US07898468B2
According to one embodiment, an image generating device includes an image former coupled to a radar that transmits and receives electro-magnetic radiation at multiple frequencies. The image former generates an image using information received from the radar, adjusts the image according to a material characteristic of the object, and combines the image with other images received at differing frequencies to form a resulting image.
US07898459B2
Systems and methods are provided for adaptively estimating the specific differential phase (Kdp) from dual-polarization radar data in the complex domain. Some embodiments adapt for wrapped differential propagation phases by estimating the specific differential phase in the complex domain. Some embodiments adapt for measurement fluctuations and/or spatial scale in making such estimations. Some embodiments also provide for determining the presence of storms cells using the dispersion of the differential propagation phase shift over a subset of bins.
US07898456B2
An apparatus and method for detecting and locating hidden objects employs a symmetrical array of five directional antennas, including a central transmit antenna and a pair of receive antennas at each side of the transmit antenna, respectively. All of the antennas are pointed in the same general direction toward an object field of interest. The transmit antenna radiates a beam of high-frequency electromagnetic energy, and the receive antennas receive high-frequency electromagnetic energy returned by hidden objects. Each pair of receive antennas has an associated phase detector, the output of which represents the phase difference between receive antenna signals corresponding to the received electromagnetic energy. A circuit determines when the outputs of the phase detectors represent predetermined phase differences and operates indicator devices.
US07898455B2
The apparatus of the present invention consists of a MicroPower Radar (MPR), a data acquisition (DAQ) element and a PDA. The radar sends a short, low-amplitude signal of radio-frequency (RF) energy toward the target scene. This signal reflects from the target and is received as a Doppler change. RF has the advantages of penetrating clothing while operating at one fiftieth the power of a cellular or cordless phone. This Doppler change in signal amplitude is filtered, amplified and presented to the DAQ. The DAQ converts the analog Doppler signal into a digital bit-stream and passed to the processor. Proprietary software analysis is performed to further filter and to make a Live/Dead determination. The radar antenna is located at the back of the device and should be pointed toward the victim, the display facing the operator.
US07898453B2
A successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a binary-weighted capacitor array, quantizer, and control block. One end of each capacitor is connected to the input of the quantizer, and a second end of each capacitor is controlled by the control block through a driver. A voltage is sampled, quantized, and stored as the most significant bit of the ADC's output. Depending on the result of the quantization, the control block toggles the driver of one of the capacitors corresponding to the most significant bit. The voltage at the common node is sampled again to obtain a second bit of the ADC's output. The operations are repeated as needed to obtain and store additional bits of the ADC's output. Similar configuration and process are described for a differential ADC. The operation is asynchronous, allowing extra time for metastable states only when such states occur.
US07898446B2
A time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided. The ADC generally comprises a first ADC, a second ADC, correction circuit, a divider, and a clocking circuit. The first ADC receives an analog input signal and generates a first output and a differentiated output. The second ADC receives the analog input signal and generates a second output. The correction circuit receives the first output, the second output, and the differentiated output and generates a first error signal and a second error signal. The divider receives the first error signal and the second error signal and generates a timing error by dividing the second error signal by the first error signal, and the clocking circuit receives a clock signal and the timing error and generates a plurality of corrected clocking signals, where each of the first and second ADCs receives at least one of the clocking signals.
US07898441B2
One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus that transcodes an n code unit block of UTF-8 input data in the form of eight parallel n-bit segments of u8-indexed bit streams u8bit0 through u8bit7 into UTF-16 output data in the form of sixteen parallel n-bit segments of u16-indexed bit streams u16bit0 through u16bit15 where n is 4 or more.
US07898436B2
An on-vehicle position detection system includes a radiation emitting device for producing at least one beam which is appropriate to be reflected by a human body seated in the vehicle, a sensor device adapted for detecting the reflection of the at least one beam produced by the radiation emitting device and reflected by the human body, and for generating an output signal responsive to a reflection state of the at least one beam. A control device is coupled with the sensor device and is adapted for determining whether the output signal corresponds with a first value indicative of a first position of the human body, or a second value which is different from the first value and indicative of a second position of the human body. The control device is further adapted for switching on, switching off, or changing at least one of the functions of the operation mode of a device to be controlled when the control device determines that the output signal corresponds with the second value.
US07898424B2
A centralized patient monitoring system configured to enable each of a plurality of technicians to generally simultaneously monitor multiple patients is disclosed herein. The centralized patient monitoring system includes a computer adapted to receive patient data from the monitored patients, and a display configured to visually convey the patient data. The centralized patient monitoring system also includes a directional speaker configured to selectively generate a localized alarm in order to audibly alert one of the technicians when a monitored patient requires attention in a manner that is generally imperceptible to the other technicians.
US07898421B2
A system of equipment, communication networks, and computer programs automates the recording of worker identity, location, arrival time and departure time at multiple worksites of workers in a mobile field workforce. The equipment comprise a location identifying means, an operator identifying monitor, and a data processing means having connectivity to a data communicating means such as the Internet. The location identifying means may comprise an optically sensed label, magnetic striped card, a radio frequency interrogated tag, or an electrically connectable circuit. The monitor comprises a means to keep time, to scan, interrogate, or connect and communicate with the location identifying means, and to communicate time, location, and operator identifying data over a network such as the public switched telephone network, internet, or cellular telephone network. Optionally, the monitor may also comprise other means such as an interface to charge and control a mobile phone, a magnetic card reader, and a biometric sensor such as a fingerprint scanner.
US07898419B2
A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.
US07898418B2
A receiver architecture for canceling blocking signals in the receive path includes a low noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying an inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound signal, in which the inbound RF signal includes a modulated RF signal and a blocking signal, and a cancellation module for substantially canceling the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal and substantially passing the modulated RF signal. The cancellation module cancels the blocking signal by generating an injection signal representative of the blocking signal, combining the blocking signal with the injection signal to produce an error signal, updating the injection signal based on the error signal and using the injection signal to cancel the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal.
US07898414B2
The invention is a system for locating and preventing the loss of personal items within a geographic zone. The system components are a personal portable homing center device a having a radio frequency receiver and a transducer that is actuated by a change in a signal strength; and several zone devices, for instance an active RFID tag attached to the personal item. The homing center device has an algorithm to measure the strength of the signal generated by the tag. The transducer is an audible and/or a silent alarm. The homing center device has three operating modes: Off, Homing-in, and Homing-out. In the Homing-in mode the alarm is actuated when a zone device's signal is detected. In the Homing-out operating mode the alarm is actuated when a zone device's signal falls to a threshold strength, indicating that the item is no longer close to the homing center device.
US07898408B2
The surveillance system includes a remote monitoring station, at least one mobile radio (e.g. a handheld radio), and one or more deployable sensors each for unattended surveillance to transmit a detection signal in response to a detected activity. A deployable gateway surveillance node includes a controller and at least one wireless transceiver cooperating therewith to transmit a notification to the remote monitoring station based upon a received detection signal, and determine and transmit a voice-message status report, based upon the received detection signal, to the at least one mobile radio identifying the deployable gateway surveillance node and corresponding deployable sensor for the received detection signal. The voice message status report may further include information regarding a status of a communication link between the deployable gateway surveillance node and the remote monitoring station, a received detection signal strength, detected activity information and/or a status of a positioning information communication link between the deployable gateway surveillance node and a positioning/navigation system.
US07898407B2
A system and method of encouraging compliance of hand hygiene in an environment where users move from zone to zone and are required to perform hand hygiene between the zones. Users carry a wearable zone sensor which detects zones, detects hand hygiene actions, logs time of changing zones, and hand hygiene actions. The wearable sensor can be integral with a wearable hand hygiene product dispenser and/or can operate in cooperation with a fixed dispenser configured to transmit hand hygiene actions to the wearable zone sensor. The wearable zone sensors are configured to be useable anonymously or to be associated with a user identifier, and to interface with a central computer via a docking station or communication interface to transfer data for later analysis.
US07898396B2
Systems and methods for actuating a tactile stimulation in response to detecting a specific event associated with exposure to a particular environmental or physiological condition are described herein. A tactile stimulation device, according to one of several implementations, comprises a sensing layer, an actuating layer, and an adhesive layer. The sensing layer, which is sensitive to exposure to a particular condition, is configured to sense when a specific event associated with exposure to the particular condition occurs. The actuating layer is configured to provide a tactile stimulation to a human subject when the specific event occurs. The adhesive layer is configured to affix the sensing layer and actuating layer with respect to a surface portion of the skin of the human subject such that the human subject can sense the tactile stimulation provided by the actuating layer. The sensing layer, actuating layer, and adhesive layer can be bonded together to form a relatively flat structure.
US07898392B2
A technique of preventing occurrence of interference even when a plurality of RFID antennas are used simultaneously. Each RFID antenna is attached with a calibration RFID tag. A combination of RFID antennas that causes a problem is acquired based on whether information held by the calibration RFID tag can be read from each of the RFID antennas that have performed reading simultaneously. Then, an RFID antenna use procedure is generated such that the RFID antennas in the acquired combination are not used simultaneously. Each RFID antenna is operated according to the generated use procedure.
US07898389B2
The present invention provides communication devices, communication systems and methods of communicating. According to one embodiment of the invention, a communication device includes: a first antenna operable to receive wireless communication signals; a second antenna having plural leads, the second antenna being operable to output wireless communication signals; a connection including plural conductive lines having respective first ends and second ends, the connection being coupled with the leads of the second antenna at the first ends of the lines; and a switch coupled with the second ends of the connection, the switch being operable to provide one of selective shorting and isolation of the leads. One method of communicating of the invention includes: forming a first antenna; forming a second antenna; receiving wireless interrogation signals using the first antenna; outputting wireless identification signals using the second antenna; opening a coupling intermediate plural leads of the second antenna during the receiving; selectively shorting the leads of the second antenna during the outputting; and providing a low load impedance of the second antenna during the receiving.
US07898387B2
A vehicle function switch and a controller electrically are connected together. The controller has a passive mode of operation in which the controller is not responsive to activation of the vehicle function switch to transmit a vehicle function signal. The controller also has an active mode of operation in which the controller is responsive to activation of the vehicle function switch to transmit a vehicle function signal. A mode switch is associated with the controller and adapted to cause the controller to change from the passive mode of operation to the active mode of operation.
US07898385B2
The Personnel And Vehicle Identification System Using Three Factors of Authentication (PAVIS-3) invention is a novel approach that combines the three authentication factors using contactless token, contactless biometric, and the unique position of said biometric presented by a person to allow rapid authentication and access to a base or building. This invention has the real potential to reduce manpower at base gates, building, and greatly improve system security. A vehicle with a contactless token such as an RFID, proximity chip, or barcode, approaches an entry lane at a base, the contactless token is read, verified, (first factor) queuing the individual's file with a biometric template and personal identification position. The biometric image is taken, reduced to a template, compared with the template in the database and if matched (second factor) the body position is examined to see if it matches the personal identification position (third factor) as a normal or covert distressed signal. If normal the vehicle is given a green light, if any match fails the vehicle is directed to the visitor's lane.
US07898379B1
Methods and structures for constructing a magnetic core of a coupled inductor. The method provides for constructing N-phase coupled inductors as both single and scalable magnetic structures, where N is an integer greater than 1. The method additionally describes how such a construction of the magnetic core may enhance the benefits of using the scalable N-phase coupled inductor. The first and second magnetic cores may be formed into shapes that, when coupled together, may form a single scalable magnetic core. For example, the cores can be fashioned into shapes such as a U, an I, an H, a ring, a rectangle, and a comb, that cooperatively form the single magnetic core.
US07898375B2
A coil component comprises: a core having a winding core portion, and a first flange and a second flange arranged at both ends of the winding core portion; a winding arranged in a region flanked by the first and second flanges, and wound so as to be in contact with the winding core portion; and a cover portion arranged in a region flanked by the first and second flanges, so as to cover the winding. The cover portion has a first cover portion comprising a resin cured product containing a magnetic material; and a second cover portion comprising a non-magnetic material. The second cover portion is interposed at least between the first flange and the first cover portion.
US07898362B2
Disclosed is a filter comprising an unbalanced input terminal and two balanced output terminals (a first balanced output terminal and a second balanced output terminal. A capacitor is connected between the first balanced output terminal and the GND, another capacitor is connected between the second balanced output terminal and the GND, and a first coil is connected between the first balanced output terminal and the second balanced output terminal.
US07898350B2
A frequency stabilizing device of an oscillator is disclosed. The frequency stabilizing device of an oscillator is used for stabilizing the frequency of an oscillator to keep the frequency in constant when input voltage is changed. The frequency stabilizing device comprises a plurality of transmission gates for receiving an input voltage and generating a current and a plurality of resistors for control the value of the current, wherein the current is positive in relation to the input voltage and the frequency of the oscillator is determined by the current.
US07898348B2
A terahertz oscillation device includes a first electrode placed on the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode placed via the insulating layer toward the first electrode, and opposes the first electrode to be placed on the semiconductor substrate; a MIM reflector formed between the first electrode and the second electrode by sandwiching the insulating layer; a resonator adjoining of the MIM reflector and is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode which oppose on the semiconductor substrate; an active element placed at the substantially central part of the resonator; a waveguide adjoining of the resonator and is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode which oppose on the semiconductor substrate; and a horn apertural area adjoining of the waveguide and is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode which oppose on the semiconductor substrate.
US07898341B2
A non-inverting amplifier circuit is disclosed that includes an operational amplifier and a preemphasis circuit connected between the operational amplifier and a signal source. The preemphasis circuit is configured to compensate for the internal delay of a load connected to the output of the operational amplifier by emphasizing a high-frequency component of a signal fed from the signal source.
US07898335B2
There is provided an amplifier circuit includes: an amplifying transistor; a first transistor having a DC current amplification factor generally equal to the DC current amplification factor of the amplifying transistor and constituting a current mirror circuit in conjunction with the amplifying transistor; and a current source circuit being operable to supply a current to the first transistor and including a second transistor having opposite conductivity type to the conductivity type of the first transistor. The second transistor is operated in a saturation region at a power supply voltage lower than an operating voltage range so that the DC current amplification factor of the amplifying transistor can be detected.
US07898327B2
A solution is provided for correcting distortions on a radio frequency output signal of a power amplifier. There is provided an apparatus, comprising: a processor configured to determine at least one correction factor for a distortion on a radio frequency output signal of a power amplifier on the basis of estimated characteristics of a distorted time-varying supply voltage from a power supply to a power amplifier and an interface configured to feed the at least one correction factor to an input signal of the power amplifier.
US07898316B2
A system which operates to determine temperature of an image sensor using the same signal chain that is used to detect the image sensor actual outputs. A correlated double sampling circuit is used to obtain the image outputs. That's same correlated double sampling circuit is used to receive two different inputs from the temperature circuit, and to subtract one from the other. The temperature output can be perceived, for example, once each frame.
US07898306B1
A phase locked loop (PLL) is provided. In one implementation, the PLL includes a multiphase voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) operable to generate an output signal containing one or more phase signals, a programmable divider operable to divide a frequency of the output signal of the multiphase VCO to produce a divided frequency output signal, and a fractional divider to fractionally divide an input phase signal. The fractional divider can include an integer divider operable to receive the input phase signal and divide the input phase signal in accordance with an integer divisor to produce a divided signal as an input to the multiphase VCO, and a phase interpolator operable to select a phase signal from among the one or more phase signals output by the multiphase VCO, to produce an interpolated output signal having a desired frequency resolution.
US07898302B1
Compact integrated circuit solutions for driving liquid lenses in autofocus applications. The invention uses a charge pump topology to produce high voltage, and needs only a low voltage external capacitor. No high voltage capacitor or inductor or transformer is used to provide the required high voltage or for smoothing the same.
US07898300B2
A peak detector capable of rapidly detecting a peak value of a signal is provided. The peak detector includes first and second operational amplifiers and an auxiliary current source to detect two rail to rail signals. The first operational amplifier outputs a detection signal by buffering a first rail to rail input signal. The second operational amplifier outputs a control signal in response to a second rail to rail input signal and the detection signal. The auxiliary current source includes a terminal connected to an output terminal of the first operational amplifier and the other terminal connected to the first or second source voltage. The auxiliary current source operates in response to the control signal. The auxiliary current source supplies a current from the first source voltage to the output terminal in response to the control signal or supplies a path for discharging a current from the output terminal to the second source voltage.
US07898293B2
One aspect of the invention is directed to the provision of a circuit board mounted with a plurality of circuit components connected via a transmission line. The circuit components mounted on the circuit board includes at least a signal processor for processing a signal, a driver for transmitting the signal, and a receiver for receiving the signal. The driver includes a basic buffer, which is always on, and at least one control buffer, which can be individually controlled on and off, and which is connected in parallel with the basic buffer, and the output impedance of the basic buffer is set higher than the characteristic impedance of the transmission line.
US07898279B2
The present invention relates to a circuit for multi-pads test, which is used for testing a plurality of pads. The circuit comprises one or more testing circuits, a plurality of testing switches, and a plurality of pad switches. The plurality of testing switches is coupled between the testing circuits and the plurality of pads, respectively; the plurality of pad switches is coupled between the pads, respectively. Thereby, by coordination of the plurality of pad switches and the plurality of testing switches, the number of testing probes of the testing apparatus for testing the pads can be reduced, the design difficulty of the testing apparatus can be reduced, and thus the costs can be reduced.
US07898277B2
A hot-carrier injection (HCI) test that permits rapid screening of integrated circuit wafers susceptible to possible HCI-induced failures is disclosed. A method is described that determines transistor stress voltages that results in a transistor HCI-induced post-stress drain current differing from a pre-stress drain current within a desired range. These stress voltages are determined using a wafer with acceptable HCI susceptibility. Additional wafers to be tested are first tested using a described method that uses the determined transistor stress voltages to quickly screen the wafers for HCI susceptibility and, if HCI susceptibility is found, then additional conventional HCI testing may be applied to the susceptible wafers.
US07898275B1
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor die and the method wherein there is provided a package having a cavity therein with a plurality of terminals in the package disposed at the periphery of the cavity. A semiconductor die to be tested and having a plurality of bond pads thereon is disposed in the cavity and an interconnecting layer having electrically conductive paths thereon is also disposed in the cavity, each of the paths having first and second spaced apart regions thereon, the first region of each path being aligned with and contacting a bond pad. An interconnection is provided between the second spaced apart region of each of the paths and one of the plurality of terminals. The second spaced apart region of each of the paths is preferably a bump aligned with and contacting one of the plurality of terminals. A compliant layer is preferably disposed over the interconnecting layer and provides a force causing engagement of at least the first spaced apart regions and the bond pads. The first region is preferably a compliant bump probe tip having a first predetermined height above the layer and includes a standoff on the layer having a second predetermined height above the layer less than the first height.
US07898270B2
An internal voltage test circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a comparing unit for comparing a level of internal voltage with a level of external voltage to output a comparison result as an output signal during a test mode, and an output selecting unit for outputting the output signal to a data output pad during the test mode, and outputting a data signal to the data output pad during a normal operation mode.
US07898267B2
An electrostatic micromotor is provided with a fixed substrate, a mobile substrate facing the fixed substrate, and electrostatic-interaction elements enabling a relative movement of the mobile substrate with respect to the fixed substrate in a movement direction; the electrostatic micromotor is also provided with a capacitive position-sensing structure configured to enable sensing of a relative position of the mobile substrate with respect to the fixed substrate in the movement direction. The capacitive position-sensing structure is formed by sensing indentation, extending within the mobile substrate from a first surface thereof, and by first sensing electrode, facing, in given operating condition, the sensing indentation.
US07898266B2
A supported probe device that has a probe tip and probe body, the probe body having a sample facing surface and an opposing surface. The probe tip and a first electrode are on the sample facing surface. A second electrode is present on the probe body opposing surface. A third electrode is spaced from the second electrode, so that the second electrode is between the third electrode and the probe body. A first DC voltage source is electrically coupled to the first electrode, as is a first sensing circuit. A second DC voltage source is electrically coupled to the second electrode, and an AC voltage source electrically coupled to the third electrode. The probe body may be cantilevered.
US07898261B2
A lamp includes a generator that generates electricity. A battery stores the generated electricity. A light source produces light from the stored electricity. A metering device tallies an operating parameter indicative of the amount of electrical energy consumed by the lamp.
US07898260B2
An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for evaluating an earth formation are disclosed. A logging tool which has two coplanar antennas disposed at a known distance from an axis of the logging tool is conveyed into a borehole. The presence of a borehole effect is determined from a difference between outputs of the two antennas. The borehole effect may include eccentering of the logging tool in the borehole. Measurements made by an additional antenna and/or the two coplanar antennas may be corrected for the effects of eccentering. Horizontal and vertical formation resistivity as well as additional petrophysical properties may be determined.
US07898257B2
An open yoke MRI apparatus has a set of permanent magnets arranged at the inner surfaces of the yoke and spaced apart from one another. A set of annular permanent magnets is included in each magnet arrangement, including a set with trapezoidal cross-sections to provide a more uniform field and to allow greater access to a patient placed within the magnetic field.
US07898255B2
An MRI apparatus capable of selecting an optional direction as a phase encoding direction and achieving a preferable S/N, when an imaging time shortening technique is applied. A receiver coil, used as a receiver coil of a vertical magnetic field MRI apparatus, is a combination of a first coil (solenoid coil) forming a current loop around the outer circumference of a test object, second coils forming even-numbered current loops, and third coils forming odd-numbered current loops, in the direction intersecting the plane of the current loop of the first coil. The second coil and the third coil are arranged in such a manner that, as for the current loops in the array direction thereof, a position where a sensitivity of one coil is minimized approximately coincides with a position where the sensitivity of the other coil is maximized, whereby electromagnetic coupling is suppressed.
US07898251B2
A method and system for the characterization of a magnetic element based on ferromagnetic resonance, the magnetic element presents ferromagnetic resonance and its own characteristic resonance frequency. The system includes mechanism for application of a low-frequency electromagnetic field in a given area; a mechanism for application of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave the same as the characteristic resonance frequency of the magnetic element in the same area; and a control unit configured so as to control the simultaneous application of the low-frequency electromagnetic field so that in response to the introduction of the magnetic element in the area the magnetic element absorbs the high-frequency electromagnetic wave with a frequency the same as that of the low-frequency electromagnetic field, so the wave is modulated. The system also comprises a mechanism for reception of this unique individual modulated wave characteristic of each element, and a mechanism for assignment of the unique modulated wave to the element.
US07898249B2
Methods of reorienting ferromagnetic layers of a plurality of magnetoresistive elements and structures formed by the methods. The plurality of magnetoresistive elements, preferably GMR multilayer elements, are manufactured and arranged on a planar substrate. The method effectively allows selective orientation and reorientation of distinct ferromagnetic layers of a subset of the magnetoresistive elements on the substrate. The methods make either use of subsequent annealing processes making use of magnetic fields pointing in different directions. Prior to application of a subsequent annealing process, a complimentary subset of magnetoresistive elements is effectively shielded by selective deposition of a soft-magnetic shielding layer. Alternatively, a single annealing process can be performed when an externally applied magnetic field is locally modified by soft-magnetic structures, such as fluxguides.
US07898248B2
A magnetic screening system uses directional gradiometers with high resolution and accuracy to measure magnetic field signatures of target objects (e.g., gun, knife, cell phone, keys) in a volume of interest. The measured signatures can be compared to signatures of known objects stored in a local database. Various mathematical processes may be used to identify or classify target object signatures. A magnetic screening system network according to embodiments of the present invention includes gradiometers, gradiometer processors, screening computers, and a management computer. The gradiometers sense target objects in a subject volume and the gradiometer processors process data obtained from the gradiometers. The screening computers process data output of the gradiometer processors and maintain local databases of signatures associated with known target objects. The management computer manages shared information for the gradiometer processors and maintains a central database of signatures associated with the known target objects.
US07898236B2
A method for operating a voltage regulator controller, for use in a voltage regulator including coupled inductors, is provided as follows. A first signal is generated for driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. A second signal is generated driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator determines whether a light-load condition exists. Upon determining the existence of a light-load condition, adjusting the phase difference between said first and second signals so that the first and second signals are approximately in-phase.
US07898233B2
A multiphase voltage regulator system comprises a microcontroller unit (MCU) including a reference voltage generator, and a timing generator for generating n-phase start timing signals; a load for receiving an output voltage; a comparator comparing the reference voltage and output voltage to generate a comparison result; and at least n points of load (POLs) coupled between the MCU and load for controlling output voltage in response to the n-phase start timing signals and the comparison result. Each POL may include a high-side and low-side transistor; and a D-FlipFlop, the D terminal coupled High, the clock terminal coupled to receive a control signal based on a respective one of the n-phase start timing signals, the Q terminal coupled to drive the high-side transistor, the /Q terminal coupled to drive the low-side transistor, and the reset terminal coupled to receive a reset control signal based on the comparison result.
US07898222B2
The present invention relates to battery chargers. A first controller can be configured to set, when a first power supply is coupled to a first port, a current produced by a variable current source at a safe rate to charge a battery. An ammeter can be configured to measure, when the battery is coupled to a second port, the current flowing into the battery. The first controller can be configured to increase, after a passing of a quantifiable amount of time, the current produced by the variable current source by a quantifiable amount of current. The first controller can be configured to continue iteratively to increase, after the passing of the quantifiable amount of time, the current produced by the variable current source by the quantifiable amount of current until the safe rate is near or at a highest safe rate to charge the battery.
US07898212B2
A portable PV modular solar generator. A plurality of wheels are attached to the bottom of a rechargeable battery container. At least one rechargeable battery is contained inside the rechargeable battery container. A power conditioning panel is connected to the rechargeable battery container. At least one photovoltaic panel is pivotally connected. In a preferred embodiment, the rechargeable battery container is a waterproof battery enclosure having a knife switch connection. A mast having a rotation bar is supported by the waterproof battery enclosure. At least one solar panel support brace for supporting the photovoltaic panel is attached to the rotation bar. The power conditioning panel is waterproof, is attached to the mast and has a door. When the door is opened, at least one safety switch is opened, breaking an electric circuit. The waterproof power conditioning panel has a charge controller and an inverter. The charge controller is electrically connected to at least one rechargeable battery and at least one photovoltaic panel, and is capable or receiving auxiliary power inputs.
US07898209B2
A cleaner that can automatically respond to a change in an AC voltage and a voltage of a battery. In the motor, a motor for rotating a collecting fan is driven by a motor driver. The motor driver drives the motor using a voltage from a voltage selector. The voltage selector switches between a low-level voltage of the battery and a high-level voltage derived from the AC voltage to be supplied to the motor driver.
US07898197B2
A motor control device includes a motor current detector for detecting motor current flowing in a three-phase motor based on current flowing between an inverter driving the motor and a DC power supply, a specified voltage vector generating portion for generating a specified voltage vector indicating a voltage vector to which an applied voltage to the motor should follow based on a magnetic flux linkage of an armature winding of the motor, a specified voltage vector correcting portion for correcting the generated specified voltage vector, and a magnetic flux estimating portion for estimating the magnetic flux linkage based on the motor current and the specified voltage vector after the correction. The motor control device controls the motor via the inverter in accordance with the specified voltage vector after the correction.
US07898196B2
A motor driving apparatus for driving and braking a motor equipped with a brake comprises a motor/brake driving DC power supply which is used both as a motor driving power supply and as a brake driving power supply, wherein when the motor/brake driving DC power supply is being used as the motor driving power supply, a voltage conversion circuit via which a voltage supplied from the motor/brake driving DC power supply is applied to the brake feedback-controls the voltage applied to the brake. This configuration serves to reduce the loss (due to temperature rise) in the brake coil of the motor being driven to move a robot arm.
US07898193B2
A slot resonance coupled, linear standing wave particle accelerator. The accelerator includes a series of resonant accelerator cavities positioned along a beam line, which are connected by resonant azimuthal slots formed in interior walls separating adjacent cavities. At least some of the slots are resonant at a frequency comparable to the resonant frequency of the cavities. The resonant slots are offset from the axis of the accelerator and have a major dimension extending in a direction transverse to the radial direction with respect to the accelerator axis. The off-axis resonant slots function to magnetically couple adjacent cavities of the accelerator while also advancing the phase difference between the standing wave in adjacent cavities by 180 degrees in addition to the 180 degree phase difference resulting from coupling of the standing wave in each cavity with the adjacent slot, such that the signals in each cavity are in phase with one another and each cavity functions as a live accelerating cavity. The resonance frequency of the slot is the comparable to the resonance frequency of the cavities, resulting in coupling of the cavities while also eliminating the need for side-cavity or other off-axis coupling cavities.
US07898187B1
A regulator regulates one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) so as to control an average current through the LEDs. The regulator could include a transistor switch that can couple the LEDs to ground. The regulator could also include circuitry that controls the transistor switch. The circuitry could use a substantially constant reference voltage to regulate the average current through the one or more LEDs. The transistor switch could couple the one or more LEDs to ground through a resistor, and the circuitry could include an error amplifier that compares the reference voltage to a voltage across the resistor. The circuitry could also include a gate driver that can drive a gate of the transistor switch. The error amplifier could be disabled for a period of time when the transistor switch is non-conductive, and the circuitry could include logic for enabling and disabling the error amplifier.
US07898186B2
A circuit arrangement for providing a lamp wattage to a high-pressure gas discharge lamp (Lp), the arrangement includes an inverter (T1, T2) which supplies to the high-pressure gas discharge lamp (Lp), a lamp current (IL) which is essentially an alternating current with an operating frequency which is frequency modulated in a frequency range between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency, an arithmetic mean is defined which is equal to the temporal mean of the frequency values for the operating frequency, swept in a lamp operation. A limit mean is defined which is equal to one half of the sum of minimum frequency and maximum frequency and is less that the arithmetic mean.
US07898185B2
Various current controlled driver apparatuses are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide a current controlled driver including a control circuit having a current input and a driver circuit having a power input. The control circuit has an output that is directly electrically connected to an input of the driver circuit. The control circuit operates between a positive voltage level and a ground potential. The driver circuit is adapted to operate between a higher positive voltage level and a negative voltage level.
US07898180B2
A high pressure discharge lamp having a hermetically sealed portion on opposite sides of an arc tube made of quartz glass and in which a pair of opposed electrodes is located is improved so that electrode rod warping is prevented even when the lamp is repeatedly lit and unlit. Electrode rods extending from the electrodes pass through a center hole in a respective quartz glass body which is positioned and fastened onto each the electrode rods with an infrared reflection membrane composed of a heat-resistant metal being provided on the inner surface of the center hole of the quartz glass body separating the electrode rod from the quartz glass body. The quartz glass body is integrated with the quartz glass forming the hermetically sealed portion and is positioned against a step formed at the boundary between large and small diameter portions of the electrode rod.
US07898175B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a first substrate, a plurality of organic light emitting pixels formed on the substrate, a second substrate bonded to the substrate to seal the organic light emitting pixels. A black matrix layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and provides a plurality of openings. One of the openings and one of the pixels are aligned. The pixel has a first edge and a second edge and the opening has a first edge and a second edge. The first edge of the pixel is closer to the first edge of the opening than the second edge of the opening. The two edges of the opening are interposed between the two edges of the pixels when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface. Where L is an imaginary straight line passing the first edge of the pixel and the second edge of the opening in an imaginary plane perpendicular to a direction in which the edges extend, the imaginary line L and the first surface form an acute angle which is greater than about 30° and smaller than about 45°.
US07898166B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a light emitting device in which burden on a light emitting element having low luminous efficiency is relieved, and the deterioration of a light emitting element, the reduction in color reproduction due to the deteriorated light emitting element, and increase in electric power consumption can be suppressed. A light emitting device according to the invention has light emitting elements each of which emits one of colors corresponding to three primary colors. Further, one feature of the light emitting device according to the invention has a light emitting element which emits a neutral color. The light emitting device according to the invention has a structure in which a plurality of pixels having light emitting elements each of which emits one of colors corresponding to three primary colors, and a light emitting element which emits a neutral color as one group, are arranged.
US07898164B2
A self-emissive display device. The display device comprises a substrate having a pixel region for displaying one of the primary colors. An organic electroluminescent multi-layer structure is disposed in the pixel region of the substrate. The organic electroluminescent multi-layer structure comprises a first micro-cavity portion and a second micro-cavity portion adjacent thereto. The first micro-cavity portion comprises an organic layer for light-emitting and a first film for determining light wavelength shift of the first micro-cavity portion. The second micro-cavity portion comprises the organic layer for light-emitting and a second film for determining light wavelength shift of the second micro-cavity portion. The first and second films have different optical lengths, such that the first and second micro-cavity portions provide opposite directions of the light wavelength shift.
US07898163B2
A polymer for use in an optical device comprising one or more regions, where each region comprises (i) a first structural unit having general formula I: where m=1 or 2 and which contains at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl, and heteroaryloxy groups, each of which may be further substituted; and (ii) a second structural unit Ar selected from the group consisting of heteroaryl, triarylamine and 2,7-fluorenyl; such that where m=1 each region comprises a unit having general formula II: wherein, the substituent has a molecular weight of less than 300.
US07898158B1
The present invention relates to a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) vibrating structure supported by a MEMS anchor system, and includes a single-crystal piezoelectric thin-film layer having domain inversions, which determine certain vibrational characteristics of the MEMS vibrating structure. The MEMS vibrating structure may have dominant lateral vibrations or dominant thickness vibrations. The single-crystal piezoelectric thin-film layer may include Lithium Tantalate or Lithium Niobate, and may provide MEMS vibrating structures with precise sizes and shapes, which may provide high accuracy and enable fabrication of multiple resonators having different resonant frequencies on a single substrate.
US07898151B2
An ultrasonic sensor having a piezoelectric element including first and second electrodes is disclosed. The ultrasonic sensor includes an aluminum case having a bottom part electrically contacting the second electrode of the piezoelectric element, a first conductive part electrically connected to the first electrode of the piezoelectric element, and a second conductive part having a cladding material including a material exhibiting a satisfactory welding property with respect to the aluminum case. The second conductive part and the aluminum case are welded together.
US07898144B2
A multi-step microactuator is provided with the multiple supports in a stepper plate to give multi-step displacement to a controlled object. The microactuator has advantages such that multiple motion can be applied to the controlled object and that the object can be controlled in a low driving voltage and that simple motion control is applied by digital controlling and that the degrees of freedom in motion of the object can be chosen by the number of the stepper plate and that only single voltage is needed for driving the micromirror motion. With many advantages, the multi-step microactuator provides a solution to overcome the difficulties in controlling multi-step motion.
US07898141B2
An electric drive, in particular a wiper drive for vehicles, is proposed, with an electric driving motor in a motor housing (50), a brush holder (10) projecting into the motor housing (50), an anti-interference module (18) which is connected electrically and mechanically to the brush holder (10) and is intended for the electrical connection and interference protection of the motor, and with a gear mechanism (52) which is attached to the motor housing (50), at least partially accommodates the anti-interference module (18) and is designed in accordance with the predetermined position of the output shaft (53) with respect to the drive shaft (58). According to the invention, the diversity of components of the electric drive and therefore, in particular, the diversity of tools for producing the components are reduced by the anti-interference module (18) and the brush holder (10) being equipped with corresponding retaining means (40, 44) which permit the installation of a structurally identical anti-interference module (18) on the brush holder (10) in two installation positions rotated through 180°.
US07898135B2
An electro-mechanical device that functions as a motor or a generator and methods for constructing and using such electro-mechanical device are provided. The electro-mechanical device features permanent magnets placed in a magnetically attracting manner and inter-dispersed between control coils. The control coils are energized to create a flux opposing the flux of the permanent magnets and to create a rotational torque on the poles of a salient pole rotor before those poles align with the poles of the energized control coil stator segment. Power can be generated by placing the flux of the control coils in a steady state and mechanically rotating the salient pole rotor. The electro-mechanical device provides little or no cogging forces, high-efficiency operation, and a high power density.
US07898133B2
A system and method for device suspension and wireless power transmission are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus, comprises a suspended object having a wireless receiving circuit. A wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit power to the wireless receiving circuit housed in the suspended object. A magnetic stabilization mechanism is beneath and not in contact with suspended object. A circuit is configured to magnetically control a position of the suspended object.
US07898130B2
A control servo includes a supporting frame, a motor, a driving shaft and a control slider. The supporting frame comprises a mount and a slider housing, wherein the motor is supported in the mount of the supporting frame. A driving gear is provided at an output end of the motor. The driving shaft is positioned longitudinally through the slider housing. A driven gear is provided at one end of the driving shaft to mesh with the driving gear. The driving shaft penetrates through the control slider while an upper portion of the control slider extends out of the slider housing. An electric brush is provided underneath the control slider. The control servo eliminates the use a potentiometer as installed in a traditional servo and the reduction gearbox so that the structure is simpler and lighter; thus it plays an important part in the miniaturisation of model aircraft.
US07898128B2
The invention aims at providing a forced cooling rotary electric machine capable of bringing temperature distribution close to a designed temperature distribution and avoiding becoming a larger size, and employs a wedge formed with ventilation grooves and a wedge not formed with the ventilation grooves to regulate the flow rates of cooling gas passing through air ducts, so that the cooling gas supplied to a part of a stator core, in which temperature is low, can be caused to flow positively to a part in which the temperature is high and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the stator core can be uniformized. As a result, the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the stator core can be brought close to a designed temperature distribution, and a forced cooling rotary electric machine that need not be made larger in size with a margin can be obtained.
US07898127B2
A stator of a rotating electric machine is obtained, in which material usage in a conductor connection section of a stator coil end and weight of the conductor connection section are reduced, so that vibration suppression is improved, in addition, thermal resistance between a loss occurrence portion and a cooled portion becomes smaller so that temperature rise is suppressed. It is configured that a stator has first and second wire groups disposed at an inner diameter side of a slot, third and fourth wire groups disposed at an outer diameter side of the slot, and a connection conductor for connecting the respective, two wire groups to each other in a radial direction, wherein the stator further has a connection conductor which has one end being interposed between projected ends of the first and second wire groups, and connected to the respective projected ends, and has the other end being interposed between projected ends of the third and fourth wire groups, and connected to the respective projected ends, in addition, has axial through-holes, which communicate with flow paths of coolant flow members provided between the wire groups, in the one end and the other end respectively.
US07898125B2
In a fan motor 1 for a vehicle, when opening a vent hole 11 in a cylinder bottom portion 2a of a yoke 2 of the fan motor 1, this is performed so that the opening part cannot be visually observed when the vent hole 11 is viewed head on.The vent hole 11 is formed by dividing the same at a laterally long dividing line so that, at a dividing line X having an angular shape whose left-right direction central portion intrudes into the side of a vent hole upper half portion 12, the upper half portion 12 has a spherical shape that bulges out to the outside of a bottom surface as it is further at the lower side and thus has an inside and outside staggered form with respect to a lower half portion 13.
US07898115B2
A power supply switch comprising a power input assembly receiving power from a power source, a power output assembly connected to an appliance and a control circuit between the power input assembly and power output assembly. The control circuit comprises a switch having an open position and a closed position and being manually resettable by a user to the closed position, wherein power is supplied from the power input assembly to the power output assembly when the switch is in the closed position; a current detection circuit sensing a current passing from the power input assembly to the power output assembly, the current detection circuit outputting an activation signal indicative of the presence of the sensed current; and a timer circuit receiving the activation signal and automatically activating a timer in response, wherein the timer sends a signal to the switch causing the switch to move to the open position after a delay time.
US07898114B2
A circuit breaker for a solar module, wherein a plurality of solar cells working in normal operation and when shaded are connected in series. At least one controlled electrical switch element serves as a bypass element and is connected in parallel with its contact gap to a plurality of solar cells. A supply circuit provides a control voltage for controlling the control electrode of the bypass element. An isolating circuit blocks the voltage applied to the contact gap of the bypass element in the normal operation and switches the voltage that is applied to the contact gap to the supply circuit when at least one solar cell is shaded.
US07898113B2
In order to provide a pulse power supply device using regenerating magnetic energy stored in a discharge circuit to a capacitor so as to use it as next discharge energy and supplying a bipolar pulse current with high repetition, a bridge circuit is composed of four inverse-conductive semiconductor switches, a charged energy source capacitor is connected to a DC terminal of the bridge circuit, and an inductive load is connected to its AC terminal. A control signal is supplied to gates of the inverse-conductive semiconductor switches, and a control is made so that when a discharge current rises, is maintained or is reduced, all the gates are turned off, and the magnetic energy of the electric current can be automatically regenerated to the energy source capacitor by a diode function of the switches. Further, a large-current power supply is inserted into a discharge circuit so as to replenish energy loss due to discharge, thereby enabling high-repetition discharge.
US07898109B2
The invention provides a switching converter comprising as few as two high-side switching transistors and a low-side rectifying device, along with a control circuit. The switching converter is capable of operating from a main supply source or an auxiliary supply source. The invention further includes a method for producing a regulated voltage from a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage via the two high-side switching transistors and a low-side rectifying device.
US07898106B2
A direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured as an intrinsic power transfer switch is provided. The DC UPS includes first and second inputs. First and second rectifiers are coupled to the first and second inputs. A common node is coupled to the first and second rectifiers. At least one DC output is coupled to the common node. The at least one DC output is adapted for connection to at least one electrical load. The first input is adapted for connection to a first electrical service, and the second input is adapted for connection to a second electrical service. The DC UPS continues to supply power to the at least one electrical load in the event of a loss of either the first or second electrical services.
US07898103B2
A power supply apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second batteries, a power supply line, first and second boost converters, a system main relay, a capacitor, and a control device controlling the first and second boost converters and a connecting portion. Upon receiving a startup instruction IGON, the control device controls the first boost converter such that a feeding node capacitor is charged from the first battery, and controls the second boost converter such that the capacitor is charged from the power supply line. After the charging of the capacitor is completed, the control device switches the system main relay from a disconnected state to a connected state.
US07898096B1
An apparatus comprising a mechanical-to-electrical energy converting device having a plurality of electrodes and a fluidic body which comprises spatially separated conductive and dielectric liquid regions. Said fluidic body is configured to reversibly move as a whole with respect to said plurality of electrodes under the influence of a mechanical force. Each cycle of said reversible motion of said fluidic body causes multiple alternations of the amount of electrical charge accumulated by the electrodes, whereby generating electrical current flow between said electrodes.
US07898094B2
An epoxy resin composition comprising: (A) an epoxy resin having at least three epoxy groups per molecule and an epoxy equivalent of 170 or lower; (B) an epoxy resin having a phenolic nucleus and two epoxy groups in such an amount that a weight ratio of the epoxy resin (B) to the epoxy resin (A) ranges from 35/65 to 65/35; (C) a phenolic curing agent in such an amount that a molar ratio of phenolic hydroxyl groups to the whole epoxy groups in the composition ranges from 0.5 to 1.5; and (D) an inorganic filler in an amount of from 86 to 92 wt %, based on a total weight of the composition. The composition provides encapsulated semiconductor devices much less warped than those encapsulated with a conventional composition.
US07898091B2
In a first embodiment, an apparatus and a method of fabrication thereof includes a substrate, a controller formed on a first integrated circuit (IC) die and disposed on the substrate, a second IC die embodying circuitry configured to enable communication between the controller and an external device, first I/O pads disposed on the first IC die, second I/O pads disposed on the second IC die, wire bonding interconnections coupling at least one of the first I/O pads with at least one of the second I/O pads, and a memory array formed on a third IC die and configured to enable communication with the controller. In a second embodiment the memory array is alternatively integrated into the first IC die.
US07898088B2
A semiconductor device, including methods and arrangements for making the same, are described. The device includes an integrated circuit die having a plurality of bond pads. At least one bond pad on the active surface of the die is an extended I/O pad. Each extended I/O pad extends to at least one peripheral side edge of the die.
US07898087B2
An electronic device includes: at least one electronic chip comprising a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); and a carrier including a top surface connected to the bottom surface of the chip by solder bumps. The carrier further includes a second CTE that approximately matches the first CTE, and a plurality of through vias from the bottom surface of the carrier to the top surface of the carrier layer. Each through via includes a collar exposed at the top surface of the carrier, a pad exposed at the bottom surface of the carrier, and a post disposed between the collar and the pad. The post extends thorough a volume of space.
US07898080B2
A power semiconductor device has a power field effect transistors connected in a bridge circuit (16), parallel circuit or series circuit (18), the power semiconductor device (30) having a base power semiconductor chip (1) with large-area external contacts (S1, D1) on the top side (31) and rear side (32) and carrying at least one stacked power semiconductor chip (2). The stacked power semiconductor chip (2) is surface-mounted with at least one large-area external electrode (D2) on a correspondingly large-area external electrode (S1) of the top side (31) of the base power semiconductor chip (1). At least one metallic structured spacer (33) is arranged between the surface-mounted external electrodes (S1, D2) of the base power semiconductor chip (1) and the stacked power semiconductor chip (2). The structure of the spacer (33) has at least one cutout (34) for a non-surface-mountable connecting element (35) of the base power semiconductor chip (1).
US07898065B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a wafer that incorporates fill structures with varying configurations to provide uniform reflectance. Uniform reflectance is achieved by distributing across the wafer fill structures having different semiconductor materials such that approximately the same ratio and density between the different semiconductor materials is achieved within each region and, optimally, each sub-region. Alternatively, it is achieved by distributing across the wafer fill structures, including one or more hybrid fill structure containing varying proportions of different semiconductor materials, such that approximately the same ratio between the different semiconductor materials is achieved within each region and, optimally, each sub-region. Alternatively, it is achieved by distributing across the wafer fill structures having semiconductor materials with different thicknesses such that approximately the same overall ratio between the semiconductor material with the different thicknesses is achieved within each region and, optimally, each sub-region.
US07898057B2
A power transistor includes a plurality of transistor cells. Each transistor cell has a first electrode coupled to a first electrode interconnection region overlying a first major surface, a control electrode coupled to a control electrode interconnection region overlying the first major surface, and a second electrode coupled to a second electrode interconnection region overlying a second major surface. Each transistor cell has an approximately constant doping concentration in the channel region. A dielectric platform is used as an edge termination of an epitaxial layer to maintain substantially planar equipotential lines therein. The power transistor finds particular utility in radio frequency applications operating at a frequency greater than 500 megahertz and dissipating more than 5 watts of power. The semiconductor die and package are designed so that the power transistor can efficiently operate under such severe conditions.
US07898047B2
Monolithic electronic device including a common nitride epitaxial layer are provided. A first type of nitride device is provided on the common nitride epitaxial layer including a first at least one implanted n-type region on the common nitride epitaxial layer. The first at least one implanted n-type region has a first doping concentration greater than a doping concentration of the common nitride epitaxial layer. A second type of nitride device, different from the first, including a second at least one implanted n-type region is provided on the common nitride epitaxial layer. The second at least one implanted n-type region is different from the first at least one implanted n-type region and has a second doping concentration that is greater than the doping concentration of the common nitride epitaxial layer. First and second pluralities of contacts respectively define first and second electronic devices on the common nitride epitaxial layer.
US07898046B2
An encapsulated MEMS process including a high-temperature anti-stiction coating that is stable under processing steps at temperatures over 450 C is described. The coating is applied after device release but before sealing vents in the encapsulation layer. Alternatively, an anti-stiction coating may be applied to released devices directly before encapsulation.
US07898030B2
An n-conductively doped source region (2) in a deep p-conducting well (DP), a channel region (13), a drift region (14) formed by a counterdoping region (12), preferably below a gate field plate (6) insulated by a gate field oxide (8), and an n-conductively doped drain region (3) arranged in a deep n-conducting well (DN) are arranged in this order at a top side of a substrate (1). A lateral junction (11) between the deep p-conducting well (DP) and the deep n-conducting well (DN) is present in the drift path (14) in the vicinity of the drain region (3) so as to avoid a high voltage drop in the channel region (13) during the operation of the transistor and to achieve a high threshold voltage and also a high breakdown voltage between source and drain.
US07898022B2
A multi-functional and multi-level memory cell is comprised of a tunnel layer formed over a substrate. In one embodiment, the tunnel layer is comprised of two layers such as HfO2 and LaAlO3. A charge blocking layer is formed over the tunnel layer. In one embodiment, this layer is formed from HfSiON. A control gate is formed over the charge blocking layer. A discrete trapping layer is embedded in either the tunnel layer or the charge blocking layer, depending on the desired level of non-volatility. The closer the discrete trapping layer is formed to the substrate/insulator interface, the lower the non-volatility of the device. The discrete trapping layer is formed from nano-crystals having a uniform size and distribution.
US07898017B2
A floating-gate memory cell has a tunnel dielectric layer that overlies a silicon-containing semiconductor substrate and that is adjacent a trench formed in the semiconductor substrate. A floating-gate layer, having at least one silicon-containing layer, overlies the tunnel dielectric layer. An intergate dielectric layer overlies the floating-gate layer, and a control gate layer overlies the intergate dielectric layer. A first silicon oxide layer is formed on an edge of the at least one silicon-containing layer of the floating-gate layer and extends across a first portion of an edge of the tunnel dielectric layer. A second silicon oxide layer is formed on a sidewall of the trench and extends across a second portion of the edge of the tunnel dielectric layer.
US07898016B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulating film, a first semiconductor layer disposed above the substrate with the first insulating film therebetween, a second semiconductor layer disposed above the first semiconductor layer with a second insulating film therebetween, a first conductivity type metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) disposed on at least one side surface of the first semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type MOS disposed on at least one side surface of the second semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer common to the first and second MOS transistors, and a control gate common to the first and second MOS transistors. The common charge storage layer is continuously provided from the side surface of the first semiconductor layer on which the first conductivity type MOS transistor is disposed to the side surface of the second semiconductor layer on which the second conductivity type MOS transistor is disposed.
US07898013B2
Methods and systems for optimal decoupling capacitance in a dual-voltage power-island architecture. In low-voltage areas of the chip, accumulation capacitors of two different types are used for decoupling, depending on whether the capacitor is located in an area which is always-on or an area which is conditionally powered.
US07898012B2
A capacitor includes a pair of electrodes and a ferroelectric film sandwiched between the electrodes. The electrodes are provided perpendicular to the direction of the polarization axis of the ferroelectric film.
US07898004B2
Planar Schottky diodes for which the semiconductor material includes a heterojunction which induces a 2DEG in at least one of the semiconductor layers. A metal anode contact is on top of the upper semiconductor layer and forms a Schottky contact with that layer. A metal cathode contact is connected to the 2DEG, forming an ohmic contact with the layer containing the 2DEG.
US07898000B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes an element isolation insulating film electrically isolating pixels on the surface of a well region; a first isolation diffusion layer electrically isolating the pixels under the element isolation insulating film; and a second isolation diffusion layer electrically isolating the pixels under the first isolation diffusion layer, wherein a charge accumulation region is disposed in the well region surrounded by the first and second isolation diffusion layers, the inner peripheral part of the first isolation diffusion layer forms a projecting region, an impurity having a conductivity type of the first isolation diffusion layer and an impurity having a conductivity type of the charge accumulation region are mixed in the projecting region, and a part of the charge accumulation region between the charge accumulation region and the second isolation diffusion layer is abutted or close to the second isolation diffusion layer under the projecting region.
US07897996B2
A semiconductor device includes: an insulating film provided on a back surface of a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of isolation regions provided to reach the insulating film from a main surface of the semiconductor substrate; at least a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer which are electrically insulated from each other by the isolation regions in the semiconductor substrate; a first voltage applied terminal electrically connected to a front surface of the first semiconductor layer; a second voltage applied terminal electrically connected to a front surface of the second semiconductor layer; a selector circuit receiving voltages from the first voltage applied terminal and the second voltage applied terminal, and supplying an output in accordance with a combination of the voltages; and a conductive layer provided so as to contact with the insulating film provided to the back side of the semiconductor substrate.
US07897995B2
A lateral bipolar junction transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate includes an emitter region; a base region surrounding the emitter region; a gate disposed at least over a portion of the base region; a collector region having at least one open side and being disposed about a periphery of the base region; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region disposed about a periphery of the collector region; a base contact region disposed about a periphery of the STI region; and an extension region merging with the base contact region and laterally extending to the gate on the open side of the collector region.
US07897990B2
A semiconductor light-emitting element mounting member with an improved effective light reflectivity in a metal film serving as an electrode layer and/or a reflective layer, in which the metal layer has improved adhesion to a substrate, mechanical strength, and reliability and superior light-emitting characteristics. The semiconductor light-emitting element mounting member (a submount) is made by forming on a substrate metal films formed from Ag, Al, or an alloy containing these metals. The particle diameter of the crystal grains of the metal films is no more than 0.5 μm and the center-line average roughness Ra of the surface is no more than 0.1 μm. In a semiconductor light-emitting device, a semiconductor light-emitting element is mounted in the submount.
US07897982B2
A light-emitting device operating on a high drive voltage and a small drive current. LEDs (1) are two-dimensionally formed on an insulating substrate (10) of e.g., sapphire monolithically and connected in series to form an LED array. Two such LED arrays are connected to electrodes (32) in inverse parallel. Air-bridge wiring (28) is formed between the LEDs (1) and between the LEDs (1) and electrodes (32). The LED arrays are arranged zigzag to form a plurality of LEDs (1) to produce a high drive voltage and a small drive current. Two LED arrays are connected in inverse parallel, and therefore an AC power supply can be used as the power supply.
US07897981B2
The present invention provides a light emitting device comprising a first semiconductor substrate including a light emitting cell block having a plurality of light emitting cells connected in series on one surface thereof; a second semiconductor substrate having one surface formed with a rectifying bridge and the other surface bonded to the other surface of the first semiconductor substrate; and a submount substrate to which the second semiconductor substrate is flip-chip bonded to be in contact with the one surface of the second semiconductor substrate, wherein rectified power is applied to the light emitting cell block through the rectifying bridge. The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing the light emitting device. The light emitting device and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention have advantages in that a flicker effect generated from an AC power source can be minimized and constant brightness can be maintained even in changes in the voltage of the AC power source by integrating a rectifying circuit into a light emitting device with a flip-chip structure, and in that there is no cumbersomeness of mounting an additional auxiliary device, resulting in increase of the degree of utilization of space and improved light output.
US07897978B2
A tilt sensor includes a body; a first emitter and a first receiver being spacedly disposed on the body, the first receiver being used for receiving a first signal emitted from the first emitter, a second emitter and a second receiver being spacedly disposed on the body, the second receiver being used for receiving a second signal emitted from the second emitter, and an arm rotatably secured on the body. As the tilt sensor device is in a first tilt state, the arm blocks the first receiver to receive the first signal. As in a second tilt state, the arm blocks the second receiver to receive the second signal. As in a third tilt state, the arm blocks none of the first receiver and the second receiver to receive the first signal and to receive the second signal respectively.
US07897977B2
An optoelectronic component includes a component housing and a body comprising a carrier substrate and a radiation emitting layer sequence. In certain embodiments, the body is arranged in a reflector cup of the component housing and is electrically conductively connected to external electrical leads of the component housing. The component housing can also be further provided with a lens that produces a desired aperture angle for the radiation cone. Uses for the component are also described.
US07897974B2
A solid-state light emitting display and a fabrication method thereof are proposed. The light emitting display includes a metallic board formed with conductive circuits, and a plurality of luminous microcrystals disposed on a surface of the metallic board and electrically connected to the conductive circuits. The metallic board provides the features of lightness and thinness, and flexibility, and the luminous microcrystals are in the form of light emitting components, so as to improve the luminous efficiency of display and attain the effect of environmental protection and energy saving, thereby providing display technology with performance satisfactory for various display requirements.
US07897971B2
To provide a display device including a protection circuit having a thin film transistor which has small size and high withstand voltage. In the protection circuit of the display device, a thin film transistor is used in which an amorphous semiconductor layer, a microcrystalline semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer which is in contact with the microcrystalline semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode layer overlap with each other. Since current drive capability of the microcrystalline semiconductor layer is high, the size of the transistor can be made small. In addition, the amorphous semiconductor layer is included, so that the withstand voltage can be improved. Here, the display device is a liquid crystal display device or a light-emitting device.
US07897952B2
A phase-change-material memory cell is provided. The cell comprises at least one patterned layer of a phase-change material, and is characterized in that this patterned layer comprises at least two regions having different resistivities. If the resistivity of the phase-change material is higher in a well-defined area with limited dimensions (“hot spot”) than outside this area, then, for a given current flow between the electrodes, advantageously more Joule heat will be generated within this area compared to the area of the phase-change material where the resistivity is lower.
US07897949B2
Laminated lead-free radiation protection material (10, 12, 14) comprising at least two individual composite layers (2), each individual composite layer (2) comprising a secondary radiation layer (4) with a low Z material and a barrier layer (4) with a high Z material, wherein the individual composite layers (2) are arranged in the radiation protection material (10, 12, 14) in such a way that a barrier layer (8) is arranged on both surfaces (18, 20) of the radiation protection material (10, 12, 14), and the respective secondary radiation layer (8) is arranged at a distance from the surface (18, 20).
US07897945B2
Ion implanters incorporating multibeam ion sources are used to meet process dose and energy demands associated with fabricating a thin lamina for use in photovoltaic devices. The thin lamina are formed by ion implantation followed by cleaving.
US07897944B2
An ion beam angle detection apparatus, comprising a linear drive assembly fixedly attached to a moveable profiler assembly, wherein the profiler assembly comprises, a profiler having a profiler aperture formed within a profiler top plate and a profiler sensor assembly, a moveable angle mask assembly comprising a moveable angle mask with a mask aperture, wherein the angle mask assembly is non-fixedly attached to the profiler assembly, the mask aperture is movable relative to the profiler aperture by energizing an mask linear drive fixedly attached to the profiler assembly and the profiler aperture is movable through a length greater than the elongated length of the ion beam.
US07897942B1
A substrate processing apparatus and method for dynamic tracking of wafer motion and distortion during lithography are disclosed. An energetic beam may be applied to a portion of a substrate according to a predetermined pattern. The relative positions of one or more targets on the substrate may be determined while applying the energetic beam to the portion of the substrate. A dynamic distortion of the substrate may be determined from the relative positions while applying the energetic beam to the portion of the substrate. Application of the energetic beam may be deviated from the predetermined pattern in a manner calculated to compensate for the dynamic distortion of the substrate.
US07897933B2
A radiation image capturing apparatus includes a cooling mechanism for causing cooling medium to flow from a rear surface side to a radiation detector to a front surface side of radiation detector through a narrow space formed between an end of the radiation detector and a casing for housing the radiation detector. It is therefore possible to cool the narrow space, as well as regions in the vicinity of the narrow space, with the cooling medium and to discharge the cooling medium from the front surface side of the radiation detector.
US07897928B2
A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (Φ(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (Φ(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).
US07897927B2
Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products include positioning single-use radiation internal dosimeters with MOSFETs into a patient to evaluate the radiation dose delivered during a medical procedure or treatment session. The MOSFETs can be unpowered during irradiation.
US07897913B2
In an image sensing device having a housing, having a circuit assemblage disposed on a circuit board, and having an image sensor that is disposed on a circuit board and in front of an opening of the housing, in order to improve the shielding effect, at least one shielding layer is disposed on the circuit board carrying the image sensor.
US07897907B1
A method includes passing a portion of an optical signal through an aperture of a sensor having a sensing element, wherein the portion of the optical signal that passes through the aperture is an inner portion of the optical signal and the portion of the optical signal that does not pass through the aperture is an outer portion of the optical signal; producing a sensed signal by sensing the outer portion of the optical signal with the sensing element; and controlling the source of the optical signal using the sensed signal. A system for implementing the method includes an optical energy source and a sensor having an optical sensing portion and an aperture therein. The system may also include an optical isolator, a detection element, and a controller for controlling the optical energy source. The system may be used within a MEMS-based system.
US07897906B2
A double quench circuit for an avalanche current device is provided in which the circuit includes an avalanche current device having a first terminal responsive to a bias voltage to reverse bias the avalanche current device above its avalanche breakdown voltage. A first quench circuit is responsive to the bias voltage and coupled to the first terminal of the avalanche device for reducing the amount of the avalanche current passing through the avalanche device. A second quench circuit is coupled to a second terminal of the avalanche device for reducing the amount of the avalanche current passing through the avalanche device.
US07897904B2
An electronic imager includes a plurality of pixels having photosensors for accumulating charge corresponding to individual pixel values of a sensed image. Each of the pixels includes an anti-blooming function which allows charge in excess of a predetermined amount to be drained from the photosensor thus reducing the charge from the pixel that migrates to adjacent pixels. The imager also includes circuitry which controls the anti-blooming function in response to image intensity to reduce dark current in the imager caused by the anti-blooming function.
US07897903B2
According to the invention, the image detection system contains optical channels arranged one next to the other with a respectively assigned microlens with aperture and in each case at least one detector located in the image plane, wherein the detectors are arranged such that the directions of the optical axes, which form in each case the connecting lines between lens apices and centre of the detectors, represent a function of the position of the respective optical channel, wherein at least one aperture stop arrangement (4) is provided between the microlenses (1′) with aperture (2′) and the detectors (6′, 8), wherein the distance between centres of the aperture stops (4′) is located between the distance between apices of the microlenses (1′) and distance between centres of the detectors (6′, 8) such that, depending on the position of the channels, the aperture stops (4′) are arranged with different offsets to the microlenses (1′) and the detectors (6′, 8) and are in each case located on a straight line with them.
US07897899B2
A liquid lens driver 10 has DC-DC converter 12, oscillator 14, pulse width modulator 16, and control logic circuit 18. The output buffer circuit 30 divides converter output voltage Vs of a prescribed amplitude (voltage level), input as the power source voltage, into bipolar, that is, positive/negative, output voltages Out-A, Out-B for output, and, corresponding to the H/L level of PWM signal CPWM, it turns ON/OFF the two output voltages Out-A, Out-B. In this way, from liquid lens driver 10, pulse width modulation (PWM) output voltages Out-A, Out-B are applied as driving voltage VL on electrodes 104, 108 of liquid lens 100.
US07897898B2
A heat generator comprising a magneto-caloric material and a method for generating efficient and reliable thermies enabling of substantially limiting displaceable inert masses in order to produce a magnetic field variation required for obtaining a magneto caloric effect and usable by individuals and/or industries. The generator (10) comprises magneto caloric thermal elements (Ti) which are circularly arranged and crossed by conduits containing coolant flowing therethrough and magnetic elements (Gi) exposing the thermal elements (Ti) to a magnetic field action. The generator (10) also comprises magnetic divergence (mj) elements arranged between the thermal elements (Ti) and the magnetic elements (Gi) and coupled to displacement mechanism (not represented) for moving from one thermal element (Ti) to another thermal element (Ti+1) and initiating the magnetic flux variation in the thermal elements (Ti), thereby promoting the calorie and/or frigorie generation. The generator (10) can be used for tempering, cooling, heating, conserving, drying and air-conditioning.
US07897897B2
In the present invention, a thermal plate of a PEB unit is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions, and a temperature is settable for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting the temperature within the thermal plate is settable for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The line widths within the substrate which has been subjected to the photolithography process are measured, and an improvement in-plane tendency Za improved by change of the temperature settings is subtracted from an in-plane tendency Z of the measured line widths within the substrate to calculate an in-plane tendency Zb of the line widths within the substrate after change of temperature settings. The improvement in-plane tendency Za is calculated using the following expression. Za=−1×α×MT (α: a resist heat sensitivity, M: a calculation model, and T: temperature correction values for thermal plate regions).
US07897894B2
There is provided a laser machining apparatus for sheet-like workpieces that allows an installation area to be reduced and that may be readily controlled. The laser machining apparatus includes a Y-table movable in X- and Y-plane directions orthogonal to a laser beam irradiated from an fθ lens, a supply reel for holding a supply-side roll which contains a sheet-like workpiece, and a take-up reel for holding a take-up side roll containing a finished sheet-like workpiece. Machining is carried out by fixing the sheet-like workpiece in the machining area on the movable table and by irradiating the laser beam while moving the movable table relative to the laser beam. At least one of the supply reel and the take-up reel is disposed on the movable table.
US07897893B2
Disclosed is a valve having a housing with a valve seat for a two-piece flap which is rotatably mounted on a drive shaft. An annular piston seal and an adjacent cover disk are disposed between the first part and the second part of the two-piece flap so as to revolve therearound. The diameter of the cover disk is smaller than the diameter of the annular piston seal which is embodied as a metal ring that is provided with a gap. The invention also relates to the use of the valve as a gas recirculation valve.
US07897875B2
A cable, specifically a data cable, which utilizes a T-shaped spline to separate four internal data cables. This cable is a specific form of a more general cable which utilizes a central spline which is designed to separate all but one pair of component cables to provide for material savings in cable construction which still sufficiently reducing cross-talk to meet data cable design specifications.
US07897870B1
A cable routing assembly for rapidly providing a portal for routing cables through a wall. The assembly includes a low voltage bracket and a scoop member. Rotatable flags are provided on the low voltage bracket to enable rapid mounting to the wall. The scoop member includes a cover plate and a shield with a cable opening therein projecting from one side of the cover plate. A fastening arrangement is provided to enable rapid securing of the scoop to the low voltage bracket and the wall. The assembly provides several mounting options for providing an attractive cable portal in a wall. The cover plate can be mounted to the low voltage bracket with the shield projecting outward from the wall or inward through the low voltage bracket and can be rotated to position the cable opening upward or downward.
US07897866B2
Systems and methods for detecting a finger position on the playing surface of an instrument are described. A sensor module located at a selected location of the playing surface emits light that is reflected or diffused by a finger or an object near the selected location. The reflected or diffused light is sensed by the sensor module, which generates a signal indicative of the amount of light detected. Based on the signal, a location of the finger or object is determined. When the finger placement corresponds to a specific note or effect, a digital signal is generated indicating the note or effect.
US07897864B2
Signals in two different bands (band components) are extracted from an input signal by an HPF and a BPF, and frequency-shift processing is performed by an MPY. Further, in order to adjust levels of an interface between the band components of shifted frequency to a high-frequency band side and the input signal, band components with which the input signal is adjacent to the high-frequency band extension components are extracted by an HPF. Then, a gain is controlled on the basis of the output values from the HPF and the HPF so as to reduce a difference between the components of shifted frequencies and the level of the input signal by the level correction coefficient calculating unit and the MPY. Then, the shifted components are added to the high-frequency band of the input signal by an ADDER.
US07897863B2
An electronic keyboard instrument comprises a storage device that stores automatic performance data including a first event for generating a musical tone and first timing data that defines a reproduction timing of the first event, a key-driving data generator that generates key-driving data including a second event corresponding to the first event included in the automatic performance data and second timing data that defines a reproduction timing of the second event and precedes the first timing data for a predetermined time, a keyboard that has a plurality of keys, a key driver that drives each of the plurality of keys in accordance with the key-driving data, a reproduction device that reproduces the automatic performance data and the key-driving data in parallel. The key-driving data generator generates the key-driving data before the reproduction device starts the reproduction. A reproduction process can be simplified even if keys are driven with the reproduction.
US07897860B2
A keyboard apparatus configured that heavy loads to support keys and hammers are perpendicularly applied to front-side and rear-side contact portions and the area of a front part of a frame as seen from side can be reduced, thereby suppressing an amount of use of resin. The keyboard apparatus includes a frame integrally formed by resin and mounted with a stopper mounting portion to which an initial stopper is mounted. The frame is supported on a keybed only by front-side and rear-side supporting portions respectively contacting the keybed at locations beneath hammer pivot shafts and beneath key supports. In a longitudinal region between the stopper mounting portion and the front-side supporting portion, the height position of a lowermost part of the frame become higher at a position closer to the stopper mounting portion.
US07897858B1
A drum rim clamping apparatus for a foot pedal hammer seat to be installed on a base board at the front side of the hammer seat includes a turning arm located on the base board with one end hinged on the base board, an adjustment screw bar which is longitudinally screwed to a rack stand located at one side of the base board and has the bottom end butting another end of the turning arm downwards, and an elastic compressing element located at a distal end of a fine tune element. The fine tune element is fastened to a protrusive element at the front side of the turning arm to incorporate with a pair of pads located on the left and right sides of the base board to clamp a drum rim. A drummer can easily clamp the drum rim without being interfered by other elements and butting the pedal.
US07897856B2
When a middle plate is to be mounted to an accommodating section surrounded by left and right and rear side plates provided on a body section in a casing structure of a grand-piano type electronic piano, the middle plate positioned in front of the accommodating section is slid rearward, so that a rear end edge portion of the middle plate is fitted into a fitting section provided on the inner surface of the rear side plate and then fixing pieces provided on the underside of the middle plate are fixed to fixation pieces provided on the accommodating section by means of bolts. Such an arrangement can reduce the number of portions to be fixed by bolts and thereby mount the middle plate with an enhanced mounting efficiency. Because the bolts do not appear on the exterior of the electronic piano, the electronic piano can have an enhanced outer appearance design.
US07897850B2
A selection method for barley lipoxygenase-1 deficient barley, comprising a step of distinguishing the barley lipoxygenase-1 deficient barley by whether or not the guanine at the splicing donor site of the 5th intron of the barley lipoxygenase-1 gene is mutated to a different base; and a method for production of malt alcoholic beverages using a material for malt alcoholic beverages derived from barley obtained by the selection method.
US07897849B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7802136 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7802136, to the plants of soybean 7802136, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7802136 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7802136 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7802136, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7802136 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7802136 with another soybean cultivar.
US07897845B2
The present invention is directed to wheat plants having increased resistance to an imidazolinone herbicide. More particularly, the present invention includes wheat plants containing one or more IMI nucleic acids such as a Teal IMI cultivar. The nucleic acids are preferably located on or derived from different genomes. The present invention also includes seeds produced by these wheat plants and methods of controlling weeds in the vicinity of these wheat plants.
US07897836B2
Disclosed is a method of changing the seed productivity of a plant by controlling the level of AtSPF3 in the plant. More specifically, disclosed is a method of changing the seed productivity of a plant by controlling the intracellular level of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. The AtSPF3 gene has the effect of changing the seed productivity of a plant through an increase or decrease in the expression thereof in the plant. Accordingly, the AtSPF3 gene will be useful for increasing the production of plants and breeding plants.
US07897831B2
A method for treating a high water content sludge is disclosed, where the method includes mixing into the high water content sludge, an effective amount of an ash composition. The effective amount of the ash composition is sufficient to convert a portion of the sludge and the ash composition into a treated sludge including an amount of a solidifying matrix to impart properties to a depth of the sludge sufficient to support commercial construction equipment. A treated sludge and sludge pits are also disclosed as is the ash composition used to form the treated sludge.
US07897829B2
Aromatic by-products are sorbed from mono-olefin-containing feedstocks of olefins having from about 6 to 22 carbon atoms per molecule that contain aromatic by-products having from 7 to 22 carbon atoms per molecule. A benzene-containing regenerant displaces and desorbs the aromatic by-products from the sorbent and a regeneration effluent is provided. The regeneration effluent is treated in a regeneration effluent distillation system to provide a benzene-rich stream and an aromatic by-products-containing stream. The latter is subjected to benzene-forming conditions and recycled to the regeneration effluent distillation system where benzene is recovered.
US07897825B2
This disclosure relates to a catalyst system adapted for transalkylation a C9+ aromatic feedstock with a C6-C7 aromatic feedstock, comprising: (a) a first catalyst comprising a first molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range of 3-12 and 0.01 to 5 wt. % of at least one source of a first metal element of Groups 6-10; and (b) a second catalyst comprising a second molecular sieve having a Constraint Index less than 3 and 0 to 5 wt. % of at least one source of a second metal element of Groups 6-10, wherein the weight ratio of the first catalyst over the second catalyst is in the range of 5:95 to 75:25 and wherein the first catalyst is located in front of the second catalyst when they are brought into contacting with the C9+aromatic feedstock and the C6-C7 aromatic feedstock in the present of hydrogen.
US07897822B2
A process for the preparation of terminally ethylenically unsaturated isopolyprenols characterized in that a carbonyl compound is reacted with ethine in the presence of ammonia and low amounts of an alkaline metal hydroxide and, if desired, the terminally acetylenically unsaturated isopolyprenol obtained is partially hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst suitable for selective hydrogenation.
US07897819B2
This invention provides a method for producing an optically active aziridine compound or amine compound, which uses as a catalyst a Ru(salen)(CO) complex represented by the following formula (I) or its enantiomer having a high stability, in a high turnover number (TON) and a high enantioselectivity. In the formula (I), Ar is represented by the following formula (VI) or (VII), wherein in the formula (VI), Xs are independently a halogen or a halogenated alkyl group and R1 and R2s are independently hydrogen or an alkyl group or a trialkylsilyl group having a carbon number of 1-4, and in the formula (VII), R3 is a bulky group.
US07897818B2
A method of oxidizing hydrocarbons in liquid phase is provided. According to this method, a liquid-phase oxidation reaction of hydrocarbons is carried out by using an organic compound capable of chelating metals as auxiliary agent, represented by formula (II), in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and a transition metal catalyst. Accordingly, the conversion degree of the hydrocarbon is increased, and the overall yields of products are improved while the selectivity of catalytic oxidation reaction is still high.
US07897817B2
To provide a catalyst that has sufficient catalytic activity as a platinum catalyst and yet is readily separated from a target material and can be reused. A resin-supported platinum cluster catalyst containing a resin layer comprising a platinum particle core, the average diameter of which is from 1 nm to 10 nm, and a compound containing nitrogen (general formula R1NH2) surrounding the core. This catalyst can be obtained by forming a platinum complex from a compound containing nitrogen represented by the general formula R1NR22 (in the formula, R1 represents a carrier with a hydrophilic molecular chain and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and the like) and a platinum compound represented by the general formula M(PtX4-nR3n)m (in the formula, M represents an alkali metal and the like, X represents a halogen atom and the like, R3 represents an unsaturated organic ligand, n represents an integer from zero to four and m represents an integer indicating the electrical charge of the metal, M) and allowing this platinum complex to react with a reducing agent in an aqueous solvent.
US07897815B2
The invention is concerned with novel hexafluoroisopropanol derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1 to R6, m and n are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds bind to LXR alpha and LXR beta and can be used as medicaments.
US07897814B2
Disclosed is a method for extracting methacrylic acid, in which an extraction solvent is added to a methacrylic acid aqueous solution for transferring methacrylic acid to the extraction solvent. In this method, a solvent containing t-butyl methacrylate is used as the extraction solvent.
US07897810B2
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently producing aromatic dicarboxylic acids (e.g., terephthalic acid). In one embodiment the process/apparatus reduces costs by recovering and purifying residual terephthalic acid present in the liquid phase of an initial oxidation slurry. In another embodiment the process apparatus reduces costs associated with hydrogenation by forming a final composite product containing unhydrogenated acid particles.
US07897806B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing polyisocyanates by reacting primary amines with phosgene in the presence of a solvent, wherein ionic liquids are used as solvents.
US07897799B2
A process for preparing oxo-hexameric zirconium-octaamino acid, such as glycine, salt comprising: mixing zirconium (Zr):amino acid:and mineral acid, in a molar ratio of 1:about 1 to about 15:about 1.5 to about 3 to form a mixture; optionally, filtering the mixture; and optionally, drying the mixture. An oxo-hexameric zirconium-octaamino acid salt of the molecular formula: oxo-[Zr6AminoAcid8].Xy.nH2O, wherein Zr is zirconium, X is an anion of a mineral acid, and n and y are numerical values from 0 to 20. A method of making an antiperspirant active zirconium-aluminum-amino acid compound comprising mixing an oxo-hexameric zirconium-octaamino acid salt with aluminum chlorohydrex and/or aluminum chloride, and drying the mixture. The smallest oxo-hexameric zirconium-octaamino acid salt of this invention provides stability, efficacy, and shelf life of zirconium-amino acid species for formulations in antiperspirant and/or deodorant compositions.
US07897796B2
This invention is directed to a method for isolating and/or purifying one or more taxanes from materials comprising taxanes. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) treating a taxane containing material with an amino containing material attached to a solid matrix, such as a polyethyleneimine-bonded silica chromatographic resin; (b) eluting the desired taxane compound from the resin; and (c) recovering the eluted taxane compound.
US07897792B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by general formula (1) below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein: X is selected from heteroaryl etc., Y1 and Y2 are selected from —N═ etc., Y3 and Y4 are selected from —CH═ etc., A is selected from sulfamide etc., R1 is selected from hydrogen etc., and R2 is selected from C1-6 alkyl etc. The compound or salt has sufficiently high antitumor activity, and is useful in the treatment of cell proliferative disorders, particularly cancers. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound or salt as an active ingredient.
US07897764B2
Thiourea compounds of the following formula: wherein n, R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, X, Y, and Z are defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of treating hepatitis C virus infection with these compounds.
US07897763B2
Intermediates and synthetic processes for the preparation of substituted phenylalanine-based compounds (e.g., of Formula I) are disclosed:
US07897758B2
The present invention discloses novel methods for the synthesis of oligonucleotides and nucleoside phosphoramidites. The methods are based on employing aryl-substituted 5-phenyl-1H-tetrazoles with perfluoroalkyl groups on the aromatic ring as activators. In one aspect the novel activators are used in the synthesis of oligonucleotides via the phosphoramidite approach. In this aspect the activators are highly efficient and can be applied with very short coupling times. In a further aspect, the activators of the invention are used in the synthesis of phosphoramidites through the reaction of nucleosides comprising a free hydroxyl group with phosphitylating agents. In this aspect the activators provide very pure phosphoramidites under mild conditions. The activators of the invention are further characterized by being highly soluble, non-hygroscopic and non-hazardous.
US07897757B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) 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 PTP-1B 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 PTP-1B genes. Such small nucleic acid molecules are useful, for example, for treating, preventing, inhibiting, or reducing obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes (eg. type II and type I diabetes) in a subject or organism, and for any other disease, trait, or condition that is related to or will respond to the levels of PTP-1B in a cell or tissue, alone or in combination with other treatments or therapies.
US07897755B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and/or receptor (ECGF1 and/or ECGF1r) 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 ECGF1 and/or ECGF1r 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 ECGF1 and/or ECGF1r genes.
US07897745B2
The present invention provides recombinant expression cassettes comprising a fungal 3′ termination sequence which is functional in a plant. The recombinant expression cassettes comprise a plant promoter operably linked to a coding sequence having a stop codon, and the fungal termination sequence. The fungal 3′ termination sequence is heterologous to the coding sequence. The fungal 3′ termination sequence comprises structural features including a cleavage site, a positioning element and an upstream element. The present invention also comprises methods for construction of the plant expression cassettes and introducing the cassettes into plant cells.
US07897744B2
The invention provides, in part, the genomic sequence of a putative coronavirus, the SARS virus, and provides novel nucleic acid and amino acid sequences that may be used, for example, for the diagnosis, prophylaxis, or therapy of a variety of SARS virus related disorders.
US07897743B2
Chimeric antibodies, as well as fusion proteins which comprise chimeric antibodies, are disclosed. The antibodies bind to GM-CSF, CD-30, and G250 antigen. The fusion proteins include biologically active portions of tumor necrosis factor, or full length tumor necrosis factor. Expression vectors adapted for production of the antibodies, as well as methods for manufacturing these, are also disclosed.
US07897734B2
The present invention relates to a process for the purification of a protease.
US07897711B2
An organic-inorganic hybrid composition comprising inorganic fine particles and a thermoplastic resin having a functional group capable of forming a chemical bond with the inorganic fine particles at a side chain thereof, the composition having a refractive index of 1.60 or more at a wavelength of 589 nm and a light transmittance of 70% or more at a wavelength of 589 nm in terms of the composition having a thickness of 1 mm. The composition has high refraction properties and excellent transparency.
US07897704B2
A protective crosslinkable coating composition comprising modified epoxy resin and crosslinker the modified epoxy resin being the reaction product, by weight, of i) from 80 to 99.9 parts of di-epoxy resin of epoxy equivalent weight from 500 to 5000 and formed from the reaction of bis phenol A diglycidyl ether and bis phenol A and ii) from 0.1 to 20 parts of reactive material characterised in that a) the di-epoxy resin contains minor amounts of resin components of molecular weight less than 1000 Daltons, and the reactive material comprises b) mono-functional organic material of molecular weight at: least 100 Daltons having one moiety capable of reacting with the epoxy moieties of the di-epoxy resin and c) dicarboxylic acid of molecular weight less than 300 Daltons having two moieties capable of reacting with the epoxy moieties of the di-epoxy resin.
US07897700B2
The present invention provides a plant resin composition containing a polylactic acid, a thermoplastic resin, and a compatibilizer, in which the compatibilizer is a polymeric material formed from an alkyl methacrylate monomer and has a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 950,000 and not more than 4,100,000. The alkyl methacrylate monomer preferably is at least one selected from methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, and butyl methacrylate. By forming a plant resin molded product with this plant resin composition, the impact resistance and the heat resistance of the plant resin molded product can be enhanced.
US07897692B2
A sulfonated aromatic perfluorocyclobutane block copolymer comprises a hydrophobic perfluorocyclobutane ether chain segment and a hydrophilic sulfonated perfluorocyclobutane ether chain segment. The sulfonated perfluorocyclobutane copolymer may be used to make proton conductive membranes and membrane electrode assemblies in fuel cells. Processes of making the block copolymer through thermal coupling reactions are also disclosed.
US07897690B2
A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. Applications of use as additives for rubber, including the rubber compositions, are also provided.
US07897689B2
The invention relates to functionalized interpolymers derived from base olefin interpolymers, which are prepared by polymerizing one or more monomers or mixtures of monomers, such as ethylene and one or more comonomers, to form an interpolymer products having unique physical properties. The functionalized olefin interpolymers contain two or more differing regions or segments (blocks), resulting in unique processing and physical properties.
US07897688B2
The invention relates to compounds embodying amino group-terminal viscosifiers, the resultant products thereof, and the uses thereof. The inventive viscosifiers are provided with formula (I), wherein R1 represents a divalent radical of a carboxyl group-terminal butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymer after removing the terminal carboxyl groups. The disclosed compounds increase the viscosity of the compositions formulated therewith. Compounds containing glycidyl groups are particularly important as resultant products thereof which can be used in thermosetting single-component epoxy resin adhesives.
US07897687B2
The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition obtained by feeding to an extruder and melt-kneading a polyamide; a polyphenylene ether; and a hydrogenated block copolymer (having a packed bulk density of from 0.15 to 0.25 g/cm3) prepared by hydrogenating a block copolymer comprising at least one polymer block mainly composed of an aromatic vinyl compound and at least one polymer block mainly composed of a conjugated diene compound.
US07897685B2
Polymer compositions having thermoplastic and elastomeric features are provided. These polymer compositions, which are also characterized by superior compatibility with water-based and solvent-based adhesives, comprise at least one thermoplastic elastomer and at least one maleated ethylene copolymer. The compositions of the invention are useful in articles of manufacture that require flexibility and are fabricated with adhesives, including sporting goods, and particularly athletic shoes.
US07897683B2
The present invention provides a medical adhesive and a medical adhesive tape or sheet superior in the fixing performance, particularly perspiration-resistant fixing, which shows low skin irritation and suitable adhesive strength. The present invention provides a medical adhesive containing a water-dispersed copolymer obtained by copolymerizing 100 parts by weight of a monomer mixture containing (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester and 0.005-2 parts by weight of a silane monomer copolymerizable with the ester, and an organic liquid component compatible with the copolymer; a medical adhesive containing a water-dispersed copolymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture containing (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester and a silane monomer copolymerizable with the ester, and an organic liquid component compatible with the copolymer, wherein the gel fraction after crosslinking of the copolymer is 40-80 wt %, and the weight average molecular weight of a sol component after crosslinking is not less than 300000; and a medical adhesive tape or sheet having the medical adhesive at least on one surface of a support.
US07897679B2
Unique copolymers comprising propylene, ethylene and/or one or more unsaturated comonomers are characterized as having: at least one, preferably more than one, of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about −1.20, (iv) a DSC curve with a Tme that remains essentially the same and a Tmax that decreases as the amount of comonomer in the copolymer is increased, and (v) an X-ray diffraction pattern that reports more gamma-form crystals than a comparable copolymer prepared with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst These polypropylene polymers are made using a nonmetallocene, metal-centered, heteroaryl ligand catalyst. These polymers can be blended with other polymers, and are useful in the manufacture of films, sheets, foams, fibers and molded articles.
US07897677B2
This invention provides a water-based primer composition comprising (A) an aqueous dispersion of modified polyolefin, which is prepared by dispersing a modified polyolefin (a) in an aqueous medium, the polyolefin (a) being produced by modifying an unsaturated carboxylic acid- or acid anhydride-modified polyolefin (i) having a melting point not higher than 120° C. and an weight-average molecular weight within a range of 30,000-200,000, further with a compound having polyoxyalkylene chain; (B) at least one kind of aqueous resin selected from aqueous urethane resin, aqueous acrylic resin and aqueous polyester resin; and (C) pigment; the solid weight ratio of the component (A)/component (B) being within a range of 20/80-85/15, and containing the component (C) in an amount within a range of 0.5-200 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the total solid resin content of the composition. Use of the water-based primer composition enables to form coating film excelling in water resistance, humidity resistance, gasohol resistance and the like.
US07897671B2
A method of making a golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises homo and copolymers of poly(dimethyl siloxane) ionomers, and their blends for improved resiliency and abrasion resistant golf balls.
US07897670B2
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises homo and copolymers of poly(dimethyl siloxane) ionomers, and their blends for improved resiliency and abrasion resistant golf balls.
US07897669B2
An additive for improving the early resistance to driving rain of physically curing coating compositions based on an aqueous acrylate dispersions, which have been adjusted to an alkaline pH with an inorganic or organic base, which is volatile at ambient temperature, is formed of an aqueous dispersion, containing a polyethyleneimine with a number average molecular weight in the range from 50,000 to 3,000,000, at least one representative of the group comprising 1,3-dihydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentane and esters thereof, butyl diglycol acetate and methoxypropanol as film-forming agents and at least one representative of the group comprising the liquid acrylates and pyrogenic silica as thickening agent, as well as optionally a pigment and optionally an ammonium acrylate as pigment disperser, and the use thereof.
US07897668B2
An additive for improving the early resistance to driving rain of physically curing coating compositions based on aqueous acrylate dispersions, which have been adjusted to an alkaline pH, is characterized by a basically adjusted aqueous bees wax emulsion containing an aqueous dispersion and at least one representative of the group comprising 1,3 -dihydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentane and esters thereof, butyl diglycol acetate and methoxypropanol as film-forming agents, as well as optionally a pigment and optionally an ammonium acrylate as pigment disperser.
US07897667B2
A method of using fluorinated-nanostructured POSS chemicals as alloying agents for the reinforcement of polymer microstructures, including polymer coils, domains, chains, and segments, at the molecular level. Because of their tailorable compatibility with nonfluorinated polymers, nanostructured chemicals can be readily and selectively incorporated into polymers by direct blending processes. The incorporation of a nanostructured chemical into a polymer favorably impacts a multitude of polymer physical properties. Properties most favorably improved are surface properties, such as lubricity, contact angle, water repellency, deicing, surface tension, and abrasion resistance. Improved surface properties may be useful for applications such as anti-icing surfaces, non-wetting surfaces, low friction surfaces, self cleaning. Other properties improved include time dependent mechanical and thermal properties such as heat distortion, creep, compression set, shrinkage, modulus, hardness and biological compatibility. In addition to mechanical properties, other physical properties are favorably improved, including lower thermal conductivity, dielectric properties, fire resistance, gas permeability and separation. These improved properties may be useful in a number of applications, including space-survivable materials and seals, gaskets, cosmetics, and personal care.
US07897666B1
The present invention is a release liner including a film formed of a thermoplastic polymer and a non-migratory silicone additive. The additive is formed with a siloxane polymer that can be added directly to the thermoplastic polymer prior to compounding the thermoplastic polymer into an extrudable release liner film. The additive provides the desired release properties to the film, and due to bonds formed between the siloxane polymer and a binding component added to the siloxane polymer during formation of the additive, as well as the high molecular weight of the siloxane polymer, is non-migratory.
US07897652B2
A polyurethane foam composition comprising at least: at least one polyether polyol having an average molecular weight from 100-20,000; an aromatic polyisocyanate; a tackifying resin; a surfactant; a blowing agent, and a catalyst. A method for preparation of a polyurethane foam composition useful in shock absorption, is also disclosed.
US07897646B2
The invention provides the use of formoterol and budesonide in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
US07897642B1
Compositions and methods to inhibit dry eye as well as other conditions are provided.
US07897639B2
Carbamoyl esters inhibit cholinesterase activity and, upon hydrolysis release a pharmacologically active agent. In one embodiment, the carbamoyl ester has the following structure: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted heteroaryl and a substituted heteroaryl. The carbamoyl esters are employed in methods to treat an individual. The pharmacologically active agent obtained by hydrolysis of the carbamoyl esters can treat, for example, a nervous system condition, a cholinergic deficiency and conditions or diseases associated with a deficiency in a pharmacologically active agent, such as acetylcholine.
US07897629B2
Disclosed herein is a compound having a structure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof. Therapeutic methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US07897624B2
This invention concerns N-(ortho phenylamino dihydropyridyl)sulfonamides and N-(ortho phenylamino dihydropyridyl), N′-alkyl sulfamides which are inhibitors of MEK and are useful in the treatment of cancer and other hyperproliferative diseases.
US07897619B2
The invention relates to heterocyclic compounds of Formula I and compositions thereof useful for treating diseases mediated by protein kinase B (PKB) where the variables have the definitions provided herein. The invention also relates to the therapeutic use of such compounds and compositions thereof in treating disease states associated with abnormal cell growth, cancer, inflammation, and metabolic disorders.
US07897618B2
Disclosed are N-aroyl cyclic amine derivatives having the formula: where the variables are as define herein, and their use as pharmaceuticals, specifically as orexin receptor antagonists.
US07897616B2
The present invention relates to imidazopyridin-2-one derivatives of the formula I with the definitions specified in the description, to their pharmaceutically usable salts and to their use as medicaments.
US07897610B2
The invention relates to the use of benzo[c]quinolizinium derivatives for treating diseases that are linked to smooth muscle cell constriction, such as hypertension and asthma.
US07897608B2
The present invention relates to novel 39-desmethoxy-39-methylrapamycin derivatives, methods for their production, and uses thereof. In a further aspect the present invention provides for the use of these 39-desmethoxy-39 -methylrapamycin derivatives in the treatment of cancer and/or B-cell malignancies, the induction or maintenance of immunosuppression, the treatment of transplantation rejection, graft vs. host disease, autoimmune disorders, diseases of inflammation, vascular disease and fibrotic diseases, the stimulation of neuronal regeneration or the treatment of fungal infections.
US07897600B2
The present invention provides amino pyrazole compounds useful in the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative disorders and various cancers, e.g., glioblastoma, breast cancer, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and leukemias.
US07897598B2
Analogs that inhibit the transport of anandamide across cell membranes. The inhibitors are amide and ester analogs of anandamide having a tail portion X that is a fatty acid chain remnant, a central portion Y that is an amide or ester radical and a head portion Z that is selected from a variety of groups including hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, aryl, hydroxy aryl, heterocyclic and hydroxy heterocyclic radicals. The disclosed analogs have potential pharmaceutical uses as drugs for treating a variety of diseases and afflictions, including cardiovascular diseases and blood pressure disorders.
US07897588B2
The present invention discloses agents and methods for inducing osteoblastic cellular differentiation, as well as the use of such agents and method to treat patients to maintain bone mass, enhance bone formation and/or bone repair. Exemplary agents include oxysterols, alone or in combination with particular oxysterols, or other agents known to assist in bone formation. The invention further includes medicaments including oxysterols for the treatment of bone disorders, local injections of oxysterols or cells (206) and implants (202) having agents or cells (203) to facilitate bone repair.
US07897580B2
The invention relates to the use of β-glycolipids as immunomodulators. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of β-glycolipids, preferably, β-lactosyl-ceramide, β-glucosylceramide, β-galactosyl-ceramide, ceramid and β-lactosyl-ceramide, as well as any mixture or combination thereof for the treatment of immune related disorders. The present invention further relates to a process for the modulation of the Th1/Th2 cell balance toward anti-inflammatory cytokine producing cells, in a subject suffering from an immune related disorder. Therapeutic compositions and method for the preparation of these compositions are also provided.
US07897563B2
The invention relates to the use of oligomers and polymers capable of rendering insoluble drugs soluble, protecting unstable drugs, and facilitating the delivery of drugs to their site of action. This invention further relates to processes for the preparation of such oligomers and polymers, and to compositions containing them. In some instances, oligomers, polymers, and/or mixtures thereof can be used to protect a protein drug. Such structures can include at least one recognition element covalently attached to a hydrophilic element, wherein said recognition element or elements interact noncovalently with the protein drug to form a complex in which said protein drug is protected from degradation, recognition by the immune system, and/or renal excretion.
US07897561B2
The invention includes a method for the treatment or prophylaxis of atherosclerosis, and/or for the treatment or prophylaxis of reperfusion injury in a subject in need of treatment by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a complement inhibitor. The complement inhibitor may be a molecule which can inhibit activation of at least one complement component, inhibit activity of at least one activated complement component, act as an antagonist against at least one complement receptor, or combinations thereof. The complement inhibitor can be a vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP).
US07897559B2
A dermatological composition and a kit containing the composition for treating dermatological conditions including transient acantholytic dermatitis, acne miliaris necrotica, acne varioliformis, perioral dermatitis, acneiform eruptions, acne vulgaris, and seborrheic dermatitis are disclosed. The dermatological composition includes an avermectin compound in an effective amount to treat these dermatological conditions and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The kit includes the dermatological composition integrated in medicated tape, topical dressing, dermal patch, or cleansing tissue.
US07897557B2
A shelf-stable liquid agent or detergent containing a bleaching agent in the form of a finely particulate bleaching agent encapsulated in a crosslinkable polymer matrix.
US07897542B2
A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, which has a substrate, and a dye receptor layer provided at least one side of the substrate, wherein the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet contains at least one compound represented by formula (L1): wherein R01 represents —C(═O)R or a hydrogen atom, in which R represents an aliphatic group which may have a substituent, and a plurality of R01's are the same as or different from each other, but at least one of R01's is —C(═O)R, and n represents 0 or 1; and a method of producing the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet.
US07897538B2
The present invention is an adsorbent for removing sulfur from hydrocarbon streams. The adsorbent includes nickel particles distributed in a phase containing silica and alumina.
US07897534B2
Precursor materials and methods of making are disclosed. The precursor materials include at least one of a silica source, and a carbon source, with or without liquid and a binder The methods described include pyrolyzing the precursor material to form a carbonaceous mixture and heat treating the mixture for a pre-determined time and at an elevated temperature during which carbon and/or nitrogen react with silica in the mixture to form carbides and/or nitrides. The carbides and nitrides formed from said methods may be used as blowing agents in a glass, ceramic, or metal forming processes or for promoting dispersion of the carbides and nitrides throughout a glass, ceramic, or metal composite.
US07897530B2
Glass-ceramic sealant is disclosed for planar solid oxide fuel cells. The glass-ceramic sealant includes 0 to 40 mol % of silicon oxide, 0 to 15 mol % boron oxide, 0 to 10 mol % of aluminum oxide, 0 to 40 mol % of barium oxide, 0 to 15 mol % of calcium oxide, 0 to 15 mol % of lanthanum oxide and 0 to 5 mol % of zirconium dioxide. At 0° C. to 600° C., the thermal expansion coefficient of the sealant is 8 to 10 ppm/° C.
US07897529B2
There is provided a substrate (1) capable of carrying uniformly dispersed, finely divided, particulate, solid particles, e.g., catalyst particles (10) and sustaining temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees F. The substrate comprises a top layer (2) for containing the particles (10) and composed of quartz fibers (4) with an average diameter of between about 0.1 and 4 microns and about 0 to 13% of microglass fibers having a softening point of about 1000 degrees F. A support layer (3) is composed of the fibers of the top layer and, in addition, bulk refractory, e.g., ceramic, fibers (6) having and average diameter of about 1 to 4 microns and 0 to 50% of chopped e-glass fiber (7). A method for producing the substrate is provided that includes wet laying the top and bottom layers in spaced apart times so that the juncture (8) between the two layers has intermingled fibers whereby the consolidated layers are not easily separated.
US07897527B2
A cushioning pad for hot press is a laminated plate body comprising a rubber layer, a high elastic modulus reinforced layer, and a low elastic modulus reinforced layer. The rubber layer is sandwiched between the high elastic modulus reinforced layer and the low elastic modulus reinforced layer positioned on its opposite side, and the laminated body has entirely no airspace.
US07897526B1
A silicone based coating for fabrics utilizing dual nanocomposite fillers providing enhanced mechanical and thermal properties to the silicone base. The first filler includes nanoclusters of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a metal oxide and a second filler of exfoliated clay nanoparticles. The coating is particularly suitable for inflatable fabrics used in several space, military, and consumer applications, including airbags, parachutes, rafts, boat sails, and inflatable shelters.
US07897525B2
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a method for transferring a substrate to two or more process modules is provided, comprising loading at least one substrate into one or more mobile transverse chambers, the mobile transverse chambers being carried on a rail positioned adjacent to the two or more process modules, and wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during conveyance of the substrate. One or more drive systems are actuated to propel at least one of the one or more mobile transverse chambers along the rail. The at least one mobile transfer chamber docks to at least one of the process modules, and the substrate is conveyed from the mobile transverse chamber to the at least one process modules.
US07897514B2
System and method for reducing contact resistance and improving barrier properties is provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer and contacts extending through the dielectric layer to connect to conductive regions. A contact barrier layer is formed between the conductive regions and the contacts by electroless plating the conductive regions after openings have been formed through the dielectric layer for the contact. The contact barrier layer is then treated to fill the grain boundary of the contact barrier layer, thereby improving the contact resistance. In another embodiment, the contact barrier layer is formed on the conductive regions by electroless plating prior to the formation of the dielectric layer.
US07897511B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an integrated circuit region on a semiconductor wafer. A first metal layer pattern is formed over the integrated circuit region. A via hole is formed to extend through the first metal layer pattern and the integrated circuit region. A final metal layer pattern is formed over the first metal layer pattern and within the via hole. A plug is formed within the via hole. Thereafter, a passivation layer is formed to overlie the final metal layer pattern.
US07897510B2
A method for manufacturing a package which includes: an etching step of etching a silicon substrate, and forming a via hole penetrating through the silicon substrate; and a step of embedding an electrically conductive material in the via hole, and forming a via plug, characterized in that the etching step includes a first etching step of forming the via hole in a straight shape, and a second etching step of forming the via hole in a taper shape.
US07897509B2
A semiconductor wafer comprising: a tubular trench formed at a position to form a through-hole electrode of a wafer; an insulating member buried inside the trench and on an upper surface of the trench; a gate electrode film and a metal film formed on an upper surface of the insulating member; a multilevel columnar wiring via formed on an upper surface of the metal film; and an external connection electrode formed electrically connected to the metal film via the multilevel columnar wiring via. In this manner, it is unnecessary to have a new process of dry etching to form a through-hole electrode after thinning the wafer and equipment development. Moreover, introduction of a specific design enables formation of through-hole electrodes with significantly reduced difficulties of respective processes.
US07897505B2
A novel method for enhancing interface adhesion between adjacent dielectric layers, particularly between an etch stop layer and an overlying dielectric layer having a low dielectric constant (k) in the formation of metal interconnects during the fabrication of integrated circuits on semiconductor wafer substrates. The method may include providing a substrate, providing an etch stop layer on the substrate, providing an oxygen-rich dielectric pre-layer on the etch stop layer and providing a major dielectric layer on the oxygen-rich dielectric pre-layer. Metal interconnects are then formed in the dielectric layers. The oxygen-rich dielectric pre-layer between the etch stop layer and the upper dielectric layer prevents or minimizes peeling and cracking of the layers induced by stresses that are caused by chemical mechanical planarization of metal layers and/or chip packaging.
US07897498B2
The present invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device from a layered body including: a semiconductor substrate; a high dielectric film formed on the semiconductor substrate; and an SiC-based film formed on a position upper than the high dielectric film, the SiC-based film having an anti-reflective function and a hardmask function. The present invention comprises a plasma-processing step for plasma-processing the SiC-based film and the high dielectric film to modify the SiC-based film and the high dielectric film by an action of a plasma; and a cleaning step for wet-cleaning the SiC-based film and the high dielectric film modified in the plasma-processing step to collectively remove the SiC-based film and the high dielectric film.
US07897483B2
Objects are to reduce damage to a semiconductor integrated circuit by external stress and to increase the manufacturing yield of a thinned semiconductor integrated circuit. A single crystal semiconductor layer separated from a single crystal semiconductor substrate is used for a semiconductor element included in the semiconductor integrated circuit. Moreover, a substrate which is formed into a thin shape and provided with the semiconductor integrated circuit is covered with a resin layer. In a separation step, a groove for separating a semiconductor element layer is formed in the supporting substrate, and a resin layer is provided over the supporting substrate in which the groove is formed. After that, the resin layer and the supporting substrate are cut in the groove so as to be divided into a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits.
US07897474B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, the following processes. A second insulating film may be formed over a first insulating film. At least one through-hole may be formed, which penetrates the first and second insulating films. At least one first electrode may be formed, which extends at least along the side wall of the at least one through-hole. The first inter-layer insulator may be removed, while using the second insulating film as a temporary supporter that supports the at least one first electrode. At least one permanent supporter may be formed, which supports the at least one first electrode. The second insulating film as the temporary supporter may be removed, while leaving the at least one permanent supporter to support the at least one first electrode.
US07897472B2
Methods for forming multiple inductors on a semiconductor wafer are described. A plating layer and a photoresist layer are applied over a semiconductor wafer. Recess regions are etched in the photoresist layer using photolithographic techniques, which exposes portions of the underlying plating layer. Metal is electroplated into the recess regions in the photoresist layer to form multiple magnetic core inductor members. A dielectric insulating layer is applied over the magnetic core inductor members. Additional plating and photoresist layers are applied over the dielectric insulating layer. Recess regions are formed in the newly applied photoresist layer. Electroplating is used to form inductor windings in the recess regions. Optionally, a magnetic paste can be applied over the inductor coils.
US07897471B2
A structure to diminish high voltage instability in a high voltage device when under stress includes an amorphous silicon layer over a field oxide on the high voltage device.
US07897469B2
A method of manufacturing an I-MOS device includes forming a semiconductor layer (2) on a buried insulating layer (4). A gate structure (23) including a gate stack (14) is formed on the semiconductor layer, and used to (5) self align the formation of a source region (28) by implantation. Then, an etch step is used to selectively etch the gate structure (23) and this is followed by forming a drain region (36) by implantation. The method can precisely control the i-region length (38) between source region (28) and gate stack (14).
US07897463B2
A transistor includes first and second pairs of vertically overlaid source/drain regions on a substrate. Respective first and second vertical channel regions extend between the overlaid source/drain regions of respective ones of the first and second pairs of overlaid source/drain regions. Respective first and second insulation regions are disposed between the overlaid source/drain regions of the respective first and second pairs of overlaid source/drain regions and adjacent respective ones of the first and second vertical channel regions. Respective first and second gate insulators are disposed on respective ones of the first and second vertical channel regions. A gate electrode is disposed between the first and second gate insulators. The first and second vertical channel regions may be disposed near adjacent edges of the overlaid source/drain regions.
US07897454B2
The present invention provides a metal-insulator-metal capacitor, which comprises a semiconductor substrate; an interlayer dielectric layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate; and an insulation trench and two metal trenches all running through the interlayer dielectric layer and allowing the semiconductor substrate to be exposed; wherein the metal trenches being located on each side of the insulation trench and sharing a trench wall with the insulation trench respectively, the insulation trench being filled with insulation material as an insulation structure, the metal trenches being filled with metal material as electrodes of the capacitor.
US07897453B2
An integrated circuit including vertically oriented diode structures between conductors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The diode is a metal-insulator diode having a first metal layer, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer and a second metal layer. At least one asymmetric interface state is provided at the intersection of at least two of the layers to increase the ratio of the diode's on-current to its reverse bias leakage current. In various examples, the asymmetric interface state is formed by a positive or negative sheet charge that alters the barrier height and/or electric field at one or more portions of the diode. Two-terminal devices such as passive element memory cells can utilize the diode as a steering element in series with a state change element. The devices can be formed using pillar structures at the intersections of upper and lower conductors.
US07897436B2
A process for packaging a number of micro-components on the same substrate wafer, in which each micro-component is enclosed in a cavity. This process includes making a covering plate comprising a re-useable matrix, a polymer layer, and a metal layer; covering the wafer with the covering plate; applying a contact pressure equal to at least one bar on the covering plate and on the wafer; heating the metal layer during pressing until sealing is obtained, each cavity thus being provided with a sealing area and closed by metal layer; and dissolving the polymer to recover and recycle the matrix.
US07897435B2
Methods of fabricating an array of aligned microstructures on a substrate are disclosed. The microstructures may be spring contacts or other microelements. The methods disclosed include construction of an alignment substrate, alignment of die elements with the alignment substrate, and fixation of the aligned die elements to a backing substrate.
US07897432B2
A peeling off layer 18 is formed on an entire surface of one surface side of a support plate 10 including the inner wall surfaces respectively of a recessed part 12 for an electronic part and recessed parts 16 for posts in which the posts 20 are formed. Then, the recessed parts 16 are filled with metal to form the posts 20. Then, conductor patterns 28 are formed that electrically connect the electrode terminals 22a of the electronic part 22 inserted into the recessed part 12 to the posts 20. Then, an insulating layer covering the conductor patterns 28 is formed to form an electronic part package 30 on the one surface side of the support plate 10 through the peeling off layer 18. After that, the electronic part package 30 is separated from the support plate 10 by the peeling off layer 18.
US07897418B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device includes forming an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, the insulating film having an opening therein, forming a Pd electrode in the opening and on the insulating film, and removing the portion of the Pd electrode on the insulating film by the application of a physical force to the portion, while leaving the Pd electrode in the opening.
US07897417B2
Hybrid semiconductor materials have an inorganic semiconductor incorporated into a hole-conductive fluorene copolymer film. Nanometer-sized particles of the inorganic semiconductor may be prepared by mixing inorganic semiconductor precursors with a steric-hindering coordinating solvent and heating the mixture with microwaves to a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent.
US07897416B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing composition control to thin compound semiconductor films for radiation detector and photovoltaic applications. In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method in which the molar ratio of the elements in a plurality of layers are detected so that tuning of the multi-element layer can occur to obtain the multi-element layer that has a predetermined molar ratio range. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method in which the thickness of a sub-layer and layers thereover of Cu, In and/or Ga are detected and tuned in order to provide tuned thicknesses that are substantially the same as pre-determined thicknesses.
US07897386B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for their use, such as in identifying G-protein-coupled receptors, ligands and compounds that modulate the activities of G-protein-coupled receptors. The compositions and methods employ cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and fluorescence dyes in detecting changes of intracellular cAMP levels in response to the stimulation of G-protein-coupled receptors. Activation of the G-protein-coupled receptors can be detected in a variety of assays, including cell-based imaging assays with fluorescence microscopes and high throughput assays with multi-well plates and fluorescence plate readers.
US07897382B2
The invention features methods of analyzing the kinetics properties of transfection reactions. Also featured are methods for creating structural promoters which are effectively unregulated by enhancers and repressors. The structural promoters are significantly more active than the native promoter sequences upon which they are based.
US07897371B2
The invention concerns RAC-PK and fragments thereof, as well as activators and inhibitors of RAC-PK for use as medicaments, particularly in the treatment of diseases concerned with abnormalities in processes modulated by insulin, such as cellular proliferation, insulin deficiency and/or excess blood sugar levels. Moreover, the invention provides RAC-PK for use in screening potential mimics or modulators thereof. A method for screening for agents capable of affecting the activity of GSK3 is also disclosed. The invention further provides a screening kit comprising the RAC-PK as an active principle, and a method for screening compounds which are candidate mimics or modulators of RAC-PK activity comprising detecting specific interactions between the candidate compounds and RAC-PK. There is also provided a process for activating RAC-PK comprising treatment thereof with a phosphatase inhibitor.
US07897362B2
Methods for detecting invasive trophoblast antigen (ITA) in biological samples comprise screening the samples for ITA using antibodies that bind to the ITA. The methods are useful to detect pregnancy, trophoblastic diseases, and Down's syndrome in fetuses of pregnant women. Some methods include screening the samples with a plurality of capture antibodies that specifically bind ITA. Chemiluminescent immunoassays are disclosed. The methods may be practiced with the diagnostic kits of the invention.
US07897355B2
A new polypeptide is disclosed that is specifically detected in the cells of the prostate, termed Novel Gene Expressed in Prostate (NGEP). Polynucleotides encoding NGEP are also disclosed, as are vectors including these polynucleotides. Host cells transformed with these polynucleotides are also disclosed. Antibodies are disclosed that specifically bind NGEP. Methods are disclosed for using an NGEP polypeptide, an antibody that specifically binds NGEP, or a polynucleotide encoding NGEP. Assays are disclosed for the detection prostate cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions including an NGEP polypeptide, an antibody that specifically binds NGEP, or a polynucleotide encoding NGEP are also disclosed. These pharmaceutical compositions are of use in the treatment of prostate cancer.
US07897353B2
A method of detecting or monitoring a malignant plasma cell disease comprising detecting in a sample the ratio between the relative amounts of immunoglobulins having: (i) a heavy chain class bound to λ light chains; and (ii) immunoglobulins having the same heavy chain class but bound to κ light chains. Preferably the ratio is determined by (1) a method wherein the ratio is determined using: (i) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, having specificity for a heavy chain class at the same time as having specificity for a first light chain in combination with either: (ii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, having specificity for the heavy chain class at the same time as having specificity for the second light chain; or (iii) an antibody, or fragment thereof, having specificity for the heavy chain and a further antibody, or fragment thereof, having specificity for the second light chain. (2) a method wherein the ratio is determined using: (i) at least one antibody, or a fragment thereof, specific for the heavy chain class; (ii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, specific for λ light chains; and (iii) an antibody, or a fragment thereof, specific for κ light chains; or Antibodies specific for a heavy chain class at the same time as having specificity for a specific light chain are also provided.
US07897347B2
A general immunoglobulin-target assay system is provided, in which a positive outcome (the generation of a signal) depends only on the intracellular interaction of immunoglobulin with target. This can be accomplished for many immunoglobulins expressed in yeast and/or in mammalian cells and allows the selection of immunoglobulins which are capable of functioning in an intracellular environment.
US07897346B2
The present invention relates to PNA derivatives which carry, at the C terminus, or at both the C and N termini of the PNA backbone, one or more phosphoryl radicals. The phosphoryl radicals carry, where appropriate, one or more labeling groups, groups for crosslinking, groups which promote intracellular uptake, or groups which increase the binding affinity of the PNA derivative for nucleic acids. The invention furthermore relates to a process for preparing the above-mentioned PNA derivatives and to their use as pharmaceuticals or diagnostic agents.
US07897342B2
The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DAS-59122-7 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.
US07897337B2
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.
US07897331B2
Thiazolyl tetrazolium salts with increased solubility in aqueous solutions have alkylammonium alkoxy substituents, preferably trimethyl ammonium propoxy groups substituents, on phenyl rings attached to the tetrazolium ring.
US07897329B2
The present invention features a method for determining t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of a polypeptide and screening for modulators of t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity. The present invention further provides methods or pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and/or treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using such modulators. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using the t-RNA dihydrouridine-synthase activity of IMS-E21 (URLC8) protein as an index. The present invention further provides methods for predicting and prognosing lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).
US07897325B2
The invention provides a novel rinse solution used in the step of rinse treatment of a patterned photoresist layer developed with an aqueous alkaline developer solution in a photolithographic process for the manufacture of semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display panels. The rinse solution provided by the invention is an aqueous solution of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound such as imidazoline, pyridine and the like in a concentration up to 10% by mass. Optionally, the rinse solution of the invention further contains a water-miscible alcoholic or glycolic organic solvent and/or a water-soluble resin. The invention also provides a lithographic method for the formation of a patterned photoresist layer including a step of rinse treatment of an alkali-developed resist layer with the rinse solution defined above. The invention provides an improvement on the lithographic process in respect of the product quality and efficiency of the process.
US07897319B2
A positive resist composition including a base material for a pattern-forming material (A), which contains a protector (X1) of a polyhydric phenol compound (x) having two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of 300 to 2,500, in which a portion of the phenolic hydroxyl groups are protected with an acid-dissociable, dissolution-inhibiting group, and an acid generator component (B) that generates an acid upon exposure, wherein the component (B) contains an onium salt-based acid generator (B1) with an alkylsulfonate ion as an anion.
US07897313B2
An electrostatic latent image bearing member is provided including a substrate and a photosensitive layer located overlying the substrate, wherein the outermost layer of the electrostatic latent image bearing member includes a cross-linked resin formed from a cross-linking reaction between a polyol having 2 or more hydroxyl groups including a reactive charge transport material having a specific formula and an isocyanate compound including an aromatic isocyanate compound having an isocyanate group and an aromatic ring; and the use of the electrostatic latent image bearing member in an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.
US07897311B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a phenothiazine.
US07897309B2
A bisazo compound represented by Chemical structure 1: wherein, Ar1 and Ar2 independently represent a substituted or non-substituted aryl group, when at least one of Ar1 and Ar2 has a substituent, the substituent is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl group, biphenyl group, naphthyl group, anthryl group, and pyrenyl group, R1, represents an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, or nitrile group, R2 represents ethylene group or vinylene group, and n represents an integer of from 1 to 3 and when n is 2 or 3, R1s are independent from each other.
US07897305B2
A method for forming a pattern and a method for fabricating an LCD device using the same is disclosed, wherein a photoresist layer is removed from a substrate without using a photoresist stripper, so that the pattern is formed with a low fabrication costs. The method comprising sequentially forming a pattern material layer, a transformed material layer and a photoresist layer on a substrate; patterning the photoresist layer by exposure and development using a mask; selectively etching the transformed material layer and the pattern material layer by using the patterned photoresist layer as a mask; and removing the transformed material layer and the patterned photoresist layer in a lift-off method by applying light.
US07897303B2
A method of applying to a display substrate color elements and addressing busbars in a defined alignment relative to each other includes: forming said color elements and said busbars on a surface of a transfer carrier; 10 adhering said color elements and said busbars to said display substrate; and removing said transfer carrier.
US07897301B2
A technique for forming fine patterns by a simple method. A fine pattern forming method includes a step of forming a heat-resist film on a substrate, applying energy to regions of the resist film to form a fine pattern, and thereafter developing the resist film. The material used to form the resist film is a metal oxide of a composition that differs from a stoichiometric composition by lacking a small amount of oxygen, the energy is applied to the resist film using pressure, and the resist film is developed using an alkaline developer.
US07897298B2
A mask pattern including a light-shielding portion 101 and a semi-light-shielding portion 102 is provided on a transparent substrate 100 having a transparent property against exposing light so as to be surrounded with a transparent portion 104. The semi-light-shielding portion 102 is disposed in an outer region of the mask pattern and partially transmits the exposing light in an identical phase to the exposing light passing through the transparent portion 104.
US07897295B2
A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell, where a surface of the flow field plate is textured or roughened to change the surface morphology of the plate. A conductive coating is deposited on the roughened surface where the roughness of the surface of the plate increases the hydrophilic nature of the coating. Therefore, if the coating is naturally hydrophobic, the surface roughness makes the coating hydrophilic to wick water away. If the coating is a conductive hydrophilic coating, then the surface roughness makes the coating super-hydrophilic, and may counter the effects of surface contamination that would act to make the hydrophilic coating less hydrophilic.
US07897289B2
The invention relates to stackable high-temperature fuel cells which are combined to form so-called fuel cell stacks and also can be connected to each other electrically conductively in series and/or in parallel. According to the set object, such high-temperature fuel cells are intended to form an electrically conductive connection between a cathode and an interconnector which, even at temperatures above 800° C. and also in the oxidising atmosphere prevailing during operation of fuel cells, have a sufficiently high electrical conductivity, a chemically and mechanically adequate strength or stability. The high-temperature fuel cells according to the invention are connected, on the anode-side, to a fuel supply and, on the cathode-side, to an oxidant supply. The cathode is connected electrically conductively by means of at least one resilient contact element to an interconnector. The resilient contact element has one or more regions which exert a compression force on regions of the interconnector, the contact element being formed from an electrically conductive ceramic material.
US07897279B2
An electrode assembly including a first electrode strip having a first electrode collector coated with at least a first electrode active material, an exposed portion of the first electrode collector attached with a first electrode tab; a second electrode strip having a second electrode collector coated with at least a second electrode active material and is rolled together with the first electrode strip, an exposed portion of the second electrode collector is attached with a second electrode tab; and at least one inter-electrode strip separator is positioned between the first and second electrode strips, wherein at least one sheet of protective separator, which is extended from the inter-electrode strip separator, is further positioned on a side of the first electrode strip attached with the first electrode tab.
US07897267B2
A tubular assembly comprising a first iron based tubular having a first non-cladded inner surface; and a second iron based tubular having a second non-cladded inner surface, wherein the first tubular is connected to the second tubular using a non-iron based bonding material. Preferably, the non-iron based bonding material has a lower crack growth rate than the iron based tubulars.
US07897266B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to a personal grooming product or device (e.g., foil shaver, rotary shaver, etc.) having a metal coating on one or more surfaces thereof, the grooming product being designed for contacting the skin (e.g., the human hand or face, or the skin of an animal, such as during the act of pet grooming). More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a personal grooming product or device having a layer of some measurable thickness on such a surface, wherein the layer comprises or contains a tarnish resistant, hypoallergenic and/or antimicrobial silver-containing alloy.
US07897259B1
Silicon compounds useful as coating reactants for the chemical vapor deposition of silicon oxide are disclosed, along with compounds useful as accelerants to increase the deposition rate of silicon oxide. The silicon-containing precursor comprises the structural formula wherein R1 is an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl radical which may be substituted, and R2 is a functional group which increases the reactivity of the silicon compound by withdrawing electron density away from the silicon atom, such as hydrogen, halogen, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogenated alkyl and perhalogenated alkyl radicals. The accelerant is a compound selected to take advantage of the partial positive charge on the silicon atom. Such accelerant compounds include Lewis acids and bases; water; ozone; trivalent compounds of nitrogen, boron and phosphorus; tetravalent compounds of sulfur and selenium; pentavalent compounds of phosphorus and a variety of metal compounds. Also disclosed are compositions including an additional metal-containing coating precursor, such as an organotin compound, to deposit another metal oxide along with silicon oxide.
US07897251B2
A method of forming a print medium comprising coating at least one side of a base substrate with anionically-charged nano-milled calcium carbonate that has been mixed with a cationic conversion agent to convert the coating to a cationically-charged coating, where a primary size of particles of the nano-milled calcium carbonate is 10-20 nm or smaller.
US07897250B2
The present invention provides a polishing pad whose unevenness in thickness hardly occurs and whose life can be improved. A polishing pad 1 is provided with a polyurethane sheet 2. Foams 3 having lengths of about ½ of the length of the polyurethane sheet 2 in its thickness direction and elongated foams 4 having lengths of at least 70% of the length of the polyurethane sheet 2 in the thickness direction are formed in the polyurethane sheet 2. The foams 3 and the elongated foams 4 are opened by buffing processing so that opened pores 5 and opened pores 6 are formed at a polishing face P, respectively. Regarding the opened pores 5, 6, the total number of opened pores having opened pore diameters falling in a range of from 30 to 50 μm occupies at least 50% of the number of all opened pores. The total number of the opened pores 5, 6 per 1 mm2 of the polishing face P is set in a range of from 50 to 100. An average value of ratio of an opened pore diameter D1 of the opened pore 6 of the elongated foam 4 to an opened pore diameter D2 of the opened pore 6 at a depth position of at least 200 μm from the polishing face P is set in a range of from 0.65 to 0.95.
US07897248B2
A method of forming a composite of embedded nanofibers in a polymer matrix is disclosed. The method includes incorporating nanofibers in a plastic matrix forming agglomerates, and uniformly distributing the nanofibers by exposing the agglomerates to hydrodynamic stresses. The hydrodynamic said stresses force the agglomerates to break apart. In combination or additionally elongational flow is used to achieve small diameters and alignment. A nanofiber reinforced polymer composite system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of nanofibers that are embedded in polymer matrices in micron size fibers. A method for producing nanotube continuous fibers is disclosed. Nanofibers are fibrils with diameters of 100 nm, multiwall nanotubes, single wall nanotubes and their various functionalized and derivatized forms. The method includes mixing a nanofiber in a polymer; and inducing an orientation of the nanofibers that enables the nanofibers to be used to enhance mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Orientation is induced by high shear mixing and elongational flow, singly or in combination. The polymer may be removed from said nanofibers, leaving micron size fibers of aligned nanofibers.
US07897246B2
A man-made, molded article is provided. The article includes a profile including a planar wall, and an adjacent integral molded depression having a contoured wall extending downwardly from the planar wall. The contoured wall includes a bead portion, a cove portion, and a ledge between the bead and cove portions. The articles are stackable, one above another for transport, in a nestable relationship in which multiple contact zones are present between the contoured walls of an adjacently stacked pair of the molded articles. The contact zones include an arcuately extending contact interface zone between the bead exterior and interior surfaces. The depression has a substantially uniform thickness varying by no more than about +1 percent to about −11 percent in relation to a thickness of the planar wall. Related methods and assemblies are also provided.
US07897238B2
A honeycomb structure includes a plurality of pillar-shaped honeycomb fired bodies bound with one another by interposing a adhesive layer. Each of the honeycomb fired bodies has a large number of cells longitudinally placed in parallel with one another with a cell wall therebetween. An adhesive strength A between central portion honeycomb fired bodies out of the honeycomb fired bodies measured by a three-point bending strength test is at least about 0.02 and at most about 0.2 MPa. The central portion honeycomb fired bodies are positioned at a central portion of a cross-section formed by cutting the honeycomb structure perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The adhesive strength A is lower than an adhesive strength B between peripheral portion honeycomb fired bodies out of the honeycomb fired bodies measured by the three-point bending strength test. The peripheral portion honeycomb fired bodies form a part of a periphery the honeycomb structure.
US07897233B2
Adhesive antiskid material suitable for use with traction sensitive applications (such as a skateboard deck) is described herein. The adhesive antiskid material includes pieces that are visually distinguishable from each other. An adhesive patch layer of the adhesive antiskid material maintains the pieces in a single sheet for handling and application to the object of interest. The adhesive antiskid material may include a graphics layer and a clear or translucent filler grip piece that is applied over the graphics layer. This option allows stickers, advertisements, company logos, pictures, or any design element to be incorporated into the adhesive antiskid material itself.
US07897232B2
A wear-resistant and high temperature-resistant friction lining, in particular for a transport roller. The lining has a wear-resistant friction component embedded in a matrix and an additional component. The additional component is configured such that it is converted when exceeding a limit temperature while absorbing energy. Due to the endothermic reaction, a cooling effect takes place, which protects the friction lining. In particular, a so-called PBO fiber is used as the friction component.
US07897230B2
One or more types of ink retention layers for a one-way vision display panel and methods are provided. In one example, a one-way vision display panel assembly includes a perforated panel formed of a flexible material. The perforated panel having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of through holes extending from the front surface to the rear surface. An ink retention layer is located adjacent to the perforated panel. The ink retention layer includes material that retains or absorbs residual ink from an image applied to the front surface of the perforated panel. The one-way vision display panel may further include a releasing layer or a backing layer, or both.
US07897228B2
Articles for applying color on a surface that includes a sheet of dry color component having a margin, a front sheet surface, and a rear sheet surface opposite the front sheet surface, and an adhesive on the rear sheet surface for bonding the sheet to the surface. Either the margin of the sheet or the entire sheet is adapted for reducing or eliminating the visual perceptibility of the seam created when the margin is positioned in an overlapping, abutting, or spaced apart relationship with a margin of a juxtaposed second article. The reduction or elimination of the visual perceptibility of the seam may be promoted by a physical mechanism, a chemical mechanism, an optical mechanism, or a combination of these mechanisms.
US07897222B2
A preform and a mold stack for producing the preform. For example, there is provided a preform suitable for subsequent blow-molding. The preform comprises a neck portion; a gate portion; and a body portion extending between said neck portion and said gate portion; the gate portion having a conical shape, wherein the conical shape terminates at a vestige portion having a size that substantially corresponds to the size of an orifice of a hot runner nozzle used in manufacturing the preform. In an example embodiment, the conical shape is selected such that to substantially homogenize angle of refraction of rays used during a re-heating stage of a blow-molding process.
US07897208B2
The present invention generally comprises a silicon dioxide atomic layer deposition method. By providing pyridine as a catalyst, water may be utilized as the oxidization source while depositing at a low temperature. Prior to exposing the substrate to the water, the substrate may be exposed to a pyridine soak process. Additionally, the water may be co-flowed to the chamber with the pyridine through separate conduits to reduce interaction prior to entering the chamber. Alternatively, the pyridine may be co-flowed with a silicon precursor that does not react with pyridine.
US07897207B2
Nano-molecular sieve-polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for CO2 removal from natural gas have been prepared by incorporating dispersible template-free nano-molecular sieves into polymer matrices such as Matrimid 5218 polyimide matrix or Ultem 1000 polyetherimide matrix. The nano-molecular sieves used in this invention include template-free nano-AlPO-18, nano-AlPO-5, nano-Silicalite, nano-SAPO-34, and PEG-functionalized nano-Silicalite. These template-free nano-molecular sieves were synthesized by an organic ligand grafting method.
US07897202B2
A process using environmentally friendly materials for restoring a surface of an epoxy graphite composite material that has been degraded by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. An example process includes steps of providing a gelled solvent composition, applying the gelled solvent composition to a degraded surface of an epoxy graphite composite material, and thereafter removing the gelled solvent composition to produce a restored surface. The process uses a novel gelled solvent composition comprising one or more non-halogenated organic solvents, a thickening agent, an abrasive agent, and water; wherein the gelled solvent composition has an evaporative weight loss that is lower than the evaporative weight loss of the one or more non-halogenated solvents.
US07897192B2
An improved carbonated protein beverage/drink composition which provides a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 2% by weight to about 15% by weight, while simultaneously employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 4 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is whey protein. The carbonated protein beverage may contain an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. The carbonated protein beverage is heat treated to inactivate microbes in the presence of the carbonation. Typically, the treatment for microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the carbonated protein drink.
US07897191B2
A multi-grain chip having buckwheat hull inclusion of a specific particle size. The buckwheat hull component of the chip provides a visual indication of the multi-grain characteristics of the chip. The particle size of the buckwheat hulls is specified in order to compliment production of the chip on existing corn chip lines and to enhance product visual attributes.
US07897185B1
Technique for making a cream cheese product comprising steps of: providing a milkfat fluid comprising butterfat; pasteurizing the milkfat fluid; homogenizing the milkfat fluid; and culturing bacteria in the milkfat fluid; producing a cream cheese product comprising live probiotic bacteria cultures. Cream cheese product comprising: between about 10% by weight and about 55% by weight of total butterfat; and a live probiotic bacteria culture.
US07897182B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a bamboo plant extract for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory or blood circulation disease. The extracts of bamboo plant has potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NO production and blood circulation-improving activity by inhibiting elastase activity and healing the wound of vascular endothelial cell, activating u-PA expression and inhibiting PAI-1 expression, lowering cholesterol deposit and inhibiting neointima formation, therefore it can be used as a therapeutic or health care food for treating and preventing inflammatory or blood circulation diseases.
US07897162B2
Disclosed herein is a pharmacophore model for arthropod repellent activity and methods of making and using thereof. The pharmacophore comprises two hydrophobic aliphatic functions, one aromatic function and one hydrogen bond acceptor function. The pharmacophore model was made using a test set of arthropod repellent compounds. Also disclosed are arthropod repellent compounds identified by screening databases with the pharmacophore model. Also disclosed are methods of repelling arthropods from a surface or area. Compositions and formulations comprising the compounds of the present invention as well as objects having the compounds of the present invention are disclosed.
US07897159B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer by combining Parapoxvirus ovis with at least one anticancer agent. The invention furthermore relates to a method for treating a patient afflicted with cancer comprising the administration of Parapoxvirus ovis in combination with at least one anticancer agent.
US07897154B2
Dermal drops that, when applied topically to animal subjects, can ameliorate symptoms of conditions such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease are prepared as concentrates of the culture filtrate of a Basidiomycete fungus grown under appropriate conditions. The concentrate can also be used as a convenient source of liquid compost factor.
US07897142B2
The invention relates to new peptide-based compounds and their use in diagnostic optical imaging techniques. More specifically the invention relates to the use of such peptide-based compounds as targeting vectors that bind to receptors associated with angiogenesis. The compounds are labelled with at least one cyanine dye reporter and may be used as contrast agents in optical imaging in diagnosis of angiogenesis-related diseases.
US07897139B2
The present invention is directed to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, preferably the inhibition of tumor growth and its progression to metastatic sites, through the inhibition of the production of PTHrP, its isoforms or PTHrP signalling. The present invention is also directed to methods of inhibiting the PTHrP1-173 isoform through antagonists thereof, including monoclonal antibodies and siRNA directed there against. The invention may be applicable to many disease states, including but not limited to several types of cancer (such as breast, lung, prostate, melanoma and squamous) expressing PTHrP and its isoforms, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents.
US07897138B2
The invention relates to a process for producing diantimony pentoxide having a high oxidation purity.A process for producing an aqueous sol of diantimony pentoxide, which comprises mixing diantimony trioxide (Sb2O3) and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in an aqueous medium, and after the temperature has reached from 50 to 80° C., reacting the diantimony trioxide with the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution while keeping the reaction temperature at a level not higher by at least 10° C. than a desired set temperature in the temperature range, to thereby obtain a sol having dispersed in the aqueous medium diantimony pentoxide particles which have a primary particle size of from 2 to 50 nm and which have a diantimony trioxide/diantimony pentoxide weight ratio of not higher than 5 wt %.
US07897135B2
The present invention is generally directed to a novel, economic synthesis of oxide ceramic composites. Methods of the present invention, referred to as carbon combustion synthesis of oxides (CCSO), are a modification of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) methods in which the heat needed for the synthesis is generated by combustion of carbon in oxygen rather than that of a pure metal. This enables a more economic production of the ceramic material and minimizes the presence of intermediate metal oxides in the product. The reactant mixture generally comprises at least one oxide precursor (e.g., a metal or non metal oxide, or super oxide, or nitride, or carbonate, or chloride, or oxalate, or halides) as a reactant, but no pure metal. Pure carbon in the form of graphite or soot is added to the reactant mixture to generate the desired heat (upon ignition). The mixture is placed in a reactor and exposed to gaseous oxygen. The high-temperature exothermic reaction between the carbon and oxygen generates a self-sustaining reaction in the form of a propagating temperature wave that causes a reaction among the reactants. The reaction proceeds rapidly following ignition, and the final product comprises simple and/or complex oxides of elements present in the oxide precursor(s). CCSO also enables synthesis of oxides that cannot be produced by conventional SHS, such as when the pure metal is pyrophoric (such as Li or La) or such as when it melts at room temperature (e.g., Ga) or such as the combustion heat of the metal is relatively low.
US07897125B1
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and process for recovering useful compounds from a byproduct composition produced in a silicon tetrafluoride production process.
US07897122B2
A hybrid adsorbent-membrane reactor in which the chemical reaction, membrane separation, and product adsorption are coupled. Also disclosed are a dual-reactor apparatus and a process using the reactor or the apparatus.
US07897106B2
Contemplated herein is an automated microscope slide antigen recovery and staining apparatus and method that features a plurality of individually operable miniaturized pressurizable reaction compartments for individually and independently processing a plurality of individual microscope slides. The apparatus preferably features independently movable slide support elements each having an individually heatable heating plate. Each slide support element preferably supports a single microscope slide. Each microscope slide can be enclosed within an individual pressurizable reaction compartment. Pressures exceeding 1 atm or below 1 atm can be created and maintained in the reaction compartment prior to, during or after heating of the slide begins. Because of the ability to pressurize and regulate pressure within the reaction compartment, and to individually heat each slide, each slide and a liquid solution or reagent thereon can be heated to temperatures that could not be obtained without the enclosed pressurized environment of the reaction compartment. A reagent dispensing strip having a plurality of reconfigurable reagent modules may also be used.
US07897102B2
A powder metallurgy method for making valve guides for use in internal combustion engines advantageously utilizes uniaxial side pressing to form compacts. Such compacts are subsequently sintered, formed into a cylindrical shape, and then hollowed to form a valve guide. The valve guides exhibit improved uniformity and density and hardness from end to end of the valve guide when contrasted to powder metal valve guides formed with uniaxial end pressing.
US07897096B2
Provided is a production process for an insert decorated molding provided with two or more kinds of pictures, in which a color of a resin is not seen from a boundary part between pictures and which has a high design property. The production process includes a vacuum molding step in which two or more kinds of decorative sheets are vacuum-molded and an injection step in which at least two kinds of the vacuum-molded decorative sheets are disposed in line in a female metal die and in which a molding resin is injected onto the decorative sheets.
US07897092B2
Provided are a process for efficiently producing a non-foamed molded body by impregnating an amorphous thermoplastic resin with 0.3 to 3.0% by mass of carbon dioxide and/or 0.05 to 1.0% by mass of nitrogen and then supplying the amorphous thermoplastic resin thus obtained which is impregnated with carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen to an uppermost stream part of a cylinder in an injection molding machine and molding it and a non-foamed molded body produced thereby.
US07897091B2
The method comprises differentiated separation of the strips holding the silicone cores with respect to the honeycomb produced, by simply curving one of the strips corresponding to one of the faces of the honeycomb and by progressive action of pulsed magnetic fields in the other of the strips holding the silicone cores, progressively separating the honeycomb and preventing breakages in the walls of the same. In a device equipped with an alignment of electromagnets which act on the strip bearing the elastic cores to be separated and which exert an action of pulsed magnetic fields on the same, progressively separating the strip from the honeycomb.
US07897088B2
A beverage container holder is disclosed which includes a magnet within the sleeve of a beverage container holder. The beverage container holder, along with any beverage container placed in the beverage container holder, may be mounted on any mounting surface having an associated ferrous material. The beverage container holder is held in place due to the force of the magnetic interaction between the magnet and the mounting surface.
US07897087B2
A method of manufacturing a molded article with a mold having an inner surface is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a substance to the inner surface of the mold, introducing a thermoplastic resin into the mold and onto the substance, defining a molded article having a surface, and maintaining contact of the thermoplastic resin and the substance for a predetermined time period. The thermoplastic resin has a predetermined heated energy and at least a portion of the heat energy is transferred to the substance. During the predetermined time period, the substance diffuses through at least a portion of the surface of the molded article.
US07897075B2
A method and apparatus for a calendering system is provided to allow for fine gauge adjustment of the product. The calender system has a first and second roller each having a first and second end mounted in opposed end supports. The end supports each have an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with one or more internal passages, wherein a heat transfer medium may be circulated through the one or more internal passages. The heat transfer medium may either heat or cool the internal passages of the end supports, resulting in the respective increase or decrease in the gauge of the product.
US07897069B2
The present invention provides a nickel atom-, manganese atom- and cobalt atom-containing composite carbonate that is high in specific surface area and large in tap density, and useful as a raw material for producing a lithium nickel manganese cobalt composite oxide to be used in a positive electrode active material for use in a lithium secondary battery, and provides a method for industrially advantageously producing the composite carbonate. The composite carbonate includes nickel atoms, manganese atoms and cobalt atoms, and has an average particle size of 5 μm or more and less than 20 μm, a BET specific surface area of 40 to 80 m2/g and a tap density of 1.7 g/ml or more.
US07897068B2
A sputtering target is provided that has a relative density of 80% or more and contains a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1
US07897064B2
A fluorescent material is combined with a blue light-emitting diode or an ultraviolet light-emitting diode and consequently enabled to emit a white light. An oxynitride-based fluorescent material is formed by substituting Eu for part of M in a composition of MOSi2N2O, wherein M denotes one or more metals selected from among Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba.
US07897062B1
Novel hydrated-lime slurry compositions are disclosed, which include a heat-stable polymeric dispersant. The polymeric dispersant is capable to withstand temperatures in excess of 212° F. experienced by the slurry as a result of the hydrolysis of quicklime to produce hydrated lime, and accordingly can be added to the slurry composition prior to the addition of quicklime. Methods for making such slurry compositions are also disclosed.
US07897054B2
A flexible, disposable centrifuge bag for receiving and holding a fluid sample, comprising one or more tubes and upper and lower flexible sheets having doughnut shaped configurations. The upper and lower sheets are superimposed and completely sealed together at their outer perimeters to define an outer perimeter of the centrifuge bag. The inner perimeter of the bag defines a central core. The tubes are sandwiched between the upper and lower sheets and extend from the central core of the centrifuge bag. The upper and lower sheets are sealed together at their inner perimeters such that the tubes are sealed between said upper and lower sheets at the inner perimeter. The bag may be used to harvest platelet rich plasma from whole blood in either a batch method or while simultaneously infusing additional aliquots of whole blood into the bag during centrifugation.
US07897048B2
The present invention discloses a membrane, optionally for use in sewage treatment. The membrane comprises a support membrane having a gas face biolayer on a gas face of the membrane and/or in the support membrane near the gas face, and a liquid face biolayer on a liquid face of the membrane and/or in the support membrane near the liquid face.
US07897036B2
Systems and methods for hydroprocessing a heavy oil feedstock with reduced heavy oil deposits, the system employs a plurality of contacting zones and separation zones zone under hydrocracking conditions to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products, wherein water and/or steam being injected into first contacting zone in an amount of 1 to 25 weight % on the weight of the heavy oil feedstock. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the heavy oil feedstock, forming upgraded products of lower boiling hydrocarbons. In the separation zones, upgraded products are removed overhead and optionally, further treated in an in-line hydrotreater. At least a portion of the non-volatile fractions recovered from at least one of the separation zones is recycled back to the first contacting zone in the system.
US07897029B2
The present invention relates to a method for removing metal oxides from a substrate surface. In one particular embodiment, the method comprises: providing a substrate, a first, and a second electrode that reside within a target area; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through the target area; supplying an amount of energy to the first and/or the second electrode to generate electrons within the target area wherein at least a portion of the electrons attach to a portion of the reducing gas and form a negatively charged reducing gas; and contacting the substrate with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the metal oxides on the surface of the substrate.
US07897027B2
A plating method includes providing an article in a plating bath, covering a surface of the article with an insulating member in the plating bath, and electrolytically plating the article while moving one of the insulating member and the article relative to each other.
US07897025B2
A rotor having a cylindrical peripheral surface is disposed in a treatment vessel into which a carrier gas is introduced, and the rotor peripheral surface is opposed to the surface of a substrate with a predetermine gap therebetween. Film-forming particulates including atomic molecules of the film-forming material and cluster particulates thereof are scattered from the surface of the film-forming material supplying member by sputtering, and the rotor is rotated to form a carrier gas flow near the rotor peripheral surface. The film-forming particulates are transported to the vicinity of the surface of the substrate by the carrier gas flow and adhered to the surface of the substrate. As a result, the adverse effect of high-energy particles and the like is suppressed to efficiently form a satisfactory thin film by an evaporation or sputtering process, which has less restriction to a source material gas, without the need for large equipment.
US07897020B2
A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes providing a substrate, depositing a first electrode comprising an alkali-containing transition metal layer over the substrate, depositing at least one p-type semiconductor absorber layer over the first electrode, wherein the p-type semiconductor absorber layer includes a copper indium selenide (CIS) based alloy material, depositing an n-type semiconductor layer over the p-type semiconductor absorber layer, and depositing a second electrode over the n-type semiconductor layer. The step of depositing the alkali-containing transition metal layer includes sputtering from a first target comprising the transition metal and a second target comprising the alkali metal, where a composition of the first target is different from a composition of the second target.
US07897017B2
An apparatus for the production of a fibrous web, in particular a paper web or paperboard web, having a belt formed from individual threads which are connected together, in particular woven together, whereby the surface of the threads is constructed to be structured in order to improve the paper quality and the production flow.
US07897016B2
A headbox apparatus for a papermaking machine is disclosed. The headbox apparatus defines a flow path for stock flowing between an upstream location and a downstream slice lip. The apparatus includes a plurality of blocks which are anchored within the flow path between the upstream location and the slice lip. Each block and an adjacent block of the plurality of blocks define therebetween a flow tube for the flow therethrough of the stock. The flow tube has an upstream portion having an upstream and a downstream end. The flow tube has a downstream portion having an upstream and a downstream extremity, the upstream extremity of the downstream portion extending from the downstream end of the upstream portion. The downstream portion of the flow tube has a volume which is greater than a further volume of the upstream portion of the flow tube such that when the stock flows from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the flow tube, the stock is mixed within the downstream portion.
US07897006B2
A method of adhering a first material to a second material, which utilizes an anchoring adhesive applied to one or both of the materials as a plurality of isolated adhesive anchors having interstitial spaces between them, forming improved bonding sites for a bonding adhesive which is used to adhere the materials together. In the preferred embodiment the anchoring adhesive may be applied by a process similar to silk screening, whereby a mask or screen defines a plurality of adhesive-impervious portions which create the interstitial spaces and adhesive-pervious portions which allow adhesive to pass through the screen to create the adhesive anchors. The bonding adhesive is applied to the material over the cured adhesive anchors, which serve as high-adhesion bonding sites for the bonding adhesive. The application of anchors on one or both substrate surfaces provides for a compatible interface for the adhesive so as to preserve the inherent rigidity or flexibility of the substrates while maximizing adhesion between the materials.
US07897003B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display, which can surely perform an instillation process used when liquid crystal is sealed between substrates in a cell process, and a fabrication method thereof. A liquid crystal display comprises a sealing material made of a photo-curing type material which seals liquid crystal sandwiched between substrates, and a shading film having a shading area which overlays a red-colored layer transmitting red light, a green-colored layer transmitting green light and a blue-colored layer transmitting blue light, wherein only the blue-colored layer is formed in an area of the shading film contacting with the sealing material and the photo-curing type material of the sealing material is structured to have a light reactive area for a wavelength of blue color band.
US07896986B2
An improved method of heat treating superalloys prior to welding includes subjecting only the portion of the component to be repaired to a localized heat treatment, leaving the remainder of the component untreated. The localized heat treatment permits the use of higher hold temperatures that are near, at, or above the Ni3(Al,Ti) solution temperature of the alloy. Such heat treatment prevents strain age cracking and also prevents recrystallization in areas that are not heat treated. Such localized heat treatment can be applied before and/or after welding, for material rejuvenation, pre-brazing, and post-brazing.
US07896985B2
A seamless steel pipe for line pipe having a high strength and good toughness and corrosion resistance even though having a thick wall has a chemical composition comprising, in mass percent, C: 0.02-0.08%, Si: at most 0.5%, Mn: 1.5-3.0%, Al: 0.001-0.10%, Mo: greater than 0.4% to 1.2%, N: 0.002-0.015%, Ca: 0.0002-0.007%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities, wherein the contents of the impurities are at most 0.03% for P, at most 0.005% for S, at most 0.005% for O and less than 0.0005% for B and wherein the value of Pcm calculated by the following Equation (1) is at least 0.185 and at most 0.250. The steel pipe has a microstructure which primarily comprises bainite and which has a length of cementite of at most 20 micrometers: Pcm=[C]+[Si]/30+([Mn]+[Cr]+[Cu])/20+[Mo]/15+[V]/10+5[B] (1) wherein [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cr], [Cu], [Mo], [V] and [B] are numbers respectively indicating the content in mass percent of C, Si, Mn, Cr, Cu, Mo, V and B.
US07896981B2
A cost effective system, method and apparatus adapted to provide a nitride layer on stainless steel used for the manufacture of consumer electronic products. In addition to providing a durable, hard surface that is both scratch and impact resistant, the nitride layer allows for the natural surface color and texture of the underlying stainless steel to remain visible to the user. It is this natural surface color and texture of the stainless steel that adds to the aesthetically pleasing appearance of the consumer electronic product thereby enhancing the user's overall experience.
US07896980B2
The present nitriding-oxidizing method for a metal member is imposed, which includes providing a powdery nitriding agent comprised of a powdery nitride compound and inorganic powder, wherein the powdery nitride compound decomposes below a nitriding-oxidizing temperature to generate nitriding gas, and the inorganic powder does not react; embedding an essential part of the metal member to be nitrided and oxidized into the powdery nitriding agent, and then performing nitridization-oxidization while an oxygen-containing gas is always present in the powdery nitriding agent; and, if necessary, allowing the metal member after nitridization-oxidization to carry out a reoxidization in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The method of the present invention has a broader temperature range for nitridization-oxidization.
US07896974B2
A wafer processing chamber “chamber” is provided. Broadly speaking, the chamber allows a fluid flow and a fluid pressure within the chamber to be controlled in a variable manner. More specifically, the chamber utilizes removable plates that can be configured to control the fluid flow and the fluid pressure in an inner volume within the chamber. Also, the removable plates can be used to separate the inner volume within the chamber from an outer volume within the chamber. In this manner, the removable plates can be used to create a pressure differential between the inner volume within the chamber and the outer volume within the chamber. A lower pressure in the outer volume within the chamber requires less outer chamber strength to withstand the lower pressure. A lower outer chamber strength requirement translates into an overall decrease in chamber size.
US07896973B2
This substrate processing apparatus supplies wafers W accommodated in a closed processing container 10 with ozone gas and steam for processing the wafers W. The apparatus includes an ozone-gas generator 40 for supplying the ozone gas into the processing container 10, a steam generator 30 for supplying the steam into the processing container 10 and a steam nozzle 35 arranged in the processing container 10 and connected to the steam generator 30. The steam nozzle 35 is equipped with a nozzle body 35a having a plurality of steam ejecting orifices 35f formed at appropriate intervals and a heater 35h for preventing dewdrops of the steam from being produced in the nozzle body 35a. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the formation of dewdrops of solvent steam, which may produce origins of particles in the closed processing container, unevenness in cleaning (etching), etc., and also possible to improve the processing efficiency.
US07896972B2
A dishwasher includes a tub, a hinged door for closing the tub, a sealing gasket disposed between the tub and the door, a device control unit, a closing plate connected to the tub and movable by a motor, a latching element disposed on the door, and a closing tab disposed on the closing plate for engaging with the latching element for closing the door and enabling the device control unit to partially open the door. The closing plate is movable into first and second positions to bring the door into respective first and second partially open positions with respective first and second gap widths. The second gap width is larger than the first gap width.
US07896970B2
A semiconductor substrate cleaning liquid composition is provided that includes one or more types selected from the group consisting of a compound having at least two sulfonic acid groups per molecule, phytic acid, and a condensed phosphoric acid compound; an inorganic acid; and water. There is also provided a process for cleaning a semiconductor substrate that includes a first step of cleaning the semiconductor substrate using the semiconductor substrate cleaning liquid composition and, subsequent to the first step, a second step of cleaning the semiconductor substrate with pure water, ozone water formed by dissolving ozone gas in pure water, or aqueous hydrogen peroxide.
US07896947B2
An air filtering apparatus including an electrolytic bath for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water, a gas-liquid contact member in which the electrolytic water generated in the electrolytic bath infiltrates and an air blowing fan for blowing air to the gas-liquid contact member is equipped with a water circulation passage through which the electrolytic water is supplied/circulated to the gas-liquid contact member, the electrolytic water passing through the gas-liquid contact member is received and stocked by a water receiving tray and the stocked electrolytic water is pumped up and supplied to the gas-liquid contact member, a drain pipe branched from the water circulation passage, a water stop valve for opening/closing the drain pipe, and a drain receiver for receiving and stocking the electrolytic water discharged from the drain pipe when the water stop valve is opened.
US07896944B2
Methods for extracting molecules of fulvic acid from a humus material such as oxidized lignite are disclosed. The humus material is mixed with water to solubilize at least some of the fulvic acid molecules. A first filtration apparatus (which may be an ultrafiltration apparatus) may be used to separate at least some of the solubilized fulvic acid molecules from the humin and at least some of the humic acid molecules. A second filtration apparatus (which may be an ultrafiltration apparatus or a nanfiltration apparatus) may be used to then separate the fulvic acid molecules from most of the water and any remaining impurities. A digestion step may also be carried out where microorganisms are brought into contact with the mixture in the presence of oxygen in order to oxidize any unoxidized organic compounds in the humus material. Iron and aluminum may be precipitated and removed by the addition of a phosphate to improve the purity of the end-product.
US07896938B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a containment system having integrated bubble tight-dampers. In another embodiment, the containment system includes an integral auto-scan mechanism disposed in the housing of the containment system so that a filter element, disposed in the housing, may be leak tested without accessing the interior of the housing. In yet another embodiment, a method for testing a filter disposed in a containment system includes challenging an upstream side of a filter element disposed in a housing of the containment system with a test aerosol, and automatically moving a probe disposed within the housing to obtain samples for leak testing.
US07896935B2
A process of conducting a catalyst reaction or fluid separation in comprising: at least one process microchannel having a height, width and length, the height being up to about 10 mm, the process microchannel having a base wall extending in one direction along the width of the process microchannel and in another direction along the length of the process microchannel; at least one fin projecting into the process microchannel from the base wall and extending along at least part of the length of the process microchannel; and a catalyst or sorption medium supported by the fin.
US07896931B2
The present invention relates to a hair dye composition containing a dissociative azo dye which has high dyeing power, is capable of imparting a vivid color to the hair firmly, has excellent fastness to light, shampooing, sweat, friction, and heat, and fades less with the passage of time because the dye is stable against an alkali agent or an oxidizing agent and does not decompose during hair dyeing; and a hair dyeing method using the hair dye composition.
US07896927B2
Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the angle between the members of the ankle to a relaxed state. The system may further detect when the user has moved to exit the relaxed position, and may actively adjust the angle between the members of the ankle to an exit state.
US07896922B2
The present invention provides a method and device for restoring individual patient joint kinematic using minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrumentation of the invention sculpts the articular surface of a first bone that normally articulates in a predetermined manner with a second bone. The implant system is comprised of implants that provide intraoperative surgical options for articular constraint and facilitate proper alignment and orientation of the joint to restore kinematics as defined by the individual patient anatomy.
US07896911B2
A plaque tack device for treating atherosclerotic occlusive disease is formed as a thin, annular band of durable, flexible material having a plurality of barbs or anchoring points on its outer periphery for preventing it from being dislodged. The plaque tack may be used with a balloon angioplasty procedure or as a de novo treatment for blood vessel blockage to reopen the vessel lumen for desired blood flow. It has a width that is small relative to its diameter, to minimize the amount of foreign structure placed in the blood vessel. One or more tacks may be applied in positions along a plaque accumulation site as needed to stabilize the site and/or hold pieces of plaque out of the way of blood flow. The barbs of the tack may be pressed into the plaque and/or blood vessel walls by balloon expansion. Related methods of deployment and delivery devices are provided for insertion of the plaque tack in a compressed state into the blood vessel and expanding it back to its annular shape for holding plaque against the blood vessel walls.
US07896908B2
A light therapy appliance comprises an electronic circuit including Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light at one or more different wavelengths. A hand held enclosure containing the electronic circuit includes a front lens that directs the multiple different colored lights to a top surface of skin. The light therapy appliance can be programmed for different skin conditions and may be used in conjunction with different topical ointments.
US07896895B2
A surgical clip is provided for ligating or transecting tissue, such as vessels, other tubular ducts, and the like and a surgical clip applier device for delivering and applying the surgical clip to the tissue. The surgical clip can include a spine and opposed arms extending from the spine where the arms can define a clamping length. In a resting state, the clip can be biased to a closed position such that the ends of each opposed arm are disposed in proximity to each other. With such biasing, when applied to a tissue, such as with a surgical clip applier, the clip can exert a positive clamping pressure to the tissue along the clamping length to seal the tissue and limit passage of fluids, such as blood, from the tissue.
US07896893B2
Methods and devices are provided for reconfiguring a tissue within a hollow body organ using an entirely endoscopic approach in order to effectively reduce flow of fluid contents into a second hollow body organ in fluid communication with the first.
US07896892B2
A surgical fastener comprising a clip movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a biasing member contacting the clip and biasing the clip to its open configuration when the biasing member is actuated. The biasing member and clip both tend to assume the closed configuration when no external forces are applied to them. A needle may be releasably attached to the clip. Methods for making the fasteners are also disclosed, in which both the clip and the biasing member are set in the closed position.
US07896887B2
An apparatus and method deploy a self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway. The apparatus includes a catheter configured to be passed down the trachea. The apparatus further includes a capsule for housing the self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in a sterile environment. The capsule is configured to be advanced down the catheter. The capsule further includes a tubular extension. The capsule has a breakable seam so as to release the bronchial obstruction device in the air passageway upon a proximal force being exerted upon the bronchial obstruction device. The method includes guiding a conduit down a trachea into the air passageway. The method further includes advancing a capsule having a bronchial device therein down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The method further includes releasing the bronchial device from the capsule. The method further includes deploying the bronchial device into the air passageway.
US07896885B2
A method according to one embodiment may provide access to an articular surface of a bone. The method includes forming a passage through at least a portion of the bone. The passage provides an opening in the articular surface. The method further includes inserting a tether through the passage. The tether inserted through the passage can be coupled to at least one device from an insertion site remote from the articular surface. The tether can be withdrawn through the passage to convey the device to a location proximate the articular surface.
US07896878B2
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument for clamping, grasping, manipulating, and sealing tissue includes first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof. The handle being operable to effect movement of the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The bipolar instrument is connectable to a source of electrical energy having a first electrical potential connected to one of the jaw members and a second electrical potential connected to the other of the jaw members such that the jaw members are capable of selectively conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. Both the first and second electrical potentials are transmitted to the jaw members through the first shaft.
US07896877B2
A device for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient comprises a stationary tube having a distal end portion, and a bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly located at the distal end of the tube. The electrosurgical electrode assembly comprises first and second electrodes separated by an insulation member, the bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly extending around the circumference of the distal edge of the tube. When an electrosurgical cutting voltage is applied to the electrode assembly, and relative movement is initiated between the tube and the tissue, a core of severed tissue is formed within the tube such that it can be removed from the body cavity of the patient. A tissue-pulling device such as a jaw assembly can be employed to pull tissue against the distal end of the tube.
US07896871B2
This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.
US07896866B1
In one embodiment, an implantable drug pump device comprises: a port for transferring infusate to the device; a collapsible reservoir for storing infusate received via the port; the port extending through a housing of the device and into the reservoir; the reservoir comprising a bottom surface that moves in relation to an amount of infusate in the reservoir; the bottom surface being connected to an extensible structure; and wherein when the reservoir is at least partially emptied of infusate, the reservoir is in a substantially collapsed state with the bottom surface being disposed above an interior surface of the port and the extensible structure surrounds a portion of the port that extends into the housing.
US07896862B2
A medical instrument includes a flexible catheter, a medical guidewire, and a mechanized guidewire drive assembly. The catheter has a distal end insertable into a body lumen of a patient. The mechanized guidewire drive assembly is adapted for operable engagement with the medical guidewire. The mechanized guidewire drive assembly includes a motor and includes a controller which drives the motor with a driving force. The driving force has a predetermined upper limit.
US07896860B2
A container for addition (co-infusion) of medicine to an infusion bag and aims to keep a positive sealed condition while preventing a number of parts from being increased and while maintaining a positive releasing of the sealed condition when an infusion process is carried out. A breakable lug 20 is integrally formed at a end of a port body 10 to which a soft container 80 for storing therein with a co-infusion liquid under a sealed manner, which lug 20 is able to be broken in order to obtain a release function. A rubber plug 98 of an infusion bag 90 is pierced by a needle body 11, while the port body 10 is press fitted into a straight bore of the needle body 11, so that the lug 20 is contacted with an opposed bottom wall of the needle body 11, resulting in at least partial breakage of the lug 20, thereby forming an opening 89 at the portion where the breakage is taken place, so that the medicine in the soft container 80 is transported (co-infused) into the infusion bag 90.
US07896857B2
A urine collection assembly includes a urine collection device and a urine collection chamber in communication with the urine collection device. The urine collection chamber includes a collection reservoir, an entrance conduit having an inlet to receive urine from the urine collection device and an outlet terminating in the reservoir, an anti-reflux valve, and an exit conduit. The collection reservoir is configured to be wearable in close proximity to a user's body below the waist and above the knees of the user. The collection reservoir holds urine excreted from a user. The exit conduit enables drainage of the collection reservoir. The exit conduit also enables attachment of the collection reservoir to an additional conventional urine collection chamber. The anti-reflex valve is configured to prevent urine from backing up out of the urine collection chamber and into the urine collection device. The inlet of the urine collection chamber is disposed in close approximation to the urine collection device to direct urine from the urine collection device to the collection reservoir. The urine collection assembly further can include a support device wearable by the user to bear the weight of the urine collection chamber and to support the inlet of the urine collection chamber in close approximation to the urine collection device.
US07896853B2
A bifurcation insert for a coaxial catheter and a catheter assembly incorporating the bifurcation insert. The bifurcation insert contains an opening at a distal end and two openings in a proximal end, the distal end being configured for positioning within a proximal end of an outer lumen of the coaxial catheter. At the proximal end of the bifurcation insert, an arterial side is configured to receive a first extension tube, while a venous side is configured to receive a second extension tube. The catheter assembly incorporating the bifurcation insert includes a hub that is molded around the insert and properly positioned extension tubes and coaxial catheter such that each component is set into place with respect to one another.
US07896850B2
The present invention relates to a device for the delivery of predetermined doses of liquid medicament to a patient, which medicament is intended to be inhaled by the patient or intended to be injected into the body of the patient. The device is adapted to be in a medicament delivery state and in a medicament non-delivery state. When the device is in a medicament delivery state, said device is adapted to drive a piston into a cartridge containing the liquid medicament to be delivered, with a predetermined force value. The device is designed and arranged to ensure that the predetermined dose of medicament expelled from the cartridge has a high degree of accuracy and to show the user in a simple manner how much medicament is remaining in the cartridge after a dose or several doses has/have been expelled and at the same time offering a shorter device, which is more convenient for the user when he/she has to carry it with him/her.
US07896848B2
An ostomy tube device comprises a hollow flexible tube with internal retention member, a tapered hollow cannula and a pull-loop member forming leading and rear pole loop when positioned through the tapered cannula. The hollow flexible tube folded over the rear pole loop and squeezed into the lumen of the tapered cannula provides a releasable attachment. An ostomy placement kit includes an ostomy tube device, an external retention member, a needle, a flexible guide wire, a wire-loop device and a tubular device for external retention member delivery. The flexible guide wire is passed through an endoscope into the hollow organ, is grasped with the wire-loop device, and is pulled through the abdominal wall. The ostomy tube device attached to guide wire is passed and positioned through the abdominal wall. Tapered cannula is pulled off the hollow flexible tube and the external retention member is positioned over using the tubular device.
US07896847B2
A unique surgical system and method of use includes a seal assembly which is initially mountable about a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument with mounted seal assembly is thereafter positioned within a cannula assembly. The seal assembly forms a fluid tight seal within the interior of the cannula assembly while also forming a fluid tight seal about the surgical instrument. The seal assembly and the cannula assembly cooperate to permit angulation of the surgical instrument. A magnetic coupling assists in retaining the seal assembly within the cannula assembly.
US07896845B2
A surgical portal assembly includes a portal member adapted for positioning within tissue. The portal member defines a central longitudinal axis and has a longitudinal passageway for permitting passage of a surgical object. In addition, the portal member includes a seal mount. A seal member is mounted within the seal mount of the portal member. Further, the seal member has inner surface portions defining a passage for receiving the surgical object. Aside from the seal member, the surgical portal assembly contains a plurality of seal magnets mounted to the seal member. The seal magnets are arranged with respect to the passage of the seal member whereby respective poles of the seal magnets generate an attractive force to draw the inner surface portions of the seal member about the surgical object to facilitate establishing a substantial sealing relation therewith.
US07896843B2
A compact, nonelectric fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing beneficial agents such as propofol and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride to patients. The dispenser includes a fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solution to the patient and embodies a collapsible drug container that can be filled in the field with the beneficial agents to be delivered to the patient. The unit-dose fluid dispenser of the invention is presented in a sterile and aseptic manner, where the drug has been pre-filled in the system, so that the practitioner cannot mistakenly give the wrong drug to the patient. The dispenser uniquely provides a more efficient medicament delivery system for procedure rooms, such as the endoscopy center, so that a greater number of patients can be treated per day at a higher standard of care with increased profits for the healthcare provider.
US07896842B2
A medical pump that provides advance guidance to a user regarding existence and limits of a valid input range for a pump programming parameter includes an input device for entering a value of a pump programming parameter, a memory for storing constraints related to the pump programming parameter, and a processor in communication with the memory and the input device. The processor dynamically utilizes the constraints to determine and generate a signal indicating whether a valid input range exists for a to-be-entered value of the pump programming parameter and notifies the user.
US07896835B2
A system for measuring fluid intake by a sucking baby. The system includes: a feeding pathway for fluid flow from the fluid source to the baby's mouth, wherein the feeding pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby's mouth; and an indicator pathway for indicating the amount of fluid provided to the baby's mouth through the feeding pathway, wherein the indicator pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby's mouth. The amount of fluid drawn into the indicator pathway is indicative of the amount of fluid drawn into the feeding pathway.
US07896834B2
A pump system selectably controls the temperature, flow rate, flow volume, and flow pressure of a fluid being infused into a patient's body. The pump system includes a cartridge and components that removably connect with a pump housing and corresponding components, providing simple attachment of the cartridge to the pump housing. The pump housing includes a pressure sensor, a bubble detector, and a temperature sensor on a first side of the pump housing, and an engaging actuator and a central controller. The cartridge includes on a first side a heat exchanger, a pressure receptor correspondingly aligned with the pressure sensor, and a detector interface correspondingly aligned with the bubble detector and temperature sensor. Upon aligning the cartridge with the pump housing and actuating the engaging actuator, the pressure receptor communicates with the pressure sensor and the detector interface aligns with the bubble detector and temperature sensor.
US07896824B2
A massage device may include: at least two massage members; and at least two branches. Each branch may carry at least one massage member. The branches may be in a first configuration when the massage members are not engaged with a region to be treated, and may be configured to take up a second configuration when the massage members are engaged with the region to be treated. The branches may be displaced relative to each other while passing from the first configuration to the second configuration, and may be configured to return resiliently into the first configuration when the massage members are no longer engaged with the region to be treated.
US07896800B2
The invention relates to an endoscope for medical and non-medical purposes having a housing and a shaping element positioned in the housing containing a hygroscopic substance. To design a medical instrument of the aforementioned type in such a manner than the hygroscopic substance can be integrated into the housing simply and securely with the greatest possible drying effect, it is proposed in keeping with the invention that the binding agent is also a hygroscopically active substance.
US07896799B2
The correction device mainly contains a main tube and a secondary tube for housing the penis, a belt for wearing around a user's waist, and a number of straps connecting the belt to the main and secondary tubes. The main and secondary tubes are attached in parallel together along their axial direction so that the secondary tube provides a buffer space for an erected penis and the penis will not be hurt by the main tube. The straps contains at least an abdomen strap running in front of the user's abdomen, and a perineum strap extending from the belt to run over the buttock and then between the legs of the user to the main tube.
US07896798B2
An implant for treating male urinary stress incontinence includes a tape (1), and a cushion (5) capable of being filled with fluid, which tape (1) with the cushion (5), when laid onto the patient's urethra, may be looped over the lower pubic branch and may be surgically fixed under tension. For creating such an implant, which may be implanted also without anchoring on the pelvis (8) and which allows for an optimum treatment, it is provided that the tape (1) includes a broadened region (2), to which region (2) the free ends (3) of the tape (1), when implanted, after the loop-over, may be fixed, and in that the cushion (5) is arranged in the region (2), which cushion (5) is connected with a duct (6), which extends outside the tape (1), for supplying and removing the fluid.
US07896793B2
The folded collapsed boxes containing substantially no open gaps are provided. A plurality of different size folded collapsed boxes can be bundled together to yield a display that has the maximum number of folded collapsed boxes displayed thus conserving space.
US07896789B2
A pushup exercise device includes a handle affixed to a handle base. The device includes a base plate. The handle base is rotatably supported on the base plate. A brake is disposed in the handle base and surrounds an extension on the base plate. The brake includes an adjuster disposed in the handle base to enable selection of resistance to rotation between the handle base and the base plate.
US07896782B2
The subject matter discloses an exercising device enabled to switch between elliptical course and circular course of footrests used by a user, comprising two main wheels, each connected to a different footrest; two connecting rods, the distal end of each connecting rod is connected to each main wheel and the proximal end of each connecting rod is connected to the body of the exercising device, said connecting rods are enabled to move the two main wheels on a horizontal axis.The subject matter also discloses a mechanism within an exercising device enabling both elliptical and circular movement of a footrest in the exercising device, the mechanism comprising: a main wheel connected to the footrest and rotated upon movement of the footrest; a connecting rod connected on its proximal end to the body of the exercising device and on its distal end to the main wheel; wherein the course of the footrest's movement is elliptical when the distal end is connected to a non-centric position on the main wheel and circular when the connecting rod is connected to a centric position on the main wheel or when the connecting rod is not connected to both the main wheel and the body of the exercising device.The footrests and handlebars of the exercising device fit the new motions enabled by the device. A stepper can also be embedded within the exercising device of the disclosed subject matter.
US07896779B1
A sliding exercise apparatus and recreational device which can be employed both wet and dry. A user can traverse the device which includes a surface which can be inclined as a durable low friction sheeting material. The user can be supported by a wide variety of vehicles including sports boards and clothing apparel which, in turn, have a durable low friction layer for contacting the sliding exercise apparatus and recreational device for entertainment and in order to enhance gymnastic and board skills.
US07896765B2
The present invention relates to a belt tension adjustment mechanism for use with a device including a main body and a belt pulley set. The belt pulley set includes a belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes a slab, at least two tension pulleys and a fixing element. A tight tension force and a slack tension force are exerted on the opposite sides of the belt to define a tight side and a slack side of the belt when the belt pulley set runs. A counterforce is generated from the tight side of the belt to exert on the tension pulley contacting with the tight side, the slab is moved in response to the counterforce. The slack side of the belt is suppressed by the tension pulley contacting with the slack side such that the slack tension force is adjustable.
US07896753B2
Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a removable wrapping element proximal to the ball striking face.
US07896749B2
The present application is directed to a direct torque flow connector for torque transmission. The DTF connector includes a direct torque flow constant velocity universal joint having an outer race part and an inner race part, and a shaft coupled to the outer race part. The direct torque flow connector has at least one direct torque flow optimized ratio. Further, the inner race part of the direct torque flow connector may be selectively connected to a journal shaft of a drive unit. A direct torque flow connection with optimized ratios in attachment methods is also provided.
US07896740B2
Entries in one or more sports competitions are determined and distributed to a plurality of users. The one or more sports competitions have one or more stages. In some implementations relating to a first sports competition, the entries include entries in which each of the entries corresponds to a respective team of a set of teams participating in the first sports competition. In some implementations relating to a second sports competition, the entries include entries in which each of the entries corresponds to a respective individual of a set of individuals participating in the second sports competition.
US07896736B2
A game system and method plays an electronic game and simulates the outcome as a blackjack game. The game system allows a player to place a wager. The outcome of the electronic game includes a payout according to a first pay table if a set of predetermined winning conditions has been achieved. The outcome of the bingo game is simulated as a blackjack game. The outcome of the blackjack game is equivalent to the outcome of the electronic game.
US07896731B2
A cleaning system for an agriculture work vehicle including a combination of a grain cleaning sieve having a limited region containing larger apertures providing increased grain throughput and also increased air throughput relative to the other regions of the sieve, utilized with a fan system that provides a substantially higher air flow rate through the region relative to the other regions of the sieve, such that a downward airborne flow of crop material above and flowing toward the limited region is subject to an air flow having a substantially higher flow rate compared to the other regions above the sieve, which operates to aggressively separate material other than grain from the grain above the limited region, and such that substantially only grain will fall onto and pass through the limited region of the grain cleaning sieve.
US07896716B2
The subject invention provides a hydraulic saildrive apparatus comprising an upper unit 103 having an input shaft 1 connected to an engine 102 inside a boat, and a lower unit 104 having an output shaft 4 including a propeller shaft 2 and also having a lower portion protruding from the boat's bottom, wherein the upper unit 103 is provided with a hydraulic forward and reverse switching clutch 5 for transmitting the rotation direction of the input shaft 1 to the propeller shaft 2, the clutch 5 being capable of changing the rotation direction between forward and reverse relative to the input shaft 1.
US07896710B2
An electrical contact device for an arrangement includes two apparatuses, between which a relative movement takes place along a first movement path. In at least one embodiment, the electrical contact device includes a first contact, including a first contact surface, and includes a second contact including a first multiplicity of contact arms, each provided with a contact projection for making contact with the first contact surface. In at least one embodiment, in order to prevent excessive friction wear to the first contacts even when the contact projections of the associated second contacts are arranged successively in the same direction as the first movement path, at least one device is provided for controlling a relative movement between the two contacts along a second movement path, which runs parallel to the first contact surface of the first contact and obliquely with respect to the first movement path.
US07896693B2
A retaining member includes at least a leg portion having a latch portion, a coupling portion and a spring portion. When the spring portion is displaced, the coupling portion is twisted. Then, the latch portion and the coupling portion are inserted into the opening so that an electric component is retained on a main face of the substrate. In this state, a part of the latch portion is disposed at the periphery of the opening on a rear face of the substrate, a part of the coupling portion is disposed in the opening, and the spring portion is disposed on the main face of the substrate. Therefore, the retaining strength of the electric component to the substrate can be improved, and damage of a side wall of the opening can be decreased.
US07896687B1
An electrical connector including a body, an insert, an adaptor and a cap. The body has a passage extending between first and second openings and an open-ended slot extending from the second opening. The adaptor has a hollow stem and a mounting section that slides into the slot to mount the adaptor to the body. An insert having electrical contacts extending therethrough is positioned within the passage. Wires extending through the hollow stem are conductively engaged with the contacts on the insert. A cap closes the second opening. A spacer can be positioned between the cap and insert to securely hold the insert between the stop surface and spacer. A method of assembling the electrical connector is also disclosed.
US07896683B1
A connector assembly that includes a plug connector and a receptacle connector configured to mate with each other. The plug connector has a connector body including shroud with socket contacts received therein. The shroud also includes ribs and wing guides that extend in directions that are generally perpendicular to each other. The receptacle connector has walls that define a cavity that has a complementary shape for receiving the connector body. The walls are configured to direct the connector body into the cavity such that socket contacts within the plug connector engage pin contacts within the receptacle connector. The wing guide and the rib are configured to prevent damage to the pin contacts when the connector body is erroneously inserted into the receptacle connector.
US07896679B2
An electrical connector comprises a base having a plurality of passageways for receiving a number of contacts, a cover mounted to the base and including a plurality of through holes corresponding to the passageways, and a lid having two opposite edges. One edge is mounted upon the cover to drive the cover to move relative to the base, and the other edge locks the base when the lid is located at a close position relative to the base.
US07896670B1
A card connector includes an insulating housing, a detection terminal, and a shielding shell. The insulating housing defines a card-receiving cavity in a top surface thereof and a channel at a rear portion of a side thereof to communicate with the card-receiving cavity. The detection terminal is mounted to the side of the insulating housing, and has an elastic portion deflected inwardly to enter the card-receiving cavity and a detection portion formed at a free end of the elastic portion. The shielding shell is covered on the insulating housing, and has a flexible strip deflected inwardly to be located at the channel outside the detection terminal. When an electronic card is fully inserted into the card-receiving cavity, the electronic card presses against the detection portion and make the elastic portion deflect outwardly to electrically contact with the flexible strip.
US07896668B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a housing body and a wire routing cover. The housing body having a box-shaped configuration has a plurality of terminal-receiving holes formed therethrough, a pair of rail-receiving channels formed into opposing side walls and at least one latch projection. The wire routing cover includes a base panel with a pair of rail members and at least one latch element attached to the base panel. The base panel has a plurality of wire routing holes formed therethrough. Upon releasably connecting the housing body and the wire routing cover together, respective ones of the pair of rail-receiving channels slidably receive at least a portion of the respective ones of the pair of rail members, the at least one latch projection is releasably captured by the at least one latch element and the plurality of terminal-receiving holes and the plurality of wire routing holes register with one another.
US07896664B1
A mechanism for extending and retracting the electrical connector in a flash memory thumb drive is disclosed. The flash memory and USB connector are disposed on a printed circuit board. The board is slidably disposed within a housing so that the connector can be extended beyond and retracted within the housing. An arm on a pivot can be rotated in one direction so that another lever extends the board, and rotated in the opposite direction to retract it.
US07896644B2
The present invention relates to a nozzle assembly for an injector that enables production of high quality injection products by effectively exhausting gas in a molten plastic flowing at a high speed. The present invention may include a body having a molten plastic pathway through which the molten plastic passes; a head, one end thereof being connected to the body and the other end thereof being provided with an injecting hole for injecting the molten plastic; a poppet mounted in the body, first and second plastic moving groves being formed in a length direction thereof at an exterior circumference thereof such that the molten plastic passes through the first and second plastic moving groves and gas in the molten plastic is extracted; and a first vent ring exhausting the extracted gas to the exterior of the body, the poppet being inserted in the first vent ring, wherein the molten plastic pathway is only communicated with the second plastic moving groove.
US07896642B2
A balloon folding device comprises a first die having an external contacting surface and a second die having a cavity. A portion of the cavity comprises a contacting surface shaped complimentary to the external contacting surface of the first die. The second die is movable with respect to the first die. A balloon catheter having a primary balloon and a secondary balloon is oriented with the secondary balloon located between the first die and the second die. The secondary balloon is folded by moving the second die toward the first die until the contacting surfaces of the dies contact, fold and deflate the secondary balloon. In some embodiments, the dies are moved until at least a portion of the external contacting surface of the first die is oriented within the cavity of the second die.
US07896640B2
Provided is a cooked rice molding apparatus which ensures that a formed cooked rice product falls while keeping almost the same posture without inclining. Part of a concave molding surface 420 of a forming roller 410 is open toward an end surface of the forming roller 410 and a groove-like guide portion 460 is provided in a pair of supporting panels 450 which support both end surfaces of the forming roller 410, whereby part of cooked rice compressed within the concave molding surface 420 and pushed out of both ends of the concave molding surface 420 is received by a guide portion 460 and part of the rice ball is caused to fall along the guide portion 460.
US07896618B2
In a centrifugal compressing apparatus, a height of a blade of an impeller is made to decrease gradually from a front edge thereof to a rear edge thereof, and a rate of change of the height of the blade is relatively large near the rear edge. The height of the blade can be made large at the rear edge side under the design restriction that an exit width of the rear edge of the blade is set to a predetermined design value. The ratio of the width of the clearance and the height of the blade is thereby made relatively large. As a result, the ratio of a flow path area occupied by a clearance flow to a flow path area occupied by a main flow is reduced. Since the pressure loss is thus made small, a drop in the efficiency can be prevented.
US07896613B2
A system and method of providing noise control for a wind turbine are provided. The system includes at least one blade operably mounted on a wind turbine, and one or more sensors for receiving one or more signals relating to an operating characteristic of the wind turbine. A controller is configured for evaluating the signals to determine if they are outside a predetermined range. The system is configured to adjust operating characteristics and/or generate alarms if the signals are outside a predetermined range. The method includes the steps of receiving one or more signals from one or more sensors, determining if the signals are outside a predetermined range, and adjusting an operating parameter of the wind turbine or generating an alarm in response to the signals received from the sensors. The operating parameter can be adjusted to alter the amount of noise generated by the wind turbine.
US07896612B2
A blower unit for a portable blower, having a drive shaft that is rotatably driven by a drive motor. Disposed in the blower unit is an axial fan that is provided with at least one fan wheel driven by the drive shaft and at least guide wheel fixedly disposed in the housing. To achieve a simple construction and a simple manufacture, the housing has at least two housing sections and is divided approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft.
US07896601B2
Disclosed is a fastener that comprises a stud member and a nut member. The stud member includes a base portion, a stem, a plurality of locating features, and, a plurality of slanted ridges. The stem has a head portion and a body portion, where the body portion is positioned on the base portion for enabling the stem to extend vertically from the base portion. The plurality of locating features extends from the body portion, and is disposed on the base portion. The plurality of slanted ridges extends from the stem. The nut member includes a central element configured to have two projecting members extending opposite to each other from a periphery of the central element. The central element comprises an aperture therewithin for receiving the stem therethrough and for interlocking the nut member with the stud member to retain the stud member at a locked configuration.
US07896594B2
A self-drilling masonry bolt including a body portion having a bolt member and an outer sleeve portion, a head portion and a drilling tip whereby, the self-drilling masonry bolt provides a simple and effective means for securing an item to cement, wood or any other suitable material without the requirement of multiple tools.
US07896593B2
An improved cargo container securement device includes a housing defined by a base which forms a planar surfacing thereabout on which cargo container corner fittings rest in applied relation on the container relative to the supporting structure or platform involved. The container securement device includes a flanged end which engages a cargo container corner casting aperture opening or an appropriate aperture and utilizes the structure for retention of the securement device so the opposite side of the hold down device is allowed to automatically engage and disengage with a cargo container corner fitting as necessary to achieve proper handling and transport of cargo containers. The hold down device includes an indicator to visually signal that the automatic hold down feature of the device is engaged or disengaged with a cargo container corner fitting of cargo containers.
US07896589B2
A cutter is for driven engagement with a driving device of an arbor. The cutter includes a shank portion having a central axis and extends along the central axis between a first end and a second end. A cutting portion extends from the first end of the shank portion. The shank portion defines an entry channel extending from the second end for guiding the driving device of the arbor during insertion of the shank portion into the arbor. The shank portion also defines a retaining channel extending from the entry channel for selectively retaining the driving device of the arbor. Each of the entry and retaining channels have a trough portion extending toward the central axis. The trough portions of each of the entry and retaining channels have a common configuration for slideably receiving the driving device.
US07896585B2
A cutting tool includes an insert holder and a cutting insert releasably retained between upper and lower jaws of the insert holder. The lower jaw is provided with forward and rear projections. The forward projection has forward projection front and back abutment surfaces inclined, respectively, at first and second angles to a feed direction, the first angle being greater than the second angle. The cutting insert has a cutting portion adjacent a longitudinally extending shaft portion and a recess in a lower insert surface. The recess has front and back recess abutment surfaces inclined, respectively, at the first and second angles to a lower edge of the shaft portion. The forward projection front abutment surface abuts the front recess abutment surface, and the forward projection back abutment surface abuts the back recess abutment surface.
US07896583B2
A gabion deployment system comprising: a container (30) for retaining a gabion (22) and a gabion (22) of the folding type comprising hingedly attached, connected side walls (16 & 18) and cross-members (12) such that it can be folded for storage and deployed for use; a retaining means (50) associated with the container (30) for retaining the gabion (20) in the container; and at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (66) for attaching, connecting or retentively engaging at least one part of the gabion (22) to the retaining means (50); wherein the at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentively engaging means (66) is adapted to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the gabion (22) to the retaining means (50) when the gabion (22) is folded but to release the gabion (22) from the retaining means (50) when the gabion (22) is deployed.
US07896576B2
Systems are disclosed for generating electricity from sea waves, that include a float (12) that lies at the sea surface (14) and moves up and down with the waves. A motion resist element (30) moves horizontally with the float but resists vertical movement. Electricity-generating apparatus (52, 54) is coupled to the float and resist element for generating electricity as the float moves vertically relative to the resist element.
US07896574B2
A manhole cover having an integrated locking system that is self-locking and easy to open. The device includes a cover plate adapted to rest on a manhole cover support surface of a manhole frame so as to be substantially flush with a top portion of the manhole frame and a surrounding surface in which the manhole frame is situated. An anchor on the cover plate is adapted to engage the manhole frame at a first location in a manner that resists lifting of the cover plate proximate to the first location. A locking member on the cover plate is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the locking member is adapted to engage the manhole frame at a second location in a manner that resists lifting of the cover plate proximate to the second location. In the unlocked position, the locking member is disengaged from the manhole frame.
US07896573B2
A connection assembly includes a base structure having a U-shaped piece with turned end walls at each end of a connecting portion with a cut out in each end wall, and a U-shaped cover piece having end walls each with a cut out, the cut outs, of each piece aligned to form an opening receiving an elongated member clamped therein by attachment of said cover pair to the u-shaped piece of the base structure. The base structure can include a second U-shaped piece having a pair of end walls each one end a connecting portion fixed to the first U-shaped piece turned 90° thereto so that the end walls of each lie between each other. A second cover piece with end walls having cut outs aligned with cut outs in the second U-shaped piece end walls may receive a second elongated member in a crossing relationship with the first elongate member. Alternatively, the second cover piece has a second elongated member fixedly projecting from the second cover piece. The second U-shaped piece could also be configured to provide a flat mounting structure for mounting various items to an elongated member.
US07896571B1
A panel fastening system, especially for floor panels. The floor panels are fitted with retaining profiles on their edges, whereby the retaining profile of a front edge and the retaining profile of the opposite back edge and the retaining profile of a left edge and the retaining profile of the opposite right edge of a panel match each other in such a way that similar panels can be fixed to one another. The mutually matching retaining profiles have complementary hook elements that can be hooked into one another and the hook elements have retaining surfaces by means of which the panels are held against each other when mounted in such a way that a gap-free surface is obtained.
US07896565B2
A print head is operable to perform printing with respect to a medium. A motor is operable to move the print head. A guide unit is operable to guide the print head along a predetermined direction. A determination unit is operable to determine whether or not the print head performs a stick-slip operation. A motor control unit is operable to generate a command value for controlling the motor when moving the print head. The motor control unit generates a command value for moving the print head at a predetermined target speed on the basis of determination of the determination unit that the print head does not perform the stick-slip operation and generates a command value for moving the print head at a target speed faster than the predetermined target speed on the basis of determination of the determination unit that the print head performs the stick-slip operation.
US07896558B2
A thrust roller bearing comprises a plurality of rollers and a disk-shaped retainer having a plurality of pockets for holding the plurality of rollers and having an outer flange part bent in a rotation axis direction. The inner surface of the outer flange part forms the outer wall surface of the pocket and the outer wall surface of the pocket is processed by the ironing.
US07896554B2
In a propeller shaft for a motor vehicle, a cover is provided in an outer end of an annular support member, the cover extends to an inner side in a radial direction from an outer end of the annular support member, and the extended end sets a gap formed with respect to an outer shell of a stopper means so as to be open in an axial direction to an inlet of a labyrinth seal.
US07896553B2
An IC tag (9) capable of contactless communication is affixed on any one or more of element parts constructing the bearing device (1) for the wheel. For example, the IC tag is affixed on a forging forming an outer member (31) or an inner member (32). The place of installation of IC tag 9 is preferably chosen to be a surface of the forged component part which is not machined subsequent to forging.
US07896550B1
A hydrodynamic liquid metal bearing capable of use in a high temperature environment. The hydrodynamic bearing includes a rotating shaft with a raised portion extending into an annular groove formed within a stationary sleeve, the space formed between the two forming the liquid bearing surface. The raised portion in the shaft includes an axial passage and a radial passage to pump the liquid into a high pressure cavity formed in the annular groove. A low pressure cavity forms a recirculating passage with the high pressure cavity and the axial and radial passages such that the liquid metal recirculates with the rotation of the shaft. A collecting space formed between a labyrinth seal and a wind back seal collects any fluid that leaks into the space from the bearing. The leaked fluid is collected in a reservoir, and a pump delivers makeup liquid from the reservoir into the low pressure reservoir of the bearing. The bearing is a radial bearing, and in another embodiment is both a radial and a thrust bearing.
US07896542B2
The invention concerns a timepiece movement that includes first and second energy sources, wherein the first energy source is coupled to an oscillating weight by a first kinematic chain for automatically winding the movement, and the second energy source is coupled both to an activating device, and to a vibrating element by a second kinematic chain, to form a vibrating alarm mechanism that can be activated at a predetermined time. In addition, for the timepiece movement, the vibrating element of the vibrating alarm mechanism is the oscillating weight.
US07896541B2
A mixer for mixing liquid additive with polymer dope constituted by cellulose ester as polymer and solvent is provided. There is a mixing conduit for flow of the polymer dope. A supply conduit ejects liquid additive into the polymer dope in the mixing conduit. A rotor hub is positioned downstream from the supply conduit, contained in the mixing conduit rotatably about an axis directed in a flow direction of the polymer dope, and has a diameter decreasing end on an upstream side. A driving device with electromagnets rotates the rotor hub by electromagnetic induction through a chamber inside the mixing conduit. Furthermore, a support is disposed within the mixing conduit to extend transversely to the flow direction, for supporting the rotor hub rotatably. Flow openings are formed in the support, for passing the polymer dope in the flow direction about the rotor hub.
US07896532B2
An LED luminescent device includes an LED light source, a reflector, a light shade and a projecting lens. The LED light source includes at least one LED element having a light-emitting surface emitting light. The reflector faces the light-emitting surface of the at least one LED element and has multiple reflection surfaces of different curvatures reflecting the light from the light-emitting surface of the at least one LED element. The light shade adjusts the light reflected by the reflector to provide a required light distribution pattern. The projecting lens project the required light distribution pattern. Thus, the device and a vehicle lamp including the device can prevent losing light energy.
US07896531B2
Providing an electrical assembly, which can protect electric components provided at the electrical assembly from damage, and minimize output amount of recycle material and waste material, a functional module as the electric assembly includes a lamp and a switch as the electric components. The lamp extends from a center area of a bottom wall of a housing so as to slant toward an outside of the housing according to going apart from the bottom wall. The switch extends vertically from one end of the bottom wall. Ends of the lamp and the switch far from the bottom wall project out of the housing. When the functional modules are transported to an assembling line, the pair of functional modules is stacked on each other so as to arrange the lamp face to each other in parallel, and fixed to each other.
US07896528B2
An LED lamp includes a housing, a bracket snugly received in the housing, a connecting member fixed to a top of the bracket, a heat sink standing on a top of the connecting member, a plurality of LEDs attached an outer surface of the heat sink and an envelope which is placed on the top of the connecting member, encloses the heat sink and the LEDs therein and engages with the housing. The bracket has a connecting plate. A plurality of electronic components is mounted on a front side of the connecting plate and a plurality fins extending from a rear side of the connecting plate. A covering panel is used to cover an opening of the bracket in front of the connecting plate.
US07896525B2
A dichroic mixing flag for a multiparameter light is constructed that greatly improves the thermal shock tolerance of the flag and avoids having to use a more costly substrate material. The dichroic color mixing flag may be substantially circular in shape. The dichroic color mixing flag may be fixed to a mechanical component so that the flag cannot rotate with respect to the mechanical component. The dichroic color mixing flag may be fixed to the mechanical component so that the mechanical component can move the dichroic color mixing flag without moving any other dichroic color mixing flag.
US07896522B2
A plurality of lamp arrays (30A-30N) provide uniform lighting across the copy area of a billboard sign. The arrays (30) are arranged end-to-end horizontally along the length of the copy area. Each array (30) comprises a plurality of LEDs (34A-34N) and a plurality of lenses (36A-36M). The various lenses (36) direct and focus the light from the LEDs (34) at the various parts of the copy area so as to minimize dark and light spots. A “TOP” set of LEDs preferably illuminates the top part of the copy area, a “MIDDLE” set of LEDs preferably illuminates the middle of the copy area, and “FILLER” LEDs preferably serve to illuminate the bottom of the copy area. The lamp arrays are preferably mounted to a catwalk (14) at the bottom of the billboard.
US07896520B1
The invention is a repositionable lighting device. It includes a light element, a stanchion, a magnetic base and ball and socket joint. The light element projects a light beam about a longitudinal axis. The housing has defined first and second longitudinal ends. The stanchion extends laterally from the housing positioned between the first and second lateral ends of the housing. The ball and socket joint attaches a magnetic base to the distal end of the stanchion allowing the light beam to be adjusted to the desired position.
US07896518B2
A flashlight with light emitting diode (LED) sources that produce at least three different colors. The colored LEDs cycle on and off using two separate switches. One switch cycles preferably white LEDs on and off. Another switch preferably cycles from red LEDs being on to green or blue LEDs being on to off and combinations thereof.
US07896516B1
The present invention is directed toward a decorative artificial twig structure for displaying a lamp, comprising a bendable rod serving as a structural foundation, an electrical wire, and a decorative lamp connected to the electrical wire. The rod and electrical wire are bundled together and wrapped in a covering to a position on the bundle below an end of the lamp such that the lamp can emit light visible to a viewer of the decorative artificial twig structure. In another embodiment, the decorative artificial twig structure comprises a plurality of lamps, a plurality of electrical wires connected to the lamps, and a plurality of bendable rods serving as a structural foundation for the lamps and electrical wires.
US07896509B2
The Anti-Picture with a means for detecting camera's radio frequency, a way of decoding said detected radio frequency, a switch/driver to trigger device, a way of producing light with one or more lighting elements, means of allowing said lighting element to reflect off of a one or more reflective surface to allow light to be directed and a means for all of said above to be encased a body wherein the said components are able to communicate with a light element allowing the light to reflect off of the said reflective surfaces to over expose and or interrupt a photograph.
US07896495B2
An apparatus for operating an endothelium reflection microscope. The apparatus includes an optical head, which comprises: (i) an illuminating system, (ii) a frontal eye observation optical system along a central channel in which an alignment-use light spot is received and imaged by a camera having a digital optical sensor, and (iii) an enlarged-imaging optical system for enlarged observation or photographing of the subject part by the digital camera. The apparatus further comprises a motor for operating the optical head, and a CPU controller for automatically controlling the motor, the illuminating system and the frontal eye observation optical system.
US07896494B2
A fundus camera includes an illumination optical system including an illumination unit configured to illuminate a fundus of a subject's eye, a fundus observation photographing optical system including an image sensor and is configured to observe a fundus image, a focus index projection unit configured to project a focus index on a center region of a photographing portion of the fundus of the subject's eye, a display unit configured to display the fundus image captured by the image sensor, an enlargement unit configured to electrically enlarge the center region of the image captured by the image sensor on which the focus index is projected, an image synthesis unit configured to synthesize an output of the enlargement unit and an image output of a peripheral portion of the image captured by the image sensor, and an output unit configured to output an output of the image synthesis unit to the display unit.
US07896491B1
An eyeglasses leg mount structure includes two connecting units, each movably installed on an eyeglasses frame and each interconnected to an insert slot, wherein the insert slots are tapered inwardly from distal surfaces of the connecting units, and a shaft hole is formed on each connecting unit and interconnected to the insert slot, and each connecting unit includes an interfering portion; and two leg mount units, each having a pair of connecting parts disposed at an end of the connecting unit and inserted into the insert slot, wherein each leg mount unit includes an elastic plate installed on a side of the connecting part and pivotally coupled to the shaft hole, and each leg mount unit includes a latch portion corresponding to the interfering portion, so as to allow users to adjust the eyeglasses and remove eyeglasses legs or an eyeglasses strap conveniently.
US07896482B2
A machine, such as a phase change or solid ink printing apparatus, includes at least one ink stick and a coupler external to the ink stick. The ink stick has an electronically-readable memory device attached thereto, with the memory device having stored therein electronic data associated with the ink stick. The coupler is configured to read the electronic data from the memory device. The data in the memory device may include identification data, anti-arbitrage variables, usage data, maximum use values, and performance data related to the ink stick, and the coupler and memory device may employ various means for communicating this data. Also, communication between the coupler and memory device facilitates a method for determining a quantity of marking material in the machine.
US07896481B2
An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head, an ink tank, and a carriage. The ink jet head has a passage unit, an actuator, and a control board. The passage unit has an ink passage and a nozzle communicated with the ink passage. The actuator is capable of applying energy to ink within the ink passage such that the ink is discharged from the nozzle. The control board controls the actuator. The ink tank is communicated with the ink passage of the passage unit. The ink jet head and the ink tank are mounted on the carriage. The carriage is capable of moving. In a plan view of the ink jet printer, the ink jet head and the ink tank offset. In a height direction of the ink jet printer, the ink jet head and the ink tank overlap.
US07896469B2
The objective of this invention is to provide a head substrate capable of increasing the layout efficiency by arranging circuit elements in a free area of the head substrate on which ink supply channels are staggered. More specifically, the circuit elements connected to a plurality of element arrays are arranged on the free area.
US07896464B2
A system for restraining printhead movement in an imaging device includes an imaging device frame; a carriage operably coupled to the imaging device frame for movement between a print position and a retracted position; and a printhead array movably supported by the carriage for translation with respect to the carriage. The system includes a restraint system supported by the carriage. The restraint system has at least one carriage restraint pin and a printhead restraint pin. The at least one carriage restraint pin is configured for movement into and out of engagement with the imaging device frame and the printhead restraint pin being configured for movement into and out of engagement with the printhead array when the carriage is at the retracted position.
US07896460B2
Systems and methods are provided for detecting intermittent, weak or missing jets of a printer. The detection is implemented using a test pattern. Detected failed jets may be confirmed using a verification target. A printhead containing nozzles corresponding to detected failed jets may be wiped or purged.
US07896459B2
An image recording device comprises a recording unit configured to eject ink onto a sheet of recording medium, a platen disposed opposite to the recording unit and configured to support the sheet, a pair of upstream rollers disposed upstream of the recording unit and the platen in a sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet in the sheet conveying direction when rotating in a forward direction, and a controller. When the sheet is supported on the platen and pinched between the pair of upstream rollers, the controller causes the recording unit to eject the ink onto a particular portion of the sheet. The controller selectively rotates the pair of upstream rollers in a reverse direction to convey the sheet in a direction opposite the sheet conveying direction, and subsequently stops rotating the pair of upstream rollers in a reverse direction, such that the pair of upstream rollers pinch the sheet for a particular amount of time and hold the sheet in a predetermined shape during the particular amount of time to restrict deformation of the particular portion of the sheet.
US07896457B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a sensor serving as a unit that detects a position of a trailing end of a recording sheet and a control unit serving as a unit that generates a layout of an image to be recorded. The control unit decides a position of the trailing end of the recording sheet based on a result of the sensor detection and layout information, calculates a recordable area, and performs control for not recording an image in areas other than the recordable area. A CPU in the control unit corrects the result of the sensor detection in deciding a position of the trailing end of the recording sheet.
US07896453B2
A recording apparatus includes a head that discharges ink and a head driving circuit that generates a switching signal. The recording apparatus further includes a switching signal generating unit that generates and outputs a switching signal, a first switch that is turned on or off based on the switching signal and a second switch that is turned on or off based on the switching signal. A first DC voltage is converted into a second DC voltage by switching one of the first switch and the second switch based on the switching signal, and the second DC voltage is supplied to the head driving circuit. The first switch and the second switch may be turned on or off based on the detected temperature of the head or ink in the head.
US07896451B2
A movable beverage cooler includes a storage organizer below an insulated cooler tub. The storage organizer has a plurality of adjustable horizontal racks for accommodating individual rows of various sized containers. The racks employ grip-in-place sidewall adjustment pads. The tub has a drop-in top, sliding door sub-assembly, with locking screws. The storage organizer may be enclosed with access through sliding doors. The structure is supported on legs with adjustable leveler extensions.
US07896449B2
A sprocket used to transmit drive force to a coreless crawler track having rubber projections arranged at predetermined intervals on the inner peripheral surface of the crawler track. The sprocket has, on its circumferential edge, sprocket teeth arranged at the same pitch as the rubber projections. A cutout is formed at the outer circumferential tip of each sprocket tooth. Even if meshing between the rubber projections and the sprocket teeth has a trouble caused by the entry of soil and sands, the rubber projections are affected less, which greatly contributes to improvement of durability of the crawler track.
US07896438B2
The present invention is directed toward a seatback assembly that includes a backrest comprising shapeable material and an adjustable support, the backrest being attached to the adjustable support, the adjustable support being adjustable to alter the curvature of the backrest from top to bottom and then fix the backrest in place, thus shaping the backrest.
US07896426B2
A detachable side fairing for a vehicle in one form comprises a panel body that can include steps. An access opening is defined by the panel body and is opened and closed by a door, such as the riser of a step, to allow access to the rear of the panel. A latch actuator can be accessed through the access opening for use in operating a latch to allow movement of the panel body away from the vehicle. The latch actuator can comprise first and second actuators comprising respective first and second elongated handles that each actuates an associated latch to release the panel body. The handles can be configured to prevent closing of the door when the actuators have not been moved to a position that completes the latching of the panel body to the vehicle.
US07896425B2
A simultaneous movement system for a vehicle door is provided. The system includes a simultaneous movement system comprising first and second primary hinge arms, first and second secondary hinge arms, primary and secondary rails and guide track. The second primary hinge arm and the second secondary hinge arm are pivotally mounted to a vehicle body structure on one end and are pivotally mounted to a primary slide and a secondary slide at the other ends respectively. The first primary hinge arm includes a guide track region and a rail region. The primary rail receives a primary slide. The secondary rail receives a secondary slide. The guide track receive the guide track region of the primary hinge arm thereby allowing the primary hinge arm to travel along both the guide track and the primary rail simultaneously through the guide track region and the rail region of the primary hinge arm.
US07896423B2
A top for a vehicle that has a stationary support disposed between removable panels forward of the support and a multiple section retractable hardtop rearward of the support. The detachable roof panels are provided in front of the stationary support and extend across the vehicle laterally and to the windshield header when installed. A two piece retractable hardtop is provided rearward of the stationary support that has a back light that is disposed to cover a back light opening in an extended position and is detached from the back light opening in a retracted position.
US07896420B2
An improved seat assembly in which the first and second pairs of seatback and floor mounted latches associated with first and second sides of prior dump and tumble assemblies are substituted by an improved design incorporating a single reinforced lock and release seatback latch and either a single or pair of floor latches arranged on opposite sides of the seat. Additional supports include a free pivoting and secondary seatback latch, as well as an optional floor supported riser assembly in lieu of the second floor latch and which are positioned at alternating inboard/outboard seatback and floor locations of the seat assembly. In cooperation with the redesigned fully functional latches, the free pivot seatback and optional floor riser latches provide a cost advantageous design exhibiting reduced part count.
US07896418B2
A covering is provided for a gap behind at least one rear seatback in a motor vehicle, which gap is provided in the transverse direction of the vehicle between the rear seatback and a luggage compartment covering. The covering has at least one covering flap which is held in position on a housing of the luggage compartment covering, is mounted pivotably about a hinge and, in a use position, bears under prestress against the rear seatback. An integrated receptacle for the hinge of the covering flap is provided on an upper and, as seen in the direction of travel, front region of the housing of the luggage compartment covering.
US07896417B2
A mounting bracket for a vehicle grab handle includes spaced apart first and second roof attachment portions for mounting to a roof side rail and spaced apart first and second support portions depending downwardly toward a vehicle cabin. The first support portion depends from the first attachment portion and the second support portion depends from the second attachment portion. An interconnecting portion extends between the spaced apart first and said second support portions for mounting the vehicle grab handle. At least one reinforcing flange extends along at least one longitudinal edge defined by the roof attachment portions and the support portions. The at least one reinforcing flange extends from one or both of the first and second attachment portions a limited distance to a location spaced apart from the interconnecting portion.
US07896416B2
A deer carcass transport assembly including a handle member to which are attached two U-shaped hooks in planar relationship, one leg of each hook secured to an end of the handle member, the legs of the U-shaped hook spaced apart sufficiently so as to engage the hind hock of the rear legs of a deer carcass so as to permit the hunter to drag the deer carcass, by means of the hind hooves, from the kill site to a suitable means of transportation.
US07896412B2
A crash box for placement between a bumper beam and a side rail of a motor vehicle includes a longitudinal profile made of two U-shaped shells having overlapping ends sized to realize a material doubling for increasing side stiffness and to suit the side stiffness to a load level. A flange plate is provided on a side-rail-proximal end of the longitudinal profile and has an opening for passage of the longitudinal profile. The side-rail-proximal end of the longitudinal profile is configured with a collar which is turned outwards. The collar rests against the flange plate and is joined with the flange plate. In the event of a collision, the longitudinal profile of the crash box is moved into the side rail as the longitudinal profile folds into the side rail starting from the flange plate, while the side-rail-proximal end of the longitudinal profile remains secured to the flange plate.
US07896411B2
Of side wall portions (60a, 60b) of a tubular body portion (52) mainly constituting an impact absorbing member (50), a wider side wall portion (60a) on the vehicle inner side is provided with a projecting rib (70) projects outward in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the body portion. The projecting rib (70) extends from an axial end (52a) adjacent to a mounting plate (54) and parallel to the axial direction of the body portion. Therefore, even when an impact load is applied to the impact absorbing member (50) in an oblique direction with respect to the vehicle to generate a moment load, the existence of the projecting rib (70) prevents the impact absorbing member from falling down laterally. Accordingly, excellent impact-absorbing properties are stably obtained. The projecting rib (70) is formed not to reach the load input side, i.e., the axial end (52b) adjacent to a mounting plate (56), where collapse starts. Therefore, no load increase occurs in a crash initial stage to well maintain impact-energy-absorbing properties.
US07896401B2
A pressurized respiratory gas humidifier adapter with a pressure relief valve having an audible signal generating device incorporated into a low-flow respiratory gas supply system at a position in the system wherein the pressure relief valve and an audible signal generating device are protected from inadvertent damage during use of the humidification system, especially during connection of the adapter into the respiratory gas supply system and when the adapter is connected to a humidifier container prior to coupling into the gas supply system. The pressure relief valve and audible signal generator are incorporated into a humidifier adapter for creating a hermetic seal with a standard medical humidifier container, and the pressure relief valve relieves and regulates the pressure in the humidified gas supply system when an obstruction in the gas flow path to the patient occurs, while generating an audible sound emitted at a predetermined pressure threshold level throughout a desired respiratory gas flow-rate range.
US07896395B2
The invention provides for a collapsible steering column assembly and method for applying a varying resultant force to resist the collapse of the steering column assembly during an emergency condition. The steering column assembly includes a column jacket adapted to be releasably coupled to the frame for movement along the longitudinal axis L in the emergency condition. The column jacket includes an anvil and is supported by a support bracket. An absorbing strap secured to the supporting bracket is routed around the anvil. The absorbing strap is plastically deformed as the column jacket moves along axis L and an actuator supported by the support bracket applies a force against the absorbing strap. The actuator selectively varies the applied for as the absorbing strap is drawn over the anvil in the emergency condition to optimize the resultant force for the emergency condition.
US07896382B2
A pontoon boat trailer guide includes a structure inbetween pontoon bunks or cradles. The guide structure comprises an upper portion which is narrower than a lower portion. The upper portion provides a visual and gross centering guide. The lower structure provides a fine and automatic self-centering guide for alignment and trailering of the pontoon boat.
US07896379B2
A motorcycle includes a frame, a fork, a from wheel, an upper arm, a lower arm, a handlebar, and a suspension element. The fork is pivotable with respect to the frame about a steering axis. The front wheel is rotatably coupled with the fork. The upper arm and the lower arm are each pivotally coupled with each of the fork and the frame. The handlebar is pivotally coupled with the frame and is configured to facilitate steering of the front wheel. The suspension element is coupled with each of the frame and the fork.
US07896374B2
A method of manufacturing an assembly, including a structural member and an appearance feature formed therealong, is provided utilizing first and second molds. The method includes the steps of: injecting magnesium into the first mold to form the structural member; removing the structural member from the first mold; placing the structural member in the second mold; and injecting thermoplastic material into the second mold to overmold the appearance feature along a portion of the structural member.
US07896373B2
A trailer-locking pin locating device comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a crossbar located proximal the first end of the elongated body with the crossbar slidably supported by elongated body and positioned at an angle to the elongated body, a securing member connecting the elongated body to a portion of a semi-trailer, a signaling member comprising a rod having a first highly visible end and a second end, a resiliently flexible member connecting the second end of the rod to the elongated body with the highly visible end of the rod extending beyond the second end of the elongated body in a normal condition, a rod holder for supporting the signaling member in a loaded condition, and a trigger mechanism located on the elongated body with trigger mechanism displacing the signaling member from the loaded condition to the normal condition when triggered.
US07896372B2
Since a vehicular width direction inside end and vehicular width direction outside end of a trailing arm 12 are pivotably supported on a vehicle body and a knuckle 11, respectively, and a vehicular width direction inside end of a lower arm 14 is pivotably supported on the vehicle body and a vehicular width direction outside end thereof is connected to the trailing arm 12 via a pair of rubber bush joints 22, 23, even though the lower arm 14 is made up of a rigid body which is difficult to deflect in a vehicular longitudinal direction, the rubber bush joints 22, 23 can be deformed when load FX in the vehicular longitudinal direction is inputted into a wheel W so as to enhance the longitudinal compliance of the wheel W to thereby improve the riding comfort.
US07896369B2
A suspension system for supporting an axle and connected to a vehicle frame, including a pair of transversely spaced frame brackets mounted on and depending from the vehicle frame. Each of the frame brackets having one or more mounting points spaced along its perimeter for mounting of suspension components, such as shock absorbers, and having a protruding air spring attachment plate that extends inboard toward the center of the vehicle frame. The suspension system also includes a first pair of air springs, the upper portions of which are mounted to the air spring attachment plates of the frame brackets. The lower portions of the air springs are mounted to suspension arm. The suspension system includes a second pair of air springs that are longitudinally separated from the first pair of air springs and that are connected to the suspension arm assemblies and to the frame. A pair of shock absorbers is connected at their lowest point to the suspension arm assemblies and at their highest point to a mounting point on the frame brackets. The suspension arm assemblies are coupled to and support the axle. The suspension system also includes a torque box coupled to the vehicle frame and the axle.
US07896368B2
The present invention is directed to a generally L-shaped frame assembly or dolly for mechanical devices, such as generators. The assembly includes a first and second frame portions. The first frame portion includes intermediate segments which are substantially equal or greater than the length of the mechanical device so as to protect the device and provide a lifting point for hoisting.
US07896367B1
A device for transporting and positioning a panel comprising an elongated support member and a base to carry the panel. An upright handle is attached to the support member providing support for the panel. An axle is secured to the support member with at least two wheels rotationally mounted on the axle permitting the support member to pivot about the axle for raising and lowering the support member ends. A lifting lip is attached to one end of the support member and a foot pedal attached to the other end. The panel is carried on the support member base and transported to a desired location. After removing the panel from the base and placing it on the lip, the wheels move the panel toward and away from the desired location. The foot pedal is depressed to pivot the support member about the axle lifting the panel to a desired height.
US07896362B1
The present invention is directed to a kit for converting a bicycle to a snow bike. The kit comprises an upper member, a lower member and a ski. The upper member is configured for attachment to the wheel dropouts of the bike. The upper and lower members are joined together by a first resilient pivot. The lower member and the ski are joined together by a second resilient pivot. Both the first and second resilient pivots rotate about axes parallel to the axis of the wheel dropouts.
US07896361B2
The present invention provides a passive vehicle suspension system providing optimal camber gain and avoiding the “bump camber” problem. This vehicle suspension system utilizes a conventional sway bar and a kinematic system to rotate the tire(s) of a vehicle in a direction opposite the roll of the vehicle during turning or cornering, for example. The kinematic design allows for adjustability and optimization, providing optimal camber gain. Although an automotive vehicle suspension system is illustrated and described, and, specifically, a racing or everyday automotive vehicle suspension system, the concepts of the present invention are capable of much broader applicability.
US07896360B2
A vehicle stabilizer system including: (a) a stabilizer bar (28) including (a-1) a torsion bar portion (90), and (a-2) an arm portion (92) that extends from the torsion bar portion in a direction not parallel to the torsion bar portion; (b) an actuator (32) configured to rotate the stabilizer bar about an axis of the torsion bar portion; and (c) a link rod (34) interconnecting the suspension arm (78) and one of opposite ends of the arm portion that is remote from the torsion bar portion. The stabilizer bar generates a stabilizing force which is dependent on a reaction that is generated as a result of torsion of the torsion bar portion, and which forces the wheel (12) and the body in a selected one of a direction toward each other and a direction away from each other. The actuator allows the stabilizer bar to generate the stabilizing force whose magnitude is changeable by operation of the actuator. The link rod is inclined with respect to the suspension arm to which the link rod is connected, such that an angle defined by the link rod and the suspension arm is not 90°.
US07896359B2
The invention relates to a method of producing a divided tube stabilizer having a swivel motor (2) mutually coupling two tube stabilizer halves (3, 4), a first tube stabilizer half (3) being non-rotatably connected with a first connection part (5) of the swivel motor, and a second stabilizer half (4) being non-rotatably connected with a second connection part (6) of the swivel motor (2). In order to achieve that the tube stabilizer halves can be easily linked in a non-rotatable manner with the connection parts of the swivel motor, the following process steps are suggested: a. The tube ends to be connected with the connection parts (5, 6) of the swivel motor (2) are expanded and upset in one working step by means of a mandrel (20); b. the tube stabilizer halves (3, 4) with the expanded and upset ends are shaped to their final shape by bending; c. the finished bent tube stabilizer halves (3, 4) are subjected to a heat treatment; d. the expanded and upset tube ends of the heat-treated tube stabilizer halves (3, 4) are material-lockingly connected with the respective connection parts (5, 6) of the swivel motor (2).
US07896348B1
A method to play wave surfing comprising sliding one magnetic figure holder over a coated wave wall by magnetically engaging the figure holder to one magnetic handle and by manipulating the magnetic figure holder with the magnetic handle to avoid the detachment of the magnetic figure holder while at the same time avoiding obstacles placed on said coated wave wall. A surfing board game comprising, at least one wave wall, at least one magnetic handle, the handle further comprising at least one magnet within the handle and at least one magnetic figure holder, the holder further comprising at least one magnet that is placed within the figure holder, further comprising at least action figure that is placed on the magnetic figure holder. Where the magnetic figure holder is slidably placed onto said wave wall and is magnetically coupled to the magnetic handle to create at least one game level of difficulty.
US07896347B1
A board game for between two and seven players comprising a board comprising a large outer circle disposed thereon; a center circle disposed in the large circle; fourteen stripes each extending radially from the center circle to the large outer circle, each stripe labelled with a deadly sin or a chakra of enlightenment; twenty one dividing lines extending radially from the center circle to the large outer circle; and seven concentric circles extending outwardly from the center circle to the large outer circle, wherein one or more boxes are labeled with a command; a plurality of playing pieces; a first wheel for determining how many boxes a player can move a playing piece; a second wheel for determining how many playing pieces a player can move; and a plurality of cards that display a phrase.
US07896346B2
A combination euchre score and trump indicating device. The system includes a pair of scoring dials that are mounted to the interior face of a pair of end caps. The end caps removably mate with a body. The body is generally cube-shaped having four flat outer surfaces. Each outer surface prominently bears one of the four trump suits. When the end caps are coupled to the body, the interior faces and scoring dials are hidden by the body, protecting the scoring dials from damage and fully enclosing an internal storage compartment.
US07896332B2
A belt driving mechanism related to the present invention includes: a toothed drive pulley configure to rotate actively; a toothed driven pulley configured to rotate passively; a toothed belt configured to engage with the toothed drive pulley and the toothed driven pulley by tooth on an inner circumference thereof; and an elastic member configured to move the toothed belt in a returning direction by an elastic force accumulated while the toothed drive pulley moves the toothed belt in a going direction, wherein at least one of the toothed belt, the toothed drive pulley, and the toothed driven pulley is formed such that at least one of tooth bottoms is shallower than at least other one of the tooth bottoms.
US07896331B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a stacking tray on which sheets are stacked, an aligning unit that aligns the sheets stacked on the stacking tray, a stapler that staples the sheets aligned by the aligning unit using two members provided on one surface side and the other surface side in a thickness direction of the sheets, first conveying rollers arranged in a position on an upstream side along a conveying direction after stapling of the sheets and in contact with one end of the sheets and driven to rotate after the stapling by the stapler, and second conveying rollers arranged in a position on a downstream side along the conveying direction of the sheets and in contact with the other end of the sheets and driven to rotate at rotation speed different from that of the first conveying rollers after the stapling by the stapler.
US07896330B2
A positional relation between the position of the positioning plate 22 for conducting reference-positioning on sheets of paper, which are fed onto the sheet table of the bind processing device, and the position of the division ring binder held by the binding mechanism section is set to be the same as a positional relation between the sides of the sheets of paper P and the punch holes. Forward end portions of the sheets of paper are pushed onto the sheet forward end position regulating plate 19, and the movable positioning plate 23 comes close to the reference positioning plate 22 and conducts positioning on the sheets of paper in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction so as to arrange the positions of the sheets of paper. In this laminated state, the sheets of paper are sent to the binding mechanism section and attached with a binder. At the time of attaching the binder, positions of the punch holes and positions of the ring-portions of the division type ring binder accurately agree with each other. Accordingly, there is no possibility that the binder is defectively attached to the punch holes.
US07896320B2
A jounce bumper assembly includes a jounce bumper and a bumper retainer. The jounce bumper includes opposing end walls and a side wall extending therebetween. The bumper retainer includes a side wall for engaging the side wall of the jounce bumper and thereby restricting radially outward deflection of the jounce bumper. A gas spring assembly and a vehicle suspension system including a jounce bumper assembly are included. A method of utilizing a jounce bumper assembly is also included.
US07896313B2
A gate valve includes a valve plate for opening and closing a gas passageway, and an air cylinder and a shaft for linearly moving the valve plate between a main housing portion and a storage housing portion of a housing, and the air cylinder is arranged on the first lateral surface side of the housing in parallel with a moving direction of the valve plate, and the shaft is arranged so as to overlap with the valve plate in parallel with the moving direction. A tip end of the shaft is coupled with the valve plate at a position situated near a front end portion in the moving direction thereof.
US07896310B2
A pinch valve is adapted to hold at least one flexible tube in a tube holding room (7) and comprises a plunger (13) adapted to protrude into the tube holding room and pinch the tube against an opposite side wall (11) thereof. The plunger (13) is controllable to be positioned in at least two different positions, an open position where the tube in the tube holding room (7) is not pinched, and a pinching position where the tube is pinched between the plunger (13) and the opposing wall (11). The pinch valve further comprises a tube retaining means (19) adapted to prevent the tube from escaping from the tube holding room (7), especially when the plunger (13) is in the open position, and which can be pivoted into at least two different positions, a non locking position used during insertion of a tube into the tube holding room (7), and a locking position for retaining a tube inside the tube holding room (7) even when the plunger is in an open position.
US07896307B2
A system comprising a stanchion, the stanchion including a pole and a base supporting the pole. A cover adapted to display visible indicia, the cover defining an opening and a discontinuity extending from an exterior boundary of the cover to an interior boundary of the cover, the interior boundary bounding the opening. The discontinuity permits the pole to be positioned within the opening.
US07896305B2
An appliance stabilizing device which is useful in securing an appliance in position against a supporting structure surface. The device includes a plurality of brackets which are selectively positionable on an appliance, with a plurality of elongated members, each pivotally attached to a bracket. Each elongated member has at least one aperture spaced a distance along the length of the elongated member from the pivotal point with the bracket. The elongated member is attached to a support surface, frequently a bottom plate or sole pate of the wall. The bracket includes apertures spaced from each other in a generally triangular configuration or a configuration of equivalent strength. The elongated member is typically pivotally attached at the apex of a generally triangular configuration of apertures. The device is self adjusting during attachment of the appliance to a supporting structure. An advantageous embodiment includes a quick-release mechanism at the pivotal attachment between the brackets and the first ends of the elongate members.
US07896299B2
A support stand includes a base 2 including a substantially rectangular base plate 3 and four support feet 5 provided on the base plate 3 to extend outward from corners of the base plate in diagonal directions, respectively, and a stay 15 built vertically on the base 2 and for supporting the support target 30. One support foot 5b out of the four support feet 5 is formed to be bent into an L shape in a plan view or formed into an inverted U shape in a side view, and the support feet 5a adjacent to the one foot 5b are formed to extend linearly.
US07896298B2
An intravenous support apparatus comprises a pole, means attachable to the pole for hanging an intravenous liquid supply on the pole, and a base including a plurality of disconnectable legs having respective inner ends joined one with another, the joined inner ends forming a central body of the base to define a central passage extending vertically through the base, the central passage receiving a bottom end of the pole for supporting the pole in a upright position, each leg including a first material containing a core element of a second material which is heavier than the first material.
US07896297B1
A leash for a baby accessory including a bottle or other food/beverage container, toy or the like, has a padded band with a redundant attachment to the shoulder harness strap of a car seat. Similarly, the second attachment strap for attaching to the bottle has a redundant set of latches to ensure that the bottle is held thereby. The strap suspending the bottle has a dangle length of 3″ to 5″ to maintain the bottle within easy reach of the child obviating intervention by the parent to restore control of the container to the baby. The second attachment strap is provided with a non-slip fabric for engaging the surface of the container. The suspension strap is afforded with interchangeable clips which permit a bottle leash to be converted to a toy leash.
US07896296B2
An offset tube clamp includes a base having a pair of feet with generally coplanar bottom surfaces and a notch between the feet. A post extends upwardly from the base, and at least one tube cradle is formed on the post at a position spaced apart from the base. The tube clamp further includes a nailway having a fastener receiving opening for receiving a fastener. The fastener receiving opening intersects the notch in the base. The tube clamp is alternatively mountable to a building member in either a first orientation with the bottom surfaces of the feet flush against a surface of the building member, and in a second orientation with the notch in the base receiving a corner of the building member.
US07896290B2
A latch device for detecting pressure reduction of a cockpit in an aircraft and releasing a bolt and a stopper device are provided so as to prevent a cockpit door from unexpectedly opening by an impact. A main latch device 100 of the cockpit door has a frame 112 fixed to a door panel, and a latch base 120 is mounted to the frame 112 capable of pivotal rotation with a pin 122 as a fulcrum. A bolt 132 is inserted into a catch in conjunction with a door handle 130. A holding/releasing portion 150 holds the latch base 120. When a pressure difference occurs between a cockpit 4 and a cabin 5, a pressure-sensing piston 160 is pushed in, a trigger 170 and a flapper 180 are rotated and the latch base 120 is released. A stopper device 190 regulates movement of the trigger 170 by movement of an inertial piston 192 when an impact force is applied from the cabin 5 side.
US07896286B2
A core (16) for a roll of material, which core (16) comprises a body portion (18), a first member which is removably secured to a first end (22) of the body portion (18), a first bore (24) through the first end member (20), a second end member (26) which is removably secured to a second end (28) of the body portion (18), a second bore through the second end member (26), a third bore (30) through the body portion (18), the first, second and third bores all having a common longitudinal axis, the first bore (24) having a smooth inner surface (32) whereby the first bore (24) is able to receive a chuck (34) such that centering of the chuck (34) is facilitated by the smooth inner surface of the first bore (24), the second bore having a smooth inner surface (32) whereby the second bore is able to receive a chuck (34) such that centering of the chuck (34) is facilitated by the smooth inner surface (32) of the second bore, the body portion being made of a metal, and the first and second end members (20, 26) each being made of a plastics material.
US07896280B2
A device for controlling the feed of a yarn to a textile machine operating intermittently on the yarn, there being provided elements to sense the tension of the yarn and elements for measuring and modifying its feed speed, all connected to control and regulator elements for the tension and speed parameters, which continuously measure the values of both parameters during the feed of the yarn to the textile machine so as to act on a rotary member in order to modify the tension of the yarn when necessary. The rotary member is movable in a controlled manner in the two opposing directions of rotation to feed the yarn to the textile machine or to rewind it in order to prevent its accumulation in correspondence with the machine, the tension of the yarn fed or rewound being maintained at constant values.
US07896279B2
A yarn braking device includes a braking body with the shape of a frustocone coat. The braking body is put over a rounded withdrawal end of a storage body and is pressed from the small diameter end by a resilient axial force against the withdrawal end. The axial force defines the braking effect between the braking body and the withdrawal end. Between a stationary holder and the braking body an axial force generator and a centering device acting in radial direction are provided. The axial force generator is formed by at least one pair of permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are axially aligned by the centering devices with an intermediate gap. The centering device neither is an axial sliding guiding system structurally and functionally separated from the pair of permanent magnets, or is formed free of contact directly by the pair of permanent magnets, respectively.
US07896276B2
A refiner plate for mechanical refiner of lingocelluosic material, the refiner plate including: a refining surface including bars and grooves, wherein the bars each have an upper section including a leading edge and a lower section including a root at a substrate of the plate; the upper section of the bars has a narrow width and a draft angle less than five degrees, and the lower section of the bars has a wide width greater than the narrow width of upper section and a draft angle of at least five degrees on at least one sidewall of the bar.
US07896273B2
An ergonomic portable pill crusher tool includes an elongate handle having a first axis, and a shaft having an offset portion and a work portion. The offset portion is connected to the handle. The offset portion has a second axis arranged to be oblique with respect to the first axis of the handle at a first angle facing a central portion of the handle. The work portion has a third axis arranged to be oblique with respect to the second axis of the offset portion at a second angle facing away from the central portion, such that an extent of the work portion along the third axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the handle at the central portion of the handle. A distal end of the work portion has a convex tip to facilitate application of axial and radial forces to the pill(s).
US07896264B2
A microstructured nozzle consists of a number of channels produced by microstructuring a plate-shaped member. In the nozzle the channels are located between projections which are arranged side by side in rows and project from a base plate. This microstructured base plate is covered with a cover plate. The channels are narrowly defined in terms of shape, cross sectional area and length. The nozzle contains a filter as the primary structure and a secondary structure downstream of the filter.The nozzle is used, for example, with an atomiser which produces an aerosol from a fluid containing a medicament.
US07896257B2
A fuel injection apparatus with a piston device that includes a channel and a piston in the channel. A position sensor is used to detect the piston movement inside the channel when the fuel injection apparatus is energized and de-energized, and the sensing value is used for controlling fuel injection rate in real-time and diagnosing failures in the apparatus. With an actuator installed, the piston can also be used for independently modulating fuel pressure during fuel injection. Thereby the shape of fuel injection pulses is controlled. The fuel injection apparatus has three injection states, and flexible fuel injection timing and multi-pulse injection are allowed. Furthermore, in all injection states, fuel supply has no direct contact to combustion chamber. As a result, when a malfunction sticks the apparatus open, no fuel is supplied. This feature provides a safety nature to the fuel injection apparatus.
US07896254B2
A method and a system for controlling temperature of a liquid in small flow amount, for supplying a liquid whose temperature is highly accurately controlled, as a flow of a small flow amount or an intermittent flow. A liquid supplied from a supply path is pressurized and introduced into a circulation path, and is temperature-controlled by a temperature control device in the circulation path, while being circulated in the circulation path by a pump in the pressurized condition. The liquid is supplied to an exterior device through a discharge path caused to branch from the circulation path, as a consecutive flow in a small amount or an intermittent flow in a small amount in a flow amount less than at least ½ times the flow amount in the circulation path, by adjusting a discharge valve provided in the discharge path.
US07896253B2
A method for automatically rectifying business card presentation angle is described. The method is applicable to a mobile electronic device to automatically rectify a presentation angle of a shot business card image. Firstly, maintain character pixels of the shot business card image, and divide the character pixels into character groups by determining whether the pixel pitch is larger than a predetermined value. Next, obtain a first axis and a second axis of the character groups. After that, calculate an included angle formed between the first axis and the second axis, and adjust the oblique character groups through angles obtained for correction. Then, adjust aspect ratios of all the character groups after angle correction according to appropriate character aspect ratios, to make the displayed font seem normal. Finally, generate a corrected business card image according to the character groups after correction.
US07896251B2
An information reading apparatus has an excitation unit that applies a magnetic field to a medium provided with at least one magnetic element that generates a signal when the magnetic field is applied thereto and a pseudo element that generates no signal when the magnetic field is applied thereto; a detection unit that detects a signal when the signal is generated; and an identification unit that identifies the medium based on a result of the detection.
US07896237B2
A method and system for providing and activating a credit card and credit line to a consumer. In one embodiment, the system and method include providing the consumer with a choice of one credit card from a plurality of cards. In response to the consumer's selection of one of the plurality of credit cards, an immediate authorization request is made for the credit card from an authorization source, such as a mobile telephone, kiosk, cash register, or credit card transaction device. Upon transmission of the authorization request, a rapid approval or disapproval is made based upon the applicant's financial status. This status may include the existence of an open bank account, such as a checking or savings account, or other credit worthiness indicia, such as prior business history with the lender and prior credit history. Once activated, the credit card may be used to purchase goods and services.
US07896235B2
Apparatus and method for purchasing cash from an ATM. The ATM has a unique identifier visibly located thereon. A customer phone includes a camera and a programmable memory. The camera can be used to capture an image of the ATM's identifier. The memory includes customer account data. A customer uses their phone to establish wireless communication with a transaction host. The customer can transmit to the host a request for cash from the ATM. The request includes the account data and the image. The host can use the account data in payment for the requested cash. The host uses the image to identify the particular ATM associated with the request. After payment, the host causes the identified ATM to dispense the requested cash.
US07896234B2
A transaction authorization system comprises an authorization engine (18) configured to perform an analysis in relation to a received request for authorization of a current electronic payment transaction and generate an authorization output based on the analysis, and a database (22) storing a plurality of transaction records for past electronic payment transactions. The authorization engine is configured to: access the database to determine one or more distribution functions based on at least some of the stored transaction records, determine one or more intermediate values in relation to the received authorization request based on the one or more distribution functions, determine a conditional probability in relation to the one or more intermediate values based on at least some of the stored transaction records, the conditional probability indicative of a probability of a predetermined transaction result under the condition of the one or more intermediate values, and generate the authorization output based on the determined conditional probability.
US07896230B1
A method for forecasting the component surpluses for a target planning period is provided. To begin this method, a planner first identifies each component required to produce a product. For each component, the planner defines a planned level and an uncancelable level. The planned level for a component is the quantity at which the component is expected to be available. The uncancelable level for a component is the quantity of the component that cannot be liquidated without charge. The planner also defines a vector of connect rates for the components. After the required data has been entered, an expected surplus is computed for each component. To compute a component's expected surplus, the component is assumed to be available at its uncancelable level. The remainder of the components are assumed to be available at their respective planned levels. The mean production for the component is computed and used, along with the uncancelable level the selected component and the vector of connect rates to compute the component's expected surplus. This computation is repeated for all components in turn.
US07896220B2
The invention relates to a process for repairing at least one connecting area between a partition plate (8) and a tube plate (5) of a water chamber (7) of a heat exchanger (1), in which process the area of weld requiring repair is identified, at least one rail (11) is inserted into the water chamber, the said rail (11) is attached below the tube plate (5), a robot arm (20) is inserted, the robot arm is hoisted within the water chamber, the robot arm is remotely controlled, the connecting area requiring repair is machined and a check is made to ensure that cracks have been eliminated from the repaired area.
US07896217B2
A motor vehicle car body framing apparatus for use at a welding station, the apparatus including a gate having a frame structure and a plurality of tooling members carried by the frame structure for use in positioning components of the vehicle body at the welding station for welding. The tooling members are mounted on the frame structure by a plurality of mounting brackets. Each mounting bracket includes a base member mounted on the frame structure and a riser mounted on the base and mounting a respective tooling member. The riser is fixedly mounted on the base by a single central fastener bolt which may include a reduced diameter portion sized to break away in response to predetermined impact against the riser. Each mounting bracket further includes means defining a triangulated mounting interface between the base and the riser arranged in concentric relation to the fastener bolt. The triangulated mounting interface may comprise a raised ring surface on one of the base and the riser centered on the axis of the fastener bolt and positioned at the mounting interface of the base and the riser. Each mounting bracket further includes two dowels received in aligned apertures in the base and in the riser at locations flanking the axis of the fastener bolt.
US07896213B2
A medical stapler is provided with a stapler body having a head portion at one end thereof, which drives out medical staples S, and a manipulating lever that can be opened and closed by being turned in a state in which a part provided at the side of the head portion is housed in an accommodating portion of the stapler body. A grip portion opposed to the head portion of the manipulating lever is usually urged in an opening direction in which the grip portion protrudes from the accommodating portion. When a staple S is driven out, the manipulating lever is turned in a closing direction in which the manipulating lever is housed in the accommodating portion. Thus, the staple S is driven out of the head portion. Then, the staple S is put into skin “a” while both sides of a wound are brought toward each other. Thus, the wound is sutured while both tip end parts of the staple are inwardly bent. Upon completion of suturing the wound, the manipulating lever is latched in the stapler body in a state in which the staple S is bent.
US07896208B2
A method for cleaving thin rods of glass or quartz with a rod cleaving blade (27) and body (28) carrying the blade, is provided. The body (28) is of material varying in length through application of electric and/or magnetic fields. Driving force (31, 33) achieves relatively steady movement of the blade (27) towards a desired cleaving point and relatively steady small-amplitude vibratory component of movement towards and away from the cleaving point superimposed to the relatively steady movement, by influencing the body (28) electrically and/or magnetically. The blade is driven to vibrate with a frequency below 1 kHz during cleaving operation.
US07896207B1
A wedge-shaped storage bag designed and dimensioned for receipt in a triangular-shaped space between a bicycle frame's front fork tube and an angled down tube and on top of a car top carrier, when the car top carrier is carrying one or more bicycles thereon. The storage bag includes a horizontal bottom, a front portion having a height greater than a rear portion and a top portion. The top portion is angled upwardly from a top of the rear portion to a top of the front portion. The top portion and front portion have a wedge-shaped or an inverted “V” shaped configuration. Also, the storage bag includes a first side and a second side with access openings therein for entrance inside the bag and storing items therein. Further, the storage bag includes a down tube attachment strap mounted on the top portion, an upper, fork tube attachment strap and a lower, first car top carrier attachment strap mounted on the front portion, and a lower, second car top carrier attachment strap mounted on the rear portion of the storage bag. The attachment straps are used for releasable attachment of the storage bag to the bicycle frame and the car top carrier.
US07896200B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a liquid substance supplying device exhibiting high operability in handling a container having a large capacity. A liquid substance supplying device for supplying a liquid substance reserved in a vertically elongated container 30 has a configuration in which a bottom part of a container holder 15 for holding the container inserted through an insertion hole provided on a top side of a holder main body 16 is pivoted on a base bracket 14 with a hinge portion 19 to support the container holder 15 such that it can assume either upright attitude or tilted attitude and in which the container holder 15 is fixed in the upright attitude by a holder fixing mechanism 20. As a result, the container holder 15 can be mounted and removed to and from the holder main body 16 in the tilted state at the time of a container replacing operation, which allows high operability to be maintained even in handling a large-capacity container having a great height dimension.
US07896198B2
A dispenser (200) dispenses an amount of concentrate using a diluent to form a use solution. The dispenser (200) includes a housing (201) having a cavity. A product holder (210) is positioned to support the concentrate in the cavity of the housing (201). A load cell housing (207) is operatively supported by the housing. More than one load cell (240) is positioned in the load cell housing (207). The product holder (210) is supported on the more than one load cell (240), wherein weight of the concentrate is determined.
US07896192B2
A medication on demand dispenser. The dispenser provides patient access to medications prescribed to be available on an as-needed basis but with a prescribed minimum time interval between doses. The dispenser permits access to a single medication dose after each minimum time interval has elapsed. After a drug dose is presented to the patient, the dispenser prevents access to the next dose until the minimum time interval has elapsed.
US07896188B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to support arrangements for semi-membrane tank walls and, more particularly, to a universal support assembly for tanks that experience thermal expansion and contraction. One embodiment of the invention may include a tank assembly having at least one tank wall, a support structure at least partially adjacent to the wall, and a link member coupling the tank to the support structure. The link member may be configured to accommodate relative movement between the tank and the support structure through rotation. The link member may be coupled to the tank wall by a ball and socket joint and coupled to the support structure with another ball and socket joint, allowing substantially unlimited in-plane movement of the tank wall relative to the support structure.
US07896187B2
A pressure retaining closure assembly has a door hingedly mounted to a pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom with an arcuate locking ring movably retained proximate an outer perimeter surface thereof. The locking ring is suitable to contract out of a groove in an opening in the pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom into an unlocking position and is suitable to expand wherein an outer portion of the locking ring extends into the groove in the opening in the pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom into a locking orientation. A locking ring actuator is provided having cylinder with a piston therein. The piston has a rod extending axially therefrom with a portion extending beyond the cylinder. Optionally, a bracket is mounted to the portion of the piston rod extending beyond the cylinder and a bracket is mounted proximate the bottom of the cylinder. In this embodiment, a slider rod may be incorporated where the slider rod has a first end portion mounted to one of the brackets and a second end portion slidingly engaging the other bracket providing stability to the actuator assembly. A ring actuating arm may be pivotally connected to each bracket and secured proximate each end of the arcuate locking ring providing rotating engagement between the piston rod and a first point of the locking ring and rotating engagement between the cylinder and a second point of the locking ring.
US07896175B1
A weight activated storage device is disclosed for retaining elongated objects such as a surfboard or other elongated objects of various sizes and shapes.
US07896164B2
A device for sorting out waste parts of workpieces on saws has a saw having at least one saw blade for cutting workpieces into workpiece parts. At least one feed roller is arranged upstream of the saw in a transport direction of workpieces. At least one feed roller is arranged downstream of the saw in the transport direction. At least one transport device is provided for the workpiece parts cut at the saw. At least one acceleration roller is arranged in the transport direction of the workpieces downstream of the saw so that the cut workpiece parts are transported by being accelerated away from the cutting area.
US07896163B2
A sifter comprising: a receiver having a supply chamber; a sieve assembly having a sieving chamber coupled to the supply chamber; a rotator having a rotating shaft laterally arranged to pass through the supply chamber and the sieving chamber; a drum having a circular cross-section and having a larger diameter than the diameter of the rotating shaft, the drum being extended in at least space of the sieving chamber and arranged coaxially with the sieve; a cylindrical sieve located inside the sieving chamber and arranged coaxially with the rotating shaft; a stirring rotor located in an inner area of the sieving chamber inside the sieve comprising a rotating blade attached to the rotating shaft; an extraction member; and an outlet for discharging powder passing through the sieve from the inner area to the outer area.
US07896159B2
A packaging container includes a pallet, an enclosure box, an enclosure base, a sheet, and a set of fasteners. The pallet carries the article thereon. The enclosure box rests on the pallet to enclose the article therewithin, and includes a top wall, first and second pairs of opposite side walls, an open bottom, and a first set of through-holes. The enclosure base lies between the article and the pallet to hold the article. The sheet extends across at least a portion of the pallet and the first pair of opposite side walls to secure the pallet to the enclosure box when fastened to the enclosure box, and includes a flat center panel, a pair of side flaps, and a second set of through-holes. The set of fasteners are passed through the first and second sets of through-holes to fasten the sheet to the enclosure box from outside the enclosure box.
US07896158B2
A tool bit holder for releasably supporting a plurality of tool bits in a supported position wherein each tool bit has an elongated bit body extending from a working end to a tool end. The tool end of the bit being shaped to be received by a tool and the working end being shaped to engage an object such as a fastener. The bit further including an elongated side wall extending between the working and tool ends. The holder includes a frame having a plurality of spaced bit receiving nests and each of these nests has a bit opening shaped to receive one tool bit. The nests further including a flexible member movable relative to the tool bit opening and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that the nest engages the elongated wall of the tool bit when the flexible member is in the engaged position and the associated bit is in the supported position thereby preventing relative movement between the nest and the associated bit. Further, the nest allows the tool bit to move relative to the opening when in the disengaged position.
US07896157B1
A tool layout caddy has an upstanding vertical post with a handle at one end and a base member at the other end. A receptacle for the placement and storage of tools, chalk, and other necessary items for the layout operation is secured to the vertical post. A sheath member is provided for the placement and storage of a measuring square. The base member of the caddy houses the chalk line, a chalk line reservoir for replenishing the chalk line, and a chalk line retracting mechanism. A stop marker ensures that the end section of the chalk line always remains external to the base member and, during use, a hook at the end of the chalk line may be secured to the receptacle for ease of access during layout operations.
US07896156B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for holding information storage media such as a disk (4) having an aperture therein. The apparatus includes, among other elements, a base portion and engaging means for releasably engaging the information storage media via said aperture. The engaging means includes at least one arm resiliently cantilevered to the base portion, retaining means for engaging and retaining the information storage media on the apparatus, and release means. The depression of the release means disengages the retaining means and the information storage media. A locating means is provided for receiving a security member as it is inserted beneath the engaging means in a first direction parallel to the base portion so as to inhibit operation of the release means. The locating means is arranged to locate the security member laterally as it is inserted beneath the engaging means.
US07896139B2
A guide-rail brake (1) of an elevator and a method for controlling the brake are provided. The brake comprises a frame part fixed to the elevator car, a prong part, which contains turning jaws (3,4) that correspond to the guide rail (2) via the braking surfaces when braking, a spring (10) loading the prong part to press the braking surfaces to the guide rail, and a controllable mover, which is an electromagnet (15), which contains two pulling core pieces (17,18). The force effect of the electromagnet (15) on the prong part is opposed to the spring. In the guide-rail brake an air gap (ag) is structurally arranged between the center parts (19,20) of the pulling core pieces (17, 18) of the electromagnet of the guide-rail brake when the brake is fully energized, and a damping circuit is arranged in the coil (16) of the electromagnet (15) of the guide-rail brake to speed up operation of the guide-rail brake.
US07896136B2
In an elevator apparatus, a brake device is controlled by a brake control device. The brake control device has a first brake control portion for operating the brake device to stop a car as an emergency measure upon detection of an abnormality, and a second brake control portion for reducing a braking force of the brake device when a deceleration of the car becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value during emergency braking operation of the first brake control portion. The second brake control portion controls the brake device independently of the first brake control portion.
US07896135B2
A fail-safe power control apparatus for supplying power between an energy source (4) and the motor (5) of a transport system is provided. The power control apparatus comprises a power supply circuit (6), which comprises at least one converter (7, 8) containing change-over switches (32). The power control apparatus comprises a control arrangement (24) for controlling the converter change-over switches, a data transfer bus (10), at least two controllers (1, 2) adapted to communicate with each other, and a control arrangement (11) for controlling a first braking device, and possibly a control arrangement (43) for controlling a second braking device.
US07896134B2
A wheelchair lift assembly is provided. The wheelchair lift assembly includes a frame, a platform, and a lift mechanism associated with the frame. The lift mechanism includes a stabilizing arm and at least one lift arm member having a first end connected to the platform. The first end of the lift arm member pivots and translates relative to the platform as the platform is reciprocated between raised and lowered positions. The wheelchair lift assembly also includes a drive assembly. The drive assembly selectively provides a driving force to the lift mechanism without directly providing the driving force to the stabilizing arm.
US07896121B2
An automotive fuel tank storage system includes a fuel storage tank installed in a vehicle and a barrier fluid tank containing a supply of barrier fluid. A distribution system connected with the barrier fluid tank and with the fuel storage tank distributes barrier fluid about the outer periphery of the fuel contained within the storage tank in the event of a collision event, creating a boundary layer of more viscous fluid which inhibits exfiltration of the fuel from the fuel storage tank.
US07896114B2
A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and a transmission disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. The transmission includes an input clutch which is selectively engagable for facilitating torque transfer between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. When an engine start is requested, the motor/generator is operated, and a start mode for the engine is determined based on a number of vehicle parameters. The transmission input clutch is partially disengaged to at least partially isolate the vehicle drive wheels from engine torque disturbances when the engine is started. The disconnect clutch is engaged, and the engine is fueled, thereby facilitating torque production by the engine.
US07896113B1
A robotic system adapted to deploy from a police vehicle for inspecting a suspect vehicle has a robot unit and a carrier unit. The robot unit includes a robot base having a drive system responsive to a control unit having a robot transceiver, and a camera operably mounted on robot unit for inspecting the suspect vehicle. A primary display adapted to be operably positioned within the police vehicle functions for displaying the images from the camera. A remote control unit, also adapted to be operably positioned within the police vehicle, enables the user to operably control the control unit of the robot unit. The carrier unit includes a carrier housing that pivots between a raised position for carrying the robot unit, and a lowered position for deploying the robot unit.
US07896111B2
A gripping tool having at least one body, including an associated load adaptor adapted to be connected to and interact with one of a drive head or reaction frame. A gripping assembly, carried by the body, has a grip surface adapted to move from a retracted position to an engaged position to radially engage one of an interior surface or an exterior surface of a work piece upon relative axial displacement of the body relative to the grip surface in at least one axial direction. A grip activation assembly acts between the body and the grip surface to increase a grip ratio of radial load upon the gripping assembly relative to axial displacement of the body relative to the grip surface. The grip activation assembly includes a motor driven load screw to create relative axial displacement of the body relative to the grip surface.
US07896105B2
A method associated with the production of hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, a method for drilling a well is described. The method includes identifying a field having hydrocarbons. Then, one or more wells are drilled to a subsurface location in the field to provide fluid flow paths for hydrocarbons to a production facility. The drilling is performed by (i) estimating a drill rate for one of the wells; (ii) determining a difference between the estimated drill rate and an actual drill rate; (iii) obtaining mechanical specific energy (MSE) data and other measured data during the drilling of the one of the wells; (iv) using the obtained MSE data and other measured data to determine one of a plurality of limiters that limit the drill rate; (v) adjusting drilling operations to mitigate one of the plurality of limiters; (vi) and iteratively repeating steps (i)-(v) until the subsurface formation has been reached by the drilling operations.
US07896104B2
The invention relates to a device and a method for explosive drilling. Explosive capsules are fired by a firing device at a material to be stripped. A high degree of safety is attained in that use is made of an explosive with liquid oxygen that is only produced immediately before its application.
US07896101B2
A pneumatically operated power tool includes an outer frame, a driving components, a pressure reduction valve, and a switching valve. The outer frame has a compressed air intake portion and defines therein a compressed air chamber. The driving components are disposed in the outer frame and are driven by a compressed air in the compressed air chamber. The pressure reduction valve defines a pressure receiving space and allows a compressed air to flow from the air intake portion to the compressed air chamber and to the pressure receiving space. The switching valve is movable between a first position where the compressed air flows from the compressed air intake portion to the pressure receiving space, and a second position where a communication between the compressed air intake portion and the pressure receiving space is blocked. The pressure reduction valve is configured to set a compressed air pressure in the compressed air chamber to a first pressure level if the switching valve is located at the first position and to set the compressed air pressure to a second pressure level lower than the first pressure level if the switching valve is located at the second position.
US07896100B2
A valve device (V, 4′) for controlling the movement in a machine housing (2) of a reciprocating percussion piston (3) of a percussion device (1) for a rock drilling machine with a first chamber (5) that can be pressurized for forward driving of the percussion piston (3) and a second chamber (8) that can be pressurized for back-driving of the percussion piston (3), wherein the valve device includes a to and fro movable valve element (20), the movement of which being controlled as a response to the position of a valve portion (V) of the percussion piston in a valve housing portion by periodically pressurizing a signal chamber (21) actuating the movement of the valve element over signal conduit means (22, 23, 24). Said signal conduit means includes at least two signal conduit portions (23, 24), which are arranged for essentially simultaneous pressurizing through co-operation between a corresponding number of valve control edges (25, 26) on the valve portion of the percussion piston and edges (34, 35) or control chambers in the machine housing. The invention also concerns a percussion device and a rock drilling machine.
US07896094B2
A beach cleaner which scrapes up the litter along with sand and captures and deposits the churned up litter and sand in the mesh member. The beach cleaner 50 includes a frame; keel members, a scraper, and a tow portion that are disposed in a front portion of the frame; a mesh member disposed in a rear portion of the frame. The keel members and the scraper churn up litter scattered on sand ground, along with sand, while the beach cleaner travels on a surface of the sand ground by being towed by a towing vehicle. The churned up litter is deposited in the mesh member. Mesh of the mesh member is relatively rough at a front portion thereof in the traveling direction and finer at a rear portion thereof.
US07896091B2
A method and apparatus for sealing a wellbore is described herein. A convertible seal includes a sealing element and a valve. The sealing element is in fluid communication with the valve and fluidly blocks a bore of the convertible seal. The sealing element prevents fluid from flowing through the bore until desired. When desired, the sealing element is removed to allow fluid to flow through the bore. Fluid flow in the bore is controlled by the valve. As a result, the convertible seal has been converted to a flow control seal.
US07896074B2
A pipe conveyed well logging assembly is provided that includes a pipe string; a carrier assembly connected to the pipe string and having an inner housing and an outer housing; and a memory logging tool carried by the carrier assembly and movable from a retracted position, protected within the inner housing; and an extended position, at least partially protruding from a lower end of the carrier assembly.
US07896070B2
A completion assembly has an expandable sealing element provided on an outer surface of the completion assembly. The expandable sealing element has a slot. The slot of the expandable sealing element enables the expandable sealing element to expand around a spoolable sensor array.
US07896069B2
A string of interconnected strain sensors applied to a cylindrical object for monitoring deformation of the object. The string of interconnected strain sensors is applied in a selected zig-zag pattern. A possibility is to drape a pliable support structure around the object, to which the the string of strain sensors has been mechanically coupled in the selected zig-zag pattern.
US07896059B2
Disclosed is a metal casting system, an engineered mold for use therewith, a process for utilizing the system and mold, and articles having a clean, oxide-free sand casting of molten metals that have been produced under an inert environment. This is especially advantageous for making automotive and airplane parts from the manufacture of lightweight metals, and more especially for the production of magnesium parts in order to reduce weight while maintaining properties found in other lightweight metals. Currently, sand cast articles are being used for automotive, aerospace and semiconductor parts and other industrial applications. The advantages of the present invention include a greatly reduced cycle time as conventional gating systems no longer apply; an ability to pour highly reactive metals by the use of a protective environment; even greater reduced cycle times because speed of metal delivery is greatly increased; carbon outgassing by binder resin is minimized since no oxygen is allowed into the process; sand and resin usage and disposal is minimized due to the new engineered mold; and cooling of the poured sand casting is much faster through these unique features.
US07896044B2
A sub air chamber provided around outer circumferential surface of a well of a rim of a vehicle wheel includes an upper plate and a lower plate connected at edges thereof which are fitted into channels in first and second vertical wall surfaces formed on the rim. At least one of the upper plate and the bottom plate has orthogonally and diagonally aligned beads to vertical walls, extending in a circumferential direction of the wheel, supporting the sub air chamber, connecting parts locally connecting the upper plate and the bottom plate. The sub air chamber has a protruding part for communicating the sub air chamber with the tire air chamber and serves as a stopper of the sub air chamber.
US07896040B2
A clamp type mortising jig is described that allows the user to create a slot mortise in a workpiece clamped in the jig, using a plunge router. The jig includes a clamp that includes a movable jaw assembly and a fixed jaw with a template carriage slidably mounted between them. Router guide templates can be replaceably mounted in the template carriage.
US07896038B2
A frozen confectionary vending machine employs robotics and other features to provide a customized frozen confectionary product, with or without toppings, in an entertaining environment. At least portions of the vending machine interior are visible to customers as the machine assembles a frozen confectionary product according to specifications selected by the customer. A robotic arm moves a product receptacle between various dispensing stations that dispense measured amounts of a frozen confectionary and one or more optional toppings into the receptacle. After assembly, the product is moved by the robotic arm to a product delivery port that provides customer access to the product in a sanitary manner.
US07896036B2
A fuel device for a mobile body comprises a fuel tank, a power consuming device, a fuel filling connector for receiving a fuel supply, and a power supplying connector for receiving a power supply. A fuel filling system comprises a vehicle having a fuel tank and a tank information processing unit, and a fuel filling device for filling the vehicle with fuel, wherein the tank information processing unit is started at fuel filling or started by power supply from the outside of the vehicle when the fuel tank is filled with fuel based on tank information. The vehicle comprises a fuel tank and a tank information processing unit, and the tank information processing unit is started at fuel filling. The fuel filling device has a filling nozzle which is connected with the fuel filling connector and provided with a feeding side connector for supplying power.
US07896034B2
A fabric for supporting a fibrous web is disclosed. The fabric has a layer that includes a plurality of weft yarns and a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with the plurality of weft yarns. The warp and weft yarns define a web-facing side and an opposite machine-facing side. The warp yarns include at least one of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). In addition, a yarn count, weave pattern, and yarn shape of the fabric are configured such that molten polymer drops are scrapable from the web-facing side leaving an upper support surface that does not blemish a fibrous web supported by the fabric.
US07896021B2
A system for quickly removing and installing check valve parts without disturbing system piping attached to a pump. The system includes a first adapter attached to the outlet of the pump head. The first adapter includes a valve seat and a housing with a side wall having external threads. A second adapter includes a hollow body with a space for a check valve. The body has an opening in the side wall for inserting the check valve. The second adapter fits over the first adapter and the adapters are attached by means of a collar. Tightening the collar onto the threads on the first adapter causes the check valve to be held firmly between the valve seat and the top wall of the second adapter.
