US08013876B2
This invention relates to a flat panel display device that is adaptive for optimizing data, which are to be displayed in a panel defect area, in used of a compensation value of a compensation circuit as well as compensating defect pixels by a repair process, and a method of controlling a picture quality thereof. A flat panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel; a memory which stores a first compensation data, a second compensation data and a third compensation data; a first compensation part; a second compensation part; a third compensation part; and a driver for driving the display panel in use of the data modulated by the first to third compensation parts.
US08013869B2
Displaying colors in a color selection interface is disclosed. Displaying includes identifying a first plurality of colors associated with a color selection interface, mapping each color in the first plurality of colors to an allowed color in an allowed color set of one or more colors to obtain a second plurality of colors, wherein mapping is performed based at least in part on a color lookup table, and visually displaying the second plurality of colors in the color selection interface, wherein the color selection interface is configured to receive a color selection from the second plurality of colors.
US08013860B2
Selectively applying graphical filtering to characters can include the identification of observer characteristics and characteristics associated with different portions of the character. Corresponding filters can then be identified and selectively applied to the characters and, in some instances, without applying the filter to the entire character.
US08013855B2
A method includes: an input step of inputting boundary surface information 11 on an object to a computer using the computer; a grid sampling step of determining cutting points 13 where the boundary surface cuts across edges of a predetermined rectangular parallelepiped grid 12 and normal vectors 14 of the boundary surface at the cutting points, and storing them in a storage unit as primary data 15; a D-polyhedron data generation step of connecting adjacent cutting points with a line segment to form a triangle one by one for generating D-polyhedron data 16 constituted of triangles only; and a V-polyhedron data generation step of generating V-polyhedron data 17 constituted of intersections of a plurality of infinite planes passing through the cutting points and whose normals coincide with the normal vectors. Any one of the D-polyhedron data and the V-polyhedron data is generated from the primary data 15, and the other is generated as a dual.
US08013844B2
A lenticular lens is provided in front of a liquid crystal panel composed of a plurality of pixels. In this case, the lenticular lens is arranged so that one cylindrical lens corresponds to two pixels adjacent to each other. Then, light rays outgoing from two pixels are refracted by this one cylindrical lens and intersect with each other at a point positioned on the surface of a tablet, and then reach the right eye and the left eye of a user, respectively.
US08013836B2
Upon receipt of operation entry for processing and editing a currently displayed slide, an operation information generating section generates operation information corresponding to this entry. An operation information reflecting section performs editing on the basis of the operation information and stores the operation information regarding the editing in a storage section. Upon receipt of slide data from the server device, the operation information reflecting section reads operation information of the past regarding this slide data, and generates a display screen in such a manner that editing corresponding to the read operation information is reflected in the received slide data. This makes it possible to display slide data stored in the server device on an image display device in a manner that a user wants, without increasing load on the server device.
US08013830B2
A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight module, a dimming control unit and a backlight module driving circuit. The liquid crystal display panel has a first display area and a second display area. The backlight module includes a plurality of lighting devices respectively corresponding to pixels in the first display area and the second display area. The dimming control unit generates at least one dimming control signal having a dimming frequency which is a multiple of a frame rate of the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight module driving circuit periodically drives the lighting devices in sequence according to the dimming control signal.
US08013828B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a display area in which pixels each having a switching element and electrode are arranged forming a matrix; a first scanning circuit to control whether the switching elements are turned on or off via first wires; a second scanning circuit to control whether an image signal generating circuit is electrically connected to or disconnected from second wires, and to assign image signals to the pixels via those wires; a discharging element to discharge the assigned image signals; a detecting circuit to detect reduction in a power supply voltage and to output a detection signal; and a control circuit to perform a controlling operation according to the signal so that the image signal generating circuit is electrically disconnected from the second wires, the switching elements are turned on, and the discharging element is caused to operate.
US08013827B2
The present invention provides an image display device that is capable of reducing the power consumption. The total power consumption of a level shifter is reduced by using a pulse of an oscillator circuit as an enable signal of a level shifter for amplifying the enable signal to be supplied to a group of level shifters. The image display device includes an oscillator circuit, a first level shifter, and a plurality of second level shifters, which are mounted on a substrate and formed with thin-film transistors. The plurality of second level shifters each has a shutdown function for reducing the power consumption of the level shifters. The shutdown function of the first level shifter is controlled by an output pulse of the oscillator circuit. The shutdown function of the group of second level shifters is controlled by an output pulse of the first level shifter.
US08013816B2
A light emitting display includes a scan driver for generating a selection signal and applying it to a scan line, and a data driver for generating a data signal and applying it to a data line. The scan and data drivers are formed on the same substrate with the display area in which pixels are arranged in a matrix format. The data driver includes a shift register for generating shift signals shifted to sequentially have a first level and for outputting the shift signals through a plurality of output terminals, a plurality of test pads formed to be coupled to the plurality of output terminals of the shift register, and a demultiplexer for selectively applying the data signal input through a plurality of data buses to the data line in response to the first level of the shift signals.
US08013814B2
A method for the correction of average brightness or brightness uniformity variations in electroluminescent (EL) displays comprising: a) providing an EL display having one or more light-emitting elements responsive to a multi-valued input signal for causing the light-emitting elements to emit light at a plurality of brightness levels; b) measuring the brightness of each light-emitting element at two or more, but fewer than all possible, different input signal values; c) employing the measured brightness values to estimate a maximum input signal value at which the light-emitting element will not emit more than a predefined minimum brightness and the rate at which the brightness of the light-emitting element increases above the predefined minimum brightness in response to increases in the value of the input signal; and d) using the estimated maximum input signal value at which the light-emitting element will not emit light more than the predefined minimum brightness and the rate at which the brightness of the light-emitting element increases above the predefined minimum brightness in response to increases in the value of the input signal to modify the input signal to a corrected input signal to correct the light output of the light-emitting elements.
US08013809B2
The brightness of a light emitting element varies when changes in ambient temperature or changes with time occur. In view of this, the invention provides a display device where the influence of variations in the current value of the light emitting element due to changes in ambient temperature and changes with time can be suppressed. The display device of the invention includes a monitoring element that is driven with a constant current, and a voltage applied to the monitoring element is detected and inputted to a light emitting element. In other words, the monitoring element is driven with a low current, and a voltage applied to the monitoring element is inputted to the light emitting element such that the light emitting element is driven with a constant current.
US08013807B2
A display apparatus includes a plasma display panel (PDP) having an upper substrate at which black matrices are disposed. The apparatus includes an external light shield having a panel side facing a display surface of the PDP and an opposing viewer side facing away from the display surface. The light shield includes a base unit and includes pattern units that absorb external light from the viewer side. The pattern units have boundaries defined by intersections of the pattern units and the base unit. The boundaries define widths of pattern tops disposed toward the panel side or the viewer side and define widths of pattern bottoms disposed toward the other of the panel side and the viewer side. A distance between a pair of adjacent black matrices is 4 to 12 times greater than a distance between adjacent boundaries, of a pair of adjacent pattern units, at adjacent pattern bottoms.
US08013804B2
A hypervisor operating system instantiates a virtual video driver to a main operating system that supports only one type of graphics adapter. The virtual driver handles graphics remapping among plural different display drivers associated with plural different display monitors to enable a computer to output data on multiple different monitors even though the main O.S. supports only one type of display driver.
US08013801B2
An ultra-wideband antenna includes a zone, an excitation means, and an adapting means. The zone is defined between first and second shaped surfaces such as to form a radiating element. The first and second shaped surfaces are also rotationally symmetrical in relation to a longitudinal axis of the antenna, and are disposed opposite one another in respect of a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and that contains a horizontal axis. The first and second shaped surfaces are configured to control the characteristics of an electromagnetic field in the zone such that the antenna has an essentially-constant gain in the frequency band along an azimuth plane. The excitation means is configured to supply a signal in a localized manner in a central region of the zone. The adapting means is configured to promote a localized coupling between the excitation means and the zone.
US08013795B2
A communication system includes the following elements: a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate an RF signal for transmitting data and an EFC antenna configured to transmit the RF signal as an electrostatic field or an induced electric field; and a receiver including an EFC antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the RF signal received by the EFC antenna. The EFC antennas of the transmitter and the receiver each include a coupling electrode and a resonating section including a distributed-constant circuit configured to strengthen electrical coupling between the coupling electrodes. The RF signal is transmitted by electric-field coupling between the EFC antennas, facing each other, of the transmitter and the receiver.
US08013792B2
Method and apparatus for minimizing antenna backside signal response and ambiguity in low frequency applications, particularly low frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Various time delay elements are selectably switched into the signal path so as to cause a null to be placed in the antenna response pattern in the direction of undesired radar returns. The means for selectably switching may be dithered so as to introduce modulation onto the undesired radar return to aid in the discrimination and removal of the undesired radar return from the SAR image during post processing.
US08013755B2
An apparatus configured to integrate with existing fire system strobe/horn plates. The apparatus may be a mass notification plate. Also disclosed are embodiments of a strobe housing configured to mix and/or reflect light emitted from one or more light emitters, such as high intensity LEDs, through a lens. The lens may be configured to produce a mass notification pattern. Further disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods that may be configured to deliver strobe control signals and/or strobe color control signals over a two-wire fire system powerline.
US08013753B2
A method for detecting operations of a power storage device is disclosed. The power storage device includes an electricity storage unit for storing power output from an electronic device or outputting power to the electronic device. The method includes detecting current between the electricity storage unit and the electronic device to determine whether the electricity storage unit is malfunctioned and causes short circuit, and generating an alarm signal when the electricity storage unit is malfunctioned and causes short circuit.
US08013751B2
The present invention relates to a fire alarm 1 that includes a base 1.5 and a fire alarm insert which can be connected to base 1.5. A covering cap 3 and a sheet 2, 2.1 located between the covering cap 3 and the fire alarm insert 1.1 are provided to cover fire alarm insert 1.1.
US08013749B2
Disclosed are portable, easy-to-install apparatuses for detecting and containing fluid leaked or otherwise discharged from a fluid-filled device and for facilitating testing and maintenance of the apparatus and fluid-filled devices. In one aspect of the disclosed invention, upon sensing a fluid discharge, the apparatus activates audible and/or visual alarms and directs the discharged fluid to a predetermined drainage area to prevent damage to areas surrounding the fluid-filled device. In another aspect of the present invention, no plumbing or electrical wiring is required to install the apparatus, thereby allowing an unskilled individual to easily and inexpensively install the apparatus. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus may be easily located since it is not dependent on gravity or a drainage pipe for discharge of the fluid. Furthermore, the apparatus optionally includes an integral leveling mechanism to accommodate leveling of the apparatus when placed on uneven surfaces.
US08013748B2
A method for monitoring the temperature and slope of a wafer is presented, and the steps of the method comprises: (a) providing a cooling machine, a monitoring system, a sensing module, and a wafer; (b) cooling the wafer by the cooling machine; (c) sensing all regions of the wafer by the sensing module, and detecting the temperature and slope of the wafer relative to the cooling machine; (d) if the wafer's temperature is higher than a set temperature, the monitoring system outputs a first alarm signal, if the wafer's slope is greater than a set slope, the monitoring system outputs a second alarm signal.
US08013747B2
A driving safety warning device includes a central processing unit (CPU); an acceleration sensor for sensing an acceleration value of a car having the driving safety warning device installed therein, and sending the sensed acceleration value to the CPU for calculating, so as to obtain a driving speed value; and a gyro sensor for sensing a deviation angular speed value of the car in moving, and sending the sensed deviation angular speed value to the CPU for calculating. When the obtained driving speed value exceeds a preset value, a driving safety warning function is actuated; and when the obtained deviation angular speed value exceeds a preset maximum safety deviation angular speed value or exceeds a preset safety deviation angular speed value for wandering car while a timer is enabled and a reverse sway occurs when the timer is counting, a warning sound is emitted to remind the driver.
US08013746B2
Disclosed herein is a method of providing alarm service upon movement out of a safety zone in a mobile communication network. The method is implemented in such a way as to acquire past location registration information for a ward's mobile terminal designated by a subscriber (guardian), the past location registration information being base station identifiers associated with base stations at which the past locations of the ward's mobile terminal has previously been registered, store the acquired past location registration information to a My Base Station DB allocated to the ward, check base station information, associated with a base station at which the current location of the ward's mobile terminal has been registered, at the time of an observation request, determine whether base station information has been stored in the My Base Station DB, detect movement out of the safety zone when the base station information has not been stored in the My Base Station DB, and notify the subscriber of movement out of the safety zone.
US08013743B2
Disclosed are markers for a magnetic theft protection system, which markers contain at least one oblong alarm strip made of an amorphous ferromagnetic alloy and at least one activation strip made of a molybdenum-free semi-hard magnetic alloy consisting essentially of NiaMbFeRest, wherein M is one or more of the elements from the group including Cr, W and V, and wherein a and b are weight percentages such that 15% by weight≦a≦25% by weight, and 2% by weight≦b≦8% by weight. The activation strip has a coercive force Hc of 10 A/cm to 25 A/cm and a remanence Br of at least 0.9 T.
US08013740B2
A system and method for automatically advertising items put on display, as well as protecting those items against theft. The system and method include an event sensor associated with the item and connected to a monitoring and alarm transmitter for initiating an advertising experience on an associated and local graphic display whenever the item is manipulated or approached by a patron. Should the item be removed or taken from its display stand, a wireless alarm is automatically transmitted to a receiver of an authorized person. The system and method also perform a logging function when a patron approaches the item or removes it without taking it away. The system and method also include the ability to provide power to electronic items that are on display.
US08013739B2
A communications system for emergency services personnel can include portable devices to be carried by emergency services personnel while at an emergency site. The portable devices each may have at least a first transceiver configured to communicate over a first network and the portable devices are configured to communicate with one another. The system may also include a portable gateway apparatus. The portable gateway apparatus may have a portable computer having a graphical user interface (GUI) and a PCMCIA or smaller card that itself includes at least a first radio. The first radio is configured to communicate over the first network to obtain status information from the portable devices carried by the emergency services personnel. The GUI is configured to communicate with the PCMCIA card to display a node map indicating communication links between the portable devices carried by the emergency services personnel.
US08013735B2
An asset location, tracking, and recovery system and method includes a network of VHF towers and a control center receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the VHF towers. Primary locating units each include a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder activated when a signal is transmitted by the control center via the VHF towers to the receiver. Auxiliary locating units include at least a transmitter emitting a signal received by at least one primary locating unit receiver which relays that signal to the control center via the VHF towers from the primary locating unit transmitter.
US08013734B2
Described embodiments provide a method of alarm notification. An alert mode of a mobile device is activated based on an emergency situation in an area. The mobile device transmits an indication of the emergency situation to a communication network control system. The communication network control system confirms the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device and notifies emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation. The communication network control system transmits an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area.
US08013731B2
An apparatus for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor includes modules for receiving and processing the data. The wireless network sensor includes a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data. The apparatus also includes modules for parsing events, episodes, vectors, links, and paths based upon the received data. The paths can be used to generate a representation of traffic patterns in a space monitored by wireless network sensors.
US08013728B2
A system and method for providing emergency warnings for a rollover vehicle is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a warning system for an automobile including a power source configured to provide a current, a control circuit coupled to the power source, at least one position sensor coupled to the control circuit, the at least one position sensor configured to detect at least one position of the automobile with respect to a ground surface, and at least one light source coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control current flow to the at least one light source based on the at least one position.
US08013719B2
A combination low voltage light and sound producing fixture is disclosed for installation in a yard wall or ceiling or on a wall or ceiling. Outdoor lighting and sound is produced with low voltage lighting that is wired or solar powered for operation. The fixture may further include digital signal processing to modify the sound to account for obstructions in near or around the fixture. The fixture may include a feedback system that allow the fixture to self modify its frequency response. The signal to the fixture is provided by wired or wireless interface. The surface of the sound transducer can be reflective in nature to provide focusing or diffusion of the light from the lighting elements. The lighting elements are incandescent, fluorescent or low voltage LED type that may include adjustment for lighting intensity or color.
US08013715B2
A device and method for canceling one or more self-jammer signals in a radio-frequency identification system.
US08013712B2
An overvoltage protection device includes a slide-in protective member and at least one non-linear resistance element in the slide-in protective member. A cable is connected to the at least one non-linear resistance element by solder, and a sliding member is biased against the cable. The sliding member is capable of reciprocal movement in the slide-in protective member. A visual indicator lever is engaged with the sliding member so that movement of the sliding member moves the visual indicator. A positioning element is engaged with the sliding member so that movement of the sliding member moves the positioning element.
US08013711B2
A method for manufacturing a variable resistance element includes the steps of: depositing a variable resistance material (106) in a contact hole (105), which is formed on an interlayer insulating layer (104) on a substrate and has a lower electrode (103) at a bottom portion thereof, such that an upper surface of the variable resistance material (106) in the contact hole (105) is located lower than an upper surface of the interlayer insulating layer (104); depositing an upper electrode material on the deposited variable resistance material (106) such that an upper surface of the upper electrode material in the contact hole (105) is located higher than the upper surface of the interlayer insulating layer (104); and element-isolating by a CMP the variable resistance element including the variable resistance material (106) and the upper electrode material.
US08013708B2
A winding arrangement system of a planar transformer includes a primary winding arranges on a number of first circuit layers of a printed circuit board (PCB), and two secondary winding arranged on a number of second circuit layers. The turns of the primary winding are coupled in series. Each second circuit layer has a winding turn. A first half of the winding turn belongs to one of the two secondary winding. A second half of the winding turn belongs to the other of the two secondary winding. The first and second halves of winding turns on each of the second secondary circuit layers share a common grounded node. All of the first halves of winding turns are coupled in parallel. All of the second halves of winding turns are also coupled in parallel.
US08013707B1
A switch comprising a plurality of transformers and a path comprising a number of wires. Each of the plurality of transformers comprises a core and a control winding. The path is configured to connect the plurality of transformers to each other. Non-direct current flows through the path. Direct current is sent into the control winding for each of a portion of the plurality of transformers to saturate the core for the each of the portion of the plurality of transformers such that a transfer of energy between the core for the each of the portion of the plurality of transformers and the path is substantially absent.
US08013704B2
A coil component comprises: a core having a winding core portion, and a first flange and a second flange arranged at both ends of the winding core portion; a winding arranged in a region flanked by the first and second flanges, and wound so as to be in contact with the winding core portion; and a cover portion arranged in a region flanked by the first and second flanges, so as to cover the winding. The cover portion has a first cover portion comprising a resin cured product containing a magnetic material; and a second cover portion comprising a non-magnetic material. The second cover portion is interposed at least between the first flange and the first cover portion.
US08013701B2
In a magnetic circuit for providing magnetic anisotropy in the in-plane radial direction of a soft magnetic under layer, magnets for perpendicular magnetization are respectively provide on the north and south poles of a magnet for horizontal magnetization. When magnetic circuits configured thus are stacked in a plurality of stages, a magnetic field (air-gap magnetic field) formed in a gap between the magnetic circuits is superimposed by magnetic fields from the magnets for perpendicular magnetization as well as a magnetic field from the magnet for horizontal magnetization (in-plane magnetization). The pole faces of the magnets for perpendicular magnetization are disposed closer to the gap between the magnetic circuits, so that a stronger magnetic field can be formed in the gap.
US08013699B2
An electro-magnetic transducer includes a housing. At least one coil is associated with the housing. A spherical magnet within the housing is capable of turning in any direction and of moving along an axis. A first keeper and a second keeper are positioned on opposite sides of the magnet, both the first keeper and the second keeper including magnetically soft material and free to move along the axis. A first biasing member holds the first keeper along the axis, and a second biasing element that holds the second keeper along the axis. The first keeper and the second keeper are attracted by magnetic poles of the magnet in the absence of an external magnetic field, such that opposing magnetic poles of the magnet are aligned parallel to the axis. Alternating current flowing through the at least one coil causes a vibration of the magnet, the vibration transferred to the housing.
US08013696B2
The present invention provides for a magnetic apparatus and a method of manufacturing the magnetic apparatus including a magnet having an outer surface and an inner surface opposing each other with the inner surface having a first portion and a second portion integrally connected to and facing each other and utilizing a fluid and a fixture body defining a hole along a fixture axis and a deflector disposed within the hole. The method includes the steps of installing the magnet on the fixture body and securing the magnet to the fixture body. The method further includes the steps of flowing the fluid through the magnet transverse to the fixture axis to form at least one aperture and intersecting the fluid with the deflector to redirect the fluid generally along the fixture axis.
US08013694B2
The invention relates to a small and low-voltage operable dielectric waveguide device. First and second electrode are embedded in a dielectric part and are formed to be thinner than a skin depth for a frequency of electromagnetic wave propagating along a first dielectric part included in the dielectric part. Thereby, even if the first and second electrodes are arranged to be in contact with the first dielectric part, the propagating electromagnetic wave can transmit the first and second electrodes, and therefore the electromagnetic wave can propagate without being cut off and there is no influence on waveguide modes of the electromagnetic wave. Further, in a state where a transmission loss due to the embedded of the electrode is suppressed, an electric field with large electric field strength can be applied to the first dielectric part by the first and second electrodes, and a small and low-voltage operable dielectric waveguide device can be achieved.
US08013693B2
A meta-material filter that may be used in constructing a duplex filter is provided. The metal-material filter is comprised of a substrate, a plurality of metal strips periodically positioned on the substrate, and a ground plane spaced from the plurality of metal strips. The plurality of metal strips may be arranged mono-periodically or bi-periodically.
US08013674B2
An RF power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the RF input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the RF output signal of the power amplifier. A variable gain amplifier (VGA) adjusts the amplitude of the RF input signal, thus providing a second means of adjusting the amplitude of the output of the power amplifier. The gain of the VGA or the supply voltage to the power amplifier is controlled based on the AC components of the amplitude correction signal, while the DC components of the amplitude correction signal are blocked from controlling the VGA or the supply voltage to the power amplifier. The DC level of the gain control of the VGA, the average supply voltage to the power amplifier, or the closed loop gain of the overall amplitude correction loop is controlled separately by a compression control signal.
US08013671B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first input terminal configured to input a first input voltage, a second input terminal configured to input a second input voltage, a differential amplifier configured to generate a differential output voltage by amplifying a differential input voltage obtained from a difference between the first input voltage input by the first input terminal and the second input voltage input by the second input terminal, a switch configured to electrically connect or cut off the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and a sample hold unit connected to a power supply which generates a reference voltage and configured to generate an offset correction voltage of the differential amplifier based on the differential output voltage and the reference voltage when the first input terminal and the second input terminal are electrically connected by the switch.
US08013668B1
A compensation device that can include a bias-able device, a bias circuit that provides the bias-able device with a bias current, a signal conditioner selectively coupled to the bias-able device, and an emulator. The signal conditioner and emulator can divert current from the bias-able device in an operational and calibration mode, respectively. In calibration mode, the emulator generates a compensation current that is combined with a sense current so that the sense current equals the bias current.
US08013665B2
To provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is simplified and which has a boosting circuit in which the area of a capacitor element is reduced. The present invention includes a plurality of rectifying elements which is connected in series and has a rectifying function from a first input terminal portion to an output terminal portion; a first wiring and a second wiring, which are connected to a second input terminal portion, into which a signal and a signal obtained by inverting the signal are respectively input; and a boosting circuit including a plurality of capacitor elements each having a first electrode, an insulating film, and a second electrode and storing a boosted potential. The plurality of capacitor elements includes a capacitor element in which the first electrode and the second electrode are formed using conductive films, and a capacitor element in which at least the second electrode is formed using a semiconductor film. In the plurality of capacitor elements, at least a capacitor element in a first stage is a capacitor element in which the first electrode and the second electrode are formed using conductive films.
US08013661B2
A negative voltage generating circuit includes a pulse generator U1, a switch, a resistor, a first capacitor, a first diode, a second diode, and a second capacitor. The pulse generator includes a positive voltage input pin coupled to a power supply, an oscillating output pin, and a negative voltage input pin. The switch includes a first terminal coupled to the oscillating output pin, a second terminal coupled to one terminal of the first capacitor, and coupled to the power supply via the resistor, and a third terminal being grounded. Another terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the anode of the fist diode and the cathode of the second diode. The cathode of the first diode is grounded. The anode of the second diode is coupled to the positive voltage input pin of the pulse generator, and is coupled to ground via the second capacitor.
US08013657B2
A representative integrator includes an amplifier having an input and an output; a feedback loop coupled between the input and the output of the amplifier, the feedback loop comprising a compensated resistor circuit having a resistance value selected for reducing a loss factor of the integrator; and a control circuit coupled to an input of the compensated resistor circuit, the control circuit producing a control signal for controlling the compensated resistor circuit to substantially maintain the resistance value selected for reducing the loss factor of the integrator across a range of integrator temperatures.
US08013652B2
In a case where two constant envelope signals corresponding to an input signal are generated through analog signal processing, variation in detection sensitivities of amplitudes of those signals is suppressed. At least one of a mixer (24) for detecting an amplitude of a first intermediate signal S1 and a mixer (26) for detecting an amplitude of a second intermediate signal S2 detects an amplitude of a given reference signal, and sampling hold circuits (36, 38) hold a voltage related to those amplitudes. Then, detection sensitivities of the mixer (24, 26) are corrected based on the held voltage.
US08013646B2
A method for synchronizing a plurality of programmable timing verniers with a reference pulse signal, each of the verniers being programmable to one of a plurality of timing steps within a delay range determined by a control signal applied to a bias input. A first and second control vernier is selected from the plurality of verniers, the first control vernier is programmed to a first delay, and the second control vernier is programmed to a second delay. The first and second control verniers are triggered together to generate respective first and second delay signals. A difference pulse signal is generated with a duty cycle corresponding to a difference between the generated first delay signal and second delay signal. The duty cycle of the pulse signal is compared to a duty cycle of the reference pulse signal to generate a difference signal pulse. The difference signal pulse is coupled to the bias input of the verniers to adjust the delay range, such that the duty cycle of the difference signal approaches the duty cycle of the reference pulse signal.
US08013642B2
An output drive circuit includes: a totem-pole output including: a high-side transistor (HST) with drain and source, an output stage power supply voltage applied to the drain, the source connected to the first node (N1); and a low-side transistor with source and drain, a ground voltage applied to the source, the drain connected to N1; and a bootstrap part including a capacitor supplying charge to a gate of HST when on, the charge being charged when HST is off, and one terminal of the bootstrap part connected to N1, the output drive circuit further including: a first transistor (T1) that conducts when HST is to be on, T1 connected between a drive circuit power supply voltage and the gate of HST; and a second transistor conducting when HST is to be turned on, the second transistor connected between the other terminal of the capacitor and HST gate.
US08013636B2
A phase detection circuit determines phase difference between a periodic signal and a reference signal of substantially equal frequency. The circuit includes: a source input receiving the periodic signal; a feedback signal generator providing a feedback signal (PFB) with substantially the same frequency as the reference signal; a phase difference circuit coupled to the source input node and a second signal input node coupled to the feedback signal generator, determining an error signal from phase difference between the periodic signal and PFB; an integrator circuit integrating the error signal into an integration signal; and a digitizing circuit digitizing the integration signal. The feedback signal generator is coupled to the digitizing circuit, providing PFB based on the digitized integration signal, and selecting the phase of PFB from a number of fixed phases. The phase detection circuit generates a time-average of the phase of PFB selected from the plurality of fixed phases.
US08013625B2
A first power-cutoff switch is disposed between a power line and an internal power line dedicated for a circuit block, and has a current supply capacity having the level at which ON-current can protect an external examination environment. A second power-cutoff switch is disposed between a power line and an internal power line, and has a current supply capacity having the level at which ON-current can supply consumed current of the circuit block. A detecting circuit detects that a voltage of the internal power line matches a reference voltage. The first power-cutoff switch is ON/OFF by an operation state of the circuit block. The second power-cutoff switch is ON by detecting the matching of the volumes with the detecting circuit and is OFF by the ON/OFF operation of the first power-cutoff switch.
US08013624B2
An electronic device test apparatus comprising: a test apparatus body for testing IC devices formed on a wafer for electrical characteristics; a probe card for electrically connecting the IC devices and the test apparatus body; a prober for pushing the wafer against the probe card so as to electrically connect the IC devices and the probe card; an abutting mechanism extending toward the back surface of the probe card and abutting against the back surface of the probe card; and a lock mechanism fixing the extension of the abutting mechanism in the state with the abutting mechanism abutting against the back surface of the probe card.
US08013610B1
A high-Q human-portable, battery-powered self-correcting tunable resonator in a transmitter apparatus for inducing alternating currents of high quality in buried conductors to facilitate their location. The transmitter apparatus employs an FET-driven capacitive tuning circuit and a coil design that achieves high precision, high-quality transmission signals, and which is equipped with a high-voltage booster for facilitating fault-localization applications.
US08013599B2
A method for inspecting a component having a surface profile that includes a local minima and a local maxima. The method includes positioning an eddy current probe proximate to a surface of the component to generate a first position indication, positioning the eddy current probe proximate to the surface of the component to generate a second position indication that is different than the first position indication, and interpolating between the first and second position indications to determine a profile of a portion of the surface of the component.
US08013598B2
Provided is an object detecting device, which can detect the shape of or the distance from an object made of an electrically conductive or magnetic material, and which can detect the position indicated by an object made of an electrically-non-conductive/non-magnetic material, such as a finger. The object detecting device detects the shape of or the distance from an object to be measured, which is placed on a detection surface and made of an electrically conductive or magnetic material, by using an electromagnetic induction. The object detecting device includes a first loop wire group of a plurality of first loop wires (1) arranged in parallel on the same plane, a second loop wire group of a plurality of second loop wires (2) arranged in parallel on the same plane, and a spacer (3) for keeping the distance between them at a constant. The plurality of the second loop wires (2) are individually arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of the first loop wires (1). The object detecting device further includes a plurality of electromagnetic coupling portions for electromagnetically coupling the first loop wires and the second loop wires. A driver (20) drives the first loop wire group, and a detector (30) detects the change in the couplings of the electromagnetically coupling units from the second loop wire group.
US08013596B2
A position detector (3) capable of obtaining an output having a linearity in a wide range includes: a magnetic field generating member (11) attached to a movable member (10) movable in a predetermined movable direction (x); and magnetic field detection means (12) for detecting a magnetic field change caused by movement of the magnetic field generating member (11). The magnetic field generating member (11) includes an N-pole portion (13) magnetized into N-pole, an S-pole portion (14) magnetized into S-pole arranged in the movable direction with the N-pole portion (13), and a non-magnetized portion (15) not magnetized between the N-pole portion (13) and the S-pole portion (14).
US08013590B1
A method of measuring signals related to a photodiode based sensor and calculating a corrected data value thereof is disclosed. A nominal reset voltage value of the photodiode may be measured. A knee point voltage may be applied to the photodiode and resets a voltage on the photodiode to the knee point voltage when the voltage on the photodiode falls below the knee point voltage. Applying the knee point voltage may extend the dynamic range of the sensor. An output voltage of the photodiode at end of an integration time of the photodiode may be measured. The knee point voltage may be applied again after the end of the integration time. A voltage value of the photodiode of the knee point voltage may be measured. The nominal reset voltage value, the output voltage of a sensor and the knee point voltage may be reported to calculate the corrected data value.
US08013589B2
A device includes a measurement target circuit including a first circuit, a switch provided to a measurement node of the first circuit and a second circuit connected to the measurement node of the first circuit through the switch; and a current measuring circuit including a reference current source group connected to the measurement node through the switch and making a reference current of a predetermined value flow into the first circuit, a sample hold circuit connected to the measurement node, and sampling and holding the potential of the measurement node when the first circuit is connected to the second circuit by the switch, and a comparator connected to the measurement node and an output of the sample hold circuit and comparing an output of the sample hold circuit with the potential of the measurement node when the first circuit is connected to the reference current source group by the switch.
US08013583B2
The present invention provides a dynamic switch power conversion circuit to improve the efficiency of a solar cell array, and specifically to operate the solar cell array under various sunlight intensities, especially under low light conditions. In an embodiment of the invention, the dynamic switch power conversion circuit comprises: a processor to continuously monitor the power output of a solar panel under varying sunlight conditions, and a switching converter circuit comprising a plurality of circuit operations for different optimum power conversion. The processor gathers the output power from the solar panel and then uses predetermined power curves related to maximum generated power versus sunlight conditions of that particular solar panel to switch the switching converter circuit to a circuit operation particular suited to that sunlight condition to achieve the maximum power generated from the solar panel.
US08013568B2
The present invention relates to a wireless charger for a mobile communication terminal, which allows charging a plurality of batteries in a conveniently way without any terminal connection of the batteries to chargers for various mobile communication terminals such as a cellular phone and PDA and also allows intercepting electromagnetic waves while the charger is used, by means of Faraday's law.The wireless charger of the present invention includes a charger body having an electromagnetic wave intercepting means; a charging pad received in the charger body; and at least one battery that is to be charged by means of induced electromotive force generated by the charging pad, wherein the charger body includes a power supply means, a housing having a receiver for receiving the charging pad and connected to the power supply means, and a cover hinged to the housing.
US08013567B2
A portable power and utility system for mounting in or on a host vehicle with an electrical system or, alternatively, operating in a standalone, portable configuration. The portable power and utility system includes an enclosure, an AC power subsystem mounted in the enclosure, a fluid power air subsystem mounted in the enclosure and an optional host vehicle connection adapted for selectively connecting the electrical system of the host vehicle and the AC power subsystem. A battery charger subsystem is connected to one or both of the host vehicle electrical system and the AC power subsystem. Wheels can be mounted on the enclosure for transportation. A control panel is mounted in the enclosure and includes multiple switches for controlling operation of the subsystems.
US08013563B2
In an automatic transmission position control by a motor, it is determined whether the present instant belongs to a starting period, that is, the present instant is immediately after resetting of a control unit or application of power to it. If it is the starting period, an actual shift position that is detected from an output of an output shaft sensor for detecting a rotation position of a motor is set as an instructed shift position. With this measure, even if the control unit is reset for a certain reason while the vehicle is running, the instructed shift position is not changed in association with the resetting. This prevents trouble that the shift position is switched contrary to the intention of the driver, whereby the reliability of a position switching control can be increased.
US08013560B2
The non-linear elastic deformation component included in the angular transmission error of an actuator provided with a wave gear drive is a component of the angular transmission error occurring due to elastic deformation of a flexible externally-toothed gear when the direction of rotation of the motor shaft changes. This component can be analyzed by driving the motor in a sine-wave shape. A model of the non-linear elastic deformation component (non-linear model) obtained from the analysis results is used to store data or a function for compensating for this component in a motor-control device. Compensation for the non-linear elastic deformation component (θHys) is added to a motor-shaft angle command (θ*M) as a compensation input (Nθ*TE) for feed-forward compensation. As a result, the non-linear elastic deformation component (θHys) can be effectively reduced, and the positioning precision of the actuator can be improved.
US08013558B2
A method for adjusting a closing gap in a piece of furniture, which comprises a device for moving a movable furniture part relative to a stationary furniture part by means of a drive unit, by means of which the furniture part can be driven to move relative to the stationary furniture part via a monitoring unit for monitoring the movement of the movable furniture part, with the closing gap being formed between a front part of the movable furniture part and the stationary furniture part when the movable furniture part is in a closed position with respect to the stationary furniture part. According to the invention, the closing gap is adjusted in an activated, electronically assisted, adjusting mode.
US08013552B2
Various systems and methods for controlling DC motors are disclosed herein. For example, one method provides for controlling a polyphase, brushless DC motor. The method includes providing a DC motor that has a plurality of phases. Such a DC motor operates by inducing a current in the plurality of phases in accordance with a plurality of commutation states. In the example, six commutation states are discussed, but fewer than or more than six commutation states may exist. The method further includes initializing a count, inducing a current in the plurality of phases in accordance with a first commutation state, and incrementing the count until the current achieves a threshold in the first commutation state. Then, a current is induced in the plurality of phases in accordance with a second commutation state, and the count is decremented until the current achieves the threshold in the second commutation state. The sign bit of the count is stored, and a desired initial commutation state is determined based at least in part on the sign bit of the count.
US08013550B1
The model train control system includes a remote control device that receives user input with respect to various train functions such as desired speed and effects, and that generates commands based on that input in order to cause the model train to perform in a desired manner. In an embodiment of the invention, the model train controller comprises control input devices that permit user control over corresponding control features of the model train. A touch screen display may be coupled to the housing and adapted to receive user selections regarding the control features. A processor is operatively coupled to the control input devices and the touch screen display. The processor is adapted to generate at least one model train command to be transmitted to the model train based at least in part on a user input received from either one of the control input devices or the touch screen display.
US08013546B2
A betatron, especially for an X-ray testing apparatus is provided that includes a rotationally symmetrical inner yoke having two interspaced parts, at least one round plate that is arranged between the inner yoke parts in such a way that the longitudinal axis thereof coincides with the rotational symmetrical axis of the inner yoke, an outer yoke connecting the two inner yoke parts, at least one main field coil, a toroidal betatron tube arranged between the inner yoke parts, at least one tune coil in the region of the at least one round plate, and an electronic control system for controlling a current flow through the tune coil during the injection phase of the electrons into the betatron tube.
US08013542B2
The invention relates to an electronic ballast for a lamp, supplied with electrical energy from a power source, different to the mains AC network, comprising at least one electronic switch element for conversion of the supplied electrical power. According to the invention, a microcontroller controls the electronic switch element.
US08013536B2
From the individual small areas of a conductor pattern arranged on the back side of a circuit board, there are individually extended leader patterns, which are midway led by through holes to the surface side of the circuit board. The individual leader patterns led to the surface side are connected with a terminal portion on the low-voltage side through jumper pads. The desired small areas are enabled to function by shorting the jumper pads with solder. The individual small areas are constituted to have a capacity of 1 pF, when caused to function, and they have such a capacity as a pattern capacitor as is proportional to the number of the shorted jumper pads.
US08013531B2
A plasma display panel is formed of front panel including at least display electrodes, dielectric layer that are formed on glass substrate, and a rear panel including electrodes, barrier ribs, and phosphor layers that are formed on a substrate. Dielectric layer is formed of multiple layers, i.e. lower dielectric layer and upper dielectric layer, and these layers are made of identical material to each other, and the material contains CaO and BaO, and the content of CaO is greater than that of BaO.
US08013528B2
A plasma display member comprises a plurality of substantially stripe-shaped address electrodes (7) formed on a substrate (5), a dielectric layer (6) covering the address electrodes, main barrier ribs (8) located on the dielectric layer and formed substantially in parallel with the address electrodes, and auxiliary barrier ribs (9) formed orthogonal to the main barrier ribs. In the plasma display member, the pitch (Pt1) between the outermost main barrier rib of the main barrier ribs located in the non-display region on both sides in the lateral direction of a display region and the main barrier rib adjacent to the outermost main barrier rib is integer times the pitch (Pt2) between the main barrier ribs located in the display region, where the integer is two or more. In addition, exposure processing is performed a plurality of times by using a photomask having a specific shape, thereby making it possible to obtain a plasma display having a high display quality and a high productivity.
US08013510B2
An electron emission device includes a cathode device and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is separated and insulted from the cathode device. The gate electrode includes a carbon nanotube layer having a plurality of spaces. A display device includes a cathode device, an anode device spaced from the cathode electrode and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is disposed between the cathode device and the anode device. The cathode device, the anode device and the gate electrode are separated and insulted from each other. The gate electrode comprises a carbon nanotube layer having a plurality of spaces.
US08013507B2
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp which makes a step dedicated to the acquisition of advantageous effects unnecessary without lowering an optical flux maintaining factor and, at the same time, prevents peeling-off of a phosphor layer in a step of bending light transmitting glass tube is provided. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp includes a light-transmitting glass tube, a phosphor layer which is formed on an inner surface of the light-transmitting glass tube, mercury and a rare gas which is filled in the inside of the light-transmitting glass tube, and cold cathodes which are arranged in a sealed manner in both end portions of the light-transmitting glass tube in a state that the cold cathodes face each other in an opposed manner, wherein the phosphor layer is constituted of a plurality of phosphor particles and a bonding agent. The bonding agent is made of aluminum oxide and boron oxide. The phosphor particles are covered with the bonding agent by coating. The phosphor particles and the bonding agent are bonded to the inner surface of the light-transmitting glass tube thus protecting surfaces of the phosphor particles with aluminum oxide.
US08013506B2
Various phosphor compositions and organic compounds can be used in fluorescent layers for scanning beam displays. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in method of adjusting an emission spectrum of a phosphor material used in a display system that includes a fluorescent layer that absorbs an excitation light at a single wavelength and emits visible light. The method includes generating a binder mixture by combining one or more non-phosphor organic compounds with a binder material, wherein the binder mixture substantially transmits the excitation light and substantially absorbs a portion of the emission spectrum of the phosphor material. The method also includes combining the binder mixture with the phosphor material.
US08013498B2
A piezoelectric vibrating reed includes a piezoelectric plate having a pair of vibrating arms provided parallel to each other, a base portion to integrally fix the pair of vibrating arms at a base end side thereof, and groove portions formed on both principal surfaces of the pair of vibrating arms in a constant length from base end portions toward tip end portions of the vibrating arms, and an electrode film formed of a base metal layer and a finishing metal layer laminated on outer surfaces of the piezoelectric plate and configured to vibrate the pair of vibrating arms when a predetermined voltage is applied thereon. The finishing metal layer of the electrode film is removed either partially or entirely at least in regions from the base end portions to the tip end portions of the vibrating arms.
US08013494B2
A vibration actuator driving device includes a plurality of wiring sections and a supply controller. The plurality of wiring sections are disposed correspondingly to a plurality of electrically independent electrodes of an electromechanical conversion element. The wiring sections input driving signals to drive the electromechanical conversion element. The supply controller is capable of independently supplying a driving signal for each respective wiring section.
US08013491B2
The invention relates to a stator (1) for an electric drive motor having a number of stator teeth separated by grooves, wherein the stator teeth are wound by a multi-strand winding, and wherein one strand comprises several coils (5, 6), and wherein individual coils (5) each comprise multiple stator teeth, and preferably multiple stator teeth are combined at the height of their tooth necks into a collective stator tooth (4) having a tooth base (3) and multiple tooth heads (2), characterized in that two stator teeth each are combined into a collective stator tooth (4).
US08013485B2
A motor with an electromagnetic brake is provided that is capable of sufficiently reducing influence of leakage magnetic flux on a magnetic sensor. A second ball bearing is configured to be ferromagnetic. An inner circumferential surface of a bearing stopper member that faces the shaft is disposed in proximity to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The bearing stopper member, which is ferromagnetic, is fixed to the second bearing holder in order to prevent the second ball bearing from getting out of a bearing fitting portion. A magnetic shield member is fixed to a portion of the shaft between the bearing stopper member and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic shield member guides leakage magnetic flux, which has been generated by an electromagnetic coil and leaked through the shaft, from the shaft to the bearing stopper member, thereby reducing influence of the leakage magnetic flux on the magnetic sensor.
US08013479B2
A high power-density power generating module, comprising: a magnet unit having a plurality of adjacent magnets with opposite magnet-pole arrangement against adjacent ones, each with a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole; and a winding unit having a plurality of adjacent windings around the adjacent magnets; wherein the magnet unit is capable of moving relatively to the winding unit and the angle between the linking direction of the magnetic north pole and the magnetic south pole of each magnet and the winding surface of each winding is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees.
US08013476B2
The present invention relates to a power controller for at least one piece of external equipment, the power controller being connected to the external equipment. The power controller includes a main unit (203) for transmitting an external equipment status checking request signal, required to detect an abnormality of the external equipment, to the external equipment at preset regular intervals or at a preset time point, determining that an abnormality has occurred in the external equipment when an abnormality is present in an external equipment status checking signal received from the external equipment in response to the external equipment status checking request signal, or when no external equipment status checking signal is received, and consequently transmitting a power reset request signal to an expansion unit (201). The expansion unit (201) resets power of the external equipment in response to the received power reset request signal.
US08013475B2
An integrated circuit arrangement includes a semiconductor body having a substrate and at least one substrate terminal. At least one semiconductor component is integrated in the semiconductor body and is connected between a first supply terminal and a second supply terminal. The first supply potential is higher than the second supply potential during normal operation of the semiconductor component and the first supply potential is lower than the second supply potential during reverse voltage operation of the semiconductor component. A switch is adapted to couple at least one of the substrate terminals to the first supply terminal during reverse voltage operation and to the second supply terminal during normal operation.
US08013472B2
A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
US08013466B1
A POE tapping device for extracting power from a data cable. The POE tapping device includes an input connector, an output connector, a flow through connection, a bridge circuit, and a remote accessory connector. The flow through connection is between the input connector and the output connector, such that there is a direct feed from the first data cable to the second data cable. The bridge circuit is connected to the flow through connection to tap electrical current from the flow through connection, where the bridge circuit has a positive output and negative output to provide electrical current. The remote accessory connector is to be connected to a remote accessory, where the remote accessory connector is connected to the positive output and the negative output of the bridge circuit to receive electrical current from the bridge circuit that was tapped from the flow through connection.
US08013455B2
A semiconductor device having pads is provided. The semiconductor device includes first pads formed along a first row, and second pads formed along a second row. The first via contact portions extending from the first pads toward the second row, and second via contact portions extending from the second pads toward the first row. The first and second via contact portions are arranged along a third row between the first and second rows.
US08013454B2
An active matrix substrate includes a first substrate, a driving integrated circuit chip mounted on the first substrate with an anisotropic electrically conductive layer, and an insulating member. The insulating member isolates a terminal from a wiring and a bump electrode that are adjacent to the terminal portion and isolates a bump electrode facing the terminal portion from a bump electrode and a wiring that are adjacent to the bump electrode.
US08013447B2
The semiconductor device includes an upper electrode line structure and a lower electrode line structure provided over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a guard contact having a first portion and a second portion. The guard contact is disposed between the upper electrode line structure and the lower electrode line structure. The first and second portions of the guard contact have different line widths.
US08013445B2
A semiconductor contact structure includes a copper plug formed within a dual damascene, single damascene or other opening formed in a dielectric material and includes a composite barrier layer between the copper plug and the sidewalls and bottom of the opening. The composite barrier layer preferably includes an ALD TaN layer disposed on the bottom and along the sides of the opening although other suitable ALD layers may be used. A barrier material is disposed between the copper plug and the ALD layer. The barrier layer may be a Mn-based barrier layer, a Cr-based barrier layer, a V-based barrier layer, a Nb-based barrier layer, a Ti-based barrier layer, or other suitable barrier layers.
US08013438B2
A semiconductor package includes a substrate board and a semiconductor die attached to a top surface of that substrate board. A heat spreader is provided over the semiconductor die. A stiffening ring is positioned surrounding the semiconductor die, the stiffening ring being attached to the top surface of the substrate board and attached to a bottom surface of the plate portion of the heat spreader. Space is left on the board outside of the stiffening ring to support the installation of passive components to the substrate board. An external ring may be included, with that external ring being interconnected to the stiffening ring by a set of tie bars. Alternatively, the heat spreader includes an integrally formed peripheral sidewall portion.
US08013437B1
A semiconductor package includes an encapsulant, a semiconductor die within the encapsulant, and a terminal for electrically coupling the semiconductor die to a node exterior to the package. The package further includes solder coupling the semiconductor die to the terminal. The semiconductor package is configured to dissipate heat through a top surface of the package. To directly dissipate heat via the top surface of the package, a portion of the semiconductor die is preferably exposed at the top surface of the package. Alternatively, instead of having a semiconductor device or die directly exposed at a surface of the package, a layer of thermally conductive material is coupled to the semiconductor device, and the layer is exposed at a surface of the package.
US08013432B2
A package substrate includes an insulating substrate having a mount region including external terminals mounted to the insulating substrate and a clamp region having an opening receiving a molding material therein, the clamp region disposed adjacent to the mount region in a first direction, a circuit pattern formed on the insulating substrate, and a blocking member blocking the molding material from moving from the clamp region to the mount region when the package substrate loaded in a mold die is pressurized to form a molding member, wherein the blocking member is disposed on at least one side of the package substrate in the clamp region, and the blocking member receives the molding material therein.
US08013428B2
A method of fabricating an interconnection between a region of copper material and a conducting region is disclosed. The method includes a step of forming a region of tin material and a step of forming a region of nickel material. The method also includes a step of melting the tin material to induce formation of a nickel/tin/copper intermetallic composition at an interface between the region of copper material and the conducting region. The region of tin material and the region of nickel material define the interface between the region of copper material and the conducting region.
US08013425B2
The scribe line structure for wafer dicing according to the present invention includes a plurality of metal structures arranged up-and-down on a substrate in a dielectric layer, and an upper one of the metal structures has a lower metal density than a lower one of the metal structures. In another aspect, the scribe line structure for wafer dicing includes a plurality of metal structures arranged up-and-down on a substrate in a dielectric layer, and each of the metal structures has a lower metal density on a dicing path for the wafer dicing than not on the dicing path. The scribe line structure can effectively avoid interlayer delamination or peeling issue caused by a dicing process, especially on a low-k/Cu wafer.
US08013419B2
An e-fuse structure and method has anode, a fuse link, and a cathode. The first end of the fuse link is connected to the anode and the second end of the fuse link opposite the first end is connected to the cathode. This structure also includes a first silicide layer on the anode and the fuse link and a second silicide layer, different than the first silicide layer, on the cathode. The difference between the first silicide layer and the second silicide layer causes an enhanced flux divergence region at the second end of the fuse link.
US08013415B2
A semiconductor device includes a shallow isolation trench (STI) structure on a silicon substrate for isolating element-forming regions from one another. The surface region of the silicon substrate in the element-forming regions, as viewed in the extending direction of the gate electrode lines, once falls and thereafter rises monotonically from the periphery toward the center of the element-forming regions.
US08013412B2
A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer.
US08013400B1
A method for scaling channel length in a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes increasing a pitch to reduce a development inspection critical dimension (DICD) for a plurality of polysilicon lines. The polysilicon lines are trimmed to provide a reduced-size channel length, based on the reduced DICD, for each polysilicon line. For a particular embodiment, the semiconductor device is fabricated using a photolithography tool having a wavelength of 248 nm, the pitch is about 800 nm, and the reduced-size channel length is about 0.11 μm.
US08013399B2
A static random access memory cell which, on a substrate surmounted by a stack of layers, including: a first plurality of transistors situated at a given level of the stack of which at least one first access transistor and at least one second access transistor are connected to a word line and are arranged between a first bit line and a first storage node and a second bit line and a second storage node, respectively; and a second plurality of transistors forming a flip-flop and situated at least one other level of the stack, beneath said given level, wherein the transistors of the second plurality of transistors each comprising a gate electrode situated opposite a channel region of a transistor of the first plurality of transistors and separated from this channel region by an insulating region provided to enable coupling of said gate electrode and said channel region.
US08013395B2
The distance between a substrate contact portion and an active region in a p-type MIS transistor is greater than the distance between a substrate contact portion and an active region in an n-type MIS transistor. Alternatively, the length of a protruding part of a gate electrode of the p-type MIS transistor that protrudes from the p-type MIS transistor's active region toward the p-type MIS transistor's substrate contact portion is shorter than the length of a protruding part of a gate electrode of the n-type MIS transistor that protrudes from the n-type MIS transistor's active region toward the n-type MIS transistor's substrate contact portion. Alternatively, a part of the p-type MIS transistor's substrate contact portion that is located opposite the p-type MIS transistor's gate electrode has a lower impurity concentration than the other part thereof. Alternatively, a protective film is formed only on the protruding part of the p-type MIS transistor's gate electrode that protrudes from the p-type MIS transistor's active region toward the p-type MIS transistor's substrate contact portion.
US08013391B2
A semiconductor power device includes a drift region of a first conductivity type, a well region extending above the drift region and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, active trenches extending through the well region and into the drift region where the active trenches define an active area. Inside each of the active trenches is formed a first conductive gate electrode disposed along and insulated from a first trench sidewall, a second conductive gate electrode disposed along and insulated from a second trench sidewall, and a conductive shield electrode disposed between the first and second conductive gate electrodes, wherein the shield electrode is insulated from and extends deeper inside the trench than the first and second conductive gate electrodes. The device also includes source regions having the first conductivity type formed inside the well region and adjacent the active trenches. Electrical contact to the conductive shield electrode can be made inside the active area. The device can also include a perimeter trench extending at least partially around the active trenches such that at least some of the active trenches are perpendicular to the perimeter trench, gate fingers extending from a perimeter gate poly runner located in said perimeter trench, and shield poly fingers extending from a perimeter shield poly runner located in the perimeter trench. The gate fingers are staggered with respect to the shield poly fingers.
US08013383B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings in which a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells are connected in series. The memory string has a columnar semiconductor layer extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a conductive layer formed so as to sandwich a charge storing layer in cooperation with the columnar semiconductor layer; and a metal layer formed so as to be in contact with the top face of the conductive layer.
US08013380B2
A MONOS type non-volatile semiconductor memory device which is capable of electrically writing, erasing, reading and retaining data, the memory device including source/drain regions, a first gate insulating layer, a first charge trapping layer formed on the first gate insulating layer, a second gate insulating layer formed on the first charge trapping layer, and a controlling electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer. The first charge trapping layer includes an insulating film containing Al and O as major elements and having a defect pair formed of a complex of an interstitial O atom and a tetravalent cationic atom substituting for an Al atom, the insulating film also having electron unoccupied levels within the range of 2 eV-6 eV as measured from the valence band maximum of Al2O3.
US08013374B2
A semiconductor memory device may include a substrate having a plurality of active regions wherein each active region has a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis. The length may be greater than the width, and the plurality of active regions may be provided in a plurality of columns of active regions in the direction of the second axis. A plurality of wordline pairs may be provided on the substrate, with each wordline pair crossing active regions of a respective column of active regions defining a drain portion of each active region between wordlines of the respective wordline pair. A plurality of bitlines on the substrate may cross the plurality of wordline pairs, with each bitline being electrically coupled to a respective drain portion of an active region of each column, and with each bitline being arranged between the respective drain portion and another drain portion of an adjacent active region of the same column.
US08013371B2
A method for forming silicon nitride films on semiconductor devices is provided. In one embodiment of the method, a silicon-comprising substrate is first exposed to a mixture of dichlorosilane (DCS) and a nitrogen-comprising gas to deposit a thin silicon nitride seeding layer on the surface, and then exposed to a mixture of silicon tetrachloride (TCS) and a nitrogen comprising gas to deposit a TCS silicon nitride layer on the DCS seeding layer. In another embodiment, the method involves first nitridizing the surface of the silicon-comprising substrate prior to forming the DCS nitride seeding layer and the TCS nitride layer. The method achieves a TCS nitride layer having a sufficient thickness to eliminate bubbling and punch-through problems and provide high electrical performance regardless of the substrate type. Also provided are methods of forming a capacitor, and the resulting capacitor structures.
US08013368B2
Some embodiments of the present invention include apparatuses and methods relating to NMOS and PMOS transistor strain.
US08013366B2
Example embodiments relate to a biosensor using a nanoscale material as a channel of a transistor and a method of fabricating the same. A biosensor according to example embodiments may include a plurality of insulating films. A first signal line and a second signal line may be interposed between the plurality of insulating films. A semiconductor nanostructure may be disposed on the plurality of insulating films, the semiconductor nanostructure having a first side electrically connected to the first signal line and a second side electrically connected to the second signal line. A plurality of probes may be coupled to the semiconductor nanostructure. A biosensor according to example embodiments may have a reduced analysis time.
US08013358B2
The invention provides a light emitting diode. The light emitting diode includes a ceramic substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A first conductive trace metal layer and a second conductive trace metal layer are disposed on the first surface of the ceramic substrate. At least one light emitting diode chip is disposed on the first surface of the ceramic substrate, respectively and electrically connected to the first and second conductive trace metal layers. A plurality of thermal metal pads is disposed on the second surface of the ceramic substrate, wherein the thermal metal pads are electrically isolated from the light emitting diode chip.
US08013355B2
A high power light emitting diode, The high power light emitting diode comprises a light emitting diode chip, a main module, two first electrode pins, two second electrode pins, and at least one heat dissipation board. The main module has a concave and the light emitting diode chip is positioned in the concave. The first electrode pins are connected to a first side of the main module and also electrically connected to the light emitting diode chip. The second electrode pins are arranged on a second side of the main module that is relative to the first electrode pins wherein the second electrode pins and the first electrode pins are electrically opposite. The second electrode pins are electrically connected to the light emitting diode chip. The heat dissipation board is connected to a part of the main module between the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin.
US08013353B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a second electrode layer, a light emitting semiconductor layer including a second conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first conductive semiconductor layer on the second electrode layer, a reflective member spaced apart from the light emitting semiconductor layer on the second electrode layer, and a first electrode layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer.
US08013352B2
A chip coated LED package and a manufacturing method thereof. The chip coated LED package includes a light emitting chip composed of a chip die-attached on a submount and a resin layer uniformly covering an outer surface of the chip die. The chip coated LED package also includes an electrode part electrically connected by metal wires with at least one bump ball exposed through an upper surface of the resin layer. The chip coated LED package further includes a package body having the electrode part and the light emitting chip mounted thereon. The invention improves light efficiency by preventing difference in color temperature according to irradiation angles, increases a yield, miniaturizes the package, and accommodates mass production.
US08013343B2
SiC single crystal that includes a first dopant functioning as an acceptor, and a second dopant functioning as a donor is provided, where the content of the first dopant is no less than 5×1015 atoms/cm3, the content of the second dopant is no less than 5×1015 atoms/cm3, and the content of the first dopant is greater than the content of the second dopant. A manufacturing method for silicon carbide single crystal is provided with the steps of: fabricating a raw material by mixing a metal boride with a material that includes carbon and silicon; vaporizing the raw material; generating a mixed gas that includes carbon, silicon, boron and nitride; and growing silicon carbide single crystal that includes boron and nitrogen on a surface of a seed crystal substrate by re-crystallizing the mixed gas on the surface of the seed crystal substrate.
US08013342B2
A double-sided integrated circuit chips, methods of fabricating the double-sided integrated circuit chips and design structures for double-sided integrated circuit chips. The method includes removing the backside silicon from two silicon-on-insulator wafers having devices fabricated therein and bonding them back to back utilizing the buried oxide layers. Contacts are then formed in the upper wafer to devices in the lower wafer and wiring levels are formed on the upper wafer. The lower wafer may include wiring levels. The lower wafer may include landing pads for the contacts. Contacts to the silicon layer of the lower wafer may be silicided.
US08013341B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, the gate electrode including a first portion of a metal oxide layer and a metal layer; a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate and including a second portion of the metal oxide layer; a gate insulating layer covering the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer and including a channel region, and first and second regions disposed outside the channel region; a first electrode connected to the first region; a second electrode connected to the second region and the pixel electrode; an ohmic contact layer disposed between the first region and the first electrode and between the second region and the second electrode; a pixel defining layer including an opening exposing the pixel electrode; an organic light-emitting layer disposed on the pixel electrode; and an opposite electrode covering the organic light-emitting layer.
US08013338B2
Display device and electronic device having the display device, and method for manufacturing thereof
To provide a display device including a thin film transistor in which high electric characteristics and reduction in off-current can be achieved. The display device having a thin film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode provided over the substrate, a gate insulating film provided over the gate electrode, a microcrystalline semiconductor film provided over the gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a channel protection layer which is provided over and in contact with the microcrystalline semiconductor film, an amorphous semiconductor film provided over the gate insulating film and on a side surface of the microcrystalline semiconductor film and the channel protection layer, an impurity semiconductor layer provided over the amorphous semiconductor film, and a source electrode and a drain electrode provided over and in contact with the impurity semiconductor layer. The thickness of the amorphous semiconductor film is larger than that of the microcrystalline semiconductor film.
US08013337B2
A thin film transistor including an active layer formed on an insulating substrate and having channel, source, and drain regions formed therein; a gate electrode formed over the channel region of the active layer; source and drain electrodes respectively formed over the source and drain regions of the active layer; and a body contact region formed in the active layer so that the body contact region is in contact with the channel region and separated from the source and drain regions, wherein a voltage is applied to the channel region through the body contact region, and the body contact region is connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode.
US08013334B2
The present invention provides a bonding structure of circuit substrates for instant circuit inspecting. The connecting wire design of the bonding structure has an instant inspection ability of circuit connection in bonding two circuit substrates. In two bonded circuit substrates, the signal inputted at the circuit part passes the conductive particles to the first connecting wire, and then passes the conductive particles again to the detecting part from the first connecting wire. Therefore, measuring the output signal can inspect the reliability of the circuit connection of the bonded circuit substrates. If the output signal is the same as the input signal, the bonding structure between the first connecting wire and the circuit part is validated, or, if not, the bonding structure is invalidated.
US08013331B2
A thin film transistor according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer (5); a source electrode (3s) and a drain electrode (3d) that each are connected to the semiconductor layer (5); an insulating layer (6) that is formed adjacent to the semiconductor layer (5); and a gate electrode (7) that faces the semiconductor layer (5) across the insulating layer (6). The semiconductor layer (5) includes an aggregate of semiconductor fine particles composed of a complex oxide. The complex oxide contains zinc and at least one selected from a group consisting of indium, gallium and rhodium.
US08013329B2
An organic field effect transistor comprising a gate electrode 2, a gate insulating layer 3, a semiconductor layer 4, a source electrode 7, and a drain electrode 8, wherein the source electrode 7 and the drain electrode 8 are composed of conductive layers 6 and 6′, and compound layers 5 and 5′ comprising an acceptor compound, respectively, wherein the compound layers 5 and 5′ are each located in contact with the semiconductor layer 4, and wherein the semiconductor layer 4 contains a polymer compound having an ionization potential of 5.0 eV or more.
US08013327B2
A thin-film transistor includes an insulating substrate, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, disposed over the top of the insulating substrate, a semiconductor layer electrically continuous with the source electrode, and the drain electrode, respectively, a gate dielectric film formed over the top of at least the semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode disposed over the top of the gate dielectric film so as to overlap the semiconductor layer. Further, a first bank insulator is formed so as to overlie the source electrode, a second bank insulator is formed so as to overlie the drain electrode, and the semiconductor layer, the gate dielectric film, and the gate electrode are embedded in a region between the first bank insulator, and the second bank insulator.
US08013323B2
A P-type nitride semiconductor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A nitride semiconductor includes a P-type nitride layer formed on a active layer, wherein the P-type nitride layer is a P-type nitride layer with the group 4 element doped.
US08013322B2
The present invention provides a light-emitting diode (LED) device and a fabrication method thereof. The LED device has a double-layered contact layer structure with a surface of one contact layer being patterned to increase ohmic contact area of the double-layered contact layer structure to lower an operation voltage of the LED device, and hence reducing power consumption.
US08013318B2
A phase change random access memory for actively removing residual heat and a method of manufacturing the same are presented. The phase change random access memory includes a semiconductor substrate, a phase change pattern, a heating electrode and a cooling electrode. The phase change pattern is on the semiconductor substrate. The heating electrode is electrically coupled to the phase change pattern for heating the phase change pattern. The cooling electrode is electrically coupled to the phase change pattern for removing residual heat from the phase change pattern.
US08013315B2
A charged particle beam apparatus 300 for observing and estimating a sample W by applying a charged particle beam to sample W to detect secondary charged particles, such as electrons emitted from the sample, reflected electrons and backscattered electrons comprises astigmatism adjusting means 17 for adjusting astigmatism of the charged particle beam. Astigmatism adjusting means 17 is supplied with a correction voltage which maximizes a focal estimation value obtained from a pattern formed on sample W. Astigmatism adjusting means 17 is a multipole including a plurality of pairs of electrodes or coils facing each other to place the optical axis of the charged particle beam at the center. Also disclosed is a charged particle beam apparatus 400 capable of observation and estimation of a sample surface in a condition where no charge up exists over the whole sample W.
US08013306B2
A single crystal scintillator material according to the present invention includes a single crystal portion that is represented by the compositional formula (CexLu1-x)BO3 in which the mole fraction x of Ce satisfies 0.0001≦x≦0.05.
US08013297B2
Disclosed is an ion gate for a dual IMS and method. The ion gate includes an ion source, a first gate electrode placed on one side of the ion source, a second gate electrode placed on the other side of the ion source, a third gate electrode placed on the side of the first gate electrode away from the ion source, a fourth gate electrode placed on the side of the second gate electrode away from the ion source, wherein during the ion storage, the potential at the position on the tube axis of the ion gate corresponding to the first gate electrode is different from the potentials at the positions on the tube axis corresponding to the ion source and the third gate electrode, and the potential at the position on the tube axis corresponding to the second gate electrode is different from the potentials at the positions on the tube axis corresponding to the ion source and the fourth gate electrode. According to the present invention, after sample gas enters the ion gates, charge exchange with reaction ions occurs between the first gate electrode and the second electrode, and positive and negative ions are continuously stored into the storage regions for the positive and negative ions. This leads to an improvement of utility rate of ions. Then, the ions are educed in a step-wise manner from the storage regions for the positive and negative ions by a simple control of a combination of the electrodes.
US08013293B2
A shift of mass axis that occurs when the temperature of a vacuum container consisting of a vacuum chamber (15) and IT block (16) or that of a TOF power unit (20) for applying an ion acceleration voltage is changed, is respectively measured beforehand, and parameters expressing a transfer function based on its response are stored in a transfer function memory (24). During an analysis, a mass shift predicting operation section (25) estimates the current shift length of the mass axis from the current temperatures of the IT block (16) and TOF power unit (20) obtained by first and second temperature sensors (34 and 35) as well as from the two transfer functions stored in the memory (24). A mass shift correcting section (29) corrects the mass axis of the mass spectrum according to the estimated shift length. Thus, if the ambient temperature suddenly changes, the shift of the mass axis of the mass spectrum due to the temperature change is corrected with high accuracy, so that a mass spectrum with a high level of mass accuracy can be created.
US08013283B2
There is provided a projector including a projection control unit which controls a projection of a background window and computes location information of at least one projection window projected on the background window, a performance sensing unit which senses an object performance on the background window and the at least one projection window, a communication unit which communicates with at least one other projector different from the projector, and an information control unit which controls an operation of each of the at least one other projector, the operation corresponding to the object performance.
US08013270B2
A laser processing apparatus includes a support table, a local exhaust device, and a laser light source unit. The support table supports a processing object. The local exhaust device directs laser light into a local exhaust unit in which pressure is locally adjusted over the support table. The laser light source unit outputs the laser light. The local exhaust device is capable of relatively being lifted from the support table by injecting a lift gas to the support table. The processing object includes a multilayer film formed of two or more layers with different materials. An input unit into which reflectance of the processing object is inputted is connected to the laser light source unit.
US08013268B2
This invention relates to a circuit breaker (1) for high or medium voltages, of the type having a drive bar (70) coupled to a drive member, and a circuit-breaking chamber (2) facing it and having two contacts (3, 4), each contact (3, 4) including a main contact (30, 40 respectively) and an arcing contact (31, 41 respectively), with one of the two contacts (3) being fixed to a blast or extinguishing nozzle (32). According to the invention, the second contact (4) and the drive bar (70) are joined together by coupling means (6) in such a way that they move together in translation in the same direction, the transmission means (5) being disposed on the side (21) of the chamber (2) that is adjacent to the drive bar (70), and are adapted to transmit the motion of the driven second contact (4) to the first contact (3).
US08013259B2
The present invention is directed toward a divider clip that holds a divider wall in a multi-channel raceway. The divider clip includes a base and sidewalls extending from ends of the base. The divider clip also includes removable clip fingers that extend from the base. One of the removable clip fingers is located at the center of the base while a second removable clip finger is located closer to one of the sidewalls. One of the clip fingers is removed from the divider clip to enable the remaining clip finger to hold to divider wall to separate the raceway into either a 50/50 channel split, a 60/40 channel split or a 40/60 channel split.
US08013258B2
A shielding device for serving as an electromagnetic shield includes a shield body having a top piece and a plurality of sidewall pieces, and an electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structure disposed on the top piece of the shield body.
US08013246B2
A push-in emergency stop cover with a plug-in unit includes a retainer, a stop button, a lock cover, a lock base, a combination of a lock and lock spring assembled in the lock cover, a plug-in unit, a slide block, a push button and an associated spring, a slide block and associated spring, a groove provided in said lock cover, said plug-in unit having a key extending through an opening provided in said stop button and to one side of said slide block, the push button having a push rod provided with an inclined plane and a raised block having an inclined plane at the rear of the lock. When the plug-in unit is inserted in the stop button to separate the lock from a lockstitch of the lock base, the lock cover will open; the lock cover will not open when the plug-in unit is removed after the cover is locked. The stop button has a retainer to cover an opening in the stop button to prevent foreign obstacles from falling into the opening.
US08013245B2
A cover assembly for attaching to an electrical box includes housing and a cover hinged to the housing. The assembly is mounted to the electrical box to protect an electrical device from moisture while allowing access to the electrical device. The housing has an inner chamber, an outer chamber and an access opening into the outer chamber for the electrical cord that can be connected to the electrical device. The cover assembly is provided with a water barrier member between the inner chamber and the outer chamber to inhibit water and debris from entering the housing of the cover assembly through the access opening.
US08013237B2
An integrated photovoltaic modular panel for a curtain wall glass is used to build integrated photovoltaic material. This invention provides standardized photovoltaic units, so that electrodes in a photovoltaic panel main body can be connected internally in parallel. The connector may be a metal piece of stamping or casting with a plug 1 and a socket 2 on two ends, a waist b in the middle, an inward concave straight strip 4 on both sides of the waist, an electrode plug-in socket 3 in the waist for firmly clamping solar cell, a plastic injection molding crust 5 for fixing and securing the connector, thus forming a module. It can be combined with different kinds of glass to form different kinds of photovoltaic curtain wall glass. The solar cell here may be an amorphous silicon solar cell.
US08013225B1
A novel maize variety designated X7H282 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X7H282 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X7H282 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X7H282, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X7H282. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X7H282.
US08013222B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper varieties designated 9954288, SBR 99-1274 and SBY 99-1273. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of sweet pepper hybrid 9954288, pepper line SBR 99-1274 and pepper line SBY 99-1273, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing a plant with itself or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of the invention, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08013212B2
Site-specific recombinases provide a means of efficiently manipulating chromosomal sequences in mammalian cells in culture and in mice. Embryonic stem cells containing recombinase nucleic acid constructs that were expressed in the male germline would simplify current protocols for producing mice bearing homologously recombined alleles that have been secondarily rearranged by a site-specific recombinase, five lines of transgenic mice containing a fusion gene consisting of the mouse protamine 1 gene promoter and the Cre recombinase coding sequence (ProCre nucleic acid constructs) showed high levels of Cre-mediated recombination of the germline, but did not show appreciable recombination in other tissues. In different ProCre strains, between 80% and 100% of the progeny that inherited a Cre target nucleic acid construct from males that were also heterozygous for a ProCre nucleic acid construct inherited the Cre-recombined target. ProCre nucleic acid constructs and recombined targets segregated in the first generation. When ES cells prepared from one ProCre line were transfected with vectors containing a loxP-flanked neomycin cassette, G418 resistant, homologously recombined clones, in which the loxP sites remained functional, were readily isolated. These data establish that ProCre nucleic acid constructs will facilitate the production of subtle, conditional, or tissue-specific mutations in mice as well as the production and analysis of mice with recombinase-conditional lethal alleles.
US08013208B2
This invention provides methods for producing antibodies, wherein the methods comprise the step of administering an immunogen comprising both a target antigen and a background antigen to transgenic animals, into which a gene coding for the background antigen has been introduced. Since immunotolerance to the background antigens have thus been induced in the transgenic animals, the animals efficiently produce antibodies to target antigens.
US08013192B2
The invention provides a process for preparing 1,3-alkanediols, such as 1,3-propanediol (PDO), from 3-hydroxyaldehydes, such as 3-hydroxypropanal (HPA), comprising providing a mixture of 3-hydroxyaldehydes in an organic solvent; extracting into an aqueous liquid a major portion of the 3-hydroxyaldehydes to provide an aqueous phase comprising 3-hydroxyaldehydes in greater concentration than the concentration of 3-hydroxyaldehydes in the 3-hydroxyaldehyde mixture, and an organic phase; separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase; contacting the aqueous phase with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to provide a hydrogenation product mixture comprising 1,3-alkanediols and water; separating water from the 1,3-alkanediols using a multi-effect evaporation scheme; recycling water containing about 50 wt % or less 1,3-propanediol based upon the total amount of 1,3-propanediol and water to the extraction stage; and recovering 1,3-alkanediols.
US08013187B2
2-cyclopenten-1-one oxime derivatives represented by Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof inhibit the production of TNF-α or PDE4, and therefore show therapeutic effect in inflammatory or immunological disorders mediated through TNF-α or PDE4.
US08013186B2
The present invention is directed to compounds that are inhibitors of cysteine proteases, in particular, cathepsins B, K, L, F, and S and are therefore useful in treating diseases mediated by these proteases. The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and processes for preparing them.
US08013185B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing unsaturated aldehydes and/or unsaturated fatty acids from olefins using a fixed-bed catalytic partial oxidation reactor, in particular, a start-up method upon packing with catalysts and initiating the reaction, and a process for producing unsaturated aldehydes and/or unsaturated fatty acids with high yield.
US08013182B2
The present invention provides a process for producing a novel compound, i.e., α-chloromethoxycarboxylic acid ester represented by General Formula (1): (CF3)2C(OCH2Cl)COOR, wherein R is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of halogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms, comprising reacting an α-methoxycarboxylic acid ester represented by General Formula (2): (CF3)2C(OCH3)COOR, wherein R is as defined above, with molecular chlorine; and a process for producing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether represented by a chemical formula (CF3)2CH(OCH2F), comprising fluorinating and decarboxylating the α-chloromethoxycarboxylic acid ester.According to the present invention, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl fluoromethyl ether (sevoflurane), which is known as a compound having an anesthetic property, can be produced efficiently and at a low cost.
US08013180B2
It is intended to provide a method for immobilizing, onto a column carrier, a compound having a sulfo group or a compound to which a sulfo group can be added. The method comprises immobilizing the compound onto the column carrier using a linker comprising: a sulfo group-binding group capable of forming a bond with the sulfo group in the compound; and a carrier-binding group capable of forming a bond with a group present on the surface of the column carrier.
US08013173B2
A method for purifying an oxydiphthalic anhydride comprises diluting a first mixture comprising an oxydiphthalic anhydride, a solvent, a catalyst, and an inorganic salt with a solvent, to provide a second mixture having a solids content of 10 to 30 percent based on total weight of the second mixture; filtering and washing the solids of the second mixture at a temperature below the crystallization point temperature of the oxydiphthalic anhydride to provide a third mixture; hydrolyzing the third mixture by adding water and a water-soluble acid to form a fourth mixture; heating the fourth mixture; then cooling to provide a solid-liquid mixture, optionally decanting a portion of the liquid, rediluting the remaining solid-liquid mixture, then filtering to provide a solid component; washing the solid component with water to provide a fifth mixture of oxydiphthalic tetraacid and water; ring closing the oxydiphthalic tetraacid to provide oxydiphthalic anhydride, and filtering the oxydiphthalic anhydride.
US08013172B2
The disclosure relates to novel cycloalkylphenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which J, X, Y, m and CKE are as defined above, to processes and intermediates for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides. Moreover, the disclosure relates to selective herbicidal compositions comprising, firstly, the cycloalkylphenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols and, secondly, a crop plant compatibility-improving compound.The disclosure furthermore relates to increasing the activity of crop protection compositions comprising compounds of the formula (I) by adding ammonium or phosphonium salts and, if appropriate, penetrants.
US08013168B2
2-((R)-2-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole-4-carboxamide Crystalline Form 2, ways to make it, compositions comprising it and made using it, and methods of treating patients having disease using it are disclosed.
US08013158B2
Novel crystalline forms of topotecan hydrochloride and processes of making the same are disclosed.
US08013154B2
N-Azinyl-N′-aryl ureas and thioureas derivatives are effective at controlling insects.
US08013150B2
The present invention relates to a cost effective and industrially advantageous process for the preparation of (3R,4S)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[3(S)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropyl)]-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone, referred to here as Ezetimibe and represented by structural formula (I). The process comprises an multi-step reaction sequence that includes a chiral auxiliary-controlled condensation, a silyl-mediated cyclization, a palladium-catalyzed Negishi cross-coupling, and the enantioselective reduction of a ketone to a hydroxyl group.
US08013146B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating matrix metalloproteinase (e.g., MMP13) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of MMP13 gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of MMP13 genes.
US08013145B2
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 nucleotide sequences for CDKN1B.
US08013138B1
Described are synthetic promoters capable of mediating gene expression in plants upon pathogen infection. Furthermore, recombinant genes and vectors comprising said chimeric promoters as well as host cells transformed with such chimeric promoters, recombinant genes or vectors are provided. Additionally, diagnostic compositions and kits comprising such chimeric promoters, recombinant genes, vectors or cells are described. Provided are further methods for the identification of compounds being capable of activating or inhibiting genes that are specifically expressed in plants upon pathogen infection employing the above described means. Furthermore, transgenic plant cells, plant tissue and plants containing the above-described chimeric promoters, recombinant genes and vectors as well as the use of the aforementioned chimeric promoters, recombinant genes, vectors and/or compounds identified by the method of the invention in plant cell and tissue culture, plant breeding and/or agriculture are described.
US08013130B2
A carbon-based solid acid which has high activity and high thermal stability and is useful as an acid catalyst for various reactions such as hydration of olefins.The carbon-based solid acid for use as a catalyst is obtained by carbonization and sulfonation of an organic substance, which has a reduction rate of 10 mol % or less of acid content as measured by immersing the solid acid in hot water at 120° C. for 2 hours, is used as the acid catalyst. The organic substance to be used as the raw material for preparing the solid acid is preferably a saccharide having β1-4 glycosidic bond (e.g. cellulose) or lignin. Amylose is also suitable as the raw material. Examples of the reaction for which the solid catalyst can be used include hydration of olefins, etherification of olefins, and acid/alcohol esterification.
US08013126B2
A novel gene (designated 84P2A9) and its encoded protein is described. While 84P2A9 exhibits prostate and testis specific expression in normal adult tissue, it is aberrantly expressed multiple cancers including prostate, testis, kidney, brain, bone, skin, ovarian, breast, pancreas, colon, lymphocytic and lung cancers. Consequently, 84P2A9 provides a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for cancers, and the 84P2A9 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein or a fragment thereof used to elicit an immune response.
US08013124B2
The present invention relates to zcytor17lig polynucleotide, polypeptide and anti-zcytor17 antibody molecules. The zcytor17lig is a novel cytokine. The polypeptides may be used within methods for stimulating the immune system, and proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
US08013123B2
The invention relates to the diagnosis of disease based on the presence of biochemical components in human or animal body fluids, tissues and/or biomaterials. More specifically the invention relates to the use of precursors of enkephalins and/or its fragments isolated from body fluids, tissues or other biomaterials as a marker peptide for detection of a number of diseases/disorders including diseases/disorders of the central nervous system, neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, ischemia including myocardiac ishcemica, schizophrenia, disease/disorders of the immune system, diseases/conditions of pain, chronic pain, migraine, tension type headache, tumor diseases/cancer including lymphoblastic leukaemia, malignant brain tumors, adenomas, in particular human pituitary adenomas, disorders of the blood brain barrier, multiple sclerosis, inflammation, chronic arthritis, infectious diseases, bacterial and viral infections, in particular infections of Gram-positive bacteria, borna diseases virus infections, peritonitis, intoxication, AIDS, stress, trauma comprising head trauma, infarction, in particular cerebral infarction, heart and cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease, bone and skin disorders, malaria chronic/obstructive pulmonary disease and cerebral damage. The invention further provides antibodies that bind to proenkephalin and its fragments. In accordance with the invention, a kit useful for the above mentioned diagnosis is also provided.
US08013122B2
A first method of purifying apolipoprotein A-1 includes mixing plasma fraction IV with a 1-8 M urea solution to form a pretreatment solution; loading the pretreatment solution to a first anion chromatography column, and then eluting to obtain an apoA-1 protein solution; and loading the apoA-1 protein solution to a second anion chromatography column, and eluting to obtain pure apoA-1 protein. A second method includes dissolving plasma fraction IV in a buffer to produce a pretreatment solution; adding NaCl to the pretreatment solution and cooling it to form apoA-1 precipitate; collecting and reconstituting the apoA-1 precipitate; loading the reconstituted apoA-1 to an anion exchange column; and eluting apoA-1 from the column.
US08013121B2
The present invention concerns isolated collagen, the method for its production, and isolation of the collagen from collagen-containing tissues, as well as the use of the isolated collagen in a biomatrix as an in vitro test system, tissue replacement or organ replacement.
US08013119B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent protein, which allows an acceptor for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to appear in a stimulating light-dependent manner, thereby enabling the marking of any given cell organelle, cells, or tissues, with multiple colors. The present invention provides a fluorescent protein which consists of a fused protein of a donor fluorescent protein and an acceptor fluorescent protein, wherein before irradiation with stimulating light, the donor protein is able to emit fluorescence as a result of irradiation of the donor protein with excitation light; and after irradiation with stimulating light, intramolecular FRET occurs between the donor fluorescent protein and the acceptor fluorescent protein as a result of irradiation of the donor protein with excitation light, and the acceptor protein is able to emit fluorescence, and wherein the fluorescence of the donor protein and the fluorescence of the acceptor protein have wavelengths that are different from each other.
US08013117B2
A process for producing a nonapeptide leuprolide and an intermediate N-protected oligopetides, wherein at least one peptide bond of the compound is formed by reacting an activated carboxylic acid and an amine component in a continuous flow.
US08013112B2
The present invention relates among other things to a composition comprising at least two (2) human BNP fragments, wherein each of the human BNP fragments of the composition are cross-linked to at least one of the other human BNP fragments of the composition.
US08013111B2
The invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of an olefin polymer composition in which corrosive trace cocatalyst and catalyst residues are removed from the hydrocarbon gas recycle stream prior to compression and re-use in the polymerization zone(s).
US08013107B2
The present invention provides a method of producing polyalkylene terephthalate, which comprises: introducing a prepolymer of polyalkylene terephthalate that is in a molten state comprising 70 mol % or more of ethylene terephthalate or 1,4-butylene terephthalate repeating units and having an intrinsic viscosity [η] between 0.2 and 2 dl/g through a feed opening to a polymerization reactor; discharging the introduced prepolymer from holes of a perforated plate; and polymerizing the prepolymer under reduced pressure, while allowing the prepolymer to fall along the surface of a support that is open towards the outside at a temperature between the [crystalline melting point−10° C.] of the prepolymer or higher and the [crystalline melting point+30° C.] of the prepolymer or lower under the conditions represented by a formula S1/S2>1, wherein S1 is the surface area of falling polyalkylene terephthalate, and S2 is the area where the support is in contact with polyalkylene terephthalate.
US08013106B2
An optical lens which can be produced by injection molding on an industrial scale, and which has a high refractive index, a low Abbe's number, a low birefringence index, a high transparency and a high glass transition temperature. The optical lens can be produced by injection molding of a polycarbonate resin (preferably having a reduced viscosity of 0.2 dl/g or higher and a glass transition temperature of 120 to 160° C.), wherein the polycarbonate resin is produced by reacting a diol component comprising 99 to 51 mol % of 9,9-bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)fluorene and 1 to 49 mol % of bisphenol A with a carbonate diester. It becomes possible to produce an optical lens preferably having a refractive index of 1.60 to 1.65, an Abbe's number of 30 or smaller, a birefringence index of 300 nm or lower and an all light transmittance of 85.0% or higher.
US08013104B2
Hyperbranched polymers and methods for preparing the same are disclosed. The polymers are obtained based on monomers synthesized via reacting a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic anhydride with a bifunctional amine.
US08013103B2
Disclosed herein are polymer compounds, a method for preparing thereof. More specifically, provided are polymer compounds with well-connected, narrow size distribution free-volume element and a method for preparing the polymer compounds by thermal rearrangement for aromatic polyimides containing ortho-positioned functional groups in the solid state.
US08013096B2
The present invention relates to a perfluoropolyoxyalkylene group-containing polymer represented by the following formula (1), wherein Rf is a group having a perfluoropolyoxyalkylene group; W1 is a divalent organosiloxane group having at least one group represented by the following formula (2); W2 is a monovalent group selected from an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkenyloxyalkyl group, an aryl group and an organosiloxane group represented by the following formula (3), and the combinations thereof, the monovalent group having 1 to 300 carbon atoms and being optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms; Q is, independently of each other, a divalent linking group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms, or fluorine atoms; and p is an integer of from 1 to 20, wherein X is a hydrolysable group; R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; y is an integer of from 1 to 5; and a is 2 or 3, wherein, R2 and R3 each are, independently of each other, a group selected from an alkyl group and an aryl group, have 1 to 200 carbon atoms and may optionally be substituted with one or more fluorine atoms and; and n is an integer of from 0 to 50.
US08013088B2
A polymerization reaction mixture for the cationic polymerization of unsaturated biological oils (e.g. vegetable oils and animals oils) based on the cationic reaction of double bonds initiated by superacids is provided. The polymerized oils have a viscosity about 10 to 200 times higher than the initial oil and relatively high unsaturation (only about 10-30% lower than that of initial oils).
US08013084B2
A manufacturing method of an optical material, the method including: blending an inorganic compound (a) containing at least one of a sulfur atom and a selenium atom and a compound (b) represented by a following formula (1) in a tank, the compound (a) and the compound (b) being blended at a ratio of 1 mass % or more and 50 mass % or less of the compound (a) and 50 mass % or more and 99 mass % or less of the compound (b) relative to a total mass of a mixture of the compound (a) and the compound (b); mixing a compound (c) containing at least one thiol (SH) group; preliminarily polymerizing the compounds; cooling the compounds; and deaerating the compounds, in which a viscosity of the composition stored in the tank is controlled during at least one of the preliminarily polymerizing, the cooling and the deaerating (m represents an integer of 0 to 4, and n represents an integer of 0 to 2).
US08013079B2
The present invention has its object to provide a curable composition which allows slight bleedout of a liquid compound to occur to the cured product and shows good curability and adhesiveness using a non-organotin catalyst, an amine compound, as a silanol condensation catalyst.The present invention relates to a non-organotin-based curable composition which comprises: (A) an organic polymer having a silicon-containing group capable of crosslinking by siloxane bond formation, and (B) a specific amidine compound and/or a guanidine compound having a melting point of not lower than 23° C., as a silanol condensation catalyst.
US08013072B2
At least partially hydrolyzed chlorosulfonated polyolefin elastomers containing 0.5-10 weight percent chlorine and 0.25 to 5 weight percent sulfur are prepared from low density polyethylene or from linear ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer base resins having a ratio of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) less than 3.5.
US08013070B2
Novel crosslinkable compositions are provided and are based on thermoplastic polymers and elastomers, these compositions comprising, as crosslinking system, specific organic salts of metal ions. Ionically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers can be obtained therefrom and have excellent physical properties, high-temperature resistance extending above 150° C., and also oil resistance. They can be used for production of moldings.
US08013069B2
Blends of at least two polymers incorporating propylene-derived units and processes for producing such blends are provided. The first polymer of the blend is a low crystallinity polymer including propylene-derived units. The second polymer is a high crystallinity polymer including propylene-derived units. The polymer blends exhibit the beneficial performance characteristics of low crystallinity propylene polymers while minimizing certain processing and handling problems associated with low crystallinity propylene polymers. Low crystallinity propylene polymer pellets often exhibit a tendency to agglomerate because of the softness of such particles. Agglomeration of the pellets creates problems in handling and processing the particles. The polymer blends disclosed reduce the tendency of polymer pellets to agglomerate while maintaining the desirable physical properties, such as elastomeric properties, exhibited by low crystallinity propylene polymers. Various processes for producing the polymer blends are also provided.
US08013068B2
A curable mixture is provided that is substantially free of volatile nonreactive compounds. Also provided is a method for making such curable mixtures, and a method of bonding substrates with such curable mixtures.
US08013065B2
A method for making a multi-branched polymer includes reacting a first polymeric unit with a functional cyclic compound to form a functional macroinitiator compound with a cyclic moiety. The functional macroinitiator compound is reacted with an amine functional compound to open the cyclic moiety and form a first functional group and a second functional group. To form the branched polymer, at least one of a second polymeric unit is propagated from the first functional group and a third polymeric unit is propagated from the second functional group.
US08013061B2
A method of making an aliphatic polyester prepolymer, comprising: reacting, alone or in combination with other reactants, a diol with at least a first diacid (or a diester of the first diacid) to produce an aliphatic polyester prepolymer. The first diacid is preferably a trans-beta-hydromuconic acid (HMA). In some embodiments, the diol contains at least one ether linkage. In some embodiments the diol is further reacted with at a second diacid, or a diester of the second diacid, wherein the second diacid is different from the first diacid. Prepolymers produced from such processes and articles formed therefrom are also described.
US08013059B2
A method for hydrolyzing/condensing, by acid catalysis, silanes bearing hydrolyzable groups, preferably halogenosilanes and more preferably still chlorosilanes, in a polyphase reaction medium (preferably biphasic), includes contacting the silanes bearing the hydrolyzable groups with water, buffer solution and neutralizing agent, while stirring, then in separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase, which contains the hydrolysis/condensation products, namely hydroxylated polyorganosiloxanes; such method is characterized by (a) employing intensively stirring means producing, in the reaction medium, an agitation at least equivalent to that induced by a shearing corresponding to that provided by a rotor whereof the peripheral speed is not less than 8 m.s−1, preferably not less than 10 m.s−1, and more preferably still ranging between 15 and 20 m.s−1, enabling thus organic phase droplets to be formed, of d32 less than 500 μm; and (b) ensuring that the silanes/aqueous phase mass fraction is not less than 0.05, preferably not less than 0.10, and more preferably still ranging from 0.5 to 2.0.
US08013053B2
The present invention relates to a water-based ink for ink-jet printing which exhibits a high optical density even upon one-pass printing on plain papers and is suitable for high-speed printing, and a dispersion used in the water-base ink. There are provided a water dispersion for ink-jet printing, including water-insoluble polymer particles containing a colorant, and a nonionic organic compound satisfying the following conditions I and II: I: Water containing 0.001% by weight of the nonionic organic compound has a surface tension of 70 mN/m or less as measured at 25° C.; and II: A solubility of the nonionic organic compound in 100 g of water is 0.30 g or less as measured at 25° C., a water-based ink containing the water dispersion, and a method of conducting a one-pass printing using the water-based ink.
US08013052B2
A curable resin which exhibits excellent heat resistance while including an extremely smaller amount of volatile component is disclosed, and an electronic component device having excellent reliability in heat resistance and the like which contains the above curable resin is provided. A curable resin obtained in reaction of at least one compound (a) selected from the group consisting of the silane compounds represented by the following Formula (I-1) and the partial condensates thereof with a phenol compound (b), comprising a remaining volatile component in an amount of 10 wt % or less with respect to the total weight of the curable resin is used as a curing agent. [Formula 1] R1nSiR2(4-n) (I-1) (Wherein, n denotes a number of 0 to 2; R1 represent a hydrogen atom, or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R2 represent a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, substituted or unsubstituted oxy groups, amino groups, and carbonyloxy groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; and two or more of R1 and R2 may bind to each other to form a cyclic structure).
US08013046B2
Tall oil heads may be used in lieu of, or in combination with, conventional fatty acids in the compounding and curing of vulcanizable rubber. Tall oil heads inherently contain a significant amount of neutral materials, and their incorporation into a pre-vulcanized rubber composition allows the compounder to incorporate less aromatic oil into the composition. The composition may be made by a method comprising compounding a mixture comprising a vulcanizable elastomer, a sulfur source, and Tall Oil Heads (TOH), the TOH comprising 40-75 wt % fatty acids and greater than 10 wt % neutral materials, and heating the compounded mixture to a temperature sufficient to cause substantial crosslinking of the elastomer.
US08013044B2
The present invention relates to a curing agents for air-drying alkyd-based resins, coatings, such as paint, varnish or wood stain, inks and linoleum floor coverings, based on an iron/manganese complex containing tetradentate, pentadentate or hexadentate nitrogen donor ligands.
US08013031B2
This invention provides a process for extruding a PLA resin using high levels of CO2. Excellent quality, low density foam is produced easily and reproducibly. The foams arc capable of being heat-annealed to induce significant crystallinity, even when an ordinarily amorphous PLA resin is used.
US08013025B2
A method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in a plurality of vertically extending horizontally spaced slurry channels inside a common reactor shell, the slurry channels being defined between vertically extending horizontally spaced divider walls or plates and each slurry channel having a height, width and breadth such that the height and breadth are much larger than the width. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in the slurry channels, thereby to form non-gaseous and/or gaseous product. Gaseous product and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.
US08013021B2
A composition comprising (a) a resin composition comprising a block copolymer of the formula hydrocarbon-polyether-polyamide-polyether-hydrocarbon; and (b) a polar liquid. The block copolymer may be prepared by a process comprising reacting together reactants comprising dimer acid, diamine, and a polyether having termination at one end selected from amine, hydroxyl and carboxyl, and termination at another end selected from hydrocarbons. The polar liquid may be one or more of an aromatic liquid, a polar aprotic liquid, a ketone-containing liquid, an ester-containing liquid, an ether-containing liquid, an amide-containing liquid and a sulfoxide-containing liquid. The composition may be a gel at room temperature.
US08013017B2
Dermatological compositions (methods of making and using) that include one or more anesthetic agents and/or one or more anti-inflammatory agents and/or a combination of ammonium, sodium, and potassium salts, preferably of an alpha-hydroxy acid.
US08013015B2
Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) is inhibited with designed small molecules. Methods comprise contacting the GOAT with an inhibitor and detecting a resultant inhibition.
US08012993B2
The present invention relates to stable S-nitrosothiols derivatives of formula (I) having vasodilating effect and which inhibit the aggregation of the platelets and which therefore are useful for the preparation of medicaments for treatment of NO related diseases. The invention also relates to a process for the synthesis of the compounds of formula (I).
US08012988B2
The present invention relates to 1H-Quinazoline-2,4-diones of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification, their preparation, their use as pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. Further, intermediates for the manufacture of compounds of formula (I) are and combinations comprising compounds of formula (I) are disclosed.
US08012981B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of conditions or disorders which are mediated via the GPR38 receptor.
US08012969B2
The invention relates to “C-labeled compounds, their preparation, compositions comprising an effective amount of a “C-labeled compound, and the use of a “C-labeled compound as a radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography.
US08012963B2
The invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I) described herein useful as CETP inhibitors, compositions containing them, and methods of using them.
US08012957B2
This invention is directed to a tetrahydro-1H-1,2,6-triaza-azulene cannabinoid modulator compound of formula (I): and a method for use in treating, ameliorating or preventing a cannabinoid receptor mediated syndrome, disorder or disease.
US08012938B2
The present invention relates to the use of proteins of the UCP family, or UCP protein polypeptide or peptide fragments, as an active agent, alone or in association with at least one other active agent, in or for the preparation of a pharmaceutical and/or dermatological and/or cosmetic composition. The invention also relates to any composition containing the aforementioned active ingredient, as well as its use as a slimming agent.
US08012934B2
Methods for treating cutaneous inflammation are described. Also described is a method for blocking IgE activation of a lymphocyte, a method for stabilizing the cell membrane of a lymphocyte, thereby preventing their further involvement in the increased inflammatory response to an IgE antigen challenge, and a method for inhibiting the migration of T-cells. Such methods involve administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having the formula f-Met-Leu-X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Tyr, Tyr-Phe, Phe-Phe and Phe-Tyr.
US08012928B2
A method of treating pancreatitis is provided, including the steps of: providing a mammal having pancreatitis; and administering a therapeutically effective amount of a truncated N-terminal PAP2; and making of an antibody specifically directed to detect PAP2.
US08012921B2
The present invention provides a photoresist stripper including about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % alcohol amine, about 40 wt % to about 70 wt % glycol ether, about 20 wt % to about 40 wt % N-methyl pyrrolidone, and about 0.2 wt % to about 6 wt % chelating agent.
US08012910B2
There is provided a printing method that can provide an image formed object which can suppress a change in density of a visible dye image and a lowering in fluorescence intensity and, at the same time, is free from concave/convex of the image surface and has a latent image invisible even under visible light. The printing method comprises a first step of forming a latent image of a fluorescent dye by thermal diffusion transfer; and a second step of providing a visible dye on the latent image by thermal diffusion transfer.
US08012897B2
The invention provides a sintered, yttria stabilized zirconium-toughened alumina ceramic product comprising about 80-94 w/w % Al2O3, about 5-19 w/w % ZrO2 and about 0.18-0.72 w/w % Y2O.
US08012895B2
A sealing material for solid oxide fuel cells is provided, which is composed of around 60% to 80% by weight of glass, around 20% to 30% by weight of alcohol, around 0.5% to 3% by weight of ethyl celluloid as a binder, and around 0.01% to 0.1% by weight of polyethylene glycol as a plasticizer.
US08012894B2
A fused silica glass and a fused silica article having a combined concentration of at least one of OH and OD of up to about 50 ppm. The fused silica glass is formed by drying a fused silica soot blank or preform in an inert atmosphere containing a drying agent, followed by removal of residual drying agent from the dried soot blank by heating the dried soot blank in an atmosphere comprising an inert gas and of oxygen.
US08012886B2
A method is provided for treating a leadframe comprising copper or copper alloy to enhance adhesion of molding compound to it. The leadframe is oxidized in an oxidation treatment bath to form copper oxide on the surface of the leadframe. It is then dipped in a complexing or chelating agent to enhance the purity of the copper oxide formed. Thereafter, the leadframe is cleaned with an acid to remove any contaminants remaining on the leadframe.
US08012885B2
To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device capable of performing a selective growth at a low temperature. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device for placing in a processing chamber a substrate having at least a silicon surface and an insulating film surface on a surface; and allowing an epitaxial film to selectively grow only on the silicon surface by using a substrate processing apparatus for heating an atmosphere in the processing chamber and the substrate, using a heating unit disposed outside of the processing chamber, includes a substrate loading step of loading the substrate into the processing chamber; a pre-processing step of supplying dichlorosilane gas and hydrogen gas into the processing chamber while maintaining a temperature in the substrate processing chamber to a prescribed temperature of 700° C. or less, and removing a natural oxide film or impurities formed on the silicon surface; and a substrate unloading step of unloading the substrate to outside of the processing chamber.
US08012882B2
In an independent GaN film manufactured by creating a GaN layer on a base heterosubstrate using vapor-phase deposition and then removing the base substrate, owing to layer-base discrepancy in thermal expansion coefficient and lattice constant, bow will be a large ±40 μm to ±100 μm. Since with that bow device fabrication by photolithography is challenging, reducing the bow to +30 μm to −20 μm is the goal. The surface deflected concavely is ground to impart to it a damaged layer that has a stretching effect, making the surface become convex. The damaged layer on the surface having become convex is removed by etching, which curtails the bow. Alternatively, the convex surface on the side opposite the surface having become convex is ground to generate a damaged layer. With the concave surface having become convex due to the damaged layer, suitably etching off the damaged layer curtails the bow.
US08012880B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a substrate including an organic low dielectric constant film containing a silicon, a carbon, an oxygen, and a hydrogen, with a resist pattern being formed on an upper layer side of the low dielectric constant film. The method comprising: an etching step in which the low dielectric constant film is etched by a plasma; an ashing step following to the etching step, in which the resist pattern is ashed by a plasma that is rich in oxygen radicals in such a manner that a relative dielectric constant of the low dielectric constant film can become 5.2 or more; and a recovering step following to the ashing step, in which an organic gas is supplied to the low dielectric constant film so as to recovery a damage of the low dielectric constant film caused by the plasma.
US08012878B2
A two-stage method to remove a metal layer from a substrate surface comprises using a CMP process to remove a first portion of the metal layer from the substrate surface, and using an ALV process to remove a second portion of the copper layer from the substrate surface. The ALV process comprises pulsing a co-reactant into a reactor housing the substrate, wherein the co-reactant reacts with the metal layer to form a volatile metal-containing product, and then evacuating the reactor to volatize and remove the metal-containing product.
US08012873B1
A method for annealing a semiconductor device having at least one polysilicon region formed on a substrate, comprises growing dielectric material on the substrate adjacent to the polysilicon region. The method continues by polishing a surface of the dielectric material and by depositing a layer of a semi-transparent material on both the surface of the dielectric material and the surface of the polysilicon region. The method concludes by annealing the semiconductor device.
US08012872B2
Manufacturing a damascene structure involves: forming a sacrificial layer (20) on a substrate (10) to protect an area around a recess (30) for the damascene structure, forming a barrier layer (40) in the recess, and in electrical contact with the sacrificial layer, forming the damascene structure (50) in the recess, and planarizing. During the planarizing the sacrificial layer reacts electrochemically with the barrier layer or with the damascene structure. This can alter a relative rate of removal of the damascene structure and the sacrificial layer so as to reduce dishing or protrusion of the damascene structure, and reduce copper residues, and reduce barrier corrosion. The barrier layer can be formed by ALCVD. The barrier material being one or more of WCN and TaN. The sacrificial layer can be TaN, TiN or W.
US08012871B2
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided for the improvement of the reliability of copper damascene wiring in which a film between wiring layers and a film between via layers are comprised of an SiOC film with low dielectric constant. A film between wiring layers, a film between wiring layers, and a film between via layers are respectively comprised of an SiOC film, and stopper insulating films and a cap insulating film are comprised of a laminated film of an SiCN film A and an SiC film B. By doing so, it becomes possible to reduce the leakage current of the film between wiring layers, the film between wiring layers, and the film between via layers, and also possible to improve the adhesion of the film between wiring layers, the film between wiring layers, and the film between via layers to the stopper insulating films and the cap insulating film.
US08012869B2
An aluminum wire is bonded to a silicon electrode by a wedge tool pressing the aluminum wire against the silicon electrode. In this way, a firmly bonded structure is obtained by sequentially stacking aluminum, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, and silicon.
US08012862B2
A fin-shaped semiconductor region is formed on a substrate, and then the substrate is placed in a chamber. Then, an ignition gas is introduced into a chamber to thereby turn the ignition gas into a plasma, and then a process gas containing an impurity is introduced into the chamber to thereby turn the process gas into a plasma. Then, a bias voltage is applied to the substrate so as to dope the semiconductor region with the impurity after confirming attenuation of an amount of the ignition gas remaining in the chamber.
US08012860B2
A method for producing a product of a functionalized nanocomposition colloidal material using atomic layer deposition to coat the colloidal material. The ALD layer comprises an inorganic material which enables improved optical and electrical properties for the nanocomposite.
US08012855B2
A reusable transfer substrate member for forming a tiled substrate structure. The member including a transfer substrate, which has a surface region. The surface region comprises a plurality of donor substrate regions. Each of the donor substrate regions is characterized by a donor substrate thickness and a donor substrate surface region. Each of the donor substrate regions is spatially disposed overlying the surface region of the transfer substrate. Each of the donor substrate regions has the donor substrate thickness without a definable cleave region.
US08012849B2
A channel stop region is formed immediately under an STI, and thereafter, an ion implantation is performed with conditions in which an impurity is doped into an upper layer portion of an active region, and at the same time, the impurity is also doped into immediately under another STI, and a channel dose region is formed at the upper layer portion of the active region, and another channel stop region is formed immediately under the STI.
US08012848B2
Trench isolation structure and method of forming trench isolation structures. The structures includes a trench in a silicon region of a substrate, the trench extending from a top surface of the substrate into the silicon region; an ion implantation stopping layer over sidewalls of the trench; a dielectric fill material filling remaining space in the trench, the dielectric fill material not including any materials found in the stopping layer; an N-type dopant species in a first region of the silicon region on a first side of the trench; the N-type dopant species in a first region of the dielectric material adjacent to the first side of the trench; a P-type dopant species in a second region of the silicon region on a second side of the trench; and the P-type dopant species in a second region of the dielectric material adjacent to the second side of the trench.
US08012844B2
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit comprises depositing a electrically resistive layer of a material for serving as a thin film resistor (TFR), depositing an electrically insulating layer on the resistor layer, removing the electrically insulating layer from outside an electrically active area of the resistor layer corresponding to a target TFR area, and depositing an electrically conductive layer of an electrically conductive material such that the conductive layer overlaps the target TFR area and the conductive layer electrically contacts the resistor layer outside the target TFR area.
US08012826B2
A semiconductor device in which a channel region of MOS transistor is provided not to include a non-flat active region end portion and a manufacturing method thereof is disclosed. According to one aspect, there is provided a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a device isolation separating active region, wherein at least a portion of the device isolation is provided in the semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell including a memory cell transistor that comprises a channel region separated by a slit and constituted of a flat active region alone, a charge storage layer provided on a gate dielectric on the channel region, and a first gate electrode provided on an inter-electrode dielectric so as to cover the charge storage layer, and a select transistor that comprises a second gate electrode provided on the gate dielectric on the active region and electrically connected to a wiring.
US08012824B2
A method of reducing impurities in a high-k dielectric layer comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided. A high-k dielectric layer having impurities is formed over the substrate. The high-k dielectric layer being formed by an MOCVD or an ALCVD process. The high-k dielectric layer is annealed to reduce the impurities within the high-k dielectric layer.
US08012819B2
A semiconductor device includes a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate having an inclined surface, a first upper surface extending from a lower portion of the inclined surface, and a second upper surface extending from an upper end of the inclined surface. A gate stack structure is formed on the inclined surface and includes a gate electrode. A first impurity region formed on one of the first and second upper surfaces contacts the gate stack structure. A second impurity region formed on the second upper surface contacts the gate stack structure. A channel between the first and second impurity regions is formed along the inclined surface in a crystalline direction.
US08012817B2
The present disclosure provides a method for making a semiconductor device having metal gate stacks. The method includes forming a high k dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first metal layer on the high k dielectric material layer; forming a silicon layer on the first metal layer; patterning the silicon layer, the first metal layer and the high k dielectric material layer to form a gate stack; and performing a silicidation process to fully change the silicon layer into a silicide electrode.
US08012806B2
A method of manufacturing a superjunction device includes providing a semiconductor wafer having at least one die. At least one first trench having a first orientation is formed in the at least one die. At least one second trench having a second orientation that is different from the first orientation is formed in the at least one die.
US08012805B2
In a manufacturing method for performing plasma etching on a second surface of a semiconductor wafer that has a first surface where an insulating film is placed in dividing regions and the second surface which is opposite from the first surface and on which a mask for defining the dividing regions is placed thereby exposing the insulating film from etching bottom portions by removing portions that correspond to the dividing regions and subsequently continuously performing the plasma etching in the state in which the exposed surfaces of the insulating film are charged with electric charge due to ions in the plasma thereby removing corner portions put in contact with the insulating film in the device-formation-regions, isotropic etching is performed on the semiconductor wafer at any timing.
US08012802B2
In a method of manufacturing a layered chip package, a layered substructure is fabricated and used to produce a plurality of layered chip packages. The layered substructure includes first to fourth substructures stacked, each of the substructures including an array of a plurality of preliminary layer portions. In the step of fabricating the layered substructure, initially fabricated are first to fourth pre-polishing substructures each having first and second surfaces. Next, the first and second pre-polishing substructures are bonded to each other with the first surfaces facing each other, and then the second surface of the second pre-polishing substructure is polished to form a first stack. Similarly, the third and fourth pre-polishing substructures are bonded to each other and the second surface of the third pre-polishing substructure is polished to form a second stack. Then, the first and second stacks are bonded to each other.
US08012801B2
A flip chip mounting process includes the steps of supplying a resin (13) containing solder powder and a convection additive (12) onto a wiring substrate (10) having a plurality of electrode terminals (II), then bringing a semiconductor chip (20) having a plurality of connecting terminals (11) into contact with a surface of the supplied resin (13), and then heating the wiring substrate (10) to a temperature that enables the solder powder to melt. The heating step is carried out at a temperature that is higher than the boiling point of the convection additive (12) to allow the boiling convection additive (12) to move within the resin (12). During this heating step, the melted solder powder is allowed to self-assemble into the region between each electrode terminal (11) of the wiring substrate (10) and each connecting terminal (21) of the semiconductor chip to form an electrical connection between each electrode terminal (11) and each connecting terminal (21).
US08012794B2
A capping layer may be deposited over the active channel of a thin film transistor (TFT) in order to protect the active channel from contamination. The capping layer may affect the performance of the TFT. If the capping layer contains too much hydrogen, nitrogen, or oxygen, the threshold voltage, sub threshold slope, and mobility of the TFT may be negatively impacted. By controlling the ratio of the flow rates of the nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen containing gases, the performance of the TFT may be optimized. Additionally, the power density, capping layer deposition pressure, and the temperature may also be controlled to optimize the TFT performance.
US08012790B2
A method for fabricating a phase change memory pore cell that includes forming a bottom electrode, forming a first dielectric layer on the bottom electrode, forming a sacrificial layer on the first dielectric layer, forming an isolation layer on the sacrificial layer, and forming a second dielectric layer on the isolation layer. The method further includes forming a via overlying the bottom electrode, the via extending to the sacrificial layer, etching through the sacrificial layer to the first dielectric layer to form a pore defined extending through the sacrificial layer and the first dielectric layer, depositing phase change material on the sacrificial layer and into the pore and removing the phase change material formed outside the pore, removing the sacrificial layer to expose the pore, the pore being vertically aligned, and forming a top electrode over the pore.
US08012777B2
A packaging process of a light emitting diode (LED) is provided. First, an LED chip is bonded with a carrier to electrically connect to each other. After that, the carrier is heated to raise the temperature thereof. Next, an encapsulant is formed on the heated carrier by a dispensing process to encapsulate the LED chip, wherein the viscosity of the encapsulant before contacting the carrier is lower than that of the encapsulant after contacting the carrier. Thereafter, the encapsulant is cured.
US08012776B2
Methods of manufacturing an imaging device package are provided. In accordance with an embodiment a sensor die may be coupled to bond pads on a transparent substrate. Electrically conductive paths comprising bond wires are formed through the bond pads from the sensor die to an outer surface of the imaging device package.
US08012775B2
The present invention provides a method of forming an optically triggered switch. Embodiments of the method include forming a silicon layer, forming one or more trenches in the silicon layer, and forming one or more silicon diodes in the silicon layer. Embodiments of the method also include forming a first thyristor in the silicon layer such that the first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode(s) by the trench(es). The first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode(s).
US08012763B2
A stationary medium is employed both to separate chemicals from a sample solution and also to generate surface-enhanced Raman scattering, so that spectral analysis of the separated analyte chemical can be performed. Applied driving force causes the sample to flow into the stationary medium and to distribute therethrough, thereby causing rapid separation of the analyte chemical, and surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation is quickly detected, at a plurality of locations along a flow path defined by the stationary medium, for ultimate analysis.
US08012751B2
The invention relates to a method to induce primate embryonic stem cells to differentiate into a relatively homogenous population of mesendoderm cells by treatment with caspase-like inhibitors. Also described is a population of mesendoderm cells obtained therefrom. The embryonic stem cell derived mesendoderm cells have the general morphological and cell surface marker characteristics of mesendoderm cells.
US08012733B2
Isolated polypeptide having sialidase activity and having an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% amino acid sequence identity with amino acids 34 to 407 of SEQ ID NO: 3.
US08012732B2
A fungal wild-type lipolytic enzyme having a higher ratio of activity on polar lipids compared with triglycerides, wherein the enzyme preferably has a phospholipid:triglyceride activity ratio of at least 4. Preferably, the lipolytic enzyme according to the present invention has a glycolipid:triglyceride hydrolyzing activity ratio of at least 1.5. In one embodiment, the fungal lipolytic enzyme according to the present invention comprises an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 4 or SEQ ID No. 6 or an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% identity thereto. The present invention further encompasses a nucleic acid encoding a fungal lipolytic enzyme, which nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide shown in SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 5 or SEQ ID No. 7; (b) a nucleic acid which is related to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 5 or SEQ ID No. 7 by the degeneration of the genetic code; and (c) nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence which has at least 90% identity with the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 5 or SEQ ID No. 7.
US08012729B2
Substrate specificity for glucose of a glucose dehydrogenase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 is improved by substituting another amino acid residue for the amino acid residue at position 472 and/or 475.
US08012718B2
The invention is generally directed to a physiogenomic method for predicting diabetes and metabolic syndromes induced by psychotropic drugs. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the use of genetic variants of marker genes to predict the likelihood that an individual will experience undesirable metabolic side effects as a result of the use of a drug including, but not limited to, psychotropic drugs. The invention also relates to methods predicting the likelihood of diabetes and metabolic syndromes induced by the use of drugs with undesirable metabolic side effects.
US08012709B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining if a subject having Type II diabetes has a kidney disorder by measuring the level of matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) in the urine of a subject having Type II diabetes and comparing this level to a reference sample or a sample from a healthy subject and determining if the subject has a kidney disorder base on the presence of increased levels of MMP-8 in the urine compared to the reference values or reference sample.
US08012708B2
A simple method for measuring allergens is disclosed, by which the amount of environmental allergens can be measured simply without using an anti-allergen antibody. In the method for measuring an environmental biological allergen(s), a solution containing a substrate of a protease which the allergen(s) has (have) is brought into contact with a test sample collected by using an adhesive sheet, which substrate gives a visible color change as a result of an enzyme reaction; and measuring the protease activity in the test sample using the color change of the substrate solution as an index, thereby measuring the biological allergen(s).
US08012705B2
Assay methods are disclosed involving specific binding reactions which are simplified compared to known methods. A compound capable of producing chemiluminescence is immobilized on a solid support as is a member of a specific binding pair for capturing an analyte from a sample. An activator compound that activates the chemiluminescent compound and is conjugated to a specific binding pair member is added in excess along with the sample to the solid support. Addition of a trigger solution causes a chemiluminescent reaction at the sites where the activator conjugate has been specifically bound. The assay methods are termed non-separation assays because they do not require removal or separation of excess detection label (activator conjugate) prior to the detection step. The methods are applicable to various types of assays including immunoassays, receptor-ligand assays and nucleic acid hybridization assays.
US08012700B2
The present invention relates to assay methods used for detecting the presence of PIF, and to PIF peptides identified using this assay. In particular, the present invention relates to flow cytometry assays for detecting PIF. It is based, at least in part, on the observation that flow cytometry using fluorescently labeled anti-lymphocyte and anti-platelet antibodies demonstrated an increase in rosette formation in the presence of PIF. It is further based on the observation that flow cytometry demonstrated that monoclonal antibody binding to CD2 decreased in the presence of PIF. The present invention further relates to PIF peptides which, when added to Jurkat cell cultures, have been observed to either (i) decrease binding of anti-CD2 antibody to Jurkat cells; (ii) increase expression of CD2 in Jurkat cells; or (iii) decrease Jurkat cell viability. In additional embodiments, the present invention provides for ELISA assays which detect PIF by determining the effect of a test sample on the binding of anti-CD2 antibody to a CD2 substrate.
US08012693B2
A method of analyzing cellular samples that include a chemically crosslinked analyte is provided. The analysis typically involves the use of mass spectrometry.
US08012671B2
A curable composition in which polymerization inhibition due to oxygen is suppressed and which may be cured with high sensitivity by exposure to laser light or the like is provided. The curable composition includes: a polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond; a binder; a radical polymerization initiator; and at least one specific amine compound. Also provided is an image forming material and a negative-working planographic printing plate precursor including the curable composition.
US08012653B2
A substrate that is suitable for an EUV mask or an EUV mask blank and excellent in flatness, is provided.A substrate for an EUV mask blank, which is made of a silica glass containing from 1 to 12 mass % of TiO2, wherein the surface roughness (rms) in a surface quality area of the substrate is at most 2 nm, and the maximum variation (PV) of the stress in the surface quality area of the substrate is at most 0.2 MPa.
US08012643B1
A gas control and operation method of a fuel cell system for improved water and gas distribution is disclosed. The present invention provides for a mechanization of a fuel cell system that allows control of the anode reactant and anode effluent through the anode portions of the fuel cell system to improve water and gas distribution on the anode side of the fuel cells that increases the voltage stability of the fuel cells.
US08012638B2
A fuel cell system according to the invention comprises a fuel cell stack, a fuel feeder that supplies the fuel cell stack with fuel, a rechargeable battery that is an electric storage device, a bidirectional DC/DC converter that selectively performs an operation of converting the output voltage of the rechargeable battery into a predetermined voltage and then outputting it (a discharge operation), or an operation of charging the rechargeable battery using the electric power outputted from the fuel cell stack (a charge operation), and a mode control circuit. The mode control circuit detects the output voltage of the fuel cell stack so that, when it is higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the charge operation; when it is not higher than the set value, the mode control circuit makes the bidirectional DC/DC converter perform the discharge operation.
US08012629B2
Disclosed are glass compositions, glass fiber compositions, glass fiber battery separators, glass fiber filter media, battery additives and active materials formed with glass compositions disclosed, glass fiber radiation shields, and glass fiber paper compositions. Certain embodiments include, among other components, bismuth oxide. Certain embodiments include about 0.5-30% bismuth oxide of the composition by weight and silica oxide at about 54-70% of the composition by weight. Embodiments may also include other components. For example, zinc oxide can make up about 0.01-3% of the composition by weight.
US08012627B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a case, a nonaqueous electrolyte provided in the case, a positive electrode provided in the case, and a negative electrode provided in the case, the negative electrode comprising a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode layer that is carried on the negative electrode current collector and contains negative electrode active material particles, and the negative electrode current collector comprising an aluminum foil having an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or less or an aluminum alloy foil having an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or less.
US08012612B2
The present invention provides an interlayer for laminated glass which comprises at least one layer composed of an opaque ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin composition or opaque polyvinyl acetal resin composition, and also provides the laminated glass using such interlayers. The interlayer for laminated glass and the laminated glass according to the present invention can offer excellent privacy protection.
US08012611B2
The present invention relates to a surface-coated cutting tool comprising a substrate and a coating formed on the substrate, the coating includes a first coating of TiCN and a second coating of α-type Al2O3, the first coating is located between the substrate and the aforementioned second coating, and the second coating has compressive stress S1 in an area A1 spreading from an insert ridge portion in the direction of a rake face and the direction of a flank face with distances of at least 0.5 mm respectively and has tensile stress S2 in an area A2 other than this area A1, while compressive stress S1 and tensile stress S2 are defined by the following expression (I): 400 MPa≦|S1−S2|≦3500 Mpa (I).
US08012609B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes a pair of electrodes; and an organic layer between the pair of electrodes, which includes a light-emitting layer and contains a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each of R1 to R7 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent with the proviso that at least one of R1 to R7 represents a deuterium atom or a substituent containing a deuterium atom.
US08012606B2
Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) which is improved in luminous efficiency, fully secured of driving stability, and simple in structure and also disclosed is a heterocyclic compound useful for the said device. Specifically, the heterocyclic compound is represented by the following general formula (I) and the organic EL device comprises an organic layer containing the said heterocyclic compound. In general formula (I), X1 and X2 respectively denote O, S, or N—R, R denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, and Ar4 respectively denote a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, Ar1, Ar2, and the nitrogen atom bonded thereto or Ar3, Ar4, and the nitrogen atom bonded thereto may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring, and m and n respectively denote an integer of 1 or 2.
US08012603B2
High-molecular compounds comprising repeating units represented by the general formula (1) or (2) and having number-average molecular weights of 103 to 108 in terms of polystyrene: (1) [wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently a trivalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a trivalent heterocyclic group; and X1 and X2 are each independently O, S, C(═O), S(═O), SO2, C(R1)(R2), Si(R3)(R4), N(R5), B(R6), P(R7), or P(═O)(R8), with the provisos that X1 and X2 must not be the same and that X1 and Ar2 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar1, and X2 and Ar1 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar2] (2) [wherein Ar3 and Ar4 are each independently a trivalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a trivalent heterocyclic group; and X3 and X4 are each independently N, B, P, C(R9), or Si(R10), with the provisos that X3 and X4 must not be the same and that X3 and Ar4 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar3, and X4 and Ar3 are bonded respectively to the adjacent carbon atoms constituting the aromatic ring of Ar4].
US08012590B2
Glass coatings on metals including Ti, Ti6A14V and CrCo were prepared for use as implants. The composition of the glasses was tailored to match the thermal expansion of the substrate metal. By controlling the firing atmosphere, time, and temperature, it was possible to control the reactivity between the glass and the alloy and to fabricate coatings (25-150 μm thick) with excellent adhesion to the substrate. The optimum firing temperatures ranged between 800 and 840° C. at times up to 1 min in air or 15 min in N2. The same basic technique was used to create multilayered coatings with concentration gradients of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles and SiO2.
US08012579B2
A laminated body comprises: a particle dispersion layer comprising a first material and particles dispersed in the first material, the first material being changed from a gel state to a sol state upon increase in temperature; and a coated layer comprising a second material, the second material is changed from a gel state to a sol state upon increase in temperature, is changed from a gel state to a sol state upon decrease in temperature, and shows a hysteresis behavior in sol-gel change upon change in temperature, wherein the particle dispersion layer in a sol state and the coated layer in a gel state are laminated in contact with each other, and in a state where each of the particle dispersion layer and the coated layer contains a solvent, a maximum temperature T1 where the first material maintains a gel state is less than a maximum temperature T2 where the second material maintains a gel state upon increase in temperature (T1
US08012578B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of composites from thermoplastic polymers and (semi)metal oxides, in particular silicon dioxide, wherein at least a part of the (semi)metal oxides is dispersed in the polymers in nanodispersed manner (nanocomposites). The invention relates to the composites obtainable by this process and their processing to give molded articles.
US08012574B2
To provide a carbon fiber Ti—Al composite material having hardness, heat resistance and abrasion resistance, having reduced weight and improved strength and thermal conductivity and being excellent in uniformity of the quality.A carbon fiber Ti—Al composite material which is prepared by pressure impregnating a molded product containing fine carbon fibers having a fiber diameter of from 0.5 to 500 nm and a fiber length of at most 1,000 μm and having a hollow-structured central axis and a titanium powder or a titanium oxide powder, with aluminum or an aluminum alloy by molten metal forging.
US08012570B2
This invention provides printing paper which comprises an aliphatic polyester resin utilizing a plant resource-derived biomass material, is excellent, for example, in traveling stability on a printing machine, material strength, reproduction of dots, print sharpness, and waterfastness and is suitable for use in applications where sheet offset printing is carried out, for example, commercial printing applications such as outdoor posters and maps, catalogs, pamphlets, and menues, and a label using the same. The printing paper is a film formed of an aliphatic polyester resin composition comprising 40 to 90% by weight of an aliphatic polyester resin (a) comprising a binary or higher material of aliphatic diol units represented by formula (I) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acid units represented by formula (II) and 60 to 10% by weight of an inorganic fine powder (b). The film has a Gurley stiffness of 50 to 3,000 mg, a surface area S, per projected area 4,292 μm2, of the film surface of 5,000 to 50,000 μm2, and a convex part volume V, per projected area 4,292 μm2, of the film surface of 2,000 to 20,000 μm3: —O—(CH2)m—O— . . . (I) wherein m is an integer of 2 to 10; and —CO—(CH2)n—CO— . . . (II) wherein n is an integer of 1 to 12.
US08012569B2
An object of the present invention is that in a sliding member whose substrate is improved in sliding characteristics by a coating layer comprising a solid lubricant, the coating layer is obtained as one having a low coefficient of friction and an excellent wear resistance. In the present invention, the coating layer 7 has a structure formed by laminating solid lubricant plate crystal grains 3, and contains not more than 10 mass % of a resin for binder 8 for bonding the solid lubricant plate crystal grains 3, and the lubricant plate crystal grains have a crystal structure formed by piling (00l) planes (wherein l is an integer of not less than 1) in parallel, the index of orientation of the (00l) planes being not less than 90% at least on the sliding surface.
US08012562B2
The present technology generally relates to a wear-resistant coating, especially for gas turbine components, comprising a horizontally segmented or multilayered structure, i.e. at least one relatively hard, ceramic layer and at least one relatively soft, metallic layer. The ceramic layer and the metallic layer are alternately arranged on top of each other in such a way that an external layer forming an external surface of the wear-resistant coating is embodied as a ceramic layer. According to the invention, at least the external, ceramic layer is segmented in a column-type manner in a vertical direction.
US08012551B2
Disclosed are a coating composition, coated article, and a method for treating one or more sides of the printable web with the composition, for providing improved printing ink dry time and gloss. The coating composition comprises: a calcium carbonate pigment component comprising a mixture high and low surface area calcium carbonate pigment; a metal salt drying agent; and a cationic dye fixing agent; a pigment binder; optionally a plastic pigment; and optionally an optical brightener; and which provides: a solids content of at least about 25%; a ratio of high to low surface area calcium carbonate in the range of from about 0.5:1 to about 20:1; and a ratio of calcium carbonate pigment component to pigment binder in the range of from about 4:1 to about 50:1.
US08012550B2
An ink receptive article including a substrate having on at least a portion of a major surface thereof an antistatic layer, and wherein the antistatic layer has on at least a portion of a major surface thereof an ink receptive layer, wherein the ink receptive layer includes a crosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyethers, polyesters, polyacrlylics, polyureas, copolymers thereof, and blends thereof.
US08012541B2
A method of storing information. The method including: applying a layer of one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers to a substrate and thermally curing the layer to form a resin layer, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a hydrogen bonding cross-linking moiety, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety, and bringing a thermal-mechanical probe heated to a temperature of greater than 100° C. into proximity with the resin layer multiple times to induce deformed regions at points in the resin layer, the thermal-mechanical probe heating the points in the resin layer of the resin and thereby writing information in the resin layer.
US08012538B2
A method of manufacturing at least one projecting section of a nozzle plate used in a liquid ejection head, includes: a partial lyophilic rendering step of rendering a lyophilic characteristic to a portion of a lyophobic film provided on an ejection surface side of a substrate in which a nozzle is formed, so as to form a lyophobic portion and a lyophilic portion on the ejection surface side of the substrate; a resin deposition step of depositing a curable resin on the lyophilic portion which has been rendered the lyophilic characteristic; and a curing step of curing the resin deposited on the lyophilic portion in such a manner that the cured resin forms the projecting section.
US08012536B2
Methods of forming metal-containing layers are provided where heteroleptic organometallic compounds containing at least one formamidinate ligand are conveyed in a gaseous form to a reactor; and films comprising a metal are deposited on a substrate. These heteroleptic organometallic compounds have improved properties over conventional vapor deposition precursors. Such compounds are suitable for use as vapor deposition precursors including direct liquid injection. Also provided are methods of depositing thin films, such as by ALD and CVD, using such compounds or their solutions in organic solvents.
US08012531B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a solar cell. The method includes forming an impurity layer on a substrate of a first conductive type, the impurity layer having impurities of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type; forming a first emitter portion having a first impurity concentration in the substrate using the impurity layer by heating the substrate with the impurity layer; forming a second emitter portion having a second impurity concentration at the first emitter portion using the impurity layer by irradiating laser beams on a region of the impurity layer, the second impurity concentration being greater than the first impurity concentration; and forming a first electrode connected to the second emitter portion and a second electrode connected to the substrate.
US08012527B2
A method of manufacturing a display device includes forming a thin film transistor on an insulating substrate, forming an electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor, forming a wall surrounding the electrode, ejecting ink comprising an organic material and a first solvent on the electrode, and supplying a second solvent to the ink. Thus, an organic layer of uniform quality is formed in the display device formed by the method.
US08012522B2
The described apparatus and method enable the production of thin edible products having complex contoured shapes that cannot be made using conventional molding technology. In particular, chocolates having detailed surface topology can be made utilizing a pliable substrate and a vacuum mold. The process may be made substantially continuous.
US08012519B2
A granulated monocalcium phosphate composition that provides sufficient nutritional value as well as enhanced pelleting benefits, such as abrasiveness and lubricity, compared to other granulated phosphate feed products. The granulated monocalcium phosphate composition includes one or more additives such as lubricity and abrasivity additives. The lubricity additive can include a sodium additive that lubricates the die during a feed milling or pelleting process. The abrasivity additive can include silica or sand that scours the die during the pelleting process. The increased lubricity and abrasivity attributes of the composition benefits die throughput and efficiency in the pelleting process, without compromising nutritional value in the final feed product.
US08012518B2
A step-down sucking method is provided for minimizing the weaning stress of newborn calves. The method features feeding newborn calves with a sufficient amount of milk corresponding to 15-25% of body weight for 3-5 weeks following birth, and then with a stepwise decreased amount of milk corresponding finally to 8-15% of body weight for 3-7 days, with the differential amount replaced with water and then with gradually decreased amounts of milk from 8-15% to zero % of the body weight and with solid feedstuffs for a period from 5 weeks to 6-8 weeks after birth, thereby inducing the calves to maximally take solid feedstuff with minimal weaning stress.
US08012517B2
Noni juice and a protein-free, alcohol precipitate of Noni juice inhibited angiogenesis in in vitro human angiogenesis models. When growth medium contained Noni juice at least over the range from about 2.5% to about 33% (by volume), angiogenesis was blocked. Moreover, Noni juice and an ethanol precipitate were able to destroy a pre-existing angiogenic response as well as prevent the development of new vessels. Noni juice was effective in inhibiting the growth of angiogenic vessels from breast cancer explants. It will also be effective in treating cancers and non-cancerous diseases whose response includes an increase in angiogenesis, e.g., retinopathy of prematurity, neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and psoriasis. The primary antiangiogenic component is believed to be a carbohydrate with a molecular weight less than about 6000 Daltons. In an initial experiment, oral administration of Noni juice appeared to adversely affect the antioangiogenic component(s) in the juice.
US08012509B2
The present invention pertains to nutritional and pharmaceutical compositions for treating and preventing cyclooxygenase-2 mediated diseases and to a process for increasing the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibiting activity of a product. In addition thereto, the present invention relates to the use of one ore more milk protein fractions and/or one ore more milk protein preparations for inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in particular for the preparation of a medicament or a functional food for treating and preventing cyclooxygenase-2 mediated diseases.
US08012506B2
Tannate compositions containing active pharmaceutical ingredients to be used for treating nausea, vomiting, pain, convulsions, and insomnia and manufacturing processes for preparing the tannate compositions.
US08012503B2
A method for enhancing absorption of a compound in a medicament that is suitable for administering transmucosally to a subject is conducted in an environment having a suitable pH. The suitable pH is determined based on the ionization constant (dissociation constant) of the compound in water, the solubility of the ionized form of the compound, and the solubility of the non-ionized form of the compound.
US08012502B2
Resorbable lactide polymer thin membranes are disclosed. The thin membranes are constructed of polylactide resorbable polymers, which are engineered to be absorbed into the body relatively slowly over time in order to reduce potential negative side effects. The membranes are formed to have very thin thicknesses, for example, thicknesses between about 0.010 mm and about 0.300 mm. The membranes can be extruded from polylactide polymers having a relatively high viscosity property, can be preshaped with relatively thick portions, and can be stored in sterile packages.
US08012501B2
The present invention relates in general to implantable flexible bone composites, and method for preparing the same. The flexible bone composite includes at least one polymeric layer and at least one calcium-containing layer. The polymeric layer can be a polymeric layer including a synthetic polymer. The calcium-containing layer can include a calcium compound such as β-Ca3(PO4)2. The flexible bone composites of the invention are useful as bone void fillers and have improved handling characteristics.
US08012493B2
The invention provides isolated placental P. falciparum polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-4 and 6-24, and immunogenic derivatives thereof. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the placental P. falciparum polypeptides of the invention, compositions comprising one or more placental P. falciparum polypeptides of the invention, methods for inducing an immune response against the placental P. falciparum polypeptides, and methods for treating and diagnosing placental malaria.
US08012492B2
A method of inducing latency in Mycobacterium permits preparation of an in vitro model system of latent mycobacterial infection. Latency is induced in a pure culture of Mycobacterium by exposing it to multiple stress conditions, including a low nutrient culture medium without glycerol, a low pH, a relatively high level of carbon dioxide and a relatively low gas phase oxygen level. An in vitro model of mycobacterial infection employs macrophages induced from THP1 cells which are then infected with Mycobacterium. The infected macrophages are grown under hypoxic conditions to induce latency in the mycobacteria. The in vitro model of infection is useful in evaluating compounds for activity against latent mycobacteria.
US08012487B2
Synthetic unaltered and altered peptides comprising sequences of at least one immunogenic epitope cluster (IEC) of at least one human autoantigen related to multiple sclerosis (MS) and at least one nonameric core sequence which fits into the MS-relevant HLA-DR/DQ molecule and is flanked by 2-5 amino acids at its N- and C-termini, are provided. The alteration is preferably by substituting 1 to 3 TCR contact residues by Ala. The autoantigen is preferably MOG, MBP, OSP, MOBP and PLP. Polypeptides comprising at least two such peptides of a sole autoantigen or at least one peptide of two different autoantigens, and synthetic genes encoding them, are also provided, as well as pharmaceutical compositions for treatment and diagnostic of MS.
US08012481B2
The present invention relates to the field of neuropathological disorders involving impaired locomotor functions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition and method for inducing and restoring locomotor functions, such as basic walking movements in the lower extremities of chronic spinal cord injured animals, such as paraplegic or tetraplegic individuals.
US08012478B2
Treatment of stroke with an antibody specific to IL-20, e.g., monoclonal antibody 7E.
US08012476B2
The present invention provides molecules, including IgGs, non-IgG immunoglobulins, proteins and non-protein agents, that have increased in vivo half-lives due to the presence of an IgG constant domain, or a portion thereof that binds the FcRn, having one or more amino acid modifications that increase the affinity of the constant domain or fragment for FcRn. Such proteins and molecules with increased half-lives have the advantage that smaller amounts and or less frequent dosing is required in the therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic use of such molecules.
US08012470B2
According to the invention there is described a method for ex vivo immunization of humans and animals comprising the following steps of: a) isolating autologous tumor cells; b) treating the tumor cells to prevent the survival thereof following reinfusion; c) incubating the thus treated tumor cells with intact heterologous bispecific and/or trisepcific antibodies showing the following properties: α—binding to a T cell; β—binding to at least one antigen on a tumor cell; γ—binding, by their Fc portion (in the case of bispecific antibodies), or by a third specificity (in the case of trispecific antibodies) to Fc receptor-positive cells.
US08012469B2
The present invention provides a universal immunomodulatory cytokine-expressing bystander cell line, a composition comprising such a cell line and a cancer antigen, a method of making such a cell line, and a method of using such a composition.
US08012468B2
The present invention relates to an antitumor immune response, and in more detail, to a method for inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific to a tumor-associated antigen that acts specifically on tumor cells.Immunotherapy using the present invention may be most effective among immune therapies that use immunity of our body, because in the present invention, CEA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be induced in vitro by using a dendritic cell transduced with a recombinant adenovirus.Further, immunotherapy using the present invention can function as a powerful tool for tumor prevention or treatment, if being used in combination with antitumor vaccines or other treatments.
US08012461B2
A composition for the removal of biofilms from substrate surfaces formed by reacting: (a) one or more quaternary halide surfactants with (b) a source of reactive bromine ions in the ratio of 1 halide ion forming part of the quaternary surfactant to 0.05 to 8 moles of bromine ions in aqueous solution.
US08012454B2
A particle includes a ferromagnetic material, a radiopaque material, and/or an MRI-visible material.
US08012451B2
A highly photosensitivity titanium oxide composition includes a plurality of nanosize particles including titanium dioxide and titanium suboxide. The particles are substantially non-stoichiometric (TiO2-x, wherein 0.1
US08012434B2
An integrated proteomics sample preparation device and method for in-gel digestion of proteins and for desalting and concentrating samples prior to further analysis such as by MALDI TOF and/or electro-spray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. The device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of wells in fluid communication with a an outlet or drainage opening containing a three dimensional structure comprising a plurality of sorptive particles entrapped in a porous polymer matrix so as to form a device capable of carrying out solid phase extraction. In a preferred embodiment, the wells are configured so as to prevent a sample carrier present in the wells from clogging the outlet when subjected to a driving force such as vacuum. The device also reduces or eliminates overflowing of a well in the event a drain becomes clogged during automated operation.
US08012427B2
An apparatus assembly for detecting an analyte in a sample of material includes a valve, a frame, and a plurality of housing segments. The valve may be actuated to adjust a flow path and flow rate through the housing segments.
US08012425B2
An apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices comprised of a deactivation chamber movable between a loading position and a deactivation position. A circulation system is provided to circulate a deactivating fluid through the deactivation chamber. The circulation system is connectable to the deactivation chamber when the deactivation chamber is in the deactivation position.
US08012422B2
A preferred embodiment of a system for loading catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit includes a bin for storing at least one of the catalyst and/or additives, and a loading unit in fluid communication with the storage bin and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis. The loading unit is capable of being evacuated so that a resulting vacuum within the loading unit draws the catalyst and/or additive from the bin. The loading unit is also capable of being pressurized so that the catalyst and/or additive is transferred from the loading unit to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
US08012417B2
A microinjection device includes a pressure pump and a regulator that is connected to the pressure pump and that maintains constant pressure. A regulating chamber is connected to the regulator and an internal pressure of the regulating chamber is maintained to a predetermined pressure. A valve is connected to the regulating chamber and a hollow capillary is connected to the valve. An operator opens/closes the valve in the process of injecting material in a cell.
US08012409B2
An apparatus for injecting particulate and/or gaseous material into a metallurgical vessel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a duct through which to inject the material, inner and outer water inflow and outflow passages extending through a wall of the duct and an annular duct tip disposed at the forward end of the duct. The duct tip is of annular formation and includes an annular inner end component, an annular outer end component, and an annular central component located between the inner and outer components. The duct tip also includes a plurality of radially extending dividers to divide a space between the outer end component and the central component into discrete radial passages to serve as the internal water flow passages of the tip.
US08012403B2
Porous ceramic and hybrid ceramic films are useful as low dielectric constant interlayers in semiconductor interconnects. (Hybrid ceramic films are defined as films that contain organic and ceramic molecular components in the structure, as, for example, organosilicates). This invention describes the usefulness of humidity treatments (using specific temperature/humidity treatments as illustrative examples) in increasing mechanical integrity of porous dielectric films with minimal detrimental effect on film porosity or dielectric constant and with no adverse impact on film quality. The efficacy of such treatments is illustrated using surfactant-templated mesoporous silicate films as an example. This invention also describes a specific family of additives to be used with highly pure alkali-metal-free ceramic and hybrid precursors for such dielectric films that will enable better control of the film porosity and quality and lower dielectric constants with the required mechanical integrity. The efficacy of such additives is illustrated using surfactant-templated mesoporous silicate films as a model example. The invention should be broadly applicable to any cross-linked ceramic or hybrid ceramic films (including silicate and organosilicate films, and especially highly porous forms of the films for low-dielectric constant applications). The invention has been found to be particularly effective with surfactant-templated silicate films with nanometer-scale porosity. The invention in either embodiment should also be applicable to evaporation-induced formation of other cross-linked shapes such as fibers and powders.
US08012402B2
Methods of fabricating a polymeric stent with improved fracture toughness including radial expansion of a polymer tube along its entire length at the same time and fabricating a stent from the expanded tube are disclosed herein.
US08012390B2
A bale of elastomer composite is formed of elastomer and filler, the bale having a void volume of at least 3%. In another aspect, a container is provided, at least a portion of the container being occupied by elastomer composite pieces of elastomer and filler, wherein the occupied portion of the container has a void volume of at least 3%.
US08012386B2
A method of manufacturing a lens presenting a graded tint, the lens comprising first and second layers each of which is made of a thermoplastic material, with only one of the layers being colored in the tint concerned, the method including the steps of: injecting the thermoplastic material of the first layer into a first mold cavity in order to form the first layer; and placing the first layer in a second mold cavity and injecting therein the thermoplastic material of the second layer so as to form the second layer on the first layer.
US08012378B2
Disclosed is a nickel ink comprising a dispersion medium and nickel particles dispersed in the medium and containing a methyldimethoxysilane coupling agent. The dispersion medium comprises a glycol having a boiling point of 300° C. or lower at ambient temperature, an alkoxyethanol having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and an ether having 2 to 8 carbon atoms. The ink preferably has a surface tension adjusted to 15 to 50 mN/m and a viscosity at 25° C. adjusted to 0.6 to 60 mPa·sec. The ink is preferably used in inkjet printing.
US08012367B2
Pulverulent materials which contain surface-modified and structure-modified pyrogenically prepared metalloid or metallic oxide for the purposes of improvement.
US08012366B2
A method is provided for defining a pattern on a workpiece such as a transparent substrate or mask or a workpiece that is at least transparent within a range of optical wavelengths. The method includes defining a photoresist pattern on the top surface of the mask, the pattern including a periodic structure having a periodic spacing between elements of the structure. The method further includes placing the mask on a support pedestal in a plasma reactor chamber and generating a plasma in the chamber to etch the top surface of the mask through openings in the photoresist pattern. The method also includes transmitting light through the pedestal and through the bottom surface of the mask, while viewing through the support pedestal light reflected from the periodic structure and detecting an interference pattern in the reflected light. The method further includes determining from the interference pattern a depth to which periodic structure has been etched in the top surface.
US08012365B2
A method of anisotropic plasma etching of a silicon wafer, maintained at a temperature from −40° C. to −120° C., comprising alternated and repeated steps of: etching with injection of a fluorinated gas, into the plasma reactor, and passivation with injection of silicon tetrafluoride, SiF4, and of oxygen into the plasma reactor, the flow rate of the gases in the plasma reactor being on the order of from 10% to 25% of the gas flow rate during the etch step.
US08012362B2
Disclosed is an electronic shielding light-transmitting member having an adhesive (2) and an electromagnetic shielding material (3) between two release films (1) and (4). By removing one of the release films (1) and (4) from the electronic shielding light-transmitting member and bonding the member to an optical filter or a plasma panel, there can be obtained an optical filter or a plasma panel having an electromagnetic shielding layer of excellent transparency.
US08012361B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes forming a first hard mask, a second hard mask and a resist on a magnetic recording layer, imprinting a stamper to the resist to transfer patterns of protrusions and recesses to the resist, removing residues remaining in the recesses of the patterned resist, etching the second hard mask by using the patterned resist as a mask to transfer the patterns of protrusions and recesses to the second hard mask, etching the first hard mask by using the second hard mask as a mask to transfer the patterns of protrusions and recesses to the first hard mask, removing the second hard mask remaining on the protrusions of the first hard mask, and deactivating the magnetic recording layer exposed in the recesses by means of ion beam irradiation.
US08012354B2
A process for purifying a lipid composition having predominantly neutral lipid components having at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is disclosed. The process employs contacting the lipid composition with a polar solvent, such as acetone, wherein the solvent is selected such that contaminants are less soluble in the solvent than is the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid. The process is typically conducted at cooler temperatures, including about 0° C. Upon precipitation of the contaminants from the lipid composition, a separation is conducted to remove the precipitated material from the lipid composition. The long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids can include ARA, DPA, EPA, and/or DHA. The process of the present invention effectively winterizes lipid compositions, thereby reducing the tendency of such compositions to become hazy.
US08012352B1
Methods and systems are provided for reducing ammonia partially by a denitrification process. A stream containing ammonia is contacted with oxygen to form a first product stream in low dissolved oxygen conditions. The ratio of oxygen to nitrogen is about 2.28 g O2/g N—NH3 (2.28 grams of oxygen per gram of nitrogen in ammonia) or less. The first product stream is then exposed to organic matter in an amount of 0.57 g COD/g N—NH3 (0.57 grams of chemical oxygen demand per gram of nitrogen in ammonia). This microbial reaction ultimately produces nitrogen gas, water, and carbon dioxide.
US08012346B2
A storm sewer insert for use in a storm water drainage system includes a collection basin that has an upper inlet opening, a lower outlet opening and at least one overflow bypass opening defined therein. A filter assembly is preferably positioned in the lower opening of the collection basin for filtering storm water that is held in the collection basin. Advantageously, adjustable mounting structure is provided for mounting the collection basin to an inlet opening of a storm sewer or catch basin. In addition, a mosquito barrier is preferably provided for reducing mosquito passage through the bypass opening.
US08012344B2
A fuel preparation system includes a fractionation unit for treating fuel containing vanadium. A gas turbine is connected to the fractionation unit to receive treated fuel. The gas turbine may deliver exhaust from the gas turbine to the fractionation unit. The fuel preparation system may include a burner for burning a heavy fuel fraction from the faction unit and for delivering exhaust from the burner to the fractionation unit. The fuel preparation unit may include a boiler to receive the heavy fuel fraction for combustion and for delivering steam to the fractionation unit.
US08012338B2
A method for selectively dissolving the beta (β) phase of a titanium alloy out of the surface of the alloy, thereby leaving behind a nano-scale porous surface having enhanced bonding properties with either a biological tissue, such as bone, or an adhesive material, such as a polymer or ceramic by immersing the alloy in an ionic aqueous solution containing high levels of hydrogen peroxide and then exposing the alloy to an electrochemical voltage process resulting in the selective dissolution of the beta phase to form a nano-topographic metallic surface.
US08012332B2
An apparatus forms a plated film in fine trenches and plugs for interconnects and in the openings of a resist formed in the surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer, and forms bumps (protruding electrodes) on the surface of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus includes a substrate holder capable of opening and closing for holding a substrate such that the front surface of the substrate is exposed while the backside and the edge thereof are hermetically sealed. A plating tank accommodates a plating liquid in which an anode is immersed. A diaphragm is provided in the plating tank and disposed between the anode and the substrate held by the substrate holder. Plating liquid circulating systems circulate the plating liquid to respective regions of the plating tank, separated by the diaphragm. A deaerating unit is disposed in at least one of the plating liquid circulating systems.
US08012331B2
Disclosed herein are a probe and a method of making the same, and more particularly to a probe having a minute pitch, with which a probe card corresponding to arrangement of pads formed with a massed shape or other various shapes on a wafer is made, and a method of making the same. The probe having a prescribed thickness and formed in the shape of a flat plate. The probe comprises a body part bent at the middle thereof so that the body part is elastically tensioned or compressed when a tension force or a compression force is applied to the body part at the upper and lower ends thereof, a connection part integrally formed with the lower end of the body part, the connection part being fixed to a substrate, and a tip part integrally formed with the upper end of the body part, the tip part contacting a pad of an element.
US08012329B2
A method includes placing a conductive mold in a first bath of electroforming solution, the solution including metal and having a selected temperature. A current is provided to the electroforming solution so that metal deposits onto the mold, thereby forming an electroformed element on the mold, the electroformed element and the mold being a composite assembly. The method further includes removing the composite assembly from the electroforming solution and transferring the composite assembly to a second bath having the same selected temperature. Thereafter, the electroformed element is separated from the mold while the composite assembly is in the second bath.
US08012324B2
A sensor element including: a first solid electrolyte layer as defined herein; and a second solid electrolyte layer as defined herein, wherein the first solid electrolyte layer includes a first inner insulating layer, a first outer insulating layer, a first inner conductive layer and a first outer conductive layer as defined herein, the second solid electrolyte layer includes a second inner insulating layer, a second outer insulating layer, a second inner conductive layer and a second outer conductive layer as defined herein, and the first outer conductive layer and the second outer conductive layer are in contact with one another.
US08012320B2
The invention relates to a device for supporting electrodes in an electrolysis installation, said support comprising a busbar having electrodes fastened thereto, said electrodes being disposed on either side of the busbar and extending vertically below said busbar, the busbar and said electrodes being designed to be immersed at least in part in an electrolyte that gives off one or more gaseous species of a corrosive nature. The device further comprises a protective element of carbon/carbon material placed under the busbar, the protective element being of length and width that are not less than the length and the width of the busbar.
US08012318B2
A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent/solution extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution in multiple electrowinning stages, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent/solution extraction prior to electrowinning.
US08012314B2
There is disclosed a manufacturing method of a phase shift mask blank in which dispersions of phase angle and transmittance among blanks can be reduced as much as possible and yield is satisfactory. In the manufacturing method of the phase shift mask blank, a process of using a sputtering method to continuously form a thin film on a transparent substrate comprises: successively subjecting a plurality of substrates to a series of process of supplying the transparent substrate into a sputtering chamber, forming the thin film for forming a pattern in the sputtering chamber, and discharging the transparent substrate with the film formed thereon from the sputtering chamber; supplying and discharging the transparent substrate substantially at a constant interval; and setting a film formation time to be constant among a plurality of blanks.
US08012304B2
A plasma reactor having a reactor chamber and an electrostatic chuck having a surface for holding a workpiece inside the chamber includes inner and outer zone backside gas pressure sources coupled to the electrostatic chuck for applying a thermally conductive gas under respective pressures to respective inner and outer zones of a workpiece-surface interface formed whenever a workpiece is held on the surface, and inner and outer zone heat exchangers coupled to respective inner and outer zones of said electrostatic chuck. The reactor further includes inner and outer zone temperature sensors in inner and outer zones of the electrostatic chuck and a thermal model capable of simulating heat transfer through the inner and outer zones, respectively, between the evaporator and the surface based upon measurements from the inner and outer temperature sensors, respectively. Inner and outer zone agile control processors coupled to the thermal model govern the inner and outer zone backside gas pressure sources, respectively, in response to predictions from the model of changes in the respective pressures that would bring the temperatures measured by the inner and outer zone sensors, respectively, closer to a desired temperature.
US08012302B2
Moisture-curing compositions include at least one silane-functional polymer P with at least two terminal groups of formula (I) and at least one reaction product R which is produced from at least one aminosilane AS with at least one primary amino group and at least one silane group-free alkene M which is capable of entering in 1,4 addition reactions with primary amino groups. The compositions have improved adhesive properties and are especially suitable for use as adhesives, sealing materials or coatings, especially as elastic adhesive or sealing materials.
US08012293B2
A method for manufacturing a TPU laminated fabric product comprises the following steps. First step: preparing a roll of TPU film and a roll of releasing film. Second step: attaching the TPU film to the releasing film. Third step: printing a desirable pattern or image on a first surface of the TPU film opposite to the releasing film. Fourth step: parting the TPU film from the releasing film. Fifth step: preparing a roll of base fabric. Sixth step: applying glue to a second surface of the TPU film opposite to the first surface of the TPU film. Seventh step: attaching the second surface of the TPU film with the base fabric and getting a finished TPU laminated fabric product.
US08012286B2
A 360° tool for making a one-piece composite tubular structure, such as a skin of an acoustic liner, is adjustable between a molding position and a non-molding position. The tool includes a base, a fixed segment mounted to the base, first and second doors hingedly connected on either side of the fixed sector, and third door hingedly connected to the second door. The third door has a circumferential extent that is less than one-fourth that of either the first or second door. Sealing members are provided between the doors. Collectively, the fixed sector, and the first, second and third doors have a predetermined shaped surface that corresponds to a portion of the contour of the tubular structure to be formed. After composite material is applied on the outer surfaces of the fixed sector and the doors, a vacuum bag is formed to surround the composite material and also the joint areas on the inner surface of the tool. The entire tool may be placed in an autoclave for curing. The tool may also be used for the layup and bonding of an acoustic core sandwiched between pre-cured skins.
US08012284B2
Fabrication methods for making a gas diffusion layer incorporating a gasket (GIG) fuel cell subassemblies via roll-to-roll processes are described. A material processable by one or both of heat and pressure having spaced apart apertures is transported to a bonding station. A first gasket layer having gas diffusion layers arranged in relation to spaced apart apertures of a first gasket layer is transported to the bonding station. The heat/pressure processable material is aligned with the first gasket layer and the gas diffusion layers. At the bonding station, the heat/pressure processable material is bonded to the first gasket layer and the gas diffusion layers. After bonding, the heat/pressure processable material forms a second gasket layer that attaches the gas diffusion layers to the first gasket layer.
US08012282B2
A method for fabricating a drive belt includes: a cylindrical rubber formation step of forming a cylindrical rubber by roundly joining an uncrosslinked rubber sheet (31); and a mold covering step of covering a cylindrical mold with the cylindrical rubber formed in the cylindrical rubber formation step. A mark hot-transfer sheet (35) is adhered by hot pressing to the juncture of the cylindrical rubber to cover the juncture on the inside of the cylindrical rubber.
US08012278B2
A method for joining nanotubes end-to-end, includes contacting the nanotubes with a joining fluid. The joining fluid has at least one property that is different from at least one property associated with ends of the nanotubes. In one embodiment, the method further includes contacting the nanotubes with a first, treating fluid and removing the bulk first fluid before the nanotubes are contacted with the joining fluid. The joining fluid is immiscible in the treating fluid to effect end-to-end joining of the nanotubes.
US08012276B2
The invention provides a steel sheet for hard tinplate and a TFS steel sheet each having an excellent formability and a temper grade of T4 to DR9, and an efficient manufacturing method capable of selectively manufacturing these steel sheets by using raw materials having the same composition, wherein, the steel sheet for hard tinplate and a TFS steel sheet having a temper grade of T4 to DR9 is manufactured from raw materials having the same composition by changing a reduction ratio of temper rolling or double reduce rolling for ultra-low carbon aluminum killed steel C and P contents of which are so regulated as to satisfy a specific formula <1>: 1.6×C×104+0.93×P×103≧70 <1>.
US08012274B2
The present invention relates to wear-resistant mechanical parts.
US08012272B2
The present invention provides a tool steel containing, by mass percent, 0.55 to 0.85% of C, 0.20 to 2.50% of Si, 0.30 to 1.20% of Mn, 0.50% or less of Cu, 0.01 to 0.50% of Ni, 6.00 to 9.00% of Cr, 0.1 to 2.00% of Mo+0.5 W, and 0.01 to 0.40% of V, with the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, in which, when an area rate of a coarse carbide having a circle equivalent diameter of 2 μm or more in a cross section parallel to a forging direction is represented by L(%) and an area rate of the coarse carbide in a cross section perpendicular to the forging direction is represented by T(%), the area rate L is 0.001% or more, the area rate T is 0.001% or more, and the ratio L/T is within a range from 0.90 to 3.00. The tool steel of the invention exhibits an isotropic size change in quenching and tempering.
US08012264B2
A tire vulcanization mold cleaning method for cleaning a molding surface of a sector of the tire vulcanization mold for molding a tread portion of a pneumatic tire by using plasma created in an atmosphere of a reaction gas which chemically reacts with dirt attached to the molding surface of the sector. The method comprises the steps of placing the sector on a electrode table in a cleaning tank with the molding surface of the sector facing a discharge electrode, supplying the reaction gas to the cleaning tank while pressure in the cleaning tank is reduced, supplying a high-frequency power to the discharge electrode to create the plasma between the discharge electrode and the molding surface of the sector, and applying to the electrode table a high-frequency voltage having a frequency lower than a high frequency wave supplied to the discharge electrode to make the electrode table generate a negative self-bias.
US08012262B2
The present invention is directed to improvements in the steeping process of corn wet milling and a steeping system therefore. The process for steeping corn includes subjecting corn situated in a battery of no less than four steeping tanks to a countercurrent flow of steep water. The first steeping tank defines a new corn receiving tank and the last steeping tank defines a discharge tank. The countercurrent flow of steep water includes sulfur dioxide and flows in a direction from the discharge tank to the new corn receiving tank. The sulfur dioxide concentration in the steep water of the first steeping tank is greater than the sulfur dioxide concentrations in a plurality of the remainder of the steeping tanks, which maintain sulfur dioxide levels that are substantially equivalent.
US08012259B2
A substrate processing apparatus having a support for holding a wafer, a processing chamber for accommodating the wafer, a gas supply hole for supplying desired processing gas in a parallel direction to the surface to be processed of the wafer to be accommodated in said processing chamber, an adjustment plate to be arranged with facing the surface to be processed of the wafer accommodated in the foregoing processing chamber, and an exhaust means for exhausting atmosphere in said processing chamber. A substrate processing apparatus wherein distance between the surface to be processed of wafer and the center part of the adjustment plate is narrower than distance between the surface to be processed of wafer and the circumference part and the midway part of the adjustment plate, in a direction perpendicular to a supply direction of processing gas.
US08012253B2
Precipitated silicas and wax-coated precipitated silicas, their preparation, and their use as matting agents in inks and paints, the precipitated silicas characterized by: BET350-550 m2/g DBP number320-400 g/100 g d505-15 μm, and tamped density20-90 g/l.
US08012252B2
The invention relates to a slip for producing a durable hard coating on a substrate, comprising a) silicon nitride particles and b) a binder comprising nanosize solid particles and/or precursors of nanosize solid particles from production via a sol-gel process. The invention further relates to shaped bodies composed of a substrate with a durable hard coating which has been produced from a slip according to the invention. The shaped bodies of the invention are suitable for use in the field of corrosive nonferrous metal melts.
US08012248B2
This invention relates to a wet type centrifugal “filter less” air cleaner utilizing a labyrinth effect on the basis of spiral grooves for generating vortex flow, thus the separation of particular dust, mist can be absolutely, above 99.9% purified from air with the difference of specific gravity, 1:1000 between air and water under centrifugal force, 10000G-80000G after collecting pollution substances from air with an aqua viscosity of water mist. An wet type air cleaner utilizing a centrifugal impeller comprising: spiral grooves (416), a spin vaporizer (401) for large size, an ultra sonic vaporizer (482) for small size, an electric motor (433) with a centrifugal impeller 408, a drain trap (441) and humidity controller (442) installed on an exit pipe (432) etc. Therefore centrifugal wet type air cleaner make fresh air efficiently to be carried out by centrifugal force without using filters in the field of industrial cleanroom, hospital, asepsis laboratory, home appliances, military use for purifying poison gas, exhaust gas cleaner for automobiles and an industrial burner etc.
US08012240B2
In one aspect, a product gas concentrator is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process separating absorbable components from a source gaseous mixture, a second process providing concentrated product gas in a continuous output mode, a third process providing concentrated product gas in a pulsed output mode, and a fourth process selectively switching between the continuous and pulsed output modes. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process pressurizing a source gaseous mixture, a second process separating absorbable components from the pressurized gaseous mixture, a product tank accumulating concentrated product gas for dispensing, an output path, a third process selecting a volume to be dispensed during a predetermined time, a pressure sensor monitoring pressure of the concentrated product gas, and a fourth process controlling flow of the concentrated product gas in response to the selected volume and the monitored pressure.
US08012237B2
A process for producing molten iron is a process in which while an inert gas is blown into a molten iron layer in an iron bath type melting furnace through bottom-blown tuyeres provided in a hearth bottom thereof to stir the molten iron layer, a carbon material, an additive flux, and solid reduced iron obtained by heating reduction of carbon composite iron oxide briquettes are charged into the above melting furnace, and top blowing of an oxygen-containing gas is performed through a top-blown lance provided for the melting furnace, so that the solid reduced iron is melted by combustion heat obtained by combusting the carbon material and/or carbon in molten iron to form molten iron.
US08012231B2
A particulate collection system, including a particulate matter analyzer and collecting filter, provides a method of analyzing and collecting samples from fluids, such as collecting particulate matter from air. A mass measuring unit and composition analyzing unit can be provided for either simultaneous or immediately consecutive measurements within a single instrument. The filter material can have an antistatic electricity characteristic and can be impregnated with reference material to enable calibration of the composition analyzing unit.
US08012228B2
The invention concerns an isolation chamber for isolating substances from the ambient while simultaneously maintaining aseptic conditions within the isolation chamber and protecting the operator from potent compounds. The isolation chamber comprises a first container surrounding and defining an isolation space of holding the substances and a second container surrounding the first container. Preferably, the pressure of the isolation space is lower than the pressure of the barrier space.
US08012227B2
A filter for filtering a fluid has a filter housing and a filter element arranged in the filter housing. A cyclone preseparator is arranged upstream of the filter element, wherein a fluid to be cleaned is guided through the preseparator to the filter element. The cyclone preseparator has at least two cyclone cells that have a different diameter, respectively.
US08012223B2
An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for producing energy from the controlled reaction of an alkali metal with water. The method comprises forcing a liquefied alkali metal through a filter that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets. The alkali metal droplets comprise small enough particles that the alkali metal droplets completely react in water to produce heat, steam, an alkaline hydroxide and hydrogen gas before the alkali metal droplets reach the surface of the water. The filter separates the alkali metal droplets at a sufficient distance to avoid recombining of the alkali metal droplets. The alkaline hydroxide is reduced to an alkali metal and water which can be reused in the system.
US08012222B2
The present subject matter includes a capacitor stack having a plurality of anode layers, and a plurality of cathodic metal substrates partially coated in a titanium coating. Cathode portions lacking titanium enable weld interconnections which are substantially free of titanium, improving capacitor properties. In some embodiments, anodes are interspersed among cathodes, and are electrically separated from the cathodes, with portions of cathode material attached to the welding area of the anode. These portions of the cathode material are no longer electrically connected to the cathode. As the anode and these cathode portions are welded and aged, leakage current is reduced due to improved oxide growth in the welding area due to the absence of titanium.
US08012221B2
The invention relates to a process for the surface coloration of paper characterized in that, in a first step, the paper surface is treated with a water soluble dye and, subsequently, in a second step, the paper surface is treated with a fixing agent.
US08012216B2
Various assemblies for replacing at least a proximal portion of a tibia are provided. One assembly includes a tibial tray including a superior bearing engaging surface and an inferior bone engaging surface and having a truncated posterior region; a bearing including an articulating surface, a tray mating surface, and an overhang. The tray mating surface of the bearing is in mating engagement with the inferior bone engaging surface of the tibial tray such that the overhang of the bearing extend beyond the tibial tray truncated posterior region. Related surgical methods are also provided.
US08012213B2
An apparatus and method for supporting upper and lower vertebral bodies, including first and second end members adapted for engagement with the vertebral bodies, and at least one elongate support member coupled between the end members to maintain an axial space between the vertebral bodies. In one aspect of the invention, each of the end members has a parametrical or horseshoe-shaped configuration extending about an open inner region and defining a lateral passage communicating with the open inner region to facilitate insertion of the apparatus or the individual end members into the intervertebral space via a posterior surgical approach. In a further aspect of the invention, a fusion member is positioned within the axial space to promote bony fusion between the upper and lower vertebral bodies.
US08012211B2
The present invention is a system for a partially biological disc replacement that stimulates natural fibrous, cartilaginous or other tissue growth in the DDD cavity, resulting in a partial biological disc replacement. Multiplicities of fibronous pieces of fibro-cartilaginous tissue promoting material are inserted into the DDD cavity inducing tissue growth.
US08012208B2
An implant for an intervertebral space with a shaped body. The implant has a top contact surface to be placed on a base plate of a body of the vertebra adjoining the implant from above, a bottom contact surface to be placed on a cover plate of a body of the vertebra adjoining the implant from below, two lateral surfaces, a front lateral and a rear lateral surface as well as a central axis that intersects the two contact surfaces, a longitudinal axis that intersects the front and rear lateral surfaces and a transverse axis that intersects the lateral surfaces. The implant also has a central plane situated between the contact surfaces and at right angles to the central axis of the body. The contact surfaces have a plurality of macroscopic teeth with central axes, where the central axes of the plurality of teeth are inclined relative to the central plane in such a manner, that a rotation of the body of 90° about the longitudinal axis is facilitated in one direction and impeded in the other direction. The distance between the two lateral surfaces is smaller than the distance between the two contact surfaces.
US08012204B2
A two optic accommodative lens system wherein at least one of the optics is deformable. When compressed by the capsular bag, the two optics press against each other, deforming at least one of the optics. As a result, the interface where the two optics meet changes shape, thereby altering the refractive power of the lens system.
US08012203B2
An intraocular lens for insertion into a capsular bag in order to focus incoming light toward a retina and process for manufacturing thereof along with concomitant reduced glare and improved vision provides for a center lens portion of a lens for focusing incoming light toward the retina and the surrounding lens portion for mounting the lens within the capsular bag. A surface roughness disposed on the surrounding lens portion is provided for reducing the glare due to non-focused light directed toward the retina from the intraocular lens with the roughness having a roughness level of between about Ra 45 and about Ra 350.
US08012202B2
An active bodily ring having a housing adapted to be sutured to a bodily component and a loop disposed in the housing, the loop capable of actively expanding and compressing during the bodily components normal function. The housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber containing the loop and the second chamber providing a region capable of being sutured to the bodily component. In one embodiment, the housing can be a crimped-fabric housing. In another embodiment, the housing can be a woven-fabric housing having elastic properties. The housing can be made from polyester.
US08012184B2
A device pivotally connects two stabilizing parts to a bone. The device comprises at least one bone fixing element with a central axis, an anchor part designed to be fixed in or onto the bone, and a head part that can be attached to both stabilizing parts. The two stabilizing parts are located axially one below the other. Each stabilizing part has a cavity there through running coaxially to the central axis. A clamping element, which can be elastically deformed transversely to the central axis, is rotatably mounted in each cavity. The clamping element has a central bore running coaxially to the central axis for receiving the head part. The device comprises at least one wedge or cone that can be axially clamped in the central bores, enabling the head part of the bone fixing element to be removably fixed in at least one of the stabilizing parts.
US08012182B2
The invention relates to a connecting member for maintaining the spacing between at least two anchor members screwed into vertebrae. The connecting member comprises: a flexible part (10) divided into two branches (12, 14), the ends of said branches being interconnected in pairs and defining a first median plane (Pm), and two rigid rod-forming parts (20, 22) each having a fixing first portion (20′, 22′) and a second portion (20″, 22″), each of said second portions (20″, 22″) of said two rigid parts (20, 22) extending respective ends of said branches interconnected in pairs in opposite directions, so that said connecting member, whose fixing portions (20′, 22′) are fixed to respective anchor members, is able to bend elastically in a direction perpendicular to said median plane (Pm).
US08012181B2
A dynamic spine stabilization component suitable for use in stabilizing of the spine. The component is selectably attachable to a bone anchor for implantation in a bone of the spine. The dynamic spinal stabilization component includes a deflectable post connectable to a bone anchor. Deflection of the deflectable post is controlled by a compliant member. The force/deflection properties of the deflectable post may be adapted to the functional requirements and anatomy of the patient. The dynamic spinal stabilization component, when secured to a bone anchor, provides load sharing while preserving range of motion and reducing stress exerted upon the bone anchor and spinal anatomy.
US08012170B2
A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
US08012164B1
An auger is axially fixed to and positioned within a cutter. The auger and cutter advance at the same time relative to a contact structure placed against a vessel, penetrating the wall of the vessel and cutting a tissue plug. When the auger and the cutter are retracted from the vessel wall, the tissue plug is retained by the auger and cutter and removed from the vessel wall. The auger and the cutter thus create an opening in the vessel wall, without the need for a prior incision in that wall.
US08012162B2
The present invention concerns a surgical ring, configured to be implanted around a biological organ having a pouch or a duct shape. A surgical ring according to the present invention forms a closed loop around the organ, altering its diameter. Variations in ring diameter are reversibly controlled by a system that, in one embodiment, includes a flexible filiform element slidably disposed within the body of the ring and coupled to a first extremity of the ring and also to an actuator disposed near a second extremity of the ring.
US08012157B2
An internal bone fixation sizing device and methods for using this device during a procedure for repairing a weakened or fractured bone are disclosed herein. A medical device for determining a depth and a diameter of a medullary cavity of a bone includes an outer shaft having a proximal end engaging an activation mechanism, a distal end having a first opening at an upper surface and a second opening at a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the longitudinal axis of the outer shaft includes a plurality of markers; and an inner shaft having a proximal end engaging the activation mechanism, a distal end terminating in two sizing arms, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the two sizing arms are able to move from a retracted position to an extended position extending beyond the outer shaft.
US08012149B2
A method and apparatus for treating abnormal mucosa in the esophagus is disclosed, such that the depth of the treated tissue is controlled. The depth of ablation is controlled by monitoring the tissue impedance and/or the tissue temperature. A desired ablation depth is also achieved by controlling the energy density or power density, and the amount of time required for energy delivery. A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring an inner diameter of a body lumen, where a balloon is inflated inside the body lumen at a fixed pressure.
US08012140B1
Disclosed herein is a method of treating a patient, that includes providing a gastrointestinal sleeve device having an elongate tubular body, with a proximal opening and a distal opening; and positioning the gastrointestinal sleeve device in the patient's digestive tract such that the proximal opening of the tubular body is positioned at the native gastroesophageal junction to receive ingested food and liquids from the patient's esophagus and the distal opening of the tubular body is positioned in the patient's jejunum. The tubular body can then be attached near its proximal opening to the patient at the native gastroesophageal junction.
US08012137B2
In a packaged feminine care absorbent article and method of applying such an article to a wearer, an absorbent article includes an absorbent structure and a shell, with the absorbent structure configured for disposition adjacent a female wearer's vaginal region. The shell is configured for supporting the absorbent structure and has adhesive on a body-facing surface thereof for adhering the shell directly to the wearer. The absorbent article has a packaged configuration and a use configuration, at least a portion of the absorbent article being in overlapping relationship with another portion of the absorbent article in the packaged configuration, and with these respective portions being free from overlapping relationship in the use configuration. The article may be adhered to the wearer while in its packaged configuration and then converted to its use configuration.
US08012135B2
The present invention provides devices and methods for attachment of an endolumenal gastrointestinal device, such as an artificial stoma device, a gastrointestinal bypass sleeve or other therapeutic or diagnostic device, within a patient's digestive tract. In one application of the invention, an endolumenal bypass sleeve is removeably attached in the vicinity of the gastroesophageal junction to treat obesity and/or its comorbidities, such as diabetes. The bypass sleeve may be at least partially deployed by eversion.
US08012130B2
A plaster device serves for fixating a length of a medical tube in relation to a skin surface of an individual having the tube inserted into a body part via an opening. The plaster device has an adhesive part having an upper side, an adherent lower side for attaching the plaster device to the skin, a through-opening for receiving the tube, a support part at least partly attached to the upper side of the adhesive part and arranged for supporting a bent length of the inserted tube, and a fastener for securing the tube on the support part. The support part is an integral unit having a branched-off portion defining at least one recess for accommodating at least a part of the fastener, preferably a fastener that is elastic. A frictional force between the tube and the fastener guarantees that the tube is prevented from moving or displacing to the patient's discomfort. The convex shape of the upper supporting surface provides a smooth anti-kinking support and guidance for the bended tube.
US08012127B2
Systems for gaining access into a body of a patient around an implanted body of an elongate medical device include a sheath having a deformable wall that allows insertion of the device body into a lumen surrounded by the sheath wall. The sheath wall may include first and second edges that extend from a proximal end to a distal end of the lumen, or just extend along a distal portion of the lumen. A tool, which includes a groove sized to grasp about a circumference of the device body, may facilitate insertion of the device body into the lumen of those sheath embodiments that include the first and second edges, by spreading at least one of the first and second edges of the wall apart from the other of the first and second edges while the device body is grasped within the tool.
US08012125B1
Various sealing structures are used in a front-loading injector, for preventing leakage of spilled fluid from an external surface of a syringe into the vicinity of the drive ram. For example, a sealing gasket may be incorporated into the front face of the injector housing, for mating to the rearward circular edge of the cylindrical body of a syringe. Alternatively, sealing and locking functions may be performed by a single structure on the rearward end of the syringe. Further, leakage may be prevented by including a non-planar sealing flange on the syringe, positioned on the syringe forward of the locking structure, or by a two-piece structure, including a syringe and a separate leakage stopping washer for surrounding the syringe to halt the flow of fluid along the exterior of the syringe. As part of this aspect, or as an independent feature, the syringe may include an annularly discontinuous flange forward of the locking structure, for providing mechanical support for the syringe against the injector. Alternatively, an iris-like structure may be incorporated into the front surface of the injector, for closing about the syringe upon insertion of the syringe into the injector.
US08012121B2
Two renal delivery members have two distal ports that are adapted to be positioned within two renal arteries via their corresponding renal ostia at unique locations along an abdominal aortic wall. A proximal coupler assembly is outside the body and is coupled to deliver material to the two distal ports for bi-lateral renal therapy. One or both of the delivery members may be self-cannulating into the corresponding renal ostium, or may be controllably steered into the respective ostium. Non-occlusive anchors may be coupled with one or both of the delivery members at anchoring positions in the renal artery or abdominal aorta to secure the renal delivery member within the renal artery. Renal-active fluid agents are coupled to the bi-lateral delivery system. Another renal therapy system cannulates a renal vein from the vena cava and controls a retrograde delivery of agents to the respective kidney.
US08012119B2
Systems and methods for the delivery and monitoring of a medication, such as insulin, to a recipient are provided. An exemplary feature-rich system comprises an infusion pump with a control system for controlling medication delivery by the infusion pump and a bolus estimator for estimating an appropriate amount of medication for delivery by the control system with the infusion pump. Estimating the appropriate amount of medication for delivery is based upon one or more settings which each vary according to a setting profile. In other embodiments, the control system comprises a suspend function for temporarily suspending medication delivery by the infusion pump, an alarm profile function for programming a variable alarm volume of the alarm and a simplified menu for controlling the dual wave bolus delivery function.
US08012109B1
A shoulder massage apparatus includes a shoulder covering with an outer wall and an inner wall. An interior space is defined between the outer and inner walls. The covering includes a back wall, a front wall, a pair of side walls and a top wall that are integrally attached together. The top wall has a neck opening therein for receiving a neck of a person. The front wall has a front break therein. A plurality of massaging assemblies is provided. Each of the massaging assemblies is configured to oscillate and massage a portion of the person when the massage assemblies are turned on. Each of the massage assemblies is positioned within the interior space. An actuator is electrically coupled to the massaging assemblies to selectively allow the massaging assemblies to be turned on or off. A power source is electrically coupled to the plurality of massaging assemblies.
US08012104B2
An arrangement for producing a sample of body fluid from a wound opening created in a skin surface at a sampling site includes at least one skin-penetration member having a first end configured to pierce the surface of the skin, and a inner lumen in communication with the first end; at least one actuator operatively associated with the at least one skin-penetration member; and at least one catalyst device configured to cause perfusion of body fluid at the sampling site; wherein the at least one actuator is configured to locate the at least one skin-penetration member so as to obstruct the wound opening while transporting body fluid through the inner lumen. Associated methods are also described.
US08012103B2
An arrangement for producing a sample of body fluid from a wound opening created in a skin surface at a sampling site includes at least one skin-penetration member having a first end configured to pierce the surface of the skin, and a inner lumen in communication with the first end; at least one actuator operatively associated with the at least one skin-penetration member; and at least one catalyst device configured to cause perfusion of body fluid at the sampling site; wherein the at least one actuator is configured to locate the at least one skin-penetration member so as to obstruct the wound opening while transporting body fluid through the inner lumen. Associated methods are also described.
US08012102B2
A method for extracting a tissue sample includes altering the pressure inside the lumen of a cannula to facilitate extraction of a tissue sample from the cannula. One aspect of the invention includes a biopsy apparatus comprising a valve for controlling the pressure inside the lumen of the cannula. In one variation, the pressure/vacuum generating device is connected to a cannula with a closed distal end and an orifice located on a circumferential surface of said cannula. A cutting sheath is slidably disposed over said cannula. The valve may be provided between the pressure/vacuum generating device and the cannula to control the pressure within the lumen of the cannula.
US08012100B2
An apparatus and method are described for actuating a minimally invasive medical device using fluid pressure. The invention involves a medical device that includes a fluid source, such as a compressible bladder that may apply positive fluid pressure into a sheath to controllably deploy an end-effector from a distal end of the sheath. In some embodiments, the fluid source may apply negative fluid pressure into the sheath to controllably retract the end-effector into the distal end of the sheath. Typical end-effectors for use with the medical device of the invention include biopsy devices and retrieval devices, including basket-type retrieval devices and grasper retrieval devices. Generally, the fluid that is used to actuate the device may be a liquid or a gas, including air.
US08012099B2
A process for operating a respiration system (3) makes it possible, rapidly and with simple means, to operate the respiration system (3). The system and method use respiratory flow sensor-specific, patient- and/or treatment-related operating data and a respiratory flow sensor (1). A reading unit present in the respiration system (3) reads the contents of a transponder (2) connected to the respiratory flow sensor (1), so that the respiration system (3) is ready to operate only after the operating data have been read.
US08012093B2
There is provided an ultrasound system for forming strain images by decreasing decorrelation of receive signals, which vary with time or space. More specifically, the decorrelation between the receive signals obtained without and with applying stress to a target object is reduced to decrease an error, which occurs during the calculation of a delay. Also, a center frequency, which varies with depth of a target object, is compensated to form the strain image.
US08012088B2
A retractor (101) for retracting the margins of a wound opening (103) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring (105) attached to a cylindrical sleeve (106) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring (109) attached to a proximal end of the sleeve (106). The sleeve (106) is led between an inner ring part (110) and a corresponding recess (116) in an outer ring part (111). The outer ring part (111) has anchor formations (120) over which the proximal end of the sleeve (106) is attached to anchor the sleeve (106). To retract the wound opening (103) the sleeve (106) is pulled while the guide rings (110, 111) are moved against the tissue surrounding the wound opening (103). This pulls the inner O-ring (105) against the inside of the tissue adjacent the wound opening (103), and retracts the wound opening (103). The sleeve (106) is manipulated locally for maximum retraction efficiency.
US08012086B2
Devices and methods useful for transluminally accessing a body cavity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transluminal access device adapted to be inserted through a body lumen is provided and can include an inner shaft having an opening at its distal end and adapted to be positioned adjacent to an inner wall of a body lumen. The inner shaft can include one or more sealing mechanisms, such as one or more seals with suction ports formed thereon for isolating a portion of a body lumen. The isolated portion may be sterilized and serve as an access point or otomy site for penetrating the wall of the body lumen to access a body cavity.
US08012076B2
A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have, connected thereto, a source of power that is at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.
US08012070B2
An exercise apparatus includes a handle bar and a resistance assembly, coupled to the handle bar. The resistance assembly includes a housing having first and second opposed parts, and permitting movement of the handle bar about a rotational axis upon applying force to the handle bar. A resistance mechanism resists movement of the handle bar about the rotational axis. A screw, mounted lengthwise along the rotational axis, and engaging a threaded receptacle, adjustably compresses the spacing between the housing parts and modifies resistance to movement of the handle bar. One of the screw and the receptacle is coupled to an adjustment knob setting a user-defined resistance. A clamp, coupled to the housing, removably attaches the exterior of the first housing part to a member. A user grasps the handle bar and moves it by applying force corresponding to the resistance setting. The clamp can be utilized without operating the knob.
US08012059B2
A multiple speed automatic transmission includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the plurality of planetary gear sets has a sun gear, a planet carrier with a plurality of planet gears and a ring gear. The torque transmitting devices include three clutches, a conventional first brake and a second brake comprising a parallel combination of an overrunning clutch and a light duty or coast clutch. Eight forward speeds and one reverse speed are achieved by selective engagement of the five torque transmitting devices.
US08012058B2
A differential gear mechanism includes a housing, first and second sun gears each including an external gear portion, and first and second planetary gears. The first and second sun gears include axial end surfaces pressed against contact surfaces provided at the housing by the first and second sun gears by means of thrust forces generated at engagement surfaces between the external gear portions and the planetary gears. Each of the sun gears includes a first portion having the external gear portion, a second portion, and a thrust force generating mechanism for generating thrust forces at the first portion and the second portion. A direction of the thrust force generated at the first portion by the thrust force generating mechanism is specified to be equal to a direction of the thrust force generated at the first portion by means of the engagement between the external gear portion and the planetary gear.
US08012056B2
Poly-V belt, particularly for driving accessories of an internal combustion engine, comprising a cord realized from a yarn composed of a plurality of filaments by means of a first twisting in which are formed at least two plied yarns each composed of at least one yarn and a second twisting in which the plied yarns are twisted together to form the cord; the first twisting and the second twisting are made in opposite directions, and the numbers of twists per meter of the two twisting steps are calculated so that in the finished cord the filaments form with the axis of the cord an angle smaller than 3.3°.
US08012052B2
A bicycle rear derailleur comprises a base member; a movable member that supports a chain guide including a first pulley that rotates around a first pulley axis, wherein the pulley has a pulley plane; a first linking member coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the chain guide moves laterally relative to the base member between a first lateral position and a second lateral position, and a cable guide supported to the base member to guide a shift control cable. The pulley plane intersects the first linking member when the chain guide is located at a first position between the first lateral position and the second lateral position.
US08012049B1
A projectile device having a suction cup head made of a novel foam. The foam used in the suction cup head has an open cell density within the foam of between five percent and twenty percent. The suction cup head has a face surface of a first diameter. A shallow concavity is formed in the face surface. The concavity has nearly the same diameter as the face surface, however, the depth of the concavity is no more than one-tenth of that diameter. Furthermore, the face surface of the suction cup head is proportionally large, being at least twenty-five percent as wide as the entire projectile device is long. The combination of a large suction cup head, a shallow concavity and a soft, semiporous foam enables the suction cup head to adhere to both smooth surfaces and rough surfaces.
US08012047B2
The football pass receiving trainer includes a cord extending between a first support and a second support and includes a pad selectively positionable along the length of the cord, wherein the pad is sized so a receiver must catch a football around the pad with the hands and extended arms and elbows. The cord stretches upon contact with the foam pad and is selectively tensioned between the first support and the second support. The football pass receiving trainer is usable as a stand-alone unit via a free-standing base and plurality of slidingly engageable feet or through use of a hook and stabilizing cord that cooperate to selectively secure the support to the chain link fence.
US08012042B2
A head (2) includes an outer shell portion (4) forming an external surface of the head and a hollow portion (16) of the head, an inside extended portion (18) extended from the outer shell portion (4) to an inner part of the head, a housing portion (s1) formed by the outer shell portion (4) and the inside extended portion (18), and an adjusting material (w1) disposed in the housing portion (s1). The outer shell portion (4) is formed by bonding a plurality of outer shell forming members (26) and (28) formed integrally respectively. The outer shell forming member (26) has the inside extended portion (18), and the outer shell forming member (28) has the outer shell portion (4) to be a part of the housing portion (s1). One of the outer shell forming members may have the whole housing portion (s1) and may be formed by casting a metallic material.
US08012038B1
A golf club head is described, in one embodiment, including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation is located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion creates a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.
US08012034B1
A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.
US08012029B2
A card shuffling device reads suit and value of individual cards that are moved through the card shuffler. Reading of the cards is effected after cards have been received into a card holding area and before cards have been delivered into a card collection area from which cards are removed from the device for use.
US08012026B2
A gaming machine (10) is provided having a plurality of modules. The gaming machine (10) may be used to provide a flexible architecture gaming machine. The plurality of modules include a play module (12) containing a display device (14) and a computational device (100) for controlling the operation of the gaming machine (10), and a base module (24) shaped and dimensioned to either directly or indirectly support the play module (1 2). The play module (12) includes a communication interface device (104) operable to communicate with a transaction handler that may be a transaction handling module (16). Also described and claimed is a method of supplying and a method of manufacturing a flexible architecture gaming machine.
US08012025B2
A video game controller hub receives a number of control input sets from an equal number of video game controllers, and provides a preferably smaller number of control input sets to a video game console. Each of the control input sets provided to the video game console by the controller hub is used to control a distinct on-screen entity, e.g. vehicle, character, or team. A number of players therefore collectively control a single on-screen entity. The reduction in the number of control input sets is performed according to reduction and combination schemes that are preferably specified by the user to suit a particular video game. The reduction in the number of control input sets increases the number of players that may concurrently participate in a video game without requiring support from the video game console or software, and the collaborative nature of the control of on-screen entities provides for exciting variations in game play.
US08012023B2
Systems and methods that provide for a virtual reality entertainment system that supplies immersive entertainment and creates a sensation for a user similar to having guests in a remote location to be physically present as virtual guests. Such virtual reality entertainment system can supply a graphic and/or audio; wherein interconnected computers, video and audio processing devices, supply a live interaction between a user and a guest(s). Although guests are only present virtually (e.g., electronically present with other objects/user within the environment) such virtual invitation enables a user and guests to concurrently experience the entertainment together (e.g., a live sporting event, spectator game). In a related aspect, the subject innovation can implement holographic avatars, and a plurality of communication interfaces, to imitate (and/or transform) a relationship between the user and the virtual guests/surrounding environment.
US08012019B2
Methods and apparatus on a gaming machine for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine are described. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a 3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of a game outcome presentation. The 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environment may include 3-D texts objects that are used to display text to the display screen of the gaming machine as part of the game outcome presentation. Apparatus and methods are described for generating and displaying information in a textual format that is compatible with a 3-D graphical rendering system. In particular, font generation and typesetting methods that are applicable in a 3-D gaming environment are described.
US08012015B2
A gaming server provides activities and/or services to a player through a gaming device. To verify whether the gaming device is communicating with the gaming server, a verification server may send an indicator to the gaming device, via the gaming server, and also send the indicator to a verification device. Alternatively, the verification server may send an indicator, via the gaming server, to the gaming device, for example, which indicator may then be sent back to the verification server from a verification device.
US08012005B2
A traveling time calculation program causes a computer to function as the following: position determination mechanism which determines a position of a movable object using a velocity vector with every update of a game screen, virtual position setting mechanism which sets a virtual position between positions immediately before and after the movable object passes through a second position, and shifts the virtual position using an infinitesimal unit vector obtained by dividing a velocity vector at the position immediately before the movable object passes through the second position into predetermined numbers, and traveling time calculation mechanism which calculates a traveling time from the first position to a position immediately before or after the virtual position crosses the second position.
US08011993B1
A diving toy that is comprised of a housing with a motor, battery and magnetic reed switch positioned inside the housing. A propeller is attached to an axle of the motor protruding through the rear end of the housing. A ballast is arranged inside the housing to provide positive buoyancy and a front end down attitude. A plurality of fins protrude from the housing surrounding the propeller for improving directional stability. A lever having one end rotatably mounted to the outside of the housing and another end provided with a magnet. When the toy is dropped or thrown front end first into a body of water, or when pushed in a downward motion from a submerged state, hydrodynamic forces rotate and then hold the lever and accordingly the magnet in a rearward position so long as there is downward motion, aligning the magnet adjacent to the reed switch, thereby actuating the reed switch to close a circuit between the battery and motor activating the motor, and forces generated by the spin of the propeller overcome the toys positive buoyancy propelling the toy in a continuous dive until it collides with a bottom of the body of water or another object stopping the dive, whereby gravity rotates the lever and magnet forward away from the reed switch to shut off the motor, the positive buoyant toy then floats to a surface of the body of water where it can be launched into another dive.
US08011989B2
A plasma display apparatus comprising a connector is provided. The plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel comprising an electrode of a predetermined width and a connector comprising an electrode line of a width narrower than the predetermined width of the electrode to supply a driving signal to the electrode. A distance between the electrode line and an adjacent electrode line is longer than a distance between the electrode and an adjacent electrode.
US08011971B2
A plug assembly includes an insulation housing and an insertion pole fixed to the insulation housing. The insertion pole is made of elastic material and includes at least two insertion portions extended along an extension direction of the insertion pole.
US08011961B2
A cable assembly comprises an insulative housing defining a first and second receiving room therein, and a mounting platform disposed at one side of the insulative housing. A first and second electrical connectors are respectively received into the first and second receiving rooms, the first electrical connector defines a metallic shell. At least one cable is electrically connected with the first and second electrical connectors. And a grounding piece is assembled to the mounting platform of the insulative housing and has a contacting arm received into the first receiving room and electrically contacted with the metallic shell of the first electrical connector.
US08011952B1
A connector assembly includes a connector, a card reader, and a housing. The housing includes a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover includes a first receiving portion for the connector and a second receiving portion for the card reader. The top cover includes a baseboard fixed on the first receiving portion and a shutter moveably positioned on the second receiving portion covering the card reader.
US08011951B2
Rail mounting apparatus including a base having a mount surface including at least one tab for mounting a first edge of the rail relative to the mount surface, a side surface including a guide clip, and a connector guide slot extending from the side surface; a mounting clip including: a body slidingly mounted in the guide clip, a rail engaging member at a first end of the body for engaging a second edge of the rail, a connector mount at a second end of the body; and a connector extending through the guide slot and received in the connector mount of the mounting clip, wherein coupling of the connector to the connector mount slidingly moves the mounting clip in the guide clip to engage the rail engaging member with the second edge of the rail and hold the second edge of the rail relative to the mount surface of the base.
US08011947B2
A high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) assembly for providing an electrical connection between two electronic devices includes an HDMI port and an HDMI plug. The HDMI port includes a first connection element and a pin portion. The HDMI plug includes a second connection element. The first connection element is pivotably disposed on the HDMI port and includes a hook, and the pin portion is connected to the HDMI port for providing connection between the HDMI port and one of the electronic devices. When the HDMI plug is connected to the HDMI port, the second connection element and the first connection element contact with each other and the hook hooks the HDMI plug.
US08011946B2
An electrical connector includes a socket and a plug. The socket includes a sidewall and defines at least one latching hole. One end of each of the at least one latching hole is defined in the sidewall. The plug includes a main body, at least one latching mechanism, and a switch. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The main body defines at least one receiving space, a first groove, and a second groove. The at least one latching mechanism is partially received in the receiving space. The switch is positioned in the second groove and partially external to the first groove. The at least one latching mechanism can slide to engage the switch by an external force, and the switch can cause the at least one latching mechanism to disengage from the switch by an external force.
US08011943B2
An exemplary electrical connector for connecting an electronic device to a main circuit board is provided. The electronic device includes a secondary circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulating housing shell, a first sidewall, a second sidewall facing the first sidewall, and a third sidewall interconnecting the first and second sidewalls. The first, second and third sidewalls cooperatively define a housing space. There is an electrically conductive member mounted at the third sidewall. The electrically conductive member is electrically connected to the main circuit board. The housing space is configured for housing the electronic device therein in a manner so as to enable the secondary circuit board of the electronic device to be electrically connected to the electrically conductive member.
US08011914B2
A patty-forming machine includes a food supply system where the drive mechanism for feed screws use integrated and compact motor and gearbox assemblies. The feed screws have heavy wall thickness flights and the feed screw shafts are journaled through modular bearing assemblies. A conveyor that forms the bottom of the hopper uses a sealed drum motor housed in the drive roller to drive the conveyor. A food supply system includes independent sensing means for indicating whenever the moldable food material accumulated at one end of the hopper exceeds a given level.
US08011913B2
Provided in one aspect is a method of melt blending comprising providing an extruder possessing addition points from a zero point to a 100 point the length of the extruder; adding at least one thermoplastic and at least one curable polymer at the zero to 10 point of the extruder; adding at least one silicone hydride at the 5 to 30 point of the extruder; adding at least one metal catalyst at the 20 to 60 point of the extruder, with the proviso that the metal catalyst is added at least 5 points farther down the extruder than the silicone hydride. Provided in another aspect is a hydrosilylation curative composition comprising a silicone hydride having the formula wherein H is hydrogen, and each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen and C1 to C10 alkyl groups; R″ is selected from C1 to C10 alkyl groups; n is an integer from 5 to 45; and m is an integer from 5 to 45.
US08011911B2
Relatively uniform spherical shaped solid pellets (prills) may be created by passing molten sulfur through a nested strainer to remove particles that would otherwise become trapped in the system, a drip tray with a heating channel attached on its underside, an injection conduit for delivery of a cooled zone of water to create solid prills, and thereafter moving the prills through a stationary curved screen to remove most of the excess water and a vibrating screen.
US08011909B2
A vane pump assembly including a cam ring having an elliptical inner bore defining a hydraulic pumping chamber, the pumping chamber having an interior camming surface. The cam ring defines ports for admitting fluid into the pumping chamber. A rotor, within the cam ring, defines a plurality of radial vane slots. A vane assembly is supported in each vane slot to define vane buckets. Each vane assembly has an end dynamic vane seal for reducing leakage between the buckets. Front and rear side plates, separated by an annular spacer, enclose the pumping chamber. The pump assembly may also include floating front and rear rotor seals for reducing radially inward leakage. Each rotor seal is disposed within a groove formed in the rotor, wherein discharge pressure urges the rotor seals axially outward from the pumping chamber to create an effective seal against the respective side plate.
US08011908B2
A variable capacity vane pump has a pump control ring that is moveable to alter the capacity of the pump. A control chamber is formed between the pump casing and the control ring. The control chamber is operable to receive pressurized fluid to create a force to move the control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump. A primary return spring acts between control ring and the casing to bias the control ring towards a position of maximum volumetric capacity. A secondary return spring is mounted in the casing and is configured to engage the control ring after the control ring has moved a predetermined amount. The secondary return spring biases the control ring towards a position of maximum volumetric capacity. The secondary return spring acts against the force of the control chamber to establish a second equilibrium pressure.
US08011907B2
A piston pump having a retaining device for retaining a spring element for restoring a closing element of a valve; the retaining device includes a receiving region for receiving and bracing the spring element and an integrally formed sealing region, in order to seal off a pressure chamber from a low-pressure region of the piston pump.
US08011905B2
A surgical system and cassette, the cassette having an identification method that is specific to the cassette. Suitable methods include bar coding or Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”). Cassette information that may be encoded include features such as lot number and performance characteristics, such as pressure sensor calibration data, flow and pressure data and any other performance characteristics of the cassette captured during testing of the cassette at manufacture.
US08011888B1
A turbine rotor blade with a first cooling circuit to provide cooling for the leading edge region of the airfoil and a suction side surface of the blade tip, and a second cooling circuit to provide cooling for the mid-chord region of the blade and the pressure side surface of the blade tip. The first cooling circuit includes a cooling air supply channel connected to a leading edge impingement cavity having showerhead arrangement of film cooling holes. The cooling air supply channel is connected to the suction side tip cooling channel that extends along the tip. The second cooling circuit includes a 3-pass forward flowing serpentine circuit with the third leg connected to a pressure side tip cooling channel that extends along the pressure side edge of the blade tip. Rows of tip cooling holes connect to both of the tip channels to discharge cooling air through the blade tip sections.
US08011887B2
A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a main rotor blade, the main rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and an auxiliary rotor blade associated with the main rotor blade, the auxiliary rotor blade including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The rotor blade assembly further includes a support member connecting the auxiliary rotor blade to the main rotor blade. The auxiliary rotor blade is configured to modify a lift force associated with the rotor blade assembly.
US08011886B2
A lift device for a wind turbine blade. The lift device includes a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall. The lift device is configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade along a leading edge of the wind turbine blade, and to generate lift when airflow is directed across a surface of the lift device.
US08011885B2
A turbocharger has a sealing arrangement between the turbocharger shaft and the bearing housing adjacent to the turbine and/or the compressor housings to restrict leaking of gas into the bearing housing. At least a pair of spaced sealing rings project from an annular surface of the bearing housing into corresponding annular recesses formed on the shaft. The trailing face of the second ring or the opposite surface of the recess has a plurality of radial grooves that define leak passages that serve to maintain a very small flow of gas from the turbine or compressor housing into the bearing housing. Alternatively there is a slot in the second ring to provide the leak passage. This ensures that there is a minimum gas flow so that a large pressure gradient is not applied across the second seal thereby avoiding wear, overheating and collapse of the ring.
US08011882B2
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, the assembly including a plurality of vanes 14 with an asymmetric organic metal/ceramic matrix composite lay up, such that when the vanes 14 are placed in tension or compression the profile of the vane 14 will alter by twisting or untwisting. Other materials may be provided for the vanes 14, and/or other methods may be used for placing the vanes 14 in tension or compression to provide positive changes to the profile thereof.
US08011876B2
A wind driven power generator has a rotational shroud assembly for maximizing wind input and a turbine assembly with a shaft that rotates within the shroud assembly. The shaft end extends through the base of the shroud assembly. The turbine assembly has elongate arms attached to the top portion of the shaft of the turbine assembly. Each arm is essentially perpendicular to the shaft and has a vertical wind blade attached to each of the arm ends and spaced equidistance apart around the shaft of the turbine assembly. The shroud assembly covers approximately half of the turbine assembly during rotation and maintains a windward direction for maximum wind on the blade fronts while shielding the back sides of the blades from the incoming wind.
US08011870B2
A structure having floors for receiving and delivery of cars, and parking floors. Receiving and delivery floors have slat conveyors with platform carriers placed in slots in the conveyor. Cars are parked by patrons on the platform carriers. After the patron exits the car the conveyor conveys the carrier on which the car is parked to the front of an elevator. A power arm in the elevator draws the carrier into the elevator, and the elevator rises to a parking floor. On the parking floor the elevator power arm pushes the platform carrier with the car on top onto a waiting transfer module, which moves laterally to the front of an allotted parking slot. A power arm on the transfer module pushes the platform carrier with the car on top into the parking slot. Upon the patron's return the car is retrieved as described above but in reverse order.
US08011865B2
A transverse railroad coil car coil restraint apparatus or system which includes a plurality of coil restraints attachable to each trough in a transverse railroad coil car to reduce the sideways shifting of coils positioned in the troughs. In certain embodiments, the coil restraints are attached in each trough and extend across the transverse coil car. In other embodiments, the coil restraints are attached in each trough along the length of the trough. In certain embodiments, when a coil is positioned in the trough, the coil compresses certain of the coil restraints and does not compress other of the coil restraints which prevents the sideways shifting of the coil during movement of the transverse coil car. In other embodiments, when a coil is positioned in the trough, the coil compresses certain of the compression members and does not compress other of the compression members which prevents the sideways shifting of the coil during movement of the transverse coil car.
US08011842B2
The subject matter described herein includes an apparatus for ergonomic typing. The apparatus includes a first surface having first set of keys including a plurality of alphabetic keys, where the first set of keys is operable by a user's thumbs. The apparatus includes a second surface having a second set of keys including a plurality of alphabetic keys, where the second set of keys is operable by the user's fingers. The second surface includes first structures for home positioning of fingers of the user's left and right hands and second structures for positioning of the fingers of the user's left and right hands when moving to and from home position keys during typing.
US08011839B2
A lens barrel includes: a barrel body; a mount that is attached to an end of the barrel body and has a connection portion to be connected to an imaging apparatus body; and a substrate that is disposed on an attachment surface of the mount that is attached to the barrel body and on which a controller for controlling the action of the barrel body is formed, wherein the mount has a locking member that protrudes from the attachment surface and locks an operation member for operating a mechanism in the barrel body, and the substrate has a clearance that prevents interference with the locking member.
US08011836B2
A manifold for holding spliced optical fibers and their protective plastic coatings in a secure and motionless manner. The manifold includes a “clamp” made from a soft durometer material (SDM) such as a high strength silicone mold-making rubber or a dry polymer gel that has been partially sliced to a depth of about 75%. The manifold permits ease of insertion of a spliced optical fiber into, and removal of that spliced optical fiber from, an SDM-slice without disturbing other fibers that are held in other slices in the manifold. In a particular embodiment the gel or rubber SDM fills a four-sided plastic box to overflow. Slices in the SDM are parallel to each other and to front and back walls of the box which has a hinged cover to exert pressure on the overflow SDM material when the cover is closed to increase holding force on splice-junctions of embedded bare-glass optical fibers, those fibers within their respective protective coatings exiting the box, left and right, via cut-outs in the side walls of the box.
US08011834B2
An optical connector plug includes an approximately square cylindrical rear cover of an insulating member fitted over an outer surface of a stop ring, and a cylindrical front cover which is urged frontward by an elastic member and is slidable back and forth at an outer surface of a plug frame. The front cover has a flexible plate-like shutter on an inner wall, which blocks the tip of a ferrule. The shutter has an upright curved portion formed by curving a tip side in an arc shape. When the front cover moves backward, the curved portion of the shutter is pressed against a tip of the plug frame to become flat and is pressed against the inner wall of the front cover to be retained in a plate form, thereby releasing a light-shielding state of the optical fiber.
US08011824B2
A rod mixer comprising a motor which is used to drive a processing worktool, and which is in contact with an electric circuit board which comprises at least one electric component which is used to control the motor. Said component can be modified by an associated, hand-operated actuator. The circuit board is introduced into a holder which comprises at least one bearing point, wherein the actuator is guided. The aim of the invention is to simplify mounting of the rod mixer such that the at least one actuator is premounted on the holder.
US08011818B2
A lighting device, comprising at least one solid state light emitter and one (or more) optical device(s) which (each) comprises at least first, second and third optical structures, first and second surfaces of the second structure being in contact with a surface of the first structure and a surface of the third structure, respectively. The third structure has at least one optical feature. The light emitter is positioned, the optical feature is positioned, and the regions of the structures have indices of refraction, such that if the light emitter is illuminated, at least a portion of the emitted light will enter into the second optical device structure and exit from the optical feature on the third structure. Also, a method of lighting comprising illuminating a light emitter in such a device.
US08011797B2
Boom-type barrier (1) comprising a boom (2) mounted on a bracket or stand (3) for movement between open and barring positions. The boom (2) is designed as a tubular member transmissive of light and has therein a band (7) on which are mounted light emitting diodes (6) extending substantially the full length of the boom (2). The light emitting diodes (6) are controlled by an electronics module (12).
US08011792B2
A lighting unit includes: a light source unit 10 having a plurality of solid state light sources, a liquid crystal panel 30 displaying an image in accordance with an image input signal, a light source controlling unit 260 controlling, in accordance with the image input signal, a light amount of color component lights emitted from light source unit 10, and a speckle degree calculating unit 250 calculating a speckle degree that indicates a degree to which the color component lights generate a speckle displayed in accordance with the image input signal. The light source controlling unit 260 changes a control ratio between a first control mode and a second control mode, in accordance with the speckle degree acquired by the speckle degree calculating unit 250.
US08011785B2
An optical measurement apparatus comprises an optical system. The optical system comprises a source and an image capture device. The source is arranged to generate, when in use, a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Further, the optical system is arranged to direct the beam of electromagnetic radiation to a location to be measured. The optical measurement apparatus also comprises a feedback arrangement arranged to receive a reflected beam from the location to be measured and to provide feedback information in response to receipt of the reflected beam, the feedback information being indicative of degree of alignment of the location to be measured with the optical system.
US08011779B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a supporting member that supports a target; a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid to a liquid ejecting surface of the target supported by the supporting member; an air blowing device that blows air to the liquid ejecting surface of the target supported by the supporting member; and a guide member that has an opposed surface which is closely opposed to the liquid ejecting surface of the target supported by the supporting member and forms a gap for passing the air, which is blown by the air blowing device as laminar flow along the liquid ejecting surface, between the opposed surface and the liquid ejecting surface.
US08011772B2
Liquid packs 34 provided with liquid leading members 42 are stored in a container case 31 that is constituted by fitting a case main body portion 32 and a lid case 33 in fitting portions 27 and 28, support portions 13, which positions the liquid leading members 42 so as to be opposed to liquid introducing members 71 attached to a cartridge inserting portion 13, are provided on a front surface 32a of the container case 31, the fitting portions 27 and 28 are arranged in a state in which the fitting portions 27 and 28 traverses the support portions 43, and space portions 29 and 30 having a gap larger than a gap formed in the fitting portions 27 and 28 are formed near the support portions 43 in the fitting portions 27 and 28. In this way, liquid flowing through the fitting portions 27 and 28 due to the capillarity is retained by the space portions 29 and 30 and never flows to the fitting portions 27 and 28 further extending from the space portions 29 and 30.
US08011769B2
A seal part for an ink cartridge of an inkjet printer including a seal end for sealing an ink outlet port of the ink cartridge is provided. The seal part is column-shaped, a cylindrical cavity exists inside the seal part, and a diameter of the cavity is greater than a diameter of an ink supply needle of the printer. The seal end for sealing the ink output port of the ink cartridge is a cylindrical surface, or is a cylindrical surface having at least a circle of sealing flange. One end surface is a closed plane for preventing the ink from flowing out from the ink outlet port after the ink cartridge is detached from the printer, and the other end surface is a plane with an aperture in the center. The size of the aperture is adequate to seal the ink supply needle of the printer. The seal part seals the ink supply needle of the printer after the ink cartridge is installed in the printer, and prevents the ink leakage after the ink cartridge is detached from the printer.
US08011768B2
An ink tank provided with a supply port for supplying the ink contained therein and an electric contact for information transmission is smoothly and securely attached to an attachment section of a printing apparatus while achieving secure connection of an electric contact section at the same time. The ink tank is configured to be attachable to the attachment section by positioning a first engagement section at a first fitting section on the attachment section, and then by rotating the ink tank around the positioned first engagement section to lock a second engagement section to a second fitting section on the attachment section. The supply port and a positioning section for the contact are disposed on the bottom face of the ink tank so as to be on the respective two sides of the center line in the width direction of the ink tank therebetween.
US08011766B2
A valve assembly for a printhead cartridge includes an inlet valve for engaging with an outlet valve of an ink cartridge, the inlet valve having a conical structure defining an inlet opening at a top thereof; a valve seat defined on an inner surface of the conical structure; a depressible valve member provided within the inlet valve, the depressible valve member being normally biased against the valve seat to form therewith a fluidic seal; a skirt engaging portion defined on the inner surface of the conical structure above the valve seat, the skirt engaging portion for engaging a resilient skirt of the ink cartridge, and a pressure regulator provided below the depressible valve member, the pressure regulator having a diaphragm and a regulator inlet defined through the diaphragm, the regulator inlet for facilitating flow of ink from a valve-side of the diaphragm to a printhead-side. The skirt engaging portion is dimensioned to engage the resilient skirt of the ink cartridge simultaneously with an engagement of a valve stem of the ink cartridge with the depressible valve member.
US08011764B2
A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, a portion of the fluid control surface being moveable; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by moving the moveable portion of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the fluid control surface such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device depending on the position of the moveable portion of the fluid control surface.
US08011762B2
A droplet discharging head comprises: a cavity substrate including a discharge chamber having a bottom wall serving as a vibration plate; and an electrode substrate including an individual electrode that faces the vibration plate with a gap and drives the vibration plate, and a driver integrated circuit (IC) that couples with the individual electrode and applies a voltage to the individual electrode. The cavity substrate includes a first opening that penetrates the cavity substrate and serves to house the driver IC, and an insulation film formed on a wall face of the first opening.
US08011761B2
A plurality of pressure generating chambers being formed of a silicon substrate, in which a crystal face orientation of a surface is a (110) plane, and each pressure generating chambers communicating with nozzles in parallel. Piezoelectric elements are formed on one surface of the substrate with a vibration plate interposed therebetween and include a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode film. In each of the pressure generating chambers, an end surface is formed of a first (111) plane perpendicular to the (110) plane and an end surface in a longitudinal direction is formed of a second (111) plane inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the first (111) plane.
US08011751B2
A recovery process starting unit extracts a low print demand period, and sets the extracted low print demand period as the start time for the print head recovery process. When the start time comes, the recovery process starting unit activates the head recovery drive control unit. When the start signal is received from the recovery process starting unit, the head recovery drive control unit operates the ink vacuum mechanism and head wiping mechanism of the recovery process unit by means of a drive, and runs the print head recovery process.
US08011741B2
A flap drive system for moving a flap mounted in a movable manner on the body of a piece of furniture has a mechanical actuating unit with an actuating arm that can be linked to the flap, and has an energy accumulator that can apply a force to the actuating arm. The flap drive system also has an electric drive secured to the actuating unit for driving the flap. The electric drive has at least one electric motor and is designed as a self-contained component, such that the electric drive can be secured to the actuating unit even when the actuating unit is already mounted on the body of the piece of furniture.
US08011740B2
A track type tractor includes a modular track roller frame made up of easily assembled sub-components. Among these sub-components are an idler recoil assembly that may slide into, and then fastened to a housing as a unit to create a track roller frame assembly. The idler recoil assembly includes a gas spring telescoping section and a length adjustment telescoping section located between a housing contact end and a yoke contact end. Although suspended above a floor of the housing, the idler recoil assembly may only be attached to the housing in a plane via an array of fasteners that surround a shaft axis. The housing encloses the idler recoil assembly against debris entry, but includes an access cover for servicing the gas spring and/or adjusting track tension via the length adjustment feature.
US08011732B2
A tiltable anti-pinch vehicle seat assembly for an associated vehicle is provided. The seat assembly includes a seat and a tilt assembly is provided for supporting the seat and is disposed between the seat and a chassis of the associated vehicle. The tilt assembly is capable of moving the seat between a forward tilted position and a rearward latched position. The tilt assembly includes a first latching member. A second latching member is secured to the chassis of the associated vehicle for selectively engaging the latch and the latch and the striker cooperate to maintain the seat in the rearward latched position. A pinch guard housing is disposed about the first and second latching members. The housing substantially covers the first latching member, the second latching member, and a pinch zone defined between the first latching member and the second latching member when the tilt assembly is in the forward tilted position.
US08011723B2
A seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin is disclosed which includes seats having a backrest (16) which is pivotally moveable from an upright position to a flat position. A side ottoman (22) having a front portion (42) is located beside the seat base (14) of the seat. The seat has a footwell (32) into which the front portion of the side ottoman locates so that when the seat (16) is in the flat position a bed is formed by the rear surface (17), the front portion (42) located in the footwell of a front seat in front of the said seat and a base (34) of an open space (30) behind is the backrest (16) when in an upright position.
US08011709B2
An attachment assembly for connecting an interior trim panel to a structural pillar of a vehicle includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion is connectable to the second connecting portion such that a first engagement structure of the first engagement portion is in engagement with a second engagement structure of the second engagement portion to secure the first connecting portion with respect to the second connecting portion. When the first and second connecting portions are connected, a base surface of the first connecting portion is in engagement with a shoulder of the second connecting portion, and a flange of the first connecting portion is in engagement with an upstanding wall of the second connecting portion to restrain movement of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion with respect to one another.
US08011699B2
An operating mechanism for a movable closure element to releasably engage a strike assembly on a frame support and thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a predetermined position relative to the frame support. The operating mechanism has a base with a wall extending around a first axis and defining an elongate tubular passageway. The operating mechanism includes a latch system having: (a) a latched state; and (b) a released state. An actuating system on the base is changeable from a first state into a second state to thereby change the latch system from the latched state into the released state. The actuating system has an elongate flexible cable with a length residing at least partially within the passageway and made up of an elongate sheath and a movable core. An actuating system has an actuating assembly for the elongate flexible cable that is mounted to the wall. The wall is configured so that the cable cannot be extended in a straight line through the passageway between first and second connecting locations.
US08011697B2
Described herein are various embodiments of imagery or items comprising imagery using semiconductor processing or fabrication techniques and methods of using such techniques to make imagery. For example, according to one embodiment, a method of making imagery having nano-scale or micro-scale portions can include providing a silicon wafer, coating the silicon wafer with a layer of oxide, depositing a layer of photoresist onto the oxide layer, and removing a patterned portion of the photoresist to expose a patterned portion of the oxide layer. The method can also include removing at least some of the patterned portion of the oxide such that the patterned portion of the oxide layer has a predetermined thickness resulting in a predetermined viewable color. The patterned portion of the oxide layer can define at least one of the nano-scale or micro-scale portions.
US08011691B2
An air bag deployed from a mounted member mounted with the air bag toward an occupant by an insertion of a gas, the air bag includes a front surface portion confronting the occupant, the front surface portion being arranged to be deployed toward the occupant. The front surface portion includes a lower expansion portion arranged to inflate to abut on a breast portion of the occupant, a pair of side expansion portions arranged to inflate to left and right sides of a head portion of the occupant to avoid the head portion of the occupant, and a recessed portion surrounded by the lower expansion portion and the side expansion portions, and recessed toward the mounted member.
US08011687B2
An air bag module arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to an air bag module a one driver-side dashboard panel that is fastened to an internal transverse support. In order to allow a simply constructed and simple fastening, the air bag module is fastened to an external transverse support of the external vehicle structure. An air bag and a method for fastening an air bag module, in particular for producing an air bag module arrangement, are also provided for a motor vehicle.
US08011675B2
In an expansion actuator employing a screw feed mechanism, when a screw feed mechanism (60) formed from a male thread member (58) and a female thread member (59) that are screwed one into the other is driven by a motor (33) via a reduction gear (44), relative displacement between the male thread member (58) and the female thread member (59) in the direction of an axis (L) can be outputted as expansion and contraction due to relative movement of first and second housings (31, 32). Since the screw feed mechanism (60) is disposed so as to surround outer peripheries of the motor (33) and the reduction gear (44), which are disposed on the axis (L), compared with a case in which the motor (33), the reduction gear (44), and the screw feed mechanism (60) are disposed in series on the axis (L), it is possible to make the dimension of the expansion actuator (14) in the axis (L) direction smaller.
US08011666B2
A seal capable of providing a seal for an air gap between a rotor and a stator. The seal incorporates a container for the textile insulators fixed on the rotor or the stator. The textile insulators are subjected, on one side, to an upstream pressure and, on another side, to downstream pressure, the upstream pressure being greater than the downstream pressure. The textile insulators are supported on the stator or the rotor so as to be at an angle to the side of the seal where the pressure is lower, namely the downstream pressure.
US08011665B2
A target apparatus adapted to receive projectiles such as bottle caps tossed or otherwise launched towards the target. Three vertically aligned catch structures are disposed to receive and retain the bottle caps. The three catch structures have different sizes resulting in different degrees of difficulty in projecting a bottle cap into the respective structures. The lowest catch structure is the largest, the middle catch structure being the smallest, and the uppermost catch structure being sized between the lower and the middle structures. Chains completely surround the middle and upper catch structures. Chains only surround the sides and rear of the lowest catch structure. An opening in the front of the lowest catch structure is adapted to receive a projectile therein that is routed to a special basket. A scoring system is provided that awards points depending upon which of the catch structures retains a bottle cap.
US08011661B2
A playing card shuffling device has a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the shuffling device.
US08011660B1
A lawn game uses a pair of markers toward which each player rolls a disk while standing proximate the other maker. Once all disks have been rolled, the disk closest to the marker determines which player scores points for that round. For the player scoring points, all of that player's disks that are within a certain distance from the rolled to marker score, with each disk laying flat, the number showing on the side of the disk equals the points gained for that disk, the sum of the numbers on each side of a disk remaining on its outer edge equals the points gained for that disk, and the number showing on the side of the disk laying against the rolled to marker multiplied by a multiplier equals the points gained for that disk. A rope removably attachable to the markers helps with measurements.
US08011658B2
A damping device for a media feed mechanism for a peripheral device includes a media feedpath having a feed shaft and a downstream exit shaft. In one form a damping hub is mounted on said exit shaft, a resilient biasing member extending between the damping hub and the feed shaft to create a damping force on the damping hub. In another embodiment damping is provided by a brake structure engaging said damping hub. In yet another embodiment, a brake structure is pivotably mounted.
US08011651B2
An original-feeding device includes an original tray, a pickup roller configured to be lowered onto originals stacked on the tray and to feed one of the originals, the pickup roller configured to be lifted up after the feeding, a conveyor configured to convey the fed original, a length detector configured to detect a length of the conveyed original, an original sensor configured to detect a trailing edge of the conveyed original, and a controller configured to control the pickup roller either in a first mode in which the pickup roller is lowered in accordance with a detected length of the original or in a second mode in which the pickup roller is lowered at the detection of a trailing edge of the original. The controller changes the first mode to the second mode if lengths of the originals detected by the length detector vary.
US08011650B2
There is set sheet post-processing (SPP) information having a post-processing-edge (PPE) code, a staple code and a punch code. When the staple code indicates one end of the PPE and the PPE is rotated towards the one end by 90° with respect to the center of the sheet, the SPP code is updated, and the staple code SC is updated to indicate the other end of the PPE. Referring to a table, it is checked if the present SPP information indicates that SPP is inhibited or an error. When determined as an error, it is judged if the PPE can be changed to the neighboring edge with removing the error. In an affirmative judgment, the error is automatically removed with the PPE being changed to the neighboring edge together with changing the SPP position and an image being rotated by 90°.
US08011649B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a first detector configured to detect a leading edge of a sheet conveyed in a conveying direction, a second detector provided on a downstream side of the first detector in the sheet conveying direction to detect the leading edge of the sheet conveyed, a punching portion, in the downstream side of the first detector in the sheet conveying direction, to move in a sheet width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction and perform a punching process for the sheet, an edge detector configured to move in the width direction together with the punching portion and detect the edge of the sheet conveyed in the width direction, and a controller, on the basis of at least either of information of a conveying speed of the sheet and a sheet length in the conveying direction, when the edge detector starts movement in the width direction after the first or second detector detects the leading edge of the sheet, to judge whether the edge detector can detect the edge of the sheet or not, as a result of the judgment, selecting the detector positioned on the most downstream side in the conveying direction among the first and second detectors which can be used, and when the selected first or second detector detects the leading edge of the sheet conveyed, permitting the edge detector to start movement to detect the edge of the sheet in the width direction.
US08011636B2
A telephone with a stand has a rear case and a stand leg swingably connected to the rear case. The rear case includes an embossed portion disposed in the center of a back wall thereof, two swing pivots protrudingly arranged in respective lateral faces of the embossed portion, and V-shaped grooves formed in the back face adjacently to the pivots. The stand leg has two main legs and an auxiliary leg connecting the main legs to each other. Each of the main legs has a locking claw protruding from a tip end thereof and engaged with one of the V-shaped grooves, and a guide groove formed in the distal end of the main leg. The guide groove includes a main groove portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the main leg and a sub groove portion orthogonal to the main groove portion.
US08011635B2
An adjustable wall-hanger assembly comprises a hanger adapted to be secured to a wall and defining an opening, a body section, an upper section, a top level, and a bottom level. A hanger slide is mounted to the hanger, is adapted to slide continuously in a substantially horizontal or vertical direction in the opening, and defines a slot extending in substantially the other of the horizontal or vertical direction. A mounting fastener is received through the slot and adapted to slide continuously therealong and be fastened to the wall to mount the assembly thereto. A combination of the continuous horizontal and vertical sliding of the hanger slide and mounting fastener allows for substantially infinite placement of the mounting fastener in the opening. A hanger hook is fixedly connected to and extends outwardly from the hanger and substantially overlies the opening for supporting an object hung on the hanger hook.
US08011632B2
A support stand for a flat-panel display monitor comprises a base member, a support mechanism, two link shafts, and an adjustable mechanism. The support mechanism comprises a support bracket and a resilient member positioned in the support bracket. The adjustable mechanism is configured for holding the flat-panel display monitor. A first end of the support bracket and first end of each shaft are rotatably connected to the base member. An second end of the support bracket and a second end of each link shaft are rotatably connected to the adjustable mechanism. The resilient member is configured to create an elastic force between the support mechanism and the link shafts so that a distance between the support mechanism and the link shafts tends to decrease.
US08011626B2
A fixing system for electronic and/or electric components—called E components in short—such as chips, circuits, transponders, cables (10) etc., has at least one first fastening element (12) having individual closure parts (14, 16) which, in interaction with corresponding closure parts (22) of a further fastening element (20), form an adhesive closure which can be opened and closed repeatedly. The respective E component can be connected to a support (30). The further fastening element (20) can be connected to the support (30), at least part of which has an adhesive layer and/or which is composed of an embedding compound. The adhesive layer or embedding compound produces the direct connection of the respective E component to the further fastening element (20) assignable to it. This connection requires only a very little amount of installation space.
US08011617B2
An apparatus for transferring cargo between an upper, passenger deck and a lower, cargo deck of an aircraft. A lift platform raises palletized cargo from the lower deck through an opening formed in the upper deck. The drive mechanism is housed entirely within the lift platform itself. The platform is stabilized by flanking, scissors-action leg assemblies, that nest alongside the platform when stowed. The platform is stowed in the raised position, within the opening formed in the upper deck. Locking assemblies attach the lift platform to the sides of the opening so that the platform becomes a load-bearing structural component of the upper deck when stowed. A recess is formed in the lower deck for receiving the lift platform when lowered. A translating floor assembly having folding floor sections lowers to clear the recess, and then raises to define a floor surface over the opening when the lift platform is not in use.
US08011612B2
The rewinding machine includes a winding system and a feed path for a web material towards the winding system. Along the feed path is a channel for insertion of the cores and an interruption member which acts on the web material.
US08011610B2
A fishing reel handle assembly has a handle shaft, handle knobs, first and second handle arms, and an arm attachment. The handle knobs are respectively rotatably attached to the attachment ends of the first and second handle arms. The arm attachment is configured to rotate integrally with the handle shaft. The arm attachment includes a first attachment portion that allows the base end of the first handle arm to be detachably attached to the first attachment portion. The first attachment portion prevents the base end of the first handle arm from rotating about a first axis. The second attachment portion allows the base end of the second handle arm to be detachably attached to the second attachment portion. The second attachment portion prevents the base end of the second handle arm from rotating about a second axis.
US08011602B2
Many areas watered by prior art oscillating sprinklers are substantially rectangular. However, prior art oscillating sprinklers typically produce generally or substantially elliptical water distribution patterns. This geometric incompatibility causes problems and inefficiencies. Embodiments of the current invention include an oscillating sprinkler that automatically produces a substantially rectangular water distribution pattern. The substantially rectangular water distribution pattern may be produced by automatically controlling the distance from the sprinkler that streams of water travel before impacting the ground. This is accomplished by automatically and sequentially opening and closing and/or restricting flow to select nozzles at select points and within select portions of the oscillation cycle. A current invention oscillating sprinkler may reduce waste water, may reduce run-off waste water, and may automatically provide water to the corner areas of typical substantially rectangular areas to be watered.
US08011600B2
A fuel injector nozzle for use with an internal combustion engine utilizes arrangements of nozzle openings that are designed to increase fuel contact with oxygen within a combustion chamber. Nozzle openings are positioned in more than one plane substantially parallel with the cylinder head surface, with the planes preferably at least 2 millimeters apart, and with the respective pluralities of nozzle openings oriented to provide diverging injection angles in relation to the cylinder head surface. The fuel injector is particularly designed for use with oxygen-dilute (e.g., high EGR) controlled temperature combustion, direct injection compression ignition engines.
US08011597B2
A method of controlling an HVAC system to more effectively cool a vehicle cabin when the solar azimuth is large. A solar azimuth, an outside air temperature, a set temperature, a cabin temperature, and an ignition time are communicated to a controller that determines how to best operate the HVAC system. When the vehicle has only been running for a short period of time, the cabin temperature is elevated, and the solar azimuth is large, the measured solar azimuth is corrected to a corrected solar azimuth. The corrected solar azimuth is smaller than the measured solar azimuth and yields a large sun temperature. The controller then calculates a TAO based upon the large sun temperature and the TAO is used to control the HVAC system.
US08011589B2
A wireless IC device includes a radiation plate, a wireless IC chip, and a substrate provided with a feed circuit that includes a resonant circuit and/or the matching circuit including an inductance element and that is electromagnetically coupled to the radiation plate. The substrate is made of a resin material. A recess is provided in a first main surface of the substrate. The substrate is provided with a wiring electrode arranged along a bottom surface and an inner circumferential surface of the recess and the first main surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the feed circuit, and a wedge member made of a different material from the resin material and extending between the bottom surface of the recess and a second main surface of the substrate spaced apart from the wiring electrode. The wireless IC chip is mounted in the recess and coupled to the wiring electrode.
US08011587B2
A portable handheld device for wireless order entry and real time payment authorization may include a portable housing, a display carried by the housing, an order entry input device carried by the housing, a transaction card input device carried by the housing for reading user sensitive information from a transaction card, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing, and a processor carried by the housing and connected to the display, order entry input device, transaction card input device and wireless transceiver. The processor may be for wirelessly sending input order information, and encrypting and wirelessly sending the user sensitive information from the transaction card without storing and without displaying. The processor may also be for wirelessly receiving and displaying payment authorization information based upon real time authorization from a transaction card issuing entity.
US08011586B2
An object of the present invention is to reduce a processing time and make a printed image look better in appearance in processing of printing a two-dimensional code again. In order to achieve the above-described object, an apparatus according to the present invention includes decoding unit for decoding a non-upright two-dimensional code in a manuscript image, and synthesis unit for creating a two-dimensional code by using information obtained by the decoding, to synthesize the two-dimensional code in an upright state onto the manuscript image.
US08011585B2
A digital image capture and processing system capable of illuminating the entire field of view (FOV) of the system using a linear LED-based illumination array. The system includes a housing having an imaging window with a refractive-type illumination-focusing lens component integrated therewithin. The area-type image formation and detection subsystem, also disposed in the housing, has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and onto an area-type image detection array, for forming and detecting 2D digital images of an object in the FOV, during object illumination and imaging operations. The linear LED-based illumination array is disposed immediately behind the refractive-type illumination-focusing lens component, for producing a field of wide-area illumination illuminating substantially the entire FOV over the working distance of the system. During object illumination and imaging operations, the illumination reflects off an object within the FOV and is transmitted back through the imaging window and onto the area-type image detection array to form one or more 2D digital images of the object.
US08011583B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method, which can comprise causing a report to be automatically generated. The report can be indicative of a result of a read of a mark. The result can be automatically determined to pass a verification test. The verification test can be performed on an image obtained via an imaging system.
US08011577B2
A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Gift cards may be inputted by a user into such a payment card or other device such that a user can combine gift cards. Similarly, a user be provided with a global payment account that can be utilized in multiple countries that have different standards for formatting data. A user may be provided with a default country (e.g., United States) but may have a way to select that the user is in a different country (e.g., Japan). Accordingly, a user may select that a Japanese data structure be transmitted through a magnetic stripe reader when the user is in Japan.
US08011574B2
A billing system that allows a consumer to order products from computers connected to the Internet, wherein the consumer is automatically billed for the ordered good or service by its telephone service provider. When a consumer orders a product over the Internet, a plug-in component of the consumer's computer establishes an Internet connection to a billing server. A billing server component transfers an encrypted version of the product to the plug-in component. The plug-in component then disconnects from the Internet and establishes a point-to-point (PPP) connection with the billing server. During the PPP connection, the billing server component transfers an access key assigned to the order to the plug-in component so that the plug-in component may decrypt the product. The consumer is charged a unit rate or “drop-charge” for the product by the telephone service provider when the PPP connection is established using a premium telephone number assigned and administered by the telephone service provider.
US08011573B1
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine operates responsive to the card data to carry out financial transactions for authorized users. The banking machine includes a top housing, a card reader, a display, a cash dispenser, and a chest portion. The chest portion includes a side wall that has a striker plate. The chest has a movable door, and a locking bolt adapted to secure the door in a closed position. An aligner is adjustable to relatively position and reduce relative movement of the door and the chest when the locking bolt secures the door in a locked condition.
US08011570B2
A method for providing messaging between a portable device and base device is provided. The method included communicating one or more message codes maintained in the portable device to the base device. The base device then composes a message for a user of the portable device using a dictionary of message codes. The message codes have corresponding message values, which are used to generate the message for the one or more message codes. The generated message is then provided to the user.
US08011569B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for storing a cable, including receiving one or more cables on an adjustable central coil. An RFID chip connected to the cable is read via a RFID reader proximate the central coil. The cable is routed from the central coil to one or more adjustable middle coils, and routed from the middle coil to an adjustable outer coil. The cable is dispensed from the outer coil; and, the RFID chip is read via a RFID reader proximate the outer coil. The method modifies the distance between the central coil and the middle coil, the central coil and the outer coil, and/or the middle coil and the outer coil. Specifically, the diameter of the central coil, the middle coil, and/or the outer coil is adjusted. The modification accommodates for the arc limit and/or head size of the cable.
US08011560B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and improved method of friction stir spot welding that assures a predetermined bottom thickness and a reduction in variation in a series of resultant spot welds. The advantage of the present invention lies in that the plunge distance is controlled from the top plane of the anvil against which the bottom thickness is specified, and systematically adjusted to account for changing system parameters, such as, but not limited to, deflection and thermal expansion of the weld gun. The present invention also provides for improved and controlled weld quality through implementation of a dwell operation or dwell operations, whereby weld heat input is manipulated by causing the weld tool to dwell in a dwell region or at a desired depth or depths within the workpiece(s) for a predetermined time interval to achieve desired mechanical properties of the resultant weld joint.
US08011555B2
A surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a cartridge assembly defining a tissue contacting surface and a longitudinally extending elongate slot; an anvil assembly defining a tissue contacting surface and a longitudinally extending elongate slot; a surgical buttress releasably secured to at least one of the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly by at least one anchor; a central knife blade slidably disposable in the longitudinal extending elongate slot of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly; and a knife blade supported in a distal end portion of at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly, wherein the distal knife blade is actuatable by the central knife blade upon an actuation of the central knife blade.
US08011546B2
A separation apparatus comprising a first and a second scribing portions for scribing front and rear surfaces of a first mother substrate made of a brittle material along first predetermined scribing lines previously provided on the front and rear surfaces of the first mother substrate, the first and second scribing portions being opposed to each other on an upper side and a lower side, and a holding and transferring portions for holding and transferring the first mother substrate so that the first predetermined scribing lines of the first mother substrate are located between the first and second scribing portions.
US08011531B2
Food containers formed of sheet plastic are latchably stackable on one another. Each container has base (14) and lid (16) elements, with one of them having an outer rim part with a pair of long handle sections (80, 82) that can be pivoted up to form a handle assembly for carrying the container. The sections that form handles are formed in the lid element (16) rather than in the base element (14), so a person does not have to contend with long bouncing sections if the person eats a meal out of the base. One of the elements has vertically undercut grooves (50) and the other element has horizontal projections (52) that slide into and along the grooves. The grooved element has vertical passages (120) along which the projections can move vertically until they can slide into and along the grooves.
US08011510B1
A protective enclosure for displaying, protecting and storing flat items and most preferably to protect, store, and display flat collectible items such as comic books and other printed documents. The protective enclosure is formed of a upper face and lower face foldably connected by a living hinge. The lower face has a protective recess adapted to receive an item to be stored, wherein the upper face and lower face form an interlocking surface around the protective recess when the protective enclosure is in a closed position. A label area also is formed from a upper label area of the upper face and a lower label area of the lower face. The protective enclosure has an interlocking stacking interface adapted for removably receiving an interlocking stacking interface of a second protective enclosure.
US08011507B2
A receptacle for holding a meltable sharps container during a sterilization process in which the meltable sharps container and any contained sharps are heated. The receptacle includes a side wall and a bottom wall having respective interior surfaces defining a space for receiving the meltable sharps container. The receptacle also includes a plurality of recessed areas in the interior surface of the bottom wall, and a plurality of elevated areas on the interior surface of the bottom wall, whereby as the sharps container melts, material from the sharps container flows into the recessed areas and the elevated areas hold the contained sharps above the recessed areas, so as to inhibit the contained sharps from protruding through the melted sharps container.
US08011505B2
A vapor hydrated packaged catheter assembly includes a gas impermeable package housing a catheter within a catheter-receiving cavity. The catheter assembly has a hydrophilic coating on at least a portion of the outer surface of a catheter tube which may be surrounded by a sleeve. The catheter assembly is disposed within the catheter receiving cavity of the package with a vapor donating liquid provided as a source of vapor to activate the hydrophilic coating. The amount of vapor donating liquid is less than the amount that would otherwise be sufficient to cause a spill hazard. The catheter assembly is ready to use due to exposure of the hydrophilic coating to a vapor produced by the vapor donating liquid.
US08011498B2
A low profile, portable, modular conveyor system is provided. The conveyor system includes three main components: a drive end, having a motor and gearboxes used to drive a pair of drive wheels, a center section, and an idle section comprising a stationary component attached to the center section and a pivoting component allowing the distal portion of the idle end to pivot in a transverse direction. The conveyor system includes means for hydraulically or mechanically adjusting the tension and tracking of the conveyor belt. The drive end may be removed from the conveyor system in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor system.
US08011493B2
A device for carrying out a repitching operation, i.e., for changing the pitch between articles (A) comprised in a flow of moving articles, includes one or more conveying elements (12) for the articles (A) that are to follow a path of orbital movement about a principal axis (X10) between a position of picking-up (T) and a position of release (G) of the articles (A) themselves. The speed of said orbital movement is selectively variable (39, 37, 36) in the passage between the aforesaid positions of picking-up (T) and of release (G) so as to modify the pitch between the articles (A) carried by the conveying elements (12). Said conveying elements (12) are likewise orientable about a respective axis (X12) oriented in a radial direction with respect to the principal axis (X10) so as to modify the orientation of the articles (A) in the passage between the position of picking-up (T) and the position of release (G). There is present at least one cam formation (160), the cam profile of which follows the path of orbital movement of the conveying elements (12) about the principal axis (X10). The conveying element or each conveying element (12) is provided with a cam-follower element (158a, 158b) that can co-operate in a relationship of following with the aforesaid cam formation (160) for determining the orientation assumed by the respective conveying element (12) in the position of picking-up (T) and of release (G), irrespective of the speed of the aforesaid orbital movement.
US08011460B2
A hybrid drive (1) for a vehicle has an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (26) and a double clutch transmission (5) with a hollow first input shaft (9) and a second input shaft (11) that penetrates the first input shaft (9). A hollow transmission shaft (15) is parallel to the input shafts (9, 11), and a drive torque can be applied to the first or second input shafts (9, 11) via the internal combustion engine (2) and/or the electric machine (26) via the double clutch (5) of the double clutch transmission (10). The electric machine (26) is outside the double clutch transmission (10), and an output shaft (25) of the electric machine (26) penetrates the hollow transmission shaft (15). As a result, a compact configuration is ensured.
US08011459B2
To provide an inverted wheel type moving body capable of improving the operability, and a method of controlling the same. An inverted wheel type moving body in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes motors 34 and 36 for rotationally driving a right driving wheel 18 and a left driving wheel 20 respectively, a passenger seat 74 rotationally supported on mounts 26 and 28 through swing arms 17 and 19, a passenger seat drive motor 70 for driving the passenger seat 74, a control portion 80 for determining whether the manipulation amount exceeds the threshold value or not, and a motor driver 70a for control the passenger seat drive motor 70 such that the passenger seat 74 is moved in accordance with the manipulation amount when the manipulation amount does not exceed the threshold value and the movement of the passenger seat 74 is restored after the manipulation amount exceeds the threshold value.
US08011456B2
A cutting element for use with a drill bit includes a substrate having a longitudinal axis, a lateral surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and one or more key elements coupled to the lateral surface. The lateral surface lies between an insertion end and a cutting end of the substrate. The one or more key elements are substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and configured to selectively rotationally locate the substrate in a pocket. A drill bit configured for retaining a cutting element having one or more key elements is also disclosed.
US08011451B2
A method for forming two or more wellbores in a subsurface formation includes forming a first wellbore in the formation. A second wellbore is directionally drilled in a selected relationship relative to the first wellbore. At least one magnetic field is provided in the second wellbore using one or more magnets in the second wellbore located on a drilling string used to drill the second wellbore. At least one magnetic field is sensed in the first wellbore using at least two sensors in the first wellbore as the magnetic field passes by the at least two sensors while the second wellbore is being drilled. A position of the second wellbore is continuously assessed relative to the first wellbore using the sensed magnetic field. The direction of drilling of the second wellbore is adjusted so that the second wellbore remains in the selected relationship relative to the first wellbore.
US08011430B2
A method of determining the inflow profile of an injection wellbore, comprising stopping injection of fluid into a formation, the formation intersected by a wellbore having a section uphole of the formation and a section within the formation, monitoring temperature at least partially along the uphole section of the wellbore and at least partially along the formation section of the wellbore, injecting fluid into the formation once the temperature in the uphole section of the wellbore increases, and monitoring the movement of the increased temperature fluid as it moves from the uphole section of the wellbore along the formation section of the wellbore. The monitoring may be performed using a distributed temperature sensing system.
US08011421B2
The electronic system includes an electronic device and a liquid holding section that is thermally coupled to the electronic device. The electronic system further includes an impermeable section that engages the liquid holding section. The impermeable section includes a channel and a plurality of passages that provide fluid communication between the liquid holding section and the channel. The electronic system further includes (i) a first fluid that flows through the channel in the impermeable section to facilitate heat transfer from the electronic device to the first fluid; and (ii) a second fluid that flows from the liquid holding section through the plurality of passages into the channel when the second fluid boils within the liquid holding section due to heat transfer from the electronic device to the second fluid. In some embodiments, the first and second fluids are different types of substances.
US08011419B2
Thermal expansion defects, i.e. veining, are reduced in iron, steel, and nonferrous castings by adding a lithia-containing material in a sufficient amount to the silica sand mold. Adjusting current formulations to maximize the use of lesser expensive raw materials and minimize the use of more expensive raw materials to lower the overall percentages of lithia/metallic oxide containing additives while still reducing or eliminating thermal expansion related defects in the metal casting process reduces the overall cost to manufacture the product.
US08011418B2
A method of manufacturing a metal strip includes casting a slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) in a casting machine (2) and subsequently rolling the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) in at least one rolling train (4, 5) in a first operating mode with the at least one rolling train being connected with the casting machine for continuously manufacturing the metal strip, and in a second operating mode removing the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) from the main transport line (6) with a shuttle system arranged between the casting machine (2) and the at least one rolling train (4, 5), storing the removed slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′), and subsequently transporting the removed slab (3) or preliminary strip back into the main transport line, with the removed slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) being heated to a desired temperature or maintained at a desired temperature prior to the transport back into the main transport line (6) for discontinuously manufacturing the metal strip.
US08011403B2
A pneumatic tire for motorcycle includes a tread portion; a pair of sidewall portions; and bead portions, wherein a ground contact region of the tread portion has five regions including a center region including the tire equatorial plane; a pair of shoulder regions including ground contact ends of the tread; and a pair of intermediate regions located between the center region and the respective shoulder regions. At a room temperature of 25° C., 100% modulus of intermediate tread rubber provided across the entire part of each intermediate region is set larger than each of 100% modulus of center tread rubber and 100% modulus of shoulder tread rubber, and a negative ratio in the ground contact region of the tread is set so as to gradually increase from the respective shoulder regions toward the center region.
US08011399B2
A woodworking bench includes a table made of granite and mounted on a base of a woodworking machine. A table extension is mounted to a side of the table and made of granite. The side of the table includes two first tracks mounted therein. The table extension includes a side having two second tracks mounted therein and respectively aligned with the first tracks of the table. Two supporting rods each has a first end slidably received in one of the first tracks and a second end slidably received in one of the second tracks. At least one adjusting member is mounted to the second end of each supporting rod for adjusting coplanarity of a top face of the table and a top face of the table extension.
US08011397B2
A case clamp (20) for clamping carcass parts to furniture carcasses, such as tail cupboards, top or bottom cupboards, having a base frame (1), a lower compression beam (1′) provided on the base frame (1), at least two supports (2, 3) disposed on the base frame (1), of which at least one is traversable horizontally on the base frame (1), at least two pairs of horizontal compression beams (6, 7) disposed on the supports (2, 3) so as to be horizontally traversable, and an upper compression beam (4) disposed on the supports (2, 3) so as to be vertically traversable, wherein in each case the supports (2, 3) are supported exclusively on the base frame (1) in the vertical direction at least and are free at the opposing end (2′, 3′).
US08011394B2
Methodology and apparatus for storing and dispensing liquid components to create custom formulations
The invention includes a material dispenser that further includes a container containing material, a press plate or puck for exerting pressure on the material, a sensor for detecting the material discharged from the container, and a scale for detecting the amount of material discharged from the container. The sensor and scale provide feedback to a computer which controls the amount of pressure exerted on the material. The computer controls the pulsing of additional material from the container until a targeted amount of material has been discharged from the container. The invention permits the dispensing of a specific amount of material in a controllable, metered fashion.
US08011392B2
An object is to prevent thermal fatigue, resulting from variations in temperature interfaces, of piping having a fluid-mixing region where fluids of different temperatures are mixed. Piping 1 having a fluid-mixing region M includes a reducer 5 including an end portion 5e disposed substantially on a central axis of a main pipe 2. Low-temperature water flows through the reducer 5 at a lower velocity than high-temperature water flowing outside the end portion 5e. The low-temperature water and the high-temperature water have different temperatures. The low-temperature water and the high-temperature water are mixed in the fluid-mixing region M downstream of the reducer 5. The reducer 5 has a weld line 5f formed to connect the end portion 5e and an elbow portion 5d together. The distance between the weld line 5f and a downstream end 5a is equal to or larger than the inner diameter D of the main pipe 2.
US08011389B2
A manifold valve having two valves, which enables operation of one valve while disables operation of the other valve, is compact, and facilitates installation in and detachment from a pipeline, that is, a manifold valve provided with a main passageway, a branch passageway split off from the main passageway, a main passageway valve opening and closing the main passageway, and a branch valve opening and closing the branch passageway, the main passageway, the branch passageway, the main passageway valve, and the branch valve being integrally formed, wherein the main passageway valve and the branch valve are each a manual valve having a valve element, a stem connected to the valve element, and an operating lever connected to the stem, the operating lever pivoting in an axial direction of the stem to open and close the passageway, the main passageway valve and the branch valve each converting pivoting motion of the operating lever to linear motion of the valve element and pressing the valve element against and separating it from a valve seat to open and close the passageway, an interlock mechanism further provided wherein when one valve between the main passageway valve and the branch valve is in an open state and the other valve is in a closed state, the operating lever of the one valve disables pivoting motion of the operating lever of the other valve.
US08011387B2
A pressure control valve for heavy equipment. The pressure control valve can smoothly operate a working device having a high load pressure by limiting a supply of hydraulic fluid to a working device having a low load pressure in the case of simultaneously operating a plurality of working devices in a hydraulic circuit in which a plurality of control valves (e.g., a boom control valve and a bucket control valve) are connected in parallel to a single hydraulic pump.
US08011380B2
Disclosed is a cylindrical, single-component two-stage regulator for controlling a pressure and a flow rate of a gas. The regulator includes a housing for holding the two stages having an ingress adapted for connection to a source of gas at a high input pressure and an egress adapted for supplying gas at a lower output pressure than the high input pressure; a first stage for reducing the pressure of the gas from the high input pressure to a fixed intermediate pressure; and a second stage for reducing the pressure of the gas from the fixed intermediate pressure to the lower output pressure and regulating the flow rate of the gas out of the egress. One application of the present invention is for use in scuba (Self-Contained Under-water Breathing Apparatus) applications, where it replaces the traditional two-component user-adjustable regulator. The regulator may be made out of stainless steel, and is small enough to fit into a user's mouthpiece.
US08011368B2
Improved respirator fit-test methods and apparatus featuring an automated, respirator wearer-controlled, air-leak measurement system. For fit testing of a respirator positioned on a test subject's face and connected to a controlled negative pressure testing apparatus, the test subject simply holds his breath and then activates a switch in electrical connection with said apparatus, which results in the automatic closure of the breathing port on the respirator and the initiation of a complete fit-testing protocol. The fit-testing apparatus includes a single, self-contained, automated unit that includes a vacuum source (30), an air-flow measuring device, and an air-pressure transducer (32) for connection to a respirator (10) being tested. By measuring the rate of air exhausted from the respirator in order to maintain a constant challenge pressure, an air leakage rate is determined.
US08011365B2
A method for controlling operation of a CPAP apparatus. The apparatus has a blower (2), a patient interface (6), an air delivery conduit (8) for delivering air from the blower (2) to the patient interface (6), a sensor (4p) for determining the pressure in the patient interface (6), and a control mechanism (15) that causes air to be delivered at a desired pressure to the patient interface (6) and that detects transitions between inhalation and exhalation of a respiratory cycle of a patient in order to synchronise the blower output with the patient's efforts. In one form the CPAP apparatus provides pressure in accordance with a bi-level waveform with at least one characterising parameter of the waveform being automatically adjusted in accordance with indications of sleep disordered breathing. The indications of sleep disordered breathing can be one or more of snoring, apnea, hypopnea, and flow limitation.
US08011363B2
An underwater breathing device, such as a snorkel, may include an exhalation valve. The exhalation valve is configured to produce positive end-expiratory pressure in the airway of a user of the underwater breathing device in order to reduce the overall work of underwater breathing. The exhalation valve includes a plate defining an exhalation port. The exhalation valve also includes a flexible membrane that is sealable against a surface of the plate and is sized and positioned to be capable of sealing the exhalation port. The flexible membrane is configured to have a sealed position in which the flexible membrane seals the exhalation port such that substantially no exhaled air escapes the snorkel. The flexible membrane is also configured to have an unsealed position in which exhaled air escapes the snorkel.
US08011361B2
A tower type heat dissipating structure is applied to dissipate the heat of a solar power system. The solar power system is provided with a reflector having a hemispheric surface for reflecting the sunlight to a solar cell. The heat dissipating structure comprises a heat-conducting plate, a plate type heat pipe and a plurality of heat dissipating fins. One side of the heat-conducting plate is connected with the solar cell, and the other side is provided with a groove for being embedded an end of the plate type heat pipe. The heat dissipating fins is arranged with an inclination angle against the plate type heat pipe that can promote the heated air within the gaps to rise. The heat is rapidly conduced to prevent the solar cell from being destroyed by overheating for reducing the repairing costs.
US08011359B1
Smoke escaping from an outdoor wood burning furnace may be effectively arrested with a smoke arresting unit. By mounting a smoke gathering manifold above the furnace door operatively connected to a vacuum source for drawing smoke discharging from the furnace chamber through an open furnace door, the gathered and arrested smoke may be discharged through a separate discharging chimney. The vacuum source may be activated when the furnace fan is switched off and the furnace door is opened for refueling.
