel pharmaceutical compositions or formulations for topical administration comprising mutilin 14-(exo-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ylsulfanyl)-acetate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof and their use in medical therapy, particularly antibacterial therapy.
US07875629B2

The invention provides novel quinolinone-carboxamide 5-HT4 receptor agonist compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat diseases associated with 5-HT4 receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US07875627B2

The present invention discloses fused thienopyridyl compounds of general formula (I) wherein X1-X6, R5-R7, Z1 and L are as defined in the description. The resent invention also discloses a method for inhibiting the VR1 receptor in mammals using these compounds, a method for controlling pain, urinary incontinence, bladder overactivity, and inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions including those compounds.
US07875622B2

Methods of treating pulmonary hypertension are disclosed. Particular methods comprise the administration of a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and at least one other active pharmaceutical ingredient to patient in need thereof. Pharmaceutical formulations are also disclosed.
US07875613B2

The present invention concerns new compounds of formula (I), their process of preparation and their therapeutic use wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, Y, Het1, T, U, V, W, X, Ru, Rv and Rw are as defined in claim 1.
US07875612B2

A cell population expressing folate receptors is selectively targeted with a non-peptide folic acid analogue. The non-peptide folic acid analogue is conjugated to a diagnostic or therapeutic agent to enable selective delivery of the agent to the targeted cell population.
US07875607B2

7,8-Bicyclic-chroman derivatives of Formula I: wherein the substituents are defined as in the specification or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are disclosed. They are useful for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and/or mitochondrial disorders. They are also useful in the manufacture of pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of such conditions.
US07875603B2

The present application describes isoindoles and derivatives thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, which are useful inhibitors of VEGFR.
US07875601B2

The invention relates to the treatment of a proliferative disease, especially according to certain treatment regimens, with an epothilone, especially with epothilone A and more preferably epothilone B; as well as to the treatment of certain cancers with such an epothilone.
US07875598B2

The present invention is based on the discovery that certain chemical compounds isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs are useful as anti-microbial agents, e.g., anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, and the like. In particular, the present invention provides compositions useful for treating microbial infections such as, for example, oral microbial infections, including periodontal disease and dental caries.
US07875597B2

The invention is directed to a method of treating chronic spinal mechanical pain by intravenous administration to a subject in need of chronic spinal mechanical pain relief of an effective amount of bisphosphonate.
US07875595B2

The invention provides compounds having the following general formula (I): wherein X, R1, R2, R7 and Z are as described herein.
US07875594B2

The invention relates to the therapeutic use of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides and/or immunomers in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to provide a synergistic therapeutic effect.
US07875593B2

The invention relates to novel fungicidally active compound combinations of 2′-cyano-3,4-dichloroisothiazole-5-carboxanilide of the formula and active compounds listed in the disclosure.
US07875574B2

A substance and method for treating a subterranean formation using hydraulic fracturing. A non-metallic, substantially deformable, proppant particle is “elastically flexible” or “plastically compressible” and adapted for use at concentrations which will substantially create a partial monolayer. The method for treating a formation with a non-metallic deformable proppant, includes the steps of injecting a carrier fluid into the formation, the carrier fluid carrying an amount of the deformable proppant, wherein the carrier fluid is injected at a pressure and a flow rate sufficient to create or open an existing fracture or fracture network in the formation, and placing at least a portion of the deformable proppant in the fracture, the deformable proppant forming substantially a partial monolayer in the fracture, and reducing the pressure and/or the flow rate sufficient to allow the fracture in the formation to at least partially close, wherein at least a portion of the deformable proppant remains in the fracture to prop open at least a portion of the fracture.
US07875563B2

Fibrous substrates and articles that retain their superior ballistic resistance performance after exposure to liquids such as sea water and organic solvents, such as gasoline and other petroleum-based products. The fibrous substrates are coated with a multilayer polymeric coating including at least two different polymer layers wherein at least one of the layers is formed from a fluorine-containing polymer.
US07875558B2

The present invention is directed to a microetching composition comprising a source of cupric ions, acid, a nitrile compound, and a source of halide ions. Other additive, including organic solvents, a source of molybdenum ions, amines, polyamines, and acrylamides may also be included in the composition of the invention. The present invention is also directed to a method of microetching copper or copper alloy surfaces to increase the adhesion of the copper surface to a polymeric material, comprising the steps of contacting a copper or copper alloy surface with the composition of the invention, and thereafter bonding the polymeric material to the copper or copper alloy surface.
US07875549B2

A film forming method includes the steps of forming a F-doped carbon film by using a source gas containing C and F, and modifying the F-doped carbon film by radicals, the source gas having a F/C ratio larger than 1 smaller than 2, the F/C ratio being defined as a ratio of a number of F atoms to a number of C atoms in a source gas molecule.
US07875545B2

A method of producing an ohmic contact and a resulting ohmic contact structure are disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a deposited film of nickel and silicon on a silicon carbide surface at a temperature below which either element will react with silicon carbide and in respective proportions so that the atomic fraction of silicon in the deposited film is greater than the atomic fraction of nickel, and heating the deposited film of nickel and silicon to a temperature at which nickel-silicon compounds will form with an atomic fraction of silicon greater than the atomic fraction of nickel but below the temperature at which either element will react with silicon carbide. The method can further include the step of annealing the nickel-silicon compound to a temperature higher than the heating temperature for the deposited film, and within a region of the phase diagram at which free carbon does not exist.
US07875544B2

A reduction in the intersection of vias on the last layer (“VL”) and holes in the last thin metal layer (“MLHOLE”) can be achieved without degrading product yield or robustness or increasing copper dishing. The mutation of some dense redundant VLs to MLHOLEs decreases the number of intersections between VLs and MLHOLEs.
US07875542B2

It is required that a line width of a wiring is prevented from being wider to be miniaturized when the wiring or the like is formed by a dropping method typified by an ink-jetting method. The invention provides a method for narrowing (miniaturizing) a line width according to a method different from a conventional method. One feature of the invention is that a plasma treatment is performed before forming a wiring or the like by a dropping method typified by an ink-jetting method. As the result of the plasma treatment, a surface for forming a conductive film is modified to be liquid-repellent. Consequently, a wiring or the like formed by a dropping method can be miniaturized.
US07875529B2

Methods, devices, modules, and systems providing semiconductor devices in a stacked wafer system are described herein. One embodiment includes a first wafer for NMOS transistors in a CMOS architecture and a second wafer for PMOS transistors in the CMOS architecture, with the first wafer being bonded and electrically coupled to the second wafer to form at least one CMOS device. Another embodiment includes a number of DRAM capacitors formed on a first wafer and support circuitry associated with the DRAM capacitors formed on a second wafer, with the first wafer being bonded and electrically coupled to the second wafer to form a number of DRAM cells. Another embodiment includes a first wafer having a number of vertical transistors coupled to a data line and a second wafer having amplifier circuitry associated with the number of vertical transistors, with the first wafer being bonded and electrically coupled to the second wafer.
US07875524B2

The inductor for a semiconductor device includes at least one dielectric pattern selectively formed on a top of the interlayer dielectric, at least one first metal wire formed on a top of the interlayer dielectric, at least one second metal wire formed on a top of the dielectric pattern, and an upper protective film formed on the top of the interlayer dielectric to completely cover the first and second metal wires, wherein the first and second metal wires are alternately arranged at different vertical locations and are formed in a spiral configuration.
US07875523B1

A heterojunction bipolar transistor is formed with an emitter electrode that comprises an emitter epitaxy underlying an emitter metal cap and that has horizontal dimensions that are substantially equal to the emitter metal cap.
US07875514B2

By selectively providing a buffer layer having an appropriate thickness, height differences occurring during the deposition of an SACVD silicon dioxide may be reduced during the formation of an interlayer dielectric stack of advanced semiconductor devices. The buffer material may be selectively provided after the deposition of contact etch stop layers of both types of internal stress or may be provided after the deposition of one type of dielectric material and may be used during the subsequent patterning of the other type of dielectric stop material as an efficient etch stop layer.
US07875505B2

The present invention provides a multi-die semiconductor package structure and a manufacturing method thereof, which includes providing at least two dies and a lead frame including a die pad and a lead wire located at the periphery of the die pad, the die pad has a via hole at the edge thereof, binding a base opposite side of a first die to the die pad; electrically connecting the first die to the lead wire through the via hole; binding a base side of a second die to the die pad, the first and second dies are disposed on the opposite sides of the die pad respectively; electrically connecting the second die to the lead wire; stacking other dies above the first or second die and electrically connecting them to the lead wire; and encapsulating said at least two dies and the lead frame to form a package.
US07875503B2

Electronic devices and methods for fabricating electronic devices are described. One method includes providing a substrate with a die attach area, and forming a layer on the substrate outside of the die attach area. The layer may be formed from a fluoropolymer material. The method also includes coupling a die to the substrate in the die attach area, wherein a gap remains between the die and the die attach area. The method also includes placing an underfill material in the gap and adjacent to the layer on the substrate. Examples of fluoropolymer materials which may be used include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA). Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07875499B2

There are provided a plurality of semiconductor apparatuses judged as good items in electrical and functional inspections while having internal connection terminals disposed on electrode pads of semiconductor chips, resin layers which are disposed on surfaces of the semiconductor chips in which the electrode pads are formed and expose the internal connection terminals, and wiring patterns which are disposed on the resin layers and are connected to the internal connection terminals, a wiring substrate on which the plurality of semiconductor apparatuses are stepwise stacked, the wiring substrate electrically connected to the plurality of semiconductor apparatuses, and a sealing resin with which the plurality of semiconductor apparatuses are sealed.
US07875498B2

A chip module is disclosed. It includes a circuit substrate, a semiconductor die comprising a power transistor mounted on the circuit substrate, and a passive electronic component. The passive electronic component is in electrical communication with the semiconductor die, and is in thermal communication with the semiconductor die.
US07875497B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package which includes mounting a first chip on a first substrate by a flip chip method, the first substrate having a pre-designed pattern formed thereon; forming a cavity by etching a center portion of a metal oxide layer; mounting a second chip inside the cavity; forming at least one via such that the via penetrates an edge of the metal oxide layer; placing the metal oxide layer on the first substrate such that the second chip and the first chip face each other; and placing a second substrate on the metal oxide layer, the second substrate having a third chip mounted thereon.
US07875494B2

It is an object of the present invention to form an organic transistor including an organic semiconductor having high crystallinity without loosing an interface between an organic semiconductor of a channel where carriers are spread out and a gate insulating layer and deteriorating a yield. A semiconductor device according to the present invention has a stacked structure of organic semiconductor layers, and at least the upper organic semiconductor layer is in a polycrystalline or a single crystalline state and the lower organic semiconductor layer is made of a material serving as a channel. Carrier mobility can be increased owing to the upper organic semiconductor layer having high crystallinity; thus, insufficient contact due to the upper organic semiconductor layer can be compensated by the lower organic semiconductor layer.
US07875493B2

A memory cell device includes a memory cell access layer, a dielectric material over the memory cell access layer, a memory material structure within the dielectric material, and a top electrode in electrical contact with the memory material structure. The memory material structure has upper and lower memory material portions and a memory material element therebetween. The lower memory material layer is in electrical contact with a bottom electrode. The lower memory material layer has an average lateral dimension. The memory material element defines an electrical property state change region therein and has a minimum lateral dimension which is substantially less than the average lateral dimension. In some examples the memory material element is a tapered structure with the electrical property state change region at the junction of the memory material element and the lower memory material layer.
US07875492B2

An integrated circuit includes transistors in rows and columns providing an array, conductive lines in columns across the array, and resistivity changing material elements contacting the conductive lines and self-aligned to the conductive lines. The integrated circuit includes electrodes contacting the resistivity changing material elements, each electrode self-aligned to a conductive line and coupled to one side of a source-drain path of a transistor.
US07875484B2

Monolithic IC/MEMS processes are disclosed in which high-stress silicon nitride is used as a mechanical material while amorphous silicon serves as a sacrificial layer. Electronic circuits and micro-electromechanical devices are built on separate areas of a single wafer. The sequence of IC and MEMS process steps is designed to prevent alteration of partially completed circuits and devices by subsequent high process temperatures.
US07875481B2

It is made possible to provide a highly integrated, thin apparatus can be obtained, even if the apparatus contains MEMS devices and semiconductor devices. A semiconductor apparatus includes: a first chip comprising a MEMS device formed therein; a second chip comprising a semiconductor device formed therein; and an adhesive layer bonding a side face of the first chip to a side face of the second chip, and having a lower Young's modulus than the material of the first and second chips.
US07875476B2

An LED diode package includes a heat connecting part for mounting a light emitting part on an upper surface thereof, frames electrically connected to the light emitting part while holding the heat connecting part and a molded part fixing the heat connecting part and the frames together. The light emitting part generates light in response to current applied thereto, and the upper surface of the heat connecting part is protruded beyond an upper surface of the molded part to a predetermined height. This can optimize the unique beam angle of the light source thereby to maximize lighting efficiency as well as prevent overflow of the encapsulating material in the assembling process of the lens, which may otherwise soil adjacent components.
US07875474B2

The invention provides a gallium nitride based compound semiconductor light emitting device with excellent light extracting efficiency and its production method. A light emitting device, obtained from a gallium nitride based compound semiconductor, includes a substrate; a n-type semiconductor layer 13, a light emitting layer 14, and a p-type semiconductor layer 15, sequentially stacked on a substrate 11; a light-permeable positive electrode 16 stacked on the p-type semiconductor layer 15; a positive electrode bonding pad 17 provided on the light-permeable positive electrode 16; and a negative electrode bonding pad provided 18 on the n-type semiconductor layer 13, wherein a disordered uneven surface formed at least on a part of the surface 15a of the p-type semiconductor layer 15.
US07875468B2

A structure to be plated includes a body to be plated 11 on which plating is formed, and plated film thickness determining member 16 opposed to and electrically isolated from the body to be plated 11 through a slit portion 12. The plated film thickness determining member 16 has an islands-shape and is conductive. It is possible to instantly determine whether or not the plating formed on the body to be plated 11 has been formed to a thickness larger than the width W of the slit portion 12 on the spot by determining whether or not plating has grown from the surface of the body to be plated 11 to the plated film thickness determining member 16 through the slit portion 21.
US07875466B2

This invention provides nanometer-sized fluorescent magnetic particles and processes of making them. The nanoparticle has a core particle comprising a magnetic material and a fluorescent material, and the particle size is less than about 1 micrometer. The nanoparticles can be coated with an inorganic or organic layer and can be surface-modified. The nanoparticles can be used in many biological assays.
US07875464B2

In at least one embodiment, the inventive technology relates to in-vessel generation of a material from a solution of interest as part of a processing and/or analysis operation. Preferred embodiments of the in-vessel material generation (e.g., in-vessel solid material generation) include precipitation; in certain embodiments, analysis and/or processing of the solution of interest may include dissolution of the material, perhaps as part of a successive dissolution protocol using solvents of increasing ability to dissolve. Applications include, but are by no means limited to estimation of a coking onset and solution (e.g., oil) fractionating.
US07875453B2

Fetal blood multi-lineage progenitor cells that are capable of a wide spectrum of transdifferentiation are described, as well as methods of differentiating the progenitor cells into mature hepatocytes.
US07875451B2

The survival of cells during transplantation is enhanced. Cells to be transplanted are administered in a formulation that provides two ore more survival enhancing factors. Optionally, prior to administration, the cells are cultured in the presence of factors that enhance survival, and may be heat shocked prior to transplantation.
US07875450B2

The invention described herein relates to compositions and methods for stimulating immune responses in vivo against a tolerogen. Novel biotechnological tools, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics and prophylactics, which concern chimeric or conjugated virus-like particles, and methods of use of the foregoing are provided for the study of B cell tolerance and the treatment or prevention of human diseases, which involve the onset of B cell tolerance, such as chronic viral infection, chronic inflammatory disease, and neoplasia.
US07875444B2

Disclosed is a method for converting cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. The method provides for a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein treatment of high lignin solids. The treatment enhances cellulase availability in cellulose conversion and allows for the determination of optimized pretreatment conditions. Additionally, ethanol yields from a Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation process are improved 5-25% by treatment with a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein. Thus, a more efficient and economical method of processing lignin containing biomass materials utilizes a polypeptide/protein treatment step that effectively blocks lignin binding of cellulase.
US07875442B2

Disclosed is a system and method conducting real-time PCR. Unlabeled capture molecules of a specific design are immobilized on a solid support, and contacted with amplicons produced in one or more PCR cycles. Detection of amplicons may take place during or between the PCR cycles while the solid support is in fluidic contact with the PCR solution. In an alternate embodiment detection of the amplicons takes place when the solid support is not in fluidic contact with the PCR solution. The method is suitable for the simultaneous detection and quantification of closely homologous target molecules.
US07875426B2

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for detecting nucleic acid sequences. One aspect of the invention concerns a silicon-based “biochip” comprising nucleic acid immobilized thereon. In one embodiment, the silicon comprises microcavities. The nucleic acid to be assayed for the presence of one or more target nucleic acid sequences is immobilized on the silicon. A nucleic acid, such as an oligonucleotide probe, having a sequence substantially complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence can be used to detect the immobilized nucleic acid on the silicon. If the nucleic acid used for detection hybridizes with a target nucleic acid sequence, the hybridized sequences can be detected directly or indirectly. In an exemplified embodiment, the oligonucleotide probe can be labeled with a detectable label, for example, a fluorescent molecule. The subject invention also concerns methods for detecting a target nucleic acid using a silicon-based biochip of the invention.
US07875425B2

A method for calibrating temperature can include cycling temperatures of a set of wells, wherein each well of the set comprises a sample with a spectrally distinguishable species. The method can further include measuring a signal from the spectrally distinguishable species for each well at a temperature during a first temperature cycle, and calibrating the temperatures for measuring the signal from each well during subsequent temperature cycles.
US07875423B2

The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.
US07875422B2

A method of testing phenotypic drug susceptibility in an enveloped virus-infected mammalian individual by testing on an enzyme packed into an enveloped virus, such as HIV, recovered from a biological sample, such as blood or plasma, from said individual is described. The method comprises the steps of a) adding an enzyme inactivating agent to the sample for inactivating polymerase activity other than that present in the enveloped virion, b) removing the enzyme inactivating agent, enzyme activity blocking antibodies, endogenous enzyme activity inhibitors and antiviral drugs, c) lysing the virus particle to release the enzyme, d) recovering the concentrated purified viral enzyme, such as a HIV reverse transcriptase (RT), resulting from c) and determining the drug sensitivity profile of the individual from the recovered enzyme by using sensitive enzyme assays. The drug sensitivity profile may be used for selecting drug treatment therapy. A commercial package is included.
US07875421B2

The present invention pertains to the use of the DNA sequence of a Lactobacillus johnsonii strain, in particular to its genomic sequence for elucidating interactions of micro-organism with hosts they colonize, and moreover for elucidating the basis of probiotic properties exhibited by such strain. In addition, the present invention also relates to methods of detecting nucleic acids or polypeptides of Lactobacilli and related species, respectively. A data carrier is provided comprising nucleotide sequences and/or polypeptide sequences of La1.
US07875419B2

It is an object to provide a technique for removing a resist favorably without leaving residue in the case of using a nonaqueous resist stripper. According to the present invention, in order to achieve the object, when a resist pattern is removed by using the nonaqueous resist stripper, it becomes easier to remove the resist pattern after dry etching or ion doping, by performing exposure treatment on the resist pattern. After a resist pattern is formed from a DNQ-novolac resin type of positive resist composition, the resist pattern is irradiated with light within the range of photosensitive wavelength of the DNQ photosensitizer, thereby removing the resist pattern with the nonaqueous resist stripper.
US07875415B2

A helical pixilated photoresist includes a photoacid generator, a photoimageable polymer comprising a self-assembly moiety and a solubility switch, the photoimageable polymer having a helical structure. In one embodiment the helical pixilated photoresist is formed of a photoimageable polymer comprising a pyridine-based quencher copolymer and a solubility switch copolymer, wherein the photoimageable polymer has a helical structure formed by pi-stacking of the pyridine-based quencher copolymer. The helical pixilated photoresist is applied to a substrate and irradiated and developed to form a patterned photoresist.
US07875411B2

A photoreceptor with a substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer including N,N,N′N′-tetra(4-methylphenyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine, having a purity of from about 95 percent to about 100 percent, and a protective overcoating layer, optionally including a hole transport material other than N,N,N′N′-tetra(4-methylphenyl)-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine, that will discharge from about 85% to about 100% of its surface potential in from 0 to about 40 milliseconds upon being subjected to xerographic charging and exposure to radiant energy of from about 1 erg/cm2 to about 5 ergs/cm2.
US07875406B2

A multiple technology node mask (MTM) is provided. An MTM includes a pattern associated with a first technology node and a pattern associated with a second technology node. The first technology node and the second technology node may be different. For example, the first technology node may be a main node and the second technology node a sub-node. A mask set including an MTM may also include single technology node masks (STMs) for mask layers in which the first technology node and second technology node and/or the patterns associated with each are not compatible. A single mask set including MTM and STMs, may be used to produce a plurality of devices, each on a different wafer.
US07875400B2

A fuel cell system having internal pushback of water, with a compact, thermally integrated enthalpy exchanger enabling effective hydration control in a small fuel cell system is provided. The enthalpy exchanger provides for the moisture in the fuel cell effluent to be used to humidify the incoming air stream to allow the fuel cell to be operated at higher temperatures while avoiding dry out. The enthalpy exchanger includes a moisture permeable membrane which collects moisture from the exhaust flow and makes this moisture available to an incoming air stream, thus humidifying the incoming air stream. In addition, the waste heat from the fuel cell reactions is transferred to the incoming air stream. The exhaust stream from the anode can also be used to provide additional moisture and heat to the enthalpy exchanger to be added to the incoming air stream. A water separator is also provided in one embodiment.
US07875398B2

A fuel cell system which includes: a fuel cell fed with a reaction gas for generating power; an output detection unit which detects output current and voltage of the fuel cell; a storage unit which stores a standard current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell, from which a standard voltage of the fuel cell at an output current thereof is obtainable; and a gas feed mismatch detection unit which detects a gas feed mismatch of the reaction gas, based on a comparison between the detected output voltage of the fuel cell and the standard voltage at the detected output current, obtained from the standard current-voltage characteristic stored.
US07875389B2

A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode having an active material and a polymeric separator configured to allow electrolyte and lithium ions to flow between a first side of the separator and an opposite second side of the separator. The battery also includes a liquid electrolyte having a lithium salt dissolved in at least one non-aqueous solvent and a negative electrode having a lithium titanate active material. The positive electrode has a first capacity and the negative electrode has a second capacity that is less than the first capacity.
US07875385B2

In a battery including a battery cell formed in a flattened substantially parallelepiped shape and a terminal contacting section electrically connected to the battery cell, at one end in the longitudinal direction of a face of the battery opposing to the face on which the terminal contacting section is provided, a projecting portion which projects in the longitudinal direction of the face is provided. Meanwhile, another projecting portion which projects in the longitudinal direction of the face is provided at the other end. The projecting portions may have projecting lengths different from each other or may have projecting lengths and projecting thicknesses different from each other. A charging apparatus into which the battery is to be installed includes an accommodating section for the battery which in turn includes projection accommodating portions configured to individually accommodate the projecting portions.
US07875376B2

An electrochemical cell is provided with an enhanced pressure relief vent formed in a closed end of the cell container that allows for effective venting of gas from the closed end of the container. The cell includes a container having a first end, a second end, a side wall extending between the first and second ends, and an end wall extending across the first end. The cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte, all disposed in the container. The cell further includes a pressure relief vent mechanism having an offset C-shaped reduced thickness groove formed in the end wall of the container. A cover can be welded to the closed end wall of the container over the pressure relief vent mechanism.
US07875369B2

An organometallic complex for a light emitting layer includes a heterocyclic ligand and a bivalent metal bonded to the heterocyclic ligand, wherein the heterocyclic ligand includes a plurality of linked ring structures that include a total of at least 17 carbon atoms and 1 heteroatom, and the linked ring structures have substantially parallel planes.
US07875368B2

Provided is a novel heterocyclic compound which is useful as a material for an organic electroluminescent device. The heterocyclic compound is represented by the general formula [I]: wherein X represents a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom; Y represents O or S; R1 and R2 each represent, independently of one another, a group selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group and the like; a represents 0 or more and 3 or less; b represents 0 or more and 3 or less; and Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring or the like; and n represents an integer of 2 to 10.
US07875366B2

The present invention provides a luminescent device using a luminescent material which has high luminescence efficiency and high stability, and is available at a low cost. The luminescent device is characterized in that as a luminescent material is used a binuclear copper coordination compound having a partial structure represented by the general formula (1): Cu-A-Cu, wherein Cu is a copper ion and A is a bidentate ligand.
US07875360B2

A flexible metallic strip product including a ferritic chromium strip steel material having a coating of an electrically insulating layer of zirconia stabilized with yttrium, said coating being intended to receive a second coating of an electrically conducting layers is disclosed. This coating is very efficient as an electrically insulating layer in flexible solar cells and solid state thin film batteries because it has practically the same thermal expansion coefficient as the steel substrate.
US07875355B2

A multi-layer coating system comprising a hydroxyl-functional polyurethane dispersion is provided. The hydroxyl-functional polyurethane comprises the reaction product of a pre-polymer intermediate formed from the reaction of an isocyanate with an active hydrogen containing compound, such as a polyester polyol, with a compound having at least two amine groups and one hydroxyl group, such as a diamino alcohol. In addition, a waterborne basecoat composition is provided having improved rheology and pattern control. Such a waterborne basecoat composition comprises a hydroxyl-functional polyurethane dispersion an acrylic emulsion resin, a water-reducible polyester resin, and a cellulose ester.
US07875348B2

A molecular layer includes a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film of a molecule connected to a plurality of active device molecules, the molecule having a moiety with first and second connecting groups at opposed ends of the moiety. Each of the plurality of active device molecules includes a switching moiety, a self-assembling connecting group at one end of the switching moiety, and a linking group at an opposed end of the moiety. One or more defect site(s) exist between the plurality of active device molecules. A respective number of the first connecting groups of the LB film are connected to the plurality of active device molecules via at least some of the linking groups such that the LB film covers the plurality of active device molecules and the one or more defect site(s).
US07875343B2

A method for making antimicrobial rebonded carpet pad includes mixing zinc pyrithione with a polyol to form an antimicrobial polyol mixture concentrate, blending the antimicrobial polyol mixture concentrate with a binder stream, mixing the binder with foam particles and curing the binder. The percentage of zinc pyrithione mixed with the polyol and the addition ratio of the antimicrobial polyol mixture concentrate with the binder stream are selected to provide an overall concentration of zinc pyrithione in the binder of at least about 7500 ppm. The particles and binder are cured into a block and sliced to form carpet pad.
US07875337B2

A resin matrix connects a plurality of longitudinally aligned fibers together adjacent an outer side of the reinforcement. The outer side of the reinforcement has elongated peaks and elongated valleys. The valleys are defined by a space absent the resin matrix and located between the longitudinally aligned fibers located between the fibers. The elongated peaks are associated with the longitudinally aligned fibers. An adhesive connects the outer side of the reinforcement to the outer side of the wood structural member. The adhesive bonds to the plurality of valleys of the reinforcement. An apparatus for manufacturing the reinforcement is also provided.
US07875336B2

A method for production of a component in a tool having a cavity-forming first and a second tool half comprises the following steps: a) insertion at least of two skins with angled-over end regions into the second tool half such that the angled-over end regions of the skins are situated adjacently with the same orientation and angling; b) rear-foaming or rear-spraying of the skins with a foam material or injection moulding material, c) after insertion of the skins, the end regions of the skins being pressed together in a foam-tight or spray-fight manner at least in regions by pressing at least on one side of the end regions which are situated one above the other against a wall which determines the form and position of the pressed-together end regions.
US07875331B2

A conductive rubber member having at least one conductive elastic layer, wherein the conductive elastic layer, which is at least an outermost layer, in contact with an opposing member during use is a curing product of a rubber composition having a conductivity imparting agent incorporated into a rubber base material containing chloroprene rubber; and a superficial portion of the conductive elastic layer is a surface treatment layer formed by impregnating the conductive elastic layer with a surface treating solution containing at least an isocyanate component and an organic solvent.
US07875320B2

A method for producing a film of vanadium pentoxide nanowires having improved alignment is provided. The method comprises the steps of a) preparing a solution of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanowires by a sol-gel method; b) diluting the solution of vanadium pentoxide nanowires with water and feeding the dilute aqueous solution into a Langmuir-Blodgett trough; c) adding a dispersant to the dilute aqueous solution of vanadium pentoxide nanowires; d) diluting a solution of a dioctadecyldimethylammonium halide with an organic solvent, applying the dioctadecyldimethylammonium halide solution to the surface of the dilute aqueous solution of vanadium pentoxide nanowires in the Langmuir-Blodgett trough, and allowing the solutions to stand to disperse the dioctadecyldimethylammonium halide solution in the Langmuir-Blodgett trough; e) controlling the surface pressure of the dioctadecyldimethylammonium halide solution using barriers mounted on the Langmuir-Blodgett trough; f) affixing a substrate to a dipping arm of the Langmuir-Blodgett trough and bringing the substrate into contact with the surface of the dioctadecyldimethylammonium halide solution; and g) separating the substrate from the dipping arm.
US07875318B2

A method of coating at least a portion of the exposed surface of a metal comprises: a) applying to said surface a curable coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of at least one partially or substantially completely hydrolyzed, and optionally partially condensed, silane possessing one or more hydroxyl groups and, optionally, one or more organonitrogen groups, said hydroxyl group(s) and optional organonitrogen group(s) being bonded to different carbon atoms of a bridging group linking such group(s) to the silicon atom of the partially or substantially completely hydrolyzed and optionally partially condensed silane; and, b) curing the curable coating composition on the surface of the metal to provide an anti-corrosion and/or adhesion promoting coating thereon.
US07875311B1

A ceramic having at least about 90% by weight magnesium aluminate and having a bulk scattering and absorption loss of less than about 1/cm at any wavelength in a range of about 0.23 to about 5.3 microns or 0.2/cm at any wavelength in a range of about 0.27 to about 4.5 microns. A method of making a ceramic by providing a plurality of particles having a magnesium aluminate core and a fluoride salt coating; heating the particles in an oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature in the range of about 400° C. to about 750° C.; and sintering the particles to form a solid ceramic.
US07875302B2

The present invention relates to methods of increasing tyrosinase synthesis, expression, or activity in a cell comprising administering at least one grape seed extract to the cell. The grape seed extract may be obtained by any extraction process including solvent sequential fractionation and supercritical fluid extraction.
US07875298B2

A kit including a first composition comprising leaves of Melissa officinalis, or parts thereof; a second composition comprising Eleutherococcus senticosus, or parts thereof; a third composition comprising Avena sativa, or parts thereof; a fourth composition comprising Ballota nigra, or parts thereof; a third composition comprising the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra/gan cao, or parts thereof; and a sixth composition comprising roots of Uncaria tomentosa, or parts thereof. The invention further relates to a kit for use as a medicament, to a kit for use in the treatment of disorders in mammals, like humans, horses, cows, pigs and pets, to a kit for use in the treatment of lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, asthma in humans or tale and mane eczema in horses, and to the use of the kit for the treatment of lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, asthma in humans or tale and mane eczema in horses.
US07875294B2

The present invention provides a method of attenuating the formation or reducing the severity of a bruise in the tissue of a patient via applying a composition comprising a hydrophilic foam substrate and a polymeric hydrophilic agent to a portion of the surface of the skin in an amount and at a location sufficient to attenuate formation of or reduce the severity of bruising.
US07875285B1

A coating for a medical device, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described. The coating can include a polymer having in a dry state a glass transition temperature within a range of between about 20° C. and about 55° C.
US07875274B2

There is disclosed a method for identifying a therapeutically responsive phenotype, as distinguished, e.g. from an alkylating agent resistant phenotype in a cell, which method may be used to evaluate the likelihood of successful outcome of treating a tumor cell with an alkylating agent. The method is directed to the NF-κB activation in response to DNA damage caused by alkylating agents. It comprises the step of measuring a level of expression of a protein, which participates in the NF-κB pathway. Preferably it comprises measuring the expression of TNFAIP3 in the cell, wherein a resistant phenotype has less expression of TNFAIP3 than a sensitive phenotype. Another particularly significant gene, which predicts survival, is NFKBIA. Other genes whose altered expression level is associated with resistance or prognosis are TNIP1, TNIP2, RIP, NFKBIB, Beta4GalNAc-T4, NFKBIE, C8orf4, LIF, CD44, FBXO32, and SDC1, and these are also measured in certain embodiments.
US07875273B2

Cells derived from postpartum tissue such as the umbilical cord and placenta, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such cells, and methods for using such cells and pharmaceutical compositions to treat patients having a neurodegenerative condition of the substantia nigra or striatum, such as Parkinson's disease, are provided.
US07875269B2

The present invention relates to hair colouring and hair bleaching compositions comprising a source of carbonate ions, at least one oxidizing agent and a specified gel network thickener system wherein said composition is free of a source of radical scavengers. The compositions surprisingly provide improved hair colourant and bleaching compositions which deliver improved lift, lightening and colour delivery whilst minimizing damage which are easy to manufacture and have long shelf life stability.
US07875256B2

The present invention discloses a method for producing carbon nanocoils, which comprises: providing a metal substrate; depositing a tin precursor on the substrate; heating the substrate with the precursor to a predetermined temperature to form a catalyst on the substrate; placing the substrate in a quartz tube furnace; and introducing carbon source gas and protective gas into the quartz tube furnace to allow carbon nanocoils to grow on the surface of the catalyst. Another method for producing carbon nanocoils is also disclosed, which includes: depositing a mixed solution of iron acetate and tin acetate on a substrate; heating the substrate with the mixing solution to a predetermined temperature to form a catalyst on the substrate; placing the substrate in a quartz tube furnace; and introducing carbon source gas and protective gas into the quartz tube furnace to allow carbon nanocoils to grow on the surface of the catalyst.
US07875244B2

A gas sensor has shock resistance and temperature resistance attributes. The gas sensor includes at least one catalytic measuring element (3), which is arranged in a sensor housing (1) forming a combustion chamber (2). The sensor housing (1) has at least one gas-permeable housing opening (4) for the gas exchange between the environment and the combustion chamber (2). The catalytic measuring element (3) is arranged between at least two disk-shaped support elements (5) made of a heat-insulating and temperature-resistant material.
US07875227B2

An RFID assembly includes a base having a peripheral wall, an RFID inlay including an RFID tag disposed within the peripheral wall, and a disk having a periphery engaged by the peripheral wall to capture the inlay between the base and the disk within the peripheral wall. One of the base and the disk has external fingers for releasably securing the assembly to a support structure, such as a projection on a mold core for disposition within a mold cavity to mold a container preform around the mold core within which the RFID assembly is embedded. The container preform can be blow molded into a hollow plastic container within which the RFID assembly is embedded. The projection preferably is on an end of the mold core, so that the RFID assembly is embedded in an end wall of the preform and a bottom wall of the container.
US07875225B2

A glass fiber reinforced article can be manufactured by: applying a mixture of glass fiber and binder over a mold surface of a first mold section to form a glass fiber matrix, wherein the binder comprises an organic solvent based binder capable of holding the glass fiber in place at room temperature; closing a second mold section over the first mold section to form a plenum between the first mold section and the second mold section, wherein the glass fiber matrix is provided in the plenum between the first mold section and the second mold section; injecting a reactive polymer forming composition into the plenum; and allowing the reactive polymer forming composition to react and form a thermoset resin. A glass fiber reinforced article is provided according to the invention.
US07875224B2

In a method for producing a coated composite component, an injection-molded part is produced in a first cycle by introducing a melt into the cavity of a first mold. A polyurethane layer is then applied to the cavity surface of an open polyurethane mold half. The mold half with the injection molded part produced in the first cycle is associated with the polyurethane mold half, and the so formed second mold is closed. The polyurethane layer is pressed or embossed onto the injection-molded part in the second mold, and the coated injection-molded part is removed once the second mold has been opened.
US07875223B2

The manufacture of a hearing instrument having a hard inner shell and a softer outer covering, for insertion into the ear canal of the user, may be accomplished using rapid manufacturing and prototyping techniques. Starting with a digital model of the ear canal, a mold for the softer outer covering may be fabricated using a process such as stereo lithography.
US07875222B2

A method of making an injection moulded container for housing information storage media, e.g. a DVD, the container having a base portion (10) and a lid portion (11) moveable about a spine portion (12) between open and closed configurations and holding means (15) for holding the media within the container, the method involving the use of an injection moulding tool comprising two carrier units (40, 41) each adapted to receive a plurality of inserts therein which define a cavity for forming the container: a first set of the inserts (50-59) for forming a first set of features of the container being formed of a first material, e.g. steel, and a second set of inserts (42-45) for forming a second set of features of the container being formed of a second material, e.g a copper alloy, the first set of inserts (50-59) being machined to the required shape for fitting within the carrier units (40, 41) and for forming the first set of features and the second set of inserts (42-45) being machined so as to fit within the carrier units (40, 41) but one or more of the second set of inserts (42-45) being formed with excess material on surfaces thereof defining said second set of features pending a decision as to the precise shape of said second set of features, whereby once a decision has been made the tool can be completed by machining said excess material to the required shape and assembling the inserts in the mould.
US07875220B2

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced composite member with connecting holes, comprising boring a cured molding of prepregs of reinforcing fibers impregnated with a matrix resin to form the connecting holes, using a burnishing drill comprising two or more tapered tip blades, two or more circumferential blades extending continuously from the tip blades to a shank, and chip-discharging grooves extending from the tip blades to the shank.
US07875212B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide polymer matrix nanocomposites reinforced with nano-scale materials such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes and methods of fabricating. The nanomaterials are provided within relatively low weight fractions, for example in the range of approximately 0.01 to about 0.4% by weight and distributed within the matrix by a magnetic mixing procedure to provide substantially uniform reinforcement of the nanocomposites. Advantageously, these nanocomposites provide significantly enhanced tensile strength, strain to failure, and fracture toughness over corresponding neat matrices.
US07875204B2

A flame retarding polymer electrolyte composition containing maleimides includes a modified maleimide; a lithium salt; and at least one ionic solution in a ratio of at least 2 wt % relative to the total weight of the composition. By using the hyperbranched dendrimer-like structure of the modified maleimide as grafted skeleton for polymer electrolytes, the electrolyte composition can encapsulate an electrolytic solution continuously, thus preventing the exudation of the electrolytic solution and increasing the stability of lithium ionic conduction. Since the ionic solution is nonflammable, the safety of batteries are further enhanced when the polymer electrolyte composition is used as polymer electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery.
US07875192B2

A slurry dividing apparatus is configured to divide a main slurry stream into smaller constituent slurry streams, wherein each stream contains a desired proportion of suspended solids. The dividing apparatus includes a main flow channel and a plurality of branch flow channels extending upward from a flow divider that terminates an upper end of the main flow channel. The main slurry stream enters the main flow channel, at an inlet opening thereof, and is decelerated, by an upward extension and expanding cross-section of the main flow channel, before reaching the flow divider and being divided into the smaller constituent slurry streams flowing within the plurality of branch flow channels. Each of the smaller streams flows up and then over a weir, which extends across an upper portion of each of the branch flow channels, and then down into a corresponding discharge flow channel of the apparatus.
US07875189B2

The invention relates to a method for separating suspended solid materials from aqueous systems, in which the latter is mixed with a flocculant made of polymer colloidal particles with cationic surface charge and subsequently the flocculated material is separated from the aqueous system.
US07875182B2

Size-selective hemocompatible porous polymeric adsorbents are provided with a pore structure capable of excluding molecules larger than 50,000 Daltons, but with a pore system that allows good ingress and egress of molecules smaller than 35,000 Daltons. The pore system in these porous polymeric adsorbents is controlled by the method of synthesis so that 98% of the total pore volume is located in pores smaller than 300 Angstroms (Å) in diameter with a working pore size range within 100 to 300 Å in diameter. The porous polymeric adsorbents of this invention are very selective for extracting midsize proteins, such as cytokines and β2-microglobulin, from blood and other physiologic fluids while keeping the components required for good health such as cells, platelets, albumin, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and other serum proteins intact.
US07875177B2

The present invention is directed toward membrane leaf packets, spiral wound modules and methods for making and using the same. The subject leaf packet comprises a membrane sheet folded upon itself and reinforced with sealant and tape along at least a portion of the fold on the back side of the membrane sheet.
US07875165B2

A method of correcting an output of a NOx sensor including: a first step of obtaining a sensor-variation relational expression based on a relationship between an Ip2/Ip0 value and an output change percentage for a calibration sensor; a second step of obtaining, from the relational expression, an output change percentage β that corresponds to an Ip2/Ip0 value of a subject NOx sensor; a third step of calculating a pressure correction coefficient α based on the obtained β; and a fourth step of performing output correction on the subject NOx sensor by calculating the pumping current Ip2(p0) under a reference pressure based on the pumping current Ip2(p) and a pressure p of the measurement gas which are detected upon measurement of the NOx concentration in the measurement gas.
US07875163B2

A low-voltage, low-energy electrochemical system and method of producing hydroxide ions and/or bicarbonate ions and/or carbonate ions utilizing significantly less than the typical 3V used across the conventional anode and cathode to produce the ions; consequently, carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the present system and method are significantly reduced.
US07875154B2

Disclosed herein is a method of preparing a palladium alloy composite membrane for hydrogen separation, including (a) providing a first metal coating layer on a porous support using a dry sputtering deposition process; (b) providing a palladium coating layer on the first metal coating layer using a dry sputtering deposition process; and (c) heat treating the palladium coating layer to form an alloy layer of palladium and the first metal.
US07875152B2

A torn paper web capture system that is a mechanism for securing a band, tape or strap, preferably composed of paper, across a paper roll as the roll is rotating. A sensor means detects the torn paper web and initiates both the shut down of rotation of the paper roll and the release of the band. The band resides within a guide track, the track being generally C-shaped in cross-section Upon contact with spool journal or similar rotating member the end of the band adheres and is wrapped around the rotating member. This wrapping action takes up the slack in the band and pulls it from the guide track and against the paper web, thereby securing the loose end of the paper web. The contact between the band and the rotating member may be initiated in multiple ways, such as with a nip roller, an actuating shoe member, or the like.
US07875150B2

A new class of polymeric additives for papermaking is disclosed as well as a process for their manufacture, a method for their use and a paper sheet containing the addition. The additives can be used in paper manufacture as agents for improving retention, paper machine operation and the strength properties of the product. The additives are manufactured from a microbial biomass. The biomass that contains acetyl amino groups or other amides is chemically modified by hydrolysis of the amides to form primary amino groups. Under neutral or acidic conditions these primary amines become cationic, which assures a good absorption of the additive onto fibres and fines of pulp that is generally of anionic nature.
US07875144B2

A transferring device 10 for transferring plate-like members such as a semiconductor wafer and the like among the first table T1, the second table T2 and the third table T3. The transferring device 10 includes a supporting unit 11 provided with a supporting face for a semiconductor wafer W, and a multi joint robot 12 for transferring the supporting unit 11. The supporting face includes a stacked body of adhesive sheets S in which an adhesive layer A is laminated on a sheet base material SB, and transferring among the table T1 through T3 can be performed through sticking and peeling operation between the adhesive sheet S positioned in an outermost layer and the semiconductor wafer W.
US07875143B2

A label for a container is formed by wrapping a length of label material around a cylindrical mandrel and introducing heat, adhesive or other sealing means into a gap between the leading end portion of the label material and the trailing end portion as the label material is wrapped around the mandrel. The cylindrical sleeve is slid off of the mandrel and telescoped over a container passing thereunder. The container with a cylindrical sleeve therearound is then moved to a heating station which heats the label material, preferably foam polystyrene, to cause it to shrink into conformity with the contour of the container.
US07875138B2

An adhesive tape applying apparatus includes a stage on which a terminal end portion of a first tape member and a leading end portion of a second tape member are placed so as to be superimposed on each other, an ultrasonic tool in which a plurality of protruding portions are provided on its contact surface that is to be put into contact with the leading end portion or terminal end portion of the superposed tape members, an ultrasonic vibration generator for applying ultrasonic vibrations in a tape's thicknesswise direction to the ultrasonic tool, and a pressing device for making a stage-directed pressing force act on the ultrasonic tool. As a result, the terminal end portion of the in-use first tape member and the leading end portion of the second tape member rolled out from a new reel can be spliced together with a simple, low-cost construction while the possibility of occurrence of trouble in tape feed is eliminated.
US07875134B2

A corrosion and wear resistant iron (Fe)-based alloy is provided. The Fe-based alloy consists essentially of 14.1 to 14.7% by weight of chromium (Cr), 1.41 to 1.47% by weight of carbon (C), 1.78 to 5.46% by weight of titanium (Ti), 0.11 to 0.39% by weight of aluminum (Al), 0.07 to 0.27% by weight of vanadium (V) and the balance of iron (Fe). The Fe-based alloy is highly resistant to corrosion and wear. In addition, since the Fe-based alloy is prepared using titanium alloy scrap at reduced cost, it is economically advantageous. Furthermore, the Fe-based alloy is environmentally friendly in terms of resource recycling. Further provided is a method for preparing the Fe-based alloy.
US07875131B2

An improved amorphous aluminum alloy having high strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and fracture toughness is disclosed. The alloy has an amorphous phase and a coherent L12 phase. The alloy has nickel, cerium, at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium; and at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, niobium and iron. The volume fraction of the amorphous phase ranges from about 50 percent to about 95 percent and the volume fraction of the coherent L12 phase ranges from about 5 percent to about 50 percent.
US07875128B2

A Ni-free stainless steel product excellent in workability and corrosion resistance and a method for manufacturing such stainless steel product. A ferritic stainless steel product containing 18 to 24% by mass of Cr and 0 to 4% by mass of Mo is brought into contact with an inert gas containing a nitrogen gas at 800 degrees C. or above to subject it to nitrogen absorption treatment so that the product is austenitized partially or wholly to obtain such nickel-free product.
US07875127B2

The present disclosure is directed to a parts washer with a movable sink and a movable lid connected to a housing for facilitating replacement and maintenance of a cleaning solution reservoir. A pump is also pivotally connected to the sink to lift the pump during replacement and maintenance operations.
US07875110B2

An electroless plating composition comprising succinic acid, potassium carbonate, a source of cobalt metal ions, a reducing agent, and water is provided. An optional buffering agent may also be included in the composition. The composition may be used to deposit cobalt metal in or on semiconductor substrate surfaces including vias, trenches, and interconnects.
US07875107B2

A manufacturing method of a hydrogen storage tank stored with a hydrogen gas by including built-in hydrogen-occlusion alloys, has a stacking step of stacking plate members building up heat transfer fins, an arranging step of disposing the hydrogen-occlusion alloys between the neighboring plate members so as to form an area in which to dispose the hydrogen-occlusion alloys and an area in which to dispose none of the hydrogen-occlusion alloys, and a pressurizing step of forming air spaces sectioned by the plate members building up the heat transfer fins and containing the previously built-in hydrogen-occlusion alloys in a way that gets a part of the plate members deformed by pressurizing the plate members in a stacking direction thereof so as to restrict migrations of the hydrogen-occlusion alloys disposed in the arranging step.
US07875104B2

The disclosed electrostatic precipitator cartridge for a tower air cleaner in accord with the present invention is low-cost, because it is constructed of injected molded plastics material and stamped and extruded metal components. It is easy to clean, not only because it's constitutive metal parts and plastic components are machine washable but also because the cartridge as a whole is machine washable, the pieces and components are designed and arranged to prevent intracartridge fluid buildup or retention after washing, thereby eliminating any electrical shorting or arcing or other undesirable phenomena resulting therefrom that could interfere with the operation of the electrostatic filter cartridge. It is mechanically stable and has high particulate collection efficiency because it's ionizer bars have a predetermined preferably air foil shape that provides improved ionization efficiency and that imparts improved torsion stability rendering it possible to provide taller electrostatic filter cartridges and/or greater cleaning power.
US07875096B2

This invention relates to a process for producing an organic fertilizer, and an organic fertilizer containing organic carbon carriers. According to an embodiment of the invention, the organic fertilizer is produced by mixing organic matter with water adding an organic acid or acids such as EDTA, amino acids, fuivic acid or propionic acid, preferably propionic acid (25%); or a base such as KOH or NaOH1 preferably KOH to the mixture; and decomposing organic matter with the acid/s or base in order to extract organic carbon solution having a carbon content of 10 to 20. The invention also relates to an organic fertilizer containing macro or micro nutrientfe and an organic carrier bound to or complexed with an organic carbon carrier.
US07875089B2

A hydrogen generation apparatus employs a thermocatalytic reactor (60) formed of a top plate (62), a bottom plate (66), and a reactor core (64) disposed between the top an bottom plates. The reactor core has a reaction surface (64a) and a combustion surface (64b), each surface having a raised periphery defining opposing ends (61a and 61b) and opposing sides (63a and 63b). The reaction surface (64a) and the top plate (62) together define a reaction chamber and the combustion surface (64b) and the bottom plate (66) together define a combustion chamber. The reaction core (64) has a first set of a plurality of spaced apart, substantially straight radiating fins (76a) extending from the reaction surface (64a) and a second set of a plurality of spaced part, substantially straight radiating fins (76b) extending from the combustion surface (64b). The first set of fins (76a) defining a plurality of reaction channels (71), while the second set of fins (76b) defines a plurality of combustion channels (69) running parallel to the opposing sides (63a and 63b) and is spaced apart from the opposing ends (61a and 61b).
US07875088B2

The present invention is directed at a system for automatically manufacturing thermal batteries. In the present invention, thermal batteries are manufactured using a press system, a stacking system and an enclosing system. The present invention uses a tracking, storage, and/or retrieval system to track various components used in the manufacturing process to improve manufacturing quality and to track the various components throughout the manufacturing process.
US07875086B2

The present invention is a method for simultaneously separating two highly pure fullerenes from a mixture of fullerenes via crystallization, by (i) adjusting the amount of solvent in the mixture fed to a first crystallizer to obtain a phase equilibrium behavior so a first fullerene component of the two fullerenes, in the form of pure crystal, solid solution crystal, or solvate crystal is obtained; (ii) adjusting the amount of solvent in another mixture fed to a second crystallizer, operating at a temperature different from the first crystallizer, to obtain a phase equilibrium behavior so a second fullerene component of the two fullerenes, in the form of pure crystal, solid solution crystal, or solvate crystal is obtained; and additionally (iii) purifying the solid solution or the solvate into highly pure fullerene, when the solid product from the crystallizers is in the form of solid solution or solvate.
US07875084B2

The present disclosure relates to a dye composition for keratin fibers, including human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising, in a medium suitable for dyeing: (A) at least one nonionic derivative of cellulose comprising at least one hydrophobic substituent containing from 8 to 30 carbon atoms; (B) at least one nonionic, nonhydrophobic polymer of the hydroxyalkylcellulose type; and (C) at least one oxidation dye. The present disclosure also relates to a process for dyeing keratin fibers using such a composition; and also to a device that uses this composition for dyeing keratinous fibers.
US07875080B2

An interbody spacer for insertion between vertebral members. The spacer includes a body having posterior and anterior sides, and inferior and superior faces. The spacer further includes a plurality of teeth to maintain the position of the spacer between the vertebral members. The teeth are aligned in a pattern and have a shape to allow insertion into the space between the vertebral members, and prevent or limit movement once the spacer is positioned in the space.
US07875079B2

A containment device is inserted between vertebral members in a patient and provides a rapid implant solution adapted for use in different applications. The device includes an interior volume to contain a curable substance at substantially atmospheric pressure. Upon filling the enclosure member with a curable substance, the enclosure member is able to conform to and maintain a space between vertebral members. The containment device may include an enclosure member constructed of an impermeable material adapted to constrain migration of the curable substance. The enclosure member may include an exterior wall surrounding the interior volume and an opening in the exterior wall that exposes the interior volume. The containment device may include end members that may be distracted to establish a desired vertebral spacing. Spacer members may be included to further maintain the desired spacing. Upon hardening of the curable substance, the device is capable of maintaining the desired spacing.
US07875078B2

An expandable interbody fusion device for implantation into the intradiscal space between two opposing vertebral bodies of a spine comprises a superior endplate member having an upper surface for engaging a superior vertebral body in a spine, and an inferior endplate member having a lower surface for engaging an inferior vertebral body in the spine. The superior endplate member and the inferior endplate member are releasably coupled and define a cavity therebetween. At least one expansion member is configured to be introduced into the cavity to move the superior endplate and the inferior endplate members relatively apart upon introduction and to thereby decouple the superior endplate member and the inferior endplate member. An inserter may be releasably coupled to the device to facilitate insertion of the device as well as to provide a track for insertion of the expansion members.
US07875070B2

A process for assembling a medical device made from a nickel-titanium alloy for use in a mammalian body while avoiding the formation of stress-induced martensite and a medical device used in combination with a delivery system for deployment into the mammalian body are disclosed. By heating the nickel-titanium alloy of the medical device to a temperature above Md, and deforming and installing the device into a delivery system or holding capsule, it is possible to avoid the formation of stress-induced martensite in the stent, which stays in the austenitic phase throughout.
US07875067B2

Apparatus for delivering and deploying an expandable stent having a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises a fluid pressure device that is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath, wherein the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device after retraction of the protection sheath.
US07875064B2

A bone anchor is provided that can toggle in two planes for secure anchorage within a bone cavity. The bone anchor includes an oblique suture channel configured such that a suture strand extending through the bone anchor can be tensioned to toggle the bone anchor inside the bone cavity. The suture strand can be located on the same side of the anchor body to maximize the area of the anchor surface which engages bone, resulting in increased engagement into bone and resistance to tensile forces.
US07875063B1

A method for fabricating a device for repairing torn tissue or muscle such as the meniscus of the knee. The device includes a pair of anchoring members having a plurality of barb-like projections extending outwardly therefrom. The anchoring members are joined by a flexible linking member which connects the ends of the anchoring members opposite one another. Such a device can be fabricated by insert molding of the appropriate members together.
US07875060B2

A multi-axial screw assembly with a spherical landing surface is disclosed. The multi-axial screw assembly 100 includes a bone anchor 150, a head 130 with a spherical outer surface and an extension member 160 extending from the top of the head 130. The multi-axial screw is designed to attach a planar or semispherical end member of a plate to a vertebra. The plate is part of a spine fixation or stabilization assembly. The multi-axial screw provides multi-axial pivoting of the screw relative to the plate.
US07875058B2

A method for bunion repair using a suture-button construct. The suture-button construct includes a first button, a second button, a first suture strand, a pull-through suture strand and a needle. The first and second buttons have apertures to facilitate the suture strands to pass through the buttons. The first suture strand is double looped through the first and second buttons and the pull-through suture strand is looped through one of the apertures of the first button. The pull-through suture strand also loops through an eyelet of the needle and thus, is operatively associated with the needle. A suture anchor-button construct can also be used for bunion repair.
US07875057B2

A method for stabilization of a cranial cruciate ligament in canines using a suture-button construct. The method includes the steps of drilling a hole across the femur and the tibia, passing a needle with a pull-through suture strand through the femoral hole, and applying a tensile force to the pull-through suture strand and a suture tape such that a first button lies sideways for passage through the femoral hole, advancing the first button through the femoral hole until the first button exits the femoral hole, passing the needle with the pull-through suture strand through the tibial hole, applying a tensile force to the pull-through suture strand and the suture tape such that the first button lies sideways for passage through the tibial hole, flipping the first button to engage it against the tibia, pulling free ends of the suture tape to advance a second button and to seat and secure it against the femur.
US07875051B2

An embolic protection filter having an improved filter frame and method of making the same. In at least some embodiments, the present invention includes an embolic protection filter coupled to an elongate shaft. The filter may include a filter frame assembly having one or more frame members. The frame members may include a filter mouth defining portion.
US07875040B2

A visual indication of an intermediate position is provided on an applicator (10) to enable an operator to correctly position the trigger (14) of the applicator to achieve a defined intermediate position.
US07875034B2

Instruments and methods for preparing a spinal disc space to receive an implant include an annulus template, a footprint template, a distractor for distracting adjacent vertebrae, and a guide member for guiding a chisel. The instruments and methods can be employed in an oblique approach to the spinal disc space.
US07875032B2

A surgical procedure according to which a cutting device is connected in a spaced relationship to an anchor, and the anchor is located over a first area of the bone. The distance between the cutting device and the anchor is adjusted so that the cutting device extends over a second area of the bone, and the anchor is driven into the first area of the bone so that the cutting device cuts into the second area.
US07875030B2

A simplified external bone fixator assembly is provided which allows the surgeon to snap a bone fixation rod into the assembly at any location along the length of the rod. The invention does not require “threading” of the assembly onto the rod starting at the end and sliding it down the length of the rod to the desired location. In particular, a bone pin locking assembly is provided for use with standard bone fixation rods and bone pins. The assembly includes a bone pin vise, a single-piece fixation rod attachment member and a coupling to allow relative adjustment of pin vise and rod attachment member. The single-piece rod attachment member has two opposing jaws that loosely capture the bone fixation rod when the surgeon presses the rod into the attachment member. The assembly may be rigidly fixed to the rod using a bolt which tightens the attachment member onto the rod.
US07875029B1

One example of surgical apparatus for treating tissue may include an effector including at least two jaws movable toward one another, where the effector holds and is configured to deploy a of clips in a clip application mode, and where the jaws are configured to deliver energy to coagulate tissue in a coagulation mode, where said effector is switchable between clip application mode and coagulation mode. Another example of surgical apparatus for treating tissue may include an effector holding clips, and two fingers movable toward one another to close the clips one at a time, where each finger is a different pole of a bipolar coagulator. An exemplary method for treating tissue with a surgical apparatus may include placing the surgical apparatus adjacent to tissue at a location, selecting one of a plurality of operational modes of the surgical apparatus, where the operational modes include clip application mode and coagulation mode, and actuating the surgical apparatus according to the selected operational mode.
US07875023B2

A methodology and system for lysing adipose tissue including directing ultrasonic energy at a multiplicity of target volumes within the region, which target volumes contain adipose tissue, thereby to selectively lyse the adipose tissue in the target volumes and generally not lyse non-adipose tissue in the target volumes and computerized tracking of the multiplicity of target volumes notwithstanding movement of the body.
US07875020B2

The present invention provides an inventive apparatus and method for docking of a male luer connector fluidly interconnected or interconnectable to a medical liquid source during one or repeated periods. As such, the invention has particular application to multiple-dose medication therapy procedures. The docking apparatus comprises a holding receptacle having a single access opening and a depressible member disposed in the holding receptacle. The holding receptacle is adapted for retentive engagement with a male luer connector (e.g. via complementary threading), wherein upon docking a nozzle of the male luer connector is isolated within the holding receptacle. An anti-bacterial material may be readily applied to a top surface of the depressible member prior to docking so that the forward edge of the nozzle of the male luer connector contacts the anti-bacterial material when docked. The docking apparatus may be provided with lateral and rearward handling members to facilitate docking procedures. Additionally, slots may be provided for interconnecting the docking apparatus to a tubing line at a patient site.
US07875009B2

A fluid control device is characterized in that the device is structured of a hollow first fluid path (21) and second fluid path (22), a housing portion (1) formed between the first fluid path and the second fluid path and having a hollow portion with a cross-sectional area larger than cross-sectional areas of both fluid paths, and a valve member (3) that has a main body (31) and a projection portion (32) that are installed in an opening portion where the first fluid path is connected to the hollow portion and that is formed of an elastic material. The fluid control device enables the circulation of liquid when the pressure of liquid flowing from the first fluid path toward the second fluid path is more than a predetermined level. The fluid control device enables accurate and safe measurement of pressure including blood pressure, and, when flushing operation of an infusion circuit etc. is finished, the device enables speedy lowering of pressure to a value that accurately reflects blood pressure of a patient and enables obtaining of a necessary flow rate in a region where pressure is relatively low.
US07875001B2

A nasal spray apparatus for simultaneously administrating metered amounts of multiple medicaments includes chambers for separately storing incompatible medicaments, such as an antihistamine and a steroid. Reciprocal piston pumps allow the medications to be sprayed into the user's nasal cavity. Two pumps can be used to separately transfer the medicaments to a receptacle where they can be initially mixed just prior to administration. A small volume receptacle is used to reduce the amount of mixture remaining after each stroke of the nasal spray apparatus. A check valve can be associated with each pump to further reduce medicament mixtures from cross contamination within storage chamber preparations. Collapsible components, including collapsible storage chambers or balloon capacitors can be employed to compensate for vacuums and back pressures as the medicaments are pumped to a spray nozzle.
US07874999B2

An access needle for extracorporeal therapy is equipped with a mount and a sleeve having a metal or magnetic component at its distal end. The mount includes a sensor for detecting when the distal end is pressed against the mount. The sensor is a hall-effect sensor or a proximity sensor. When therapy is begun, the sleeve is rolled up and urged against the mount, exposing the needle for use with the patient. While the sleeve, and the piece of metal or magnet, remains in contact with the sensor, the needle has not been dislodged and therapy may continue. If the needle is dislodged, the sleeve pushes away from mount, moving the metal or magnet away from the sensor. The sensor notes the dislodgement and sends a signal to alert the patient or a caregiver.
US07874996B2

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to the manipulation of a joint to provide therapy. More specifically, some embodiments of the present invention use inflatable members and a three point bending concept to cause flexion in a toe joint for the purpose of increasing the range of motion of the toe joint. In one embodiment, a user's foot is placed in a frame with at least one toe atop a toe bar. An inflatable member is positioned atop the user's foot and held in position with a strap attached relative to the frame. As the inflatable member is inflated, the strap increases in tension urging the toe toward the toe bar and causing actuation of the joint at the base of the toe.
US07874994B2

An improved penetrating tissue system is provided that reduces pain when penetrating tissue by providing controlled depth and velocity of penetration, stimulation and pressure to the targeted tissue without breaching a sterile environment. The system has user interfaces, human interfaces and low volume sample chambers.
US07874993B2

A system for diagnosing and monitoring congestive heart failure for automated remote patient care is presented. A database stores a plurality of monitoring sets relating to patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis. A server retrieving and processing the monitoring sets includes a comparison module determining patient status changes by comparing at least one recorded measure from one of the monitoring sets to at least one other recorded measure from another of the monitoring sets with both recorded measures relating to a type of patient information, and an analysis module testing each patient status change for one of an absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure against a predetermined indicator threshold corresponding to a type of patient information as the recorded measures. The indicator threshold corresponds to a quantifiable physiological measure of a pathophysiology indicative of congestive heart failure.
US07874992B2

A medical device and method for determining baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) based on one or more respiration cycles. The BRS determination may be performed continuously based on measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration cycles.
US07874988B2

A reference condition generation unit of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus generates a reference delay condition and a reference amplitude condition for determining delay time and amplitude of a driving pulse to be supplied to a transducer element at the time of non-simultaneous and parallel reception. A transmission condition generation unit generates a transmission delay condition and a transmission amplitude condition for determining delay time and amplitude of a driving pulse to be supplied to a transducer element at the time of simultaneous and parallel reception, on the basis of the reference delay condition and the reference amplitude condition. A transmission unit sets the delay time and the driving amplitude of the driving pulse to be supplied to a plurality of adjacent transducer elements selected by an element selection unit among the transducer elements arranged in an ultrasonic probe, on the basis of the transmission delay condition and the transmission amplitude condition.
US07874986B2

Delivery systems, and methods using the same, having an ultrasound viewing window for improved imaging and a needle for ablation treatment of target tissues. In an embodiment, the target tissue is a fibroid within a female's uterus. In an embodiment the delivery system includes a rigid shaft having a proximal end, and a distal end, and an axial passage extending through the rigid shaft. In an embodiment, the axial passage is configured for removably receiving the ultrasound imaging insert having an ultrasound array disposed on a distal portion.
US07874984B2

Novel methods for delivering a drug to a patient while preventing the exposure of a foetus or other contraindicated individual to the drug. Embodiments are provided in which the involved prescribers, pharmacies and patients are registered in one or more computer databases. Embodiments are also provided in which registered patients receive counseling information concerning the risks attendant to foetal exposure to the drug. Male patients and female patients who are not pregnant may, in certain circumstances, receive the drug.
US07874981B2

An orifice introducer device for introducing, e.g., a surgical device, into, e.g., an orifice of a body, includes a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is adjustable between a first position for insertion into an orifice and a second position once inserted into the orifice. Alternatively, the orifice introducer device includes a distal portion having a proximal end configured to be detachably secured to the distal end of the tubular member. The distal portion is selectively detachable when the orifice introducer device is positioned in the orifice.
US07874979B2

When an observation target in a membranous tissue such as an amniotic membrane filled with a liquid such as an amniotic fluid is observed, the observation is performed without leaking the liquid. There is provided an observation method of an observation target arranged in a membranous tissue filled with a body fluid, comprising: a step for coating a gel-like adhesive on the outer surface of the membranous tissue; a step for cutting the membranous tissue through the coated adhesive; a step for inserting the distal end of the objective unit through the adhesive and the open cut in the membranous tissue; and a step for observing the observation target through the inserted distal end of the objective unit.
US07874975B2

Compositions, articles, and methods for treating and imaging vulnerable plaque and other inflamed regions in a patient rely on delivery of a conversion electron emitting source (CEES) to a body location. The CEES may be delivered by coupling to a substance which preferentially binds to vulnerable plaque or other inflammatory marker. Alternatively, the CEES can be delivered on a catheter, scaffold, or other device.
US07874972B2

A centrifuge includes: a rotation room chamber for defining a rotation room; a lid for closing the rotation room; a locking mechanism configured by a hook for locking the lid in a closed state; a hook catch; a driving mechanism having a link mechanism which converts the rotary movement of the driving shaft portion into a reciprocal movement; and a detection portion for detecting the engagement of the hook with the hook catch in the closed state of the lid. The detection portion includes a disc member fixed to the driving shaft portion and has a concavo-convex outer peripheral surface and sensors for detecting the concave and convex portions. The driving mechanism moves in an interlocked manner with the rotation of the disc member. The positions of the concave and convex portions of the disc member correspond to the position where the hook engages.
US07874954B2

A locking differential includes a pair of clutch members that are biased together by a resilient disc and friction pack assembly toward a cross pin that extends diametrically across the central chamber of a cylindrical housing driven by the drive shaft of a vehicle, thereby to drive a pair of side gears and the output shafts splined thereto. The cross-pin extends within operating cam grooves contained in the adjacent faces of the clutch members, such that when the rotational velocity of one output shaft exceeds that of the other by a predetermined amount, the friction pack assembly of the faster shaft is operated to a non-compressed condition, thereby to disengage the over-running output shaft from the drive shaft. The resilient disc devices may be annular wave springs, or resilient disc springs.
US07874940B2

The present invention relates to a method for making golf balls by an extrusion molding process, particularly forming golf ball cores from an extrusion moldable composition. The present invention also relates to a golf ball having an extruded core, an outer cover layer and, optionally, one or more inner cover layers.
US07874938B2

The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. The face plate can be made by first forming an oversized lay-up of multiple prepreg plies having a central portion and a sacrificial portion surrounding the central portion. The lay-up is at least partially cured in a mold under elevated pressure and heat. The lay-up is then removed from the mold and the sacrificial portion is removed from the central portion to form a composite part that is substantially free of defects.
US07874932B2

An adjustable golf shaft having an upper shaft member, a lower shaft member and an inner rod. The upper shaft member includes an elongated bore therein with an upper bushing fixed within an upper end of the elongated bore therein. The lower shaft member has an elongated bore therein with a middle bushing fixed within an upper end of the elongated bore therein. The inner rod includes a lower end dimensioned to be fixed to a lower bushing, and an upper end dimensioned to be fixed to the upper bushing. The inner rod is adapted to slide within the middle bushing as the length of the shaft changes.
US07874930B2

The present golf swing training tool assists a golfer in learning the correct swing path the club head should follow during a normal golf swing, in order to consistently hit the ball in the desired direction, by providing a direct visual prompt of the proper club head swing path during each swing of the golf club. The tool may be used indoors or outdoors and is very portable.
US07874928B2

A performance measuring device for a golf club that measures a motion state of a golf ball hit by the golf club and displays a measurement result, includes a camera part that takes a picture of the hit golf ball, a sensor part that detects a passage of the golf club hitting the golf ball and sends a trigger signal of deciding a photographing timing of the golf ball to the camera part, a control box having storage unit that stores an image of the golf ball photographed by the camera part and a USB interface that sends the image, and a mobile type computer having an arithmetical operation unit that analyzes the image, and a liquid crystal monitor that displays an analytic result. The mobile type computer includes a central processing unit having a clock frequency of 500 MHz or more, and a basic software achieving multitask and multiwindow.
US07874925B2

A fiber reinforced composite shaft bearing a metallic flanged end coupling attached to the outside diameter through a concentric cylindrical torsional joint is provided. The composite shaft is press fitted into a flanged metallic end coupling including a multiplicity of teeth running parallel to the tube axis which cut longitudinal channels into the outside diameter of the composite shaft wall during the press fit process. Pairs of inverted troughs adjacent to and running parallel to the cutting teeth in the serrated region allow space for the redistribution of the composite material and debris formed during the press fitting process. This combined action forms a mechanical interface capable of supporting torsional and axial stresses. A structural adhesive may be applied to the joint region to form a secondary joint. In this case the composite formed between the cutting debris and the adhesive fills the trough channels.
US07874916B2

A gaming machine to conduct a wagering game comprises a processing apparatus and a secondary apparatus. To inhibit unauthorized persons from replacing some or all of the software executed by the processing apparatus with unapproved software, the processing apparatus transmits a security message to the secondary apparatus. The secondary apparatus, in turn, validates the security message and transmits an enable signal when the validation is successful, or a disable signal when the validation is not successful. The processing apparatus is allowed to access to game data based on receipt of the enable signal and is denied access to game data based on receipt of the disable signal.
US07874903B2

A system and method for adding a bonus round to any poker-style card game on a Nevada-style gaming machine. The bonus round is characterized by the existence of a match card. The match card is not part of the traditional poker hand (the “in-hand” cards) of the player, and only comes into play during a bonus round. The suit and value of the match card may be generated by the game machine or a remote game controller or backend server. The match card is then displayed in a manner visually associating the match card with one of the player's “in-hand” cards. A bonus is determined by evaluating the associated pair. Alternatively a bonus may be determined first, in which case the game machine determines a match card and associated card from the player's in-hand cards that is the equivalent of the predetermined bonus.
US07874893B2

A honing method and honing control device suitable for the honing having a large processing area is provided. The honing control device includes a grinder and an expansion member for disposition in a processing hole of a workpiece. The amount of an expanding movement when the grinder contacts the inner surface of a gauge hole via the expansion member is stored as a target expansion amount by inserting a honing head into the gauge hole having the same size as a target processing diameter of a master gauge. Then, a honing of an inner surface of the processing hole is performed by inserting the honing head within a processing hole of a workpiece moving the grinder towards an outer side of a diametrical direction by the expansion member installed within the honing head to rotate the honing head. The honing is completed when the amount of the expanding movement of the grinder reaches a target expansion amount established by the master gauge.
US07874891B2

The invention is a yo-yo in which at least one of the yo-yo's sides includes a powered rotation system capable of maintaining the yo-yo's rotation when the yo-yo is sleeping at the end of its tether. The system functions by converting one of the yo-yo's sides into a motor, and in one embodiment includes a number of permanent magnets, an electromagnet, a sensor capable of detecting a magnet field, and a power source. Also disclosed is the use of a programmable controller to control the system. In another embodiment of the rotation system, a reflector, an energy emitter and a complementary sensor are employed to lead to an actuation of the electromagnet.
US07874886B2

A communication float for an oceanographic instrument, such as a profiler, comprising an elongated buoyant float, connected at one to the instrument by means of a neutrally buoyant communication cable, and having an antenna mounted on the other end. The float is ballasted to float at an angle such that the antenna extends from the water when the float is on the surface of the water, and whereby the float is oriented substantially vertically when submerged. The communication float is configured to provide minimal effects on the profiler instrument for either the submerged or floating mode, and to maintain transmission while subjected to wave action on the ocean.
US07874874B2

A connecting device having a built-in digital television tuner includes a base, a digital television tuner, a cover plate and a connector. The base has two ports. One of the two ports is assembled with the digital television tuner. The inner walls of both sides of the port have two symmetrical grooves. Rails provided on both sides of the cover plate are assembled in the grooves, so that the cover plate can slide in the port. The other port of the base is assembled with the connector. When being electrically connected to an electronic device, the connecting device of the present invention allows transmission lines of different functions to be inserted therein and receives digital television signals, whereby a user can watch digital television programs.
US07874871B2

A connecting assembly for an end of a coaxial cable and having a first element, that is turned around a first axis in a first rotational direction to progressively tighten the first element to a connector, and a housing. The connecting assembly further has: a) an axially elongated first groove in one component; and b) an axially elongated first finger on a second component that resides within the first groove with the connecting assembly in a first state. With the connecting assembly in the first state, turning of the housing in the first rotational direction causes the first finger to cause driving of the first element with a torque up to a predetermined torque. Continued turning of the housing with a torque exceeding the predetermined torque causes reconfiguration of the connecting assembly in a manner whereby the first finger moves circumferentially out of the first groove.
US07874866B2

A patch cord panel and a labeling assembly for use in the identification of jacks of the patch cord panel including an information plate having a plurality of predetermined areas for bearing indicia for uniquely identifying respective ones of the jacks of the patch cord panel, and a fastener for coupling the information plate to the patch cord panel.
US07874863B1

Disclosed herein is a test and burn-in socket for integrated circuits. The socket includes a socket body (37). A lead guide (36) is provided under the socket body. A slide (35) is mounted to the socket body to move horizontally. A plurality of slide springs (39) is elastically supported between the slide and the socket body, thus allowing the slide to smoothly restore an original position thereof. A contact guide (31) is provided above the slide to guide positions of upper contact terminals of contacts. An IC guide (30) is provided above the contact guide to guide a position of an IC. A cover (21) is provided to move vertically from the socket body (37). A latch (29) presses the IC. The socket also includes the contacts (33).
US07874858B2

A connector, comprises a plurality of metal terminals; and a connector housing including a box-like body portion for receiving the plurality of metal terminals, a tubular portion within which the body portion is disposed, and an interconnecting portion interconnecting end portions of the body portion and the tubular portion, wherein the interconnecting portion includes a plurality of flat plate portions spaced from one another in a direction of a periphery of each of the tubular portion and the body portion, and a mountain-shaped portion projecting toward the inner side of the tubular portion, and the flat plate portions are smaller in thickness than the tubular portion.
US07874856B1

An electrical power connection device is disclosed having a base socket, a power receiving means adapted to connect to a power source, and a plurality of socket modules. At least one socket module includes at least one electrical socket electrically interconnected with the power source. Each socket module is mechanically and adjustably engaged with at least one other socket module, whereby the device is expandable and compressible such that both small power plugs and larger AC adapters may be plugged into the electrical socket of each socket module.
US07874852B2

A cover structure includes a cover, a main body and an elastic member. The cover includes an engaging portion and a sliding member. The main body includes a latching portion. The elastic member is integrally formed with the main body. The elastic member defines a sliding hole allowing the sliding member to slide therein. At least one protrusion is formed in the sliding hole and divides the sliding hole into two sections. The sliding member passes the protrusion from one section to another section of the sliding hole while the engaging portion is engaged in or detached from the latching portion.
US07874849B2

Disclosed is a plug for shielded data cables, in particular an RJ45 plug, having an electrically conducting housing, which can be assembled from a first shell and a second shell. An electrically insulating plug body accommodates plug contacts. A printed circuit board, which can be inserted into the housing, bears the plug contacts and insulation displacement contacts and conductively connects them to one another. The printed circuit board is insulated from the housing by a non-conducting foil. The wires of the data cable to be connected can be inserted into a loading piece, wherein the wires are accommodated in two planes one above the other in the loading piece. The data cable can be mounted in the loading piece and the second shell. When the shells are assembled, the insulation displacement contacts make contact with the wires of the data cable which are accommodated in the loading piece.
US07874840B2

A flexible dental dam for application in a variety of dental procedures, the flexible dental dam including a flexible dome having at least two apertures for inserting dental tools, and a flexible sheet bound between two rigid rings, wherein the flexible dome is attached to the flexible sheet at one of the two rigid rings. The flexible sheet can include an aperture for positioning around a tooth. Methods for use of the flexible dental dam are describe.
US07874839B2

A powered surgical instrument is provided. In some embodiments, the powered surgical instrument may include a housing; a receiver, at least a portion of the receiver is movably received within the housing, a distal end portion of the receiver being configured to receive an expander adapted to expand a tooth socket within a treatment area, wherein the receiver is configured to move between a first receiver position and a second receiver position; a bias assembly operatively connected to the receiver and configured to urge the receiver towards the second receiver position; and an actuator disposed within the housing and configured to move the receiver at least from the first receiver position to the second receiver position, wherein the receiver is configured to be selectively moved between the first and second receiver positions independent of the actuator.
US07874832B2

An assembly for creating a folded edge for a flexible headliner material. A table defines an outer configured perimeter upon which is supported the headliner with or without a supporting template. Pairs of primary and secondary fingers are arranged at perimeter spaced locations in mounted fashion over the outer configured perimeter. The fingers contact outwardly displaceable fashion relative to the headliner inner perimeter, and such that the fingers are cooperatively displaced in a first step imparting a bent edge to the headliner. A projecting edge of the secondary finger is subsequently displaced over a terminating edge of the first finger in order to fold over the bent edge, or against the template, to form the edge profile to the headliner in a non-pleated fashion.
US07874830B2

The invention concerns a closure system (100) for molded caps comprising: two guide rails (102), a carriage (108) able to move on each rail (102), a closure bar (110) disposed between the two carriages (108), two wheels (116a, 116b), each mounted on a carriage (108), able to move in rotation about a rotation axis and each end of the bar (110) being mounted on one of the wheels (116a, 116b) so as to be offset with respect to said axis, a rack designed to move parallel to the rail (102), for each wheel (116a, 116b), a maneuvering gear able to move in rotation, secured to and coaxial with the wheel (116a, 116b) and designed to mesh with the rack, for each carriage (108), a locking device (106) designed to lock the carriage (108) with the rack and the guide rail (102), for each rack, an activation device (104).
US07874829B2

A method and apparatus for forming adhesive strips from an adhesive sheet. The apparatus may generally comprise a first forming wheel, a second forming wheel, and a cutting wheel including a plurality of circumferential grooves. The cutting wheel can be positioned in proximity to the first and second forming wheels to define a first formation interface with the first forming wheel and a second formation interface with the second forming wheel. The cutting wheel can be operable to receive at least a portion of the adhesive sheet and rotate to force at least a portion of the adhesive sheet through the first formation interface and the second formation interface such that the adhesive sheet is at least partially cut by at least one of the circumferential grooves at both the first and second formation interfaces to at least partially form the adhesive strips.
US07874822B2

A core segment manipulating apparatus and method is provided for relocating core segments forming a toroidally shaped core body configured to carry a cured tire. The apparatus includes multiple core key segment engaging mechanisms and core second segment engagement mechanisms arranged in a spaced apart circular array adjacent to respective key segments and second segments of the core body. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms operate to individually move respective key segments and second segments from a radially outward core body position to a radially inward segment removal position. The key segment and second segment engaging mechanisms transfer a respective segment to a segment removal device at the segment removal position and return radially outward to a segment-receiving location.
US07874817B2

A fuel pump assembly includes a fuel pump, and an electric motor for rotatably driving the fuel pump and including a motor armature and a commutator positioned between the motor armature and the fuel pump.
US07874800B2

A wind energy plant with a rotor hub housing, which is connectable to at least one pitch bearing via joining means, and with at least one rotor blade, the blade root of which is connected to the pitch bearing, wherein a stiffening element is provided, which is fastened between the pitch bearing and the rotor hub housing.
US07874799B2

It is known with regard to particularly cavities below high pressure turbine discs that mixing of hot gas leakage flows through an inner seal with cooling flows can diminish the effectiveness of that cooling flow when presented to other parts for cooling. By providing a path within a wall which is particularly shaped in portions it is possible to provide entrainment of a hot leakage gas flow away from entry into the cavity. Thus, the cooling flow retains a higher cooling effect and maintains its swirling nature in comparison with prior arrangements where mixing with the hot leakage flow occurred.
US07874797B2

A method for balancing a rotor of a rotary machine, wherein the rotor includes at least two rotor blades and a rotor shaft, includes receiving at least one measurement of either a load, an acceleration, or a displacement that pertains to at least one bending moment acting on the rotor shaft, determining at least one value of the at least one bending moment acting on the rotor shaft based, at least in part, on the received at least one measurement, and determining a pitch offset angle value of at least one rotor blade that facilitates reducing the at least one bending moment acting on the rotor shaft.
US07874796B2

A heat dissipation module includes a housing, and a fan including an outer frame, a first rotor, a base, a second rotor and a driving device. The first rotor includes a shaft, a first hub and a plurality of first rotor blades disposed around the first hub. The base is disposed in the outer frame. The second rotor includes a plurality of second rotor blades, and is coupled to the shaft of the first rotor and disposed next to the first rotor. The driving device is supported by the base for driving the first rotor and the second rotor simultaneously.
US07874794B2

A blade row for a rotary machine includes a radially inner endwall, a radially outer endwall having a radially inner surface, and an airfoil including a root section coupled to the inner endwall and a tip section coupled to the outer endwall such that the airfoil extends radially between the inner and outer endwalls. The radially outer endwall includes a projection extending radially inward from the outer endwall inner surface such that the outer endwall inner surface includes a non-axisymmetric shape.
US07874792B2

A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a proximal end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion. Second legs each have: a proximal end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion.
US07874790B2

Convex sealing bottom (10) for a twin-shaft turbine of the type comprising a series of convex disks constrained to each other by means of a series of pins, each disk of said disks comprises an outer shaped edge which is engaged with a corresponding annular surface (71) of an inner grooved surface (72) of a ring (70) for obtaining an axial seal.The series of disks comprises three disks, a first disk (12), a second disk (13) and a third disk (14) respectively.The three disks are fixed to each other centrally by means of a series of spokes (30) and are constrained in pairs respectively by means of a series of pins which are arranged orthogonally to the three disks to minimize the relative movements of the three disks in an axial direction at the same time allowing the radial dilatations of the three disks themselves.
US07874786B2

A disc turning device and method thereof utilizes a device whose supporting portion is located at one side of the gravity center of the disc body to make the disc body, under the gravity action, use the supporting portion as a pivot to carry out turning operation, thus achieving the objectives of automatic turning operation by gravity using and energy saving.
US07874784B2

An accessory for a forklift vehicle is described herein. The accessory is designed to attach to the forklift vehicle using the original forks of the forklift vehicle. The accessory provides additional forks, attached to a base bar that is wider than the width of the forklift vehicle and the original forks of the forklift vehicle. The wider forks of the accessory exist on a plane parallel to but lower than the original forks, wherein the original forks are used solely for the connection of the attachment to the forklift vehicle, and will not be in direct contact with the lifted load when the accessory is used. Only the additional forks provided by the accessory are in direct contact with the load lifted by the forklift vehicle. The wider forks provided by the forklift accessory allow the forklift to handle wider loads with ease.
US07874782B2

A wafer transfer apparatus is provided. In a minimum transformed state where a robot arm is transformed such that a distance defined from a pivot axis to an arm portion, which is farthest in a radial direction relative to the pivot axis, is minimum, a minimum rotation radius R, is set to exceed ½ of a length B in the forward and backward directions of an interface space, the length B corresponding to a length between the front wall and the rear wall of the interface space forming portion, and is further set to be equal to or less than a subtracted value obtained by subtracting a distance L0 in the forward and backward directions from the rear wall of the interface space forming portion to the pivot axis, from the length B in the forward and backward directions of the interface space (i.e., B/2
US07874780B2

A machine and method are provided for making a lay-flat book or album with multiple pages. The machine includes a base with first and second supports. Paper forming the book pages is creased and placed front face down upon the supports and held in position by a vacuum. An adhesive is applied to the back of one page, and then the supports pressed together to adhere the pages together. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders move the supports, as controlled by electrical or electronic circuitry in a control panel. Thus, a semi-automatic process is provided for gluing the book pages together.
US07874776B1

A clinch suitable for an ejector of a line card is provided. The clinch includes a cylinder, which includes a shoulder flange, an extension portion and a plurality of knurls. The shoulder flange extends radially from a first end of the cylinder, and the extension portion is formed at a second end of the cylinder. The knurls are formed at the second end surrounding the extension portion.
US07874765B2

A diving weight apparatus has a solid, body with a curved outer conformation. An elongated aperture extends through the body between a front and a back surfaces. The elongated aperture is large enough to accept two fingers of a person's hand therein when the two fingers are arranged in side-by-side positions. A pouch accepts the body and is likewise curved. A diving vest accepts the pouch an is likewise curved.
US07874758B2

A binding device having a binding member that operates at a binding position of objects to be bound has a structure with which the bound objects do not readily come off. The binding device includes a board having a bearing plate. A spring member and an operation lever are attached to a shaft inserted in the bearing plate and a turned-up part. Protruding pieces of a binding member are inserted in through holes of turned-up parts formed in the board. One end of the spring member is secured to the operation lever, and the other end is fitted in a through hole of a turned portion at the distal end of the binding member. By closing the operation lever, the binding member rotates around a line connecting the protruding pieces at both ends, thereby pressing down sheets of paper placed on the board with a pressing portion. At this time, the other end of the spring member presses the turned portion, thereby biasing the pressing portion.
US07874750B2

A system for printing a multi-layer document includes no less than two continuous feed simplex printing devices that each print on no more than one of a plurality of media webs. An in-line post-processing device merges the media webs into a multi-layer document. The system also may have a controller that controls the printing devices and the post-processing device from a single synchronized dataflow. A method prints a multi-layer document, including the steps of simultaneously printing on no less than two media webs by a plurality of roll fed printers that each print on only one of the media webs; and merging the media webs from the plurality of roll fed printers in an inline post-processing device.
US07874749B2

A page turning apparatus of a passbook printer, which detects a turning error or the like at the early stage of turning irrespective of the size and characteristics of passbooks and allows retry of turning in a short time. The apparatus includes: a passbook conveying path; a detecting device placed on the conveying path; storing means that stores a passbook holding position and a threshold value corresponding to a determined size; a page turning mechanism configured to buckle the paper of an turning target page and to turn the buckled paper at the passbook holding position; a buckling sensor that senses a buckling status; a conveying mechanism that can convey the passbook to a designated position on the conveying path; and control means configured to drive the conveying mechanism so that the passbook is conveyed to the passbook holding position, and drive the page turning mechanism to buckle the paper, wherein the control means, if the buckling status sensed by the buckling sensor indicates that the buckling extent does not reach over the threshold value within a predetermined time, determines that the buckling has failed and drives the conveying mechanism so that the passbook is conveyed from the passbook holding position to a revised position apart therefrom by a predetermined adjusting distance.
US07874742B2

A splicing device for optical fibers comprises a programmable splicing apparatus which can be controlled by means of at least one program parameter, for connecting optical fibers, and a speech recognition unit. Spoken text is detected via the speech recognition unit, and a spoken command is determined from the detected spoken text. The at least one program parameter of the splicing apparatus is adjusted and/or the splicing apparatus is controlled as a function of the determined spoken command.
US07874740B2

A housing (10) for an optical waveguide ferrule (12), includes first distance elements (22, 28) being determinative for a distance between two adjacently arranged housings (10) and being formed by formations of the housing (10), the first distance elements (22, 28) being located opposite each other with respect to one of a center axis (M) of the housing (10) and the optical waveguide ferrule (12) arranged in the housing (10), and the first distance elements (22, 28) being formed by a pair of first distance elements of a first type (22) and a second type (28) differing from the first type (22).
US07874733B2

To provide a rolling bearing assembly, in which a grease filled within the bearing assembly is utilized to achieve a high speed feature, a long life and a maintenance-free and a lubricant oil can be stably supplied from a minute gap, a stepped face continued from the raceway surface is provided in a stationary raceway ring unit of an inner and outer ring units in a direction away from rolling elements. A gap forming piece having a free end confronting the stepped face is provided to define therebetween a flow passage and a grease reservoir communicated with the flow passage. The rolling bearing assembly is so designed that a heat cycle can be induced in the grease reservoir and, base oil of the grease can be urged to flow out from the gap by the effect of a pressure variation caused by the temperature rise.
US07874730B2

Systems and methods for reducing a degradation effect on a signal are described. One of the methods includes pre-processing data based on a scan of a reference object and a scan of a substance. The reference object includes a material having an atomic number ranging from and including forty to sixty.
US07874729B2

To automate positioning operation of an X-ray tube so as to reduce the inspection time. Anatomical program selection means selects a surgery method/imaging object portion so that an imaging condition stored as an anatomical program in advance is called out and set in an X-ray generation device. Here, when an operation switch is pressed, control means moves drive means built in X-ray irradiation means parallel movement holding means and X-ray irradiation means rotation holding means so as to obtain the positional relationship between an X-ray tube and an FPD stored in correspondence with the anatomical program (such as SID and incident angle). The position of the FPD should be matched with the examinee. However, since the positional relationship between the X-ray tube and the FPD is almost constant in accordance with the surgery method/imaging object portion, it is possible to reduce the time required for positioning the X-ray tube by using this configuration.
US07874727B2

According to the invention, an X-ray examination may be simply and rapidly carried out and hence produce a sharp X-ray image with an X-ray source and/or X-ray receiver an X-ray examination system which may be displaced relative to the mounting position thereof by means of an actuator, despite a system construction which may be caused to oscillate at a resonant frequency dependent on the corresponding mounting position, about the mounting position, whereby according to the inventive method, at least one parameter relevant to the resonant frequency, dependent on the corresponding mounting position, is determined, a set guided movement, counteracting the cause of oscillation in order to achieve a movement condition for the X-ray source or X-ray receiver necessary for the X-ray examination, is determined depending on the at least one corresponding parameter and the guided movement of the X-ray source and/or X-ray receiver controlled using the actuator according to the set guided movement.
US07874726B2

A thermocouple having a support tube configured to receive a pair of wires of dissimilar metals. The pair of wires of the thermocouple connected at a junction adjacent to one end of the support tube. The thermocouple further including a cap attached to the opposing end of the support tube, wherein the cap receives the free ends of the pair of wires. The cap allowing the pair of wires to translate freely therethrough to accommodate the difference in thermal expansion and contraction of the pair of wires relative to the thermal expansion and contraction of the support tube.
US07874713B2

A bi-color illuminated wheel emblem includes a rotating part that rotates together with the wheel, a stationary part that remains stationary when the automobile is moving, a bi-color illuminated display that is attached to the stationary part and an electric power supply. The rotating part comprises a mounting device that mounts the emblem to the wheel and a shaft that holds the stationary part rotatably. The stationary part comprises a hollow shell that is held by the shaft and a weight that is attached to the shell. The bi-color illuminated display comprises a metal look layer, illuminating elements and a light diffusion layer that diffuses light from the illuminating elements. The electric power supply comprises a stator that is attached to the stationary part and a rotor that is attached to the rotating part.
US07874711B2

Lamp capsules and systems thereof having a socket, socket holder, and lens holder are provided. Socket holders include a plurality of fins extending radially and outwardly therefrom, and define a cavity into which a lamp is placed. Systems include a lens positioned in the lens holder, and a snoot is connected to the lens holder.
US07874706B2

A shade for a recessed light fixture and a method of making same. In some embodiments the shade may include an attachment mechanism configured to flush mount the shade to a recessed light fixture.
US07874704B2

The diffuse reflectivity of an LED source is utilized to recycle some of its emission, thereby enabling a luminaire to escape the étendue limit. Retroreflectors intercept the rays destined for the outer part of the luminaire aperture, which can then be truncated. The resulting smaller aperture has the same beam-width as the full original, albeit with lesser flux due to recycling losses. A reduction to half the original area is possible.
US07874702B2

An LED lamp includes a first heat sink, a heat-absorbing member receiving the first heat sink therein, a plurality of LED modules attached to the heat-absorbing member, a second heat sink disposed on the first heat sink and the heat-absorbing member, and a lens coupled to the first and second heat sinks and enclosing the heat-absorbing member and the LED modules therein. The first heat sink has a conducting cylinder which defines a first through hole therein. The heat-absorbing member consists of a plurality of vapor chambers and has inclined outer faces oriented downwardly, on which the LED modules are mounted. The second heat sink includes an annular base which defines a second through hole in a center thereof. The second through hole communicates with the first through hole of the first heat sink.
US07874700B2

A light fixture includes a member having a substantially frusto-conical shape. A channel extends between a wide top end of the member and a narrower bottom end of the member. The member includes multiple surfaces (“facets”) disposed around its outer surface. Each facet is configured to receive one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) in a linear or non-linear array. Each facet can be integral to the member or coupled to the member. The channel is configured to transfer heat generated by the LEDs through convection. Fins can be disposed within the channel, extending from the inner surface of the member to an inner channel. The fins are configured to transfer heat away from, and provide a greater surface area for convecting heat away from, the member. For example, one or both of the channels can transfer heat by a venturi effect.
US07874698B2

The transillumination device has an orange light, in the range of 580-620 nm. Orange light has been found to be beneficial for superficial veins. Red light is used for deeper veins and darker skin. The transillumination device may have a single light source able to change colors. Two different light sources, each having a different color or different transillumination devices, each having a different color, may be used for diagnostic purposes.
US07874685B2

A projection system includes an information processing device for processing image information, a projector for modulating a light beam emitted from a light source device in accordance with the image information processed by the information processing device and enlargedly projecting the modulated light beam, and an information transfer section for connecting the information processing device and the projector to each other so as to communicate information. The projector includes, a cooling device for cooling internal heat generator, and a power generation section for supplying at least the cooling device with a drive voltage based on the electric power supplied via the electric power transmission path. The information processing device includes a cooling device control section for generating a control instruction for performing drive control of the cooling device and for outputting the control instruction to the cooling device via the information transfer section.
US07874681B2

An interactive image projecting device that projects an image onto a display surface and controls the projected image based upon movement of the image projecting device or the detection of another image. The image projecting device includes a projector that generates an image from a control unit. The device includes a position indicating emitter that generates a position indicator and an image sensor that is operable to detect the position indicator from either the device including the image sensor or a position indicator from another device. Based upon the sensed position indicator from another device, the control unit operates to modify the image projected from the device such that the image from a first device can interact with an image from a second device. The first and second devices each have a wireless transceiver such that the devices can communicate with each other during operation.
US07874670B2

The present invention is a novel apparatus comprising tapered fabric components which cover or replace the eyeglass frame arms, and which are secured to the eyeglass frames by a discrete attachment means which gives the appearance that the eyeglass and fabric components are a unitary accessory.
US07874654B2

A fluid manifold for a fluid ejection device including a plurality of fluid feed slots includes a first layer and a second layer adjacent the first layer, and a first fluid routing and a second fluid routing each provided through the first layer and the second layer. The fluid ejection device is supported by the second layer, and the first fluid routing is communicated with one of the fluid feed slots, and the second fluid routing is communicated with an adjacent one of the fluid feed slots. A pitch of the first fluid routing and the second fluid routing through the first layer is greater than a pitch of the fluid feed slots, and the first fluid routing and the second fluid routing each include a first channel oriented substantially parallel with the fluid feed slots and a second channel oriented substantially perpendicular to the fluid feed slots.
US07874651B2

A piezoelectric actuator includes upper and lower constant electric potential electrodes. The upper constant electric potential electrodes are connected to a first-common conducting section extending in a predetermined direction, both ends of the first-common conducting section are connected to second-common conducting sections, and thus a first electrode assembly is formed. Both ends of the lower constant electric potential electrodes extending in the predetermined direction are connected to third-common conducting sections, and thus a second electrode assembly is constructed. A flexible wiring board stacked on the piezoelectric actuator has a first-connecting land extending in the predetermined direction and to which one of the first and second electrode assemblies having a smaller voltage drop when a predetermined current is applied is connected, and second-connecting lands to which the other is connected and which are arranged on both end sides of the first-connecting land.
US07874645B2

A printhead assembly has an elongate casing. A plurality of printhead modules is mounted serially on the casing. Each printhead module has a fluid channel member defining a number of channels extending along a longitudinal axis of the casing. A printhead tile defines a fluid distribution assembly mounted on the fluid channel member in fluid communication with the channels. The fluid distribution assembly is defined by a laminated structure of the printhead tile. A micro-electromechanical printhead integrated circuit is mounted on the tile to receive fluid from the fluid distribution assembly. The fluid distribution assembly is configured to supply the integrated circuit with at least ink and to adjust fluid flow to compensate for microscopic nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. A securing arrangement is on the fluid channel member to secure each module to the casing in a replaceable manner and drive circuitry is arranged in the casing and connected to the printhead integrated circuits to control operation of the printhead integrated circuits.
US07874639B2

An ink jet recording head includes at least three nozzle array groups, each including at least two nozzle arrays with an ink supply port interposed therebetween and each ejecting a different ink. Opening areas of the ejection outlets of the nozzle arrays in each array group are of different sizes. Two adjacent nozzle array groups each include three nozzle arrays. The nozzle array group not identified as one of the two adjacent nozzle array groups is supplied with ink having a highest lightness among the three kinds of inks.
US07874638B2

The invention provides for a printhead assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a substrate channel, an ink hose, a support plate, an extrusion and a cover plate. The substrate channel operatively positions a plurality of printhead modules to form a pagewidth printhead module assembly. The ink hose is positioned within the substrate channel to supply the printhead modules with ink, and the support plate encloses the ink hose within the substrate channel. The extrusion houses bus bars operatively providing electrical power to the printhead modules, and the cover plate secures a flex printed circuit board (PCB) in the assembly, the PCB forming a data bus to the printhead modules.
US07874628B2

The aim of the invention is to provide boxes for keys that can be produced at low costs, especially when they form an integral part of a series of boxes of different capacities. For this purpose, the housing of such a box is configured with side walls (7, 8) screwed together with an upper part (1) and a lower part (2) and a back wall (22 22) guided in a guide groove (18, 19) of the side walls (7, 8). The side walls (7, 8) and the door (13) of the housing are preferably constituted of continuous profiled elements cut to shape and the back wall (22, 22) as well as the upper and lower parts (1, 2) consist of diecast elements. The back wall is provided with perforations (24) for hanging at least one key rail (25).
US07874621B2

The seat depth adjustable motor vehicle seat comprises a first seat part, a second seat part and a longitudinal adjustment device interposed between the first seat part and the second seat part and allowing for displacement movement in a first seat direction of the first seat part relative to the second seat part. The seat further comprises a toothed rack connected to the second seat part and extending substantially in the first seat direction. A primary gear meshes with the toothed rack. A secondary gear is in rotating communication with the primary gear. A toothed bar extends substantially in a second seat direction and engages the secondary gear. A third seat part is slidably disposed in the second seat direction and is connected to the toothed bar.
US07874620B2

A health care chair includes a base and a seating portion attached to the base. A lift assist mechanism connects the base and seating portion and assists in moving the seating portion from a first reclined position to a second inclined position without electrical power. The chair also includes moveable arms attached to the seating portion that rotate between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially vertical position.
US07874608B2

A car provided with: a chassis supporting a pair of front wheels which turn about a first horizontal rotation axis and a pair of rear wheels which turn about a second horizontal rotation axis; a passenger compartment obtained between the front wheels and the rear wheels; and at least one pair of front doors, each of which is hinged to the chassis by means of a hinge to turn about a third rotation axis between an opening position and a closing position of the passenger compartment; the hinges of the front doors are arranged in proximity to the first rotation axis of the front wheels so that the projection on a horizontal plane of the hinges is within the rectangular area comprised between the two front wheels.
US07874602B2

An apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment comprises an upper portion; a lower portion comprising at least one terminal end having a receiving area formed on a first side of the lower portion, facing the upper portion, on which at least a looped handle may rest and a handling area formed on a second side of the lower portion opposite the first side forming a grip to lift the apparatus; and a connection mechanism for connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the connection mechanism allows the upper portion to swivel in relation to the lower portion, such that in an open position the looped handle may be placed on the receiving area, and in a closed position the upper portion swivels to cover the terminal end of the lower portion and the receiving area in a closed loop to secure the looped handle, eliminating possibility of the looped handle sliding off the receiving area and the terminal end of the lower portion.
US07874600B2

The bumper system for a vehicle body includes a vehicle body bumper beam of a hollow construction with an impact buffer member arranged in the front side. The impact buffer member is provided with a collision wall part, side wall parts and joint flanges and is integrally formed by a metallic material, the collision wall part and the side wall parts forming a sectional shape of approximately U-shape which embraces the bumper beam. The joint flanges are joined with the flanges protruding from the rear wall of the bumper beam and support the impact buffer member from the rear wall side of the bumper beam.
US07874598B2

A latch for a window sash includes a fixed plate and a latch head slidably coupled to the fixed plate. The latch head is symmetrically spring loaded to minimize rotation when the latch head translates. When the latch head retracts toward the fixed plates, hooks from the latch head engage notches on the fixed plate to lock the latch head in a retracted position. This releases the latch head from a strike so the window sash can be opened. The latch further includes a plunger centrally received in the fixed plate and the latch head. When the plunger retracts toward the fixed plate, sloped shoulders from the plunger disengages the hooks of the latch head from the notches on the fixed plate. This releases the latch head to engage the strike so the window sash is locked.
US07874596B2

A connecting arrangement has end sections of two fluid conduits to be connected to one another and a coupling element having an axis and an outer side surrounding the axis and an inner side surrounding the axis. On the circumference of the end sections first securing ribs extend in the circumferential direction. On the inner side of the coupling element second securing ribs extending in the circumferential direction are provided proximal to each axial end of the coupling element. The coupling element is coaxially coupled to the end sections in the coupled state of the connecting arrangement by being elastically expanded, wherein the second securing ribs lock behind the first securing ribs and the end sections are coupled seal-tightly with one another. The coupling element is a circular cylindrical sleeve that is closed circumferentially.
US07874593B1

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide image-customized postage labels, and systems and methods for providing image-customized postage labels, in rolls adapted for high-speed application to mail pieces. The output of the exemplary systems and methods of the present invention is one or more exemplary rolls of liner-backed, self-adhesive, image-customized postage labels per an order placed by a customer. Each of the exemplary rolls comprises a label roll core and an exemplary length of liner-backed, self-adhesive, image-customized postage labels rolled around the label roll core.
US07874584B2

The invention relates to an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a collision, comprising a cushion (11) that can expand with the gas provided by a generator with at least one ventilation hole (13) sealed with a patch (21) including a silicone membrane (23) intended to break due to the effect of the internal pressure in the cushion (11) so as to allow gas discharge, in which the fabric of the cushion (11) does not have a silicone coating, the patch (21) is formed by said membrane (23) joined at its edges to two pieces (25, 27) of fabric and fixed to the cushion (11) by means of a seam (31). The invention also comprises a process for manufacturing the cushion (11).
US07874578B2

Apparatus for stabilizing the deployment of an airbag includes an airbag housing in which a folded up airbag is housed. The housing has an open side through which the airbag is deployed and a door is pivoted to the housing and is pivoted open by the deploying airbag. An extension panel is mounted on the door by a track mechanism so that the extension panel is movable between a normal retracted position along side the door and an extended position in which the extension panel extends beyond the door. An extension mechanism for causes the extension panel to be moved to the extended position when the airbag is deploying so that the door and the extension panel direct and stabilize the deploying airbag.
US07874576B2

Adjustable airbag systems for a vehicle may comprise an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing and an actuator associated with the housing, a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant.
US07874570B2

A steerable caddy trailer is provided that has an improved structure including a main frame assembly, spindle assemblies attached to each end of the main frame for attachment of a wheel, a pair of swinging arms forwardly extending from the main frame and pivotally attached to the main frame, and tie rods connecting the swinging arms with the spindle assembly such that pivoting of the swinging arms steers the wheels.
US07874561B2

The invention relates to a height adjustment device for motor vehicles that is arranged between a height-adjustable spring plate of a support spring of a wheel suspension assembly and the vehicle body and in which a drive motor cooperates via a shifted gear with a control sleeve that is mounted in a rotational fashion to adjust the height of the spring plate. According to the invention, the shifted gear connected between the drive motor and the control sleeve is arranged inside the control sleeve.
US07874559B1

A playing card dispensing and opening system includes a playing card dispensing unit that dispenses playing cards automatically, and a playing card opening unit that uses a motor to rotate a crank arm and to further move a transparent playing card holder plate from a horizontal position for receiving a dispensed playing card from the playing card dispensing unit to a vertical position to show the card suit and card value of the received playing card and then to a tilting position to let the received playing card fall from the transparent playing card holder plate to a playing card return slot on the table supporting the system.
US07874554B2

The present invention relates to a method for automated, continuous singling of loose sheet material, by the steps of feeding a stack of loose sheet material to be singled located on a first feeding element from a deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, sheet-by-sheet singling of the fed stack by the singling unit, the stack being fed by the feeding element such that the particular uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, feeding a further stack of loose sheet material to be fed located on a second feeding element from the deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack to be fed is located below the first feeding element, and uniting the stack to be singled and the fed stack by drawing the first feeding element out of the feeding path.
US07874552B2

A sheet post-process apparatus according to one example of the present invention includes a movable stack tray for stacking a sheet that is elevated in a vertical direction; a movable tray position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the movable stack tray while a request command for post-processing of the sheet is not received; an upper surface sensor that senses either an upper surface of the movable stack tray or an upper surface of the sheet stacked on the movable stack tray when a first position of the movable stack tray detected by the movable tray position detection unit is lower than or equal to a predetermined first height; and a movable tray moving unit that moves the movable stack tray upward when either the upper surface of the movable stack tray or the upper surface of the sheet stacked on the movable stack tray is not sensed by the upper surface sensor.
US07874551B2

A finisher includes: a holding unit; a stapling unit; a discharge unit; and a control unit. The finisher forms a part of a second sheet bundle subsequent to a first sheet bundle until discharging the first sheet bundle. The holding unit receives a sheet of the first sheet bundle and the subsequent sheet within a first period. The holding unit receives the last sheet of the first sheet bundle and a first sheet of the second sheet bundle within a second period as same length as the first period. The holding unit receives a sheet of the second sheet bundle and the subsequent sheet within a third period different from the second period in time length.
US07874546B2

An integrated nano-bubble generating apparatus including a pressure tank integrated with components constituted as a system and a power portion to be selectively adapted to a system so as to enlarge the use scope of the system, which includes an integrated bubble generating portion including a three-directional electronic valve supplying water flowing in an inflowing pipe to any one of a bubble generating portion and the power portion, a pressure sensing portion sensing a pressure in the inflowing pipe, a first vacuum chamber providing outer air to a pressure tank, a power control portion controlling the three-directional electronic valve, the pressure sensing portion and the first vacuum chamber and the pressure tank mixing water and air under an inner predetermined pressure and shattering water, physically, to generate nano-bubble water; and the power portion including a pump operated by a motor to supply water flowing in the inflowing pipe to the bubble generating portion and a second vacuum chamber supplying outer air via a check valve.
US07874541B2

A proportional solenoid 5 comprising: an electromagnetic coil 9; a fixed yoke 10 provided immovably inside the electromagnetic coil 9 and having a convex portion 13 formed at an edge portion of an end surface of the fixed yoke; and a movable yoke 20 that is disposed inside the electromagnetic coil 9, has a tip portion thereof inserted into the convex portion 13 of the fixed yoke 10, and is provided movably relative to the fixed yoke 10, the proportional solenoid 5 enabling the position adjustment of the movable yoke 20 by controlling an electric current applied to the electromagnetic coil 9, wherein a protruding portion 21 that protrudes at the side of the fixed yoke 10 is formed at an edge portion of the surface of the movable yoke 20 on the side of the fixed yoke 10, and an inner surface 21b of this protruding portion 21 is tapered such that the inner surface is located further outside as the inner surface approaches the fixed yoke 10.
US07874540B2

A concrete form comprises a single insert assembly or a plurality of insert assemblies within an outer tube. Each insert assembly comprises a pre-formed polymer liner sheet, a pre-formed polymer backing sheet, and a plurality of prefabricated cellular material pieces. Each cellular material piece has a first surface configured to form a portion of the non-round cross-section desired for the column and an opposite second surface formed substantially as an angular section of a cylinder. An insert assembly is constructed by affixing the liner sheet to the first surfaces of a plurality of the cellular material pieces. The cellular material pieces are arranged in a plurality of laterally adjacent rows extending lengthwise along the liner sheet for a length approximately equal to the length of the outer tube. The backing sheet is then fixed to the second surfaces of the cellular material pieces. The liner sheet and backing sheet together substantially fully envelope the cellular material pieces.
US07874539B2

A bar hanger assembly is provided for supporting a recessed electrical device in a ceiling support. The bar hanger includes first and second telescoping support arms that are slidably connected together for adjusting the length of the bar hanger. The support arms having an elongated body with first and second ends and a mounting plate coupled to the first end. The mounting plate is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body. An attachment member is coupled to a bottom edge of the mounting plate for attaching to the bottom edge of a ceiling joist. The attachment member includes a detent extending from one side thereof. The attachment member can be bent from a first position perpendicular to the mounting plate to a second position parallel to the mounting plate for attaching to a T-bar support.
US07874532B2

A support foot of an electric grill for the cooking of food products is provided. The support foot includes a height regulator, including a first fixed foot portion suitable for rigid connection to the grill's body, and a second orientable foot portion suitable for supporting the grill on a support plane, the first and respectively second foot portions being hinged one to the other along a hinging axis tilted in relation to the support plane.
US07874524B2

A multi-segment flap fence is incorporated into the wing such that a lower fence structure is attached to the underside of the fixed wing, an upper fence structure is attached to the main flap (e.g., at the outboard end). The two flap segments are configured to slideably articulate with respect to each other when the flap is extended to form a composite flap fence having an area that is substantially equal to the sum of the surface areas of the upper and lower flap fence structures. In one embodiment, the area of the upper fence is less than that of the lower fence.
US07874520B2

A satellite (50) is disclosed having at least one deployable thermal radiator (64). Once deployed, this thermal radiator (64) may be repositioned. In one embodiment, the deployed thermal radiator (64) may be moved about a first axis (74), about a second axis (76), or both to move the deployed thermal radiator (64) from one deployed position to another deployed position.
US07874517B2

Process for manufacturing an assembly made of a composite material and wing and stabilizing element obtained by this process.The junction zone for a part (P) made of a composite material comprising two parts (A1, A2) in which the principal directions intersect at a non-singular angle, is made in a single operation by continuous lay-up. The 0° directions of the lay-up coordinate systems (R1, R2) of the parts (A1, A2) are oriented such that these directions make an angle of close to 180°−θ°, where ±θ° represents the other directions of the lay-up coordinate systems (R1, R2). Thus, the layers of fibers oriented at 0° in one of the coordinate systems correspond approximately to a lay-up direction of ±θ° in the other coordinate system.
US07874512B2

System and method for a flyable and roadable vehicle. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a vehicle capable of air and road travel. The vehicle is adaptable to a flying configuration and a road configuration. The vehicle includes a fuselage having a front end, a rear end, a top side, a bottom side. The vehicle also includes a wing component having a plurality of planes. The plurality of planes includes a first plane and a second plane. The vehicle additionally includes a connecting component for coupling the planes of the wing and the fuselage. The connecting component is able to accommodate a substantial relative rotation between the first plane and the fuselage. The vehicle further includes a plurality of wheels coupled to the bottom side of the fuselage.
US07874504B2

A wood chipper includes a cutting assembly and a feed wheel for feeding material through an adjustable throat opening adjacent the feed wheel and toward the cutting assembly. A throat sensor measures the size of the throat opening and an electronic control unit (ECU) controls operation of the wood chipper in accordance with the size of the throat opening. The ECU controls forward, reverse and non-rotation of the feed wheel as well as down pressure applied by the feed wheel on feed material moving through the throat opening. The feed wheel down pressure may be constant or vary in any number of ways. One option includes applying down pressure in a pulsating manner.
US07874497B2

A temperature control system for a machine tool capable of quickly responding to an ambient temperature change. A mechanical section of the machine tool is surrounded by a machine cover. Gas of which temperature is controlled by a temperature controller is discharged from bearing portions of gas bearings in the mechanical section to a region surrounded by the machine cover through a pipe and a gas bearing channel. A branch pipe is provided for directly introducing a part of gas discharged from the temperature controller to a temperature sensor inside the machine cover. The temperature sensor measures the temperature of gas mixture obtained by mixing the gas introduced directly from the pipe with air inside the machine cover in a predetermined ratio. The result of measurement by the temperature sensor is fed back to the temperature controller to control the temperature of the gas supplied to the gas bearings.
US07874488B2

A method and apparatus for an identity card with improved security features. The identity card can have a programmable display. The display can be used to display sensitive data under defined circumstances. The card may have an interactive interface to receive input from a user. The card may also have a input/output interface to allow the exchange of data from the card to an external device. These elements can be used together to give a holder of a card control over the access to the data in the card and thwart counterfeiting and identity theft.
US07874487B2

This provides a plurality of novel features that can be applied variously to a reader. In one embodiment, the light pipe is constructed from durable polycarbonate for increased shock resistance and can define a rectangular cross section. The chamfered end of the light pipe is textured or frosted to further diffuse refracted light passing through the end so as to present a more even effect. The conical/tapered diffuser within the light pipe is illuminated by a reflector with a white textured surface that reflects a plurality of rearward-directed illumination sources back into the diffuser. The reflector can define a predetermined cross section that directs further light into the forwardmost, remote regions of the diffuser to generate a better spread of light and alleviate spotting effects. The textured surface on the chamfered light pipe end can be employed to better project indicator light. The illumination sources are arranged in a ring at the inner end of the pipe, and can be multi-colored sources that respond to the controller to project and appropriate color and/or blink in an appropriate pattern to indicate various conditions, such as read success or failure. The controller is adapted to provide indications between image acquisitions. The controller can operate individual portions of the ring so that only corresponding portions of the light pipe perimeter are illuminated in a particular color (quadrants, for example) at a given time. Different quadrants may be simultaneously illuminated in different colors in one example.
US07874480B2

A method for providing secure transactions generates a Secure Card Number (“SCN”) for a first entity that is transferred with a first entity identifier to a second entity and then to a money source that verifies that the transaction is valid by use of the first entity identifier and the SCN. The SCN includes a Transaction Information Block (“TIB”), a Counter Block, and an encrypted Personal Identification Number (“PIN”) Block. The SCN is transferred to the money source in an account number or a non-account data field. The money source can use the TIB to determine whether the SCN should be used once or multiple times or to identify one of several physical devices, all of which are issued to the first entity, used to generate the SCN. The money source validates the SCN by duplicating the encryption process used to create an encrypted PIN Block and comparing the result to the encrypted PIN Block received with the transaction. A Triple Data Encryption Standard algorithm encrypts a PIN Block generated from a PIN, a Sequence Insertion Number (“SIN”) and a known starting value. The SIN can be a combination of three seed values and a random value generated by a Pseudo Random Number Generator (“PRNG”) initialized with the seed values. A Counter value is associated with the Counter Block and the seed values.
US07874475B2

A method for the planar joining of components of semiconductor devices involves coating the components with diffusion materials on their upper sides and rear sides, respectively. Subsequently, the components to be joined one on the other are introduced into a reducing atmosphere. The components are aligned and a compressive pressure is exerted on the aligned components. While heating up the components to be joined in the reducing atmosphere to a diffusion joining temperature, isothermal solidification takes place, the diffusion joining temperature lying below the melting temperature of the forming diffusion joint of the joined material.
US07874473B2

A method for the repair of a component by a solder is disclosed. The method is performed under specifically selected vacuum conditions in order to prevent oxidation and vaporization.
US07874472B2

A method for joining metal parts of a turbine engine component, the method comprising positioning a nanoparticle foil between faying surfaces of the metal parts, and diffusion bonding the metal with the nanoparticle foil, where the nanoparticle foil has a film thickness of about 100 micrometers or less, and comprises an alloy having an average particle size of about 500 nanometers or less.
US07874466B2

Packages for containing and dispensing consumer products comprise a push-pull closure connected to a bottle and having a dispensing opening covered by a slit valve. The combination of a push-pull closure and a slit valve results in a package that easily dispenses a liquid consumer product, while guarding against leakage of the consumer product from the package, especially during transportation and storage of the product, particularly when the package is a tottle package. The push-pull closure of the present package is simple to open and can also be easily closed with the use of only one hand, especially by pressing the closure against a flat surface, such as a shower wall or shelf.
US07874462B2

A pressure-actuated disinfectant dispenser and method for treating wastewater in an aerobic treatment system. The dispenser includes a reservoir for holding a disinfectant supply and a dosage container for holding a dosage of disinfectant. The container is positioned within the reservoir and has a flow-regulated path for fluid communication from the reservoir into the container. The invention also includes actuation means for increasing the pressure within the dosage container to force disinfectant therefrom, and a discharge assembly for discharging fluid from the dosage container into said storage tank.
US07874459B2

An apparatus for dispensing soft serve frozen food product, such as soft serve ice cream and the like, provides the ability to select the fat content or other characteristic of the ice cream dispensed from the machine.
US07874456B2

A modular system, for delivering hot melt adhesive materials, comprises a modular metering assembly, having metering stations disposed therein, that is able to be attachably and detachably mounted upon a modular tank assembly. Alternatively, one or more of the metering stations may be disposed externally of the modular metering assembly, and alternatively still further, one or more additional modular metering assemblies may be attachably and detachably connected to the first modular metering assembly. Also disclosed is a closed-loop fluid pressure control system, for independently controlling the pressure of the hot melt adhesive material being conveyed to the metering devices, whereby the working pressures of the hot melt adhesive materials being conveyed to the metering devices can have different working pressures.
US07874455B2

Gloves and dispensers for gloves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to disposable gloves packaged in a disposable dispenser configured to engage with a carrier. Aspects of the glove assemblies provided herein include a dispenser case having a flange having locking tab for sliding engagement with a channel on the carrier. The dispenser case may be removed from the carrier and a new dispenser case engaged to the carrier.
US07874454B2

A universal lid for industrial or commercial large size solid waste containers, has a ribbed single layer central portion and a peripheral edge having a hollow double wall boxed configuration. The boxed perimeter may have a predetermined height such as approximately one inch, and the lid is provided with hinge lugs having a vertical extent substantially more but not more than twice than said predetermined height. In addition, the lids have substantial symmetry so that the lids may be stacked and nested with alternate lids oriented in opposite front-to-back directions. With this type of lid, the advantages of both single layer and double layer lid constructions may be realized.
US07874452B2

Embodiments of methods, and/or articles for covering a child spill proof cup are disclosed.
US07874450B2

A lid for a beverage can possessing excellent characteristics in pressure resistant strength in which a predetermined pressure requirement is ensured by a simple gauging down. An annular groove portion of the can lid is formed to have such cross-sectional shapes that a panel wall portion is connected to a chuck wall radius portion so that a tangential line at a second contact point is vertical with respect to an axial direction of a center panel portion, while a chuck wall portion is connected to the chuck wall radius portion so that a tangential line at a first contact point is inclined to the radially inner side, and a curved portion with a radius R1 is provided at a height h1 from the lowest point of the chuck wall radius portion and bent to the radially outer side.
US07874447B2

A reclosable cup lid thermoformed from a polymeric material includes a domed member and a closure panel. The thermoformed domed member is provided with a sidewall and a top wall, the top wall having upper and lower surfaces and a drinking aperture at a periphery of the top wall. The top wall further defines a pair of engagement tracks depending from the lower surface of the top wall and also defines a post aperture disposed inwardly with respect to the drinking aperture. The closure panel has opposed engagement edges, an upper surface provided with a post projecting upwardly therefrom, and a drinking aperture sealing area. As assembled, the domed member and closure panel are configured such that the opposed engagement edges of the closure panel are slidingly mounted in the engagement tracks for generally radial displacement.
US07874445B2

An interchangeable container for a system for building a mold body by forming superimposed layers of granular material, the granular material locally and selectively hardened layer by layer. The container includes a bottom structure that is displaceable in the interior of the container in a direction in parallel with the container side walls and at least one spindle drive having a vertical screw spindle rotatably mounted in a container side of the container, and a spindle screw nut on which the bottom structure is supported. The bottom structure can be lowered step by step in the interior of the container by the spindle drive.
US07874442B2

A plastic container including an upper end having an aperture defining an opening of the container. A lower end defines a base of the container. A sidewall portion merges into a grip portion and extends between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall portion and the grip portion each include a plurality of horizontal ribs. The horizontal ribs of the sidewall portion each include at least one chamfered rib that provides additional structural strength and support to the container during hot fill, packaging and shipping operations.
US07874430B2

A product container assembly includes a first product enclosure, a cover panel, and a product overlay. The first product enclosure is adapted to house a first product component and includes a support panel, a first side panel, a back panel extending from the first side panel, and a second side panel extending from the back panel, the second side panel being secured to the support panel. The cover panel extends from the second side panel and is hingedly secured to the first product enclosure such that the cover panel is folded over the support panel, the cover panel having a bubble window. The product overlay includes a base portion secured between the support panel and the cover panel and a bubble portion projecting through the bubble window. The bubble portion is adapted to house a second product component separately from the first product component and to allow viewing of the second product component through the bubble portion.
US07874428B2

An air-packing device has an improved shock absorbing capability to protect a product in a container box. The air-packing device is comprised of first and second thermoplastic films where predetermined portions are bonded thereby creating a plurality of air containers, a plurality of heat-seal lands each sealing the first and second thermoplastic films in a small area of the air container thereby creating a plurality of series connected air cells for each air container, a plurality of check valves for corresponding air containers for allowing the compressed air to flow in a forward direction. The plurality of heat-seal lands at predetermined sides of the air-packing device create triangled areas of the air cells, and the air-packing device is folded at the heat-seal lands, thereby creating an inner space for packing a product therein.
US07874425B2

A golf bag has an extensible stand which incorporates legs having a compound bend. The legs provide increased stability when deployed, without increasing the splay angle of the leg pivots. The compound bend in the legs also permits the legs to fold compactly against the golf bag body.
US07874420B2

A dispensing capsule and method for use thereof, wherein the dispensing capsule is preferably pre-loaded during time of manufacture with a selected dry or liquid ingredient to facilitate subsequent consumer use. The dispensing capsule comprises an apertured housing removably-engagable to the opening of a bottle or container containing a fluid. Preloaded ingredients contained within a cavity in the housing may be introduced or discharged into the bottle by simply depressing a button on the diaphragm of the housing, thereby actuating a breakaway plunger to open an aperture in the opposing base plate of the housing, permitting the contents to flow through the aperture and into the liquid contents of the bottle. The combined contents and liquid within the bottle may subsequently be agitated (e.g., shaken or mixed) without fear or risk of leakage or spillage. A hand held dispensing capsule is also disclosed.
US07874412B2

A composite profile comprising: (1) an extruded metal alloy carrier profile comprising a rail head having a longitudinal axis B, the rail head comprises a surface and two longitudinal edges extending parallel to the longitudinal axis B and (2) a metal channel shaped profile strip comprising a base portion spanning the surface of the rail head and parallel side legs which lie on the longitudinal edges of the head rail, an insert rod is provided on the parallel side legs which lie on the longitudinal edges of the head rail and engage in lateral slots provided in the two longitudinal edges of the rail head, wherein the profile strip is attached to the carrier profile under mechanical pretension by way of a weld scan.
US07874410B2

The invention provides an apparatus for safely storing and retrieving power cords and electronic wiring associated with a mobile intravenous pole serving patients in intensive care settings wherein a plurality of devices are required and enabling the patient to be mobile without causing power cords and wiring to become tangled and dragging on patient room or hospital floors.
US07874408B2

A work bag or travel suitcase with an incorporated extendable pull handle and with wheels includes a framework, having a practically parallelepiped shape and with an outer covering, in a lower portion of whose frame a supporting and containment element for a pull handle is constrained at one side having a greater length and lesser width, which is situated at the end of rod elements which can be extracted from the supporting and containment element, a pair of wheels being arranged in an opposite position with respect to the pull handle and with both the supporting and containment element and the extractable rod elements have a flattened telescopic form and are made of a light and particularly resistant material, also to shear and flexural stress. A particular pulling device which can be applied to a work bag or travel suitcase is also envisaged.
US07874405B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a brake carrier for a disk brake, which comprises a flange facing in parallel to the brake disk plane. The brake carrier comprises a flange facing having at least two sections that are configured on respective shoulders on the side of the brake carrier facing away from the brake disk.
US07874399B2

A vehicle includes a combined wet brake and rear gear assembly supported by a pair of frames. The combined wet brake and rear gear assembly includes a housing having at least one gear and a wet brake provided therein. An input shaft is connected to the gear and to the engine of the vehicle. The wet brake is located between one of the pairs of frames and the input shaft in the transverse direction of the vehicle in a top plan view.
US07874393B2

A theft deterrent system for an electronic device associated with a motor vehicle is disclosed. The theft deterrent system includes a shield portion, a bracket portion and a fastener. The shield portion and the bracket portion are attached to an electronic device with the fastener. The shield portion prevents substantially immediate removal of a connector from a connecting port of the electronic device.
US07874388B2

A mini-type electric vehicle, which is mainly used for individual transportation and includes a frame, a seat, front and rear wheels, a driving device, a battery, a steering system and a front wheel suspension device. A casing in which the battery is placed is provided forward in the middle position of the front end of the frame. The suspension device for front wheels has a front convex shape and a rear concave shape and covers the front end of the casing, and pivots to the middle of the front end of the casing. Two front wheels are installed on the front wheel suspension device. The rear edge line of the two front wheels is located at the rear of the battery front edge. The steering system is connected to the front end of the frame and interlocks with the front wheels. The battery is installed at the front so as to balance the weight distribution, improve the driving safety, comfort and steering performance for electric vehicle.
US07874382B2

A pneumatically reversible ram boring device includes a percussion piston (8) that is situated in a casing (1) and is movable back and forth by operation air supplied via an operational-air supply via an operational-air line (5), a control pipe (4, 36, 54) having at least one control opening (13), an outer pipe (15, 65), and a control sleeve (10, 60) that can be displaced by compressed air from a control chamber (16, 66). An essentially torsion-resistant operational-air line (5) can be rotatably connected to a rotary valve (4, 40, 70) that supplies the control chamber with operational air or vents air from the chamber.
US07874380B2

A method and device for drilling, particularly percussion drilling or rotary percussion drilling a hole in soil or rock material and fixing an anchoring in the hole. To this end, a drilled hole is made by a drill bit mounted on a drill rod. The drill rod, on the rear side facing away from the drilling surface of the drill bit, is surrounded at a distance from the drill bit by an anchoring element whose outside dimension exceeds, at least in part, the circumference of the drilled hole made by the drill bit.
US07874373B2

A firefighting vehicle having a dual pressure pump system includes a fluid supply, a first pump stage coupled to the fluid supply and configured to pump fluid at a first pressure, a second pump stage coupled to the first pump stage and configured to pump fluid at a second pressure, the second pressure being substantially different from the first pressure, a fluid manipulator; and a valving arrangement coupling the first pump stage and the second pump stage to the fluid manipulator, the valving arrangement being selectively adjustable between a first position forming a first fluid path and a second position forming a second fluid path, wherein the first fluid path provides the fluid to the fluid manipulator at a first output pressure and the second fluid path provides fluid to the fluid manipulator at a second output pressure.
US07874368B2

A progressive cavity pump system. In an embodiment, the system comprises a tubing string disposed within a borehole. The tubing string including a seating nipple disposed at a predetermined depth in the tubing string. In addition, the system comprises a stator positioned within the tubing string. The stator includes a radially outer housing having an upper end and a lower end, a radially inner liner having a helical-shaped inner surface, a seating mandrel coupled to the upper end of the housing. Further, the system comprises a seal element disposed about the seating mandrel. The seal element forms a static seal with the inner surface of the seating nipple.
US07874363B2

A method of conditioning well bores and reducing the deleterious effects of water production in a subterranean formation by placing an aqueous phase polymer and/or resin, which at a designated set up time, solidifies and blocks water conduits and establishes post treatment gas and oil permeability. Novel polymers and/or resins for use as a water barrier are typified by phenolformaldehyde containing 1-2 weight % of at least one of sodium bisulphite, sodium metabisulphite or mixtures thereof. The method includes selecting a well having sizable hydrocarbon reserves with a production history of decrease of oil or gas production with concurrent increase of water production.
US07874358B2

The invention provides a method of locating, in terrain containing oil sand deposits and also containing shale, clean oil sands deposits (i.e. those not containing significant shale) which are large enough for economic exploitation. The method includes flying a high sensitivity gravity gradiometer over the terrain and measuring at least one component, preferably the vertical component, of the local gravity gradient field at a number of points in a grid pattern on the terrain. The densities of sand and shale are normally approximately the same, making it difficult to distinguish them. However in an oil sands environment, there can be a sufficient difference in bulk density such that by using a very sensitive gravity gradiometer, or by otherwise reducing the noise signal using appropriate surveying methods, large clean oil sand deposits can be distinguished from other oil sand deposits not large enough for economic exploitation.
US07874355B2

Methods and apparatus for removing deposits on components in a downhole tool are described. An example apparatus to remove a deposit on an inner surface of a flowline in a downhole tool includes a movable scraper disposed in a flowline of a downhole tool. The movable scraper is configured to selectively obstruct the flowline so that a fluid flowing in the flowline moves the movable scraper in the flowline. Additionally, the movable scraper has an outer surface configured to engage an inner surface of the flowline so that movement of the outer surface along the inner surface removes a deposit on at least a portion of the inner surface.
US07874354B2

A packer-anchoring device between an annular packer and a body, wherein the annular packer is provided, at least at one of its end portions, with an expandable end ring.
US07874353B2

A well drilling head housing comprises a sidewall structure, a ram and selective displacement means. The sidewall structure defines a central bore configured for having a bearing assembly removably seated therein. The ram is slideably mounted on the side wall structure and is disposed within a passage extending through the sidewall structure. The selective displacement means is coupled between the ram and the sidewall structure. The selective displacement means, is configured for moving the ram to an engaged position in which the ram is engaged with the bearing assembly for securing the bearing assembly in a seated position within the central bore and a disengaged position in which the ram is disengaged from the bearing assembly thereby allowing the bearing assembly to be removed from within the central bore.
US07874341B2

A movable partition having hinged connections and related methods are disclosed. The partition may include one or more movable structures wherein each movable structure has a plurality of panels and a plurality of hinged structures arranged in an alternating pattern. The panels may include pockets formed along the ends thereof and the hinge structures may include rods formed on the ends thereof. The rods are disposed within the pockets such that a hinged joint is formed. Retainers are removably disposed over a portion of the joint or coupling formed by the rod and associated pocket. The retainer may include a clip having a first member disposed adjacent the pocket, a second member disposed within an interior space of the rod, and a transition member coupling the first and second members and also spanning a portion of the rod and pocket.
US07874340B2

A laminating machine with upper and lower laminating rollers and upper and lower laminating film supply rollers is disclosed. An upper laminating film extends onto the upper and lower laminating rollers and a lower laminating film also extends onto the laminating rollers. First and second frame members support the laminating rollers and the film supply rollers. A removable tray extending between the first and second frame members adjacent the nip between the laminating rollers carries a film insertion member which is moveable far enough to press the films into the nip. A spring-loaded chuck mounted on one of the frame members and supporting the end of a laminating film supply roller is also disclosed, as is an idler bar mounted in a bracket depending from the tray and engaging the film from the lower laminating film supply roller when the tray is in place. There is also a film deflector which overlies the upper laminating film as it exits from the laminating rollers located intermediate the upper laminating roller and an upper draw roller which is downstream.
US07874339B2

A method and apparatus for applying indicia to a curved surface, including a compound curved surface having multiple axes of curvature. The curved surface is deformed to eliminate one axis of curvature. The invention is usable with hourglass or barrel shaped surfaces, as occur with containers, and to apply labels and other indicia to these surfaces.
US07874337B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for laying a material sheet on a number of cylindrical bodies, for example sleeves of paperboard or the like, which are employed within, int.al. the papermaking industry for winding a manufactured paper web, sheet web or the like, a conveyor being disposed to advance the cylindrical bodies in the longitudinal direction thereof to, past and away from a unit for supplying a material web to the bodies, and the conveyor being divided into at least two sections, of which the one is disposed to displace the cylindrical bodies in their longitudinal direction up to connection with the end of the preceding body, and of which the second section is disposed to positively rotate the cylindrical bodies about their longitudinal axis and displace the cylindrical bodies in the direction of their longitudinal axis during application of the material web, with the desired spacing between the edges of the applied material web.
US07874334B2

The present invention provides a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle capable of satisfying all of high-speed durability, turning performance and slide controllability.The invention relates to a pneumatic tire 10 for a motorcycle having a bead core 12, a carcass 14, a tread rubber 18, a side rubber 26 and a spiral belt 30. The number of cords Nmc in the spiral belt 30 in the center area is set to 30 to 70/50 mm, and the number of cords Nms in the spiral belt 30 in the shoulder area is set to 10 to 45/50 mm (Nmc/Nms=1.5 to 3.0). The tread rubber 18 is set to tan σ/E′=0.06 to 0.14 MPa−1 in the center area CA and the tread rubber 18 is set to tan σ/E′=0.12 to 0.16 MPa−1 in the shoulder area SA (TEc/TEs=0.4 to 0.9).
US07874333B2

A tread (1) comprising a plurality of grooves of longitudinal and transverse general orientation (2b, 2c, 31, 32), the grooves of longitudinal orientation comprising main grooves (2b, 2c) of depth G and secondary grooves (31, 32) of depth G′ less than the depth G of the main grooves, the central part (C) of the tread, defined axially by two grooves of longitudinal orientation, and of a width of between 0.25 and 0.5 times the width W of the tread, being provided with at least one main groove (2c) of longitudinal orientation and of average depth G. The depth G′ of the secondary grooves (31, 32) is between 0.4 and 0.6 times the depth G of the main grooves (2b, 2c). The transverse grooves (5c) of the ribs of the central part (C) comprise over at most half of their length a connecting bridge (6c), the surface radially to the outside of which is at a distance Hc from the running surface of between 0.4 and 0.8 times the depth G of the main grooves. The transverse grooves (5b) of the ribs of each edge (B) comprise over at most half of their length a connecting bridge (6b) which prevents closure of said transverse grooves. The surface radially to the outside is at a distance Hs from the running surface which is at most equal to 0.3 times the depth G of the main grooves.
US07874326B1

An improved multipurpose funnel system for filling a container which prevents overflow during filling is self venting and is capable of filling hard to reach container locations. The system has a funnel removably coupled to a bottle cartridge which holds bottles therein. A pair of parallel rods hingedly connected to the bottle cartridge and having at least one hollow cone shaped spike extending outwardly therefrom. The funnel has a downspout having venting tubes, an elongated tip and a ball and socket mechanism. The elongated tip includes a check valve having an inside sleeve having an opening, and a spring. The inside sleeve extends outwardly and inwardly from the elongated tip, which opens and closes the opening. The elongated tip has an exterior lip extending outwardly therefrom.
US07874320B2

In one embodiment, there is a method which includes providing a plurality of warp yarns; providing a plurality of fill yarns; providing a plurality of pile yarns of a first type; providing a plurality of pile yarns of a second type; providing a plurality of dummy yards; weaving the plurality of pile yarns of the first type with the plurality warp yarns and the plurality of fill yarns for a first predetermined distance to form a backing; weaving the plurality of pile yarns of the first type with the plurality of dummy yarns to form a plurality of short hoops for a second predetermined distance; cutting the plurality of pile yarns of the first type to form a first plurality of upstanding ribbons representing grass to produce a synthetic field surface.
US07874313B2

At least one coupling member (2) has a slide valve holder (42) that is pushed in by the other coupling member (3) when coupled to the coupling member (2). The coupling member (2) further has a rotary valve (41) rotatably supported by the slide valve holder. The slide valve holder has a through-hole (425) constituting a flow path. A valve seat (26) is provided around the through-hole. The rotary valve (41) has an outer peripheral surface portion that slidingly engages the valve seat. One end of a fluid passage (411) extending through the rotary valve is open on the outer peripheral surface portion. The rotary valve is displaceable toward the valve seat and is urged toward the valve seat by a spring member (64). Thus, the outer peripheral surface portion is pressed against the valve seat. When a fluid pressure acts in the coupling member (2) when the coupling members (2, 3) are not coupled to each other, the fluid pressure presses the rotary valve toward the valve seat.
US07874312B1

The specification and drawing figures describe and show an adjustable water level controller that includes a stanchion. The stanchion is mounted to a base. A sleeve is included that is movably adjustable on the stanchion. A water delivery device is attached to the sleeve. The base and stanchion are rotationally positioned in relationship to the sleeve to achieve the proper water level in a container in which the adjustable water level controller is positioned.
US07874309B2

The invention relates to a compressor, particularly for air conditioners in motor vehicles, comprising a safety device for limiting high pressure, whereby the safety device is hermetically sealed until first responding, after which it slowly reduces the system pressure.
US07874307B1

A check valve is shaped and dimensioned to be installable inside a conventional pipe coupling, thereby reducing the amount of length required to install the check valve.
US07874305B2

Provided is a microvalve having a magnetic wax plug which includes a micro fluidic structure having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a magnetic wax plug provided at a predetermined section where the inlet portion and the outlet portion meet, existing in a solid state, melted at a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature, and reversibly moving along a magnetic field, so as to control flux of a fluid through the micro fluidic structure, a heating portion provided corresponding to the section and heating the magnetic wax plug to be melted, and a magnetic field application portion selectively applying a magnetic field to a position where the melted magnetic wax plug arrives.
US07874303B2

The present invention discloses a sliding device used on the supporting shaft, which utilizes the button to achieve singlehanded operation, utilizes horizontal slide of the bolt to achieve the steady locking of tiny clearance, and utilizes the active connection with relative turn and relative slide between the sliding base and the button to achieve transmission between the pressing of users and the horizontal slide of the bolt.
US07874292B2

The present invention relates to a device for delivering a supply of gases to a patient. The device includes a patient interface and connecting member. The connecting member is preferably a L-shaped swivelled connector that is capable of being fixed into one of two positions, a first position where the connector is freely rotatable within the patient interface, and a second position where an interference between the interface and connector prevents the free rotation of the connector within the patient interface. The present invention further relates to a connector that has outlet means, which includes at least one outlet vent and a funnel, which in use directs and passes a substantial portion gases expired from the patient through the outlet vent or vents.
US07874277B2

A reciprocating engine includes a combustion chamber, and a gas exchange inlet valve and a gas exchange outlet valve for a charge cycle. The method introduces an inlet gas into the combustion chamber in an intake phase; introduces a primary quantity of fuel into the combustion chamber during the intake phase and/or a compression phase; compresses the inlet gas and the fuel in the compression phase; ignites a mixture of inlet gas and fuel formed in the combustion chamber; and expands and discharges an exhaust gas formed by the combustion in an expansion phase. A pilot quantity of fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber before the primary quantity of fuel is introduced. Intermediate products of the pilot quantity of fuel are formed and the primary quantity of fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber during the compression phase such that complete ignition of the mixture consisting of inlet gas and the intermediate products is suppressed and other intermediate products are formed until a controlled ignition of the mixture and other intermediate products occurs.
US07874261B2

A stage apparatus includes a stage over which a substrate is to be transferred, and a levitation mechanism which levitates the substrate over the stage. The stage includes a plurality of gas spray ports (16a) to spray a gas for levitating the substrate (G), and a plurality of suction ports (16b) to take in air sprayed from the gas spray ports (16a). The plurality of gas spray ports (16a) and the plurality of suction ports (16b) are set not to be arranged on straight lines parallel to a substrate transfer direction in a predetermined length along the substrate transfer direction.
US07874258B2

A method of reducing frictional resistance between a ship hull and water by releasing gases through a plurality of gas outlets under a water level in a fore portion of the hull. The released gases are selected from a group of air, engine exhaust gas and water vapor. A heating device supplied with electric power is provided at a periphery of each gas outlet for producing the water vapor. The position of releasing the gases is selected according to parameters including the shape of the hull, the velocity, the draft depth and the water temperature, such that the released gases are floated to the water surface along predetermined flow lines on the hull.
US07874257B2

A personal watercraft has a hull and sub-deck (HSD) assembly. A deck is disposed above the sub-deck. A first suspension member has a first end pivotally connected to the deck and a second end disposed rearwardly and downwardly of the first end pivotally connected to the HSD assembly. A second suspension member, disposed rearwardly of the first suspension member, has a first end pivotally connected to the deck and a second end disposed rearwardly and downwardly of the first end pivotally connected to the HSD assembly. The first and second suspension members each have a fixed length. A suspension element is connected between any two of: the deck, the HSD assembly, and one of the suspension members. The HSD assembly is moveable relative to the deck between a first position and a second position that is upward and rearward of the first position. A watercraft suspension geometry is also disclosed.
US07874249B2

A device as well as method for deactivating without developing an exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The device comprises a structure for providing a deactivating agent that is capable of deactivating without developing the plate. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of hardening (for negative plate) or solubilization (for positive plate) upon exposure to a radiation, and becoming incapable of or having reduced rate of hardening or solubilization after contacting with a deactivating agent. The deactivated plate is safe or has better stability at room lighting, and can be handled under room lighting before and during development. The development can be on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a liquid developer.
US07874247B2

The present invention relates to a waste bin (1) for used paper towels or the like waste having an upper part including a rear wall (2), two side walls (4.5), and a front wall (3), which upper part include compacting means (6,7). According to the invention the compacting means (6,7) in its rest position divides the inner space of the waste bin (1) into an upper (8) and lower compartment (9) and are movable to open and re-close an opening into a lower part of the waste bin.
US07874245B2

A container for perishable food items, such as fruits and vegetables is provided with a device for producing a substance for killing the fungus or bacteria said substance adhering to the surface of the food item. This substance produced by a device for generating ozone or an oxygen atom and is directly provided in or attached to the food container. A retractable hood can be utilized to prevent the substance from entering the atmosphere of a room prior to the completion of a treatment. A fan is provided for assisting in the introduction as well as the elimination of the substance to and from the interior of the container.
US07874243B2

A timer system for monitoring the freshness of a beverage in a plurality of carafes, and a method of use are disclosed. The timer system comprises a plurality of matched pairs of timers and signaling members, with each timer being individually actuateable and each signaling member being drivingly controlled by its matched timer to issue a signal after the matched timer has operated for a preset period of time. A housing mountable on a beverage preparation device houses the timers. A plurality of tags are mounted to a plurality of carafes to create a plurality of matched carafes that correspond to the plurality of matched pairs of timers and signaling members. After the beverage in a matched carafe is prepared, the matched timer is activated. After the timer has operated for a preset period of time, the matched signaling member then issues a signal, permitting the monitoring of the freshness of the beverage in the matched carafe.
US07874242B2

The piston 4 comprises a fixing ring 8 mounted on a piston rod 6, and a piston body 10 fixed to the fixing ring 8. The fixing ring 8 is comprised of two semi-circular plated members 8A, 8B having plural threaded holes 8a for bolt-fastening of the piston body 10. When they are abutted against each other and formed into a circular-annular shape, a hole portion 8c which is to be tightly fitted in a fixing groove 6a of the piston rod 6 is formed. The piston body 10 has a hole portion 10a which is to be fitted over the piston rod 6, and plural bolt holes 10c corresponding to the threaded holes 8a. Moreover, the piston body 10 has a concave portion 10d on a side of one surface thereof, in which the fixing ring 8 is fitted in an embedded state.
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