US08018540B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method thereof. The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a plurality of gate lines and data lines disposed on the first substrate and crossing each other to define a plurality of pixels, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the gate lines and the data lines, a plurality of color filters disposed on the thin film transistors, a partition to divide the color filters, a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a common electrode disposed on the second substrate, the common electrode forming a liquid crystal capacitor and a storage capacitor along with the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel includes a display region where the pixel electrode and the color filter overlap each other, and a storage region where the pixel electrode and the common electrode form the storage capacitor, and the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode are connected to each other in the storage region.
US08018528B2
An optical module includes a first optics group, a second optics group, and an image sensor, wherein the first optics group and second optics group are configured to provide an image having a focus and a magnification to the image sensor. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first optics assembly includes a first optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a first lead screw so that rotation of the first lead screw results in translation of the first optics group along an axis of the first lead screw, a first actuator for rotating the first lead screw; and a first sensing target configured to permit detection of rotation of the first lead screw. In some embodiments of the present invention a second optics assembly includes a second optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a second lead screw so that rotation of the second lead screw results in translation of the second optics group along an axis of the second lead screw, a second actuator for rotating the second lead screw, and second means for sensing configured to detect rotation of the second lead screw.
US08018526B2
One end of a flexible substrate is connected to a solid-state image sensing device and the other end constitutes an external connection part in which external lead-out electrodes are provided. A plurality of electronic components are mounted on a mounting part of the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is bent at a first bent part thereof to make an acute angle with the solid-state image sensing device and also bent at a second bent part thereof to make an acute angle with the external connection part. The two acute angles are alternate angles and the solid-state image sensing device has a cross section of the letter Z.
US08018525B2
An auto-exposure algorithm for controlling a camera flash uses image processing to identify important areas of the image affected by the flash, while disregarding highly reflective/illuminated areas and uses a ND filter to linearize the flash triggering with highly reflective scenes. The camera flash is controlled by the auto-exposure algorithm in two stages:a pre-flash stage followed by a main-flash stage. In the pre-flash stage, two images are captured under the same camera settings regarding the exposure time, gain, iris and resolution. One image is captured with flash and one without. From the difference between the two images, a reference pixel is used to determine the flash intensity in the main-flash stage.
US08018522B2
A lens barrel includes a fourth lens, a prism, and a sixth lens. The fourth lens receives a light flux incident along a first optical axis. The prism includes a reflecting surface reflecting the light flux passing through the fourth lens to a direction along a second optical axis intersecting with the first optical axis. The sixth lens receives the light flux reflected by the prism. A second group frame includes an opening portion, a prism retaining frame that is arranged in a more inner position than the opening portion and in which the prism is contained, and a plurality of adhesive pockets arranged on an area around the prism retaining frame and being open to the side of the opening portion. Adhesive agent is filled in the adhesive pockets.
US08018519B2
A camera module capable of allowing personalization of an On-Screen Display (OSD) interface is provided. The camera module includes: a transmitting unit configured for transmitting icons to be used in an OSD interface to the camera module wirelessly or over wire, and saving the icons in a storage of the camera module; a mode selecting unit configured for selecting an OSD personalization mode; a reading unit configured for reading the transmitted icons from the storage of the camera module; a setting unit configured for setting the display size of the OSD interface and coordinates of each icon on a screen of an electronic device installed with the camera module to generate a personalized OSD interface. A related method for personalizing an OSD is also provided.
US08018514B1
An imaging system for deployment within a high-radiation environment. The imaging system has an imaging array of photosensitive pixels, each of which contains a sense gate for integrating photogenerated charge during the course of a frame and an amplifier transistor for sampling voltage on the sense gate. Each pixel also contains an inject gate and select and reset FETs, for operation as a charge injection device (CID). Moreover, a circuit including a monitor transistor on each polysilicon layer of the imaging array provides a threshold voltage monitor signal used to compensate a drive signal applied to the array on the basis of threshold voltage shifts induced by exposure to radiation. The array is contained within a remote head that may be evacuated and temperature-controlled and that may contain radiation-hardened drive electronics for generating drive signals upon receipt of a start pulse received from a camera control unit located at a significant distance from the remote head.
US08018504B2
Noise is reduced in a digital image generated by an imaging device utilizing information which specifies noise level as a function of position for the digital image. A noise reducing algorithm is applied to the digital image while one or more parameters of the noise reducing algorithm are varied. The one or more parameters are varied as a function of field position in the digital image based on the obtained noise level as a function of field position. In this way, noise is substantially reduced and is spatially equalized in the digital image.
US08018503B2
An imaging apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory storing multiple kinds of parameters, a volatile memory storing temporarily the parameters read out from the nonvolatile memory, a processing part executing a processing using the parameters stored in the volatile memory and a data controlling part reading out the parameters from the nonvolatile memory according to a provided clock and transferring the parameters to the volatile memory, and the imaging apparatus includes a first timing-adjusting part outputting a first clock for reading out a part of the multiple kinds of parameters stored in the nonvolatile memory to the data controlling part, when the imaging apparatus is powered on, and a second timing-adjusting part outputting a second clock for reading out another part of the multiple kinds of parameters stored in the nonvolatile memory to the data controlling part, while the imaging apparatus is preparing for image shooting.
US08018500B2
An image processing device and an image processing method capable of generating a moving image having a high resolution and a high frame rate are provided by suppressing the reduction in the amount of light incident on each camera. The imaging and processing device includes a separation section for separating visible light into at least a first color component and a second color component; a first imaging section for taking a moving image of the first color component, wherein the first imaging section takes images of the moving image with a first spatial resolution and a first temporal resolution by exposure for a first charge accumulation time period; a second imaging section for taking a moving image of the second color component, wherein the second imaging section takes images of the moving image with a second spatial resolution higher than the first spatial resolution and a second temporal resolution lower than the first temporal resolution by exposure for a second charge accumulation time period longer than the first charge accumulation time period; a control section for controlling imaging conditions of the first and the second imaging sections; and a processing section for generating a moving image of the second color component having the temporal and spatial resolutions thereof increased, based on information on the moving image of each of the first color component and the second color component.
US08018493B2
An image data transfer apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information for at least one image file, from a storage medium storing a image file which can store plural pieces of image data, an ID adding unit that adds identification information to at least a part of all pieces of image data stored in at least one image file, based on the acquired predetermined information, a unit that receives a command for selecting at least one of all pieces of the image data each of which is added with the identification information, a transmission unit that transmits the identification information of the selected image data to the external device, and an image data transmission unit that transmits image data in response to a request from the external device.
US08018488B2
A vehicle-periphery image generating apparatus and an image switching method which provides a rear view image displayed additionally from a vehicle-periphery image is presented at an adequate timing with eye-friendliness. There are provided a parallel detector for detecting that a vehicle is oriented substantially parallel to a parking space, an approach detector for detecting that at least part of the vehicle is entering the parking space, and a display controller for switching display of an image from a vehicle-periphery image to a rear view image when the vehicle is oriented substantially parallel to the parking space and at least part of the vehicle is approaching into the parking space, so that the vehicle-periphery image and the rear view image are switched and displayed as needed according to the state of the vehicle with respect to the parking space and images optimal for respective scenes are displayed over the full screen.
US08018487B2
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented quality assurance system, which includes the steps of retrieving quality assurance and supporting information from a database; receiving information on technical variables from monitoring of the patient, and on radiographic equipment in the performance of an imaging study; generating a quality assurance score after said imaging study based on said technical variables and said quality assurance and supporting information; and performing a quality assurance analysis of the imaging study based on the quality assurance score. The score can be used to perform trending analysis, and provide recommendations for education, and feedback, to clinicians, radiologists, and departments.
US08018485B2
An imaging device includes first light sources that have first frequency characteristics; second light sources that have second frequency characteristics different from the first frequency characteristics and that are arranged in positions different from those of the first light sources; an imaging unit that generates an image of a subject by receiving light that is emitted from the first light sources and the second light sources and then reflected from an object; and an image corrector that performs color unevenness correction on the image, which is captured by the imaging unit, using correction data with which a ratio of luminance of a first image, which is captured by the imaging unit using the first light sources, with respect to luminance of a second image, which is captured by the imaging unit using the second light sources, in each area is uniform based on the first image and the second image.
US08018484B2
An information processing unit is provided which positively stabilizes a user's feeling and physical condition by deciding the user's feeling and physical condition based on the user's body temperature change and the like. Depending on the user's hand temperature, a CPU (110) automatically selects an aromatic for stabilizing the user's feeling and physical condition change, and directs an aromatic sprayer (50) to spray the aromatic, or directs a display part (40) to display a countermeasure message for maintaining the physical condition. This positively stabilizes the user's feeling and physical condition.
US08018478B2
A mobile device for printing onto a print medium, the print medium including a linear-encoded data track extending in an intended direction of printing, the mobile device including: a sensor configured to sense the data track during printing; a printhead for printing onto the print medium in response to a fire control signal; and fire control means connected to generate the fire control signal based on the sensed data track.
US08018474B2
A method for viewing a full image of a server stored original attachment on a portable electronic device including: building a graph structure within the server representing a map of the original image, downloading and displaying a re-sized image from the server to the portable electronic device, the original image exceeding an image size limit of the portable electronic device indicative of screen size of the portable electronic device, calculating width and height parameters of the full image, sending a request from the portable electronic device to the server to enlarge the image displayed on the device based on the width and height parameters, the request including the image size limit, retrieving and traversing the graph structure within the server to locate a separate image component constructed for the image size limit, collecting image binary data from the separate image component and modifying the image binary data based on the width and height parameters to create the full image of the original image and downloading the full image of the original image to the portable electronic device.
US08018472B2
Image processing techniques are described that reduce the amount of bandwidth required to read an image from memory for display. According to the techniques, a processor stores low change rate display layers in a memory such that a processor can read the display layers from the memory using a reduced amount of processing resources. An overlay module blends low change rate display layers into a combined overlay layer. A processor reads the overlay layer from the memory and selectively processes the overlay layer based on processing information for the overlay layer recorded in memory. The processor then blends the overlay layer and a high change rate video display layer to update a single image for display according to a high change rate. In addition, the overlay module updates the overlay layer based on the low change rate display layers according to a low change rate.
US08018471B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that merge components on a design surface. The system receives input from a user to add components or clauses to a design surface and analyzes the components to determine if some of the components can be merged. If the system identifies components that can be merged, then the system merges the identified components to reduce the number of components present on the design surface. The system determines that some components can be merged if the components meet the same criteria, such as having components that are equivalent and that have the same number of incoming paths or the same number of outgoing paths. The system provides a visual indicator on the design surface to indicate that components are being merged. The system provides an undo feature to allow the user to undo the component merging when desired.
US08018470B2
An electronic vector based graphics design application may automatically introduce a variation to a property of a vector based graphic object, existing ones or those to be created using one of the vector object creation tools, by specifying a variation through any suitable set of one or more user interfaces. The variation targeted against one or more properties in the attributes may be defined by one or more variation parameters including any combination of range, percentage, randomness, category of values, and the like. Such targeted properties may be varied based on the variation parameters in any suitable manner, such as randomly, sequentially or other deterministic way. The variation of the property value(s) may be applied to the vector object as it is generated by a vector object creation tool, or may be applied to one or more existing vector objects post-generation.
US08018464B2
A programmable processor and method for improving the performance of processors by expanding at least two source operands, or a source and a result operand, to a width greater than the width of either the general purpose register or the data path width. The present invention provides operands which are substantially larger than the data path width of the processor by using the contents of a general purpose register to specify a memory address at which a plurality of data path widths of data can be read or written, as well as the size and shape of the operand. In addition, several instructions and apparatus for implementing these instructions are described which obtain performance advantages if the operands are not limited to the width and accessible number of general purpose registers.
US08018459B2
The present disclosure relates to broadcast signal calibration devices and methods. A system is provided that permits calibration or tuning of broadcast signal transmission and reception equipment through the use of visual representation of test signals. The generated visualizations, incorporating color and shape, are examined to determine whether any adjustments to the broadcast equipment are needed to compensate for equipment age, deterioration, and the like.
US08018449B2
The light emitting display further comprises a scan driver that supplies a first scan signal, which is a write signal that selects the data signal and a second scan signal, which is an erasing signal to the pixels, and a timing controller that supplies data, which divide one frame into a plurality of sub-fields and adjust the data signal corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-fields depending on brightness of the pixel circuit, to the data driver.
US08018446B2
A differential signaling system includes a pair of differential signal lines having a transmitting end and a receiving end, and a termination resistor and an active impedance compensator connected in parallel between the pair of differential signal lines at the receiving end, wherein the active impedance compensator includes a plurality of impedance adjustment circuits connected in parallel between the pair of differential signal lines.
US08018431B1
A page turner is provided for a handheld electronic book reader device. The page turner is configured to detect a human gesture to turn a page in an electronic book that is being displayed by the device. In one implementation, the page turner is configured as a page turning mechanism having at least one tactile member (e.g., ridge, indentation, etc.) and at least one sensor positioned proximate to the tactile member to detect gesture proximity. The tactile member provides tactile feedback as the user passes a finger over the mechanism to simulate a riffle sensation akin to flipping through paper pages in a paperback book. In certain implementations, the eBook reader device has a non-symmetrical shape with a dual display system and QWERTY keyboard.
US08018417B2
A common voltage driving circuit of a liquid crystal display, includes: a clock signal input unit that comprises a plurality of transistors and inputs first and second clock signals according to a gate output voltage; an output node voltage controller that comprises a plurality of transistors and condensers and changes voltages of positive and negative polarity output nodes by the first and second clock signals and first to third gate output voltages; an initialization voltage supply unit that comprises a plurality of transistors and supplies an initialization voltage of the output node voltage controller; and a common voltage output unit that comprises a plurality of transistors and a single condenser and prevents the voltages of the positive and negative polarity output nodes from being changed by using the condenser in alternately outputting higher and lower common voltages according to the voltages of the positive and negative polarity output nodes.
US08018411B2
A liquid crystal display device having a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a pixel electrode formed over the first substrate, a common electrode formed over the first substrate with insulating from the pixel electrode, wherein a portion of the common electrode overlaps with the pixel electrode, includes a gray voltage generator generating a plurality of gray voltages, an image signal modification assembly configured to receive a first image signal, a second image signal, and a third image signal for subsequent three frames and modify the second image signal based on the first image signal and the third image signal, and a data driver configured to provide a data voltage selected from the plurality of gray voltages to the pixel electrode corresponding to the modified signal in the image signal modification assembly. A longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecule is inclined at an angle with a longitudinal pixel electrode.
US08018396B2
A dual-resonance retractable antenna including a connector, a telescopic radiating device mounted on the connector, and a radiating tube mounted on the connector around the tubular outer radiating element of the telescopic radiating device and electrically isolated from the telescopic radiating device. The telescopic radiating device is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the dual-resonance retractable antenna can oscillate at two different resonance frequencies, having multi-band multi-system capabilities for multiplex application.
US08018391B2
A plate-shaped radiating element of a shape having at least three planes is formed by bending a metal plate having a substantially rectangular shape. A first slit is provided from a lower edge of the plate-shaped radiating element up to a portion in the vicinity of an upper edge of the plate-shaped radiating element while passing through a center point of the plate-shaped radiating element, and forms plate-shaped dipole elements on both sides thereof. A second slit is provided parallel to the upper edge of the plate-shaped radiating element and forms a folded element on an upper side thereof. Feeding points are provided on both sides of the first slit at the lower edge of the plate-shaped radiating element.
US08018382B2
A positioning system designed to provide a three dimensional location of an object. The system can include one or more multiple transmitters or electromagnetic beacons, software defined radio receivers with an associated processing unit and data acquisition system, and magnetic antennas. The system applies theoretical calculations, scale model testing, signal processing, and sensor data to operate.
US08018381B2
An antenna apparatus is disclosed. The antenna apparatus has a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna which have different directivity directions each other and are switched for a desired directivity direction. The first antenna is disposed on a substrate which is in parallel therewith. The second antenna is disposed on one principal surface of the substrate which is nearly perpendicular thereto. The third antenna is disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate which is nearly perpendicular thereto.
US08018380B2
There is a provided a system for measuring an antenna radiation pattern in a Fresnel region, including: a fixed antenna and a movable antenna located in the Fresnel region to acquire a far-field radiation pattern; a moving unit for moving upward or downward to adjust a measuring angle of the movable antenna; a rotation unit to rotate a rotation shaft horizontally; a vector network analyzing unit for outputting an radio frequency (RF) signal to one of the fixed antenna and the movable antenna as a transmission antenna, receiving the RF signal received through the other one of the fixed antenna and the movable antenna as a receiving antenna, and detecting a complex value; a control and communication unit for controlling the vector network analyzing unit and a control unit, and performing a data communication; and the control unit for providing a vertical/horizontal rotation force to the moving unit and the rotation unit under a control of the control and communication unit.
US08018373B2
A radar level gauge system using microwaves for measuring a level of a surface of a product in a container, comprising a waveguide arranged to extend into the product contained in the container, wherein a plurality of reference impedance transitions are arranged at known position along the waveguide and being configured to reflect a portion of transmitted electromagnetic signals back towards the transceiver. Preferably, each of the reference impedance transitions has a first reflection coefficient for the electromagnetic signals when the level of the surface is above the reference impedance transition and a second reflection coefficient for the electromagnetic signal when the level of the surface is below the reference reflector, the first reflection coefficient being substantially lower than the second reflection coefficient. According to this design, a higher accuracy of filling level measurements can be achieved.
US08018369B2
A switched current source is provided. The switched current source is generally comprised of transistors and resistors, and the source has a high output impedance. Included with the switched current source is an error correction transistor and a resistor that cooperate to feed a current back through a bias transistor to correct an error that generally results from the current gains or β's of transistors within the switched current source. To accomplish this, however, the resistor is selected to have a value that is sufficiently large such that current from the error correction transistor flows back through the bias transistor.
US08018364B2
A control apparatus for a supply device of a load, the supply device is of switching type and connected between a supply voltage and a reference voltage, the apparatus including a sigma-delta device having an input terminal at which is present a first digital signal and adapted to provide a pulse-density modulation signal at the output terminal; the sigma-delta device including a feedback circuit capable of sending to the input terminal of the sigma-delta device a second digital signal whose value depends on the value of the output signal, and the apparatus including a device capable of digitalizing the supply voltage and of providing a further digital signal. The feedback circuit includes a terminal capable of receiving the further digital signal, and the sigma-delta device having a gain such that the output digital signal is proportional to the inverse of the further digital signal.
US08018363B2
In a high-fidelity digital modulator, a mapper is provided to minimize quantization noise, jitter, and cross-talk between multiple digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converters. The mapper receives a quantized level from a quantizer and maps the quantized level to an output sequence. The mapper includes a table defining multiple sequences corresponding to each quantized level. Each sequence includes two or more symbols, having one of multiple values. The mapper also includes a generator that selects one of the multiple sequences as the output sequence. The last symbol of a first output sequence is equal to the first symbol of the next output sequence and so on. The generator selects the output sequence by alternating between a first and a second sequence for each quantized level received. The generator selects the output sequence by alternating between sequences having a positive and a negative common mode energy for each odd valued quantized level received.
US08018359B2
Various embodiments are provided to reduce a processing time taken when plural bit lengths each assigned to plural strings are converted into plural codes. In one exemplary embodiment, in response to input of the plurality of bit lengths, a number of strings assigned each of the bit lengths, a bit length assigned to each of the strings, and a sequence number of each string in a group of strings assigned each of the bit lengths are recorded. A plurality of base codes are generated on the basis of the numbers of the strings recorded by the recording unit, the base codes each being a code used as a base for codes having the same one of the bit lengths. A plurality of codes is generated by performing in parallel a plurality of processes respectively for the plurality of strings.
US08018358B2
A method and apparatus for balancing an output load using data bus inversion is disclosed. In brief, one such technique comprises measuring the “balance” of data bits across a data bus (e.g., the number of zero values compared to the number of one values in a set of parallel data bits). If the data bits are unbalanced by a specified amount, a portion of the bits on the data bus are inverted, and the data bits, including the inverted portion, are transmitted. Also, a data bus inversion bit is set to a particular value and transmitted with the data bits to indicate that data bus inversion was used. If the data signal is not unbalanced (i.e., the bits on the data bus do not comprise an unbalanced number of logic values), then the bits on the data bus are transmitted as they are detected, and the data bus inversion bit is set to another particular value to indicate that data bus inversion was not used.
US08018352B2
A traffic signal head having a signal lamp or signal ball with an embedded video monitoring system can be provided to perform vehicle detection to inform an intelligent traffic control system. Video monitoring of traffic lanes facing the signal head can be analyzed by such a system to emulate inductive loop signals that are input signals to traffic control systems.
US08018341B2
Initialization of a semiconductor device can be efficiently performed, which transmits and receives data through wireless communication. The semiconductor device includes an antenna, a power source circuit, a circuit which uses a DC voltage generated by the power source circuit as a power source voltage, and a resistor. The antenna includes a pair of terminals and receives a wireless signal (a modulated carrier wave). The power source circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal and generates a DC voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal by using a received wireless signal (the modulated carrier wave). The resistor is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. In this manner, the semiconductor device and the wireless communication system can transmit and receive data accurately.
US08018340B2
A system is provided, which may alternatively be implemented as a method. According to one embodiment, the system comprises an article to be tracked; a flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) device coupled to the article, the RFID device comprising a first thin flexible sheet having a first surface, a dipole antenna disposed on the first sheet, and a single integrated circuit (IC) having stored therein an identification code associated with the article. The system further comprises an article tracking system configured to receive the identification code from an interrogation system, wherein the interrogation system includes a first interrogator located at a point of origin of the article, a second interrogator located at a point of destination of the article, and a third interrogator located on a route between the point of origin and the point of destination, and wherein the first, second, and third interrogators are configured to communicate with the RFID device to determine the identification code.
US08018339B2
An intruder detection system is provided in which a detection range can be set to a predetermined one so that false detection caused by a moving object outside the predetermined range can be diminished. The system includes a transmission-side leaky transmission line that radiates a detection signal for detecting an intruder and a reception-side leaky transmission line that receives a detection signal leaked from the transmission-side leaky transmission line, both of which are buried spaced apart from each other in a detection surveillance area, and detects the presence/absence of an intruder in the detection surveillance area based on variations in the detection signal received by the reception-side leaky transmission line, wherein at least part of either the transmission-side leaky transmission line or the reception-side leaky transmission line is made of a surface-wave-type leaky coaxial transmission line, and the other leaky transmission line, a radiation-type leaky coaxial transmission line.
US08018334B1
A method of monitoring a portable electronic device electronically is provided. The method comprises receiving a first radio signal, the first radio signal emitted by the electronically monitored portable electronic device and determining a first received signal strength of the first radio signal. The method also comprises receiving a second radio signal, the second radio signal emitted by the electronically monitored portable electronic device, the second radio signal received after the first radio signal. The method also comprises determining a second received signal strength of the second radio signal, comparing the second received signal strength to the first received signal strength, and alerting when a result of the comparing exceeds a threshold.
US08018331B2
A multilevel inverter using a cascade configuration with a device for equally controlling a power factor for each unit cell includes: a master controller, a plurality of power cells connected in series for each of three AC (Alternating Current) phases, a phase shift transformer for supplying a power cell input voltage, a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication network to provide a communication path between the master controller and each power cell, and cell controllers to control output voltages and output frequencies of the respective power cells according to a voltage command and a frequency command from the master controller, each cell controller having a pulse width modulator to generate a pulse width modulation control signal of a variable voltage and a variable frequency to the connected corresponding power cell, wherein each cell controller is configured to calculate a phase difference value of the corresponding power cell according to a preset total number of connected power cells and the floor number (i.e., the serial connection sequence) of the corresponding power cell to thereafter phase-shift a chopping wave by the calculated phase difference value, thereby compensating for the phase differences between each power cell.
US08018315B2
A power converter including a power train, a controller and a driver. The power train includes a switch that conducts for a duty cycle and provides a regulated output characteristic for the power converter, and a micromagnetic device interposed between the switch and the output of the power converter. The micromagnetic device includes a substrate, and a magnetic core layer formed over the substrate from a magnetic alloy including iron, cobalt and phosphorous. A content of the cobalt is in a range of 1.8 to 4.5 atomic percent. A content of the phosphorus is in a range of 20.1 to 30 atomic percent. A content of the iron is substantially a remaining proportion of the magnetic alloy. The controller provides a signal to control the duty cycle of the switch. The driver provides a drive signal to the switch as a function of the signal from the controller.
US08018313B2
The laminate device of the present invention comprises magnetic layers and coil patterns alternately laminated, the coil patterns being connected in a lamination direction to form a coil, and pluralities of magnetic gap layers being disposed in regions in contact with the coil patterns.
US08018306B2
A high quality resonator has a three dimensional Defected Ground Structure (DGS) in the transmission line. The resonator includes a substrate installed at the center of the resonator floating in the air through supporting members, a transmission line on the substrate, and an upper ground plane member above the substrate at a predetermined interval. A DGS pattern with a predetermined shape is on each portion of the body of the ground plane member symmetrically with respect to the transmission line. An upper cover closely contacts the upper surface of the upper ground plane member to seal the upper opening of the DGS pattern on the upper ground plane member. A lower ground plane member has the same pattern as the upper DGS, and a lower cover functions similar to the upper cover. The upper and lower members should be installed symmetrically with respect to the substrate.
US08018305B2
An electronic component includes first and second resonators provided within a layered substrate including stacked dielectric layers. The first resonator includes resonator-forming conductor layers of a first type and a second type. The resonator-forming conductor layers of the first type and the second type are reversed in relative positions of the short-circuited end and the open-circuited end, and are alternately arranged in the stacking direction of the dielectric layers. An input terminal is connected to all of the resonator-forming conductor layers of the first type. The second resonator includes resonator-forming conductor layers of a third type and a fourth type. The resonator-forming conductor layers of the third type and the fourth type are reversed in relative positions of the short-circuited end and the open-circuited end, and are alternately arranged in the stacking direction of the dielectric layers. An output terminal is connected to all of the resonator-forming conductor layers of the third type.
US08018299B2
A band-pass filter includes a plurality of resonators, a feedback capacitive device and a grounding inductance device. A first end of each resonator is connected to a first node, and a second end of each resonator is connected to a second node. The feedback capacitive device is formed on the feedback circuit from the first node to the second node. The grounding inductance device is connected to the second node and ground. In an embodiment, the resonator essentially consists of a capacitive device and an inductance device.
US08018298B2
An acoustic wave device includes a first resonator having a piezoelectric substance sandwiched between a pair of electrodes in a direction of an c-axis orientation or a polarization axis, and a second resonator that is connected in series and has another piezoelectric substance sandwiched another pair of electrodes so that one of the another pair of electrodes located in the direction of the c-axis orientation or the polarization axis is at a potential equal to that of one of the pair of electrodes of the first resonator in the direction of the c-axis orientation or the polarization axis.
US08018295B2
Provided is a modulation device including a signal selection circuit selecting two carrier signals from a plurality of carrier signals having the same frequency and the same phase difference according to a defined control signal and outputting the selected carrier signals, and a phase interpolator adjusting the phase in smaller units than the phase difference between the plurality of carrier signals according to the control signal and modulating the frequency or the phase of the carrier signal into a baseband signal based on the carrier signals selected by the signal selection circuit to generate a carrier wave signal.
US08018294B2
An oscillator device includes an oscillation system having an oscillator and an elastic supporting member, a detecting member for detecting oscillation amplitude of the oscillator, a driving member for driving the oscillator, and a control unit for generating a driving signal for driving the oscillator and for supplying the driving signal to the driving member, wherein the control unit reciprocally sweeps a driving frequency of the driving signal so that a resonance frequency of the oscillation system is included within a frequency range swept, wherein the control unit determines a resonance frequency based on at least two frequencies with which an oscillation amplitude value obtainable by the reciprocal sweeping reaches a maximum, and wherein the control unit generates the driving signal based on the determined resonance frequency.
US08018288B2
Embodiments of a high-linearity low-noise amplifier (LNA) are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, an RF input signal may be amplified with a cascode amplifier. The cascode amplifier may include integrated notch filters to attenuate undesired signals. The cascode amplifier may operate from a large power supply when blockers are present to avoid voltage swing compression at its output. The cascode amplifier may be biased and designed to operate in a class AB mode to produce linear output current to avoid current compression or excessive current expansion.
US08018282B2
The invention discloses a driving circuit system and a method of elevating a slew rate of an operational amplifier. The driving circuit system comprises an operational amplifier, a judging module and a bias enhancing module. The operational amplifier has an input stage driven by a bias current. The bias enhancing module is electrically connected to the judging module and the input stage of the operational amplifier respectively. The judging module is used to generate a bias enhancing signal according to an edge-trigger of a control signal. When the bias enhancing module receives the bias enhancing signal, the bias enhancing module provides an additional current, which cooperates with the bias current, for driving the input stage of the operational amplifier, so as to elevating a slew rate of the operational amplifier.
US08018276B2
A signal processing method and power amplifier device are disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to be transmitted, decomposing an original signal into a plurality of smaller constant-amplitude signals, wherein a vector sum each of the smaller constant-amplitude signals equals the original signal, amplifying the smaller constant-amplitude signals by an amplification factor using a plurality of amplifiers, wherein one or more of the plurality of amplifiers are enabled based on the amplitude of the original signal, combining the amplified smaller constant-amplitude signals into the original signal, the original signal being amplified by the amplification factor, wherein the amplified original signal is transmitted.
US08018269B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a charge pump is disclosed. The method includes biasing a plurality of transistors; switching a pair of main transistor switches to apply or remove a net charge on an output terminal though the biased transistors; and turning on auxiliary transistor switches when the main transistor switches are turned off. The auxiliary transistor switches when turned on provide an auxiliary equalizing path to nodes between the main transistor switches and the biased transistors. The auxiliary equalizing path equalizes voltages between the intermediate nodes to rapidly turn off the biased transistors and reduce noise on the output terminal of the charge pump.
US08018260B2
The device degradation of integrated circuits may be compensated for by appropriately adapting the duty cycle of the clock signal. For this purpose, a correlation between the duty cycle and the overall performance characteristics of the integrated circuit may be established and may be used during the normal field operation of the device in order to modify the duty cycle. Hence, an efficient control strategy may be implemented since the duty cycle may be efficiently controlled, while at the same time a change of clock signal frequency and/or an increase of supply voltage may not be required.
US08018255B2
A DC-DC converter in which self turn-on can be prevented and can improve power efficiency. In a non-insulated DC-DC converter, self turn-on is prevented by applying a negative voltage between a gate and a source of a low side MOSFET by the use of a capacitor for generating negative voltage when the low side MOSFET is in an OFF state. Also, when the low side MOSFET is in an ON state due to the capacitor for generating negative voltage, a positive voltage applied between the gate and the source of the low side MOSFET does not drop from a voltage of a gate driving DC power source that is supplied from a gate power input terminal. Therefore, the power efficiency is improved.
US08018244B2
An architecture for a quantum processor may include a set of superconducting flux qubits operated as computation qubits and a set of superconducting flux qubits operated as latching qubits. Latching qubits may include a first closed superconducting loop with serially coupled superconducting inductors, interrupted by a split junction loop with at least two Josephson junctions; and a clock signal input structure configured to couple clock signals to the split junction loop. Flux-based superconducting shift registers may be formed from latching qubits and sets of dummy latching qubits. The devices may include clock lines to clock signals to latch the latching qubits. Thus, latching qubits may be used to program and configure computation qubits in a quantum processor.
US08018241B2
An integrated circuit (70) having parallel scan paths (824-842, 924-942) includes a pair or pairs of scan distributor (800,900) and scan collector (844,944) circuits. The scan paths apply stimulus test data to functional circuits (702) on the integrated circuit and receive response test data from the functional circuits. A scan distributor circuit (800) receives serial test data from a peripheral bond pad (802) and distributes it to each parallel scan path. A scan collector circuit (844) collects test data from the parallel scan paths and applies it to a peripheral bond pad (866). This enables more parallel scan paths of shorter length to connect to the functional circuits. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be respectively connected in series to provide parallel connections to more parallel scan paths. Additionally multiplexer circuits (886,890) can selectively connect pairs of scan distributor and collector circuits together. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be formed in core circuits (704). The core circuits then can be connected to other core circuits and functional circuits with simple connections to the parallel scan circuits through the scan distributor and collector circuits.
US08018237B2
To provide a broken piece detecting sensor assembly capable of stably detecting broken piece admixed in a fluid, which broken piece is made of material characterized by non-metal, non-magnetic and non-electroconductive characteristics such as ceramics. This broken piece detecting sensor assembly is a sensor for detecting broken piece admixed in a fluid. Provided are two opposed flat plates, a shift mechanism for moving at least one of the two flat plates in a confronting direction to allow the broken piece to be sandwiched between those two flat plates, and measuring and determining section. The measuring and determining section is operable to measure the distance between the two flat plates to thereby detect the presence or absence of the broken piece, the size of the broken piece or the amount of the broken piece accumulated.
US08018236B2
A device for analyzing defects, particularly for items made of plastics, such as battery casings and the like, comprising at least one probe, which is adapted to be moved closer to, or to come into contact with, the item made of plastics to be tested, the probe being provided with a plurality of elements to which a high voltage is applied.
US08018234B2
A vacuum pressure measuring device with an electron source has a reaction zone for forming ions by impact ionization, wherein the electron source communicates with the reaction zone via a passage for the electrons. The electron source is surrounded by an insulating housing with a vacuum chamber, and a partition part is designed as a membrane carrier, carrying a nanomembrane at least in one section, the membrane separating the vacuum chamber from the outer region in a gastight manner and being at least partially designed to be electron-permeable. The vacuum chamber has a cathode for the emission of electrons. In the region of and/or on the nanomembrane, an anode arrangement is provided such that electrons are conducted against the nanomembrane and at least partially through it. The nanomembrane abuts the vacuum chamber of the vacuum pressure measuring device.
US08018226B2
In one embodiment, a method for detecting a damaged magnetoresistive sensor includes analyzing readback signals of a plurality of sensors each being positioned over data tracks on a passing magnetic medium; determining whether at least one of the readback signals is out of phase with respect to the other readback signals, and/or whether at least one of the readback signals has a significantly lower amplitude that the other readback signals. Additional methods are also presented.
US08018218B2
A PWM controller of a DC-DC converter is provided. The DC-DC converter converts an input voltage into an output voltage and comprises an output inductor coupled between an output of the DC-DC converter and a phase node. A first sense circuit senses a signal from the phase node to generate a first signal corresponding to the input voltage. A second sense circuit senses the signal from the phase node to generate a second signal corresponding to the output voltage. A PWM generator controls a first transistor and a second transistor of the DC-DC converter according to the first and second signals. The first transistor is coupled between the input voltage and the phase node, and the second transistor is coupled between the phase node and a ground.
US08018202B2
The invention relates to circuits for managing differential voltages in series. To individually control the differential voltages of voltage sources in series, there is provided an integrated control circuit for a set of N sources in series. This circuit comprises N discharge control and measurement cells which are each produced in a separate well, insulated from the substrate and from the other wells. The cells are linked to the circuits formed in the substrate by level translation circuits having a part inside the well and a part outside the well. These circuits use transistors withstanding voltages of several tens of volts. The integrated circuits may be cascaded on an SPI bus if one wishes to control a group of k.N sources with k>1.
US08018199B2
A charge evaluating method for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes calculating a final charge value A of a mobile phone battery when charging is complete according to a charge value prior to the battery being charged by the battery charger, a charge current value, a power dissipation value and a charging time. The method further includes converting the final voltage value to a final charge value B of the mobile phone battery, and displaying the final charge value A if the final charge value B is more than the final charge value A.
US08018195B2
An AC motor drive control device includes a control mode judgment unit that performs a judgment based on required voltage amplitude required by a synchronous AC motor, in order to switch units for applying voltage to the AC motor to one of a rectangular wave voltage phase control unit, an overmodulation control unit, and a PWM current control unit.
US08018191B2
A main power supply and an auxiliary power supply for supplying power to a motor are provided. A MOS-FET for supplying power from the main power supply and a MOS-FET for supplying power from the main and auxiliary power supplies are provided. When a phenomenon in which a rotor of a motor is rotated by the going-back force of steered wheels occurs, and voltage VG of power generated by the motor satisfies the relation VG>VB+VC where VB is a voltage of the main power supply and VC is a voltage of the auxiliary power supply, a control circuit and a gate drive circuit turn off both MOS-FETs so as to charge the auxiliary power supply using the voltage VG through a parasitic diode of the MOS-FET.
US08018177B2
A dimming buck type light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus includes a main switch controlling a driving current flowing into an LED; a current detector detecting a driving current flowing into the LED; a power level determination unit determining a level of the driving power; a dimming capacitor for dimming control; a dimming control unit controlling charging and discharging of the dimming capacitor according to a power level determination signal and an enable signal; a reset circuit unit generating a reset signal according to a detection voltage from the current detector and a voltage of the dimming capacitor; a pulse generation unit generating a pulse signal; and a latch set by the pulse signal of the pulse generation unit and reset by the reset signal of the reset circuit unit to generate a switching signal, and turning on and off the main switch using the switching signal.
US08018168B2
Disclosed is a method for driving a plasma display panel in which a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of third electrodes are arranged to cross the first and second electrodes, and discharge cells defined with areas in which the electrodes cross mutually are arranged in the form of a matrix. According to the driving method, a reset period is a period during which the distribution of wall charges in the plurality of discharge cells is uniformed. An addressing period is a period during which wall charges are produced in the discharge cells according to display data. A sustain discharge period is a period during which sustain discharge is induced in the discharge cells in which wall charges are produced during the addressing period. The driving method in accordance with the present invention comprises a step of applying a first pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce first discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes, and a step of applying a second pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce second discharge as erase discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes. These steps are carried out during the reset period.
US08018163B2
A capacitively coupled plasma reactor includes a plasma reactor, a capacitive coupling electrode assembly including a plurality of capacitive coupling electrodes to induce plasma discharge inside the plasma reactor, a main power supply source to supply radio-frequency power, and a distribution circuit to receive the radio-frequency power supplied from the main power supply source and to distribute the received radio-frequency power to the plurality of capacitive coupling electrodes.
US08018158B2
An output circuit for a microwave tube is provided that has generally high interaction impedance for good efficiency, has high average power capability, and is physically large for a given operating frequency. The output circuit is designed to operate in conjunction with an off-axis, bunched electron beam. Electromagnetic fields are applied to the region in which the electron beam propagates to impart an azimuthal velocity to the bunched electron beam. The electron bunches then interact synchronously with a resonant output structure to excite radio-frequency modes from which energy can be extracted and applied to a load.
US08018156B2
High-pressure discharge lamp having a ceramic discharge vessel, in which two electrodes and a light-emitting filling are contained, wherein capillaries are positioned at the ends of the discharge vessel, in which capillaries leadthroughs are sealed off, which leadthroughs are each connected to an electrode (15) consisting of tungsten. The electrode (15) is in the form of a pin and integrally comprises two parts (25, 26) having different diameters, wherein the first part (25) having a given diameter D1 forms the electrode tip, the second part (26) having a diameter D2 is positioned in the capillary, and the diameter D2 of the second part makes up at least 108% of the diameter D1 of the first part. The total length L of the electrode (15) is split between the first part (25) with a partial length L1 and the second part (26) with a partial length L2 such that L2 makes up approximately 30 to 70% of the total length L, wherein the beginning of the maximum diameter D2 coincides with the beginning of the capillary or deviates therefrom by a maximum of 10% of the length L.
US08018153B2
The present invention provides an electroluminescent element, including: a substrate; a first electrode layer formed on a surface of the substrate; an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the first electrode layer, the organic electroluminescent layer including at least a luminescent layer; a second electrode layer formed such that the organic electroluminescent layer is interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and a sealing base material for sealing the first electrode layer, the organic electroluminescent layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the sealing base material is a flexible film and a lamination impact alleviating layer of which universal hardness value is no smaller than 110 N/nm2 is formed on the second electrode layer; when a flexible film is used as the sealing base material and the flexible film is laminated with the substrate at a predetermined pressure, the organic electroluminescent layer is prevented from being scratched or cracked, thus, an EL element which effects even luminescence can reliably be obtained.
US08018148B2
A light-emissive device comprising: a light-emissive region (12); a first electrode (10) located on a viewing side of the light-emissive region for injecting charge carriers of a first type: and a second-electrode (11) located on a non-viewing side of the light-emissive region for injecting charge carriers of a second type; and wherein there is a reflectivity-influencing structure (13) located on the non-viewing side of the light-emissive region and including a light absorbent layer comprising graphite and/or a fluoride or oxide of a low work function metal.
US08018134B2
A light source of the present invention includes: a semiconductor light emitting device which has a light emitting face and emits light from part of the light emitting face; a container which has a light transmitting window for transmitting the light and accommodates the semiconductor light emitting device; and a gettering portion for performing gettering of a material containing at least one of carbon and silicon. The gettering portion is positioned, in the container, in a region other than the part of the light emitting face of the semiconductor light emitting device.
US08018106B2
A magnetic bearing device and a method of operation for such a device are provided. The device comprises a group (410) of electromagnetic actuators (411, 412, 413, 414). Each actuator is electrically connected to an amplifier unit (701). The actuators of a first subgroup are connected to a first common node (608), while the actuators of a second subgroup are connected to a second common node (609). The common nodes (608, 609) are connected either directly or through means like an additional actuator. Preferably the common nodes (608, 609) have no additional electrical connection to the amplifier unit. According to a special embodiment of the invention, each subgroup of actuators consists of only one single actuator and the common node has an electrical connection to the amplifier. Thus the device comprises two actuators in a series configuration connected to an H bridge. The common node may be connected to either of two different voltages. The invention enables simplified wiring without increased load requirements for the wires.
US08018103B2
A driving apparatus includes: a rotating electrical machine; an inverter capable of supplying electric power to the rotating electrical machine; an electrical device connected to the inverter; a containing case capable of containing the rotating electrical machine, the inverter, and the electrical device; and a cooling coolant circulation circuit, distributing cooling coolant capable of cooling the inverter and the electrical device, which allows the inverter to be cooled at an upstream side relative to the electrical device in a direction in which the cooling coolant is distributed.
US08018102B2
A superconducting field coil assembly includes a superconducting field coil disposed within a vacuum insulated electro-magnetic (EM) shielded cryostat. A water cooling jacket is thermally integrated with the outer surface of the EM shielded cryostat.
US08018100B2
A permanent magnet motor having an axially magnetized pull magnet consisting of a baseplate on which a stator lamination stack having stator windings is disposed, wherein a hub is disposed opposite the baseplate, the hub being connected to a shaft that is supported with respect to a bearing bush via one or more fluid bearings wherein the hub carries at least one annular rotor magnet that lies radially opposite the stator lamination stack, wherein a pulling device acting in an axial direction and operating under the influence of magnetic tensile forces is disposed in the region between the hub and the stationary part of the motor, wherein the pulling device consists of a permanent magnetic pull magnet on the side of the rotor that interacts magnetically with surfaces on the side of the stator.
US08018094B1
An interim power source includes an energy storage, a switch coupled with the energy storage, and a control circuit coupled with the switch. The switch selects a source of power being delivered out of an output power terminal to an electronic device. The control circuit may cause the switch to select the source of power from at least one of an input power terminal and the energy storage. The input power terminal may include a main power source and a backup or secondary power source.
US08018088B2
Efficient multiple power outputs are provided by receiving a primary voltage as an input to a bridge module and providing one or more secondary voltages as outputs of the bridge module. The secondary voltages are generated on the secondary side of one or more respective secondary windings of a transformer. The bridge module includes at least one primary complementary pair of switches on the primary winding side of the transformer and a secondary complementary pair of switches on the secondary side of each secondary winding of the transformer. The secondary output voltages are received from the bridge module by one or more output voltage regulation modules. Each output voltage regulation module receives one of the secondary voltages from the bridge module as an input and provides at least one regulated output voltage as an output.
US08018085B2
The present invention has a theme of a mobile body capable of securing reliability of the mobile body at a time of start. The mobile body includes a driving force generation device which generates a driving force of the mobile body; a power accumulation device and a fuel cell capable of supplying a power to the driving force generation device; and a control device which controls driving of the driving force generation device. The control device prohibits to start driving the driving force generation device by the power supply of the power accumulation device, in a case where there is a possibility of failure in startup of the fuel cell when starting the mobile body.
US08018077B2
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a technique of fabricating or manufacturing MEMS having mechanical structures that operate in controlled or predetermined mechanical damping environments. In this regard, the present invention encapsulates the mechanical structures within a chamber, prior to final packaging and/or completion of the MEMS. The environment within the chamber containing and/or housing the mechanical structures provides the predetermined, desired and/or selected mechanical damping. The parameters of the encapsulated fluid (for example, the gas pressure) in which the mechanical structures are to operate are controlled, selected and/or designed to provide a desired and/or predetermined operating environment.
US08018076B2
A semiconductor package includes a substrate for mounting and fixing a semiconductor chip thereon and a connecting pattern. The substrate is provided with an elongate opening formed therein. The semiconductor chip is fixed with its surface being mounted on the substrate and with its electrode being aligned within the elongate opening. The electrode of the semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the connecting pattern via wires through the elongate opening. The elongate opening and the wires are sealed with resin.
US08018071B2
This invention provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a bonding pad array comprising: a signal bonding pad, a control pin bonding pad and at least one stacking bonding pad on an active surface. At least one stacking bonding pad is adjacent to the control pin bonding pad. This invention also provides a stacked structure of semiconductor devices and/or a semiconductor device package including the semiconductor device.
US08018061B2
An integrated circuit processing system is provided including a substrate having an integrated circuit; an interconnect layer over the integrated circuit; a low-K dielectric layer over the interconnect layer; a hard mask layer over the low-K dielectric layer; a via opening through the hard mask layer and the low-K dielectric layer to the interconnect layer; and an interconnect metal in the via opening.
US08018060B2
A system and method for forming post passivation metal structures is described. Metal interconnections and high quality electrical components, such as inductors, transformers, capacitors, or resistors are formed on a layer of passivation, or on a thick layer of polymer over a passivation layer.
US08018049B2
A silicon condenser microphone package and method for manufacture are disclosed. The silicon condenser microphone package includes a silicon condenser microphone die, a substrate comprising a conductive layer, and a cover having a conductive layer, where the conductive layers of the substrate and cover are electrically connected to form an electromagnetic interference shield for the silicon condenser microphone die. The method for manufacturing the silicon condenser microphone package involves placement of a plurality of silicon condenser microphone dies on a panel of printed circuit board material, placement of covers over each of the silicon condenser microphone dies, and then separating the panel into individual packages.
US08018044B2
A semiconductor device P includes a die pad 20, a semiconductor element 30 which is loaded on the die pad 20, and a sealing resin 40. A plurality of electrically conductive portions 10 each having a layered structure including a metal foil 1 comprising copper or a copper alloy, and electrically conductive portion plating layers 2 provided at both upper and lower ends of the metal foil 1 are arranged around the die pad 20. The die pad 20 has a lower die pad plating layer 2b, and the semiconductor element 30 is loaded on the die pad 20 comprising such a die pad plating layer 2b. Electrodes 30a provided on the semiconductor element 30 are electrically connected with top ends of the electrically conductive portions 10 via wires 3, respectively. The lower electrically conductive portion plating layers 2 of the electrically conductive portions 10 and the die pad plating layer 2b of the die pad 20 are exposed outside from the sealing resin 40 on their back faces.
US08018041B2
An integrated circuit package system provides a leadframe having a short lead finger and a long lead finger, and the long lead finger and the short lead finger reside substantially within the same horizontal plane. A first die is placed in the leadframe. A second die is offset from the first die. The offset second die is attached over the first die and the long lead finger with an adhesive. The first die is electrically connected to the short lead finger. The second die is electrically connected to at least the long lead finger or the short lead finger. At least portions of the leadframe, the first die, and the second die are encapsulated in an encapsulant.
US08018037B2
A semiconductor chip package is provided. The semiconductor chip package includes a lead frame having a chip carrier. A semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip carrier, having a plurality of bonding pads thereon. A package substrate has a cavity therein to accommodate the chip carrier and the semiconductor chip, wherein at least one of the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip is electrically coupled to the package substrate.
US08018036B2
An ultra-thin Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) semiconductor chip package having a leadframe with lead terminals formed by recesses from both the top and bottom surfaces and substantially aligned contact areas formed on either the top or bottom surfaces. A die is electrically connected to the plurality of lead terminals and a molding compound encapsulates the leadframe and die together so as to form the ultra-thin QFN package. Accordingly, the substantially aligned contact areas are exposed on both the top and bottom surfaces of the package. The present disclosure also provides an ultra-thin Optical Quad Flat No-Lead (OQFN) semiconductor chip package, a stacked semiconductor module comprising at least two QFN semiconductor chip packages, and a method for manufacturing an ultra-thin Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) semiconductor packages.
US08018025B2
A nonvolatile memory cell includes: a rail-shaped first conductor formed at a first height above a substrate; a rail-shaped second conductor formed above the first conductor; and a vertically oriented first pillar comprising a p-i-n first diode; wherein the first pillar is disposed between the second conductor and the first conductor; wherein the first diode comprises an intrinsic or lightly doped region; and wherein the intrinsic or lightly doped region has a first thickness of about 300 angstroms or greater. Numerous additional aspects are provided.
US08018022B2
A guard ring structure for use in a semiconductor device. The guard ring structure includes a semiconductor layer stack having a first layer and a second layer on top of the first layer, gates structures formed in the first layer; and guard rings formed in the first layer. The second layer has a dopant concentration that is higher than the dopant concentration of the first layer. The gates and the guard rings are formed simultaneously using a single mask.
US08018019B2
A semiconductor having a an n-type material and a p-type material, wherein the n-type material and p-type material are joined to form a space-charge-free p-n junction. The energy of the Fermi-level of the n-type material is equal to the energy of the Fermi-level of the p-type material. This allows for the pre-alignment of the Fermi-levels of the n-type and the p-type materials. The semiconductor has minimal or no g-r noise. The semiconductor can be operated at TBLIP in the range of about 220° to about 240° K.
US08018014B2
A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate: a photodiode responsive to a light, which is formed in the semiconductor substrate; at least an interlayer insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the at least an interlayer insulating layer comprising an upper most insulating layer; at least a conductive wiring layer, comprising an upper most conductive wiring layer formed on the upper most insulating layer; and a first passivation layer formed over the upper-most conductive wiring layer. The upper-most wiring layer is not formed directly above the photodiode. The first passivation layer is made of a permeability-resist material and is not formed directly above the photodiode.
US08018013B2
A pixel structure including a scan line, a data line, an active device, a shielding electrode, and a pixel electrode is provided on a substrate. The data line includes an upper conductive wire and a bottom conductive wire. The upper conductive wire is disposed over and across the scan line. The bottom conductive wire is electrically connected to the upper conductive wire. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the upper conductive wire. The shielding electrode is disposed over the bottom conductive wire. The pixel electrode disposed over the shielding electrode is electrically connected to the active device. In addition, parts of the pixel electrode and parts of the shielding electrode form a storage capacitor.
US08018012B2
A solid-state image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion region formed in an upper part of a semiconductor substrate, for generating charges by photoelectric conversion; a transfer region formed in the upper part of the semiconductor substrate and located on a side of the photoelectric conversion region, for transferring the charges; and a transfer electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate and located above the transfer region. The solid-state image sensor further includes: a first insulating film which covers the photoelectric conversion region and the transfer electrode; an antireflection film which covers the first insulating film; and a first light-shielding film which is formed on the antireflection film and covers at least the transfer electrode. The antireflection film and the first light-shielding film have an opening above the transfer electrode.
US08018006B2
A semiconductor device includes a lower substrate, a thin semiconductor layer and an insulating layer formed between the lower substrate and the semiconductor layer. An active transistor area is formed with a base formed along a surface of the semiconductor layer, an emitter region formed in the base, a buried collector in the thin semiconductor layer to contact the insulating layer, a collector contacting the buried collector, and emitter, collector and base contacts. The active transistor area is configured to operate at an emitter current at least in the order of mA (milli-ampere). An isolation trench extends through the semiconductor layer to the insulating layer and surrounds the active transistor area with a distance in the order of μm (micron) from the active transistor area and with a space area of more than 50 μm2 between the active transistor area and the isolation trench.
US08017985B2
Disclosed are embodiments for a container capacitor structure in which at least two container capacitors, e.g., an inner and outer container capacitor, are made concentric and nested with respect to one another. The nested capacitors are formed in one embodiment by defining a hole in a dielectric layer for the nested container capacitors in the vicinity of two capacitor contact plugs. An outer capacitor plate is formed by etching back poly 1 to leave it substantially on the vertical edges of the hole and in contact with one of the plugs. At least one sacrificial sidewall is formed on the poly 1, and poly 2 is deposited over the sidewalls to form an inner capacitor plate in contact with the other plug. The structure is planarized, the sacrificial sidewalls are removed, a capacitor dielectric is formed, and is topped with poly 3. Additional structures such as a protective layer (to prevent poly 1-to-poly 2 shorting) and a conductive layer (to strap the plugs to their respective poly layers) can also be used.
US08017982B2
Methods for fabricating photoimagers, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imagers, include fabricating image sensing elements, transistors, and other low-elevation features on an active surface of a fabrication substrate, and fabricating contact plugs, conductive lines, external contacts, and other higher-elevation features on the back side of the fabrication substrate. Imagers with image sensing elements and transistors on the active surface and contact plugs that extend through the substrate are also disclosed, as are electronic devices including such imagers.
US08017973B2
There are provided a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a buffer layer on a sapphire substrate, wherein the buffer layer includes a plurality of layers having different lattice constants, a first n-type nitride semiconductor layer on the buffer layer, an active layer on the first n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer on the active layer.
US08017972B2
A multilayered white light emitting diode and a method of fabricating the same include forming a phosphor mixture layer including a green phosphor and a blue phosphor on a UV light emitting diode and forming a red quantum dot layer on the phosphor mixture layer. In the white light emitting diode of the present invention, the quantum dots are excited by green and blue visible light, thus increasing luminescence efficiency and realizing stable white light. Moreover, the white light emitting diode can be widely used as a light source having high output and high efficiency, thus being capable of substituting for a backlight unit of an illumination device or display device.
US08017945B2
There is provided an electronic device having high reliability and high color reproducibility. A pixel structure is made such that a switching FET (201) and an electric current controlling FET (202) are formed on a single crystal semiconductor substrate (11), and an EL element (203) is electrically connected to the electric current controlling PET (202). The fluctuation in characteristics of the electric current controlling FET (202) is very low among pixels, and an image with high color reproducibility can be obtained. By taking hot carrier measures in the electric current controlling FET (202), the electronic device having high reliability can be obtained.
US08017944B2
There is provided an electronic device in which the deterioration of the device is prevented and an aperture ratio is improved without using a black mask and without increasing the number of masks. In the electronic device, a first electrode (113) is disposed on another layer different from the layer on which a gate wiring (145) is disposed as a gate electrode, and a semiconductor layer of a pixel switching TFT is superimposed on the gate wiring (145) so as to be shielded from a light. Thus, the deterioration of the TFT is suppressed, and a high aperture ratio is realized.
US08017934B2
Gate electrodes are formed on a semiconducting carbon nanotube, followed by deposition and patterning of a hole-inducing material layer and an electron inducing material layer on the carbon nanotube according to the pattern of a one dimensional circuit layout. Electrical isolation may be provided by cutting a portion of the carbon nanotube, forming a reverse biased junction of a hole-induced region and an electron-induced region of the carbon nanotube, or electrically biasing a region through a dielectric layer between two device regions of the carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotubes may be arranged such that hole-inducing material layer and electron-inducing material layer may be assigned to each carbon nanotube to form periodic structures such as a static random access memory (SRAM) array.
US08017932B2
A light-emitting device includes a group III nitride semiconductor layer of a multilayer structure consisting of a group III nitride semiconductor having a major surface defined by a nonpolar plane or a semipolar plane and having at least an n-type layer and a p-type layer. A surface of the group III nitride semiconductor layer on a light extraction side is a mirror surface. The light-emitting device may further include a transparent electrode in contact with the surface of the group III nitride semiconductor layer on the light extraction side. In this case, a surface of the transparent electrode on the light extraction side is preferably a mirror surface.
US08017923B2
There is provided an infrared light source that has a simple structure and radiates infrared rays polarized in a specific direction and having a specific wavelength. The infrared light source (100) comprises a heat generator (107) and a latticework (101) in which a dielectric part (105) and a metal part (103) are alternately formed at a constant pitch in a constant direction. The infrared rays are radiated in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the latticework and are polarized in the direction indicated by an arrow A. If the constant pitch is denoted by P, the width of the dielectric part in the constant direction by T, and the specific wavelength by λ, for arbitrary P and T that meet the inequalities 0
US08017907B2
A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may include an initial processing module and a spectra processing module. According to one embodiment, the spectra processing module generates stick spectra and supplies the stick spectra to an external processor. The stick spectra comprise a peak intensity, resolution, and a location in the spectra for each detected peak. The stick spectra may be generated in real time.
US08017905B2
In a method of calibrating the pulse energy of a laser device which provides pulsed working laser radiation, by means of the working laser radiation, multiple test ablations, in particular multiple-pulse test ablations, are carried out on one or more test objects, each with different pulse energy. The ablation depth of each of the test ablations is measured, and then, on the basis of the measured ablation depths and a specified setpoint ablation depth, an associated setpoint pulse energy is determined and set on the laser device. According to the invention, the ablation depths are measured by means of a coherent optical interferometric measuring device.The invention also concerns a laser device, in particular to carry out the above method.
US08017899B2
In coded aperture imaging knowledge of the coded array pattern and its positional relation to the detector array is needed in order to be able to reconstruct the scene image. Usually a theoretical model of the coded array is used and the actual array needs to be aligned accurately with respect to the detector. The present invention uses a coded aperture imager to image a reference object in the scene and uses the intensity pattern on the detector array to determine the decoding pattern corresponding to the coded aperture array. The reference object may be a point source in which case the pattern on the detector array may be used directly as the decoding pattern or it may be used to correct a theoretical pattern for any misalignment.
US08017898B2
A vehicular imaging system includes a forward facing photosensor array and a control responsive to the photosensor array. The control processes an image data set indicative of captured images, and the control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set to determine whether an object of interest is within a target zone of the captured image. The reduced image data set is representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a particular grouping of the photosensor elements. The control adjusts the reduced image data set so as to be representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a different particular grouping of the photosensor elements, and adjusts the reduced image data set in response to a determination of a change in a focus of expansion of the captured images.
US08017887B2
A method for connecting two or more components including overlapping surface sections via a laser beam. In the method, prior to the laser welding, the components are fixed in a positive fit to at least one of the overlapping surface sections by local cold joining, preferably via rivets or screws and are then laser welded, a laser weld seam being created in close proximity to each fixing point that has been produced by cold joining, in particular as close as possible to the rivet or screw.
US08017884B2
An integrated touch panel including a first, second, and third substrates, a first and second adhesive layers, a first and second axial conductive layers, a shielding layer, a first and second conductive films, two first and second conductive electrodes is provided. The first axial conductive layer, the first adhesive layer and the second axial conductive layer are laminated in order between the first substrate and the second substrate. The shielding layer and the first conductive film are adjacent to each other and disposed between the second substrate and the third substrate. The second adhesive layer and the second conductive film are laminated in order between the first conductive film and the third substrate. Two first conductive electrodes are disposed in parallel between the first conductive film and the second adhesive layer, and two second conductive electrodes are disposed in parallel between the first conductive film and the second adhesive layer.
US08017881B2
A circuit breaker enables selective left, right or a combination of both side connection to a power conductor, such as a cable or wire. Side connection eliminates the need for large radius U-bends of the power conductor that is normally required when using top connection circuit breakers. An electrically non-conductive cavity commonly defined by left and right sides of the circuit breaker housing receives the power conductor in a connector such as a lug. The circuit breaker may have a visualization window oriented to observe whether excessive cable is projecting out of the lug, so as to confirm compliance with electrical code over surface spacing requirements. In some embodiments, the circuit breaker lugs are vertically oriented above its front cover surface in a receptacle portion of the housing. The receptacle may be constructed for selective lug orientation in horizontal or vertical positions by the installer.
US08017878B2
The present invention protects a mass sensor from an overload in any direction. A support structure is accommodated in a case, has a floating frame provided on one end side and a fixed portion provided on the other end side, receives a load of an object to be weighed placed on a scale pan with the aid of the floating frame part, and supports the mass sensor used in scales to detect the mass of the object to be weighed. The support structure has a spring member for supporting the mass sensor, and is interposed between the fixed portion and the case, which are structural members. The spring member is elastically deformed in advance to thereby press/urge on the fixed portion of the mass sensor and cause the portion to come into contact with the structural member side. The spring member deforms elastically so that the fixed portion separates from the contact location when a force greater than the pressing/urging force is applied.
US08017870B2
A fastening device for a line, in particular for an electric cable (12) in a motor vehicle, is proposed, the fastening device having a bush (10) which can be locked in a holder (18), at least partially surrounds the line, is made of elastically deformable material and is fastened releaseably in a cutout (16) of the holder (18) by means of a contour (14). According to the invention, the surface of a bush (10), which is injection-moulded from plastic, is of segmented design in order to obtain easier deformability of the bush when fitting it into an associated holder (18).
US08017867B2
A highly foamed coaxial cable having an inner conductor disposed in the cable, a foamed insulator having porous cells surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the insulator, and a sheath surrounding the outer conductor and the insulator, wherein the total area of macro cell which has a diameter of at least 300/M is larger than the total area of micro cell which has a diameter smaller than 300/M at cross section of cable.
US08017862B2
In growing a single-crystal silicon by the present invention in a Czochralski method, after a surface of a silicon melt is brought into contact with a seed crystal in a crucible, the silicon melt being added with germanium, the single-crystal silicon is pulled while rotated, and the solar-cell single-crystal silicon substrate is sliced from the single-crystal silicon containing germanium, whereby a germanium content of solar-cell single-crystal silicon substrate is set in the range of not less than 0.03 mole % to less than 1.0 mole % when resistivity ranges from 1.4 to 1.9 Ωcm. Therefore, conversion efficiency is enhanced when compared with conventional single-crystal silicon substrates. Accordingly, solar cell power generation costs decreases, so that the single-crystal silicon of the present invention can widely be utilized as the substrate for the solar cell in which the high conversion efficiency is increasingly demanded.
US08017860B2
A photovoltaic device and related methods. The device has a structured material positioned between an electron collecting electrode and a hole collecting electrode. An electron transporting/hole blocking material is positioned between the electron collecting electrode and the structured material. In a specific embodiment, negatively charged carriers generated by optical absorption by the structured material are preferentially separated into the electron transporting/hole blocking material. In a specific embodiment, the structured material has an optical absorption coefficient of at least 103 cm−1 for light comprised of wavelengths within the range of about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
US08017859B2
Photovoltaic coatings and methods of making photovoltaic coatings are provided. The photovoltaic coating contains a semiconductor layer containing semiconductor elements such as silicon particles between bottom metal-semiconductor compounds and upper metal-semiconductor compounds. The upper metal-semiconductor compounds can exist at uppermost boundary portions between semiconductor elements and not substantially over uppermost surfaces of the semiconductor elements. The method can involve forming a semiconductor layer comprising semiconductor elements such as silicon particles over a conductive layer; forming first metal-semiconductor compounds at a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer; and forming second metal-semiconductor compounds at uppermost boundary portions between the semiconductor elements.
US08017848B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for turning the pages of books. The page turning apparatus includes a housing which receives the book. Further, the page turning apparatus includes a shaft having single or multiple protrusions. The shaft rotates and one or more of the protrusions attached to the shaft act through a number of steps to lift the page, and subsequently push the page as the shaft moves linearly to complete the page-turning process and then reset so the process can be repeated. The rotational motion and the linear motion are provided by one or more energy means. Also, the energy means provides a rotational and a linear motion to the shaft for turning the page of the book. In addition, the rotational motion of the shaft is followed by the linear motion along a horizontal axis of the housing.
US08017844B2
A tremolo mechanism having a novel roller mounted beneath a tensioned string of a stringed musical instrument is described. During oscillatory movement, the tensioned string exerts both a static and a vibratory force on the roller. The roller rotates in relation to the tensioned string such that the static force is generally greater than any component of the vibratory force. The novel roller may be a saddle roller with a saddle block having two opposing block walls which form a roller cavity. The block walls each have a roller bore aligned along a roller axis. The saddle roller includes a cylindrical body attached to a roller pin and a circumferential seat receiving a tension string. The roller pin is rotatably disposed such that the saddle roller is in the saddle block cavity. The roller axis extends obliquely to define an oblique roller angle.
US08017841B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5726358. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5726358. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5726358 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5726358 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08017835B2
The present invention relates to transformed plants with an altered terpene content, preferably over-accumulating a mono- or sesqui-terpene. By transformation of plants with genes encoding terpene synthases (TS), and prenyl transferases (PRT), plants accumulating at least 1000 ng/per g of fresh leaf of a specific terpene were obtained. The present invention provides an advantageous system for production of terpenes in that any desired mono- or sesqui-terpene at the choice of the skilled person can be produced in plants. Preferably, the transformed plants contain at least one recombinant plastid targeted TS and PRT.
US08017822B2
An integrated process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons and ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins from low molecular weight hydrocarbons, preferably methane, which comprises: (a) contacting at least one low molecular weight alkane, preferably methane, with a halogen, preferably bromine, under process conditions sufficient to produce a monohaloalkane, preferably monobromomethane, (b) reacting the monohaloalkane in the presence of a coupling catalyst to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and C2+ alkanes, (c) separating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the product mixture of step (b) to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, and (d) cracking at least part of the C2+ alkanes in an alkane cracking system to produce ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins.
US08017816B2
A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200° C., at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 250° C. at pressures from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium.
US08017798B2
A method for producing tetrafluoroterephthalic acid difluoride comprising reacting tetrachloroterephthalic acid dichloride with potassium fluoride in the presence of dimethyl sulfone.
US08017791B2
Novel 3,6-disubstituted pyrans, optionally with a further substituent at the 4-position, are monoamine reuptake inhibitors with activity profiles of anti-depressants.
US08017782B2
The present invention relates to 2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline derivatives having the general Formula (I) wherein the substituents are defined as in the description, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said derivatives, as well as to the use of these 2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline derivatives in therapy, more specifically for the treatment of fertility disorders.
US08017779B2
Imidazoquinoline and imidazonaphthyridine compounds having a nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl substituent at the 5-, 6-, 7-, or 8-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, and methods of making and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for modulating cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases are disclosed.
US08017775B2
An object of the present invention is to study synthesis of a novel 1,2-dihydroquinoline derivative and to find a pharmacological action of the derivative. A compound represented by the general formula (1) or a salt thereof is effective in the treatment of a glucocorticoid receptor-related disease. In the formula, the ring X represents a benzene ring or a pyridine ring; R1 represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an amino group or the like; p represents an integer of 0 to 5; R2 represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxy group or the like; q represents an integer of 0 to 2; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or the like; R4 and R5 represent a hydrogen atom or the like; R6 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; A represents an alkylene group or the like; and R7 represents OR8, NR8R9, SR8, S(O)R8 or S(O)2R8, wherein R8 represents an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or the like and R9 represents a hydrogen atom or the like.
US08017767B2
The present invention provides an improved form of crystalline sucralose.
US08017764B2
The present invention provides novel molecules, compositions, methods and uses for treating microvascular disorders, eye diseases respiratory conditions and hearing disorders based upon inhibition of the RTP801L gene and/or protein.
US08017756B2
Tools are provided which allow rapid and unequivocal identification of elite event A5547-127 in biological samples.
US08017754B2
Methods and compositions concerning mutant flaviviruses with reduced virulence. In some embodiments the invention concerns nucleotide sequences that encode mutant flaviviral proteins. Viruses comprising mutant NS1 and NS4B genes display reduced virulence are provided. In further aspects of the invention, flavivirus vaccine compositions such as West Nile virus vaccines are provided. In another embodiment the invention provides methods for vaccination against flavivirus infection.
US08017741B2
The present invention relates to a toxin comprising a modified light chain of a botulinum toxin type E, wherein the modified light chain comprises amino acid sequence PFVNKQFN (SEQ ID NO: 120) at the N-terminus, and amino acid sequence xDxxxLL (SEQ ID NO: 111) at the C-terminus, wherein x is any amino acid.
US08017727B2
Membrane translocation peptides, compositions comprising them, chimeric molecules comprising them, and methods of using them to achieve transmembrane transport of various agents.
US08017717B2
Polyesters such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate are made from melts of precondensates of polyesters by first conducting vapors comprising precondensate components distributed in the form of an aerosol through a polycondensation reactor in which precondensate components are deposited on the reactor wall and in an outlet chamber of the reactor on a separator. Then the deposits are conducted to the unstirred discharge sump. Upper layers of the discharge sump are continuously recirculated in the stirred reactor area and thus subjected to reconversion and further polycondensation.
US08017715B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a polyester film having excellent dimensional stability to temperature and humidity.The present invention is a polyester containing a dicarboxylic acid component and a diol component, wherein (i) the dicarboxylic acid component contains not less than 5 mol % and less than 50 mol % of a recurring unit represented by the following formula (A) and more than 50 mol % and not more than 95 mol % of a recurring unit represented by the following formula (B): wherein RA is an alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein RB is a phenylene group or naphthalenediyl group; and (ii) the diol component contains 90 to 100 mol % of a recurring unit represented by the following formula (C): —O—RC—O— (C) wherein RC is an alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and a film comprising the same.
US08017710B2
The present invention relates to a crosslinkable high pressure polyethylene composition containing ethylene silane copolymer resin having a content of silane of about 0.1 to 10 weight % and at least one silanol condensation catalyst. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation thereof, to a pipe made of said composition and to the use of the composition as an insulation for a cable.
US08017707B2
The invention provides homogeneous compositions in solid form comprising a) from 50 to 90% by weight of polyvinyl acetate and b) from 10 to 50% by weight of vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate copolymer, the weight percentages based on the total weight of the composition.
US08017705B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a syndiotactic propylene polymer having a syndiotactic pentad fraction (rrrr fraction) of not less than 85%, a melting point (Tm) within the range of 145-170° C. and a limiting viscosity [η] within the range of 0.1-10 dl/g by a solution polymerization method using a group 4 crosslinked metallocene compound, which is not accompanied by precipitation of a polymer (excluding white turbidity). Also disclosed is a production method which enables to continuously perform such a production.
US08017704B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of propylene copolymers wherein in a first step an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component is subjected to a prepolymerization reaction in a prepolymerization reactor, in which propylene monomers are present in an amount of 98.0 to 99.9 mol % and further alpha-olefin monomers other than propylene are present in an amount of 0.1 to 2.0 mol %, based on the combined amount of propylene and further alpha-olefin monomers, so that a prepolymer is produced on the catalyst in an amount of 10 to 1000 g per g of the solid catalyst component, and in a second, subsequent step propylene and further alpha-olefin monomers other than propylene are copolymerized in the presence of the prepolymerized catalyst produced in the first step so that a propylene copolymer is obtained which contains at least 0.1 mol % of alpha-olefin units other than propylene, to propylene copolymers obtainable by such a process and to the use of a prepolymerized catalyst in such a process.
US08017703B2
Continuous feed of auxiliaries for the polymerization reaction of ethylene, propene, and other higher homologous olefins in the preparation of homo- and copolymers, avoiding production of inhomogeneities, such as lumps or chunks which are present because the condition of the auxiliaries is not suitable for precise metering, becomes possible when auxiliaries in paste or solid form, in particular antistatic auxiliaries, are subjected, prior to feed, to a heat treatment in the presence of a solvent at a temperature of from 20 to 80° C., and then recooled, and then fed to the polymerization reaction.
US08017696B2
Vulcanizable elastomeric compositions and vulcanizates are prepared by employing a titanium compound. The titanium compound is believed to enhance the reaction between a silica particle and a silica-reactive compound.
US08017683B1
A temporary pipe damming composition comprising water, shredded paper, triethanolamine, Carbomer, and a preservative are mixed into a dough-like consistency. The damming composition is molded and inserted into a pipe to isolate any water or moisture from a working area. The plumber assembles the piping, securing the joints via a sweating process. The damming composition is dissolved by increasing the water pressure after completion and inspection of the plumbing work.
US08017677B2
A compound having a particular structural formula containing plural alkyl groups connected to each other, such as 9-methylenenonadecane, 2-decyl-2-octyloxirane and the like, is mixed in a resin composition for sealing. Accordingly, a resin composition without surface stickiness is obtained that has low viscosity and excellent thixotropic property before curing, and has excellent adhesion property and low tackiness residual property after curing, which can be favorably used as a resin composition for sealing for construction and automobile.
US08017672B2
A polymer-cement composite comprises, by weight percent, about 40% to 50% inert, inorganic filler material, such as silica sand; about 12% to 23% latex, preferably in aqueous suspension; about 20% to 25% hydraulic cement; and reactive silica in an amount of at least about 6 weight percent. The reactive silica is a pozzolanic material, and in preferred embodiments, where the cement is portland cement, comprises an advantageous mixture of precipitated and ground silica. All solid components have a particle size of less than about 300 microns. The polymer-cement composite is preferably made by dry mixing of the powdered components throughly in a high intensity mixer, adding the liquid components, and wet mixing to form a thoroughly blended, de-aired green mixture. The green mixture is formed into any desired shape, cured, and dried. Preferably, the product is cured in a warm, moist environment.
US08017667B2
An antimicrobial packaging material for food stuffs containing from 0.05% to 1.5% by weight of a natural essential oil. The oil can be selected from primarily linalool and/or methylchavicol, but also from one or more of citral, geraniol, methyl cinnamate, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, trans-a-bergamotene, carvacrol and thymol blended with one or more polymers selected from ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyacrylates, including ethyl acrylate methyl methacrylate copolymers, lonomers, nylons and other hydrophilic polymers or polymers possessing functional groups capable of partially anchoring the additives and the blender mix is coated onto the food contact face of a food grade packaging film or incorporated into a food grade packaging film. A binding agent such as polyethylene glycol is added to the blend to improve the retention of the volatile oil in the polymer during processing. This material has no regulatory limitations and, at the referred concentrations, does not form detectable off-flavors.
US08017655B2
The present invention provides cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-cycloalkyl or arylalkyl compounds, which may be substituted in the 1-position with amino, amido, ether or ester groups, e.g., a 1-OH cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-(cycloalkyl or arylalkyl) compound. The cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-(cycloalkyl or arylalkyl) compounds of the present invention are potent ocular hypotensives, and are particularly suitable for the management of glaucoma. Moreover, the cyclopentane heptanoic, 2-(cycloalkyl or arylalkyl) compounds of this invention are smooth muscle relaxants with broad application in systemic hypertensive and pulmonary diseases; smooth muscle relaxants with application in gastrointestinal disease, reproduction, fertility, incontinence, shock, etc.
US08017650B2
The invention relates to novel compounds of general formula I wherein M represents hydrogen, or a metallic cation, preferably an alkaline metal, or alkaline-earth metal, and n is equal to 1, 2 or 3. The present invention also comprises compounds of general formula I in their equilibrium forms, including lactonic forms, their enantiomers in pure form, or in an enriched form in one of the optical isomers, racemic mixtures, diastereomers and solvates thereof. The present invention further relates to processes for the preparation of compounds of general formula I, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of general formula I as only active ingredient, or in association with other active ingredients. Another aspect of the invention is the use of compounds of general formula I for the treatment of dyslipidemia, associated, or not, to other metabolic disorders, such as glucose intolerance syndrome and type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, by means of isolated administration or combined with other substances.
US08017638B2
Disclosed is a compound useful as an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.A compound represented by the formula: a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein R1 is a group of the formula: —C(═O)NR4R5, (wherein R4 and R5 are each independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or the like) or a group of the formula: —NR6C(═O)R7, (wherein R6 and R7 are each independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or the like), X and Y are each independently —O— or the like, Z is a bond or the like, R2 is optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or the like, R3 is optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or the like.
US08017610B2
The present invention relates to a compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof having superior glucokinase activating activity, and is a compound represented by general formula (I), or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: [wherein, A represents, for example, an oxygen atom or sulfur atom, R1 represents, for example, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 alkoxy group or a C1-C6 halogenated alkyl group, A and R1 together with the carbon atom bonded thereto form a heterocyclic group that may be substituted with 1 to 3 group(s) independently selected from Substituent Group α, R2 represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with 1 to 5 group(s) independently selected from Substituent Group α or a heterocyclic group that may be substituted with 1 to 3 group(s) independently selected from Substituent Group α, R3 represents a hydroxy group or a C1-C6 alkoxy group, and Substituent Group α consists of, for example, a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 alkyl group substituted with 1 or 2 hydroxy group(s), a C1-C6 alkylsulfonyl group, and a group represented by the formula —V—NR5R6 (wherein, V represents a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group, and R5 and R6 may be the same or different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group, or R5 and R6 together with the nitrogen atom bonded thereto form a 4- to 6-membered saturated heterocycle that may be substituted with 1 or 2 group(s) independently selected from a C1-C6 alkyl group and a hydroxy group, and the 4- to 6-membered saturated heterocycle may further contain one oxygen atom or nitrogen atom)].
US08017607B2
There are provided compounds of the formula wherein X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R3, R4, and R5 are as described herein and enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof which are useful as anticancer agents.
US08017604B2
The invention is concerned with novel imidazopyridine derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and A are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds inhibit PDE10A and can be used for the treatment of various diseases, including central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia.
US08017602B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) wherein W, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy.
US08017600B2
Imidazole compounds, compositions, and methods of using them in leukocyte recruitment inhibition, in modulating H4 receptor expression, and in treating conditions such as inflammation, H4 receptor-mediated conditions, and related conditions.
US08017589B2
What is described are a compound of the formula wherein n is 0 or 1; A-B is —CH═CH— or —CH2—CH2—; R1 is C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl or C2-C12-alkenyl; R2 is for example C1-C12-alkyl, C2-C12-alkenyl or C2-C12-alkinyl; which are optionally substituted with one to five substituents selected from the group consisting of OH, halogen, CN, —N3, —NO2, C3-C8-Cycloalkyl, norbornylenyl-, C3-C8-Cycloalkenyl; C3-C8-halocycloalkyl, C1-C12-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkoxy-C1-C6-alkoxy, C3-C8-cycloalkoxy, C1-C12-haloalkoxy, C1-C12-alkylthio, C3-C8-cycloalkylthio, C1-C12-haloalkylthio, C1-C12-alkylsulfinyl, C3-C8-cycloalkylsulfinyl, C1-C12-haloalkylsulfinyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkylsulfinyl, C1-C12-alkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-cycloalkylsulfonyl, C1-C12-haloalkylsulfonyl, C3-C8-halocycloalkylsulfonyl, —NR4R6, —X—C(═Y)—R4, —X—C(═Y)—Z—R4, —P(═O)(OC1-C6-alkyl)2, aryl, heterocyclyl, aryloxy, arylthio and heterocyclyloxy; R3 is for example H, C1-C12-alkyl or C1-C12-alkyl which is optionally substituted and, where applicable, to E/Z isomers, mixtures of E/Z isomers and/or tautomers, in each case in free form or in salt form; a process for preparing and using these compounds and their tautomers; pesticides whose active compound is selected from these compounds and their tautomers; and a process for preparing these compounds and compositions, and the use of these compounds and compositions.
US08017583B2
The disclosure herein relates to modified εPKC inhibitory peptides, methods of generating such peptides, and method for using εPKC inhibitory peptides for the treatment of pain.
US08017580B2
The present invention provides methods for the treatment, and pharmaceuticals for use in the treatment, of mammalian subjects in, or at risk of chronic renal failure, or at risk of a need for renal replacement therapy. The methods involve the administration of certain proteins of, or based upon, the osteogenic protein/bone morphogenetic protein (OP/BMP) family within the TGF-β superfamily of proteins.
US08017575B2
The present invention provides the use of somatostatin antagonists for treating and preventing HISS-dependent insulin resistance and hemorrhage induced insulin resistance. The present further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a somatostatin antagonist and a pharmaceutically acceptable liver targeting compound.
US08017561B2
The present invention relates to curable, permeable resin compositions and methods of using such compositions. One embodiment of provides a method of creating a resin mass comprising the steps of combining a resin, a hardening agent, a hydrocarbon diluent, a silane coupling agent, a foaming agent, a compressible gas, and a degradable material to form a resin composition; placing the resin composition in a subterranean formation; and, allowing the resin to substantially cure and the degradable material to substantially degrade so as to form a permeable, hardened resin mass. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a resin composition useful in subterranean applications comprising a resin, a hardening agent, a hydrocarbon diluent, a silane coupling agent, a foaming agent, a compressible gas, and a degradable material.
US08017559B2
The present invention provides novel polypeptides having the scaffold structure of a C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) and a randomized loop region for specifically binding a variety of target compounds and also provides nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. The present invention further provides combinatorial CTLD libraries, methods for constructing the libraries, and methods for screening the libraries to identify and isolate the novel CTLD polypeptides. Specifically, the invention provides libraries of nucleic acids encoding polypeptides having a scaffold CTLD with a randomized loop region, as well as nucleic acid sequences, vectors, and methods for preparing and expressing the libraries. Exemplary nucleic acids useful in the combinatorial libraries are derived from tetranectin and other proteins having a CTLD.
US08017558B2
Novel carboxamides of the formula (I) The present application is further directed toward a plurality of processes for preparing these compounds and their use for controlling unwanted microorganisms, and also novel intermediates and their preparation.
US08017555B2
Compositions and processes for controlling nematodes are described herein, e.g., nematodes that infest plants or animals. The compounds include oxazoles, oxadiazoles and thiadiazoles.
US08017544B2
A method is described for lowering the nitrate content in a cobalt catalyst precursor formed by impregnating a catalyst support with cobalt nitrate, comprising calcining the impregnated support in air to effect partial denitrification and subsequently heating the calcined impregnated support to a temperature below 250° C. in the presence of a gas mixture comprising 0.1-10% hydrogen by volume in an inert gas.
US08017543B2
The invention relates to a method of obtaining a homogeneous filtering structure for a catalytic application, which can be used as a particulate filter in an internal combustion engine exhaust line, said structure comprising a plurality of honeycomb filter elements in which a homogeneity criterion characteristic of the constituent support material of said elements, in the absence of a catalytic coating, is determined in a prior step, and then the elements making up the structure are selected by means of this homogeneity criterion so as to obtain a structure suitable for homogeneous deposition, within an element and from one element to another, of a catalyst for treating the pollutants in gas phase.The invention also relates to the homogeneous filtration structure obtained by said method.
US08017538B2
The invention relates to a dark gray soda-lime silicate glass composition which includes a coloring part essentially consisting of the compounds below in contents varying within the following weight limits: Fe2O3 (total iron)0.7 to 0.95% CoO 50 to 80 ppm NiO400 to 700 ppm or Fe2O3 (total iron)0.7 to 0.95% CoO200 to 300 ppm NiO1500 to 1900 ppm said composition being free of selenium, having a redox of 0.40 or less, and the glass having a light transmission factor (TLA) under illuminant A of 50% or less and an overall energy transmission factor (TE) of less than 45%, these being measured for a thickness of 3.85 mm.
US08017536B2
The invention starts from a known component of quartz glass for use in semiconductor manufacture, which component at least in a near-surface region shows a co-doping of a first dopant and of a second oxidic dopant, said second dopant containing one or more rare-earth metals in a concentration of 0.1-3% by wt. each (based on the total mass of SiO2 and dopant). Starting from this, to provide a quartz glass component for use in semiconductor manufacture in an environment with etching action, which component is distinguished by both high purity and high resistance to dry etching and avoids known drawbacks caused by co-doping with aluminum oxide, it is suggested according to the invention that the first dopant should be nitrogen and that the mean content of metastable hydroxyl groups of the quartz glass is less than 30 wtppm.
US08017530B1
Ballistic resistant fabrics and articles that retain their superior ballistic resistance performance after exposure to liquids such as sea water and organic solvents, such as gasoline and other petroleum-based products. The fabrics incorporate a fluorine-containing polymeric binder composition and an optional surfactant.
US08017525B2
A multichamber-type processing apparatus and processing method using same, in which a substrate is reliably neutralized without being damaged, thereby ensuring excellent accuracy and throughput. The processing apparatus includes a transfer chamber, etching chambers selectively communicating with the transfer chamber and providing a space to etch a first substrate therein, and ashing chambers selectively communicating with the transfer chamber and providing a space to ash a second substrate therein. A transfer mechanism is installed in the transfer chamber to sequentially transfer the substrate from the transfer chamber into the etching and ashing chambers. The substrate is electrostatically adsorbed to electrostatic chucks in the etching and ashing chambers. An monatomic nitrogen atom supply unit supplies dissociated monatomic nitrogen atoms into the etching and ashing chambers.
US08017523B1
Improved methods of depositing copper seed layers in copper interconnect structure fabrication processes are provided. Also provided are the resulting structures, which have improved electromigration performance and reduced line resistance. According to various embodiments, the methods involve depositing a copper seed bilayer on a barrier layer in a recessed feature on a partially fabricated semiconductor substrate. The bilayer has a copper alloy seed layer and a pure copper seed layer, with the pure copper seed layer is deposited on the copper alloy seed layer. The copper seed bilayers have reduced line resistance increase and better electromigration performance than conventional doped copper seed layers. Precise line resistance control is achieved by tuning the bilayer thickness to meet the desired electromigration performance.
US08017522B2
A mechanically robust semiconductor structure with improved adhesion strength between a low-k dielectric layer and a dielectric-containing substrate is provided. In particular, the present invention provides a structure that includes a dielectric-containing substrate having an upper region including a treated surface layer which is chemically and physically different from the substrate; and a low-k dielectric material located on a the treated surface layer of the substrate. The treated surface layer and the low-k dielectric material form an interface that has an adhesion strength that is greater than 60% of the cohesive strength of the weaker material on either side of the interface. The treated surface is formed by treating the surface of the substrate with at least one of actinic radiation, a plasma and e-beam radiation prior to forming of the substrate the low-k dielectric material.
US08017517B2
A method and system for forming dual damascene structures in a semiconductor package. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an intermediate dielectric layer on a bottom stop layer; forming an ashing removable dielectric layer on the intermediate dielectric layer; forming a patterned photoresist layer above the ashing removable dielectric layer in the semiconductor structure; and defining an in-situ hard mask in the ashing removable dielectric layer having an opening with a profile selected from the group consisting of a via, a trench, or a combination thereof. The profile of the in-situ mask preferably is capable of being transferred to the intermediate dielectric layer by etching.
US08017513B2
A method of manufacturing an IGZO active layer includes depositing ions including In, Ga, and Zn from a first target, and depositing ions including In from a second target having a different atomic composition from the first target. The deposition of ions from the second target may be controlled to adjust an atomic % of In in the IGZO layer to be about 45 atomic % to about 80 atomic %.
US08017509B2
The present invention relates a method for forming a monocrystalline GeN layer (4) on a substrate (1) comprising at least a Ge surface (3). The method comprises, while heating the substrate (1) to a temperature between 550° C. and 940° C., exposing the substrate (1) to a nitrogen gas flow. The present invention furthermore provides a structure comprising a monocrystalline GeN layer (4) on a substrate (1). The monocrystalline GeN formed by the method according to embodiments of the invention allows passivation of surface states present at the Ge surface (3).
US08017507B2
A TFT and the like capable of realizing performances such as a low threshold voltage value, high carrier mobility and a low leak current easily. A TFT consists of a polycrystalline Si film having a small heat capacity part and a large heat capacity part, and the small heat capacity part is used at least as a channel part. The polycrystalline Si film is formed of a crystal grain film through laser annealing of an energy density with which the small heat capacity part melts completely but the large heat capacity part does not melt completely. Since the channel part is formed of large crystal grains grown from the boundaries between the small heat capacity part and the large heat capacity parts, it is possible to realize performances such as a low threshold voltage value, high carrier mobility and a low leak current by using a typical laser annealing device.
US08017504B2
In a manufacturing flow for adapting the band gap of the semiconductor material with respect to the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode material, a strain-inducing material may be deposited to provide an additional strain component in the channel region. For instance, a layer stack with silicon/carbon, silicon and silicon/germanium may be used for providing the desired threshold voltage for a metal gate while also providing compressive strain in the channel region.
US08017499B2
A semiconductor structure for use as a template for forming high-performance metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a structure that includes a SiGe-on-insulator substrate including a tensile-strained SiGe alloy layer located atop an insulating layer; and a strained Si layer atop the tensile-strained SiGe alloy layer. The present invention also provides a method of forming the tensile-strained SGOI substrate as well as the heterostructure described above. The method of the present invention decouples the preference for high strain in the strained Si layer and the Ge content in the underlying layer by providing a tensile-strained SiGe alloy layer directly atop on an insulating layer.
US08017491B2
A method for fabricating a capacitor includes forming a sacrificial layer having a plurality of trenches on an upper portion of a substrate, forming storage nodes in the trenches, exposing upper portions of the storage nodes by removing a portion of the sacrificial layer, forming supporters to support the exposed upper portions of the storage nodes, removing the sacrificial layer under the supporters, and removing the supporters.
US08017490B2
Methods of forming a dielectric layer of a MIM capacitor can include forming a passivation layer on a dielectric layer of a MIM capacitor to separate the dielectric layer from direct contact with an overlying photo-resist pattern. Related capacitor structures are also disclosed.
US08017486B2
A lateral-double diffused MOS device is provided. The device includes: a first well having a first conductive type and a second well having a second conductive type disposed in a substrate and adjacent to each other; a drain and a source regions having the first conductive type disposed in the first and the second wells, respectively; a field oxide layer (FOX) disposed on the first well between the source and the drain regions; a gate conductive layer disposed over the second well between the source and the drain regions extending to the FOX; a gate dielectric layer between the substrate and the gate conductive layer; a doped region having the first conductive type in the first well below a portion of the gate conductive layer and the FOX connecting to the drain region. A channel region is defined in the second well between the doped region and the source region.
US08017485B2
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided, the methods include forming a first dielectric layer, a data storage layer, and a second dielectric layer, which are sequentially stacked, on a semiconductor substrate. A mask having a first opening exposing a first region of the second dielectric layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. A gate electrode filling at least a portion of the first opening is formed. A second opening exposing a second region of the second dielectric layer is formed by etching the mask such that the second region is spaced apart from the first region. A second dielectric pattern and a data storage pattern are formed by sequentially etching the exposed second region of the second dielectric layer and the data storage layer. The second dielectric pattern is formed to have a greater width than a lower surface of the gate electrode.
US08017480B2
A method for fabricating a floating gate memory device comprises using thin buried diffusion regions with increased encroachment by a buried diffusion oxide layer into the buried diffusion layer and underneath the tunnel oxide under the floating gate. Further, the floating gate polysilicon layer has a larger height than the buried diffusion height. The increased step height of the gate polysilicon layer to the buried diffusion layer, and the increased encroachment of the buried diffusion oxide, can produce a higher GCR, while still allowing decreased cell size using a virtual ground array design.
US08017476B2
A junction field effect transistor includes a channel region, a gate region coupled to the channel region, a well tap region coupled to the gate region and the channel region, and a well region coupled to the well tap region and the channel region. A double gate operation is achieved by this structure as a voltage applied to the gate region is also applied to the well region through the well tap region in order to open the channel from both the gate region and the well region.
US08017469B2
A method and apparatus are described for integrating dual gate oxide (DGO) transistor devices (50, 52) and core transistor devices (51, 53) on a single substrate (15) having a silicon germanium channel layer (21) in the PMOS device areas (112, 113), where each DGO transistor device (50, 52) includes a metal gate (25), an upper gate oxide region (60, 84) formed from a second, relatively higher high-k metal oxide layer (24), and a lower gate oxide region (58, 84) formed from a first relatively lower high-k layer (22), and where each core transistor device (51, 53) includes a metal gate (25) and a core gate dielectric layer (72, 98) formed from only the second, relatively higher high-k metal oxide layer (24).
US08017465B2
A method for manufacturing an array substrate of liquid crystal display is performed with the following steps: providing a substrate having gate lines, a gate insulating layer and an active layer pattern formed thereon in this order; depositing a first transparent conductive layer and a source/drain metal layer in this order on the substrate; forming a photoresist layer on the source/drain metal layer through a triple-tone mask; performing a wet-etching process on the source/drain metal layer and the first transparent conductive layer exposed from the photoresist layer; performing a first ashing process on the photoresist layer and performing a dry-etching process on the source/drain metal layer, the first transparent conductive layer and the active layer pattern exposed by the first ashing process; performing a second ashing process on the photoresist layer and performing a wet-etching process on the source/drain metal layer exposed by the second ashing process; and removing the remaining photoresist layer. According to the invention, the over-etching on the TFT channel region can be reduced and the display quality of the liquid crystal display can be ensured.
US08017462B2
A thin film transistor substrate and a fabricating method simplify a process and enlarge a capacitance value of a storage capacitor without any reduction of aperture ratio. A transparent first conductive layer and an opaque second conductive layer of a double-layer structured gate line are formed having a step coverage. A pixel electrode is provided on the gate insulating film within a pixel hole of said pixel area passing through the passivation film to be connected to the thin film transistor. A storage capacitor overlaps with the pixel electrode with having the gate insulating film therebetween and has a lower storage electrode protruded from the first conductive layer.
US08017456B2
The aperture ratio of a pixel of a reflecting type display device is improved without increasing the number of masks and without using a black mask. Locations for light shielding between pixels are arranged such that a pixel electrode overlaps with a portion of a gate wiring and a source wiring. In locations for shielding TFTs, a high pixel aperture ratio is realized by forming a color filter (red, or lamination of red and blue), formed on an opposing substrate.
US08017454B2
A method for forming a fuse of a semiconductor device includes performing an ion-implanting process at sides of a fuse blowing region of a metal fuse, thereby increasing the concentration of impurity ions of a thermal transmission path region. In a subsequent laser blowing process, as a result of the increased resistance of metal fuse the electric and thermal conductivity is reduced, thereby increasing the thermal condensation efficiency of the fuse blowing region and improving the efficiency of the laser blowing process.
US08017451B2
Electronic modules are formed by encapsulating microelectronic dies within cavities in a substrate.
US08017448B2
In a double-sided electrode package, a sealing resin layer is formed so as to fill peripheries of surface-side terminals formed on a package substrate. Since the side surfaces of the surface-side terminals have plural protruded rims, adhesion with the sealing resin layer is improved by an anchor effect. At a sealing step, since supplied liquid resin is naturally flowed to form the sealing resin layer, a “mold step” and a “grinding step” may be omitted, and thus the sealing step may be simplified more greatly than a case where the resin sealing is carried out by a transfer molding method.
US08017442B2
A method fabricates a packaging structure, including cutting a complete panel of packaging substrates with a large area into a plurality of packaging substrate blocks each having a plurality of packaging substrate units; mounting a semiconductor chip on each of the packaging substrate units and securing the semiconductor chip to the packaging substrate unit with a molding material, to form a plurality of packaging structure blocks each having a plurality of packaging structure units; and cutting the packaging structure block into a plurality of packaging structure units. Accordingly, each of the packaging structure unit has a moderate area, the alignment difference between the packaging structure units in each of the packaging structure blocks can be reduced, and the semiconductor chips for all the packaging substrate units in each of the packaging substrate blocks can be packaged at one time. Therefore, the yield is increased and the overall cost is reduced.
US08017440B2
The reliability of a semiconductor device is enhanced. A first lead frame, a first semiconductor chip, a second lead frame, and a second semiconductor chip are stacked over an assembly jig in this order with solder in between and solder reflow processing is carried out to fabricate their assembly. Thereafter, this assembly is sandwiched between first and second molding dies to form an encapsulation resin portion. The upper surface of the second die is provided with steps. At a molding step, the second lead frame is clamped between the first and second dies at a position higher than the first lead frame; and a third lead frame is clamped between the first and second dies at a higher position. The assembly jig is provided with steps at the same positions as those of the steps in the upper surface of the second die in positions corresponding to those of the same.
US08017435B2
The present invention relates to the field of electronic devices and their associated driver and/or controller integrated circuits and in particular to the mechanical packaging of electronic devices and to the packaging of electronic devices and their associated driver and/or controller integrated circuits.
US08017432B2
A method for formation of a phase change memory (PCM) cell includes depositing amorphous phase change material in a via hole, the via hole comprising a bottom and a top, such that the amorphous phase change material is grown on an electrode located at the bottom of the via hole; melt-annealing the amorphous phase change material; and crystallizing the phase change material starting at the electrode at the bottom of the via hole and ending at the top of the via hole.
US08017428B2
A process for the production of a silicon solar cell comprising application and firing of an aluminum paste which comprises magnesium oxide and/or magnesium compounds capable of forming magnesium oxide on firing on the back-side of a silicon wafer provided with a silicon nitride antireflective coating on its front-side and being contaminated with silicon nitride on its back-side, and firing the aluminum paste after its application.
US08017425B2
An image sensor capable of overcoming a decrease in photo sensitivity resulted from using a single crystal silicon substrate, and a method for fabricating the same are provided. An image sensor includes a single crystal silicon substrate, an amorphous silicon layer formed inside the substrate, a photodiode formed in the amorphous silicon layer, and a transfer gate formed over the substrate adjacent to the photodiode and transferring photoelectrons received from the photodiode.
US08017416B2
Presented is a method for the production of a plurality of optoelectronic semiconductor chips each having a plurality of structural elements with at least one semiconductor layer. The method involves providing a chip composite base that includes a substrate and a growth surface. A mask material layer is formed on the growth surface. The mask material layer includes a multiplicity of windows having an average extent of less than or equal to 1 μm. A mask material is chosen so that a semiconductor material of the semiconductor layer that is to be grown essentially cannot grow on the mask material or can grow in a substantially worse manner in comparison with the growth surface. Subsequently, semiconductor layers are deposited essentially simultaneously onto regions of the growth surface that lie within the windows. The chip composite base with applied material is singulated to form semiconductor chips.
US08017413B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a field emission array with a carbon microstructure. The method includes: a photomask attachment step of attaching a photomask with a pattern groove to one surface of a transparent substrate; a photoresist attachment step of attaching a negative photoresist to one surface of the photomask; an exposure step of irradiating light toward the opposite surface of the transparent substrate from the photomask to cure a portion of the negative photoresist with the light irradiated on the negative photoresist through the pattern groove; a developing step of removing an uncured portion of the negative photoresist while leaving the cured portion of the negative photoresist as a microstructure; a pyrolysis step of heating and carbonizing the microstructure thus obtained; and a cathode attachment step of attaching a voltage-supplying cathode to the surface of the transparent substrate on which the microstructure is formed.
US08017410B2
An electronic device (100) with one or more semiconductor chips (102) has an inductor (101) assembled on or under the chips. The inductor includes a ferromagnetic body (111) and a wire (104) wrapped around the body to form at least a portion of a loop; the wire ends (104a) are connected to the chips. The assembly is attached to a substrate (103), which may be a leadframe. The device may be encapsulated in molding compound (140) so that the inductor can double as a heat spreader (111c), enhancing the thermal device characteristics.
US08017399B2
A system and method are described for electroporating a sample that utilizes one or more sets of electrodes that are spaced apart in order to hold a surface tension constrained sample between the electrodes. The first electrode is connected to the lower body of the system while the second electrode is connected to the upper body. Both electrodes are connected to a pulse generator. Each electrode has a sample contact surface such that the first electrode and the second electrode may be positioned to hold a surface tension constrained sample between the two sample contact surfaces and the sample may receive a selected electric pulse.
US08017393B2
Methods of generating and expanding human hemangio-colony forming cells in vitro and methods of expanding and using such cells are disclosed. The methods permit the production of large numbers of hemangio-colony forming cells as well as derivative cells, such as hematopoietic and endothelial cells. The cells obtained by the methods disclosed may be used for a variety of research, clinical, and therapeutic applications.
US08017387B2
Polynucleotides encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) fusion proteins are provided, the TERT fusion proteins comprising a TERT protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin (LTB). TERT variants useful in TERT-LTB fusion proteins of the invention comprise mutations that function to eliminate telomerase catalytic activity. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type TERT. TERT expression is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the TERT tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant TERT expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector and plasmid constructs carrying polynucleotides encoding TERT fusion proteins and TERT variants and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer.
US08017382B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for conducting a variety of assays for the determination of analytes in liquid samples, and relates to the methods for such assays. In particular, the invention relates to a single-use cartridge designed to be adaptable to a variety of real-time assay protocols, preferably assays for the determination of analytes in biological samples using immunosensors or other ligand/ligand receptor-based biosensor embodiments. The cartridge provides novel features for processing a metered portion of a sample, for precise and flexible control of the movement of a sample or second fluid within the cartridge, for the amending of solutions with additional compounds during an assay, and for the construction of immunosensors capable of adaptation to diverse analyte measurements. The disclosed device and methods of use enjoy substantial benefits over the prior art, including simplicity of use by an operator, rapid in situ determinations of one or more analytes, and single-use methodology that minimizes the risk of contamination of both operator and patient. The disclosed invention is adaptable to the point-of-care clinical diagnostic field, including use in accident sites, emergency rooms, surgery, nursing homes, intensive care units, and non-medical environments.
US08017380B2
A real-time PCR system for detecting gene expression levels includes plural reaction regions, a like plural number of heating portions arranged corresponding to the reaction regions and having heat sources, respectively, an optical unit capable of irradiating exciting light of a specific wavelength to all of the plural reaction regions, and a like plural number of fluorescence detecting portions arranged corresponding to the reaction regions, respectively. The heating portions are each provided with a temperature detector for detecting a temperature in a vicinity of the corresponding heat source and converting the temperature into an electrical signal and also with a controller for controlling a thermal dose from the corresponding heat source based on a correlation between electrical signals and calorific values of the heat source stored beforehand.
US08017372B2
The present invention relates to a method for improving the properties of a cellulolytic enzyme by amino acid substitution, deletion or insertion, the method comprising the steps of: a. constructing a multiple alignment of at least two amino acid sequences known to have three-dimensional structures similar to endoglucanase V (EGV) from Humicola insolens known from Protein Data Bank entry 4ENG; b. constructing a homology-built three-dimensional structure of the cellulolytic enzyme based on the structure of the EGV; c. identifying amino acid residue positions present in a distance from the substrate binding cleft of not more than 5 Å; d. identifying surface-exposed amino acid residues of the enzyme; e. identifying all charged or potentially charged amino acid residue positions of the enzyme; f. choosing one or more positions wherein the amino acid residue is to be substituted, deleted or where an insertion is to be provided; and g. carrying out the substitution, deletion or insertion by using conventional protein engineering techniques. Also described are cellulase variants obtained by this method.
US08017368B2
The present invention provides for a system and method whereby aspirin and acetic acid help to permeabilize cell membranes to allow exogenous molecules to gain access to the cell interior. As such, the present invention provides a low cost drug and gene delivery tool that can be applied in combination with other molecular delivery methods.
US08017359B2
The invention concerns new analytical methods for detecting and identifying qualitatively and quantitatively germ contaminations, e.g. bacterial and yeast contaminations usings specific DNA sequences, indicating living and dead germs within 12 hours time or less. The DNA is amplified and as quantified. The invention also embraces kits.
US08017355B2
The present invention provides methods for producing recombinant peptides in a bacterial host utilizing a mannitol, arabitol, glucitol, or glycerol-inducible promoter, wherein the host bacterial cell that produces the peptide has been rendered incapable of degrading or metabolizing mannitol, arabitol, or glucitol, or derivatives or analogues thereof. The present invention provides bacterial cells that have been genetically altered to inhibit the metabolism or degradation of mannitol, glucitol, or arabitol, or derivatives or analogues thereof. The present invention utilizes mannitol, arabitol, glucitol, or glycerol to induce expression of a target polypeptide from an inducible promoter, allowing for the use of an inexpensive and stable carbon source inducer in the fermentation processes for the production of recombinant peptides.
US08017353B2
A chemostat is described that includes a growth chamber having a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments may be fluidly isolated from the rest of the growth chamber by one or more actuatable valves. The chemostat may also include a nutrient supply-line to supply growth medium to the growth chamber, and an output port to remove fluids from the growth chamber. Also, a method of preventing biofilm formation in a growth chamber of a chemostat is described. The method may include the steps of adding a lysis agent to a isolated portion of the growth chamber, and reuniting the isolated portion with the rest of the growth chamber.
US08017344B2
The inventors discovered that the adhesion molecule CAR, known to be localized in intracellular adhesion sites, functioned as an adhesion molecule for activated lymphocytes. Further, the inventors identified CARL, a novel CAR ligand expressed in lymphocytes, and clarified that the ligand was expressed selectively in Th1 cells. In addition, they found that anti-CAR antibodies could inhibit the adhesion of activated lymphocytes to CAR molecules. Thus, the present invention provides methods for detecting Th1 cells using CAR or anti-CARL antibodies, and methods of screening for inhibitors suppressing the adhesion of Th1 cells using the binding between CAR and CARL as an index. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods of screening for inhibitors of the binding between CAR and CARL, antibodies that inhibit the binding between CAR and CARL, and therapeutic compositions comprising these antibodies. These are expected to be useful in diagnosing diseases, such as inflammation, in which infiltration of Th1 cells is involved, and in providing pharmaceutical agents for alleviating such diseases.
US08017339B2
This disclosure describes three related novel methods for Recombinase-Polymerase Amplification (RPA) of a target DNA that exploit the properties of recombinase and related proteins, to invade double-stranded DNA with single stranded homologous DNA permitting sequence specific priming of DNA polymerase reactions. The disclosed methods have the advantage of not requiring thermocycling or thermophilic enzymes. Further, the improved processivity of the disclosed methods may allow amplification of DNA up to hundreds of megabases in length.
US08017334B2
A method for testing dysgeusia, which is characterized in that it comprises amplifying at least a portion of a gene encoding a taste receptor belonging to the THTR family and a gene encoding a taste receptor belonging to the T2R family collected from a sample derived from the oral cavity; a primer used for the above amplification; and a kit used for the above test.
US08017326B2
The present invention provides a method of identifying an effective agent that alters the association of a Bit1 polypeptide with an AES polypeptide. The method is practiced by contacting a Bit1 polypeptide, or active fragment thereof, and an AES polypeptide, or active fragment thereof, with an agent under conditions that allow the Bit1 polypeptide or active fragment thereof to associate with the AES polypeptide or active fragment thereof; and detecting an altered association of the Bit1 polypeptide or active fragment thereof and the AES polypeptide or active fragment thereof, where an altered association indicates that the agent is an effective agent that alters the association of a Bit1 polypeptide with an AES polypeptide. Such an effective agent can modulate apoptosis and can be a useful therapeutic agent.
US08017323B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for expanding the scope of chemical reactions that can be performed during nucleic acid-templated organic syntheses. In particular, nucleic acid-templated chemistries are used to produce reaction intermediates attached to an oligonucleotide that can be used to identify the reaction intermediates and/or the resulting reaction products. The reaction intermediates then are reacted with free reactants (for example, reactants that are difficult or impractical to couple to an oligonucleotide) to produce a reaction product. This approach expands the scope of reagents useful in nucleic acid-templated syntheses to reagents that do not need to be or cannot be tethered to an oligonucleotide. The reagents, however, still permit the synthesis of reaction products attached to oligonucleotides that can be used to identify the reaction products.
US08017320B2
Metastatic cancer cells originating from gastric cancer are detected by a method comprising the step of collecting a biological sample from a subject, the step of detecting the presence of at least either aldehyde dehydrogenase or dopa decarboxylase in the biological sample of the subject, and the step of determining that the possibility of containing metastatic cancer cells originating from the gastric cancer in the sample is high when at least either aldehyde dehydrogenase or dopa decarboxylase is present. By the use of these as markers for metastatic cancer cells originating from gastric cancer, the presence or absence of peritoneal metastasis in a gastric cancer patient can be detected rapidly and reliably, and data important for deciding whether intraperitoneal cancer chemotherapy should be applied is provided.
US08017316B2
Methods for identifying a candidate compound with an ability to modulate cation transport through a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel in a cell are disclosed. The methods can include (a) providing a cell expressing a recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding an transient receptor potential (TRP) channel gene product or a functional fragment or derivative thereof; (b) contacting the cell with the candidate compound; (c) comparing cation transport in the cell in the absence of the candidate compound with cation transport in the cell in the presence of the candidate compound; and (d) identifying a candidate compound through the comparing step that modulates cation transport in the cell through the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel. Also disclosed are nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for insect TRP channel gene products, antibodies that bind to the disclosed TRP channels, and recombinant host cells the include the disclosed biosequences.
US08017306B2
A conductive film producing method includes a metallic silver forming step of exposing and developing a photosensitive material having a 95-μm-thick long support and thereon a silver salt-containing emulsion layer, thereby forming a metallic silver portion to prepare a conductive film precursor, and a smoothing treatment step of subjecting the conductive film precursor to a smoothing treatment to produce a conductive film. In the smoothing treatment, the conductive film precursor is pressed by first and second calender rolls facing each other, and the first calender roll is a resin roll to be brought into contact with the support. The method satisfies the condition of 1/2≦P1/P2≦1, wherein P1 represents a conveying force applied when the conductive film precursor is introduced to an area where the smoothing treatment step is conducted, and P2 represents a conveying force applied when the smoothing-treated conductive film is discharged from the area.
US08017293B2
A liquid toner-based pattern mask system and methods of masking and patterning a substrate employ a polymer-based liquid toner as a pattern mask. The liquid toner is deposited on the substrate in a masking pattern. The pattern mask is lifted off of the substrate after patterning the substrate using a lift-off technique that breaks a bond between the surface of the substrate and the pattern mask.
US08017291B2
An image-forming material includes a perimidine-based squarylium dye represented by the following Formula (I): wherein, in Formula (I), R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
US08017284B2
The present invention relates to an electrode for a fuel cell which includes an electrode substrate composed of nano-carbon fiber, with a catalyst layer formed on the electrode substrate. The electrode substrate has a better strength than an electrode substrate composed of a conventional carbonaceous material, and a pore size which can be controlled even though the composition for forming the catalyst layer may be coated in the form of a slurry.
US08017279B2
A fluid flow field plate for use in a fuel cell, the plate comprising a first plurality of channels formed in a first surface thereof and extending across the first surface in a predetermined pattern, the plate having a folded region along a lateral edge, the folded region comprising a plenum and an interface region, the plenum having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to an edge of the plate, the interface region comprising two adjacent and facing portions of the first surface.
US08017272B2
An anode of a lithium battery includes a composite film, the composite film comprising a carbon nanotube film structure and a plurality of nanoscale tin oxide particles dispersed therein. A method for fabricating an anode of a lithium battery, the method includes the steps of: (a) providing an array of carbon nanotubes; (b) pulling out, by using a tool, at least two carbon nanotube films from the array of carbon nanotubes to form a carbon nanotube film structure; and (c) dispersing a plurality of nanoscale tin oxide particles in the carbon nanotube film structure to form a composite film, and thereby, achieving the anode of the lithium battery.
US08017268B2
Provided is a lithium secondary battery including a discharge unit capable of delaying or preventing a battery explosion. The lithium secondary battery includes a discharge unit disposed parallel to a battery body. The discharge unit includes a first electrode connected to a positive electrode of the battery body, a second electrode connected to a negative electrode of the battery body, and a discharge material film, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, inducing a abrupt discharge above a predetermined temperature. The discharge material film, e.g., a abrupt metal-insulator transition (MIT) material film can induce a abrupt discharge, thereby preventing or delaying a battery explosion.
US08017267B2
A method for manufacturing a sealed battery according to one embodiment of this invention includes a first step of using an outer can 15 having an opening, and a sealing plate 16 having a flange provided with a groove 22 around or on a part of a fitting face of the sealing plate 16 with the outer can 15, and inserting the sealing plate 16 into the opening of the outer can 15 so that a top face of the outer can 15 is approximately flush with a top face of the flange of the sealing plate 16, and a second step of welding together the outer can 15 and the sealing plate 16 by radiating a high energy ray to the fitting portion therebetween. The invention thus makes it possible to provide a method for manufacturing a sealed battery in which a weld formed by welding a sealing plate fitted into an opening of an outer can of a battery with a laser or other high energy rays has a large breaking strength, and a sealed battery manufactured thereby.
US08017256B2
A dual-power-supply system uses both a fuel cell and a chargeable secondary battery. A differential voltage adding unit adds a differential voltage between the voltage of the fuel cell and a necessary target output voltage to the voltage of the fuel cell by using the secondary battery, thereby obtaining an output voltage of the dual-power-supply system. A control unit detects the output voltage, and controls the differential voltage adding unit such that the output voltage is equal to the target output voltage.
US08017254B2
An organic electroluminescence device of multi-photon emission mode which includes plural light emission layers and at least one charge generation layer between a pair of electrodes, arranged in a film thickness direction thereof, wherein the charge generation layer includes at least one p-doped layer and at least one n-doped layer, and further includes an alkali metal layer and a layer containing a hole transport material between the p-doped layer and the n-doped layer. An organic electroluminescence device of multi-photon emission mode exhibiting little unevenness in luminance even in a large-area format electroluminescence device is provided.
US08017252B2
A light emitting device comprises a pair of electrodes and a mixed layer provided between the pair of electrodes. The mixed layer contains an organic compound which contains no nitrogen atoms, i.e., an organic compound which dose not have an arylamine skeleton, and a metal oxide. As the organic compound, an aromatic hydrocarbon having an anthracene skeleton is preferably used. As such an aromatic hydrocarbon, t-BuDNA, DPAnth, DPPA, DNA, DMNA, t-BuDBA, and the like are listed. As the metal oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide, and the like are preferably used. Further, the mixed layer preferably shows absorbance per 1 μm of 1 or less or does not show a distinct absorption peak in a spectrum of 450 to 650 nm when an absorption spectrum is measured.
US08017251B2
The invention provides an organic electroluminescent device having one or more organic compound layers between a pair of electrodes, the one or more organic compound layers including at least a luminescent layer, wherein a host material and at least two different luminescent materials including at least one phosphorescent material are contained in the same luminescent layer, and the luminescent layer has a region containing the host material and one luminescent material and a region containing the host material and at least two luminescent materials in the thickness direction of the luminescent layer.
US08017249B2
Herein disclosed is a composition containing a thinned starch having from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % substitution with a hydrophobic substituent wherein, after cooking at from about 15% solids to about 30% solids, the composition has a viscosity of about 1000 cps at 35° C. Also disclosed herein is a paper product containing a substrate containing paper or paperboard and having a first surface and a second surface and a coating applied at least to substantially the entire first surface of the substrate, wherein the coating contains a thinned starch having from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % substitution with a hydrophobic substituent wherein, after cooking at from about 15% solids to about 30% solids, the coating has a viscosity of about 1000 cps at 35° C., wherein the paper product contains from about 5 lb starch to about 500 lb starch per ton of substrate.
US08017248B2
A fuser member having a substrate, and thereover, an outer layer including a fluorinated polyimide, and an image forming apparatus including the fuser member, and the fuser member may useful in oil-less fusing systems, and wherein the fluorinated polyimide has the following Formula I wherein Ar represents a fluorinated hydrocarbon group; Rf1 represents a fluorine-containing group and Q is a end group, n is a number of from about 20 to about 1,000 carbons, and o is 0 or 1.
US08017245B2
A composition for preparing an organic insulator, the composition comprising (i) at least one organic-inorganic hybrid material; (ii) at least one organometallic compound and/or organic polymer; and (iii) at least one solvent for dissolving the above two components, so that an organic insulator using the same has a low threshold voltage and driving voltage, and high charge carrier mobility and Ion/Ioff ratio, thereby enhancing insulator characteristics. Further, the preparation of organic insulating film can be carried out by wet process, so that simplification of the process and cut of cost are achieved.
US08017244B2
A transparent soda-lime glass substrate coated with a stack of layers including at least two infrared reflecting layers, each being directly adjacent to two light absorbent layers is provided. The coated substrate has a light absorption value between 35 and 67% and colorimetric indices of reflected color of a* between 0 and −10 and b* between 0 and −20. Glazing units containing the coated transparent soda-lime glass substrate are also provided.
US08017241B2
Conducting polymer systems for hole injection or transport layer applications including a composition comprising: a water soluble or water dispersible regioregular polythiophene comprising (i) at least one organic substituent, and (ii) at least one sulfonate substituent comprising sulfonate sulfur bonding directly to the polythiophene backbone. The polythiophene can be water soluble, water dispersible, or water swellable. They can be self-doped. The organic substituent can be an alkoxy substituent, or an alkyl substituent. OLED, PLED, SMOLED, PV, and ESD applications can be used.
US08017239B2
A metamaterial includes a non-linear organic material and a plurality of metallic resonators embedded substantially within the non-linear organic material.
US08017237B2
Nano-constructs comprising nanoshells and methods of using the nano-constructs for treating or ameliorating a medical condition are provided.
US08017234B2
The present invention relates to a structural object coated with a superhydrophobic nanostructure composite, the structural object being obtained by densely coating a surface of a solid substrate having a desired shape with a nanostructure obtained by combining a polymer having a polyethyleneimine skeleton with silica on the nanometer order, and bonding a hydrophobic group to the surface of the nanostructure, and a process for producing the structural object. The present invention also relates to a structural object coated with a superhydrophobic nanostructure composite, the structural object being obtained by removing the polymer having the polyethyleneimine skeleton from the nanostructure and bonding a hydrophobic group to the surface of the residual nanostructure containing silica as a main constituent component, and a process for producing the structural object. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of using the structural object as a container for transferring an aqueous solution.
US08017211B2
A composition, etc. are provided, which can enhance hardness and afford abrasion resistance even in a thin film as well as excellent antifouling property and durability of the antifouling property.An organic polymer, is provided, which comprises 5 to 30 weight percent of a radical polymerizable monomer having a perfluoroalkyl group, 0.01 to 5 weight percent of α,ω-dimercaptopolysiloxane, 5 to 40 weight percent of a radical polymerizable monomer having a cationic photo polymerizable epoxy group, and 25 to 75 weight percent of the other radical polymerizable monomer copolymerizable therewith, said organic polymer having a structure corresponding to a radical polymerizable copolymer of a mixture of the monomers in which a molar ratio of the mercapto group to the epoxy group is 0.0001 to 0.025, and/or a structure obtained by reacting the epoxy groups of the radical polymerizable copolymer with (meth) acrylic acid.
US08017210B2
A multi-layer information recording medium comprising a substrate that has an inner circumference and an outer circumference, three or more information recording layers and resin layers disposed between the information recording layers, wherein positions of the ends on the inner circumference side of the resin layers are different from each other in at least one combination of two neighboring resin layers, and the end on the inner circumference side of at least one of the resin layers is covered by another resin layer.
US08017207B2
A degradable paper article with long-shelf-life adhesive backing, together with a related fabrication method. The article includes a layer of degradable paper, a layer of degradable pressure sensitive adhesive, a release liner on the adhesive layer, and a degradable polymer blocking layer disposed between the adhesive layer and the paper layer that blocks adhesive from bleeding into said paper.
US08017198B2
A method and apparatus for forming thin film materials via a plasma deposition process in the presence of a magnetic field. A precursor is delivered to a deposition chamber and activated to form a plasma. The plasma may be initiated in the presence of a magnetic field or subjected to a magnetic field after initiation. The plasma includes ionized and neutral species derived from the precursor and the magnetic field manipulates the plasma to effect a reduction in the population of ionized species and an enhancement of the population of neutral species. A thin film material is subsequently formed from the resulting neutral-enriched deposition medium. The method permits formation of thin film materials having a low density of defects. In one embodiment, the thin film material is a photovoltaic material and the suppression of defects leads to an enhancement in photovoltaic efficiency.
US08017193B1
A monomeric formulation for creating self-propagating polymer optical waveguides and a system and a method of using the same. The monomeric formulation includes a plurality of unsaturated molecules, a molecule having a structure of R—X—H (e.g., X═O, S, N), and a photoinitiator. The monomeric formulation can further include a free radical inhibitor. The system includes a light source, a reservoir having a monomeric formulation and a patterning apparatus configured to guide a light beam from the light source into the monomeric formulation to form at least one self-propagating polymer waveguide.
US08017184B2
The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one β-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one β-diketiminate ligand with at least one fluorine-containing organic group as substituent. In other certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one β-diketiminate ligand with at least one aliphatic group as a substituent selected to have greater degrees of freedom than the corresponding substituent in the β-diketiminate ligands of certain metal-containing compounds known in the art. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for β-diketiminate ligands are also provided.
US08017180B2
The invention relates to a method for heat transferring high resolution digital images that are printed onto a heat transfer sheet with dye-sublimation inks. The dye-sublimated image/design/graphic is impregnated into a natural wood cellulose web material using a rotary heat transfer press. The imaged wood cellulose web material forms a continuous roll of pre-laminate material that can be bonded/laminated to a myriad of substrates and that can be stored easily in roll form, with or without adhesive backing. This is a unique process of formulating an imaged, environmentally sustainable wood cellulose web material. The raw material can be FSC certified from managed renewable forests and after imaging, the wood cellulose web material has no VOC or formaldehyde emissions. The claimed invention preferably uses a polyurethane reactive (PUR) acrylic top coating that provides a high quality and cost effective surface finish to the decorated wood cellulose web material. The PUR system technology provides surface protection with high wear and shock resistance and maintains the depth and quality of the imaged wood cellulose material.
US08017178B2
A method includes sandblasting an electrode surface, applying a conductive oxide precursor solution to the electrode surface, and heating the electrode for at least 5 minutes at a temperature between 350 degrees C. and 550 degrees C. to convert the precursor solution into an oxide coating. One method includes applying a composite material including a conductive component and a non-conductive component to an electrode and curing the composite material to form a coating on the electrode. One method includes providing a metallic oxide coating on an electrode surface and applying a galvanostatic treatment to the electrode to increase the effective surface area of the metallic oxide coating.
US08017175B2
A highly stable, multilayer organic molecular photoelectric element without interlayer miscibility phenomenon during manufacturing process, and a method for producing multilayer organic molecular photoelectric elements with simplified solution process are disclosed.
US08017165B2
Method of reducing residual oil in DDGS by pulverizing and pelletizing the DDGS followed by extraction with an organic solvent.
US08017160B2
Disclosed are methods and complexes for increasing magnesium uptake in mammals. Increasing magnesium uptake in mammals is accomplished by concurrently administering one or more magnesium salts with one or more quaternary amines and/or phosphatides and one or more di- or tri-carboxylic acids.
US08017157B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of wounds containing blood plasma or serum and a method for treating wounds effectively by applying said composition to the wound site to normalize the tissue-environment around the site.
US08017156B2
The invention relates to injectable long-acting insulin formulations for the treatment of types I and II diabetes in humans and animals.The essential object of the invention is to provide an injectable long-acting insulin formulation in the form of a colloidal suspension which is stable, which has a good local tolerance and toxicity compatible with the chronic treatment of diabetics, and which maintains a substantial hypoglycemic effect extending over at least 24 hours after a single administration, e.g. by the subcutaneous route.To achieve this object, the invention relates to a stable aqueous colloidal formulation of insulin-laden nanoparticles of at least one poly(Leu-block-Glu) in which the pH is between 5.8 and 7.0, the osmolarity O (in mOsmol) . . . : 270≦O≦800, and the viscosity v (in mPa·s) is low, namely v≦40. The nanoparticles of poly(Leu-block-Glu) have a mean hydrodynamic diameter Dh such that: 15≦Dh≦40.The invention relates to an antidiabetic drug based on this long-acting insulin formulation and injectable using needles of gauge 29 G, 30 G or 31 G.
US08017152B2
Process for producing parenterally administrable cores. The cores are intermediates suitable for manufacturing sustained release preparations. Microcapsules incorporating a core and a shell and pharmaceutical compositions incorporating such cores and microcapsules are also provided.
US08017148B2
Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic; an opioid antagonist; and an irritant in an effective amount to impart an irritating sensation to an abuser upon administration of the dosage form after tampering.
US08017147B2
A synergistic mixture (which may be utilized as a food or a drink or a supplement or a drug or a cosmetic or a hygienic product) that is formulated and is capable of improving a person's well being, lowering the risks of cardiovascular and/or Alzheimer's diseases and/or lowering blood sugar using natural and synthetic ingredients. Numerous ratios may be formulated for aroma, color, flavor, flow (viscosity), taste and uniformity. Moreover, ingredients for sugar substitutes, natural preservatives, nano-dispersion, nano-emulsion, nano-encapsulation of ingredients and apparatus for personalized nutrition are also described herein.
US08017121B2
There is provided a synovial cell growth inhibitor, or a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis based on the synovial cell growth inhibitor.The pharmaceutical composition for treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis or synovial cell growth inhibitor contains an IL-6 antagonist, such as IL-6 antibody or IL-6R antibody, as an effective component.
US08017119B2
The present invention provides an antibody against a periostin isoform having anti-cell adhesive activity, especially an anti-periostin antibody having the ability to neutralize anti-cell adhesive properties, as well as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for periostin-related diseases comprising the antibody. The present invention also provides methods for detecting and quantifying the periostin isoform in a sample by using the antibody, as well as a method for diagnosing periostin-related diseases comprising measuring the amount of the periostin isoform by the detection or quantification method.
US08017114B2
The present invention provides novel human sequence antibodies against human CTLA-4 and methods of treating human diseases, infections and other conditions using these antibodies.
US08017101B2
Carbon dioxide containing gas is blown into a calcium hydroxide slurry having a calcium hydroxide concentration of 100 to 400 g/L obtained by wet slaking calcined lime with 4 N hydrochloric acid activity (value at 3 minutes) of 150 to 400 mL to allow them to react until the carbonation rate becomes 50 to 85%, then 1 to 20% by volume of the calcium hydroxide slurry is added, and carbon dioxide containing gas is further blown in to terminate the reaction. The calcium carbonate obtained by this method is precipitated calcium carbonate aggregates having a secondary particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm and consisting of primary particles having a long diameter of 0.5 to 3.0 μm, a short diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 μm and an aspect ratio of 3 or more, has superior characteristics due to a BET specific surface area in the range of 8 to 20 m2/g and a pore volume in the range of 1.5 to 3.5 cm3/g, can be uniformly dispersed in pulp fiber, and thereby can be used to manufacture high bulk paper.
US08017097B1
The present invention relates to application of catalysts for the Selective Catalytic Reduction of oxides of Nitrogen using N-containing reductant. The catalysts are characterized as phase pure lattice oxide materials into which catalytically active cations are incorporated at high levels of dispersion such that conventional analysis reveals a highly phase pure material. The materials are further characterized by high activity, hydrothermal durability and poison tolerance in the intended application.
US08017095B2
The present invention provides a novel means to provide more effective mixing of gas and fluids in a height constrained interbed space of a catalytic reactor without increasing pressure drop. In particular, the device improves the effectiveness of an existing mixing volume in mixing the gas phase and liquid phase of two-phase systems. According to the present invention, the mixing device helps create a highly arcuate flow to incoming effluents and a high degree of mixing within a constrained interbed space of a catalytic reactor.
US08017091B2
A device consisting of a low-RPM motor wherein the motor spins a flat disk, a peg is attached to the disk, a stationary spring armature wherein the peg can activate the stationary spring armature as the disk rotates, and a tube containing beads in a fluid positioned in a top plate wherein the spring armature can contact the tube. This device can further include a soft closed-cell foam top mounted on the top plate wherein the tube is inserted and maintained by the foam in such a way as to allow for slight motion of the tube induced by the contact by the spring armature.
US08017082B2
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for making a peroxycarboxylic acid. The apparatus includes a reaction catalyst and a guard column for pretreating one or more reagents, which can increase the life, activity, and/or safety of the reaction catalyst. The peroxycarboxylic acid compositions made by the method and apparatus can include one or more peroxycarboxylic acids.
US08017077B2
The staining and sticking system includes a staining device and a sticking device provided separately from the staining device. The staining device stains a specimen in a predetermined color by dipping a basket containing a glass slide with the specimen in a plurality of tubs sequentially. The sticking device sticks a cover film piece onto the stained specimen on the glass slide, which has been taken out of the basket transferred from the staining device by transfer means. A staining control unit and a sticking control unit are interconnected so as to communicate with each other. Sticking condition data, related to the basket fed from the staining device, out of staining condition data and sticking condition data inputted to the staining control unit correspondingly to baskets, are sent from the staining control unit to the sticking control unit, and then the sticking device sticks the cover film piece.
US08017076B2
The present invention discloses a solid-solid direct-heating reaction disc arrangement comprising a reaction disc body, clampers, a heater and a driving plate. Holding slots for receiving reaction cups are formed axially through the reaction disc body at constant intervals. The clampers are mounted to the bottom surface of the reaction disc body and each comprise an upper clamper and a lower clamper which are fastened together. The bottom surfaces of the reaction cups rest on the upper clamper. The heater is sandwiched between the upper and lower clampers for heating the reaction disc body and the reaction cups. The driving plate is mounted to a supporting plate of the reaction disc body. By arranging the reaction disc body, the clampers, the heater and the driving plate in a receiving chamber defined by a cover and an insulation casing, a closed temperature control system is formed.
US08017066B2
A method and apparatus for forming nonwoven melt spun webs by spinning a curtain of filaments into a pressurized chamber where they are contacted with pressurized quenching fluid, then using the fluid to draw the filaments through a slot at the bottom of the chamber. The slot is a narrow two dimensional impingement point running the length of the filament curtain where the pressurized quench fluid passes through, escaping to atmosphere. The fluid pressure (potential) energy in the chamber is exchanged for velocity (kinetic) energy at the slot impingement point. The fast moving stream of fluid inside and exiting the slot acts to pull, or draw the filaments through the slot. The fluid and fiber stream is deposited onto a porous collection conveyor belt, forming a fleece web. The invention is more efficient, less complicated, easier to maintain and easier to control than prior systems for melt spinning nonwoven webs.
US08017056B2
Water-soluble salt cores are used in molds for the production of hollow moldings by plastic molding.The production of hollow plastic moldings is effected by positioning a water-soluble salt core in a mold, molding a thermoplastic molding material around the salt core and, after solidification of the thermoplastic molding material, washing out the salt core with a water-containing solvent.
US08017042B2
Conductive compositions whose electrical properties do not change significantly due when stored open to the atmosphere, methods for preparing the compositions, and medical electrodes that comprise the compositions are disclosed. The compositions are hydrogels that comprise about 33 wt % to about 68 wt % of a humectant or a mixture of humectants; about 1 wt % to about 8 wt % of an electrolyte or mixture of electrolytes; about 6 wt % to about 20 wt % of water; about 18 wt % to about 45 wt % of a copolymer. The copolymer comprises, in polymerized form, about 80 mol % to about 95 mol % of a first monomer, which is a mixture of acrylic acid and a salt thereof, about 5 mol % to 20 mol % of a second monomer, preferably a salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and, optionally a crosslinking agent. The conductive composition has a pH of about 7.0 or less.
US08017021B1
Material to be processed, such as sludge, is deposited into the trough having an auger operating at a rotational speed and direction so as to force the material received within the trough upstream against a rigid surface for breaking up the sludge. A cutting fluid is added to the trough for diluting the sludge and enhancing a flow of the broken up sludge downstream under a force of gravity, allowing the sludge to enter a chopper, where it is chopped to a desired consistency before being pumped to a desired location. The diluted sludge may be filtered prior to chopping. A hopper and cutter may be used to receive the unprocessed sludge for cutting prior to being deposited into the trough. As a result, sludge in ranges from soft to hard states is converted to a fluid form capable of being pumped.
US08017015B2
Provided herein are methods of liquid column chromatography in which preparative chromatography is performed in-line with analytical chromatography. In particular aspects a monolithic preparative column is used to purify an analyte of interest from a mixture of other substances by applying the mixture to the column, reversing the flow through the column to elute the analyte, which is applied to an analytical column provided in-line with the preparative column. In other aspects, a single monolithic column is used to perform both the preparative chromatography and analytical chromatography steps in succession. In another aspect, a chromatography system is provided to perform preparative and analytical chromatography using a single monolithic column.
US08017004B2
A filter system for a storm drain having a bottom, side walls, and an outlet formed in the side wall. The filter system includes a main section having an array of openings formed therein for permitting water to flow through the filter. The main section is configured to be mounted adjacent the side wall and aligned with the outlet. In some cases, the bottom of the storm drain includes a depression for feeding water to the outlet. The filter system includes a flexible mesh that extends from the bottom of the main section into the depression for filtering water flowing in the depression. In addition, the filter system includes a mounting structure that enables the main section to be slidably mounted into an operative position and also enables the main section to be removed by slidably moving it from the operative position.
US08017003B2
In a processing waste liquid treating apparatus, a housing includes a bottom wall, an upper wall, a left lateral wall, a rear wall and an opening/closing door for opening/closing a front opening. A waste liquid tank is disposed on the bottom wall and close to the rear wall. A clear water storage tank is disposed adjacently to the waste liquid tank and at the central portion of the bottom wall. A pure water generating unit is disposed on the bottom wall adjacently to the clear water storage tank and close to the front opening. A waste liquid filtering unit is disposed above the pure water generating unit. A pure water temperature adjusting unit is disposed above the waste liquid tank. A control unit and a console panel are disposed above the waste liquid filtering unit and the console panel is disposed on the front side of the housing.
US08017001B2
The disclosed systems and methods for maintenance of an enclosed body of water generally include mobile systems and/or methods for removal of mineral hardness and other particulate impurities via lime softening filtration. Chemicals are added to a body of water containing unwanted mineral hardness (or other particulate impurities) and mixed to assist dispersion. The chemicals react with the hardness minerals making them insoluble. The resulting precipitate falls out of solution to the bottom of the body of water for subsequent removal via filtration. This eliminates or otherwise reduces the need for draining water and/or adding new water to a body of water to maintain proper mineral hardness balance and/or concentration of other particulate impurities.
US08016998B2
Electrochemical methods and materials for the detection of arsenic. In one aspect, arsenic is detected using a working electrode comprising particulate platinum. In another aspect, arsenic is detected using an electrode comprising indium tin oxide and particulate gold. Also provided are methods for the production of electrodes which involve the electrodeposition of gold onto indium tin oxide.
US08016995B2
An electrochemical deposition method includes disposing a mold into an electrolytic bath for forming a first metal layer on a surface of the mold, bonding a first surface of a conductive component to the first metal layer, and disposing the mold bonded to the conductive component into an electrolytic bath for forming a second metal layer on a second surface of the conductive component.
US08016994B2
The invention relates to an electrodipping device comprising, in a known manner, a bath of enamel, and a transport device used, during the continuous method, to dip the workpieces to be coated into the bath of enamel, to move the workpieces through the bath, and remove the same therefrom. Electrodes are arranged in the bath of enamel, along the path of displacement of the workpieces, said electrodes being connected to a voltage source with one pole thereof. The second pole of said voltage source is connected to a contact rail extending along the path of displacement of the workpieces. Each workpiece is provided with a contact device which is in contact with the contact rail. A controllable voltage regulating unit is arranged between each contact device and the corresponding workpiece. A position determination device enables the momentaneous position of each workpiece to be determined. A control system is used to apply a control signal to the corresponding voltage regulating unit in such a way as to maintain each workpiece at a desired voltage in each position of the course thereof through the bath of enamel.
US08016987B2
The corrosion inhibiting activity of a coating is determined from the effect of corrosion inhibiting species released by the coating on the oxygen reduction current for a cathode placed very close to the coating. A rotating disk electrode or pumped solution flow is used to sweep the corrosion inhibiting species from the coating surface to the cathode. The oxygen reduction current is measured under conditions of oxygen diffusion control.
US08016982B2
The present invention is to provide a sputtering apparatus and a sputtering method, specifically, a magnetron sputtering apparatus having a magnetron electrode capable of generating plasma in a wide region near the surface of a target, and a sputtering method using the apparatus. Thereby, a magnetic field shape enabling to generate plasma in a wide region near the surface of a target is realized, the use efficiency of the target material is increased, and dusts and abnormal electric discharges may be prevented. Magnetic circuit 10 of a magnetron electrode is set as “magnetic circuit 10 in which center perpendicular magnet 101, inside parallel magnet 103, outside parallel magnet 104, and perimeter perpendicular magnet 102 are arranged” from the central part of target 2 toward the perimeter part, and inside parallel magnet 103 is brought close to target 2.
US08016981B2
The claimed method and apparatus relate to cryogenic technology, particularly to purifying and separating by distillation a target heavy component concentrate thereby obtaining target components, e.g., krypton and xenon, and isotopes of light gases such as deuterium, tritium, helium-3. The method includes temperature-stabilizing a target heavy component concentrate flow, a low-boiling target component fraction flow, and a high-boiling target component fraction flow, irradiating the flows with ionizing radiation thereby obtaining light gas isotopes, purifying the flows, concentrating the light gas isotopes in the flows with subsequently extracting thereof, purifying the production flows from nuclides, using xenon as the high-boiling target component of the concentrate and using krypton as the low-boiling target component of the concentrate. The claimed apparatus can be used for implementing the method. The method and apparatus allow for increasing the purity and safety of the production heavy target components, as well as for increasing the economic efficiency.
US08016979B2
A chemical solution-containing thin paper wherein a chemical solution is contained in an amount of 5 to 40% by weight with respect to base paper, powders are included in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by weight with respect to the chemical solution, the powders are formed by blending first powders each having an average particle size of 3 to 15 μm and second powders each having an average particle size of 15 to 40 μm with a weight ratio of the first powders with respect to the second powders of 0.1:1.9 to 1.9:0.1, and the chemical solution does not include an adhesive ingredient.
US08016975B2
An etching system. An etching chamber includes an exhaust port. A gas input pipe is connected to the etching chamber, inputting etching process gas thereinto. A top RF electrode is disposed above the etching chamber. A bottom RF electrode is disposed under the etching chamber and opposite the top RF electrode. The etching process gas is transformed into plasma by operation of the top and bottom RF electrodes. An exhaust pump is connected to the exhaust port, expelling the plasma from the etching chamber. A base is disposed in the etching chamber. A focus ring is disposed on the base, accommodating a wafer. The wafer is etched by the plasma. A barricade is disposed on the focus ring and corresponds to the exhaust port, regulating the plasma flowing through the wafer.
US08016966B2
A stackable equipment container includes at least one reinforcement panel made of a composite material attached to the container on an interior surface proximate an arrangement of stackable elements. The panel is attached to the container using spin-weld plugs installed at a high rotation rate. Through the installation of the spin-weld plugs, the panel becomes fused or welded to the container. In one embodiment, the rotation rate of the spin-weld plugs during installation is sufficient to cause the panel and container to locally vulcanize with each other and with the spin-weld plugs. The panel provides the container with increased strength and operates to minimize or eliminate distortion of the stackable elements.
US08016965B2
An information storage-readout-calculation system for use in a continuous manufacturing system of liquid-crystal display elements, comprising information storage medium for storing information of defects detected through a preliminary inspection of a continuous polarizing composite film included in a continuous optical film laminate, a roll of a continuous inspected optical film laminate being provided with identification means and a slitting position calculation means for determining defective-polarizing-sheet slitting positions to define defect-containing polarizing sheets having defects and normal-polarizing-sheet slitting positions to define defect-free polarizing sheets by using defect position information read out from the information storage medium based on the identification means, an, a method for manufacturing the information storage-readout-calculation system.
US08016964B2
A system for performing an ultrasonic staking operation in order to join a first part having a post protruding therefrom and a second part having a hole through which the post is passed includes a horn having an end vibrating at a frequency in the ultrasonic range and a motion system operatively connected to the horn, the motion system being capable of selectively moving the horn toward and away from the parts. The motion system moves the horn, with the end of the horn in contact with the post, toward the parts at a first speed such that the ultrasonic vibrations of horn cause melting of the post, and once a determination is made that the end of the horn has contacted a surface of the second part, the motion system moves the horn toward the parts at a second speed, the second speed being slower than the first speed.
US08016956B2
The present invention concerns a Ce-base amorphous metallic plastics being CeaAlbMc, in which 55≦a≦75, 5≦b≦25, 10≦c≦25, and a+b+c=100; said M is Co, Cu or Ni. Otherwise the metallic plastics could be CedAleCufZg, in which 55≦d≦75, 5≦e≦15, 15≦f≦25, 0.01≦g≦10, and d+e+f+g=100; said Z is one element selected from Co, Fe, Hf, Mg, Mo, Nb, Sc, Ta, Ti, W, Zn and Zr. The metallic plastic could also be CehAliCujNik, in which 55≦h≦75, 5≦i≦15, 15≦j≦25, 0.01≦k<5, and h+i+j+k=100. The Ce-base amorphous metallic plastic has a low glass-transition temperature and a wide super-cooling liquid phase area, therefore possesses a high thermal stability. The material could be deformed, shaped and imprinting worked into desired amorphous alloy articles as thermoplastic plastics at a very low temperature.
US08016950B2
A hydraulic drive type partial inter-tube lancing system for cleaning a steam generator in a nuclear power plant, which removes foreign matter, such as sludge, deposited around heat transfer tubes in the steam generator, is disclosed. More particularly, a hydraulic drive type partial inter-tube lancing system, which serves to clean a steam generator of a light-water reactor in a nuclear power plant by removing sludge, attached inside the steam generator, using high-pressure water, is disclosed.
US08016945B2
A method and apparatus for performing ALD deposition of hafnium oxide on a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a process chamber, a precursor delivery subsystem, an oxidizer delivery subsystem, a purge gas subsystem, a solvent flush subsystem, and optional solvent recovery and purification subsystems. The method includes pulsing precursor compounds into the process chamber in sequence. While one precursor is pulsed, purge gas is provided through the other precursor line. After pulsing, precursor lines are purged, and the chamber is evacuated and purged. A solvent flush step is employed to remove precursor deposits that build up in piping over time.
US08016944B2
Methods and apparatus for producing nanoparticles, including single-crystal semiconductor nanoparticles, are provided. The methods include the step of generating a constricted radiofrequency plasma in the presence of a precursor gas containing precursor molecules to form nanoparticles. Single-crystal semiconductor nanoparticles, including photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles, having diameters of no more than 10 nm may be fabricated in accordance with the methods.
US08016943B2
A method for preparing film oxides deposited on a substrate with a resulting grain boundary junction that is atomistically straight. A bicrystal substrate having a straight grain boundary is prepared as a template. The Miller indices h1, k1, h2, k2 of the two grains of the substrate are chosen such that the misorientation angle of the film is equal to arctan k1/h1+arctan k2/h2. The film is grown on the substrate using a layer-by-layer growth mode.
US08016942B2
A metal fluoride single crystal pulling apparatus that upward pulling initiation through termination, in the state of shallow melt capable of highly effective inhibition of scatterer formation, can perform stable growth of single crystal and can suppress any mixing of air bubbles and occurrence of crystal break during crystal growth, etc; and a process for producing a metal fluoride single crystal therewith. As a crucible for accommodating a melt of raw metal fluoride, use is made of a double structured crucible composed of an outer crucible and an inner crucible. In the upward pulling of single crystal, the accommodation depth of inner crucible relative to the outer crucible is increased in accordance with any decrease of melt accommodated in the inner crucible according to the growth of single crystal, so that the melt accommodated in the outer crucible is fed into the inner crucible to thereby maintain the amount of melt accommodated in the inner crucible within a given range. Further, at the position of an opening that upward opens any gap space between an external surface of outer crucible and an internal surface of inner crucible, or an interstice, situated below the opening, between a side wall internal surface of outer crucible and a side wall external surface of inner crucible, there is disposed a cutoff member that cuts off at least part of the position.
US08016941B2
A method and apparatus for crystallizing a semiconductor that includes a first layer having a first crystal lattice orientation and a second layer having a second crystal lattice orientation, comprising amorphizing at least a portion of the second layer, applying a stress to the second layer and heating the second layer above a recrystallization temperature.
US08016939B2
A self-curing concrete is provided to absorb water from atmosphere from air to achieve better hydration of cement in concrete. It solves the problem that the degree of cement hydration is lowered due to no curing or improper curing, and thus unsatisfactory properties of concrete. According to the invention, high-performance self-curing agent about 0.1˜5 wt % of cement weight of the concrete is added to concrete during mixing. The self-curing agent can absorb moisture from atmosphere and then release it to concrete. The self-curing concrete means that no curing is required for concrete, or even no any external supplied water is required after placing. The properties of this self-cured concrete of this invention are at least comparable to and even better than those of concrete with traditional curing.
US08016935B2
An anticorrosion ferrite-based pigment, derived from a hydrometallurgical purification process of EAF dust. EAF dust is generated in an electric arc furnace for carbon steel production by processing scrap metal, direct reduced iron and/or pre-reduced hematite, and using CaO-rich slag; from a condensation reaction of metals vapors of Fe, or Zn and of Mn, Mg, Si and/or Al, and suspended CaO particles and oxygen. The pigment contains a non-toxic amount of lead, and includes condensed metal oxides, comprising ferrites MOFe2θ3, M being Zn, Fe, Mn and Mg, and combinations thereof. The condensed oxides have ferrite structures preserved from the EAF dust, and form aggregates thereof. The pigment includes CaO entrapped by the ferrite structures and being partially available to react with humid air and/or water to protect the substrate against corrosion. The pigments are coated or uncoated. They are used for antifouling or paint formulations.
US08016934B2
The present invention relates to a pearl pigment obtained by coating the surface of a flaky powder with a colored metal or a colored metal oxide and further coating the surface of the above colored metal- or colored metal oxide-coated flaky powder with a colorless metal or a colorless metal oxide, wherein when the pearl pigment is applied onto the surface of black artificial leather in an average amount of 0.05 mg/cm2 and the intensity of light reflected from the pearl pigment is measured using illuminant C at a 2° viewing angle with a spectrophotometric colorimeter which is provided with a sheet polarizer S on the light incident side and a sheet polarizer P on the light receiving side, the powder reflection light which is incident to the pearl pigment as a measurement sample at an angle of 45° to the direction normal to the surface of the sample and is received in the direction normal to the surface of the sample has absolute values a* and b* of 10 or less, and make-up cosmetics containing the pearl pigment.
US08016926B2
The invention relates to an adsorption filter material (1) that provides protection against chemical toxins, chemical weapons and pollutants, with a preferably multi-layer composite construction (2). The layer construction (2) includes at least one planar support layer (3) with two opposing sides (3′, 3″) and an adsorption layer (4), provided on the support layer (3) made from a material which adsorbs chemical toxins, the surface of at least one of the both sides (3′ and/or 3″) of the support layer (3) being modified by plasma treatment. The surface properties, in particular the surface finish and the surface reactivity can be adjusted and optimised to match the application by means of the plasma treatment.
US08016922B2
The air filter element may include an inner metal liner, an outer metal liner, a filter media, an annular end cap, and a composite end cap The annular end cap is formed over the metal liners such that the metal liners are secured and at least a portion of the filter media is sealed. The composite end cap has a foamed urethane portion and a rigid urethane portion. The foamed urethane portion, which has a central aperture and stand-off apertures, is molded about the central aperture and the stand-off apertures such that the metal liners are secured, at least a portion of the filter media is sealed, and urethane flashing occurs proximate one or more of the central aperture and an outer liner periphery. The rigid urethane portion is molded over the foamed urethane portion such that the stand-off apertures are filled, blocked, and/or sealed.
US08016916B2
There is provided a gas separation apparatus for separating a specified gas from a gas to be treated containing a plurality of gases. The gas separation apparatus includes a plurality of serially-connected separation units that separate the specified gas from other gases by using a column, and a suction unit that controls an inside of the column to a reduced pressure. At least two of the plurality of separation units differ from each other in at least one separation condition.
US08016912B2
In the process of recovering platinum group metals from platinum group metal- and base metal-containing materials, the present invention uses reductants and a sulfur-deficient matte to aide the separation of the furnace matte from the furnace slag and therefore improve recovery of platinum group metals.
US08016907B2
Improved agriculturally useful products are provided, including solid materials such as nitrogenous fertilizers (e.g., urea), together with a polycarboxylated polymer selected from the group consisting of a salts of copolymers containing individual quantities of maleic and itaconic moieties. The polymer composition also includes from about 10-60% by weight of an organic drying agent such as a lower alcohol which enhances the quick drying properties thereof. The compositions may also include an amount of boron, and bimodal vinylic polymer made up of quantities of high and low molecular weight (MW) vinylic polymers such as PVA.
US08016905B2
The invention relates to a filter mat, which is used in applications where it filters the flows of contaminated air that pass through it. In such mats, there are points where aerosols collect. This is disadvantageous as it lowers the efficiency of the mat. The present invention overcomes this by having, at these points, wicks (2) that absorb said collections.
US08016894B2
An apparatus and method for generating gas-phase active chemical species suitable for selectively processing one side of a textile or nonwoven material are described. Processing includes etching or stripping coatings, as examples. A low-temperature plasma is used to produce an ionized gas containing radical species, atoms, ions, and electrons, some of which are suitable for removing or modifying the coating. For the purposes of the present invention, the plasma may be generated in a vacuum, or at atmospheric pressure. Dielectric-barrier discharges, atmospheric-pressure plasma jets, micro hollow-cathode discharges, coronas, or plasmas produced by a microwave discharge or laser-supplied energy may be used to generate the required species.
US08016882B2
An implant for supplementing, repairing, or replacing a native heart valve leaflet or leaflets provides a scaffold, which defines a pseudo-annulus. The implant further has at least two struts in generally oppositely spaced apart positions on the scaffold. The scaffold can be placed in an elastically loaded condition in a heart with the struts engaging tissue at or near the leaflet commissures of a heart valve annulus, to reshape the annulus for leaflet coaptation. The implant further provides a neoleaflet element coupled to the scaffold within pseudo-annulus, to provide a one-way valve function.
US08016878B2
A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands connected by connector struts. The stent may further comprise a side branch cell having a plurality of outwardly deployable petals. Each serpentine band may have an approximate longitudinal axis. A portion of the serpentine bands may be flared in the unexpanded state, wherein a portion of the axis of each flared band is oriented helically about a portion of the stent. The bands may reorient during stent expansion, whereafter the axis of each band is oriented in a circumferential direction.
US08016875B2
A medical implant, in particular a stent for insertion in a bodily lumen, having a base structure (2, 3), wherein a passive electronic oscillating circuit configuration (4), comprising at least one inductor (L) and at least one capacitor (C1 through C4), is integrated in the base structure (2, 3), whose natural frequency (fres0) in the implanted state of the implant (1) is externally detectable by exciting the oscillating circuit configuration (4) using electromagnetic radiation such that a significant identification feature or a change of the base structure (2, 3) is detectable by the value or a change of the natural frequency (fres0) of the oscillating circuit configuration (4).
US08016870B2
Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discrete stent structures, or continuous coiled or mesh stent structures. Stent structures may be a balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sites. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having a deployment mechanism for deploying one or more stents of selectable length into the vessel.
US08016858B2
A medical tool comprising an electromechanical driver and a surgical instrument attachment for use in invasive surgery, including a handle coupled to a flexible sheath which is in turn coupled to a surgical attachment. The handle of the driver includes the electromechanical driver and at least one processor element which controls the actions of the electromechanical driver, and therefore the application elements of the surgical attachment, based on information relayed between the processor element and remotely activatable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.
US08016849B2
A surgical apparatus is provided including a disposable loading unit selectively operatively engagable within a distal end of a first half-section; and a wound treatment material applicator assembly for delivering wound treatment material to the target surgical site. The disposable loading unit includes a cartridge; a plurality of deployable needles supported within the cartridge, wherein each needle includes a lumen extending therethrough and at least one hole formed in an outer periphery thereof; and an actuation member translatably disposed within the cartridge for delivering a driving force to each needle to deploy the needles from the cartridge. The applicator assembly includes a first and second reservoir supported on the distal end of a respective first and second half-section; and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with each reservoir.
US08016839B2
Improvements in intra-abdominal surgery include a method for removing large chunks of organic or inorganic material from the abdomen through a natural body opening such as the urethra. The technique may be supplemented by laparoscopic procedures.
US08016835B2
A system for guiding an implant to an optimal placement within a patient includes a trajectory guide for guiding instruments along a selected trajectory and a trajectory fixation device for fixing the trajectory guide in a selected position. The trajectory guide defines a path configured to align with the selected trajectory. A movable support mounts the trajectory guide and selectively moves the trajectory guide to align the trajectory guide with the selected trajectory prior to fixing the trajectory guide in the selected position. The trajectory is aligned coarsely by hand, then the trajectory is aligned using a fine adjustment system. After fixing the trajectory guide, instruments can be inserted along the trajectory through the path defined by the trajectory guide.
US08016832B2
A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system includes a vertebral anchor having a top portion. The top portion has a perimeter and a first engaging element. The first engaging element has a first longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to a second longitudinal axis of the top portion. The perimeter extends around the second longitudinal axis. The system also includes a driving tool that has a second engaging element that is configured to cooperate with the first engaging element to substantially restrict rotation of the driving tool relative to the top portion about the second longitudinal axis. The first engaging element is configured to slidably receive the second engaging element in a direction along the first longitudinal axis, and the second engaging element is configured to extend substantially within the perimeter of the top portion.
US08016831B2
Systems and methods of shaping surfaces of vertebral bodies include a reference guide instrument that can be positioned relative to a disc space between vertebral bodies and referenced to the caudally located endplate of the disc space. The reference guide instrument can then be employed to guide preparation instruments to the vertebral bodies in an orientation and spacing referenced to the caudal endplate of the subject disc space to shape vertebral surfaces to receive an implant.
US08016830B2
Devices to grasp a medical element that may include a first member, a second member that fits within the first member, and a locking element. The first and second members may move relative to one another to move the locking element between locked and unlocked positions. In an unlocked position, the device may move along the element. In the locked position, the device may lock to the element and motion is prevented. In one application, the device can be placed in the locked position to maintain a desired amount of tension on the element. Methods of grasping the medical element may include moving the first and second members relative to each other thereby moving the locking element to grasp and release the medical element.
US08016828B2
An apparatus for stabilizing vertebrae while permitting a range of motion therebetween may include first and second fasteners for engaging adjacent vertebrae and a motion preserving device that can be coupled to the first and second fasteners. The motion preserving device may include a longitudinal member that includes an array of load-bearing elements. The longitudinal member may be configured to permit the load-bearing elements to move relative to each other and/or relative to other portions of the member. In some embodiments, the longitudinal member is relatively inflexible along a longitudinal axis and relatively flexible in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US08016827B2
A bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom including an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly has a wheel assembly opposing a jaw member and having a pair of opposing wheels configured to facilitate movement of the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member. A drive rod is operably coupled at a proximal end to a movable handle and at a distal end to the wheel assembly. The movable handle is movable relative to a stationary handle to move the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member. At least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate is disposed on each of the wheel assembly and the jaw member and is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue held between the wheel assembly and the jaw member to effect a tissue seal.
US08016826B2
Assemblies and methods are provided for resecting a portion of tissue to be removed (e.g., unhealthy tissue, such as cancerous tissue) from a portion of the tissue to be retained (e.g., healthy tissue) within a patient is provided. An electrically conductive fluid, such as saline, may be absorbed into a hydrophilic electrode. Electrical energy (e.g., radio frequency (RF) energy) is conveyed to or from the hydrophilic electrode while being moved in proximity to the tissue along a resection line, whereby tissue adjacent to the resection line is coagulated. A resection member, such as a blunt resection member or a resection electrode, which may be on the same device as the hydrophilic electrode, is used to separate the tissue along the resection line to resect the tissue portion to be removed from the tissue portion to be retained.
US08016825B2
An electrode portion is provided with a rod-shaped portion extending in the direction of a flexible sheath. An insulating tip which closes the distal end portion of the sheath is provided with a slide hole and openings for liquid feed. The rod-shaped portion is passed through the sheath for axial movement, and cannot get into the openings.
US08016822B2
Apparatus and methods for maintaining contact between tissue and a fluid injection device. An apparatus in the form of a suction device for use with a probe that includes at least one energy transmission device and a wettable structure around at least a portion of the energy transmission device includes a suction pod and a connector. The suction pod defines a suction region and includes a suction aperture within the suction region. The connector is configured to secure the probe to the suction device such that at least a portion of the wettable structure is within the suction region in spaced relation to the suction aperture. A support device positioned within the suction region is configured to engage the wettable structure and maintain a predetermined space between the wettable structure and the suction aperture.
US08016816B2
The end of the elongated tubular element of the appliance that is designed to be inserted into a body cavity or vessel is formed entirely of soft, compliant material. That end carries an inflatable balloon formed in its fully inflated shape. The balloon is inflated to a predetermined low pressure level to prevent pressure necrosis in the adjacent tissue. A method and apparatus for introducing the soft end of the appliance into the body cavity are also provided. The introducer apparatus includes rigid core surrounded by a soft, compliant sleeve. The sleeve extends beyond the rigid core to form an invertable section. The soft end of the appliance is situated adjacent the apparatus, the balloon is wrapped around the apparatus, and the sleeve section is inverted over the appliance, compressing the balloon and forming a soft, rounded insertion tip. The unit is then introduced into the body cavity. After the appliance is separated from the apparatus, the apparatus is withdrawn.
US08016813B2
Some embodiments of an anchor device may include bendable anchor mechanism that is deployable in a subcutaneous layer to releasably secure the anchor device to a patient's body. Certain embodiments of the anchor mechanism may include one or more barbs that flexibly bend in response to an insertion or removal force. As such, the anchor mechanism may be inserted into a subcutaneous layer, and removed from the subcutaneous layer, without the need for a separate actuation device to extend or retract the barbs.
US08016806B2
An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on the hip side, having only the first elastification means.
US08016805B2
A pull-on disposable diaper 1 has, between a waist opening 5 and leg openings 6, a region 71 having a width of 15 to 35 mm in each of a front section A and a rear section B. The region 71, while worn by a wearer, applies a pressure of 1.1 to 2.5 kPa to the wearer's body. With the diaper 1 opened and stretched out, the distance from the longitudinal centerline of the diaper to the widthwise middle of the region 71 in the front section A is 180 to 220 mm, and the distance from the longitudinal centerline of the diaper to the widthwise middle of the region 71 in the rear section B is 180 to 220 mm. A waist portion around the waist opening 5, while worn by a wearer, applies a pressure of 0.3 to 1.5 kPa to the wearer's body.
US08016802B1
A manifold for ostomy bag irrigation, including an inlet member having a channel defined therein, a T-member having a channel defined therein and in fluid communication with the inlet member, a left tube having a plurality of apertures defined therein and having one end coupled to the T-member, a right tube having a plurality of apertures defined therein and having one end coupled to the T-member, a left cap having a channel defined therein and coupled to the second end of the left tube, and a right cap having a channel defined therein and coupled to the second end of the right tube.
US08016794B2
Some embodiments of an anchor device may include bendable anchor mechanism that is deployable in a subcutaneous layer to releasably secure the anchor device to a patient's body. Certain embodiments of the anchor mechanism may include one or more barbs that flexibly bend in response to an insertion or removal force. As such, the anchor mechanism may be inserted into a subcutaneous layer, and removed from the subcutaneous layer, without the need for a separate actuation device to extend or retract the barbs.
US08016790B2
An infusion status indicator disposed in the medical infusion line includes a housing with an opening through which the status of the infusion may be determined. A flexible membrane is located at the opening to indicate the status of fluid in the cavity. A recessed flexible membrane indicates insufficient flow of medical fluid into the cavity from the fluid supply, a level flexible membrane indicates correct flow of fluid through the indicator, and a concave flexible membrane indicates an insufficient flow of medical fluid out of the cavity, possibly indicating an occlusion of the fluid line downstream of the indicator. Check valves may be included upstream and downstream of the cavity so that a bolus of fluid may be forced out of the cavity to the patient by pressing the flexible membrane into the cavity.
US08016786B2
A device for interventional surgical or medical procedures is presented. The device is generally in the form of a balloon and is used to position itself or other working elements up against or through lumen walls in the body. The balloon is comprised of at least two materials of different elastic modulus, which allows for a flexible but relatively non-distensible, unfolding component of the balloon as well as an elastomeric, inflatable component of the balloon. The elastomeric component is fixedly attached to the flexible but relatively non-distensible component and together they form a pressure vessel that can be inflated within the lumens of the body.
US08016783B2
A drug delivery system detects a cardiac condition indicative of a need for increasing a cardiac metabolic level and, in response, releases a drug into tissue or blood to shift a source of metabolically synthesized energy fueling cardiac contraction from fatty acid to glucose. One example of such a system includes an implantable device detecting an ischemia and a transdermal drug delivery device delivering a drug when an ischemic condition is detected. Another example of such a system includes one or more implantable devices detecting a predefined change in cardiac metabolic level and delivering a drug when the change is detected. Such systems are applied to treat, for example, patients suffering ischemia and/or heart failure and patients having suffered myocardial infarction.
US08016778B2
A circumferential compression sleeve has bladder openings extending through a bladder, making the sleeve generally breathable and comfortable for the wearer. The openings include at least about 4% of a total surface area of the bladder. The device also has a static evaporation rate through the device of at least about 20 mg/minute. In one example, the device includes a wicking layer for contacting the wearer's skin. The wicking layer wicks moisture from the wearer's skin and generally moves the moisture to portions of the layer in registration with the openings where the moisture is allowed to evaporate therethrough.
US08016766B2
The central venous sensor assembly comprises a catheter body with several proximal ports. The catheter portion placed in the vena cava superior is equipped with a proximal flux measurement unit, and the catheter portion placed in the vena cava inferior is equipped with a distal flux measurement unit. A first input channel supplies a measurement signal indicative of a flux vp to the evaluation unit from which the latter calculates a blood flow in the vena cava superior. Likewise, a second input channel supplies a measurement signal indicative of a flux vd to the evaluation unit from which the latter calculates a blood flow rate in the vena cava inferior. Due to continuity, the sum of the flow rates in the upper and lower central veins corresponds to the flow rate through the right heart and in the pulmonary artery and thus to cardiac output.
US08016763B2
A method for analysing pressure-signals derivable from pressure measurements on or in a body of a human being or animal, includes the steps of sampling said signals and converting the signals to pressure-related digital data with a time reference, wherein the method comprises the further steps of: identifying from said digital data features related to absolute pressures relative to atmospheric pressure, recording repeatedly at specific time intervals, intermittently, in any reiterated manner, or continuously absolute pressure data to create a pressure trend plot against time, determining from said recording either a) a plurality of different pressure levels and duration thereof, or b) a plurality of different pressure changes of different levels and duration thereof, and presenting a) numbers of different pressure levels of various time durations in format of a matrix, or b) presenting numbers of different pressure change levels of various time durations in format of a matrix.
US08016762B2
Blood pressure values measured in four limbs are plotted on first to fourth linear axes which extend from an origin in an upper right direction, an upper left direction, a lower left direction, and a lower right direction respectively, and a rectangle composed of vertices which are determined by the plotted blood pressure values is illustrated to present the blood pressure values. This allows a specific measured value in each site to be easily known, and the relationships between the blood pressure values in the four limbs are intuitively understood from the shape of the rectangle.
US08016749B2
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a visualization system including a small gauge vision catheter that is designed to be standalone or received within an instrument channel of a larger endoscope. The vision catheter has imaging means disposable within an imaging channel, a working channel, and an electromagnetic sensor element insertable into the working channel of the catheter to provide position tracking. The working channel of the catheter also provides access for therapeutic and diagnostic tools.
US08016745B2
An implantable restriction device is configured to provide a restriction in a patient as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device includes one or more pressure sensors configured to sense pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device. Pressure data obtained by the one or more pressure sensors may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the pressure data, and may communicate the pressure data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger.
US08016740B2
A therapeutic device is provided. The therapeutic device can include a flexible housing and can be configured to be positioned within an anatomical structure. The therapeutic device can also include at least one high vapor pressure media having a vapor pressure greater than the pressure within the anatomical structure and a permeability of less than 1 ml/day at body temperature through said outer wall.
US08016738B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for selecting a deflation timing mode for an intra-aortic balloon (IAB) based on comparison of the time required to deflate the IAB and the time between the ECG R wave and systolic upstroke.
US08016721B2
A semiautomatic vehicle gearbox comprising, for said gearbox, a shift lever (10) directly coupled to the gearbox itself; a shaft of said gearbox; and connection means between said shift lever and said shaft; characterised by comprising a sensor (20) for sensing the operation of said shift lever coupled to said connection means.
US08016716B2
A planet carrier of a planetary stage, the planet carrier having a bogie plate, both sides of which planet wheels can be mounted, characterized in that the planet carrier with its bogie plate is made as one monolithic piece.
US08016714B2
A multiple speed power transmission, comprising an input shaft; a transmission case; a co-planar gear set; a rear epicyclic gearing assembly with four rotating members; a first clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the fourth rotating member; a second clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the first rotating member; a third clutch connecting the input shaft to the third rotating member; a first brake holding the fourth rotating member against rotation; a second brake holding the third rotating member against rotation; and an output shaft connected to the second rotating member.
US08016708B2
An eight-gear transmission comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, four planetary gear sets and five gear shifting elements.
US08016705B2
A bicycle component positioning device is basically provided with a fixed structure, an input member and a positioning member. The input member is movably coupled relative to the fixed structure. The input member has a first moving direction and a second moving direction. The positioning member is operatively coupled to the input mechanism to selectively move between a plurality of predetermined positions. The input member and the positioning member are configured and arranged relative to each other such that the positioning member is initially moved by the input member in a direction different from the first and second moving directions in response to movement of the input member both in the first moving direction and in the second moving direction.
US08016693B2
A golf club having a shaft, a grip, and a head provides improved balance and feel. The shaft has a shaft distal end, a shaft axis defining a vertical plane, and a forward bend section proximate the shaft distal end. The head is secured to the shaft distal end and includes a striking face, a trailing edge, a club head center of gravity, a heel section having a heel section center of gravity, and a toe section having a toe section center of gravity. The heel section center of gravity is forward of the striking face and the club head center of gravity is further from the trailing edge than the striking face. The forward bend section of the shaft projects from the vertical plane at an attachment angle such that the shaft distal end is forward of the heel section center of gravity.
US08016692B2
A golf club (2) includes a head (4), a shaft (6) and a grip (8). At least one siping groove (g1) is provided on a surface of the grip (8). The siping groove (g1) is bent in a direction (Dd) of a depth of the grip. A width (Wg) of the siping groove (g1) is set to be equal to or greater than 0.15 mm and is equal to or smaller than 1.5 mm. It is preferable that an opening edge (e1) of the siping groove (g1) should be bent. The width (Wg) is more preferably equal to or greater than 0.20 mm. The width (Wg) is more preferably equal to or smaller than 1.4 mm and is further preferably equal to or smaller than 1.3 mm. A depth (F1) of the siping groove (g1) is preferably equal to or greater than 0.5 mm and is preferably equal to or smaller than 3.5 mm.
US08016689B2
A golf ball aiming device is provided that allows a golfer to accurately position a ball relative to its intended target. The device includes a laser for aiming and pointing the device along with an alignment feature for aligning the ball relative to the device.
US08016686B2
A retractable challenge course having a support beam (15); an overhead tracking member (120) secured with respect to the support beam (15); a vertical support member (125) pivotally connected via a pivot aperture (220) to the support beam (15), the vertical support member (125) extending downwardly from the support beam (15) to support an element (40) disposed below the support beam (15).
US08016682B2
A mounting arrangement for supporting the light-transmitting sheets of material in a gaming cabinet includes an upper retaining structure that secures an upper edge of the sheet, and a lower support surface upon which a lower edge portion of the sheet is disposed. A retaining bracket or the like secures at least the lower portion of the sheet of material to the gaming cabinet.
US08016674B2
A gaming system which maintains a count of the consecutive plays of a game. The system produces a same player stimuli for a designated quantity of the consecutive plays, and the system produces a different player stimuli for one or more of the plays which occur after the designated quantity is reached.
US08016663B2
A method, apparatus and article generates a pseudo-random playing card sequence and distributes playing cards according the pseudo-random playing card sequence. For example, the method, apparatus and article generates a pseudo-random playing card sequence and prints playing cards in order of the pseudo-random playing card sequence. Further, the method, apparatus and article generates a pseudo-random playing card sequence based on a house advantage. Yet further, the method, apparatus and article can generate a promotional message on one or more playing cards.
US08016659B2
A gaming apparatus and methods which include multiple virtual stacks of symbols, such as cards, numbers, picture symbols or other symbols. In one form each player has an individual virtual stack and the dealer has one stack. In another form each player has one stack and the dealer has individual virtual stacks for each player. In some preferred forms, the symbol sets for each participant are stripped or reduced during the game as various symbols are assigned thereto. Other alternatives are also described.
US08016656B2
An apparatus and method for enhancing participation in gaming activities that involve replacement items, replacement cards, or other draw-type activity. A player is allowed to hold cards (or other items) of a starting hand/payline. Multiple sets of potential replacement cards are provided, from which the player can select the desired set of replacement cards. The selected set of replacement cards is used to complete the player's hand. Multiple hands may be played concurrently.
US08016651B2
A is provided for aspirating air in a HVAC module assembly having a first HVAC module housing section including a first venturi portion. A second HVAC module housing section includes a second venturi portion. The first and second HVAC module housing sections form a HVAC mixing chamber and venturi chamber. The first venturi portion mates with the second venturi portion to cooperatively form the chamber.
US08016649B2
A positioning apparatus for animal carcass halves, particularly slaughtered pig halves, arranges a cleaving plane to be aligned in parallel with an imaging plane of a camera. The positioning apparatus includes a rear guide element disposed movably at a level of an upper guide. In a region of an imaging position of a slaughtered pig half, the positioning apparatus includes rollers operating as pressure elements.
US08016646B1
A saw blade sharpening assembly includes a sharpening disk, a blade support panel disposed generally adjacent to the sharpening disk and a generally sloped blade support base carried by the blade support panel.
US08016636B2
Disclosed is a built-up type toy having plural parts 10a of polyhedron shape equipped with joining surfaces 11a that are joined with other joining surfaces 11b of other parts 10b. The built-up type toy of the present invention has the parts respectively having magnet portions 100a on the joining surfaces 11a thereof, wherein the magnet portion 100a of the part 10a and the magnet portion 100b on the joining surface 11b of the parts 10b are joined with each other by magnetic force thereof.The built-up type toy of the present invention provides the effects that it is easy to assemble and disassemble, the assemble state is not likely to be demolished easily, and it is helpful to develop the initiative of infant as it can be assemble to various shapes.
US08016632B2
Disclosed is a light emitting display device including a seal and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting display device includes a first substrate composed of a pixel region and a non-pixel region disposed around the pixel region; a pad portion formed in the non-pixel region to supply a signal to the pixel region; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate; and a seal provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and disposed to surround the pixel region. Here, the seal is disposed on a first side between the pixel region and the pad portion, on a second side facing the first side, and on an outer ring of third sides contacting both ends of the first side and the second side, and the seal disposed in the outer ring of the third sides is filled up to contour lines of the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08016631B2
A method of encapsulating an OLED device includes forming an OLED device on a substrate; providing a protective cover surrounding the OLED device and the substrate; providing a first sealing arrangement between the protective cover and top surface of the substrate, to define a first chamber enclosing the OLED device; providing a second sealing arrangement sealed to define a second chamber sealed from and enclosing the first chamber; and providing first desiccant material in the first chamber and providing second desiccant material in the second chamber closer to the bottom surface of the substrate than the top surface.
US08016621B2
An electrical connector including a connector body that has mating and loading ends and is configured to receive a modular plug at the mating end. The electrical connector also includes a contact sub-assembly that is held by the connector body. The contact sub-assembly includes an array of mating conductors that are configured to engage plug contacts of the modular plug at mating interfaces proximate to the mating end. The mating conductors transmit a signal current along an interconnection path between the mating and loading ends. The contact sub-assembly also includes a plurality of open-ended conductors electrically connected to corresponding mating conductors. The open-ended conductors are electrically parallel to the interconnection path of the array of mating conductors and generate crosstalk compensation as the signal current is transmitted through the mating conductors.
US08016610B1
A mobile terminal includes a battery having at least one contact pad that has a first pad portion and a second pad portion positioned on adjacent surfaces of the battery. A connecting device configured to electrically couple the battery to a terminal body includes an electrically conductive flexible terminal having first and second contact portions biased to contact the first and second pad portions of the battery. The mobile terminal also includes an insulation mount configured to support the flexible terminal. One end of the flexible terminal is coupled to the insulation mount and the other end of the flexible terminal is free. The flexible terminal is configured to increase contact pressure of the second contact portion against the second pad portion of the battery when force is applied to the first contact portion of the flexible terminal in a direction away from first pad portion of the battery.
US08016602B2
A connection assembly includes a first multicontact connector housing having at least one blocking element in relief; and a second multicontact connector housing having a housing body extending along a longitudinal axis and a locking cap that is movable relative to the housing body of the second housing between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking cap pivots about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second housing includes at least one face that includes a locking zone for locking the locking cap. The locking cap includes at least one blocking ramp and at least one locking tab.
US08016598B2
A newborn simulator for teaching patient care is provided. The newborn simulator includes a body comprising one or more simulated body portions sized to simulate a newborn baby and a head portion movably connected to a portion of the body. A simulated heart is positioned at least partially within the body along with a pair of simulated lungs. The simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device to provide a simulated heart beat and respiratory pattern.
US08016595B2
In an interactive driving simulation apparatus for a two-wheeled vehicle, a real-time test drive performance by a student operator around a simulated driving route sequence is recorded. The recorded performance is later replayed for the benefit of the student, to provide real-world simulation, education, and performance evaluation. During the simulated driving, pre-recorded performance evaluation comments are selected and stored, corresponding to the student's specific performance at a traffic driving situation on the driving route sequence. Then, upon displaying of a replay screen image of the simulated driving on a display unit, when a particular traffic driving situation is arrived at, a simulated operating environment of the traffic driving situation and the selected performance evaluation comments are automatically superimposed and displayed together as a replay screen 154.
US08016590B2
A combustion burner resulting in low oxides of nitrogen includes a primary combustion zone, for use as an ignition source. The primary combustion zone locating within a combustion chamber, and being separated from the base of the combustion chamber by a wall. A burner provides a secondary oxidant stream that is delivered to the combustion chamber at the base of an exterior wall, to entrain and mix with flue gases present in the combustion chamber. Then secondary fuel is injected into the resulting secondary oxidant-flue gas mixture. Combustion of the secondary fuel with the oxidant flue gas mixture results in lower concentration of oxides of nitrogen emitted to the atmosphere.
US08016587B2
A stretch rod used for forming a preform into a hollow body having in its surface a plurality of raised portions and/or recesses relative to the circular cylinder shape, whereby the stretch rod tip can come into contact with the concave, rotationally symmetric inner surface of the preform at a plurality of locations which are separate from one another. Also, a method and an apparatus for forming a preform into a hollow body, which uses such a stretch rod.
US08016580B2
In order to facilitate the assembly of a tire component like an Off the Road tire shoulder wedge, it is proposed to extrude this component with a high tack compound coating at its periphery by using a dual extruder which otherwise can extrude the tire component with a first high tack compound coating on one side, combined with an assembly for the extruder comprising a splice bar, a holder and a die which are designed to provide a channel deriving and guiding a portion of the high tack compound of the extruder to the stream of compounds before extrusion through the die, on a side opposite to the first coating, thereby providing a coating at almost the whole periphery of the component.
US08016575B2
A fluid drawing device (10) comprising a hand pump (11) connected to a fluid reservoir (12). The reservoir (12) has an inlet/outlet orifice (18) through which fluid can be drawn into and expelled from the reservoir (12). The pump (11) comprises a squeeze bulb (13) with an air release valve (14) in its wall and an air intake valve (15). Compressing the bulb (13) releases the air to the atmosphere through the release valve (14), subsequent decompression of the bulb (13) draws air through the intake valve (15) from the reservoir (12) reducing the pressure in it to draw fluid through the orifice (18) into the reservoir (12). Pushing a plunger (24) slidably housed within the reservoir (12) expels the fluid out through the orifice (18).
US08016574B2
A cooling fan (1) for a motor vehicle has a fan wheel (4) and a brushless fan motor (2) which is used to drive the fan wheel (4). The fan motor (2) has an internal rotor (3). The fan wheel (4) is directly connected to the internal rotor (3) in order to reduce the size of the type of cooling fan (1) whilst retaining the power output.
US08016571B2
A pump end assembly has a centrifugal pump and a motor separated by a chamber. The chamber contains a thrust bearing as well as an intake for the pump. Fluid flowing into the intake flows through the thrust chamber and to the inlet of the pump. Some of the fluid also flows through the thrust bearing for lubricating the thrust bearing.
US08016567B2
An airfoil disclosed herein comprises a pressure surface 42 exposed to a stream of fluid, a suction surface 40 exposed to the stream of fluid and a passage 56 extending from a passage intake end 60 to a passage discharge end 66. The intake end has an intake opening 62 penetrating the pressure surface for extracting fluid from the fluid stream. The discharge end has a discharge opening 68 penetrating the suction surface upstream of a natural separation point 52. The discharge end is configured to inject the extracted fluid into the fluid stream at a jet angle whose components include at least one of a nonzero streamwise angle α in a prescribed angular range and a nonzero cross-stream angle β.
US08016563B1
A turbine blade with a conical shaped tip for use in a first or second stage of a turbine. The airfoil includes an aft flowing 3-pass serpentine flow cooling circuit with a serpentine tip turn located between the first and the second legs and underneath the tip. Mini serpentine flow cooling circuits are formed in the end of the first leg and the beginning of the second leg to reduce or eliminate the cooling flow separation and over temperature issues at the tip portion of the blade. A leading edge cooling supply channel is located forward of the first leg and has a decreasing flow area with an exit cooling hole at the tip to discharge cooling air. The last leg of the main serpentine circuit is formed by a slanted rib that produces a decreasing flow area in the last leg and includes an exit cooling hole on the tip to discharge cooling air. The last leg is connected to a row of exit cooling holes or slots formed along the trailing edge of the airfoil. The main serpentine flow circuit is separated from the leading edge cooling channel so that no cooling air mixes.
US08016546B2
Systems and methods for cooling vane platforms are provided. In this regard, a representative method for cooling a vane platform includes: providing a cooling channel on a platform from which a vane airfoil extends, the cooling channel being defined by a cooling surface and a channel cover, the channel wall being spaced from the cooling surface and located such that the cooling surface is positioned between a gas flow path of the vane and the channel cover; and directing a flow of cooling air through the cooling channel such that heat is extracted from the cooling surface of the platform by the flow of cooling air.
US08016535B1
A wheel lock device wherein a locking lug nut is threadably engaged on a vehicle wheel. A security sleeve is removably secured over the hex portion of the lug nut preventing unauthorized engagement and removal thereof. A retainment fastener secures the security sleeve to the modified lug nut by an integrated removal and placement rotational key tool.
US08016534B2
A connector includes an elongated hollow body and a nut threaded onto the body. The nut is secured in place by outward expansion of material from the threaded body into a chamfer of the nut.
US08016533B2
A lock nut having a plurality of sides having a radius crimp which is consistent with the radius of the threaded bore in the lock nut. Preferably, the lock nut is crimped using a three sided die, each die having a radius crimp with relief angles. The relief angles are provided at a desired angle to result in the desired amount of contact area between the lock nut and the die. The device includes a housing, and the housing includes at one end a threaded bore which is configured to mount on a ram. An opposite end of the housing provides a tapered die section in which the three sided die is disposed. The three sided die is engaged with a locking die base which is movable within the housing.
US08016524B2
A semi-trailer for is converted for transporting motorized golf carts and side by side recreational vehicles which are loaded onto the floor and an upper support level with detachable two tier loading ramps and receivers. The upper support level includes transverse shore beams connected to the logistic posts in the side wall of the semi-trailer which then supports and stabilizes a foldable floor system defined by pivotal panels which hinge upwardly into a stored position. The ramps are carried in a rack under the trailer floor.
US08016523B2
A tool has a distal operative portion and a proximal shank with a mounting portion, for mounting the tool in a holder. A substantial portion of the mounting portion has a cross-sectional shape with at least one and fewer than six 60-degree segments thereof having segment ends joined by a flat surface. The holder has a distal axial aperture or mounting hole for receiving the tool, the aperture having a cross-sectional shape which has 60-degree segments thereof having segment ends joined by a flat surface, but no more such flat surface segments than those corresponding to flat surface segments of the tool. The holder further has a ball-detent mechanism or other locking mechanism for engaging the mounting portion of the tool.
US08016511B2
A metallic structural part is described which is joined from at least two components (1, 2), of which one component (1) comprises a hub-like nose (3) for receiving the other annular component (2) without play, which is placed on the nose (3) so as to be stopped there and is secured against axial withdrawal by a latching ring which engages in a circular latching recess (8) of one of the two components (1, 2). In order to provide simple constructional conditions it is proposed that the latching ring engaging in the latching recess (8) of the one component (1) consists of a radially projecting ring segment (7) of the other component (2) and that the radial projecting portion (r) of the ring segment (7) corresponds at most to the magnitude of the maximum elastic deformation of the ring segment (7) in the radial direction.
US08016505B2
A letter opening device for use with a writing instrument having a writing end and a distal end includes an elongate clip and a protrusion generally perpendicular from the elongate clip for operative coupling to the writing instrument. The letter opening device also includes a cutting blade extending between the elongate clip and the protrusion to open a letter when the letter is passed between the elongate clip and the writing instrument from the distal end toward said writing end. The protrusion may alternatively be coupled to a sleeve for removable attachment to the writing instrument.
US08016503B2
Provided is an inkjet printer assembly having a cartridge with an integrated pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC), and a cradle configured to receive the cartridge such that the printhead IC is adjacent a media feed path. Also included is a driven mechanism configured to maintain the printhead and to feed print media through the media feed path, and a central processing unit (CPU) configured to control operation of the IC to determine a performance characteristic of the cartridge to control operation of the driven mechanism and printhead IC in response to the determined performance characteristic of the cartridge. The assembly also includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) subsystem configured to store print data and to arbitrate requests received from the CPU, and a print engine pipeline (PEP) subsystem configured to accept compressed pages from the DRAM subsystem and to render said pages to bi-level dots for printing by the IC.
US08016498B2
An image pickup apparatus which is capable of effectively removing dust attached to an optical member due to mounting/removing of a photographic lens in a power-off state, to thereby prevent degradation of image quality. In the image pickup apparatus, when position information of a contact brush that moves in a manner interlocked with mounting/removing of the photographic lens differs immediately after execution of power-on operation from position information obtained immediately after execution of power-off operation, it is determined that photographic lens mounting/removing operation was carried out during power-off, and a camera microcomputer outputs a warning advising cleaning of the optical member.
US08016496B2
A lens barrier is arranged on a front face of a photographic lens. The lens barrier can move into a lens barrier retraction space at an angle which is inclined with respect to the optical axis of the photographic lens. The lens barrier retraction space is provided under the photographic lens. As a result, a remote control light receiving element and a microphone can be arranged on an object side of the lens barrier retraction space, whereby the object side surface area of a camera body can be made smaller due to the configuration of the lens barrier.
US08016494B2
A folding, adjustable camera support having a central post secured in one or more central post holders. A first camera equipment support component having a distal end and a proximate end is adjustably attached at its proximate end to one of the one or more central post holders, and is configured to adjust between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism. The distance of the camera equipment is adjustable radially from the central post. A second camera equipment support component is similarly configured and adjustable with respect to the central post, and can balance the first camera equipment component.
US08016493B2
A coupling configured to transmit rotation of a drive shaft to a driven shaft by magnetic force includes a drive portion configured to rotate integrally with the drive shaft, a driven portion configured to rotate integrally with the driven shaft, and a buffer member located in contact with both the drive portion and the driven portion.
US08016488B2
The fluid dynamic bearing device includes a housing, two bearing sleeves fixed to the housing at positions axially spaced apart from each other, and a shaft member inserted along inner peripheries of the bearing sleeves. The housing includes a spacer portion protruding further radially inwardly than inner peripheral surfaces to which the bearing sleeves are fixed. An axial fluid path is formed in the spacer portion, and the axial fluid path communicates to flow paths formed by axial grooves of the bearing sleeves.
US08016485B2
A collapsible container for holding popcorn that is comprised of a front panel, a rear panel, and gusseted side panels. The front and rear panels have pockets mounted at the base of the container. The container also includes carrying handles incorporated into the top of the front and rear panels. The container also contains a releasably sealable opening that maybe sealed by a number of different methods and mechanisms. When the container is open, the user may add a topping, and then seal and shake the container in order to distribute the flavoring agent. Additionally, the user may seal the container, thereby trapping heat so as to maintain an elevated temperature for the popcorn. The resealable opening will also prevent accidental spillage of the popcorn. A fill line is located on the interior of the container in order to allow the user to know how much popcorn to put into the container such that it can still be easily closed.
US08016484B1
A convertible sport and recreational accessory which is easily convertible for use either as a towel or as a tote bag. The planar towel configuration has an elongate, fabric body with a pair of side panels. Two opposed pairs of drawstrings are encased in seams arranged longitudinally and transversely which, when pulled, will form a pouch. The ends of the body and the side panels may be used as a cover or flap extending into the pouch opening or may be tucked into the pouch. Handles are provided for convenience when the combination towel/tote is in the tote mode or configuration.
US08016480B2
Heat flow sensor having at least two plates with the heat (thermo) sensitive elements and with holes (openings) for the passage of air flow, so that the tops of both plates with the thermo sensitive elements are placed facing the outer surface of the sensor, so that their openings coincide and the construction provides passage of air through the openings whereby the thermo sensitive elements are located between all the holes of the plates and serially connected on every plate, and then the said sensor (plates) has one common point of connection in the middle of each side so that each sensor has at least three output wires—the total, the output of each plate, and therefore the magnitude and direction of the heat flow, are determined by the difference between the outputs of the two earlier described plates.
US08016474B2
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display which can achieve substantially uniform luminance over the entire display screen includes: a light-guide plate guiding incident light and having a diffusion pattern for emitting light upward, the diffusion pattern being formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the light-guide plate; and a point light source assembly disposed on at least one side portion of the light-guide plate, the point light source assembly including a plurality of point-light-source elements and a support substrate, in which the point-light-source elements are disposed on the support substrate and supply the light to the light-guide plate. An edge portion of one surface of the light-guide plate, which is adjacent to the point light source assembly, includes a first region corresponding to the point-light-source elements and a second region corresponding to a position between the point-light-source elements. The diffusion pattern may be formed in such a manner that the second region has a higher density than the first region.
US08016468B2
A signal indicator lamp assembly (10) for a vehicle (14) has an LED assembly (16) that emits electromagnetic radiation (20), which is visible light, such as white light, that is composed of at least two wavelengths. A collimating optic (18) is positioned forwardly of the LED assembly (16) for providing substantially parallel light rays of the emitted radiation (20). A second optic (22) is positioned forwardly of the collimating optic (18), the second optic (22) having a first planar surface (33) facing the collimating optic (18) and a second, outer surface (35), the first planar, surface (33) having an interference coating (24) thereon, the interference coating (24) reflecting back toward the LED assembly (16) at least some of the first wavelengths (31) of the radiation (20) and transmitting at least some of the second wavelengths (39).
US08016467B2
The present invention provides a license plate assembly comprising: (i) a housing comprising a back plate and upstanding side walls defining a cavity; (ii) a light guide having first and second major sides that are opposite to each other and one or more side faces defining a thickness of side light guide, said light guide being disposed in said housing and being arranged on said back plate of said housing; (iii) a light source mounted along one or more side faces of said light guide; (iv) a transparent and retroreflective license plate mounted on said first major side of said light guide; and wherein a cushioning layer is provided between said back plate of said housing and said light guide.
US08016463B2
Disclosed is an underwater lighting apparatus securable in the transom drain hole of a vessel. The apparatus is formed from a support structure having a chamber for housing at least one LED or the like lighting element. An outer surface of the support structure is sized and arranged to sealingly secure to the transom drain hole of a conventional boat to prevent water passage. The apparatus includes an internal power source, namely disposable cell batteries or a rechargeable cell, for providing power to the lighting element.
US08016459B2
An illuminating device includes a light source module for emitting light and an optical lens for adjusting the light. The light source module includes a reflecting unit and LEDs. The reflecting unit includes strip-shaped grooves each extending along a first direction. The LEDs are mounted on the reflecting unit in the grooves. The optical lens includes an array of lens units each including a main body, a light diverging portion and a light converging portion. The light diverging portion is for expanding a light field of the LEDs along the first direction. The light converging portion is for compressing the light field along a second direction. The reflecting unit is for further compressing the light field along the second direction.
US08016455B2
An optical device for creating an illumination window includes radiation sources and an optical element. The optical element is arranged to create a substantially collimated radiation beam from radiation generated by the radiation sources, in which the radiation generated by the respective sources is substantially unmixed. The optical device further includes a first lens plate having first sub-lenses, in which each first sub-lens projects a part of the radiation beam at an illumination window, such that the projections of each first sub-lens at least partially overlap.
US08016448B2
The display device includes: a display panel that displays an image; and a backlight that is disposed on a back surface of the display panel and emits light from the back surface of the display panel. The backlight includes: an output member that outputs incoming light to the display panel; and a light source that emits light to the output member from a side of the output member. The light source includes: plural board-shaped substrates that each have a light-emitting element mounted on a surface thereof; and a wiring board that is in contact with a side surface of each of the plural board-shaped substrates to hold, in an upright position, the plural board-shaped substrates which are arranged in a line, and that is arranged so that the each light-emitting element faces the side of the output member while the wiring board is electrically connected to the plural board-shaped substrates.
US08016443B2
An embodiment of a collimating downlight has front-mounted blue LED chips facing upwards, having a heat sink on the back of the LED chips exposed in ambient air. The LED chips are mounted in a collimator that sends their blue light to a remote phosphor situated near the top of the downlight can. Surrounding the remote phosphor is a downward-facing reflector that forms a beam from its stimulated emission and reflected blue light. The phosphor thickness and composition can be adjusted to give a desired color temperature.
US08016439B2
A solar simulator that simultaneously solves problems of high parallelism and high illuminance of emission light and increases uniformity of the emission light is provided.The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance: Instant application claims and discloses a solar simulator that allows light radiated from a light source to be incident on an integrator, allows light emitted from integrator to be incident on a collimation lens, and allows parallel light to be emitted from collimation lens when a circumradius of integrator is r, a parallelism angle of parallel light is .phi., and a focal distance of collimation lens is f=r/tan.phi., focal distance f is selected so parallelism angle .phi. becomes less than 2.5.degree., and when an emission angle of light emitted from integrator is .theta., a diameter of collimation lens is D, and a viewing angle of collimation lens when viewed from integrator is .theta.X=2.times.a tan (D/2f), emission angle .theta. is configured to be smaller than viewing angle .theta.X.The combination of limitations claimed is not found, taught or suggested by the prior art.
US08016438B2
A spherical mounting assembly for mounting an optical element allows for rotational motion of an optical surface of the optical element only. In that regard, an optical surface of the optical element does not translate in any of the three perpendicular translational axes. More importantly, the assembly provides adjustment that may be independently controlled for each of the three mutually perpendicular rotational axes.
US08016427B2
There is provided a light source device which can miniaturize a two-dimensional image display device as small as possible. The light source device is provided with three coherent light sources (11a), (11b), and (11c) corresponding to red, blue, and green; prisms (12a) and (12c) for reflecting lights emitted from the coherent light sources (11a) and (11c); and a diffraction part (20) comprising a single volume hologram on which plural gratings are multiply-formed, which gratings diffract the light emitted from the coherent light source (11b), and the lights that are emitted from the coherent light sources (11a) and (11c) and reflected by the prisms (12a) and (12b) so that these lights propagate in the same optical path.
US08016424B2
A rear projector includes: a screen; a display light source that emits a display light; a first optical modulation element that modulates the display light emitted from the display light source; an excitation light source that emits an excitation light; a second optical modulation element that modulates the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source; and a projection unit that projects, onto the screen, the display light being a result of modulation by the first optical modulation element and the excitation light being a result of modulation by the second optical modulation element. In the rear projector, the screen includes a scattering plate configured by a chassis with a space therein and with at least one surface being light transmissive, and a scattering element filled in the space of the chassis with a light scattering material dispersed in a scattering medium, and the scatting element of the screen is irradiated with the excitation light being the result of modulation by the second optical modulation element.
US08016421B2
An information system and a method for providing information in correlation with light that is incident on an eye includes a holographic element disposed in front of the eye and a device capable of recording optical signals which detects light that is incident on the eye via the holographic element. The device capable of recording optical signals detects light which is diffracted by the holographic element before the light impinges on the eye such that the diffracted light does not enter the eye.
US08016420B2
An eye measurement system may include a target that moves transverse to an optical path from the target to eye, so as to relax accommodation of the lens of the eye. The target may move transverse to the optical path on a display. The patient may be fogged while the target moves transverse to the optical path, and the target may become smaller such that the patient perceives the target to be moving away from the patient. A pupil camera may measure eye position that can be correlated with the position of the target on the display to determine that the patient has maintained fixation on the moving target. A visible measurement light beam may be pulsed subsequent to and/or during motion of the target that relaxes accommodation of the eye so as to avoid visual interference of the measurement light beam with the target on the display.
US08016419B2
Various embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for multimodal functional imaging based upon photoacoustic and laser optical scanning microscopy. In particular, at least one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a contact lens in combination with an ultrasound transducer for purposes of acquiring photoacoustic microscopy data. Traditionally divergent imaging modalities such as confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and photoacoustic microscopy are combined within a single laser system. Functional imaging of biological samples can be utilized for various medical and biological purposes.
US08016412B2
An image recording apparatus has an apparatus body; a display unit; a first axis, a first bearing, a second axis and a second bearing which support the display unit pivotably to the apparatus body; a separate part which is formed unintegrally from the apparatus body, to which the first axis or the first bearing is attached, and which has a key; and an engaging part which is provided to the apparatus body and which extends along a surface of the apparatus body, and which is formed with a receiving part formed for receiving the key; wherein the key has been engaged with the receiving part. Accordingly, the separate part is firmly and tightly fixed to the apparatus body, and the display unit is pivotally supported to the apparatus body in a firm and tight manner.
US08016411B2
A printing apparatus includes a first transport belt group including endless belts arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction intersecting a transport direction of a printing medium, a second transport belt group including endless belts arranged so as to oppose the first transport belt group and configured to transport the printing medium while the printing medium is clamped between the first transport belt group and the second transport belt group, and a group of liquid ejecting heads provided between the endless belts of the first transport belt group or between the endless belts of the second transport belt group and configured to eject liquid onto the printing medium being transported.
US08016407B2
A printer having an exposure head including an exposure head housing have side walls. The printer also includes a plurality of reflectors disposed in the exposure head housing, the plurality of reflectors including a plurality of elliptical reflectors and a plurality of planar reflectors. A lamp is disposed in the exposure head housing so as to be at least partially surrounded by the plurality of reflectors so that radiation emitted by the lamp during an operation of the printer is directed by the reflectors onto a printed image plane printable with photocurable ink.
US08016405B2
The ink-jet recording apparatus has an ink passage into which a water based ink or a preservation solution is filled. The ink passage employs a rubber member formed from a rubber which is formed of a butyl rubber polymer, a rubber polymer vulcanizable with an organic peroxide, and an organic peroxide. The water-based ink has a dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 100 ms of about 35 mN/m to about 45 mN/m as measured by means of a maximum bubble pressure method at a measurement temperature of 25° C. The preservation solution has a dynamic surface tension at a lifetime of 100 ms of about 30 mN/m to about 35 mN/m as measured by means of the maximum bubble pressure method at a measurement temperature of 25° C.
US08016401B2
An appropriate maintenance such as appropriate registration adjustment can be executed even if a status for the maintenance cannot be acquired from a printing apparatus. Specifically, if a status cannot be acquired from the printer, a printer driver refers to a history of number of past instructions for registration adjustment stored in a host computer to determine whether simplified registration adjustment or detailed registration adjustment is to be executed. If the printer driver does not detect any record of executed registration adjustment, that is, if the printer driver detects that no registration adjustment has been executed, then it determines that the simplified registration adjustment is to be executed. If the printer driver detects any record of executed registration adjustment, it determines that the detailed registration adjustment is to be executed. Thus, the invention enables the correct guidance and the corresponding appropriate registration adjustment even if the status cannot be acquired.
US08016398B2
A printer has a carriage on which a recording head and pumps are mounted. An air supply device and ink cartridges are provided in a frame of the printer. The pumps are connected to the air supply device with an air supply tube. Each pump is connected to corresponding one of the ink cartridges with an ink supply tube. Based on actuation of a drive mechanism of the air supply device, air is supplied from the air supply device to the pumps. Based on changes in the pressure of the air, each pump draws ink from the corresponding ink cartridge and supplies the ink to the recording head. This permits the carriage to reciprocate in a reliable manner.
US08016397B2
A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply path for supplying liquid from an upstream, liquid supply side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed. A defoaming chamber in the middle of the liquid supply path causes bubbles to escape from the liquid. A decompression chamber adjacent to the defoaming chamber has a partition wall interposed therebetween and is decompressed to have lower pressure than the defoaming chamber. The partition wall allows gas to permeate therethrough by decompression of the decompression chamber and regulates permeation of liquid. The partition wall is formed by a separate member from a decompression chamber forming member that forms the decompression chamber. The partition wall forms a part of an inner surface of the liquid supply path, and the liquid supply path passes along the inside of a wall portion of the decompression chamber in the decompression chamber forming member.
US08016387B2
An ink jet head includes a head chip having driving walls made up of piezoelectric device, ink channels that eject ink, air channels that do not eject ink, driving electrodes formed inside of the of the channels, at least one common electrode that conducts with the driving electrodes of the air channels, and connection electrodes that conduct with the driving electrodes of the ink channels separately, wherein the ink channels and the air channels are alternatingly arranged in parallel and form channel rows arranged in parallels, and a nozzle plate joined to a front surface of the head chip and has a plurality of nozzles, wherein individual connection electrodes of any adjacent two channel rows formed at a side of an edge of the head chip are lead out and aligned at the edge of the head chip.
US08016382B2
The present invention provides an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method, which enable an ink that overflowed to the outside from the edge of a printing medium to be fully absorbed by a platen. More specifically, the present invention provides an inkjet printer, including a platen, which absorbs a pigment ink that overflows to the outside of a printing medium when edgeless printing is carried out on the printing medium by using an ink that employs a pigment as a colorant, moving a printing head along a guide shaft, and ejecting the pigment ink from the printing head, and also an inkjet printing method, wherein the platen is impregnated with a humecant, a base, and the like.
US08016378B2
This invention provides an element substrate having a heater selection circuit normally operable even in the use of voltage conversion circuits, which are arranged along the nozzle arrayed direction, each having a small-area in order to reduce the area of the element substrate. The element substrate according to this invention includes a heater selection circuit, which receives a signal output from a voltage conversion circuit, a block selection signal, and a print data signal, and generates and outputs a signal for performing switching by a switching element.
US08016377B2
An inkjet recording apparatus has a head which includes, a plurality of nozzles each of which jets ink containing spacer beads dispersed therein on a substrate; a plurality of pressure chambers each of which communicates with each of the nozzles; and an plurality of electromechanical transducers which change a capacity of each of the pressure chambers by applying a voltage pulse, wherein the ink is jetted from each of the nozzles by applying to each of the electromechanical transducers the voltage pulse which includes a first pulse for increasing the capacity of the pressure chamber and then decreasing the capacity after a lapse of a predetermined time, wherein, when a half of an acoustic resonance period of a pressure wave in the pressure chambers is assumed as AL, a width of the first pulse is twice of the AL or more.
US08016376B2
A liquid cartridge is detachable mounted in a liquid ejecting device and supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting device when mounted. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid accommodating chamber, a float member movably disposed in the liquid accommodating chamber, a detection member that moves in conjunction with the float member and is subject to be detected by an external light detector, and a restricting portion that restricts movements of the float member and the detection member along a predetermined path. The detection member includes a light transmission section and first and second light blocking sections and moves past a predetermined detection position when moving the predetermined path. The liquid accommodating chamber includes wall sections that interpose the detection position therebetween, a portion of which has light transmissive characteristics so that light from the light detector can exit outside via the detection position. The detection member moves, in conjunction with the float member, from a first position where the first light blocking section is in coincidence with the detection position, to a second position where the light transmission section is in coincidence with the detection position, and finally to a third position where the second light blocking section is in coincidence with the detection position.
US08016372B2
A computer enclosure includes a cover and a chassis. The cover includes a clasp. The chassis includes a flange. The flange defines an engaging hole and a cutout adjacent to the engaging hole. An edge of the cutout extends in the cutout to form an elastic clip. The clip includes a driving portion which is located below the flange. The clasp penetrates the engaging hole to engage with the driving portion, and simultaneously pushes the driving portion to place the clip in contact with the cover.
US08016364B2
The invention relates to a toothbrush with a neck piece and a brush body, comprising a head piece connected thereto, conventional bristles and at least one soft elastic cleaning element. According to the invention, the conventional bristles are mounted on a support element made from hard plastic. The above is connected to the brush body by means of a recess on the head piece which matches the support element. The at least one cleaning element is arranged on the head piece and directly connected to the brush body. The invention further relates to a method for production of such a toothbrush.
US08016359B2
An armrest for a motor vehicle seat includes an armrest body configured to coupled to a fixing mechanism. The armrest body includes axle pins and stop pins and the fixing mechanism includes a pivot bearing and a stop groove. The axle pins are configured to insert into the pivot bearings and pivot about an axis of rotation. The distance between the stop pins is smaller than the distance between the pivot bearings.
US08016358B2
A forward tiltable motor vehicle seat has a seat carrier and a seat back, a hinge mounting is associated with the seat back and comprises an upper hinge arm connected to the seat back and a lower hinge arm hinged about a forward tilt axis to the seat carrier. The seat carrier forms a clamping flank. A cam is provided and is movable between a stop position and a release position. The cam is disposed on the lower hinge arm and rests against the clamping flank in the stop position.
US08016355B2
A seat cushion adjusting apparatus includes: a supporting member, forming a frame of a seat cushion; a seat member and forming an outer shape of the seat cushion; an adjusting member, engaging with an end portion of the seat member; a moving mechanism, rotatably connected to the adjusting member and moving the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member; and an adjusting lever, one end thereof rotatably connected to the supporting member and the other end thereof rotatably connected to the adjusting member. The adjusting lever moves the end portion of the seat member by rotating the adjusting member around an axis to adjust the outer shape of the seat cushion in accordance with, a movement of the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member by a means of the moving mechanism.
US08016352B2
A vehicle multimedia system includes a head pillow, a display screen supported at the rear side of the head pillow, a central control, which is adapted for being installed at a predetermined location of the vehicle, electrically linked to the display screen via a connection cable running through one of the supporting arms such that the connection cable is extended between the display screen and the central control in a hidden manner, wherein the central control selectively generates a signal and transmits the signal to the display screen through the connection cable, so as to display on the display screen. Thus, the central control provides both the synchronizing mode and the discrete mode such that more than one function is selectively operated by the central control through the different display screen to meet the needs of passengers.
US08016349B2
A motorized bicycle seatpost assembly is basically provided with a first tube, a second tube, a motor and a movement mechanism. The first tube has a first end and a second end. The second tube has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second tube is open such that the second end of the first tube is telescopically disposed in the first end of the second tube. The motor is arranged in at least one of the first tube and the second tube. The movement mechanism is connected to the motor to change a relative axial position between the first and second tubes.
US08016347B2
In a front structure of a vehicle hood, a dent preventive reinforcement is connected to an outer panel and an inner panel. The dent preventive reinforcement is formed as a plate-shaped member that is disposed in the vehicle widthwise direction between the panels while vertically extending with respect to both of the panels. Respectively formed in vertical wall portions of the dent preventive reinforcement are stress-focusing portions to which stress can be concentrated. When an impact load is applied to an outer surface of the outer panel from outside of a vehicle body, the vertical wall portions of the dent preventive reinforcement is bent at the stress-focusing portions, so that the impact load can be absorbed.
US08016342B2
A support brace supports the instrument panel above the floor pan of an automotive chassis and includes a lap joint that dampens the transmission of low range vibrations through the support brace to the instrument panel. The support brace is formed in two pieces, an upper member and a lower member, that have an overlap section between them, where an elastomeric pad joins the two members. The elastomeric pad can be bonded to the overlap sections or joined with rubber buttons inserted through holes formed in the overlap sections. The overlap sections are vertically spaced above the floor pan to position the elastomeric pad above the heat generated by the vehicle exhaust system. A floating positive mechanical connection in the form of an interlocking tab on one member engaged through an opening in the other member, which stays out of metal to metal contact unless the elastomeric pad fails.
US08016341B2
A motor vehicle seat comprises a backrest (3), a seating surface (2) connected to the backrest (3) by a pivotable connection (P1) and to the vehicle floor by a front leg support (P2). The inventive stowable seat also comprises a swing arm (7) connected to the backrest and the floor by two pivot joints (P4,P5), wherein the seat is movable between an unfolded state when the seating surface (2) is substentially parallel to the floor, the backrest (3) is in a substentially vertical position and, each swing arm (7) is placed in the backrest (3) extension, thereby enabling it to be upwardly displaced and a folded state when the backrest (3) is folded substantially horizontally onto the seating surface (2). During the transition from the unfolded state to the folded state, each swing arm (7) pivots in a direction opposite to the pivoting direction of the backrest (2) in such a way that it is placed therealong
US08016340B2
A floor spacer for a vehicle constituted of an expanded resin molded article which can simultaneously satisfy sound absorbing performance while satisfying desired compression strength and reduction in weight is provided. A floor spacer A for a vehicle is constituted of a floor spacer main body 10 constituted of an expanded resin molded article having flat plate portions 12a and 12b to be on an inner side of a compartment, and a plurality of ridges 13a and 13b vertically provided at back surfaces of the flat plate portions 12a and 12b on a floor frame side, and a layer constituted of a sound absorbing material 20 formed to fill spaces 14a and 14b formed between the aforesaid ridges 13a and 13b. Through-holes 15 may be formed in the flat plate portions 12a and 12b of the floor spacer main body 10, and fastening holes 16 which a part of the sound absorbing material 20 enters may be formed in the ridges 13a and 13b.
US08016329B2
A latch is disclosed that can releasably secure a door or panel in a closed position. The latch includes a rotary pawl, a pawl catch, an actuating member, a pivotally movable handle, and a gear train for moving the pawl to provide compression in response to the movement of the handle to the closed position.
US08016327B2
A bifurcated latching system for securing together first and second portions of an aircraft, the bifurcated latching system comprising a pin latch assembly and a pawl latch assembly. The pin latch assembly comprises a pin latch receptacle and a pin in mating engagement. The pawl latch assembly comprises a pawl latch receptacle and a pawl latch pin in mating engagement. The pawl latch assembly further comprises one or more pawls configured to releasably secure the matting engagement of the pawl latch receptacle and the pawl latch pin.
US08016322B2
A composite wall structure formed from a plurality of layers. The composite wall structure can be used to form a composite storage tank having a tank cavity and a longitudinal axis. A composite tank trailer can be formed using the composite tank, a platform structure and a suspension and wheel assembly.
US08016311B1
A vehicle with front and rear steering is disclosed. The vehicle can be a cycle. The cycle includes a front wheel steered by a front hand-steering mechanism, and two back wheels steered by a back hand-steering mechanism. The back wheels are dual inclined casters with full rotational movement. A drive train forward of the front wheel drives the front wheel, while a rider is inclined in a seat in a recumbent orientation. The front and rear steering provides unlimited maneuverability and turning capabilities.
US08016310B2
An assembly for attachment of a propulsion system to a wheelchair frame includes a clamp which remains fixed to the frame, while an attachment device that enables three dimensions of adjustability permits quick release of a main wheel and the propulsion system (e.g., lever drive, pushrim and motor drive) that propels the main wheel. The clamp includes a first alignment feature, such as a pin. A spring-loaded latch may also be included. The attachment device includes a second alignment feature, such as a hole or slot, configured to mate with the first. To permit alignment for a number of different wheelchair frame geometries, the attachment device is rotatable to provide angular adjustability, structured to permit lengthwise adjustability, and coupled using hardware which provides offset adjustability in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the wheel.
US08016300B2
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters. The cart includes a platform configured to support the fluid canisters. The cart also includes a base having a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body so that the wheels can be selectively moved with respect to the base body between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the plurality of wheels extends from the base body so the cart can roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface supporting the cart. In the retracted position, the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface.
US08016298B2
The invention relates to a chuck for flexible manufacturing, said chuck comprising a chuck body, a central draw head guided axially in a central hole of the chuck body and connected to inner jaws radially guided in the chuck body through a straight-wedge mechanism, and outer jaws also radially guided in the chuck body and adapted to be equipped with chuck jaws for chucking a work-piece and to be engaged with coupling heads through rack teeth. The coupling heads are built in the inner jaws and guided axially therein, wherein said coupling heads comprise a double locking coupling device. The first locking stage of said coupling device includes wedge-shaped control members fixed to a control ring, whereas the second locking stage includes an additional locking member directly connected to the control ring. The chuck body is in the form of a one-piece unit, wherein the control ring is encased by the chuck body and the rear centering disc so that the control ring can be rotated there-between. and the locking member of the second locking stage is in the form of a cylindrical stud-shaped lock guided in an axial hole of the control ring, said lock being connected, in its locked state, through its front surface, to an axially guided push-rod, wherein said push-rod is arranged in an entirely closed hole of the chuck body.
US08016296B2
A metal laminate gasket includes a first metal plate having a folded portion at a peripheral of a combustion chamber hole, a second metal plate provided in the folded portion, a third metal plate provided in the folded portion and having an extension portion extending outwardly from the folded portion, a fourth metal plate provided on a folded side of the first metal plate and partially overlapping a part of the extension portion of the third metal plate, and a fifth metal plate provided on the folded side of the first metal plate so that the fifth metal plate does not overlap the third metal plate. A bead is provided on at least one of the second and third metal plates and situated inside the folded portion. A total thickness of the metal laminate gasket declines in a stepwise fashion from the folded portion.
US08016285B2
In a sheet package, the degree of stiffness of a side end portion on a side wall portion side making contact with a contact member in a storage portion of a printing unit is greater than the degree of stiffness of a side end portion on the side wall portion side that is pressed by a pressing guide member. Accordingly, when the sheet package is stored in the storage portion, even if the lid body is closed in a condition in which the sheet package is not loaded properly, that is, even if the side end portion of the sheet package is sandwiched between the lid body and the contact member, or a top face on the side on which the contact member is provided, the sheet package is never crushed and the sheet package can be correctly pushed into the storage portion by a pressing force of the lid body.
US08016283B2
In a recording sheet feeder, a recording sheet tray moving mechanism moves a recording sheet tray between an upper position, at which an uppermost recording sheet of a plurality of recording sheets loaded on the recording sheet tray contacts a feed roller, and a lower position, at which the uppermost recording sheet separates from the feed roller. A first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam rotate to press down the recording sheet tray. A driving force switch member drives the recording sheet tray moving mechanism when a driver rotates in a first direction, and rotates a feed roller driving shaft mounted with the feed roller when the driver rotates in a second direction.
US08016282B2
A method of singulating overlapping items includes receiving the overlapping items in a singulation device, the device including a first transport element configured for rotation in a first direction and a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, wherein the second transport element is configured for rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The method further includes rotating the first transport element at a first transport speed, rotating the second transport element at a second transport speed substantially equal to the first transport speed, conveying the overlapping items between the transport elements along a transport path, decreasing the second transport speed to singulate the overlapping items, decreasing the first transport speed to reduce a speed of a lead item, and transporting the lead item away from the singulation device.
US08016279B1
A jaw assembly to hold hooks when tying artificial lures and flies for fishing is disclosed. The jaw assembly utilizes jaw members with angled surfaces and a cam with an off-center pivot pin to open and close the jaws. A tension spring may be used to lessen the clamping force so that the angle of the hook shank can be adjusted before clamping it securely.
US08016268B2
An apparatus used for maintaining a wind tower structure wherein the wind tower structure may have a plurality of legs and may be configured to support a wind turbine above the ground in a better position to interface with winds. The lift structure may be configured for carrying objects and have a guide system and drive system for mechanically communicating with a primary cable, rail or other first elongate member attached to the wind tower structure. The drive system and guide system may transmit forces that move the lift relative to the cable and thereby relative to the wind tower structure. A control interface may be included for controlling the amount and direction of the power into the guide system and drive system thereby causing the guide system and drive system to move the lift relative to said first elongate member such that said lift moves relative to said wind tower structure.
US08016267B2
An improved wire puller uses a first and second position-able arms and may include an adapter and adapter bracket to allow for easier pulling of wire through conduit. The wire puller allows for easier set up and use and provides increased pulling force over existing wire pullers.
US08016265B2
A valve assembly preferably including a housing having a recess and a flange face and a valve sleeve disposed within the recess. The sleeve preferably includes an annulus having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a passageway about a central axis, the outer and inner surfaces being radially spaced from one another to define a wall. The wall has a first end portion and a second end portion axially spaced from the first end portion, and homogenous material properties from the first end portion to the second end portion. Preferably, the first end portion defines a lip for supporting the annulus in the recess and further defines a first chamber that encases at least a portion of a first support member. The second end portion preferably defines a flange portion along the outer surface for engaging the flange and further defines a second chamber that encases at least a portion of a second support member.
US08016259B2
Refractory furnace covers and methods for their construction are provided. A method includes providing a molding form base having a molding surface, providing an outer molding frame on the molding form base, and providing at least one inner molding member disposed across and dividing the molding surface into a first molding section and a second molding section. The inner molding member has a first molding surface and a second molding surface located adjacent to and facing the first and second molding sections, respectively, the inner molding member having a protrusion located along the length of the first molding surface. A first molded section of the furnace cover is cast between the outer molding frame and the first molding surface of the inner molding member, the inner molding member is removed, and a second molded section of the furnace cover is cast between the outer molding frame and the first molded section of the furnace cover. A refractory furnace cover includes a first molded section having an edge with a slot located thereon, and a second molded section formed against the previously cast first molded section and having an interlocking key formed in the slot of the first section.
US08016250B2
A portable ergonomic workstation that is substantially a multiple purpose apparatus with applicable uses for small electronic repair, costume jewelry, factory assembly, hobbyists, craft workers, the physically challenged, etc. It includes a support frame that is attached to an arm rest base with an arm rest pad while accommodating multiple removable adjustable attachments that secure working materials. The apparatus allows optimal positioning of the upper body and the secured working materials. In one embodiment, the arm rest base attaches to incline extensions in an adjustable elevated pivotable position over the frame and attachments. This embodiment can also function as a standalone apparatus without attachments, in conjunction with existing non-ergonomic apparatuses or working materials. In another embodiment when a height adjustment is not desired or efficient the the support frame does not include the incline extensions.
US08016242B2
A device provided on a space shuttle for docking to satellites, has a linkage with a cone at its distal end and a spreader mechanism, actuatable from the shuttle, with lever spreaders having their proximal ends provided with inward projections towards the linkage. At least two lever spreaders are pivotally arranged at a retaining part concentric to the linkage; the curvature at the distal end of each lever spreader is adapted to the curvature of the nozzle neck of the jet nozzle of a satellite engine. A rotatable sleeve concentric to the linkage is provided below the retaining part. A distal annular portion of the sleeve is formed with respective alternating engaging positions of different heights, and wherein, from the proximal end portion of the sleeve, two pins project that are guided by associated obliquely oriented slide faces in a stationary housing, the pins being provided for setting the adjustment travel of the linkage.
US08016239B2
A safety pre-impact deceleration system for a variety of conveyances includes a parachute structure formed from air bags inflated with gas. Alternatively, the parachute structure includes a canopy with orifices. Air spaces in the parachute structure or orifices in the canopy have adjustable and selective dimensions to control the operational parameters of the vehicle. The system includes sensors and rapid exposure rate cameras with continuous loop recording to measure operational parameters of the vehicle and to predict possible collision. Once a collision condition is detected, audio/video images are stored on storage media. The air bags are deployed and inflated. In addition to air bags constituting the parachute structure, a plurality of air bags are provided to be deployed external the vehicle to aid in a safe landing.
US08016219B2
A wear component for use in an impact crusher having a forward depression on the face of the wear component which is exposed to aggregate wear. Wear resistant inserts, for example cemented tungsten carbide inserts, are bonded within the forward depression to prevent rapid abrasion of the wear component. Joints are formed between wear resistant inserts and joints are also formed between wear resistant inserts and the wear component. Bonding material fills the joints to further secure the wear resistant inserts and to prevent crack propagation.
US08016216B2
A relocatable oil sand slurry preparation system is provided for preparing an aqueous oil sand slurry amenable to pipeline conveyance while producing minimum overall rejects, comprising (a) a relocatable rotary digester for slurrying oil sand and water and digesting oil sand lumps to form a pumpable slurry, the rotary digester having a feed end for receiving oil sand and water, a slurrying chamber comprising a plurality of lifters for slurrying the oil sand and water, and a trommel screen end for screening out oversize rejects from the oil sand slurry which falls through the trommel screen; and (b) a relocatable rejects recirculation unit operably associated with the rotary digester for receiving oversize rejects and delivering the rejects back to the rotary digester for further digestion. In a preferred body, relocatable oil sand slurry preparation system further comprises a rejects crusher for crushing oversize rejects prior to delivering rejects back to the rotary digester.
US08016213B2
A coating dispensing device includes a trigger assembly for actuating the coating dispensing device to dispense coating material and a nozzle through which the coating material is dispensed. The coating dispensing device further includes a first port adapted to supply compressed gas to the coating dispensing device and a second port adapted to supply coating material to the coating dispensing device. The coating dispensing device further includes a generator having a shaft and a turbine wheel mounted on the shaft. Compressed gas coupled to the first port impinges upon the turbine wheel to spin the shaft, producing voltage. The coating dispensing device further includes an electrode adjacent the nozzle and coupled to the generator to receive electricity therefrom to electrostatically charge the coating material and a regulator coupled to the generator for regulating the voltage generated by the generator. Compressed gas which spins the turbine wheel also flows past the regulator to remove heat from components of the regulator.
US08016207B2
Methods and devices for emitting volatile materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, methods and devices for emitting two or more fragrance compositions are disclosed. In one non-limiting embodiment of a device, the device has a housing, and the housing is supported on an electrical outlet by a plug at least indirectly joined to the housing. The device contains a first volatile composition and a second volatile composition. The first volatile composition is emmitted in an alternating period relative to said second volatile composition. In one embodiment of the method, the volatile compositions are alternately emitted during periods that are greater than 15 minutes and less than 2 hours.
US08016202B2
A system for printing a greeting card on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the greeting card on the print medium; and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium.
US08016197B2
A code reading device includes an acquisition section, a derivation section and a correction section. The acquisition section reads a two-dimensional code image and acquires image information representing the two-dimensional code image. The derivation section derives an image characteristic quantity representing a ratio between a number of white pixels and a number of black pixels for a pre-specified region of the image information acquired by the acquisition section. The correction section, on the basis of a result of comparison of the image characteristic quantity derived by the derivation section with a reference value corresponding to the pre-specified region, applies correction to the image information to bring the image characteristic quantity closer to the reference value.
US08016192B2
A mobile device as disclosed herein can support a plurality of electronic payment applications such as credit and/or debit applications. During a payment transaction, the mobile device communicates a priority list of the electronic payment applications to a point of sale terminal, which then selects one of the applications for completion of the payment transaction, where the selection is governed by the priority list. The data structure corresponding to the priority list is configured such that the end user of the mobile device has management access rights to at least some of the electronic payment applications. Such end user management access rights can be used to modify the relative priority of the electronic payment applications.
US08016190B2
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.
US08016181B2
A method of producing an electro-optical device for electrically connecting a first terminal portion provided on an electro-optical panel to a second terminal portion of a substrate includes applying an anisotropic conductive adhesive containing conductive particles made of a low-melting-point material onto either the first terminal portion or the second terminal portion, and electrically connecting the first terminal portion to the second terminal portion by eutectic bonding by melting the conductive particles by application of heat in thermocompression bonding of the second terminal portion to the first terminal portion with the anisotropic conductive adhesive therebetween.
US08016170B2
A garment hanger has a pair of clamping members. Each clamping member comprises a pair of planer end sections and a central curved section attached to the pair of planer end members. The pair of end sections of a first clamping member will touch a corresponding pair of end sections of a second clamping member and the central curved section of the first and second clamping members form an elongated oval when the pair of clamping members is placed together in a closed position. A locking device is attached to the central curved section of the first and second clamping members. The locking device secures the pair of clamping members together. When pressure is applied to the locking device, the locking device forces opens and separates the pair of clamping members. A hook assembly is attached to the locking device.
US08016158B2
The current invention is a lid dispensing device and method of use comprising a base unit, a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit, a blade operatively mounted to the base which moves between a first position and a second position, the blade supporting a stack of lids by engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position, and the blade allowing the first lid to fall through an aperture in the blade away from the stack of lids, and still support the remaining stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position.
US08016157B2
The dispenser is comprised of a first hollow body and a second hollow body. The second hollow body fits into the first hollow body. The second hollow body has a closure at the open end. The second hollow body is maintained in the first hollow body by means of an interference fit. There also is at least one vent between the first hollow body and the second hollow body. The second hollow body will contain a medicament. In use the first hollow body and the second hollow body are separated, the lid on the closure of the second hollow body opened and a tablet dispensed into the first hollow body. A liquid such as water is added to the first hollow body to dissolve the tablet. This dissolved medicament is ingested in the usual way and the second hollow body placed back into the first hollow body.
US08016153B2
A connecting device for attaching a lid to an insulated container. The connecting device has a barb arranged and configured to be inserted into a socket and to engage the walls of the socket upon rotation. The barb may engage the walls of the socket by displacing material or engaging receptors, such as threads, in the socket. The geometry of the barb is such that, after rotation, the barb remains connected to the body and lid without the aid of screws, rivets, or other means. The connecting device may also have a sliding or other connector for connecting the connecting device to the lid. The connector may be in the shape of a dovetail and the lid may have a recess configured to receive the dovetail.
US08016120B2
The invention relates to a method for obtaining viruses from a liquid viral suspension, according to which: the viral suspension is subjected to density gradient ultracentrifugation, the ultracentrifugation is carried out continuously, and the density gradient is a discontinuous gradient comprising at least 2 steps.
US08016119B2
In an apparatus for separating plastic film material from waste, a plurality of hooks is mounted on a hook carrier for circulating the hooks along a trajectory through an engagement area near a supply track and through a disengagement area downstream of the engagement area. The engagement area is located higher than the supply track and/or in supply direction beyond the downstream end of the supply track, such that, in operation, a remainder of the waste passes by the trajectory of the hooks without contacting the hooks. The hooks project from the drum via openings in the circumferential surface of the drum and are retractable into a circumferential surface of the drum. A method for separating plastic film material from waste is also described.
US08016117B2
An air classification device for separation of solids comprising an input system, a first solid separator system, an output system, and an emission containing system. The emission containing system employs supplemental air lines, a supplemental air source, and high-velocity air knives to create negative air pressure at any opening in the device. The negative air pressure induces air to move into the device and prevents polluted air from escaping the device at the openings.
US08016116B2
An open configuration is provided for the housing of a particulate material dedusting apparatus through which particulate material passes to be cleaned by air passing through wash decks to separate dirt and debris from the particulate material for discharge from the housing. The front wall and side access doors of the housing are configured to be openable for full access to the front and rear chambers. The primary wash deck is detachably mounted within the housing for removal for cleaning purposes. The generally horizontal floors of the housing are formed with a slope to allow water to drain from the housing. The open configuration of the deduster housing facilitates cleaning, draining and drying of the housing to expedite changeover from one material to another. Furthermore, the open configuration allows access for improved welding to eliminate cracks and openings in joints which accumulate dirt and debris during operation.
US08016114B2
A continuously electrically-conductive container contains an electrically-insulating support for holding an electric-field-sensitive article, such as a reticle, so that the article is shielded from external electric fields and is not in electrical contact with a conductive container wall. A SMIF pod comprises an electrically conductive container for holding an electric-field-sensitive article. A system has boundary walls that form a chamber for a controlled environment. The system includes a load port for receiving a SMIF pod and an end effector made of insulating material for moving a field-sensitive article within the chamber to and from the SMIF pod. An ionizer neutralizes electric charges on the field-sensitive article.
US08016111B2
A reusable shopping bag assembly includes handle structure for use with a plurality of reusable shopping bags. The handle structure includes a handle frame with a pair of tubular sleeves extending therefrom in spaced relation to support a plurality of the reusable shopping bags having sleeve receiving holes therethrough and a pair of caps connected to the frame by cords and removably positioned on the sleeves the retain the bags thereon. The sleeves are spaced apart and bores therethrough are sized and shaped to enable the handle structure with a plurality of reusable shopping bags thereon to be positioned on a rack holding store bags to facilitate placement of merchandise in the reusable bags.
US08016104B2
A two-compartment container in which the first compartment has an upper layer and a lower layer and contains a first component that is to be added to the second compartment. Above the first compartment is a dome that is bowed upward and is flexible. Depressing the dome by pushing downward on it causes the lower layer of the first compartment to be ruptured without cutting or rupturing the upper layer, releasing the first component into the second compartment.
US08016102B2
A chain for a conveyor comprising an elongated base means (8, 9) having a bottom and upstanding side guides or flanges (11, 12) is provided. The chain is a continuous chain adapted to be driven so that one of its spans moves longitudinally along the upper surface of the base means bottom (10) and between side guides or flanges in a conveying direction so as to advance the material being conveyed. The chain comprises a plurality of Y-shaped connector links (20) and a plurality of flight arms connecting links (34) having arms attached thereto and normally extending substantially transversely of the conveying direction. Adjacent elements (41) are joined together by a series of bearing and retaining pins (30, 31) so as to permit vertical and horizontal articulation. The flight arms are attached to the flight arm connecting links (34) independently of the main bearing pins (30) that hold the various links of the chain together.
US08016100B2
A conveyor, comprising a modular conveyor mat (2) driven by sprocket wheels (19), wherein the conveyor mat is driven by the sprocket wheel on the hinge pins (9). The modular conveyor mat comprises a number of modules (1) successive in conveying direction, which are each provided with a body part extending transversely to the conveying direction and having rows of hinge loops (6) reaching forward and rearward in the conveying direction, wherein the hinge loops of successive modules cooperate and are coupled using hinge pins.
US08016099B2
A device for transporting freight, especially freight containers in the cargo compartments of aircraft, especially to a power drive unit (PDU) having a drive roller (3) received in a frame (1) wherein the at least one drive roller (3) carrying the drive roll (4) placed thereon is mounted so as to be pivoted relative to the frame for the purpose of replacing the drive roll (4).
US08016095B2
An offloading unit for an automated pharmaceutical machine that dispenses filled, capped pharmaceutical vials includes: at least one chute including a receiving section and a pick-up section. The receiving section and the pick-up section are divided by an inlet. The receiving section has a concave sloping ramp and side walls. The pick-up section has a trough with a floor that slopes relative to a horizontal surface and a front wall at one end of the trough. The inlet is defined by a rear wall and the upper edge of the trough. The chute also includes dividers mounted to and rising above the trough and attached to the rear wall. The inlet and dividers are configured and positioned such that an object as defined in UL 61010A-1, 1740 cannot pass through the inlet from the trough.
US08016092B2
Magneto-rheological clutch and wheel transmission apparatuses and methods are provided. According to one aspect, a magneto-rheological clutch system can include first and second drive members and first and second driven members. A first gap can be present between the first drive and first driven members. A second gap can be present between the second drive and second driven members. A drive wheel and a snow blower impeller can be connected to the first and second driven member, respectively. First and second MR fluids can be disposed in the first and second gaps, respectively. A first magnetic field can be applied to the first MR fluid for engaging the drive wheel. A second magnetic field can be applied to the second MR fluid for engaging the snow blower impeller. The provided apparatuses and methods can also be applied to mower blades and wheels.
US08016091B2
A piston plate stop for a torque converter including: a flexible connection element with a first end and a second end, the first end arranged to connect to a piston plate for the torque converter, the second end arranged to rotationally connect to a cover for the torque converter and a stop disposed on the flexible connection element. The stop is arranged to restrict axial movement of the piston plate. In some aspects, the flexible connection element is arranged to rotationally connect the cover and the piston plate. A torque converter including a piston plate; a cover; and at least one flexible connection element rotationally connecting the piston plate and the cover. The flexible connection element has a tab that is positioned to limit axial displacement of the piston plate away from the cover.
US08016087B2
In a fluid damper that autonomously changes a damping force in accordance with movement of a piston, the fluid damper having: a fluid 8 having magnetic properties; a piston 2 formed of a magnetic material; a cylinder 3 that encapsulates the fluid 8 having magnetic properties and accommodates the piston 2; a piston rod 4 that pierces the cylinder 3 to support the piston 2; a magnetic field generation device 6 provided outside the cylinder 3; a first yoke 5 arranged around the cylinder 3; and a second yoke 7 arranged around the piston rod 4 outside the cylinder 3, a magnetic circuit is partially formed.
US08016086B2
A method for the production of a friction lining. The friction lining is produced in alternating layers wound in a helical shape and a star shape.
US08016083B2
A pad spring located at the entrance side in the rotational direction of a disk is provided with guide plate portions, radially urging portions that urge a pair of friction pads radially outward of the disk, and circumferentially urging portions that urge the friction pads in the rotational direction of the disk. Each radially urging portion has a projection bent radially inward of the disk. Each guide plate portion has a space portion that allows the projection to abut against the radially inner wall surface of the associated pad guide when the radially urging portion is displaced radially inward of the disk so as to approach the guide plate portion. The circumferentially urging portions are wide plate-shaped members bent from the guide plate portions.
US08016082B2
An actuating lever of a brake caliper of a vehicle includes a cam surface operable against a single tappet and reacting against a caliper bridge. The actuating lever includes a wear adjuster arm which exerts a turning moment on the actuating lever. The turning moment is resisted by a small stub axle pivotable in a plain bearing of the brake caliper.
US08016068B2
A tandem drive arrangement includes one or more independently driven wheels (118) that are arranged in a tandem configuration along a beam (120). The beam (120) is rotatably connected to a frame (102) of a machine (100). The tandem drive arrangement further includes an actuator (206) operating to selectively impart a rotating moment to the beam (102). The rotating moment tends to rotate the beam (120) in one direction and counteracts a torque imbalance resulting from operation of motors (128) rotating one or more independently driven wheels (118) connected to the beam (120).
US08016059B2
A hard formation drill bit that includes a plurality of gage cutting elements disposed on the at least one roller cone, wherein at least one of the plurality of gage cutting elements includes a cutting portion. The cutting portion includes a partially spherical leading edge and an obtuse relieved trailing edge, wherein a volume of the partially spherical leading edge is greater than a volume of the obtuse relieved tailing edge. Also, a method of drilling a formation that includes such a drill bit. Also included is an insert and a method of manufacturing a gage cutting element.
US08016047B2
An electrical power tool includes a motor, a casing, a casing, a piston, an intermediate shaft, a motion conversion mechanism, and a plurality of types of anti-vibration mechanism. The motor has a drive shaft. The casing accommodates at least the motor. The piston is driven by a rotary motion of the drive shaft. The intermediate shaft extends parallel to the drive shaft and is driven to rotate by the rotary motion of the drive shaft, the intermediate shaft defining an axial direction. The motion conversion mechanism is disposed on the intermediate shaft and is capable of moving in association with the intermediate shaft for converting the rotary motion of the drive shaft to a reciprocating motion. The motion conversion mechanism includes a first motion conversion mechanism that is connected to the piston and moves the piston in a reciprocating motion in directions substantially parallel to the axial direction of the intermediate shaft. The plurality of types of anti-vibration mechanism is accommodated in the casing.
US08016046B2
A combustion tool includes a cylinder having a lower end provided with a resilient bumper, a piston dimensioned for reciprocation within the cylinder to impact the bumper at an end of the cylinder and having a driver blade depending therefrom for impacting fasteners. At least one back pressure release opening is disposed in the cylinder to be in alignment with the piston and to be closed by the piston when the piston impacts the bumper.
US08016028B2
An apparatus for flexibly restraining service loops in an oil derrick to prevent entangling of the loops, comprising a plurality of identical apparatus wherein each apparatus is positioned at different longitudinal level to restrain the service loops. Each apparatus is comprised of a plurality of interlocking units, wherein each unit is comprised of a central steel ring which is adhesively bonded to a braid of a service loop penetrating therethrough and exteriorly affixed to first and second interconnecting rings. A first flexible cable and second flexible cable connect the respective first and second interconnecting rings of the units of each apparatus. Therefore, the service loops are flexibly restrained to have a uniform path and bend radius when they travel longitudinally during operation of an oil well drilling machine, which results in reduction of damage of the service loops.
US08016027B2
An apparatus for rotating down hole pumps has a right angle gear box driving a hollow output shaft. The output shaft is oriented to the vertical and supports and rotates the drive string of a down hole rotary pump. A clamp on the drive string rests on the upper end of the hollow shaft and engages the hollow shaft with a key and keyway arrangement. The hollow shaft of the right angle gearbox is sized to accommodate the drive string, including rod boxes, so that the entire drive string can be pulled through the hollow shaft without dismantling or removing the apparatus.
US08016026B2
An apparatus, method, and system for actuating a wellbore tool includes a body having a chamber in which a movable member is disposed. The movable member may connect to a selected wellbore tool. Within the chamber is a controllable fluid that substantially prevents relative movement between the body and the movable member when exposed to an applied magnetic field. A generator applies the magnetic field to the fluid and may change the applied magnetic field in response to a first control signal to release the movable member from the body. A driver displaces the movable member relative to the body once the movable member is released from the body.
US08016023B2
A method including sensing a temperature of an electronic component in a portable computing device; circulating a fluid between one of a first heat transfer plate and a second heat transfer plate in response to a threshold temperature being sensed; and stopping the circulating in response to sensing a temperature is below the threshold temperature. A heat exchanging system including a first heat transfer plate coupled to an electronic component and to a second heat transfer plate; and a fluid for circulating through one of the first heat transfer plate and the second heat transfer plate in response to a threshold temperature being sensed by a sensor. An apparatus including a heat generating element; a first heat transfer plate coupled to the heat generating element; a second heat transfer plate; and a fluid for circulating through a tube, the first part and the second part of the portable computing device in response to a threshold temperature being sensed by a sensor.
US08016022B2
Systems and methods for passive thermal management using phase change material are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal management method is provided. The method comprises securing an electronics assembly to a mounting surface using a thermally insulative support structure; insulating a phase change material within the support structure; and melting the phase change material to reduce heat transfer from an external environment to the electronics assembly during a high temperature transient thermal condition.
US08016021B2
A method of producing cast steel strip having low surface roughness and low porosity by casting with molten steel having a total oxygen content of at least about 70 ppm and a free oxygen content between 20 and 60 ppm, and a temperature that allows a majority of any oxide inclusions to be in a liquidus state. The total oxygen content may be at least 100 ppm and the free oxygen content between 30 and 50 ppm. The steel strip produced by the method may have a per unit area density of at least about 120 oxide inclusions per square millimeter to a depth of about 2 microns from the strip surface.
US08016015B2
An overhead opening door lock device for use with existing types of door systems having horizontally hinged panels carried on rollers confined within channeled roller tracks is attached on the interior side of the door and fixes the door in position relative to the roller track. One leg of a U-shaped device is inserted in the hollow interior of a tube that serves as an articulation axis for a pair of hinged panels. The other leg of the U-shaped device penetrates a suitably positioned aperture in the web of the adjacent channeled roller track. A shear pin or padlock shank may be inserted through an aperture in a tip portion of the other leg that projects past the outside plane of the roller track web.
US08016013B2
A pull bar screen apparatus and system in which screen is mechanically attached directly to a pull bar. Weld-less friction-lock cold-joining of screen and pull bar provides an improved pull-bar screen apparatus used in retractable pull screens. The pull bar screen apparatus and system remove the need for attaching a vinyl strip to the screen. Instead, the screen is flattened to retain its form and structural integrity. On one elongated end of the screen, an upper and lower lock bar are placed on either side of the screen. Corrugated ridges in the lock bars pinch the screen and hold it in place. A lock bar casing is placed under pressure around the upper and lower lock bars which hold the lock bars in position and thereby retain the screen.
US08016012B2
A flattening mechanism for dry film laminator includes a lower member connected to a dry film laminator. The lower member has a base portion formed thereon. The base portion has a plurality of air holes defined therein. The lower member has a lifting holder movably disposed thereon for holding a wafer. The wafer has a dry film disposed thereon. An upper member is movably disposed above the lower member. The upper member has a pressing portion disposed on a bottom thereof. The pressing portion has a steel plate disposed thereon and a first electric heating layer mounted on a top of the steel. A release film is movably guided between the upper member and the lower member, such that the wafer is lifted to press against the steel plate via the release film for enhancing a lamination of the dry film to the wafer and flattening the dry film.
US08016011B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a labeling apparatus that allows a labeling operation to be carried out continuously for a long period without the need of cleaning, even if the easy-to-peel labels are used. To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a conveying drum for correcting a position of a label applied with glue, while transferring the label. The conveying drum includes a predetermined groove extending circumferentially along an outer surface of the conveying drum.
US08015996B2
A gas turbine engine air valve assembly has first and second valving elements. The second element is rotatable about a first axis relative to the first element. The rotation controls a flow of air through the first and second elements. An actuator is coupled by a linkage to the second element. The linkage includes a spindle having a first portion coupled to the actuator to rotate the spindle about a second axis. A guided spherical bearing couples a second portion of the spindle to the second element.
US08015993B2
A compressed hydrogen tank system that includes a heatable hydrogen pressure regulator. Hydrogen is removed from the compressed tank through a suitable pipe where the pressure drop of the hydrogen is controlled by the pressure regulator. The high pressure side of the regulator is typically at a relatively low temperature as the hydrogen is being removed from the tank, and the low pressure side of the regulator is typically at a relatively high temperature as the hydrogen is removed from the tank. A heat source is provided to heat the pipe on the high pressure side of the regulator to prevent the hydrogen from becoming cold as the hydrogen is being removed from the tank, thus preventing the temperature of the hydrogen within the tank from decreasing.
US08015992B2
The present invention provides a valve that controls a flow of gas or solid objects through a pipe, and particularly a z-valve used in an elevated rail transportation system. The valve includes vanes hinged to a valve stem that fold into a z-shape and retract into the valve body when the valve is open. A valve cap positioned at the top of the valve stem matches the contour of the inner surface of the pipe, allowing unobstructed flow. When the valve is closed, the valve stem is elevated into the interior of the pipe and the valve cap rotates 90° to match the contour at the top, providing a seal. The vanes extend from the z-shape to completely block a cross-section of the pipe, stopping the flow. The flow may be modulated by varying the extension of the vanes to allow a portion of the flow to pass the valve.
US08015986B2
Provided is an apparatus for cleaning a substrate. The apparatus includes a stage on which a substrate is loaded, a cleaning liquid supply unit supplying a cleaning liquid to the substrate, an oscillator transmitting sound waves to the substrate for cleaning the substrate, and at least two piezoelectric members disposed on an end portion of the oscillator at a predetermined distance apart from each other so as to generate the sound waves.
US08015984B2
Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus for cleaning and drying a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. This substrate processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit for processing a substrate by immersing the substrate in stored purified water, a drying unit arranged above the liquid processing unit and configured to dry the substrate, a substrate transfer apparatus for transferring the substrate between the liquid processing unit and drying unit, a fluid supply mechanism for supplying a fluid mixture containing vapor or mist of purified water and vapor or mist of a volatile organic solvent to the drying unit, and a controller for controlling the supply of the fluid mixture.
US08015974B2
An open system provides breath-synchronized, flow-targeted ventilation to augment respiration by a self-breathing patient. A sensor detects a physical property of a patient's respiratory cycle. A processor monitors the sensor and controls a gas source to deliver oxygen-containing gas through a tube extending into the patient's airway with the flow rate varying over each respiratory cycle in a predetermined non-constant waveform synchronized with the respiratory cycle to augment the patient's spontaneous respiration. Gas is delivered at a flow rate sufficient to significantly mitigate the airway pressure the patient must generate during spontaneous breathing and thereby reduce the patient's work of breathing.
US08015972B2
A system for controlling medical devices, wherein this system can comprise a device having at least one wireless or cellular based communication module. The module can be in the form of a GPRS module associated with a SIM card, or a CDMA module. The SIM card can be adapted such that it contains additional memory for storing a program for controlling the device or the system. Multiple cellular communication modules can also be installed in this system. Additional communication modules such as wireless modules including but not limited to Bluetooth, IRDA, RF, or any other wireless module can also be incorporated into the system. Wired modules can also be used, for example these wired modules can be RS-232 modules, USB, Serial adapters, phone and fax modem. Other modules can include audio modules such as speaker and microphone jacks, and video modules such as a camera for processing video readings. All of these components can be installed on a first side of a motherboard, which is disposed inside of a housing. The other side of the motherboard can have particular functional elements installed thereon. These functional elements can include a flow meter, and/or a electromechanical valve. All of these components can be controlled by one or more processor coupled to the motherboard. When this device is coupled to an ordinary PAP machine, such as a CPAP machine, it can be used to turn an ordinary PAP machine into an auto-adjust PAP machine or a BiPAP machine.
US08015971B2
A method and apparatus for delivering breathable gas to a user includes a humidifying unit that is controllable to humidify the gas in accordance with a variable humidity profile such that the gas is delivered to the user at variable humidity levels, e.g., during a treatment session.
US08015970B2
A personal safety protective device that includes a lens and a support structure onto which the lens is secured. The lens includes a substrate and a hard-coat layer located on the substrate of the lens. The hard-coat layer has a low surface energy outer surface that is derived from a) an additive that includes at least one of i) a perfluoropolyether urethane that includes hydrolysable silane groups, and ii) an acrylate polymer that includes at least one perfluoropolyether moiety and at least one hydrolysable silane group, and b) a silsesquioxane-based hard-coat composition. The provision of such a lens on a personal safety protective device enables the lens to be durable to abrasion and to be easily cleaned without use of solvents that could shorten the service life of the lens.
US08015969B2
A conventional respiratory nebulizer has an emergency medication dose storage system delivering the stored medication dose directly to the nebulizing chamber with a single impulse of manual force to a simple mechanical delivery system, thereby making the nebulizer useable in two steps: (a) opening the medication capsule with a simple opening action; and (b) inhaling the nebulized medication. The nebulizer can be operated without disassembling the nebulizer housing so as to expose the nebulizing chamber and without manually opening the liquid medication container and, without spillage and without manual pouring of the liquid medication directly into the nebulizing chamber, and without reassembling the nebulizer housing before positioning the inhaler mouthpiece in the mouth so as to inhale the nebulized medication. The delivery system includes a pressure burstable seal at one end of the capsule, which is burst by the application of force against the opposite end of the capsule.
US08015966B2
An oil circulating device for an internal combustion engine including a separating-decanting device, a cylinder housing, a pressurized oil feeding pipe circulating pressurized oil to mobile parts of the engine, and a siphon-forming oil return circuit. The oil return circuit includes a canula with an upper end that opens into the separating-decanting device to collect therein decanted oil and a lower end immersed in an oil tank opening freely into a plane located between the upper and lower ends of the canula. The tank includes an insert tightly inserted in a passageway formed through a wall of the pressurized oil feeding pipe, the insert forming simultaneously a closure plug for the oil feeding pipe and for an oil tank.
US08015965B2
A fuel vapor storage canister for adsorbing fuel vapor evaporated from a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle. The fuel vapor storage canister includes a casing provided with charge and purge ports at its first end and an atmospheric port at its second end. At least first and second fuel vapor adsorbent layers are respectively located near the first and second ends of the casing. In this arrangement, the first fuel vapor adsorbent layer is larger in cross-sectional area perpendicular to flow direction of fuel vapor than the second fuel vapor adsorbent layer. The first and second fuel vapor adsorbent layers respectively include first and second granular fuel vapor adsorbents. The first granular fuel vapor adsorbent has a microporous structure, while the second granular fuel vapor adsorbent has a macroporous structure.
US08015961B1
A hot combustion chamber (CC) is designed to completely extend the combustion process over 80% to 90% of the cycle period of an internal combustion engine. The long time period combustion (LTPC) provides a large period of time for control of required fuel/air requests and ignition. The CC is supplied with variable quantities of high pressure air from an energy conserving air compressor (AC) through a combustion chamber supply (CCS) and exhales precisely timed expandable combustion products to a two cycle piston (TCP) or rotary drive. The invention solves past problems associated with ignition timing, inefficient combustion, mechanical efficiency and pollution. This CC design makes possible an engine-system for use in transportation vehicles that provides energy storage in a hybrid configuration.
