US08023114B2
A target substance detecting device, which is a device that has a substrate, a structure disposed on a substrate surface in isolation using a metal, and a target substance trapping substance disposed on the structure, and which is for detecting a target substance using localized plasmon resonance, characterized in that the above-mentioned structure is constructed by stacking at least two metal layers, sandwiching a non-conductive layer between the metal layers.
US08023113B2
Characteristics of a chemical or biological sample are detected using an approach involving light detection. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an assaying arrangement including a light detector is adapted to detect light from a sample, such as a biological material. A signal corresponding to the detected light is used to characterize the sample, for example, by detecting a light-related property thereof. In one implementation, the assaying arrangement includes integrated circuitry having a light detector and a programmable processor, with the light detector generating a signal corresponding to the light and sending the signal to the processor. The processor provides an output corresponding to the signal and indicative of a characteristic of the sample.
US08023111B2
A semiconductor wafer inspection apparatus for inspecting an outer circumference edge part of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus has a camera lens arranged facing an outer circumference edge part of a semiconductor wafer, an imaging surface arranged facing an outer circumference end face of a semiconductor wafer via the camera lens, a mirror forming an image of a first outer circumference bevel surface of the semiconductor wafer on the imaging surface via the camera lens, a mirror forming an image of a second outer circumference bevel surface of the semiconductor wafer on the imaging surface via the camera lens, a correction lens forming an image of an outer circumference end face of the semiconductor wafer on the imaging surface via the center part of the camera lens, and an illumination light guide lamp part illuminating the surfaces. With use of the apparatus the first outer circumference bevel surface and second outer circumference bevel surface become brighter compared with the outer circumference end face.
US08023109B2
A detection device comprising a substrate comprising a plurality of objects of which properties are changed due to the contact with a target substance, means for bringing the target substance into contact with the objects, and means for detecting a change in properties of the objects caused when the target substance is brought into contact with the objects, based on light output when the objects are irradiated with light, wherein the plurality of the objects are located in the direction in which the light for irradiation travels, and the detecting means is means for detecting the change in the properties based on the summation of light output from the plurality of the objects upon irradiation with light.
US08023100B2
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus that can prevent the degradation of exposure and measurement accuracies. An exposure apparatus (EX) exposes a substrate (P) by irradiating the substrate (P) with exposure light (EL) through a projection optical system (PL) and a liquid (LQ), and comprises: a liquid supply mechanism (10) that supplies the liquid (LQ) between an optical element (2) at the image plane side tip part of the projection optical system (PL) and a substrate (P) that opposes the optical element (2); a timer (60) that measures the time that has elapsed since the supply of the liquid by the liquid supply mechanism (10) was started; and a control apparatus (CONT) that determines, based on a measurement result of the timer (60), whether a space(SP), which is between the optical element (2) and the substrate (P) and includes at least an optical path of the exposure light (EL), is filled with the liquid (LQ).
US08023097B2
A liquid crystal panel 11 includes a pair of substrates 18, 19, liquid crystal 20 disposed between the substrates 18, 19, and alignment films 30, 36 provided on the opposed surfaces of the substrates 18, 19. After formation of the alignment film 30 or 36 is completed in a manufacturing process, it is checked by an inspection process whether a pinhole H is formed on the alignment film 30, 36, and further the position of the pinhole H is detected. Thereafter, an alignment film repair filler 50 is applied to the pinhole H by a repair process, so that the pinhole H is repaired.
US08023094B2
An STN liquid crystal display, wherein a twist angle of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is 155° to 210°, and a first angle between a polarizing axis direction of the first polarizer and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in contact with the first transparent substrate and a second angle between a polarizing axis direction of the second polarizer and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in contact with the second transparent substrate are each larger than 0° and smaller than 90°, and a sum of the first and second angles is 90°±7°. The STN liquid crystal display is provided having a high contrast ratio and good characteristics of viewing angle.
US08023087B2
In a display device of built-in driver circuit type including a non-rectangular image display area, the frame area surrounding the display area is reduced and the wiring delay is reduced. The image display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in an orthogonal matrix form, a plurality of scanning wiring lines connected to the plural pixels, a plurality of signal wiring lines connected to the plural pixels, the signal wiring lines being disposed to construct an orthogonal matrix form with the plural scanning wiring lines; signal wiring internal circuits for driving the plural signal wiring lines, and an image display area including a plurality of pixels, the image display area having a non-rectangular outer contour. The signal wiring internal circuits are separated from each other in an extending direction of the signal wiring lines in a unit of length of the pixel.
US08023085B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus including a pair of substrates having electrodes and vertical alignment layers. A liquid crystal having a negative anisotropy of dielectric is inserted between the substrates. Each substrate has linearly arranged alignment control structures for controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. The alignment control structures are formed in the form of projections or slits. Each alignment control structure is formed of a plurality of constituent units. In addition, means for forming a boundary of alignment of liquid crystal (singular point in director field) to control the liquid crystal located on the alignment control structures.
US08023081B2
A liquid crystal display device of a simplified structure and a widened viewing angle are provided. The liquid crystal display device having a stacked structure with its component plates and layers laid one over another in the following top-down order, comprises a first polarizing plate of α in optic-axial angle, a first λ/2 retardation plate of β in the optic-axial angle, a first λ/4 retardation plate of γ in the optic-axial angle, a liquid crystal layer located as an interlayer between two of substrates and having its opposite major surfaces oriented in vertical directions, a second λ/4 retardation plate disposed in phase or in parallel with the first λ/4 retardation plate (i.e., the optic-axial angle of γ), a second λ/2 retardation plate of (2γ−β) in the optic-axial angle, and a second polarizing plate of (π/2−α+2γ) in the optic-axial angle.
US08023079B2
The present invention provides a touch panel and a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display includes a panel, a plurality of reflective coding patterns printed on the panel, and a polarizing plate positioned on the panel, wherein the reflective coding patterns include a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal molecules having a pitch length and a index of refraction, and the pitch length multiplied by the index of refraction is within a range of an infrared ray wavelength.
US08023075B2
A liquid crystal display substrate includes a first active area and a second active area on the liquid crystal display substrate, a first black matrix and a second black matrix respectively surrounding the first active area and the second active area, a cutting region encircling the first black matrix and the second black matrix, and at least a guarding wall disposed on the black matrix or on the cutting region.
US08023074B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display unit that offers high visibility irrespective of the brightness of the surrounding environment and that achieves a reduction in electric power consumption as well as in cost. The liquid crystal display unit is provided with a liquid crystal layer 6, two substrates 1 and 2 that sandwich the liquid crystal layer 6, and a backlight 50 that sequentially emits light of a plurality of colors. Here, one picture element is composed of three R, G, and B pixels that serve as a reflective region, and a pixel having a transparent layer W that serves as a transmissive region. Configured in this way, in the transmissive region, the light from the backlight 50 passes through the transparent electrode 4, so that a transmissive display is performed; in the reflective region, the light is reflected from the reflective electrode 5, so that a reflective display is performed.
US08023071B2
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display with improved contrast ratio, switching performance, reflectivity at the Dmin state and structural integrity, and methods for its manufacture. The liquid crystal display of the present invention comprises microcups as display cells, wherein the microcups are formed from a microcup composition and filled with a liquid crystal composition.
US08023070B2
A backlight device includes a first substrate having optical transparency and having first and second surfaces opposite to each other. An LED thin-film is fixed to the first surface of the first substrate. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are formed on the LED thin-film. An anode driver IC and a cathode driver IC are provided for driving the LED thin-film to emit light. An anode wiring and a cathode wiring are provided on the first surface of the first substrate. A second substrate has optical transparency, and has first and second surfaces opposite to each other. The second surface of the second substrate faces the first surface of the first substrate. A reflection film is provided on the first surface of the second substrate. A light diffusion plate is provided so as to face the second surface of the first substrate and has a function to diffuse incident light.
US08023067B2
A liquid crystal display device that reduces manufacturing cost, contributes to a thin profile, and generates uniform brightness, and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed.In the liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display panel is prepared. A backlight includes a plurality of lamps, a diffusion plate which is located on the lamps, and an intermediate diffusion medium located between the lamps and the diffusion plate to diffuse light from the lamps, and irradiates light to the liquid crystal display panel.Furthermore, in the method of fabricating the liquid crystal display device, a diffusion material is molded using a mold to form an intermediate diffusion medium that includes a plurality of ribs connected to an external band of square type and both sides of the external band of square type, respectively. The intermediate diffusion medium is located between lamps and a diffusion plate.
US08023066B2
An exemplary one-piece backlight module (200) includes a brightness enhancement unit (240); and a light emitting unit (260) including a first electrode layer (261), a second electrode layer (264), and a light emitting layer (262) between the first and second electrode layers. The brightness enhancement unit and the light emitting unit are stacked one above the other. A liquid crystal display device using the backlight module is also provided.
US08023054B2
A flat panel display device includes a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel area, a pixel electrode in the pixel area, and a thin film transistor having a gate electrode connected to the gate line, a source electrode connected to the data line, and a drain electrode connected to the pixel electrode, wherein the gate line has at least two or more separated gate line portions where the gate line crosses the data line.
US08023047B2
A digital broadcast receiver is presented. The digital broadcast receiver includes a tuner for receiving a DTV signal, a known data detector for detecting position information of the known data sequences from the DTV signal, an equalizer for compensating a channel distortion of the DTV signal according to at least one of the detected position information of the known data sequences, a first decoder for turbo-decoding, via a block unit, mobile service data in the channel distortion compensated DTV signal, and a second decoder for generating a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame including the turbo-decoded mobile service data and for correcting at least one error of the generated RS frame by performing cyclic redundancy check (CRC) decoding and RS decoding on the generated RS frame.
US08023045B2
A video processor card stores tap generation information for determining a predetermined tap coefficient when the tap generation information is used together with tap generation information stored in another video processor card, and supplies a video processing interface with the tap generation information. The video processing interface generates the tap coefficient from the tap generation information of the one video processor card and the other video processor card loaded therein. The video processing interface extracts video data having a predictive tap used to predict a target pixel and video data having a class tap used to classify the target data, and class classifies the target data based on the class tap. The video processing interface determine the target pixel based on the tap coefficient and the predictive tap of the class of the target pixel.
US08023044B2
An image display device includes an operation unit having a plurality of operating members configured to input operation data indicative of content of a user's operation; an operation data storage unit configured to store the operation data; an application process execution unit configured to execute a predetermined application process based on the operation data; an information screen display operation detection unit configured to detect a predetermined information screen display operation; an information screen display unit configured to display an information screen in a display unit when the information screen display operation detection unit detects information screen display operation; and an operation invalidation flag storage unit configured to store an operation invalidation flag in a manner in which it corresponds to a part or all of the operation data when the operation data satisfies a predetermined condition during the information screen is displayed.
US08023038B2
A camera module includes a lens, an image sensor, a carrier carrying the image sensor, two spring supporting members, a frame, a base and a printed circuit board. The carrier has a comb-shaped first electrode having a number of first teeth. The carrier is suspended in the frame by the two spring supporting members, and is movable in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the image sensor. The base has a comb-shaped second electrode having a number of second teeth. The first teeth and second teeth are arranged in a staggered fashion. The printed circuit board provides a potential difference between the first and second electrodes, whereby an electrostatic force is generated between the first and second teeth to drive the first teeth to move towards the second teeth.
US08023034B2
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging device provided with a plurality of arranged light-sensitive devices each having sensitivity to light in a range from a visible region to an infrared region; a first filter for transmitting light in the visible region to a first part light-sensitive device out of the plurality of light-sensitive devices; a second filter for transmitting light in the infrared region to a second part light-sensitive device out of the plurality of light-sensitive devices; and a signal processing section for changing a ratio between an electrical signal converted by the first part light-sensitive device and an electrical signal converted by the second part light-sensitive device used as an electrical signal used for deciding exposure in accordance with intensity of the electrical signal converted by the first part light-sensitive device.
US08023033B2
A viewfinder includes: a main unit to be detachably attached to a camera body; and a display unit including a display portion on which a picture to be imaged at the camera body side; wherein the display portion includes a supporting member, a display panel including a display surface, a first connecting mechanism configured to connect the main unit and the supporting member so as to rotate, and a second connecting mechanism configured to connect the supporting member and the display panel so as to swing between a laid state in which the display panel is laid on the supporting member and a standing state in which the display panel stands from the supporting member; wherein the first connecting mechanism is configured such that the supporting member can rotate within a range of at least not less than 180 degrees on the main unit.
US08023030B2
An image pickup apparatus includes a display that displays photographing information. When the display is turned off in response to an operation performed by a user, the photographing information is prevented from being changed even if a button or a dial for changing a set value, such as a shutter speed or an aperture value, is operated.
US08023026B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel section having two-dimensionally arranged pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion means, a memory means, a transfer means, a first reset means for resetting the memory means, a second reset means for resetting the photoelectric conversion means, and a read means for reading the photoelectric conversion signal of the memory means; and a controller for effecting a control so that, after passage of a predetermined time subsequently to the rendering of a concurrent reset by the second reset means on the photoelectric conversion means of all pixels, a transfer of the photoelectric conversion signal is concurrently effected by the transfer means to the memory means of all pixels, and the reading by the read means is temporarily halted at least at one or the other of timings of a start and a release of the concurrent reset by the second reset means.
US08023019B2
An image-sensing chip package module for reducing its whole thickness can fix an image-sensing unit under a substrate unit via an adhesive body disposed between the substrate unit and the image-sensing unit, so that the image-sensing unit can be firmly fixed under a bottom area (the bottom area is a receiving space formed by using a plurality of first conductive protruding bodies to support the substrate unit up relative to a main PCB) of the substrate unit. In other words, the image-sensing unit is received in the receiving space formed by using the first conductive protruding bodies to support the substrate unit up relative to the main PCB, so that the whole thickness of the image-sensing chip package module can be reduced. Therefore, it is easy for designer to integrate the image-sensing chip package module into any portable electronic devices such as mobile phone or notebook.
US08023018B2
A solid-state imaging device having: (a) a pixel array with an oblique pixel pattern in which pixels are obliquely disposed, an odd-numbered row vertical signal line in an odd-numbered row vertical signal line group being connected to each column of odd-numbered row pixels and an even-numbered row vertical signal line in an even-numbered row vertical signal line group being connected to each column of even-numbered row pixels; (b) a row selector for separately selecting an odd-numbered row and an even-numbered row of the oblique pixel pattern; (c) an odd-numbered row column processing circuit group including column processing circuits and connected to the odd-numbered row vertical signal line group, for adding signals of the odd-numbered row pixels between columns; (d) an even-numbered row column processing circuit group including column processing circuits and connected to the even-numbered row vertical signal line group, for adding signals of the even-numbered row pixels in pixel columns; and (d) a column selector for selecting the column processing circuits of the odd-numbered row column processing circuit group and the column processing circuits of the even-numbered row column processing circuit group.
US08023017B2
The present invention relates to a pattern of a color filter array. The pattern includes a plurality of pixel arrays, which has four color filters arranged in an array. The color of the neighboring color filters is distinct to each other. Moreover, the pattern of the color filter array has enlarged color filters or extended edges in corners of the pattern. These enlarged color filters or extended edges increase the contact area between the pattern and a substrate that the pattern formed on. Therefore, the adhesion strength between the pattern and the substrate can be augmented to prevent peeling from the substrate. According to the invention, the yield of the product will be raised substantially.
US08023015B2
A system, method and medium correcting brightness of an image, and more particularly, a system, method and medium correcting brightness of an acquired image to achieve a target brightness. The system includes an initial brightness sensing unit to sense an initial brightness of the image from an initial exposure, and an image correction unit to correct the brightness of the sensed initial image toward a target brightness using predetermined brightness information corresponding to a sensed brightness environment of the image.
US08023014B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for compensating the lens shading phenomenon in image sensor. The invention first stores an inputted compensation reference value, identifies a center pixel using digital image signals received sequentially in correspondence to each pixel from a sensor, generates analysis data corresponding to each pixel, generates and stores block compensation values for blocks grouped according to the distance from the center pixel, calculates the distance from a compensation target pixel to the center pixel, calculates a compensation value corresponding to the compensation target pixel using the block compensation value corresponding to the distance, and generates for output correction pixel data by aggregating analysis data and the compensation value corresponding to the compensation target pixel. Thus, the invention allows the maintaining of colors as close as possible to the original through the respective compensation of RGB which takes into consideration the respective characteristics of the color filters and through the respective compensation of gain and level for the disparity in transmissivity according to position.
US08023008B2
An imaging apparatus capable of preventing redeposition of dust on an imaging device to efficiently achieve dust removal. The imaging apparatus includes a driving device vibrating the imaging device, a posture detecting device detecting a posture of the imaging apparatus, and a controller allowing the imaging device to be vibrated on the condition that the detected posture of the imaging apparatus is a predetermined posture to remove dust deposited on the imaging device. For example, the imaging device is vibrated on the condition that the posture of the imaging apparatus is a normal posture. Alternatively, the imaging device is vibrated so long as it is determined that an opening for lens mounting in a body of the apparatus is pointed down and a photographic lens is not mounted.
US08023007B2
For automatically transmitting an image file, a system transmits the file automatically through specifically specifying information for file transmission such as an address of a destination. The system includes a memory for storing a data file and an automatic transmission control file for briefly describing information of a file name of the file to be transmitted and a destination address, and a communication unit for transmitting the data file according to the automatic transmission control file. Therefore, the system can transmit the data file automatically only by having a memory storing the data file and automatic transmission control file connected to the communication unit.
US08023006B2
An electronic still camera includes a position calculating unit. A storage unit stores the self-position data calculated by the position calculating unit, as photography-site data, in association with the image data acquired by photographing an object. If the self-position data cannot be acquired at the time of photographing the object, a control unit sets the self-position data acquired by the position calculating unit at a time different from the time of photographing the object, in the storage unit as the photography-site data.
US08023005B2
An aspect of the present invention provides an image recording apparatus comprising: an image recording device which records an extended image file storing a plurality of pieces of image data and a basic file storing at least one piece of image data selected from the pieces of image data stored in the extended image file, the extended image file and the basic file being associated with each other; a determination device which determines whether or not the basic file has been deleted or modified; and a basic file recovery device which recovers the basic file from the extended image file if it is determined that the basic file has been deleted or modified.
US08022999B2
The correction amounts of respective correction units 37 of first and second shake correction amount deriving units 38, 39 are alternately employed in every short period composed of a time shorter than a period up to a timing at which it is contemplated that the output from a first HPF 31 is approximately stabilized after a switch S1 is turned on, and the signals of shake correction amounts, which are obtained by subjecting the outputs from first integration units 35 to a correction of the correction amounts, are alternately employed as drive signals to be output to the X-axis and Y-axis actuators 27, 28. With this arrangement, a shake correction amount deriving unit, which is operated later than a shake correction amount deriving unit operated just before it, can derive a shake correction amount based on a state in which a first HPF 31 has a smaller output error.
US08022998B2
Exposed images from a CCD are each captured to Surfaces A, B and C in an SDRAM in a repeated sequence from A, B to C, and the latest image among the images thus captured is displayed. While an image on Surface B is being transferred, an image on Surface A is used as the image to be displayed. The next exposure is started, and images to be displayed are switched, at the same timing as the transfer is started. An image to be displayed on an LCD monitor is stopped from being updated when camera shake compensating device starts to be released from the mechanical holding. The next switching of images and the transfer of an exposed image from the CCD to the SDRAM are prohibited. When the release of the mechanical holding is completed, the next exposed image is transferred from the CCD to the SDARM. Updating is permitted for displaying the image which is transferred to the SDRAM on a display device. A conversion is made from the mechanical holding to the electrical holding without causing a sense of inconvenience due to a blur of an image or the like to be displayed when the holding is released.
US08022997B2
An information processing device that is connected to a projecting device that projects an annotation image input from an external terminal a projection area including an object and a background, and is connected to an image capture device that captures an image of the projection area including the object and the background, includes: a detecting unit that detects movement of the object from an image captured by the image capture device; an extracting unit that extracts a changed region that is caused in the captured image by the movement of the object; and a processing unit that performs processing on at least one of the captured image and the annotation image, when the annotation image exists in the changed region.
US08022992B2
When directed to transmit data in a personal computer (1), a document image data generating section (22) generates document image data obtained by imaging a document content based on document data for every page. An index image generating section (23) composites a file name of the document data and icon image data corresponding to application software by which the document data is created, and thereby generates index image data. The folder generating section (26) generates a PC folder based on the document image data, the index image data, and the management data, and generated by a management file generating section (24) transmits the PC folder to a digital camera (51) via a data transmitting section (27).
US08022989B2
Communication is carried out using devices with user-maintained modes that enable synchronous content sharing and communication. Each user-maintained mode enables a lightweight interface for positioning content in a conversation by initiating and terminating data transmission through user produced feedback to create a shared conversational experience.
US08022986B2
A weapon orientation measuring device in accordance with the disclosure includes a processor configured to receive first location information indicative of locations of a first point and a second point on a weapon, the first and second points being a known distance apart in a direction parallel to a pointing axis of the weapon, and to receive second location information indicative of the locations of the first and second points on the weapon. The processor is further configured to receive information indicative of a first earth orientation, and determine a second earth orientation corresponding to the weapon based on the first and second location information and the information indicative of the first earth orientation. The first location information represents location relative to a first sensor at a first location and the second location information represents location relative to a second sensor at a second location, and the first and second sensors are separated by a given distance.
US08022964B2
The disclosed implementations relate generally to 3D histograms and other user interface elements for color correcting digital images. A color correction method includes: generating a user interface for display on a display device, the user interface including a display area; generating a three-dimensional cube representing a color space for display in the display area; and generating a plurality of spheres for display within the cube, where the spheres are sized to represent pixel densities in a digital image.
US08022963B2
The present invention relates to the compression of color image data. A combination of hard decision pixel mapping and soft decision pixel mapping is used to jointly address both quantization distortion and compression rate while maintaining low computational complexity and compatibility with standard decoders, such as, for example, the GIF/PNG decoder.
US08022962B2
A game apparatus includes a computer, and the computer reads rendering data from a rendering buffer, and displays a virtual three-dimensional image by utilizing color data and a depth value for each pixel which are included in the rendering data. When a photographing instruction is input, a focused position is detected on the basis of operation information. The computer calculates a difference between a depth value of each pixel included in the rendering data and a depth value of the focused position to generate color data which is subjected to blur processing with respect to blurring objective pixels, and writes the color data in the calculation buffer for each pixel. The computer generates a display image data including a blurred image on the basis of the color data of each pixel stored in the calculation buffer.
US08022958B2
This disclosure describes techniques of loading batch commands into a graphics processing unit (GPU). As described herein, a GPU driver for the GPU identifies one or more graphics processing objects to be used by the GPU in order to render a batch of graphics primitives. The GPU driver may insert indexes associated with the identified graphics processing objects into a batch command. The GPU driver may then issue the batch command to the GPU. The GPU may use the indexes in the batch command to retrieve the graphics processing objects from memory. After retrieving the graphics processing objects from memory, the GPU may use the graphics processing objects to render the batch of graphics primitives.
US08022953B2
An object to be dimensioned may have such a small dimension that the dimension text will not fit within a space defined by extension lines. A dimensioning method is provided that exaggerates extension lines (24) of small dimensions so that the dimension text will fit within the space the dimension line has between the extensions lines although the dimension itself is not changed.
US08022950B2
According to embodiments of the invention, rays may be stochastically culled before they are issued into the three-dimensional scene. Stochastically culling rays may reduce the number of rays which need to be traced by the image processing system. Furthermore, by stochastically culling rays before they are issued into the three-dimensional scene, minor imperfections may be added to the final rendered image, thereby improving the realism of the rendered image. Therefore, stochastic culling of rays may improve the performance of the image processing system by reducing workload imposed on the image processing system and improving the realism of the images rendered by the image processing system. According to another embodiment of the invention, the realism of images rendered by the image processing system may also be improved by stochastically adding secondary rays after ray-primitive intersections have occurred.
US08022942B2
A dynamic projected user interface device is disclosed, that includes a projector, a projection controller, and an imaging sensor. The projection controller is configured to receive instructions from a computing device, and to provide display images via the projector onto display surfaces. The display images are indicative of a first set of input controls when the computing device is in a first operating context, and a second set of input controls when the computing device is in a second operating context. The imaging sensor is configured to optically detect physical contacts with the one or more display surfaces.
US08022939B2
There is provided a touch panel including a first substrate, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, a first electrode film formed on the first substrate, a second electrode film formed on the second substrate, the second electrode film opposing the first electrode film. An openings is formed in each of the first electrode film and the second electrode film, and the opening formed in the first electrode film and the opening formed in the second electrode film are overlapped in plan view and each of the openings has a different opening area.
US08022937B2
A smart surface is disclosed that can stand alone or be contained within a portable computer or other system, for powering and communicating with single or multiple cord-free transducers. Operating or charging power is transmitted by the surface using a carrier signal that is on/off keyed or amplitude modulated with synchronization, clock, enable, address, modes, commands and other pulse width, encoded or digital data. The signal is transmitted to single or multiple cordless smart transducers located on or above the surface, such as pens with multiple pressure sensing and switch capability, pointers, stylus, cursors, pucks, mouse, pawns, implements and similar items. Overlapping resonant inductive circuits are used in the surface to transmit operating power and communicate data to the transducer(s).
US08022935B2
A touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes one or more multifunctional nodes each of which represents a single touch pixel. Each multifunctional node includes a touch sensor with one or more integrated I/O mechanisms. The touch sensor and integrated I/O mechanisms share the same communication lines and I/O pins of a controller during operation of the touch sensing device.
US08022933B2
An input system for a TV remote control or other system has a single touch surface with a deformable haptic assembly below the touch surface such that a user placing a finger on the touch surface can feel deformation of the haptic assembly. A pressure sensing assembly is below the haptic assembly and sensing motion of a finger on the touch surface, with a processor receiving input from the pressure sensing assembly and providing output to the haptic assembly in response. Also, a display receives input sent by the processor in response to input from the pressure sensing assembly to cause the display to present a changing image of a keypad as a user moves a finger on the touch surface.
US08022930B2
An ergonomic mouse is described. A computer mouse may include a position tracking engine and a housing to encapsulate the position tracking engine. The housing may have a bottom portion with a substantially flat surface and an aperture for the position tracking engine. The housing may also have a top portion having a convex portion with a convex curved surface and a first concave portion with a first concave curved surface to receive a human thumb. The first concave portion may have an orientation relative to the bottom portion to cause a substantially neutral wrist deviation when a user grips the top portion.
US08022918B2
A gate switch apparatus of a-Si LCDs is provided. The gate switch apparatus is suitable for switching a plurality of sub gate lines and disposed in two rim spaces of a display to make a-Si TFT switch with less impedance. According to a switch driving timing, a plurality of sub gate lines are able to share a single gate line, which saves cost and reduces the difficulty in the manufacturing process.
US08022916B2
A liquid crystal display driving device that reduces horizontal crosstalk and a liquid crystal display employing the driving device are presented. The driving device includes a common voltage generator that generates first and second common voltages, and the common voltage generator includes a first capacitor provided between a first terminal for outputting the first common voltage and a second terminal for outputting the second common voltage. Since the capacitor is provided between two output terminals of the two common voltages, it reduces the distortion components of the common voltages, thereby reducing horizontal crosstalk. The invention reduces the number of parts in the driving device conferring the added benefit of reduced manufacturing cost.
US08022914B2
The invention concern a display device comprising a liquid crystal material between a first substrate provided with row electrodes (7) and a second substrate provided with column electrodes (6), in which overlapping parts of the row and column electrodes define pixels (8), driving means (5) for driving the column electrodes (6) in conformity with an image to be displayed, and driving means (4) for driving the row electrodes (7), wherein the row electrodes (7) select at least one row during a row selection time and column voltages (Gj(t)) are supplied to the column electrodes (6), wherein the column voltage waveform depends on the grey scale to be displayed by the driven pixel in a certain column and depends on a used selection signal (Fi) for the selected row, wherein a column voltage (Gj(t)) is switchable between at least two different column voltage levels during a row selection time. To provide a display device having low power consumption and in particular to minimize the number of transitions of the column driving signal the column voltage waveform for a following row selection time is mirrored on a mirror axis, if the column voltage at the end of the current row selection time is the same as the column voltage at the end of the following row selection time.
US08022904B2
A display device includes a pixel array section and a driving section. The pixel array section includes scanning lines arranged in rows, signal lines arranged in columns, and pixels arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixels includes at least a sampling transistor, a drive transistor, a holding capacitance, and a light-emitting device. The sampling transistor has its control terminal connected to the scanning line and its pair of current terminals connected between the signal line and the control terminal of the drive transistor. The drive transistor has one of its pair of current terminals connected to the light-emitting device and the other of its pair of current terminals connected to a power source. The holding capacitance is connected between the control and current terminals of the drive transistor.
US08022903B2
In the present invention, there is provided an organic electro luminescence device including: an organic electro luminescence light emitting element; and a driving circuit for driving the organic electro luminescence light emitting element, wherein the driving circuit includes (A) an element driving transistor, (B) a video-signal write transistor, and (C) a capacitor having a pair of particular and other electrodes, with regard to the element driving transistor, (A-1) a source/drain area provided on a particular side of the element driving transistor to serve as a particular source/drain area of the element driving transistor is connected to a current supply section, and (A-2) a source/drain area provided on the other side of the element driving transistor to serve as another source/drain area of the element driving transistor is connected to the anode electrode of the organic electro luminescence light emitting element and the particular electrode of the capacitor, forming a second node.
US08022895B2
The volumetric 3D display system of this invention applies a moving display panel that sweeps a display space. The full volume swept by the active screen is used as display space. A 3D image to be displayed is first processed into slices of image data based on an orthogonal 3D grid structure. The slice data are then converted into image frames to be displayed on the active screen by mapping the location indices in the orthogonal 3D grid to the location indices on the moving screen. The preferred method of displaying an image frame is to convert each image frame into a number of “image shots” and then display those image shots in sequence. An image shot comprises a number of simple orthogonal patterns aligned in vertical or horizontal directions. Combination of a number of image shots approximates the corresponding image frame.
US08022892B2
In an apparatus for driving a plurality of display units in a mobile electronic apparatus, each including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan line and a plurality of pixels each provided at one of the data lines and one of the scan lines, at least one of a common data driver circuit and a common scan driver circuit is provided. The common data driver circuit includes a plurality of first switch groups, each first switch group being connected to the data lines of one of the display units for driving the data lines of the one of the display units. The common scan driver circuit includes a plurality of second switch groups, each second switch group being connected to the scan lines of one of the display units for driving the scan lines of the one of the display units.
US08022887B1
An antenna is disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a driver comprising a folded dipole and an integral balun coupled to the folded dipole.
US08022879B2
An antenna structure for a wireless communication device including a substrate having a first surface that supports an electronic component and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The antenna structure includes a first surface pattern formed on the first surface of the substrate. A second surface pattern is formed on the second surface of the substrate. The second surface pattern is at least partially separated from the first surface pattern in a direction perpendicular to a thicknesswise direction of the substrate.
US08022877B2
The disclosed subject matter generally relates to hybrid positioning systems and methods and, more specifically, systems and methods of detecting moved WLAN assess points using a wireless local area network based positioning system (WLAN-PS) and a satellite-based positioning system (SPS) with at least two satellites measurement.
US08022861B2
The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.
US08022859B2
Systems and methods distinguish weather radar returns from terrain radar returns. An exemplary embodiment receives a radar return from a weather radar system on board an installation vehicle, receives ground-based weather radar information, compares a location of the radar return received from the onboard weather radar system with a corresponding location in the received ground-based, and determines that the radar return received from the onboard weather radar system is a weather radar return when a location in the received ground-based weather radar information indicates a presence of weather at the location of the radar return.
US08022858B2
A method for detecting radar signal comprises the steps of: receiving a signal by a receiver, wherein the strength of the received signal is controlled within a range; sampling the received signal so as to obtain a plurality of sampling values; dividing the sampling values into a plurality of segments; summing up the absolute values of the sampling values in each segment; and determining that the received signal includes radar signals if at least one summation is greater than a threshold.
US08022850B2
Embodiments include DACs and methods for digital-to-analog conversion. A DAC includes an encoder and a plurality of DAC elements. The encoder maps each of a plurality of bits of a digital input value to one of the DAC elements, and produces a sign indication indicating whether a magnitude of the digital input value is above or below a threshold. Each DAC element produces a DAC element analog output signal that indicates whether a received sign indication and a received bit corresponds to a first state, a second state or a third state (e.g., a zero, positive or negative state). In an embodiment, the DAC uses positive historic mapping information when the magnitude of the digital input value is above the threshold, and negative historic mapping information when the magnitude of the digital input value is below the threshold. DAC elements may be configurable into a Return-to-Zero or a Non-Return-to-Zero mode.
US08022839B2
A system for use in a wellbore includes plural modules for positioning in the wellbore and including respective interfaces, where the plural modules are configured to perform predefined downhole tasks in the wellbore. The plural modules are associated with respective local power sources. A telemetry subsystem enables communication between at least two of the plural modules, where the communication between the at least two of the plural modules allows one of the two modules to affect an operation of another of the two modules.
US08022833B2
A method of operating a wireless memory device is provided. In the method, the wireless memory device detects the power state of a power supply source in response to a power measurement command received from a host and controls data transmission/reception based on the measured power state.
US08022822B2
Systems and methods that provide for collection of sensor data in a wireless network with a dynamically changing structure. A data collection protocol exploits the self-awareness capabilities of nodes in selection of tree structures that form the wireless network during communication with a base station. The data collection protocol can further include a topology control component (which regulates how nodes are distributed among various tree structures and associated communication channels with the base station) and data retrieval component (which coordinates among the sensors to transmit data packets containing sensor data to efficiently employ available bandwidth).
US08022816B2
A system and methods are provided for field administration of a project, such as construction, maintenance, safety inspections or other projects involving the tracking of issues and one or more levels of review or approval in the closure of the issues. One or more radio frequency tags, each having an identifier, can be affixed to a physical component of a project. A storage device can store an issue list, wherein the issue list has one or more work items corresponding to the physical component of the project on which the radio frequency tag is affixed. User interfaces may be provided to allow interaction by stationary or mobile users with the issue list. The issue list on the storage device may provide better organization and/or a more efficient work flow, particularly during a close-out phase, or other phase of a project, involving the tracking of issues.
US08022810B2
A privacy protection method designed to prevent or authorize a communication between a reader and an RFID label situated in an efficiency zone. In the method a) there is permanent detection of possible variation of an ambient magnetic field in one or more frequency bands allocated to the RFID labels, and b) in the event of detection of an instantaneous variation of the local magnetic field and in the absence of inhibition, a parameter value of a magnetic circuit is modified so that the instantaneous value of the local magnetic field is modified.
US08022809B2
A system which is able to take inventory of products stored in high rise racks and immediately provide the inventory information to an information system for immediate processing and which makes use of remote electronic identification means for each product, box, etc. and each row of a correspondent rack, thus allowing the system to read great amounts of information at once.
US08022808B2
A vehicle equipped with a passive key entry system may employ a method of controlling a vehicle power sliding door(s) or other door(s), to accomplish locking, unlocking, opening and closing of such doors. A switch on a door handle may be activated by a physical touch or touches of a user, after which, the method may proceed with inquiring and confirming if all vehicle doors are closed; inquiring and confirming if all vehicle doors are locked; inquiring and confirming if a valid passive entry key is exterior to and within range of the vehicle; unlocking a power sliding door with a lock motor; and opening the power sliding door with a door motor. Before actually performing a door opening, closing or locking, a passive entry key system on the vehicle may verify the presence of a passive entry key fob.
US08022793B2
A sandwich vehicle structure may allow for confined propagation of electromagnetic radiation within the sandwich vehicle structure. The sandwich vehicle structure may include at least one upper conducting plate, at least one lower conducting plate, and a core extending between the upper and lower conducting plates. The core may comprise a core medium, and a plurality of spaced apart core members embedded in the core medium and extending between the upper and lower conducting plates. The core medium and the core members may allow for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation within the core.
US08022792B2
Waveguide filters utilizing the TM modes in an evanescent waveguide are provided. The Q of such filters surpasses any evanescent, dual and triple mode filters in propagating or evanescent waveguides. The waveguide filter in accordance with the present invention features a small size, as well as ease and simplicity in its manufacture when compared with conventional filters. Filters of exceptionally high Q and very low loss, when compared to conventional filters, can be obtained by employing TM modes in an evanescent waveguide. The TM mode evanescent filter has a higher Q than either the evanescent TE mode standard filter of a single mode propagating waveguide (TM or TE) or even the dual or triple mode filters in evanescent or propagating waveguides.
US08022790B2
A composite right/left-handed line device includes plural electrodes, plural dielectric substances and plural magnetic substances. The plurality of electrodes each include a pair of electrode plates, and a connection piece connected to the pair of electrode plates. The plurality of electrodes are disposed at regular intervals in a thickness direction between a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals. The plurality of dielectric substances are interposed between opposite surfaces of the pairs of electrode plates of adjacent two of the electrodes. The plurality of magnetic substances are disposed adjacently to the dielectric substances, respectively. The plurality of magnetic substances are interposed between opposite surfaces of the connection pieces of adjacent two of the electrodes.
US08022783B2
The invention relates to a non-reciprocal circuit element (1) having a plurality of strip conductor elements (2) insulated electrically from one another, which conductor elements are embedded in a multilayer core (3) of ferrimagnetic material and are arranged in superposed conductor planes in such a way that the conductor elements (2) cross over one another in at least one crossover area (4, 5). To provide such a circuit element, which is particularly cost-effective to produce and which is suitable in particular for use in mobile phones, the invention proposes that the core (3) comprises, at least in the crossover area of the conductor elements (2), hard magnetic material, which is permanently magnetized in a spatial direction perpendicular to the conductor planes.
US08022775B2
Systems and methods for maintaining a drive signal to a resonant circuit at a resonant frequency are provided. A system for maintaining a drive signal to a resonant circuit at a resonant frequency can include: an oscillator configured to provide an output to a phase comparator and a drive circuit, the drive circuit configured to provide a drive signal to a resonant circuit; a phase detector configured to receive a filtered version of the drive signal from the resonant circuit and provide a phase-indicating signal to the phase comparator; and the phase comparator, wherein the phase comparator is configured to provide a signal based on the phase difference between the oscillator output and the phase-indicating signal, wherein the signal from the phase comparator is used to control the frequency of the oscillator such that the phase difference converges to a fixed value.
US08022762B2
There is provided a multi-stage CMOS power amplifier including: a driver amplifier having differential output terminals, inverting differential signals input through first and second input terminals and outputting the respective inverted signals through the differential output terminals; a transformer for power matching having a primary coil connected between the differential output terminals of the driver amplifier and a secondary coil coupled with the primary coil using electromagnetic induction, having a predetermined turns ratio to the primary coil, and connected to a direct current (DC) tuning voltage terminal; and a power amplifier power-amplifying differential signals passing through one end and the other end of the secondary coil of the transformer and outputting the respective power-amplified differential signals through first and second output terminals.
US08022760B2
A 3-way Doherty amplifier has an amplifier input and an amplifier output. The amplifier has a main stage, a first peak stage and a second peak stage. The amplifier has an input network connecting the amplifier input to the inputs of the stages, and an output network connecting the stages to the amplifier output. The output network implements a phase shift of 90° between the output of the main stage and the amplifier output; a phase shift of 180° between the output of the first peak stage and the amplifier output; and a phase shift of 90° between the third output and the amplifier output.
US08022756B2
Output circuits using pulse width modulation (PWM) and/or pulse density modulation (PDM) are described. In one aspect, a PWM output circuit includes a PWM modulator that operates based on a square wave signal instead of a sawtooth or triangular wave signal. In another aspect, a PDM output circuit includes a PDM modulator that uses variable reference voltages to reduce variations in switching frequency. In yet another aspect, a dual-mode output circuit supports both PWM and PDM and includes a pulse modulator and a class D amplifier. The pulse modulator performs PWM on an input signal if a PWM mode is selected and performs PDM on the input signal if a PDM mode is selected. The class D amplifier receives a driver signal from the pulse modulator and generates an output signal.
US08022749B2
The circuit arrangement for the supply of voltage comprises a control arrangement (2), a charge pump (14), a comparator (25) and a ramp signal generator (30). A power supply voltage (Vdd) can be fed to the input of the charge pump (14). The input of the charge pump (14) is coupled to a first output (5) of the control arrangement (2), and comprises an output (17) for the supply of an output voltage (VHv). A first input (26) of the comparator (25) is coupled to the output (17) of the charge pump (14), while the output is coupled to a first input (3) of the control arrangement (2) in order to supply a comparator signal (Vc). The input of the ramp signal generator (30) is connected to a second output (6) of the control arrangement (2), while its output is connected to a second input (27) of the comparator (25) in order to deliver a reference output voltage (Vref_out).
US08022728B2
A common-mode voltage controller for adjusting common-mode voltages between a first buffer and a second buffer at a subsequent stage or a preceding stage of the first buffer in a signal transmission circuit, comprising: a first reference voltage generation unit for generating a common-mode voltage corresponding to the first buffer; a second reference voltage generation unit for generating a common-mode voltage corresponding to the second buffer at the subsequent stage or the preceding stage; and a control signal generation unit for generating a control signal for controlling a common-mode voltage of the first buffer according to a difference voltage between an output of the first reference voltage generation unit and an output of the second reference voltage generation unit, and giving the control signal to the first buffer and first reference voltage generation unit.
US08022723B1
Circuits, methods, and apparatus for dynamic control of source and termination impedances. One output stage provides a series termination when transmitting and a parallel termination when receiving data. A pull-up device has a nominal impedance of 50 ohms when the output stage pulls a pin from a low voltage to a high voltage, while a pull-down device has a nominal impedance of 50 ohms when the pin is pulled from a high voltage to a low voltage. Both the pull-up and pull-down devices are turned on when receiving data. Due to their non-linear current-voltage characteristics, the pull-up device appears as 50 ohms when the pin voltage is higher than one half the supply voltage, while the pull-down device appears as 50 ohms when the pin voltage is lower than one half the supply voltage. The pull-up and pull-down devices can be calibrated to provide a nominal 50 ohm impedance.
US08022720B2
A parking-structure test system has motherboards that test memory modules. The motherboards are not stationary but are placed inside movable trays that move along conveyors. An unloader removes tested memory modules from test sockets on the motherboards, and a loader inserts untested memory modules into the motherboards using a robotic arm. A conveyor carries the motherboards from the loader to a parking and testing structure. An elevator raises or lowers the motherboards to different parking levels in the parking and testing structure. The motherboards move from the elevator to test stations on the parking level. A retractable connector from the test station makes contact with a motherboard connector to power up the motherboard, which then tests the memory modules. Test results are communicated from the test station to a host controller, which instructs the loader-unloader to sort the tested memory modules once the motherboard returns via the elevator and conveyors.
US08022719B2
A carrier tray for use with a prober is arranged to allow the prober to measure or test not only semiconductor wafers but also semiconductor packages and accurately position each of different-shaped semiconductor packages. A carrier tray includes a lowermost tray and an uppermost tray interposing therebetween an intermediate tray. The lowermost and uppermost trays and are each of a circular shape having a diameter D1. A diameter D3 of the intermediate tray is smaller than the diameter D1. The intermediate tray is centrally formed with a screw hole portion in which a locking spacer screw is screwed. A semiconductor package is to be placed in a package holding pocket. With the locking spacer screw, the intermediate is slidable in an X and Y directions, so that the X and Y coordinates of the semiconductor package are determined uniquely relative to the carrier tray.
US08022716B2
A time-to-breakdown for a dielectric layer in a semiconductor device is determined based upon a sudden change in capacitance. An alternating voltage, greater in magnitude than an operating voltage of the device, is applied to the semiconductor device, capacitance is measured across the dielectric layer during the application of the voltage until a sudden change in capacitance occurs, thereby indicating a breakdown in the dielectric layer, and the breakdown time is scaled to the operating voltage.
US08022714B2
Capacitance is measured by charging a capacitor from a constant current source during a known time period. The resultant voltage on the capacitor is proportional to the capacitance thereof and may be calculated from the resultant voltage and known time period.
US08022712B2
The invention relates to a testing adapter suitable for testing a wireless telecommunication device. The testing adapter comprises a first contact member and a second contact member, the first contact member and the second contact member having at least one degree of freedom relative to each other and arranged to provide an attachable and detachable mechanical coupling with a surface of a component recess of the wireless telecommunication device on the basis of the at least one degree of freedom.
US08022698B2
NMR spin echo signals are acquired downhole. Principal Component Analysis is used to represent the signals by a weighted combination of the principal components and these weights are telemetered to the surface. At the surface, the NMR spin echo signals are recovered and inverted to give formation properties.
US08022694B2
A sensor for sensing the position of an object includes a magnet and a magnetic flux sensor. The magnet has dimensions that include a length, a width and a height. The magnet is adapted to generate a flux field. The flux field has a magnitude of flux and a flux direction. The flux direction changes along at least one of the dimensions. The magnetic flux sensor is mounted adjacent the magnet. The magnet provides a rotating magnetic field vector. A method for magnetizing a magnet to create the rotating magnetic field vector is also disclosed.
US08022692B2
A sensor responsive to movement of a detection target includes a magnetic field transducer operative to provide a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the detection target, a peak detector for tracking positive and negative peaks of the magnetic field signal to generate a tracking signal, and a comparator having a first input responsive to the magnetic field signal, a second input responsive to an input signal related to the tracking signal, and an output at which is provided an output signal comprising first pulses having a first pulse width when the detection target moves in a first direction and second pulses having a second pulse width when the detection target moves in a second direction.
US08022689B2
A battery connection detecting device includes a connecting unit, to which a battery is connected, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage value of the connecting unit, the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting unit being a detection voltage value, a switching unit that switches supply of charging power to the battery connected to the connecting unit based on the detection voltage value, and a connection detecting unit that compares at least one predetermined voltage value with at least one of the detection voltage value before the switching unit switches the supply of the charging power and the detection voltage value after the switching unit switches the supply of the charging power in order to detect whether or not the battery is connected to the connecting unit.
US08022688B2
Real power delivered to a load in an RF transmit path is measured. Measuring the real power includes supplying a first voltage from a first side of a passive network disposed between the power amplifier and the load, supplying a second voltage from a second side of the passive network; and using the first and second voltages and a phase delayed voltage to determine the real power delivered to the load. A voltage difference between the first and second voltages is determined and multiplied by the phase shifted voltage. A low pass filter is then applied to the output of the multiplier to provide an indication of the real power consumed by the load. The indication of real power consumed may then be used to control the power amplifier.
US08022683B2
A power control system and method senses input and/or output voltages of a power supply using sense currents in order for an integrated circuit (IC) switch state controller to generate a control signal to control a switch of the power control system. By sensing sense currents, the power control system can eliminate at least one sense resistor used in a voltage sense system. The sense current(s) can be used to provide power and sensing to the switch state controller. In at least one embodiment, the sense current(s) provide power to the switch state controller when auxiliary IC power is unavailable or diminished, such as during start-up of the IC. In at least one embodiment, the IC draws more sense current from an input of the power control system than the output of the power control system to, for example, minimize impact on the output voltage of the power supply.
US08022681B2
A voltage regulator circuit includes a digital control block, an amplifier and a transistor. The digital control block receives a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage, converts the received voltages from analog to digital signals, performs an integration operation on the converted signals, and converts the result of the integration operation to an analog signal. The amplifier is responsive to the output of the digital control block and to a regulated output voltage of the regulator circuit. The transistor has a first terminal responsive to the output of the amplifier, a second terminal that receives the input voltage being regulated, and a third terminal that supplies the regulated output voltage. The transistor may be an NMOS or a bipolar NPN transistor. The feedback voltage may be generated by dividing the regulated output voltage. The digital control block optionally generates a biasing signal to bias the amplifier.
US08022678B2
A power supply device includes first and second power factor correctors, and first and second resonant circuits. The first and second power factor correctors are for receiving an alternating current (AC) input voltage, and are driven by first and second driving signals for rectifying the AC input voltage to generate first and second driving voltages, respectively. The first and second resonant circuits are coupled to the first and second power factor correctors for receiving the first and second driving voltages, respectively, and have output sides that are coupled in parallel for outputting an output voltage. The first power factor corrector and the first resonant circuit in combination is parallel-connected to the second power factor corrector and the second resonant circuit in combination.
US08022673B2
A drop of discharge or charge capacity in discharging or charging with a large current is reduced without changing a design of a lithium ion secondary battery itself. When the lithium ion secondary battery for a car or a vehicles such as an electric automobile and a hybrid automobile is discharged or charged with, for instance, a large current not less than 5 C, an intermittent power feeding of repeatedly executing a power feeding (t2) and a pause (t1) is carried out.
US08022672B2
The present invention discloses a charger control circuit and a charger control method for controlling a charger having a transformer, the transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The charger control circuit comprises: a power switch coupled to the primary winding; a switch control circuit controlling the operation of the power switch; and a detection circuit which generates a signal according to a voltage at a node between the power switch and the primary winding, and supplies the signal to the switch control circuit.
US08022663B2
A system for capturing regenerative energy includes a battery configured to provide power for a traction motor and other operations of a vehicle and a capacitor connected to the battery. An auxiliary motor is configured to operate as a generator during a regenerative energy operation. The system further includes a controller configured to direct the regenerative energy to the capacitor during the regenerative energy operation and discharge the capacitor to provide power to the traction motor or for the other operations of the vehicle.
US08022657B2
A control circuit for a washing machine that avoids contact bounce short circuit failures is provided. A washing machine that utilizes an induction motor including a starting winding used to start rotation of the motor at the beginning of a cycle. Such washing machines require that the motor be operated in both directions during different cycles. To enable such operation, a mechanical timer uses a pair of single pole, double throw switches in a switching assembly to reverse the L1 and neutral connections to the starter winding. To avoid the contact shorting problem, the control wiring runs either the L1 or neutral side of the voltage source, or both, through the centrifugal switch to open the input contact(s) once the motor has reached its operating speed. Then, if the switching assembly has L1 and N contacts touching at the same time, it will not result in a dead short.
US08022652B2
A method for controlling a mechanically commutated electric motor, wherein the rotational angle of the output of said motor is determined by means of detection of the change in back electromotive force, when the electric motor commutates, and wherein the power supply to the electric motor is halted after a predetermined number of detected commutations.
US08022650B2
An apparatus to control an electric motor to drive an electric-powered vehicle includes an accelerator position detector, a current controller to provide current to the electric motor through an inverter, a semiconductor device of the current controller configured to operate the inverter in response to a detected accelerator position, and a torque compensator to supply the electric motor with a modified current of the semiconductor device, wherein the torque compensator is configured to provide the modified current to the electric motor at a predetermined interval of time in response to a temperature increase in the semiconductor device when the detected accelerator position exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US08022648B2
A motor driving circuit for full-wave single-phase driving a motor includes a position detection unit, a turn-on signal generation unit, and switching devices that define an H-bridge circuit. The turn-on signal generation unit includes a differential amplifier arranged to produce a trapezoid wave signal, and a square wave generation circuit arranged to produce a square wave signal, wherein the trapezoid and the square wave signals are respectively supplied to control terminals of lower switching devices in the H-bridge circuit. Further, one of the lower switching devices is turned on and off according to a voltage level of the square wave signal, and the remaining lower switching device is turned on and off when a voltage of the trapezoid wave signal becomes higher than an operation voltage of the remaining lower switching device, wherein a non-conducting interval is provided for the motor coil according to the operation voltage.
US08022643B2
The present invention relates to a lighting network control system and the corresponding control method. The control system consists of controllers, routers and illuminators connected via the serial connecting signal wires. The controller stores the control images and pictures. It transmits the serial control signal to routers and illuminators. The illuminators read in turn the serial control signal to extract the specific segment and transmit the rest to next device. A router reads in turn the specific segment from the control signal for its own stage. According to the requirements of the control signal, it transmits the control signal to different lighting network branches that connect with it. In the present invention, independent control to individual illuminator in the lighting network is implemented with comparatively lower cost. Arbitrary addition or reduction of illuminator(s) causes no affection to the entire system but to modify the signal data in the controller(s).
US08022635B2
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp controller exhibiting a multi-function terminal and operative alternately in a strike mode and a run mode, the controller comprising: a phase locked loop arranged for synchronization of an oscillator, associated with the controller, with an external signal, the phase locked loop comprising a capacitor coupled to the multi-function terminal; and a soft start circuit arranged to limit drive current immediately after reset of the controller responsive to a signal at the multi-function terminal. In one embodiment the controller further comprises an error detection circuit arranged to output an error signal on the multi-function terminal. In one embodiment the controller further comprises a frequency sweeping circuit operative to sweep the frequency of a drive signal during the strike mode of the controller, the frequency of the drive signal being swept by the frequency sweeping circuit responsive to a signal at the multi-function terminal.
US08022629B2
A plasma display panel having a dielectric with a stepped structure and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a first panel comprising a plurality of electrode pairs each including a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a dielectric layer formed over the electrode pairs, a second panel comprising a plurality of address electrodes arranged to cross the plurality of electrode pairs, and barrier ribs formed on the second substrate, to define discharge cells. The dielectric layer includes recesses respectively arranged between two electrodes arranged in each discharge cell and between two electrodes arranged adjacent to each other at opposite sides of each barrier rib.
US08022624B2
An OLED display, comprising: a substrate; an OLED having two spaced-apart electrodes and organic layers disposed therebetween and the OLED being disposed over the substrate; first desiccant material disposed over at least a portion of one of the electrodes; a compliant protection layer having a Young's Modulus <4 GPa disposed over at least a portion of the first desiccant material; and an encapsulation container fixed to the substrate and disposed over the compliant protection layer.
US08022622B2
An organic light emitting display device including: a substrate having a pixel region and a non-pixel region; a first buffer layer and a second buffer layer formed over the substrate; a thin film transistor formed over the second buffer layer; an organic light emitting device formed in the pixel region and electrically connected with the thin film transistor; and a photo diode formed in the non-pixel region, for receiving external light of red wavelength at a certain absorption rate, and for controlling brightness of the organic light emitting device. Here, the first buffer layer can be formed to be from 2900 Å to 3100 Å in thickness, the second buffer layer can be formed to be from 200 Å to 400 Å in thickness, and the photo diode can include: an N-type doping region, a channel region being from 3 to 10 μm in width, and a P-type doping region.
US08022618B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus including: a substrate having a display area; a thin film transistor (TFT) disposed in the display area of the substrate; an electrode power supply line disposed outside the display area of the substrate; a first insulating layer covering the TFT and having a first open portion through which a portion or a whole top surface of the electrode power supply line is exposed; and a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer and having a second open portion through which the first open portion of the first insulating layer is exposed, so that the second insulating layer does not contact the electrode power supply line.
US08022617B2
An organic compound having excellent heat resistance, an excellent amorphous nature, an excellent ability to transport charges, highly excited singlet and triplet states, and excellent solubility in an organic solvent is an organic compound represented by Formula (I): wherein Ar1 represents an optionally-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, an optionally-substituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or an optionally-substituted alkyl group; Ar2 represents an optionally-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or an optionally-substituted aromatic heterocyclic group; R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; and Q is represented by Formula (I-1) or (I-2): wherein Ar3 to Ar5 each represent an optionally-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or an optionally-substituted aromatic heterocyclic group, and Ar3 and Ar4 may be bonded to each other to form a ring.
US08022610B2
An electronic device including a pair of electrodes disposed on a substrate and carbon nanotubes electrically connecting the electrodes. A method for manufacturing this device in which the electrodes are disposed on the substrate and the nanotubes are prepared to electrically connect the electrodes.
US08022602B2
A method for generating power in a wellbore includes moving an actuator; inducing an oscillating stress on a piezoelectric component with the actuator; and generating a voltage with the piezoelectric component in response to the induced stress on the piezoelectric component.
US08022591B2
A flux screen is provided for shielding a generator stator core from the magnetic field generated by end windings of the stator, wherein the flux screen comprises a frontside to be at least indirectly facing the end windings of the generator and a backside to be at least indirectly facing the stator core of the generator, and wherein the backside is provided with channels and/or grooves and/or pits.
US08022590B2
An electric machine comprises: a casing (2); a stator (3) and a rotor (4) supported by the casing (2), the rotor (4) having at least one rotor winding (7); a commutator (9) connected permanently to the rotor (4) and electrically connected to the rotor winding (7); a pair of brushes (12), each having a first end (12a) maintained in a sliding position with the commutator (9) and electrically connected to respective terminals which may be connected to an electricity mains supply; a pair of brush holder elements (11) supported by the casing (2), each brush holder element (11) being associated with a respective brush (12) to keep it pressed on the commutator (9). Each brush holder element (11) has at least one lateral surface (18) to face a respective butting position (17) of the casing (2), and which may be joined to the butting portion (17) to transmit a thermal power to the butting portion. The lateral surface (18) of each brush holder element (11) is electrically isolated from the respective butting portion (17).
US08022588B2
It is an object to obtain a highly efficient and low-cost single-phase motor by producing the motor in a form that allows a proper material layout, with securing a magnetic path of a coreback of a stator iron core. A stator iron core 1 formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets and provided with N slots, where N/2 is odd, a part of which are large slots 4 and others are small slots 3 having a shallower depth in a radial direction; a main winding 6 of 2-pole single-phase concentric winding arrangement inserted to the large slots 4 or the small slots 3; and an auxiliary winding 7 of 2-pole single-phase concentric winding arrangement inserted to the large slots 4 or the small slots 3 and arranged at a location which is dislocated by other than 90 degrees in electrical angle from the main winding 6 are included, and among the N slots, slots of which the occupying rate of winding is made smaller than others by arranging the auxiliary winding 7 at a location which is dislocated by other than 90 degrees in electrical angle from the main winding 6 are made the small slots 3, and other slots are made the large slots 4.
US08022583B2
A direct current drive motor with a stator core, an end insulator, and a coil winding forming a stator, and a housing, a magnetic yoke shell, and multiple magnetic tiles, forming a rotor. The magnetic yoke shell and the magnetic tiles are disposed on the housing. Multiple teeth protrude from a side wall of the stator core. A slot is formed between two adjacent teeth. The coil winding is disposed in the slot and wraps around the tooth.
US08022579B2
A circuit for dynamically increasing the drop-out voltage of an electromechanical automatic transfer switch (ATS) into a brownout voltage range is provided. The automatic transfer switch includes a first input, a first coil connected to the first input, and a first, normally-open auxiliary contact in magnetic communication with the first coil. The circuit includes a first resistor adapted to connect to the first, normally-open auxiliary contact, and a first transformer having a primary winding connected to the first resistor, and a secondary winding adapted to connect to the first coil. An operating voltage across the first coil is reduced a proportional amount by a secondary voltage across the secondary winding when the first, normally-open auxiliary contact is closed.
US08022576B2
The electromagnetic energy transfer device includes a first resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply. The first resonator structure has a first Q-factor. A second resonator structure is positioned distal from the first resonator structure, and supplies useful working power to an external load. The second resonator structure has a second Q-factor. The distance between the two resonators can be larger than the characteristic size of each resonator. Non-radiative energy transfer between the first resonator structure and the second resonator structure is mediated through coupling of their resonant-field evanescent tails.
US08022573B2
A lock mechanism to lock at least one door of a container in a closed position includes a housing enclosing at least a portion of the lock mechanism, and a lock circuit at least partially enclosed within the housing. The lock circuit includes a main power supply, a backup power supply, a plurality of subsystems, and a lock controller coupled to the main power supply and the backup power supply. The lock controller is configured to receive commands related to operation of the lock mechanism, determine a battery level remaining in the main power supply, determine if the remaining battery level is below a threshold level, and cause the lock circuit to enter a lower power mode upon determining that the remaining battery level is below the threshold level. When in the lower power mode, at least a portion of the subsystems of the lock circuit are not powered, the lock controller receives power from the main power supply, and the lock controller monitors an interface to detect a command to unlock the lock mechanism.
US08022566B2
A method for controlling operation of a floating wind turbine is described. The floating wind turbine includes a wind turbine generator coupled to a support tower. The method includes measuring a tower inclination, determining an operating parameter control value based on at least the measured tower inclination, and adjusting wind turbine operation based at least partially on the operating parameter control value.
US08022564B2
A yaw drive method of a wind power generation apparatus, in which a second gear engaged with a first gear attached to one of tower or a wind power generation unit supported to the upper end of the tower so as to be capable of yawing and supported to a tower or to the upper end of the tower is rotated by a drive motor attached to the other of the tower or the wind power generation unit for yawing the wind power generation unit. A drive energy, which is supplied to the drive motor for a predetermined time from when the supply of the drive energy to the drive motor begins to start, is made to be smaller than the drive energy supplied to the drive motor in a common yawing.
US08022560B2
An overlay mark applicable in a non-volatile memory includes two first X-direction isolation structures, two first Y-direction isolation structures, two second X-direction isolation structures, two second Y-direction isolation structures, a first dielectric layer, and a conductive layer. The first X-direction isolation structures, the first Y-direction isolation structures, the second X-direction isolation structures, and the second Y-direction isolation structures are disposed in a substrate. The first X-direction isolation structures and the first Y-direction isolation structures are arranged to a first rectangle, the second X-direction isolation structures and the second Y-direction isolation structures are arranged to a second rectangle, and the second rectangle is located in the first rectangle. The first dielectric layer is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The conductive layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer.
US08022552B2
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes forming a metal trace having a thickness of between 5μm and 27 μm over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a passivation layer on the metal trace, wherein the passivation layer includes a layer of silicon nitride on the metal trace and a layer of silicon oxide on the layer of silicon nitride, or includes a layer of silicon oxynitride on the metal trace and a layer of silicon oxide on the layer of silicon oxynitride.
US08022542B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating film, a tungsten film, a first barrier metal film, a second barrier metal film and a metal wiring film. The interlayer insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and has an opening. The tungsten film is embedded in the opening. The first barrier metal film is formed on the tungsten film and excludes a Ti film. The second barrier metal film is formed on the first barrier metal film and is a Ti-containing film. The metal wiring film is formed on the second barrier metal film.
US08022539B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a lead frame having contact pads and connection leads; coupling a base integrated circuit to the contact pads; coupling a chip interconnect between the base integrated circuit, the connection leads, the contact pads, or a combination thereof; molding a package body on the connection leads, the base integrated circuit, and the chip interconnects, including having the contact pads exposed; and forming a bottom surface on the package body including forming the connection leads to be coplanar with the bottom surface.
US08022538B2
A method of manufacture of a base package system includes: forming a substrate strip assembly including: providing a substrate strip having ball lands, mounting an integrated circuit on the substrate strip, and molding a finger structure, having a knuckle region, on the integrated circuit; and singulating a substrate from the substrate strip assembly.
US08022536B2
The present invention provides techniques to fabricate build-up single or multichip modules. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by dispensing die-attach material in one or more pre-etched cavities on a substrate. A semiconductor die is then placed over each pre-etched cavity including the die-attach material by urging a slight downward pressure on the substrate such that an active surface of each placed semiconductor die is disposed across from the substrate and is further substantially coplanar with the substrate. The semiconductor die is then secured to the substrate by curing the die-attach material. A miniature circuit board, including one or more alternating layer of dielectric material and metallization structures, is then formed over the substrate and the active surface of each semiconductor die to electrically interconnect the semiconductor dies.
US08022534B2
A semiconductor package includes a carrier, a chip, a stiffener, a heat spreader and an active type heat-spreading element. The chip and the stiffener are disposed on the carrier. The heat spreader is disposed on the stiffener and includes a through opening. The active type heat-spreading element is disposed on the chip and located in the through opening.
US08022527B2
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a stacked microelectronic package is provided which may include a plurality of subassemblies, e.g., a first subassembly and a second subassembly underlying the first subassembly. A front face of the second subassembly may confront the rear face of the first subassembly. Each of the first and second subassemblies may include a plurality of front contacts exposed at the front face, at least one edge and a plurality of front traces extending about the respective at least one edge. The second subassembly may have a plurality of rear contacts exposed at the rear face. The second subassembly may also have a plurality of rear traces extending from the rear contacts about the at least one edge. The rear traces may extend to at least some of the plurality of front contacts of at least one of the first or second subassemblies.
US08022525B2
A semiconductor device has a plurality of wafers which are laminated to each other, wherein: each wafer includes an lamination surface to which another wafer is laminated and a substrate having an element formed thereon; the lamination surface is provided with an electric signal connecting portion that electrically connects to said another wafer so as to form a semiconductor circuit; at least one of the electrical signal connecting portions facing each other is a protruding connection portion that protrudes from a region which exposes the substrate on the lamination surface; and a reinforcing protruding portion that is insulated from the semiconductor circuit, and is formed of the same material as the substrate to protrude from the lamination surface with a height equal to the length of a gap between the lamination surfaces of wafers facing each other is provided in an area where the protruding connection portion is not disposed on the lamination surface formed with the protruding connection portion.
US08022514B2
An integrated circuit package system including forming a leadframe having a lead with a leadfinger support of a predetermined height, and attaching an integrated circuit die with an electrical interconnect at a predetermined collapse height determined by the predetermined height of the leadfinger support.
US08022506B2
A semiconductor on insulator device has an insulator layer, an active layer (40) on the insulator layer, a lateral arrangement of collector (10), emitter (30) and base (20) on the active layer, and a high Base-dose region (70) extending under the emitter towards the insulator to suppress vertical current flowing under the emitter. This region (70) reduces the dependence of current-gain and other properties on the substrate (Handle-wafer) voltage. This region can be formed of the same doping type as the base, but having a stronger doping. It can be formed by masked alignment in the same step as an n type layer used as the body for a P-type DMOS transistor.
US08022505B2
A semiconductor device structure comprises a plurality of vertical layers and a plurality of conductive elements wherein the vertical layers and plurality of conductive elements co-operate to function as at least two active devices in parallel. The semiconductor device structure may also comprise a plurality of horizontal conductive elements wherein the structure is arranged to support at least two concurrent current flows, such that a first current flow is across the plurality of vertical conductive elements and a second current flow is across the plurality of horizontal conductive elements.
US08022500B2
A semiconductor device having high aspect ratio isolation trenches and a method for manufacturing the same is presented. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulation layer, and a second insulation layer. The semiconductor substrate has a second trench that is wider than a first trench. The first insulation layer is partially formed within the wider second trench in which the first insulation layer when formed clogs the opening of the narrower first trench. A cleaning of the first insulation layer unclogs the opening of the narrower first trench in which a second insulation layer can then be formed within both the first and second trenches.
US08022495B2
A PIN photodiode having a substrate, a first type electrode layer disposed on the substrate, a first layer of intrinsic material disposed over a portion of the first-type electrode layer, and a first type window layer disposed over the intrinsic layer. An island shaped region of intrinsic material is disposed over the window layer and a dielectric layer is disposed over the island region and at least the peripheral portion of said island shaped region whereby an opening is formed in the island shaped region. A dopant is diffused through the opening so as to form a PN junction that extends into the first layer of intrinsic material.
US08022494B2
A lateral photodiode, with improved response speed, includes a semiconductor substrate having active regions, and a p-type region and an n-type region arranged parallel to the surface of the substrate. The active regions are an n-layer and a p-layer respectively, and stacked in the thickness direction of the substrate to form a p-n junction. In addition, a barrier layer, for preventing movement of carriers from the substrate toward the active region, is provided on the side of the active regions toward the substrate.
US08022491B2
A method that includes forming an opening between at least one first electrode and a second electrode by forming a recess in a first electrode layer, the recess having sidewalls that correspond to a surface of the at least one first electrode, forming a first sacrificial layer on the sidewalls of the recess, the first sacrificial layer having a first width that corresponds to a second width of the opening, forming a second electrode layer in the recess that corresponds to the second electrode, and removing the first sacrificial layer to form the opening between the second electrode and the at least one first electrode.
US08022483B2
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a gate pattern formed at an upper part of the semiconductor substrate to overlap one side of a drift region, and a shallow oxide region disposed adjacent to the gate pattern, having a shallower depth than a plurality of device isolation layers.
US08022481B2
In a semiconductor substrate, a shallow trench isolation structure having a dielectric material disposed in voids of a trench-fill material and a method for forming the shallow trench isolation structure. The voids may be formed during a wet clean process after the dielectric material is formed in the trench. A conformal silicon nitride layer is formed over the substrate and in the voids. After removal of the silicon nitride layer, the voids are at least partially filled by the silicon nitride material.
US08022477B2
A semiconductor apparatus comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a lateral type MIS transistor disposed on a surface part of the semiconductor substrate. The lateral type MIS transistor includes: a line coupled with a gate of the lateral type MIS transistor; a polycrystalline silicon resistor that is provided in the line, and that has a conductivity type opposite to a drain of the lateral type MIS transistor; and an insulating layer through which a drain voltage of the lateral type MIS transistor is applied to the polycrystalline silicon resistor.
US08022474B2
A semiconductor device includes a source metallization, a source region of a first conductivity type in contact with the source metallization, a body region of a second conductivity type which is adjacent to the source region. The semiconductor device further includes a first field-effect structure including a first insulated gate electrode and a second field-effect structure including a second insulated gate electrode which is electrically connected to the source metallization. The capacitance per unit area between the second insulated gate electrode and the body region is larger than the capacitance per unit area between the first insulated gate electrode and the body region.
US08022473B2
A semiconductor device fabricated in the semiconductor substrate includes a FinFET transistor having opposed source and drain pillars, and a fin interposed between the source and drain pillars. A cavity is formed in the semiconductor substrate extending at least partially between the fin and the semiconductor substrate. The cavity may be formed within a shallow trench isolation structure, and it may also extend at least partially between the semiconductor substrate and one or both of the pillars. The cavities increase the impedance between the semiconductor substrate and the fin and/or pillars to decrease the sub-threshold leakage of the FinFET transistor.
US08022471B2
A trenched semiconductor power device includes a plurality of trenched gates surrounded by source regions near a top surface of a semiconductor substrate encompassed in body regions. The trenched semiconductor power device further comprises tilt-angle implanted body dopant regions surrounding a lower portion of trench sidewalls for reducing a gate-to-drain coupling charges Qgd between the trenched gates and a drain disposed at a bottom of the semiconductor substrate. The trenched semiconductor power device further includes a source dopant region disposed below a bottom surface of the trenched gates for functioning as a current path between the drain to the source for preventing a resistance increase caused by the body dopant regions surrounding the lower portions of the trench sidewalls.
US08022458B2
A semiconductor structure including a capacitor having increased capacitance and improved electrical performance is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; and a capacitor over the substrate. The capacitor includes a first layer including a first capacitor electrode and a second capacitor electrode, wherein the first capacitor electrode is formed of a metal-containing material and is free from polysilicon. The semiconductor structure further includes a MOS device including a gate dielectric over the substrate; and a metal-containing gate electrode on the gate dielectric, wherein the metal-containing gate electrode is formed of a same material, and has a same thickness, as the first capacitor electrode.
US08022448B1
Apparatus and methods for evaporating metal onto semiconductor wafers are disclosed. One such apparatus can include an evaporation chamber that includes a wafer holder, such as a dome, and a test wafer holder that is separate and spaced apart from the wafer holder. In certain implementations, the test wafer can be coupled to a cross beam supporting at least one shaper. A metal can be evaporated onto production wafers positioned in the wafer holder while metal is evaporated on a test wafer positioned in a test wafer holder. In some instances, the production wafers can be GaAs wafers. The test wafer can be used to make a quality assessment about the production wafers.
US08022443B1
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of signal lines. A first signal line layer includes a plurality of first signal lines. A second signal line layer includes a plurality of second signal lines arranged on top of and insulated from the first signal line layer. A third signal line layer includes a plurality of third signal lines arranged on top of and insulated from the second signal line layer. A contact extends through the second signal line layer and connects at least one of the plurality of third signal lines to at least one of the first signal lines. At least one of the second signal lines further extends in a second direction to bend around the contact such that a predetermined distance separates the plurality of second signal lines from the contact.
US08022441B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed as having a substrate portion that includes a plurality of diffusion regions that include at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region. A gate electrode level region is formed above the substrate portion to include a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the conductive features within the gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. Some of the conductive features within the gate electrode level region extend over the p-type diffusion regions to form respective PMOS transistor devices. Also, some of the conductive features within the gate electrode level region extend over the n-type diffusion regions to form respective NMOS transistor devices. A number of the PMOS transistor devices is equal to a number of the NMOS transistor devices in the gate electrode level region.
US08022436B2
A light emitting diode includes a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer formed on the substrate, a first electrode formed on an upper surface of the compound semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed on the substrate or a semiconductor layer which is exposed by removing at least a portion of the compound semiconductor layer. The first electrode includes a wiring electrode provided on the compound semiconductor layer in contact therewith, an ohmic electrode provided on the compound semiconductor layer in contact therewith, a translucent electrode formed over the compound semiconductor layer to cover the wiring electrode and the ohmic electrode, and a bonding pad electrode connected to the wiring electrode, at least a portion of the bonding pad electrode being exposed from an opening of the translucent electrode to the exterior.
US08022427B2
A nitride-based semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first step portion formed on a main surface side of a first side end surface of the substrate, a second step portion formed on the main surface side of a second side end surface substantially parallel to the first side end surface on an opposite side of the first side end surface and a nitride-based semiconductor layer whose first side surface is a (000-1) plane starting from a first side wall of the first step portion and a second side surface starting from a second side wall of the second step portion on the main surface.
US08022423B2
An (Al, Ga, In)N light emitting diode (LED) in which multi-directional light can be extracted from one or more surfaces of the LED before entering a shaped optical element and subsequently being extracted to air. In particular, the (Al, Ga, In)N and transparent contact layers (such as ITO or ZnO) are embedded in or combined with a shaped optical element comprising an epoxy, glass, silicon or other material molded into an inverted cone shape, wherein most of the light entering the inverted cone shape lies within a critical angle and is extracted. In addition, the present invention stands the LED on end, i.e., rotates the position of the LED within the shaped optical element by approximately 90° as compared to a conventional LED, in order to extract light more effectively from the LED. The present invention also minimizes internal reflections within the LED by eliminating mirrors and/or mirrored surfaces, in order to minimize re-absorption of the LED's light by the emitting layer (or the active layer) of the LED. To assist in minimizing internal reflections, transparent electrodes, such as ITO or ZnO, may be used. Surface roughening by patterning or anisotropically etching (i.e., creating microcones) may also assist in light extraction, as well as minimizing internal reflections.
US08022421B2
A method for forming a pixel of an LED light source is provided. The method includes following steps: forming a first layer on a substrate; forming a second layer and a first light-emitting active layer on the first layer; exposing a portion of an upper surface of the first layer; forming a third layer on the substrate; forming a fourth layer and a second light-emitting active layer on the third layer; exposing a portion of an upper surface of the third layer; and forming a first electrode on the exposed upper surface of the first layer, a second electrode on a portion of an upper surface of the second layer, a third electrode on the exposed upper surface of the third layer, and a fourth electrode a portion of an upper surface of the fourth layer. The first light-emitting active layer and the second light-emitting active layer emit different colors of light.
US08022420B2
A semiconductor light emitting device (10) is provided with a base substrate (12) and three LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) disposed on the base substrate (12). Each LED chip (14A, 14B, and 14C) includes a semiconductor multilayer structure (20) and has a rhombus shape with interior angles of approximately 60° and approximately 120° in plan view. Each semiconductor multilayer structure (20) has an HCP single crystal structure and includes a light emission layer (24). The LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) are arranged on the base substrate (12) so as to face one another at a vertex forming the larger interior angle in plan view. With this arrangement, the LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) as a whole form a substantially regular hexagonal shape.
US08022411B2
Provided are a thin-film transistor (TFT) display panel having improved electrical properties that can be fabricated time-effectively and a method of fabricating the TFT display panel. The TFT display panel includes: gate wirings which are formed on an insulating substrate; oxide active layer patterns which are formed on the gate wirings; data wirings which are formed on the oxide active layer patterns to cross the gate wirings; a passivation layer which is formed on the oxide active layer patterns and the data wirings and is made of silicon nitride (SiNx); and a pixel electrode which is formed on the passivation layer.
US08022407B2
A thin film transistor array substrate includes a gate line disposed on a substrate, the gate line comprising a gate electrode including a lower film and an upper film thicker than the lower film, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer, an ohmic contact layer formed on the semiconductor layer, a data line electrically connected to a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer, the lower film of the gate line is in contact with the gate insulating layer at a crossing portion of the gate line and the data line and the heights of the source electrode and the drain electrode are substantially the same as or less than a height of the semiconductor layer.
US08022402B2
An active device array substrate including a substrate, a pixel array, and peripheral circuit is provided. The substrate has a display region and a peripheral region. The pixel array is disposed on the display region of the substrate, wherein the pixel array includes signal lines and pixels, each of the pixels is electrically connected to the signal lines respectively and extends from the display region to the peripheral region. The peripheral circuit is disposed on the peripheral region and includes a testing circuit electrically connected to the signal lines. Additionally, the testing circuit includes shorting bars and connecting conductors, wherein each of the signal lines is electrically connected to one of the shorting bars through one of the connecting connectors respectively, and at least two of the signal lines connected to the same shorting bar are electrically connected to each other through one of the connecting conductors.
US08022393B2
The disclosure pertains to a method for making a nanoscale filed effect transistor structure on a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises disposing a mask on a semiconductor upper layer of a multi-layer substrate, and removing areas of the upper layer not covered by the mask in a nanowire lithography process. The mask includes two conductive terminals separated by a distance, and a nanowire in contact with the conductive terminals across the distance. The nanowire lithography may be carried out using a deep-reactive-ion-etching, which results in an integration of the nanowire mask and the underlying semiconductor layer to form a nanoscale semiconductor channel for the field effect transistor.
US08022371B2
A cathode having electron production and focusing grooves for an ion source of an ion implanter system, the ion source and a related method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cathode includes a working surface having a plurality of electron production and focusing grooves positioned therein. A repeller of the ion source may be similarly structured.
US08022360B2
IMS apparatus has a preconcentrator in an inlet passage. A pressure pulser connected to the interior of a housing applies small alternating negative and positive pressure pulses to the housing so that air is drawn in and out of the inlet passage in a “panting” fashion. This causes analyte to be adsorbed by the preconcentrator but does not allow analyte to enter sufficiently to be ionized and detected. After a time sufficient to accumulate a detectable amount of analyte on the preconcentrator the apparatus switches to a desorb phase. The preconcentrator is heated to desorb the analyte, and the pressure pulser produces a larger negative pulse sufficient to draw the liberated analyte far enough into the reaction region for ionization and detection.
US08022359B2
In an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS), the ion current from a suitable ion source is modulated with an analog modulation having a smooth modulation function, whose instantaneous frequency varies with time over a wide frequency range. The modulated ion current is continuously fed through a mobility drift region into the mass spectrometer, where the temporally varying ion current profile of at least one ion species is measured. The mobility spectrum of the ion species is then generated by correlating its ion current time profile with the modulation function.
US08022356B2
A method of evaluating a resolution of a scanning electron microscope includes picking up a first image of a concave and convex pattern formed on a surface of a sample utilizing a first scanning electron microscope, picking up a second image of the concave and convex pattern on the sample utilizing a second scanning electron microscope, respectively processing the first image and the second image in order to evaluate unevenness in resolution between the first scanning electron microscope and the second scanning electron microscope, and determining whether a height of the concave and convex pattern as measured from a bottom thereof is sufficient so that no affection by a secondary electron emitted from the bottom of the concave and convex pattern is exhibited.
US08022354B2
The absolute position length measurement type encoder is provided with a scale for forming bright and dark patterns by the ABS pattern based on a pseudorandom code; an edge position detection circuit for obtaining a position, at which an after-differentiated absolute value of a binarized value is locally maximized, for each of the minimum line width zones of the ABS pattern by binarizing a signal from the light-receiving element that receives the bright and dark pattern; a peak position detection circuit for obtaining the peak position from a histogram with respect to the position; a decoding circuit for decoding the pseudorandom code based on the binarized value; an absolute position detection circuit for calculating an absolute position by referencing the pseudorandom code to the design value; and a position data synthesizing circuit for correcting the absolute position by the peak position, whereby the absolute position can be calculated with a small arithmetic operation amount even if the pseudorandom code is used for the ABS pattern, and accuracy of the absolute position can be secured even where the ABS pattern is subjected to thickening, etc.
US08022350B2
An improved CMOS pixel with a combination of analog and digital readouts to provide a large pixel dynamic range without compromising low-light performance using a comparator to test the value of an accumulated charge at a series of exponentially increasing exposure times. The test is used to stop the integration of photocurrent once the accumulated analog voltage has reached a predetermined threshold. A one-bit output value of the test is read out of the pixel (digitally) at each of the exponentially increasing exposure periods. At the end of the integration period, the analog value stored on the integration capacitor is read out using conventional CMOS active pixel readout circuits.
US08022349B2
Time-resolved analysis of a spectrum is performed by illuminating a one-dimensional array of charge-transfer device light-sensitive pixel cells and periodically non-destructively copying charges in the light-sensitive cells to respective storage cells (“row storage registers”) co-located with the light-sensitive cells in an integrated circuit. Information about the charges stored in at least some of the storage cells is provided to a component external to the integrated circuit.
US08022346B2
The laser of a laser-generated windshield display is controlled to initially deflect the laser beam in the direction of a reflective target disposed outside a display region of the windshield, and a sensor disposed in a reflection path of the target is sampled to detect the presence of a feedback signal that occurs when the laser beam impinges on the sensor. If the feedback signal is detected, the laser beam is deflected onto the display region to generate a driver display; but if the feedback signal is not detected, the laser is automatically turned-off. Once the laser is turned off for lack of a feedback signal, the control is repeated following a specified delay interval so that the driver display will automatically resume the when the condition that prevented generation of the feedback signal is cured.
US08022336B2
A method is provided for controlling a glow plug (GP) associated with a cylinder chamber of a Diesel engine. The method includes, but is not limited to the steps of driving in an on-off manner in a period of time an electronic switch (M) connected essentially in series with the glow plug (GP) between the terminals of a d.c. voltage supply (B), sensing the voltage (V) across the glow plug (GP) and the current (I) flowing through the glow plug (GP) and performing a voltage closed loop control for controlling the temperature of the glow plug (GP). The method further includes, but is not limited to the steps of calculating a normalized current error (εI) as a function of said sensed current (I), calculating a normalized voltage error (εV) as a function of said sensed voltage (V), calculating a weight function (K) as a function of predetermined parameters (α, β, n) and calculating a global error (ε) as a function of said normalized current error (εI), normalized voltage error (εV) and weight function (K). Finally, the method includes, but is not limited to the step of combining the voltage closed loop control with a current closed loop control according to the value of said global error (ε).
US08022331B2
Elongate medical devices such as guidewires can be formed from a core wire and a preformed distal cap that is configured to fit over a distal end of the core wire. The distal cap can be attached using a variety of techniques. In particular, the distal cap can be attached to the core wire using laser welding.
US08022330B2
A method and device are provided for welding structural parts, preferably of a gas turbine, especially of an aircraft engine. A structural component is laser-welded by means of at least one laser source, the one or more laser sources being operated in a pulsed mode. Pulse duration and/or pulse shape and/or output of the one or more laser sources are adjusted in a variable manner. The wire advance of the welding wire is controlled subject to the pulses of the one or more laser sources.
US08022317B2
An X-Y digitizer system is described for embedding within a host device, such as a tablet PC, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant or the like. The digitizer is configurable so that it can detect and track the position of different types of position indicator. The digitizer also includes novel digitizer windings and novel excitation circuitry for energizing the windings.
US08022305B2
A semiconductor device fabrication method includes: forming an elongated hole 5 in a wiring board plate along a perimeter line 3 of a plurality of wiring board regions defined over the wiring board plate with a connecting portion left unremoved at a corner of each of the wiring board regions; mounting semiconductor elements on the wiring board regions; and cutting the connecting portion using a punch 8 to isolate the wiring board regions from the wiring board plate into wiring boards. Each of the wiring boards has a cut edge formed by the punch, the cut edge starting from an end of the elongated hole 5 provided on a first side of the perimeter line 3 and extending across part of the connecting portion inside the perimeter line 3, the cut edge being angled inward of the wiring board so as to slope downward from the end of the elongated hole 5.
US08022302B2
The present disclosure relates generally to a telecommunications wire including an electrical conductor and a dielectric insulator surrounding the electrical conductor. The dielectric insulator defines a plurality of channels defining void space containing a material having a low dielectric constant such as air. The channels each run along a length of the electrical conductor. The channels are configured to lower an overall dielectric constant of the dielectric insulator while maintaining desirable mechanical properties such as crush resistance.
US08022296B2
A coaxial cable connector having an insulator is provided, the connector insulator including a body having a circumferential surface and a central longitudinal axis, the body having a first axial end and a second axial end and having a first reentrant cavity extending from the first end toward the second end, wherein at least a portion of a wall surface of the first reentrant cavity is oblique to a central axis of the body. A corresponding method of insulating a coaxial cable connector is disclosed.
US08022291B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a photovoltaic (PV) device including an electrode such as a front electrode/contact, and a method of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode has a textured (e.g., etched) surface that faces the photovoltaic semiconductor film of the PV device. The front electrode has a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film having first and second layers (continuous or discontinuous) of the same material (e.g., zinc oxide, zinc aluminum oxide, indium-tin-oxide, or tin oxide), where the first TCO layer is sputter-deposited using a ceramic sputtering target(s) and the second TCO layer of the same material is sputter-deposited using a metallic or substantially metallic sputtering target(s). This allows the better quality TCO of the film, deposited more slowly via the ceramic target(s), to be formed using the ceramic target and the lesser quality TCO of the film to be deposited more quickly and cost effectively via the metallic target(s). After the etching, most or all of the better quality ceramic-deposited TCO remains whereas much of the lesser quality metallic-deposited TCO of the film was removed during the etching process.
US08022283B1
A scaffold for ergonomic positioning and reliable support of foot-control pedals of musical instruments is disclosed. The scaffold includes a three-walled channel for engaging the distal portion of the base of typical known keyboard control pedals. The scaffold is securely positioned for optimal foot access on the floor by means of a fixation socket which is engages an adjacent floor tube of a typical stand. The foot-pedal channel is adapted to engage the typical pedal base by friction and interference clamping to support its active elements at an ergonomic height and angular orientation during an energetic live performance with the keyboard player sitting and standing during different portions.
US08022280B2
A violin shoulder cradle is provided which provides for compact storage and for adjustment of the position of the violin to which the cradle is clamped relative to the shoulder of the wearer. The shoulder cradle hereof includes a base including a pair of clamping legs which are pivotally mounted to the base for movement between a retracted storage position and an extended violin-clamping position. It further includes a connection between the base which may include an array of studs and a corresponding grid pattern or matrix of tubes in a receiver, and/or at least one magnet which magnetically holds the foundation to the base.
US08022272B2
The invention relates to expression cassettes and vectors, which contain vegetable constitutive promoters and to the use of these expression cassettes or vectors for the transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences preferably selection markers in organisms, preferably in plants. The invention also relates to transgenic plants that have been transformed using these expression cassettes or vectors, to cultures, parts or propagation products derived from these plants, and to the use of these plants for producing food and animal feed agents, seeds, pharmaceuticals, or fine chemicals.
US08022270B2
Methods, nucleic acid sequences, and transformed duckweed plant or duckweed nodule cultures for the expression and the secretion of biologically active polypeptides from genetically engineered duckweed are provided. Expression of recombinant polypeptides in duckweed is improved by modifying the nucleotide sequence of the expression cassette encoding the polypeptide for improved expression in duckweed. Recovery of biologically active polypeptides from duckweed is improved by linking the biologically active polypeptide to a signal peptide that directs the secretion of the polypeptide into the culture medium.
US08022260B2
The present invention relates to the conversion of solid biomass to liquid fuels and specialty chemicals. The process utilizes an activating step to make the biomass more susceptible to conversion, that is the biomass is broken down such that the components of the biomass are dissociated. Subsequently, the activated biomass undergoes a reaction to convert it to a bio-oil.
US08022251B2
This invention relates to novel iminium salts, which may be in the form of ionic liquids, and a process for producing electron deficient olefins, such as 2-cyanoacrylates, using such an iminium salt, for instance in the form of an ionic liquid.
US08022250B2
1-Phenylalkanecarboxylic acid derivatives, the processes for the preparation thereof and the use thereof in the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
US08022246B2
Neurite outgrowth-promoting prostaglandins (NEPPs) and other electrophilic compounds bind to Keap1, a negative regulator of the transcription factor Nrf2, and prevent Keap1-mediated inactivation of Nrf2 and, thus, enhance Nrf2 translocation into the nucleus of neuronal cells. Therefore, neuroprotective compositions and related methods are provided that employ such neuroprotective compounds, and prodrugs of such compounds, to cause dissociation of Nrf2 from a Keap1/Nrf2 complex.
US08022241B2
A process for producing a carbonic ester, characterized in that an aromatic monohydroxy compound or an aliphatic monohydroxy compound is subjected to oxidative carbonylation with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a palladium catalyst using a compound having a carbonate bond as a reaction solvent. A process for producing a polycarbonate, characterized in that an aromatic dihydroxy compound or an aliphatic dihydroxy compound is subjected to oxidative carbonylation with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a palladium catalyst using a compound having a carbonate bond as a reaction solvent is also described. The carbonic ester can be produced with a higher yield and at a higher reaction rate and, also, a polycarbonate having a higher molecular weight as compared with the conventional method can be produced with a higher yield and at a higher reaction rate.
US08022239B2
A novel class of compounds to inactivate autotaxin enzymes is provided. Such compounds include mono- and di-fluoromethylphenyl C12-C18 phosphodiesters and exhibit reactivity with autotaxin to ultimately reduce the size of the reactive sites thereon to prevent conversion of lysophosphatidyl choline to lysophophatidic acid. Furthermore, such compounds are non-cytotoxic, and can be incorporated within delivery forms for human ingestion. As such, these compounds accord an excellent manner of potentially reducing generation of certain cancers attributable to the presence of naturally occurring autotaxin within the human body. Methods of producing such novel compounds are encompassed within this invention as well as methods of inactivating autotaxin to certain degrees therewith.
US08022231B2
Processes for preparing monochloroethylene carbonate include reacting ethylene carbonate with chlorine gas in a liquid phase under irradiation of UV light and introducing a separate feed of an inert gas into the liquid phase. Monochloroethylene carbonate may be subsequently converted to vinylene carbonate.
US08022226B2
The present invention provides an α-2A/α-1A selective agonist that includes a compound represented by Structure 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, sterioisomer or racemic mixture thereof. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition that contains a pharmaceutical carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of an α-2A/α-1A selective agonist that includes a compound represented by Structure 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, sterioisomer or racemic mixture thereof.
US08022223B2
Provided are compounds of formula I that are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases mediated by deficient levels of glucokinase activity, such as diabetes meilitus. Also provided are methods of treating or preventing diseases and disorders characterized by underactivity of glucokinase or which can be treated by activating glucokinase.
US08022214B2
The present teachings provide novel organic semiconductor compounds and their soluble precursors, methods for preparing these compounds and precursors, as well as compositions, materials, articles, structures, and devices that incorporate such compounds.
US08022211B2
Novel radioactive technetium and rhenium complexes comprising tripodal ligands are provided by the present invention. In particular, Tc(I) complexes are provided by the present invention. Novel ligands suitable for the formation of the technetium and rhenium complexes of the invention are also provided, as well as radiopharmaceutical compositions comprising said complexes, kits for their preparation. The invention also relates to the us of 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals of the invention for SPECT imaging.
US08022210B2
The present invention relates to pyrazinoylguanidine compounds represented by formula (I): where X, Y and R1-R4 are as defined herein. The compounds of the present invention are useful as sodium channel blockers.
US08022206B2
Furo[3,2-c]Pyridine and Thieno[3,2-c]pyridine compounds of Formula I, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, preparation, intermediates, pharmaceutical compositions, and use, such as in disease treatment, including cancers, including conditions in which EMT is involved, including conditions mediated by protein kinase activity such as RON and/or MET.
US08022186B2
Modified human plasma polypeptides or Fc and uses thereof are provided.
US08022185B2
The present invention provides an improved coating for surfaces of medical implants. The coating comprises at least one interfacial biomaterial (IFBM) which is comprised of at least one binding module that binds to the surface of an implant or implant-related material (“implant module”) and at least one binding module that selectively binds to a target analyte or that is designed to have a desired effect (“analyte module”). The modules are connected by a linker. In some embodiments, the IFBM coating acts to promote the recognition and attachment of target analytes to surface of the device. The IFBM coating improves the performance of implanted medical devices, for example, by promoting osteointegration of the implant.
US08022183B2
The present invention provides an improved coating for surfaces of medical implants. The coating comprises at least one interfacial biomaterial (IFBM) which is comprised of at least one binding module that binds to the surface of an implant or implant-related material (“implant module”) and at least one binding module that selectively binds to a target analyte or that is designed to have a desired effect (“analyte module”). The modules are connected by a linker. In some embodiments, the IFBM coating acts to promote the recognition and attachment of target analytes to surface of the device. The IFBM coating improves the performance of implanted medical devices, for example, by promoting osteointegration of the implant.
US08022173B2
The present invention herein provides a combination of stable isotope-labeled aliphatic amino acids, which permits the structural analysis of a high molecular weight protein, in particular, a high molecular weight protein whose molecular weight exceeds 60 kDa. This is a combination of stable isotope-labeled amino acids which is characterized in that arginine (Arg), glutamine (Gln), glutamic acid (Glu), lysine (Lys), methionine (Met) and proline (Pro) satisfy the following requirements concerning the labelling pattern: (b) one of the methylene hydrogen atoms of at least one of the methylene groups is deuterated and the both of the two methylene hydrogen atoms of at least one of the methylene groups are likewise deuterated; and (d) when they each have a methyl group, the hydrogen atoms of the methyl group except for one of the same are deuterated, or the methyl group is completely deuterated.
US08022168B2
Spheroidal polyester polymer particles, as well as preforms and stretch blow molded bottles made from the spheroidal particles, are provided which have: A) an It.V. of at least 0.72 dL/g, and either B) at least two melting peaks (on a DSC first heating scan), wherein one of said at least two melting peaks is a low peak melting point having a peak temperature within a range of 140° C. to 220° C. and having a melting endotherm area of at least the absolute value of 1 J/g, or C) a low degree of crystallinity within a range of at least 20% and a maximum degree of crystallinity Tcmax defined by the equation: Tcmax=50%−CA−OH where CA is the total mole % of all carboxylic acid residues other than terephthalic acid residues, based on 100 mole % of carboxylic acid residues in the polyester polymer, and OH is the total mole % of hydroxyl functional compound residues other than ethylene glycol residues, based on 100 mole % of the hydroxyl functional compounds residues; or both B) and C); and optionally but preferably D) 10 ppm or less of residual acetaldehyde.
US08022165B2
Process for preparing polymeric aromatic phosphonates and also polymeric aromatic phosphonates which can be prepared by the process of the invention and blends comprising these polymeric aromatic phosphonates and at least one further polymer and also films, composites and membranes comprising these polymers or blends, the use of the membranes of the invention in fuel cells or in separation technology and also fuel cells comprising the membranes of the invention.
US08022163B2
Disclosed is an internal mold release agent for the production of polythiourethane optical materials, which is obtained by mixing an acidic phosphate ester compound and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ga, Bi, Al and Zr. The internal mold release agent for the production of polythiourethane optical materials contains the metal in an amount of 0.01 to 20 weight %.
US08022162B2
A method of making a diluted organopolysiloxane polymer comprising the steps of:— (i) preparing an organopolysiloxane polymer by polymerizing cyclic organopolysiloxane monomer(s) in the presence of an organic diluent material, a suitable catalyst and an end-blocking agent; and (ii) Where required quenching the polymerization process; wherein the diluent material is substantially retained within the resulting diluted organopolysiloxane.
US08022152B2
Ethylene and allyl- or vinylsilanes are efficiently copolymerized by certain late transition metal complexes containing selected bidentate or tridentate ligands. The resulting novel polymers may be crosslinked by moisture when vinylsilane contains groups bound to silicon which are hydrolyzable. The polymers are useful for wire coating, crosslinked foams, pipes, and other uses.
US08022149B2
The present invention provides a solution to a problem that a composition including a reactive silicon group-containing polyether undergoes red coloration. More specifically, in a reactive silicon group-containing organic polymer which contains Co, the problem concerned is solved by limiting the Co content to 0.5 ppm or less. As the reactive silicon group-containing organic polymer, for example, a reactive silicon group-containing polyether (A) or a mixture of the reactive silicon group-containing polyether (A) and a vinyl polymer (B) may be cited. The reactive silicon group-containing polyether (A) is obtained, for example, by reacting a polyether or a derivative thereof which contains Co in a content of 0.5 ppm or less with a silane compound which has a group capable of reacting with the polyether or the derivative thereof and has a hydrolyzable group.
US08022140B2
A composition useful as an impregnant for the making of laminates for printed wiring boards including an epoxy resin, a first cross-linking agent of a strene-maleic anhydride copolymer and a second co-cross-linking agent.
US08022127B2
Plastisols and organosols are provided that include plasticizers that include mono-, di- and triesters of glycerol. The plasticizers are good solvators for polyvinyl chloride and impart low plastisol and organosol viscosities.
US08022118B2
A system for reducing pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of asphaltenic crude oil through a conduit. The crude oil has a high asphaltene content and/or a low API gravity. Such reduction in pressure drop is achieved by treating the asphaltenic crude oil with a high molecular weight drag reducing polymer that can have a solubility parameter within about 20 percent of the solubility parameter of the heavy crude oil. The drag reducing polymer can also comprise the residues of monomers having at least one heteroatom.
US08022116B2
Lightweight and rigid, leaded or lead-free integral radiation shielding structural compositions comprising two or more radiation attenuating elements or compounds thereof, selected for having compatible radiation attenuating characteristics, dispersed in a thermoplastic or thermoset resin. The radiation shielding structural compositions of the present invention can be used to functionally and structurally replace lead-lined structures in medical and industrial x-ray systems. The radiation shielding structural compositions of the present invention can also be formulated to minimize the density of the resulting structure.
US08022110B2
A porous polyimide obtained by removing a silica phase from an organic-inorganic polymer hybrid having a molecule structure in which a polyimide phase and the silica phase are held together by covalent bond.
US08022108B2
Novel methods of treating a Fischer-Tropsch product stream with an acid are disclosed. Such methods are capable of removing contamination from the Fischer-Tropsch product stream such that plugging of the catalyst beds of a subsequent hydroprocessing step is substantially reduced.
US08022103B2
Ester prodrugs of phorbol compounds for the treatment of viral infections, neoplastic diseases, inflammatory reactions, and use as analgesics, wherein the phorbol compounds are derivatized with a -x-o-c(o)-R′ group linked to the 6-carbon of the phorbol residue.
US08022099B2
The present invention relates to a compound of formula I wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3, n, and o are as defined herein or to a pharmaceutically active salt, a racemic mixture, an enantiomer, an optical isomer or a tautomeric form thereof. The present compounds are high potential NK-3 receptor antagonists for the treatment of depression, pain, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
US08022091B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a compound having an action of inhibiting binding between S1P and its receptor, Edg-1 (S1P1), and is useful as a pharmaceutical compound. A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which compound is represented by the formula below (where A represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a group represented by Formula —SO—, a group represented by Formula —SO2—, or the like, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, or the like, R1A represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R2 represents an alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3-6 carbon atoms, or the like, R3 represents an aryl group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a carboxyl group, and R5 represents an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3-8 carbon atoms, an aryl group which is optionally substituted, or the like).
US08022087B2
The present invention provides N-substituted-2(1H) pyridones or the pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof, and the pharmaceutical preparations containing the compounds. The compounds of the present invention can be used to treat various fibrotic diseases effectively, e.g., hepatic fibrosis.
US08022085B2
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases, including inflammation and related conditions. The compounds have a general Formula I wherein A1, A2, B, R1, R2, R4, R5, R6 and Z are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of Formula I, uses of such compounds and compositions for treatment of P38 map kinase mediated diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pain and other inflammatory disorders, as well as intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of Formula I.
US08022074B2
The invention relates to at least one compound of general formula I wherein R1 is phenyl, pyridinyl, thienyl, furanyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, thiazolyl, or pyridine N-oxide, where each R1 phenyl and R1 heteroaromatic ring may optionally and independently be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from CF3, methyl, iodo, bromo, fluoro, and chloro; R2 is independently selected from ethyl and isopropyl; R3 is hydrogen or fluoro; R4 is —NH2 or —NHSO2R5; and R5 is hydrogen, —CF3, or C1-C6 alkyl, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; at least one process for making at least one compound in accordance with Formula I; at least one method for treating at least one δ receptor associated condition with at least one compound in accordance with Formula I; and at least one pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound in accordance with Formula I.
US08022063B2
Compounds of formula (I) are useful for the treatment of disease responsive to modulation of CRTH2 receptor activity, such as asthma, rhinitis, allergic airway syndrome, and allergic rhinobronchitis, wherein A represents a carboxyl group —COON, or a carboxyl bioisostere; A1, is hydrogen or methyl; ring Ar1 is an optionally substituted phenyl ring 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring, in which AA1CHO— and L2 are linked to adjacent ring atoms; rings Are2, Ar3 each independently represent a phenyl or 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring, or a bicyclic ring system consisting of a 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring which is benz-fused or fused to a 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring, said ring or ring system being optionally substituted; t is 0 or 1; L2 and L3 are linker radicals as defined in the description.
US08022057B2
Compounds of the following formula are provided for use with MEK: wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds; methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds; and methods of using said compounds.
US08022051B2
Disclosed is a composition containing phosphatidylserine as an effective ingredient, and more particularly to a composition containing phosphatidylserine as an effective ingredient for protecting and improving a skin, reinforcing a skin barrier function, suppressing and alleviating an inflammatory response, treating and improving an atopic skin, activating PPAR-a promoting a differentiation of the skin, protecting the skin and preventing and improving skin aging and wrinkle. Accordingly, it is possible to protect and improve the skin from the injury due to the ultraviolet or the external stimulating material such as chemical material and to reinforce and strengthen the skin barrier function using the composition, thereby improving a general skin state.
US08022044B2
A method and pharmaceutical composition for the enhancement of transfer of a therapeutic agent to a cell wherein the therapeutic agent is formulated in a buffer comprising a compound of Formula I: wherein: n is an integer from 2-8; X1 is a cholic acid group or deoxycholic acid group; and X2 and X3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a cholic acid group, a deoxycholic acid group, and a saccharide group, wherein the saccharide group is selected from the group consisting of pentose monosaccharide groups, hexose monosaccharide groups, pentose-pentose disaccharide groups, hexose-hexose disaccharide groups, pentose-hexose disaccharide groups, and hexose-pentose disaccharide groups; and wherein at least one of X2 and X3 is a saccharide group.
US08022041B2
This invention describes an ICE inhibitor prodrug (I) having good bioavailability. Compound I is useful for treating IL-1 mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory peritonitis, septic shock, pancreatitis, traumatic brain injury, organ transplant rejection, osteoarthritis, asthma, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, Huntington's disease, atherosclerosis, atopic dermatitis, leukemias and related disorders, myelodysplastic syndrome, uveitis or multiple myeloma.
US08022038B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for promoting the production of type I collagen by human skin fibroblasts, and the present invention relates to a composition for promoting type I collagen production containing silybin and a peptide that promotes collagen production (peptide having an amino acid sequence of Gly-Pro-Hyp, Gly-His-Lys, Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 1) or Gly-Glu-Pro-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 2).
US08022037B2
A wound healing composition comprising an amount of heat shock protein effective to promote wound healing and a method thereof to apply the composition. A preferred heat shock protein is either full-length hsp90α or the middle domain plus the charged sequence of hsp90α. The composition is topically applied to skin wounds, covering the outer surface of the wound. The heat shock protein acts by promoting migration of both human epidermal keratinocyte and dermal fibroblasts to the wound in order to close, heal, and remodel the wound.
US08022030B2
The present invention relates to the field of perfumery. More particularly, it concerns co-polymers, derived from a maleic anhydride derivative and a ethylenic derivative, comprising at least one β-oxy or β-thio carbonyl moiety capable of liberating an active molecule such as, for example, an α,β-unsaturated ketone, aldehyde or carboxylic ester. The present invention concerns also the use of polymers or co-polymers in perfumery as well as the perfuming compositions or perfumed articles comprising the invention's compounds.
US08022025B1
A heterocoagulate comprises first particles, having a particle size of at most 999 nm, on a second particle, having a particle size of at least 3 microns. The first particles comprise cerium oxide, and second particle comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of silicon oxides, aluminum oxides and zirconium oxides.
US08022020B2
A penetrating lubricant with the capacity to offer a both penetration into rust and corrosion. Further, this lubricant actively penetrates the crystalline surface of the metal while exhibiting extreme pressure lubrication, non-migrating with lasting protection. Further lubricant exhibits dielectric strength of over 8000 volts, at the same time cleaning electrical contacts, thereby reducing resistance and associated heat. The preferred embodiment may contain alpha-olefins, low-odor aromatic solvents, base oils, and high flash mineral spirits.
US08022018B2
Corrosion of metallic tubulars in an oil, gas or geothermal well may be inhibited by introducing into the well a dithiazine or dithiazine of the formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a C1 to C12 saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group or a C1 to C10 ω-hydroxy saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group; R1 is selected from the group consisting of a C1-C24 straight chain or branched alkyl group or a C1-C24 arylalkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of X-R4-X, R4 being a C1-C6 alkyl group; and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine. The dithiazine may he isolated from a whole spent fluid formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide and a triazine. Alternately, the whole spent fluid containing the dithiazine may be introduced into the well. The dithiazines of formulae (II) and (III) are quaternized derivatives of the dithiazine of formula (I). In addition, the dithiazine or whole spent fluid or quaternized dithiazine may be formulated with at least one component selected from alkyl, alkylaryl arylalkyl or arylamine quaternary salts; mono or polycyclic aromatic amine salts; imidazoline derivative or a quaternary salt thereof; a mono-, di- or trialkyl or alkylaryl phosphate ester; or a monomeric or oligomeric fatty acid.
US08022017B2
Corrosion of metallic tubulars in an oil, gas or geothermal well may be inhibited by introducing into the well a dithiazine of the formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a C1 to C10 saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group or a C1 to C10 ω-hydroxy saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group. The dithiazine may be isolated from a whole spent fluid formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide and a triazine. Alternately, the whole spent fluid containing the dithiazine may be introduced into the well. In addition, the dithiazine or whole spent fluid may be formulated with at least one component selected from alkyl, alkylaryl or arylamine quaternary salts; mono or polycyclic aromatic amine salts; imidazoline derivative or a quaternary salt thereof; a mono-, di- or trialkyl or alkylaryl phosphate ester; or a monomeric or oligomeric fatty acid.
US08022000B2
A bonding glass containing V2O5: 25 to 50 wt %, TeO2: 20 to 40 wt % and BaO: 5 to 30 wt %, and not containing lead.
US08021996B2
The present invention provides a nonwoven web prepared from multicomponent fibers which are partially split. The partially split multicomponent fibers have at least one component of the multicomponent fiber separated from the remaining components of the multicomponent fiber along a first section of the longitudinal length of the multicomponent fibers. Along a second section of the longitudinal length of the multicomponent fibers the components of the multicomponent fibers remain together as a unitary fiber structure. In addition, part of the second section of the multicomponent fibers is bonded to part of a second section of an adjacent multicomponent fiber.
US08021994B2
A textile fabric is presented comprising at least a first and a second twisted thread, the first and the second twisted threads containing at least one cut resistant yarn as one component, and the second twisted thread containing a non-cut resistant yarn as a further component, and the non-cut resistant yarn of the second twisted thread consisting of elastomeric fibers. Further, protective clothing is presented, which contains the textile fabric.
US08021990B2
A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.
US08021985B2
The process of the present invention to form a mask made of inorganic material containing silicon reduces the plasma damage induced in the semiconductor layers due to the plasma-ashing. The semiconductor material is heat-treated at a high temperature after the growth thereof to form an oxide layer positively in the surface of the semiconductor material before it is covered by the silicon inorganic film. This inorganic film is dry-etched by an etchant containing fluorine to get a mask for forming a mesa and for growing burying layer selectively.
US08021980B2
Provided are methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices. The methods may include forming a first insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a groove by selectively etching the first insulation layer, filling the groove with a copper-based conductive layer, depositing a cobalt-based capping layer on the copper-based conductive layer by electroless plating, and cleansing the first insulation layer and the cobalt-based capping layer using a basic cleansing solution.
US08021976B2
A method and structure are provided to enable wire bond connections over active and/or passive devices and/or low-k dielectrics, formed on an Integrated Circuit die. A semiconductor substrate having active and/or passive devices is provided, with interconnect metallization formed over the active and/or passive devices. A passivation layer formed over the interconnect metallization is provided, wherein openings are formed in the passivation layer to an upper metal layer of the interconnect metallization. Compliant metal bond pads are formed over the passivation layer, wherein the compliant metal bond pads are connected through the openings to the upper metal layer, and wherein the compliant metal bond pads are formed substantially over the active and/or passive devices. The compliant metal bond pads may be formed of a composite metal structure.
US08021974B2
An improved semiconductor structure consists of interconnects in an upper interconnect level connected to interconnects in a lower interconnect level through use of a conductive protrusion located at the bottom of a via opening in an upper interconnect level, the conductive protrusion extends upward from bottom of the via opening and into the via opening. The improved interconnect structure with the conductive protrusion between the upper and lower interconnects enhances overall interconnect reliability.
US08021970B2
A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a substrate; forming nanoclusters over the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the nanoclusters; annealing the second dielectric layer using nitrous oxide; and after the annealing the second dielectric layer, forming a gate electrode over the second dielectric layer.
US08021967B2
A fluid transport method and fluid transport device are disclosed. Nanoscale fibers disposed in a patterned configuration allow transport of a fluid in absence of an external power source. The device may include two or more fluid transport components having different fluid transport efficiencies. The components may be separated by additional fluid transport components, to control fluid flow.
US08021966B2
A method of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device includes; forming a first sacrificial layer pattern including a first open area that extends in a first direction on a lower dielectric layer, forming a pre-lower dielectric layer pattern including a recess that extends in the first direction using the first sacrificial layer pattern, forming a second sacrificial layer pattern including a second open area that extends in a second direction on the pre-lower dielectric layer pattern and the first sacrificial layer pattern, wherein the second open area intersects the first open area, forming a lower dielectric layer pattern including contact holes spaced apart in the recess using the first sacrificial layer pattern and second sacrificial layer pattern, wherein the contact holes extend to a bottom of the lower dielectric layer pattern, and forming a bottom electrode in the contact hole.
US08021960B2
A chip provided with a layer for separation of a surface region and a hydrophilic surface is manufactured. One or both of a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region are formed on a substrate surface where the chip is placed. Liquid is dropped onto the hydrophilic region on the substrate surface, and the chip is placed thereon. The substrate and the chip are heated while being pressure-bonded so that the chip is fixed on the substrate surface, and then the surface region of the chip is separated. By providing a liquid layer in a position where the chip is placed, the chip can be placed on the substrate with high accuracy and thus productivity can be increased.
US08021957B2
An electronic device can include a field isolation region and a first insulating layer having a first strain and having a portion, which from a top view, lies entirely within the field isolation region. The electronic device can also include a second insulating layer having a second strain different from the first strain and including an opening. From a top view, the portion of the first insulating layer can lie within the opening in the second insulating layer. In one embodiment, the field isolation region can include a dummy structure and the portion of the first insulating layer can overlie the dummy structure. A process of forming the electronic device can include forming an island portion of an insulating layer wherein from a top view, the island portion lies entirely within the field isolation region.
US08021948B2
A method for manufacturing a non-volatile memory device is described. The method comprises growing a layer in a siliconoxide consuming material, e.g. DyScO, on top of the upper layer of the layer where charge is stored. A non-volatile memory device is also described. In the non-volatile memory device, the interpoly/blocking dielectric comprises a layer in a siliconoxide consuming material, e.g. DyScO, on top of the upper layer of the layer where charge is stored, the siliconoxide consuming material having consumed at least part of the upper layer.
US08021939B2
A high-k dielectric and metal gate stack with minimal overlap with an adjacent oxide isolation region and related methods are disclosed. One embodiment of the gate stack includes a high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer, a tuning layer and a metal layer positioned over an active region defined by an oxide isolation region in a substrate, wherein an outer edge of the high-k dielectric layer, the tuning layer and the metal layer overlaps the oxide isolation region by less than approximately 200 nanometers. The gate stack and related methods eliminate the regrowth effect in short channel devices by restricting the amount of overlap area between the gate stack and adjacent oxide isolation regions.
US08021932B2
To provide a semiconductor device with improved reliability. The semiconductor device includes a wiring board, a microcomputer chip flip-chip bonded over the wiring board via gold bumps, a first memory chip laminated over the microcomputer chip, wires for coupling the first memory chip to the wiring board, an underfill material with which a flip-chip coupling portion of the microcomputer chip is filled, and a sealing member for sealing the microcomputer chip and the first memory chip with resin. Further, the corner of a second opening portion of a solder resist film of the wiring board corresponding to the corner of the chip on the air vent side in charging the underfill material is made close to the microcomputer chip, which can improve the wettability and spread of the underfill material at the second opening portion, thus reducing the exposure of leads to the second opening portion, thereby improving the reliability of the semiconductor device.
US08021930B2
A semiconductor device has a temporary carrier with a designated area for a first semiconductor die. A dam material is deposited on the carrier around the designated area for a first semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die is mounted to the designated area on the carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the first semiconductor die and carrier. The dam material is selected to have a CTE that is equal to or less than the CTE of the encapsulant. The carrier is removed to expose the encapsulant and first semiconductor die. A first interconnect structure is formed over the encapsulant. An EMI shielding layer can be formed over the first semiconductor die. A second interconnect structure is formed over a back surface of the first semiconductor die. A conductive pillar is formed between the first and second interconnect structures. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the second interconnect structure.
US08021929B2
An apparatus and a method configured to lower thermal stress is disclosed. One embodiment provides a semiconductor chip, a lead frame and a layer structure. The layer structure includes at least a diffusion solder layer and a buffer layer. The layer structure is arranged between the semiconductor chip and the lead frame. The buffer layer includes a material, which is soft in comparison to a material of the diffusion solder layer, and includes a layer thickness such that thermal stresses in the semiconductor chip remain below a predetermined value during temperature fluctuations within a temperature range.
US08021928B1
An integrated circuit or chip includes a first die and a second die positioned on a lead frame of a package including a lead frame, such as a QFP, DIP, PLCC, TSOP, or any other type of package including a lead frame. The integrated circuit further includes a redistribution layer formed on the first die to couple selected bond fingers of the lead frame to selected bonding pads of the first and second die. The selected bond fingers may correspond to bond fingers that receive a first supply voltage or the first supply voltage and a second supply voltage.
US08021923B2
A method of forming through-hole vias in a semiconductor wafer involves forming a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of die with contact pads disposed on a surface of each die. The semiconductor wafer has a saw street between each die. A trench is formed in the saw street without using support material to support the semiconductor wafer. The trench extends only partially through the semiconductor wafer. The portion of the saw street below the trench along a backside of the semiconductor wafer has sufficient thickness to maintain structural support for the semiconductor wafer without support material during formation of conductive vias between the die, and electrically connection of the conductive vias to the contact pads. The portion of the saw street below the trench along the backside of the semiconductor wafer is removed. The semiconductor wafer is singulated along the saw street to separate the die.
US08021918B2
An integrated circuit chip includes a silicon substrate, a first circuit in or over said silicon substrate, a second circuit device in or over said silicon substrate, a dielectric structure over said silicon substrate, a first interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a first pad connected to said first node of said voltage regulator through said first interconnecting structure, a second interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a second pad connected to said first node of said internal circuit through said second interconnecting structure, a passivation layer over said dielectric structure, wherein multiple opening in said passivation layer exposes said first and second pads, and a third interconnecting structure over said passivation layer and over said first and second pads.
US08021915B2
There is provided a field effect transistor having an organic semiconductor layer, including: an organic semiconductor layer containing at least porphyrin; and a layer composed of at least a polysiloxane compound, the layer being laminated on the organic semiconductor layer so as to be in intimate contact with the organic semiconductor layer. As a result, there can be provided a field effect transistor which enables an organic semiconductor layer having high crystallinity and high orientation to be formed and which exhibits a high mobility.
US08021912B2
A method of manufacturing an image sensor is provided. In this method, a photoelectric conversion unit may be formed within a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes an active pixel region and an optical black region. An annealing layer may be formed on the active pixel region and the optical black region and etched so that the annealing layer covers at least a portion of the optical black region. A wiring pattern may be formed on the annealing layer. A light-blocking pattern may be formed on the wiring pattern so as to cover the entire photoelectric conversion unit of the optical black region, thereby blocking light from being incident upon the optical black region.
US08021906B2
Disclosed are methods and microsystems for vertically through-plating (6) cover plates (5) for microsystem components (2, 2a) by means of a conductive solder glass (8). Said methods and microsystems make it possible to simplify through-plating, reduce the failure rate, and increase reliability.
US08021905B1
A method of manufacture of CIGS photovoltaic cells and modules involves sequential deposition of copper indium gallium diselenide compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite CIGS absorber layer of a desirable thickness greater than the thickness of each sublayer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of CIGS PV cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in copper at a base of the layer. In an embodiment, each CIGS sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium which react in-situ to form CIGS.
US08021892B2
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a transmitter that produces an RF excitation pulse that is applied to a subject positioned in the MRI system to induce emission of at least one of an NMR signal and an ESR signal therefrom, and that produces a reference signal indicative of the phase of the RF excitation pulse. A first analog-to-digital converter has an input for receiving the reference signal that is synchronous with the RF excitation pulse. One or more additional analog-to-digital converters/processors have inputs for receiving the at least one of NMR signals and ESR signals produced by a subject placed in the MRI system and produce one or more complex digital signals therefrom. A normalizer is connected to receive and normalize the digital reference signal and a mixer is connected to receive the normalized digital reference signal and the digital signal. Accordingly, the mixer is operable to multiply the normalized complex digital reference signal with the complex digital signal.
US08021884B1
A system and method for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment. More particularly, the system may be used to detect and identify bacteria by detecting the presence of bacterial pili which have been separated from bacterial cells in the sample. The system includes means for collecting a sample from the environment, separating pili from bacteria in the sample, and purifying and concentrating the submicron sized pili in the sample based on the size of the pili. The purified and concentrated pili are detected with an apparatus which includes an electrospray assembly having an electrospray capillary, a differential mobility analyzer which receives output from the capillary, and a condensation particle counting device for counting the number of pili sized particles that pass through the differential mobility analyzer.
US08021880B2
Compositions and methods for preparing Factor IX, Factor IX-containing fusion proteins, and Factor IX-containing conjugates with processing of Factor IX propeptide by PC5, are provided. In one embodiment PC5 is used to process a precursor polypeptide for a Factor IX-Fc monomer-dimer hybrid.
US08021879B2
A novel adaptor protein and its gene are provided. The novel adaptor protein has a property of binding to mammalian Toll-like receptor 3, which controls type I interferon production that is effective for prevention/treatment of viral infectious disease such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and the like, treatment of tumors, and the other purposes. Novel adaptor protein TICAM-1, which has an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, specifically binds to the mammalian Toll-like receptor 3 and induces production of type I interferon. A mutant of the adaptor protein TICAM-1 has similar properties, provided that it has TIR domain (an amino acid sequence ranging from 394-position to 532-position in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence ranging 396-position to 534-position in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4). The gene is a gene encoding the adaptor protein TICAM-1.
US08021878B2
The present invention relates to a novel isolated leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide. The invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide, to vectors comprising them and to their uses, in particular in methods for modulating gene expression in an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system and methods for identifying molecules that modulate leafhopper ecdysone receptor activity.
US08021875B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for increasing long term expression in vitro and in vivo, comprising sequences and gene expression cassettes that increase expression of genes to which they are operably linked.
US08021873B2
Methods and systems to perform point-of-care, user-initiated fluidic assays, using substantially self-contained, portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems. Exemplary assays include diagnostic assays and chemical detection assays. Diagnostic assays may include, without limitation, enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA), and may include one or more sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnostic assays. An exemplary assay system includes a housing having one or more fluid chambers, a fluid controller system to dispense fluid from the one or more fluid chambers, and a user-initiated actuator to control the fluid controller system. The actuator may be configured to move fluid controllers from functionally closed positions to functionally open positions, to control fluid flow from the fluid chambers. The fluid controller system may be configured to dispense fluids serially, and may be configured to mix a plurality of fluids. The housing may include one or more fluid paths amongst the fluid chambers and/or between the fluid chambers and an assay portion, and the fluid controller system may be configured to serially align fluid chamber outlets with corresponding fluid paths. The user-initiated actuator system may include an external user-operated trigger mechanism to initiate the actuator system. The actuator system may include a mechanical actuator system, and may include a compressible spring actuator system. The assay apparatus may include a display window to view assay results. Exemplary methods of preparing portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems, and methods of using portable, user-initiated fluidic assay systems are disclosed.
US08021870B2
A method of biotreating a solid material including an organic compound is provided. According to the method, a nonstirred bioreactor having a void volume of greater than or equal to 25% with a mixture including a solid material to be biotreated and a plurality of coarse substrates having a particle size greater than or equal to about 0.6 cm is formed. The solid material to be biotreated includes an organic material. The mixture includes sufficient coarse substrates to provide the reactor with at least 100 square meters of surface area per cubic meter of reactor space. The solid material in the bioreactor is biotreated until the organic material within the bioreactor is reduced to a desired concentration.
US08021865B2
A thermophilic micro-organism comprising a modification that increases amylase expression and starch hydrolysis compared to wild-type, wherein the modification is insertion of a heterologous amylase gene.
US08021857B2
Novel proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are novel polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these novel proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these novel compounds, diversification methods involving the novel compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the novel methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate.
US08021855B2
A method of assaying a glycated protein in a sample with the use of redox reaction, in which highly reliable measurement can be obtained. A sample containing a glycated protein is treated with protease in the presence of a sulfonic acid compound, so that the glycated protein is degraded. The glycated portion of the resultant glycated protein degradation product is reacted with fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and this redox reaction is measured, thereby determining the amount of glycated protein. Sodium lauryl sulfate can be used as the sulfonic acid compound.
US08021854B2
A method for attenuating the incidence and severity of endovascular disease, arrhythmias and malignancy via a reduction in the total circulating platelet volume is presented. The method will achieve the reduced rates of acute coronary syndromes observed in patients with essential thrombocytopenia and will overcome the shortcomings of current anti-platelet therapies that fail to recognize that the mere presence of platelets above certain threshold concentrations is injurious to the endothelium. This method may include pharmacologic platelet inhibition and anticoagulation prior to mechanical or pharmacologic reduction of platelet counts and total circulating platelet volume and does not permit any transient increase in the total circulating platelet activity, or a transient or permanent increase in the total number of platelets, activated platelets, immature platelets or platelet precursor cells in the peripheral circulation.
US08021853B2
The present invention provides reagents and methods for identifying inhibitors of the L-type Ca2+ channel β3 protein, which has been demonstrated to be involved in calcium signaling, insulin secretion, and glucose homeostasis. The invention also provides therapeutics and methods for treating a subject with one or more of diabetes, insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and impaired glucose homeostasis, involving the use of inhibitors of an L-type Ca2+ channel β3 subunit to provide a benefit to the subject.
US08021846B2
There is disclosed a method for determining azole resistance in Candida glabrata. A biological sample containing Candida glabrata is obtained and a normalized mRNA level of CDR1 gene is determined using qRT-PCR. Using a microbroth dilution assay conducted at azole concentrations of about 2-8 μg/mL, a susceptible isolate of Candida glabrata is obtained. A qRT-PCR assay is employed on the susceptible isolate and an average mRNA level of CDR1 is obtained. A fold-change value for CDR1 is obtained by comparing the CDR1 mRNA level of the biological sample with that of the average mRNA level. A ≧2-fold change value is indicative of an azole resistance in Candida glabrata. The present method provides a qRT-PCR assay for azole resistance that has a sensitivity of ≧90% and a specificity of ≧90%.
US08021844B2
Methods are described in which a sample containing RNA is contacted with an enzyme having an RNA ligation activity in the presence of a labeled substrate to provide labeled RNA. Methods of performing an array analysis of a labeled RNA sample are also described.
US08021840B2
Disclosed is a method of determining interferon responsiveness in a patient suffering from multiple sclerosis. The method comprises determining an amount of a XAF-1 gene expression level in a blood sample, which is obtained from the patient undergoing interferon therapy. The amount of the XAF-1 gene expression level in the blood sample is then correlated with the responsiveness of the patient to the interferon.
US08021834B2
Compositions are provided which include biodegradable microparticles with entrapped or adsorbed antigens, in combination with submicron oil-in-water emulsions. Also provided are methods of immunization which comprise administering to a vertebrate subject (a) a submicron oil-in-water emulsion, and (b) a therapeutically effective amount of a selected antigen entrapped in a microparticle.
US08021827B2
This invention relates to iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and polymer binders comprising functional groups capable of undergoing cationic or radical polymerization, their method of preparation and their use in the preparation of coating solutions and coatings. This invention also relates to coatings containing the iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and/or polymer binders and to negative working lithographic printing plates comprising these coatings.
US08021825B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide waveguide structures and methods of forming such structures where core and laterally adjacent cladding regions are defined. Some embodiments of the present invention provide waveguide structures where core regions are collectively surrounded by laterally adjacent cladding regions and cladding layers and methods of forming such structures.
US08021824B2
A polymer compound including a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a fluorinated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, or R2 and R3 may be bonded together to form an alkylene group that may include an oxygen atom or sulfur atom at an arbitrary position, —O— or —S—; R4 and R5 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group that may include an oxygen atom at an arbitrary position, a cycloalkyl group that may include an oxygen atom at an arbitrary position or an alkoxycarbonyl group.
US08021821B2
A photosensitive conductive paste for transferring including a metal powder, an inorganic material powder, a photosensitive resin and a polymerization initiator, and to be applied onto a surface of a transfer support, comprising an acrylic resin or a rosin-based resin.
US08021819B2
A photosensitive composition, which comprises a compound represented by formula (I): wherein R1 to R13 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and at least one of R1 to R13 is a substituent containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group; Z represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; and X− represents a counter anion; and a pattern-forming method using the photosensitive composition.
US08021816B2
A liquid developer includes: an insulating liquid; toner particles constituted by a resin material as a main component; and a dispersing agent expressed by Formula (I): H2N—R—NH—R′ (I) (where, R denotes an alkylene group having a carbon number of 2 to 6 and R′ denotes an alkyl group having a carbon number of 8 to 24).
US08021810B2
An image carrier includes a conductive base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the base material. The photosensitive layer has an outermost surface layer that contains particles having a number-averaged particle sphericality represented by Formula (1) of approximately 0.7 or less: sphericality=4πA/L2 (1), where π represents the circular constant, A represents the projection area of the particle, and L represents the peripheral length of the projected particle image.
US08021809B2
In an embodiment, a device manufacturing method for transferring a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate includes receiving a design layout information associated with a device, determining the pattern from the design layout information, providing the pattern to a patterning device, determining feed-forward requirement data from the design layout information, wherein the feed-forward requirement data includes at least first feed-forward requirement data related to a first location in the pattern and second feed-forward requirement data related to a second location in the pattern, determining a transfer condition from at least at least the first and the second feed-forward requirement data; and transferring a portion of the pattern from the patterning device onto the substrate based at least in part on the transfer condition.
US08021807B2
A reflective mask blank has a substrate, a multilayer reflective film formed on the substrate to reflect exposure light, a protective film formed on the multilayer reflective film, and an absorber film formed on the protective film to absorb the exposure light. The protective film is made of an Ru compound containing Ru and X (X being at least one kind of material selected from Nb and Zr). The protective film has an oxidized surface layer containing X as a main component. A reflective mask is obtained by forming a transfer pattern by patterning the absorber film of the reflective mask blank.
US08021804B2
A photomask manufacturing method includes a defect information storage step of storing defect information of a mask blank, provided with an identification marker on an end face thereof, into an information storage device in correspondence to the identification marker, a placing orientation determination step of determining a placing orientation of the mask blank with respect to an exposure/writing apparatus, and an orientation correction step of performing rotation control of a rotating apparatus so that an orientation of the mask blank coincides with the determined placing orientation.
US08021801B2
In a method for fabricating a photomask in a semiconductor device, a phase shift layer, a first light blocking layer, an insulating (or intermediate) layer, and a second light blocking layer are deposited on a transparent substrate. A photoresist pattern selectively exposing a surface of the second light blocking layer is formed. A second light blocking pattern exposing a portion of the insulating layer is formed by etching the second light blocking layer using the photoresist pattern as a mask. A critical dimension (CD) of the second light blocking pattern is measured and the CD of the second light blocking pattern is adjusted. A first light blocking pattern and a phase shift pattern are formed by etching the insulating layer, the first light blocking layer, and the phase shift layer using the second light blocking pattern with the adjusted CD as a mask. A photomask pattern having a light blocking region and a transmitting region is formed by removing the second light blocking region and the insulating layer.
US08021792B2
A fuel cell system (1) including at least one fuel cell (2) having a cathode area (3) and an anode area (4) is disclosed. The cathode area (3) and the anode area (4) have feed conduits (31, 41) and discharge conduits (32, 42). Downstream of the anode area (4) and the cathode area (3), a junction (12) of the discharge conduits (32, 42) is provided. The junction (12) fluidically communicates with an area (13) which includes a material that is catalytically active with respect to a reaction of a fuel for the fuel cell (2) with an oxidant for the fuel cell (2). The feed conduit (31) leading to the cathode area (3) is configured in such a manner that it fluidically communicates with the cathode area (3) in at least two different sites (19, 20) in each of the fuel cells (2). A humidifying device (16) is provided in the feed conduit (41) leading to the anode area (4).
US08021790B2
A battery structure includes a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer disposed in that order, wherein the solid electrolyte layer has a chemical composition, excluding incidental impurities, represented by the formula aLi·bX·cS·dY, where X is at least one element of phosphorus (P) and boron (B), Y is at least one element of oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N), the sum of a, b, c, and d is 1, a is 0.20 to 0.52, b is 0.10 to 0.20, c is 0.30 to 0.55, and d is 0 to 0.30. The solid electrolyte layer includes a portion A in contact with the negative electrode layer and a portion B in contact with the positive electrode layer, and d in the portion A is larger than d in the portion B. A lithium secondary battery includes the battery structure.
US08021785B2
Provided are a cathode active material with high safety, with high discharge capacity even at high operating voltage, and with excellent cyclic charge and discharge properties, its production method and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing the cathode active material.The cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a surface-modified lithium-containing composite oxide particle, wherein the particle is a lithium-containing composite oxide particle represented by the general formula LipNxO2 (wherein N═NiyM1-y-zLz, M contains at least one element selected from Co and Mn, L is an element selected from alkaline earth metal elements, aluminum and transition metal elements other than Ni, Co and Mn, 0.9≦p≦1.1, 0.9≦x<1.1, 0.2≦y≦0.9, and 0≦z≦0.3), and a surface layer of the particle contains aluminum, said surface layer within 5 nm having an aluminum content of at least 0.8 as an atomic ratio to a total of Ni and the element M.
US08021775B2
An electrochemical device comprising alternating layers of positive and negative electrodes separated from each other by separator layers. The electrode layers extend beyond the periphery of the separator layers providing superior contact between the electrodes and battery terminals, eliminating the need for welding the electrode to the terminal. Electrical resistance within the battery is decreased and thermal conductivity of the cell is increased allowing for superior heat removal from the battery and increased efficiency. Increased internal pressure within the battery can be alleviated without damaging or removing the battery from service while keeping the contents of the battery sealed off from the atmosphere by a pressure release system. Nonoperative cells within a battery assembly can also be removed from service by shorting the nonoperative cell thus decreasing battery life.
US08021772B2
A preservation assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is provided. The assembly includes an uninstalled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack and sealing units. The uninstalled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is provided with an oxidizing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through a cathode and a reducing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through an anode. The sealing units include sealing plugs or containers and are configured to seal the inlet and the outlet of the oxidizing agent passage within which an oxygen concentration has been decreased and to seal the inlet and the outlet of the reducing agent passage within which the oxygen concentration has been decreased. The uninstalled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is in a state before an assembled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is incorporated into a fuel cell system.
US08021771B2
A thin film structure including a plurality of grains of a first magnetic material having a first Curie temperature embedded in a matrix of a second material having a second Curie temperature, wherein the second Curie temperature is lower than the first Curie temperature and the second material comprises one or more of an oxide, a sulfide, a nitride, and a boride.
US08021751B2
There are provided a sheet having a silicon/plastic bi-layer structure capable of easily transferring a paste even when a hard roll is used, the hard roll having excellent durability but having disadvantages that the paste is poorly transferred when the paste is printed on a plastic base, and a method for producing the same. The bi-layer structured sheet having excellent printability when printed by hard roll includes a flexible substrate and a silicon resin formed on the substrate.
US08021748B2
A printed wiring board is provided which includes an interlayer dielectric layer formed on a substrate from a curable resin having flaky particles dispersed therein. The printed wiring board is excellent in cooling/heating cycle resistance and packaging reliability while maintaining a satisfactory heat resistance, electrical insulation, heat liberation, connection reliability and chemical stability. Also a method of producing a printed wiring board is proposed in which an imprint method using a mold having formed thereon convexities corresponding to wiring patterns and viaholes to be formed being buried in an interlayer dielectric layer is used to form the wiring patterns and viaholes by transcribing the concavities of the mold to the interlayer dielectric layer. The imprint method permits to form the wiring patterns and viaholes but assures an easy and accurate transcription without any optical transcription or complicated etching. Thus, a multilayer printed wiring board excellent in insulation reliability and interlayer connection and having fine wiring patterns formed therein can be mass-produced extremely easily and inexpensively.
US08021745B2
Disclosed herein are processes for making a consolidated or densified composite article comprising polymer, particularly fluoropolymer, and oriented carbon fiber, which provides suitability for use in chemical-mechanical applications.
US08021742B2
A thermal barrier coating system is provided. The thermal barrier coating system may include a first layer of ceramic insulating material (21) (see FIG. 1) disposed on a substrate surface. The thermal barrier coating system may also include a second layer of ceramic insulating material (25) disposed on the first layer of ceramic insulating material. The second layer of ceramic insulating material may include one or more crack arrestors therein. A third layer of ceramic insulating material (26) is disposed on the second layer of ceramic insulating material. The third layer may be configured as a sacrificial layer to absorb mechanical shock generated in the event of a foreign object collision with the third layer. The one or more crack arrestors in the second layer can avoid propagation towards the first layer of one or more cracks that can form in the event of the foreign object collision with the third layer.
US08021737B2
A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment.
US08021719B2
Method for masking cooling holes and device for using in a masking process for masking cooling holes
A method of masking cooling holes of a turbine component, in particular a turbine blade or vane, for a coating process is provided. The component includes an external surface to be coated, at least one internal cavity having an opening towards the outside of the component, and cooling holes extending from the at least one internal cavity to the external surface. The method comprises the steps of: filling the cooling holes with a masking material and hardening the masking material. The masking material, water, is used to fill in the cooling holes. The hardening is done by freezing the water to water ice. A method of coating an external surface of a turbine component and a device for use in a masking process for masking cooling holes in a turbine component are also provided.
US08021717B2
A treatment gas is supplied to form a Ti-based film on a predetermined number of wafers W while setting a temperature of a susceptor 2 in a chamber 1 to a predetermined temperature. After this, the interior of the chamber 1 containing no wafers W is cleaned by discharging Cl2 gas as a cleaning gas from a shower head 10 into the chamber 1. During this cleaning, the temperature of each of the susceptor 2, the shower head 10, and the wall portion of the chamber 1 is independently controlled so that the temperature of the susceptor 2 is not lower than the decomposition start temperature of Cl2 gas and the temperature of the shower head 10 and the wall portion of the chamber 1 is not higher than the decomposition start temperature.
US08021716B2
The invention concerns a process for encapsulating pigment particles, which comprises (A) producing a dispersion of the pigment to be encapsulated, (B) then applying a polyelectrolyte layer to the surface of the pigment particles, (C) further applying a polyelectrolyte layer having opposite charge to (B), and/or adding low molecular weight, multivalent ions oppositely charged to (B), and (D) if appropriate repeating steps (B) and (C), said steps (B), (C) and if appropriate (D) being carried out in the presence of a nonionic surfactant.
US08021710B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for producing an electronic device, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), having an electrode with enhanced injection properties. An example method according to the invention comprises the steps of providing an electrode, depositing a first layer of molecular charge transfer material on the electrode, and cross-linking the molecular charge transfer material. With the method according to the invention, an OLED with higher light efficiency, lower operating voltage, and longer lifetime can be produced. The present invention further relates to an electronic device having an electrode with enhanced injection properties.
US08021709B2
Methods and systems for separating muscle tissue from connective tissue are provided, in which animal tissue containing both muscle tissue and connective tissue is subjected to stress, and muscle proteins are separated from the connective tissue. Slurries of separated myofibrillar protein are also provided.
US08021705B1
Dry mixes for forming dough and batters are provided comprising homogenous dispersions of glycerine on one or more ingredients in particulate form. The dry mixes are rendered more resistant to microbial growth due to the presence of glycerine. Food products prepared from the dry mixes exhibit several benefits including improved moisture retention and/or increased shelf-life.
US08021702B2
The method of human prophylaxis comprising a number of steps is claim. First, the client is prepared for a steam bath, by applying a herbal paste on the skin, over at least one area of the client's body. The herbal paste is allowed to be absorbed into the client's body for an amount of time of at least five minutes and is followed with a massage the client's body. The client is then placed into a cedar steam barrel, connected to the steam generator, where the client's body is exposed to the steam. Following the stream procedure, the herbal paste is reapplied, the client's body is massaged, and the client to rests and drinks at least one cup of tea.
US08021701B1
A composition and a method for using the composition to delay the onset of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in humans, comprising curcumin, piperine, oleic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, galantamine, and huperzine A, among other compounds. Curcumin is an antioxidant, while galantamine and huperzine A inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the brain. Piperine and oleic acid increase the bioavailability and gastrointestinal absorption of curcumin, galantamine, huperzine A, and other nutrients.
US08021696B2
Provided, among other things, is a slowly dissolvable film comprising: herbal bioactive agent(s); and polymer(s), dissolvable in the aggregate, wherein the film becomes adhesive as it is placed against a mucosal surface and begins to absorb moisture therefrom.
US08021684B2
The present invention relates to a haemostatic composition comprising a biologically absorbable material and hyaluronic acid or a derivative thereof, methods of producing such compositions and the use of these compositions. In particular the method of producing said haemostatic composition comprises treating it with dry heat at a temperature between 110-200° C.
US08021683B2
A composition comprising a non-volatile silicone fluid in admixture with fumed silica, a volatile diluent and a silicone elastomer.
US08021675B2
This invention is related to the field of compositions useful in the control of pests that eat cellulose, such as, termites, where said composition is compacted and where said composition comprises alpha-cellulose, water, and a pesticide.
US08021674B2
The invention refers to a new cosmetic gel product which contains oils or fats and suitable gel forming polymers and which has improved characteristics as regards stability and structure. The product of the invention comprises 5-85% by weight of a fat phase forming agent selected from among oils, hydrogenated hydrocarbons, alkenes, mono esters, di esters, tri esters and mixtures thereof, 0.1-15% by weight of a further gelling agent selected from among 12-hydroxy stearic acid, polyethylene whose molecular weight is between 400 and 2500 Daltons, glyceryl behenate and mixtures thereof, 0.5-5% by weight of a surface-active agent, and ad 100% by weight other auxiliary substances, carrier substances, active substances and mixtures thereof, all percentages being relative to the weight of the gel product. The product is wax-free and free of fatty absorbing substances and has as a stick a water content up to 60% and with no sweating or bleeding.
US08021673B2
The invention relates to three isolated DNA molecules that encode for proteins, BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3, in the Leptospira sp bacterium which have repetitive Bacterial-Ig-like (Big) domains and their use in diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine applications. According to the present invention, the isolated molecules encoding for BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3 proteins are used for the diagnosis and prevention of infection with Leptospira species that are capable of producing disease in humans and other mammals, including those of veterinary importance.
US08021672B2
The invention involves the discovery that Chlamydia sp. strains can be cured of their plasmids by treatment with novobiocin, and that plasmid-deficient strains are defective in infecting cells under standard conditions, but can infect cells if centrifuged onto the host cells. But it is found that plasmid-deficient strains with wild-type infection efficiency under standard conditions can be isolated as mutants from parent plasmid-deficient strains with low infectivity by selecting for infection under standard conditions. Both the less infective and the highly infective plasmid-deficient strains were able to infect mice with little or no pathological symptoms, and both reduced the pathology in mice later challenged with the parental wild-type disease-causing Chlamydia strain. Thus, plasmid-deficient Chlamydia are effective vaccine strains. The invention provides a process for isolating a plasmid-deficient strain of Chlamydia sp., a process for developing a plasmid-deficient strain of Chlamydia sp. for use as a vaccine, a process for developing a highly infective plasmid-deficient strain of Chlamydia sp., isolated Chlamydia sp. strains, a method of expressing a recombinant nucleic acid in Chlamydia sp., and a method of immunizing a mammal against a Chlamydia infection.
US08021659B2
Methods of enhancing the bio-availability of coenzyme Q10, and methods of supporting the cardiovascular system to accommodate the increase in cellular energy synthesis as a result of the bio-availability of coenzyme Q10 are described. Compositions which include coenzyme Q10, lactoferrin and/or angiogenin are described for use in the related methods, for multi-functional health applications.
US08021658B2
Peptides or antibodies derived from alternative splice forms of proteins associated with a disease or physiologic condition are used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. Peptides and antibodies derived from alternative splice forms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of proteins are particularly useful in preventing or delaying the onset of tumors and inducing tumor regression.
US08021652B2
The present invention relates to a biodegradable branched polylactic acid derivative of formula 1, and preparation method and use thereof:
US08021650B2
Dimethicone copolyol polymers are synthesized from dimethicone copolyol macromers. Polymers containing the macromer repeating units are useful in a variety of applications including personal care, textile and industrial formulations to deliver softness, lubricity, fixative, humidity resistance, water repellency, gloss, surface modification, and surfactant properties.
US08021629B2
An analyzer for analysis of a specimen in a testing chip that includes a micropump connecting section that is connected with a micropump to take in liquid from the micropump and includes a micro flow channel in which a reagent and the specimen are mixed so as to react with each other, the analyzer including: a mounting section for mounting the testing chip attachably and detachably thereto; a micropump unit that has a testing chip connecting section to be connected with the micropump connecting section of the testing chip which is mounted on the mounting section, and feeds liquid to the testing chip through the testing chip connecting section; and a pressing mechanism that presses the micropump connecting section and the testing chip connecting section against each other, the connecting sections being connected with each other.
US08021626B2
Methods and devices are provided for controlling a fluid flow over a sensing surface within a flow cell. The methods employ laminar flow techniques to position a fluid flow over one or more discrete sensing areas on the sensing surface of the flow cell. Such methods permit selective sensitization of the discrete sensing areas, and provide selective contact of the discrete sensing areas with a sample fluid flow. Immobilization of a ligand upon the discrete sensing area, followed by selective contact with an analyte contained within the sample fluid flow, allows analysis by a wide variety of techniques. Sensitized sensing surfaces, and sensor devices and systems are also provided.
US08021618B1
A filter change indicator is provided and includes a fragrance and auditory emission apparatus adapted to be installed in disposable-type air filters utilized to remove contaminants carried along in the air stream of HVAC systems. The fragrance and auditory emission apparatus functions to emit a shrill tone or whistling noise when the air filter becomes dirty or clogged. The fragrance and auditory emission apparatus also functions as an air freshener or a room deodorizer.
US08021601B2
A plant for the heat treatment of solids containing titanium includes a fluidized bed reactor. The reactor includes at least one gas supply tube being at least partly surrounded by an annular chamber in which a stationary annular fluidized bed is located, and a mixing chamber being located above the upper orifice region of the gas supply tube. The gas flowing through the gas supply tube entrains solids from the stationary annular fluidized bed into the mixing chamber when passing through the upper orifice region of the gas supply system. The plant further includes a solids separator downstream of the reactor. The solids separator includes a solids conduit leading to the annular fluidized bed of the reactor.
US08021598B2
An apparatus for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, and a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing. Also provided is a process for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles to enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles. The curved suture needles so treated have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength and ductility.
US08021595B2
A method of producing a panel having at least one feature comprising a discontinuation in curvature of surface in the surface, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first reinforced layer of long and/or continuous parallel fiber reinforced thermoplastic of a first polymer (102a, 104a); providing a core layer of thermoplastic with at least roughly 70% by volume of a second polymer which is compatible with the first polymer (106); providing a second reinforced layer of long or continuous parallel fiber reinforced thermoplastic of the first polymer (102b, 104b); stacking the layers such that the reinforced layers are separated by the core layer; introducing the stack into a panel mould and heating the mould to at least the melting point of the predetermined polymer to consolidate the layers and form the panel.
US08021587B2
Method and apparatus for sequentially delivering multiple shots of polymer material to a plurality of mold cavities to form multilayer articles. A first shot of greater than 50% of the total article weight of a first polymer material is simultaneously delivered to a plurality of mold cavities using, at each cavity, a chamber of predetermined volume that is prefilled with the first polymer material. A second shot of no greater than 10% of the total article weight of a second material is simultaneously delivered to all of the cavities beginning subsequent to the step of delivering the start of the first shot delivery step. The second shot of second material is delivered through a manifold channel that fluidly communicates with each cavity, and is injected to all cavities under pressure exerted by a source of the second material that is common to all of the plurality of cavities.
US08021586B2
A curable resin composition and powder coating compositions made therefrom including (a) an epoxy resin; (b) an amphiphilic block copolymer containing at least one epoxy resin miscible block segment and at least one epoxy resin immiscible block segment; wherein the immiscible block segment comprises at least one polyether structure provided that the polyether structure of said immiscible block segment contains at least one or more alkylene oxide monomer units having at least four carbon atoms; such that when the epoxy resin composition is cured, the toughness of the resulting cured epoxy resin composition is increased; and (c) at least one curing agent required for the manufacturing, application and proper performance of the powder coating. The amphiphilic block copolymer is preferably an all polyether block copolymer such as a PEO-PBO diblock copolymer or a PEO-PBO-PEO triblock copolymer.
US08021585B2
A method is described for preparing liquid concentrates of additives for incorporation in polymers, particularly polymers prepared in solution or slurry phase polymerization media. Additive concentrates according to the invention are characterized by a finer dispersion than would result from the direct addition of particulate or granular additives to the same liquid solvent.
US08021584B2
Blending of thermoplastic polyester with fiber-forming polyamide in the production of melt-colored melt-spun fibers results in improved color strength and aesthetics, and dimensional stability.
US08021562B2
A filter capable of separating or filtering micro foreign particles in a flow passage is provided. A first mask and a second mask are formed on a silicon substrate by dry etching. Before performing the dry etching, a resist of the first mask is subjected to a heat treatment performed at a temperature equal to or higher than a glass transition point. A resist of the second mask is not subjected to such a heat treatment. This processing simultaneously forms in the substrate a groove portion and a wall having a hole that is located in the groove portion. A silicon material located beneath a wide portion of the first mask remains as a wall portion separating the holes.
US08021559B2
A thickening apparatus (1) and method adapted to liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, when there is a tank (2), where settling of solids takes place, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (11), such as slurry and at least one outlet (5) in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, means for delivering the fed material (11), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when inside the feedwell there is arranged a separate mixing space (12) for the fed material (11), when there is arranged at least one horizontal element (7, 15, 22, 23) reaching at least partly the cross-section of the feedwell, from which mixing space the fed material (11) is allowed to flow into other section (14) of the feedwell.
US08021555B2
A suppressed ion chromatographic apparatus using a regenerant recycle loop, comprising (a) an ion separation device, (b) a membrane suppressor, (c) a detector, (d) a container for regenerant solution, (e) a first conduit between the ion separation device and the suppressor, (f) a second conduit between the regenerant solution container and the suppressor, (g) a third conduit between the suppressor and the regenerant solution container, and (h) a regenerant solution recycle loop out of fluid communication with the detector outlet.
US08021553B2
A process for purification of fluids, for example, desalination of seawater or brackish water, using organic solutes in a concentrated water solution for use in a forward osmosis process, to extract fresh water out of salt water through the forward osmosis membrane, and subsequently separating the organic solutes out of the diluted forward osmosis permeate by cloud point extraction, thereby regenerating a concentrated organic solution for recycling to the forward osmosis process, and fresh water for potable water use.
US08021547B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the easy installation or removal of screen elements from a shaker table without the use of tools. Pneumatic cylinders are used to move hold down bars up and down to either allow for screen elements to be installed or removed from the screen bed section assembly, or to clamp them into the screen bed section assembly of a shaker so that the screen elements will not move during shaker operations.
US08021540B2
A method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil by which sulfur compounds are diminished to an extremely low concentration at a relatively low equipment cost and operating cost. The method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil comprises bringing a hydrocarbon oil containing at least one sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of thiophene compounds, benzothiophene compounds, and dibenzothiophene compounds and optionally further containing aromatic hydrocarbons into contact with a solid acid catalyst and/or an activated carbon having a transition metal oxide supported thereon to thereby desulfurize the oil. The solid acid catalyst preferably is a solid ultrastrong-acid catalyst selected among sulfuric acid radical/zirconia, sulfuric acid radical/alumina, sulfuric acid radical/tin oxide, sulfuric acid radical/iron oxide, tungstic acid/zirconia, and tungstic acid/tin oxide.
US08021534B2
To provide an electroforming mold for manufacturing a multi-step structure minute component and a method for manufacturing the same, for which height control is possible and manufacturing process does not become complicated. On the upper face of a film of an electroconductive layer 2 formed on the upper face of a substrate 1, a resist 3 is formed in which a first soluble portion 3b and a first insoluble portion 3a are formed. Next, a light-absorbing body 10 is formed on the upper face of the resist, exposure and development are carried out, in addition a film of an electroconductive layer 2 is formed on the upper face thereof, and a light-absorbing body 10 and an electroconductive layer 5 on the upper face of the light-absorbing body 10 are removed by liftoff. Further, a resist is formed on the upper face thereof, in which a second soluble portion 6b and a second insoluble portion 6a are formed. Next, the first resist and the second resist are developed to remove the first soluble portion 3b and the second soluble portion 6b, thereby giving an electroforming mold 101 having an electroconductive layer on the basal part of respective steps.
US08021526B2
A household appliance incorporating an electrolyzer for electrolysis of water to H2 and O2 and an electrolyzer therefor. The appliance may include a burner for the hydrogen produced and an electric conductive member to provide household current to the electrolyzer. The electrolyzer comprises an outer housing defining a chamber which houses at least one cathode and at least one anode. The electrolyzer may comprise a plurality of field electrodes and the field electrodes may comprise first and second field electrodes which are electrically connected together and spaced apart to define an intra cell gap. Field electrodes may then be spaced apart to define an inter cell gap between electrodes of adjacent field electrodes. At least one of the anode and cathode may be connected to an electrically conductive member that is molded in situ in the housing and at least some of the electrodes may be configured to dimensionally stabilize the electrodes during operation of the electrolyzer. The number of field electrodes may be from 40 to 60 if a voltage of 120 V is supplied to the electrolyzer, 80 to 120 if the voltage is 240 V, or 4 to 6 if the voltage is 12 V. The gap between adjacent electrodes may vary between top and bottom and the electrolyzer may incorporate a plastic heat sink.
US08021525B2
A PEM based water electrolysis stack consists of a number of cells connected in series by using interconnects. Water and electrical power (power supply) are the external inputs to the stack. Water supplied to the oxygen electrodes through flow fields in interconnects is dissociated into oxygen and protons. The protons are transported through the polymer membrane to the hydrogen electrodes, where they combine with electrons to form hydrogen gas. If the electrolysis stack is required to be used exclusively as an oxygen generator, the hydrogen gas generated would have to be disposed off safely. The disposal of hydrogen would lead to a number of system and safety related issues, resulting in the limited application of the device as an oxygen generator. Hydrogen can be combusted to produce heat or better disposed off in a separate fuel cell unit which will supply electricity generated, to the electrolysis stack to reduce power input requirements. This however, will add to system complexity, cost and efficiency loss. The present invention provides an improved method and a simple system for the production of oxygen.
US08021524B2
In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to processes for the combination of injecting charge in a material electrochemically via non-faradaic (double-layer) charging, and retaining this charge and associated desirable properties changes when the electrolyte is removed. The present invention is also directed to compositions and applications using material property changes that are induced electrochemically by double-layer charging and retained during subsequent electrolyte removal. In some embodiments, the present invention provides reversible processes for electrochemically injecting charge into material that is not in direct contact with an electrolyte. Additionally, in some embodiments, the present invention is directed to devices and other material applications that use properties changes resulting from reversible electrochemical charge injection in the absence of an electrolyte.
US08021523B2
Disclosed herein is an electrostatic fluid filtration system suitable for removing sub micron insoluble contaminants known to cause varnish from fluids such as dielectric fluids. The electrostatic fluid filtration system is configured to remove both water and other contaminants from a target fluid (e.g. a dielectric fluid) and comprises a cabinet, a computer control unit, and one or more substantially cylindrical filtration units, including at least one of a water filtration unit and an electrostatic contaminant filtration unit. In the contaminant filtration unit, the target fluid flows radially through the filtration media that is positioned between the electrode plates in a generally horizontal flow pattern. This forces the target fluid to traverse multiple energy fields in a serpentine fashion and in a single pass through the contaminant filtration unit. After flowing through each layer of the filtration media, the target fluid is discharged from the electrostatic contaminant filtration unit.
US08021521B2
A method of processing a workpiece in a plasma reactor having an electrostatic chuck for holding a workpiece in a chamber of the reactor includes providing a thermally conductive gas under pressure between a backside of the workpiece and a top surface of the electrostatic chuck, controlling the temperature of the electrostatic chuck, defining a desired workpiece temperature, measuring a current workpiece temperature or temperature related to the workpiece temperature and inputting the measured temperature to a thermal model representative of the electrostatic chuck. The method further includes determining from the thermal model a change in the pressure of the thermally conductive gas that would at least reduce the difference between the measured temperature and the desired temperature, and changing the pressure of the thermally conductive gas in accordance with the change determined from the thermal model.
US08021520B2
The invention relates to a device and method for preparing liquid from solid materials such as medicinal materials. It includes liquid and materials for preparing the liquid at the beginning and the end of the process. The device uses a steam generator, an intermediate switch valve and a material chamber, which are connected sequentially with pipes, and further includes an outlet pipe, which is at the bottom of the material chamber. The method involves the steps of: distillation and absorption; immersion; and repetition. The device and method for preparing liquid alternates the distillation and immersion steps, which reduces harmful substance in the prepared liquid that would otherwise occur by conventional methods. The method not only extracts soluble effective matter, but also reduces loss of volatile effective matter. Ultimately, the method makes the steps for preparing liquid simple and clear, and it can prepare liquid quantitatively, effectively and without pasty and shrinkable characteristics. The device may be automatically controlled by an electric control circuit, thereby avoiding operational errors that are common with manually operated, conventional devices.
US08021504B2
A quality control method for ultrasound welding. The method provides for the generation of a tolerance range which is adjusted to the progress of the welding process and which is generated from measured values which influence the welding process. A measured value tolerance range is determined from measured values of executed welding processes, the measured values being associated with at least one parameter which influences the welding process and/or represents the goods of the welding process. Measured values are associated with an identical parameter of a further welding process following thereafter and are considered during the quality monitoring in such a way that the measured value tolerance range is changed in its form or composition to an average value for further welding processes, in accordance with the variance between the additional measured values and the tolerance range determined from previous measured values.
US08021503B2
Disclosed is a method of producing an automobile interior material or construction sheet with excellent processability, and its product made therefrom. More particularly, a method comprises by carding short fibers wherein short fibers are mixed with polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers in a mixing ratio of 3 to 7:7 to 3, on one side or both sides of a foamed layer produced by foaming any one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene chips, polyethylene chips, polyurethane chips, and expanded polystyrene chips; setting the short fibers with a shape of a truss in the foamed layer by interlacing the short fibers through a needle punching process; and thermally forming the short fiber layer(s) on the foamed layer by heating the portions of the short fibers exposed on the outside the foamed layer to 120 to 250° C. and pressing thereby melting, cooling and hardening the fused portions of the short fibers.
US08021499B2
A Co-based alloy having a fundamental composition of Co—Al system containing 3-15% Al and having lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure α-phase and β(B2)-phase are superimposed on each other in layers, and the Co-based alloy is modified so as to have a porous surface layer region effective for chemical retaining capability, sustained release, biocompatibility, etc. through selective removal of either the α-phase or the β-phase from the surface layer. As a third component, at least one member selected from among Ni, Fe, Mn, Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be contained in a total amount of 0.001 to 60%.
US08021496B2
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing lithium metal powder. The method comprises the steps of heating the lithium metal powder to above its melting point to provide molten lithium metal, dispersing the molten lithium metal, and contacting the dispersed molten lithium metal with a phosphorous-containing compound to provide a substantially continuous protective layer of lithium phosphate on the lithium metal powder.
US08021495B2
Provided are a simple and inexpensive cleaning apparatus and a method for cleaning capable of effectively cleaning the outer wall surface of a pipette. A pipette to be cleaned is positioned in a concave portion of the cleaning apparatus, and a cleaning liquid passed through inside of the pipette strikes an inner circumferential surface of the concave portion and bounces therefrom to splash against the outer wall surface of the pipette, thereby cleaning the outer surface. With above arrangement, without using an ejection apparatus of cleaning water, effect equivalent to that with the ejection apparatus can be attained. Furthermore, both the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the pipette can be cleaned by a single operation using the same cleaning water, thereby attaining easy internal cleaning work and short cleaning time.
US08021494B2
A method of decontaminating an oxide layer-comprising surface of a component or a system of a nuclear facility. An acidic water film is produced on the surface, the film of water is brought into contact with a gaseous acid anhydride, and the oxide layer is treated with gaseous ozone as oxidizing agent.
US08021490B2
A method for removing common contaminates or residues which include but are not limited to ionic residues, particulate residues and moisture from semiconductor wafers used in the manufacture of IC (integrated circuits), liquid crystal displays and flat panel displays. The process includes the use of certain esters or certain esters combined with particular co-solvents. The cleaning method may be utilized in a variety of cleaning processes or process steps and offers economic and performance advantages.
US08021484B2
A method of forming an epitaxial layer to increase flatness of an epitaxial silicon wafer is provided. In particular, a method of controlling the epitaxial layer thickness in a peripheral part of the wafer is provided. An apparatus for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer by growing an epitaxial layer with reaction of a semiconductor wafer and a source gas in a reaction furnace comprising: a pocket in which the semiconductor wafer is placed; a susceptor fixing the semiconductor; orientation-dependent control means dependent on a crystal orientation of the semiconductor wafer and/or orientation-independent control means independent from the crystal orientation of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the apparatus may improve flatness in a peripheral part of the epitaxial layer.
US08021483B2
Flowable chips and methods for the preparation and use of same, and apparatus for use in the methods
A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.
US08021475B2
According to the method of producing organic pigment fine particles of the present invention, when producing organic pigment fine particles by allowing two or more solutions at least one of which is an organic pigment solution in which an organic pigment is dissolved to flow through a microchannel, the organic pigment solution flows through the microchannel in a non-laminar state. Accordingly, the contact area of solutions per unit time can be increased and the length of diffusion mixing can be shortened, and thus instantaneous mixing of solutions becomes possible. As a result, nanometer-scale monodisperse organic pigment fine particles can be produced in a stable manner.
US08021473B2
A process for manufacturing an ink, or pigment formulation (e.g. a concentrate) for use in inks, comprising filtration of a composition comprising a particulate pigment and a liquid medium through an inorganic filter having pores of a uniform size below 10 microns. The process accurately removes oversized particles that could cause problems in inkjet printers without wasting non-problematic under-sized pigment. High flow rates are achieved even with low trans-filter pressure differences. In one embodiment, high flow rates are maintained by selection of pH and/or ionic strength. The filters are more robust than conventional polymeric filters and withstand cleaning with aggressive cleaning agents.
US08021470B2
A water-based ink includes a dye (1) represented by the general formula (1); a dye (2) at least one dye selected from the group consisting of a dye having free acid that is represented by the general formula (2-1), C. I. Acid Red 52 and 289; DPP; and a surfactant represented by the general formula (3). The dyes, DPP, and the surfactant are blended so as to satisfy the conditions (A) to (D). (A) a total amount of the dye (1) and (2) relative to a total amount of the ink is about 2 wt % to 5 wt % (B) weight ratio between the dye (1) and (2) in the ink is about 9:1 to 7:3 (C) an amount of the surfactant relative to a total amount of the ink is about 0.5 wt % to 2.5 wt % (D) an amount of DPP relative to a total amount of the ink is about 1 wt % to 3 wt %
US08021464B2
The invention concerns a method for combined production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a mixture of hydrocarbons wherein the residual PSA is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-enriched fluid, and wherein: the residual PSA is compressed to a pressure such that the partial pressure of the CO2 contained ranges between about 15 and 40 bar; the residue is subjected to one or more condensation/separation steps with production of CO2-rich condensate(s) and a purge of noncondensable gas; the purge of noncondensable gas is preferably treated to produce a H2-rich permeate which is recycled to the PSA, and a residue which is recycled to syngas generation, Preferably, the condensate(s) are purified by cryogenic distillation to produce food grade CO2. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing the method.
US08021458B2
A method for producing a ferro-alloy in an electric arc furnace is disclosed. The method comprises the step of charging the furnace with an un-agglomerated carbon-containing polymer such that the polymer functions as a slag foaming agent.
US08021453B2
A bagless vacuum cleaner includes a separating unit for separating dirt and dust from a dirt-laden airflow which is drawn in by the cleaner. The separating unit has a chamber with collection areas for collecting dirt and dust which is separated from the airflow. A base of the separating unit is movable between a closed position and an open position. A dividing wall between the collection areas is arranged so that its end is spaced from the base by different distances at different respective regions. This enables an enlarged opening, by which dirt and dust can be emptied from the chamber, to be provided, which facilitates emptying of the chamber.
US08021451B2
The present invention provides a fine α-alumina particle having a degree of α-transformation of not less than 95%, a BET specific surface area of not less than 10 m2/g, a degree of necking of not more than 30%, and a total content of Si, Fe, Cu, Na and Mg of not more than 500 ppm.
US08021444B2
A fuel oil composition is disclosed. The fuel oil includes a major proportion of a fuel oil and minor amounts of: (a) at least one polar nitrogen compound effective as a wax anti-settling additive; and (b) at least one reaction product between a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid or anhydride and hydrazine.
US08021439B2
A two-part hair dye including a first part containing an alkali agent, a second part containing hydrogen peroxide, and a non-aerosol foamer vessel to discharge in the form of foam a liquid mixture of the first part and the second part, wherein the liquid mixture contains anionic surfactant (s) selected from the following components (A): (A) a carboxylic type anionic surfactant selected from salts of a C8 to C22 fatty acid; and wherein the content of component (A) in the first part or the second part is 0.1 to 30% by mass.
US08021424B2
In order, in an intervertebral implant having a core made of a swellable material and having a vertebral-body locating face on its top and/or bottom side, which is connected to the swellable core, to reduce the shearing forces between the swellable core and the vertebral-body locating face during swelling of the swellable core, it is proposed that the vertebral-body locating face comprises a plurality of support elements, which are respectively anchored adjacent to one another and individually in the core, and a plurality of mutually separate locating elements, which are disposed adjacent to one another and outside of the core and which are carried by the support elements and are movable relative to one another in the plane of the vertebral-body locating face.
US08021410B2
A delivery system is provided for releasing a medical device within a body cavity. The delivery system may be used in an intravascular procedure to implant a self-expandable stent. A helical structure on the shaft of the delivery system engages the inner surface of the stent. As a result, the stent may be released by rotating the shaft relative to the stent which pushes the stent forward from the distal end of the shaft.
US08021409B2
An inner catheter (36) for use in an endoluminal delivery assembly (10) includes a stiffening element positioned at a transition between a hypotube (36a), a middle tube (36b) and a distal tube (36c) of the inner catheter (36) having different flexibilities. The stiffening element comprises three stiffening wires (42) embedded within the internal wall of the inner catheter (36) at their proximal ends. The stiffening wires (42) extend inwardly and distally to meet at an apex (60).
US08021407B2
A patient cooling system comprises an inflatable patient mattress and a patient enclosure or tent supported by a framework of inflatable tubes drawing air off of the same air supply used to supply the mattress and to cool the tent. The framework of inflatable tubes is divided into left and right sections, which are further subdivided into lower body and upper body sections. An inflatable connector with a stem and protuberance is provided to secure the framework in a closed position. The patient-supporting mattress comprises a plurality of inflatable compartments extending transversely across the width of the mattress that can be alternately pressurized for pressure relief therapy. Radially collapsible, sleeved openings in the tent panel enable connection of conduits or patient care lines to the patient.
US08021401B2
Featured are methods for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that utilize an implant member, which preferably is arcuate. Preferred methods of the invention for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine, include forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space. An alternative method for fixing adjacent vertebrae of a spine includes the step of forming a common channel in and between the adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant in the channel so as to bridge between the adjacent vertebrae. Also featured are methods for stabilizing adjacent segments of a bone, fixation systems and fixation kits.
US08021400B2
Disclosed is a spinal transconnector device for coupling longitudinal spinal rods on either side of the mid-sagittal plane. The device includes two interconnected rod engagement elements, a first rod engagement elements having a vaulted surface adapted to secure to a first longitudinal spinal rod via an interference fit comprising compression of the first longitudinal spinal rod against the generally vaulted surface; and an interference pin that advances into a bore of the first rod engagement element forming an interference fit between the interference pin and the rod engagement element. The interference fit can be associated with elastic deformation of the first rod engagement element occurring as a consequence of the interference pin being advanced through the bore in the engagement element and contacting a surface of the first longitudinal spinal rod.
US08021395B2
According to certain embodiments, disclosed is a vertebral interspinous implant including first and second supports (2,3) defining in their center part respective fixation bodies (7,8) to accept spinal processes of two respective vertebrae, these fixation bodies being located in a same sagittal plane, first and second elastically compressible bodies (4) being set between the first and second supports (2,3) and on each side of the said sagittal plane (P), first and second rigid guides (10) around which are arranged, respectively, the first and second elastically compressible bodies (4), each of these guides (10) optionally being connected at one of its extremities to the supports (2,3) and including at, at least, one of its extremities an abutment (13) adapted to cooperate with an abutment (14) of the corresponding support (3) in order to limit the separation of the supports (2,3) in the direction of the spine.
US08021392B2
Disclosed herein are methods and surgical kits that can be used to fuse facet joints via a minimally invasive procedure (including an arthroscopic or percutaneous procedure). An exemplary method includes creating an incision; locating a facet joint with a distal end of a pin; sliding a substantially hollow drill guide over said pin wherein said drill guide comprises a proximal end, a distal end; removing said pin from within said drill guide; inserting a drill bit into said drill guide; drilling a hole into a bone of said facet joint; removing said drill bit; inserting a facet joint bone plug into said hole using a bone plug inserter having a raised portion at or near is proximal end, wherein said raised portion prevents over-insertion of said bone plug; and removing said drill guide.
US08021391B2
A tooth-hardening apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a tooth-hardening member 11 of a plate shape having a projection 13 on its surface, and a nipple 15 attached on the tooth-hardening member 11. The nipple has a predetermined hardness to provide a pacifier function and a tooth-hardening function. A space 21 is formed in the tooth-hardening member 11. The space 21 is covered with an upper transparent cover 18 and a lower transparent cover 19.
US08021383B2
A lancing device includes a housing, at least two ramps, a lancet holder, a drive spring, and an activation mechanism. The housing includes first and second ends, and a first wall. The first end has an aperture extending therethrough and the first wall has an opening extending therethrough. The two ramps are located within the housing and forms a channel therebetween. The lancet holder is partially contained within the channel formed by the ramps and holds a lancet. The activation mechanism includes a user-accessible component and a plate spring. A portion of the user-accessible component extends through the opening and is external to the housing. The plate spring engages the ramps forming the channel and the lancet holder upon depression of the user-accessible component, the lancet holder moves towards the second end to a cocked position. Upon further depression of the user-accessible component, the lancet holder moves toward the first end to a puncture position.
US08021381B2
A balanced ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic transmission rod which is connected to a blade or end effector by a balance portion, which includes first and second balance asymmetries designed to compensate for the imbalances induced by the blade.
US08021375B2
A surgical clip applicator for applying surgical clips to body tissue includes an elongated ram housing that has proximal and distal ends and at least partially encloses a ram. A trigger housing includes a trigger that has an open position and a closed position. The trigger housing is mounted to the proximal end of the ram housing. The ram extends partially into the trigger housing and is operatively connected to the trigger. The trigger is spaced a first distance from the trigger housing in the open position and spaced a second distance from the trigger housing in the closed position. The first distance being larger than the second distance. A cartridge is removably mounted into the ram housing. The cartridge includes a plurality of the surgical clips. A retaining mechanism retains the trigger with respect to the trigger housing between the open and closed positions. Mounting the cartridge into the distal end of the ram housing urges at least a portion of the ram into the housing to set the trigger in the open position.
US08021373B2
A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws. The device may also include a stapling element disposed within the second jaw. The cutting element and the stapling element may be contiguous so as to define a cutting and stapling element, such as a wedge having a blade disposed thereon. As the wedge is moved proximally from the distal end of the second jaw to the proximal end, the wedge pushes a plurality of staples against a plurality of opposing staple guides disposed in the first jaw in order to staple a section of tissue while cutting the section of tissue.
US08021362B2
Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects having a majority of the surfaces of the defect layers in contact generally involve use of a catheter having at least one energy transmission member at its distal end. The distal end of the apparatus also typically has a force applying member which can apply a force to the tissue defect. Often this force is a lateral force or vacuum which helps the tissue to appose itself. An exemplary method of closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) involves positioning a closure device between layers of the PFO. Energy is then applied to the layered tissue defect with the closure device so as to substantially close the tissue defect. The energy is often monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy. A force may also be applied by the closure device to the layered tissue defect so as to bring the layered tissue defect together.
US08021349B2
A device (10,110,210) for the expression of liquids, such as for the maintenance treatment of vascular catheters. A syringe (16; 116a,116b; 216) has a support structure (15,215) and includes at least two separate compartments (11,12; 111,112; 211,212) in which liquids for treating the lumen (L,283) of a catheter (C,280) with which the device is associated. The syringe further includes a closure plug (13,213) to be associated with the lumen being treated, which is coupled, by virtue of a releasable securement arrangement, to support structure (15,215). At least one plunger (16; 116a,116b; 216) is also included for infusing, in preset order, the different treatment liquids into the lumen to be treated, and the syringe further includes a duct (17,217) which is in fluid communication with the two compartments and is arranged through a through hole through the closure plug (13,213) in order to allow access of the treatment liquid to the interior of the lumen (L,283) upon activation of the plunger.
US08021342B2
A liquid medication dispenser includes a housing that has open top and bottom. The housing includes a central channel and a plurality of internal compartments disposed around the central channel. Each internal compartment is configured to hold liquid medication. The central channel is provided with symmetrically disposed bottom apertures configured to open into respective internal compartments. A shaft is configured to rotate and advance within the central channel. The shaft has a bottom hollow portion and at least one lateral aperture thereon configured to align with each one of the bottom channel apertures. The lateral shaft aperture aligns with a respective bottom channel aperture to allow transfer of liquid medication under gravity from the corresponding internal compartment into the bottom hollow portion of the shaft. The bottom hollow portion is apertured at one end to allow for transferred liquid medication to drip out of the dispenser in a controlled fashion.
US08021337B2
Systems, kits, and methods for establishing percutaneous access are described. A system typically includes a deformable variable diameter cannula sleeve (DVDCS) and a guidewire. The DVDCS will generally have two states, an initial, un-activated condition and a second, activated condition, brought about and controlled under the discretion of the operator. The methods comprise creating an initial access point and tissue tract with a needle, positioning a guidewire through the initial tissue tract, passing the deformable variable diameter cannula sleeve over the guidewire through the tissue tract to a target blood vessel or cavity, and activating the DVDCS to effect radial deformation of the surrounding tissue. Use of the DVDCS reduces the risk of injuring tissue surrounding the tissue tract by lessening the axial forces imparted to the tissue. Kits comprise at least one deformable variable diameter cannula sleeve together with instructions for use.
US08021336B2
A pump set for use in a liquid delivery pump of the type for delivering liquid to a patient, having an infrared radiation detector for detecting infrared radiation, and providing an indication that the pump set is properly loaded on the pump. The pump set comprises a conduit for the liquid and a safety interlock member which is carried by the conduit. The safety interlock member is formed of a material that transmits infrared radiation and blocks visible light.
US08021328B2
An infusion catheter and method, with an elongated shaft having a guidewire lumen which has a proximal section and a common distal section extending to a distal port at a distal end of the shaft, and an infusion lumen which is in fluid communication with the distal port of the guidewire lumen and which joins the common distal section of the guidewire lumen at a location distal to the guidewire proximal port. A restricted passage from the infusion lumen to the common distal section of the guidewire lumen has a smaller transverse dimension than the guidewire lumen and a guidewire slidably disposed in the guidewire lumen.
US08021326B2
A robotic medical system comprises an operator control station having a master input device, a catheter instrument, and an instrument driver in communication with the operator control station. The catheter instrument includes an elongate flexible catheter member, a flexible control element extending within the catheter member, and a proximal drivable assembly configured to axially move the control element relative to the catheter member to perform a kinematic function at a distal end of the catheter member. The instrument driver is configured to operate the drivable assembly to axially move the control element in response to control signals generated, at least in part, by the master input device. The drivable assembly is mounted to the instrument driver, thereby providing mechanically close relationship between the drivable assembly and the instrument driver.
US08021321B2
A split tip dialysis catheter having an outer tube and an inner tube, the two tubes which can be arranged over at least a portion of their length in a coaxial configuration. The inner tube may be connected to the outer tube at a proximal bifurcation, secured at a distal end of the outer tube or both, but generally the inner tube will remain free to move relative to the outer tube to optimize functionality. In addition, the inner tube can be arranged to be removable from the catheter for replacement thereof.
US08021320B2
A pneumostoma management system includes a pneumostoma management device for maintaining the patency of a pneumostoma and a drug delivery device for pneumostoma care. The drug delivery device may be used to introduce therapeutic agents into the pneumostoma for direct treatment of the pneumostoma, treatment of the lung by way of collateral ventilation, and/or treatment of non-lung tissues by diffusion into the bloodstream. The drug delivery device includes a therapeutic agent dispenser for supplying a therapeutic agent and a propellant at positive pressure, an outlet and a connector for correctly positioning the outlet relative to a pneumostoma management device. The drug delivery device includes a self-centering and self-sealing connector for engaging the pneumostoma management device.
US08021306B2
The invention relates to a method, device, and computer program product for monitoring the physiological state of a person. In the method, the heartbeat of the person is detected in order to obtain a pulse signal, and at least one parameter depicting the respiration of the person is determined in the time domain with the aid of time stamps made of the basis of the pulse signal. With the aid of the method, it is possible to calculate an estimate of the person's energy consumption during exercise, without complicated calculations or preliminary data based on measurements.
US08021286B2
An exercise apparatus with adjustable resistance includes a housing and a cord mounting member coupled to the housing. An elastic cord is mounted to the cord mounting member and the cord mounting member permits movement of the elastic cord. A stop member is coupled to the elastic cord at a fixed location. An adjustable catch member is coupled to the housing and engages the stop member to limit movement of the elastic cord.
US08021278B2
Described are several mechanisms for permitting a user to adjust the seat on a stationary exercise bicycle. The described mechanisms can be used to adjust the height of the seat or the fore and aft positioning of the seat on an upright type bicycle. Each of the described mechanisms can be configured to provide users with an optimum seat position and with a convenient latch mechanism to adjust the position of the seat.
US08021276B2
An exercise apparatus to simulate climbing is described that includes such features as arm handles that move in synchronism with the motion of foot pedals to provide a total body workout; side handrails; a mounting step; linear foot movement at a simulated climbing angle; a three point support structure using a vertical support column; pedal track covers; a mechanism to provide constant resistance to pedal motion; and pedal impact absorption.
US08021275B2
An exercise apparatus comprises: a frame having a base portion and having first and second right support elements and first and second left support elements; a crank system comprising first and second crank coupling locations, the crank system being supported by the frame; a right foot support member; a left foot support member; a right guide element coupled to the right foot support member and; a left guide element coupled to the left foot support member; a first flexible support system comprising a first flexible element, the first flexible element coupled to the first and second right support elements and the right guide element and coupled to the first crank coupling location; and a second flexible support system comprising a second flexible element, the second flexible element coupled to the first and second left support elements and the left guide element and coupled to the second crank coupling location, wherein alternating motion of the right and left foot support members causes the first and second crank coupling locations to rotate.
US08021253B2
A one way isolator for high torque devices, such as alternator-starters, driven by a flexible drive means includes a hub and a sheave each of which includes at least one stop member. The hub and sheave are linked by a isolating spring and, via a bearing and/or bushing, can rotate with respect to each other to provide isolation, through the spring, from torque variations when torque is transferred from the flexible drive means to the device. When substantial amounts of torque are transferred from the device to the flexible drive means, the sheave rotates with respect to the hub to bring the stop members into contact such that the isolator then acts like a solid pulley to facilitate the transfer of the torque from the device.
US08021251B1
A hunting arrow point having a ferrule having a forward nose, a rearward shank, and a body, the body having a plurality of radially outwardly opening apertures; the point further having blades, each blade having a proximal end, a distal end, a forward end, and a rearward end, each proximal end having an eye, each blade's forward end having a sharpened edge, each blade being positioned so that its eye aligns over one of the ferrule's apertures; the point receiving screws, each screw extending through one of the blade's eyes and engaging one of the ferrule's apertures; and the point presenting a plurality of pivot stops, each pivot stop being fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the ferrule, each pivot stop being positioned for biasing against one of the blades upon application of a rearwardly directed force to the blade.
US08021248B2
The present invention is directed to an improved multi-layered core golf ball wherein each core layer comprises its own specific hardness gradient (positive, negative or a combination) in addition to an overall specific hardness gradient from one core layer to the next. In one embodiment, the golf ball comprises a two layer core and a cover disposed about the two layer core. The inner core layer has a plurality of hardnesses of from about 50 Shore C to about 80 Shore C and a first hardness greater than a second hardness to define a negative hardness gradient of about 20 Shore C or less. The outer core layer has a plurality of hardnesses of from about 45 Shore C to about 65 Shore C, a fourth hardness greater than a third hardness, and a fifth hardness less than the third hardness and the fourth hardness. Finally, the fourth hardness is less than the first hardness to define a two layer core having a negative hardness gradient of no greater than about 20 Shore C.
US08021240B2
Embodiments of an arch-based play system are disclosed. The system incorporates an arch assembly or a group of arch assemblies. Play elements are connected to the arch assembly or assemblies. The system is modular in nature such that there are a wide variety of different possible implementation configurations. The wide variety of possible implementation configurations corresponds to a wide variety of different play experiences.
US08021236B2
An amusement ride system includes: a shooting device adapted to shoot a projectile; an aiming facility operable by a user to aim the shooting device; and a triggering device operable by the user to fire the shooting device. The user rides the vehicle, aims the shooting device, and fires the device to shoot the projectile. A method for a ride includes: providing a shooting device; providing a plurality of projectiles; and aiming and shooting the projectiles utilizing the shooting device.
US08021233B2
A coupling for joining rotatable shafts including a pair of mating hubs having projecting pins, which hubs are held together via a free-floating wrap around restraint. The coupling has first and second circular hubs, wherein each circular hub has and a tool for fixing a shaft within each bore. Several coupling pins extend outwardly from each hub such that the coupling pins of the hubs are facing and longitudinally aligned with each other to define mating pairs of coupling pins. The coupling has a flexible annular restraint having split ends and semi-cylindrical concavities through the restraint. The restraint is wrapped around the mating pairs of coupling pins such that the split ends align and one mating pair of coupling pins are positioned within each of the semi-cylindrical concavities. A cincture is then fastened around the outer surface of the restraint.
US08021231B2
A gaming establishment may determine the existence of problem gamblers within its halls by monitoring player behavior with one or more sensors from an array of sensors. The player's behavior is then compared to normal behavior and/or problem gambling behavior to determine if the player is potentially a problem gambler. Behavior patterns that may be tracked are player movement, player betting patterns such as tracking player rate of play, facial expressions, physical clues, nonverbal clues, and the like.
US08021229B2
Systems and methods are provided allowing a player to play a gaming device and receive a predetermined number of outcomes in exchange for a payment. The gaming device generates at least the predetermined number of outcomes, and adjusts a balance of the player device based on the outcomes. The player can continue playing regardless of whether the balance is less than zero.
US08021223B2
A gaming machine comprises a central processing unit and a pendulum. The central processing unit operates the gaming machine in response to a wager and selects a game outcome from a plurality of possible game outcomes. The pendulum indicates the game outcome selected by the central processing unit.
US08021221B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a coding competition. In one embodiment, a method for providing a coding competition includes transmitting a coding problem to contestants, receiving computer code created by a contestant, determining a response of the computer code to test data, and evaluating the response of the computer code to the test data. In another embodiment, a method for evaluating a skill level of a contestant includes electronically communicating a coding problem to contestants, electronically receiving a software program in response to the coding problem from one of the contestants, evaluating the received software program, awarding points to the contestant based on the received software program, and determining a rating for the contestant for the competition based on the number of points awarded to the contestant.
US08021220B2
A shooting game apparatus includes an LCD for displaying a target and an operating button for a player to perform an operation for shooting the target. For example, an enemy character is switched between an ineffective state in which it is never damaged even if an attack hits it, and an effective state in which it is damaged if an attack hits it. Different images are displayed depending on whether the target is in the ineffective state or in the effective state. In a case where the target is in the effective state, when a player character enters into a state of being continuously damaged because it is positioned an area where it receives continuous damage, for example, the target is switched into the ineffective state.
US08021215B2
A carrier head that has a housing, a base assembly, a retaining ring, a carrier ring, and a flexible membrane is described. The base assembly is vertically movable relative to the housing. The retaining ring is connected to and vertically movable relative to the base assembly and has a lower surface configured to contact a polishing pad and an inner surface configured to circumferentially surround the edge of a substrate to retain the substrate. The carrier ring is connected to and vertically fixed relative to the base assembly, circumferentially surrounds the retaining ring to prevent lateral motion of the retaining ring, and has a bottom surface configured to contact a polishing pad.
US08021212B2
An apparatus for polishing an edge surface of a glass substrate for magnetic recording media. The apparatus includes a grindstone including abrasive grains mixed with a resin. The grindstone is configured to polish at least the edge surface of the glass substrate. The grindstone has a reentrant groove with a bottom surface and sidewall surfaces such that the bottom surface of the reentrant groove contacts the edge surface of the glass substrate and the sidewall surfaces of the reentrant groove contacts chamfered sidewalls of the glass substrate. The reentrant groove and sidewall surfaces are formed in the resin of the grindstone by pressing the glass substrate into the resin of the grindstone with a force higher than a pressing force during polishing.
US08021198B2
A low-profile power adapter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a low profile power adapter is facilitated by improved approaches to construct and assembly of a power adapter plug for the power adapter. According to one aspect, a base for a power adapter plug of a power adapter can include a metal base connected to a blade (or prong) of the power adapter plug. The metal base can provide mechanical support to the blade as well as electrical connectivity to an internal terminal for the power adapter plug. According to another aspect, internal terminals used by a power adapter plug of a power adapter can be flexibly positioned on the power adapter plug, thereby facilitating interconnection with electrical components used by the power adapter.A molded base can be formed around the metal base leaving the blade and terminals exposed.
US08021187B2
An electric connector makes it possible to achieve downsizing excellently to improve electric connection reliability by preventing deformation when fitting to a mating connector. An engaging projection projecting is provided on an opening end edge of either an insulating housing or a conductive shell. An engaging hole into which the engaging projection is inserted is provided on the other opening end edge. The insulating housing and the conductive shell are fixed to each other in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction by inserting the engaging projection into the engaging hole so that rigidity is largely increased. The fixation mechanism of the insulating housing and the conductive shell do not project inside the insulating housing so that it is possible to reduce the height and make pitches narrow.
US08021175B2
A subscriber identification module (SIM) card connector for mounting a subscriber identification module (SIM) card to a mobile wireless terminal, with the subscriber identification module (SIM) card connector having a reduced thickness as compared to a conventional connector. The subscriber identification module (SIM) card connector includes a case and a tray. The case has a connection board and guiding grooves formed on both sides of the connection board, and the connection board electrically connected with a SIM card. The tray is designed to slidably connect with the guiding grooves of the case. The tray accommodates the SIM card thereon.
US08021172B2
A new rotary receptacle assembly comprises a frame assembly and a drum assembly journaled to the frame assembly so that the drum assembly may rotate relative to the frame assembly. Mounted to the drum assembly is at least one receptacle. A motor assembly may be mounted to one of the frame assembly and the drum assembly for imparting rotary motion to the drum assembly relative to the frame assembly. A clutch assembly disposed on one of the frame assembly or the drum assembly is coupled to the motor assembly. At least one sensor assembly is mounted on the drum assembly and operably coupled to the motor assembly via a rotation control circuit for preventing, among other things, the motor assembly from operating or changing the direction of rotation when an object obstructs the rotation of the drum assembly.
US08021171B2
The invention relates to a connection module, particularly for use between a switching device and a busbar adapter, having a base plate, comprising a plurality of contacts disposed parallel to each other and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base plate, wherein the contacts have contact ends configured as input and output sections, which are positioned substantially in the same plane, wherein the contact ends forming the input sections are disposed on one side of the base plate and the contact ends forming the output sections are disposed on the opposite side of the base plate, wherein the contact ends defining the output sections extend vertically to the base plate, and are configured as plug-in contacts, and wherein the contacts are guided through slots in the base plate, and the contact ends representing the input sections are provided parallel to each other and are aligned in a contact opening arrangement of the busbar adapter, which is configured in a mirror-symmetrical manner to a transverse axis.
US08021169B1
An adjustable ground clamp for easy positioning onto electric conduits of different diameters. A first and a second jaw are pivotally connected and have differently angled jaw surfaces. A distal end of the first jaw has an elongated hole and a distal end of the second jaw has a curved fork having a slot for receiving a bolt with a cylindrical nut. A fastener connects a ground conductor or wire to the ground clamp. The differently angled jaw surfaces, curved fork, cylindrical nut, and the elongated hole result in a ground clamp capable of securely holding electrical conduits of different sizes or diameters without disassembly. The jaws may be easily separated for placement of an electrical conduit without separating or detaching any parts from the ground clamp, making attachment to an electrical conduit quick, easy, and secure.
US08021146B2
An indirect bonding tray for orthodontic bonding procedures has moisture control structure that is located next to the patient's teeth when the tray is placed over the patient's dental arch. The moisture control structure tends to draw moisture away from the adhesive used to bond the appliances to the teeth. As a consequence, the probability that the resulting bond between the appliances and the teeth is adversely affected by the presence of moisture, blood or other fluids in the patient's mouth is decreased.
US08021141B2
An imprint apparatus has a head unit with a fine structure. The head unit includes a fine imprint pattern layer including fine concavities and convexities, a resin layer on a face of the fine imprint pattern layer opposite to a face where the concavities and convexities are formed, a first pressurizing base member on a face of the resin layer opposite to a face contacting the fine imprint pattern layer, and a second pressurizing base member on a face of the first pressurizing base member opposite to a face contacting the resin layer. The resin layer has a modulus of elasticity smaller than that of the fine imprint pattern layer, and the first pressurizing base member has a modulus of elasticity smaller than that of the resin layer. A light source or a heat source may be further provided. The head unit may be light permeable. A replacement layer may be further provided for replacement.
US08021133B2
A feed pump with a variable-speed drive for adjustably metering a feed quantity, which is designed as a single-stage centrifugal pump with a radial wheel arranged to rotate, without a sealing gap, in an impeller chamber of a pump casing, to convey a fluid between a pump inlet and outlet. The radial wheel is connected to a variable speed drive motor having a five-digit rotational speed range, receives the flow centrally, is provided with feed ducts, and has an outside diameter of up to 50 mm, while the centrifugal pump is designed for partial-load operation, the feed quantities of which range from 0 to 3600 ml/min with lifts of 20 to 300 meters. The inside diameter of the impeller chamber is at most 4% larger than the outside diameter of the radial wheel. A seal is arranged between the impeller chamber and the radial wheel or its shaft, and the circumference of the impeller chamber is provided with one or more outlet ducts arranged at an acute angle or tangentially to the outside diameter of the radial-wheel.
US08021121B2
A wind turbine includes a rotor having a hub from which a number of wind turbine blades extend, and a spinner mounted on the hub, wherein the spinner includes one or more apertures. The wind turbine is characterized in that it includes one or more aperture covers for entirely or partly covering one or more of the apertures in the spinner and in that the wind turbine further includes one or more aperture adjustment mechanisms for adjusting the effective size of one or more of the apertures, by displacement of one or more of the aperture covers. A method for establishing at least one aperture in the spinner on the hub of a wind turbine rotor and use of a wind turbine are also contemplated.
US08021115B2
A method and device for reducing vibratory noise in a system with an integral rotating member includes independently operable drive systems for controlling the angular velocity of at least two independently rotatable masses. Control signals manipulate the drive system to rotate each mass at optimal speed, direction and phase to reduce noise induced in the system by the rotating member.
US08021106B2
A guide device with adjustable guide vanes is provided with a drive for the adjustable guide vanes, in which a cylindrical driving pin and an adjusting lever are provided each with one surface pair which are matched to one another and which slide on one another in operation when the guide vanes are being adjusted. To adjust the guide vanes, the adjusting ring is moved, by which the driving pin attached to the adjusting ring slides in an elongated groove of the adjusting lever and applies a force to the adjusting lever. This approach yields an economical and durable structure which is easy to install. This results in surface support with the corresponding low compressive loads per unit area and consequently greatly reduced wear.
US08021092B2
A section (10; 110) is provided for the manufacture of hollow body elements, in particular for the manufacture of pierce and rivet nuts having a square or rectangular outline in plan view and a ring-like piercing section (36; 236) at a side confronting a component consisting of a sheet metal material or the like. The section (10; 210) is at least substantially rectangular in cross-section with two bars (14, 16; 214, 216) at the side (12; 212) later confronting the component. The bars are spaced apart and extend parallel to the longitudinal sides (18, 20; 218, 220) of the section, are likewise at least substantially rectangular in cross-section and form, in the finished element (11, 211), a feature providing security against rotation. The bars respectively each have an inclined flank (68, 70; 268, 270) at the inner side which forms an undercut (69, 71; 269, 271). The specification also describes and claims hollow body elements made from such a section and component assemblies formed by attaching such hollow body elements to sheet metal parts.
US08021088B2
A metal cutting tool has a cutting head releasably mounted on a front end of a tool shank, in a self-clamping manner. The tool shank's forward end is provided with a pair of shank coupling portions, each having a forwardly facing shank support surface. A pocket recess is defined between the shank's coupling portions. Within the pocket recess are a plurality of shank fixation surfaces which are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool shank. The cutting head has a cap portion and a fixation portion extending in rearward direction therefrom. The cap portion includes a pair of head segments, each having a rearwardly facing head base surface. The cutting head's fixation portion has a plurality of head fixation surfaces which are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cutting head. In the assembled tool, the tool shank's forwardly facing shank support surfaces support the cutting head's rearwardly facing head base surfaces, while the plurality of head fixation surfaces abut the plurality of shank fixation surfaces.
US08021084B2
A cutting tool has a cutting insert retained within an insert pocket of an insert holder by a retaining screw. Spaced apart first insert rear abutment surfaces abut spaced apart first pocket rear abutment surfaces, a second insert rear abutment surface abuts a second pocket rear abutment surface, and spaced apart insert lower abutment surfaces abut spaced apart pocket lower abutment surfaces. The cutting insert has a first dimension taken between extremities of the insert side surfaces, a second dimension taken between extremities of the insert upper and lower surfaces, and, a fourth dimension taken between the insert lower abutment surfaces and the insert upper surface. The size ratio between the fourth dimension and the second dimension is in the range of 0.2 to 1, and, preferably, in the range of 0.55 to 0.6. The size ratio between the first dimension and the second dimension is in the range of 1 to 2.
US08021081B2
A tensioner system for a top-tensioned riser in a floating platform includes a hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly resiliently mounted to the floating platform, and a riser support conductor surrounding the riser coaxially, wherein the support conductor conveys a pull-type tensional force from the hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly to the riser through a riser conductor coupling assembly that engages the tensioner assembly and the riser support conductor to convey the tensional force. A riser tension joint support assembly conveys the tensional force from the riser support conductor to a riser tension joint on the riser. The tensioner assembly compensates for relative platform motion including pitch, heave, and yaw. Also a reactive load assembly is mounted to the platform and reacts to a two-point dynamic bending moment imposed on the riser support conductor, while resisting riser support conductor rotation.
US08021075B2
Aircraft arresting beds at ends of runways may be subject to damaging effects of jet blast phenomena. Arresting units for that and other applications and which are resistant to such effects are described, with related methods.
US08021069B2
A redundant release apparatus having a multi-segment split spool with a central bore adapted to axially restrain a tensioned member. Two tensioned tapes are overlappingly wound around the spool segments thereby preventing radial movement of the spool segments. Overlapping winding design of each of the tapes provide predictable unwinding dynamics upon release. The multiple segments require less radial motion for release of the tensioned member.
US08021063B2
A printer includes first transporting belts disposed in parallel at predetermined intervals in the direction intersecting the direction of transportation of print media. The first transporting belts transport a print medium while adsorbing the print medium. Second transporting belts disposed in parallel at predetermined intervals in the direction intersecting the direction of transportation of print media further transport the print media. The second transporting belts are separated from the first transporting belts at the downstream part of the first transporting belts in the direction of transportation of print media. A print head prints on the print medium. The position of separation at which the print medium is separated from the first transporting belts is different in the direction of transportation of print media between one of the first transporting belts and another one of the first transporting belts.
US08021055B2
An oil film bearing is seated on the tapered neck of a rolling mill roll by a hydraulically actuated piston/cylinder unit. The piston/cylinder unit is axially confined by externally threaded locking arms seated in a groove in the roll neck. A locknut is threaded onto the locking arms.
US08021053B2
In a rotary wing aircraft tail rotor head assembly having a ball bearing on a spindle at the head of a rotor wing, the ball bearing contains slug ball separators between the balls in the bearing. The separator may be made from PEEK, PTFE, or polyimide. The ball-to-ball separation between two balls of like diameter provided by the separator may about 3.2 to about 64% of the diameter of one of the balls. A separator may have an annular configuration that defines a passage therethrough, the passage having two ends and the interior of the separator being tapered to define a maximum diameter at each end and a minimum diameter therebetween. The taper of the chamfered surface of the slug ball separator may define a conical angle of about 75° to about 120°. A ball bearing as described herein may also be used in a rotary wing aircraft swashplate having a stationary plate, a rotating plate; and a thrust bearing between the stationary plate and the rotating plate.
US08021050B2
A bearing arrangement having first and second components located for relative operational movement by a respective bearing. The bearing has a bearing element including a pack of resiliently flexible bristles or leaves for transmitting force between the components thereby locally to provide a relative kinematic constraint on at least one degree of freedom of the components during the relative operational movement.
US08021044B2
Fins are arranged on the rotating side of an X-ray computed tomography apparatus. The fins are rotated to generate airflow as the rotating side is rotated. This airflow serves to discharge wear debris to the outside of the X-ray CT apparatus, thereby preventing the wear debris from scattering toward an X-ray tube and support bearing. In consequence, in the X-ray CT apparatus provided with a slip ring, the wear debris produced in a contact space between the slip ring and a brush can be prevented from being scattered in the apparatus.
US08021043B2
A digital radiographic detector has a detector panel that forms digital image data according to radiation exposure energy. An enclosure houses the detector panel, formed from an electrically conductive material and having a base with an inner base surface and an outer base surface and having, along its perimeter, one or more side walls that extend orthogonally from the inner base surface. A base magnetic shield extends as a layer of nanocrystalline material across at least one of the inner base surface and the outer base surface. A cover is formed from a non-conductive material and has a cover magnetic shield of a layer of a metallic alloy bonded to an inner surface. A side wall magnetic shield extends along one or more surfaces of the one or more side walls, wherein the side wall magnetic shield has at least one of the nanocrystalline material or the metallic alloy.
US08021040B2
A disposable thermometer probe sheath includes a bottom piece and a plastic cover film sealed onto the bottom piece. The plastic cover film comprising an upper plastic sheet film and a lower plastic sheet film, each of which has a front edge provided with an opening, a rear edge provided with a tip, and a sealed peripheral edge except for the opening, so as to receive a thermometer probe. The plastic cover film is made of a flexible and deformable material, while the plastic cover film is provided with two notches respectively formed on two side edges adjacent to the tip. The upper plastic sheet film is provided with a first flap attached to the opening thereof, while the lower plastic sheet film is provided with a second flap attached to the opening. When the thermometer probe is inserted into the plastic cover film, the notches are tightly engaged with the thermometer probe. When separating the thermometer probe from the plastic cover film, one of the upper plastic sheet film and the lower plastic sheet film of the plastic cover film is torn from the opening thereof along a longitudinal direction of the plastic cover film under the assistance of the engagement between the two notches and the thermometer probe, and then the one of the upper plastic sheet film and the lower plastic sheet film will be overturned from the opening toward the tip of the plastic cover film, so that the thermometer probe is separated from the plastic cover film.
US08021037B2
An apparatus and method for mixing two components and delivering the mixture to a patient. The apparatus contains a mixing chamber for mixing a liquid component and a powder component. The liquid component and powder component are mixed within the mixing chamber by rotation of a collapsible mixing element. A high strength cartridge capable of withstanding high opposing axial loads from the mixing chamber and a threaded rod generates force to drive the curable material from the mixing chamber. A plunger connected to the rod is then advanced through the mixing chamber to force the mixture out of the mixing chamber and deliver the mixture to the patient.
US08021027B2
A conventional acorn style globe is described incorporating the utilization of LED's as an illumination source. A supporting heat dissipation plate is provided which extends to the exterior periphery of the acorn style luminaire allowing heat to transfer from the LED's directly to the exterior of the acorn style luminaire while maintaining the integrity of an acorn style globe construction. A plurality of individually orientable lenses on each of the LED's positioned within the interior of the globe allow for efficient downlight and desirable optical characteristics. Interior access may be provided through removal of the globe top to thereby provide accessibility to the LED board mounted on the heat transfer plate.
US08021017B2
The LED lamp contains one or more base plates, each having a plurality of through terminal holes connected by a patterned conduction layer. The base plates are separated by support tubes and a number of LEDs have their terminals threaded through the terminal holes and soldered to the conduction layers of the base plates. When the LEDs are turned on, the produced heat is dissipated first by the lengthy terminals of the LEDs between the base plates, and then by the extended conduction layers along the base plates. A large number of LEDs therefore could be packed into an even smaller space and the LED lamp has an even lower production cost.
US08021009B2
A domestic appliance includes an interior that can be illuminated by a light source and is surrounded by walls and a door, wherein the interior is illuminated by the light source from the direction of the door, in particular wherein the door has at least one glass area, light from the light source is coupled into the glass area from the direction of an edge, with the result that the light is at least partially guided in the glass area, and the glass area has elements through which some of the light which is guided in the glass area is conducted into the interior. This manner of illumination prevents articles in the interior from having a silhouetted appearance.
US08021001B2
A projector has a storage unit storing data on a plurality of different light emission patterns each occurring in a period based on a plurality of different-colored lights, wherein each light emission pattern corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of different projection conditions of a color image. An acquiring unit acquires a present projection condition of the color image, and a controller controls a light emission operation of the plurality of different-colored light emitting elements in the period in accordance with data on a light emission pattern corresponding to the present projection condition of the color image.
US08020999B2
A projection type image display apparatus includes an image display element, and a projection optical unit, which is configured to project an image displayed on the image display element, enlargedly, upon a screen. The projection optical unit includes a lens group, which is configured to compensate an distortion on an image surface on the screen, a mirror for compensating a trapezoidal distortion on the screen. The mirror reflects lights emitted from the lens group, so as to project upon the screen obliquely.
US08020998B2
According to the present invention, a projection type image display apparatus enables control of a large amount of light masking through a light-masking unit while maintaining a uniform illumination distribution in an area to be illuminated by the illumination light. The apparatus uses two array lenses on which lens cells are arranged in matrix form, where light-masking unit masks the array lens installed on the light source side in their particular area. The light-masking unit adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source. The light-masking area of lens cells adjacent to lens cells closest to an optical axis is made smaller than the light-masking area of other cells.
US08020994B2
A custom phase plate for a light beam of wavelength “λ” includes a sheet of plastic material having a base refractive index “no”. Formed onto a surface of the sheet is a plurality of contiguous spots having different refractive indices. Together, the spots establish a diffraction pattern in a light beam that removes optical aberrations from the beam. Specifically, each spot has a selected Optical Path Difference (OPD) relative to the base index (no) that is equal to kλ/10 (for k=1 to 10). Further, the OPD for each spot in the pattern is individually established by heating the plastic material with a laser beam of ultra-short pulses.
US08020984B2
A printing system is provided having a printhead for printing on a media web, a dryer and drying chamber for drying the printed web, and a feed mechanism for feeding the web past the printhead, dryer and drying chamber so that the printed web hangs into the drying chamber as a loop from opposite sides of an opening in drying chamber. The dryer directs heated air into the drying chamber through the opening to dry the printed web.
US08020979B2
A printing cartridge that has a roll of print media, a tubular former on which the roll of print media is wound, the former having a plurality of ink supply containers for different types of ink, a casing with a pair of molded covers which releasably fasten together to encase the roll of print media. The casing bears one or more optically readable indicia relating to the length of print media and the types of ink.
US08020976B2
The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The compartment includes porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. A port is arranged in a side wall of the compartment for receiving a needle from a syringe to prime the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.
US08020975B2
Various configurations and applications of traveling wave grids are disclosed. Systems for transporting particles to feed apertures, and/or for transporting particles from storage reservoirs are described. The systems are particularly useful for transporting toner particles in printing systems.
US08020968B2
A printhead module is provided for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead module includes a support. An elongate carrier is mounted to the support. The carrier defines a plurality of transverse ribs and an ink channel located between the ribs. A subassembly includes a micro-electromechanical integrated circuit (IC) configured to eject ink. The subassembly is mounted to the carrier so that the support, carrier and subassembly define a plurality of sealed ink chambers which can feed ink to the IC via the ink channel.
US08020957B2
A printing apparatus, having a recording system with a nozzle surface, a platen installed in a position to face the nozzle surface to hold the recording medium with a clearance provided between the nozzle surface and a surface of the recording medium held by the platen, a feeding system to carry the platen to a recording position, a detecting system which scans the surface of a recording medium to detect an object that may otherwise interfere the nozzle surface on the recording medium by scanning the surface of the recording medium, a scan objective area determining system to determine a scan objective area, which is an area to be scanned by the detecting system, and a scan controlling system which controls the detecting system to scan the scan objective area determined by the scan objective area determining system to detect the object on the recording medium, is provided.
US08020940B2
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a mining and demolition tool are described herein. In an embodiment, a mining bit tool includes a mining and demolition bit tool base and a mining bit tool tip coupled to the mining bit tool base. The base includes a tapered portion and a stem. The tapered portion includes a first end and a second end, with a surface tapering from the first end to the second end. There are at least two flutes positioned along the tapered surface, where a first flute is positioned at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis passing through the center of the mining bit tool and a second flute is positioned to cross a path of the first flute. The stem extends from the first end of the tapered portion, and the tip is coupled to the second end of the tapered portion.
US08020939B2
A fastening belt system designed for use in child automobile transport solutions, and in particular, in child car seats is provided. The fastening belt system is characterized by its use of at least one belt and five anchor points potentially equipped with openings and buckles, which create a harness system composed of the right breast strap and the left breast strap that crisscross at the child's chest, while the right hip strap and the left hip strap belt in the child's legs at the hips. The right breast strap runs from the upper right anchor point to the lower left point; the left breast strap links the upper left anchor point with the lower right point; the right hip strap links the lower middle anchor point with the lower right point; the left hip strap runs from the lower middle anchor point towards the lower left point.
US08020933B2
A lumbar support device of a seat for a vehicle surrounds and supports the lumbar region of a passenger. In the lumbar support device, a mounting bracket is fastened to a seat back frame. A support panel is coupled to the mounting bracket through link units so as to be movable ahead of the seat back frame. Side support units are coupled to respective opposite ends of the support panel so as to be rotatable. A connection wire is connected between each of the side support units and the corresponding link unit of the support panel such that when the support panel moves forwards, the side support units surround side portions of the lumbar region of the passenger.
US08020916B2
The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with at least two roof sections; that, when the roof is closed, are situated one behind the other with regard to the direction of travel (F), of which, when roof section that is situated behind the other section when the roof is closed, at least one separately openable part of the or a roof section, which is situated in front of roof section, can be displaced with a component pointing toward the rear, and the convertible vehicle is ready to be driven when the roof sections are in this position. The convertible vehicle is designed in such a manner that the or each separately openable part, when in its closed position, extends in a transversal direction (q) of the vehicle up to the outer edge of the respective roof section, abuts against at least one upper edge of a side window and at least when closed, is supported on a longitudinal beam placed in the vicinity of a vertical longitudinal center plane (E) of the vehicle and between the windshield frame and a rear roof section.
US08020913B2
A vehicle interior structural assembly includes an instrument panel that is dimensioned to extend laterally between opposing interior side walls of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. A structural member extends between first and second ends of the instrument panel such that the structural member is substantially concealed by the instrument panel. A stay bracket is connected to the structural member and extends downward from the structural member. The stay bracket is located forward of a rearmost extent of the instrument panel. A reinforcement member is connected to the stay bracket at a first point and a second point that are vertically spaced from one another. The reinforcement member includes a support portion cantilevered from and extending rearward of the rearmost extent of the instrument panel such that forces applied to the reinforcement member are directed to the stay bracket and the structural member.
US08020907B2
A bumper for a motor vehicle includes a cross member which is disposed transversely to a side rail of a motor vehicle frame. A crash box is incorporated between the cross member and the side rail, with set bolts being provided to join the crash box to the cross member in the absence of prepunching.
US08020903B2
A vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism including at least: a catch having a first axis of rotation; a pawl; at least one sensor for detecting the position of the catch; and an intermediate element having a second axis of rotation; wherein the intermediate element transfers movement of the catch around the first axis of rotation onto the sensor; the intermediate element directly contacts the catch and the sensor; and the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are not parallel in space with respect to each other.
US08020901B2
A housing including a first member, a second member, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism. The first member is configured to engage with second member. The first locking mechanism locks the first member to the second member, and unlocks in accordance with pressure provided from external of the housing. And the second locking mechanism locks the first member to the second member, and unlocks by rotating either of the first member or the second member at the second locking mechanism.
US08020899B2
A threaded coupling for connecting a threaded first connecting drop pipe to a second connecting drop pipe. The coupling has a first female end having an enlarged exterior diameter and an interior diameter defining a lead in section which provides strength to resist lateral forces exerted on the threaded drop pipe connection. Adjacent the lead in section, internal threads are located in the first female end of the coupling. A second female end having an interior diameter substantially the same size as the lead in section of the first female end is located adjacent the internal threads, opposite the first female end. A male connecting end of a first connecting drop pipe having external threads is inserted into the lead in section and screwed into the coupling. A male connecting end of a second connecting drop pipe is coated with an adhesive and inserted into the second female end.
US08020898B2
A band clamp that connects overlapping pipe ends includes a band, a tightening mechanism, and a gasket. The band has a radially protruding rib, a first lateral section that extends from a side of the rib, and a second lateral section that extends from another side of the rib. The tightening mechanism connects to the band and is operable to tighten the band, and the gasket is received in the rib. In one example, an axial width of the lateral sections are within a range relative to an axial width of the rib, and in another example, the lateral sections are angled inwardly with relative to an axis of the band.
US08020889B2
An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag.
US08020887B2
The invention describes a ski (2) or a snowboard in the form of a board-type gliding device (1). By reference to the width (13) of the gliding board body, at least one slot (14) is provided in its middle portion extending in the depth direction—arrow (15)—from the top face (7) of the gliding board body in the direction towards the running surface facing (10) and in its longitudinal direction essentially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the gliding board body. This at least one slot (14) is provided with a view to causing a cross-sectional weakening and reducing the stiffness of the gliding board body transversely to its longitudinal direction. Also provided is at least one geometry-influencing means (19), by means of which the cross-sectional shape or contour of the gliding board body is variable as a function of load and/or can be manually varied. The geometry-influencing means (19) comprises a plate-type force-transmitting element (44), which extends across more than 50% of the length of the gliding board body and is supported within its longitudinal extension, at least in part-portions, on the top face (7) of the gliding board body so as to transmit load, and the plate-type force-transmitting element (44) is disposed so that it overlaps the least one slot (14) in the longitudinal direction and bridges it transversely to the longitudinal direction of the slot (14).
US08020883B2
A logical third axle gear train for a bicycle, comprising a power gear operatively connected to at least one sprocket and adapted to be rotatably mounted on a bicycle frame. A drive gear is operatively connected to a hub assembly on which a drive wheel is mounted. A conversion gear adapted to be rotatably mounted on the bicycle frame is disposed between the power gear and drive gear to transmit torque from the power gear to drive gear. The drive wheel is removable from the bicycle frame without manipulation of a chain for driving the sprocket.
US08020870B2
A target pattern recognition and matching game using a game box, game slats, and a target pattern. A user is provided with multiple game slats and a game box. There is a predetermined target pattern which a user then tries to match by adding or removing game slats from the game box. The pattern may have multiple rows and columns and be matched by the display in display box of the game slats having the same number of rows and columns. Typically, the front of the game box will be transparent and the rear of the game box will be a predetermined color and then may appear on the target pattern and on portions on the game slats used to play the game. The rules of the game and the apparatus of the game may be adjusted to provide a very simply played game for young children or people who have mental impairments to much more complex patterns to provide a much more challenging game for advanced players. It may be played electronically on a computer or using a game program.
US08020867B2
A toy block assembly puzzle, which is arranged diagonally, ideal for advanced users, comprises: a game tray (20) and plurality of assembly pieces (10) which will be arranged in a concave recess (21) of said game tray (20), characterized in that: said concave recess (21) of said game tray (20) including 50 concave slots (22), arranged in 11 rows; each odd row (row 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) having 5 slots and each even row (row 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) having 4 slots; all slots (22) of said odd and even row are staggered arranged, forming 10 diagonal rows, each having an angle of 45 degree enclosed by said diagonal row and a border of said game tray (20); said assembly pieces (10) comprise 11 building blocks (1A˜1K), each having a different shape and formed by 3˜5 adjacent units; a total sum of units of said 11 building blocks (1A˜1K) are 50 units; said building blocks (1A˜1K) are placed diagonally with an oblique angle of 45 degree, into said 50 concave slots (22), which are provided on the game tray (20).
US08020860B2
The present application is directed to devices and methods for moving media sheets within an image forming device. One embodiment includes a registration mechanism located along the media path. The mechanism may include a series of discrete registration nips that each includes a pair of drive rolls and idler roll. The nips are spaced at intervals across the media path. Guide ribs are arranged across the media path and may be positioned between the nips. The guide ribs further guide the media sheets through the registration mechanism and along the media path.
US08020858B2
Accurate sheet leading edge registration system and method including a first and second nip assembly, a first sheet leading edge sensor and a controller. The first and second nip assemblies being spaced apart from one another. The first sheet leading edge sensor capable of detecting an arrival of a leading edge of a sheet at a point in the process direction. The arrival being associated with engagement of the first and second nip assemblies with the sheet. The controller capable of imparting a rotational skew velocity to the sheet using the first and second nip assemblies. A center of rotation of the skew velocity being offset laterally from a center of the sheet leading edge. The method includes providing at least the above-mentioned nip assemblies, first sheet leading edge sensor and controller.
US08020849B2
An image recording apparatus according to one aspect comprises: a first tray disposed within an opening of a main body to allow a recording medium to be placed thereon; a second tray disposed above the first tray, the second tray having a second end portion located on a side of the opening; a conveying unit; and a recording unit. The second tray is movable between a first posture and a second posture. When the second tray is in the first posture, a top surface of the second tray in the vicinity of the second end portion is positioned at a predetermined height relative to the first tray. When the second tray moves from the first posture to the second posture, the top surface in the vicinity of the second end portion is moved toward the first tray.
US08020835B2
The present invention provides for electronic module insertion and removal such as when high insertion/extraction forces are exerted in small spaces. To secure or unsecure the module a frame is mounted to a cabinet housing the high insertion module. The frame includes a lever assembly that fixedly rotates about an axle attached at each end to a hub. The hub is allowed to rotate to one or more fixed angular positions that move the lever proximity relative to the front surface of the high insertion module. Applying a pressure to the lever rotates the lever until the module is either secured or unsecured from its cabinet.
US08020827B2
A suspendable blow dryer holder includes a lower frame having a first opening located within the bounds of the lower frame, the first opening dimensioned to accept and secure a barrel of a first blow dryer such that the barrel is pointed at a floor when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended. The suspendable blow dryer holder includes an upper component having a connection mechanism, the connection mechanism configured to connect the suspendable blow dryer holder to a suspending mechanism. Finally, the suspendable blow dryer holder includes a plurality of elongated connecting elements attached to the upper component and extending to a perimeter of the lower frame, the plurality of elongated connecting elements each attached to the perimeter of the lower frame at a connection location, the plurality of elongated connecting elements each having a sufficient length for the first blow dryer to fit between the upper component and the lower frame when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended, the connection locations on the perimeter of the lower frame spaced apart for the first blow dryer to fit between at least two of the plurality of elongated connecting elements.
US08020821B2
A wall hanger includes first and second components. The first component includes a first main body for mounting to a computer device, an insert member provided on the first main body, and a first engaging member provided on the first main body and located above the insert member. The second component includes a second main body for mounting to a wall surface, an insertion groove portion provided on the second main body, and a second engaging member provided on the second main body and located above the insertion groove portion. The insert member is inserted into the insertion groove portion along an insertion direction until the first engaging member is brought into engagement with the second engaging member.
US08020818B2
A stand includes a connecting member, a first supporting member pivotably connected to the connecting member and rotatable along a first direction, two second supporting members pivotably connected to the connecting member and rotatable along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and two blocking members pivotably connected to the second supporting members respectively, opposite to the connecting member.
US08020813B1
A system for routing fiber optic cable includes a hinged housing, a cable storage device connected to a first portion of the housing, and a cable guide. The cable guide includes a flexible strap having a first end connected to the cable storage device and an opposite second end coupled to a second portion of the housing. The cable guide includes a first sidewall extending upwardly from a first side of the flexible strap and a second sidewall extending upwardly from an opposite second side of the flexible strap. The cable guide defines a channel configured for receiving a cable.
US08020809B2
A control moment gyroscope system for delivering a target torque to a spacecraft including a rotor assembly having a rotor and a motor to spin the rotor about a rotor axis. A gimbal assembly has a gimbal for supporting the rotor assembly and a gimbal torque motor to rotate the gimbal about a gimbal axis, which is normal to the rotor axis, to generate an output torque. A control system has a sensor for determining the output torque and a processor in communication with the rotor assembly, the gimbal assembly and the sensor. The processor requests the target torque and establishes a feedback control loop to generate a torque error signal based on the output torque for bringing the output torque within a predetermined range of the target torque.
US08020807B2
An aircraft vehicular front wheel landing gear assembly is provided that includes a nonelastomeric outer upper strut tubular member having an inner axial center bore with a tubular cylindrical frictional interface inner surface segment, and a nonelastomeric inner lower strut member having an outer bonding surface segment. The nonelastomeric inner member is rotationally received in the outer strut member inner axial center bore with the nonelastomeric inner strut member rotatable within said outer strut member. The assembly includes an elastomeric surface effect damper member encompassing the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The elastomeric surface effect damper member has an inner bonding surface segment and an outer elastomer surface, the inner bonding surface segment is bonded to the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The assembly includes a surface effect lubricant disposed between the elastomeric surface effect damper outer elastomer surface and the nonelastomeric outer strut member frictional interface inner surface segment with the elastomeric surface effect damper outer elastomer surface engaging the nonelastomeric outer strut member frictional interface inner surface segment and inhibiting an oscillating shimmy rotation.
US08020802B2
A dispenser for cutting line or string is provided. The dispenser for flexible cutting line includes a generally rectangular housing configured to accept a spool of cutting line, the housing being formed from two mateable side portions configured to snap together, wherein at least one portion of the housing is formed as a first opening to expose a view of an amount of cutting line on the spool; a donut portion disposed centrally in the housing configured for rotatably supporting the spool of cutting line in the housing; and at least one second opening formed in the housing configured for dispensing of the cutting line from the housing.
US08020799B2
A hydraulic crusher includes crushing arms, a crusher body having a hollow portion extending in the longitudinal direction, and hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic crusher includes four first hydraulic hoses which have proximal caps connected to ports of the crusher body and extend toward the distal side in the longitudinal direction in the hollow portion; four second hydraulic hoses which have proximal caps connected to ports of the hydraulic cylinders, and extend into the hollow portion and then toward the distal side in the longitudinal direction while being curved; and a clamp or the like serving as a joint member movable in the longitudinal direction, the clamp connecting distal sections of the first hydraulic hoses with distal sections of the second hydraulic hoses.
US08020798B2
A pulverizer simplified in structure for easy maintenance and suppressed in cost. The pulverizer has a hopper (2) provided on one side thereof, a product discharge hole (4) provided on the other side thereof, and a raw material crushing chamber (3) for crushing raw material that is fed from the hopper (2) and discharging the crushed material from the product discharge hole (4) . The pulverizer further has at least one thin plate-like rotor (8) disposed on the upstream side inside the raw material crushing chamber (3), a hollow circular cylindrical space (S1) in which the rotor is placed, a classifying space (C) disposed on the downstream side of the hollow circular cylindrical space (S1) and formed in a hollow circular cylindrical shape having an inner diameter smaller than the hollow cylindrical space (S1), and a product discharge hole (4) which is coaxially disposed on the downstream side of the classifying space (C) having an inner diameter smaller than the classifying space (C). Airflow produced by the rotation of the rotor (8) causes raw materials to collide with each other to crush them or causes raw materials to collide with the inner wall surface of the raw material crushing chamber to crush them.
US08020794B2
A shredder head adapted to vary the power consumed by the shredder according to the thickness of the material to be shredded.
US08020792B2
An apparatus includes a mill, a rotary actuator configured to apply torque to the mill, a sensor configured to sense a parameter corresponding to rotation of the mill and a controller configured to generate control signals based upon acceleration of the mill. Rotation of the mill is modified as a result of the control signals.
US08020786B2
The present invention provides in an adjustable shower head having a user-operable variable spray pattern. The shower head includes an adjustment mechanism that is hydropowered by water passing through the shower head, upon activation by a user.
US08020784B2
A coating material supply device is disclosed, such as for a paint facility. An exemplary coating material supply device may include a coating material reservoir and a coating material meter. During application of coating material, the coating material reservoir may be at ground potential and may be located upstream from the coating material meter, which may be at a high-voltage potential. The reservoir may be connected via an insulating path to the coating material meter. The coating material meter may be at ground potential when the coating material reservoir supplies coating material to the coating material meter. Before the coating material meter is returned to a high-voltage potential for continued application of coating material, the insulating path may be emptied to insulate the coating material meter from the coating material reservoir.
US08020783B2
An improved apparatus and method of attaching heated or cooled liquid filled tubing to a floor, wall or ceiling to create a radiant heating or cooling system.
US08020782B2
A transmission thermostat device includes a body having first and second input ports and first and second output ports. A first fluid path extends between the first input port and the first output port. A second fluid path extends between the second input port and the second output port. A bypass port is disposed between the first fluid path and the second fluid path. A temperature sensing mechanism is disposed within the housing. The temperature sensing mechanism element is operative in a first mode to close the bypass port and in a second mode to open the bypass port. The temperature sensing mechanism includes a bimetal element responsive to a change in temperature.
US08020777B2
An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured to have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones and provides heating and cooling to the various zones according to a cost budget.
US08020764B2
A point of issuance cracking device for producing and recording intentionally created unique crack patterns in a brittle material layer of portable consumer devices and methods of using same for authentication are disclosed. When a conductive material is used for the brittle material layer, the electromagnetic field (EMF) signature of the intentionally created cracks can be detected, stored and compared for the purposes of the authenticating the portable consumer device.
US08020762B2
Improved podcasts and techniques that facilitate their use are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to creating, publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, a client application can subscribe to podcasts and then automatically monitor the podcasts for updates to be downloaded. In the event that user interest in a podcast becomes inadequate, downloading of further updates can be restricted. According to another aspect, a podcast can be subscribed to through use of a portable subscription file. According to still another aspect, podcast feeds can be enhanced to include segment elements and other metadata.
US08020761B2
A point-of-sale system includes a housing, processing device, and radio frequency card reader. The processing device and reader are disposed within the housing, which eliminates external electrical connections associated with the reader. The system may include a monitor and an interchangeable base, which receives the monitor and is selectively removable from the monitor. The interchangeable base houses the processing device. The housing may include the interchangeable base, which also houses electrical connections associated with the RF card reader. A method of displaying point-of-sale information includes providing a housing, disposing a processing device within the housing, and disposing a radio frequency card reader within the housing, thereby eliminating external electrical connections associated with the reader. The method may include providing a monitor with a display and receiving area, adapting the interchangeable base to receive the receiving area and to be selectively removable from the receiving area.
US08020760B2
An automated banking machine includes an input device including a card reader which operates to read data bearing records in the form of user cards. The card data is usable to identify a user or a user account. The machine also includes an output device and a cash dispenser selectively operative to dispense currency sheets to machine users. Software operating in a computer of the machine causes the computer to operate a cash dispenser in carrying out cash dispensing transactions where cash is dispensed to users whose read accounts are assessed for value associated with cash dispensed. The computer also processes a mark up language document. The software includes screening software operative to prevent the computer from operating the cash dispenser responsive to communication with at least one system address.
US08020753B2
A preferred embodiment of a revolution counter tool and method employs an adapter shaft with input and output ends coupled in-line between a driven part and a driving part, and an intermediate portion between the input and output ends that is coupled to a rotary encoder and encoder circuit. A memory counter circuit maintains a count of turns and increments of the driven part by the driving part, and a reference setting circuit sets a reference setting of the memory counter circuit when a count is to be taken. The device body has a first portion mounting the adapter shaft with the rotary encoder, an intermediate housing containing the memory counter circuit, and a second portion at a distance from the first portion and of a sufficient mass that acts to orient the device body to a gravity-determined position as a reference position. The memory counter circuit receives output signals from the rotary encoder circuit and maintains a count relative to a reference setting using the reference position of the device body as indexed by gravity.
US08020751B1
An apparatus for at least partially separating at least two container portions includes first and second container portions. At least one tear line extends at least partially between the first and second portions and at least partially defines the first portion. The first portion is at least partially separable from the second portion along the tear line(s). At least one releasable adhesive spot at least partially holds the first portion down prior to the at least partial separation of the first portion from the second portion.
US08020749B2
According to a metal joining method of the present invention, first and second dissimilar metals are joined together by interposing between the first and second metal materials a third metal material dissimilar to the first and second metal materials and causing eutectic melting at least either at an interface between the first and third metal materials or at an interface between the second and third metal materials.
US08020746B2
A method for generating a wire bond between a wire and an electrical contact member is provided. The method comprising the steps of: pressing a first surface of a portion of the wire against a second surface of the electrical contact member with a first force while vibrating the portion of the wire along the second surface in order to generate a bond; measuring the time dependent vibration amplitude of the portion of the wire at a number of discrete time steps during the generation of the bond; measuring the time dependent deformation of said portion of the wire due to said applied first force and said vibration at a number of discrete time steps during the generation of the bond; and generating a time dependent first signal from at least said vibration amplitude and said deformation at a number of discrete time steps during the generation of the bond that is a direct measure of the stability of the bond at the respective time step.
US08020744B2
A method and apparatus for connecting wires to circuits, including the formation of at least one electrically conductive path having a plastic base with a metal foil formed of laser direct processes.
US08020740B2
An effort-saving stapler includes a first activating mechanism including a first connecting section and an abutting ridge, and a second activating mechanism including a ram and an arm including a second connecting section pivotally connecting to the first connecting section at a fulcrum point “A”. The stapler further includes a pushing mechanism including a third connecting section, an anvil, and an abutting ridge contacting with the abutting edge of the first activating mechanism, and with these two abutting ridges defining a contact point “B”. The stapler further includes a magazine including a fourth connecting section pivotally connected to the third connecting section at a second fulcrum point “C”. The fulcrum point “A”, contact point “B” and fulcrum point “C” are in a straight line when bending legs of the staples for closing the staples in an effort-saving way.
US08020733B2
A dispensing system for dispensing cleaning product for hand washing at a faucet comprises a cartridge having an internal reservoir for containing hand wash cleaning product, a nozzle configured in one of a plurality of key shapes, and a dispenser having a receptacle opening adapted to receive and engage the nozzle of the cartridge when the receptacle opening is configured in one of a plurality of key shapes corresponding to the key shape of the nozzle, the dispenser having a fluid communication passage for dispensing fluid for hand washing, whereby only cartridges and dispensers which have matched key shapes will engage each other for operative discharge of the hand wash cleaning product.
US08020732B2
The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a foam, comprising a manually compressible container (2) for storing a liquid and air, which container comprises an opening (3), a rigid housing (4, 5) to be fitted in or on the opening, the housing comprising an air passage (11, 12) and a liquid passage (9), which are in communication with a dispensing passage (14) which ends in a dispensing opening (8), and a valve body (6) which, in a rest position, covers a mouth of the liquid passage and a mouth of the air passage (10) in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage. The invention is characterized in that the elastic valve body comprises an arcuate section (6c), which arcuate section extends in the mouth of the liquid passage in such a way that, initially, due to the liquid pressure in the liquid passage on the valve body, the arcuate section improves the sealing of the mouth of the liquid passage.
US08020727B2
An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool (10) is provided, including a method for measuring the motor current of the dispensing tool during operation through a motor controller (U2). The method further includes sending a feedback signal from the motor controller (U2) relating to the measured motor current to an input of a microcontroller (U1) that is adapted to a dispensing tool (10). The feedback signal is compared to a prescribed threshold and the motor current is conditioned based on the comparing of the feedback signal to the prescribed threshold.
US08020716B2
A rack for drying, storing or organizing sports equipment includes a central post having a vertical axis, a plurality of holes substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis, and a plurality of tier members adapted to be inserted into one or more of the holes. The tier members include first and second members. The second members are adapted to be inserted into an end of and secured at any of a plurality of positions within, the first member. The rack may also have one or more holes that extend through the vertical post, the first member may be inserted through the holes, and a third member may be adapted to be inserted into an end of and secured at any of a plurality of positions within, the first member.
US08020711B2
A controller retainer (14) for a video game controller (12) includes a retainer top (20), a retainer bottom (22), a first side (24), a second side (26), a retainer back (28) and a retainer front (30). The retainer top (20) includes a controller receiver (34) that receives the controller (12). The first side (24) and the second side (26) extend between the retainer top (20) and the retainer bottom (22). The second side (26) can be non-parallel to the first side (24). At least one of the sides (24, 26) can form an angle (44, 48) that is greater than 90 degrees relative to the retainer bottom (22). At least one of the sides (24, 26) can form an angle (250, 254) that is less than 90 degrees relative to the retainer back (28). The retainer bottom (22) can include a first surface (36) and a second surface (38) that is positioned at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the first surface (36). The controller receiver (14) can include one or more cavities (358) that each substantially encircles at least a portion of the controller (12).
US08020706B2
Apparatus, methods and systems are used to separate fines from objects of a feed mixture being processed (e.g., iron bearing pellets, chips and dust). For example, at least a portion of an endless belt defining a channel is movable up an incline relative to horizontal (e.g., an incline that is at an angle relative to horizontal that is greater than an angle of repose associated with the objects, but less than an angle of repose associated with the fines being removed). Further, obstruction elements may be used on the endless belt to impede the flow of the fines down the incline.
US08020703B2
A system comprising disposable medical devices and a packaging strip comprising a plurality of chambers containing the disposable medical devices. The strip is folded along breadthwise running fold lines to form a series of loops, each loop comprising opposing sections. The opposing sections of at least some of these loops are sealed to each other thus forming chambers between said sections. A cartridge contains such a packaging strip.
US08020693B2
A conveyor chain link has a leading edge, a trailing edge, two opposed side edges, a load carrying upper surface and a bottom face. The leading and trailing edges have pluralities of eye parts separated by openings, such that the trailing edge of one belt link may be arranged in the openings arranged on the leading edge of an adjacent belt link. The belt links are connected either by inserting a traverse rod through apertures in the eye parts or by fitting lateral notches in slots provided in sides of the eye parts on the opposite edge on the sides of the eye parts along one edge. Between the leading and trailing edges and the side edges at least a part of a load carrying surface has a one-sided inclination towards one side edge.
US08020687B2
An apparatus is used to enhance the standing-surfaces of platform-components of an escalator or a moving walkway which moves in a continuous loop. The apparatus is maintained in a constant position relative to the moving parts of the escalator or walkway such that, while in that constant position, all the standing-surfaces continually pass under the apparatus as a result of the continuous loop of the escalator. When the escalator is in operation, an applicator-means of the apparatus applies a flowable enhancement-material, in situ, to the standing-surfaces of the moving platform-components. The material solidifies thereon to enhance the surface characteristics of the standing-surfaces of the escalator, or moving walkway as the case may be.
US08020686B2
A method and apparatus for a recycling and environmental debris chute that directs leaf, debris and recycling or other materials into a container for collection, and more particularly a foldable chute formed from a single sheet of material and insertable into a collection bag or flexible container to hold the bag or container open in an upright or laying down sideways position and facilitate directing leaves, debris and other material into the bag or container.
US08020678B2
A traveling case has a container and a foot stand assembly. The container has a top, a bottom, a rear, a handle, multiple wheels and a foot stand recess. The handle is mounted on the top of the container. The wheels are pivotally mounted on the bottom of the container. The foot stand recess is mounted on the rear of the container. The foot stand assembly is mounted on the rear of the container and has a foot stand and a telescopic strut. Therefore, when the traveling case is loaded, a carrier is not required to stabilize the traveling case in order to avoid the traveling case toppling. Therefore, the traveling case is convenient.
US08020667B2
A lift apparatus to deploy from a storage position in a ceiling to a working position supported by the floor of a room below the ceiling where the lift apparatus is stored. A electrically motor powered drive raises a lift platform and lowers a lift platform to carry items from the room to an attic above the room. Controls are used to deploy the lift apparatus and to operate the lift platform on the lift apparatus. Preferred method of operating the lift apparatus is an acme screw drive which provides an appropriate mechanical advantage reducing the size of the motor required, but also will prevent downward movement either of the lift apparatus during the deployment procedure or of the lift platform while moving items from the attic to the room below the attic or from the room below the attic to the attic. The lift apparatus is supported by the floor and does not require any special bracing or strengthening of floor joists. When stored it is completely out of view of the living area of the room below the ceiling where the apparatus is stored.
US08020666B2
An oil pan separator 132 is disposed so as to divide a space within an oil pan 130 into a first chamber 30a and a second chamber 30b. The oil pan separator 132 has a protrusion 132b formed at a low position in such a manner that a portion of the first chamber 30a protrudes into the second chamber 30b. A protrusion upper-plate 132b1, which serves as an upper end portion of the protrusion 132b, is provided with an oil feed valve 138, which is a one-way valve, for allowing substantially only outflow of oil from the first chamber 30a to the second chamber 30b.
US08020660B2
In a pump device applicable to a power steering apparatus, a pump element is housed within a pump housing and is configured to drain a working oil, an electric motor is configured to drive the pump element, a reservoir tank is installed on the housing and is configured to reserve the working oil supplied to the oil element, a passage is formed within the pump housing and is connected to the pump element, and a control valve is installed in the pump housing, is configured to communicate with the passage, and is configured to control a flow of the working oil caused to flow through the passage.
US08020654B2
A drivetrain is proposed for a hybrid motor vehicle, which comprises an electric machine arranged between the vehicle's transmission (2) and a differential (8) of a driven axle in order to drive the axle via a Cardan shaft (7) or another shaft capable of torque transfer in which a transmission (10) made as a reducing gear system is arranged in the force flow direction behind the electric machine in order to produce the necessary speeds and torques and transfer them to the Cardan shaft or to the other shaft.
US08020653B2
An in-wheel motor includes a rotating electric machine provided at a wheel and applying driving force to the wheel, a housing housing the rotating electric machine and rotatably supporting the wheel, and a vibration damping member provided between the housing and a ball joint as a mounting portion for mounting the housing on a vehicle body.
US08020647B2
A steering system for a vehicle wherein the first and second axle shafts are driven by a power shaft powered by an engine. A differential gear is interposed between the power shaft and the first and second axle shafts. The steering system has a first hydraulic unit associated with the first axle shaft, a second hydraulic unit associated with the second axle shaft, a hydraulic circuit connecting an input of the first hydraulic unit to an output of the second hydraulic unit and an output of the first hydraulic unit to an input of said second hydraulic unit. A control unit is connected to the hydraulic circuit for varying a flow rate of hydraulic fluid in the first and second hydraulic units and an actuator associated with the control unit for controlling said control unit. The actuator is responsive to rotation of a steering wheel.
US08020644B2
A cutting element is provided including a substrate and a TSP material layer over the substrate. The TSP material layer includes at least a property having a value that varies through the layer.
US08020633B2
A method of logging a wellbore comprises drilling a first wellbore to a depth using a drilling rig and drilling a second wellbore to a depth using the drilling rig. While the second wellbore is being drilled a logging operation is conducted in the first wellbore using the drilling rig. The logging operation can be conducted in the first wellbore via a wireline logging tool.
US08020632B2
A communication system for a casing while drilling system is provided. The casing while drilling system is adapted to advance a bottom hole assembly into a subsurface formation via a casing. The communication system comprises a high frequency modulator and a transducer. The modulator is positioned in the bottom hole assembly and adapted to generate a mud pulse by selectively restrict mud flow passing therethrough. The transducer is adapted to detect the mud pulse generated by the modulator.
US08020631B2
A pneumatic rotary tool comprises a housing, a square drive output member supported by the housing for rotational movement, and a pneumatic motor disposed in the housing for driving rotation of the square drive. A valve is disposed in the housing for rotary movement between a first position in which pressurized air powers the motor in a forward direction and a second position in which pressurized air powers the motor in a reverse direction. An actuator supported on the housing for translational movement is connected to the valve by a lost motion connection system. The lost motion connection system comprises first and second connector elements that are engaged for generally conjoint movement in a first direction and for relative sliding movement in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
US08020626B2
An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.
US08020624B2
A technique is provided for pumping fluids in a subterranean wellbore. A submersible pumping system can be deployed in a wellbore for moving desired fluids within the wellbore. The pumping system energizes the desired fluid movement by reciprocating a working fluid between expandable members.
US08020622B2
A downhole annealing system includes a component to be annealed; a steam generating catalyst in proximity to the component; and a reactant fuel selectively communicative with the catalyst to produce an exothermic reaction and method.
US08020621B2
In one aspect, an apparatus is disclosed that includes an anisotropic nanocomposite element in thermal communication with a heat-generating element for conducting heat away from the heat-generating element along a selected direction. In another aspect, a method of conveying heat away from a heat-generating element is disclosed that includes transferring heat from the heat-generating element to an anisotropic nanocomposite element that is configured to conduct heat along a selected direction, and transferring heat received by the anisotropic nanocomposite element to a heat-absorbing element.
US08020607B2
The present invention provides a pipe for a heat exchanger. The header includes a tube insertion hole for insertion of a tube, a filler metal groove formed in a length direction on one side or both sides at a point separated from the tube insertion hole, and a filler metal that flows down following the tube and the periphery where the tube and tube insertion hole come in contact. Filler metal is inserted in the filler metal groove so as to enable brazing fusion. A lead groove is formed between the tube insertion hole and filler metal groove and provides a pathway so as to enable smooth flow of the filler metal, and so that molten filler metal can flow smoothly into the fused areas between the tube and header pipe in desired locations and amounts.
US08020605B2
A steel slab caster having a mold with movable opposing mold faces, and methods of using the steel slab caster for casting steel slabs. The movable opposing mold faces may be laterally positioned with respect to each other in a predefined configuration. Molten steel may be introduced into the mold of the slab caster. The forces exerted by the molten metal on at least one of the opposing mold faces and/or the lateral positions of the opposing mold faces may be monitored during casting at locations on at least one of the movable mold faces. The position of the monitored mold face may be controlled during casting responsive to the monitored forces and/or monitored position.
