US07952870B1
A computer enclosure includes a casing defining a ventilation hole at one side thereof, a power supply and a cooling fan received in the casing. Heat generated by the power supply is taken out by an airflow generated by the cooling fan to an outside of the casing via the ventilation hole. At least one cover sheet covers the ventilation hole of the casing. One side of the cover sheet is pivotally connected to the casing so that the cover sheet is rotatable with respect to the casing. When the cooling fan works, an airflow produced by the cooling fan flows to the ventilation hole and pushes the cover sheet to rotate with respect to the casing, and thus the ventilation hole is exposed; when the cooling fan ceases to work, the cover sheet falls off due to a weight thereof and the cover sheet fully covers the ventilation hole.
US07952866B2
The present invention relates to a portable computer comprising a main body unit which forms an image signal by reading and processing data; and a display unit which is plurally provided and has a plate surface displaying an image thereon and overlapping each other to rotate with respect to the main body casing, is detachably mounted in the display supporter, displays an image only on a most front plate surface when mounted in the display supporter, receives an image signal of the most front plate surface and selectively displays a same or different images thereon if it is separated from the display supporter.Accordingly, applicability and convenience of the portable computer may improve.
US07952863B1
A mounting system for mounting a plurality of devices to a surface, including an overhead surface. According to various embodiments, a support arm is configured to operatively attach to a mounting surface and is operatively connected to a plurality of device support assemblies that include a mount bracket a selectively moveable tilt bracket. A device support member is operatively coupled to the tilt brackets and configured to operatively attach to at least one display device such as a flat panel display. The device support member, and attached devices, are selectively tiltable to a tilt angle.
US07952861B2
The present invention provides a display apparatus comprising a display panel; a heat radiating member provided behind the display panel; and a heat conductive adhesive sheet, which is disposed between the display panel and the heat radiating member, and is capable of absorbing an electromagnetic wave and of conducting heat, a heat conductive adhesive sheet for the display apparatus, and a process for preparing the same.
US07952852B2
A multilayer capacitor array includes a capacitor body, two first signal terminal electrodes, two second signal terminal electrodes, two grounding terminal electrodes, one first outer connecting conductor, and one second outer connecting conductor, where the capacitor body includes first and second signal inner electrodes, and first to third grounding inner electrodes. The first signal inner electrode is arranged to oppose the first or third grounding inner electrode with at least one insulator layer therebetween, while the second signal inner electrode is arranged to oppose the second or third grounding inner electrode with at least one insulator layer therebetween. The third grounding inner electrode is directly connected to the grounding terminal electrodes, while the first and second grounding inner electrodes are not directly connected to the grounding terminal electrodes, but are connected to the third grounding inner electrode through respective outer connecting conductors.
US07952840B2
An electrical receptacle includes at least one motion sensor for detecting movement of a blade of an electrical plug in the receptacle, an extraction detector operatively connected to the motion sensor for generating a signal in response to movement of the blade at a predetermined rate, a position detector operatively connected to the motion sensor for determining the position of the blade in the receptacle, a switch operatively connected to the extraction detector and the position detector for de-energizing the receptacle when the extraction detector detects extraction of the blade from the receptacle at a rate equal to or greater than the predetermined and wherein the extraction detector and switch are operative to de-energize the receptacle in less than six milliseconds when the extraction detector detects extraction of the blade from the receptacle at a rate equal to or greater than the predetermined rate.
US07952839B2
Magnetoresistive element including an antiferromagnetic layer disposed away from a detection surface
An MR element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a spacer layer disposed between the first and second ferromagnetic layers; and an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on a side of the first ferromagnetic layer farther from the spacer layer. The antiferromagnetic layer is disposed away from a detection surface. The first ferromagnetic layer includes: a first portion having an end face located in the detection surface and a rear end opposite to the end face; and a second portion located away from the detection surface and connected to the rear end of the first portion. The first portion has a first surface touching the spacer layer, and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface and that does not touch the antiferromagnetic layer. The second portion has a third surface touching the antiferromagnetic layer, and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. The distance between the first surface and the second surface is smaller than the distance between the third surface and an imaginary plane including the first surface.
US07952832B2
A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an angle between at least some of the bars is greater than about 10 degrees. A magnetic recording tape according to yet another embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, the data bands being defined between servo tracks.
US07952823B2
A method for digital information including at least one of digital video information and digital audio information to a transmission path. The method includes compressing the digital video information by a first compression method, bit compressing the digital audio information by a second compression method which is different from the first compression method, and adding error-detection information to both the digital video information and the digital audio information.
US07952815B2
A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system having front and rear optical elements with a spring installed therebetween; a reference barrel which includes a forward-facing limit surface and a rearward-facing limit surface; a first position control mechanism which includes a first rotational member and a first limit member, and varies a position of the front optical element in the optical axis direction relative to the reference barrel; and a second position control mechanism which includes a second rotational member and a second limit member, and varies a position of the rear optical element in the optical axis direction relative to the reference barrel. The first limit member is brought into contact with the rearward-facing limit surface by a forward biasing force of the spring while the second limit member is brought into contact with the forward-facing limit surface by a rearward biasing force of the spring.
US07952806B2
A multi-laser module includes two compartments arranged one above the other. The lower compartment includes four lasers and four corresponding beam-steering mirrors arranged to direct corresponding laser beams into the upper compartment. The upper compartment includes a regular pentagonal prism and four other beam-steering mirrors each arranged to receive one of the laser beams and direct that beam to the prism. The beam prism has three dichroic-coated surfaces and two antireflection-coated surfaces. Each of three of the beams enter the prism via a corresponding one of the dichroic-coated surfaces. The fourth beam enters the prism via one of the antireflection coated surfaces, and all of the beams exit the prism via the other antireflection coated surface along a common path.
US07952802B2
Disclosed is an optical device which can be formed as a thinner layer by a simplified manufacturing process at a reduced cost. Specifically, the optical device has a multilayer structure wherein a polyvinyl alcohol- or polyvinylene-base polarizing film (b) and protective films (a and c) are directly laminated on top of another without any adhesive layer including a pressure sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween. The protective film (c) on one side is composed of a triacetyl cellulose, an alicyclic polyolefin resin, or an alicyclic acrylic resin, and the protective film (a) on the other side is composed of a triacetyl cellulose, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polyethylene naphthalate, a (meth)acrylate resin, an alicyclic polyolefin resin, or an alicyclic acrylic resin.
US07952801B2
A screen includes: a flexible screen body on which image light is projected; a fixed column arranged in a central portion; an arm sliding unit configured to pivotably support the second arm member of the first pantograph mechanism and the second arm member of the second pantograph mechanism with respect to the fixed column so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, in which the first pantograph mechanism and the second pantograph mechanism are expanded and contracted to move the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit toward and away from each other by a sliding movement of the arm sliding unit, and an urging member configured to urge the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit to move away from each other is provided.
US07952797B2
A reflective optical element and an EUV lithography appliance containing one such element are provided, the appliance displaying a low propensity to contamination. The reflective optical element has a protective layer system consisting of at least one layer. The optical characteristics of the protective layer system are between those of a spacer and an absorber, or correspond to those of a spacer. The selection of a material with the smallest possible imaginary part and a real part which is as close to 1 as possible in terms of the refractive index leads to a plateau-type reflectivity course according to the thickness of the protective layer system between two thicknesses d1 and d2. The thickness of the protective layer system is selected in such a way that it is less than d2.
US07952796B2
The present invention provides a quantum optical data storage protocol, whose storage time is lengthened by spin population decay time from several minutes to several hours. The quantum data storage includes a first ground state and a second ground state which are closely spaced each other in energy level or degenerated and to forbid two-photon transitions between the first and second ground states; an excited state which has a spin inhomogeneous broadening and to allow two-photon transitions between the first ground state and the second ground sate via the excited state and allow a spin coherence; an auxiliary state for forbidding two-photon transitions between the first and second ground states via the auxiliary state and allowing a transition from/to the excited state; wherein a spin coherence induced by a transition of two photons from the first ground state and the second state to the excited state is transited to the auxiliary state so that a phase decay of the spin coherence is prevented and data is stored as the phase of the spin coherence.
US07952794B2
An image display apparatus including: two substrates at least one of which is transparent; and display particles that are sealed between the substrates in a powder state so that by generating an electric field between the substrates, the display particles are moved to display an image; wherein, of contact surfaces with the display particles in a gap between the substrates, both of the surfaces on the substrate sides have oxide layers of the same metal, and the display particles include positively chargeable display particles and negatively chargeable display particles, and both of the positively chargeable display particles and the negatively chargeable display particles have structures obtained by successively forming oxide layers of the same metal as that of the metal oxide layers possessed by the surfaces on the substrate sides and organic layers on the surfaces of base particles that contain at least a resin and a colorant.
US07952792B2
The invention relates to a reflective display (1) comprising a substrate (4) and a reflective layer (3), e.g. comprising microcapsules (2) with an electrophoretic suspension arranged to reflect incident light (12) passing through the substrate (4), wherein the substrate (4) is structured so as to form a plurality of funnel-shaped protrusions (7) with reflective walls (8), the protrusions being oriented with a top end (72) facing towards the reflective layer and a base end (71) facing away from the reflective layer. According to this design, light that is reflected at sufficiently large reflection angles will experience one or more reflections by the protrusion walls (8). At each reflection the angle of propagation of the light (11) traveling through the substrate is decreased by twice the angle alpha between the wall (8) and the normal of the reflective layer (3).
US07952791B2
Disclosed is an electrophoretic particle comprising a polymer component on a surface thereof which polymer component is a copolymer obtained from materials comprising at least a monomer component represented by a following general formula (I): wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and a monomer component represented by a following general formula (II): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R1, represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group whose carbon number is 1 to 4, n represents a natural number, and x represents an integer of 1 to 3.
US07952790B2
Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material.
US07952786B2
One embodiment of an micromechanical device includes a first contact surface, a moveable component having a second contact surface, and a coating of liquid or solid lubricant on at least one of the contact surfaces, where the second contact surface interacts with the first contact surface during device operation, and a gas-phase lubricant is disposed between the first contact surface and the second contact surface, where the gas-phase lubricant is adapted to increase the usable lifetime of the liquid or solid lubricant coating on the contact surfaces. One advantage of the disclosed device is that a gas-phase lubricant has a high diffusion rate and, therefore, is self-replenishing, meaning that it can quickly move back into a contact region after being physically displaced from the region by the contacting surfaces of the device during operation. Consequently, the gas-phase lubricant used with conventional solid or liquid lubricants is more reliable than solid or liquid lubricants used alone in preventing stiction-related device failures.
US07952782B2
An observing device for observing a flow field in a detection space is provided. The observing device includes a light source generating a light beam, a light-deflecting device deflecting the light beam, and a light sheet-generating component receiving the light beam deflected by the light-deflecting device and generating a light sheet in the detection space corresponding to the deflected light beam.
US07952778B2
A multi-layer hidden hinge and actuator design for high fill factor biaxial MEMS mirror array for wavelength selective switches (WSS) based on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process with wafer bonding and coarsely aligned orthogonal vertical comb and/or parallel plate actuator. Each micro-mirror in the MEMS linear piano micro-mirror array comprises a micro-mirror layer, a hinge layer and an electrode/substrate layer. Preferably, the roll and tilt electrodes are substantially disposed along the roll axis to provide a high fill factor. The structure is formed by fabricating the layers separately in SOI structure and then bonding them together.
US07952773B2
An image formation device is provided with an image formation section, an image acquisition section, a paper supply cassette and a support body. The image formation section forms images at a recording medium and is supported at a base surface. The image acquisition section is disposed at an upper side of the image formation section. The paper supply cassette is disposed at a lower side of the image formation section and can be drawn out to a near side. The support body supports the image acquisition section at the base surface and forms a cassette cavity which is capable of accommodating a far side of the paper supply cassette.
US07952768B2
A color interpolation method capable of more precisely interpolating each of pixels of an image passing through a color filter of a Bayer pattern and detected by an image sensor, the method including: defining a pixel group of a matrix structure, having a pixel to be color-interpolated as a center pixel, in an image passed through a color filter of Bayer pattern and detected by an image sensor; determining whether an edge exists or not in the pixel group; interpolating a color of the center pixel using a low pass filter when an edge does not exist in the pixel group; and interpolating a color of the center pixel according to directivity of an edge when the edge exists in the pixel group. The invention suppresses noise during color interpolation and enables more precise color interpolation.
US07952755B2
Color processing is performed for each image data, so as to switch generating methods for black data to perform appropriate sharpness processing regarding image data wherein sharpness of printing results is important and image data wherein gradation of the image is important. A recording device is provided, wherein by performing such processing, black images such as characters or lines maintain sharpness or clarity, and picture images can be formed as high quality images.
US07952754B2
A print data generating apparatus, comprising a background color designating system, wherein at least one background color of pixels in a background area of the image to be printed is designated, a usable color designating system, wherein a color to be used to print the at least one background color of the pixels is designated among a plurality of color options including a transparent color and a specific color, a color substituting system, wherein color information of the at least one background color is substituted with color information of the color designated in the usable color designating system, and a print data creating system, in which print data to be used for printing is created based on the image data wherein the color information of the at least one background color is substituted with the color designated in the usable color designating system in the color substituting system, is provided.
US07952751B2
A method of printing an interface onto a surface is disclosed. The method starts by providing a printer comprising a data input module for receiving document data from a computer system, a coded data generator for generating coded data using at least some of the document data, the coded data being indicative of an identity of a region of a surface to be printed on and of a plurality of locations on the surface to be printed on, a printhead for printing the interface onto the surface, and an ink supply for supplying ink to the printhead, the ink supply comprising an ink set including at least one visible text/graphics ink and a coded data ink, the coded data ink being absorptive of wavelengths in the near-infrared range. Visible text/graphics and the coded data is then printed onto the surface using the printer.
US07952747B2
When a plurality of image data are received, a form data from among at least one form data and a format data from among at least one format data are selected based on number of the image data. The image data, selected form data and format data are combined to generate an output image.
US07952739B2
Version information set at a client terminal apparatus (110) is received. Identification data and print data generated at the client terminal apparatus (110) based on a file set at the client terminal apparatus (110) are received. Identification data of the file of the version indicated by the version information received from the client terminal apparatus (110) is acquired from a document management server (120). If the acquired identification data matches the received identification data, a print process is executed by using the received print data. Otherwise, a file corresponding to the acquired identification data is acquired from the document management server (120), and a print process is executed by using print data based on the acquired file.
US07952736B2
A received document input and output device connected to a network and using a plurality of communication protocols, the document input and output device communicating documents in various data forms with a plurality of information devices, includes a storing part configured to store the documents received via a communication part; a printing part configured to print the documents; a setting part configured to set management information; and a periodic implementation part configured to control the parts processing the document based on the management information and an output of a clock part configured to count day and time.
US07952732B2
A digital multi-function peripheral appends, according to the predetermined specific image information appending conditions, the image data which meets the appending conditions with the specific image information in a form which is set in accordance with the appending conditions when image data which is read at an image reading portion or image data which is externally entered via a FAX modem or communication portion is used for image formation at a printing portion. It is set so that the specific image information is appended to high secrecy image data. When trying to copy the printed image in which the specific image information is embedded, the copy machine which has detected the specific image information will not output the copied image or output a copy sheet having thereon characters such as “Copy Prohibited”.
US07952729B2
A measuring instrument has a first section for rolling a wheelset under lateral guidance of the wheelset into a measurement section with an auxiliary rail for supporting the wheelset on the outer edges of its wheels and a third section for rolling out the wheelset into the railway track, with the first and third section of the measuring instrument also designed as track panels and for which the optical beam devices under the measurement section are intended. The first and third section of the measuring instrument are flexibly embedded in the ballast of the superstructure of the railway track, while at least one of the optical beam devices is mounted vibration-free on the formation of the railway track in a pre-determined position in relation to the measurement section of the measuring instrument with no contact to the other parts of the measuring instrument.
US07952723B2
An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a light source for generating a low-coherent light beam, which is split into a probe light beam toward the object and a reference light beam toward a reference optical path. The probe light beam is swept one-dimensionally at a predetermined frequency. An interference light beam is produced by interference between the probe light beam from the object and the reference light beam that has traveled along the reference optical path. The interference light beam is re-swept in the same direction and at the same frequency as the probe light beam. A two-dimensional image-capturing device detects the re-swept interference light beam at a frame rate corresponding to the light beam sweeping frequency and produces a video signal, which is processed to provide reflection intensity information of an interior of an object to be measured. Since the two-dimensional image-capturing means is employed and interference information is obtained using low-speed beam sweeping and re-sweeping means, a scanning optical system can be straightforwardly constructed.
US07952721B2
A system includes a measuring tool, a fixture, and a rotatable target. The measuring tool includes a light source, an imaging device, and an electronic circuit. The fixture allows the rotatable target to rotate about an axis. The rotatable target includes a surface having microscopic asperities. The imaging device is mounted to provide a sequence of images derived from said microscopic asperities. The electronic circuit is connected to the imaging device for measuring rotation of the rotatable target from the sequence of images.
US07952720B2
An apparatus and method for using a counter-propagating signal method for locating events is disclosed. The apparatus and method uses a Mach Zehnder interferometer through which counter-propagating signals can be launched. If the sensing zone of the Mach Zehnder interferometer is disturbed, modified counter-propagating signals are produced and the time difference between receipt of those signals is used to determine the location of the event. A microcontroller receives feedback signals which adjusts polarization controllers so that the polarization states of the counter-propagating signals can be controlled to match the amplitude and/or phase of the output signals. Detectors are provided for detecting the modified signals.
US07952716B2
Improved performance in reflectance photometry is obtained by employing an optical fiber to direct collimated light to a test area and to return both diffuse and specular light from the test area. Specular light is prevented from reaching a light detector by a spatial filter, while diffuse light is collected and measured.
US07952712B2
To provide a method for detecting the equatorial plane, capable of detecting directly an equatorial plane that has the optical axis as the axis thereof, in a spherical optically uniaxial crystal. The method for detecting the equatorial plane as set forth in a first form of the present invention is a method for detecting an equatorial plane of a spherical member made from a single crystal of an optically uniaxial crystal having birefringence, comprising: a step for causing light to be incident on the spherical member through a polarizer; and a step for observing the isogyre that is structured by the light that is emitted from the spherical member through an analyzer that has a cross-nicol relationship with the polarizer; wherein the isogyre is an isogyre that is observed when the oscillating direction of the polarizer or the analyzer is near to parallel with the optical axis of the spherical member.
US07952709B2
The present invention describes a torch for producing a plasma for a spectrochemical analysis comprising: an alumina ceramic injector, a vitreous material inner tube concentric with the injector, and an annular joint between the injector and the inner tube. The joint fixedly attaches the injector and the inner tube together and comprises of an adhesive compatible with vitreous material and alumina ceramic. A method of manufacturing the torch is also described.
US07952694B2
A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to emit a species capable of being optically monitored. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment.
US07952692B2
A method and system are presented for use in determination of the concentration of an analyte in a subject's medium. The medium is irradiated with at least two radiation components to produce detectable radiation responses of the medium thereto. These at least two radiation components are selected to have different mean wavelengths and such that the spectral bandwidth of at least one of said at least two radiation components is characterized by relatively high variability of the extinction coefficient of the analyte of interest across said spectral bandwidth. This enables analysis of data indicative of detected radiation responses of the medium to said at least two radiation components and determination of the concentration of said analyte.
US07952689B2
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for performing triggering and for determining a triggering moment. In the solution, a unipolar electrical pulse of a detector (106, 118) is converted between the detector (106, 118) and a first amplifier (108, 120) succeeding the detector into at least one bipolar electrical oscillation. The bipolar electrical oscillation is amplified with at least one amplifier (108, 120) and triggering is performed at a zero level between the extreme values of the bipolar electrical oscillation. In addition, a triggering moment is determined, at which the amplified bipolar electrical oscillation crosses the zero level between its extreme values.
US07952685B2
An illuminator for a lithographic apparatus, the illuminator including an illumination mode defining element and a plurality of polarization modifiers, the polarization modifiers being moveable into or out of partial intersection with a radiation beam having an angular and spatial distribution as governed by an illumination mode defining element.
US07952682B1
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight disposed at the back of the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight includes a frame, a light source, a reflective sheet, and a heat dissipating plate formed in a rectangular shape and housing the light source, the reflective sheet, and the heat dissipating plate. The heat dissipating plate is disposed between the reflective sheet and a bottom surface of the frame and includes a first portion and a second portion facing the first portion, and has a plurality of first openings at the first portion and at least one second opening at the second portion. The plurality of first openings are formed along the first portion, and each of the first openings has a first edge and a first fin formed at a part of the first edge.
US07952681B2
A spacer structure includes a first substrate, an overcoat layer, first spacers, second spacers, and a second substrate. The first spacers are disposed in a first region, and the overcoat layer has a first thickness in the first region. The second spacers are disposed in a second region, and the overcoat layer has a second thickness in the second region. The first spacers and the second spacers have the same height, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. Accordingly, no gap exists between each of the first spacers and the second substrate; however, a gap exists between each or the second spacers and the second substrate.
US07952680B2
A liquid crystal device including: a first partition wall which is disposed on the first substrate at the second substrate side, is adjacent to the liquid crystal at one wall surface, is adjacent to the seal material at the other wall surface, and is disposed along the outer circumference of the display region; a second partition wall which is disposed on the first substrate at the second substrate side, has a wall surface facing the wall surface of the first partition wall adjacent to the seal material, and is disposed along the outer circumference of the first partition wall; and a connection portion which is disposed on the first substrate at the second substrate side with a height lower than that of the first partition wall and the second partition wall, and is disposed so as to connect the wall surface of the first partition wall adjacent to the seal material and the wall surface of the second partition wall facing the wall surface.
US07952676B2
Provided is a connection structure capable of reducing the distortion of a signal. The connection structure includes a first interconnection layer including a plurality of signal lines configured to transmit an operating signal generated by a driver to a receiver; a second interconnection layer including at least one ground line configured to connect the driver and ground terminals of the receiver; and an insulating layer interposed between the first and second interconnection layers to electrically insulate the signal lines from the ground line.
US07952665B2
The present invention provides a substrate for liquid crystal display devices which comprises a substrate body and an alignment film formed on a surface of the substrate body. The alignment film comprises at least two alignment film regions having different alignment characteristics, and neighboring alignment film regions are formed by coating different alignment materials to have the different alignment characteristics.
US07952647B2
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes receiving video data performing pre-filtering on the data, performing content analysis is applied to identify an area of the data, applying a two-dimensional (2-D) 2nd gradient operation to extract a high frequency component and normalizing the high frequency component related to high frequency information from a previous picture.
US07952629B2
The invention relates to an image sensor for cameras which includes a plurality of pixels arranged in lines and columns. The pixels each include a light-sensitive detector element to generate electrical charge from incident light, a transfer gate, a readout node which is charge-coupled to the detector element via the transfer gate, a converter circuit to generate a measurement signal which is proportional to a charge present in the readout node, and a reset device to reset a charge present in the readout node to a reference value. The image sensor furthermore includes a control device for the control of the transfer gate and of the of the reset device of the respective pixel. The control device is configured such that the charge generated during a single exposure procedure in the respective detector element is transferred from the detector element to the readout node in a plurality of portions. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the reading out of an image sensor.
US07952624B2
In a multilayer film filter formed of inorganic dielectric materials, a spacer layer has different thicknesses to form a plurality of color-transmissive filter elements having multiple different spectral characteristics on an image sensor.
US07952621B2
An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor that comprises a pixel portion having a plurality of pixel sensors configured to generate an image signal, and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed in an area of the pixel portion and configured to generate a temperature signal corresponding to a detected temperature, and a correction unit configured to correct the image signal from the plurality of image sensors according to the temperature detected by the plurality of temperature sensors.
US07952620B2
Upon continuously displaying a plurality of image data read from a recording medium, printing setting information including trimming information is set for the image data recorded to the recording medium with a corresponding relation to the image data. The displaying of the image data is controlled based on the determination of whether or not the printing setting information is set for each image data read from the recording medium.
US07952618B2
If a user is to be notified of detection of a face image, it is so arranged that the user can be so notified without being given an odd impression. To achieve this, the image of a subject is obtained by sensing the image of the subject. The image of the subject obtained contains a portrait image, and the face-image portion of the portrait image is detected by executing processing for detecting a face image. When a face image is detected, an apple mark, strawberry mark or heart mark, etc., is displayed near the detected face image. Instead of enclosing the face image within a rectangular border, the mark is displayed near the face image. The result is that the user is not given an odd impression.
US07952617B2
The image processing device performs image processing using image data generated by an image generating device, and image generation record information associated with the image data where the image generation record information includes at least operating information about the image generating device at the time of generation of the image data. A picture quality adjuster is able, when the image generation record information includes subject brightness information relating to the brightness of a subject at the time of generation of the image data, to adjust the picture quality of the image data using the subject brightness level derived from the subject brightness information.
US07952613B2
In the image blur correcting unit, one end of a flexible board is connected to a sensor board included in a holding module, and the portion of the flexible board that extends at least first from the sensor board extends outwardly from the holding module in a direction oblique to both first and second directions. That is, the flexible board is extended from the vicinity of an axis point which swings least while the holding module is swinging.
US07952607B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficient presentation of content over a network to a visually impaired user. Requests for content from a visually impaired user are processed by observing behavior of the user in connection with the requests; determining if the observed behavior constitutes a behavior pattern; and generating one or more rules based on the observed behavior that dynamically restructure content presented on at least one web page such that previously selected portions of the content is presented to the visually impaired user prior to other portions of the content. If one or more rules associated with a visually impaired user are applicable to requested content, wherein the rules are based on previously observed behavior of the user; and the requested content is restructured based on the one or more applicable rules such that previously selected portions of the content is presented to the visually impaired user prior to other portions of the content.
US07952601B2
An exposure head includes: a lens array in which lenses are disposed in a first direction; and a light-emitting element substrate on which light-emitting elements that emit light to be focused by the lenses are disposed. Length L1 of the lenses in the first direction and length L2 of the lenses in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction have a relation represented by an expression 1
US07952599B2
The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein incorporate transistor heating technology to create micro-heater arrays as the digital heating element for various marking applications. The transistor heaters are typically fabricated either on a thin flexible substrate or on an amorphous silicon drum and embedded below the working surface. Matrix drive methods may be used to address each individual micro-heater and deliver heat to selected surface areas. Depending on different marking applications, the digital heating element may be used to selectively tune the wettability of thermo-sensitive coating, selectively change ink rheology, selectively remove liquid from the surface, selectively fuse/fix toner/ink on the paper.
US07952582B1
A computerized method for computing an approximation for irradiance at a point in space from a plurality of distant lights sources includes determining a normal to a surface at a point on the surface being illuminated by the light sources, and determining a direction from the light sources to the point. The method further includes retrieving a function of the normal and the direction wherein the function is configured to provide an approximation of the irradiance, and combining the function with a function of distance, wherein the distance is from the light sources to the point. The method further includes determining an approximation for the irradiance at the point from the combined function with the function of distance based on the normal, the direction, and the distance.
US07952581B2
A lighting model specified in light space may be transformed to a 3D scene, which may include numerous lights. When the lighting model is transformed to the 3D scene and is uniformly scaled or near-uniformly scaled, intensity or brightness of light at sample points, corresponding to points in the 3D scene, may be adjusted proportionately for a light source using a value based, at least partly, on a transform matrix. When the lighting model in the light space is scaled to non-uniformly stretch a lit area, the sample points may be transformed to the light space, using an inverse of a transform matrix. Distances from the light source to the transformed sample points in the light space may be used to determine attenuation and range with respect to the light source.
US07952579B1
Z-buffer rendering of three-dimensional scenes is made more efficient through a method for occlusion culling by which occluded geometry is removed prior to rasterization. The method uses hierarchical z-buffering to reduce the quantity of image and depth information that needs to be accessed. A separate culling stage in the graphics pipeline culls occluded geometry and passes visible geometry on to a rendering stage. The culling stage maintains its own z-pyramid in which z-values are stored at low precision (e.g., in 8 bits). The efficiency of hierarchical z-buffering is improved through hierarchical evaluation of line and plane equations.
US07952570B2
An electronic device comprises a display for displaying data stored on said electronic device; input means; sensing means for sensing the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device; and control means for controlling the data displayed on said display in dependence on the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device. The input means includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for directing an infrared conical beam onto the display. The sensing means can sense the elliptical eccentricity of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the angle at which it strikes the display, and can sense the area of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the distance of the input means from the display.
US07952569B2
The present technique provides a system and method for automatically switching a computer system between multiple display profiles in response to a system event, such as a hardware event. The present technique detects the system event, identifies the hardware configuration of the computer system, and automatically reconfigures the computer system to accommodate the hardware configuration in real-time. The system event may be a physical rotation of a display between landscape and portrait orientations or between viewing and writing orientations. The system event also may be a physical docking or undocking of a first computing device with a second device in a variety of mounting positions. Any suitable sensor, switch, or hardware/software detection mechanism may be used for the foregoing event detection.
US07952568B2
A touch panel includes a first touch panel substrate; a second touch panel substrate disposed opposite the first touch panel substrate; at least one surface acoustic wave generator that generates a surface acoustic wave propagating across a surface of the second touch panel substrate facing the first touch panel substrate in a predetermined direction; at least one surface acoustic wave sensor that senses the surface acoustic wave generated by the surface acoustic wave generator; a position detector that detects a position where the first touch panel substrate is pressed according to the waveform of the surface acoustic wave sensed by the surface acoustic wave sensor; and spacers disposed between the first and second touch panel substrates along a path where the surface acoustic wave propagates from the surface acoustic wave generator to the surface acoustic wave sensor.
US07952567B2
A touch sensor includes a substrate with a touch region, and a series resistor chain for creating electrical fields across the touch region. The resistor chain comprises a plurality of conductive electrodes that to form overlap resistors therebetween. The electrodes have inner portions that are separated by junctions. The touch sensor also includes insulating regions between the touch region and the resistor chain. The insulating regions are separated by gaps to provide a plurality of conductive pathways to the touch region, thereby minimizing non-linear ripple along the sourcing sides of the substrate. Some of the gaps are junction gaps that are formed between the touch region and junctions. Electrically conductive islands are placed within the junction gaps to provide an electrical node within each junction gap, thereby preventing bunching of equipotential lines within the junction, and minimizing non-linear ripple along the non-sourcing sides of the substrate.
US07952557B2
Waveforms for driving electro-optic displays, especially bistable electro-optic displays, are modified by one or more of insertion of at least one balanced pulse pair into a base waveform; excision of at least one balanced pulse pair from the base waveform; and insertion of at least one period of zero voltage into the base waveform. Such modifications permit fine control of gray levels.
US07952556B2
A liquid crystal display device capable of improving quality of moving images is provided. Each LED (Light Emitting Diode) block is turned ON according to a response of a liquid crystal corresponding to a light emitting region and the brightest gray level is detected for each of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) of an input video signal in every frame period and an input video signal is converted into a value obtained by being multiplied by an upper limit gray level and then by being divided by the brightest gray level and a gray level voltage corresponding to the converted value is applied to each data electrode and, during a lighting period of LED blocks, each LED block is made to flash at a duty corresponding to a rate of the brightest gray level to the upper limit gray level.
US07952551B2
An electro-optical device includes a transistor, a data line, a pixel-potential-side capacitor electrode, a relay layer, an output line, a first and a second scanning line. The transistor includes a first and a second gate electrode. The data line is connected to the transistor via a first contact hole. The relay layer is formed from the same film as the data line, and connected to the pixel-potential-side capacitor electrode via a second contact hole. The output line is formed from the same film as the data line and allows the scan signal from a driving circuit to pass therethrough. The first scanning line is formed from the same film as the first gate electrode and connected to the output line via a third contact hole. The third contact hole is opened in the same process of opening the first contact hole. The second scanning line is formed from the same film as the second gate electrode and connected to the output line via a fourth contact hole. The fourth contact hole includes a first opening opened in the same process of opening the first contact hole and a second opening opened in the same process of opening the second contact hole. The first and the second opening overlap each other.
US07952544B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a backlight configured to emit first, second, and/or third colors of light, and a backlight controller. The backlight controller is configured to activate the backlight to simultaneously emit the first and second colors of light to generate a first image component including a combination of first color image data and second color image data, and to separately emit the third color of light at a different time than the first and second colors of light to generate a second image component including third color image data. The LCD device is configured to display the first and second image components to provide a single image frame. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.
US07952530B1
The present invention relates to an improved buoyant cable antenna system. The system includes a buoyant cable transmission line segment and an antenna segment formed from a flexible memory structure comprised of at least one segment of coiled compression, pinched to form a desired shape and encapsulated in a buoyant encapsulant material. The antenna segment may include a U-shaped keel portion, a horizontal serpentine shaped section, and a vertical element with the horizontal serpentine shaped section floating on the surface of the water and the vertical element extending above the surface of the water. A process for manufacturing the buoyant cable antenna system is also described.
US07952528B2
A duplex antenna system includes first and second antenna portions that are at least partially separated by a gap, a first feed line coupled to the first antenna portion, the first feed line being overlapped by the gap and the second antenna portion, and a second feed line coupled to the second antenna portion, the second feed line being overlapped by the gap and the first antenna portion.
US07952526B2
A dual-band resonator with compact size, such as a resonant type dual-band antenna, which uses an anisotropic metamaterial is described. The artificial anisotropic medium is implemented by employing a composite right/left-handed transmission line. The dispersion relation and the antenna physical size only depend on the composition of the unit cell and the number of cells used. By engineering the characteristics of the unit cells to be different in two orthogonal directions, the corresponding propagation constants can be controlled, thus enabling dual-band antenna resonances. In addition, the antenna dimensions can be markedly minimized by maximally reducing the unit cell size. A dual-band antenna is also described which is designed for operation at frequencies for PCS/Bluetooth applications, and which has a physical size of 1/18λ0× 1/18λ0× 1/19λ0, where λ0 is the free space wavelength at 2.37 GHz.
US07952514B2
A radar level gauge system comprising power management circuitry for regulating operating power to be used by a microwave unit and a processing circuitry of the radar level gauge system. The power management circuitry comprises a DC-DC converter having an input terminal connected to the interface, an output terminal connected to the microwave unit and the processing circuitry, and a reference terminal connected to an electrical reference point, wherein a first voltage level at the input terminal and a second voltage level at the output terminal relates to a reference voltage level at the electrical reference point. The power management circuitry further comprises an energy storage capacitor connected between the input and output terminals of the DC-DC converter. According to this design, the capacitance of the power management circuitry gets reduced due to that the capacitance is originating from a series capacitance.
US07952510B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid-state imaging device for enhancing accuracy of AD conversion and active switching of up-counting and down-counting in the asynchronous counter without limiting the AD conversion frequency. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes an asynchronous counter having an up-counting mode in which up-counting is performed, a down-counting mode in which down-counting is performed, and a holding mode for switching operation settings between the up-counting and the down-counting while maintaining a count value held in the asynchronous counter.
US07952509B2
A successive approximation A/D conversion circuit for simultaneously sampling N channels of analog signals and for A/D converting the sampled analog signals, includes: N capacitive main DACs; a resistive sub DAC; N comparators; and a successive approximation control circuit, wherein the successive approximation control circuit determines high-order bit values of A/D conversion results of the N channels of analog signals by controlling the N capacitive main DACs and the N comparators, and determines low-order bit values of the A/D conversion results of the N channels of analog signals by controlling the resistive sub DAC and the N comparators.
US07952507B2
Provided herein are segmented digital to analog converters (DACs), methods for use therewith, and systems that include one or more such DACs. According to an embodiment, a DAC includes a plurality of sub-DACs, a DAC input adapted to receive a multi-bit digital input and a DAC output adapted to output an analog output current in response to and indicative of the digital input. Each sub-DAC is adapted to receive a separate reference current that specifies a transfer function of the sub-DAC. A magnitude of the reference current provided to each sub-DAC is separately programmable to thereby separately control a gain of each sub-DAC.
US07952502B2
Imbalance and distortion cancellation for composite analog to digital converter (ADC). Such an ‘ADC’ is implemented using two or more ADCs may be employed for sampling (e.g., quantizing, digitizing, etc.) of an analog (e.g., continuous time) signal in accordance with generating a digital (e.g., discrete time) signal. Using at least two ADCs allows for the accommodation and sampling of various signals having a much broader dynamic range without suffering degradation in signal to noise ratio (SNR). Generally, the signal provided via at least one of the paths corresponding to at least one of the respective ADCs is scaled (e.g., attenuated), so that the various ADCs effectively sample signals of different magnitudes. The ADCs may respectively correspond to different magnitude and/or power levels (e.g., high power, lower power, any intermediary power level, etc.). Various implementations of compensation may be performed along the various paths corresponding to the respective ADCs.
US07952497B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate compound text input. The device is able to assemble language objects in the memory to generate compound language solutions. The device is able to prioritize compound language solutions according to various criteria.
US07952495B1
A method and device for entering data is provided wherein the pressing of up to two combinations of proximate keys on a keypad concurrently sends a signal or signals from the keypad to a processor. The processor receives the signal or signals and identifies a character, symbol, or function associated with the signal or signals and reports the same. In one embodiment, the keypad used for entering the data has a configuration of three columns and four rows. A method of identifying a character, symbol, or function comprises comparing the signal or signals to a data set of associated characters, symbols, or functions wherein the data set is mapped to said signal or signals with a modified Braille cell.
US07952487B2
A system may include a battery powered device and a cable used to charge the battery powered device. The cable may include a first connector to connect to the battery powered device and a second connector to connect to a power source. The cable may also includes a flexible portion located between the first connector and the second connector. The flexible portion may include an inner portion that includes an electrical conductor and an outer portion that includes a transparent or translucent material. The cable may further include at least one light source and circuitry to activate the light source based on a charge status of the battery powered device. The activated light source may illuminate at least a portion of the cable.
US07952484B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed which involve an improved way to coerce use of a soap dispenser (or other hygiene device). A soap dispenser according to at least one embodiment, includes a teaching or entertaining device that is fun and informative that is triggered when the soap dispenser is utilized. The soap dispenser may also be utilized as an advertising tool.
US07952483B2
A system for use in playing a video game, the system acting to measure the position of transponders for testing and to train the user to manipulate the position of the transponders while being guided by interactive and sensory feedback. A bidirectional communication link to a processing system supporting the video game provides functional movement assessment.
US07952479B2
The present invention relates to a container, especially for moisture-sensitive goods, with a container body formed by a wall and a bottom of the container, and a container cover which can be opened and closed. The container has a layer, preferably containing a desiccant, which extends over at least a part of the body and a transponder which is arranged between body and layer.
US07952472B2
A vehicular combined control system has functions of a smart entry system and a TPMS. A smart ECU turns on the output of a voltage signal terminal intermittently or in response to a given trigger. When the output of the voltage signal terminal turns on, a RF receiver section receives information from a portable device regardless of the ON/OFF state of an ignition switch to transmit the information to the smart ECU. When the ignition switch is ON and the output of the voltage signal terminal turns off, the RF receiver section receives information from tire sensors to transmit the information to a TPMS microcomputer.
US07952468B2
Disclosed is a method for originating a call. The method for originating the call enables a user to conveniently originate a call to a phone number and a web address input from the user. To this end, the method includes the steps of displaying an image and information corresponding to the image, determining if a key allowing connection to one of a phone number and a web address included in the information is input, and connecting to one of the phone number and the web address if it is determined that the key is input.
US07952459B2
A micromagnetic device including a substrate, and a magnetic core layer formed over the substrate from a magnetic alloy. The magnetic alloy includes iron, cobalt and phosphorous. A content of the cobalt is in a range of 1.8 to 4.5 atomic percent. A content of the phosphorus is in a range of 20.1 to 30 atomic percent. A content of the iron is substantially a remaining proportion of the magnetic alloy.
US07952452B2
A filter including at least two resonator through-holes defining apertures in the top surface surrounded by respective plates which in combination with associated through-holes define primary and secondary shunt zeros providing low ripple and high rejection adjacent the bandpass. In one embodiment, the through-hole of the primary shunt zero is coupled directly to an input/output pad, while the through-hole of the secondary shunt zero is indirectly coupled to the input/output pad via a coupling bar extending between the input/output pad and the secondary shunt zero. In another embodiment, the secondary shunt zero may be coupled directly to the input/output pad. In a further embodiment, additional resonator through-holes in combination with associated plates define additional shunt zeros coupled directly or indirectly to the input/output pad.
US07952449B2
A coaxial connector includes a first inner conductor and a second inner conductor. A capacitor connects between the first inner conductor and the second inner conductor. An outer conductor extends along and surrounds the first and second inner conductors and the capacitor. A first dielectric material is filled in a gap between the outer conductor and the first and second inner conductors. A support member supports the first and second inner conductors with respect to the outer conductor. A second dielectric material for impedance matching is provided between the capacitor and the outer conductor.
US07952445B2
In a voltage controlled oscillator circuit comprising two transistors, the first terminals of each said two transistors, are coupled together and to a supply voltage, two interconnected resonator units, and each of said two resonator units couples a respective second terminal of said two transistors to third terminals of both said transistors.
US07952444B2
CMOS power oscillator and a method of frequency modulating a CMOS power oscillator. The oscillator comprises a transformer-based feedback CMOS power oscillator circuit formed on a chip-substrate, the oscillator circuit including a transformer coupled to a transistor; means for modulating the capacitance of the transformer to the chip-substrate for frequency modulating an output of the power oscillator.
US07952442B2
Integrated circuit package having inductance loop formed from same-pin-to-same-bonding-pad structure
An integrated circuit package includes an inductance loop formed from a connection of bonding wires and one or more input/output (I/O) package pins. In one embodiment, the inductance loop is formed from a first wire which connects a bonding pad on the integrated circuit chip to an I/O pin of the package and a second wire which connects the same bonding pad to the same pin. By forming the inductor loop within the limits of the integrated circuit package, a substantial reduction in space requirements is realized, which, in turn, promotes miniaturization.
US07952433B2
Systems and methods are provided for power amplifiers with discrete power control. The systems and methods may include a plurality of unit power amplifiers; a plurality of primary windings, wherein each primary winding is connected to at least one respective output port of a respective one the plurality of unit power amplifiers; a secondary winding inductively coupled to the plurality of primary windings, where the secondary winding provides an overall output; a bias controller, where the bias controller provides a respective bias voltage based at least in part on a level of output power to one or more of the plurality of unit power amplifiers; and a switch controller, where the switch controller operates to activate or deactivate at least one of the plurality of unit power amplifiers via a respective control signal.
US07952428B2
A circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an instrumentation amplifier, a dynamically adjustable low pass filter, at least one monitor and a controller. The instrumentation amplifier includes a pair of buffered operational amplifiers that accept a pair of input signals, and a differential operational amplifier that outputs an output signal indicative of a difference between the pair of input signals. The dynamically adjustable low pass filter is configured to provide band limiting of the output signal at frequencies greater than a cutoff frequency. The monitor, or monitors, is/are configured to monitor a signal upstream of the instrumentation amplifier and/or a signal downstream of the instrumentation amplifier and output a monitor signal. The controller is configured to receive the monitor signal, or signals, and to dynamically adjust output voltage noise at frequencies greater than the crossover frequency of the multipath amplifiers and/or the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter based on the monitor signal, or signals.
US07952421B2
The present invention relates to an improved PTAT current source and a respective method for generating a PTAT current. Opportune collector currents are generated and forced in two transistors exploiting the logarithmic relation between the base-emitter voltage and the collector current of a transistor. A resistor senses a voltage difference between the base-emitter voltages of the two transistors, which can have either the same or different areas. A fraction of the current flowing through the resistor is forced into a transistor collector and mirrored by an output transistor for providing an output current. By this principle an all npn-transistor PTAT current source can be provided that does not need pup transistors as in conventional PTAT current sources. The invention is generally applicable to a variety of different types of integrated circuits needing a PTAT current reference, especially in modern advanced technologies as InP and GaAs where p-type devices are not available. For example, the PTAT current source circuit of the invention can be used in radio frequency power amplifiers, in radio frequency tag circuits, in a satellite microwave front-end.
US07952418B2
An enhanced transistor gate drive is disclosed in which a pair of Kelvin sense leads measure the voltage potential across at the gate and source of the transistor. The difference in the voltage potential of the Kelvin sense lead from the gate and the Kelvin sense lead of the source is provided to a voltage controlled current source, which compares the output of the voltage differentiator to an oscillating voltage input. Changes to the voltage difference between the Kelvin sense connectors will result in more or less voltage being applied at the gate of the transistor, thereby parasitic inductance in the transistor from causing the device to switch on and off.
US07952411B2
A method of delaying successive first and second input signals by first and second different selectable time periods using a programmable delay line comprising a sequence of delay elements, each introducing a delay, the method comprising the steps of: providing a control signal to each delay element, the control signal selectively being in a first logic state or a second logic state wherein in a first logic state the delay element selects an input from an adjacent delay element thereby to select the delay elements as part of a set of delay elements introducing said selectable time period and in a second logic state the delay element is not selected in the set; setting the control signals for a first number of adjacent delay elements to the first logic state to introduce the first selectable time period wherein the control signals for the delay elements in the sequence not in the first number are set to the second logic state; and setting the control signals of a second number of adjacent delay elements to the first logic state to introduce a second selectable time period, wherein the control signals for the delay elements in the sequence not in the second number are set to the second logic state; whereby the reconfiguration time between the first and second input signals is less than the maximum delay introduced by the sequence of delay elements.
US07952405B2
A semiconductor device for providing a reliable data valid window includes a drive control unit configured to output a driving power control signal in response to an internal clock and a command signal; a sub-drive voltage supply unit configured to supply sub-drive voltages; a main drive unit configured to generate a delay-locked loop (DLL) clock by driving the internal clock with a main drive voltage; a sub-drive unit configured to drive the internal clock with the sub-drive voltage in response to the driving power control signal; and a data output driver configured to drive and output a data signal in sync with the DLL clock, wherein the main drive unit and the sub-drive unit share their output terminal.
US07952403B2
An update control apparatus in a DLL circuit is provided. The update control apparatus includes a logic value determination, a phase information collection unit, and an update control unit. The logic value determination unit is configured to determine a logic value of a phase detection signal for a first period interval of a reference clock signal to generate a phase information signal, and configured to extend the first period interval into a second period interval when an extension instruction signal is enabled. The phase information collection unit is configured to determine consecutive logic values of an update possible signal to generate the extension instruction signal, and configured to collect the phase information signal to generate an update information signal. The update control unit is configured to generate the update possible signal, a valid interval signal, and an update control signal in response to the update information signal.
US07952396B1
An AWG includes a waveform memory providing a digital waveform signal at a sample rate and an arbitrary factor interpolator (AFI) coupled to receive the digital waveform signal or a processed digital waveform signal. A complex mixer for carrier modulation is coupled to the AFI which outputs a complex band pass signal. A DAC is coupled to an output of the complex mixer for receiving the complex band pass signal to provide an analog output signal. A fixed frequency sample clock clocks the DAC to provide a fixed DAC sample rate. The DAC provides a data clock signal to a sample request controller that generates a sample request signal that is coupled to the waveform memory for requesting the digital waveform signal from the waveform memory. The interpolated digital signal is sampled at the fixed DAC sample rate independent of the sample rate of digital waveform signal.
US07952386B2
There is provided an input/output multiplexer capable of reducing a layout area in designing a device by disposing first and second multiplexers at either side of a specific data input/output (I/O) pad. An apparatus for multiplexing data inputted or outputted to a global input/output (I/O) line includes a first multiplexer for multiplexing the data and supplying a first multiplexed data to the global I/O line and a second multiplexer for multiplexing the first multiplexed data supplied to the global I/O line, wherein the first and second multiplexers are formed at either side of the global I/O line.
US07952385B2
The temperature dependence of an inrush current suppression circuit comprising a MOSFET having an input terminal coupled to a direct current input voltage can a transistor electrically coupled to the MOSFET can be reduced by matching the temperature coefficient of a transistor to a component electrically coupled to the transistor.
US07952381B2
A semiconductor device includes: a driver that receives a power supply voltage and drives an external load with a driving capability; a measurement unit that measures a level of the power supply voltage; a code table that stores the level of the power supply voltage and code information for determining the driving capability of the driver; and a controller that reads the code information in accordance with the level of a measured power supply voltage in reference to the code table and controls the driving capability of the driver in accordance with the code information.
US07952380B2
The invention relates to an interfacing device for pseudo-differential transmission through interconnections used for sending a plurality of electrical signals. The interfacing device of the invention includes signal terminals and a common terminal. A transmitting circuit receives the input signals of the transmitting circuit coming from a source. The output of the transmitting circuit delivers, when the transmitting circuit is in the activated state, voltages between one of said signal terminals and said common terminal. A receiving circuit delivers, when the receiving circuit is in the activated state, output signals of the receiving circuit determined each by the voltage between one of the signal terminals and the common terminal, to the destination. The balancing circuit is such that, when the transmitting circuit is in the activated state, the current flowing out of the common terminal approximates the opposite of the sum of the currents flowing out of the signal terminals.
US07952377B2
Improved probing of closely spaced contact pads is provided by an array of vertical probes having all of the probe tips aligned along a single contact line, while the probe bases are arranged in an array having two or more rows parallel to the contact line. With this arrangement of probes, the probe base thickness can be made greater than the contact pad spacing along the contact line, thereby advantageously increasing the lateral stiffness of the probes. The probe tip thickness is less than the contact pad spacing, so probes suitable for practicing the invention have a wide base section and a narrow tip section.
US07952373B2
Several embodiments of integrated circuit probe card assemblies are disclosed, which extend the mechanical compliance of both MEMS and thin-film fabricated probes, such that these types of spring probe structures can be used to test one or more integrated circuits on a semiconductor wafer. Several embodiments of probe card assemblies, which provide tight signal pad pitch compliance and/or enable high levels of parallel testing in commercial wafer probing equipment, are disclosed. In some preferred embodiments, the probe card assembly structures include separable standard components, which reduce assembly manufacturing cost and manufacturing time. These structures and assemblies enable high speed testing in wafer form. The probes also have built in mechanical protection for both the integrated circuits and the MEMS or thin film fabricated spring tips and probe layout structures on substrates. Interleaved spring probe tip designs are defined which allow multiple probe contacts on very small integrated circuit pads. The shapes of probe tips are preferably defined to control the depth of probe tip penetration between a probe spring and a pad or trace on an integrated circuit device. Improved protective coating techniques for spring probes are also disclosed, offering increased reliability and extended useful service lives for probe card assemblies.
US07952366B2
A capacitive touch sensor providing an automatic switch-off function for an apparatus in which the sensor is incorporated is provided. The sensor includes a sensing element coupled to a capacitance measurement circuit for measuring the capacitance of the sensing element. A control circuit is operable to determine from the capacitance measurement whether an object is in proximity with the sensor. The determined presence of an object may he used to toggle a function of the apparatus. Furthermore, when it is determined that an object has not been in proximity with the sensor for a predetermined time duration, an output signal for switching off the apparatus is provided. The predetermined time duration may be selected from a number of predefined time durations, or may be programmed using a resistor-capacitor network. Pulses may be applied to the control circuit to override features of the automatic switch-off functionality.
US07952364B2
A power noise detecting device includes a plurality of power lines, and a power noise detecting part configured to detect power noise by rectifying voltages of the plurality of power lines and converting the rectified voltages into effective voltages.
US07952361B2
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, including a power supply that generates supply power supplied to the device under test; a transmission path that transmits the supply power generated by the power supply to the device under test; a high-capacitance capacitor that is provided between the transmission path and a ground potential; a low-capacitance capacitor that has a lower capacitance than the high-capacitance capacitor and that is provided between the transmission path and the ground potential at a position closer to the device under test than the high-capacitance capacitor is to the device under test; an intermediate capacitor that is provided between the transmission path and the ground potential at a position between the high-capacitance capacitor and the low-capacitance capacitor; and a current measuring section that measures current flowing through the transmission path between the intermediate capacitor and the low-capacitance capacitor.
US07952350B2
A circuit including Hall plates and an amplifier. The Hall plates are configured to provide Hall voltages in a homogenous magnetic field such that a first Hall plate has a first positive voltage and a first negative voltage and a second Hall plate has a second positive voltage and a second negative voltage. The amplifier is configured to receive the Hall voltages and provide a first output voltage that corresponds to the first positive voltage and the second positive voltage and a second output voltage that corresponds to the first negative voltage and the second negative voltage.
US07952347B2
A vibration detection circuit. The circuit includes an accelerometer, a combining filter, an amplifier, and an analog to digital converter. The accelerometer generates one or more signals indicative of movement along an axis. The combining filter filters a component of the one or more signals not associated with movement and combines the components of the one or more signals indicative of movement to create a combined signal. The amplifier amplifies the combined signal and creates an amplified signal. The analog to digital converter converts the amplified signal into a digital value.
US07952341B2
Apparatus and methods of controlling operating states of multi-stable electronic circuits are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a bandgap reference circuit having an operating state and a latched off state. The bandgap reference circuit includes an amplifier to provide a bandgap reference voltage when the bandgap reference circuit is in the operating state. A state control circuit is also included and is coupled to sense an output signal of the bandgap reference circuit. The state control circuit is also coupled to provide a drive signal to an input of the amplifier in response to the sensed output signal. The drive signal is coupled to cause the bandgap reference circuit to avoid the latched off state.
US07952320B2
The electronic apparatus includes a portable electronic device and a charger for capacitively charging the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is temporarily placed adjacent the charger. The portable electronic device includes a device data communication unit and an associated battery, and a pair of device capacitive electrodes, defining a device conductive footprint, to receive a charging signal to charge the battery. The charger includes a base having an area larger than the device conductive footprint and able to receive the portable electronic device thereon in a plurality of different positions, and an array of charger capacitive electrodes carried by the base. A charger controller selectively drives only the charger capacitive electrodes within the device conductive footprint with a charging signal to capacitively charge the battery. A charger data communication unit communicates with the device data communication unit via the charger capacitive electrodes and device capacitive electrodes, e.g. by modulating data onto the charging signal.
US07952319B2
A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle is mounted to a street light. The charge transfer device includes the following: an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle; an electric power line that couples the power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box; a control device to switch the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and a controller to operate the control device and to monitor output from the current measuring device.
US07952303B2
An electronic ballast has control circuitry to operate a gas discharge lamp in both full and dimmed illumination modes. The electronic ballast also includes a full power circuit having a power control coupled to the dimming controller output to receive the dimming controller signal, a filament heating circuit having a heating input coupled to a reduced power circuit to receive a reduced power signal and a heating output that can couple to the filaments of one or more lamps. When the full power circuit receives the dimming controller signal, via the power control, and the dimming controller signal is not in the dimming request range (i.e. the full illumination mode has been selected), the full power circuit generates a full power signal capable of driving/operating the lamp(s) in the full illumination mode. When the reduced power signal is present, the filament heating circuit generates and provides a filament heating signal to the filaments, via the heating output.
US07952291B2
A discharge lamp having a visual-change timer is described. The visual-change timer is comprised of a ceramic material that provides an indication of the cumulative operating time of the lamp. The visual-change timer is expected be a help to consumers in avoiding unnecessary, premature, and costly lamp replacement and a help to lamp manufacturers in verifying the validity of warranty claims for replacement lamps.
US07952284B2
A metal halide lamp with a more stable lamp voltage, comprising a ceramic discharge vessel which encloses a discharge space, in which a first and a second electrode are arranged, which discharge vessel has a central zone extending between the electrodes and being closed at either side by a first and a second end zone, respectively, in which the first end zone surrounds, with little clearance, a current supply conductor connected to the first electrode and extending to the exterior through a seal to the wall of the first end zone, which current supply conductor has a halide-resistant section facing the discharge space and a section remote from the discharge space, wherein the halide-resistant section of the first current supply conductor comprises a wire made of tungsten or of tungsten alloyed with molybdenum.
US07952279B2
A fluorescence particle 17 according to the present invention is used for a light emitting display device and is made of a fluorescent material. The fluorescent material has at least one element 18 selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr and Y. Within a range 17a from the surface 17s of the fluorescence particle through a depth of 20 nm, the at least one element 18 has a local maximum of its concentration profile in the depth direction.
US07952275B2
A display device includes a display panel divided into a display area and a non-display area. An encapsulation member covers the display panel, and a sealant is positioned between the display panel and the encapsulation member. A desiccant member is disposed between the display panel and the encapsulation member. The display panel includes an organic layer formed in the display area and a common electrode covering the organic layer, the common electrode extending in the non-display area. The desiccant member is disposed along a periphery of the common electrode in the non-display area.
US07952274B2
The dial module includes: a sheet-shaped dial having a design part on a surface of the dial; a sheet-shaped light source fixed to a back surface of the dial for illuminating the design part; and a flexible printed circuit fixed to a back surface of the light source. The dial module thus constructed enables to reduce the number of components, to facilitate assembly of a meter which employs the dial module therein, to improve the productivity, and to reduce the cost.
US07952268B2
An electroluminescent device includes a first electrode layer, a phosphor layer on the first electrode layer, a layer with permanent accumulated charges on the phosphor layer, and a second electrode layer on the layer with permanent accumulated charges. By the addition of the layer with permanent accumulated charges, an external driving voltage applied to the luminescent device can be reduced.
US07952265B2
An electron-emitting device, comprising:a pair of device electrodes formed on an insulating substrate; and a conductive film formed to connect the device electrodes and having an electron-emitting portion, wherein the conductive film has a thickness of 3 nm to 50 nm and is made of precious metal and oxide of base metal, a percentage of the base metal among metals contained in the conductive film is 30 mol % or more, and the conductive film has a concentration gradient of the oxide of the base metal in a thickness direction.
US07952264B2
A lamp module suitable for a projector has an insulating base, a lamp, electrode lines, electrode terminals, electrode strips, conductive lines, an electrical connector and conductive terminals. The lamp is mounted on the insulating base. Each of the electrode lines has an end connected to the lamp. The electrode terminals are respectively connected to the other ends of the electrode lines. Each of the electrode strips has a first end and a second end, wherein the electrode terminals and the first ends are fastened on the insulating base, and the electrode terminals respectively contact the first ends. The electrical connector is connected to one ends of the conductive lines. The conductive terminals are respectively connected to another ends of the conductive lines. The conductive terminals and the second ends herein are fastened on the insulating base, and the conductive terminals respectively contact the second ends.
US07952259B2
The device improved according to the invention comprises a micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) with a piezoelectric element connected to a mechanical support on both sides at the edges. The electrode design of this piezoelectric element is characterized by two electrodes mounted on at least one of the surfaces.
US07952238B2
Linear electric generators include stationary windings and armature magnets arranged to reciprocate axially relative to the windings, or stationary magnet structures and movable windings arranged to reciprocate relative to the stationary magnet structures. The armature magnets or stationary magnet structures are in the form of multiple pole magnets made up of a plurality of individual pole structures, each pole structure including a pair of magnets joined to each other with facing poles of like polarity. In addition, the windings may be in the form of a double winding structure including at least one first clockwise winding and at least one second counterclockwise winding arranged in a multi-layered stacked arrangement.
US07952235B2
A single-phase electronic power-saving device includes at least one power-saving unit. The power-saving unit includes two ceramic piece capacitors, a safe capacitor, an inductor, a SCR, a first resistor, a second resistor, a live wire and a zero line; the two ceramic piece capacitors connected in series as a whole is connected in parallel with the safe capacitor to two terminals of which are connected the anode and the cathode of SCR, respectively; the anode of SCR is also connected to one terminal of the inductor, the branch composed of the first and the second resistors connected in series is connected in parallel so that one terminal of which is connected to one terminal of the inductor and the other is connected to the cathode of SCR; the gate of SCR is connected between the first and the second resistors.
US07952227B2
A feed hub includes a priority receiving unit that acquires priority indicating degree of need of electricity feed, for each of plural terminals, a feed relation determining unit that selects two communication devices having different priorities acquired by the priority receiving unit, determines the communication device having lower priority as a feed source and the communication device having higher priority as a feed destination from the selected communication devices, an electricity switching unit that connects the feed source and the feed destination determined by the feed relation determining unit, and a feed requesting unit that requests the feed source determined by the feed relation determining unit to feed electricity.
US07952219B2
Hydroelectric pumped-storage includes monitoring electrical demand on a system over time. If the monitored demand exceeds a predetermined first value, fluid is allowed to flow substantially under the influence of gravity from a first aquifer to a second aquifer. Kinetic energy from the flowing fluid is converted into electrical energy. If the monitored demand drops below a predetermined second value, fluid from the second aquifer is moved to the first aquifer.
US07952218B2
A system for generating electricity includes a pump operable to convert wave motion from a body of water into mechanical energy. The pump includes an input port through which an operating fluid can enter the pump and an output port through which the operating fluid can exit the pump. A first outlet line and a second outlet line are fluidly coupled to the output port of the pump. A first reservoir is fluidly connected to the first outlet line, and a second reservoir is fluidly connected to the second outlet line, both reservoirs being selectively capable of receiving operating fluid driven through the output port.
US07952213B2
An overlay mark arrangement for reducing the asymmetric profile and an overlay shift during an integrated circuit manufacturing process is disclosed. In one embodiment, the overlay mark arrangement may comprise a first mark, a second mark and a stress releasing means. The first mark is used to indicate the position of a lower layer, the second mark is used to indicate the position of an upper layer; and the stress releasing means is used to release the film stress induced by the upper layer. Unlike the conventional overlay mark arrangements, which will have a severe overlay mark shift due to the film stress, the asymmetric overlay mark profile can be improved by using multiple trenches around the overlay marks according to certain embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.
US07952211B2
One or more electronic components can be mounted on the back side of a semiconductor die. The components can be passive components, active components, or combinations thereof. The components can be soldered to signal routes on the back side of the die, the signal routes being attached to the die using a metallization layer or using one or more dielectric layer sections. Placing components on the back side of the die can allow for incorporation of the components without necessarily increasing the form factor of the die's package.
US07952210B2
There is provided a semiconductor package comprising: a multilayer thin film structure including a plurality of dielectric layers and at least one or more redistribution layers; a semiconductor chip positioned at one side of the multilayer thin film structure and electrically connected to the redistribution layer; and a solder bump formed at the other side of the multilayer thin film structure. The multilayer thin film structure functions as the substrate for the semiconductor package and realizes the light, thin, short and small BGA package without any additional substrate. A plurality of the packages can be simultaneously formed at wafer level or carrier level, to simplify the process and to be favorable for mass production. After the semiconductor chips are formed at wafer level, only the semiconductor chips having the excellent operation characteristic through the test are selectively bonded to the multilayer thin film structure, to provide the high quality package products in which the fault rate is maximally reduced. The light, thin, short and small BGA package according to the present invention enables small and slim communication devices, displayers and other diverse electronic devices, to be contributed to the increase of the competitiveness of the products to which the BGA package is applied.
US07952209B2
An integrated circuit package system includes an integrated circuit die, a first controlled bump over the integrated circuit die, a second controlled bump over the integrated circuit die, and a connector between the first controlled bump and the second controlled bump.
US07952201B2
A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of semiconductor chips and a plurality of through-line groups is disclosed. Each of the through-line groups consists of a unique number of through-lines. The numbers associated with the through-line groups are mutually coprime to each other. When one of the through-lines is selected for the each through-line group, one of the semiconductor chip is designated by a combination of the selected through-lines of the plurality of the through-line groups.
US07952195B2
A microelectronic assembly that includes a first microelectronic element having a first rear surface. The assembly further includes a second microelectronic element having a second rear surface. The second microelectronic element is attached to the first microelectronic element so as to form a stacked package. A bridging element electrically connects the first microelectronic element and the second microelectronic element. The first rear surface of the first microelectronic element faces toward the second rear surface of the second microelectronic element.
US07952188B2
A module is described having a semiconductor chip which has at least one contact pad. A first dielectric layer, which contains a fluorocarbon compound, as well as a first wiring layer are applied to the semiconductor chip.
US07952186B2
A semiconductor package includes a bare chip which has a plurality of external electrodes, a land grid array substrate having an edge, a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a first portion apart from the edge and a second portion adjacent to the edge. The first portion of the first surface mounts the bare chip and is covered with a resin to seal the bare chip with the resin. The first portion of the first surface and the second surface includes a non-sealed region which is not covered with the resin. A plurality of first electrodes are arranged on the non-sealed region and connected to the external electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes are arranged on the second surface and connected to the external electrodes.
US07952185B2
A device comprising a chip, which is held in casting compound and on which a hollow structure is arranged is disclosed.
US07952182B2
A semiconductor package comprises a first package; a second package that is provided on the first package; and a first interconnect that comprises a bump to couple to the first package and a base material layer to cover the bump, wherein the second package is supported on the base material layer that is coupled to the bump.
US07952181B2
An interposer has an opening in the central portion. A plurality of first electrode terminals are formed on the front surface near the opening of the interposer, a plurality of second electrode terminals are formed on the front surface of the peripheral portion thereof and corresponding ones of the plurality of first and second electrode terminals are electrically connected to one another via a plurality of wirings. A plurality of bump electrodes is formed on the front surface of a child chip. A plurality of bump electrodes containing a plurality of bump electrodes for connection with the exterior are formed on the front surface of a parent chip. The front surfaces of the parent chip and child chip are set to face each other with the interposer disposed therebetween and the bump electrodes are electrically connected to one another in the opening of the interposer.
US07952178B2
According to various illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a device for an integrated circuit includes a monolithic frame having a plurality of alignment features disposed thereon, the monolithic frame having a mounting surface disposed thereon for the integrated circuit, the monolithic frame also having a thermal interface area disposed thereon for the integrated circuit. The device also includes an electrical interface capable of providing an electrical connection for the integrated circuit, the plurality of alignment features being substantially independent of the electrical interface, and an adhesive layer disposed between the monolithic frame and the electrical interface.
US07952177B2
A resin-sealed semiconductor device with built-in heat sink prevents internal bulging and cracking caused by exfoliation of a semiconductor element from the heat sink when the vapor pressure of moisture absorbed into a gap between the semiconductor element and the heat sink rises during mounting of the semiconductor device to a printed circuit board using lead-free solder. By providing a plurality of separated die pads (502) in a mounting area for a semiconductor element (301) and adhering the semiconductor element (301) to the heat sink (105) via the die pads (502), space is opened up between the semiconductor element (301) and the heat sink (105) for sealing resin (304) to run into.
US07952168B2
A substrate strip for semiconductor packages to slow the crack growth, primarily comprises a molding area and two side rails. The molding area includes a plurality of packaging units. The side rails are located outside the molding area and include two opposing longer sides of the substrate strip. A metal mesh is disposed on the side rails. The metal mesh consists of a plurality of crisscrossed wires having a plurality of isolated wire terminals at one edge of the metal mesh. Accordingly, crack growth is slowed by the specific metal mesh without damaging the packaging units. In one embodiment, the metal mesh is without boundary wires connecting to the isolated wire terminals to enhance the resistance to crack growth.
US07952162B2
A semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate; isolation layers, each of which is formed in a trench formed on the substrate and has an insulating film and a conductive layer; a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type for storing signal charges, formed between the isolation layers and isolated from the conductive layers by the insulating films; a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, formed under the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type; and a transistor having a gate insulator film formed on the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulator film.
US07952159B2
A photo sensor includes a patterned shielding conductive layer disposed on a transparent substrate, and a buffer dielectric layer, a patterned semiconductor layer, and a dielectric layer disposed on the patterned shielding layer in order. The patterned semiconductor layer includes an intrinsic region, a first doped region, and a second doped region, wherein the first and second doped regions are positioned at two sides of the intrinsic region separately. A patterned transparent conductive layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and covers the boundary of the intrinsic region and the first doped region and the boundary of the intrinsic region and the second doped region. The patterned transparent conductive layer is electrically connected to the patterned shielding conductive layer.
US07952125B2
A solid-state imaging device capable of reducing an eclipse (blocking) of an incident light at a circumferential portion of a light receiving portion and realizing a larger angle of view and high-speed driving. A single-layer transfer electrode configuration of forming first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes by one polysilicon layer is adopted. Two shunt wirings extending in a horizontal direction are formed on the first transfer electrodes connected in a horizontal direction and, for example, four-phase transfer pulses are supplied to first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes on transfer channels through low-resistance shunt wirings extending in the horizontal direction.
US07952124B2
An image sensor and manufacturing method thereof are provided. An insulating layer having a wiring can be provided on a semiconductor substrate. A barrier wiring can be provided in the insulating layer between the wiring of a unit pixel and an adjacent wiring of an adjacent pixel. A device isolating pattern can be provided on the barrier wiring, and a lower electrode can be provided on the insulating layer and the wiring. A photodiode can be provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode can be provided on the photodiode.
US07952122B2
To form a semiconductor device, an electrode layer is formed over a semiconductor body. The electrode layer includes an amorphous portion. A liner, e.g., a stress-inducing liner, is deposited over the electrode layer. The electrode layer is annealed to recrystallize the amorphous portion of the electrode layer. The liner can then be removed and an electronic component (e.g., a transistor) that includes a feature (e.g., a gate) formed from the electrode layer can be formed.
US07952119B2
A restricted layout region includes a diffusion level layout that includes a number of diffusion region layout shapes to be formed within a portion of a substrate of a semiconductor device. The diffusion region layout shapes define at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region. The restricted layout region includes a gate electrode level layout defined to pattern conductive features within a gate electrode level above the portion of the substrate. The gate electrode level layout includes rectangular-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Some of the rectangular-shaped layout features form gate electrodes of respective PMOS transistor devices, and some of the rectangular-shaped layout features form gate electrodes of respective NMOS transistor devices. A number of the PMOS transistor devices is equal to a number of the NMOS transistor devices in the restricted layout region of the semiconductor device.
US07952116B2
The present disclosure relates to a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device with low driving voltage and high light emission output, which has a positive electrode comprising a transparent electrically conducting layer put into direct contact with a p-type semiconductor layer. An embodiment of the disclosure includes a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device, which includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer, which may be formed in this order on a substrate, wherein each layer comprises a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor, the light-emitting device has a negative electrode and a positive electrode provided on the n-type semiconductor layer and a region having a semiconductor metal concentration of 20 at. % or more, based on all metals, is present in the transparent electrically conducting film on the semiconductor side surface of the transparent electrically conducting film.
US07952114B2
A light-emitting device assembly which can be used in many applications has a contact carrier, at least one light-emitting device, a heat sink and at least one securing member. The contact carrier has a light-emitting device receiving region and resilient contacts which are provided proximate to the light-emitting device receiving region. The at least one light-emitting device has leads which extend therefrom to mechanically and electrically engage the resilient contacts. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the at least one light-emitting device. The at least one securing member extends through the contact carrier and into the heat sink to releasably retain the contact carrier and the at least one light-emitting device in position relative to each other and relative to the heat sink.
US07952110B2
A light source is provided comprising an LED component having an emitting surface, which may comprise: i) an LED capable of emitting light at a first wavelength; and ii) a re-emitting semiconductor construction which comprises a second potential well not located within a pn junction having an emitting surface; or which may alternately comprise a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction; and which additionally comprises a converging optical element.
US07952091B2
Disclosed are an organic thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an insulating layer, an organic semiconductor layer, a protective layer, and source and drain electrodes. The insulating layer is on the gate electrode, and the organic semiconductor layer is on the insulating layer. The protective layer is on the organic semiconductor layer, and includes an electrode pattern part to expose the organic semiconductor layer. The source and drain electrodes are in the electrode pattern part and connected to the organic semiconductor layer.
US07952087B2
A programmable resistance memory combines multiple cells into a block that includes one or more shared electrodes. The shared electrode configuration provides additional thermal isolation for the active region of each memory cell, thereby reducing the current required to program each memory cell.
US07952086B2
Provided are a phase-change nonvolatile memory device and a manufacturing method thereof. The device includes: a substrate; and a stack structure disposed on the substrate and including a phase-change material layer. The phase-change material layer is formed of an alloy of antimony (Sb) and zinc (Zn), so that the phase-change memory device can stably operate at high speed and reduce power consumption.
US07952084B2
A radiation source is configured to generate extreme ultraviolet radiation. The radiation source includes a plasma formation site located at a position in which a fuel is contacted by a beam of radiation to form a plasma, a collector constructed and arranged to collect extreme ultraviolet radiation formed at the plasma formation site and form an extreme ultraviolet radiation beam, and a contamination barrier. The contamination barrier includes a plurality of foils at least partially located between the plasma formation site and the collector, and a rotatable base operatively connected to the plurality of foils. The rotatable base is configured to allow the beam of radiation to pass through the contamination barrier to the plasma formation site.
US07952083B2
An ion beam system includes a sample stage which holds a sample, an ion source which generates an ion beam so that the ion beam is extracted from the ion source along an extraction axis, an irradiation optical system having an irradiation axis along which the ion beam is irradiated toward the sample held on the sample stage, and a charged particle beam observation system for observing a surface of the sample which is machined by the irradiated ion beam. The extraction axis along which the ion beam is extracted from the ion source and the irradiation axis along which the sample is irradiated are inclined with respect to one another.
US07952081B2
A subject is imaged for treatment of the subject such as an eye to be inspected, while irradiating a charged particle beam on the eye, so that an aim position of a charged particle beam for treatment can be determined.The device for determining an aim position of a charged particle beam includes a range adjuster 14 that adjusts an irradiation position, in a depth direction of the eye, of a charged particle beam irradiated from a charged particle beam source, a mirror 18 that transmits or passes the position determining charged particle beam and reflects an emitted light emitted from a region of the eye on which the charged particle beam is irradiated and an emitted light emitted, due to an irradiated of an excitation light, from a region including the region of the eye on which the position determining charged particle beam, toward the outside of the axis of the charged particle beam, and an eyeground imaging device 24 that is arranged at a position where the emitted lights reflected from the mirror are incident and images the region including the region of the eye on which the charged particle beam is irradiated by causing the emitted lights to be incident, so that it allows to determine an aim position of a charged particle beam for treatment based on a imaged image.
US07952074B2
A circuit pattern inspection method and an apparatus therefore, in which the whole of a portion to be inspected of a sample to be inspected is made to be in a predetermined changed state, the portion to be inspected is irradiated with an image-forming high-density electron beam while scanning the electron beam, secondary charged particles are detected at a portion irradiated with the electron beam after a predetermined period of time from an instance when the electron beam is irradiated, an image is formed on the basis of the thus detected secondary charged particle signal, and the portion to be inspected is inspected by using the thus formed image.
US07952072B2
A scan control unit for generating two-dimensional coordinates for performing a scan with an electron beam of an electron scanning microscope is provided with first and second transforming units for transforming coordinates in the horizontal (X) direction and the vertical (V) direction. An area to be tested in a sample is scanned with an electron beam in an arbitrary direction. As the first and second transforming units, small-capacity transformation tables (LUTs) capable of operating at high speed in each of the horizontal (X) direction and the vertical (Y) direction are used. By also using a large-capacity transformation table (LUT) that stores coordinate transformation data corresponding to plural scan types, a test apparatus compatible with the plural scan types, having multiple functions, and capable of performing high-speed scan control is realized.
US07952069B2
A mass spectrometer includes an ionization chamber, a temperature control unit which controls the temperature in the ionization chamber to vaporize a sample in at least one of solid and liquid state in the ionization chamber, an introduction unit which introduces the sample into the ionization chamber, an ion supply unit which supplies ions to the ionization chamber to ionize, in the ionization chamber, the sample vaporized in the ionization chamber, and a mass analyzer which measures the mass of the molecules of the ionized sample.
US07952065B2
As shown in FIG. 1, a position detector (10) includes: an object to be detected having a pattern (2) formed for generating a position signal; and a sensor (3) for detecting the position signal according to the pattern (2) by receiving an electromagnetic wave generated on the object (1) by light irradiation. The pattern (2) is formed in a gradation shape visibly or invisibly so that an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength continuously different depending on the position on the object (1) can be sent to the sensor (3). This enables detection of an absolute angle of a rotary object and an absolute position on an XY plane with a simpler configuration, simplifies the device assembly, and reduces the device size.
US07952059B2
The method and system focuses a projected image with a multiple rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces and an ellipsoidal reflector-relay onto or in a user's eye. The image is projected from the first elliptical foci and is focused on the eye at the second foci. A peripherally mounted outboard projector unit uses three lenses and a substantially flat projector surface. Alternatively, an inboard mounted projector unit uses two lenses with non-rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces and a biconic projector surface (organic light emitting diode (OLED) or curved silicon). The image projector-lens system and the ellipsoid pupil relay are correctly positioned on the head of the user by a head mount system which may be goggles, eye glasses worn by the user, or screens or shields depending from a head piece or helmet worn by the user.
US07952058B2
A radiation detection apparatus to detect radiation. A substrate (1) has a conversion element on a first surface. The conversion element is configured to convert radiation into electric charges. A readout circuit is connected to a first region. The first region includes a first edge of the first surface. A driving circuit is connected to a second region other than the first region. The second region includes a second edge of the first surface. A light source (4) is arranged on a second surface side which faces the first surface. The light source (4) is arranged so as to face any regions of the second surface side except the first region.
US07952055B2
Methods and apparatus for deploying control surfaces generally comprise a fin deployment system for projectiles. The fin deployment system is used to control the timing of the control surface deployment. In one embodiment, the deployment system comprises a clip that is configured to react the biasing force of one control surface against another in order to maintain the control surfaces in a non-deployed state until at least one control surface is able to overcome the retention force of the clip, thus beginning a chain reaction in which all of the control surfaces deploy sequentially.
US07952053B2
A device for enhancing vision for a hair curling iron for conventional curling iron of the general type having clamping members, two heating members, two bases and two styling members wherein the improvement comprises a mirror element attached to one of the bases. In another embodiment, a styling iron comprising an upper body having inner and outer surfaces, an upper cover attached to the upper body, a heating element between the upper cover and the inner surface, a lower body operationally attached to the upper body, the lower body having inner and outer surfaces, a lower cover attached to the lower body, a second heating element between the lower cover and the inner surface of the lower body, and a mirror attached to the outer surface of the upper body. Moreover, the styling iron may further comprise an insulating element between the heating element and the mirror.
US07952051B2
A system and method, in certain embodiments, sets an output polarity based on a selected process. The system and method may be used to operate a variety of equipment, such as welders, cutters, tools and so forth. In some embodiments, the system and method may include receiving an input signal and configuring circuitry to output power with a given polarity based on the input signal.
US07952044B2
An actuator subassembly is provided for a rocker switch including a housing, a plunger and a number of contact elements. The actuator subassembly includes an operating member movably coupled to the rocker switch housing at or about an opening, and including at least one projection which extends into a cavity of the housing. A sub-actuator is removably coupled to such projection and includes a shaped portion, a number of contacting portions and a depth. The shaped portion cooperates with a plunger to provide a plurality of operating characteristics of the operating member, including a plurality of positions thereof. Each contacting portion contacts a corresponding one of the contact elements when the operating member is disposed in a corresponding one of the positions. When the actuator subassembly is coupled to the housing, the depth of the sub-actuator occupies less than one-third of the width of the cavity.
US07952042B2
A seal apparatus is disposed between a switchgear cabinet and a circuit breaker between the racked and unracked positions of the circuit breaker. The seal apparatus sealingly extends between the switchgear cabinet and the circuit breaker to resist fluid flow, such as exhaust gases and other matter, between an interior region of the switchgear cabinet and the exterior of the switchgear cabinet.
US07952040B2
An inhibitor switch for detecting a shift position of a select lever is provided with: a terminal block fixed in a transmission case of an automatic transmission; a contact plate provided in the terminal block; an operating portion configured to cooperatively move with the select lever and to move along the contact plate; a movable contact formed on the operating portion and configured to slide on the contact plate to form an electric circuit according to a contact position between the contact plate and the movable contact; at least one disconnecting portion formed in the contact plate and cut at a plurality of positions after the contact plate is provided in the terminal block for interrupting electrical conduction; and at least one set of a plurality of disconnecting holes for cutting the disconnecting portion and formed in the terminal block by primary molding. The disconnecting holes respectively correspond to the plurality of positions at which the disconnecting portion is cut. The plurality of disconnecting holes are sealed by secondary molding after the disconnecting portion is cut.
US07952036B2
A combination weigher of the present invention comprises a plurality of weighing hoppers which are capable of selectively discharging the products in a first direction or in a second direction, a collecting chute which is configured to gather the products which have been discharged from the weighing hoppers in the first direction and to discharge them, a recycle conveyor which is configured to convey the products which have been discharged from the weighing hoppers in the second direction and have been loaded onto the recycle conveyor, a feeding means configured to feed the products to the weighing hoppers, a transport means which is configured to transport the products which have been discharged from the recycle conveyor to feed the products to the feeding means, a combination calculation means which is configured to determine a discharge combination, a recycle hopper determination means configured to determine weighing hoppers whose products should be recycled, and a control means configured to cause the weighing hoppers selected to form the discharge combination to discharge the products in the first direction, and to cause the weighing hoppers determined by the recycle hopper determination means to discharge the products in the second direction.
US07952035B2
A conductor leadthrough for a field device is for connecting two electrical conductors. The conductor leadthrough comprises an external conductor and a sealing apparatus. The sealing apparatus is divided into a first separation device and a second separation device. The external conductor comprises a hollow internal region that extends along a longitudinal axis of the external conductor. The first separation device and the second separation device are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the external conductor so as to be spaced apart so that they can separate a section of the hollow internal region of the external conductor. A pourable-sealing device is filled into the separated section of the hollow internal region of the external conductor so that the sealing apparatus can provide a leakage rate whose value is below a predeterminable value of a leakage rate. A signal of a predeterminable frequency can be transmitted along the longitudinal axis.
US07952032B2
The present invention provides a grommet configured of an elastic body, which is externally mounted on a group of electric wires spanned between a vehicle-body panel and a movable body coupled to the vehicle-body panel with a hinge. The grommet includes short large-diameter tubular sections having annular locking grooves inserted into and locked to through-holes respectively provided in the vehicle-body panel and the movable body at both ends in the lengthwise direction; long small-diameter tubular sections that are continuous with the large-diameter tubular sections; and a corrugated tubular section continuously provided between the small-diameter tubular sections at the both ends, the corrugated tubular section being bent into a U shape when the movable body is closed. The small diameter tubular section at the locking side for the vehicle-body panel and a portion of the corrugated tubular section that is continuous with the small diameter tubular section are projectively provided with a rib that is continuous in a lengthwise direction, on outer peripheries thereof. The rib projects out of the outer peripheries of ridge and valley portions alternately provided on the corrugated tubular section, and the rigidity of the rib restrains the corrugated tubular section from curving outward.
US07952030B2
A wire guide for an electronic device has a base being mounted in the electronic device and a protecting tube being pivotally mounted in the base. Wires of the electronic device are mounted through the protecting tube so the wires pivot smoothly to connect the electronic device conveniently to a power supply. Therefore, The wires do not have to be bent or forced so the electronic device is more convenient to use, and safer since the wires and protective tube are not snapped easily.
US07952025B2
A bus system for use in electrical distribution equipment includes a generally U-shaped arrangement of conductors for supplying very high amperage (e.g., above 2000 amps) alternating current to the electrical distribution system. Compared to prior-art conductor arrangements, using the present arrangement, the conductors of a phase can be fabricated from less copper, which is an expensive metal. They also achieve better thermal dissipation and current distribution and mitigate skin effects. As a result, resistive losses, which increase with increased temperature, are reduced.
US07952006B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH987090. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH987090, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH987090 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH987090.
US07952003B1
A novel maize variety designated PHEDV and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHEDV with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHEDV through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHEDV or a trait conversion of PHEDV with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHEDV, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHEDV and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07952000B1
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar S07-02JR407076 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar S07-02JR407076 and its progeny, and methods of making S07-02JR407076.
US07951993B2
The present invention is directed to plant genetic engineering. In particular, it is directed to producing green leaves and increasing productivity through inhibition of ethylene. The compositions and methods of the invention involve dominant negative ethylene receptors that interfere with ethylene signaling.
US07951992B2
Disclosed herein is a transgenic plant transformed with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a plant arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein coding sequence operatively linked to a plant-expressible transcription regulatory sequence, wherein the plant arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein coding sequence encodes a polypeptide that is at least 75% identical to a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, or SEQ ID NO:14, and wherein the plant arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein coding sequence encodes a polypeptide that confers resistance to a metal, a metal ion, a metalloid, or a metalloid ion.
US07951990B2
The present invention provides methods and means for determining parent inbred plant lines with good combining ability, for determining good combinations of parent inbred plant lines capable of yielding hybrid lines with high heterosis, and further for determining the agronomical performance of different plant lines, which can be performed in vitro by determining the electron flow in the mitochondria under control and stress conditions.
US07951988B2
An improved oxidization process may be used to oxidize a wide variety of feedstocks. Oxidation takes place in a reactor where the feedstock is mixed with an oxidizing acid, such as nitric acid. The reaction mixture may also include a secondary oxidizing acid such as sulfuric acid as well as water and/or dissolved and mechanically mixed oxygen gas. The reactor may be maintained at an elevated pressure such as at least approximately 2070 kPa or desirably at least approximately 2800 kPa. The temperature of the reaction mixture may be maintained at no more than 210° C. In the various embodiments described herein, the process may include: combining recycled effluent from the reactor with the feedstock, combining one or more oxidizing acids with the feedstock, comminuting the feedstock to reduce the size of the particles, feeding the feedstock into the high pressure reactor at an approximately constant feed rate, dispersing oxygen gas from the headspace of the reactor into the reaction mixture, and/or removing all or almost all of the gas from the reactor through the liquid effluent.
US07951987B2
The present invention relates to a thermal-cracking method of hydrocarbon using a hydrocarbon thermal-cracking apparatus including a tube type furnace having a radiation part for thermally cracking hydrocarbon feedstocks supplied together with steam and a convection part. A hydrocarbon thermal-cracking catalyst is packed in some or entire area of the tube placed in the radiation part of the tube type furnace, wherein the hydrocarbon thermal-cracking catalyst includes an oxide catalyst represented by CrZrjAkOx (wherein, 0.5≦j≦120 and 0≦k≦50, A is a transition metal, and x is a number corresponding to the atomic values of Cr, Zr, and A and the numbers of j and k). Therefore, it is possible to improve yield and selectivity of olefin, reduce fuel consumption due to an excellent heat transfer efficiency and extend decoking interval by reduced production of coke deposited to an inside wall of a tube, in steam cracking of hydrocarbon for producing olefin.
US07951984B2
The present invention provides a reactor system having: (1) a first reactor receiving an oxygenate component and a hydrocarbon component and capable of converting the oxygenate component into a light olefin and the hydrocarbon component into alkyl aromatic compounds; (2) a separator system for providing a first product stream containing a C3 olefin, a second stream containing a C7 aromatic, and a third stream containing C8 aromatic compounds; (3) a first line connecting the separator to the inlet of the first reactor for conveying the second stream to the first reactor; (4) a second line in fluid communication with the separator system for conveying the C3 olefin to a propylene recovery unit, and (4) a third line in fluid communication with the separator system for conveying the C8 aromatic compounds to a xylene recovery unit.
US07951978B2
The present invention provides a process for producing acrolein, which exhibits a prolonged catalyst life, low energy consumption, and excellent efficiency, and which is earth-conscious, and a glycerin-containing composition which can preferably be used even in this process. The process for producing acrolein is one which includes bringing a raw material gas containing glycerin gas into contact with a solid acid catalyst in a reactor, and the partial pressure of the glycerin gas in the raw material gas is set to be from 0.01 to 30 kPa. The glycerin-containing composition is for use in a process for producing acrolein using a solid catalyst and includes a fatty acid and/or a fatty acid ester, and a total mass of the fatty acid and the fatty acid ester is from 0.001% to 5% by mass, relative to the glycerin.
US07951971B1
Phenoxy carboxylic acid compounds and compositions for the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.
US07951970B2
The present invention relates to a process for recycling cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the formulae (I) and (I′), a process for preparing metallocenes of the formula (III) from cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the formulae (I) and (I′) or from bridged biscyclopentadienyl derivatives of the formula (II), in which the cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the formulae (I), (I′) or (II) which are used have been at least partly recovered and purified by means of liquid-solid chromatography, and the use of liquid-solid chromatography for purifying substituted, recovered cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the formulae (I), (I′) or (II).
US07951969B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of indium acetate comprising the steps: (a) reacting an indium compound with an alkaline compound in a protic solvent to obtain an iridium containing precipitate, where the reaction is conducted in the presence of at least one component (i) selected from oxalic acid, a salt of oxalic acid, formic acid and a salt of formic acid, (b) reacting the precipitate in the presence of at least (i) one compound selected from oxalic acid, a salt of oxalic acid, formic acid and a salt of formic acid, and (ii) CH3CO2H and/or CH3(CO)O(CO)CH3 to give an iridium acetate containing solution. The invention also relates to indium acetate having a low halide content, to an indium containing precipitate and to uses of the iridium containing precipitate of the present invention and the iridium acetate of the present invention.
US07951958B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and A are as defined. Compounds of the Formula I have activity inhibiting production of Aβ-peptide. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating diseases and disorders, for example, neurodegenerative and/or neurological disorders, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, in a mammal comprising compounds of the Formula I.
US07951957B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R represents aryl or heteroaryl, X is a bond, a carbonyl group, a derivative of a carbonyl group, an ethylene group or an ethylenecarbonyl group, R1 is optionally substituted amino or hydroxy, and the substituents R2 to R6 have the meanings given in the specification, to methods of synthesis of such compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of formula (I), to intermediates, to the use of a compounds of formula (I) as a medicament and for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of neoplastic and autoimmune diseases, and to methods of treatment of neoplastic and autoimmune diseases using such compounds of formula (I) or of pharmaceutical compositions containing same.
US07951956B2
The present invention provides a benzimidazole compound represented by Formula (I) wherein X1 is oxygen or carbonyl, and R1 is a furan ring having 1 to 3 substituents or a pyrrole ring that may have 1 to 3 substituents; excluding compounds represented by Formula (I) wherein at least one of the substituents is a phosphoric acid group or a phosphoric ester group; or a salt thereof. The benzimidazole compound or salt thereof has excellent prostaglandin synthase inhibitory activity, and is useful as an agent for preventing and/or treating diseases in which prostaglandin D2 or metabolites thereof participates, such as allergic and inflammatory diseases, and as inhibitor for the exacerbation of Alzheimer's disease or cerebral damage.
US07951953B2
This invention relates to a method for preparing a compound of Formula 1 wherein L, R1, R2 and X are as defined in the disclosure, comprising contacting a 2 pyrazoline of Formula 2 with bromine at a temperature of at least about 80° C. (Formula 1) (Formula 2). This invention also discloses preparation of a compound of Formula 3 wherein X, Z, R5, R6, R7, R8a, R8b and n are as defined in the disclosure, using a compound of Formula 1a wherein R10 is as defined in the disclosure, prepared by the aforesaid method for preparing a compound of Formula 1. (Formula 3) (Formula 4).
US07951943B2
The present invention relates to the preparation of 3-hydroxyamidino-phenylalanine derivatives in highly pure form which can be used for example as urokinase inhibitors. The present invention further relates to the use of high-purity 3-hydroxyamidinophenylalanine derivatives for preparing 3-amidinophenylalanine derivatives.
US07951942B2
The present invention provides crystals of phenylalanine derivatives of the formula (I): and particularly α-type, γ-type, ε-type, η-type, and θ-type crystals thereof. These crystals are excellent in preservation stability or moisture resistance. They can also be produced on an industrial scale.
US07951940B2
The present invention features inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), particularly those that selectively inhibit neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in preference to other NOS isoforms. The NOS inhibitors of the invention, alone or in combination with other pharmaceutically active agents, can be used for treating or preventing conditions such as, for example, stroke, reperfusion injury, neurodegeneration, head trauma, CABG, migraine headache with and without aura, migraine with allodynia, central post-stroke pain (CPSP), neuropathic pain, morphine/opioid induced tolerance and hyperalgesia.
US07951935B2
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to MYC.
US07951933B2
The invention provides for a substantially purified polypeptide referred to herein as CD38JL that is a CD38 splice variant comprised of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof. The invention also provides methods for treating preventing and diagnosing disorders associated with expression of CD38JL.
US07951916B2
The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides having homology to the IL-1-like family of proteins and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention, and methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
US07951906B2
The present invention relates to a method for modulating the interaction between at least two proteins, wherein at least one of the two proteins is a functional cell-surface receptor and the other protein is the receptor ligand. The invention features a binding site of said functional cell-surface receptor on the receptor ligand and discloses a series of amino acid sequences, which are part of the structure of said binding site and/or involved in the interaction between the receptor and the ligand. Moreover, the present invention features methods for molecular design and screening of a candidate compound capable of modulating the interaction between the functional cell-surface receptor and receptor ligand through the described binding site, and provides a screening assay for identification of such a compound. The invention further describes an antibody capable of binding to the above binding site and/or to an epitope comprising an amino acid sequence essential for executing the receptor ligand interaction through said binding site. The invention also concerns a variety of uses of the disclosed methods, peptide sequences and antibodies. The invention in preferred embodiments concerns the binding site of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) on FGFR ligands, compounds capable of modulating the receptor ligand interaction through said binding site, and antibody capable of recognition of said binding site.
US07951904B2
The use of monoclonal antibodies to the angiotensin-II type-I receptor is provided for the treatment of cancer and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Specifically, use is provided of a monoclonal antibody or a fragment thereof to a peptide comprising the N-terminal portion of the angiotensin-II type-1 receptor defined by the sequence MILNSSTEDG IKRIQDDCPK AGRHNYIFVM IPTLYSIIFV VGIFG in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer or in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell proliferation.
US07951902B2
Polymers and copolymers having units derived from substituted 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene are disclosed. Also provided are methods of making and using the same.
US07951900B2
Described are dialysis filter housings comprising polyester compositions comprising polyesters which comprise (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues or ester residues thereof; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues.
US07951894B2
An article includes a silicone formulation and an in situ softening promoter. The silicone formulation has a shore A durometer and the in situ softening promoter decreases the shore A durometer of the silicone formulation by at least about 35%.
US07951890B2
Provided is a method for selective extraction of steroid compounds using entrapped β-cyclodextrin polymers. Particularly, steroid hormones can be effectively selected from a biological sample by selectively extracting steroid compounds using entrapped β-cyclodextrin polymers, prepared by adding epichlorohydrin to β-cyclodextrin to prepare a polymer in a gel state, entrapping the polymer and pulverizing the products without using an additional device required in conventional solid-phase extraction.
US07951887B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a process for industrially advantageously producing a polymer having a high molecular weight and a narrow, monodispersed molecular weight distribution, and more particularly, a block copolymer of an anionic polymerizable monomer and an acrylic monomer. The object of the present invention was able to be achieved by reacting an acrylic monomer with a polymer anion, the terminal of which has been modified by a compound that forms a living carbanion capable of polymerizing an anionic polymerizable monomer by reacting with an anion, but which itself does not polymerize, in the presence of a compound represented by formula (1): (R1)nM (wherein, R1 represents a C1-C20 alkyl group or a C6-C20 aryl group, R1 may be the same or different in the case n is 2 or more, M represents an atom belonging to Group 2, 12 or 13 of the long form of the periodic table, and n represents the valency of M).
US07951886B2
To provide a continuous production method for producing a water-soluble polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution with high efficiency. A continuous production method of a water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of: circulating a circulation liquid containing a monomer having a polymerizable unsaturated bond through a reaction apparatus: having a tank and a circulation line comprising a piping circulating outside the tank, and thereby producing a water-soluble polymer continuously; and discharging part of the circulation liquid from a discharge line, wherein the circulation line is provided with a cooling device at least at one position.
US07951883B1
Disclosed is a multimodal, high density, homopolyethylene barrier resin. The resin is preferably made by a multistage process. The process comprises a first stage in which ethylene is homopolymerized in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, organoaluminum cocatalyst, alkoxysilane modifier, and hydrogen. The reaction mixture from the first stage is devolatilized to remove all or substantially all of the hydrogen. The polymerization continues in a second stage wherein ethylene is added to the devolatilized reaction mixture to produce the barrier resin. The barrier resin provides films with improved barrier properties.
US07951873B2
This invention relates to blends of linear low density polyethylene copolymers with other linear low density polyethylenes or very low density, low density, medium density, high density, and differentiated polyethylenes. The invention also includes articles produced from the linear low density polyethylene and polyethylene blends described.
US07951868B2
Disclosed is a carboxyl group-containing polyurethane containing a structure derived from a polycarbonate diol (B), the polycarbonate diol (B) having: (i) a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 50,000; (ii) an alkylene group of 8 to 18 carbon atoms in its structure; and (iii) hydroxyl groups at both ends. The carboxyl group-containing polyurethane is suitable as materials of cured products that are excellent in adhesion with substrates, low warpage, flexibility, plating resistance, soldering heat resistance and long-term reliability.
US07951863B2
Method for packaging a photo detector integrated circuit (IC) and a pigment filter and resulting package are described. An encapsulated package (e.g., an epoxy-encapsulated package) that includes a first surface is provided. A filter layer is then coated directly onto the first surface. The filter layer provides optical filtering properties (e.g., a predetermined filtering profile) in addition to the filtering provided by the pigment filter.
US07951861B2
A method of decreasing the roiling resistance of a tire formed from a sulfur-vulcanized elastomeric by combining at least one diene elastomer and at least one reinforcing filler, with an effective amount of a coupling agent consisting of a combination of: 10 to 90%, of a product (I) consisting of a blend of poly(alkylphenol) polysulfides of formula: in which: R is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms; n and n′ are two integers, which may be identical or different, from 1 to 8; p is an integer from 0 to 50; and 10 to 90% of a product (II) consisting of bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide, to form a mixture; thereafter working said mixture; and thereafter heating said mixture to vulcanize said mixture. 90% of bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide.
US07951851B2
A curable composition for dental use, containing a polymerizable monomer, inorganic particles (A) having irregular shapes and an average particle size of from 1.0 to 5.0 μm, wherein the inorganic particles (A) are surface-treated with a silane coupling agent (a) represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 is a hydrolyzable group, R3 is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, X is an oxygen or sulfur atom, p is 2 or 3, and q is an integer of from 8 to 13, and inorganic particles (B) having irregular shapes and/or spherical or nearly spherical shapes, and an average particle size of from 0.01 to 0.10 μm, wherein the inorganic particles (B) are surface-treated with a silane coupling agent (b) represented in the same manner as in the silane coupling agent (a) except that q in the formula (I) is an integer of from 1 to 6, wherein the inorganic particles (A) and the inorganic particles (B) are contained in amounts of from 85 to 98% by weight and from 2 to 15% by weight, respectively, of the entire amount of the inorganic particles. The curable composition for dental use of the present invention can be suitably used as a material capable of substituting a part or all of a natural tooth in the field of dental therapy.
US07951848B2
Aqueous dispersions of partly hydrophobic silica exhibit a smooth change in viscosity with pH over a wide pH range, without gelling or exhibiting local maxima. The dispersions have numerous uses, including use in O/W Pickering emulsions.
US07951847B2
Provided are methods of treating HIV patients by administering to the patient a nutrient composition and at least one anti-retrovial drug. The method results in an increase in the patient's CD4+ cell count by at least 25% during a treatment period. The nutrient composition includes alpha lipoic acid; acetyl L-carnitine; N-acetyl-cysteine; zinc; selenium; vitamin C; bioflavinoid complex; vitamin E; one or more antioxidants selected from co-enzyme Q10 and glutathione; and one or more vitamins or minerals selected from beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, vitamin B12, copper, manganese, chromium, and molybdenum.
US07951846B2
Mixed micelles containing poly(L-histidine)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer and poly(L-lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer are a pH-sensitive drug carrier that release the drug in an acidic microenvironment, but not in the blood. Since the microenvironment of solid tumors is acidic, these mixed micelles are useful for treating cancer, including those cancers exhibiting multidrug resistance. Targeting ligands, such as folate, can also be attached to the mixed micelles for enhancing drug delivery into cells. Methods of treating a warm-blooded animal with such a drug are disclosed.
US07951844B2
This invention provides a pharmaceutical and functional food which are made of a safe food ingredient or nutrient which has been used for a long period of time, and which have tranquilizing effect such as anti-anxiety effect, anti-depression effect, and anti-stress effect. The tranquilizer of the invention contains vitamin K as an active ingredient. Vitamin K is preferably menaquinone-4 and/or menaquinone-7. This invention also provides a supplement, health food or functional food for tranquilizing purpose that contains vitamin K as an active ingredient.
US07951842B2
This invention relates to the use of compounds of the general formula (I): R′—CONH—X—NR2R3—R4—Y in which R1 represents an alkyl moiety containing 11 to 21 carbon atoms, X stands for a (CH2)n- group and n is an integer from 1 to 6, R2 and R3 independently represent an alkyl moiety with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an hydrogen atom, Y stands for a COO— group, in cosmetic compositions, characterized in that the compound of formula (I): is prepared by reacting the oil from Theo-broma grandiflorum with an amine of the formula (II): H2N—X—NR2R3 and subsequently reaction with sodium monochloroacetic acid.
US07951834B2
This invention relates to a process for the synthesis of ketomethylene derivatives of the tripeptide Phe-Gly-Pro (“keto-ACE”, compound 5a) and analogues thereof. The synthesis process proceeds via an α,β-unsaturated keto intermediate. A key feature of the process involves a Horner-Emmons olefination of the, -unsaturated keto-phosphonate with ethyl glyoxylate. Keto-ACE analogues produced by the process of the invention display C-domain selectivity.
US07951833B2
New crystalline forms of 4-[4-(2-adamantylcarbamoyl)-5-tert-butyl-pyrazol-1-yl]benzoic acid; their use in the inhibition of 11βHSD1, processes for making them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also described.
US07951831B2
The invention relates to methods, compositions, and uses of those compositions for making medicaments, for potentiating the beneficial effects of inhibitors of COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX, and reducing adverse effects, by also administering inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase (“sEH”), with or without also administering one or more cis-epoxyeicosantrienoic acids. The invention further relates to the use of inhibitors of sEH as analgesics and to methods and compositions of epoxides of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, optionally with an inhibitor of sEH, to reduce pain or inflammation or both.
US07951826B2
The present invention discloses novel compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which have histamine-H3 receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity, as well as methods and intermediates for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I) as well as methods of using them to treat obesity, cognitive deficiencies, narcolepsy, and other histamine H3 receptor-related diseases.
US07951825B2
To provide a useful compound as an active ingredient for a preventing and/or treating agent for rejection in the transplantation of an organ, bone marrow, or a tissue, an autoimmune disease, or the like, which has an excellent S1P1 agonist activity.Since the compound of the invention has an S1P1 agonist activity, it is useful as an active ingredient for a treating or preventing agent for a disease caused by unfavorable lymphocytic infiltration, for example, an autoimmune disease such as graft rejection in the transplantation of an organ, bone marrow, or a tissue, a graft-versus-host disease, rheumatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, a nephrotic syndrome, encephalomeningitis, myasthenia gravis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, nephritis, diabetes, pulmonary disorder, asthma, atopic dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, or an inflammatory disease, and further, a disease caused by the abnormal growth or accumulation of cells such as cancer and leukemia.
US07951816B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I-0): wherein symbols in formula have the same meanings as described in the present specification, a salt thereof, an N-oxide thereof or a solvate thereof or a prodrug thereof, and medical use thereof. The compound of the present invention has an antagonistic activity against CXCR4 and is therefore useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for CXCR4-mediated diseases, for example, inflammatory and immune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, retinopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, transplanted organ rejection, etc.), allergic diseases, infections (for example, human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, etc.), psychoneurotic diseases, cerebral diseases, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, and cancerous disease (for example, cancer, cancer metastasis, etc.), or an agent for regeneration therapy.
US07951814B2
The present invention provides Quinazolinedione derivatives as TRPA (Transient Receptor Potential subfamily A) modulators. In particular, compounds described herein are useful for treating or preventing diseases, conditions and/or disorders modulated by TRPA1 (Transient Receptor Potential subfamily A, member 1). Also provided herein are processes for preparing compounds described herein, intermediates used in their synthesis, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for treating or preventing diseases, conditions and/or disorders modulated by TRPA1.
US07951810B2
This invention relates to compounds of formula (I-A) wherein Ring A and the variables X, Y, R3a, R3b, R3c, R3d, R4, R5, R5′, and m are defined herein. The compounds of formula (I-A) inhibit E1 activating enzymes, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds. The compounds of the invention are useful for treating disorders, particularly cell proliferation disorders, including cancers, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders; and inflammation associated with infection and cachexia.
US07951804B2
Novel compounds of the formula (I) in which D, E, Q, T, X, Y, Z, Z′, R1, R4 and R4′ have the meanings indicated, are inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa and can be employed for the prophylaxis and/or therapy of thromboembolic diseases and for the treatment of tumors.
US07951802B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity and particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory diseases and/or and autoimmune diseases. The invention also provides processes for the manufacture of compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and compositions containing them.
US07951797B2
The present invention is directed to substituted diazepan compounds which are antagonists of orexin receptors, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.
US07951787B2
Phosphoramidate derivatives of nucleotides and their use in the treatment of cancer are described. The base moieties of, for example, each of deoxyuridine, cytarabine, gemcitabine and citidine may be substituted at the 5-position. The phosphoramidate moiety has attached to the P atom an aryl-O moiety and an α-amino acid moiety. The α-amino acid moiety may correspond to or be derived from either a naturally occurring or a non-naturally occurring amino acid.
US07951782B2
Disclosed is a composition comprising, as an active ingredient, an enzyme digest that is produced by digesting a basic fraction of an animal-derived cartilage extract with an enzyme. Also disclosed is a polypeptide composition comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one polypeptide selected from specific polypeptides including a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence depicted in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
US07951778B2
The present invention relates to peptides which are highly biologically and pharmacologically active as therapeutic drug for the treatment of diseases related to sarcoidosis. The peptides which can be used according to the invention for the treatment of said disease comprise at least one specific highly conservative amino acid residue sequence which seem to play an important role in connection with pulmonary and arteriolar hypertension events. It could be shown that the known naturally occurring peptides “vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)” and “pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)”, having these specific sequences are potent drugs which can be successfully used for treatment of sarcoidosis. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a method for the treatment patients suffering from sarcoidosis.
US07951775B2
Methods and compositions comprising GnRH-I and GnRH-II, GnRH-I and GnRH-II antibodies, anti-receptor antibodies, polynucleotide constructs and GnRH-I and GnRH-II analogs for immune enhancement and suppression, prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions characterized by abnormal T-cell activity, treatment of viral and prion-related diseases, and treatment of T-cell related neoplastic diseases are disclosed.
US07951771B2
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting bone growth and increasing bone density.
US07951764B2
Back end photoresist strippers and cleaning compositions of this invention are provided by amino acid-free, non-aqueous cleaning compositions that are essentially non-corrosive toward copper as well as aluminum and that comprise at least one polar organic solvent, at least one hydroxylated organic amine, and at least one corrosion inhibitor compound with multiple hydroxyl functional groups that is a compound of the formula: T1-[(CR1R2)m—(CR3R4)n]p—(CR5R6)q-T2 where at least one of R1 and R2 OH and if one of R1 and R2 is not OH, it is selected from H, alkyl or alkoxy, m is a whole integer of 1 or greater, R3 and R4 are selected from H, alkyl or alkoxy, n is 0 or a greater whole positive integer, p is a whole integer of 1 or greater; at least one of R5 and R6 is OH and if one of R5 and R6 is not OH, it is selected from H, alkyl or alkoxy, q is a whole integer of 1 or greater; T1 and T2 are selected from H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, carbonylalkyl or amide groups or T1 and T2 may be connected forming a structure selected from an aliphatic cyclic or fused cyclic structure.
US07951755B2
A water-based polymer drilling fluid, containing effective quantities of surfactants having HLB numbers equal to or greater than approximately 7, emulsifies oil and bitumen contained in oil sand cuttings, resulting in the oil and bitumen being dispersed into the mud as an emulsion. This eliminates or significantly reduces the ability of the oil, bitumen, and cuttings to clog the well or stick to drill string components when drilling a well through oil-bearing sands, particularly sands containing highly viscous oil or bitumen. The emulsification process separates the sand particles from the oil and bitumen, such that the sand particles can be removed when the mud is run through a conventional shale shaker or other suitable apparatus.
US07951751B2
Synergistic, crop plant-compatible herbicidal compositions comprising herbicides from the group of the benzoylpyrazolesWhat is described are herbicidal compositions comprising A) a compound from the group of the benzoylpyrazoles, B) at least one further herbicide and C) at least one safener as herbicides which are active against monocotyledonous and/or dicotyledonous harmful plants. Compared to the herbicides applied individually, these compositions have superior activity and are at the same time highly compatible with crop plants.
US07951744B2
Nano-reagents with catalytic activity are provided herein. The nanocatalyst comprises at least one amino acid attached to a nanoparticle, wherein the reactive side chain of the amino acid catalyzes a chemical or biological reaction. Methods of using these nano-reagents to catalyze reactions in solution or in multiple phases are also provided, as are methods of making these nanocatalysts.
US07951729B2
A passivating coupling material for, on the one hand, passivating a dielectric layer in a semiconductor device, and on the other hand, for permitting or at least promoting liquid phase metal deposition thereon in a subsequent process step. In a particular example, the dielectric layer may be a porous material having a desirably decreased dielectric constant k, and the passivating coupling material provides steric shielding groups that substantially block the adsorption and uptake of ambient moisture into the porous dielectric layer. The passivating coupling materials also provides metal nucleation sides for promoting the deposition of a metal thereon in liquid phase, in comparison with metal deposition without the presence of the passivating coupling material. The use of a liquid phase metal deposition process facilitates the subsequent manufacture of the semiconductor device. In one example, the passivating coupling material has multiple Si atoms in its chemical composition, which desirably increases the thermal stability of the material.
US07951723B2
A method and apparatus involve providing a substrate having a dielectric layer formed thereon, forming a photoresist mask over the dielectric layer, the photoresist mask defining an opening, etching the dielectric layer through the at least one opening in the photoresist mask, treating a portion of the photoresist mask with an etching species, and removing the treated photoresist mask with a supercritical fluid. The etching, treating, and removing can be performed in one chamber.
US07951722B2
A double exposure semiconductor process is provided for improved process margin at reduced feature sizes. During a first processing sequence, features defining non-critical dimensions of a polysilicon interconnect structure are formed, while other portions of the polysilicon layer are left un-processed. During a second processing sequence, features that define the critical dimensions of the polysilicon interconnect structure are formed without the need to execute a photoresist trimming procedure. Accordingly, only an etch process is executed, which provides higher resolution processing to create the critical dimensions needed during the second processing sequence.
US07951719B2
A method for removing defects from a semiconductor surface is disclosed. The surface of the semiconductor is first coated with a protective layer, which is later thinned to selectively reveal portions of the protruding defects. The defects are then removed by etching. Finally, also the protective layer is removed. According to the method, inadvertent thinning of the surface is prevented and removal of the defects is obtained.
US07951718B2
A silicon-on-insulator transfer wafer having a front surface with a circumferential lip around a circular recess is polished. In one version, the circular recess on the front surface of the wafer is masked by filling the recess with spin-on-glass. The front surface of the wafer is exposed to an etchant to preferentially etch away the circumferential lip, while the circular recess is masked by the spin-on-glass. The spin-on glass is removed, and the front surface of the transfer wafer is polished. Other methods of removing the circumferential lip include applying a higher pressure to the circumferential lip in a polishing process, and directing a pressurized fluid jet at the base of the circumferential lip.
US07951709B2
A method of making a semiconductor die includes forming a trench around a conductive stud extending from the first side to a second side of a substrate to expose a portion of the stud and then forming a conductive layer inside the trench and in electrical contact with the stud.
US07951701B2
Regarding a semiconductor device, especially the present invention suppresses disconnection of the connection structure concerned in the semiconductor device which has the electric and mechanical connection structure using solder, and aims at improving connection reliability. And to achieve the above objects, the semiconductor device has the solder bump which electrically connects a semiconductor chip and a package substrate, the under-filling resin with which it filled up between the semiconductor chip and the package substrate, and a solder ball which electrically connects a package substrate with the outside, and the solder bump's elastic modulus is made lower than the elastic modulus of a solder ball.
US07951694B2
A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor structure includes disposing a semiconductor substrate in a molecular beam epitaxy reactor; growing a wetting layer comprising AlxInyGa(1−(x+y))As(0≦x+y≦1) or AlxInyGa(1−(x+y))P(0≦x+y≦1) on the substrate; in-situ annealing the wetting layer; growing a first AlGaInN layer on the wetting layer using plasma activated nitrogen as the source of nitrogen with an additional flux of phosphorous or arsenic; and growing a second AlGaInN layer on the first AlGaInN layer using ammonia as a source of nitrogen.
US07951693B2
In a III-nitride light emitting device, the device layers including the light emitting layer are grown over a template designed to reduce strain in the device, in particular in the light emitting layer. Reducing the strain in the light emitting device may improve the performance of the device. The template may expand the lattice constant in the light emitting layer over the range of lattice constants available from conventional growth templates. Strain is defined as follows: a given layer has a bulk lattice constant abulk corresponding to a lattice constant of a free standing material of a same composition as that layer and an in-plane lattice constant ain-plane corresponding to a lattice constant of that layer as grown in the structure. The amount of strain in a layer is |(ain-plane−abulk)|/abulk. In some embodiments, the strain in the light emitting layer is less than 1%.
US07951692B2
There is provided a method for suppressing the occurrence of defects such as voids or blisters even in the laminated wafer having an oxide film of a thickness thinner than the conventional one, wherein hydrogen ions are implanted into a wafer for active layer having an oxide film of not more than 50 nm in thickness to form a hydrogen ion implanted layer, and ions other than hydrogen are implanted up to a position that a depth from the surface side the hydrogen ion implantation is shallower than the hydrogen ion implanted layer, and the wafer for active layer is laminated onto a wafer for support substrate through the oxide film, and then the wafer for active layer is exfoliated at the hydrogen ion implanted layer.
US07951685B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a gallium nitride semiconductor epitaxial crystal substrate with a dielectric film which has a low gate leak current and negligibly low gate lag, drain lag, and current collapse characteristics. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor epitaxial crystal substrate is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor epitaxial crystal substrate in which a dielectric layer of a nitride dielectric material or an oxide dielectric material in an amorphous form functioning as a passivation film or a gate insulator is provided on a surface of a nitride semiconductor crystal layer grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. In the method, after the nitride semiconductor crystal layer is grown in an epitaxial growth chamber, the dielectric layer is grown on the nitride semiconductor crystal layer in the epitaxial growth chamber.
US07951678B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an integrated circuit structure that incorporates at least two field effect transistors (FETs) that have the same conductivity type and essentially identical semiconductor bodies (i.e., the same semiconductor material and, thereby the same conduction and valence band energies, the same source, drain, and channel dopant profiles, the same channel widths and lengths, etc.). However, due to different gate structures with different effective work functions, at least one of which is between the conduction and valence band energies of the semiconductor bodies, these FETs have selectively different threshold voltages, which are independent of process variables. Furthermore, through the use of different high-k dielectric materials and/or metal gate conductor materials, the embodiments allow threshold voltage differences of less than 700 mV to be achieved so that the integrated circuit structure can function at power supply voltages below 1.0V. Also disclosed are method embodiments for forming the integrated circuit structure.
US07951677B2
In a replacement gate approach, a top area of a gate opening has a superior cross-sectional shape which is accomplished on the basis of a plasma assisted etch process or an ion sputter process. During the process, a sacrificial fill material protects sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material and a corresponding cap material. Consequently, the subsequent deposition of a work function adjusting material layer may not result in a surface topography which may result in a non-reliable filling-in of the electrode metal. In some illustrative embodiments, the sacrificial fill material may also be used as a deposition mask for avoiding the deposition of the work function adjusting metal in certain gate openings in which a different type of work function adjusting species is required.
US07951673B2
A gate structure may be utilized as a mask to form source and drain regions. Then the gate structure may be removed to form a gap and spacers may be formed in the gap to define a trench. In the process of forming a trench into the substrate, a portion of the source drain region is removed. Then the substrate is filled back up with an epitaxial material and a new gate structure is formed thereover. As a result, more abrupt source drain junctions may be achieved.
US07951670B2
A split gate memory cell. A floating gate is disposed on and insulated from a substrate comprising an active area separated by a pair of isolation structures formed therein. The floating gate is disposed between the pair of isolation structures and does not overlap the upper surface thereof. A cap layer is disposed on the floating gate. A control gate is disposed over the sidewall of the floating gate and insulated therefrom, partially extending to the upper surface of the cap layer. A source region is formed in the substrate near one side of the floating gate.
US07951669B2
Methods of fabricating a dual control gate non-volatile memory array are described. Parallel strips of floating gate material are formed over the substrate in a first direction but separated from it by a tunnel dielectric. In the gaps between these strips control gate material is formed forming a second set of parallel strips but insulated from both the adjacent floating gate stripes and the substrate. Both sets of strips are isolated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction forming an array of individual floating gates and control gates. The control gates formed from an individual control gate strip are then interconnected by a conductive wordline such the potential on individual floating gates are controlled by the voltages on two adjacent wordlines. In other variations either the floating gates or the control gates may be recessed into the original substrate.
US07951660B2
A method for fabricating a metal-oxide-semiconductor device structure. The method includes introducing a dopant species concurrently into a semiconductor active layer that overlies an insulating layer and a gate electrode overlying the semiconductor active layer by ion implantation. The thickness of the semiconductor active layer, the thickness of the gate electrode, and the kinetic energy of the dopant species are chosen such that the projected range of the dopant species in the semiconductor active layer and insulating layer lies within the insulating layer and a projected range of the dopant species in the gate electrode lies within the gate electrode. As a result, the semiconductor active layer and the gate electrode may be doped simultaneously during a single ion implantation and without the necessity of an additional implant mask.
US07951658B2
A method for manufacturing a diode-connected transistor includes forming a silicon layer on a substrate, a first insulation film on the silicon layer, and a gate electrode on the first insulation film. The method also includes forming a source region, a channel region, and a drain region in the silicon layer and forming a second insulation film on the gate electrode. A source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on the second insulation film and are coupled to the source region and the drain region, respectively. The method further includes coupling the drain electrode to the gate electrode through a contact hole that is vertically above the channel region.
US07951642B2
Materials, devices, and methods for enhancing performance of electronic devices such as solar cells, fuels cells, LEDs, thermoelectric conversion devices, and other electronic devices are disclosed and described. A diamond-like carbon electronic device can include a conductive diamond-like carbon cathode having specified carbon, hydrogen and sp2 bonded carbon contents. In some cases, the sp2 bonded carbon content may be sufficient to provide the conductive diamond-like carbon material with a visible light transmissivity of greater than about 0.70. A charge carrier separation layer can be coupled adjacent and between the diamond-like carbon cathode and an anode. The conductive diamond-like carbon material of the present invention can be useful for any other application which can benefit from the use of conductive and transparent electrodes which are also chemically inert, radiation damage resistance, and are simple to manufacture.
US07951639B2
A growth method is proposed for high quality zinc oxide comprising the following steps: (1) growing a gallium nitride layer on a sapphire substrate around a temperature of 1000° C.; (2) patterning a SiO2 mask into stripes oriented in the gallium nitride <1 100> or <11 20> direction; (3) growing epitaxial lateral overgrowth of (ELO) gallium nitride layers by controlling the facet planes via choosing the growth temperature and the reactor; (4) depositing zinc oxide films on facets ELO gallium nitride templates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Zinc oxide crystal of high quality with a reduced number of crystal defects can be grown on a gallium nitride template. This method can be used to fabricate zinc oxide films with low dislocation density lower than 104/cm−2, which will find important applications in future electronic and optoelectronic devices.
US07951637B2
Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a high efficiency solar cell using novel methods to form the active doped region(s) and the metal contact structure of the solar cell device. In one embodiment, the methods include the steps of depositing a dielectric material that is used to define the boundaries of the active regions and/or contact structure of a solar cell device. Various techniques may be used to form the active regions of the solar cell and the metal contact structure.
US07951636B2
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device includes a substrate, having a first side and second side, the second side has a cavity and a plurality of venting holes in the substrate at the second side with connection to the cavity. However, the cavity is included in option without absolute need. A structural dielectric layer has a dielectric structure and a conductive structure in the dielectric structure. The structural dielectric layer has a chamber in connection to the cavity by the venting holes. A suspension structure layer is formed above the chamber. An end portion is formed in the structural dielectric layer in fix position. A diaphragm has a first portion of the diaphragm fixed on the suspension structure layer while a second portion of the diaphragm is free without being fixed.
US07951632B1
An optical device and method is disclosed for forming the optical device within the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate. The optical device is formed by directing a thermal energy beam onto a selected portion of the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate for changing an optical property of the selected portion to form the optical device in the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate. The thermal energy beam defines the optical and physical properties of the optical device. The optical device may take the form of an electro-optical device with the addition of electrodes located on the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate in proximity to the optical device for changing the optical property of the optical device upon a change of a voltage applied to the optional electrodes. The invention is also incorporated into a method of using the optical device for remotely sensing temperature, pressure and/or chemical composition.
US07951631B2
A halftone mask includes a transparent substrate, a light-blocking layer, a first semi-transparent layer and a second semi-transparent layer. The transparent substrate includes a light-blocking area, a light-transmitting area, a first halftone area transmitting first light, and a second halftone area transmitting second light that is less than the first light. The light-blocking layer is formed in the light-blocking area to fully block light from being transmitted. The first and second semi-transparent layers are formed on the transparent substrate. At least one of the first and second semi-transparent layers is formed in the first halftone area, and the first and second semi-transparent layers are overlapped with each other on the second halftone area.
US07951626B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device. According to the present invention, the light emitting device comprises a substrate, an N-type semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, and a P-type semiconductor layer formed on the N-type semiconductor layer, wherein a side surface including the N-type or P-type semiconductor layer has a slope of 20 to 80° from a horizontal plane. Further, the present invention provides a light emitting device comprising a substrate formed with a plurality of light emitting cells each including an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer formed on the N-type semiconductor layer, and a submount substrate flip-chip bonded onto the substrate, wherein the N-type semiconductor layer of one light emitting cell and the P-type semiconductor layer of another adjacent light emitting cell are connected to each other, and a side surface including at least the P-type semiconductor layer of the light emitting cell has a slope of 20 to 80° from a horizontal plane. Further, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing the light emitting device. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the characteristics of a light emitting device such as luminous efficiency, external quantum efficiency and extraction efficiency are enhanced and the reliability is secured such that light with high luminous intensity and brightness can be emitted.
US07951622B2
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a thermal post, a signal post and a base, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the thermal post into a first opening in the adhesive and the signal post into a second opening in the adhesive, mounting a conductive layer on the adhesive including aligning the thermal post with a first aperture in the conductive layer and the signal post with a second aperture in the conductive layer, then flowing the adhesive into and upward in a first gap located in the first aperture between the thermal post and the conductive layer and in a second gap located in the second aperture between the signal post and the conductive layer, solidifying the adhesive, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad, a terminal, the signal post and a selected portion of the conductive layer, mounting a semiconductor device on a heat spreader that includes the thermal post and the base, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US07951619B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming diodes. The methods may include oxidation of an upper surface of a conductive electrode to form an oxide layer over the conductive electrode. In some embodiments, the methods may include formation of an oxidizable material over a conductive electrode, and subsequent oxidation of the oxidizable material to form an oxide layer over the conductive electrode. In some embodiments, the methods may include formation of a metal halide layer over a conductive electrode. Some embodiments include diodes that contain a metal halide layer between a pair of diode electrodes.
US07951611B2
A card or insert having a plurality of recesses for a sample preparation device, the card containing cast-in-place composite and/or non-filled structures which are useful as sorptive or reactive media or for size-based separations. Any particular card size or configuration can be used, and the inclusion of a large amount of adsorptive particles in polymer is achieved while still maintaining the membrane three dimensional structure. In a first preferred embodiment, the composite structures comprise particles entrapped within a porous polymeric substrate, and are cast in-place into a plurality of recesses in an insert for a multi-well sample preparation device, thereby providing an effective platform for high throughput micromass handling. With the appropriate selection of particle chemistry, virtually any separation or purification operation can be conducted in multiplicity, including selective bind/elute chromatography operations, on sample mass loads less than 1 microgram in volumes of a few microliters, as well as larger mass loads and volumes. Manufacturing flexibility and high throughput is achieved. The card can be configured for direct analysis of bound sample without elution.
US07951595B2
It is an object of the invention to isolate a transporter responsible for ATP transport and a gene encoding the transporter. It is another object of the invention to provide a method for the screening of a medicament for treating and/or regulating pain in central nerves, blood coagulation by platelet-derived ATP, or the like, the method employing such a transporter. According to the invention, a transporter responsible for ATP transport and a gene encoding the transporter were isolated. Furthermore, there is provided a method for the screening of a medicament for treating and/or regulating pain in central nerves, blood coagulation by platelet-derived ATP, or the like, the method employing such a transporter.
US07951592B2
The present invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for dedifferentiating lineage committed mammalian cells into stem cells. The present invention also provides methods of inducing dedifferentiation of lineage committed mammalian cells into stem cells, which can be further differentiated into various lineage committed cells. Methods of identifying additional compounds useful for inducing dedifferentiation of lineage committed cells into stem cells are also provided.
US07951588B2
The present invention relates to a method for increased production of a secreted, recombinant protein product through the introduction of molecular chaperones in a mammalian host cell. The present invention also relates to a mammalian host cell with enhanced expression of a secreted recombinant protein product by coexpressing at least one chaperone protein.
US07951580B2
Systems and methods are providing for performing high-throughput, programmable, multiplexed assays of biological, chemical or biochemical systems. Preferably, a micro-pallet includes a small flat surface designed for single adherent cells to plate, a cell plating region designed to protect the cells, and shaping designed to enable or improve flow-through operation. The micro-pallet is preferably patterned in a readily identifiable manner and sized to accommodate a single cell to which it is comparable in size. Each cell thus has its own mobile surface. The cell can be transported from place to place and be directed into a system similar to a flow cytometer. Since, since the surface itself may be tagged (e.g., a bar code), multiple cells of different origin and history may be placed into the same experiment allowing multiplexed experiments to be performed.
US07951579B2
Disclosed are methods of selecting wide host range bacteriophage capable of growing in a plurality of bacteria including pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and bacteriophage selected by the methods. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject infected with a pathogenic bacterium using bacteriophage and methods of decontaminating objects using bacteriophage. Also disclosed are methods of producing vaccines. In another aspect, methods of determining bacterial viability and methods of improving the sensitivity of a biosensor using wide host range bacteriophages are disclosed.
US07951578B2
This invention is referred to a new bacterial strain of Bacillus sp., to be applied in a metal biosorption process, which was deposited in the Agricultural Research Culture Collection (NRRL) International Depositary Authority, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria Ill. 61604, USA, having an accession number NRRL-B-30881. It is described, also, a sporulated and non-sporulated industrial inoculant of said bacterium, a method to produce said inoculant, and a process to remove metals by said bacterium.
US07951575B2
The present invention relates to phage isolates having a strong lytic activity against pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli and/or Salmonella strains and their use in various human or pet food products for the treatment or prevention of bacterial diseases caused by pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli , in particular for phage therapy of pediatric gastroenteritis, or Salmonella infection. It also relates to human or pet food products prepared thereof.
US07951573B2
The present invention relates to novel subtilases from wild-type strains of Bacillus, especially the Bacillus strains ZI344, EP655, P203, EP63, ZI120, ZI130, ZI1342 and ZI140, and to methods of construction and production of these proteases. Further, the present invention relates to use of the claimed subtilases in detergents, such as a laundry detergent or an automatic dishwashing detergent.
US07951572B2
Disclosed herein is a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based peptide chip prepared by forming a monolayer of AuNPs onto a self-assembled monolayer constructed on a solid support, and then immobilizing a peptide on the AuNPs. The AuNPs can effectively amplify the mass signal of the peptide, thus making it possible to measure the mass change of the peptide in a simple and accurate manner. Also, when secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis (spectrum or imaging) is performed on the AuNP-based peptide chip, the activities of enzymes and related inhibitors can be effectively quantified. The disclosed invention enables various enzyme activities to be analyzed rapidly and accurately, and thus can provide an important method for disease diagnosis and new drug development through the elucidation of signaling and interaction mechanisms.
US07951560B2
The invention relates to Δ4,5 glycuronidase, related compositions, and methods of use thereof.
US07951554B2
The present invention provides compositions, kits, assemblies of articles and methodology for carrying out processes that permit biological enzymes to act directly on metals and metal particles. In particular, the invention concerns using enzymes to selectively deposit metal to the vicinity of a target molecule. The invention also relates to linking of metals to enzyme substrates, control of enzymatic metal deposition and applications of enzymatic metal deposition to sensitively and selectively detect target molecules such as biomarkers in various biological samples, such as chromogenic immunohistochemical (IHC) detection in situ by using microscopy.
US07951551B2
The invention relates to methods and kits for detecting enzyme activity using bioluminescence. In particular, it relates to a novel assay system with increased light yield for a sensitive and convenient detection of luciferase activity, such as luciferase reporter enzyme activity. Provided is a method of detecting luciferase activity in a sample, comprising incubating the sample in the presence of luciferin and ATP to allow the generation of a light signal, wherein said light signal is enhanced by performing the incubation in a reaction mixture comprising phosphate and ammonium ions, and measuring the light signal. The invention also relates to kits for use in such method.
US07951545B2
A method for detecting lysosomal storage diseases including the steps of performing an assay for a single species of glycosaminoglycan contained in a specimen and correlating results of the assay with lysosomal storage diseases. A body fluid such as urine or blood can be employed as a specimen. The assay can be performed by use of a polypeptide that is capable of specifically binding to a glycosaminoglycan-containing molecule. The polypeptide may be an antibody, or a polypeptide having an antigen-binding site of an antibody.
US07951543B2
Methods and compositions relate to genetic markers of psychotic disorders, e.g., schizophrenia (SZ), are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for determinations of a SULT4A1-1 haplotype are described. Furthermore, the invention provides methods and compositions involving treatment of psychotic disorders using the haplotype status.
US07951542B2
Methods and compositions relate to genetic markers of psychotic disorders, e.g., schizophrenia (SZ), are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for determinations of a SULT4A1-1 haplotype are described. Furthermore, the invention provides methods and compositions involving treatment of psychotic disorders using the haplotype status.
US07951540B2
Primers have been isolated that are diagnostic for the detection of Vibrio harveyi. The primers are based on a portion of the Vibrio harveyi LuxR gene and may be used in primer directed amplification or nucleic acid hybridization assay methods.
US07951535B2
An oligonucleotide-based SERS molecular probe (SMP) includes a nanoparticle having at least a metal component, and at least one pin loop, the pin loop including a loop sequence complementary to at least one target sequence, a first stem attached to one end of the loop sequence, a second stem attached to the other end of the loop sequence, and at least one SERS active label attached to the first stem. The nanoparticle is attached to the second stem. The probe generates a stronger SERS signal upon irradiation with excitation radiation when not bound to the target sequence as compared to the SERS signal generated following hybridization of the probe with the target sequence.
US07951532B2
This invention relates to the discovery that midkine modulates pulmonary vasculature development and smooth muscle cell development. Modulation of midkine activity thus alters pulmonary vasculature development and smooth muscle cell development. The invention provides methods of modulating pulmonary disorders, smooth muscle cell related disorders, and pulmonary smooth muscle cell disorders. Disorders of particular interest include, but are not limited to, asthma and pulmonary hyperplasia. Further the invention relates to the discovery that TTF1 and HIF1 -α exhibit midkine modulating activity. The invention pertains to the discovery that midkine modulates myocardin activity.
US07951527B2
A method of forming a wire grid polarizing pattern across the relatively large surface area of a display substrate includes using a nano imprint lithograph process wherein wire grid polarizing patterns are formed by bonding a stamp having a stamping area substantially smaller than that of the substrate with successive reticle areas of the substrate, where the substrate has a photosensitive film deposited thereon and where the stamping is such that recesses having a predetermined depth are formed in the photosensitive film, and then filling the recesses with an insulating film and etching it using the insulating film as a mask. Since mechanical misalignment margin is acceptable from one reticle area to the next, a wire grid polarizing pattern with a uniform line width and spacings in each reticle area can be formed on a substrate having a large area.
US07951526B2
Adhesion between a photosensitive layer and a substrate after the exposure of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate containing the photosensitive layer and substrate is achicbed by incorporating modified silica particles into the photosensitive layer. The surface of the silica paricles is modified by an organic compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, at least one hydrophilic moiety, and at least one silyloxy group.
US07951520B2
Ink toners, methods of making ink, and methods of changing viscosity are disclosed.
US07951517B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an organic photosensitive layer and one or more inorganic thin film layers disposed in this order on a conductive substrate, in which among the one or more inorganic thin film layers at least an inorganic protective layer disposed directly on the organic photosensitive layer has cracks scattered at intervals from about 1 μm to about 10 mm. The inorganic thin film layer having the cracks is a first protective layer and an inorganic thin film is grown on a surface of the first protective layer to form a second protective layer.
US07951506B2
A bipolar plate for fuel cells includes a plurality of flow paths in which fuel flows. The flow paths include a first flow path formed by a plurality of flow channels and a second flow path formed by a plurality of islands. A direct liquid fuel cell stack comprises the bipolar plate.
US07951501B2
A fuel cell is provided, which includes a first plenum around an anode for receiving fuel, and a second plenum around a cathode for receiving oxygen. A fluid controller controls the supply of fuel to the first plenum or oxygen to the second plenum. A sensor detects the load on the fuel cell, and a controller controls the fluid controller in response to the load detected by the sensor.A method for controlling the output of a fuel cell is also provided, which includes the step of providing a fuel cell having a reaction area with an effective area where reactions may occur. The demand on the fuel cell is detected and the effective area of the reaction area is varied in response to the demand. Alternatively, the fuel cell may have an internal resistance, and the method may include varying the internal resistance in response to the demand.
US07951500B2
In one embodiment the present invention provides for an anode side gas flow heater for a fuel cell generator that comprises a recirculating anode gas flow 28, at least one burner 24, and an energy source 22. The energy source heats the burner, the anode gas flow passes over the at least one burner and is heated, and the heated anode gas flow is then passed through the anode side of the fuel cell generator 4, where the fuel cell generator is heated.
US07951497B2
A fuel cell system of the present invention comprises a fuel cell (13), a load value detecting means (16) configured to detect a load value of a load of electric power or heat which is generated by equipment (14) supplied with the electric power or the heat from the fuel cell system, a load value storage means (17) configured to store a history of the load value which is detected by the load value detecting means (16), a load value predicting means (18) configured to predict a load value which is going to be generated, based on the history of the load value, and to store the predicted load value as load value data, and scheduled start-up time of a fuel cell (13) is decided based on the load value data.
US07951495B2
This invention relates to a safe electrolyte having no risk of igniting-firing, and more particularly to a non-aqueous electrolyte for a battery comprising an ionic liquid composed of a cation portion and an anion portion, and a supporting salt, characterized in that the cation portion of the ionic liquid contains phosphorus and nitrogen, as well as an electrolyte for an electric double layer capacitor comprising an ionic liquid composed of a cation portion and an anion portion, characterized in that the cation portion of the ionic liquid contains phosphorus and nitrogen.
US07951493B2
A process for preparing a food composition by mixing a nutritive base with at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid; cooking the resulting mixture at a temperature not less than about 50° C.; adding to the food composition at least one oxidatively protected long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid; and packaging the resulting composition in an oxygen depleted environment within a sealed container to provide the food product that exhibits (1) acceptable palatability to an animal and (2) a shelf-life of at least about 6 months when stored at ambient temperature without opening the container.
US07951488B2
A cathode and a battery including the cathode are provided. The cathode includes a cathode mixture layer with a cathode active material and a binder. The binder can include, for example, a synthetic rubber latex and a thickener, polyvinylidene fluoride denaturalized by maleic acid and/or the like.
US07951480B1
An electrode system includes one or more separator materials formed into a bag having at least two seams. The seams are positioned so as to define the perimeter of a pocket configured to receive an electrode within the bag. At least one gap is formed between seams adjacent to one another along the perimeter of the pocket. Additionally, at least one of the seams includes a spacer positioned between portions of the one or more separator materials joined by the at least one seam.
US07951479B2
The present subject matter includes an apparatus, having: an anode having an elongate ribbon shape; a cathode having an elongate ribbon shape, the cathode disposed adjacent to and in alignment with the anode; a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode; and a first porous edge film disposed between a first edge of the cathode and the anode, with the one or more surfaces of the first porous edge film facing the cathode and defining a first cathode interface of the first porous edge film; wherein an first adhesive interconnects the first porous edge film to the cathode, the first adhesive covering less than the entire cathode interface, and the anode and cathode are disposed in a case with an electrolyte.
US07951478B2
A battery pack includes battery modules; battery module stacked members including the stacked battery modules; a battery module group including the battery module stacked members arranged in a plane; and a lower plate arranged to hold the battery module group. The lower plate includes a main body made from a resin, the main body supporting the battery module stacked members arranged in parallel, and including mounting surfaces each of which one of the battery module stacked members is mounted on; and metal frames each inserted and molded in one of the mounting surfaces, the metal frames being arranged in an arrangement direction of the battery module stacked members, and electrically insulated with each other.
US07951472B2
An organic light-emitting device comprising a light-emitting layer or a plurality of thin organic compound layers containing a light emitting layer interposed between a pair of electrodes, wherein at least one layer comprises at least one light emitting material containing a compound having a partial structure represented by following formula (21) or a tautomer thereof: wherein the compound having the partial structure represented by formula (21) has two or more different ligands.
US07951463B2
In an Al composite material collapsible in the presence of moisture, the external surface of small pieces or powder constructed from a single or a plurality of crystalline grains of Al or an Al alloy is covered with a film of a low melting point metal or alloy selected from the group consisting of In, Sn, combinations of In and Sn, and alloys thereof. The content of the foregoing low melting point metal or alloy ranges from 0.1 to 20% by mass on the basis of the total mass of the composite material. A component member for a film-forming chamber is also provided, which is provided with a water-collapsible Al film on the surface thereof. Film-forming operations are continued over a long period of time using the component member for a film-forming chamber provided with the water-collapsible Al film and then film-forming materials can be recovered from the component member on which the film-forming materials are deposited in a substantial thickness.
US07951462B2
A monoaxially-oriented polymeric film material formed from an impact copolymer and having increased toughness relative to films that are monoaxially-oriented at conventional temperatures.
US07951461B2
A multi-layer, gas-barrier, biaxially oriented and heat-shrinkable film includes a first outer heat-sealable layer, an inner gas-barrier layer, and a second outer abuse resistant layer, the film containing at least 28%, by weight of the film, of polystyrene polymer, such as a high styrene styrene-butadiene block copolymer. The polystyrene copolymer can be present in the second outer abuse-resistant layer, and/or in one or more inner layers positioned between the first outer heat-sealable layer and the inner gas-barrier layer, and/or in one or more inner layers positioned between the gas-barrier layer and the second outer abuse layer. The film of the invention is particularly suitable to be deep-drawn to form a flexible container in a packaging process where the final vacuum lidded package is heat-shrunk.
US07951459B2
A process for applying an oxidation resistant coating to an article includes the steps of mixing at least about 10% by volume to up to about 99% by volume of a slurry at least one silica based material having a viscosity of about 1×102 poise to about 1×107 poise at a temperature of about 1,292° F. (700° C.) to about 3,272° F. (1,800° C.) at least about 1% by volume to up to about 90% by volume of the slurry at least one oxygen scavenger, and a liquid medium to form the slurry; coating an article with the slurry to form a slurry coated article; and heat treating under an inert atmosphere the slurry coated article to form an article having at least one oxidation resistant coating layer containing the at least one oxygen scavenger.
US07951452B2
The suede artificial leather of the present invention comprises a three-dimensional entangled body comprising a superfine fiber having a fineness of 0.2 dtex or less and an elastomeric polymer A, and satisfies the requirements (1) to (4) as specified in the specification. By meeting the requirements, the suede artificial leather acquires excellent color fastness to light and color development in a wide range of colors and a high quality with good suede feeling, surface touch, hand, mechanical properties and color fastness.
US07951451B2
The invention relates to a sticky document. The document comprises an adhesive layer and at least one covering layer covering the adhesive layer, the covering layer incorporating a radiofrequency identification device, and at least a portion of the identification device being linked to the document with a force of cohesion that is weak enough to ensure that once the document has been stuck onto backing, and in the event of the document being unstuck, at least a portion of the identification device remains secured to the backing.
US07951448B2
The present invention provides multilayered materials, such as films usable in particular in medical devices in the form of vascular grafts, biocompatible coverings, and/or inflatable bladders, prosthesis for the endoluminal treatment of aneurysms, particularly aortic aneurysms including both abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA's) and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA's).
US07951442B2
A thin film for a reflection film or for a semi-transparent reflection film, having a compound phase formed of at least one chemical compound selected from the group consisting of a nitride, an oxide, a composite oxide, a nitroxide, a carbide, a sulfide, a chloride, a silicide (excluding silicon), a fluoride, a boride, a hydride, a phosphide, a selenide and a telluride of aluminum, magnesium, tin, zinc, indium, titanium, zirconium, manganese and silicon, dispersed in a matrix formed of silver or a silver alloy. The thin film may disperse at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a nitride, an oxide, a composite oxide, a nitroxide, a carbide, a sulfide, a chloride, a silicide, a fluoride, a boride, a hydride, a phosphide, a selenide and a telluride of silver, gallium, palladium or copper, in addition to aluminum or the like, therein. The thin film of the present invention keeps its reflectance without significant loss even after a long period of use, and can prolong the life of various devices which comprise the thin film as a reflection film, such as an optical recording medium and a display. The thin film can be also applied to semi-reflective/semi-transparent film used in the optical recording medium.
US07951436B2
A multi-layer film with barrier properties having one or more layers made from a bio-based film is disclosed. In one aspect, a multi-layer packaging film including(a) an outer layer including a bio-based film, wherein the bio-based film is polyhydroxy-alkanoate, wherein the bio-based film includes a graphic image, (b) an adhesive layer adjacent to the outer layer and (c) a product side layer including a metalized polyolefin having barrier properties, wherein the multi-layer packaging film is a flexible film.
US07951432B2
A liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1), a liquid crystal composition comprising the compound, and a liquid crystal display device comprising the composition: For example, R1 is alkyl having 1 to 20; ring A1, ring A2, ring A3, ring A4, ring A5, and ring A6 are 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, and Z6 is a single bond; X1 is hydrogen or halogen; l, m, n, o, p, and q are 0 or 1, and l+m+n+o+p+q is 3.
US07951427B2
The invention relates to thermosetting powder compositions which give coatings proving remarkable weatherability, excellent mechanical properties and an outstanding flow containing a binder which comprises a mixture of amorphous polyesters (A) containing from 50 to 100 mol % of isophthalic acid and from 70 to 100 mol % of neopentyl glycol, and (B) which comprises from 75 to 100 mol % of at least one straight-chain saturated di-carboxylic aliphatic acid having from 4 to 14 carbon atoms and from 75 to 100 mol % of at least one branched chain aliphatic diol.
US07951420B2
A method of preparing a pigment exhibiting a color-shifting effect, including at least heating mica powder suspension in water, adjusting the pH value of the mixture to between 2 and 9, adding a first inorganic salt solution, maintaining the pH value of the mixture constant, stirring the mixture at constant temperature, adjusting the pH value of the mixture to between 6 and 14, adding a second inorganic salt solution, maintaining the pH value of the mixture constant, stirring the mixture at constant temperature, adjusting the pH value of the mixture to between 2 and 9, adding a third inorganic salt solution, maintaining the pH value of the mixture constant, and stirring the mixture at constant temperature.
US07951409B2
A method of marking an egg is disclosed and comprises applying radiant energy to the shell of an egg so as to cause discoloration of the eggshell, thereby forming a marking comprising at least a traceability code and a freshness date. Apparatus is also disclosed for applying markings on eggs being processed by an egg-handling machine that is designed and configured to transport a plurality of eggs therethrough, wherein the apparatus comprises a radiant energy source located in proximity to the egg-handling machine, the radiant energy source being configured to apply radiant energy to the eggs as the eggs are transported past the radiant energy source to selectively discolor the shell of the eggs and form markings on the shell, including a freshness date and a traceability code.
US07951402B2
A drug delivery particle including a reservoir region having primarily large pores and a metering region. The particle can be highly spherical.
US07951400B2
A coated tablet formulation is provided which includes a medicament such as the DPP4-inhibitor, saxaglipitin or its HCl salt, which is subject to intra-molecular cyclization, which formulation includes a tablet core containing one or more fillers, and other conventional excipients, which tablet core includes a coating thereon which may include two or more layers, at least one layer of which is an inner seal coat layer which is formed of one or more coating polymers, a second layer of which is formed of medicament which is the DPP4-inhibitor and one or more coating polymers, and an optional, but preferable third outer protective layer which is formed of one or more coating polymers. A method for forming the coated tablet is also provided.
US07951399B2
A process is described for the activation (increase in solubility and bioavailability) of drugs. The process, carried out in a vibrational mill, is characterised by the use of given proportions between the physical mixture made up of drug and pharmaceutical carrier and the empty volume among the grinding means contained inside the mill. The process leads to obtaining powders for pharmaceutical use in which the drug has a high and constant degree of activation; this result is obtainable irrespective of the nature of the drug and carrier used, and of their weight ratio.
US07951394B2
An implantable delivery system includes a macrostructure formed of bioresorbable material selected from a group of alphahydroxy acids and defined to include an internal architecture of intercommunicating void spaces. A first cytotoxic agent in the preferred form of cisplatin is joined to the macrostructure during formation. A microstructure in the preferred form of a blend of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid conjugated with a second cytotoxic agent in the preferred form of paclitaxel and of pure high molecular weight hyaluronic acid is invested in the void spaces. Thus, when implanted, the paclitaxel and cisplatin are released sequentially, each initially at high level concentrations followed by lower release. Radiotherapy can be begun after the release of the paclitaxel has been completed but while the cisplatin is being released.
US07951390B2
A slow-release microcapsule composition for the safe delivery of agriculturally active material is formed using an encapsulation process. A microencapsulated suspension of agriculturally active material includes an encapsulating agent formed from a graft copolymer of starch and at least on vinyl monomer.
US07951380B2
Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an amino acid segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.
US07951377B2
The present invention relates to mosaic clade M HIV-1 Env polypeptides and to compositions comprising same. The polypeptides of the invention are suitable for use in inducing an immune response to HIV-1 in a human.
US07951375B2
Novel genes designated and set forth in FIG. 2 and their respective encoded proteins, and variants thereof, are described wherein a gene of the invention exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers such as those listed in Table I. Consequently, of gene products of a gene of FIG. 2 provide diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic targets for cancer. A gene of FIG. 2 or fragment thereof, its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with a gene product of FIG. 2 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US07951374B2
Methods of enhancing antitumor activity of an immune cell comprising contacting the immune cell with a Stat3 inhibitor are described. Also described are methods of killing a tumor cell or inhibiting tumor growth in a subject comprising contacting an immune cell of the subject with a Stat3 inhibitor.
US07951364B2
This invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of eukaryotic cells with migratory capacity. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating movement of CaR receptor expressing cells of hematopoietic, neural, epithelial, endothelial, or mesenchymal origin, in a specific site in a subject. The foregoing are useful, inter alia, in the treatment of conditions characterized by a need to modulate migratory-cell movement associated with specific sites in a subject. Specific sites include sites of inflammation and modulation of migratory-cell movement is movement away from an agent source, or repulsion. The invention also relates to methods for manipulating hematopoeitic progenitor cells and related products. In particular the invention includes methods and products for using CaR receptor-related compositions to enhance mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells, to improve the efficiency of targeting cells to the bone marrow, and/or to modulate hematopoietic progenitor cell function.
US07951363B2
The present invention relates to an ecological protected material, comprising a base material (4) provided with a water-insoluble substance, a growth substrate and a microorganism layer. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a material according to the invention, comprising providing a base material with a water-insoluble substance, a growth substrate and a microorganism.
US07951361B2
A bacterial cell which expresses three or more coli surface (CS) antigens and methods of making such a cell. The cell is useful in making vaccines against diarrhea.
US07951359B2
The present invention relates to the use of IL-6 in compositions and methods for therapy or prevention of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN). More specifically, the invention relates to the use of a low dose of IL-6 for the treatment and/or prevention CIPN.
US07951351B2
Methods of preparing single walled carbon nanotubes from a metal catalyst having deposited thereon fullerenes are provided. Fullerenes are deposited onto a metal catalyst precursor or metal catalyst. In the presence of a carbon containing gas, the metal catalyst precursor/fullerene composition is then exposed to conditions suitable for reducing the metal catalyst precursor, for subliming the fullerene and for growing single walled carbon nanotubes. The fullerenes form the end caps for the resulting single walled carbon nanotubes, which are uniform in diameter.
US07951348B2
A facile, low temperature and low pressure method for the preparation of a wide range of phase pure ABO2 compositions.
US07951340B2
Atmospheric and/or vacuum resid fractions of a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil are added to a blend of crude oil to prevent fouling of crude oil refinery equipment and to perform on-line cleaning of fouled refinery equipment. The HSDP resid fractions dissolve asphaltene precipitates and maintain suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces.
US07951337B2
The invention relates to a miniaturized microtiter plate which has a body made of plastic and a base made of glass, 1000 to 4000 vessels (wells) (3), and a cover (4) which prevents evaporation. The diameter of the vessels (wells) (d) is approximately 1.0 to 1.8 mm. The base of the microtiter plate (2) has a layer thickness ranging from 0.07 to 0.2 mm and the distance of the outermost vessels (wells) from the edge of the glass base ranges from 4 to 11 mm.
US07951336B2
The invention relates to a reaction vessel, a reaction vessel liquid introducing device, a liquid introducing and reaction measuring device, and a liquid introducing device, and is directed to being able to perform temperature control of a liquid stored within the reaction vessel with a high accuracy and faithful responsiveness. The reaction vessel comprises: a storage chamber in which a liquid is storable, that has an opening part; a reaction chamber that is formed thinner or narrower than the storage chamber; and at least one flow passage that communicates between the storage chamber or the exterior and the reaction chamber. The reaction vessel is formed such that it is connectable to a liquid introducing section provided externally, and the liquid can be introduced into the reaction chamber by connecting to the liquid introducing section.
US07951329B2
A rotary luminometer subsystem presents test vessels to a detection mechanism to be read as part of the automated immunoassay analyzer system. The rotary luminometer provides a read station separate from that of the transportation element of the luminometer. Within the read station, a housing and shield eliminates light leakage from the sample under test. In addition, the read station regulates the intensity of the light by providing an attenuation capability.
US07951328B2
A device for automatically analyzing blood samples includes an extraction station (I), where blood can be extracted from a storage vessel (40) by an extraction device (15); a measuring station (II), where the extracted blood can be passed via a head part (46) through an aperture (26) of an aperture holder (30) arranged in a measuring part (9), the measuring part (9) being connected to the head part (46); a receiving station (III), for receiving measuring parts (9) configured as disposable parts; and a device (3) for moving the extraction device (15) and the head part (46) between the extraction station (I), the measuring station (II) and the receiving station (III).
US07951323B2
The invention relate to a process for forming a cured, partially cured or uncured thermosetting material, comprising: an irradiation step wherein the thermosetting material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation which to a significant extent is within the neat-infrared range in such a way that the temperature of the irradiated thermosetting material is brought to between 40° C. and 400° C., and a forming step wherein the irradiated thermosetting material is brought into a desired shape, whereby the forming step is executed during and/or subsequent to the irradiation step. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the said process and to a thermosetting material.
US07951322B2
Method and apparatus for molding and assembling a composite part assembly in, for example, a plastic injection-molding machine. Complementary mold portions associated with a mold plate and rotatable turret form plural parts. Assembly apparatus associated with the turret assembles the plural parts into an assembly. A further turret may be provided to add a complementary part to the assembly to make a final assembly. The method includes manufacture of composite part assemblies and final assemblies.
US07951320B1
A method of using an injection mold assembly to fabricate a bulkhead fitting. The method includes using a core plate, aperture plate and a pair of slide blocks to form the mold assembly which contains the mold cavity. The aperture plate, which has an opening through the plate, is positioned within the assembly such that the fitting, which is molded within the mold cavity, does not contain a parting line across the sealing surface and o-ring groove of the fitting.
US07951317B2
A method of producing a composite part formed of a thermoplastic matrix reinforced with long glass fibers is provided. The method includes supplying a thermoplastic resin and high density glass granules to an injection or injection-compression device containing a single screw. The high density glass granules include long chopped strands formed of glass filaments sized with a sizing composition. The chopped glass strands may have a length from 6 to 30 mm. In addition, the glass granules may have a glass density between 90 and 99.5% and may have a length to diameter ratio (L/D) ratio of less than L, which is expressed in mm. A composite part obtained using the disclosed method is also provided.
US07951297B2
Granulated products are provided and include carbonaceous particles and a carbonized agent or binder. The agent or binder is preferably a synthetic resin, pitch component, or mixture thereof. Packing materials for packing columns used in chromatographic separations are also provided as are methods of chromatographic separation using the materials. In addition, methods are provided to provide a variety of different types of carbonaceous products. A variety of chemical groups can be, prior to heat-treatment and/or thereafter, attached to the granules to form modified granules.
US07951291B2
The present invention relates to a screen lock-unlock system for automatically locking and unlocking a screen that is within a fluid channel wherein the screen is rotatable relative to the channel from closed to open. The system includes an actuator comprising a flapper and a trigger, wherein the flapper is rotatably connectable to the back of the screen. The flapper is operably connected to the trigger for moving the trigger. And, the system is further summarized, according to one aspect, as follows. It includes a lock bar wherein the lock bar is rotatably attachable to a screen support structure, the lock bar being rotatable by movement of the trigger. The lock bar intercepts the rearward arc path of a blockable part (such as a flange extending laterally from the screen). The flapper is located and oriented with respect to the closed screen for at least part of the flapper to be rotatable in response to pressure from impact fluid. The trigger is located sufficiently close to the lock bar for rotation of the trigger to move the lock bar in a direction and amount needed for at least part of the lock bar to clear the blockable part, allowing the screen to open in response to pressure against the front of the screen. The screen is rotatable toward a closed position in response to the diminishment of the pressure against the front of the screen. And, the lock bar is biased in a counter-rotation direction (by part of the lock bar and/or another biasing device) to at least help hold the lock bar in and/or return it to a locked position.
US07951271B2
Described is an apparatus for recovery of energy and by-products from automobile and truck tires. The tires are heated in an oxygen poor environment, and the off gases are condensed to recover a liquid oil product and compressible natural gas. The tires are reduces to ash and steel, both of which can be feed streams for other processes. The apparatus includes a condenser with cooled plates, and oil recovery structures.
US07951265B2
Aqueous slurries of finely divided fillers which are at least partly coated with polymers and which are obtainable by treating aqueous slurries of finely divided fillers with at least one water-soluble amphoteric copolymer whose structures are identified in the specification are used as an additive to the paper stock in the production of filler-containing paper, filler-containing cardboard or filler-containing board by draining of the paper stock.
US07951261B2
The present invention relates to a plasma etching apparatus. In the apparatus, potential difference is applied between a substrate support with a substrate seated thereon and a electrode surrounding an edge region of the substrate, and a distance between the substrate and the electrode is set to 3 mm or less so as to locally generate plasma in an area between the substrate and the electrode, thereby removing particles and a thin film in the edge region of the substrate.
US07951256B2
In a method of making a vacuum vessel having a pair of plates including a face plate and a rear plate bonded to each other using a bonding member, a bonding member is applied to a periphery of at least one of a pair of plates, the plates are placed in contact with each other through the bonding member disposed therebetween, parts of sides of the plates are fastened to each other using a positioning jig made of bimetal, the plates are separated from each other by placing the plates in an atmosphere and by thermally deforming the positioning jig, and the plates are fixed to each other around the entire peripheries thereof using the bonding member by performing cooling so as to reduce thermal deformation of the positioning jig and making the plates contact each other through the bonding member disposed therebetween.
US07951253B2
A method of manufacturing a display device, including providing a composition including a conductive material, an organic binder; a glass frit, and a solvent, wherein the organic binder has a glass transition temperature of about −50° C. to about −5° C., loading the composition into grooves of a gravure roll, transferring the composition from the grooves of the gravure roll onto a silicone rubber blanket roll, transferring the composition from the blanket roll onto a glass substrate, and drying and firing the composition transferred on the glass substrate to form an electrode.
US07951250B2
A method is provided for configuring a mailpiece creation system to minimize system set-up, mitigate errors and reduce the skill level required to perform tabbing operations. The method includes the steps of (i) determining a fold configuration of the sheet material employed in the creation of a mailpiece, (ii) determining the dimension of an adhesive tab for securing a free edge of the sheet material, (iii) determining a target location for the placement of each adhesive tab relative to the free edge of the folded sheet material, (iv) configuring at least one system parameter of the mailpiece creation system in accordance with at the fold configuration, adhesive tab dimension, and/or target location, and (v) executing a mail run job by the mailpiece creation system.
US07951249B2
The present invention provides an RFID tag excellent in the diffusion of heat. The RFID tag includes a base, an antenna pattern that is provided on the base and forms a communication antenna, a circuit chip that is electrically connected to the antenna pattern and performs radio communication via the antenna, a cover that is provided in close contact with the base in such a manner as to cover the antenna pattern except a prescribed region including the circuit chip, and an insulating thermal diffusion material that covers the prescribed region and is in thermal contact with the circuit chip. The insulating thermal diffusion material has thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the cover.
US07951242B2
A method and an apparatus of the present invention is used for the high-rate deposition of materials, such as carbon, silicon, metals, metal oxides, and the like, onto a metal substrate defined by a metal tape. The particles of the material are mixed with fluid and are injected against the metal tape at a high pressure and high velocity. The particles of the material form a current collection surface of the metal tape. The metal tape is used as cathode or anode combined with a separator to form a fuel cell of a secondary battery, metal-ceramic membranes, film composite metal-ceramic materials for electronic devices.
US07951239B2
A method of producing a roofing shingle coating asphalt from a non-coating grade asphalt feedstock includes the following steps. The non-coating grade asphalt feedstock is partially blown to lower its penetration to a first penetration that is within or close to a target penetration range of the coating asphalt, and to raise its softening point to a first softening point that is lower than a target softening point range of the coating asphalt. Then a wax is added to the partially blown non-coating grade asphalt to further raise its softening point to a second softening point that is within the target softening point range to produce the coating asphalt.
US07951238B2
A method for preparing a fluxing oil, having an iodine number ranging from 50 to 200, based on fatty substances of natural origin having been chemically functionalized by oxidation, includes the steps of: i) providing a fatty substance or a mixture of fatty substances of natural origin, ii) subjecting the fatty substance or the mixture of fatty substances of natural origin to at least one transesterification or esterification reaction by at least one alkanol or mono-alcohol, iii) subjecting the compound or mixture of compounds obtained at step ii) to at least one chemical functionalization reaction by oxidation introducing at least one functional group selected from carboxylic acid, epoxy, peroxide, aldehyde, ether, ester, alcohol and ketone groups, and iv) collecting the fluxing oil.
US07951233B2
An ink for use in inkjet printing has a colorant which has a precipitation rate in the presence of a predetermined fixer that is selected to have a value sufficiently low as to enable an increase in dot size of the colorant and produce a better color.
US07951231B2
A liquid release agent for application in particular to a panel edge region provided, or to be provided, with a coating by means of an adhesive or by means of glue, the panel preferably being a furniture panel, and the agent comprising a white oil as its carrier fluid, is configured such that the release agent comprises an alcoholic solution.
US07951224B2
The present invention is directed to a process for producing a diesel fuel of enhanced cetane value from low cetane distillate and diesel boiling range fractions from poor crudes such as naphthenic crudes.
US07951220B2
The invention describes a method for recovering molybdenum, nickel, cobalt or their mixtures from used or regenerated catalysts in an electric arc furnace containing a heel of liquid cast iron, surmounted with a fluid slag, comprising the following steps: a) adding used or regenerated catalysts into the heel contained in the electric arc furnace, b) adding dosed lime in order to obtain a slag with a CaO to Al2O3 ratio comprised between 0.7 and 1.3, c) mixing the heel by injecting gas so as to avoid formation of crusts, d) melting the used or regenerated catalysts in the electric arc furnace in order to obtain a liquid ferro-alloy.
US07951219B2
A cast formed filter and a method for making the filter are provided. The cast formed filter includes a cast formed filter media having an inlet end, an outlet end, a plurality of inlet openings, a plurality of outlet openings, and a fluid path. The plurality of inlet openings extend from the inlet end into the cast formed filter media, wherein a first portion of the cast formed filter media is disposed between each of the plurality of inlet openings and the outlet end. The plurality of outlet openings extend from the outlet end into the cast formed filter media, wherein a second portion of the cast formed filter media is disposed between each of the plurality of outlet openings and the inlet end, the second portion comprising at least a portion of the first portion of cast formed filter media. The fluid path extends through at least one of the plurality of inlet openings and through at least one of the plurality of outlet openings, wherein fluid flowing through the fluid path is filtered by the cast formed filter media.
US07951214B2
This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a body with a vacuum source. The vacuum cleaner is provided with at least two filter chambers, a first filter chamber for a first filter means in a surface cleaning mode and a second chamber for the same or a second filter means in a filter cleaning mode.
US07951212B2
Method and apparatus for producing synthesis gas comprising the steps of combusting (4) a combustible gas to form hot flue gasses (7), passing the flue gasses (7) through heat storing means (1) so as to heat the heat storing means (1) to an elevated temperature, using the heat thus stored to heat biomass (2) to an elevated temperature so as to form synthesis gas, and withdrawing at least part of the synthesis gas formed, wherein following heating of the heat storing means (1) gaseous medium is circulated through the heat storing means (1), the biomass (2) and back to the heat storing means (1). Furthermore computer program product for performing the method of the invention and the use of the produced biogas are disclosed.
US07951206B2
A medical stent is sized for placement in a ureter. The stent includes a first section which includes a first material, defines a lumen, and includes a first coil completing at least one revolution. A second section of the stent includes a second material, defines a lumen, and includes a second coil completing at least one revolution. A third section defines a lumen and is located between the first and second sections. The third section includes a co-extrusion of the first and second materials. One of the first or second sections is harder than the other section.
US07951201B2
The present invention provides methods and devices for treating the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices employ a fixation device delivery tool having a curved body portion. Fixation devices and methods are also disclosed for placement in intervertebral disc tissue.
US07951199B2
A lateral expandable interbody fusion cage expands laterally between two vertebrae to promote fusion between the two vertebrae. The cage includes an outer cage and at least one inner cage, with optional flanges and spikes.
US07951194B2
Various embodiments of stents with a bioabsorbable body having a coating with a radiopaque layer are disclosed.
US07951187B2
Improved stent configurations exhibiting limited recoil, resistance to compression and improved longitudinal flexibility.
US07951179B2
A bone fastening assembly for use with a screw and including a bone plate and a bushing having a bore adapted for receiving the screw. The bone plate has a substantially planar portion and is provided with a hole in the portion for receiving the bushing. The portion of the bone plate and the bushing are cooperatively configured for providing pivotal movement of the bushing within the hole about a pivot axis and restricting the pivot axis to a plane extending in the portion of the bone plate. A new bone attachment screw for use with the bone fastening assembly is provided.
US07951176B2
The present invention is directed to a bone plate and its method of use for reducing a bone fracture, the bone plate having a longitudinal axis, the bone plate comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a first hole for engaging a head of a first bone anchor. The first hole is configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the first bone anchor along a first axis. A second hole is spaced apart from the first hole along the longitudinal axis. The second hole is for engaging a head of a second bone anchor, and is configured and adapted to fix a shaft of the second bone anchor along a second axis. The first hole and the second hole are configured such that the first axis and the second axis define a single plane and intersect at a point below the lower surface. The shafts of the first and second bone anchors may touch or nearly touch at the point of intersection, such that the first and second bone anchors form a truss.
US07951175B2
A method for manipulating a vertebra includes connecting a first bone anchor to a first vertebra, connecting a second bone anchor to a second bone anchor, positioning a spinal rod in a receiving member of the first bone anchor and in a receiving member of the second bone anchor, connecting a first instrument to the receiving member of the first bone anchor, and manipulating the first instrument to rotate first bone anchor and the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.
US07951170B2
A dynamic longitudinal connecting member assembly includes an anchor member having an integral or otherwise fixed elongate core of circular or non-circular cross-section. The core is pre-tensioned and extends through at least one elastic spacer and at least one outer sleeve. The anchor member and the outer sleeve each attach to at least one bone anchor. In operation, the core is held in tension by the spacer.
US07951169B2
Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing the posterior elements of the spine, and more preferably methods and devices are provided for sharing the load with the intervertebral disc, the facet joints, the ligaments, and the muscles of the spinal column. In certain exemplary embodiments, methods and devices are provided for substantially controlling or providing resistance to movement, e.g., flexion, extension, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation, of the adjacent vertebrae.
US07951165B2
A medical instrument has a tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a handle attached to the proximal end of the tubular member, a distal assembly including a pivot and an end effector assembly supported on the pivot. The end effector assembly has a pair of end effectors. The medical instrument also includes an elongate member corresponding to each of the pair of end effectors. Each elongate member extends through the tubular member and has a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end attached to the end effector assembly.
US07951163B2
A method for excising a portion of an articular surface using a retrograde procedure. An access tunnel is provided extending through a bone and to the articular surface. A central shaft is inserted through the access tunnel to the articular surface and a cutter is coupled to the central shaft. The cutter is coupled to the central shaft to allow the cutter to rotate with the central and to allow the cutter to be tiltable relative to the central shaft. The cutter is rotated and a retrograde force is applied to the cutter to urge the cutter into the articular surface.
US07951161B2
An atherectomy system having a variably exposed cutter wherein a distally located positionable tip closely associated with the cutter and a high pressure fluid jet emanator can be variably and angularly deployed about a hinge mechanism subsequent to entry into the vasculature. The fixed cutter slices or parts atheromatous material and/or thrombotic material from a blood vessel for interaction with high pressure jets to macerate, break up or otherwise reduce the materials for evacuation from the site.
US07951159B2
A method for creating a plication within a hollow organ. The method uses an elongated member having an end effector attached to its distal end. The end effector has a substantially hollow housing, a fixed jaw extending distally from the housing, and a retractable jaw located within the housing. The method involves the step of inserting the end effector within an organ of a patient such that it is in contact with tissue. The method also involves applying vacuum through the elongated member so as to dispose tissue on the fixed jaw and at least partially within the housing. The method also involves creating a plication by sliding the retractable jaw so that it juxtaposes the fixed jaw.
US07951153B2
Disclosed are methods and devices for implanting an orthopedic device between skeletal segments, such as vertebrae, using limited surgical dissection. The implanted devices are used to adjust and maintain the spatial relationships of adjacent bones. The implanted device can be, for example, an artificial disc, a fusion cage or any other appropriate device for implantation between skeletal segments.
US07951144B2
According to the present disclosure, a system for sensing attributes of tissue in at least one direction is provided. The system includes a thermal conductivity probe having a sensor configured to measure thermal conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction, and an electrical conductivity probe having a sensor configured to measure electrical conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction, a power supply operatively coupled to the thermal conductivity probe and being configured to supply power to the thermal conductivity probe, an impedance analyzer operatively coupled to the electrical conductivity probe, and a computer operatively coupled to at least one of the power supply, the multimeter and the impedance analyzer.
US07951140B2
A catheter includes a cryoablation tip with an electrically-driven ablation assembly for heating tissue. The cryoablation tip may be implemented with a cooling chamber through which a controllably injected coolant circulates to lower the tip temperature, and having an RF electrode at its distal end. The RF electrode may be operated to warm cryogenically-cooled tissue, or the coolant may be controlled to conductively cool the tissue in coordination with an RF treatment regimen, allowing greater versatility of operation and enhancing the lesion size, speed or placement of multi-lesion treatment or single lesion re-treatment cycles.
US07951138B2
A mechanical element allows the tip of the handpiece of a dermatological treatment system to rotate to adjust for deviations in handpiece angle with respect to the surface of the treatment area. The tip may glide over the surface of the skin, the tip may include wheels or rotating cylinders on which the tip rolls across the skin, or the tip may be removed from the skin and placed in a new location in a stamping motion. The tip of the handpiece rotates around a single axis, or around two perpendicular axes, so that pressure on the tip moves the flat surface of the tip into proper orientation for planar contact with the skin. An element can be included in the handpiece to apply a restoring force on the tip so that the tip rests in its optimal position in the absence of external forces.
US07951136B2
A tip wrench/coupler having a generally hollow body for the storage and/or attachment of a tip, and a plurality of fluidic couplers that allow the wrench/coupler to connect two or more handpiece together in series, fluidically, thereby allowing the handpieces to be primed at the same time.
US07951134B2
The invention provides biodegradable implants for treating sinusitis. The biodegradable implants have a size, shape, density, viscosity, and/or mucoadhesiveness that prevents them from being substantially cleared by the mucociliary lining of the sinuses during the intended treatment period. The biodegradable implants include a sustained release therapeutic, e.g., an antibiotic, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, or both. The biodegradable implants may take various forms, such as rods, pellets, beads, strips, or microparticles, and may be delivered into a sinus in various pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
US07951128B1
A protective undergarment system for absorbing fluids released by the body of a user. The protective undergarment system includes an upper member being designed for being selectively positioned around an abdomen, a groin and a posterior of the user. The upper member comprises a lower aperture extending through the upper member whereby the lower aperture is designed for extending from a portion of the groin to a portion of the posterior and passes between the legs of the user. A lower member is selectively coupled to the upper member whereby the lower member is selectively positioned over the lower aperture of the upper member to selectively close the lower aperture of the upper member. The lower member is designed for absorbing the fluids released by the body whereby the lower member can be removed from the lower member when the lower member is soiled.
US07951126B2
An absorbent article is disclosed in which an absorbent body intervenes between a liquid permeable front sheet and a back sheet. A middle-height portion is provided by thickening a front surface of an approximately center area of the absorbent body with respect to a standard portion absorbent body. The article includes leakage preventing grooves which extend to a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article are provided on both sides which sandwich a body fluid discharge portion area in the area of the middle-height portion, respectively.
US07951125B2
The present invention relates to a set of coupling parts, such as parts for coupling an ostomy bag to a base plate, said base plate being adhered around a stoma. The set of coupling parts provides a connection part that may be interposed between a first coupling part and a second coupling part and where the coupling parts may be connected and disconnected from each other by the same movement of the connection part.
US07951122B2
A device, system and method for occluding fluid flow through an infusion set detached from a patient's body. The device includes a means for detecting loss of contact to a patient's body and activating an occlusion mechanism accordingly.
US07951117B2
An access device includes a body, a first tube, a second tube, and a mechanism. The first and second tubes extend through the body. The mechanism operably couples the first and second tubes such that at least one tube is pivotable about an axis with respect to the other tube. The body may form a substantially fluid-tight seal at the incision. In another embodiment, the access device further includes a third tube extending through the body and the mechanism operably couples the tubes together such that at least two tubes are pivotable about the axis with respect to the remaining tube.
US07951112B2
A pump module is provided for use in a medical fluid dispensing system that includes a pump body made of a non-compliant material and first and second pump chambers formed in the body. Each of the chambers has a first, open end and an opposite, closed end. The pump module further includes first and second pistons in the first and second pump chambers, respectively. At least one fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are selectively in fluid communication with the first and second pump chambers. Each of the pistons extends through the open end of a respective one of the pump chambers, with each of the pistons being operably translatable within the pump chamber toward and away from the closed end of the chamber. The pistons are translatable independently of one another.
US07951111B2
A valvuloplasty catheter has a dog-bone shaped balloon with semi-compliant smaller diameter waist and non-compliant larger diameter bulbous end regions. The balloon centers across the valve with the waist adjacent to the annulus. One bulbous region serves to hyperextend the valve leaflets and the other assists in stabilizing the balloon position to reduce migration. The semi-compliant waist increases in diameter as fluid enters the balloon until it comes into contact with the valve annulus. The pressure within the balloon per unit of volume delivery has a greater slope after contact with the annulus than before resulting in a change in slope for the pressure versus volume curve. The diameter of the balloon and annulus are determined at this inflection point when the balloon contacts the annulus.
US07951106B1
A personal hygiene device for cleaning orifices, such as the nostrils, one at a time without batteries or power. The device can further be usable in the application of medications, which can be disposed in a tubular body of the device for exact dosage amounts. The personal hygiene device can be reusable without deformation.
US07951103B2
An orthopedic retractor is provided made of polymer gel shaped to be inserted into an interdigital space, having two complementary parts made of polymer gel, each part having a flat face shaped to be assembled to the flat face of the other part, such that together the two parts form the retractor, the flat faces once assembled forming a junction resistant to shearing forces while remaining separable from each other. Advantages: simplification of manufacturing and packaging methods.
US07951102B2
The present invention discloses a novel cervical collar for maintaining the airways in head and neck immobilized trauma patient open. This collar comprises a rigid motion-restricting frame (220, 230, 240, 270, 280) attached to the head (100); and, a jaw clasp (210, 290) attached to the jaw (110). The collar is simultaneously restricting the motion of the head (100) and neck while allowing motion of the jaw (110) to maintain open airways. A jaw clasp (290) useful for performing the jaw-thrust maneuver motion of the jaw (110) to maintain open airways is also presented. Said device comprising a plurality of movable fitting elements adapted to fit the jaw (110) tightly; and, a plurality of movable mover elements adapted to move the jaw (110).
US07951089B2
An apparatus and method for harvesting bone and bone marrow are provided. The apparatus may include a driver operable to be releasably engaged with an intraosseous device. The intraosseous device may include a cannula having a first end operable to penetrate bone and bone marrow and to allow retrieval of portions of bone and/or bone marrow. The cannula may have a second end operable to be releasably engaged with bone marrow sampling equipment. The apparatus may include a removable trocar. The removable trocar may have an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone and/or bone marrow. The removable trocar may have an inner channel and a side port communicating with the inner channel. The removable trocar may have a first end operable to penetrate bone and bone marrow.
US07951081B2
An imaging transducer assembly is combined with a sensor of a medical positioning system, forming a transducer/sensor assembly. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a coil proximally coupled with the imaging transducer. A cable having first and second wires are proximally coupled to the coil. A non-conductive potting layer is wrapped around the coil. Traces are formed in the non-conductive potting layer that are used to electrically couple the imaging transducer with the first and second wires of the cable.
US07951080B2
Devices and methods for maintaining a medical device on-body are provided. Embodiments include medical device securement systems having first and second on-body securement elements. Also provided are systems and kits for use maintaining a medical device on-body.
US07951071B2
A flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. Another flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one flexible drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to couple to a surgical attachment.A sleeve includes an elongated shaft configured to receive a flexible shaft therein and a securing arrangement configured to selectively and variably retain the elongated shaft in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible shaft.A surgical system includes an electro-mechanical driver, an elongated, flexible sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the flexible sheath, a surgical attachment coupled to the at least one drive shaft, the electro-mechanical driver configured to drive the surgical attachment, a shape-retaining sleeve, at least a portion of the flexible sleeve being disposed in the shape-retaining sleeve, the shape-retaining sleeve configured to maintain the at least portion of the flexible sheath in a predetermined shape, and an arrangement variably securing the shape-retaining member to the flexible sheath in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible sheath.
US07951068B2
A rotating self-traveling endoscope system of the invention comprising an insertion portion having an image pickup unit at its distal end portion and a helical structure formed on the outer surface, a rotating driving device for rotating the insertion portion around a long axis, and a rotating self-traveling insertion assisting tool through which the insertion portion can be freely inserted and which is provided with a flexible tube having a bending portion disposed therein is capable of passage of the insertion portion through a space in a body cavity and passage through a valve in the body cavity, which improves insertion performance into a small intestine.
US07951067B2
An implantable band for placement around an anatomical passageway, such as the stomach or other lumen, includes a first end portion with an opening configured to receive part of a second end portion, with a retaining part included as part of the first or second end portion.
US07951064B2
An endourethral device is provided having an elongate member having proximal and distal segments, the elongate member positionable within a lower urinary tract so as to at least partially traverses a prostatic urethra. A proximal anchor, adapted to abuttingly engage portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor the device, is supported at least indirectly by the proximal segment of said elongate member. The proximal anchor includes bladder engaging elements radially extending from the proximal segment of said elongate member, urine being freely dischargable about at least the proximal segment so as to substantially bathe the bladder neck therewith.
US07951061B2
Disclosed are devices for targeted delivery of thermotherapy. These devices are useful in the treatment of diseased tissue in conjunction with magnetic compositions. Further disclosed are methods for treating diseased tissue, which involve the administration of a thermotherapeutic magnetic composition to a patient or a portion of a patient, and the application of an alternating magnetic field to inductively heat the thermotherapeutic magnetic composition. The devices and the methods disclosed herein are useful for the treatment of a variety of indications, such as cancer, diseases of the immune system, pathogen-borne diseases, hormone-related diseases, non-cancerous diseased cells or tissue, and undesirable matter, such as toxins and reaction-by-products associated with organ transplants.
US07951055B2
The push-up block is a device that provides the user with a handgrip for use during push-up exercises, and which further expands the range of exercises and the associated benefits associated with conventional push-ups. The push-up block includes an upper member, having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a lower member also having opposed upper and lower surfaces. A handle is secured to the upper surface of the upper member, providing the user with a handgrip. The lower surface of the lower member is convex so that at least one lowest point thereof contacts a support surface when the push-up block is in use. For example, the lower surface may be substantially V-shaped, forming a triangular wedge, substantially semicircular or arcuate, or may be substantially pyramidal.
US07951053B1
An exercising assist method and apparatus for includes a pair of foot engaging members each having a structure to be removably coupled to a foot of a person. A pair of wheel assemblies is provided and each of the foot engaging members has one of the wheel assemblies attached thereto. The wheel assemblies engage a wall surface when the foot of the person is pointed toward the wall surface. The wheel assemblies assist the person in performing exercises.
US07951045B1
A multi-functional athletic training system for automating many currently manually implemented tasks and performing reaction time, football receiver pattern, and shuttle/split training exercises, including one or more identical training domes, a touchpad unit, and a handheld control unit. In each mode of operation, different cue methods such as MANUAL VISUAL, MANUAL VISUAL & AUDIBLE, CADENCE and PAD may be selected to vary and train the athlete to respond to different starting cues.
US07951044B1
The present invention is an exercise routine (ER) display system and method that can substitute as a trainer/therapist for the purpose of leading one or more users through a single exercise task or through an entire ER. The device displays a predetermined series of exercise tasks seriatim in a predetermined sequence, displaying each repetition of each task in the proper cadence according to a set of variable parameters that specify how each maneuver is to be displayed. Audible elements of the display count the repetitions or give cues for proper technique. Various other types of information are shown visually. The exercise maneuvers are displayed on a local display module that includes, in one embodiment, data processing components, data input/output components, display components, and sufficient long-term memory capacity to accommodate a large library of exercise maneuvers. In a second preferred embodiment, the memory capacity of the local display module is minimal, and ER data are provided to the module in an ad hoc fashion through a data input means such as CD-ROM, DVD, flash memory, or through a USB, wireless, or Internet connection to a master computer.
US07951042B2
A control device for an automatic transmission having a torque converter with a lock-up clutch provided between an engine and the automatic transmission, and a lock-up control device for controlling an engaged condition of the lock-up clutch. The control device includes a plurality of different target slip ratio maps each having a plurality of target slip ratio characteristic lines of the lock-up clutch predetermined according to a throttle angle, a first map selector for selecting one of the target slip ratio maps according to a running range, according to whether the running road is a level road/downhill road or an uphill road, and according to a gear position during running in the condition where an accelerator pedal is depressed, and a second map selector for selecting one of the target slip ratio maps according to a running range, according to whether the running road is a level road/uphill road or a downhill road, and according to a gear position during running in the condition where the accelerator pedal is undepressed.
US07951040B2
A triple-axle-drive multistage transmission for heavy machinery includes an input part and a speed changing part. The input part includes a clutch part including a forward clutch part and a reverse clutch part to control transmission of the power received from a bevel gear unit, an input drive shaft coupled to the forward clutch part to mediate forward power transmission, a forward drive gear provided on a first end of the input drive shaft, and a reverse drive gear coupled to the reverse clutch part. The speed changing part includes a speed change drive shaft to mediate a change of speed of the power input from the input part, a planetary gear unit coupled to a first end of the speed changed drive shaft, and a reverse driven gear provided on a second end of the speed change drive shaft and engaging with the reverse drive gear.
US07951037B2
A differential having four pinions supported for rotation on cross pins within a differential case. The differential employs a retainer system for securing the cross pins relative to the differential case. The retainer system can include a retainer, such as a clip or a pair of roll pins, that can secure at least one of the cross pins in place.
US07951022B2
A game includes a pair of rackets for propelling and catching a projectile. Each racket includes a rim for supporting a net between its inner periphery and one of a hook and a loop on an outer periphery. The projectile includes a generally circular member and an elastic band. The band carries the other of the hook and loop which cooperates with the racket for propelling the projectile. The racket may be positioned to catch the propelled projectile in the net.
US07951015B2
The present invention is directed to multi-layer golf balls having at least three core layers, at least one cover layer, and at least one intermediate layer between the core and the cover layer that acts as a vapor barrier. Advantageously, the at least three core layers have a hardness gradient that either increases or decreases toward the at least one intermediate vapor barrier layer.
US07951006B2
Memories coupled to a gaming terminal, are reprogrammed by a method and apparatus which includes identification, negotiation, downloading and verification information from an external information source to a gaming terminal. Hardware devices are used to identify gaming terminals or components.
US07951004B2
Methods and gaming units for conducting a wagering game and an associated progressive jackpot in a gaming network having a plurality of operatively coupled gaming units are described. A progressive jackpot award amount may be determined in part based on the amount of the player's wager for the occurrence of the wagering game in relation to a maximum wager amount that may be made on one of the gaming units in the gaming network. The progressive jackpot pool may include a main pool and a reserve pool. Portions of players' wagers being added to the progressive jackpot pool may be apportioned between the main pool and the reserve pool based on calculation performed at the gaming network, with the apportionment being at least partially determined by the amount in the main pool.
US07951003B2
A gaming system has at least two gaming components. Each gaming component has controller, a communications interface, a communication link to allow the controllers of the gaming components to communicate with internal components in either a wired or wireless fashion, a communication link providing for a wireless communications to external systems and/or components, a wireless identification mechanism used to uniquely and automatically identify the gaming device to appropriate sensors, and a positioning system that can relay precise positional data to host systems.
US07950990B2
The present invention is systems and methods for interactive wagering. Preferred embodiments of these systems and methods incorporate a wagering data hub which controls the flow of data relating to wagers, wagering events, and wagering account and facilitates the use of a variety of user interfaces such as graphical user interfaces and interactive voice response interfaces. For example, a user of the present invention may use a television set-top box, a computer, a telephone, and/or any other suitable device. To communicate with the wagering data hub, television set-top boxes preferably use a two-way cable system, computers preferably use a computer network, and telephones preferably use a telephone network, although each may use any suitable mechanism or combination of mechanisms to communicate with wagering data hub.
US07950989B2
A combine is provided, with a harvested crop processing arrangement with an outlet for straw that is associated with an ejection drum and an endless conveyor arranged between the ejection drum and a straw chopper. In its rear region, the endless conveyor can be pivoted about a horizontal axis extending transverse to the direction of operation between a chopper position and a swath depositing position.
US07950987B2
Aircraft cabin pressure control system and method that improves cabin pressurization during take-off
A cabin pressure control system and method improves cabin pressurization during aircraft take-off operations. The cabin pressure control system sets a cabin pressurization rate limit based on a cabin pressurization rate error. The cabin pressurization rate error is derived from a comparison of a sensed cabin pressure rate-of-change value and a predetermined cabin pressurization rate value.
US07950969B1
The present disclosure is directed to a terminal assembly member for electrically connecting output leads to external systems and equipment, including a one piece insulating body formed from high-pressure molten plastic/nylon, adapted for mounting to an external portion of a generator housing; one or more conductive inserts over-molded within the one piece insulated body, the conductive inserts having at least one threaded bore for receiving a bolt; and one or more bronze alloy lug structures over-molded within the one piece insulated body, the one or more lug structures having a generally L-shaped geometry and a plurality of bores adapted for attaching terminal ring carriers.
US07950968B2
Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing having a main body and a supporting board extending downward from the main body so as to form an L shaped configuration. The main body defines a plurality of receiving passageways extending along a front-to-rear direction and then runs through the supporting board along a vertical direction. A pair of guiding grooves are respectively formed at opposite inner sides of the main body. A plurality of terminals are retained in the receiving passageways. A cover defines locking portions at opposite sides thereof for movably received in the guiding grooves and covers the terminals for preventing outward movement of the terminals.
US07950959B2
A coaxial connector includes an insulating body, a central terminal having a main rod comprising front and rear portions, and a housing. The front portion extends outwardly to form left and right wing-members. Wing-members can be bent to surround the front portion and to form a cylindrical contact. Each wing-member extends outwardly to form a sheet body. Tongue members are bendable to form fixing portions for fixing the insulating body by insert molding. The rear portion has fixtures for clamping the coaxial cable. The housing includes a plate member, a main portion for connecting one end of the plate member, and a cable-clamping member for connecting the other end of the plate member. The main portion has two supporting arms for clamping and holding the insulating body. Each supporting arm has a bottom fixture sheet. Side arms and the fixture members are bendable to fix.
US07950958B2
A connector having a conductive member is provided, wherein the connector comprises a connector body capable of sealing and securing a coaxial cable, and further wherein the conductive member, such as an O-ring, physically seals the connector, electrically couples the connector and the coaxial cable, facilitates grounding through the connector, and renders an electromagnetic shield preventing ingress of unwanted environmental noise.
US07950955B2
A connector is provided for electrically coupling a battery with a battery-powered device. The connector includes a first dual-contact assembly and a second dual-contact assembly. Each of the dual-contact assemblies includes a positive contact for contacting a positive PP3 terminal of a PP3 battery, and a negative contact for contacting a negative PP3 terminal of the PP3 battery. Each dual-contact assembly is configured so that, when the dual-contact assembly is physically engaged with either of the PP3 battery terminals, one of the contacts of the dual-contact assembly electrically engages the PP3 battery terminal, while the other of the contacts of the dual-contact assembly is electrically insulated from the PP3 battery terminal. Accordingly, the PP3 battery may be installed in either of two valid connection states relative to the connector, in which appropriate electrical connectivity is provided via the connector to a device to be powered by the PP3 battery.
US07950942B2
A plug connection between electrical and/or electronic components, in which electrical plug contacts of a plug which is arranged directly adjacently to one component are inserted into a socket which is arranged directly adjacently to the other component, with the components being interlocked with one another by a connection arrangement or being combined to form an assembly, and in which a separate plug connection securing arrangement which is independent of the connection arrangement of the components is provided to secure the plug connection against movements of the plug relative to the socket and vice versa.
US07950935B2
An electronic device with a covering lid for covering an insert hole includes a housing and the covering lid. The housing includes a first surface and a second surface which are connected to each other, and the first surface includes an insert hole. The covering lid includes a covering plate and a flexible handle, and the covering plate is disposed on the first surface and covers the insert hole. A first end of the flexible handle is connected to the second surface of the housing, and a second end of the flexible handle is connected to the covering plate. A bending portion is disposed between the first end and the second end to provide spring force to the covering plate to make the covering plate move along a direction away from the insert hole automatically when the covering plate is unfolded.
US07950934B2
In at least one embodiment, a socket assembly that is positioned in a vehicle is provided. The socket assembly includes a socket plate and a socket body. The socket plate defines a first plurality of openings to enable a connection to a plurality of terminals. The socket body defines a recess therein and a second plurality of openings extend therethrough for receiving the plurality of terminals. The socket body includes at least one channel positioned on an outer periphery of the recess to receive the socket plate such that the socket plate is moveable across the recess and the first plurality of openings are capable of being aligned over the second plurality of openings. The socket body further includes at least one locking member protruding from the socket body to secure the socket plate to the socket body.
US07950933B1
The present invention provides an electrical socket comprising a wafer defining a plurality of slots extending between an upper face and a lower face of the wafer; an upper frame mounted on the upper face of the wafer, a lower frame mounted on the lower face of the wafer, and a plurality of contacts each having a base portion floating received in corresponding slots. The upper frame defines a plurality of interior walls to form a plurality of first openings. The lower frame defines a plurality of interior walls to form a plurality of second openings. The contact comprises an upper contacting arm extending through a corresponding first opening and beyond an upper surface of the upper frame, and a lower contacting arm extending through a corresponding second opening and beyond a lower surface of the lower frame.
US07950930B2
It is object of the present invention to provide an electric junction box that can effectively drain liquid away therefrom.The electric junction box in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises a wiring board; a connector block having a body, and a terminal passing through a bottom wall of the body and being electrically connected to the wiring board at an end portion thereof, the body having a groove formed on an inner face of the bottom wall, and an outlet communicating with an end of the groove; and a case being disposed above the bottom wall, having a hole disposed thereon, and being configured to receive both the wiring board and the connector block therein, the hole being configured to pass an opposite end portion of the terminal therethrough. In such a construction, when liquid leaks into the case via the hole and arrives at the bottom wall, the groove is configured to take the liquid up and to guide the liquid to the outlet due to capillary phenomenon.
US07950929B2
An electrical terminal is adapted for being mounted in a connector. The electrical terminal includes an elastic portion of a substantially U-shape which includes a fastening arm and a contact arm spaced from the fastening arm, and a soldering tail connected with a free end of the fastening arm. The contact arm defines a contact area back to the fastening arm for electrically contacting an external mating terminal. The contact area includes a plurality of concave fillisters and contact ribs parallel one another to be alternately arranged and each extended at an incline to an inserting direction of the external mating terminal so that ensures a firm contact between the electrical terminal and the mating terminal.
US07950927B2
A conductive contact holder includes a holder substrate and a holding member. The holder substrate is made of a conductive material and has an opening for holding a conductive contact for inputting and outputting a signal to and from a circuit structure. The holding member is formed by filling the opening with an insulating material, smoothing the surface of the insulating material, and forming a hole through the insulating material for inserting the conductive contact.
US07950915B2
A plastics injection molding machine with an injection unit has an injection unit housing as central part of the injection unit, a plasticizing cylinder connected to the injection unit housing, a screw which is supported in the plasticizing cylinder for rotation to prepare injection material and for displacement to effect the injection stroke in axial direction, drive motors coupled to and generating the rotation and axial movements of the screw and supported on the injection unit housing via a motor flange, and an injection force measuring device for determining the injection force applied by the screw when executing its injection stroke, wherein the injection force measuring device includes at least one tensile force sensor which is integrated in the injection unit housing in such a manner that the reaction force of the injection force, as generated by the injection force and introduced via the motors and the motor flange into the injection unit housing, is detectable.
US07950905B2
A high pressure radial piston fuel pump is featured having an hydraulic head with two individual radial pumping pistons and associated pumping chambers, annularly spaced around a cavity in the head where a rotating eccentric drive member with associated actuation ring are situated. A rolling interaction is provided between the actuation ring and the inner ends of the pistons for intermittent actuation. Relative rotation is provided between the actuation ring and the drive member. Each piston has a piston bore that has a centerline that intersects the actuation ring but is offset (X) from the drive axis as viewed in cross section perpendicularly to the drive axis and the piston bore centerlines are parallel to each other but offset (Y) from each other as viewed in longitudinal section along the drive axis.
US07950900B2
A stage for a gas turbine engine, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially extending aerofoils, includes a plurality of annulus fillers to bridge the spaces between adjacent aerofoils to define an inner wall of a flow annulus through the stage. Each annulus filler has opposing side faces which are spaced circumferentially from the adjacent blades and which correspond in profile therewith, and resilient seal strips each including a stiffener are mounted adjacent the opposing side faces of the annulus fillers to seal the gaps between the annulus fillers and the aerofoils. The stiffeners have three-dimensional curvature.
US07950894B2
An implement for a machine is provided. The implement has a frame, an operator interface, and a ratchet. The operator interface is pivotally attached to the frame about an axis. The ratchet is mounted about the axis and coupled to the frame and the operator interface.
US07950884B2
A load restraining apparatus includes a retractable fabric membrane for retaining items in position inside a semi-trailer or shipping container. A membrane carrier is removably fastened to one interior wall of the trailer and a spring-biased retractable membrane is pulled across the width of the trailer and fastened to the other interior wall. A tensioning device tensions the membrane thereby securing the cargo during shipment and preventing shifting inside the shipping container or trailer. The fore and aft adjustability and the vertical adjustability of the load restraining apparatus permit it to effectively restrain cargo of diverse size and shape.
US07950879B2
Provided herein are systems and methods for use in controlling a translocation process of a pneumatic tube system in order to reduce the amount of energy transferred from the tube system to a pneumatic carrier and, hence, its contents. Generally, these utilities entail identifying and/or reducing forces applied to a pneumatic carrier traveling through a travel path within a pneumatic tube system. The systems and method disposed herein allow for varying the velocity of a pneumatic carrier as it passes through a travel path of the pneumatic system. Such varying of the velocity allows for reducing the total forces applied to the pneumatic carrier during passage through the system. In one arrangement, the power output of a power source connected to a compressor device is altered to vary the velocity of pneumatic carries in the system.
US07950866B2
A ring binder mechanism has a resilient polymeric housing. The housing has a central portion and lateral sides extending downwardly along either side of the central portion. A metal ring support is supported between the lateral sides for movement relative to the housing. Each of a plurality of rings includes a first ring member mounted on the ring support for movement therewith to open and close the rings. The housing applies a spring force biasing the ring support toward the open position when the first ring member is proximate its open position and biasing the ring support to the closed position when the first ring member is proximate its closed position. The housing spring force is the only spring force applied to the ring support that moves the ring support.
US07950861B2
An opening-angle restricting device includes a main casing, a cover member, a string member, a take-up unit, and a stopper unit. The main casing has an inner space for accommodating an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium. The cover member is coupled to the main casing via a hinge. The cover member has an inner side that faces the inner space when the cover member is closed. The string member has one end fixed to the main casing. The take-up unit is provided at the inner side of the cover member. The take-up unit is configured to pay out and take up the string member. The stopper unit restricts paying out of the string member when an amount of payout in the string member reaches a predetermined amount, thereby restricting an opening angle of the cover member at a predetermined angle.
US07950856B2
A tapered roller bearing includes: an oil guide member that opens and closes an annular opening between an outer peripheral surface of a large rib of an inner ring and an outer ring and is mounted on the large rib; and a discharge port that discharges, along the outer peripheral surface of the large rib, lubricating oil and is formed through an inner peripheral portion of the oil guide member. The oil guide member includes a closing portion for closing the annular opening. When a fluid pressure of the lubricating oil which flows through pockets of a cage toward an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring is below a predetermined values, the closing portion closes the annular opening and guides the lubricating oil toward the discharge port. When the fluid pressure exceeds the predetermined value, the closing portion opens the annular opening.
US07950852B2
An inside seal is installed in a recess open downward in the slider to keep load-carrying races kept free of foreign materials that have already crept into the inside of the slider. The inside seal is composed of a metallic core and a sealing member that includes a joint portion secured to the core and a major portion integral with the joint portion. The joint portion has a mating surface to come into engagement with a downward surface deep inside the recess cut in a carriage while the major portion includes a first lip to come into sliding engagement with a guide rail, a second lip come into abutment against an inward sidewall of the recess, and third lip to come into abutment against the downward surface.
US07950846B2
The resonator (1) for a timepiece results from coupling a first, low frequency resonator (2) with a second, higher frequency resonator (3). The first resonator (2) has a first balance (4) associated with a first balance spring (5). The second resonator (3) has a second balance (6) associated with a second balance spring (7). A third balance spring is arranged between the first (4) and second (6) balances to couple said first (2) and second (3) resonators.
US07950838B2
A light directing film and an optical system incorporating same are disclosed. The light directing film includes a first major surface and a microstructured second major surface. The microstructured second major surface has at least two periodic microstructured patterns. The first periodic pattern is arranged along a first direction. The second periodic pattern is arranged along a second direction different from the first direction.
US07950831B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp unit for obtaining a thin profile display device, to improve uniformity of light, and to simplify a power connection line for operation. The LED lamp unit includes an optical lens having a central recess part and an edge, wherein the central recess part is hollowed out inwardly, and the edge is formed in shape of a flat surface or in shape of a convex lens; at least one or more LED chips arranged at fixed intervals in a lower portion of the optical lens; and a lower reflecting sheet positioned on a bottom surface of the LED chip.
US07950830B2
An illumination system for illuminating a display device includes a conical reflector associated with the light source for illuminating a light-exit window. The reflector is arranged for reflecting light emitted by the light source towards the light-exit window and is radially segmented into a plurality of reflector-cone segments, each including at least one convex-cone segment being convex shaped in a lateral direction with respect to a source axis for lateral distribution of light emitted by the light source over the light-exit window.
US07950824B2
The present invention provides a lighting system with a color indicator surface (24, 30). The surface receives light via a cover (18) of the lighting system, mainly through internal reflection. Hence, the light from the light sources, here at least two different colored LEDs (14), is guided away from the main light emitting surface (20), such that well-mixed light with a lower intensity may be used to determine the color of the light. The color indicator surface may be a surface (24) of the cover (18), or may be a surface (30) of a separate outer part (26). The lighting system may be used to illuminate objects in houses, shops and so on. The color indicator surface provides a convenient and easily accessible color reference.
US07950822B2
A detachable ballast housing for use with fluorescent lights includes a ballast, a housing for the ballast, and electrical contacts for detachably mounting and dismounting to a lighting fixture without connecting or disconnecting power wires.
US07950820B2
A lighting device (100) includes a housing (100), a battery receiving region (108), an active electrical circuit (202), and a light source (118). The active electrical circuit (202) uses energy from batteries (110) received in the batter receiving region (110) of the flashlight (100) to power the light source (118). The electrical circuitry of the flashlight (110) is energy limited so that the flashlight is intrinsically safe for use in hazardous locations.
US07950815B2
A back light unit includes a bottom cover, a plurality of light source modules mounted on the bottom cover, and an optical sheet unit over the light source modules, wherein each of the light source module includes a PCB having the plurality of light source modules mounted thereon, a diffusing plate spaced a distance from the LED light sources and surrounding the PCB fully for diffusing a light incident thereon from the LED light sources throughout a surface thereof uniformly, and a diffusing plate supporter for securing the diffusing plate to the PCB, and the diffusing plate includes a flat plate portion, a side wall portion extended from opposite edges of the plate portion to the diffusing plate supporter, and a plurality of light diffusing units each projected from a surface facing the LED light source on the plate portion at a position matched to the LED light source, thereby enabling to make effective response to fabrication of thinner liquid crystal display device and improve a light uniformity, and improve light utilization efficiency to improve a luminance, and enhance mechanical reliability.
US07950810B2
An adjustment module is capable of adjusting a position of a lens of a projector. The adjustment module includes a base, a first tray, a second tray, at least one guide roller, and at least one boundary constrainer. The first tray is slidably disposed on the base along a first axis. The second tray is slidably disposed on the first tray along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The lens is fixed on the second tray. The guide roller is rotatably disposed on the second tray. The boundary constrainer is disposed on the base. The guide roller is capable of confining the lens within an image area of the lens by rotatably contacting the boundary constrainer.
US07950805B2
Systems and methods for displaying images to viewers in motion or viewing from multiple perspectives
Systems and methods for displaying images to viewers in motion are provided. According to some embodiments, an image display system generally comprises an image source and a lensboard. The image source can be configured to present one or more images outwardly from the image source. The lensboard can comprise at least one curved lens. The curved lens can have a generally curved cross section and a focal distance. The curved lens may also be a cylinder. The lensboard can be spaced apart from the image source at a distance less than the focal distance. A method to display images that appear animated to a viewer in motion relative to the can generally comprise providing an image source configured to direct one or more images outwardly from said image source, and providing a lensboard having a focal distance spaced apart from the image source at a distance less than the focal distance. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.
US07950797B2
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to eject liquid droplets onto a sheet to form an image; a transport unit configured to intermittently transport the sheet; a discharge transport unit disposed downstream the transport unit in a transport direction, the discharge transport unit including plural transport rollers configured to transport the sheet in a sheet discharge direction and plural spurs disposed facing the respective transport rollers and arranged in the transport direction; a guide member configured to hold the spurs and be rotatable about a most downstream side or a most upstream side in the transport direction to rotate in a direction away from a sheet transport path; and a stopping and holding unit configured to stop and hold the guide member in a position in which only the spur in the most downstream side in the transport direction is in contact with the sheet.
US07950795B2
An ink-jet recording device which is equipped with a recording head to eject one type or plural types of inks containing a photo-curable component onto a recording medium and a light irradiation device to cure the ink by irradiating light onto the ink having deposited on the recording medium, wherein ink quantity cured by one time light irradiation is not less than 5 g/m2, and an amount of a photo-polymerization initiator in the ink is not more than 5 weight % based on the total weight of the ink.
US07950792B2
An ink refill cartridge is provided for refilling an inkjet printer ink supply. The refill cartridge includes an outer molding defining a cavity. An inner molding is movably mounted to slide into the cavity and defines a recess. A deformable ink membrane is located within the recess, is configured to store ink and defines an outlet through which the stored ink can pass to the ink supply. A biasing arrangement is located within the cavity between the outer molding and the ink membrane. The biasing arrangement biases the membrane to deform and cause ink to pass from the outlet when the inner molding slides into the cavity.
US07950791B2
An ink cartridge configured to hold an ink includes a substantially hollow body including an inner space and a substantially continuous inner wall. An optical prism in the inner space is disposed at a predetermined distance from the continuous inner wall such that an ink pocket is defined by a prism wall and the continuous inner wall. The prism includes at least one reflection site formed at an angle configured to reflect light from a light source through the prism at a predetermined height relative to a bottom of the body. If ink is present in the ink pocket at a level below at least a portion of the reflection site, the ink does not block the light reflected off of the portion of the reflection site from traveling across the ink pocket at the predetermined height, such that the reflected light is externally detectable by electronic means.
US07950784B2
An ink refill cartridge is provided for refilling an ink ejection printhead cartridge. The refill cartridge includes a receptacle configured to receive a collapsible ink container storing ink. The receptacle is further configured to engage with an ink refill port of the printhead cartridge. A handle assembly can be slidably mounted relative to the receptacle so that, when the handle assembly and receptacle are compressed between the printhead cartridge and a hand, the handle assembly can slide along the receptacle and collapse the ink container to cause the stored ink to be supplied through the ink refill port. In one embodiment, the receptacle defines one or more protrusions configured to engage with complementary recesses of the handle assembly so that the handle assembly will not slide along the receptacle until a threshold compression force has been applied by the hand.
US07950781B2
An inkjet head chip has an actuator plate, discharge channels formed in the actuator plate for discharging ink, and non-discharge channels arranged alternately in parallel with the discharge channels and which are not configured to discharge ink. The actuator plate has a piezoelectric layer and a low-permittivity substrate layer. The piezoelectric layer is formed of a piezoelectric material and the low-permittivity substrate layer is formed of an insulating low-permittivity material having a lower permittivity than that of the piezoelectric material. One end of each discharge channel extends to an end surface of the actuator plate in a state in which the insulating low-permittivity material is exposed on a bottom surface thereof, and another end of each discharge channel does not extend to the end surface of the actuator plate. Each non-discharge channel extends over at least an entire length of the actuator plate in a state in which the insulating low-permittivity material is exposed on a bottom surface thereof. Piezoelectric elements formed of the piezoelectric material are disposed in the discharge and non-discharge channels and driven by a voltage signal for undergoing deformation to vary a volume in the discharge and non-discharge channels to thereby eject ink droplets from the discharge channels.
US07950777B2
An ejection nozzle assembly is provided having a substrate defining a fluid supply passage, drive circuitry on the substrate, a chamber on the drive circuitry and in fluid communication with the fluid supply passage and an ejection port, an ejection member disposed between the fluid supply passage and the ejection port, and a heater element electrically coupled to the drive circuitry and the ejection member for causing ejection of fluid from the ejection port.
US07950759B2
A method of operating an inkjet head to eject ink droplets, for an inkjet head including a pressure chamber that is contracted and expanded in a particular period, including: decompression-operating the membrane, such that the volume of the pressure chamber is increased, in correspondence with the period in which the pressure chamber is expanded; compression-operating the membrane, such that the volume of the pressure chamber is decreased, in correspondence with the time point at which the pressure chamber is converted from an expanded state to a contracted state; decompression-operating the membrane, such that the volume of the pressure chamber is increased, in correspondence with the period in which the pressure chamber is contracted; and compression-operating the membrane, such that the volume of the pressure chamber is decreased, in correspondence with the time point at which the pressure chamber is converted from a contracted state to an expanded state.
US07950754B2
A pull-out drawer assembly for a refrigerator bottom freezer. The assembly includes upper and lower baskets slidably mounted one above the other. The bottom basket has a drawer face mounted to its front edge. The upper basket has a magnet which cooperates with an engagement device that is mounted on the lower basket and is attractable to the magnet so that, when the drawer is pulled out of the freezer compartment, both drawers travel as a unit. The upper drawer can then be pushed back to disengage the engagement device from the magnet and provide access to the lower basket.
US07950753B2
A tool-free rapid assembly/disassembly slide rail device is characterized in that each of a front slide rail and a rear slide rail has an end inserted by rectangular or circular flange positioning blocks of a positioning element and is detachably assembled with a resilient retaining element, wherein the positioning element is retained by the resilient retaining element to allow rapid assembly and disassembly of the slide rail device.
US07950737B2
A vehicle seat (1) having an active headrest mechanism (20) actuated by a lower lumbar mechanism (30). A seat back frame (10) mounts the active headrest mechanism (20) and the lower lumbar mechanism (30).
US07950727B2
A suspension arrangement for spring suspending a mass body (3) in relation to a substructure (1), for example, a driver's cabin (3) of a heavy goods vehicle in relation to the vehicle chassis (1) thereof. The suspension arrangement comprises a spring/damper arrangement (2) which is arranged between the mass body (3) and the substructure (1) and which is used to dampen thrusts and/or oscillations. The suspension arrangement in characterized in that it comprises at least one pantograph (6) which is used to reduce the freedom of movement of the mass body (3). The inventive suspension arrangement is constructively robust and can determine the provided freedom of movement of the mass body in a reliable manner and can dampen and/or prevent undesired movements in other spatial directions. The invention enables an economical and a reliable spring suspension, in particular, for a driver's cabin of heavy good vehicles, to be produced.
US07950726B2
An air ride system is provided for tractors and other agricultural vehicles to provide a smooth operator ride. The system includes a bracket mounted to the transmission housing beneath the cab. A pair of shock absorbers and a pair of air bags extend between the bracket and the cab so as to absorb forces generated during travel of the vehicle over the ground. A laterally extending control rod provides anti-sway for the cab. Stop members limit the upward and downward travel of the cab relative to the transmission housing. A compressor and air lines allow air to be supplied to or removed from the air bags to adjust the ride.
US07950720B2
Vanes are used for reducing drag on a moving vehicle having a substantially planar rear surface. The vanes are mounted to the vehicle using pliant material which creates no work for the driver of the vehicle during loading or unloading activities. The apparatus is extremely light weight, and includes a rigid vane of length L having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an aerodynamic center positioned at a distance of between 0.15 L and 0.5 L from the leading edge. The vane has an inner surface facing the vehicle and an outer surface. Multiple pliant attachment devices connect the vane to the vehicle. The vane helps prevent or reduce formation of a zone of turbulent air behind the vehicle. The apparatus allows substantial reductions in fuel consumption and truck CO2 emissions during use.
US07950716B2
A motor vehicle window panel has a peripheral trim molding formed by an extruded body of plastics material, and the body includes a mounting flange and a vehicle body sealing flange integrally connected by an intermediate connecting portion. The mounting flange carries a pressure sensitive contact adhesive tape which bonds to an inner surface of the window panel, and the intermediate connecting portion has an internal stabilizing strip and a durometer greater than the durometer of the mounting flange and of the sealing flange. The molding may be supported within a fixture for receiving the window panel or may carry a tear-off locating flange which slides against an edge surface of the window panel to locate the molding on the panel. The mounting flange may carry a spacer rib, and the mounting flange, sealing flange and connecting portion are located inwardly of the inner surface of the window panel.
US07950713B2
A vehicle seat includes a seat part having a seat substructure. The seat part is displaceable along a transverse axis with respect to the seat substructure and the seat part is at least partially swivelably about the transverse axis. The seat includes a displacement element having a displacement length, a fixed lower part and an upper part. A first longitudinal movement of the seat part and a first transverse movement of the seat part occurs along a first section of the adjustment length. A second longitudinal movement of the seat part and a second transverse movement of the seat part occurs along a second section of the adjustment length. The ratio of the first longitudinal movement to the first transverse movement differs from the ratio of the second longitudinal movement to the second transverse movement.
US07950702B1
The receptacle for a gate drop rod includes a buried plastic canister having an open bottom for drainage. The open top of the canister is covered, and at least one gate rod opening is formed through the plastic cover. Preferably two such openings are formed to provide for different drop rod diameters. A plastic receptacle pipe of appropriate diameter is installed in the appropriate opening, and the unused passage is plugged. The canister is placed on a bed of drainage stone in the bottom of the hole, the top of the canister preferably about two inches below grade. The hole is filled with gravel and stone around the canister, and the top is covered with concrete to grade. A high visibility disc is preferably installed about the top of the protruding pipe to facilitate locating the drop rod receptacle in poor light or at night.
US07950701B2
A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation has segments joined end-to-end by adjustable connection members. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. One or more gripping bodies are captured between the segments. The gripping bodies are arranged opposite to each other. The segments have angularly oriented reaction surfaces on the connection members. The gripping bodies have angularly oriented contact surfaces which interface with the reaction surfaces. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping bodies radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping bodies engage and retain the pipe elements.
US07950699B2
A plug-type coupling for connecting two fluid lines includes a coupling component which has an opening with an adjacent receiving duct, and a coupling piece which is inserted into the receiving duct and has a holding rib which extends from its circumference outwardly and forms a locking surface, wherein the holding rib interacts with a locking stirrup which has at least one leg which is resilient toward the opening. A disassembly element is movably mounted in the coupling component, wherein the disassembly element acts on the leg in the direction of opening the coupling.
US07950694B2
A tether for a passenger airbag cushion of a vehicle includes first and second twist preventing parts formed at both edges of the tether in the deployment direction of the tether by an inflator such that the thickness of both edges of the tether is increased. The airbag cushion is more reliably deployed because the tether is not twisted or folded due to the above structure when the tether is deployed.
US07950693B2
A dual stage inflator device including a housing defining first and second chamber each containing a quantity of gas generant material ignitable to produce combustion products. A divider plate, separating the first chamber from the second chamber, is disposed and fixed within the housing. The divider plate includes an opening to allow gas flow communication from the second chamber to the first chamber. A removable plug element is normally disposed in the divider plate opening to prevent gas flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber when in a static state.
US07950691B1
A gas generating system includes a housing having an adapter formed integral with the housing to enable operative coupling of the gas generating system to an associated gas-actuatable device. The adapter may include openings formed therein to enable distribution of gases to an exterior of the housing.
US07950689B2
A first exemplary seat with a side airbag disposed therein includes a front seat cover and a side seat cover. The seat covers are releasably attached together at a junction configured for the airbag to be deployed therethrough. The front seat cover is less stretchable than the side seat cover. A second exemplary seat with a side airbag disposed therein includes a front seat cover and a side seat cover. The seat covers are releasably attached together at a junction configured for the airbag to be deployed therethrough. The junction includes a first thread of the front seat cover, and a second thread of the second seat cover. The first thread is stronger than the second thread.
US07950688B2
An airbag module for a vehicle includes a first storage compartment for use by an occupant of the vehicle and a second storage compartment for storing a first folded airbag prior to deployment. A single integrated cover overlies the storage compartments. The cover is configured to be integrated and installed into an instrument panel of the vehicle when the airbag module is installed in the vehicle. The cover includes a manually operable first door covering a first opening to the first storage compartment, and wherein, in an open position, the first door permits access to the first storage compartment. The cover includes a second door configured to open when the first airbag thereby creating a second opening in the cover to permit the first airbag to deploy into the vehicle.
US07950674B2
An air suspension system is configured to adjust and maintain a desired vehicle ride height and spring rate. The air suspension system includes a plurality of air spring assemblies that each include a piston airbag and a primary airbag mounted around the piston airbag. A controller receives ride height input data and adjusts pressures within the primary and piston airbags until the desired ride height and spring rate is achieved. The controller accommodates for system hardware differences by varying flow rates into and out of the primary and piston airbags relative to each other.
US07950667B2
A target apparatus including a portable case; a target; and a drive contained within the portable case, the drive having a drive shaft accessible through an access opening in a side of the portable case. When the target is connected to the drive shaft for rotation relative to the portable case, the portable case provides stable support to the target apparatus.
US07950664B2
A device and method for determining the personality type of a person or a group of persons in the tradition of the Enneagram. The device includes a number of cards and each of the cards has at least a color band, an image and a group of words, which collectively identifies an ego type.
US07950661B2
A method for automating a card game includes wirelessly interrogating each of a plurality of playing cards using radio frequency transmissions. For at least some of the playing cards, determining a rank of the playing card is based on the wireless interrogation using a mapping stored on a computer-readable medium that uniquely identifies playing cards based on a random distribution of conductive material carried by each of the playing cards.
US07950656B2
A paper feed detector is disclosed for detecting when a plurality of overlapping sheets of paper occur in a transport path intended to transport paper to a first region. The paper feed detector includes a light source and an image forming arrangement adapted to form an image having a spatially varying intensity; and an image detector. An optical path from the light source to the image detector passes through the transport path. The image detector is adapted to assess degradation of the image to make an assessment of the number of sheets within the transport path.
US07950655B2
An apparatus for controlling reception of various kinds of paper media includes a reception unit to allow the various kinds of paper media to be received, a pick-up unit to pick up the paper media from the reception unit one sheet by one sheet, a transport unit to transport the picked up paper media, a separation control sensing unit mounted on the transport unit to sense whether the paper media is passing through a predetermined transport path, a skew sensing unit mounted on the transport unit to sense skew of the paper media, and a control unit to operate the pick-up unit when the separation control sensing unit senses the paper media passing, and to suspend a forward operation of the transport unit and operate the transport unit backwards when the skew sensing unit senses the skew of the paper media.
US07950652B2
A sheet discharge apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge sheets, a wall member provided below the discharge portion, a tray configured to receive the discharged sheets from the discharge portion, and a holding member provided on the wall member to approach relatively the tray, holding the sheets between itself and the tray, and moving linearly by holding the sheets.
US07950651B2
A media stacker unit comprises: (i) at least one stacker wheel and (ii) a detent. The stacker wheel includes: a hub for mounting on an axle, and a plurality of arcuate tines, each tine being coupled to the hub at a hub end and extending transverse to the axle to a point radially spaced from the axle at a capture end. When the stacker wheel is rotated about the axle, the capture ends traverse a capture circumference. Each tine further comprises a resilient tine portion. The detent partially extends within the capture circumference for engaging with and temporarily retarding a capture end as the stacker wheel is rotated. This reduces the time during which that capture end blocks a media transport path, thereby reducing the possibility of a media item colliding with a capture end and jamming the media stacker unit.
US07950648B2
A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single feed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.
US07950646B2
For determining a setting of an apparatus for folding documents to be inserted into windowed envelopes, a tentative folding setting is determined. Then, an overlay image representing the envelope and at least a portion of a side of the folded document that would be visible through the envelope window after folding of the specimen of the documents in accordance with the tentative folding setting and insertion of the folded specimen into the envelope is displayed. If the overlay image is not satisfactory, another tentative folding setting is inputted and an accordingly changed overlay image is generated. If the overlay image is satisfactory, the current tentative folding setting is selected as the folding setting to be applied for folding documents.
US07950645B2
A method and an installation for the insertion of supplements into printed products (1) such as newspapers, periodicals, brochures, etc., wherein each single, folded or multi-paged printed product (1) is opened over a fold (8) and a supplement (2) is inserted, wherein a leader edge (9) of the supplement (2) is placed at least near the fold (8), or against the spine respectively, of the printed product (1). The method further comprises the following steps of: Application of a bonding agent (3) to the supplement (2) near the leader edge (9) or to the printed product (1) near the fold (8); Insertion of the supplement (2) into the printed product (1); and Adhesion by means of the bonding agent (3), of the supplement (2) in at least one place near its leader edge (9) with the printed product (1).
US07950636B2
A miter joint clamp comprises a base and a sled mounted on the base for linear movement with respect to the base. The base has a planar top side, and such movement is relative to a miter joint plane perpendicular to the planar top side of the base. The sled comprises a first sled fence that has a planar first sled surface extending perpendicular to the top side of the base aligned at a 135° angle relative to a first side of the joint plane, with the first sled surface being resiliently compressible relative to the sled in a direction perpendicular to the first sled surface. The sled further comprises a second sled fence that has a planar second sled surface extending perpendicular to the top side of the base and aligned at a 135° angle relative to a second side of the joint plane, with the second sled surface being resiliently compressible relative to the sled in a direction perpendicular to the second sled surface. The base comprises a first base fence that has a planar first base surface extending perpendicular to the top side of the base and aligned generally parallel to the first sled surface, and a second base fence that has a planar second base surface extending perpendicular to the top side of the base and aligned generally parallel to the second sled surface.
US07950627B2
The hand tool is used to extract a fastener from a material by preferably gripping the fastener from a horizontal orientation. The hand tool has a head with two pivotally joined halves including at least one pair of gripping jaws. The tool head preferably includes tips that may be used to dig beneath a fastener head that is flush with or set below a surface. The tool includes a pair of handles operable to close the gripping jaws. The handles are preferably offset above the plane of the tool head such that they operate as a lever in cooperation with a fulcrum on the bottom of the tool head to extract the fastener. In one embodiment, the forward jaws of the tool have concave curved gripping surfaces. In one embodiment, the rearward jaws have non-complementary surfaces.
US07950623B2
When a control unit variably controls an electric power supplied to an electric motor to repeat a valve opening and closing movement of a valve between a first intermediate position and a second intermediate position through a neutral position, the control unit initially sets the neutral position as a control target value until a valve position, which is sensed with a valve opening degree sensor, is located immediately before the neutral position. The control unit thereafter changes the control target value to the first intermediate position or the second intermediate position when the control unit determines that the valve position, which is sensed with the valve opening degree sensor, reaches the neutral position.
US07950617B2
A support device includes a support-receiving member, a sliding block, a support, and an elastic sheet. The support-receiving member defines a groove with one end thereof blocked to form a stop end and the other opened to form an exit end. The sliding block and the support are slidably juxtaposed in the groove from the stop end to the exit end and rotatably coupled. The support includes a contact portion extending away from an end near the sliding block. The elastic sheet is fixed to the support-receiving member at the exit end and extends a free end away from the exit end. The free end maintains contact with the contact portion during rotation of the support and presses the contact portion to pivot the support to be stopped by the support-receiving member, stationing the support at that position.
US07950607B1
An adapter for converting a full size aircraft bomb rack into a rack capable of supporting reduced size bombs or stores. The full size bomb rack includes a bomb ejection mechanism capable of delivering an ejection force to a full size bomb. The adapter includes an elongated plate having a body portion defining a planar center portion and end portions. The end portions include laterally extending sway braces for reducing lateral swaying of the reduced size store or bomb. The adapter plate is mounted between the reduced size store and the full size adapter rack. The body portion of the adapter rack includes apparatus for ejecting a reduced size store from the elongated plate. A first opening is arranged adjacent to one end portion of the elongated plate for receiving fasteners carried by the reduced size store which attach the store to the full size bomb rack. These fasteners are passed through an opening in the elongated plate. An ejection mechanism at an end of the elongated plate operates to transfer the ejection force from the full size bomb rack to the store.
US07950604B2
An engine attachment pylon for an aircraft including an aft engine attachment fitted with an aft attachment body and two lateral brackets each including a longitudinal portion in contact with an inner face of the lateral panel associated with it and mounted fixed on the same inner face, and a transverse portion including an attachment interface for the aft attachment body, the transverse portion configured to pass through a recess formed on the associated lateral panel.
US07950599B1
A hose controlled sprinkler device, whose sequential liquid output states can be remotely controlled by a substantially unidirectional movement of a hose connected to the sprinkler device. The hose controlled sprinkler device includes a valve and at least one valve support. The valve includes a moveable member, a valve housing, an inlet connection configured for connection to the hose and an outlet connection. The valve is configured to have at least one liquid off state, a liquid on state, and a liquid off state output sequence at the outlet connection. The sequence is established by a pressurized liquid input at the inlet connection and further by a unidirectional movement of the movable member and the housing one about the other. The at least one valve support is connected to the valve and is configured to stabilize the valve above at least one of a ground and a lawn. The liquid output states of the hose controlled sprinkler device can be remotely controlled by the substantially unidirectional movement of the hose which is both connected to the inlet connection and supplies the inlet connection with a pressurized liquid. In other embodiments, a sprinkler is connected to the outlet connection of the hose controlled sprinkler device.
US07950589B2
A two-dimensional code generation system including: a data acquisition section which acquires size data of the two-dimensional code, original data to be read from the two-dimensional code, and given binary design data; an unused data region determination section which specifies an unused data region of the two-dimensional code depending on an amount of the original data, based on the size data and the original data; a binary design data conversion section which calculates a bit code by inversely converting the binary design data corresponding to the unused data region based on format information of the two-dimensional code; and a two-dimensional code generation section which converts the calculated bit code and a bit code of the original data based on the format information of the two-dimensional code to generate the two-dimensional code.
US07950588B2
An information code has a positioning layer for coding position information and a data layer for coding arbitrary non-positional data. Both the positioning layer and the data layer may be formed by circularly shifted instances of a window sequence. A product may have information code. Further, the information code may be coded and decoded by using methods for coding and decoding and may be decoded by using an apparatus.
US07950586B2
An improved smart card is provided, which is adapted for easy extraction from a smart card socket, or example, in a mobile telephone. Facilitating the easy extraction is a structural deviation in the plane of at least one of the sides of the smart card to enable an increase of an external force on the smart card to thereby cause the extraction of the smart card from a socket. The structural deviation may be a change in the thickness of the smart card or a roughened surface in the smart card's enclosure. The smart card may be a SIM card. Also provided is a method of extracting a smart card from a socket, which method may include the steps of engaging a structural deviation in the plane of at least one side of the smart card's enclosure and applying a force to the engaged structural deviation.
US07950585B2
A protected contactless presentation instrument is disclosed. In one embodiment, the protected contactless presentation instrument includes an RFID chip that can be manually exposed and shielded by a user. The protected contactless presentation instrument may include a moveable tab that includes the RFID chip. The protected contactless presentation instrument may also include a moveable shield. Another embodiment of the invention provides for a contactless presentation instrument that includes an electroluminescence material.
US07950581B2
A system and method for acquiring a machine-readable symbol are disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises receiving at least one scan line of a codeword row, determining a number of codewords of the codeword row, and collapsing an initialization symbol matrix into a partially-collapsed machine-readable symbol matrix based upon the determined number of codewords. Once the number of rows in the machine-readable symbol are determined, the partially collapsed machine-readable symbol matrix is further collapsed to the determined number of codeword rows.
US07950579B2
A computer assisted method for evaluating inventory is provided. The method includes receiving case composition information and case cost information for a case at a store where the case composition information identifies an item of the case and the case cost information identifies cost of the case. An item cost of the item is calculated using the case composition information and case cost information and the item cost is stored in memory. Consumer code information is received for the item and the item cost of the item is retrieved. Inventory cost data is generated using the item cost.
US07950575B2
A method of performing a send money transfer transaction through a financial services institution includes storing transaction details on a data base, wherein the transaction details include a desired amount of money to be sent; establishing a code that corresponds to the transaction details stored on the data base; entering the code into an electronic transaction fulfillment device in communication with the data base to retrieve the transaction details from the data base; and determining a collect amount based on the transaction details. A system for performing a send money transfer transaction is also disclosed.
US07950572B2
A reject structure in a cash transaction machine includes a main body of the cash transaction machine including a receiving section wherein a fixed magnet is included in the receiving section; a reject box body being detachably disposed in the receiving section; a reject box shutter being provided on the reject box body to open and close a reject box; and a locking member including a movable magnet in one end of the locking member and being provided pivotably toward a first location capable of locking the reject box shutter and a second location capable of releasing the reject box shutter inside the reject box body, wherein when the reject box body is disposed in the receiving section, the locking member is pivoted toward the location capable of releasing the reject box shutter due to a magnetic force between the fixed magnet and the movable magnet.
US07950571B2
The invention relates to an electronic boarding pass for a passenger having an user interface for indicating an actual position of the passenger in an airport. The position data is received via wireless interface of the electronic boarding pass. In a memory flight data and shopping data of the respective passenger is stored. A processing unit such as a microprocessor is provided for processing received position data, data stored in the memory and airport map data of the airport.
US07950555B1
A stapler is stacked on top of a roll-type tape dispenser. The tape dispenser top surface and the stapler base bottom surface have complemental three dimensional contours which cause the tape dispenser and stapler longitudinal axes to be in parallel relationship when the surfaces are in abutment, prevent relative displacement of the tape dispenser and the stapler when they are stacked and permit the stapler to be dismounted from the tape dispenser and rested for separate use on a flat surface in a stable condition.
US07950552B2
A gun cover with a securing assembly includes a waist plate at an inner side thereof; and an enclosure for defining a gun groove; the enclosure having an inner lateral plate and an outer lateral plate; the inner lateral plate having a through hole for receiving an elastic tenon which protrudes from an interior of the gun groove; the elastic tenon having a press portion; and the press portion being installed between the inner lateral plate and an inner side of the waist plate and projecting out of an upper side of the outer frame.
US07950544B2
The present invention is a top stand platform for furniture manufactured from beer kegs. The top stand platform has a first load distribution ring which circumvents the outlet opening at the center top of the keg at a level below the top flange of the outlet opening. Near its periphery, the first ring has a set of first threaded bolts extending downwardly onto the top surface of the keg. Also, the top stand platform comprises a second stand base ring, with a set of second threaded bolts which secure the second stand base ring to the top of the first load distribution ring. This way, the two first and second rings are clamped together and secured tightly to the flange of the outlet opening at the top of the keg. Secured to the top of the second stand base ring is an upwardly-extending base.
US07950541B2
An apparatus for magnetically sealing a cover of a beverage container comprises a body having an opening, at least a first magnetic member of a first polarity disposed on at least a first portion of the body and a second magnetic member of a second polarity, substantially opposite the first polarity, disposed on at least a second portion of the body, the first magnetic member magnetically retaining the second magnetic member in first and second positions, independent of mechanical assistance, to expose at least a portion of the opening to allow fluid flow to and from the container when in the first position and sealingly occlude the opening to prevent spillage when in the second position.
US07950536B2
A top hardware bar includes a body, a first bracket, and a second bracket. The body is elongate and defines a first end, a second, opposite end, a channel, and a plurality of holes disposed lengthwise along the body. The first bracket is secured to the first end of the body and is releasably secured to a first upright. The second bracket is adjustably secured within the channel at the second end of the body and is releasably secured to a second upright. A backer piece is secured to the body of the top hardware bar along a top portion of the backer piece such that the backer piece hangs from the top hardware bar A product fixture is then placed in front of the backer piece to support products, with the ends of the product fixture being attached to the first and second uprights, respectively.
US07950528B2
The present invention relates to a through-one-end water collection type hollow fiber membrane and a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, an internal sealing part is formed in the hollow part of the membrane at its free end. The internal sealing part supports an external sealing part surrounding the external surface of the free end such that the durability of the whole sealing part might be improved.
US07950524B2
A wafer container includes a container body, a door, and a purging valve, wherein the purging valve is disposed in the through hole of the container body. The purging valve includes a fixed sleeve body, a purging head, an elastic component, and a valve lid. The fixed sleeve body comprises a base, and a lower opening is formed at the center of the base for the purging head to be disposed therein. The purging head comprises a bottom portion and a hollow sleeve portion protruding upward from the bottom portion, wherein the hollow sleeve portion is surroundingly disposed with elastic component and with vent disposed on its circumference wall. The valve lid is disposed on top of the hollow sleeve portion so that the purging head can move from the first position to the second position inside the fixed sleeve body when being propped up by an upward force.
US07950516B2
Conveying system, wherein a conveying device that is mobile with respect to an accumulation device is designed to convey a group of postal objects received at input from a flow-forming device designed to generate at output the group of postal objects aligned in a reference direction, partially overlapping one another and arranged with their own front edges spaced apart from one another. The accumulation device is provided with a plurality of cells, each of which is designed to contain at least one group of postal objects fed to the accumulation device by the translating-lifting device.
US07950510B2
An overrunning torque transmitting device that employs a plurality of cone clutches and an overload mechanism for limiting the torque transmitted through the device in a predetermined rotational direction. A method for transmitting torque is also provided.
US07950504B2
A disk brake has a flange portion formed on the outer periphery of a portion of a caliper body main body where an opening is formed. The opening is used for insertion of a cutting tool for machining of a cylinder bore. The outer diameter of the flange portion is larger than that of a general surface of the outer peripheral wall of the bore formed in the caliper body main body. A lid member is secured to the opening by friction stir welding. The flange portion ensures a sufficient welding margin. The overall weight of the disk brake is reduced by minimizing the wall thickness of the general surface of the outer peripheral wall of the bore.
