US07894048B2

The present invention provides an optical sheet that excels in a light convergence function or a light diffusion function, has excellent brightness increase ratio in the desired angular direction, in particular the front surface direction, and greatly inhibits the side lobe, and a method for manufacturing such an optical sheet with good efficiency and high accuracy. The optical sheet has a substrate that has a first surface having formed thereon a peak-valley portion that converges and scatters light and an optical adjustment portion that differs in an optical property from the substrate. A plurality of the optical adjustment portions are formed at least in part of a non-passage portion for the light in the substrate in the case where a parallel beam falls from the first surface in a direction normal to a surface located opposite the first surface.
US07894045B2

A method for remotely sensing air outside a moving aircraft includes generating laser radiation within a swept frequency range. A portion of the laser radiation is projected from the aircraft into the air to induce scattered laser radiation. Filtered scattered laser radiation, filtered laser radiation, and unfiltered laser radiation are detected. At least one actual ratio is determined from data corresponding to the filtered scattered laser radiation and the unfiltered laser radiation. One or more air parameters are determined by correlating the actual ratio to at least one reference ratio.
US07894040B2

A lithographic apparatus is provided in which exposure is carried out by projecting through an aqueous solution of alkali metal halide(s), the solution being in contact with the substrate to be exposed.
US07894031B2

A pixel structure for a horizontal field LCD comprises a plurality of pixel units. Each of the pixel units comprises a gate line corresponding to the pixel unit, a data line corresponding to the pixel unit, and at least one TFT, wherein the TFT is electrically connected with the gate line and the data line, the gate line and the data line divide the pixel unit into four sub-pixels, the sub-pixel is provided with a pixel electrode which is electrically connected with the TFT, and the pixel electrode is provided with a plurality of slits in a predetermined direction.
US07894028B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes first to N-th 1st retardation plates arranged on the first transparent substrate, and the second substrate includes first to N-th 2nd retardation plates arranged on the second transparent substrate. Assuming that a retardation plate among the first to N-th 1st retardation plates has an optical axis arranged at a first angle relative to a reference direction and a retardation plate among the first to N-th 2nd retardation plates, corresponding to the retardation plate among the first to N-th 1st retardation plates, has an optical axis arranged at a second angle relative to the reference direction, the first and second angles are different from each other by about 90 degrees.
US07894018B2

The invention relates to a method of producing a liquid crystal material that can be addressed by an electric field. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises the following steps consisting in: forming a liquid crystal mixture having a helical structure comprising a first non-photoreactive liquid crystal and a second photoreactive liquid crystal, said first liquid crystal comprising first chiral liquid crystal molecules and having a positive dielectric anisotropy and said second liquid crystal being in a concentration of less than or equal to 5% of the mixture; applying a first treatment to the liquid crystal mixture, said first treatment being performed at a constant temperature and modifying a pitch of the helix of the mixture; and applying a second treatment to the mixture, such that the second liquid crystal forms a polymer network, said second treatment being performed during all or part of the first treatment such that the liquid crystal material retains a memory of the modifications to the pitch of the helix. The invention also relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal material that is produced using the inventive method.
US07894015B2

A backlight device that illuminates a transmissive liquid crystal panel is disclosed. The device includes: a plurality of light source substrates on which a plurality of light emitting devices irradiating illumination light are mounted; a bottom chassis having one surface to which the plurality of light source substrates are attached; a reflector having openings corresponding to the light emitting devices and through which the light emitting devices are exposed to one surface side, and reflecting the illumination light irradiated from the light emitting devices; a diffuser facing the one surface side of the reflector through a predetermined facing interval and internally diffusing the illumination light incident from the reflector; and an optical function sheet laminate combined with the diffuser on one surface side thereof, containing a stack of a plurality of optical function sheets and guiding the illumination light to the transmissive liquid crystal panel.
US07894014B2

A backlight device that illuminates a transmissive liquid crystal panel is disclosed. The device includes: a plurality of light source substrates on which a plurality of light emitting devices irradiating illumination light are mounted; drive substrates having drive circuits for the light emitting devices and electrically connected to the light source substrates; a bottom chassis having one surface to which the plurality of light source substrates are attached; a reflector having openings corresponding to the light emitting devices and through which the light emitting devices are exposed, and reflecting the illumination light; a diffuser facing the one surface side of the reflector through a predetermined facing interval and internally diffusing the illumination light; and an optical function sheet laminate combined with the diffuser on one surface side thereof, containing a stack of a plurality of optical function sheets and guiding the illumination light to the liquid crystal panel.
US07894007B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a display section which is composed of a plurality of display pixels, a driving unit which drives the display pixels, and a control unit which controls the driving unit. A first substrate includes pixel electrodes which are disposed in association with the plurality of display pixels. A second substrate includes a counter-electrode which is opposed to the plurality of pixel electrodes. A pair of alignment films are disposed on the plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter-electrode, and control an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules, which are included in the liquid crystal layer, by rubbing treatment. Dummy display pixels are disposed on a terminal end side of the display section in a rubbing direction. A driving unit includes circuit for cyclically applying a reverse transition prevention signal to the dummy display pixels.
US07894006B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a substrate, gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors and pixel electrodes. The gate lines are formed on the substrate and cross the data lines. The thin film transistors are connected to the gate and data lines, and each thin film transistor includes a drain electrode. The pixel electrodes are connected to the thin film transistors and are arranged in a matrix, and each of the pixel electrodes has a first side disposed in parallel with the gate lines and a second side adjacent to the first side and shorter than the first side. In the LCD, the predetermined portion of each of the drain electrodes is overlapped with only one of two adjacent pixel electrodes if the polarities of the adjacent pixel electrodes are different, and the predetermined portion of each of the drain electrodes is overlapped with both of the adjacent pixel electrodes if the polarities are the same.
US07893999B2

A video processing system captures a sequence of original video frames with a video camera, presents at least one frame of the sequence of original video frames on a video display, receives user input regarding the sequence of original video frames, and presents a sub-frame on the video display that corresponds to a region in at least one frame of the sequence of original video frames that is identified in the user input. The video processing system also generates metadata corresponding to the sub-frame, the metadata to be used by a target video player in modifying the sequence of original video frames to produce a full screen presentation on a target video display of the target video player corresponding to the sub-frame. Targeted sub-frame metadata can be specifically generated for use with a particular screen or screen size.
US07893994B2

Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for motion adaptive directional deinterlacing. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for interpolating a pixel for a pixel position. The method comprises receiving a plurality of pixels above the pixel position; receiving a plurality of pixels below the pixel position; and measuring gradients in a plurality of directions between the pixels above the pixel position and the pixels below the pixel position.
US07893993B2

A method for deinterlacing a picture is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of primary scores by searching along a plurality of primary angles for an edge in the picture proximate a location interlaced with a field of the picture, (B) generating a plurality of neighbor scores by searching for the edge along a plurality of neighbor angles proximate a particular angle of the primary angles corresponding to a particular score of the primary scores having a best value and (C) identifying a best score from a group of scores consisting of the particular score and the neighbor scores to generate an interpolated sample at the location.
US07893992B2

Device comprising a camera module with automatic focusing itself comprising an optical chip (8) and an optical block (7), the optical block (7) integrating at least an objective (3), at least a focusing means (11) for adjusting the focus of the objective (3), the optical chip (8) integrating at least an image sensor (14) placed on a first face of a substrate of the optical chip (8). This optical chip (8) also includes a microprocessor (4) placed on the same substrate, receiving image signals originating from the image sensor (14) and generating a control signal based on the said image signals, that is applied to the said focusing means (11) to focus the objective (3).
US07893989B2

A camera unit includes a soft substrate on which electrode regions and an image pickup device region are disposed, a driving electrode group disposed on one of the electrode regions, an image pickup device disposed on the image pickup device region, stationary unit frame attaching portions disposed at positions surrounding the image pickup device region, a stationary unit frame attached to the stationary unit frame attaching portions, and movable units disposed in the stationary unit frame. The soft substrate is bent along bending positions between the electrode regions and the image pickup device region, the electrode regions are fixed on sides of the stationary unit frame inwardly thereof, and the image pickup device region is fixed on an end surface of the stationary unit frame toward the movable units.
US07893983B2

Disclosed are a manual focusing method and system in a photographing device, wherein the manual focusing method includes checking whether manual focusing mode for manually focusing is selected. If the manual focusing mode is selected, a window is captured which is a predetermined sized partial image taken from a photographed image. The capture image is output and displayed. Since a window captured out of the photographed image is displayed, the user is able to manually focus more accurately by reviewing the higher resolution captured image.
US07893976B2

An image sensor is disclosed for capturing a color image, comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels having a plurality of minimal repeating unit wherein each repeating unit is composed of eight pixels having five panchromatic pixels and three pixels having different color responses.
US07893969B2

When detecting an objective body from a taken image, a scene of the image is determined, and a parameter to be used in detecting the objective body is controlled according to result of determination.
US07893962B2

A printer periodically sends a request inquiry command “Interrupt In” to a digital camera at a high rate. The digital camera returns a printer status request, a print request, a print cancel request, etc., to the printer as a reply to “Interrupt In.” The camera operates as a usual storage class USB device for the printer except that the camera performs the described operation. Therefore, the printer makes a search for a directory in the camera and reads an image file, a print page layout file, etc., required for print on its own initiative.
US07893960B1

A border or perimeter is protected from intruders, such as illegal immigrants, terrorists with WMD or smugglers of drugs. The method comprises a detection and communication processing system capable of a high probability of detection and low probability of false positives. The system includes land-based sensor particles and sensitive airborne or land-based camera processing units. The sensors are sown over key border or perimeter landscape areas and are activated by specific pressure levels characteristic of the weight of transiting intruders whereby the sensors emit characteristic optical signals. Specific emitted indicators detect people, vehicles, or particular animals.
US07893953B2

A system for lighting at least one individual positioned about a piece of furniture during a video recording process includes a piece of furniture having a work surface and at least one non-work surface. A lighting source is arranged along either the work surface or the non-work surface of the piece of furniture to project non-visible light away from the piece of furniture toward an individual positioned proximate to the piece of furniture to light the individual or recording during a video recording process.
US07893946B2

A color temperature calibration method for calibrating the color temperature of a display device according to a set of target chromaticity coordinate values, includes: measuring colors displayed by a plurality of display cells of the display device to generate at least a set of measurement chromaticity coordinate values; and adjusting at least a first gain value of the display device according to the set of target chromaticity coordinate values and the set of measurement chromaticity coordinate values; where the first gain value corresponds to the color of a first color channel of the display device; and the first color channel is one of the red color channel, green color channel and blue color channel.
US07893944B2

In a first embodiment, a display system comprises a display panel with 4 or more colored subpixels. The display system receives input image data specified in a first color space and outputs image data specified in a second color space. The display system further comprises a gamut mapping module for mapping the input image data specified in the first color space to image data specified in the second color space. The gamut mapping module clamps out-of-gamut colors using at least a first clamping system and a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems yield first and second clamped values. A weighting module produces a resulting clamped value from the first and second clamped values. A final output image value is derived from the resulting clamped value. Other embodiments of the display system include pre-reduction modules and adjustable GMA modules.
US07893943B1

A system and method for converting a pixel rate of a digital image frame is provided. The system includes a display controller with an embedded buffer and programmable input and output buffers. The input buffer writes lines of the frame at a source pixel rate while the output pointer reads out lines of the frame at a display pixel rate thereby allowing display of an image having a source pixel rate that is different, e.g., higher, than a display pixel rate.
US07893942B2

Provided is a three-dimensional (3D) graphic processing system and method capable of utilizing camera preview images in which the camera preview images are stored in a texture memory and then the stored camera preview images are used as a texture in a 3D graphic processor. The camera preview images are stored in a texture memory and then the stored camera preview images are used as a texture in a 3D graphic processor, in a manner that an extended function can be supported through a mutual operation of a preview processor and a graphic processor. The camera preview is displayed on the moving polygonal plane to which a near-and-far sense is applied, or the camera image is used as a background texture to then enable 3D objects to be drawn on the background texture. As a result, games with real feeling can be developed in a manner that 3D contents can be realized using real images as a background.
US07893938B2

System and methods of displaying anatomical structures and their surrounding area, are disclosed. For a viewing point the anatomical structures are rendered separate from their surrounding and saved. The surrounding area of the anatomical structure within a viewing frustum is extracted, interpolated and rendered. The rendered anatomical structures and calculated image of the surrounding are combined into a complete rendering of the anatomical structures with its nearby surrounding areas.
US07893928B2

A computer system includes a touch pad having plural key areas and generating a key signal according to a touch input with respect to the respective key areas, a display, a storing unit for storing a relation table of the character value corresponding to the key area, and a controller reading the character value corresponding to the concerned key area from the storing unit and displaying the same on the display if a key signal is generated in the touch pad, and if the key signals are successively generated with respect to the plural key areas, sequentially converting and displaying the character values corresponding to the successive key areas.
US07893920B2

A three-dimensional image sensor for detecting the three-dimensional position of an object, a coordinate detection unit for detecting the coordinate position of an objective point on a display screen based on the position of the object in a virtual pointing space, a movement detection unit for detecting the three-dimensional movement of the object in the pointing space, and an operation input contents determination unit for determining an operation based on the three-dimensional movement or the like of the object are provided, so that the inconvenience of moving a pointing device such as a finger to a fixed spatial plane is avoided by setting the pointing space which can be operated by the pointing device as a pyramid shape defined by connecting the display screen and a reference point.
US07893909B2

A thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display panel driving device and a method thereof are provided. The TFT liquid crystal display panel driving device is characterized by including a modulation signal generator for providing at least one modulation signal to at least one output buffer of a source driver of the TFT liquid crystal display panel. The output buffer(s) has chopper function. Each output buffer changes the offset voltages of the pixels of a same frame under the control of different modulation signals, thus eliminating the effect of the offset voltages of the output buffer(s) on the display quality.
US07893889B2

A multiple-antenna device is provided, comprising: a printed circuit board having a ground plane configured to provide electromagnetic isolation between a first side of the printed circuit board and a second side of the printed circuit board; a first non-conductive support member formed over the first side of the printed circuit board; a second non-conductive support member formed over the second side of the printed circuit board; a first antenna formed over the first non-conductive support member; and a second antenna formed over the second non-conductive support member, wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to a first feed point on a first portion of the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane, and wherein the second antenna is electrically connected to a second feed point on a second portion of the printed circuit board that is not connected to the ground plane.
US07893885B2

Provided is a antenna system for tracking a mobile satellite and a movable carrier having the same for mechanically adjusting the orientation of an antenna at the azimuth angle and the elevation angle and correcting the phase error of a receiving signal while adjusting the elevation angle of the antenna at the same time. The antenna system for tracking a mobile satellite includes: a substrate; a rotating plate rotatably disposed on the substrate; one or more antennas disposed at the rotating plate; an azimuth angle adjusting unit for mechanically adjusting an azimuth angle of the antenna; and an elevation angle adjusting unit for mechanically adjusting an elevation angle of the antenna.
US07893879B2

An antenna apparatus includes: a circuit board that has a main surface and a rear surface opposite to each other; an antenna element that is formed of a metal plate and is arranged at a predetermined distance from the main surface of the circuit board; a plurality of legs that extend from the antenna element toward the circuit board; a ground conductor that is formed on the main surface or the rear surface of the circuit board; a feeding pin that supplies power from the circuit board to the antenna element; and a plurality of comb-shaped capacitor patterns that are formed on one of or both the main surface and the rear surface of the circuit board and are electrically connected between the plurality of legs and the ground conductor.
US07893877B2

An integrated antenna for WWAN, GPS, and WLAN includes a ground metal plane, a WWAN antenna, and a WLAN antenna. The WWAN antenna is connected to the ground metal plane and includes first and second radiating metal strips which induce a first resonance mode and a second resonance mode respectively. The WLAN antenna is connected to the ground metal plane and includes third and fourth radiating metal strips which induce a third resonance mode and a fourth resonance mode respectively. The integrated antenna can be used in WWAN and WLAN at the same time. The ground metal plane of the integrated antenna does not need to connect to a ground end of a wireless electronic device, and is used for grounding. Therefore, the integrated antenna can be mounted on any part of a wireless electronic device, and can have stable electrical characteristics.
US07893876B2

The location of a medical device is determined by receiving one or more signals at the medical device transmitted by one or more beacons, respectively, at known locations. The one or more signals received at the medical device are sent from the medical device to a processor, which determines the location of the medical device based on the received one or more signals. One of the beacons may be a portable patient beacon, the location of which is determined when its signal is received by a medical device, the location of which was previously determined.
US07893873B2

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.
US07893871B1

A method and system for beamforming with partial channel knowledge comprises beamforming one or more streams from a beamformer to one or more receive antennas of a beamformee whose channels are known to the beamformer. In response to the beamformer having a larger number of streams to transmit to the beamformee than a rank of a partial channel matrix between the beamformer and the beamformee, beamforming is used to steer remaining streams through a null space of the partial channel matrix.
US07893869B2

Each of a first and a second navigation satellite system (NSS) are adapted to operate according to a first and a second specification, respectively, and each includes a first and a second plurality of satellite vehicles (SV), respectively. Each of the first and the second plurality of SVs are adapted to be identified by a first and a second plurality of unique corresponding identifications (IDs), respectively. A processor is adapted to receive and identify a first plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the first plurality of SVs in response to the first plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to receive and identify a second plurality of corresponding signals transmitted from the second plurality of SVs in response to the second plurality of unique corresponding IDs. The processor is adapted to determine position location information in response to receiving and identifying the first plurality of corresponding signals and the second plurality of corresponding signals.
US07893862B2

A detection system comprises a transmitter unit, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter unit is capable of transmitting a first collimated beam having a first frequency and a second collimated beam having a second frequency into a ground, wherein the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam overlap in the ground. The receiver is capable of monitoring for a response radio frequency signal having a frequency equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency. The response radio frequency signal is generated by an object having non-linear conductive characteristics in response to receiving the first collimated beam and the second collimated beam. The processor is capable of controlling an operation of the transmitter unit and the receiver. The processor is connected to the transmitter unit and the receiver. The object is detected when the response radio frequency signal is detected by the receiver.
US07893852B2

Compression of signal samples output from a parallel, time-interleaved analog to digital converter (TIADC) for a baseband signal, includes calculating first or higher order differences of consecutive signal samples followed by lossless or lossy encoding of the difference samples to produce compressed samples. Compression of a TIADC output signal with a nonzero center frequency, includes calculating sums or differences of pairs of signal samples separated by an appropriate number of sampling intervals followed by lossless or lossy encoding. The sums or differences of the signal samples have lower magnitudes than the original samples, allowing more efficient compression. Lossy compression alternatives produce compressed data with a fixed bit rate or with a fixed quality in the decompressed samples. Alternatives for lossy compression include attenuating the analog signal before sampling by the TIADC, applying bit shifters or multipliers after sampling to reduce the magnitudes of the signal samples, and lossy encoding.
US07893847B2

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining parking availability are described. A sensor system is configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces. The sensor system includes at least one sensor element that generates a sensor data output signal. A parking availability determiner receives the sensor data output signal and generates parking availability information. The parking availability determiner is configured to determine from the received sensor data output signal at least one parking space of the plurality of parking spaces that is occupied, and to include an indication in the parking availability information that the determined at least one parking space is occupied. If one or more further parking space are included in the plurality of parking spaces other than the determined at least one parking space, an indication is included in the parking availability information that the further parking spaces are available for parking.
US07893832B2

An authenticity tag includes a carrier for attachment to an object, a plurality of electrically conductive areas and a controller attached to the carrier. The controller includes a detector for detecting an electrically detectable quantity at the electrically conductive area, a memory for storing a comparative quantity and a communicator for communicating at least one of the comparative quantity, the electrically detectable quantity detected and a result of a comparison of the electrically detectable quantity detected and the comparative quantity to the outside.
US07893831B2

An entrapment prevention sensor detecting an entrapment of an obstacle between an opening and closing door of a vehicle constituting a first member and including a corner portion and a periphery of a body opening portion constituting a second member, includes a protector including an assembly portion and a hollow portion, the assembly portion assembled onto a fitting flange provided at one of the first and second members, the assembly portion prevented from being provided at the corner portion, a sensor main body accommodated within the hollow portion, and a corner member provided at the corner portion and including a receiving portion and a fixed plate portion, the receiving portion having a hollow and curved shape corresponding to a shape of the corner portion and accommodating the sensor main body, the fixed plate portion including a clip bore and fixed to the fitting flange by means of a clip.
US07893830B2

An intrusion detection mechanism is provided for flexible, automatic, thorough, and consistent security checking and vulnerability resolution in a heterogeneous environment. The mechanism may provide a predefined number of default intrusion analysis approaches, such as signature-based, anomaly-based, scan-based, and danger theory. The intrusion detection mechanism also allows a limitless number of intrusion analysis approaches to be added on the fly. Using an intrusion detection skin, the mechanism allows various weights to be assigned to specific intrusion analysis approaches. The mechanism may adjust these weights dynamically. The score ration can be tailored to determine if an intrusion occurred and adjusted dynamically. Also, multiple security policies for any type of computing element may be enforced.
US07893829B2

A dispensing device includes a dispenser configured to dispense a volatile material, a sensor configured to detect an environmental condition, and a nonlinear circuit element coupled to the sensor to establish a bias point. A voltage level at the bias point varies nonlinearly with respect to a current that flows through the sensor, wherein the current that flows through the sensor represents the environmental condition. The dispensing device further includes a controller coupled to the bias point. The controller controls the dispenser to dispense the volatile material in response to the environmental condition.
US07893826B2

The present invention relates to an alarm system intended to trigger an alarm signal upon deviation from at least one environment-dependent reference predetermined for a specific environment. The alarm system comprises at least one portable unit intended to be placed in said environment, which unit has a size corresponding to a mobile telephone. Each unit comprises a sensor system adapted for detecting different states comprising at least vibrations. Furthermore, the alarm system comprises a processor member connected to the sensor system and adapted for the comparison of signals received from the sensor system and said predetermined environment-dependent reference/references. The alarm system further comprises a communication member connected to the processor member and adapted for wireless communication upon, for instance, the triggering of an alarm signal. Furthermore, the alarm system comprises a memory member connected to the processor member via a distributed computer network and adapted for the storage of said predetermined reference/references.
US07893821B2

A tire pressure monitoring system includes receiving antennas installed in a vehicle corresponding to vehicle wheels, a monitoring main unit disposed near a driver's seat, tire pressure sensors respectively installed in the wheels of the vehicle to wirelessly transmit detected data in the form of a data packet for being received by one corresponding adjacent antenna, and a signal combining circuit formed of multiple combiners and having multiple input terminals electrically connected to the receiving antennas and an output terminal electrically connected to the monitoring main unit for combining data packets received from the receiving antennas and transmitting the combined data signal to the monitoring main unit by means of a wired transmission path.
US07893819B2

Disclosed is a method for avoiding a collision in a lane change maneuver of a vehicle to a target lane, where objects in a lateral rearward space of the vehicle are detected by an ambience monitoring device and measures are taken to influence the vehicle. The method is characterized in that graded measures are provided that depending on their stage, involve warning the driver and/or intervening into a steering system of the vehicle and/or influencing safety devices. The measures of a selected stage are initiated, with the stage being determined depending on a relative position of a detected object with regard to the vehicle and/or a relative speed between the vehicle and the detected object as well as depending on the fulfillment of a lane change condition. Also disclosed is a device that is well suited to implement the method.
US07893817B2

A method and apparatus for initializing a telematics terminal includes generating a door open signal corresponding to an open state of a door of a vehicle. The telematics terminal is initialized based on the door open signal. An accessory signal corresponding to a position or change in operating state of an ignition switch may be generated. At least one telematics module within the vehicle can be initialized based on the door open signal or the accessory signal.
US07893811B2

Method for automatically ascertaining the number of people and/or objects present in a gate (10; 50; 70) which has the following steps: detection of weight data for people and/or objects moving in the gate (10; 50; 70) by means of a plurality of weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) integrated in the floor of the gate (10; 50; 70) and evaluation of the detected weight data in order to ascertain the number of people/objects from their maximum values and from their dynamics and/or the number of detected centers of gravity and/or the position of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) which have detected the weight data, and/or the order in which the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) have detected the weight data.
US07893805B2

A transformer includes a main body and a secondary winding. The main body has a primary winding partition, several secondary winding partitions and two end portions. Several leads are disposed in either end portion. A wire-guiding area is formed in a sunken area in the primary winding partition and a buffer region is formed between the primary end portion and the primary winding partition. The secondary winding is wound around the core on the secondary winding partitions. One end of the wire runs from the secondary winding partitions to the wire-guiding area. Before the secondary wire goes into the buffer region, the secondary wire is folded for several times and then is twisted and rolled for several turns to make the secondary wire thicker. Then the secondary wire goes into the buffer region and then is connected to one of the primary leads. Due to the wire-guiding area and buffer region, the secondary wire would not be affected or pressed against by the primary wire.
US07893803B2

A compressed gas system component coupling device and method are described herein that use correlated magnets to enable a first component to be secured and removed from the second component. Some examples of components of the compressed gas system include a first stage regulator, a second stage regulator, an air pressure gauge, a dive computer, an air hose, a tank valve and a buoyancy control device. Furthermore the compression force created by the correlated magnets mounted on the first and second components create a hermetic seal therebetween.
US07893800B2

A vehicle switch includes a magnet mounted to an operating unit accommodated in an external packaging such that the operating unit can move linearly. A magnetic detector is placed so as to receive different strength of the magnetism from the magnet in the two cases that the operating unit is at the upper limit position and at the lower limit position. A control circuit coupled to the magnetic detector opens and closes a switching device in response to strength of the detected magnetism.
US07893796B2

A high frequency device including an electrostatic type vibrator, a pad, and a circuit. The electrostatic type vibrator is operable via a DC bias voltage. The pad is configured to supply the DC bias voltage. The circuit is positioned electrically between the pad and the vibrator. The circuit is configured to stabilize the DC bias voltage. The circuit and the high frequency signal device are on a common substrate.
US07893794B2

A branching filter package has a SAW filter chip housing area which houses a piezo electric base, on which a transmitting SAW filter and a receiving SAW filter having a different frequency passing band with each other, are formed, and an impedance matching circuit and a branching circuit for the transmitting SAW filter and the receiving SAW filter.
US07893791B2

Devices and systems for using a Gallium Nitride-based (GaN-based) transistor for selectively switching signals are provided. A first transmission line is configured to connect a common connection and a first connection. A first Gallium-Nitride-based (GaN-based) transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first transmission line at a first point, a second terminal coupled to a relative ground, and a third terminal configured to be coupled to a first control connection. A second GaN-based transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first transmission line at a second point, a second terminal configured to be coupled to the relative ground, and a third terminal configured to be coupled to the first control connection.
US07893782B2

A voltage-controlled oscillator comprises an inductor and a group of variable capacitance elements forming a resonance circuit. The group of variable capacitance elements includes first and second variable capacitance elements connectable in parallel and having mutually different absolute values of a ratio of control-voltage sensitivity to capacitance. The first and second variable capacitance elements both have a first end supplied with a control voltage for controlling resonance frequency of the resonance circuit and have a second end selectively connected to the inductor by a band selection signal for deciding a band in which the resonance frequency exists.
US07893780B2

One embodiment of the invention includes an alkali beam cell system that comprises a reversible alkali beam cell. The reversible alkali beam cell includes a first chamber configured as a reservoir chamber that is configured to evaporate an alkali metal during a first time period and as a detection chamber that is configured to collect the evaporated alkali metal during a second time period. The reversible alkali beam cell also includes a second chamber configured as the detection chamber during the first time period and as the reservoir chamber during the second time period. The reversible alkali beam cell further includes an aperture interconnecting the first and second chambers and through which the alkali metal is allowed to diffuse.
US07893779B2

A system reduces a received RF signal from EMI generated by a digital electronic system that includes a clock. In the present invention the clock frequency, that generates signals and strobes data out, is purposely changed or modulated, by, illustratively, driving the power node of the clock. The typical filter circuit between the clock power node and the power supply is used to advantage in that the filter impedance allows a buffer to more easily drive the clock power node since the low impedance of the power supply is isolated by the filter circuit. The changing of the clock frequency spreads the EMI RF harmonics over a spectrum so that any harmonics received by an RF receiver will be short lived and therefore of small magnitude.
US07893775B2

A discrete-time phase lock loop (DTPLL) includes an analog section comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and an oscillator, operative to provide a clock signal based on an input from the DAC. The DTPLL also includes a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP includes a loop controller state machine; a phase detector; a counter, operative to receive clock signals from the oscillator and to provide a count value to the phase detector; a divider, operative to receive a reference signal and to provide a reference pulse output to the phase detector; and a loop filter operative to provide a control effort value based on an output from the phase detector. Based on the phase error value, an output of the oscillator is changed to reduce the phase error to a steady state value.
US07893774B2

A VCO driving circuit and a frequency synthesizer wherein the impedance viewed from a VCO control terminal is reduced to prevent the VCO phase noise characteristic from degrading. A VCO driving circuit and a frequency synthesizer having the VCO driving circuit, which comprises a coarse adjustment DAC that receives a digital data, which has a coarse adjustment frequency, to output an analog signal; a fine adjustment DAC that receives a digital data, which has a fine adjustment frequency, to output an analog signal; a low response speed LPF5 that removes noise from the output signal from the coarse adjustment DAC and then provides the resultant signal as an input to a VCO control terminal; a high response speed LPF7 that converts the output signal from the fine adjustment DAC to a voltage, thereby smoothing the signal; a resistor that connects an input stage of the LPF5 to that of the LPF7; and a capacitor used for providing a capacitive coupling such that the output of the LPF7 is added to that of the LPF5.
US07893765B2

A current canceling CMOS variable gain amplifier includes a first leg and a second leg. The first leg has a first input line, a first output line, a first ON transistor, a first control transistor and a first subtracting transistor. The second leg has a second input line, a second output line, a second ON transistor, a second control transistor and a second subtracting transistor. The second input line can provide a second input current. The second output line can provide a second output current. The first input line is arranged to provide a first input current to each of the first ON transistor, the first control transistor and the first subtracting transistor. The second input line is arranged to provide a second input current to each of the second ON transistor, the second control transistor and the second subtracting transistor. The first output line is in electrical connection with each of the first ON transistor, the first control transistor and the second subtracting transistor. The second output line is in electrical connection with each of the second ON transistor, the second control transistor and the first subtracting transistor.
US07893764B2

Common mode choke coil device includes four coils wound on a core in a same direction. Hot-side outputs of first and second class-D amplifiers are connected to respective ones of first ends of two of the four coils, and first and second hot-side output terminals are connected to respective ones of second ends of the two coils. Ground-side outputs of the first and second class-D amplifiers are connected to respective ones of the first ends of remaining two of the four coils, and first and second ground-side output terminals are connected to respective ones of the second ends of the remaining two coils. Single-end connection is realized by connecting a separate load to each of the class-D amplifiers via the corresponding first (or second) hot-side and ground-side output terminals. BTL connection is realized by connecting a single load to the class-D amplifiers via the first and second hot-side output terminals.
US07893763B2

A power added efficiency optimizer apparatus is provided for measuring and monitoring input and output power of an amplifying device, and adjusting the load impedance seen by the amplifying device so that power added efficiency is maintained at optimum levels. A power added efficiency optimizing device includes a variable load impedance that can be controlled, at least one power detection device located after the load, a difference forming apparatus, and at least one coupling device. The power added efficiency optimizing device provides an ability to maintain an amplifier at peak efficiency in a dynamic way and in the presence of changing electromagnetic load conditions.
US07893758B2

A quadrature modulator and a method of calibrating same by applying a first test tone signal to an in-phase modulation branch input of the modulator and a ninety degree phase-shifted version of the first test tone signal to a quadrature modulation branch input of the modulator. The carrier leakage level in an output signal of the modulator is measured and in response base band dc offset voltages are adjusted to minimize the carrier leakage. A second test tone signal is applied to the in-phase modulation branch input and a ninety degree phase-shifted version of the second test tone signal to the quadrature modulation branch input. The level of an undesired upper sideband frequency component in the output signal is measured and in response base band gains the in-phase and quadrature modulation branches and a local oscillator phase error are adjusted to minimize the undesired side band.
US07893752B2

A reversal charge pump circuit generates a negative voltage from an input voltage received from an input terminal, and provides an output terminal with the negative voltage. The charge pump circuit achieves increased voltage stability and avoids breakdown voltage problems, with an uncomplicated structure. The circuit may have first and second capacitors, first through fourth switches, and a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit controls the voltage provided to the first capacitor. The switches are on/off controlled by signals from a control circuit.
US07893750B2

A component with a functionally-configurable circuit arrangement, has a first switch group with a voltage-dependent switching on or off of a data line and at least one second switch group generating two discrete output voltages separated by an increase in voltage and the switch states for the discrete output voltages may be stored in non-volatile memory. The switching on or off of the data line is determined by the switch state of the first switch group and a third switch group (11) is provided to increase the voltage increase between the first switch group (17) and the second switch group (3).
US07893744B2

A semiconductor device includes: a voltage-control-type clock generation circuit having a plurality of stages of first delay elements and whose oscillation frequency is controlled according to a control voltage applied to the first delay elements; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages of second delay elements connected serially; and a selection circuit selecting one from pulse signals output by the plurality of stages of respective second delay elements. The first delay elements and the second delay elements have a same structure formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and a delay amount of the second delay elements is adjusted according to the control voltage.
US07893739B1

A feedback loop circuit includes a phase detector and delay circuits. The phase detector generates an output signal based on a delayed periodic signal. The delay circuits are coupled in a delay chain that delays the delayed periodic signal. Each of the delay circuits includes variable delay blocks and fixed delay blocks that are coupled to form at least two delay paths for an input signal through the delay circuit to generate a delayed output signal. Delays of the variable delay blocks in the delay circuits vary based on the output signal of the phase detector. Each of the delay circuits reroutes the input signal through a different one of the delay paths to generate the delayed output signal based on the output signal of the phase detector during operation of the feedback loop circuit.
US07893735B2

In a power-on detection circuit, a first connection node at which a first divided voltage is generated is connected to a second power supply line during activation of a power-down detection signal. Inactivation timing of the power-down detection signal is set earlier than an activation timing of a power-on detection signal. Therefore, the first transistor whose gate is connected to the first connection node is certainly turned off in the first half of a power-on period, which prevents the power-on detection signal from being activated during the power-on period. Further, a leak current flowing through the first transistor is reduced. In the second half of the power-on period, the power-on detection signal is certainly generated using the first divided voltage generated by the first dividing circuit. Thus, operating a reset circuit without malfunction and normally outputting a reset signal is possible disregarding behavior of a power supply voltage at power-on.
US07893729B2

Provided is voltage/current conversion circuit including: first and second capacitors; first and second resistors each connected to input terminal; first and second current sources; third and fourth resistors connected to current sources; differential amplifier for controlling the current sources; control unit for performing control, in first state, the input terminal is connected to the first and second capacitors; one input of the differential amplifier is connected to the first resistor and output of the first current source; the other input of the differential amplifier is connected to the second resistor and output of the second current source, and in second state, the second capacitor is connected between the output of the first current source and the one input of the differential amplifier, the first capacitor is connected between the output of the second current source and the other input of the differential amplifier.
US07893726B1

A dynamic flip-flop includes first and second input stages forming a differential input stage adapted to receive differential data. The flip-flop is reset in response to a reset signal. To ensure proper operation, a transistor disposed between the first and second input stages is always maintained active to provide a conduction path between the ground terminal and the nodes that may be charged from the supply voltage. To improve the setup and hold time of the flip-flop, the clock signal is applied to a first transistor disposed in the first input stage and a second transistor disposed in the second input stage.
US07893721B2

In a dual rail domino circuit 3 using a combination of a domino circuit 1 for outputting positive logic and a domino circuit 2 for outputting negative logic, an AND 4 and a NAND 5 as members for simultaneously fixing an output of the domino circuit 1and an output of the domino circuit 2 at a low level in an evaluation phase are provided, and a logical AND of a gating control signal and an input signal is inputted to the domino circuit 1 and a logical NOT of the logical AND of the gating control signal and the input signal is inputted to the domino circuit 2.
US07893720B2

A differential signaling circuit and a control circuit. The differential signaling circuit includes a first positive driver and a first negative driver. The first negative driver has different impedance than the first positive driver. The first positive driver and the first negative driver together define a first current path between positive and negative power supply terminals. A first output is defined on the first current path intermediate the first positive driver and the first negative driver. The control circuit includes a first driver that drives a transmission line at a first output voltage, a feedback amplifier responsive to the first output voltage to generate a control signal and a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) driver coupled to the first driver and responsive to the control signal to make impedance of the first driver equivalent to impedance of the transmission line.
US07893719B2

A digital data transmitting device is disclosed having differential signaling circuitry, a current source controller and a pair of transistor-implemented current sources is disclosed. The current source controller generates a current source control signal based on a detected mode of operation of the differential signaling circuitry. The pair of transistor-implemented current sources selectively generate source currents to adjust the output voltage levels as the differential output terminals in response to the current source control signal. The digital data transmitting device may also include a current bulk biasing circuit that generates a current source bulk biasing signal such that when the differential signaling circuitry is in one mode of operation, the current source bulk biasing signal retards currents leakage across the pair of transistor-implemented current sources.
US07893718B2

High speed multiplexers include a first N-to-1 selection circuit, where N is an integer greater than one, a second N-to-1 selection circuit and an output driver. The first N-to-1 selection circuit is configured to route a true or complementary version of a selected first input signal (from amongst N input signals) to an output thereof in response to a first multi-bit selection signal, where N is an integer greater than one. The second N-to-1 selection circuit is configured to route a true or complementary version of the selected first input signal to an output thereof in response to a second multi-bit selection signal. The output driver includes a pull-up circuit, which is responsive to a signal generated at the output of the first N-to-1 selection circuit, and a pull-down circuit, which is responsive to a signal generated at the output of the second N-to-1 selection circuit.
US07893711B2

In a program circuit that can reduce exhaustion of a switching element that uses oxidation-reduction reactions of an electrolyte material, a voltage source (106) applies voltage to a switching element (100), a measurement circuit (107) measures a parameter that changes in accordance with the resistance value of the switching element (100), and a control circuit (104) causes the voltage source (106) to apply voltage to the switching element (100) while progressively increasing the voltage. The control circuit (104) further causes the voltage source (106) to halt the application of voltage when the parameter measured by the measurement circuit (107) reaches a prescribed value.
US07893710B2

An impedance matching device includes a calibration circuit configured to generate impedance calibration codes for modification of impedance; a code modification unit configured to modify the impedance calibration codes according to impedance setting information and output modified impedance calibration codes; and a termination impedance unit configured to terminate an interface node with impedance determined according to the modified impedance calibration codes.
US07893709B2

In order to prevent malfunction due to fluctuations in signal level, a terminating resistor circuit includes terminating resistors the connections whereof to an input/output terminal are capable of being turned on and off, whereby a Thevenin termination is formed. A control circuit exercises control so as to temporally stagger on/off timings of respective ones of the terminating resistors.
US07893708B2

Systems and methods are provided for performing a quantum gate operation. A first classical control parameter is associated with a first qubit and coupled to a resonator. The first classical control parameter is transitioned from a first control value to a second control value. The first classical control parameter is returned from the second control value to the first control value via an adiabatic sweep operation, as to permit a transfer of energy between the first qubit and the resonator that causes a change in the quantum state of the qubit and resonator.
US07893702B2

A semiconductor package testing apparatus comprises a test substrate that electrically tests a semiconductor package chip; a socket having an electrical contact between the test substrate and the semiconductor package; an insert block inserted into the socket, wherein the semiconductor package is mounted to the insert block; and a pusher that brings the socket into contact with the semiconductor package by compressing an upper part of the semiconductor package, wherein the pusher is multilevel-controlled to compress the semiconductor package by a predefined pressure according to a thickness of the semiconductor package.
US07893695B2

An apparatus for obtaining a time-domain-reflection response-information has a signal driver adapted to apply two pulses of different pulse lengths to a TDR port in order to excite a first TDR response signal corresponding to a first pulse and a second TDR response signal corresponding to a second pulse. The apparatus has a timing determinator adapted to provide a timing information on the basis of a first instance in time when the first TDR response signal crosses a threshold value and on the basis of a second instance in time when the second TDR response signal crosses the threshold value. The apparatus has a TDR response information calculator adapted to calculate an information about a TDR response on the basis of the timing information.
US07893691B2

An electromagnetic impedance sensor detects an object made of conducting material or soft magnetic material with contact-free. The sensor includes: a detection coil; and a detection circuit for supplying electricity to the coil and for measuring electromagnetic impedance change in the coil. The detection coil includes multiple coil portions provided by one wire. One coil portion has a side adjacent to a corresponding side of another coil portion. The side and the corresponding side extend along with a direction, and the side has a current flowing direction, which is the same as the corresponding side.
US07893684B2

An amplifier circuit comprises a detection power input circuit for receiving an RF signal, and a bias circuit that includes an output for generating a bias signal in response to a reference control voltage. The power detector further comprises a detection circuit for generating a power control voltage having a voltage characteristic that offsets temperature characteristics of the received RF signal. The amplifier circuit further comprises a power amplifier coupled to the bias circuit. The power amplifier includes a driver stage providing the RF signal. The detection circuit compensates temperature variation of the inputted detection voltage of the received RF signal.
US07893679B2

A PWM comprises a voltage transformation module, a voltage-sensing module and a timer. The voltage transformation module is configured to transform an input voltage into an output voltage. The voltage-sensing module is coupled to the voltage transformation module and configured to detect a voltage of a first terminal, wherein the voltage of the first terminal is proportional to the output voltage. The timer is configured to measure the time duration for which the voltage of the first terminal is lower than a reference voltage, wherein the timer initiates a short circuit signal when the time duration is greater than a predetermined value.
US07893677B2

A switch-mode synchronous boost voltage regulator is disclosed that includes a boost voltage regulator and an active current modulator. The active current modulator detects a negative current flowing through the high-side switch during a light load condition. When the negative current is detected, the active current modulator is operable to maintain the high-side switch “on” in a linear mode and to limit the negative current to a predetermined current level.
US07893676B2

A driver for a switch, a related method of driving the switch, and a power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the driver includes switching circuitry having a driver switch referenced to a voltage level and configured to provide a drive signal to a control terminal of a power switch referenced to another voltage level and subject to a control voltage limit. The driver also includes a comparator configured to change a state of the driver switch when a voltage at the control terminal passes a threshold voltage.
US07893672B2

An electronic device includes a low drop-out regulator for providing a regulated output voltage. The low drop-out regulator generally comprises a power MOSFET transistor having a gate coupled to a driver. The driver has a first path including an NMOS transistor and being coupled to the gate of the power MOSFET, a second path having a PMOS transistor and being coupled to the gate of the power MOSFET, and a switch for alternately switching between the first and second paths so as to provide a voltage to the gate of the power MOSFET ranging from ground to a power supply level.
US07893665B2

During burst mode operation of a four switch buck-boost converter, the input voltage and an output voltage can be detected and a preset peak charging current threshold level can be modulated when the difference between the input voltage and output voltage is within a prescribed range. A burst mode charging cycle will progress until the modulated peak charging threshold level is attained and cut off at the set peak level. A charge transfer cycle and discharge cycle may proceed thereafter.
US07893652B2

The present invention can speedily and accurately estimate an SOC of a secondary battery immediately after a charge/discharge operation resumes. A determination unit determines whether a dormant period is longer than a predetermined time in response to an initiation of power supply from a secondary battery to a motor generator. The dormant period is equivalent to the duration from a previous stop of power supply to a present initiation of power supply. If the dormant period is longer than the predetermined time, a state-of-charge estimating unit sets an initial SOC based on a peak battery voltage drop ΔVs and a peak discharge current Is, wherein the peak battery voltage drop ΔVs represents a difference between a battery voltage Vo measured before initiating power supply and a lowest battery voltage Vs measured after initiating power supply and the peak discharge current Is represents a maximum current value measured after initiating power supply. The state-of-charge estimating unit estimates a state of charge of the secondary battery 30 based on the initial SOC as a value effective immediately after initiating power supply.
US07893646B2

A game system comprises a game board having a playing area and game pieces for playing a game on the game board. Each game piece comprises a mobile robot for sensing and decoding a position-coding pattern printed on the game board. Each game piece is in communication with a computer system. The computer system is configured to send instructions for moving each game piece relative to the playing area in response to position information corresponding to the game pieces.
US07893636B2

A mobile machine may include one or more generator units, a plurality of electric propulsion motors, and a power-transfer system operable to transfer electricity from one or more of the generator units to one or more of the electric propulsion motors. The mobile machine may also include power-system controls that control the connection of the one or more electric propulsion motors to the power-transfer system. The power-system controls may selectively use a first motor-connection strategy for controlling when one or more groups of the electric propulsion motors are connected to the power-transfer system in series, and the power-system controls may selectively use a second motor-connection strategy for controlling when one or more groups of the electric propulsion motors are connected to the power-transfer system in series.
US07893635B2

A system comprising a fan tachometer module, a conversion module, and a pump tachometer module. The fan tachometer module is adapted to measure a speed of a cooling fan. The conversion module is in communication with the fan tachometer module, and is adapted to convert the speed of the cooling fan to a control voltage based on a predetermined ratio between the speed of the cooling fan and a speed of a cooling pump. The pump tachometer module is in communication with the conversion module, and is adapted to control the speed of the cooling pump based on the control voltage.
US07893630B2

The field of the invention is mainly that of light boxes used for the illumination of display screens using optical valves, notably for liquid crystal matrix displays also known as LCD screens. The light sources used are generally fluorescent tubes powered with a high voltage by devices comprising Royer electronic oscillators. These electronic oscillators do not allow wide dynamic ranges of luminance, which can be necessary for certain applications, to be easily attained. The oscillator according to the invention comprises an electronic device for discharging the stored electrical energy, said discharge device being controlled by an electronic control device using chopping modulation, thus enabling wide dynamic ranges of luminance to be attained.
US07893625B2

A flat panel display device in which a cathode line and a power line are arranged such that voltage drops therein compensate each other. The flat panel display device of the present invention includes an insulating substrate having a pixel region in which pixels are arranged; a power line for supplying a power supply voltage to the pixels; and a cathode electrode having a cathode contact for supplying a cathode voltage to the pixels, wherein an input side of the power line and the cathode contact of the cathode electrode are arranged on the substrate opposite each other with respect to the pixel region. The cathode electrode further includes a cathode bus line for applying an external cathode voltage, the cathode electrode being in contact with the cathode bus line via the cathode contact to provide the external cathode voltage to the pixels.
US07893618B2

The gas discharge lamp contains a lamp body and an UV unit. The UV unit contains a separate airtight chamber wrapping around at least a neck member of the lamp body and covering at least a part of a Mo tinsel inside the neck member. The airtight chamber is filled with one or more gases capable of being ionized, and is wound by a conductor whose one end is connected to a conduction wire extended out of one of the neck members. When the gas discharge lamp is turned on, the gases in the airtight chamber are ionized to produce an UV light to penetrate the discharge chamber. The gas discharge lamp therefore could have a lower starting voltage and an improved starting efficiency. Additionally, as the airtight chamber provides a heat insulation effect, the temperature-induced stress is thereby reduced.
US07893591B2

A stamping step of forming a plurality of band-shaped core sheets (11), (12) having arc-shaped segment core sheets (15), (15a), the adjacent segment core sheets (15), (15a) connected together by narrow-width connecting portions (16), (16a) provided therebetween, the segment core sheets (15), (15a) having a plurality of pole sections (13), (14), (13a), (14a) protruding radially outward; and an annular shape forming step of winding the plurality of band-shaped core sheets (11), (12) in a spiral form while bending the band-shaped core sheets (11), (12) at the connecting portions (16), (16a) and superimposing the pole sections (13), (14), (13a), (14a) vertically one on another, thereby laminating the band-shaped core sheets (11), (12); wherein in the stamping step, notches (23a), (23) to be positioned in correspondence with the connecting portions (16), (16a) bent in the annular shape forming step are formed at radially outward sides of joining portions (22a), (22), the joining portions joining the adjacent pole sections (13a), (14a), (13), (14) in the segment core sheets (15a), (15) and positioned above and below the bent connecting portions (16), (16a).
US07893579B2

An electric motor has a stator (224) having a bearing tube (238) made of a magnetically transparent material; it also has a rotor (222) having a rotor shaft (234) that is at least partially journaled in the bearing tube (238), and has a ring magnet (250) that is fixedly arranged on the rotor shaft (234) inside the bearing tube (238). Two magnetic-field-dependent analog sensors (248′, 248″) are arranged on a circuit board (246) outside the bearing tube (238), at an angular distance (PHI) from one another, in order to generate rotor position signals as a function of the rotational position of the ring magnet (250). A corresponding device (150) that serves to control the motor is provided, in order to process these rotor position signals into a signal that indicates the absolute rotational position of the rotor (222).
US07893577B2

A rotor for an electrodynamic machine includes a laminated core having a plurality of lamination segments arranged in series in an axial direction, wherein the laminated core includes cooling ducts formed by duct spacers disposed between axially adjacent lamination segments, wherein the duct spacers are configured to resist centrifugal forces acting on the duct spacers and are supported by axial bolts extending through the laminated core in the axial direction.
US07893569B2

A linear electric motor including a primary part having a flux guiding element on the end faces of the primary part, a three-phase winding on the primary part that produces a first magnetic field and a permanent magnet on each end face that produces a second magnetic field that is superimposed on the first field to reduce force ripple is disclosed. The primary part has tooth modules and also end-tooth modules. The end-tooth modules have no winding, are located on the end face, and are smaller in volume than and shaped differently from the tooth modules. The primary part is separated from a secondary part by an air gap, and the end-tooth modules are separated from the secondary part by an additional air gap.
US07893565B2

A power-saving hand-held electronic device has a front side and a back side wherein each of the front side and the back side is provided with one light sensor, respectively, for controllably switching the hand-held electronic device between an operating mode and a power-saving mode. When the light sensor on the back side is blocked and the light sensor on the front side is triggered, the electronic device will be ushered into the operating mode or into the power-saving mode otherwise. The electronic device can determine whether the device should enter the power-saving mode, and it can effective control an automatic locking function with a view to achieving the synergistic effect of power saving and convenience.
US07893562B2

In an electric power supply system, a plurality of batteries (405, 406) are connected in series by a switch group (402 to 404, 407 to 409), and a higher voltage and a lower voltage are output through a terminal and a VOL terminal, respectively, and are respectively converted in the voltage thereof by two step-down DC-DC inverters (105, 106). During a discharge operation upon a serial connection, remaining content of the batteries is measured in a period other than the period of discharge from the batteries (105, 106), and the connection mode of the serial connection is controlled based on the remaining content, to control the discharge of the respective batteries up to the discharge capacity.
US07893559B2

A power distribution system comprises a DC bus supplied by an electrical generator and a resistive load connected to the DC bus. A switching device connects to the DC bus and the load and is configured to periodically open the circuit between the resistive load and the DC bus for a reoccurring period of time. The switching device senses the load on the DC bus and changes the length of the period of time based on the sensed voltage.
US07893554B2

A turbo compounding system may include a turbo generator having a switched reluctance machine having at least one pole-matched rotor and stator pair, a single phase inverter coupled to the turbo generator and further coupled to a direct current link, an inverter coupled to the direct current link, a motor generator coupled to the inverter.
US07893552B2

A roadway system for energy generation and distribution is presented. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the roadway system comprises a plurality of ground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads, and a roadway system electricity grid. The roadway system may additionally include, for example, a plurality of ground-based solar energy generating devices, one or more vehicle-based solar energy generating devices and one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devices. The energy generating devices are connected to the roadway system electricity grid and substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are positioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation from atmospheric wind.
US07893545B2

A module including a carrier and a semiconductor chip applied to the carrier. An external contact element is provided having a first portion and a second portion extending perpendicular to the first portion, wherein a thickness of the second portion is smaller than a thickness of the carrier.
US07893540B2

A semiconductor memory device has a plurality of core chips and an interface chip, whose specification can be easily changed, while suppressing the degradation of its reliability. The device has an interposer chip. First internal electrodes connected to core chips are formed on the first surface of the interposer chip. Second internal electrodes connected to an interface chip and third internal electrodes connected to external electrodes are formed on the second surface of the interposer chip. The interface chip can be mounted on the second surface of the interposer chip whenever desired. Therefore, the memory device can have any specification desirable to a customer, only if an appropriate interface chip is mounted on the interposer chip, as is demanded by the customer. Thus, the core chips do not need to be stocked in great quantities in the form of bare chips.
US07893538B2

An insulating-film-forming composition for a semiconductor device comprising an organic silica sol with a carbon atom content of 11 to 17 atom % and an organic solvent is disclosed. The organic silica sol comprises a hydrolysis-condensation product P1 and a hydrolysis-condensation product P2. The hydrolysis-condensation product P1 is obtained by hydrolyzing and condensing (A) a silane monomer comprising a hydrolyzable group and (B) a polycarbosilane comprising a hydrolyzable group in the presence of (C) a basic catalyst, and the hydrolysis-condensation product P2 is obtained by hydrolyzing and condensing (D) a silane monomer comprising a hydrolyzable group.
US07893537B2

At least part of an element isolation region, an interlayer insulating film, and a protection insulating film, other than a gate insulating film (silicon oxide film), is formed of carbon fluoride (CFx, 0.3
US07893526B2

A semiconductor package apparatus comprises: at least one semiconductor chip; and a circuit board on which the semiconductor chip is installed, wherein at least one conductive plane for improving power and/or ground characteristics is positioned on a side of the semiconductor chip. In this manner, fabrication cost for the semiconductor package apparatus can be mitigated, and power and/or ground characteristics can be improved so as to readily control impedance of signal lines. As a result, reliability of the operation of the semiconductor package apparatus can be improved, and noise and malfunction can be prevented.
US07893523B2

A microarray package includes a leadframe having an array of contact posts, a die carried by the lead frame, and a plurality of bonding wires that electrically connect the die to the lead frame. An encapsulant is included that encapsulates the die, the bonding wire and the leadframe while leaving the distal ends of the contact posts exposed and substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the microarray package. A plurality of pedestal members is plated to the distal end of a respective contact pad. A distal surface of each pedestal member protrudes outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the microarray package in the range of about 15 μm to about 35 μm.
US07893521B2

An energiser for an electric fence. The energiser includes, at least, one energy storage capacitor (14), a charging circuit (13) to enable the or each storage capacitor (14) to be charged from an energy source (10), semiconductor switching means (16), and control circuit means (15) to facilitate controlled turning -on and -off of the semiconductor switching means (16) to control the duration of the discharge from the energy storage means (14). In one form of the energiser a first semi-conductor switching means is arranged to connect in parallel the energy storage capacitors (14) to be charged and second semi-conductor switching means to connect two or more of the charged energy storage capacitors (14) in series to create an output pulse.
US07893520B2

A semiconductor structure is provided that includes an interconnect structure and a fuse structure located in different areas, yet within the same interconnect level. The interconnect structure has high electromigration resistance, while the fuse structure has a lower electromigration resistance as compared with the interconnect structure. The fuse structure includes a conductive material embedded within an interconnect dielectric in which the upper surface of the conductive material has a high concentration of oxygen present therein. A dielectric capping layer is located atop the dielectric material and the conductive material. The presence of the surface oxide layer at the interface between the conductive material and the dielectric capping layer degrades the adhesion between the conductive material and the dielectric capping layer. As such, when current is provided to the fuse structure electromigration of the conductive material occurs and over time an opening is formed in the conductive material blowing the fuse element.
US07893515B2

There are provided a semiconductor device including a photo receiving region having high photosensitivity by forming an antireflection film capable of both decreasing a reflectance and lowering a surface level density, and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an antireflection film 8 comprised of a laminated film including a first insulating film 6 formed on the surface of a silicon substrate 1 and a second insulating film 7 having a refractive index different from that of the first insulating film 6 formed above the first insulating film in a light-receiving area 10 of a semiconductor photo receiving region PD, and in which the first insulating film 6 is comprised of a silicon oxide film formed by oxidizing silicon on the surface of the semiconductor photo receiving region PD. Further, the semiconductor photo receiving region PD has a configuration such that it may receive light having a wavelength 500 nm or less. Furthermore, when this semiconductor device is manufactured, in the state in which the silicon surface which serves as a light-receiving portion of the photodiode PD is exposed, the silicon oxide film 6 is formed by thermally oxidizing silicon in the atmosphere of oxygen gas or in the atmosphere of mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen at a temperature of 800° C. or more.
US07893510B2

A high temperature-stable sensor is provided in which electrodes on a substrate or an insulation layer are in contact with a sensitive layer, wherein the electrodes have platinum, rhodium, or iridium or an electrically conductive oxide layer. For this purpose, an intermediate product is provided as a platform chip, which has a deposited layer made of platinum, rhodium, or iridium or an alloy of platinum, rhodium, or iridium and is covered by an electrically conductive oxide. From the deposited layer, a conductive structure is formed and thus a platform chip is created with an electrically conductive structure subject to external influences. This structure has an electrically conductive oxide and/or its parts have long-term, stable characteristic resistance curves under high-temperature loading above about 500° C., especially between about 600° C. and 950° C. A sensor with a gas-sensitive layer formed as a gas-sensitive sensor is preferred.
US07893507B2

A transistor comprises a substrate of a first conductivity type, a drain region and a source region of a second conductivity type, a gate, a gate oxide layer, an adjustment implant region of the first conductivity type and a planar junction. The drain region and the source region are disposed in the substrate. The gate is placed over the substrate between the source region and the drain region. The gate is separated from the substrate by the gate oxide layer. The adjustment implant region is disposed under the gate oxide layer and in the substrate. A second doping concentration of the adjustment implant region is higher than a first doping concentration of the substrate. The adjustment implant region and the drain region in a predetermined shape form the planar junction with a surface curvature pointing towards the drain region to relax electrical field intensity at a location of the planar junction.
US07893506B2

A transistor having a narrow bandgap semiconductor source/drain region is described. The transistor includes a gate electrode formed on a gate dielectric layer formed on a silicon layer. A pair of source/drain regions are formed on opposite sides of the gate electrode wherein said pair of source/drain regions comprise a narrow bandgap semiconductor film formed in the silicon layer on opposite sides of the gate electrode.
US07893502B2

An epitaxial semiconductor layer may be formed in a first area reserved for p-type field effect transistors. An ion implantation mask layer is formed and patterned to provide an opening in the first area, while blocking at least a second area reserved for n-type field effect transistors. Fluorine is implanted into the opening to form an epitaxial fluorine-doped semiconductor layer and an underlying fluorine-doped semiconductor layer in the first area. A composite gate stack including a high-k gate dielectric layer and an adjustment oxide layer is formed in the first and second area. P-type and n-type field effect transistors (FET's) are formed in the first and second areas, respectively. The epitaxial fluorine-doped semiconductor layer and the underlying fluorine-doped semiconductor layer compensate for the reduction of the decrease in the threshold voltage in the p-FET by the adjustment oxide portion directly above.
US07893500B2

A multiple field plate transistor includes an active region, with a source, a drain, and a gate. A first spacer layer is over the active region between the source and the gate and a second spacer layer over the active region between the drain and the gate. A first field plate on the first spacer layer is connected to the gate. A second field plate on the second spacer layer is connected to the gate. A third spacer layer is on the first spacer layer, the second spacer layer, the first field plate, the gate, and the second field plate, with a third field plate on the third spacer layer and connected to the source. The transistor exhibits a blocking voltage of at least 600 Volts while supporting a current of at least 2 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 5.0 mΩ-cm2, of at least 600 Volts while supporting a current of at least 3 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 5.3 mΩ-cm2, of at least 900 Volts while supporting a current of at least 2 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 6.6 mΩ-cm2, or a blocking voltage of at least 900 Volts while supporting a current of at least 3 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 7.0 mΩ-cm2.
US07893490B2

A high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor (HVMOS) device and methods for forming the same are provided. The HVMOS device includes a substrate; a first high-voltage n-well (HVNW) region buried in the substrate; a p-type buried layer (PBL) horizontally adjoining the first HVNW region; a second HVNW region on the first HVNW region; a high-voltage p-well (HVPW) region over the PBL; an insulating region at a top surface of the second HVNW region; a gate dielectric extending from over the HVPW region to over the second HVNW region, wherein the gate dielectric has a portion over the insulating region; and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric.
US07893486B2

A field plate trench transistor having a semiconductor body. In one embodiment the semiconductor has a trench structure and an electrode structure embedded in the trench structure. The electrode structure being electrically insulated from the semiconductor body by an insulation structure and having a gate electrode structure and a field electrode structure. The field plate trench transistor has a voltage divider configured such that the field electrode structure is set to a potential lying between source and drain potentials.
US07893483B2

A neuron device includes: a semiconductor layer; source and drain regions formed in the semiconductor layer at a distance from each other; a protection film formed on an upper face of the semiconductor layer; a channel region formed in the semiconductor layer between the source region and the drain region; a pair of gate insulating films formed on two side faces of the channel region; a floating gate electrode including: a first portion covered on the gate insulating films and the protection film; a second portion connected to the first portion; and a third portion provided on the substrate so as to connect to the end portion of the second portion on the opposite side from the first portion; an interelectrode insulating film provided on the first to third portions; and a plurality of control gate electrodes provided on the third portion.
US07893481B2

An improvement in the method of fabricating on chip decoupling capacitors which help prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. The inclusion of a hybrid metal/metal nitride top electrode/barrier provides for a low cost and higher performance option to strapping decoupling capacitors.
US07893476B2

Tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) are regarded as successors of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), but silicon-based TFETs typically suffer from low on-currents, a drawback related to the large resistance of the tunnel barrier. To achieve higher on-currents a nanowire-based TFET with a germanium (Ge) tunnel barrier in an otherwise silicon (Si) channel is used. A nanowire is introduced such that the lattice mismatch between silicon and germanium does not result in a highly defective interface. A dynamic power reduction as well as a static power reduction can result, compared to conventional MOSFET configurations. Multiple layers of logic can therefore be envisioned with these nanowire Si/Ge TFETs resulting in ultra-high on-chip transistor densities.
US07893466B2

Provided are a semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (FET) sensor and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a sensor structure having a fin-shaped structure on the semiconductor substrate, injecting ions for electrical ohmic contact into the sensor structure, and depositing a metal electrode on the sensor structure, immobilizing a sensing material to be specifically combined with a target material onto both sidewall surfaces of the fin-shaped structure, and forming a passage on the sensor structure such that the target material passes through the fin-shaped structure.
US07893465B2

A semiconductor device includes an etching protection layer to protect a metal layer in a bonding pad area when a metal fuse is etched.
US07893464B2

A method of manufacture of an avalanche photodiode involving a step of making a recess in a top window layer of an avalanche photodiode layer stack, such that a wall surrounding the recess runs smoothly and gradually from the level of the recess to the level of the window layer. Further, diffusing a dopant over the entire window layer area so as to form a p-n junction at the bottom of the recess, and providing a first electrical isolation region around the recess by buried ion implantation or wet oxidation in order to limit the flow of electrical current to the p-n junction. Forming an isolation trench around the photodiode and a second electrical isolation region by ion implantation into the trench such that the second electrical isolation region runs through the absorption layer of the photodiode.
US07893446B2

A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a substrate, and a first n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an emission layer, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, a metal layer and a second n-type nitride semiconductor layer stacked on the substrate successively from the side closer to the substrate, with an electrode provided on the surface of the second n-type nitride semiconductor layer or above the surface of the second n-type nitride semiconductor layer. The metal layer is preferably made of a hydrogen-storage alloy.
US07893445B2

A solid state emitter package includes a principally red solid state emitter having peak emissions within 590 nm to 680 nm, a principally blue solid state emitter having peak emissions within 400 nm to 480 nm, and at least one of a common leadframe, common substrate, and common reflector, with the package being devoid of any principally green solid state emitters having peak emissions between 510 nm and 575 nm. A solid state emitter package may include at least one electrically conductive path associated with the solid state emitter package that is not in electrical communication with any solid state emitter of the solid state emitter package, with such electrically conductive path being susceptible to inclusion of a jumper or a control element.
US07893438B2

Provided is an organic light-emitting display device (OLED) and method of manufacturing the same. The OLED comprises a substrate and a thin film transistor, with source/drain electrodes, located at a predetermined area on the substrate. A passivation layer is located on the source/drain electrodes with a via hole exposing one of the source/drain electrodes. A first pixel electrode is located at the bottom of the via hole, electrically coupled to the exposed source/drain electrode, and extending onto the side wall of the via hole and the passivation layer. A planarization pattern fills the via hole in which the first pixel electrode is located and exposes the portion of the first pixel electrode on the passivation layer.
US07893436B2

An array substrate includes a base substrate which includes a display area and a peripheral area adjacent to the display area, a plurality of fan-out lines arranged in the peripheral area to receive a driving signal from an exterior source, at least one fan-out line among the plurality of fan-out lines arranged on a different layer from a layer on which remaining fan-out lines of the plurality of fan-out lines are arranged, a plurality of signal lines arranged in the display area to receive the driving signal from the plurality of fan-out lines and a pixel array arranged in the display area to receive the driving signal from the plurality of signal lines.
US07893433B2

Thin, smooth silicon-containing films are prepared by deposition methods that utilize a silicon containing precursor. In preferred embodiments, the methods result in Si-containing films that are continuous and have a thickness of about 150 Å or less, a surface roughness of about 5 Å rms or less, and a thickness non-uniformity of about 20% or less. Preferred silicon-containing films display a high degree of compositional uniformity when doped or alloyed with other elements. Preferred deposition methods provide improved manufacturing efficiency and can be used to make various useful structures such as wetting layers, HSG silicon, quantum dots, dielectric layers, anti-reflective coatings (ARC's), gate electrodes and diffusion sources.
US07893432B2

Various embodiments include apparatus and method having a heat source, a thermal management device, and an interface disposed between the thermal management device and the heat source. The interface includes nanostructures to facilitate heat transfer and adhesion between the heat source and the thermal management device.
US07893424B2

The semiconductor layer structure includes a superlattice composed of stacked layers of III-V compound semiconductors of a first and at least one second type. Adjacent layers of different types in the superlattice differ in composition with respect to at least one element, at least two layers of the same type have a different content of the at least one element, the content of the at least one element is graded within a layer of the superlattice, and the layers of the superlattice contain dopants in predefined concentrations, with the superlattice comprising layers that are doped with different dopants. In this way, the electrical, optical and epitaxial properties of the superlattice can be adapted in the best possible manner to given requirements, particularly epitaxial constraints.
US07893421B2

A phase change memory device is presented that has a lower electrode contact that has a gradient resistance profile ranging from a lower resistive lower end to a higher resistive upper end. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a lower electrode contact, and a phase change pattern. The semiconductor substrate has a switching device. The lower electrode contact is formed on the switching device and has a specific resistance which gradually increases from a lower part to an upper part of the lower electrode contact. The phase change pattern layer is formed on the lower electrode contact.
US07893413B1

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a first isogrid defining a first plurality of zones, each zone from said first plurality of zones comprising a plurality of ligaments, each zone from said first plurality of zones defining a plurality of spaces, each space bounded by a first sub-plurality of ligaments from said plurality of ligaments, each of said ligaments comprising a plurality of ligament surfaces.
US07893411B2

A timing control circuit controls the timing for applying a voltage to a sub deflector when changing a position to be irradiated with the charged-particle beam. A control computer compares a target line width and a line width of a pattern written with the timing for applying voltage to the sub deflector changed, and determines appropriate timing for applying voltage to the sub deflector from a timing range corresponding to a predetermined allowable range of the difference between the target line width and the line width of the written pattern. The control computer then controls the timing control circuit based on the determined timing.
US07893410B2

A method including providing a substrate having thereon a layer including a multiphoton polymerizable composition, applying a light beam to at least one region of the layer, wherein the light beam cures or initiates cure of the multiphoton curable photoreactive composition; and processing a portion of the light beam reflected off the substrate to obtain a location signal of an interface between the layer and the substrate at each region.
US07893407B2

A method of aligning sets of cylindrical electrodes in the geometry of a miniature quadrupole electrostatic lens, which can act as a mass filter in a quadrupole mass spectrometer is provided. The electrodes are mounted in pairs on microfabricated supports, which are formed from conducting parts on an insulating substrate. Complete segmentation of the conducting parts provides low capacitative coupling between co-planar cylindrical electrodes, and allows incorporation of a Brubaker prefilter to improve sensitivity at a given mass resolution. A complete quadrupole is constructed from two such supports, which are spaced apart by further conducting spacers. The spacers are continued around the electrodes to provide a conducting screen.
US07893406B1

An electron gun comprises an electron emitter, an electrode surrounding the electron emitter, an extraction electrode, and a double condenser lens assembly, the double condenser lens assembly comprising a magnetic immersion pre-condenser lens and a condenser lens. In combination with a probe forming objective lens, the electron gun apparatus can provide an electron beam of independently adjustable probe size and probe current, as is desirable in electron beam applications. The electron emitter is immersed in the magnetic field generated by a magnetic type pre-condenser lens. When activated, the pre-condenser lens collimates the beam effectively to increase its angular intensity while at the same time enlarging the virtual source as compared with non-immersion case, due to geometric magnification and aberrations of its lens action. The pre-condenser lens is followed by a condenser lens. If the condenser lens is of the magnetic type, its peak magnetic field is far enough away and thus its action does not significantly affect the size of the virtual source. Independent adjustment of the lenses, combined with suitable selection of final probe forming objective aperture size, allows various combination of the final probe size and probe current to be obtained in a range sufficient for most electron beam applications.
US07893402B2

The mobility of mass-selected ions in gases is measured at pressures of a few hectopascal by selecting the ions under investigation in a quadrupole filter according to their mass-to-charge ratio m/z, measuring their mobility in a drift region at a pressure of a few hundred Pascal under the influence of a DC electric field and then filtering the measured ions by means of a quadrupole field in order to eliminate, or detect changes in, the mass-to-charge ratio. Several embodiments for the drift region are disclosed, in which the ions are kept in the axis of the drift region by RF fields. As these drift regions can also be utilized for a collision-induced decomposition of the ions, the device can additionally be used as a so-called triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.
US07893400B2

There is disclosed a method of performing laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry based on ions generated by exposing a sample supported on a substrate to laser light, the sample being to be subjected to spectrum analysis. The method includes the steps of (a) causing a part of the ions to be generated through one of an interaction between the laser light and a surface of the substrate and an interaction between the laser light and an interface between the substrate and the sample; and (b) determining the generated part of the ions to be index ions and identifying a signal to become noise in the laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using a signal of the index ions, thereby performing the spectrum analysis without an effect of the noise.
US07893397B2

An apparatus and method for using high beam currents in FIB circuit edit operations, without the generation of electrostatic discharge events. An internal partial chamber is disposed over the circuit to be worked on by the FIB. The partial chamber has top and bottom apertures for allowing the ion beam to pass through, and receives a gas through a gas delivery nozzle. A non-reactive gas, or a combination of a non-reactive gas and a reactive gas, is added to the FIB chamber via the partial chamber, until the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure. At the predetermined pressure, the gas pressure in the partial chamber will be much greater than that of the chamber, and will be sufficiently high such that the gas molecules will neutralize charging induced by the beam passing through the partial chamber.
US07893394B2

A light emitting element has spectral characteristics in a predetermined optical wavelength range. A photodetecting unit includes a photodetecting element capable of detecting a light in the optical wavelength range and performs an OE conversion of either one of a reflected light and transmitted light from a scanning target. A filter unit is arranged in an optical path from the light emitting element to the photodetecting element via the scanning target and having an optical transmission range within the optical wavelength range and covering a range of variation in the optical wavelength range.
US07893368B2

A weight measurement device is configured and arranged to measure the weight of a measurement object. The weight measurement device includes a container and a wind-guard cover. The container is configured and arranged to receive the measurement object therein. The wind-guard cover is configured and arranged to selectively cover an upper space of the container. The wind-guard cover has a transverse air-blocking part configured and arranged to block an air flow flowing in a transverse direction with respect to the container. The container also is equipped with an air control device that injects temperature-adjusted air into a chamber that accommodates the container and the wind-guard cover.
US07893363B2

A conduit body device for accommodating wire therethrough the device is provided. The conduit body has a body wall including a pair of elongate side walls and a pair of end walls forming a perimetrical side wall, a bottom wall, and an open end defining a body interior. The conduit body further includes a longitudinal axis located generally along the elongate side walls. At least two hub passageways extend from the conduit body in communication with the body interior, each of the hub passageways including a hub wall defining an access channel for passage of wires therethrough. The hub passageways may be generally located in non-axial alignment with said longitudinal axis. In some embodiments the bottom wall has a broad curved shape. In other embodiments, the open end may be angled for ease of access.
US07893353B2

A general purpose mounting bracket of a specific length which can be easily mounted onto a cable protection and guide device. The cable protection and guide device includes a fine setting of the entire length can be made without increasing the number of parts. A bracket joint includes a coupling portion (124) at one end of the bracket joint and a male connecting plate (127) or a female connecting plate (128) at the other end thereof. The mounting brackets positioned at a mounting fixed end and a mounting movable end engage the coupling portion (124) which exists at one end of the bracket joint, from a cable accommodating space side so as to be fitted to the coupling portion (124) by a snap-fit mechanism.
US07893327B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH030594. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH030594, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH030594 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH030594.
US07893326B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH080290. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH080290, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH080290 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH080290.
US07893325B2

The invention relates to fungal disease resistance, in particular to resistance to blackleg disease caused by Leptosphaeria maculans. Provided are Brassica plants and seeds comprising a fragment of chromosome 8 of a wild B. rapa accession in their genome, wherein this fragment comprises a blackleg resistance locus. Further provided are molecular markers linked to the blackleg resistance locus and methods of using the markers. Brassica plants and seeds with stacked blackleg resistance loci are also provided.
US07893315B2

This present invention provides novel methods for deriving embryonic stem cells and embryo-derived cells from an embryo without requiring destruction of the embryo. The invention further provides cells and cell lines derived without embryo destruction, and the use of the cells for therapeutic and research purposes. It also relates to novel methods of establishing and storing an autologous stem cell line prior to implantation of an embryo, e.g., in conjunction with reproductive therapies such as IVF.
US07893299B2

Described herein are chemical compounds and pharmaceutical compositions, including novel chemical compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, useful in the treatment of various diseases and disease states. Also described are methods of synthesizing natural products and novel, structurally-related chemical compounds. More particularly, disclosed are new analogs of and processes for the preparation of compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof useful in the treatment of, for example, inflammation, cancer, multiple myeloma, cachexia, cardiovascular disease, anti-infectious, diabetes, otitis media, sinusitis and transplant rejection.
US07893293B2

A chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising (A) a resin which comprises (i) a polymerization unit represented by the formula (I): wherein R7 represents a hydrogen atom etc., R8 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group, p represents an integer of 1 to 3, and q represents an integer of 0 to 2, (ii) at least one polymerization unit selected from a group consisting of a polymerization unit represented by the formula (II): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom etc., R2 represents a C1-C8 alkyl group and ring X represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, and a polymerization unit represented by the formula (IV): wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom etc., R4 and R5 independently represents a hydrogen atom etc., R10 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group etc., and (iii) a polymerization unit represented by the formula (III): wherein R3, R4 and R5 are the same as defined above, E represents a divalent hydrocarbon group, G represents a single bond etc., Z represents a carbonyl group etc. and L represents an anthryl group etc., and (B) at least one acid generator.
US07893286B2

Disclosed are improved methods for the synthesis of phospholipid ether analogs and alkyl phosphocholine analogs. The methods allow greater versatility of the reactants used and greater ease in synthesizing alkyl chains of varying length while affording reaction temperatures at room temperature or below. The methods disclosed herein provide reactants and conditions using alkyl halides and organozinc reagents and do not utilize Gringard reactions thus, allowing greater ease of their separation and purity of products. The PLE compounds synthesized by the methods disclosed herein can also be used for synthesizing high specific activity phospholipid ether (PLE) analogs, for use in treatment and diagnosis of cancer.
US07893272B2

The present invention relates to reagents and methods for influenza virus detection. These reagents and methods disclosed in the present invention enable simple, rapid, specific and sensitive detection of influenza virus types A and B. These reagents are N-acetylneuraminic acid-firefly luciferin conjugates which can be cleaved by influenza virus neuraminidase.
US07893270B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, by reacting a compound of formula (II), with a bromine or chlorine source to form a compound of formula (III), wherein X is chlorine or bromine; reacting that compound with water to form the compound of formula (IV), converting that compound, using a compound of formula (V), wherein M+ is the hydrogen cation or an alkali metal ion, alkaline earth metal ion or ammonium ion, into the compound of formula (VI), and treating that compound with a cyanide source in the presence of a base.
US07893269B2

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of 1-alkyl or 1-cycloalkyl derivatives of 3-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyridine-2-carboxamide of formula (I). The process includes reacting an amine R2NH2 with a compound of formula (II) in a solution of metal hydroxide in water to give a compound of formula (III). Subsequent reaction of the compound of formula (III) with an acid chloride formation reagent in an inert solvent gives compounds of formula (I). The acid chloride formation reagent is selected from oxalyl chloride and dimethylformamide, dimethylchloromethylene-ammonium chloride and thionyl chloride and dimethylformamide. If desired, a compound of formula (I) where R5 is hydrogen may be formed when an intermediate substituent is used wherein R5 is an alcohol protective group removable by catalytic hydrogenation.
US07893261B2

A serotonin reuptake inhibitor which can be used in the treatment of depression and which has a decreased occurrence of unwanted side effects. The serotonin reuptake inhibitors are bi-functional organic molecules which combine serotonin transporter reuptake inhibition with serotonin (5-HT, such as 5-HT2A) receptor antagonism in one molecular entity. The serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) homologue portion of the molecule shows an affinity to the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) and has antidepressant properties. The piperazine or piperidine portion of the molecule demonstrates an affinity to 5-HT receptors and restores the undesired side effects of SSRIs.
US07893259B2

The disclosure concerns pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives, their preparation and their therapeutic application, of general formula (I): and acid addition salts, hydrates and solvates thereof, as well as in the form of enantiomers, diastereoisomers and mixtures thereof. The disclosure also concerns methods for preparing said derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of general formula (I), and their therapeutic use.
US07893248B2

This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating Myc and/or Myb gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of Myc and/or Myb gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of Myc and/or Myb (e.g., c-Myc, N-Myc, L-Myc, c-Myb, a-Myb, b-Myb, and v-Myb) genes. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and disorders.
US07893242B2

The present invention provides novel synthetic oligonucleotide sequences (hereinafter sequence) of 3 to 9 bases in length comprising one or more non-DNA bases wherein the bases are nebularine, hypoxanthine, or uracil, or combinations of nebularine, hypoxanthine and uracil bases. These sequences optionally further comprise one or more guanine bases or one or more thymine bases, or combinations thereof. The present invention also provides methods of using these compositions to induce responses in cells, and to treat diseases and conditions characterized by undesired cellular proliferation such as autoimmune disease, lymphoproliferative disease, inflammation or cancer.
US07893237B2

The invention described herein relates to a Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) regulon encoding type IV pili. In particular, the invention relates to type IV pili from nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) and from H. influenzae strains a, b, c, e and f. The invention provides isolated H. influenzae pilus polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides as well as polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides involved in the assembly/disassembly of the structure. The invention also relates to uses of these polynucleotides and/or polypeptides including methods for eliciting an immune response to H. influenzae and methods of treating and preventing H. influenzae related pathological conditions.
US07893236B2

Methods and compositions for modulating plant development are provided. Polynucleotide sequences encoding isopentenyl transferase (IPT) polypeptides are provided, as are the amino acid sequences of the encoded polypeptides. The sequences can be used in a variety of methods including modulating root development, modulating floral development, modulating leaf and/or shoot development, modulating senescence, modulating seed size and/or weight and modulating tolerance of plants to abiotic stress. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues and seed are also provided.
US07893226B2

This invention provides compounds represented by the structure of the general formula (A): wherein L is a lipid or a phospholipid, Z is either nothing, ethanolamine, serine, inositol, choline, or glycerol, Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms, X is a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer, or polymer, wherein X is a glycosaminoglycan; and n is a number from 1 to 1000, wherein any bond between L, Z, Y and X is either an amide or an esteric bond.
US07893224B2

One aspect of the present invention relates to a double-stranded oligonucleotide comprising at least one ligand tethered to an altered or non-natural nucleobase. In certain embodiments, the non-natural nucleobase is difluorotolyl, nitropyrrolyl, or nitroimidazolyl. In certain embodiments, the ligand is a steroid or aromatic compound. In certain embodiments, only one of the two oligonucleotide strands comprising the double-stranded oligonucleotide contains a ligand tethered to an altered or non-natural nucleobase. In certain embodiments, both of the oligonucleotide strands comprising the double-stranded oligonucleotide independently contain a ligand tethered to an altered or non-natural nucleobase. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide strands comprise at least one modified sugar moiety. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a single-stranded oligonucleotide comprising at least one ligand tethered to an altered or non-natural nucleobase. In certain embodiments, the non-natural nucleobase is difluorotolyl, nitropyrrolyl, or nitroimidazolyl. In certain embodiments, the ligand is a steroid or aromatic compound. In certain embodiments, the ribose sugar moiety that occurs naturally in nucleosides is replaced with a hexose sugar, polycyclic heteroalkyl ring, or cyclohexenyl group. In certain embodiments, at least one phosphate linkage in the oligonucleotide has been replaced with a phosphorothioate linkage.
US07893218B2

The present invention is directed to isolated polypeptides and antibodies suitable for producing therapeutic preparations, methods, and kits relating to bone deposition. One objective of the present invention is to provide compositions that improve bone deposition. Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide methods and compositions to be utilized in diagnosing bone dysregulation. The therapeutic compositions and methods of the present invention are related to the regulation of Wise, Sost, and closely related sequences. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences and polypeptides include Wise and Sost as well as a family of molecules that express a cysteine knot polypeptide.
US07893212B2

The present invention provides an S-nitroso group-containing albumin, comprising an S-nitroso group introduced to at least one lysine in the amino acid sequence for albumin. The S-nitro group has been introduced into a lysine in the S-nitroso group-containing albumin of the invention to allow more S-nitroso groups to be included in the albumin, thus ensuring more potent inhibition of cancer cells in NO groups.
US07893211B2

Nucleic acids encoding mammalian, e.g., primate or rodent, genes, purified proteins and fragments thereof. Antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, are also provided. Methods of using the compositions for both diagnostic and therapeutic utilities are provided.
US07893198B2

Disclosed herein is a multilayer film comprising two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. A first layer polyelectrolye comprises a composite polypeptide comprising one or more surface adsorption regions covalently linked to one or more functional regions forming a single polypeptide chain. The surface adsorption regions comprise one or more amino acid sequence motifs consisting of 5 to 15 amino acid residues. The one or more functional regions comprise 3 to about 250 amino acid residues.
US07893188B2

Described are baby bottle(s) comprising polyesters comprising (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid or an ester thereof; optionally, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or esters thereof; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.
US07893179B2

A pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a 2-octyl (meth)acrylate/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer is described. The adhesive composition may be derived from renewable resources and provides good peel, shear and high temperature stability.
US07893176B2

The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.
US07893173B2

Polymerization processes of the present invention comprise low catalyst concentration. Embodiments include a polymerization process comprising polymerizing free radically (co)polymerizable monomers in a polymerization medium comprising one or more radically (co)polymerizable monomers, a transition metal catalyst complex capable of participating in a one electron redox reaction with an ATRP initiator; a free radical initiator; and an ATRP initiator; (wherein the concentration of transition metal catalyst complex in the polymerization medium is less than 100 ppm). Further embodiments include a polymerization process, comprising polymerizing one or more radically (co)polymerizable monomers in the presence of at least one transition metal catalyst complex; and an ATRP initiator; and a reducing agent; wherein the transition metal catalyst complex is present at less than 10″3 mole compared to the moles of radically transferable atoms or groups present on the ATRP initiator.
US07893172B2

An oligomer or polymer comprising a first repeat unit and a second repeat unit that may be the same or different, the first repeat unit having formula (I): wherein each E independently represents optionally substituted nitrogen or optionally substituted phosphorus, with the proviso that at least one E is optionally substituted phosphorus; each Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 is the same or different and independently represents an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; n is 0-3; and in the case of unsubstituted nitrogen and phosphorus, the second repeat unit is directly conjugated to the first repeat unit.
US07893164B2

There is provided a method for producing a conjugated diolefin (co)polymer rubber excellent in processability, independently of the kind and combination of filling agent incorporated, excellent in a balance among wet-skid characteristics, low hysteresis loss, wear resistance and breaking strength, when vulcanization treatment is performed to form a vulcanized rubber, and useful as a material for a tread or a sidewall member of a tire for low fuel consumption, a large sized tire or a high performance tire.A method for producing a conjugated diolefin (co) polymer rubber, which comprises polymerizing either a conjugated diolefin or a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound in a hydrocarbon solvent by anionic polymerization using at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an organic alkali metal and an organic alkali earth metal as an initiator, thereafter reacting a living polymer chain end thereof with a polyisocyanate compound, and then reacting a residual isocyanate group of the polyisocyanate compound bonded to the living polymer chain end with an alkoxysilane compound containing a functional group having active hydrogen; and a conjugated diolefin (co)polymer rubber obtained therefrom.
US07893159B2

The present invention includes a composition comprising a propylene-alpha olefin copolymer having at least seventy weight percent units derived from propylene, and from ten to twenty five weight percent units derived from ethylene or a C4-C10 alpha olefin, the propylene-alpha olefin copolymer exhibiting a heat of fusion of less than 37 Joules/gram and a melt flow rate of from 0.1 to 100 gram/10 minutes; and a styrenic block copolymer, wherein the weight ratio of the propylene-alpha olefin copolymer to the styrenic block copolymer is from 3:7 to 7:3. The composition exhibits tensile modulus of less than 20 MPa, tensile strength of at least 5 MPa, and elongation at break of at least 900% with low relative immediate set.
US07893157B2

The present invention provides polymeric compositions having a high polymer size and a low Tg. These novel compositions are useful as plastic additives. Also provided is a method of improving the processing of a matrix resin by adding one or more of the novel polymeric compositions.
US07893155B2

To provide a coating material for a curable solvent-based topcoating material, having excellent marring resistance, chipping resistance, producing no crack and excellent in performances such as weatherability, stain resistance, adhesion and the like, and a curable solvent-type topcoating material using such a material.A coating material is blended preferably in an amount of 60 to 90% by mass relative to paint film forming components thereby to form a curable solvent-based topcoating material. The coating material includes an oleophilic polyrotaxane which includes a cyclic molecule, a linear molecule including the cyclic molecule with piercing through the cyclic molecule, and blocking groups which are placed at both end terminals of the linear molecule to prevent the cyclic molecule from leaving from the linear molecule, at least one of the above-mentioned liner molecule and the cyclic molecule having hydrophobic modification group.
US07893140B2

The present invention provides a polyacetal resin composition having an excellent processability and stability, significantly suppressing the generation of formaldehyde from molded articles thereof, preventing exudation of components, and being excellent in weathering (light) resistance. Specifically, (A) a polyacetal copolymer having 1.0 mmol/kg or smaller quantity of a hemiformal terminal group, 2.0 mmol/kg or smaller quantity of a formyl terminal group, and 0.5% by weight or smaller quantity of an unstable terminal group is blended with (B) a hindered phenol-based antioxidant; (C) at least one compound selected from (c-1) a guanamine compound and (c-2) a hydrazide compound; (D) a hindered amine stabilizer in which the nitrogen in a piperidine derivative having a steric hindrance group is tertiary; and (E) a UV absorber in specified quantities and mixing ratios.
US07893136B2

A water soluble polymer comprising a copolyhydroxyaminoether having side-chains of polyalkylene oxides, an aqueous solution of said polymer and process for preparing the copolyhydroxyaminoether.
US07893134B2

A process for producing an absorbent polymer including a first mixing event, in which a plurality of absorbent polymer particles (1) are mixed with a liquid (2) and a second mixing event, in which the liquid (2) is homogenized within the interior of the polymer particles. The polymer particles (1) in the first mixing event are mixed with a speed such that the kinetic energy of the individual polymer particles (1) is on average larger than the adhesion energy of the individual polymer particles (1), and the polymer particles (1) in the second mixing event are stirred at a lower speed than in the first mixing event. The different speeds effect a fluidization of the polymer particles (1), which prevents a clumping of the polymer particles (1) during the mixing event. The absorbent polymers thus produced are distinguished by a particularly rapid swelling behavior.
US07893122B2

The present invention relates to a process for chemical recycling of PET waste that comprises, among other stages, a saponification reaction stage, wherein PET waste particles are reacted with stoichiometric or excessive amounts of a strong base metal in an alcoholic reaction media, the reaction being brought to the boiling temperature of the alcoholic reaction media, preferably at atmospheric pressure, thereby obtaining as reaction products a salt of terephthalic acid with the base metal and ethylene glycol, the latter being incorporated to the alcoholic reaction media. From this reaction it is possible to afford ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid and salts thereof, which are products with a high commercial value.
US07893108B2

Disclosed herein are antiviral compounds, such as anti-human cytomegalovirus antiviral compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and antiviral methods.
US07893103B2

The present invention relates to novel processes for preparing DPP-IV inhibitors having the structure of formula I, and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which are useful for treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
US07893101B2

Solid forms comprising (+)-2-[1-(3-Ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylsulfonylethyl]-4-acetylaminoisoindoline-1,3-dione, compositions comprising the solid forms, methods of making the solid forms and methods of their use are disclosed. The methods include methods of treating and/or preventing disorders ameliorated by the reduction of levels of TNF-α or the inhibition of PDE4.
US07893097B2

The combination of any two of a polyol, a polyol ether, and a low carbon organic alcohol provides a synergistic effect on the solubility of azole compounds, such as metronidazole, in aqueous fluid.
US07893095B2

The invention relates to a method for the treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions associated with vascular endothelium dysfunction or liver injury comprising the administration to a patient in a need of such treatment or prevention of a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of: wherein R represents hydrogen atom, CH3, OH, pyridyl (C5H4N), 1-methylpyridyl (C5H4N—CH3) or pyridyl substituted with hydroxy group ((OH)C5H3N), and X represents a physiologically acceptable counterion.
US07893092B2

Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts and all stereoisomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) can be used as agrochemical active ingredients and can be prepared in a manner known per se.
US07893084B2

An isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula I: wherein: A is O, S, NR1, or CR1, wherein R1 is defined herein; represents either a single or a double bond; R2 is selected from: H, halogen, R21, OR21, SR21, COOR21, SO2N(R22)2, N(R22)2, CON(R22)2, NR22C(O)R22 or NR22C(O)NR22 wherein R21 and each R22 is defined herein; B is NR3 or CR3, with the proviso that one of A or B is either CR1 or CR3, wherein R3 is defined herein; K is N or CR4, wherein R4 is defined herein; L is N or CR5, wherein R5 has the same definition as R4; M is N or CR7, wherein R7 has the same definition as R4; Y1 is O or S; Z is N(R6a)R6 or OR6, wherein R6a is H or alkyl or NR61R62 wherein R61 and R62 are defined herein; and R6 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, Het, alkyl-aryl, alkyl-Het; or R6 is wherein R7 and R8 and Q are as defined herein; Y2 is O or S; R9 is H, (C1-6 alkyl), (C3-7)cycloalkyl or (C1-6)alkyl-(C3-7)cycloalkyl, aryl, Het, (C1-6)alkyl-aryl or (C1-6)alkyl-Het, all of which optionally substituted with R90; or R9 is covalently bonded to either of R7 or R8 to form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle; a salt or a derivative thereof, as an inhibitor of HCV NS5B polymerase.
US07893077B2

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided that are useful in the treatment or prevention of a condition or disorder mediated by PPARγ or PPARδ. In particular, the compounds of the invention modulate the function of PPARγ or PPARδ. The subject methods are particularly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis.
US07893074B2

Novel pyrimidine derivatives of formula I to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US07893071B2

The present invention is directed to novel thalidomide derivative compounds that have activity as anti-angiogenic compounds. More particularly the compounds have the general structure: where R1 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, alkyl, haloalkyl, —NH2, hydroxy and alkoxy; R2 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted bicyclic, optionally substituted aryl, and R6 is H, or C1-C8 alkyl; R19 is optionally substituted aryl; and m is 0-6.
US07893058B2

Novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, arthritis, inflammation, and others.
US07893055B2

The invention encompasses a series bicyclic pyrimidinone compounds of Formula I which inhibit HIV integrase and prevent viral integration into human DNA. This action makes the compounds useful for treating HIV infection and AIDS. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating those infected with HIV.
US07893054B2

The present invention is directed to methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of a tauopathy comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a medicament comprising a phenothiazine.
US07893053B2

Provided are methods of treating psychological diseases and conditions by administration of a preferential muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 antagonist, optionally with at least one antidepressant other than a selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 antagonist. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions and kits for administration of at least one selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 antagonist in combination with at least one antidepressant other than a selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 antagonist.
US07893052B2

The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: and Formula II: (where variables R1, R2, R3, R4, A, B, G, J, Q, T, U, V, W, X and Y are as defined herein) useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US07893050B2

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are related to novel therapeutic drug combinations and methods for treating and/or preventing pulmonary arterial hypertension and/or stable angina. More particularly, aspects of the present invention are related to therapeutic combinations comprising a Rho-kinase inhibitor, such as fasudil, and one or more additional compounds selected from the group consisting of prostacyclins, such as iloprost, endothelin receptor antagonists, PDE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, 5-HT2A antagonists, such as sarpogrelate, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, statins, and vascular remodeling modulators, such as Gleevec.
US07893047B2

The present invention is directed to a biocidal composition comprising a blend of one or more pyrithione compounds, and one or more pyrrole compounds of Formula I wherein said biocidal composition is copper free or low copper content.
US07893042B2

The present invention is directed to substituted phenazopyridines represented by Formula I. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds of Formula I have increased bioavailability as compared to unconjugated phenazopyridine.
US07893040B2

The invention provides an ophthalmic composition which is an aqueous suspension comprising drug, cyclodextrin and water, the composition having an aqueous phase of from about 0.1% (w/v) to about 90% (w/v) of the drug in solution, as dissolved free drug and as dissolved drug/cyclodextrin complex(es), and a solid phase of from about 10% (w/v) to about 99.9% (w/v) of the drug as solid drug/cyclodextrin particles, suspended in the aqueous phase; the size of the solid particles being from about 10 nm to about 1 mm, the drug/cyclodextrin particles being capable of dissolving in aqueous tear fluid within 24 hours of application to the eye surface. The aqueous eye suspension can be in the form of eye drops, eye gel or eye mist. Further, the invention provides a method for treating a condition of the posterior segment and/or anterior segment of the eye comprising applying to the eye surface, in an amount which delivers to said segment or segments a therapeutically effective amount of a drug suitable for treating said condition, an ophthalmic composition which is as defined above. Nasal compositions and methods and ophthalmic and nasal compositions in powder form are also provided.
US07893035B2

Multicistronic short interfering RNA constructs targeting in various combinations a human urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), human matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) and cathepsin B (CB) inhibit tumors.
US07893028B2

Disclosed is a mutant protein having an altered fibroblast growth factor receptor specificity, which is produced by deleting one or more amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the amino acid sequence of naturally secreted fibroblast growth factor 18. The protein mutant can be used in a pharmaceutical composition for regulating hair regeneration or growth or a pharmaceutical composition for regulating bone or cartilage formation.
US07893024B2

The present invention provides methods of enhancing the rate of iron release from ferritin. By increasing the amount of iron available for chelation, the invention also provides methods of treating conditions associated with iron overload. The invention also provides in one embodiment agents which are useful for treating iron overload.
US07893015B2

An alkaline composition is described having a first nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactant having an HLB value ranging from about 10 to about 15, a second nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactant having an HLB value ranging from about 16 to 20, an aqueous solvent, and a bio-film permeation agent. A total amount of the first surfactant and the second surfactant in the composition ranges from about 2 to about 20 percent by weight of a total weight of the composition.
US07893010B2

A well treatment microemulsion for use in a subterranean formation is disclosed, the microemulsion comprises a solvent blend comprising a solvent and a co-solvent; a surfactant blend comprising a surfactant, wherein the surfactant blend is able to give formation intermediate wettability properties; an alcohol; and a carrier fluid; wherein the alcohol, the solvent and surfactant blends are combined with the carrier fluid to produce the well treatment microemulsion. By intermediate wettability it is meant that the water has an advancing contact angle on the surface between 62 and 133 degrees. The associate method of treating a subterranean formation of a well with the microemulsion and the associate method of modifying the wettability of the formation with the microemulsion are also disclosed.
US07893007B2

In order to obtain a novel binding protein against a chosen target, DNA molecules, each encoding a protein comprising one of a family of similar potential binding domains and a structural signal calling for the display of the protein on the outer surface of a chosen bacterial cell, bacterial spore or phage (genetic package) are introduced into a genetic package. The protein is expressed and the potential binding domain is displayed on the outer surface of the package. The cells or viruses bearing the binding domains which recognize the target molecule are isolated and amplified. The successful binding domains are then characterized. One or more of these successful binding domains is used as a model for the design of a new family of potential binding domains, and the process is repeated until a novel binding domain having a desired affinity for the target molecule is obtained. In one embodiment, the first family of potential binding domains is related to bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, the genetic package is M13 phage, and the protein includes the outer surface transport signal of the M13 gene III protein.
US07893005B2

A receiving layer transfer material which represents a free combination of a hologram and an image of various colors by an on-demand printing system such as thermal transfer method, onto a transfer layer which is transferred onto an object. The receiving layer transfer material is provided with a release layer 3, a relief forming layer 5 having a reflection layer 6 at a relief forming side and having a visual effect, and an adhesive layer 7, which are sequentially stacked on one surface of a substrate 2.
US07893004B2

It is a problem to be solved by the present invention to provide an oxidation catalyst which, in oxidation of a compound, can efficiently effect oxidation using oxygen in the air as an oxygen source and can be used repeatedly.The above-mentioned problem was solved by an activated carbon in which the BET specific surface area S determined by a nitrogen adsorption method and the amount of surface oxygen which will leave in the form of carbon monoxide OCO (% by weight) satisfy formula (I) 4000
US07893002B2

The invention relates to an oxygen conducting membrane includes a dense, mixed-conducting, multi-metallic oxide membrane having one surface which is coated with dispersed particles based on noble metals or magnesium oxide.
US07892993B2

Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240° C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.
US07892992B2

Readily-fibrillable fibers of PVA polymer, having good chemical resistance, hydrophilicity, weather resistance and water resistance have a flattened cross-sectional profile and have a mean thickness D (μm) that satisfies the following formula (1): 0.4≦D≦5  (1) wherein D=S/L; S indicates the cross-section area (μm2) of the fibers; and L indicates the length (μm) of the major side of the cross section of the fibers. The fibers can be used for making nonwoven fabrics.
US07892985B1

Improved methods for preparing a low-k dielectric material on a substrate using microwave radiation are provided. The use of microwave radiation allows the preparation of low-k films to be accomplished at low temperatures. According to various embodiments, microwave radiation is used to remove porogen from a precursor film and/or to increase the strength of the resulting porous dielectric layer. In a preferred embodiment, methods involve (a) forming a precursor film that contains a porogen and a structure former on a substrate, (b) exposing the precursor film to microwave radiation to remove the porogen from the precursor film to thereby create voids within the dielectric material and form the porous low-k dielectric layer and (c) exposing the dielectric material to microwave radiation in a manner that increases the mechanical strength of the porous low-k dielectric layer.
US07892983B2

Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus, comprising a processing chamber, a holder to hold at least a plurality of product substrates, a heating member, a supplying member to alternately supply at least a first reactant and a second reactant, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes forming thin films on the substrates by supplying the first reactant, removing a surplus of the first reactant after the first reactant has been adsorbed on the product substrates, subsequently supplying the second reactant, to cause the second reactant to react with the first reactant adsorbed on the substrates, and executes the forming the thin films in a state where a number of the product substrates is insufficient when a number of the product substrates is less than a maximum number of the product substrates which can be held by the holder.
US07892972B2

Methods for forming conductive vias include forming one or more via holes in a substrate. The via holes may be formed with a single mask, with protective layers, bond pads, or other features of the substrate acting as hard masks in the event that a photomask is removed during etching processes. The via holes may be configured to facilitate adhesion of a dielectric coating that includes a low-K dielectric material to the surfaces thereof. A barrier layer may be formed over surfaces of each via hole. A base layer, which may comprise a seed material, may be formed to facilitate the subsequent, selective deposition of conductive material over the surfaces of the via hole. The resulting semiconductor devices, intermediate structures, and assemblies and electronic devices that include the semiconductor devices that result from these methods are also disclosed.
US07892969B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has forming a first nitride layer over a substrate, forming a first oxide layer on the first nitride layer, forming a second nitride layer on the first oxide layer, forming a photoresist layer over the second nitride layer, forming a opening in the photoresist layer, etching the second nitride layer using the photoresist layer as a mask such that the opening is reached to the first oxide layer, etching the first oxide layer using the second nitride layer as a mask such that the opening is reached to the first nitride layer, etching the first oxide layer such that bottom zone of the opening is increased in diameter, and etching the first nitride layer using the first oxide layer as a mask such that the opening is reached to the substrate thereby to form contact hole reaching to the substrate.
US07892968B2

Methods for via gouging and a related semiconductor structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a via opening in a dielectric material, the via opening aligned with a conductor; forming a protective coating over the dielectric material and in the via opening; performing via gouging; and removing the protective coating over horizontal surfaces of the dielectric material. A semiconductor structure may include a via having an interface with a conductor, the interface including a three-dimensionally shaped region extending into and past a surface of the conductor, wherein an outer edge of the three-dimensionally shaped region is distanced from an outermost surface of the via.
US07892961B2

A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a metal-containing layer on the gate dielectric; and forming a composite layer over the metal-containing layer. The step of forming the composite layer includes forming an un-doped silicon layer substantially free from p-type and n-type impurities; and forming a silicon layer adjoining the un-doped silicon layer. The step of forming the silicon layer comprises in-situ doping a first impurity. (or need to be change to: forming a silicon layer first & then forming un-doped silicon layer) The method further includes performing an annealing to diffuse the first impurity in the silicon layer into the un-doped silicon layer.
US07892949B2

To divide a semiconductor wafer by stealth dicing, a test pad in a cutting region and an alignment target are collectively arranged along one side in a width direction of the cutting region, and a laser beam for forming a modified region is irradiated to a position away in plane from the test pad and the alignment target Am. In this manner, defects in cutting shape in a cutting process of a semiconductor wafer using stealth dicing can be reduced or prevented.
US07892947B2

A workpiece machining method includes attaching a workpiece to a workpiece support with the aid of joining means. The workpiece and the workpiece support are joined to one another by an annular joining means. The composite produced is machined. The machined workpiece is separated from the workpiece support.
US07892943B2

A first dielectric plug is formed in a portion of a trench that extends into a substrate of a memory device so that an upper surface of the first dielectric plug is recessed below an upper surface of the substrate. The first dielectric plug has a layer of a first dielectric material and a layer of a second dielectric material formed on the layer of the first dielectric material. A second dielectric plug of a third dielectric material is formed on the upper surface of the first dielectric plug.
US07892929B2

A method for rounding the corners of a shallow trench isolation is provided. A preferred embodiment comprises filling the trench with a dielectric and recessing the dielectric to expose a portion of the sidewalls of the trench adjacent to the surface of the substrate. The substrate is then annealed in a hydrogen ambient, which rounds the corners of the shallow trench isolation through silicon migration.
US07892925B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. A hollowed portion is formed over an active region of a semiconductor substrate. The bottom of the hollowed portion is lowered in level than the surface of an isolation region of the substrate. A first mask is formed in the hollowed portion, except on a side region that is adjacent to the boundary between the active region and the isolation region. A trench is formed in the side region of the active region by using the first mask and the isolation region as a mask.
US07892921B2

A graded composition, high dielectric constant gate insulator is formed between a substrate and floating gate in a flash memory cell transistor. The gate insulator is comprised of amorphous germanium or a graded composition of germanium carbide and silicon carbide. If the composition of the gate insulator is closer to silicon carbide near the substrate, the electron barrier for hot electron injection will be lower. If the gate insulator is closer to the silicon carbide near the floating gate, the tunnel barrier can be lower at the floating gate.
US07892920B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which minimizes the line width of a pattern and allows a low temperature oxide film and a thinly formed photoresist film to serve as ion blockers when performing an ion implantation process on the semiconductor substrate.
US07892915B1

A base structure for high performance Silicon Germanium:Carbon (SiGe:C) based heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with phosophorus atomic layer doping (ALD) is disclosed. The ALD process subjects the base substrate to nitrogen gas (in ambient temperature approximately equal to 500 degrees Celsius) and provides an additional SiGe:C spacer layer. During the ALD process, the percent concentrations of Germanium (Ge) and carbon (C) are substantially matched and phosphorus is a preferred dopant. The improved SiGe:C HBT is less sensitive to process temperature and exposure times, and exhibits lower dopant segregation and sharper base profiles.
US07892913B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises: forming a gate insulator on a substrate, the gate insulator including a high-dielectric film in whole or part; forming a first metal film on the gate insulator; forming a second metal film on the first metal film; and forming a reaction film between the gate insulator and the first metal film by letting the high-dielectric film and the first metal film react with each other through a thermal treatment.
US07892909B2

A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a first silicon-containing layer on the gate dielectric layer, wherein the first silicon-containing layer is substantially free from p-type and n-type impurities; forming a second silicon-containing layer over the first silicon-containing layer, wherein the second silicon-containing layer comprises an impurity; and performing an annealing to diffuse the impurity in the second silicon-containing layer into the first silicon-containing layer.
US07892907B2

Latch-up of CMOS devices (20, 20′) is improved by using a structure (40, 40′, 80) having electrically coupled but floating doped regions (64, 64′; 65, 65′) between the N-channel (44) and P-channel (45) devices. The doped regions (64, 64′; 65, 65′) desirably lie substantially parallel to the source-drain regions (422, 423; 432, 433) of the devices (44, 45) between the Pwell (42) and Nwell (43) regions in which the source-drain regions (422, 423; 432, 433) are located. A first (“N BAR”) doped region (64, 64′) forms a PN junction (512) with the Pwell (42), spaced apart from a source/drain region (423) in the Pwell (42), and a second (“P BAR”) doped region (55, 55′) forms a PN junction (513) with the Nwell (43), spaced apart from a source/drain region (433) in the Nwell (43). A further NP junction (511) lies between the N BAR (64) and P BAR (65) regions. The N BAR (64) and P BAR (65) regions are ohmically coupled, preferably by a low resistance metal conductor (62), and otherwise floating with respect to the device or circuit reference potentials (e.g., Vss, Vdd).
US07892905B2

A process for forming a strained channel region for a MOSFET device via formation of adjacent silicon-germanium source/drain regions, has been developed. The process features either blanket deposition of a silicon-germanium layer, or selective growth of a silicon-germanium layer on exposed portions of a source/drain extension region. A laser anneal procedure results in formation of a silicon-germanium source/drain region via consumption of a bottom portion of the silicon-germanium layer and a top portion of the underlying source/drain region. Optimization of the formation of the silicon-germanium source/drain region via laser annealing can be achieved via a pre-amorphization implantation (PAI) procedure applied to exposed portions of the source/drain region prior to deposition of the silicon-germanium layer. Un-reacted top portions of the silicon-germanium layer are selectively removed after the laser anneal procedure.
US07892889B2

One embodiment of the invention is a semiconductor system (1400) of arrays (1401, 1402, etc.) of packaged devices. Each array includes a sheet-like substrate (1411, 1412, etc.) made of insulating material integral with conductive horizontal lines and vertical vias, and terminals on the surfaces. Semiconductor components, which may include more than one active or passive chips, or chips of different sizes, are attached to the substrate; the electrical connections may include flip-chip, wire bond, or combination techniques. Encapsulation compound (1412, 1422, etc.), which adheres to the substrate, embeds the connected components. Metal posts (1431, 1432, etc.) traverse the encapsulation compound vertically, connecting the substrate vias with pads on the encapsulation surface. The pads are covered with solder bodies used to connect to the next-level device array so that a 3-dimensional system of packaged devices is formed.
US07892883B2

In one or more embodiments, a method comprising applying thermo compression to a package assembly including a lid, a die, and a package substrate to assemble the package assembly is disclosed. The method may include assembling the package assembly without coupling a biasing mechanism to the lid. Heat may be applied to a bond head coupled with a pick and place tool. Heat may be applied to a bond stage coupled to a carrier for holding the package assembly during processing. An adhesive applied to the lid or package substrate may be allowed to at least partially cure. The method may further include, in an oven, reflowing a thermal interface material (TIM) coupled to the lid and the die, curing the TIM, and/or curing the adhesive, without using clips.
US07892880B2

A method of manufacturing a photo-detector array device integrated with a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) monolithically integrated for a laser-radar image signal. A detector array device, a photodiode and control devices for selecting and outputting a laser-radar image signal are simultaneously formed on an InP substrate. In addition, after the photodiode and the control devices are simultaneously formed on the InP substrate, the photodiode and the control devices are electrically separated from each other using a polyamide, whereby a PN junction surface of the photodiode is buried to reduce surface leakage current and improve electrical reliability, and the structure of the control devices can be simplified to improve image signal reception characteristics.
US07892875B2

A method is for manufacturing a microelectromechanical system resonator having a semiconductor device and a microelectromechanical system structure unit formed on a substrate. The method includes: forming a lower electrode of an oxide-nitride-oxide capacitor unit included in the semiconductor device using a first silicon layer; forming, using a second silicon layer, a substructure of the microelectromechanical system structure unit and an upper electrode of the oxide-nitride-oxide capacitor unit included in the semiconductor device; and forming, using a third silicon layer, a superstructure of the microelectromechanical system structure unit and a gate electrode of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor circuit unit included in the semiconductor device.
US07892869B2

A method for manufacturing a light emitting diode (LED) assembly comprises the steps of: preparing a chip carrier comprising a carrier substrate, a P type electrode and an N type electrode, and arranging an LED chip onto the carrier substrate to electrically connect the LED chip with the P type electrode and the N type electrode; packaging the LED chip with a light-transmissible packaging gel and making the P type electrode and the N type electrode exposed to form a molded LED chip cell; preparing an arrangement carrier comprising a arrangement carrier substrate, a P type electrode plate and an N type electrode plate; forming an arrangement recess on the arrangement carrier substrate; and arranging the molded LED chip cell into the arrangement recess to make the P type electrode and the N type electrode electrically connect to the P type electrode plate and the N type electrode plate respectively.
US07892868B2

A LED packaging method includes a procedure of placing a screen plate having stepped holes on a substrate carrying LED chips, a procedure of reversing the screen plate with respect to the substrate, and a procedure of packaging the LED chips with a first packaging adhesive and a second packaging adhesive by means of applying the first packaging adhesive to the small diameter portion of each stepped hole when the first side of the screen plate is attached to the substrate and then applying the second packaging adhesive to the big diameter portion of each stepped hole after the screen plate is reversed.
US07892866B2

The invention provides an end-face-processing jig that allows the formation of a reflectance control film on an end face of a semiconductor laser body while preventing possible degradation due to catastrophic optical damage (COD) of a semiconductor laser, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor laser employing such an end-face-processing jig. A window part of the end-face-processing jig is made of at least one of an oxide and a nitride, and semiconductor laser bars are fixed by the end-face-processing jig so that their end faces are exposed through a window of the window part. In this condition, a reflectance control film is formed on the end faces of the semiconductor laser bars for the manufacture of a semiconductor laser. This prevents a metal from being taken in the reflectance control film, thus preventing the absorption of light caused by a metal taken in the reflectance control film. It is thus possible to form a reflectance control film on the end faces of semiconductor laser bars while preventing possible degradation due to COD of a semiconductor laser.
US07892865B2

In a state of a first semiconductor integrated circuit device on which a first semiconductor integrated circuit board including a first mask ROM and a programmable ROM are mounted, an ultimate program determined by using the programmable ROM is stored in a second ROM of a second semiconductor integrated circuit board which is substantially similar in structure to the first semiconductor integrated circuit board, thereby manufacturing a second semiconductor integrated circuit device as an ultimate product.
US07892864B2

A charged particle beam irradiation method includes setting an observation region on a sample, the sample including an object pattern to be observed, and the observation region including the object pattern, setting an irradiation region on the sample, the irradiation region being to be irradiated with a charged particle beam, the irradiation region including the observation region and being larger than the observation region, setting a non-irradiation region in the irradiation region, the non-irradiation region failing to be irradiated with the charged particle beam, irradiating the irradiation region except the non-irradiation region with the charged particle beam, and irradiating the observation region with a charged particle beam after the irradiating the irradiation region except the non-irradiation region with the charged particle beam.
US07892862B2

Provided are the methods of evaluating thermal treatment. In the methods, a wafer comprising a silicon substrate having an oxygen concentration of approximately equal to or less than 1.0×1018 atoms/cm3 and a silicon epitaxial layer on at least one surface of the substrate is employed.
US07892860B2

A method for forming a semiconductor laser chip is provided that can suppress layer discontinuity and simultaneously reduce fabrication variations in the light radiation angle in the horizontal direction. The method includes a step of forming, on an n-type GaAs substrate, a semiconductor element layer composed of a plurality of semiconductor layers including an etching marker layer, a step of forming, in a contact layer in the semiconductor element layer, a depressed portion having a depth not reaching the etching marker layer, and a step of forming a ridge portion by etching the semiconductor element layer by dry etching while monitoring, with laser light, the etching depth in the bottom region of the depressed portion.
US07892850B2

An apparatus for measuring immature platelets is described that includes (a) a sample preparation unit for preparing an assay sample by adding a reagent to a blood specimen; (b) a detection unit having a semiconductor laser light source for irradiating the assay sample with laser light, and a detector for detecting optical information emitted from particles within the assay sample irradiated by laser light; and (c) a controller for differentiating and counting immature platelets based on the detected optical information. A method for measuring immature platelets is also described.
US07892833B2

Compounds can be used to act as inhibitors of enzymes having histone deacetylase activity for the medical therapy of conditions which predispose a person for the development of a disease, such as but not limited to cancer, inflammatory or metabolic diseases. Such conditions are linked to genetically inherited mutations of crucial genes which predispose a person with this condition to develop the disease phenotype. Thus, such compounds can be used for a suppressive therapeutic approach—the SUPPRESSION THERAPY—in order to inhibit or delay the onset or progression of the genetically predisposed disorder. Furthermore, a clinically used medicament can be manufactured for the SUPPRESSION THERAPY of such inherited predisposing conditions.
US07892832B2

Bacteria are manipulated to create desirable output traits using dominant negative alleles of mismatch repair proteins. Enhanced hypermutation is achieved by combination of mismatch repair deficiency and exogenously applied mutagens. Stable bacteria containing desirable output traits are obtained by restoring mismatch repair activity to the bacteria.
US07892829B2

Disclosed is a method for producing cardiomyocytes in vivo by administering to the heart of an individual a cardiomyocyte producing amount of mesenchymal stem cells. These cells can be administered as a liquid injectable or as a preparation of cells in a matrix which is or becomes solid or semi-solid. The cells can be genetically modified to enhance myocardial differentiation and integration. Also disclosed is a method for replacing cells ex vivo in a heart valve for implantation.
US07892824B2

The present invention provides novel dystrophin mini/micro-genes that retain the essential biological functions of a full-length dystrophin gene. More particularly, the present invention provides to a series of synthetic mini/micro-dystrophin genes capable of restoring neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) to the sarcolemma. A method as well as a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD), and X-linked Dilated Cardiomyopathy (XLDC) are also provided.
US07892819B2

Disclosed are devices for amplifying a preselected polynucleotide in a sample by conducting a polynucleotide amplification reaction. The devices are provided with a substrate microfabricated to include a polynucleotide amplification reaction, chamber, having at least one cross-sectional dimension of about 0.1 to 1000 μm. The device also includes at least one port in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, for introducing a sample to the chamber, for venting the chamber when necessary, and, optionally, for removing products or waste material from the device. The reaction chamber may be provided with reagents required for amplification of a preselected polynucleotide. The device also may include means for thermally regulating the contents of the reaction chamber, to amplify a preselected polynucleotide. Preferably, the reaction chamber is fabricated with a high surface to volume ratio, to facilitate thermal regulation.
US07892816B2

The present invention provides a method for detecting probe-target substrate binding. In particular, the present invention provides a method for detecting a surface bound target complex by detecting the redox reaction of a redox transition metal complex that is catalyzed by a redox-catalyst complex.
US07892809B2

The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that parvovirus (including AAV) capsids can be engineered to incorporate small, selective regions from other parvoviruses that confer desirable properties. The inventors have discovered that in some cases as little as a single amino acid insertion or substitution from a first parvovirus (e.g., an AAV) into the capsid structure of another parvovirus (e.g., an AAV) to create a chimeric parvovirus is sufficient to confer one or more of the desirable properties of the first parvovirus to the resulting chimeric parvovirus and/or to confer a property that is not exhibited by the first parvovirus or is present to a lesser extent.
US07892802B2

The present invention provides a fibrinogen-based tissue adhesive which contains an elastase inhibitor.
US07892796B2

Solid support assays using non-standard bases are described. A capture oligonucleotide comprising a molecular recognition sequence is attached to a solid support and hybridized with a target oligonucleotide. In some instances, the molecular recognition sequence includes one or more non-standard bases and hybridizes to a complementary tagging sequence of the target oligonucleotide. In other instances, incorporation of a non-standard base (e.g., via PCR or ligation) is used in the assay.
US07892795B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for rapid, sensitive, and highly specific nucleic acid-based (e.g., DNA based) detection of a BK virus in a sample. In general, the methods involve detecting a target nucleic acid having a target sequence of a conserved region of BK viral genomes. The invention also features compositions, including primers, probes, and kits, for use in the methods of the invention.
US07892782B2

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a phenotypically antibiotic-resistant subpopulation of stationary phase bacteria by treating stationary phase bacteria with high doses of antibacterial agents, the subpopulation thus identified, a process for identifying new antibacterial agents by testing against the antibiotic-resistant subpopulation, the compounds thus identified and their uses, particularly in treating bacterial infections involving dormant bacteria.
US07892781B2

A test agent includes a composite probe having at least one nanoparticle having multiple metal atoms, a directing agent, and an enzyme. The directing agent attaches the probe to a target in a test sample. The test sample and bound probe are then treated with an enzyme substrate. A method of detecting a target in a test sample includes exposing the test sample to the probe, then treating the test sample with an enhancement or development solution to deposit at least one of a fluorophore, a chromogen, or a metal.
US07892780B2

Disclosed is a method for screening an antioxidant using mutant bacteria and chlorophyllide, and an antioxidant screened by the same method. The method provides for screening of an antioxidant by monitoring growth profiles of specific mutant bacteria in filter discs or medium blocks containing chlorophyllide added thereto, and an antioxidant screened by the same method. By monitoring growth profiles of mutant bacteria using mutant bacteria and chlorophyllide, screening of an antioxidant is possible on an industrial scale. In particular, the antioxidant screening method is useful for selective screening of an amphiphilic antioxidant. Therefore, it is possible to screen and commercialize low-toxic and effective antioxidants used in various food and cosmetic additives, as well as therapeutic medicines.
US07892779B2

It is now discovered that human chymase cleaves human SLPI at a specific site and that this cleavage can be used as an indicator of chymase activity. The present invention provides methods of diagnosing a chymase-associated disease or evaluating the efficiency of a treatment of a chymase-associated disease in a human subject by measuring SLPI processing, as well as other related methods and compositions.
US07892778B2

The present invention relates to an improved process for determining γ-secretase activity and for detecting γ-secretase, a subunit protein of γ-secretase, or a γ-secretase-like proteinase. In particular, the present invention relates to processes for the identification of a γ-secretase or of a cDNA which codes for a γ-secretase, a subunit protein of γ-secretase, or a γ-secretase-like proteinase. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to processes for the identification of substances which can inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, or a γ-secretase-like proteinase.
US07892777B2

Methods are provided for ascertaining and measuring RPTP-κ activity in response to insults such as UV irradiation and with respect to administration of a treatment and/or composition. Attenuation of EGFR activity by RPTP-κ affects aspects of photoaging, including damage to the skin, suppression of the immune system, DNA damage, and connective tissue degradation. Intervention with respect to the effects of photoaging can include protection of RPTP-κ from oxidation. The methods can be used for discovery of anti-aging treatments, adjuncts, or other preventative treatments, such as sunscreens.
US07892759B2

Detection of miniscule amounts of an analyte is accomplished via multiple bindings of specific materials on a sensor configured to sense mass. The sensor is prepared by immobilizing an antibody to a surface of the sensor, wherein the antibody is known to bind to the analyte. The prepared sensor is exposed to the analyte. The analyte binds to the antibody. The sensor then is exposed to additional antibody, which binds to the analyte. The sensor then can be sequentially exposed to additional antibodies that are known to bind to previously bound antibodies. Each additional binding further increases the effective mass of accumulated material on the sensor. The total effective mass is greater than the mass of the accumulated analyte, thus providing means for detecting extremely minute amounts of analyte. Applications include detection of pathogens and DNA.
US07892750B1

Elevated levels of cathepsin E (catE) are demonstrated to be diagnostic of intestinal forms of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. Elevated levels of cathepsin E (catE, monomeric forms) are demonstrated to be detectable in the urine of animals having colorectal cancer, and a diagnostic/screening method for identifying and/or detecting colorectal in an animal from a urine sample is provided. Specific tissue immunohistochemcial staining for catE (monomeric forms) in dysplastic tissue is also disclosed, and is shown to correlate with the level of dysplastic lesion severity. Hence, a method for determining and identifying dysplastic lesion severity is provided. Cathepsin E mRNA transcription and expression levels are also demonstrated to be upregulated in dysplastic tissue, relative to non-dysplastic tissue. Hence, a method for transcriptionally profiling an animal to monitor the progression of colorectal disease is provided.
US07892747B2

The present invention describes a method for identifying one or more of a plurality of sequences differing by one or more single base changes, insertions, deletions, or translocations in a plurality of target nucleotide sequences. The method includes a ligation phase, a capture phase, and a detection phase. The ligation phase utilizes a ligation detection reaction between one oligonucleotide probe, which has a target sequence-specific portion and an addressable array-specific portion, and a second oligonucleotide probe, having a target sequence-specific portion and a detectable label. After the ligation phase, the capture phase is carried out by hybridizing the ligated oligonucleotide probes to a solid support with an array of immobilized capture oligonucleotides at least some of which are complementary to the addressable array-specific portion. Following completion of the capture phase, a detection phase is carried out to detect the labels of ligated oligonucleotide probes hybridized to the solid support.
US07892746B2

The present invention describes a method for identifying one or more of a plurality of sequences differing by one or more single base changes, insertions, deletions, or translocations in a plurality of target nucleotide sequences. The method includes a ligation phase, a capture phase, and a detection phase. The ligation phase utilizes a ligation detection reaction between one oligonucleotide probe, which has a target sequence-specific portion and an addressable array-specific portion, and a second oligonucleotide probe, having a target sequence-specific portion and a detectable label. After the ligation phase, the capture phase is carried out by hybridizing the ligated oligonucleotide probes to a solid support with an array of immobilized capture oligonucleotides at least some of which are complementary to the addressable array-specific portion. Following completion of the capture phase, a detection phase is carried out to detect the labels of ligated oligonucleotide probes hybridized to the solid support.
US07892743B2

Provided are methods of determining differences between nucleic acids in a test sample and a reference sample. In certain embodiments the methods are used for detecting and mapping chromosomal or genetic abnormalities associated with various diseases or with predisposition to various diseases, or to detecting the phenomena of large scale copy number variants. In particular, provided are advanced methods of performing array-based comparative hybridization that allow reproducibility between samples and enhanced sensitivity by using the same detectable label for both test sample and reference sample nucleic acids. Invention methods are useful for the detection or diagnosis of particular disease conditions such as cancer, and detecting predisposition to cancer based on detection of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities and gene expression level. Invention methods are also useful for the detection or diagnosis of hereditary genetic disorders or predisposition thereto, especially in prenatal samples. Moreover, invention methods are also useful for the detection or diagnosis of de novo genetic aberrations associated with post-natal developmental abnormalities.
US07892739B2

The invention relates to stretch measurements of nucleic acids and correlating those measurements to the extent of double- and single-stranded content of a nucleic acid of interest, and to compositions, systems, and devices related thereto. In preferred embodiments, one performs the stretch or elasticity measurements under conditions such that one can determine a nucleic acid sequence or the presence of an oligonucleotide in a sample.
US07892730B2

The present invention relates to novel sequences for use in diagnosis and treatment of carcinomas, especially lymphoma carcinomas. In addition, the present invention describes the use of novel compositions for use in screening methods.
US07892729B1

A universal and differential assay kit for the detection of antibodies to swine influenza virus (SIV) in a biological sample comprising SIV non-structural 1 (NS1) protein and SIV nucleoprotein (NP); a universal and differential assay method for detecting antibodies to SIV in a biological sample comprising assaying the biological sample for the presence of an antibody to SIV NS1 protein and an antibody to SIV NP; primers; and fusion proteins.
US07892724B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for the preservation, storage, and transport of living biological tissues, organs, and populations of isolated cells. In particular, the disclosed compositions and processes permit mammalian cells, tissues, and organs to be harvested from suitable donor animals, stored for prolonged periods, and transported to the site of recipient implantation, all without significant loss of cell viability, biological activity, and/or tissue integrity.
US07892723B2

A method for forming a patterned photoresist is provided, which is applicable to a substrate. The method includes: performing an implantation process over the substrate; next, performing a surface treatment process; then, forming a photoresist layer over the substrate; and thereafter, patterning the photoresist layer.
US07892722B2

A pattern forming method includes (a) a step of forming a resist film on a substrate, (b) a pre-wet step of spreading a pre-wet solution on the resist film and after a fixed time, removing the pre-wet solution, and (c) a step of subjecting the resist film on the substrate to exposure through an immersion liquid.
US07892720B2

To provide a negative photosensitive fluorinated aromatic resin composition having a low relative permittivity, low water absorptivity, high heat resistance and high productivity.A negative photosensitive fluorinated aromatic resin composition comprising the following fluorinated aromatic prepolymer, a photosensitizer and a solvent. Here the fluorinated aromatic prepolymer is a fluorinated aromatic prepolymer which is obtained by subjecting either one or both of a compound (Y-1) having a crosslinkable functional group (A) and a phenolic hydroxyl group, and a compound (Y-2) having a crosslinkable functional group (A) and a fluorinated aromatic ring, to a condensation reaction in the presence of a HF-removing agent, with a fluorinated aromatic compound (B) represented by the following formula (1): (wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 3, each of a and b which are independent of each other, is an integer of from 0 to 3, each of Rf1 and Rf2 is a fluorinated alkyl group having at most 8 carbon atoms, and F in the aromatic ring represents that hydrogen atoms of the aromatic ring are all substituted by fluorine atoms), and a compound (C) having at least 3 phenolic hydroxyl groups, and which has crosslinkable functional groups (A) and ether bonds and has a number average molecular weight of from 1×103 to 5×105.
US07892717B2

The invention provides a toner for electrostatic image development having at least a binder resin and a colorant and having an existence ratio of an IA Group element, from which hydrogen is excluded, measured by XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) in a range of about 0.03 to 1.0 atom % and a total of existence ratios of an IIA Group element, an IIIB Group element and an IVB Group element, from which carbon is excluded, measured by XPS in a range of about 0.05 to 2.0 atom %. The invention further provides an electrostatic image developer having at least a carrier and the toner, and an image forming method including at least developing an electrostatic latent image with a developer containing at least the toner to form a toner image.
US07892715B2

A color toner for electro printing, which comprises from 10 to 50 parts by mass of fine inorganic pigment particles, from 5 to 40 parts by mass of a heat decomposable binder resin having an acid value of at least 5, and from 40 to 85 parts by mass of glass frit, per 100 parts by mass of the total solid content of the toner.
US07892714B2

A toner comprising toner particles, a polymer binder, at least one colorant and clay composites distributed in the polymer binder, wherein the clay composites comprise a polymer modified clay.
US07892708B2

In a mask blank substrate to be chucked by a mask stage of an exposure system, the flatness of a rectangular flatness measurement area excluding an area of 2 mm inward from an outer peripheral end surface on a main surface of the mask blank substrate on its side to be chucked by the mask stage is 0.6 μm or less, and at least three of four corner portions of the flatness measurement area each have a shape that rises toward the outer peripheral side.
US07892691B2

A solid oxide fuel cell component (12) comprises a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells (24) arranged in spaced apart relationship, and in electrical series, on a surface of the porous gas permeable support structure (16). Each solid oxide fuel cell (24) comprises a dense gas tight electrolyte member (28), a porous gas permeable first electrode (26) and a porous gas permeable second electrode (30). Each electrolyte (28) is arranged in contact with a corresponding one of the first electrodes (26), each second electrode (30) is arranged in contact with a corresponding one of the electrolytes (28). Each of the first electrodes (26) is arranged in contact with the surface of the support structure (16). The interconnectors (32), the peripheral seal layer (34) and the electrolytes (28) are arranged to encapsulate all of the first electrodes (26) except for the surfaces of the first electrodes (26) in contact with the surface of the support structure (16) to prevent leakage of reactant from the first electrodes (16).
US07892689B2

A fuel cell-based system includes an electromechanical pressure relief system to prevent an overpressure condition from damaging the anode circuit of a fuel cell stack or creating a hazardous environment. Upon detection of a fuel flow pressure in a fuel path between a fuel source and the fuel cell stack, the pressure relief system isolates the anode circuit from the fuel path, vents the fuel flow, and shuts down the fuel cell system.
US07892680B2

A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a case, a nonaqueous electrolyte provided in the case, a positive electrode provided in the case, and a negative electrode provided in the case, the negative electrode comprising a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode layer that is carried on the negative electrode current collector and contains negative electrode active material particles, and the negative electrode current collector comprising an aluminum foil having an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or less or an aluminum alloy foil having an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or less.
US07892678B2

A hydrogen absorbing alloy powder includes an intermetallic compound having an AB5 type crystal structure and containing La for an A site element and Ni for a B site element. The powder contains La by 20 wt % or more and metallic Ni by from 2.0 wt % to 10 wt %, and acicular or grain shape precipitates containing La(OH)3 are deposited on a surface thereof. The powder has an intensity ratio P2/P1 satisfying a relation: P2/P1≧0.02, where P1 is a peak intensity appearing in the vicinity of: diffraction angle 2θ=42.5 deg and showing (111) face of LaNi5 and P2 is a peak intensity appearing in the vicinity of: diffraction angle 2θ=15.8 deg and showing (100) face of La(OH)3 in the X-ray diffractometry using CuKα rays.
US07892672B2

A nonaqueous secondary battery separator is provided that is excellent in heat resistance, shutdown characteristics, membrane resistance and handling property. The present invention is a polyolefin microporous membrane used for a nonaqueous secondary battery separator containing the polyolefin microporous membrane at least one surface of which is coated and integrated with a heat resistant porous layer, characterized in that the membrane has (A) a thickness of 5 to 20 μm, (B) a porosity of 35 to 50%, (C) an air permeability per unit thickness (JIS P8117) of 10 to 30 sec/100 cc·μm and a total air permeability of the membrane (JIS P8117) of 400 sec/100 cc or less, and (D) Y/X of 1×10−3 to 1×10−2 ohm·cm2/(sec/100 cc), wherein the air permeability (JIS P8117) is represented by X sec/100 cc, and the membrane resistance upon impregnating the polyolefin microporous membrane with an electrolytic solution is represented by Y ohm·cm2.
US07892667B2

A battery security device includes a holder, a cover and at least one flexible plate. The holder contains the battery. The cover slips to set on the holder and has at least one raised lump to press the flexible plate. The flexible plate is set between the holder and the cover and has at least one elastic arm. The elastic arm has a stressed portion and at least one contact portion. When the cover slips to set on the holder, the raised lump presses down the stressed portion to increase the pressure of the elastic arm for avoiding power failure caused of the battery be shook. Further the device to fix a battery does not increase the force of setting the cover and not need any other component. To sum up, the device to fix a battery of present invention has low cost and friendly use.
US07892660B2

Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials, methods for making these articles and materials, and methods for protecting articles using coatings made from these materials. One particular embodiment is an article that comprises a coating having a surface connected porosity content of up to about 5 percent by volume. The coating comprises a material that comprises a primary oxide and a secondary oxide, wherein (i) the primary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, terbium, and hafnium, and (ii) the secondary oxide comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of the rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium.
US07892657B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting element which has low driving voltage and can increase lifetime longer than a conventional light emitting element. One feature is to include a plurality of layers which includes a layer containing a light emitting substance between first and second electrodes, in which at least one layer of the plurality of layers contains a carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1) and a substance having an electron accepting property with respect to the carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1). By employing this structure, the above object can be achieved.
US07892649B2

An adhesive article comprising a first substrate having thereon an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a cured adhesive composition of a multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane polymer; and the first substrate comprises a polymer film, paper, a metal film, glass, ceramic, or a combination thereof; and wherein the adhesive layer has a microstructured surface that is substantiously continuous, and wherein the microstructured surface forms an array or pattern. The adhesive article is used to make laminated articles that spontaneously wet, and when applied to a substrate, remain removable or repositionable, even after long periods of time. The adhesive composition may be used in transfer adhesive films, and in laminated articles suitable for use in optical applications.
US07892648B2

A low-k dielectric material with increased cohesive strength for use in electronic structures including interconnect and sensing structures is provided that includes atoms of Si, C, O, and H in which a fraction of the C atoms are bonded as Si—CH3 functional groups, and another fraction of the C atoms are bonded as Si—R—Si, wherein R is phenyl, —[CH2]n— where n is greater than or equal to 1, HC═CH, C═CH2, C≡C or a [S]n linkage, where n is a defined above.
US07892641B2

An embodiment of a sizing composition for glass fibers comprises a starch, a nonionic lubricant, and a silane comprising at least one amine and at least one aryl or arylene group. Embodiments of fiber glass strands comprise at least one glass fiber at least partially coated with a sizing composition of the present invention. Embodiments of fiber glass strands can have tensile strengths that make the fiber glass strands desirable for certain processes, applications, and/or end uses.
US07892634B2

The 3-D relief pattern blank and method of using comprises the steps of using a cutting machine to cut a thin, retroreflective heat reflective sheet in a desired pattern. The thin, retroreflective heat reflective sheet is formed to provide a heat-retroreflective mask. Subsequently, the heat-retroreflective mask is transferred to a preferably smooth surface of a foamed thermoplastic substrate. The assembly of heat-retroreflective mask and foamed thermoplastic is then exposed to a source of visible and/or infrared radiation. The radiation does not have to be coherent and the exposure need not be under automatic guidance or control. Unmasked areas of the foamed thermoplastic absorb radiant heat more rapidly than masked areas, causing the unmasked areas to collapse into a relief of the desired pattern. The resulting relief ranges between approximately an eighth of an inch and one inch in depth.
US07892633B2

Disclosed are composite laminates that can exhibit high strength and/or low dielectric loss and can also be lightweight. The laminates include layers formed of high modulus polyolefin fiber. The fibers can be woven or knit to form a fabric or can be included in a nonwoven fabric that can be one or more layers of the composite structures. The layers including the high modulus polyolefin fibers can include other fibers, such as fiberglass. The composites can also include layers of other materials, for instance layers formed of polyaramids, fiberglass, or carbon fiber wovens or nonwovens. The composites can advantageously be utilized in low loss dielectric applications, such as in forming circuit board substrates, or in applications beneficially combining strength with low weight, such as automobile and boat materials.
US07892631B2

The invention pertains to a lightweight board with two thin-walled top layers and at least one core layer located between the top layers and connected to these, and a process to manufacture this. The process to manufacture the invented lightweight board is characterised by a first process stage in which a groove is made in at least one longitudinal side of the lightweight board, a profile strip is inserted in a second process stage into the groove in the lightweight board and a further profile strip is attached in a third stage on the previously attached profile strip. The process to manufacture another invented lightweight board is characterised by a first process stage in which a groove is made in at least one longitudinal side of the lightweight board, a profile strip is inserted in a second process stage into the groove in the lightweight board, the profile strip projecting over the groove in the lightweight board is removed in a third process stage and a further profile strip is attached to the previously trimmed profile strip in a fourth process stage.
US07892626B2

A substrate with plane patterns formed in a liquid process wherein the plane patterns are formed based on a combination of plane shapes by which a difference in internal pressure of a solution between any two points of the solution is small, the solution being ejected onto the substrate so as to form the plane patterns by the liquid process.
US07892624B2

A molded coarse particle product adapted for use as housewares, furniture or architectural components or the like preferentially made from coarse wood particles, flakes or chips, or any other suitable castable particulate materials such as glass, dried grass, plastic, shell particles or a combination thereof admixed and bonded together with an adhesive binder and lightly pressed into a mold preferably manually, together with a reinforcing means. The resulting surface texture of the cast product has the natural or original characteristics of the preferred particles comprising thereof such that it looks as natural as the said particles when viewed collectively together in plurality, and the quality and degree of roughness being defined by the natural features of said particles.
US07892622B2

The object of the invention is to provide a method which is as simple and economical as possible for manufacturing a tufted product, in particular a tufted top layer of a carpet, having improved nep adhesion properties. For this purpose splittable fibers are used which split on or in the region of the puncture site during tufting.
US07892618B2

An optical media disk is treated with a light-sensitive material that impedes the ability of a optical media player from reading data stored on the disk. This light-sensitive material is a material changes phase upon exposure to one or more wavelengths of light. During the initial phase, the light-sensitive material will render the disk unreadable. After activation, however, the disk becomes readable by conventional optical media players. In this fashion, theft of yet-to-be-activated optical media is deterred.
US07892617B2

Disclosed is a surface covering panel including a first edge with a groove inclusive first coupling means, a second opposite edge with a tongue inclusive second coupling means, the coupling means enabling coupling of two panels, a mechanical locking means integrated into at least one of the coupling means which, when two panels are coupled, is configured to prevent these panels from moving apart, the coupling means being designed for coupling essentially without elastic deformation, wherein at least one part of the surface of at least one of the coupling means includes a repositionable adhesive configured to create bonds between the coupling means that are multiply breakable and re-bondable, wherein a breaking of the bonds on disassembly of the panels results in a chemical click designed to indicate decoupling to a user.
US07892603B2

A regeneration apparatus for an electroless plating solution includes a sensor for measuring the formation rate of phosphorous acid formed in a plating tank in response to a plating treatment, a split device for taking out a plating solution in the plating tank to transfer the plating solution to a first processing tank, a sensor for measuring the concentration of the phosphorous acid contained in the plating solution taken out, an addition device for supplying calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide, an amount of which is required for producing a calcium phosphite from the phosphorous acid contained in the plating solution, to the first processing tank, a separation device for separating and removing the calcium phosphite produced in the first processing tank from the plating solution, and a return pump for transferring the plating solution from which the calcium phosphite has been separated and removed to the plating tank.
US07892599B2

Methods for functionalizing the surface of nanomaterials to improve processing and product manufacturing. These methods are useful for oxides, nitrides, carbides, borides, metals, alloys, chalcogenides, and other compositions.
US07892597B2

Methods are provided of producing a heater cable. An electrical conductor is coated with a preceramic resin. At least a portion of the coated electrical conductor is deployed into a operational location. The preceramic resin is pyrolyzed while the portion of the coated electrical conductor is in the operational location to convert the preceramic resin into a ceramic insulator disposed to electrically insulate the electrical conductor from the sheath.
US07892596B2

A process including coating a fuel cell component using a coating solution including nanoparticles.
US07892592B1

A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces.
US07892587B2

A coffee product and process are provided which produce a coffee product having elevated levels of 3,7-dimetylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol. In various forms, the coffee product is dry roast and ground coffee or a dry soluble coffee product such as a powder or granule form. The process includes adding 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol to roast and ground coffee or a soluble coffee to produce an enhanced coffee flavor beverage, or to an extract or solution thereof.
US07892584B2

A method is provided for improving quality of cheese produced from a milk batch. A light beam from an incident light source impinges onto a surface of the milk batch, and light backscatter is optically detected during a coagulation process and correlated to an optimum cutting time for the milk coagulum. Next, light backscattered from a curd and whey mixture derived from the milk batch during a syneresis process is optically detected and correlated to an optimum syneresis endpoint. At least one of the backscattered light data, optical parameters developed from analysis of the backscattered light data, and whey fat dilution are correlated to at least one of a milk protein %, a milk fat %, a milk total solids content, a milk processing temperature, a curd moisture content, a curd moisture change over time, whey fat content, a whey fat loss, and a final curd yield.
US07892583B2

The present invention discloses microbial organisms capable of fermenting malic acid to lactic acid having impaired capability of degrading citric acid. These microbial organisms are for example useful in methods of preferentially degrading malic acid over citric acid in a liquid composition or in methods of inducing malolactic fermentation during wine production. The invention also discloses a concentrate of these microbial organisms and methods of preparing such a concentrate. The present invention furthermore relates to an activation solution useful for incubation of microbial organisms prior to inoculation into a liquid composition, such as wine.
US07892582B2

A composition for oral administration containing capsaicinoids associated with a formulation base acceptable for oral administration, the formulation base comprising an oil and an additive solid or pasty at room temperature which represents 5 to 20 wt. %, preferably 8 to 15 wt. % of the composition.
US07892581B2

Methods and compositions comprising essential oils or components thereof for protecting harvested fruits against decay caused by a specific pathogenic fungus are provided, such as Cinnamon cassia oil for protection of persimmons against Alternaria alternata, strawberries against Botrytis cinerea, or mandarins against Penicillium italicum or Penicillium digitatum.
US07892580B2

A process for producing a stable concentrated dietary supplement containing fucoxanthin as the main active component. The method entails grinding crude freeze-dried flakes of wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) with desirable characteristics into a powder, extracting the active fucoxanthin from the powder with use of an aliphatic or aromatic organic solvent, then filtering and distilling the extract to form a thick syrupy fucoxanthin-containing mass having a solids content of from about 10-99% by wt. The mass is then purified by dissolving it in an organic non-polar solvent having a Polarity Index of <6, wherein the resultant solution is filtered to remove any solid material therefrom and the remaining liquid is then concentrated to a dried mass by removing substantially all of the solvent, which mass is thereafter ground and sifted to obtain a plurality of particles measuring approximately 60-100 mesh in size. The particles contain at least about 10% by weight of fucoxanthin. The particles by themselves, or in admixture with other components well known in the relevant art, thus comprise a supplement which may be constituted in a form selected from, for example, tablets, capsules, powders and granules.
US07892579B2

The invention discloses an extraction method and the apparatus thereof. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: crushing and soaking the raw material, and then extracting, wherein the extracting step is carried out under a 18-33 kHz nonlinear vibration, using water as solvent, under 25-35 MPa pressure and at 0-50° C. temperature, thus obtaining a extract which contains the active components of the raw material. The method according to the invention also provides an apparatus for the nonlinear critical extraction. The applications of the method and apparatus according to the invention allow to extract the Chinese traditional medicines and plants at room temperature, thus not only ensuring the biological activity of the components in the medicines and plants, but achieving the substantial full-composition extraction of the Chinese traditional medicine and plants, as well as overcoming the disadvantages of the extract technology in the prior art which would destroy or partially extract the biological activities of partial components. Therefore, the method and apparatus of the invention can be widely used in the fields such as the Chinese traditional medicines, chemical engineering, food, etc.
US07892572B2

The invention provides a biocompatible material derived from keratin that is useful for many aspects of medical treatment of bone. The keratin material is preferably S-sulfonated and enriched in intermediate filament proteins of high molecular weight. The keratin material may be porous for use as a bone replacement and augmentation product but also provided is the use of dense keratin materials in bone treatment for use as an internal fixation appliance in the treatment of bone fractures and bone regeneration, and a method for preparing the keratin material for use in the preservation, restoration and development of form and function of bone.
US07892567B2

The present invention provides Chlamydia proteins and compositions and methods of use in the treatment/prevention of chlamydial infection in a subject, for eliciting an immune response in a subject and for reducing the likelihood of infertility and reducing the incidence and/or degree of hydrosalpinx due to Chlamydia infection in a subject.
US07892563B2

Compositions and methods for treating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are disclosed herein. Inhibitors of SARS-associated inflammatory cytokines are provided herein for use in treating SARS, including SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection. Inhibitors of TNF are disclosed herein, as is the use of said inhibitors for treating SARS, including SARS-CoV. Methods of identifying and screening for said inhibitors are also provided.
US07892553B2

The present invention pertains to nanoparticles, comprising a metal and/or polymer core, with 7-alpha hydroxylase, or an enzymatically active fragment thereof, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and antibodies, or antibody fragments, specific for low density lipoprotein (LDL), attached to the core. The invention also concerns methods for reducing LDL cholesterol in a human or animal subject by administering nanoparticles of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, both circulating LDL and plasma cholesterol levels are reduced in the subject.
US07892550B2

The invention provides therapeutic anti-c-met antibodies, and compositions comprising and methods of using these antibodies.
US07892549B2

The present invention concerns the treatment of disorders characterized by the overexpression of ErbB2. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer overexpressing ErbB2 with a combination of an anti-ErbB2 antibody and a chemotherapeutic agent other than an anthracycline, e.g. doxorubicin or epirubicin.
US07892548B2

A novel gene (designated 121P1F1) and its encoded protein are described. While 121P1F1 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, it is aberrantly expressed in multiple cancers including prostate, bladder, kidney, brain, bone, cervical, uterine, ovarian, breast, pancreatic, stomach, colon, rectal, leukocytic, liver and lung cancers. Consequently, 121P1F1 provides a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for cancers, and the 121P1F1 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein or a fragment thereof used to elicit an immune response.
US07892540B2

The invention features methods of diagnosis by assessing B7-H1 expression in a tissue from a subject that has, or is suspected of having, cancer, methods of treatment with agents that interfere with B7-H1-receptor interaction, methods of selecting candidate subjects likely to benefit from cancer immunotherapy, and methods of inhibiting expression of B7-H1.
US07892537B1

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) polypeptide variants of the presently-disclosed subject matter have enhanced catalytic efficiency for (−)-cocaine, as compared to wild-type BChE. Pharmaceutical compositions of the presently-disclosed subject matter include a BChE polypeptide variant having an enhanced catalytic efficiency for (−)-cocaine. A method of the presently-disclosed subject matter for treating a cocaine-induced condition includes administering to an individual an effective amount of a BChE polypeptide variant, as disclosed herein, to lower blood cocaine concentration.
US07892528B2

Disclosed are methods for attracting and thereby controlling bedbugs. One volatizes a synthetic pheromone and generates infrared radiation adjacent the location and exposes bedbugs thereto. The pheromone volatizer and/or radiation generator are preferably incorporated into traps, bait stations and monitoring stations.
US07892527B2

An acid-gas absorbing tablet including in relatively sufficient proportions an adsorbent which may be activated carbon or silica gel or a mixture thereof, potassium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, and potassium bicarbonate. A method of absorbing acid gases from a confined environment utilizing the above tablet by inserting it into the confined environment.
US07892517B2

Methods for the chemical modification of carbon nanotubes involve the derivatization of multi- and single-wall carbon nanotubes, including small diameter (ca. 0.7 nm) single-wall carbon nanotubes, with diazonium species. The method allows the chemical attachment of a variety of organic compounds to the side and ends of carbon nanotubes. These chemically modified nanotubes have applications in polymer composite materials, molecular electronic applications, and sensor devices. The methods of derivatization include electrochemical induced reactions, thermally induced reactions, and photochemically induced reactions. Moreover, when modified with suitable chemical groups, the derivatized nanotubes are chemically compatible with a polymer matrix, allowing transfer of the properties of the nanotubes (such as, mechanical strength or electrical conductivity) to the properties of the composite material as a whole. Furthermore, when modified with suitable chemical groups, the groups can be polymerized to form a polymer that includes carbon nanotubes.
US07892513B2

Affords group III nitride crystal growth methods enabling crystal to be grown in bulk by a liquid-phase technique. One such method of growing group III nitride crystal from solution is provided with: a step of preparing a substrate having a principal face and including at least on its principal-face side a group III nitride seed crystal having the same chemical composition as the group III nitride crystal, and whose average density of threading dislocations along the principal face being 5×106 cm−2 or less; and a step of bringing into contact with the principal face of the substrate a solution in which a nitrogen-containing gas is dissolved into a group III metal-containing solvent, to grow group III nitride crystal onto the principal face.
US07892507B2

The processing of gases, in particular the exhaust gas of an internal combustion/diesel engine, entails catalytically oxidizing the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons contained therein in an oxygen-rich medium, in the presence of a metal oxidation catalyst that includes a silica-containing zirconia support.
US07892506B2

Apparatus for the combustive destruction of noxious substances comprises an annular combustion zone (C14) surrounded by the exit surface of an inwardly fired foraminous burner (C32) and surrounding the exit surface of an outwardly fired foraminous burner (C42), means (C12) for injecting a gas stream containing at least one noxious substance into the combustion zone, and means for supplying fuel gas and oxidant to the foraminous burners to effect combustion at the exit surfaces.
US07892501B2

A germicidal lamp can selectively direct germicidal light emitted within an air transporting and/or conditioning system. The system can include a housing, an emitter electrode configured within the housing, and a collector electrode configured within the housing and located downstream from the emitter electrode. The system can further include a driver electrode that can be removed from the housing through a side portion of the housing. The driver electrode can be insulated with a dielectric material and/or a catalyst. A removable trailing electrode can be configured within the housing and located downstream from the collector electrode. A first voltage source can be electrically coupled to the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, and a second voltage source can be electrically coupled to the trailing electrode. The second voltage source can be independently and selectively controllable from the first voltage source.
US07892498B2

A polyester production system employing a vertically elongated esterification reactor. The esterification reactor of the present invention is an improvement over conventional CSTR esterification reactors because, for example, in one embodiment, the reactor requires little or no mechanical agitation. Further, in one embodiment, the positioning of the inlets and outlets of the reactor provides improved operational performance and flexibility over CSTRs of the prior art.
US07892497B2

To provide an organic synthesizer that can conduct a pressure reaction and an atmospheric reaction in one organic synthesizer and can realize attachment of reaction vessels to the organic synthesizer and detachment of the reaction vessels from the organic synthesizer without applying any load to gas supply/discharge pipes. An organic synthesizer comprising a reaction vessel support part (160), which can support two or more reaction vessels, and pressure regulation means (164) for regulating the pressure within the reaction vessel supported by the reaction vessel support part (160) by supplying/discharging gas. Two or more pressure regulation means (164) are provided for each reaction vessel supported by the reaction vessel support part (160). At least one pressure regulation means (164A) in the two or more pressure regulation means (164) is constructed so as to be detachable from and attachable to the other pressure regulation means (164B). The pressure regulation means (164) comprises gas supply/discharge pipes (174a to 174d) and openings (194a to 194d) for supporting the gas supply/discharge pipes (174a to 174d). The gas supply/discharge pipes (174a to 174d) are constructed so that a part near the front end can be flexed in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction and are connected to the supported reaction vessels for gas supply and discharge.
US07892492B2

The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for studying dissolution of a compact sample. The compact sample is typically a pharmaceutical drug sample. A flow-through apparatus includes a frame defining a flow-through channel, a removable insert having a drug sample, the insert positioned within the frame such that a fluid interacts with the sample when the fluid passes through the flow channel. The frame has an opening on the top side to allow a glass plate, typically a microscope cover slip to be positioned within the frame and allow viewing of the fluid flow and interaction with the drug sample. The hydrodynamics of the fluid flow are either known or computed. Thus, dissolution can be studied and observed in view of hydrodynamic characteristics. Typically, only a small amount of sample is necessary for a study. The flow-through apparatus is designed to fit on a microscopy stage and allow visual observation of the fluid/sample interaction.
US07892489B2

A micro structure includes a silicon substrate, an adhesion layer on the silicon substrate, a bias layer on the adhesion layer, and structure layers on the adhesion layer. The two or more structure layers comprise different material compositions and a plurality of holes through at least two of the structure layers. Widths of the plurality of holes are in the range of 0.5-500 nm.
US07892484B2

The present invention concerns methods, compositions and apparatus for neutralizing bioagents, wherein bioagents comprise biowarfare agents, biohazardous agents, biological agents and/or infectious agents. The methods comprise exposing the bioagent to an organic semiconductor and exposing the bioagent and organic semiconductor to a source of energy. Although any source of energy is contemplated, in some embodiments the energy comprises visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radiofrequency, microwave, laser radiation, pulsed corona discharge or electron beam radiation. Exemplary organic semiconductors include DAT and DALM. In certain embodiments, the organic semiconductor may be attached to one or more binding moieties, such as an antibody, antibody fragment, or nucleic acid ligand. Preferably, the binding moiety has a binding affinity for one or more bioagents to be neutralized. Other embodiments concern an apparatus comprising an organic semiconductor and an energy source. In preferred embodiments, the methods, compositions and apparatus are used for neutralizing anthrax spores.
US07892483B2

Process for the sterilization of a steroid, in which the steroid is heat treated in the form of a wet mass comprising the steroid, water and an excipient.
US07892479B2

Methods of forming a shaped article having a matrix that contains sintered fly ash are disclosed that include forming a fly ash dough that includes fly ash and water. In one form a superplasticiser is added in the dough. A green article is formed in a desired shape from the fly ash dough that is subsequently fired so that the shaped article is hardened by sintering its fly ash matrix. In one form, the green article is cured under conditions of moderate heating and high humidity. A building element having a matrix of sintered fly ash is also disclosed.
US07892475B2

It has been discovered that the properties of sheet or film materials of broad molecular weight distribution ethylene/propylene rubber impact-modified heterophasic copolymer (ICP) can be improved by blending the ICP with a second polyolefin. The second polyolefin may be a syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP), a random copolymer (RCP) of propylene and comonomer (e.g. ethylene and/or butene) made using a Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst, medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or low crystalline copolymer of propylene/α-olefin. Improvements include, but are not necessarily limited to, reduced motor amps, lower secant modulus, increased dart drop strength, increased gloss, reduced haze, increased elongation to yield, elimination of stress whitening, improved puncture resistance, and decreased seal initiation temperature. This sheet of film materials may be co-extruded with other resins or laminated with other materials after extrusion.
US07892473B2

A pill delivery and packing apparatus having a feeder tube for delivering pills is provided. The feeder tube has a helical delivery chute that extends between an inlet side and an exit side of the tube. The delivery chute has a helical inner contour and a rectangular cross section that corresponds to the shape of the pills. The helical delivery chute is configured such that each of the pills rotates while proceeding through the delivery chute, whereby such rotation of the pills prevents jamming of the pills in the delivery chute. Independently extendable pins are used to alternately block and open the delivery chute, thus providing an escapement mechanism for dispensing pills. The tube also has an outer surface defining a helical outer contour that guides a rotatable tray on which pills are disposed. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.
US07892472B2

A moisture resistant gypsum-based product, e.g., a gypsum board, is made by adding a small amount of a siloxane to the aqueous slurry used to make the gypsum-based product along with a small amount of a dead burned magnesium oxide catalyst to enhance the curing of the siloxane. In the preferred embodiment, the siloxane is formed into an aqueous emulsion in situ with no chemical emulsifier.
US07892469B2

An intravascular catheter system for properly implanting a stent in a body lumen generally comprising a catheter having an elongated shaft with an inflatable balloon formed of compliant material and a stent mounted on the working length of the balloon. The balloon material is compliant within the working range of the balloon to provide substantial radial expansion. The wingless radially expansive balloon expands in a uniform manner, thereby producing uniform expansion and implantation of the stent. Another embodiment is directed to a balloon catheter, having a semi-compliant balloon or a noncompliant balloon formed at least in part of a block copolymer.
US07892468B2

A slit yarn wherein both side parts of the slit yarn are folded one or more times, and the folded width is substantially uniform along the direction of length of the yarn. In this slit yarn, when the width is measured at 20 or more points at intervals of 0.5 m, and the fluctuation coefficient X shown in the following Equation (1) is calculated on the basis of the average value W(avg) and the standard deviation W(σ), this X is (for example) approximately 4% or less. Furthermore, in the slit yarn of the present invention, the abovementioned folded parts are ordinarily shape-set. X(%)=W(σ)/W(avg)×100  (1)
US07892465B2

A movable mold and a slide mold are employed. There is also employed a deposition apparatus which is equipped with a deposition element such as a target electrode in the inside of a depositing chamber. A body portion and a cover member are primarily molded by the movable mold and the slide mold. The molds are opened while the body portion being left in the movable mold and while cover member being left in slide mold. The body portion left in the movable mold is deposited in the molds with its inner surface being covered with the depositing chamber. Next, the slide mold is driven so that the cover member may be registered with the deposited body portion. Then, a secondary molding resin is injected to integrate the body portion and the cover member.
US07892464B2

In the sector relating to the technology of compaction by means of vacuum vibro-compression for manufacturing slabs or blocks, the organic binder resin consists of an aqueous dispersion of acrylic prepolymer in water and a filler part consists of a hydraulic binder in an amount sufficient to fix wholly or partly the water present in the initial mix; after the vibro-compression step the rough-formed article is subjected to a hardening and curing step in conditions such as to prevent the evaporation of the mix water and subsequently to a heating step so as to obtain crosslinking of the acrylic polymer. If the acrylic binder alone is used, an article with a high degree of porosity is obtained.
US07892456B2

Disclosed is a non-photosensitive black electrode composition and a plasma display panel having a black electrode formed using the composition. The black electrode for the plasma display panel includes the non-photosensitive composition, thus yellowing does not occur on electrodes but conductivity to a transparent electrode layer is desirably assured even though typical conductive powder and various types of black pigments are used. It is possible to conduct patterning using a photolithography process due to the simultaneous development of black and bus electrodes, which can act as electrodes due to simultaneous sintering. Since it is non-photosensitive, it is possible to use various types of black pigments, thus the material cost is reduced.
US07892449B2

A main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal, with the ferroelectric liquid crystal in the mono-stability state and the excellent alignment stability. To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display comprising: a reactive liquid crystal side substrate having a first substrate, an electrode layer formed on the first substrate, a first alignment layer formed on the electrode layer, and a reactive liquid crystal layer with a reactive liquid crystal fixed and formed on the first alignment layer; and a counter substrate having a second substrate, an electrode layer formed on the second substrate, and a second alignment layer formed on the electrode layer, wherein the reactive liquid crystal layer of the reactive liquid crystal side substrate and the second alignment layer of the counter substrate are disposed to face each other such that a liquid crystal layer including a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a polymerized product of a polymerizable monomer is sandwiched between the reactive liquid crystal side substrate and the counter substrate.
US07892438B2

Apparatus (10) for removing sludge from a liquid reservoir, the apparatus (10) comprising buoyant float means (12), a sludge pump (24) mounted via a support arm (17) and the apparatus (10) having an upper profile so as to allow it in use to operate beneath a membrane covering at least part of the reservoir. The support arm (17) may be oscillated to move the pump in a substantially vertical plane. The buoyancy of the float means (12) may be adjusted to vary the position of floating of the apparatus (10) in the liquid.
US07892424B2

An apparatus and method for treating sewage The apparatus receives sewage at a receiving compartment and separates solids from liquids at the receiving compartment. The solids can be extracted from the receiving compartment by an auger. The liquid sewage flows through a series of treatment compartment containing rotating biological contactor discs for treatment by these rotating biological contactor discs. The rotating biological contactor discs are secured to a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft and the auger are powered by a quasi-submerged turbine displaced by a flow of air.
US07892423B2

A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, and a logic implementer configured to synchronize the duty cycles of the first and second heaters so that (i) power is not supplied to the first heater when power is supplied to the second heater and (ii) power is not supplied to the second heater when power is supplied to the first heater.
US07892422B2

A pressurized wastewater effluent chlorination system including a treatment tank defining a contact chamber and an aeration chamber. The treatment tank receives wastewater effluent. The system includes a pressure vessel within a liquid chlorine storage container positioned in or near the treatment tank. Preferably, the pressure vessel is a floating vessel having a check valve at its bottom, enabling the vessel to fill with a predetermined amount or measured charge of chlorine depending on the position of a float on the vessel. In response to a timer control or float switch, a valve operates to communicate air pressure from a compressor to the vessel to displace the measured charge of liquid chlorine into the wastewater effluent in the contact chamber. Effluent flow and air discharge into the contact chamber enhances mixing of the chlorine and the effluent.
US07892408B2

A cathodic gas diffusion electrode for the electrochemical production of aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions. The cathodic gas diffusion electrode comprises an electrically conductive gas diffusion substrate and a cathodic electrocatalyst layer supported on the gas diffusion substrate. A novel cathodic electrocatalyst layer comprises a cathodic electrocatalyst, a substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound, a fluorocarbon polymer hydrophobic agent and binder, and a perfluoronated sulphonic acid polymer. An electrochemical cell using the novel cathodic electrocatalyst layer has been shown to produce an aqueous solution having between 8 and 14 weight percent hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, such electrochemical cells have shown stable production of hydrogen peroxide solutions over 1000 hours of operation including numerous system shutdowns.
US07892398B2

The invention relates to an aqueous dispersion of cellulose-reactive sizing agent containing an acid anhydride, an anionic polyelectrolyte and a nitrogen-containing organic compound which is an amine or quaternary ammonium thereof having a molecular weight less than 180 and/or having one or more hydroxyl groups. The invention further relates to a process for the production of paper which comprises adding the aqueous dispersion of cellulose-reactive sizing agent to an aqueous cellulosic suspension.
US07892393B2

The invention concerns a sealing liquid comprising water and a penetration agent for sealing of mail pieces, the use of said sealing liquid as well as sealing devices and franking machines containing such a sealing liquid.
US07892389B2

A reinforced fabric that includes a first fiber group and a thread. The first fiber group includes a plurality of fiber sets positioned substantially parallel to one another. Each of the fiber sets includes a plurality of fibers. The thread is formed of at least one strand of material. The thread has an outer surface that is formed of a material having a melting point that is less than the melting point of the fibers in the fiber sets. The thread is stitched about the fiber sets to at least partially maintain a position of the fiber sets relative to one another. The thread forms a plurality of heat created permanent closed loop structures in the reinforced fabric. At least one of the loop structures encircles at least one fiber set. At least one of the fibers in the fibers sets is not strongly bonded to the thread that encircles the fiber set.
US07892388B2

Disclosed is a photocurable resin composition which is highly sensitive to ultraviolet light or visible light having a long wavelength, in particular a photocurable resin composition which is useful as a sealing agent. Specifically disclosed is a photocurable resin composition containing a component (a) which is composed of an anthraquinone derivative represented by the formula (I) below, and a component (b) which is composed of a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group in the molecule. The photocurable resin composition is characterized in that a part or the entire of the component (b) further contains an oxiranyl group in the molecule, and the component (a) content is 0.01-10% by mass relative to the component (b) content. [chemical formula 1] (I) (In the formula (I), X represents a phenyl group, an alkyl group having 1-8 carbon atoms, an alcoholic form of the phenyl group or the alkyl group, or a derivative of the alcoholic form.)
US07892362B2

A detergent composition comprising an esterified substituted benzene sulfonate, a hydrogen peroxide source, a soil suspending polymer, and an organic catalyst.
US07892361B2

An in-chamber member to use in the chamber of a plasma processing vessel has a coating film formed by a coating agent. The in-chamber member having deposits formed on the coating film is separated from the chamber and is immersed into a peeling solvent, e.g., acetone. Since the coating agent is made of a resist formed of a main component of, e.g., cyclized rubber-bisazide and a photosensitive component, the deposits can be separated from the in-chamber member together with the coating film being separated.
US07892357B2

A baffle plate assembly for distributing gas flows into an adjacent process chamber containing a semiconductor wafer to be processed includes a planar gas distribution portion having a plurality of apertures therein; a flange surrounding the gas distribution portion; and an impingement device centrally attached to the gas distribution portion, wherein the device includes a cap and a stem, the stem being in thermal contact with the gas distribution portion. Also disclosed herein are plasma reactors employing the baffle plate assembly and methods for reducing recombination of species in a plasma.
US07892345B2

The invention accordingly relates to a method for preparing transparent C.I. Pigment Violet 23 by salt kneading a Pigment Violet 23-crude in the presence of a crystalline salt and an organic liquid. Said method is characterized in that the organic liquid is propylene carbonate.
US07892342B2

A white, substantially non-iron containing dental material formed from Portland cement. The material may be a dental cement, dental restorative or the like.
US07892339B2

An IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye of formula (I): wherein M is Ga(A1); A1 is selected from the group consisting of: OH and halogen; and W is a sulfonic acid group or salts thereof.
US07892338B2

The invention discloses a method for marking and authenticating a security article, such as a banknote, a document, a ticket, a foil, a thread, a label, a card, or a commercial good, so as to provide for an easy authentication of said article by a machine, such as a currency acceptor, a ticket validator, or a hand-held authentication device. According to the disclosed method, the security article carries a marking in the form of a user-defined design, wherein said marking comprises dyes or pigments belonging to an extended, or hyperchromic color space which is not reproducible by commercially available, 4-color desktop reproduction equipment. The authentication of said marking includes the mathematical transformation of the crude spectral information to statistically independent hyper-color coordinates, and the comparison of selected hyper-color coordinates with corresponding reference values.
US07892337B2

A service head for use in connection with a medical procedure in an enclosure such as an operating room. In one aspect, a service head comprises a filter adapted to be punctured by a timing pin in connection with the determination and/or communication of filter life. In another aspect, a service head comprises and RFID tag and RFID reader in connection with the determination and/or communication of filter life. In another aspect, a service head comprises wireless communication components for communicating with a surgical assembly such as an ultrasonic surgical device, electrocautery device, insufflator, laser surgical instrument, camera, surgical light source or endoscopic device.
US07892334B2

The object of the present invention is to provide a package of a volatile substance, which comprises a bag having a volatile substance with an antibacterial action enclosed therein, and a case having the bag enclosed therein, wherein the case is allowed to have a size and shape complying with the amount of a volatile substance having permeated the bag so that the shape of the case can be adapted to the volumes and shapes of various air conditioners, while the volatile substance can be volatilized at a predetermined rate. The package of a volatile substance according to the invention comprises a source generating the volatile substance, and a case which has the volatile-substance source enclosed therein and which has a wall at least a part of which is made of a gas-permeable resin, wherein the case is characterized in that a value expressed by the formula X×Z/Y is 200000 to 1500000 wherein X represents the surface area (mm2) of the wall; Y represents the thickness (mm) of the wall; and Z represents the vaporization amount (mg/day) of the volatile substance volatilized by the volatile-substance source per day in an atmosphere at 30° C.
US07892333B2

The purpose of the invention is a treatment device fitting in a filter, particularly a particle filter (1) or a combined filter of a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation for a vehicle cabin, to prevent the development of microorganisms on the surfaces of such an installation. This device is composed mainly of a permeable container (6) for a volatile treatment agent, and comprises means for attachment of the container (6) to the filter (1) between the folds of the filter structure (3) making up the filter, so that the container (6) can be installed on any filter (1) in an existing installation to prevent the development of microorganisms on the surfaces of such an installation.
US07892330B2

The image forming apparatus includes: a head which ejects droplets of liquid in accordance with an image signal; a sub tank which is integrated with the head; a liquid holding chamber which is arranged in the sub tank and has an intake port and an outflow port, the liquid being supplied to the liquid holding chamber through the intake port and supplied to the head through the outflow port; an air connection channel which is arranged in the sub tank and has a suction port through which air is sucked; a dividing plate which is provided in the sub tank and divides the liquid holding chamber from the air connection channel; a gas/liquid separating member which is disposed in a portion of the dividing plate and allows only air to pass between the liquid holding chamber and the air connection channel; a supply connection device which is capable of connecting with the intake port and the suction port; a liquid holding tank which is connected to the supply connection device and capable of communicating with the liquid holding chamber through the intake port; a suction device which is connected to the supply connection device and capable of communicating with the air connection channel through the suction port; and a judgment device which judges whether or not replacement of the gas/liquid separating member is required in accordance with a state of contact between the gas/liquid separating member and a surface of the liquid in the liquid holding chamber.
US07892323B2

The management of hydrogen in hydrogen-containing streams associated with petrochemical process units wherein the hydrogen-containing stream is subjected rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption to increase the concentration of hydrogen therein.
US07892315B2

Disclosed are a solid-solution powder, a method for preparing the solid-solution powder, a cermet powder including the solid-solution powder, a method for preparing the cermet powder, a cermet using the cermet powder and a method to prepare the cermet. According to the present invention, the problem of low toughness due to high hardness that conventional cermets (especially TiC or Ti(CN) based cermet) have is resolved because a complete solid-solution phase without core/rim structure is provided to the cermets as a microstructure thereof, and in which further increased the hardness as well as the toughness, thereby substantially and considerably increasing general mechanical properties of materials using the cermet, and thus substituting WC—Co hard material and allowing manufacturing of cutting tools with high hardness and toughness.
US07892314B2

The present invention provides powder metal compositions and methods of making and using the same. Powder metal compositions according to the invention include base metal particles, a lubricant that transforms from a solid phase material to a viscous, liquid phase material during pressing, and a micronized deformable solid material. The micronized deformable solid material fills at least a portion of the void space between the base metal particles during pressing, which allows at least a portion of the lubricant to migrate as a viscous liquid phase material to the interface between the surface of the green compact and the wall of the mold cavity to provide lubrication that reduces the ejection force necessary to remove the green compact from the mold cavity.
US07892311B2

The present invention relates to the use of ulvans, in particular extracted from green algae of the genus Ulva or Enteromorpha, or of ulvan-derived oligosaccharides, as elicitors of mechanisms for nitrogen absorption and protein synthesis.It also relates to a fertilizing product containing ulvans and to the use thereof in a plant treatment method.
US07892310B2

A method of treating bio waste including the steps of (1) fermenting substantially raw biowaste in a pathogen reduction stage under anaerobic conditions for a predetermined period at a temperature in the mesophillic temperature range and (2) subsequently separating the solid and liquid phases to produce a fermented cake and fermented liquor. The fermented cake has at least 15% solids on dry basis and contains over 500 mg/L ammonia, over 1,000 mg/L total Volatile Fatty Acids (tVFA) and Escherichia coli less than 100,000 cfu per g dry solids. The fermented liquor contains over 10,000 mg/L COD, over 500 mg/L ammonia, over 1,000 mg/L tVFA and less than 5,000 mg/L of suspended solids.
US07892305B2

Object of the present invention is to provide a dust collecting device (100) for a vacuum cleaner of which dust collecting performance is improved. For this, the dust collecting device (100) includes a primary cyclone unit (110) having two parallel primary cyclones (111,112) for separating dust form air introduced therein by a cyclone principle, and a secondary cyclone (120) unit at a downstream of the primary cyclones (111,112) for cleaning the air again by the cyclone principle.
US07892299B2

Nanoparticle catalysts are manufactured by first preparing a solution of a solvent and a plurality of complexed catalyst atoms. Each of the complexed catalyst atoms has at least three organic ligands. The complexed catalyst atoms are reduced to form a plurality of nanoparticles. During formation of the nanoparticles, the organic ligands provide spacing between the catalyst atoms via steric hindrances and/or provide interactions with a support material. The spacing and interactions with the support material allow formation of small, stable, and uniform nanoparticles. The supported nanoparticle catalyst is then incorporated into a fuel cell electrode.
US07892291B2

An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. Additionally, the implant may include, or have blended in, an additive, such as an osteoinductive factor, for example biocompatible ceramics and glass.
US07892290B2

An intramedullary implant for mounting within an intramedullary canal of a bone is disclosed. The intramedullary implant includes a lower stem portion, an upper stem portion, and a modular sleeve body. The modular sleeve body is connected to one of the lower stem portion or the upper stem portion. The sleeve body includes an inner portion that covers at least a segment of the upper stem portion and has one or more longitudinally extending bone engagement members for engagement with the bone.
US07892287B2

A augmented glenoid implant assembly for use in performing shoulder arthroplasty is provided. The augmented glenoid implant assembly is used for cooperation with the glenoid fossa of a scapula. The implant assembly includes a first component for attachment to the scapula. The first component defines a support surface for cooperation with the glenoid fossa, a second surface positioned adjacent a buttress formed in the glenoid fossa and an assembly surface. The implant assembly also includes a second component removably secured to the first component. The second component includes an assembly face of the second component. The assembly surface of the second component is in close approximation to the assembly surface of the first component. The second component further includes an articulating surface opposed to the assembly surface.
US07892285B2

A vertebral disc replacement includes superior and inferior end plates separated by a leaf spring. The leaf spring includes two opposed legs that extend from a floating intermediate portion of the leaf spring to the superior end plate and two opposed legs that extend from the floating intermediate portion to the inferior end plate. The disc replacement device is compact and provides freedom of movement along three axes, translational along the caudal/cranial axis, lateral bending and flexion/extension.
US07892276B2

A valve for use in a body lumen, where the valve includes a valve leaflet with delayed leaflet deployment relative an in vivo implant time. The valve includes a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame. The valve leaflet includes a commissure that can reversibly seal for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve, and a biodegradable adhesive between the valve leaflet and the valve frame to hold at least the commissure of the valve leaflet in a static relationship relative the valve frame for a predetermined time once implanted in vivo.
US07892273B2

Apparatus and methods for delivering prosthetic segments to a body lumen, utilize a device having an elongated flexible member including proximal and distal ends, a plurality of prosthetic segments releasably arranged axially along the elongated flexible member near the distal end and an outer sheath slidably disposed over at least a portion of the prosthetic segments. The apparatus further includes a separator disposed on the outer sheath and adapted to engage the prosthetic segments. The separator is also adapted to be retracted proximally over the prosthetic segments and advanced distally to separate a proximal group of the prosthetic segments from a distal group of the prosthetic segments which are to be deployed in the body lumen.
US07892261B2

To change a spatial relationship between two or more bones in a patient's body, a wedge member is moved into a joint between the bones. As the wedge member enters the joint, pivotal movement occurs between the bones to change the orientation of the bones relative to each other. The wedge member may have a circular cross sectional configuration and be moved into the joint by rotating the wedge member about an axis which extends between a thin leading edge portion and a thick trailing edge portion of the wedge member. Alternatively, the wedge member may have a cam-shaped configuration and be rotated through less than a revolution to apply force against the bones. The wedge member may have a porous construction which enables bone to grow through the wedge member and immobilize the joint. The wedge member may be coated with and/or contain bone growth promoting material. The wedge member may be connected to only one of the bones or may be connected to two adjacent bones. If the wedge member is connected to only one bone, the joint may be capable of being flexed after the wedge member is inserted into the joint.
US07892259B2

A bone anchoring device includes a receiving part for receiving a rod, the receiving part having a first bore coaxial with a longitudinal axis and a second bore. The bone anchoring device also includes an anchoring element having a first end for insertion into the bone and a second end positionable within a second bore, the second end having a spherically shaped surface portion. The bone anchoring device further has a locking device provided to the second bore of the receiving part The locking device protrudes from an inner wall of the second bore and engages with a recessed surface portion of the second end of the anchoring element, such that the anchoring element is pivotable relative to the receiving part around a single axis of rotation. The locking device may comprise pins inserted into through holes formed in the receiving part, which engage with the recessed surface portion of the second end.
US07892257B2

An assembly and method thereof comprising a screw head comprising an expandable bulbous end; a fixator component configured for receiving the bulbous end of the screw head; a load sharing mechanism positioned in between the bulbous end of the screw head and the bone fixator component, wherein the load sharing mechanism provides tensile resistance to the screw head; a pin mounted in the screw head; and a blocker adapted to engage the screw head. The screw head comprises a slot configured for receiving a longitudinal member. The load sharing mechanism may comprise any of a wave washer, a collapsible hollow washer, a coiled spring, and a flexible washer. Furthermore, the load sharing mechanism may comprise a washer having an outer surface with a plurality of cutout portions configured therein.
US07892256B2

A suture tape construct is made of braided high strength surgical suture material. A length of round braided suture extends along the entire length of the suture tape. A middle portion of the suture tape features a flat braid added to the round braided suture. The suture is incorporated centrally into the flat braid, providing a backbone to the construct. Transition sections at either end of the flat braid are tapered to allow the suture tape to pass easily through openings during surgical procedures. The suture tape is a braided construction of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber blended with fibers of one or more long chain synthetic polymers, preferably polyester. The suture tape is indicated for high demand orthopedic repairs such as arthroscopic reconstruction for acromioclavicular joint separation, for example. The broad footprint of the suture tape is appropriate for repairs in degenerative cuff tissue where tissue pull-through may be a concern.
US07892249B2

A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120) are inserted into the body (130). The tube structure (12) has a proximal end (20) and a distal end (62). The tube structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) at the distal end (62). The expandable portion (40) of the tube structure (12), when expanded, has a conical configuration.
US07892246B2

The subject invention provides devices and methods for closing and sealing an opening in a conduit. The subject devices consist of an implantable flexible member adapted to conform to and seal with an inner surface of a conduit and further adapted to utilize the internal conduit pressure exerted thereon to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the inner surface of the conduit whereby substances are prevented from leaking from the opening under normal physiological conditions. In the subject methods, a subject device is provided and positioned inside a conduit, operatively aligned over an opening to be sealed. The device is conformed to and sealed with an inner surface of the conduit and a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between the device and the inner surface of the conduit utilizing the internal conduit pressure whereby substances within the conduit are prevented from leaking from the opening under normal physiological conditions.
US07892244B2

A surgical clip assembly which includes a pair of generally linear compression elements for securing tissue between them and for applying to the secured tissue a compression force. The clip assembly has an initial, open position in which the linear compression elements may be positioned about tissue to be secured between them. The assembly also has a final, closed position where the compression elements are substantially parallel to each other, applying a compressive force to the secured tissue. The clip assembly also includes a force means disposed between the pair of compression elements and operative to transmit operational forces between them.
US07892242B2

A medical instrument captures and removes very large intraocular foreign bodies. The foreign bodies may have an irregular shape, a low coefficient of friction, and be made of non-magnetic materials. A fixed position hollow rod is mounted to a leading end of an elongate base and a lid is mounted to the distal end of the hollow rod. A control rod is slideably received within the hollow rod and a control knob slideably mounted on the elongate base is connected to the control rod to control extension and retraction of the control rod. A silicone basket depends from a rim formed at the distal end of the control rod. A silicone wire interconnects the hollow rod and a bottom of the basket so that the basket is drawn parallel to the control rod when the control rod is extended. The lid covers the basket when the control rod is retracted.
US07892239B2

A spinal spacer system includes a handle member, an extension member including a first and a second end, wherein the first end of the extension member is coupled to the handle member. Additionally, a coupling device configured to selectively couple a spacer to the second end of the extension member is disposed on the extension member including an angular fixation member configured to fix the spacer in an angular position relative to the handle member. The spinal spacer system also includes an actuator configured to selectively actuate the coupling device and the angular fixation member. The spacer of the present exemplary spinal spacer system includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a rotatably coupleable engagement member disposed on the proximal end of the spacer. According to one exemplary embodiment, the coupling device includes a single protruding member extending from the second end of the extension member.
US07892238B2

Systems, devices, and methods suitable for use with procedures performed at least partially percutaneously are provided. In some procedures, two or more access devices for providing access to adjacent surgical locations within a patient are used. Certain embodiments of the access device comprise an elongate body having a distal end with one or more cutouts. The cutouts on adjacent access devices are generally aligned with each other to permit passage of a portion of a fixation element from one access device to the other access device. A fastener with an elongated removable head may be delivered to the surgical site through the access device. After a distal end of the fastener is secured to the surgical site, a portion of the elongated housing is detached from the remainder of the fastener and removed from the patient.
US07892237B1

A surgical access device includes a tubular housing having two ends. Each end of the tubular housing has an opening there-through. A malleable bulbous exterior region is present along a portion of the tubular housing. The malleable bulbous exterior region is sufficiently adaptable to be compression fit within a bone tunnel. A flanged opening is provided at one of the ends of the tubular housing. A seal may be provided integral with the flanged opening.
US07892234B2

An intramedullary nail having a distal end is introducible into a medullary space. A medullary nail segment which is oriented towards the distal end and has a diameter D, a proximal end, at least two cross holes having a borehole axis and a central line formed by a line connecting centers of gravity of the axially successive transversal surfaces orthogonal with respect to the intramedullary nail, without taking into account the cross holes. The borehole axis of at least one cross-hole is shifted at a gap d1>0 with respect to the central line.
US07892228B2

A dual mode lesion formation apparatus and associated methods. A dual mode lesion formation apparatus may include a probe component having an energy transmission element carried on a shaft, a clamp component mountable on the clamp member and including a temperature sensor, a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is operably connected to a probe component energy transmission element. The second electrical connector is operably connected to a probe component energy transmission element and to a clamp component temperature sensor.
US07892227B2

Systems and methods for treating a tissue of an eye with a laser beam include at least one processor that determines angles between a curved surface and a laser beam, controlling an ablative treatment in response to the angles. Angles between a surface of a cornea and a laser beam may be mapped over a treatment area. A mapped area may include an apex of a cornea displaced from a center of a pupil of an eye. Ablation properties may be determined locally in response to the incident angle of a laser beam with respect to a local slope of a tissue surface. The treatment area may be ablated using local ablation properties to form a desired surface shape.
US07892224B2

A method for determining and representing possible entry and/or target areas for positioning catheters in an area on the basis of functional data and/or structural and/or anatomical data of the area, includes: indicating at least one entry area of the catheter or at least one target area of the catheter; determining at least one target area of the catheter based on the at least one indicated entry area of the catheter and taking into consideration specified catheter positioning guidelines and the functional data and/or structural and/or anatomical data of the area, or at least one entry area of the catheter based on the at least one indicated target area of the catheter and taking into consideration specified catheter positioning guidelines and the functional data and/or structural and/or anatomical data of the area; and representing the functional data and/or structural and/or anatomical data with the at least one indicated entry area and the at least one determined target area, or representing the functional data and/or structural and/or anatomical data with the at least one indicated target area and the at least one determined entry area.
US07892216B2

An infusion set comprises a base member (60), an introducer cap (64), and an infusion cap (54). The base member (60) preferably comprises a soft cannula (52) extending from a lower side (118) of the base member (60), and a port (62) on an upper side (92) thereof. The port (62) is configured to be in fluid communication with the cannula (52). The port (62) also comprises a septum (130) adapted to seal the port (62) against unwanted fluid flow. The introducer cap (64) is adapted to be mounted to the base member (60) and has a needle (66) adapted to extend through the septum (130) and said soft cannula (52) in an assembled position. The infusion cap (54) comprises a lumen (160) adapted to receive an elongate flexible tube (162). The infusion cap (54) also comprises a hard cannula (170) adapted to be inserted through the septum (130) and to place said soft cannula (52) in fluid communication with said lumen (160).
US07892215B2

An insert for joining sheaths for use in a medical device is described. The insert has a first end including a first operative coupling and a second end including a second operative coupling. The first operative coupling is for engaging a first tube at its distal end, and the second operative coupling is for engaging a second tube at its proximal end. The insert also includes a first passageway extending through the insert from the second end to an exit port disposed between the first operative coupling and the second operative coupling. This disclosure also provides a catheter including such an insert, and a method of assembling a catheter.
US07892211B2

The disposable unit dose pharmaceutical delivery system may be used by trained medical personnel for intradermal or subcutaneous injections in applications currently being serviced by conventional pre-filled syringes. The delivery system may also be used by personnel with little or no medical training for mass immunizations in underdeveloped parts of the world, insulin injections, and/or emergency epinephrine injections. The delivery system includes an envelope with a tear-away section and a dispensing section. When the tear-away section has been removed, a needle is exposed and is ready for insertion in the patient. The dispensing portion is squeezed between the thumb and forefinger to inject the pharmaceutical into the patient. The exterior surface of the envelope may be used for advertising by a pharmaceutical producer, a supplier or otherwise.
US07892210B2

An improved apparatus, method and system are provided for medical liquid administration, including in particular liquid medication and/or flush solution infusions. The inventive apparatus includes a barrel, a plunger slidably disposed within the barrel and extending from a distal end thereof, and at least one medical liquid delivery line having a proximal end fixedly positioned relative to the barrel, wherein the medical delivery line is fluidly interconnectable proximal to the plunger and extends along at least a portion of the barrel and in a direction distally away from the distal end thereof. To accommodate the administration of both a liquid medication and flush solution, two coincidentally-positioned medical liquid delivery lines may be included, each of which may extend through the plunger to the valve. The valve may be positionable to accommodate the selective administration of a desired medical liquid through an interconnected catheter interconnection line.
US07892201B1

The present invention provides improved methods for forming and mounting a sleeve on a catheter shaft in order to form a distensible balloon catheter. The balloon is formed from a distensible sleeve that is treated to render one or both of its ends essentially non-distensible. The balloon is mounted on the catheter shaft by the non-distensible ends, without compromising the distensible operative portion of the balloon. The balloon may also be mounted using non-distensible tape or similar means to achieve a similar result.
US07892196B2

A continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient. The CRRT device is worn by the patient and operates on rechargeable batteries for more than 5 hours. Dialysate is used to remove impurities from the blood. The dialysate is recycled and refreshed by a filter section. Less than one liter of dialysate is required to circulate through the wearable CRRT device.
US07892194B2

A dynamic hand splint includes as elements thereof: a forearm support section and a hand support section that are configured to be releasably attached to a forearm; and one or more finger tensioners that are releasably attached to the hand support section and that are configured to be releasably attached to a respective finger such that, when the finger is flexed from an extended position toward a flexed position, the finger is urged by the finger tensioner toward an extended position. A method includes: attaching a forearm support section and a hand support section to a forearm; attaching finger tensioners to the hand support section; and attaching each of the finger tensioners to a respective finger such that, when the finger is flexed from an extended position toward a flexed position, the finger is urged by the finger tensioner toward an extended position.
US07892188B2

Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing changes in at least one physical property of soft tissue. A series of acoustic pulses is generated and directed into the soft tissue such that at least one of the pulses is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the tissue. Waves reflected off the tissue, or a flexible member that moves with the tissue, are received and measured to estimate at least one characteristic of the physical displacement induced thereby. Repetition of the generating, receiving and estimating steps provides characterization of the at least one physical property over time. Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing at least one physical property of blood, by generating a series of acoustic pulses and directing the series of pulses into the blood such that at least one of the pulses is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the blood. Acoustic pulses and/or optical waves reflected from the blood, or a flexible member in contact with the blood that moves with the blood, are received and measured to estimate at least one characteristic of the physical displacement induced thereby.
US07892183B2

A body fluid sampling system is provided for use on a tissue site. In one embodiment, the system comprises a cartridge; a penetrating member driver; a plurality of penetrating members arranged in a radial configuration on the cartridge wherein sharpened distal tips of the penetrating members point radially outward; wherein an active one of the penetrating members may be operatively coupled to the penetrating member driver, the penetrating member driver moving the active one along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stopping in the tissue site, and withdrawing out of the tissue site; and a plurality of analyte detecting members, wherein at least one of the analyte detecting members is positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by the active one of the penetrating members, wherein the detecting members are not pierced by the active one of the penetrating members.
US07892175B2

Within the tip portion of a cylindrical shaped sheath a capacitive ultrasonic transducer which is an array type two-dimensionally arrayed on the outer surface of the cylindrical face is disposed. Capacitive ultrasonic transducer units employ m capacitive ultrasonic transducer elements arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical face as a division unit, thereby providing an arrangement wherein the respective capacitive ultrasonic transducer units are readily disposed in the circumferential direction, whereby radial scanning or the like can be performed within a body cavity.
US07892174B2

A surgical access system includes retractor for creating an access path between an incision site and a surgical site. The retractor includes a frame having a base member and a pair of generally curved rails extending therefrom. A tubular member is coupled to the frame and includes first and second blade portions that are capable of relative movement with respect to each other by movement on the curved rails. A method of inserting the retractor into a patient includes inserting a guide rod over a guide wire, locating an obturator in the retractor, inserting the obturator and retractor over the guide rod, and removing both the guide rod and obturator to leave the retractor in the body to provide the access path.
US07892173B2

A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US07892172B2

A wound retractor for retracting a surgical incision includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a distensible sleeve coupled to the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes at least a pair of circular tubes coupled to each other. At least one of the circular tubes includes a lumen and a split that forms open ends. A noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein is positioned in the lumen. The tubular hoop is oriented with its open ends positioned away from the split of the circular tubes. A core is positioned in the lumen of the tubular hoop. The core has a first end and a second end and is oriented with the ends positioned away from the split in the tubular hoop. The circular tubes may be parallel or may form a helical pattern similar to a Mobius strip.
US07892170B2

A surgical access system includes a tubular member defining a longitudinal axis and having an axial lumen. The tubular member includes a braided material adapted to expand from a first initial condition having a first cross-sectional dimension to a second expanded condition having a second-cross sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension. The tubular member defines an oblique end surface. An access housing is mounted to the tubular member. The access housing is dimensioned for engagement by the user. A process for manufacturing a surgical access device is also disclosed.
US07892168B2

There is provided a confocal endoscope system which is provided with an electronic endoscope having a confocal optical unit configured to emit illumination light toward an object and to obtain only light from a certain point of the object, and a processor to which the light obtained by the confocal optical unit is inputted. The processor is provided with an image processing unit that generates image data representing an image of the object based on the light transmitted from the confocal optical unit, and a measuring information superimposing unit that generates composite image data representing a composite image generated by superimposing measuring information for measuring the object on the image generated by the image processing unit. The measuring information superimposing unit determines a display condition of the measuring information on the composite image in accordance with an imaging area of the confocal optical unit.
US07892162B1

Devices and methods are disclosed for implanting, positioning, removing and replacing devices that penetrate an artery.
US07892161B2

A sheet folding unit, including: a first folding roller configured to rotate around a first axis; a second folding roller configured to rotate around a second axis which is in parallel with the first axis and biased to the first folding roller separably to a separating direction to make a nip together with the first folding roller therebetween; a blade configured to push a surface of a sheet into the nip; and a roller cover configured to move together with the second folding roller in the separating direction to prevent the second folding roller contacting the sheet when the blade unit starts contacting the sheet.
US07892158B2

A pushup apparatus having a centered T-Tube, right and left Slide Tube, a medial and lateral Stop Ring located on each Slide Tube. The T-Tube will contain a hole/knotch on both the right and left side that will receive the Locking Pin Assembly from the corresponding right and left Slide Tube. The T-Tube and Slide Tubes will insert into a Foot and the Foot will be finished with a Foot Grip. The right side Slide Tube has a Handle, Handle Cap, Handle Grip assembly that moves freely and independent along the linear path of the right side Slide Tube between its respective medial and lateral Stop Rings. The left side Slide Tube has a Handle, Handle Cap, Handle Grip assembly that moves freely and independent along the linear path of the left side Slide Tube between its respective medial and lateral Stop Rings. The free independent motion will be achieved by use of Linear Bearing Assemblies. The Linear Bearing Assembly is affixed within the Handle, Handle Cap, Handle Grip assembly. The free and independent movement forces the user to create the symmetry during the movement of the exercise, thus engaging the stabilizer muscles of the bodies trunk. The right and left Slide Tube will have a Locking Pin Assembly at their medial ends that will connect to holes/knotches in the T-Tube.
US07892157B2

A technique for exercise and strength training is disclosed. The technique involves a device that can be affixed to a support point which can allow the user to exercise using body weight. In one embodiment, the stability of the device can be adjusted by varying the position of a stability member.
US07892146B2

A rocking type exercising apparatus includes a movable unit on which a user rides, a driving unit for causing the movable unit to perform a rocking motion, and a rocking motion changing unit for changing the rocking motion of the movable unit driven to rock by the driving unit. The rocking type exercising apparatus also includes a display unit, responsive to the change in the rocking motion caused by the rocking motion changing unit, for displaying loads to be applied to a plurality of body regions of the user.
US07892144B2

A method for operating a motor vehicle drivetrain with at least an automatic transmission and a drive motor. The automatic transmission includes at least five shifting elements to transmit torque and/or power. In each forward and reverse gear a maximum of two shifting elements are disengaged while the remaining shifting elements are engaged. Two consecutive gearshifts are carried out through selection of the five shifting elements. During a first gearshift, implemented as a multiple gearshift, a subsequent second gearshift, implemented as either a single or multiple gearshift, is prepared. During the first gearshift, a first shifting element is disengaged, a second shifting element is engaged, a third shifting element is prepared for disengagement in a subsequent second gearshift and a fourth shifting element is prepared for engagement. Further, during the first gearshift and the subsequent second gearshift, a fifth shifting element is retained in at least a substantially engaged state.
US07892138B2

The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes four planetary gear sets having five torque-transmitting devices, four fixed interconnections and a grounded member. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one of the planetary gear members, and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The five torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members, and with the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US07892133B2

The present invention includes novel apparatus and methods for engaging and disengaging a locking differential. In an embodiment, an assembly for use with a locking differential is provided. The assembly includes an actuator, a housing, a shaft, a pair of biasing members, a side gear, and a locking pin. The actuator is arranged to move the assembly from a first position to a second position. The housing is coupled to the actuator. The first biasing member biases the housing, and the second biasing member biases the housing and shaft. The side gear includes an aperture for engaging the locking pin. The locking pin is coupled to the shaft such that the biasing of the shaft determines whether the locking pin is biased into engagement with the aperture or out of engagement with the aperture.
US07892132B2

This invention relates to a transmission system for transmitting a driving force from a driving unit D to a driven unit F, a transmission adjustment system for adjusting the transmission system to obtain a continuous shift ratio, a guide cone system for maintaining a concentric circle of a rotation radius when a transmission element such as a chain is rotated, a guide cone/transmission adjustment system and a continuously variable transmission system which are made by combination of the above systems. The transmission system includes the transmission element with a tooth portion for transmitting the driving force from the driving unit D to the driven unit F. A transmission adjustment method in the transmission adjustment system is varied depending upon rotation or stop of a carrier. The guide cone system includes a guide cone having a portion of which comes in contact with the transmission element is formed in a shape of a cone having a constant slope. A coupling method of the above systems and an input/output method are selected in the continuously variable transmission system. With the above construction, this invention can be applied without being restricted to the output capacity of the engine, have a simple construction, and transmit a rotation force to an output shaft from an input shaft with high efficiency to reduce energy. Particularly, this invention is widely applied to an industrial machinery as well as a transportation machinery.
US07892121B2

In a motorcycle having a V-belt type continuously variable transmission, a resin washer made of a nylon resin is interposed between a boss fixed to a moving sheave half of a secondary sheave and a spring bearing member. The boss contacts the spring bearing member through the resin washer, whereby the moving sheave half is restricted to a Top position, in which a spacing between it and a stationary sheave half becomes maximum. In this manner, the maximum speed is not changed by exchange of the V-belt, the V-belt does not slip or become considerably abraded or deteriorated, and noise generation is suppressed.
US07892110B2

A training apparatus for temporarily increasing the weight of a golf club head has a body member having a perimeter profile which may at least partially mimic that of the golf club head and has a substantially flat surface for positioning adjacent the striking face of the golf club head. When fixed to the head of a golf club, the training apparatus increases the weight of the club and redistributes the center of gravity closer to the club head, allowing the golfer to benefit more from warm-up swings prior to actual play. The training apparatus may be formed of metal and contains a cutout or cavity in which a magnetic material resides to enable temporary attachment to the club head. In various other embodiments, the body member of the training apparatus may be substantially formed from either all metal or all magnetic material. In still other embodiments, a kit contains a golf club, the training apparatus, and a mechanism for removably attaching the training apparatus to or from the head of the golf club, such mechanism may be a magnet disposed in either the golf club head or the training apparatus. The size, profile and weight of the training apparatus may be modified to accommodate use with either right-handed, left-handed, women's and juniors golf clubs.
US07892107B2

A golf club comprising a grip, a shaft having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the shaft having the grip disposed upon it, a shaft cap disposed at the second end of the shaft, and a head having a face portion and a hosel portion with the second end of the shaft having the shaft cap disposed on the shaft coupled to the head.
US07892097B2

A gaming system includes a communication network, a portable data storage device having information associated with a player stored therein and a plurality of gaming units communicatively coupled to the communication network. Each of the gaming units includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device. The gaming system also includes a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the plurality of gaming units. The network computer is programmed to enable the player to play a group of the plurality of gaming units in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.
US07892092B2

Systems and methods for awarding bonuses associated with gaming machines are disclosed. A bonus system host generates and transmits bonus event information to a gaming machine for display. The bonus system can be associated with a player tracking network including a remote player tracking host and a player tracking device at a gaming machine, which can include a controller and display. Alternatively, no player tracking device exists at the gaming machine, and bonus information is sent to a display on the gaming machine itself. A bonus can be awarded independent of the outcome of play on the gaming machine, and can be a themed bonus. Bonus event results for a specific player can be carried over to a following instance of a game played by that specific player. One form of bonus can be improved pay tables, with odds calculated as a function of player play within the bonus system.
US07892087B1

A gaming system includes a game server and a client server. The client server requests random numeric outcomes from the game server and supplies various state and game information. The game server generates one or more random numeric outcomes. The game server communicates the random numeric outcomes to the client server to be used in making a win determination. For purposes of future authentication, the game server stores a digitally-signed file that includes the random numeric outcomes and the state and game information.
US07892081B2

A gaming device having wild indicator symbols associated with symbols displayed within a display device on a set of reels. The wild indicator symbols may also be associated with a card or plurality of cards within a display device. A processor determines whether the wild indicators will be associated with the symbols or cards and also determines if the wild indicators will be activated. If the wild indicators are activated, the processor transforms those symbols or cards associated with the wild indicators into wild symbols or wild cards.
US07892077B2

Ridge strip apparatus. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US07892074B2

A surface modifying apparatus, system, article, and method are disclosed for modifying a surface by surface modification, whereby inserts of surface modifying elements are quickly and easily replaceable on a carrier assembly therefor without being damaged during use.
US07892071B2

A method of reducing the surface roughness of articulating surfaces of orthopaedic implants is provided. The method includes the steps of providing an abrasive particle providing a chemical including at least one of an oxidant, a corrosion inhibitor, a complexing agent and a surfactant, combining the chemical with the abrasive particle to form a slurry, and polishing the implant with the slurry.
US07892065B2

The system comprises a plurality of modular blocks (10, 14) of nonmagnetic material, to be assembled to create compositions imitating, for example, a building, a doll, an animal, a vehicle or any other fancying assembly; a framework for connecting the blocks, comprises a plurality of magnetic frame members (11, 12) removably disposable into corresponding seatings (13, 17) in each modular block (10, 14), or between adjacent blocks of the composition. The modular blocks (11, 12) and the magnetic frame members of framework have shoulder surfaces (18, 19) mutually engageable in the assembled condition of the assembly.
US07892056B2

A water cooling apparatus in a power transmission system of a boat propulsion system includes a transmission unit that changes the speed of an output from an engine and then transmits the output to a propeller shaft. The transmission unit includes a cylindrical transmission case with an axis extending vertically, a transmission device housed in the transmission case and arranged to change the speed of an input, and a cooling water passage formed in the transmission case for flowing cooling water. In the plan sectional view of the transmission unit, the cooling water passage is formed in at least one of a side portion or a rear portion of the transmission case. As a result, strain on a rear portion of a hull that supports a boat propulsion unit is prevented and minimized, while a transmission unit is sufficiently cooled with cooling water.
US07892055B2

A motor including an intake-side conduit member disposed outside a casing that makes a connection between a cooling water intake section of a water pump and an intake hole, and a cooling water relay section provided outside the casing. The cooling water relay section communicates with a cooling water supply passage in the casing. A discharge-side conduit member that is disposed outside the casing connects the cooling water relay section to a cooling water discharge section of the water pump. Additionally, the other end of a transmission cooling conduit member that is branched from the cooling water relay section is connected to a water jacket of the transmission. The conduit members are preferably flexible hose members, for example. Accordingly, this unique construction improves a cooling water piping layout around a water pump, a discharge performance of the water pump, and an assembly workability of a motor.
US07892049B1

An electrical connector assembly having a wiring harness terminal includes a body and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from the body, and is configured to mate with the wiring harness terminal. The protrusion comprises six sides. Four of the sides have a first length, and two of the sides having a second length that is different from the first length.
US07892048B2

An electrical connector (1), connected with a cable (5), comprises an insulative housing (2) having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of terminals (3) received in the cavities, and a latching member (4) attached to the housing. The latching member has a base plate (40) and a plurality of silos (44) extending from the base plate. A diameter of a channel (48) in each of the silos is slightly larger than a diameter of a corresponding wire (50) of the cable. During assembly of the connector and the cable, the wires of the cable extend through the channels of the latching member prior to connection of the terminals and the wires.
US07892046B2

A telecommunications module (10) has contacts (12, 14, 16) for connecting wires therewith, the contacts (12, 14, 16) being arranged in a number of substantially parallel rows, which is three or a multiple of three, at least one row of contacts (12, 14, 16) which is assigned to transmit a specific signal, such as a POTS, a line or a DSLAM signal, being assigned to transmit a different signal than any adjacent row of contacts within each multiple of three rows.
US07892034B2

A smart card connector adapted to receive and place a smart card in a reading position is disclosed. The smart card connector comprises a contact support; a plurality of reading contacts attached to the contact support at a terminating end thereof, each of the reading contacts comprising a contact bulge for contacting a contact pad of the smart card and at least one control bulge for pivoting the contact bulge into contact with the contact pad of the smart card; a sliding element slidably mounted in the contact support so as to be movable between an initial position and an end position, the sliding element comprising a contact actuating member that engages the at least one control bulge as the sliding element moves toward the end position and presses the contact bulge against the contact pad of the smart card as the smart card reaches its reading position.
US07892031B1

A lamp assembly includes a light source, a contact base, a center contact and an outer contact. The contact base extends from a lower end to an upper end along a center axis. The upper end is interconnected with the light source and the lower end is configured to be received in a socket to mate the contact base with the socket. The center contact is disposed proximate the lower end of the contact base and is electronically coupled with the light source. The outer contact includes a ring body and an elongated contact tine. The ring body encircles the center contact proximate the lower end of the contact base. The center contact and the outer contact are mechanically and electrically coupled with the socket and electrically join the light source with an electric ground reference.
US07892022B2

A jumper connector for connecting lighting components to one another includes a connector body having a mating surface configured to engage more than one lighting component, where the connector body is configured to be secured to a substrate by a fastener. The jumper connector also includes a conductor held by the body, wherein the conductor is configured to be electrically connected to more than one lighting component during the same manufacturing step in which the connector body is secured to the substrate.
US07892019B2

A SAS panel mount cable assembly for providing access of target hard-drive resources to an initiator-host includes an initiator-side connector, two target-side connectors, and a wire-harness. Each of the two target-side connectors includes a power-link portion, a signal-link portion, an interface separating the power-link portion and the signal-link portion, and a plurality of LEDs for indicating activity and fault-detection. A plurality of power-wires electrically connects the wire-harness to the power-link portions of the two target-side connectors, and two signal-link cables connect the initiator-side connector to the signal-link portions of the two target-side connectors.
US07892017B2

A biomedical electrode connector for coupling with a biomedical electrode of the type including an electrode base and a male terminal projecting from the electrode base is provided.
US07892013B1

A transceiver assembly includes a receptacle guide frame configured to be mounted to a host circuit board, where the receptacle guide frame has a front being open to an interior space, and where the receptacle guide frame is configured to receive a pluggable module through the front. A receptacle connector is received within the interior space of the receptacle guide frame at a rear of the receptacle guide frame. The receptacle connector includes contacts having contact tails configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The contacts have retention sections positioned at a predetermined location relative to the contact tails, and the contacts have mating sections configured for mating with a mating connector. A housing holds the contacts and has a front and a rear with a cavity at the front being configured to receive the mating connector. The housing has a shelf at the rear. A stuffer bar is separately provided from the housing and securely coupled to the rear of the housing. The stuffer bar is received within the retention sections of the contacts and engages the contacts to hold the contacts against the shelf such that the contact tails are aligned with one another.
US07892006B2

A connector includes an insulative housing having a pair of side walls with a central slot formed therebetween, a set of terminals including first terminals and second terminals and an ejector. Each side wall has a set of passageways. Each first terminal has a first contacting portion protruding into the central slot, a first tail portion mounted on a PCB, and a first connecting portion. The first connecting portions and the first tail portions are arranged in two rows.
US07892003B2

An electrical tool includes a main housing, an operative portion integrally connected to, and forming part of, the main housing, and a plug integrally connected to, and forming part of, the main housing. The plug comprising a base or main body, a plug connecting interface and first and second spades extending from the plug connecting interface. The first and second spades are in a standard configuration.
US07892002B2

An electrical connector for electrically connecting with a flexible circuit board includes an insulative housing (1) defining a mating space with a bottom surface, a plurality of contact terminals (2) assembled in the housing each including a contact engaging arm (23) extending from the bottom surface into the mating space (103), an actuator (3) pivotally assembled on the housing and capable of rotating between a first position in which the mating space (103) is accessible and a second position in which the actuator (3) is substantially covering the mating space, and at least one grounding device (4) which is attached to the housing and comprises at least one grounding finger (44) extending from the bottom surface into the mating space and a cantilevered tab (43) disposed above the bottom surface.
US07891992B2

A press-fit contact including a contact body with a square cross section and including a connecting region, a press-in region, and a tip region. Two legs are integrally formed within the contact body. The two legs originate at the connecting region and extend to the tip region where free ends of the two legs converge toward one another. The two legs are separated by a defined air gap in a longitude direction within the press-in region. The sum of the cross sections of the two legs substantially corresponds to the square cross section of the contact.
US07891981B1

A system for maintaining a printed circuit board in an enclosure includes at least one interposer. The circuit board and housing are coupled to one or more interposers. The interposer(s) fixedly couples to both the circuit board and the enclosure, and allows the circuit board and enclosure to maintain alignment during thermal heat expansion along a desired axis, such as between the center of the board and housing.
US07891975B2

Heat treatment apparatus and a method of manufacturing a substrate are provided, in which drop of particles produced by a rubbing action between a support strip and a support member can be prevented. Heat treatment apparatus 10 has a reactor 40 for treating a substrate, and a support tool 30 for supporting the substrate 54 in the reactor 40. The support tool 30 has a support part 57 to be contacted to the substrate 54, and a support strip 67 for supporting the support part 57. A back of the support part 57 has a convex portion or a concave portion, and the back of the support part 54 is configured to be not contacted to an edge of the support strip 67, and contacted to a top of the support strip 67 at inner than the edge of the support strip 67.
US07891974B2

The present invention relates to a portable apparatus for warming biocompatible fluids for use in the treatment of injured patients and a method of heating a biocompatible fluid to treat a patient experiencing hypothermia. The present invention may be used to warm intravenous fluids for trauma resuscitation or to warm air from a ventilator circuit. The portable nature of the present invention makes it highly suitable for field applications, such as a forward surgical hospital near a combat zone.
US07891971B2

Combustion head and method for combusting liquid and/or gaseous fuel having a flame front distanced downstream from the combustion head, in which fuel is discharged in a downstream direction radially outward at an angle at the end of the combustion head located downstream toward at least several guide devices and into a combustion chamber.
US07891965B2

A mold for molding a product in a cavity formed by closing the mold is provided. The mold includes a first half; a second half; and a plurality of aligning members which contact respective outer circumferential surfaces of a first die of the first half and a second die of the second half, at least in three directions, when the mold is closed. At least one of the aligning members is moved toward the outer circumferential surfaces of the first die and the second die, and then each of the aligning members sandwiches the first die and the second die, which enables a center axis alignment between the first die and the second die.
US07891964B2

A pump system comprising a delivery assembly configured to feed a solid material under operational power of a first drive motor, and a screw pump comprising a housing that at least partially defines a barrel of the screw pump, an extrusion tip secured to the housing at a first end of the barrel, a liquefier secured to the housing and intersecting with the barrel, and an impeller extending at least partially through the barrel. The liquefier is configured to receive the solid material fed from the delivery assembly, to at least partially melt the received solid material, and to direct the at least partially melted material to the barrel, and the impeller is configured to drive the at least partially melted material that is directed to the barrel toward the extrusion tip under operational power of a second drive motor.
US07891960B2

A pump for efficiently producing gas in wells having some liquids. The pump may be driven by a walking beam or horsehead pump. The pump of the invention produces gases and liquids separately. Gases may be produced up the annulus between the casing and hollow sucker rods. A plunger seals the opening in the cage during downstroke. Gases and liquids are trapped in the cage above an inner barrel. Liquids are forced up the hollow sucker rod where they are retained by a one-way valve. On the upstroke, the one-way valve seats and gases are forced out of the cage and up the annulus. Gases are, therefore, produced up the annulus and liquids are produced up the drill string. In another embodiment, liquids are retained in a trap and are produced up hollow sucker rods, while gases are produced up the annulus between the hollow sucker rods and the casing.
US07891954B2

A method for conveying material by applying a pressure difference in a conveying conduit (4), in which method the material is fed into the conveying conduit (4) and in the conveying conduit further into a separating device (5), where the material being conveyed is separated from conveying air, in which method a negative pressure is created in the conveying conduit (4) by means of an ejector apparatus (6), whose suction side is connected to the separating device (5), said ejector apparatus being operated using an operating medium consisting of a liquid mist, especially an aqueous liquid mist, said medium being sprayed through at least one spraying nozzle (122) into an ejector tube (128) directed into a separating element (38). In the method, the generation of the negative pressure to be produced is intensified according to need by limiting the flow of gases, such as air, into the ejector tube (128) from the direction opposite to the spraying direction of its operating medium, i.e. from the outlet end (129) of the ejector tube. The invention also relates to an apparatus and an ejector device.
US07891952B2

A method for fabricating a rotor assembly for a turbine, the turbine including a central rotational axis is provided. The method includes forging a first rotor component from a first material, separately forging a second rotor component from a second material, and coupling the second rotor component to the first rotor component at a location radially inward of the first rotor component. The second rotor component is coupled to the first rotor component in at least one axial-circumferential plane that is at least one of substantially parallel and obliquely oriented with respect to the central rotational axis.
US07891936B2

A substrate aligner providing minimal substrate transporter extend and retract motions to quickly align substrate without back side damage while increasing the throughput of substrate processing. In one embodiment, the aligner having an inverted chuck connected to a frame with a substrate transfer system capable of transferring substrate from chuck to transporter without rotationally repositioning substrate. The inverted chuck eliminates aligner obstruction of substrate fiducials and along with the transfer system, allows transporter to remain within the frame during alignment. In another embodiment, the aligner has a rotatable sensor head connected to a frame and a substrate support with transparent rest pads for supporting the substrate during alignment so transporter can remain within the frame during alignment. Substrate alignment is performed independent of fiducial placement on support pads. In other embodiments the substrate support employs a buffer system for buffering substrate inside the apparatus allowing for fast swapping of substrates.
US07891926B2

A fastener having a shank with a moveable portion that improves insertion of the fastener into an aperture, as well as improves the retention of the fastener within the aperture and the resistance of the fastener to extraction.
US07891923B2

A metal wire is configured to provide a diagonal interconnecting part extending tangentially between first and second coils which are sized to fit around respective screw action connectors. First and second wire end portions extend tangentially from the respective first and second coils across and beyond the diagonal interconnecting part to provide first and second finger grip limbs. The first limb extends across the interconnecting part adjacent the first coil and the second limb extends across the interconnecting part adjacent the second coil so that end regions of the limbs are spaced apart and at opposite sides of the interconnecting part and are capable of being pressed towards each other in a direction transverse to the interconnecting part by the fingers of one hand in order to loosen the respective coils to enable their location over, or removal from, the respective screw action connectors.
US07891922B2

A vibration isolator for container, and the like, and a method of using the same which are applicable to general containers, and allow the loaded articles to be protected against vibration at the time of transportation, and the like, with the cost being held to a minimum. It is a vibration isolator (10) for container (C), and the like, which provides vibration isolation for cargo protection, being interposed beneath a transport container (C), a merchandise transport pallet, or the like, wherein shock absorbing members (50) are interposed between a base frame (20) and a load carrying frame (30); and at least at the four corners of the base frame (20), a latch receiving structure (25) of a twist lock (40) is disposed, and in the corresponding place in the load carrying frame (30), a twist lock (40) is disposed.
US07891917B2

Apparatus and method are provided for automatically drilling work pieces, including drilling of rivet holes in standard and heavy-duty brake shoe linings for the truck, bus, overhead crane, wheel drum and heavy machinery industries. Apparatus and method are customizable to accommodate various sizes of work pieces, and programmable for drilling of multiple holes and handling of multiple work pieces, as required by manufacturers.
US07891914B2

A geotextile tube is provided. The geotextile tube includes a first sheet and second sheet that both have first portions with a first weave pattern and second portions with a second weave pattern. The first portion of the first sheet covers a larger surface area than the second portion of the first sheet. Likewise, the first portion of the second sheet covers a larger surface area than the second portion of the second sheet. A seam contacts and attaches the second portion of the first sheet to the second portion of the second sheet.
US07891894B2

A printer in which when an optical disk is inserted into a conveyance path in a printer body, an inlet cover is moved to a position where the inlet cover opens an inlet in a cover provided on the printer body. This causes a cutter button that operates a cutter for a tape-like printing medium to be locked by the inlet cover. Thus, when the optical disk is printed, the cutter is rendered inoperable. Accordingly, the printer can prevent a trouble such as inadvertently operates the cutter, thereby damaging the disk or the cutter itself.
US07891888B2

The camera slider system supports a camera for longitudinal sliding or rolling movement along a pair of elongate support members which are parallel and spaced apart from one another. The camera mount supporting the camera thereon is supported by a pair of link members pivotally coupled between opposing ends of the camera mount and a carriage assembly which is movable along the rails. The orientation of the camera relative to the elongate supports is readily adjustable by adjusting the pivotal link members while the camera remains supported in a very stable configuration. Rollers or bearings ensure a smooth movement of the camera along the elongate support members so that there are no undesired jerking movements in the resulting captured image.
US07891887B1

A camera stand of the present invention is composed of a deck for controlling a shooting angle of a camera. The deck is provided on one foot tube of a camera tripod and when a user rotates that foot tube, a slid-proof rod can drive a slid-proof sleeve, which is assembled with the slid-proof rod as one unit, to abut a ball below the deck for positioning. When the foot tube is loosened by rotating reversely, the slid-proof sleeve can escape from the ball, such that the deck can move freely to adjust the shooting angle of the camera.
US07891883B2

A fiber optic connector including a ferrule surrounding an optical fiber and a hub engaging the ferrule. The hub includes a front portion having first and second opposing surfaces and first and second tapered regions extending from the first and second opposing surfaces to a front face. A housing includes an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the first and second opposing surfaces, the anti-rotation seat including parallel first and second contact lines positioned at a front of the anti-rotation seat. A spring within a chamber of the housing biases the ferrule through a bore in the front of the housing. The first tapered region of the hub engages the first contact line and the second tapered region engages the second contact line when the hub and ferrule are in a first rotational position so that the optical fiber is maintained at a known orientation with respect to the connector.
US07891879B2

A wheel hub of a wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member includes a wheel hub and an inner ring. The wheel hub has a wheel mounting flange, a shaft portion, an inner raceway surface, a cylindrical portion, a shoulder portion, and a through bore. The inner ring is press-fit onto the cylindrical portion abutting against the shoulder portion. Double row rolling elements are contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner member and the outer member. Fiber flow near the inner circumference of the material forming the wheel hub from the shoulder to the open end surface of the wheel hub is in a condition substantially parallel to the axis of the wheel hub.
US07891877B2

A circular arc slide apparatus that achieves improved precision and a reduction in costs is provided. The circular arc slide apparatus comprises a lower plate, an upper plate, and a circular arc track provided between the lower plate and upper plate. Guide rail portions are provided in an upper surface of the lower plate and a lower surface of the upper plate, and circular arc curve-shaped guide grooves that constitute the circular arc track are provided in opposing planar surfaces of the guide rail portions. The guide groove cross-section describes a circular arc-shape, and a plurality of balls are rollably fitted between the opposing guide grooves in a preloading state. The lower plate and upper plate are integrally machined from a plate-like material and formed in a shape comprising the guide rail portions and guide grooves, and the inner surface of each guide groove is configured as a machined face produced by an end mill. The depth of each guide groove is set to a dimension machinable by a tip semicircular cutting blade portion of an end mill, the rotation axis of which is diagonally set that is no more than 0.146 times the diameter of the balls.
US07891872B2

A safety housing (1) for an X-ray apparatus, comprises a working chamber (2) which can accommodate X-ray apparatus protection elements (3a-3c, 5a, 5b; 21), in particular lead-containing walls and/or lead glass panes, which are impermeable to X-rays and which surround the working chamber (2) and at least one door (6a, 6b) for opening and closing an access (4) to the working chamber (2) of the safety housing (1), wherein the door (6a, 6b) has at least one door protection element (5a, 5b; 21), in particular a lead glass pane, which is impermeable to X-ray radiation, wherein the at least one door protection element (5a, 5b; 21) can completely cover the access to the working chamber (2), and wherein the door (6a, 6b) can be pivoted about an axis S relative to a main frame (9) of the safety housing (1). At least one door protection element (5a-5b) of the door (6a, 6b) is formed on one sliding door (10a, 10b), the sliding door (10a, 10b) being disposed on a casement (7a, 7b) of the door (6a, 6b) such that it can be displaced in a direction V, and the casement (7a, 7b) of the door (6a, 6b) can be pivoted about the axis S relative to the main frame (9). The amount of space that is required in front of the access to the working chamber is thereby reduced.
US07891871B2

The invention relates to intraoral radiological dental image sensors, i.e. sensors placed in the mouth of a patient, an X-ray source being located outside the cheek of the patient in order to emit X-rays in the direction of the sensor. According to the invention, the image sensor is attached to a first end of a short electrical cable (22) of around 5 to 20 cm, a second end of which leaves the patient's mouth when the sensor is in the mouth, the second end carrying a light source (24) comprising light-emitting diodes that can be digitally modulated as a function of information coming from the sensor, the electrical cable being able to transmit an electrical control signal from the sensor to the diode for modulating the latter.
US07891870B2

A temperature sensor element 10 has a reduced thermal conduction path from a measurement object to a sensitive end portion 22 of a thermocouple 21 and a high-dense insulating ceramic base body 20. Since the temperature sensor element 10 has excellent thermal conductivity from the measurement object to the sensitive end portion 22 of the thermocouple 21, it is also excellent in responsiveness at the time of temperature detection. Further, corrosion and material deterioration of the thermocouple 21 is unlikely to occur because the thermocouple 21 does not directly contact the measurement object (exhaust gas). As a result, the temperature sensor element 10 exhibits excellent durability. Therefore, the temperature sensor element 10 exhibits a good responsiveness at the time of temperature detection as well as excellent durability.
US07891869B2

A temperature sensor circuit comprises a first monitor voltage generation circuit that generates a first monitor voltage with a characteristic that changes with respect to temperature; a second monitor voltage generation circuit that generates a second monitor voltage with a characteristic that changes by a variation amount different from the first monitor voltage with respect to the temperature; and a differential amplifier circuit, to which the first and second monitor voltages are inputted and that outputs the result of comparing the two voltages. Further, the differential amplifier circuit of the temperature sensor circuit is capable of switching to a first connection state, which outputs the comparison result, and to a second connection state, which outputs an offset monitor voltage that is rendered by adding the offset voltage of the differential amplifier circuit to the first or second monitor voltage or subtracting the offset voltage therefrom.
US07891854B2

In a backlight device, among a plurality of light emitting diodes, light amounts thereof are measured in advance, and they are classified as any one of two or more light amount ranks according to the measurement results. In each of an upper region and a lower region of the light emitting diodes that are set on an upper side and lower side of a light guide plate, respectively, the light emitting diodes that are classified as having the same light amount rank are disposed.
US07891830B2

There is explained a back light unit and a liquid crystal display using the same for improving brightness characteristic and difference of the color sense of a liquid crystal display having a direct-below-type back light. The back light unit and the liquid crystal display using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a back light unit having a lamp housing, a plurality of lamps respectively having a first electrode and a second electrode and arranged in the lamp housing so that the first electrode and the second electrode are alternately disposed in one side of the lamp housing, a diffusion plate disposed on the lamp housing, and an optical sheet disposed on the diffusion plate; and a liquid crystal panel disposed on the back light unit having a plurality of liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix form to thereby increase the brightness and minimize right/left difference of the color sense and improve picture quality.
US07891828B2

An electronic device includes a housing and a touch sensor mounted in the housing. The touch sensor further includes a translucent panel provided in a part of the housing, a printed circuit board which senses a touch on the translucent panel by a user, a light source mounted to the printed circuit board, which irradiates light towards the translucent panel, and a diffusion sheet provided between the translucent panel and the light source, which diffuses the light irradiated from the light source. The diffusion sheet further includes a first region formed transparent to directly transmit the light, and a second region frosted to diffuse the light towards an outer peripheral portion of the translucent panel. The second region is provided at a position corresponding to the light source, and the first region is provided to surround the second region.
US07891826B2

A projector includes: an image creation unit that projects image information upon a screen, comprising a plurality of picture elements that create an image pattern corresponding to the image information; and an illumination unit in which light emitting members are disposed upon a vertical plane with respect to an optical axis which passes through a center of the image creation unit, at equal distances from the optical axis and moreover in different locations.
US07891819B2

A light source disposed in a projector is cooled by use of a coolant. A cooling unit is disposed in a region that is spatially separated from at least an optical unit and an electrical circuit unit. In addition, piping between the cooling unit and a cooling member is separated from wiring from the electrical circuit unit.
US07891818B2

A projection system that includes a singe light modulation device and a plurality of light sources of different wavelengths. Each wavelength of light is incident on the light modulation device at a spatially distinct location and a temporally distinct time. The use of a scanning mirror allows the projection system to sequentially form, in full-color, each of the columns or rows of an image. The projection system is characterized by the reduction of color separation or the rainbow effect due to the rendering of each column or row in full color.
US07891805B2

An image forming device, includes a recording head configured to jet a liquid drop of recording liquid to a recording medium so that an image is formed; and a conveyance belt adhering the recording medium by an electrostatic force. The recording medium adhered to the conveyance belt by the electrostatic force is not separated from the conveyance belt at an angle formed by a flat surface of the conveyance belt facing the recording head and a tilt surface of the conveyance belt tilting downward at a downstream side of the recording head.
US07891800B2

A printer having a sheet feed system for feeding an image receiving sheet to a print station, and a sheet treatment system for subjecting the paper to an anti-cockle treatment including a humidity sensor arranged to detect the degree of humidity of ambient air, and a control system adapted to control the sheet treatment system in response to the detected degree of humidity.
US07891791B2

A refillable ink cartridge that has a pagewidth printhead supported on a moulding assembly that defines the ink reservoirs. The printhead has a series of holes etched on a back surface thereof for the supply of ink to a front surface of the printhead for ejection. The moulding assembly has an elongate top moulding piece and an elongate bottom moulding piece that together define a plurality of elongate ink reservoirs. The bottom moulding piece having apertures for supplying ink to the series of holes on the back surface of the pagewidth printhead. Each of the ink reservoirs are in fluid communication with at least one of the apertures but each of the apertures are in fluid communication with only one of the ink reservoirs. Each of the ink reservoirs are in fluid communication with a respective refill port and corresponding air vent.
US07891790B2

The invention provides a disposable ink cartridge to be installed in an existing all-in-one printhead-ink cartridge to form an assembled segregated printhead-ink cartridge for use in a printer. The all-in-one printhead-ink cartridge has a printhead with a printhead chamber from which any cover and ink-absorbent materials have been removed. The disposable ink cartridge includes an ink cartridge body, an assembly-securement member and a cartridge seal holder. The ink cartridge body further includes a cartridge housing, a cartridge cover, at least one air vent cover, at least one ink-storing foam, at least one ink-filtering foam, at least one sealing member, which are integrated into one indivisible entity fitting into the chamber of the printhead. When the disposable cartridge runs out of ink, what is needed is just to replace the ink cartridge body without replacing the printhead and the assembly-securement member, thus making the originally disposable printhead repeatedly usable.
US07891783B2

Provided is a liquid jet head including: a flow path forming substrate having formed therein a row of pressure generating chambers, each of which is communicated with a nozzle opening; a piezoelectric element which is provided in each of the pressure generating chambers via a vibration plate formed of a plurality of layers; and a bonding substrate which is bonded to a piezoelectric element forming side of the flow path forming substrate, in which: a groove is formed in a region of the vibration plate surrounding the piezoelectric element so as to extend to an interface of the plurality of layers or extend over the interface; and an insulator formed of an inorganic insulating material is formed in the groove.
US07891782B2

A liquid injecting head includes a flow path forming substrate in which a pressure generating chamber communicated with a nozzle opening that injects liquid is formed, a pressure generating element that is formed so as to apply pressure to the pressure generating chamber for injecting the liquid, a lead electrode that is connected to the pressure generating element, a wiring substrate having flexibility that is connected to the lead electrode, and a support member that is bonded to the wiring substrate. A fixing opening formed by perforating the wiring substrate in the thickness direction is disposed, and the wiring substrate and the support member are bonded together through an adhesive agent disposed inside the fixing opening.
US07891775B2

An inkjet drop ejection apparatus comprises an array of ink ejection nozzles; a chamber corresponding to each ink ejection nozzle and for storing ink; and a plurality of actuators provided on top of each chamber, the actuators radially extending out from a common center and defining an ink ejection port at the common center. Each actuator is comprised of first material of surrounding a conductive core of a second material. Each actuator is adapted to bend inward with respect to the chamber when heated.
US07891768B2

A printhead assembly which includes an ink supply arrangement having a profile member defining a semi-open cross-section with peripheral, structured side walls having free, opposing, lengthwise running edges delineating a gap extending along the entire length of the profile member, said profile member defining three internal webs that stand out from a base wall section of the peripheral wall into the interior of said member so as to define together with the side wall sections ink supply channels which are open towards the gap. The assembly also includes a plurality of printhead segment carriers operatively fast with the ink supply arrangement so that the ink supply channels are arranged in fluid communication with a printhead operatively supported on said segments. Also included is a shield plate supported by the profile member, said plate for protecting the printhead during printing.
US07891764B2

A printhead assembly is provided for a printer system. The printhead assembly includes an elongate substrate defining a channel and spaced apart sets of ink supply holes. An ink distribution arrangement is located within the channel and is configured to distribute ink to the sets of ink supply holes. A first plate is in engagement with the substrate to hold the ink distribution arrangement within the channel. A power supply arrangement is also located within the channel. A second plate is in engagement with the substrate so that the power supply arrangement is sandwiched between the plates and held within the channel.
US07891753B2

The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus, which performs high resolution image recording by inhibiting propagation of heat from a light-radiation device to a recording medium, is provided with a recording medium conveyance device to convey a recording medium in a conveyance direction; a recording head 10 to emit ink from a nozzle towards the recording medium; a first supporting member 5 to convey the recording medium so that the recording medium faces the recording head; a light radiation device 16 to radiate an activation energy ray towards the in emitted from the recording head; and a second support member 7 to convey the recording medium in a conveyance direction so that the recording medium faces the light radiation device; wherein between the first supporting member 5 and the second supporting member 7, in a recording medium conveyance direction, there are disposed a guide section 6 having a cooling device.
US07891752B2

An Inkjet apparatus is provided. An Inkjet apparatus includes a piezoelectric inkjet print head, a plurality of driving unit, a detection unit and a control unit. The piezoelectric inkjet print head comprises a plurality of nozzles, wherein each the nozzle outputs an ink drop according to a driving voltage. The driving unit generates the driving voltage according to a control signal. The detection unit detects a state of the ink drop corresponding to the nozzle to generate a detection signal. The control unit generates the control signal to control the driving voltage according to the detection signal.
US07891748B2

Provided is a print engine controller for an inkjet printhead with a plurality of nozzle arrangements operatively actuated by thermal actuators. The controller has controller circuitry with an open actuator test circuit to test each respective actuator. The controller circuitry includes an open actuator test input, a column enable input and a row enable input, as well as a drive transistor operatively linking said thermal actuator to a power supply. The circuitry also includes a bleed transistor arranged in parallel with the thermal actuator, and a sense transistor operatively linking an output of the drive transistor and inputs of the thermal actuator and bleed transistor to a sensing node. The controller circuitry is configured so that when only the column enable and row enable inputs are activated the bleed and sense transistors are deactivated and the drive transistor is activated to link the thermal actuator to the power supply.
US07891739B2

An apparatus for mounting a wheelchair back that provides a high degree of support and adjustability such that it can be used with wheelchairs that originate from a wide variety of different manufacturers. In order to provide this custom fit, the present invention provide for depth adjustability, height adjustability and angle adjustability of a wheelchair back. The present invention also provides the convenience of a quick-release wheelchair back so that the wheelchair occupant can easily remove the back of the wheelchair from the canes so that the wheelchair can be collapsed and stored. The present mounting system also provides a two point mounting system that is reliable yet simple to use.
US07891730B2

A drive unit for at least two movable parts of a vehicle, in particular closures for selectively opening and closing at least one roof opening in a roof assembly, includes an electric motor having a rotor shaft and transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes at least two output shafts and a switch mechanism including a locking member in order to selectively allow one output shaft to be driven by the electric motor and to lock the other output shaft. The transmission assembly includes a first transmission included in a housing of the electric motor and acting between the rotor shaft and a drive shaft. A second transmission is housed in a gearbox separate from the housing of the electric motor and mounted thereto with the drive shaft in engagement with the second transmission.
US07891729B2

Providing a cover storage member 30, which constitutes the rear end of the roof of a vehicle, and a guiding means 40 for transferring the cover storage member 30 between the position at the rear end of the roof and the position inside the vehicle. The cover storage member 30 shall be equipped with a winding means for winding up the cover member. The guiding means 40 shall be equipped with rails 41 installed between the position at the rear end of the roof and the position inside the vehicle, and a transferring means for moving the cover storage member 30.
US07891728B2

A motor vehicle, especially a cabriolet vehicle, with a motor vehicle chassis is provided to whose underbody area at least two reinforcing struts are allocated, each of which trends from a chassis attachment with a component in the direction of a vertical longitudinal mid-plane. A connection support is provided free under the underbody and with a distance to it, at which support two of these struts are held in close distance to each other with respect to the vehicle transverse direction, as well as two further struts, which from there extend away, in each case, with a component in the direction of the vertical longitudinal mid-plane, wherein the connection support is angled about at least one axis extending transverse to the vehicle between the mountings for the two struts and the mountings for the two further struts.
US07891727B2

A configuration is provided for the handling and/or processing of a vehicle cowling part together with an add-on part. The parts are coordinated with each other prior to the handling and/or processing and temporarily fixed at a distance from each other by a fastening device and then can be handled and/or processed together, and after the handling and/or processing they are fixed onto each other in the final position. For quick and easy temporary fixation and final fixation, in which no additional securing aids are required, it is proposed that the fastening device is configured as a snap connection with a temporary fixation and a final fixation and makes a single piece with the vehicle cowling part and/or the add-on part.
US07891723B2

A motor vehicle is provided with a convertible body. The motor vehicle comprises a body provided with seats and a convertible roof, consisting of a front section adjacent to a windscreen frame and a rear section, which is pivotally connected to the rear part of the vehicle. The two sections are hingedly connected to each other and are constructed so that they are capable of rotating relative to each other and to the body from the initial position to the end position and are enabled to be placed in the body rear part. When the convertible roof is placed in the vehicle rear part, the front section thereof occupies substantially a vertical position directly behind the seats and the rear section occupies substantially a horizontal position in the rear part of the vehicle. The front roof section where it is joined to the windscreen frame is shaped to the body bottom shape behind the seats. The front roof section's embodiment allows it to partially overlap the rear section such that at least one part of the front section overlapping the rear section is made of a transparent material.
US07891722B2

The sunblocking device has an elongated blocking member having a portion that is folded back and attached to the elongated member to form an elongated opening. Extending through the opening is a strap that is preferably elastic that fits around a vehicle visor to secure the device to the visor.
US07891713B2

A pipe clamp includes two clamping members which are hinged together at one end and releasably secured together at the other end. The clamping members each comprising an arcuate, radially inner portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the clamping member and which in profile comprises a bottom portion and two lips which each extend radially inwardly from a corresponding side of the bottom portion. Each lip includes a main portion which extends circumferentially along the inner portion, and at least one lip of at least one clamping member comprises an arcuate circle sector portion which extends between the main portion and an end of the clamping member. In addition, the main portion comprises a lip radius and the circle sector portion comprises a circle sector radius that is larger than the lip radius.
US07891709B2

A sealing member of an exhaust pipe of a dryer prevents vibration of the exhaust pipe secured to an opening in a sheet of glass or a wall from transmission, and prevents exhaust gas from leaking from connection portions of a plurality of exhaust pipes.
US07891707B2

The steering hanger beam extending in a width direction of a vehicle and connected to left and right vehicle-body members, is provided with: a main member which supports a steering device; a pair of front and rear transverse beam portions connected to the main member in the width direction of the vehicle so as to be offset from an axis of the main member to front and rear; and an opening which is formed between the pair of front and rear transverse beam portions so as to penetrate in substantially a vertical direction.
US07891706B2

A single-part or multi-part stiffening device for increasing the torsional stiffness of a motor vehicle embodied as a cabriolet, has at least one stiffening element which is connected at one side to a rear side of a rollover protection device and at the other side to a base of a covering shelf of the motor vehicle.
US07891705B2

A tension cushion air bag includes an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume. The outer chamber includes a front panel and a rear panel. The tension cushion air bag also includes an inner chamber formed at least in part by the front panel of the outer chamber and at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the front panel. The inner chamber includes a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber.
US07891687B2

A bicycle is provided including a tubular frame having interconnected tubes defining hollow passageways. A curvilinear hollow handlebar is operatively coupled to the frame. The handlebar includes at least one aperture and an opening providing access to the passageways in the frame. A control lever is operatively mounted to the handlebar for controlling a component of the bicycle. A control cable has a first end fixedly secured to the control lever and a second end adapted to be secured to the component of the bicycle for actuation thereof. The control cable extends through the aperture into the handlebar and through the opening of the handlebar into the passageways of the frame between the first and second ends to conceal the control cable within the frame and the handlebar.
US07891683B2

A torsion-beam rear axle of a vehicle, more preferably motor vehicle, is provided with two rigid trailing arms, which with their one end are each mounted on a vehicle body in a manner capable of being swiveled and at the other end of which a wheel carrier is each attached for the rotatable mounting of a vehicle wheel about its wheel center axis, as well as with a torsionally soft cross-tie connecting the two trailing arms with each other. Each wheel carrier, by means of at least three elastic wheel carrier bearings is fixed to the trailing arm when viewed in forward driving direction of the vehicle, at least two wheel carrier bearings are arranged behind the wheel center axis, and at least one wheel carrier bearing is arranged in front of the wheel center axis in such a manner that through the two wheel carrier bearings arranged behind the wheel center axis to define a swivel axis for the swiveling of the wheel carrier relative to the trailing arm.
US07891682B2

A motor vehicle has a rear axle cross member, from which two diagonal struts project forward in a V-shape, which diagonal struts are connected with their front end in each case to a vehicle longitudinal member. Here, it is important that an annular, closed stiffening structure is provided behind the rear axle cross member as viewed in the direction of travel. The stiffening structure is supported with its front end on the rear axle cross member and with its rear end, via struts which project rearward in a V-shape, on rear vehicle longitudinal members.
US07891681B2

A steering clamper designed for use on a vehicle handlebar connected to a part rotatable about a steering axle coinciding with the center of a steering column. The steering damper comprises an outer housing enclosing a damping-medium-filled main chamber divided into two chambers by a demarcating wing rotatable about a first wing end. The outer face of the wing end rotates in a cutout in the housing. The first wing end is fixed to a first end of a lever which rotates relative to said outer housing. The lever connects, the steering damper rotating with the steering device to the vehicle frame. In the outer housing there is a cavity, the center line of which coincides with the steering axle, designed to accommodate a fastening element which joins the steering damper to the part rotatable about the steering axle.
US07891680B2

A flexible riding board may include a front fork assembly for pivotal rotation about a front axis, the front fork assembly including a single front wheel mounted for rolling rotation about a front axle offset from the front axis; a rear fork assembly for pivotal rotation about a rear axis including a single rear wheel mounted for rolling rotation about a rear axle offset from the rear axis; and a flexible, one piece molded plastic platform having a neutral plane and supported by the front fork assembly with the front axis at a first acute angle to the neutral plane and supported by the rear fork assembly with the rear axis at a second acute angle to the neutral plane, the platform twistable by a rider to pivot the rear wheel about the rear axis so that the riding board is propelled in a forward direction, wherein the front fork assembly is pivotable about the front axis by the rider to steer the riding board.
US07891675B2

Apparatus for transporting products including a body having ground wheels (22, 122) and support structure (30, 130) for one or more crates or other containers holding products to be carried by the apparatus. At least one ground engageable member (40, 140) fixed to said support structure forms an assembly with the support structure that is mounted to the body for relative movement between a retracted position in which the apparatus is freely moveable on a ground surface by means of the ground wheels and a relatively downwardly extended position in which the ground engageable member engages an underlying ground surface at a predetermined location to stabilize the apparatus against movement from that location on the ground wheels. Releasable latching means (60, 190, 192) is provided to latch the ground engageable member in the retracted position, and there is at least one transverse opening (59, 159) in the ground engageable member to receive a fork or forks of a lifting device, for lifting the apparatus with the ground engageable member resting on the fork(s), whereby to facilitate transport of the apparatus and/or release and engagement of the latching means.
US07891667B2

A fishing apparatus for simulating the catching of fish is taught herein. A preferred embodiment comprises a horizontal fish support, one or more fish-shaped members releasably mounted on the fish support, each fish-shaped member having a tapered mouth extending in front of the fish's mouth and a line slot that terminates in a patch of hook and loop material. A cast plug will carry a mating patch of the same material so that when the plug is drawn toward the user through the guide slot, the plug will engage the fish-shaped member, thereby pulling it away from the fish support in a manner simulating the catching of fish in actual water.
US07891662B2

An information writing apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a sheet having a wireless IC element; and a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits and receives signals to/from the wireless IC element in a sheet transported by the transport unit, the transport unit including a first belt made of nonmetal and a second belt made of nonmetal placed facing and contacting the first belt, the sheet being transported, caught between the first belt and the second belt.
US07891657B2

A sheet feeder includes a sheet tray, a feed roller, a separating pad, a feed motor, a conveying roller pair, and a deformation prevention member. The feed roller picks up and feeds first and second sheets from the sheet tray. The separating pad separates the first sheet from the second sheet together with the feed roller. The deformation prevention member is provided to prevent deformation of a head of the second sheet caused by the feed roller and the separating pad nipping the second sheet.
US07891656B1

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet releasing mechanism, a casing, a sheet feeding channel, a sheet pick-up module and a driving shaft. The sheet releasing mechanism includes a control lever and a base. The control lever includes a protruding part. The base includes a first restriction groove and a second restriction groove. When the protruding part is accommodated within the first restriction groove, the sheet releasing mechanism is in a sheet-holding status. When the protruding part is accommodated within the second restriction groove, the sheet releasing mechanism is in a sheet-releasing status.
US07891655B2

A method for moving a first combination of media from a media stack including one or more combinations of media. The first combination of media is an uppermost combination of media in the media stack. The method includes gripping the first combination of media and bending along a first axis by moving a first portion away from the media stack. The first combination of media is bent along a second axis by moving a flexing member while in contact with a second portion of the first combination of media, wherein the second axis is not parallel to the first axis. The first combination of media is repeatedly bent along the second axis while pausing movement of the first combination of media between the first bending along the second axis and the second bending along the second axis.
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