US08102863B1
A gateway interconnecting a high speed Wide Area Network (WAN) and a lower speed Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is provided. The high speed WAN is preferably connected to the gateway via a Fiber-to-the Home (FTTH) connection and associated FTTH modem. In general, the gateway includes an adaptable cross-layer offload engine operating to manage bandwidth between the high speed WAN and the lower speed WLAN. As data enters the gateway from the WAN at the high speed data rate of the WAN, the offload engine stores the data in a non-secure data cache. A rule check engine performs a stateless or stateful inspection of the data in the non-secure data cache. Thereafter, the data is moved from the non-secure data cache to a secure data cache and thereafter transmitted to an appropriate user device in the WLAN at the lower data rate of the WLAN.
US08102860B2
A method and system to create a virtual network to isolate a device connected to a port, and to change a designation of such network in response to identification data received from the device so as to provide the identified device with access to further areas of a network.
US08102857B2
A system and method for receiving data and control messages comprised of a series of data units is provided. The data units comprising each message are structured to follow a particular sequence, such as zero or more data units of a first type followed by one or more data units of a second type, which may then followed by data units of one or more other predetermined types. Upon receiving a data unit of a first or second type, a number of “units to follow” is determined from information provided in the received data unit. A number of subsequently received data units are then forced to be processed as one of the first type, the second type, or other predetermined type in accordance with the known structure of the message. The number of subsequently received data units that are forced to be processed as one of these types is based on the determined number of units to follow.
US08102856B2
The present invention discloses a method of implementing traversal of multimedia protocols through Network Address Translation device, wherein the Network Address Translation (NAT) device establishes a mapping relationship between address of a terminal in a private network and address of a terminal in a public network, and enables the terminal in the private network to access the public network with a common address, so as to implement the interaction of media streams between the terminal in the private network and the terminal in the public network, in which the common address is a address of the private network for accessing the public network.
US08102853B2
A data structure of a MAC header for a WirelessHD communication system including an application layer, a media access controller (MAC) layer, and a physical (PHY) layer, includes, a payload data packet from the application layer; a MAC header of a fixed length; a MAC header extension of a variable length; a MAC header extension control field which signals if a particular field needs to be included or excluded; a PHY header for synchronizing the behavior of the PHY layer; a first CRC segment for a cyclic redundancy checksum for checking transmission of the MAC header and the PHY header; and a second CRC segment for a cyclic redundancy checksum for checking transmission of the MAC header extension. Either the MAC header or the MAC header extension includes a size indication of the MAC header extension for facilitating checking of the second CRC segment.
US08102849B2
A method, system and computer program product for a wireless mobile display digital interface (WMDDI) association procedure that allows establishing and joining more than one multicast group to facilitate the interoperability of multiple client devices based on host and client capabilities. The protocol provides for the exchange and update of capabilities and multicast addresses for layered multicast transmission applications. The system is used for interoperating devices with different capabilities and provides for efficient transmissions by using different multicast addresses mapped to different layers of a bitstream. The protocol adapts to changes in capabilities, in joining/releasing of multicast addresses and in link quality.
US08102844B1
A method and system for intercepting and forwarding High-Speed SECS Message Services (HSMS) communication between at least two entities, includes a fail-safe bypass to ensure the communications link between the entities is not severed upon failure of the intercepting/forwarding agent. A “pass-through” agent is placed in between two entities communicating via an HSMS link, such that the pass-through agent is able to intercept messages from one entity and forward it to the other entity, and vice versa. The pass-through agent is able to see all messages between the two entities, and is also able to create HSMS messages and send them to one of the entities as if the message had come from the other entity, thereby conferring the ability to inject additional HSMS messages. Should the pass-through agent fail, a bypass mechanism ensures that the two entities can automatically resume HSMS communication without the pass-through agent.
US08102840B2
A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a Private Service Exchange (PSX) from a plurality of IP-communication devices. The system includes an IP Segmentation Directory (IP-SD) coupled to the PSX and to a plurality of IP Service Control Points (IP-SCPs), which are operative to process the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services. The PSX is adapted to receive, process and redirect the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services to the IP-SD. The IP-SD further receives, processes and selectively redirects the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services to a predetermined IP-SCP of the plurality of IP-SCPs based on attributes of each of the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services.
US08102838B2
A method and apparatus are provided for authenticating a user attempting to establish a service which uses SIP. The user registers with the SIP server by providing the digital otoacoustic signature of the user. Thereafter, when the user attempts to initiate a session through the SIP server, the SIP server sends an Authorization Request message to the SIP client of the user. The SIP client reads the user's digital otoacoustic signature, generates a response based on the digital otoacoustic signature, and embeds the response in a second Invite message sent back to the SIP server. Meanwhile, the SIP server determines an expected response, based on the digital otoacoustic signature registered by the user. If the response provided by the SIP client matches the response expected by the SIP server, the SIP server allows establishment of the server. The invention is of particular use with IP telephony services, since end user devices used with such services are ergonomically well suited for reading of otoacoustic signatures. The invention may also be used to authenticate an intended recipient of an SIP call.
US08102824B2
A method and an arrangement are provided for reducing the time needed for a communication unit (18) to connect to a communication network (11-16; 14-16), wherein the communication unit has to listen for data transmissions on a plurality of communication channels, and to identify one of the communication channels, on which an ongoing transmission is detected, before being able to begin transmitting. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the time lapsed since last transmission on the channel was ended, and transmitting data on the channel in order to enable the communication unit (18) to detect an ongoing transmission provided that a condition of low data traffic is detected corresponding to that no further data transmission occurs on the channel during a given period of time since the last transmission on the channel was ended.
US08102823B2
Method and apparatus for enabling a wireless terminal to communicate the dual-mode capabilities and reporting the interworking capabilities of the two networks with which the wireless terminal have the added capability of obtaining services from either one of the interworking networks.
US08102817B2
A method of measurement reporting and a cellular radio terminal are provided. A method of measurement reporting comprises receiving, while a measurement reporting scheme is active, a request for a radio connection reconfiguration, suspending the measurement reporting scheme upon the receiving a request and resuming the suspended measurement reporting scheme upon a completion of the radio connection reconfiguration. A cellular radio terminal is configured to carry out the method of measurement reporting.
US08102814B2
A mesh access point that includes an access point profile storing one ore more parameters in non-volatile memory, and a method of using the mesh access point having the access point profile to select and carry out mutual authentication on a wireless mesh network to establish itself to the mesh network using information in the access point profile, and further to provide services to wireless clients according to information in the access point profile. Access point profiles can be pre-configured/configured/updated suitably in order to adapt the mesh access point in a mesh network according to its capabilities and requirements.
US08102812B2
A change in a client device is detected (306) during a transmission of a plurality of packets destined to at least one first destination used by at least one packet session. In response to the change, a determination (312) is made as to whether some but not all of the plurality of packets should be redirected to at least one second destination based, at least in part, on at least one predefined criterion. Accordingly, some but not all of the plurality of packets is redirected (316) to the at least one second destination when the some but not all of the plurality of packets should be redirected according to the at least one predefined criterion.
US08102807B2
A base station receives a connection request from a mobile station. A scheduling module determines whether the fully used and/or segmented zones of the base station are oversubscribed. If the fully used zone is oversubscribed while the segmented zone is not, the mobile station having the largest CINR difference between the zones is assigned to the segmented zone. If the segmented zone is oversubscribed while the fully used zone is not, the mobile station having the smallest CINR difference between the zones is assigned to the fully used zone. If neither zone is oversubscribed and the segmented zone allows modulation/coding more spectrally efficient than the fully used zone, the requesting mobile station is assigned to the segmented zone. If neither zone is oversubscribed and the segmented zone does not allow modulation/coding more spectrally efficient than the fully used zone, the requesting mobile station is assigned to the fully used zone.
US08102800B2
Discontinuous transmission and reception of point-to-multipoint service data between a network and a mobile terminal is achieved by transmitting scheduling information from the network to the mobile terminal via a first common channel. The mobile terminal determines a time for receiving the service data in response to the scheduling information and discontinuously receives the service data through a second common channel.
US08102795B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate implementing a linear adaptive equalizer receiver on the downlink link of a UMTS TDD wireless communication system. A reference signal can be generated based on multiple non-common midamble sequences in a time slot of a received transmission. Traffic-to-pilot ratios for channel codes in the time slot can be generated, and relative strengths of channel codes associated with specific midambles can be determined to weight the midamble. A plurality of the weighted midambles can then be utilized to generate a reference signal to train the equalizer, which can facilitate utilization of total aggregate midamble energy rather than midamble energy associated with a single midamble in the signal.
US08102793B2
The system includes a waterproof housing enclosing selected apparatus, which may include a modem for receiving a signal from an ISP and providing an output signal, and a wireless router for receiving the output signal from the modem and providing an output signal, a first antenna receiving a signal from an ISP and providing the signal to the modem, and a second antenna receiving the output signal from the wireless router and transmitting the output signal, and a rechargeable battery power supply that provides electrical power. Another antenna and another modem provide another output signal to the wireless router. A standard FCC wireless receiver mounted in the router provides a wired or wireless LAN access point. Two more modems and another wireless router may be provided in the housing, as well as POE input and a solar panel for battery charging.
US08102790B1
In one embodiment, when conditions are observed a wireless device keeps its radio circuitry powered down during a designated transmission window orchestrated by an associated Access Point (AP) for forwarding buffered broadcast and multicast data to reduce power consumption by the wireless device. The wireless device then temporarily powers up its radio circuitry to receive a beacon outside the designated transmission window. When the received beacon indicates buffered data, the wireless device transmits a request for a unicast transmission of the buffered data from the AP.
US08102787B2
MAC layer timestamping approach for emerging wireless sensor platform and communication architecture
In the receiving side MAC layer timestamping approach, the MPDU structure is changed by adding an extra timestamping field. When a MPDU packet is generated, a captured receiving timestamp is written into the MPDU's timestamp field. The MPDU packet is then forwarded from the PHY to the MAC layer of the wireless sensor node. In the MAC layer, the receiving timestamp is further processed and inserted into a corresponding field of the time synchronization message, which is in turn transmitted to a Time Synchronization module. In the sending side MAC layer timestamping approach, the sending timestamp is captured immediately before the time synchronization message is written into TxFIFO.
US08102786B2
The invention discloses a method, a system and apparatus for providing modulation and coding mode used by multicast service macro diversity. In this method, a message containing relevant information of modulation and coding mode(s) used by an MBS zone is sent in the MBS zone at first; the MS receives the message, analyzes other messages in the MBS zone according to the relevant information of the modulation and coding mode(s) contained in this message, and receives MBS service data according to the analyzed result upon other messages in the MBS zone. The invention resolves the problem that an entity is required to uniformly manage the coding and modulation mode definition of each cell in the prior art, as well as the problem that the DCD count in the DL-MAP message has to be continuously tracked in the prior art.
US08102768B2
A method for controlling traffic flow in a communication network compliant with a Multilevel Precedence and Preemption (MLPP) scheme is described. The method selectively modifies parameters of TCP connections for transmissions to meet speed of service (SoS) requirements and establishes the connections in accordance with their levels of precedence. In applications, the method may be implemented in communication networks using High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (HAIPE) or an IP Security (IPSec) protocol.
US08102755B2
A method for mapping a physical downlink control format indicator channel to physical resources includes the steps that 16 modulated data y(0), y(1), . . . , y(15) of a downlink control signaling indicator channel in an LTE system are divided into 4 groups in order and mapped by groups, which allows the downlink control format indicator channel to be mapped exactly to the continuous 4 resource elements recombined by resources which are divided among all system physical resources except the pilots according to such continuous 4 resource elements. By defining group mapping rules, this method can offer the maximum gain of frequency selectivity.
US08102751B2
In order to provide an optical recording condition setting method which reduces effects from uneven properties of a rewritable or recordable optical disk and an optical recording/reproducing device, and to provide an optical recording/reproducing device which executes the method, (i) a test writing is carried out with respect to an optical disk under various settings of recording-power parameters for use in forming a shortest record-mark (S1 to S3), (iii) a test pattern used in the test writing is reproduced (S4), and then (iv) recording-power parameters that result in a good quality of reproduced signals are selected (S5).
US08102750B2
When a super resolution technology for optical disks is used in a situation where optical disk management information is formed with a signal that cannot be reproduced by a reproduction method based on a conventional optical disk technology, optical disk drives cannot make recording adjustments and/or reproduction adjustments. An optical disk drive uses an optical disk that forms a management information signal with pits not smaller in size than optical resolution and can be read by a reproduction method based on a conventional optical disk technology. When the optical disk drive records information onto or reproduces information from the optical disk having the super resolution region, it is possible to make proper recording adjustments or reproduction adjustments and perform a proper recording operation or reproducing operation in an optical disk's information region for user information recording or reproduction.
US08102748B2
An optical pickup device radiates laser light to a disc having a plurality of recording layers in a direction of lamination. The optical pickup device includes a laser light source, a collimator lens, and an objective lens. The collimator lens changes a spread angle of the laser light emitted from the laser light source. The objective lens converges the laser light having passed through the collimator lens onto the disc. With the laser light in a parallel state having passed through the collimator lens, if a distance f between the laser light source and the collimator lens and a distance L between the collimator lens and the objective lens are in a relation of f
US08102744B2
There is provided a recording medium playback device that includes a first binarization portion that binarizes, by a PRML method, a signal that is read from a recording medium, a second binarization portion that binarizes the signal based on a magnitude relationship to a specified threshold value, a first frame synchronization signal detection portion that detects a synchronization pattern in a first binarized data string that is produced by the first binarization portion, and a second frame synchronization signal detection portion that detects a synchronization pattern in a second binarized data string that is produced by the second binarization portion. If the synchronization pattern is not detected by the first frame synchronization signal detection portion, a signal that is derived from the synchronization pattern that is detected by the second frame synchronization signal detection portion is used as the frame synchronization signal.
US08102735B2
A multifunction timer device provides a time/date stamp on a dispensing container and includes a housing, a controller with a timer circuit contained in the housing, a display for displaying information from the timer circuit, and a multifunction input button. The input button is operable in predetermined sequences to select operating and display modes of the timer device. The input button can be operated to display an actual date or time, to display a current timer value, to select between count-up and count-down modes, and to increment a counter. An adhesive backing is provided for attaching the timer device to the container. A communications link is provided for interfacing the controller with an external programmer. A reset trigger is used to automatically reset the timer device when the object is moved in a particular way, such as when a lid is removed from a pill container. A docking station interconnected with a host data processing system encodes information read from a container label and writes scanned and stored data to the timer device while simultaneously mounting the timer device to the container.
US08102733B2
An embodiment of an apparatus includes a communication circuit and a transducer array coupled to the communication circuit. The communication circuit is operable to generate first and second information signals, and the transducer array is operable to generate in response to the first information signal a first sonar signal having a first frequency, and to generate in response to the second information signal a second sonar signal having a second frequency. The transducer array may generate the first and second sonar signals simultaneously to increase the transmission bandwidth. Where such an apparatus is a buoy, then the buoy may relay signals from an above-surface vessel to an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and may relay signals from the UUV to the vessel. Therefore, the buoy allows the vessel to control the UUV without a cable linking the buoy and the vessel, and thus allows one to eliminate such a cable.
US08102732B2
Methods and apparatus facilitating measurement of anisotropy are disclosed. According to some aspects, anisotropy can be determined while drilling. Monopole/quadrupole interactions, as well as monitoring dipole excitations and other methods, may be used to find the principal shear directions of a formation while drilling or during wireline or other operations.
US08102731B2
A method for operating marine seismic vibrators includes towing at least a first and a second marine seismic vibrator in a body of water beneath the hull of a vessel. At least a third marine seismic vibrator is towed at a selected depth in the water other than beneath the hull of the vessel. The at least first, second and third vibrators are operated to sweep through respective frequency ranges. The first and second frequency ranges have lowermost frequencies and uppermost frequencies respectively differing by a selected sub-harmonic frequency range. The third frequency range has a lowermost frequency at least equal to the uppermost frequency of one of the first and second frequency ranges and traverses a seismic frequency range of interest.
US08102730B2
A signaling system includes a signaling path, a master device coupled to the signaling path, a slave device coupled to the signaling path, and a clock generator. The slave device includes timing circuitry to generate an internal clock signal having a phase offset relative to a clock signal supplied by the clock generator, the phase offset being determined at least in part by a signal propagation time on the signal path.
US08102727B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including a plurality of mutually intersecting word lines and bit lines, and a plurality of memory cells connected at intersections thereof and each having a read port and a write port provided independently; and a plurality of word line drivers operative to drive the word lines. The elements contained in the memory cell have respective sizes in common with the elements contained in the word line driver.
US08102720B2
In a particular embodiment, a device includes a reference voltage circuit to generate a controlled voltage. The device includes a frequency circuit configured to generate a frequency output signal having a pre-set frequency and a counter to generate a count signal based on the pre-set frequency. The device also includes a delay circuit coupled to receive the count signal and to produce a delayed digital output signal and a latch to generate a pulse. The pulse has a first edge responsive to a write command and a trailing edge formed in response to the delayed digital output signal. In a particular embodiment, the pulse width of the pulse corresponds to an applied current level that exceeds a critical current to enable data to be written to an element of the memory but does not exceed a predetermined threshold.
US08102707B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating non-volatile multilevel memory cells. One method embodiment includes assigning, to a first cell coupled to a row select line, a first number of program states to which the first cell can be programmed. The method includes assigning, to a second cell coupled to the row select line, a second number of program states to which the second cell can be programmed, wherein the second number of program states is greater than the first number of program states. The method includes programming the first cell to one of the first number of program states prior to programming the second cell to one of the second number of program states.
US08102703B2
A magnetic tunnel junction, including a reference layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a first storage layer having a magnetization direction that is adjustable relative to the magnetization direction of the reference layer by passing a write current through said magnetic tunnel junction, and an insulating layer disposed between said reference layer and first storage layer; characterized in that the magnetic tunnel junction further comprises a polarizing device to polarize the spins of the write current oriented perpendicular with the magnetization direction of the reference layer; and wherein said first storage layer has a damping constant above 0.02. A magnetic memory device formed by assembling an array of the magnetic tunnel junction can be fabricated resulting in lower power consumption.
US08102697B2
A programmable resistance memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one cell array, in which memory cells are arranged formed above the semiconductor substrate. Each of the memory cells has a stack structure of a programmable resistance element and an access element, the programmable resistance element storing a high resistance state or a low resistance state determined due to the polarity of voltage application in a non-volatile manner. The access element has such a resistance value in an off-state in a certain voltage range that is ten time or more as high as that in a select state. A read/write circuit is formed on a semiconductor substrate as underlying the cell array for data reading and data writing in communication with the cell array.
US08102694B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes at least one nonvolatile memory cell which comprises a silicon, germanium or silicon-germanium diode which is doped with at least one of carbon or nitrogen in a concentration greater than an unavoidable impurity level concentration.
US08102689B2
A semiconductor memory device having dummy sense amplifiers and a method of utilizing the same are provided. Embodiments of the semiconductor memory device may include at least one dummy cell block including dummy cells and memory cells. Normal bit lines connecting the memory cells in the dummy cell block in a first direction and dummy bit lines connecting the dummy cells in the first direction. A dummy sense amplifier is also included for connecting any two of the normal bit lines and the dummy bit lines. Some of the embodiments may improve the sensing margin and refresh margin in sensing memory cells in the dummy cell, as well as increasing the redundancy efficiency and utilization of the dummy cells.
US08102688B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a controller, a plurality of substrates, and a plurality of stacked memories that are spaced apart and sequence on each of the substrates. Each of the stacked memories includes an interface chip that is connected to the respective substrate and a plurality of memory chips that are stacked on the interface chip. The controller is configured to control the stacked memories. The interface chips are configured to forward a command signal from the controller through each interface chip in the sequence of stacked memories that is intervening between the controller and a selected stacked memory to which the command signal is directed. The interface chips may forward the command signal from one end of the sequence of the stacked memories on one of the substrates to the selected stacked memory, and forward a response signal from the selected stacked memory through the remaining stacked memories in the sequence on the substrate back to the controller or through the same sequence of stacked memories that was taken by the command signal.
US08102682B2
A circuit 1 for controlling the supply of electrical power to an induction coil 2, in particular to an induction coil 2 for heating a shrink attachment for tools, comprises a rectifier 3, having an input 3a, 3b, 3c for feeding an input power, and a rectifier output.The circuit 1 furthermore comprises an inverter 5 for putting out an AC-voltage, having an input and an inverter output 5a, 5b for connecting the induction coil 2, an intermediary circuit 4 for connecting the rectifier 3 with the inverter 5, and a regulation unit for regulating the power supplied to the induction coil 2. A measurement apparatus 6 for measuring a voltage A2 as an input variable for the regulation unit is connected to the output side of the inverter 5. A respective method for regulating the power supplied to the induction coil 2 comprises a regulation step, in which the current A2 supplied to the induction coil 2 is used as an input variable for the regulation of the power supplied to the induction coil 2.
US08102680B2
The present invention discloses a smart driving method for a secondary synchronous rectifier of an isolated converter and its apparatus thereof. The apparatus comprises: a main circuit having a secondary synchronous rectifier Q1; a differentiation filter circuit, filtering the drain-source voltage Vds of the secondary synchronous rectifier, comprising a capacitor and at least one resistor connected in series and outputting a filtered voltage Vf from either between said capacitor and said at least one resistor or between said at least one resistor; a smart driver, receiving Vf and Vds and putting out a driving signal to the gate of the secondary synchronous rectifier. The control approach is fulfilled by comparing Vds to a reference voltage Vthr2 and comparing the absolute value of Vf to another reference voltage Vthr3. When Vds
US08102670B2
Provided is a circuit device, in which circuit elements incorporated are electrically connected to each other via a lead so as to achieve both of the enhanced functionality and miniaturization. In a hybrid integrated circuit device, a first circuit board and a second circuit board are incorporated into a case member in a way that a first circuit board is overlaid with a second circuit board. A first circuit element is arranged on the upper face of the first circuit board and a second circuit element is arranged on the upper face of the second circuit board. Leads provided in the hybrid integrated circuit device include a lead connected only to the first circuit element mounted on the first circuit board, a lead connected only to the second circuit element mounted on the second circuit board, and a lead connected to both of the first circuit element and the second circuit element.
US08102668B2
An integral impedence is formed on or within a lead frame pin of a semiconductor package and receives a connection from an electrode of a semiconductor die within the package to eliminate the need for adjustment and protective impedences external of the package. The impedence comprises passives such as resistors, capacitors, diodes or inductors which modify the performance of the package for new semiconductor device characteristics. The impedences may have positive or negative temperature coefficients and are in close thermal communication with the semiconductor die.
US08102666B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: connecting a carrier and an integrated circuit mounted thereover; mounting an interposer, having an opening, over the integrated circuit; connecting an interconnect between the interposer and the carrier through the opening; and forming an encapsulation planar with a carrier vertical side of the carrier and an interposer vertical side of the interposer.
US08102658B2
A microSD-to-SD adaptor card includes a base substrate having a lead frame structure, a protective cap forming a chamber that encloses eight microSD contact pins of the lead frame structure, and a thermoset plastic casing formed over the protective cap and exposed portions of the base substrate to provide the adaptor card with standard SD card dimensions. A rear opening facilitates insertion of a standard microSD card, whereby the eight contact pads on the microSD card are contacted by the eight microSD contact pins inside the chamber to allow electrical signals generated by the microSD card to be transmitted to a host system by way of a standard SD socket. A grip anchor pin is disposed inside the chamber to engage a grip notch disposed on the microSD card. A pre-molded switch slot is provided on the molded plastic casing, and an insert-in write protect switch is mounted after molding.
US08102638B2
A capacitive switch for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) comprises a topmost metal plate which extends across a bridge structure formed by a polymer layer. The polymer layer comprises poly-monochoro-para-xylene (parylene-C). The space below the polymer layer contains the second plate on a substrate. Using parylene as the primary bridge material makes the bridge of the MEMS device very flexible and requires a relatively low actuation voltage to pull the bridge down and lower power is required to control the MEMS device.
US08102632B2
Embodiments of an IC protection circuit that protects low voltage supply transistors and circuits within the IC from excessive power supply levels and ESD events are described. A protection circuit situated between the IO pins of the IC and the internal circuitry of the IC includes a voltage drop network and a plurality of shunt circuits to protect the IC against excessive supply voltages and ESD voltages. Each shunt circuit includes an RC trigger stage and an NMOS shunt stage that are made using low-voltage devices. A protection circuit of the embodiments includes a high voltage IO pin interface, a voltage drop network coupled to the IO pin and comprising a plurality of forward-biased diodes connected in series to drop a high voltage on the IO pin to a low voltage level, an NMOS shunt transistor coupled between the voltage drop network and a ground terminal, and a trigger circuit coupled to the NMOS shunt transistor to activate the shunt transistor when a sensed input voltage rise time is shorter than a defined supply voltage rise time.
US08102630B2
Plural of switches are connected as switch stacking for easier management. Failures of stack member switches disrupts the stack and network availability. This invention discloses a method to maintain stacking connections in failed switches. This invention introduces a small circuit to monitor health of the switch and short circuit the stacking connections in case of switch failures.
US08102627B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a limiter mechanism that permits the gimbal to be designed more freely than before. The head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a limiter mechanism within the silhouette of the head slider. The limiter mechanism has a limiter tab formed in the gimbal tongue and projection of the load beam. Upon receipt of an external impact, the projection locks the limiter tab, thereby limiting the deformation of the gimbal. The limiter tab is formed by fabricating a part within the silhouette of the head slider. This structure allows for freer design of the gimbal and the load beam.
US08102624B2
In a perpendicular magnetic recording head having a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer which are laminated with a magnetic gap layer interposed therebetween on a medium-opposing surface, a pair of side coils constituting respective electrically closed circuits on a surface parallel to the medium-opposing surface are provided on both sides in a track width direction of a magnetic pole part of the main magnetic pole layer. When a leakage magnetic field spreading from the magnetic pole part of the main magnetic pole layer passes through the pair of side coils, the pair of side coils generate a demagnetizing field in such a direction as to cancel a magnetic flux change thereof, thereby preventing the leakage magnetic flux from spreading.
US08102622B2
In a perpendicular magnetic write head manufacturing method a magnetic layer is formed on a substrate. On the magnetic layer, first and second nonmagnetic layers are formed with different materials. A mask pattern is formed on the second nonmagnetic layer, and the second nonmagnetic layer in a region not covered with the mask pattern is removed. Thereby, the patterned second nonmagnetic layer is formed while leaving the first nonmagnetic layer. The mask pattern is removed and a milling process is selectively performed on the first nonmagnetic layer and the magnetic layer with the patterned second nonmagnetic layer as a mask to remove all of the first nonmagnetic layer in an exposed region and to dig down the magnetic layer in the exposed region, thereby forming a main magnetic pole layer having an inclined part whose thickness decreases with distance from an edge position of the patterned second nonmagnetic layer.
US08102619B2
A method and apparatus for a filter for filtering airborne particles present within an enclosure containing equipment sensitive is provided. The filter may be used within the enclosure of a hard disk drive. The filter may comprise a magnetic plate enclosed by a protective layer, which in turn may be enclosed by a non-woven scrim. The magnetic plate has a magnetic property that generates a magnetic field attractive to paramagnetic particles within the enclosure. The protective layer forms a barrier that prevents particles of the magnetic plate from entering into the enclosure. The non-woven scrim may, but need not, have an adhesive property which traps non-paramagnetic particles coming in contact with the non-woven scrim. If the non-woven scrim lacks an adhesive property, then at least a portion of the non-woven scrim may be coated with an adhesive layer which traps non-paramagnetic particles coming in contact with the non-woven scrim.
US08102609B2
Disclosed herein is a lens barrel including: a plurality of lenses arranged in a state of being separated from each other in a direction of an optical axis; and a lens retaining body for retaining the lenses; wherein a print pattern that has a light shielding function and is partly in contact with the lens retaining body to adjust an interval between the lenses in the direction of the optical axis is formed on at least one of the plurality of lenses.
US08102608B2
An imaging lens is provided and includes: in order from an object side of the imaging lens, a first lens having a positive power; a second lens having a negative power; a third lens having a positive power and having a convex surface on an image side thereof; and a fourth lens having a negative power and having a concave surface or a flat surface on the object side and in a vicinity of an optical axis thereof, and the imaging lens satisfies conditional expression: 0.28<|f4/f|<0.60 (1) where f is a focal length of the imaging lens, and f4 is a focal length of the fourth lens.
US08102595B2
In an optical transmission system, a controller acquires a noise light loss value, which indicates a loss that noise light output from an upstream-side optical amplifier undergoes during propagation to a downstream-side optical amplifier through an optical loss medium, and a signal beam loss value, which indicates a loss that a signal beam output from the upstream-side optical amplifier undergoes during propagation to the downstream-side optical amplifier through the optical loss medium, obtains, as a loss difference, a difference between the noise light loss value and the signal beam loss value and, when setting up the downstream-side optical amplifier, determines the gain of the downstream-side optical amplifier by compensating the loss difference.
US08102594B2
Methods and systems for compensation of Self-Phase Modulation 35 in fiber-based amplifier systems 20.
US08102589B2
The superposition system with micro electromechanical systems (MEMS, e.g. DMDs from Texas Instruments) superposes the “ON”-lights of two MEMSs. More specifically, the invention relates to the chirality (handedness) of MEMS and the geometric problems associated with this handedness for superposition systems. In this application we uncover a solution to superpose the images modulated by two MEMSs using an exchange of columns and rows in one of the addressing matrices.
US08102581B2
An F/theta lens system for focusing high-power laser radiation in a flat image field including at least two lenses. The at least two lenses are arranged sequentially in a beam path, where the at least two lenses are made from a material that is stable when exposed to laser radiation having a power of more than 1 kW, and at least one of the lenses has at least one aspherical lens surface.
US08102580B2
A method and apparatus for the multi-dimensional control of a light source's brightest point over a targeted area is disclosed. Control and drive electronics are presented to the beam-steering device causing the beam-steering component to steer the spot of light toward a targeted area in at least a two-dimensional scanning pattern about a vertical and horizontal axis. The result is an illuminated pattern displayed on a targeted area that appears to be a solid, uniformly illuminated light pattern, having the intensity of a spot beam and the area of a broad beam.
US08102579B2
Image processing apparatus, control method of image processing apparatus, program and storage medium
During a display of a slideshow of a composite image comprising a plurality of images, a user operates a print bookmark, resulting in composite images and individual images that can be printed being set and stored as print candidate images. By displaying, in a list, stored candidate images on a display unit as print candidate images, an image processing apparatus is provided which enables the user to specify a desired image for printing.
US08102578B2
An image scanning apparatus includes a reversal tray on which printable media are temporarily stacked, and a reverse roller installed inside a main body immediately before the reversal tray at a junction between the reversal tray and an end of a second moving path, which is driven in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions by power transmitted via a discharge roller to guide one of the printable media towards and away from the reversal tray along a second moving path, wherein a feeder, a pick-up roller, a scanning unit, a discharge tray, and transport rollers are installed on a first moving path in order to scan images from one side of the printable medium, and the reversal tray and the reverse roller are installed on the second moving path in order to scan images from the other side of the printable medium.
US08102568B2
A garment creation system includes a card, a camera and a processing system. The has printed thereon a depiction of a garment and encoded information. The encoded information carries instructions for generating garments pieces corresponding to the garment and manipulating an input image so as to be mapped onto the garment pieces. The camera and processing system are configured for: optically reading the encoded information on said card; capturing an image; mapping the captured image onto the garment pieces; generating print data for the garment pieces; and communicating the print data to a garment fabric printer.
US08102566B2
An image processing apparatus is provided that can adjust an output profile used for color matching in output devices. The image processing apparatus comprises: a unit to convert a target value of a device-independent color space into a value of a device-dependent color space; a unit to create a color chart to adjust the converted value of the device-dependent color space; a unit to select in the device-independent color space measured values measured from the color chart; a unit to convert the selected measured values into values of device-dependent color space, and calculate a target value of the device-dependent color space corresponding to the target value of the device-independent color space, and a unit to adjust the conversion unit based on the calculated target value of the device-dependent color space.
US08102559B2
A system and method for accurately controlling a printing process regardless web width or printing layout. A user interface is provided for configuring a printing application that includes a plurality of sensors arranged to form an interface region. The sensors are configured to generate feedback indicating user interaction with the interface region. A controller is configured to map the plurality of sensors into virtual keys based on at least a columniation of the printing application and adjust parameters of the printing application based on the feedback.
US08102544B2
A terminal is provided with an image obtaining portion that obtains an image including a code representing a location of a web page, a web page obtaining portion that obtains the web page based on the code included in the image, a calculation portion that compares the image except the code with the web page to calculate a degree of relevance between the image except the code and the web page, and a print controller that issues a command to print the image with the code excluded if the degree of relevance is lower than a predetermined threshold, and to print the image without excluding the code if the degree of relevance is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.
US08102542B2
A technique for optical measurement of a thickness of a layer on a surface uses diffuse reflections at opposite boundaries of the layer, operates on transparent, or translucent layers. The thickness is determined by computing a separation between the centers of the two diffuse reflections, and using the index of refraction of the layer, and geometric properties of a beam and detector with respect to the surface. The technique is useful for quantifying thickness of a layer of rime ice, glaze ice, frosted ice, or water, for example.
US08102535B2
A fiber optic gyroscope using a low-polarization and polarization-maintaining hybrid light path comprises an optical meter head and a circuit signal processing part, The optical meter head comprises: a light source, a multi-functional integrated optic chip, a detector, a coupler and a fiber coil, wherein the light source is a low polarization light source and single mode fiber pigtail coupling; the input terminal of multi-functional integrated optic chip uses a single mode fiber, and the output terminal of multi-functional integrated optic chip adopts a polarization-maintaining fiber; the input fiber pigtail of the said detector is a single mode fiber; the coupler is a 2×2 polarization independence single mode fiber coupler; the fiber coil is a polarization-maintaining fiber. By adopting the scheme of the low-polarization and polarization-maintaining hybrid light path and the signal processing methods such as all-digital closed loop control and random overmodulation etc., the present invention can reduce the effect of light path polarization crosstalk, simplify the assembling technology, enable large scale production and guarantee the good scale factor linearity performance and the lower noise level. Furthermore, by temperature modeling and compensating, the invention enables the bias of the fiber optic gyroscope to drift more slightly within the all-temperature range, and therefore the fiber optic gyroscope with good performance and engineering application can be achieved.
US08102526B2
A spectrometer including an entrance slit and the production of the entrance slit. The spectrometer includes a housing, an entrance slit, and an imaging diffraction grating inside the housing for splitting and imaging the light onto an optoelectric detector. The detector is arranged inside the housing. The housing and the base plate are connected to each other by mutually cooperating positioning members. The entrance slit, the positioning members of the base plate and the holding members for receiving and mounting the detecting device are integral parts of the base plate and are produced from the base plate in a precise manner, in a suitable form and in defined mutual positions by, for example, laser cutting or liquid jet cutting. The positioning members of the base plate and/or the holding members for the detecting device can be provided as resilient elements.
US08102523B1
A method for using a reusable sample-holding device for readily loading very small wet samples for observation of the samples by microscopic equipment, in particular in a vacuum environment. The method may be used with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), an X-ray microscope, optical microscope, and the like. For observation of the sample, the method provides a thin-membrane window etched in the center of each of two silicon wafers abutting to contain the sample in a small uniform gap formed between the windows. This gap may be adjusted by employing spacers. Alternatively, the thickness of a film established by the fluid in which the sample is incorporated determines the gap without need of a spacer. To optimize resolution each window may have a thickness on the order of 50 nm and the gap may be on the order of 50 nm.
US08102518B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring water and other fluid systems is described. The fluid is continually monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring many optical parameters in an in-line, on-line system, which compensates for normal fluid changes while detecting abnormalities.
US08102502B2
Liquid is supplied to a space between the projection system of a lithographic apparatus and a substrate. A flow of gas towards a vacuum inlet prevents the humid gas from escaping to other parts of the lithographic apparatus. This may help to protect intricate parts of the lithographic apparatus from being damaged by the presence of humid gas.
US08102501B2
An immersion lithography apparatus includes an optical member, a gap defined between the optical member and a surface disposed opposite the optical member, a fluid-supplying device which provides an immersion liquid to the gap, and a field generator which generates a magnetic field or an electric field such that the immersion liquid is subjected to the magnetic or electric field generated by the field generator.
US08102500B2
A stage device includes a base, and a stage movable portion being movable along a surface of the base. An interferometer measures a position of the stage movable portion, and at least one of a piping element and a wiring element is connected to the stage movable portion. An auxiliary member holds the piping element or the wiring element. The auxiliary member surrounds at least a portion of the piping element or the wiring element and is flexible, to be bent in accordance with the bending of the piping element or the wiring element, and a heat insulating material, held by the auxiliary member, reduces heat to be transferred from the piping element or the wiring element to a space through which measurement light of the interferometer passes.
US08102495B2
A first slit pattern is formed in a display substrate and a display panel of vertical alignment mode having the display substrate. The first slit pattern includes slits, a pair of projections and a pair of notches. A divergence point where the slits meet each other and an incision portion of the slits have the same function as the pair of projections in the generation of a singular point of liquid crystal. A contact hole exposing a part of an output electrode of a switching element is formed at a protective layer of an array substrate. A step recess is formed at a protective layer corresponding to a storage electrode, a divergence point of the slits is arranged to correspond to the storage electrode. The singular point of the liquid crystal is induced to occur at a regular position, and thus afterimages and spots can be prevented.
US08102490B2
In order to provide a cholesteric liquid crystal display element of a structure capable of forming a color in the background by means of a low cost electrode structure and burying an Off display color completely in the background color, the color of the display part and background part of the display element is formed by a color reflection state and a transparent state. This configuration makes it possible to form a color in the background so as to bury the Off display color completely in the background by employing a low cost electrode structure, thereby improving a suitability to an industrial design and accomplish a display of a good visibility.
US08102488B2
A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal panel that is formed by attaching a color filter substrate to an array substrate with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The array substrate comprising a base substrate and a pixel electrode, a signal line, and a light-blocking strip, provided on the base substrate. The light-blocking strip is disposed below and at a side of the signal line and is separated from the signal line by the base substrate, a refractive strip is disposed at the side of the signal line over a gap between the light-blocking strip and the signal line, and the refractive strip is disposed on the same layer as the pixel electrode. The refractive strip deflects light transmitting therethrough from the base substrate side into the liquid crystal layer towards the signal line.
US08102485B2
An electro-optical device includes: an electro-optical panel that includes a plurality of pixels each of which is equipped with a light transmissive region are arranged along a plane, the light transmissive regions being formed with a first arrangement period in a first direction in the plane, and being formed with a second arrangement period, which is larger than the first arrangement period, in a second direction in the plane that is orthogonal to the first direction; a backlight that illuminates a light beam to the electro-optical panel; a first condensing layer that is disposed between the electro-optical panel and the backlight and has a first optical structural period substantially along the first direction; and a second condensing layer that is disposed between the electro-optical panel and the first condensing layer and has a second optical structural period substantially along the second direction. In the electro-optical device, the ratio of the first arrangement period to the first optical structural period is smaller than the ratio of the second arrangement period to the second optical structural period.
US08102484B2
A light emitting device includes a transparent conductive layer formed adjacent one of two semiconductor layers having an active layer therebetween. The transparent conductive layer includes first and second transparent conductive regions with different electrical conductivities. The difference in electrical conductivities controls an amount or flow rate of current into the semiconductor layer adjacent the transparent conductive layer, and an electrode is at least partial aligned with the second transparent conductive region.
US08102479B2
A thin film transistor display panel includes an insulating substrate, gate lines and data lines disposed intersecting each other on the insulating substrate so as to be electrically insulated from each other, common lines provided on the insulating substrate in parallel to the gate lines, a gate insulating film disposed on the gate lines and the common lines, contact holes disposed passing through the gate insulating film disposed on the common lines, a plurality of common electrodes electrically connected to the common lines through the contact holes and arranged in parallel to each other, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in parallel to the common electrodes. The thickness of the common electrode and the pixel electrode is smaller than that of the data line.
US08102478B2
A window having electrically controllable transmission and reflection includes a layer of liquid crystal material and polarizers on either side thereof. Different combinations of absorptive and reflective polarizers are disclosed. These different combinations can be used in different applications to achieve the desired results. Transparent, conductive layers are provided to apply an electrical field to the liquid crystal material so as to selectively control the rotation of the polarization of light passing therethrough.
US08102475B2
A television system comprises a display panel holder for detachably holding a display panel for displaying images, and a signal processing module for receiving and processing signals containing displayable information from various external sources and supplying the signals to the display panel. The system enables the size of the display screen of an existing TV set to be easily increased in a cost-effective manner, thereby preventing a waste of resources.
US08102467B2
Provided are a camera module and electronic equipment that are advantageous in alleviating a stress to be imposed on connectors and a flexible substrate at the time of attaching a printed wiring substrate. A first flank 44 of a lens barrel 22 and a second flank 46 thereof intersect each other. An image sensor 26 is mounted with the back surface 26A thereof directed to a flexible substrate. A signal processing unit 30 is formed on a rigid printed wiring substrate 32. A flexible substrate 28 has a projecting portion 50 that projects from an intersectional part 48 at which the first flank 44 and second flank 46 intersect each other. The printed wiring substrate 32 is disposed on the second flank 46 via a temporary lock mechanism 54. The projecting portion 50 of the flexible substrate 28 is folded at the intersectional part 48, a flexible substrate-side connector 52 is coupled to a printed wiring substrate-side connector 56, and an adhesive layer 58 is bonded to the second flank 46. The flexible substrate 28 and printed wiring substrate 32 are thus mounted on the lens barrel 22.
US08102466B2
An imaging device capable of preventing the imaging device from becoming unusable due to the battery running out or a lack of storage capacity in the storage medium, by performing battery charge and data transfer in a limited period of time. The imaging device includes a battery charge function for charging a battery and a data transfer function for transferring data recorded in a storage medium to an external apparatus. An amount of charge remaining in the battery is detected. A remaining storage capacity available for recording data in -the storage medium is detected. An order of priority for performing battery charge and data transfer is set. The function of the imaging device is switched between the battery charge and the data transfer based on the order of priority set by the setting unit, and the battery charge is executed in accordance with a detection result of the remaining charge detecting unit and the data transfer in accordance with a detection result of the remaining storage capacity detecting unit is executed.
US08102462B2
An image processing circuit/CPU performs AF processing in response to a halfway shutter operation and upon confirmation of a shooting shutter instruction causes a light emitting unit in a flash circuit to emit light, and decides an amount of light to be emitted at a shooting time based on a brightness component of an output signal of an imaging element, whereby a subject distance is calculated from the amount of light emitted at shooting time, and wherein, when the in-focus decision in the AF processing is negative, an optical lens is moved by a lens drive circuit to a position corresponding to the subject distance which has been acquired based on the amount of light emitted at the shooting time, and a shooting operation is then performed.
US08102459B2
An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup lens section having an aperture stop; an image pickup device obtaining image pickup data on the basis of light detected; and a microlens array section arranged on a focal plane of the image pickup lens section, and including a plurality of microlenses, each of the microlenses being provided corresponding to a plurality of image pickup pixels of the image pickup device, wherein the following formula (1) is satisfied: p=(m×s)×{L/(L+f)} (1) where p is a pitch between the microlenses, s is a pixel size in a predetermined direction, m is the number (an integer) of the image pickup pixels allocated to each of the microlenses in the predetermined direction, L is a distance between the aperture stop and the microlens array section, and f is a focal length of each of the microlenses.
US08102457B1
A method and system for correcting the aspect ratio of an image captured by a digital camera is disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system include determining if the image requires cropping, decompressing the image, and cropping the image if the image required cropping. The image is then provided to a display. In another aspect, the method and system include cropping an image to a predetermined shape and providing the data to a display buffer.
US08102438B2
An imaging device of the present invention includes a solid-state image sensing device; a vertical transfer drive circuit for feeding a subpulse to the solid-state image sensing device; and a control circuit, and repeats a series of photographing operations in a cycle same as or longer than a period during which the series of photographing operations are performed, the series of photographing operations including an exposure operation for exposing an imaging area after the subpulse is fed to the solid-state image sensing device to sweep out electric charges accumulated in pixels. The control circuit stops the subpulse from being fed from the vertical transfer drive circuit to the solid-state image sensing device during a period during which the exposure operation included in the series of photographing operations is not performed.
US08102436B2
The present invention is applied to, for example, an image-capturing apparatus to generate an image signal by all-angle-of-view thinning-out read processing for every set field or frame and an image signal by all-pixel partially read processing on remaining fields or frames.
US08102434B2
An imaging apparatus capturing and recording a moving image and a static image at the same time includes a converter converting an optical image of a subject into a pixel signal, performing decimation on the pixel signal and outputting the pixel signal that has been subjected to decimation when recording of the moving image is performed but recording of the static image is not performed, and outputting the pixel signal that has not been subjected to decimation when recording of the moving image and the static image is performed; an eliminating section performing decimation on the pixel signal output from the converter only when recording of the moving image and the static image is performed; a moving image data generator generating moving image data; a static image data generator generating static image data; and a recorder recording the moving image data and the static image data.
US08102415B2
An electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope, a processor connected with the electronic endoscope, and a server that performs data communication with the processor via a network. The processor sends, to the server, update request data including an adjusted image and positional information of an adjusted area in the adjusted image. Further the processor receives, from the server, updating data created based on the update request data, and updates at least one of image processing tools used by the electronic endoscope and processor based on the updating data.
US08102400B1
In a mobile device with a mobile device video driver that can be interdicted, such as a display telephone or PDA, a method and system for display on a remote video display device is provided involving forming an enhanced display image in an enhanced video frame buffer and reconstructing the display image in a duplicate enhanced video frame buffer in the remote video display device.
US08102375B1
A dimmable keypad device (20) includes a plurality of dimming curves stored in memory where each dimming curve corresponds to a combination of background and foreground colors. The dimmable keypad device includes a backlight (203), an ambient light sensor (201) to adjust the illumination of the backlight, key capsules (102) fabricated from substantially transparent plastic and having an opaque paint layer coating their outer surfaces. Key capsule lettering (103) is formed by the removal of a portion of the opaque paint layer and the lettering color, as seen by an observer (42), is formed by backlight illumination of the substantially transparent plastic. The backlight illumination is relatively high under a low ambient lighting condition and relatively low under a high ambient lighting condition when the opaque paint layer is white. The backlight illumination is relatively low under a low ambient lighting condition and relatively high under a high ambient lighting condition when the opaque paint layer is black.
US08102371B2
The present invention provides a calibration method of projection effect. The calibration method of projection effect according to the invention comprises the following steps. The first, step (a) is performed to make an optical navigation system move along a predetermined trace relative to an object plane. Then, step (b) is performed to sense the predetermined trace by a sensor to obtain a projection trace. The next, step (c) is performed to calculate a projection effect value according to the included angle between a reflected light and the object plane. Finally, step (d) is performed to calibrate the projection trace with the projection effect value to obtain a calibration trace which is in proportion to the predetermined trace.
US08102362B2
A system and method for writing bistable media with a writehead is described. The media has two or more discrete write areas, each area defined by at least one electrical contact, and the media further has at least one alignment feature positioned with regard to one or more discrete write area. The writehead has corresponding alignment features and electrical conductors to the alignment features and electrical contacts of the media.
US08102359B2
Provided are data lines, scanning lines crossing the data lines, and a switching element in vicinity of each intersection of the data lines and the scanning lines, the data lines being connected via the switching elements with pixel electrodes arranged in matrix. Direct-type backlights arranged in parallel with the scanning lines are provided, and a backlight turning-ON drive circuit for turning the direct-type backlights in order at a predetermined frequency in sync with a scanning signal is provided. In at least one embodiment, the backlight turning-ON drive circuit includes a controller for controlling the direct-type backlights to turn ON in order in sync with the scanning signal in such a manner that the direct-type backlights are turned ON discretely over frames being continuous based on a vertical sync signal. In at least one embodiment, this provides a liquid crystal display device, which adopts scanning-type backlights and in which the pseudo contour and the flickering can be prevented with a driving clock of 60 Hz, which is generally adopted in liquid crystal display devices.
US08102354B2
A data driver includes a gamma voltage generator that generates red, green, and blue gamma voltages according to red, green, and blue adjustment signals, and a digital to analog converter that converts data signals received from a latch to positive or negative analog video signals using the red, green, and blue gamma voltages received from the gamma voltage generator.
US08102349B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel which sandwiches liquid crystal in the inside thereof sealed by a TFT substrate, a color filter substrate and a sealing portion, and a flexible printed circuit board which is mounted on the TFT substrate, wherein the TFT substrate has an area larger than the color filter substrate. A plurality of scanning lines extend in a lateral direction and are arranged parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, a plurality data signal lines extend in the longitudinal direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the lateral direction, and terminal portions corresponding to the scanning lines are formed on the TFT substrate, the terminal portion is arranged at a region that is not covered by the color filter substrate. The terminal portions and the scanning lines are connected by auxiliary lines and connection lines in order from the terminal portions. The connection lines are arranged in a region covered with the color filter substrate, and the auxiliary lines extend to both the region that is covered by the color filter substrate and the region that is not covered by the color filter substrate.
US08102348B2
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, a gate line on the first substrate, a data line crossing the gate line defining a unit pixel region, a thin film transistor at the crossing of the gate line and the data line, a pixel electrode line in parallel with the data line, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed to be protruded in an extended direction of the gate line from the pixel electrode line, a common electrode line adjacent to a data line of a neighboring pixel in the extended direction of the gate line and in parallel therewith, a plurality of common electrodes protruded from the common electrode line and alternately arranged in parallel with the plurality of pixel electrodes to generate an in-plane electric field, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.
US08102346B2
An electro-optical device includes a pixel circuit with a driving transistor element, a storage capacitor, and a capacitive element. The driving transistor element is electrically connected to a corresponding data line and a corresponding driving electrode. The storage capacitor is electrically connected to the driving transistor element and the driving electrode. The storage capacitor holds an image signal supplied through the corresponding data line as potential at the driving electrode. The capacitive element is electrically connected to the driving transistor element and the driving electrode. The capacitive element compensates for a change in the potential of the driving electrode when the driving transistor element is switched from a selection state to a non-selection state. The capacitive element is supplied with a correction signal that defines timing at which the potential of the capacitive element is controlled.
US08102344B2
A method for driving a display device includes: dividing an entire gray-scale region corresponding to a data gray scale into a first gray-scale region and a second gray-scale region and setting a first gamma value of the first gray-scale region and a second gamma value of the second gray-scale region, the first gamma value being smaller than the second gamma value; providing a first gray-scale display voltage corresponding to the data gray scale to a display panel during a first section of one horizontal period by using the first gamma value or the second gamma value selected by an inputted data gray scale; and providing a second gray-scale display voltage corresponding to a black gray scale to the display panel during a second section of the one horizontal period.
US08102338B2
An organic light emitting device including a first pixel, a second pixel and a third pixel displaying different colors from each other according to the present invention, the organic light emitting device includes a reflecting electrode and a translucent member forming a micro-cavity along with the reflecting electrode, wherein a optical path length is an interval between the reflecting electrode and the translucent member, and wherein the light path lengths of at least two pixels among the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel are the same.
US08102337B2
A driving circuit of display device includes digital/current converting (DCC) circuits one for each data line. The DCC circuit operates to charge a capacitor with a reference current according to a supplied signal from a shift register. The DCC circuit stores a current value of the reference current and outputs it to a data line via a switching element that has been turned on by a digital image data signal (H) of a single line supplied from a line latch. The output value of each DCC circuit is reset one after another in every select scan period in which an OFF signal is sent to all the data lines. In this way, the reset of the output value and the output of the image data signal can be successively carried out within one frame period, enabling the data to be applied to the pixel circuit with the DCC circuits provided one for each data line. This simplifies the driving circuit that drives the pixel circuits provided with an electro-optic element and disposed in a matrix.
US08102332B2
Methods having corresponding apparatus and computer-readable media comprise: receiving a first digital image representing a first composite projection, wherein each first composite projection comprises a plurality of overlapping component projections, wherein each of the component projections is generated by a respective projector; and generating one or more respective first intensity scaling maps for each of the projectors, comprising, for each of the first intensity scaling maps, identifying a displayed non-overlap projection region for the projector associated with the first intensity scaling map based on the first digital image, and generating a first intensity scaling map for the projector, comprising determining a distance to the nearest pixel within the displayed non-overlap region of the projector for each pixel outside the non-overlap region of the projector, and assigning a first intensity scaling value to each pixel outside the displayed non-overlap region of the projector based on the respective distance.
US08102329B2
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a low-voltage substrate supporting an RF transmission network, and a high-voltage substrate bonded to the low-voltage substrate, the high-voltage substrate supporting a plurality of antennas coupled to the RF transmission network through switch-mode power amplifiers integrated into a surface of the high voltage substrate.
US08102327B2
Balanced microstrip folded dipole antennas and matching networks are disclosed. In some examples, an antenna system includes a printed circuit board having first and second dielectric layers, and respective portions of the first and second dielectric layers bound a ground plane. The system further includes a balanced folded dipole, wherein a first portion of the folded dipole is located on the first dielectric layer, and a second portion is located on the second dielectric layer. First and second transmission lines are coupled to respective folded dipole portions. A matching network includes first and second portions that are coupled to respective transmission lines and have equal impedances. Each matching network portion includes a tapered first microstrip, having a narrow end coupled to a respective transmission line, a second microstrip coupled to the first microstrip, and a third microstrip coupled orthogonally to the second microstrip via a mitered bend.
US08102316B1
A method for monitoring and tracking the position of a subject comprises, in an exemplary embodiment, the steps of embedding a transponder into an article to be worn by the subject and installing software in a GPS-enabled receiver, such as a cell phone or the like, for synchronizing and communicating with the transponder. The receiver is to be maintained by a user, such as a guardian or the like, and stores a unique transponder code, allowing the receiver to synchronize with the transponder. The receiver may remotely activate the transponder manually or automatically, at which point the receiver triangulates the geographic position of the transponder and determines distance and direction of the transponder from the receiver in order to guide the user in the direction of the transponder. In further embodiments, the receiver communicates the subject's information and tracking code to other subscribing receivers to increase the number of searchers.
US08102314B2
The invention relates to a position-finding method for determing the location of a mobile object. The features, for example received field strengths, of a plurality of base stations are measured, and the object position is located from these features, using a reference map. During an initialization process, a reference map is created which comprises a multiplicity of positions and the associated feature-dependent values. During use of the method, a plurality of position-finding processes are carried out, by means of each of which a measured feature-dependent value and from this, a located position of the object, are determined using the predetermined reference map. The predetermined reference map is in each case updated for at least some of the positions found, during which updates, the feature-dependent values are each corrected by a correction term at the support points of the reference map in a predetermined area surrounding an object position.
US08102301B2
Techniques are described that allow information to be acquired by an ADS-B system of an aircraft without the installation of ADS-B dedicated flight crew controls or wired data interfaces in the aircraft. In one or more implementations, a receiver is associated with the ADS-B system in the aircraft. The receiver is configured to receive transmissions from a transponder of the aircraft, such as a radar transponder of a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), or the like. Information used by the ADS-B system is extracted from the received transmissions and furnished to the ADS-B transceiver for broadcast over the ADS-B datalink.
US08102283B2
A keypad assembly (20) including a key module (30) and a base unit (90) is described. The key module includes an operating surface (31), and the operating surface has a keypad (32) disposed thereon. The key module is rotatably and slidingly installed on the base unit. A portable electronic device (100) using the keypad assembly is also described.
US08102282B2
An encoding and decoding method for a microdot matrix includes the steps of: forming a plurality of microdots by encoding based on Reflected Gray Codes in a data region included in each of a plurality of microdot blocks included in a microdot matrix, wherein the microdots corresponding to lower order bits of the Reflected Gray Codes are formed as the outmost microdots in the data region; scanning the microdot matrix to fetch an image and recognizing a microdot group in the date region of each microdot block in the image; and decoding a corresponded coordinate of the image on the microdot matrix according to the microdot block to which the microdot group containing lower order bits of the Reflected Gray Codes belongs.
US08102273B2
A method for guiding a user to connect a peripheral component to a unit of electronic equipment includes the user tapping upon one of a plurality of connector interfaces comprising the unit of electronic equipment. In response to the tapping, the one tapped connector interface is identified and the user is notified of the identity of the one tapped connector interface. The identifying includes detecting the tapping at two or more sensors and processing signals generated by the sensors to detect the one tapped connector interface. The notifying includes articulating an identity of the one tapped connector interface using a voice synthesizer and loudspeaker.
US08102272B2
A signal inspection system for a rotation control device and a method thereof are disclosed. The signal inspection system comprises a signal capturing device, a determining module, a signal transforming device, and a processing module. A first signal and a second signal outputted by the rotation control device are captured by the signal capturing device, and the state of the first signal is determined by the determining module. Based on the state of the first signal, the machine language transformed from the first signal and the second signal are assembled by the processing module by use of a preset mode, and the assembled result is deciphered by the processing module for outputting a rotational direction of the rotation control device. Therefore, the accuracy of inspection result may be effectively improved up to one hundred percent.
US08102267B1
A single antenna single reader (SASR) system and method for locating a tag. The reader connects to a single antenna that is in motion. The reader transmits an interrogation signal to the tag. The reader receives a response signal from the tag. The reader determines the range of the tag from the reader, the received signal strength (RSS) of the response signal at the reader from the tag, and the maximum correlation of the response signal at the reader from the tag. The reader determines the location of the tag using range of the tag from the reader, received signal strength and maximum correlation of the response signal.
US08102264B2
An inventory compliance system includes an RFID reader having an agent configured to periodically read all RF tags within its range and then send the resulting tag information to an inventory application that processes the received information (e.g., tag ID, etc.) to determine the state of inventory at that time—i.e., the number, type, and location of each of the tags. In this way, through automatic updating via mobile and stationary RFID readers, an organization is able to monitor inventory without manual intervention, thereby reducing cost and time associated with conventional inventory compliance methods.
US08102262B2
Methods, systems and other embodiments associated with charging merchandise items are presented. A method of charging merchandise items includes displaying merchandise items at a consumer display so that the merchandise items can be handled by a consumer. The merchandise items are charged at the display on a multiplexed basis.
US08102254B2
A location detection system for a facility including a patient handling device for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to the patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the patient handling device, and a processing station remote from the patient handling device and the locator for receiving the unique location identifier such that the location of the patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the patient handling device. The system further includes a receiver mounted to the patient handling device for receiving the unique location identifier from the locator and a communication module with a unique ID for the patient handling device mounted to the patient handling device and in communication with the receiver and transmitting the unique ID and the unique location identifier received by the receiver from the patient handling device to the processing station such that the patient handling device acts as a communication link between the locator and the processing station, and the processing station receiving the unique location identifier and the unique ID and correlating the unique location identifier with the unique ID and further correlating the unique ID of the patient handling device with a patient supported by the patient handling device wherein the processing station can track the patient handling device and the patient supported thereby.
US08102252B2
Using wireless features, a public service agency is enabled to provide alert information to first responders. An automatic call back from the first responder triggers a voice call launching a location fix on the current location of the first responder. Preferably delivery confirmation that the responder has received the message is received. Once the location fix has been completed, then driving directions with map images are sent to the first responder based on their current location and desired destination for response.
US08102249B2
An immobilizer type outputting part outputs information indicating that no immobilizer device is provided in the vehicle to an immobilizer-installed body ECU or a body ECU through an in-vehicle communication network in the case where an immobilizer type identification part of a remote start ECU judges that no immobilizer device is provided in the vehicle. In the case where the immobilizer type identification part judges that the immobilizer device is provided in the vehicle, the immobilizer type output part outputs information indicating the type of the immobilizer device to the immobilizer-installed body ECU or the body ECU through the in-vehicle communication network.
US08102248B2
A battery charging system includes: an electric vehicle; a network termination unit connectable to the electric vehicle through a power line cable for supplying electric power to the electric vehicle; and a first server that transmits a control signal indicative of permission or forbiddance of power supply from the network termination unit to the electric vehicle to the electric vehicle through the network termination unit. The electric vehicle transmits identification information for identifying the electric vehicle and the user thereof to the first server through the network termination unit. The network termination unit transmits position information concerning the position of the network termination unit to the first server. The first server determines permission or forbiddance of the power supply based on the identification information and the position information.
US08102237B2
A low profile coil-wound bobbin is disclosed. A low profile coil-wound bobbin includes a spool and a terminal. The spool is configured to have a coil-wire arrangement wound around the spool. The terminals are to be coupled to the coil-wire arrangement and a first side of a circuit board. The terminal is configured to mechanically and/or electrically couple the low profile coil-wound bobbin to the first side of the circuit board such that the low profile bobbin extends through the circuit board to another side of the circuit board.
US08102236B1
A thin film inductor according to one embodiment includes one or more arms; one or more conductors passing through each arm; a first ferromagnetic yoke wrapping partially around the one or more conductors in a first of the one or more arms, the first ferromagnetic yoke comprising a magnetic top section, a magnetic bottom section, and via regions positioned on opposites sides of the one or more conductors in the first of the one or more arms, wherein the magnetic top section and magnetic bottom section are coupled together through a low reluctance path in the via regions; and one or more non-magnetic gaps between the top section and the bottom section in at least one of the via regions. Additional systems and methods are also provided.
US08102228B2
[PROBLEM] By simplifying a core securing structure of a reactor, miniaturization, lightweight, and low costs of the reactor are achieved.[SOLVING MEANS] The core securing member to secure a core 109 in a case 101 in the reactor wherein the core 109 and the coil 105 are housed in the case 101 is made up of a first spring portion S1 which gives momentum to a side face of the core 109 in a horizontal direction and a second spring portion S2 which gives momentum to an upper face of the core 109 in a vertical direction. Moreover, a stopper portion to restrict popping of the core from the case and the second spring portion are integrally formed with a notch being interposed between the stopper and the second spring portion so that the stopper portion covers part of an upper face of the core.
US08102224B2
The invention relates to design of micromechanical resonators and, more precisely, to the design of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators. The invention provides an improved design structure for a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonator in which the width of the spring elements (3), (23-24), (27-30) is greater than the width of the electrode fingers (5-9), (25-26), (31-34), said widths specifically dimensioned so that the sensitivity of the resonant frequency change with respect to dimensional manufacturing variations d(Δω0/ω0)/dδ approaches zero. The improved structure is frequency robust to manufacturing variations and enables reliable frequency referencing with good performance, particularly in small size solutions.
US08102220B2
A non-reciprocal circuit device includes a ferrite arranged to receive a direct-current magnetic field from a permanent magnet, a first central electrode and a second central electrode arranged on the ferrite. The non-reciprocal circuit device further includes matching capacitors and a terminating resistor. When high frequency signals flow in a reverse direction, power consumption at the first central electrode is increased by decreasing an equivalent parallel resistance Rp of the first central electrode, in relation to power consumption at the terminating resistor.
US08102219B2
An electromagnetic bandgap structure is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnetic bandgap structure can include a dielectric layer, a plurality of conductive plates, placed on a planar surface which is different from that of the dielectric layer, vias, of which each is connected to each of the conductive plates, respectively, and penetrates through the dielectric layer from one end part that is connected to the conductive plates, and a conductive trace, which connects the other end parts of the vias with each other such that all of the conductive plates are electrically connected.
US08102213B2
A multi-mode low noise amplifier (LNA) with transformer source degeneration is described. In an exemplary design, the multi-mode LNA includes first, second, and third transistors and first and second inductors. The first transistor has its source coupled to the first inductor, amplifies an input signal, and provides a first amplified signal in a first mode. The second transistor has its source coupled to the second inductor, amplifies the input signal, and provides a second amplified signal in a second mode. The third transistor has its source coupled to the second inductor. The first and third transistors receive the input signal and conduct current through the first and second inductors, respectively, in a third mode. The first transistor observes source degeneration from a transformer formed by the first and second inductors, amplifies the input signal, and provides a third amplified signal in the third mode.
US08102204B2
Amplifiers with power-on trim and methods using an amplifier system having an amplifier system input and an amplifier system output, an amplifier, a comparator, a successive approximation register having an input coupled to an output of the comparator, a first switch for switching an input of the amplifier from the amplifier system input to shorting the amplifier input, a second switch for switching an output of the amplifier from the amplifier system output to an input of the comparator, an output of the successive approximation register being coupled to an N bit digital to analog (D/A) converter, the D/A converter being a non-binary converter using a radix of less than 2 for at least the most significant bits, and an output of the D/A converter being coupled to the amplifier to control the input offset of the amplifier. Novel embodiments for the amplifier, comparator and D/A converter are disclosed.
US08102200B2
A current control circuit in accordance an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a first transistor that controls a current flowing to a load, a first resistor through which a current flows according to a current flowing through the first transistor, a control signal generation circuit that generates a control signal used to control the first transistor based on a comparison voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, the comparison voltage being determined based on a resistance value of the first resistor and a current flowing through the first resistor, and a reference voltage generation circuit that generates the reference voltage, the reference voltage generation circuit including a constant current source and a second resistor connected in series with the constant current source.
US08102199B2
A voltage level shifting circuit for an integrated circuit system having an internal low voltage power supply (VCCL) and an external high voltage power supply (VCCH) is disclosed, the voltage level shifting circuit comprises a pair of cross coupled PMOS transistors connected to the VCCH, a NMOS transistor with a source connected to a ground (VSS) and a gate connected to a first signal swinging between the VCCL and the VSS, and a first blocking device coupled between the drain of the first PMOS transistor and a drain of the first NMOS transistor, the first blocking device being configured to conduct active current when the first signal is in static state or transitions from a logic HIGH to a logic LOW, and the first blocking device being configured to shut off active current when the first signal transitions from the logic LOW to the logic HIGH.
US08102179B2
The method for determining the state of charge of a battery can be used during charging or discharging of the battery at constant current. It comprises placing the battery in open circuit during a recovery period until the voltage at the terminals of said battery stabilizes at a voltage plateau. Then a constant test voltage is applied to the battery terminals during a preset test period. The state of charge of the battery corresponds to the current measured at the end of the test period by means of a previously obtained calibration curve.
US08102153B2
The battery voltage adjusting device includes: a voltage detecting means provided corresponding to a block including at least one unit cell of an on-vehicle high voltage battery consisting of a plurality of the unit cells connected in series and detecting a terminal voltage of the unit cell in the block; a charge-discharge means charging or discharging the unit cell in the block on the basis of the terminal voltage of the unit cell detected by the voltage detecting means; a temperature detecting means detecting a temperature of the unit cell; and a changing means changing a time period, from a time point when the charge-discharge means finishes to charge or discharge the unit cell to a time point when the voltage detecting means detects the terminal voltage of the unit cell, on the basis of the temperature of the unit cell detected by the temperature detecting means.
US08102152B2
According to a deterioration detecting method for rechargeable lithium batteries, battery voltages of a rechargeable lithium battery before and after the completion of charging or discharging are measured. An evaluation value is calculated based on the measured battery voltages. This evaluation value is compared with a reference value of the rechargeable lithium battery stored in advance. A deterioration level of the rechargeable lithium battery is estimated based on this comparison result. In addition, further deterioration can be suppressed by controlling charging and discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated deterioration level.
US08102132B2
A starting apparatus is disclosed for at least two synchronous machines, which starting apparatus includes an exciter unit which is provided for each synchronous machine and is associated with the respective synchronous machine. Each exciter unit can be connected to the field winding of the associated synchronous machine. A superordinate control unit is provided, with the superordinate control unit being connected via a communication link to each exciter unit. Furthermore, the starting apparatus includes at least one stator feed unit and at least one switching device, which is provided for each stator feed unit and is associated with the respective stator feed unit, in which case the respective switching device can be connected to the associated stator feed unit, the respective switching device can be connected to at least one synchronous machine, and the switching devices can be connected to one another when there are a plurality of switching devices. The exciter units can be connected to one another via a ring communication link. Each stator feed unit can be connected to the ring communication link. Each stator feed unit can also be connected via a communication link to an associated switching device, and exciter units which are associated with the stator feed units can be each connected via a communication link to a switching device.
US08102127B2
A lighting system and method combine at least one LED and at least one gas discharge lamp within a common housing. The lighting system includes a control system to dependently operate each LED and each gas discharge lamp during overlapping, non-identical periods of time. In at least one embodiment, the control system can provide light output by activating LEDs during gas discharge preheating operations and thus extend the useful life of each gas discharge lamp. When dimming the lighting system, the control system can reduce current to the gas discharge lamps and one or more gas discharge lamps can be phased out as dimming levels decrease. As dimming levels decrease, one or more of the LEDs can be activated or groups of LEDs can be phased in to replace the light output of the dimmed gas discharge lamps. Thus, the lighting system can reduce power consumption at low dimming levels.
US08102117B2
An electroluminescent panel having a front electrode overlying a translucent sheet, a phosphor layer overlying the front electrode, a dielectric layer overlying the phosphor layer, and a rear electrode overlying the dielectric layer, the electroluminescent panel further includes a mask layer between the front electrode and the phosphor layer, wherein the mask layer is patterned to define graphics optically and electrically. A layer other than the mask layer can also be patterned.
US08102113B2
There is provided a quinoxaline-containing compound represented by the following formula (I); wherein Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent aromatic group; and R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group.
US08102110B2
A lamp with an outer bulb in which a base (30) includes a base main body (32) having a contact terminal (31) electrically connected with a receptacle and an attaching member (33) fitted to the base main body (32) in a state of retaining the lamp main body (10) and an outer bulb (20), the attaching member (33) has an insertion hole (34) formed therethrough for inserting and retaining a pinch seal (14), and a flange (36) for abutment with the opening end (21) of the outer bulb formed at the outer peripheral surface (35) thereof, and a joint portion (40) is formed for engaging the outer peripheral surface of the attaching member (33) and the inner peripheral surface (23) of the outer bulb (21). An adhesive injection port (38) is opened to the bottom of the attaching member for filling the adhesive to the joint portion (40) in a state of mounting the outer bulb, thereby improving the commercial value by making the adhesive deposited to the insertion hole portion invisible externally, as well as preventing the outer bulb from detachment and mitigating inventory control depending on the type of the bases.
US08102107B2
A light-emitting device having an excited sulfur medium by inductively-coupled electrons is provided. This device includes a substrate, an energy transmission coil disposed over the substrate, a transparent discharge cavity disposed over the energy transmission coil, having a substantially planar top and bottom surface, and a high-frequency oscillating power supply coupled to the energy transmission coil. While power up, the energy transmission coil induces an electromagnetic field within the transparent discharge cavity of the light-emitting device. In one embodiment, the transparent discharge cavity includes a sulfur-containing medium disposed within the transparent discharge cavity, and a buffer gas or a plurality of buffer gasses filling inner space of the transparent discharge cavity.
US08102105B2
A spark plug in which the rising of a ground electrode is more reliably restrained. The spark plug includes a ground electrode having a core portion extending from a proximal end section toward a distal end section via a bent section, a heat transfer portion extending from the proximal end section toward the distal end section via the bent section, and an external layer located externally of the core portion and the heat transfer portion and extending from the proximal end section to the distal end section via the bent section. As viewed on a section of the ground electrode taken orthogonally to a direction along which the ground electrode extends, at least at an intermediate position of the bent section with respect to the direction, the center of the core portion is offset toward a center electrode from the center of the heat transfer portion.
US08102102B2
A compact resonator has a wide bandwidth and a small variation of the specific vibration frequency. The resonator is a thin film tuning-fork type inflection resonator in which a thin film made of a piezoelectric material is formed on a substrate on which a lower electrode is formed, and an upper electrode is formed on the piezoelectric thin film.
US08102097B2
An electrostatic acting device in which leakage of charge from an electret film is suppressed. The electrostatic acting device comprises a movable electrode section (20) having a movable electrode (22), a fixed electrode section (10) having an electret film (12) opposed to the movable section (20) at a predetermined distance and capable of storing charge and a conductive layer (14) formed on a predetermined region on the upper surface of the electret film (12), and an insulating film (13) interposed between the electret film (12) and the conductive layer (14).
US08102094B2
A device for connecting an electric motor intended for use in a fuel tank, in particular of a motor vehicle, with connection contacts carbon brushes sliding over an armature of a rotor, and electrical leads arranged between the connection contacts and the carbon brushes. The electrical leads have a sheath made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
US08102093B2
A polyphase motor, for example for applications for driving pumps or ventilators in the automobile industry, including a stator part excited by electric coils and a rotor exhibiting N pairs of poles that are magnetized radially in alternate senses, the stator part exhibiting wide teeth and narrow teeth extending radially from an annular ring. The wide teeth carry the coil windings and the distance between a wide tooth and a narrow tooth is greater than the width of a narrow tooth.
US08102092B2
Split cores comprising laminated iron cores each having formed thereon a tooth, and a yoke and a pole piece which are connected to the tooth at both ends thereof, and arranged and connected together into an annular shape to make a stator. Both ends of the yokes and both ends of the pole pieces are displaced in one circumferential direction by laminated iron core from a top laminated layer of the iron cores of the split cores to a bottom laminated layer of the iron cores or split cores.
US08102088B2
An electromagnetic actuator with flux feedback control includes two poles located on opposite sides of a soft-magnetic target. A bias flux is introduced that flows into both poles. Magnetic circuitry may be designed so that the total bias flux is independent or substantially independent of a position of the target with respect to the poles or the control flux. The electromagnetic actuator also includes flux sensors introduced into each gap between the poles and the target. The electromagnetic actuator further includes an actuator control circuit to command the current in the control coil to bring a difference between the readings of the two flux sensors to a targeted level. In some aspects, the force exerted on the actuator target in this arrangement may be proportional to the command signal regardless of the position of the actuator target, MMF drop in the soft-magnetic parts of the magnetic circuit, or the frequency.
US08102070B2
The objective of the invention is to provide a float-type energy-generating system that is able to maintain the system's body stably, without listing, while sailing, even in a strong wind, while efficiently generating electricity. The system includes a hull (4) that allows the system to be suspended underwater or to float on seawater, one or more plates (6) that receive the sea wind so as to allow the hull to sail, and one or more power generators (3) that generate electricity by rotating one or more water turbines that use water as a working medium while the hull sails.
US08102067B2
A method for the operation of a wind energy plant, which features a wind velocity measurement device and a device for the detection of a mechanical load, with the following steps: measuring a wind velocity with the wind velocity measurement device, detecting a mechanical load with the device for the detection of a mechanical load, determining an estimated value for the wind velocity, based on the determined mechanical load, comparing the wind velocity measured by means of the wind velocity measurement device with the estimated value.
US08102065B2
A wave energy converter has a shell, a pendulum pivotally positioned in the shell, a magnet thereon, a variable inductor positioned in the shell, a pendulum adjustor for changing a center of gravity of the pendulum, a motion sensor positioned in the shell, a position sensor connected to the pendulum, a rotation sensor connected to the pendulum, and a controller connected to the motion sensor and the position sensor and the rotation sensor. The pendulum has a magnet thereon. The magnet of the pendulum oscillates adjacent the variable inductor. The variable inductor can adjust the inductive capacity.
US08102064B2
An electrical alignment mark set and the method for using the same is disclosed. The electrical alignment mark set includes at least a top mark and a bottom mark. The top mark includes multiple pads disposed on a top wafer and having first pads and second pads, and a monitoring via electrically connected to the first pads. The bottom mark includes a first bottom pad corresponding to the monitoring via and a second bottom pad corresponding to the second pads. Further the first bottom pad and the second bottom pad are electrically connected to each other so that the monitoring via may be electrically connected to the second pads by means of the first bottom pad when the top mark and the bottom mark are aligned with each other.
US08102063B2
A pad structure includes a copper circuit pattern on a substrate, at least a gold layer stacked on the copper circuit pattern, and a nano-structured coating film stacked on the gold layer.
US08102061B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a copper-based bonding wire whose material cost is low, having excellent ball bondability, reliability in a heat cycle test or reflow test, and storage life, enabling an application to thinning of a wire used for fine pitch connection. The bonding wire includes a core material having copper as a main component and an outer layer which is provided on the core material and contains a metal M and copper, in which the metal M differs from the core material in one or both of components and composition. The outer layer is 0.021 to 0.12 μm in thickness.
US08102058B2
The disclosure provides a chip package structure and method for fabricating the same. The chip package structure includes at least one chip having at least one through via. At least one stress buffering structure is disposed in the through via. The stress buffering structure includes a first gasket and a second gasket. A supporting pillar has two terminals respectively connected to the first gasket and the second gasket. The cross-sectional area of the supporting pillar is smaller than areas of the first gasket and the second gasket. A buffering layer is sandwiched between the first gasket and the second gasket, surrounding a sidewall of the supporting pillar. An insulating layer is disposed on the through via, surrounding a sidewall of the stress buffering structure.
US08102049B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device including at least one of an insulating layer and a semiconductor layer each including a hole formed therein, and a through electrode provided in the hole. In the semiconductor device, the side wall of the hole is constituted of a first region from the opening of the hole to a predetermined position between the opening of the hole and the bottom surface of the hole, and a second region from the predetermined position to the bottom surface of the hole. The through electrode includes a seed layer and a plating layer. The seed layer covers the second region and the bottom surface of the hole without covering the first region. In addition, the plating layer covers the seed layer and at least a part of the first region.
US08102044B2
A method of packaging electronics comprises providing a first wafer and providing a second wafer. The method also comprises depositing a polymer material over a surface of the first wafer; and selectively removing a portion of the polymer from the first wafer to create a void in the polymer. The method also comprises placing the first wafer over the second wafer and in contact with the polymer; and curing the polymer to bond the first wafer to the second wafer. A bonded wafer structure is also described.
US08102038B2
A semiconductor chip 101 with surface 101b free of circuitry assembled on a metal carrier 102 by an attachment layer 103 with thickness 103a. Included in layer 103 are metal bodies 104 and an adhesive polymeric compound 105 between bodies 104. Metal bodies 104 form metal inter-diffusions with carrier 102 and extend from the carrier across thickness 103a, stopping at and contacting second chip surface 101b. The high thermal conductivity of metal bodies 104 greatly increases the thermal conductivity of the attachment layer. The metal bodies may be arrayed in a regularly spaced pattern in x- and y-directions, as well as in enhanced concentrations in locations of thermal hot spots and of high thermomechnical stresses. In the latter application, the metal bodies prevent the growth of microcracks and delamination.
US08102036B2
A semiconductor device having a GaAsFET and input and output matching circuits connected to the FET is provided. In the semiconductor device, a line, including a wire connection portion connected to the input or output matching circuit and a lead connection portion connected to an input or output lead which is connected to an external circuit, is formed in such a manner that a line width at the wire connection portion is wider than that at the lead connection portion. With the semiconductor device, the number of wires connecting the input or output matching circuits with the wire connection portion can be increased.
US08102029B2
A buck converter module includes a high side (HS) die having source, drain, and gate bonding pads on a front side of the HS die, a low side (LS) die having a first section thereof with a plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs) extending from a back side to a front side of the LS die, the LS die having source, drain, and gate bonding pads located on a front side of a second section separate from the first section, the drain bonding pad electrically connected to the back side of the LS die in the second section. The HS die and the LS die are bonded together such that the source bonding pad of the HS die is electrically connected to the back side of the LS die, and each of the drain and gate bonding pads are electrically connected to separate TSVs in the LS die.
US08102026B2
To provide a group-III nitride semiconductor freestanding substrate, with carrier concentration of a peripheral part of a n-type group-III nitride semiconductor freestanding substrate set to be lower than the carrier concentration inside of the peripheral part. In this freestanding substrate, preferably value Δσ obtained by dividing a difference between a maximum value of the carrier concentration and a minimum value of the carrier concentration in a surface of the freestanding substrate by the maximum value of the carrier concentration is greater than 0.05, and the carrier concentration in any place in the surface of the freestanding substrate exceeds 5.0×1017 cm−3.
US08102021B2
A low cost passive RFID tag uses capacitive or inductive coupling between the RF IC chip and the antenna. Coupling elements are formed directly on the surface of the RF IC chip.
US08102015B2
A microphone package includes a carrier, a cap, an integrated circuit chip, and a microphone unit. The cap covers the carrier to form a storage space. The integrated circuit chip is disposed in the storage space. The microphone unit is disposed in the storage space and stacked on the integrated circuit chip.
US08102012B2
A transistor component having a shielding structure. One embodiment provides a source terminal, a drain terminal and control terminal. A source zone of a first conductivity type is connected to the source terminal. A drain zone of the first conductivity type is connected to the drain terminal. A drift zone is arranged between the source zone and the drain zone. A junction control structure is provided for controlling a junction zone in the drift zone between the drain zone and the source zone, at least including one control zone. A shielding structure is arranged in the drift zone between the junction control structure and the drain zone and at least includes a shielding zone of a second conductivity type being complementarily to the first conductivity type. The shielding zone is connected to a terminal for a shielding potential. The at least one control zone and the at least one shielding zone have different geometries or different orientations in a plain that is perpendicular to a current flow direction of the component.
US08101996B2
A three-dimensional semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device bonded together using a patterned conductive layer according to an embodiment of the invention. The first semiconductor device includes a first plurality of terminals on its front side, and the second semiconductor device includes a second plurality of terminals on its front side. The patterned conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive regions. Each of the conductive regions is bonded to a conductor coupled to one of the first plurality of terminals and bonded to another conductor coupled to one of the second plurality of terminals, providing electrical coupling between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. In a specific embodiment, each terminal of the first semiconductor device is bonded to a corresponding terminal of the second semiconductor device, providing a parallel combination of the first and the second semiconductor devices.
US08101994B2
A semiconductor device having multiple fin heights is provided. Multiple fin heights are provided by using multiple masks to recess a dielectric layer within a trench formed in a substrate. In another embodiment, an implant mold or e-beam lithography are utilized to form a pattern of trenches in a photoresist material. Subsequent etching steps form corresponding trenches in the underlying substrate. In yet another embodiment, multiple masking layers are used to etch trenches of different heights separately. A dielectric region may be formed along the bottom of the trenches to isolate the fins by performing an ion implant and a subsequent anneal.
US08101978B2
A backside illuminated (“BSI”) imaging sensor pixel includes a photodiode region and pixel circuitry. The photodiode region is disposed within a semiconductor die for accumulating an image charge in response to light incident upon a backside of the BSI imaging sensor pixel. The pixel circuitry includes transistor pixel circuitry disposed within the semiconductor die between a frontside of the semiconductor die and the photodiode region. At least a portion of the pixel circuitry overlaps the photodiode region.
US08101977B2
A polycrystalline fuse includes a first layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate and a second layer of a silicide material on the first layer. The first and second layers are shaped to form first and second terminal portions of a first width joined along a length of the fuse by a fuse portion of a second width narrower than the first width. First and second contacts are connected to the first and second terminal portions respectively. The silicide material being discontinuous in a terminal region of the second layer along the length of the fuse.
US08101973B2
A heterojunction bipolar transistor comprising a substrate; a collector on the substrate; a base layer on the collector; an emitter layer on the base layer; the emitter layer comprising an upper emitter layer and a lower emitter layer between the upper emitter layer and base; the collector, base and emitter layers being npn or pnp doped respectively; characterized in that the lower emitter layer has a larger bandgap than the base layer and is AlxIn1-xP or GaxAl1-xP, x being in the range 0+ to 1.
US08101971B2
Novel structures of the photodetector having broad spectral ranges detection capability are provided. The photodetector offers high quantum efficiency>95% over wide spectral ranges, high frequency response>10 GHz (@3 dB). The photodiode array of N×N (or M×N) elements is also provided. The array also offers wide spectral detection ranges ultraviolet to 2500 nm with high quantum efficiency>95% and high frequency response of >10 GHz, cross-talk of <0.1%. In the array, each photodiode is independently addressable and is made either as top-illuminated or as bottom illuminated type detector. The photodiode and its array provided in this invention, could be used in multiple purpose applications such as telecommunication, imaging, and sensing applications including surveillance, satellite tracking, advanced lidar systems, etc. The advantages of this photodetectors are that they are uncooled and performance will not be degraded under wide range of temperature variation.
US08101967B2
Leads 3 and a metal block 2 are resin molded only in a region surrounded by a base bottom 1d, and the surface of the metal block 2 at the bottom of a cavity 10 is not composed of a resin but a metallic component or a material having high resistance to discoloration and degradation.
US08101966B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) structure with an improved heat transfer path with a lower thermal resistance than conventional LED lamps is provided. For some embodiments, a surface-mountable light-emitting diode structure is provided having an active layer deposited on a metal substrate directly bonded to a metal plate that is substantially exposed for low thermal resistance by positioning it on the bottom of the light-emitting diode structure. This metal plate can then be soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB) that includes a heat sink. For some embodiments of the invention, the metal plate is thermally and electrically conductively connected through several heat conduction layers to a large heat sink that may be included in the structure.
US08101957B2
An optical semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, an optical semiconductor region and a heater. The optical semiconductor region is provided on the semiconductor substrate and has a width smaller than that of the semiconductor substrate. The heater is provided on the optical semiconductor region. The optical semiconductor region has a cladding region, an optical waveguide layer and a low thermal conductivity layer. The optical waveguide layer is provided in the cladding region and has a refractive index higher than that of the cladding region. The low thermal conductivity layer is provided between the optical waveguide layer and the semiconductor substrate and has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the cladding region.
US08101956B2
Discussed is a semiconductor LED package. The semiconductor LED package includes a packet body having a cavity, a semiconductor light emitting device in the cavity of the package body; and a plurality of reflective frames, each of the reflective frames having a bottom frame in the cavity of the package body, and at least two sidewall frames extending from the bottom frame and inclined with respect to the bottom frame, wherein the plurality of reflective frames are electrically separated from each other.
US08101951B2
A method for forming a conductor structure is provided. The method comprises: (1) providing a substrate; (2) forming a patterned dielectric layer with a first opening which exposes a portion of the substrate; forming a patterned organic material layer on the dielectric layer with a second opening which corresponds to the first opening and expose the exposed portion of the substrate; (3) forming a first barrier layer on the organic material layer and the exposed portion of the substrate; (4) forming a metal layer on the first barrier layer; and (5) removing the organic material layer, the first barrier layer thereon and the metal layer thereon.
US08101936B2
Methods and apparatus for providing a memory device that can be programmed a limited number of times. According to exemplary embodiments, a memory device and its method of formation provide a first electrode, a second electrode and a layer of a chalcogenide or germanium comprising material between the first electrode and the second electrode. The memory device further includes a tin-chalcogenide layer between the chalcogenide or germanium comprising material layer and the second electrode.
US08101932B2
A radiation attenuation corridor couples a radiation therapy room and a control room. The radiation attenuation corridor is made of a material that substantially absorbs ionizing radiation and substantially blocks the transmission of the ionizing radiation. Specific wall portions at the entrance of the corridor are covered with borated polyethylene (BPE). Specific wall portions diverge from an axis defined by the corridor by from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees. The corridor thus leads out of the room and angles laterally across the wall of the therapy room, before angling again and opening to a safe room. The added angles in the radiation corridor increase the distance of radiation travel, and make the path more indirect, thereby increasing the contact of the radiation emissions with the radiation shielding and further attenuating the radiation.
US08101929B1
Methods and systems for Airy waves and Airy wavepackets or Airy beam generation from an input beam or pulse. Airy wavefronts and Airy wavepackets can be generated using Airy beam generation through Fourier synthesis using phase masks or filters in the spatial domain; Airy beam generation using amplitude and phase filters in the spatial domain; and Airy pulse generation through Fourier synthesis using phase and/or amplitude filters in the temporal frequency domain. The Airy waves are highly asymmetric and as a result their energy is more tightly confined in one quadrant thus increasing the energy density in the main lobes. These wavepackets can be one, two, and three-dimensional waves. In addition they tend to self-heal themselves which is important in adverse environments.
US08101916B2
This patent presents a method for measuring the concentration of biodiesel in a homogeneous biodiesel-diesel oil mixture using mid infrared radiation for use as fabrication monitor, quality control, law enforcement and multi-fueled vehicles. The method is characterized by the use of mid infrared absorption measurement in the range from 1870 to 1600 cm−1 (5347.6 to 6250.0 nm) which corresponds to the carbonyl group absorption peak (C═O) that is only present in biodiesel. Both intensity and area of the carbonyl absorption peak present power law dependence with the biodiesel percentile in the biodiesel-diesel oil mixture.
US08101914B2
A thermal-type infrared solid-state imaging device comprises a infrared detector having at least a substrate provided with an integrated circuit for reading out a signal, a diaphragm for detecting a temperature change by absorbing infrared rays, and a support section for supporting the diaphragm above a surface of one side of the substrate with space in between, and includes an eaves section connected to a connection area provided in the vicinity of outer circumference of the diaphragm and covering at least components other than the diaphragm across a space and transmitting the heat generated by absorbing incident infrared rays to the diaphragm, wherein the eaves section has the thickness of a first region covering the components other than the diaphragm across a space thicker than the thicknesses of a second region contacting the connection area of the diaphragm and a third region rising upward in mid air from the diaphragm.
US08101910B2
A method and apparatus for multiplexing ions in an MSn mass spectrometer is provided. Ion are filtered to produce a group of ions of interest, the group of ions below a space charge limit of the MSn mass spectrometer. At least a portion of the group of ions are fragmented to form a fragmented group of ions. At least a portion of the fragmented group are stored such that a plurality of portions of the fragmented group can be sequentially selected for mass spectrometry analysis. Each of the plurality of portions of the fragmented group are sequentially selected and re-fragmented prior to mass spectrometry analysis. Each of the plurality of portions of the fragmented group are analyzed, via mass spectrometry, once each of the plurality of portions of the fragmented group has been fragmented.
US08101906B2
Methods for matching semiconductor processing chambers using a calibrated spectrometer are disclosed. In one embodiment, plasma attributes are measured for a process in a reference chamber and a process in an aged chamber. Using a calibrated light source, an optical path equivalent to an optical path in a reference chamber and an optical path in an aged chamber can be compared by determining a correction factor. The correction factor is applied to adjust a measured intensity of plasma radiation through the optical path in the aged chamber. Comparing a measured intensity of plasma radiation in the reference chamber and the adjusted measured intensity in the aged chamber provide an indication of changed chamber conditions. A magnitude of change between the two intensities can be used to adjust the process parameters to yield a processed substrate from the aged chamber which matches that of the reference chamber.
US08101899B2
An apparatus includes pixels each having a transistor that transfers a charge of a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplification unit that receives the transferred charge, a scanning unit that supplies, to the transistor, a conductive pulse, a non-conductive pulse, and an intermediate-level pulse having a peak value between the conductive pulse and the non-conductive pulse, a generating unit that generates an image signal using a signal based on a charge transferred in response to the conductive and intermediate-level pulses, and a control unit that changes at least one of a pulse width of the intermediate-level pulse and the peak value in accordance with information on the detected temperature. The conductive and intermediate-level pulses are supplied to the transistor during a light shielding period of the photoelectric conversion unit.
US08101887B2
The heated steering wheel cover includes a resilient, flexible, substantially annular member having an open bottom portion enabling the substantially annular member to be removably fitted over a vehicle's steering wheel. A heating element is disposed inside of the steering wheel cover. A battery pack is electrically connected to the heating element. A switch is electrically connected to the battery pack and selectively turns the heating element on or off. The battery pack is removably attachable to a portion of the vehicle proximate the steering wheel so that safe operation of the heating element is possible while the vehicle is being driven.
US08101886B2
A welding method of carrying out an alternating current arc welding by switching polarities of a voltage applied between a wire and workpieces when weld-connecting the workpieces to each other by use of the wire, the workpieces including an aluminum cast material and an aluminum wrought material. In the welding method, the alternating current arc welding is carried out in a way to satisfy |B|/(A+|B|)≧0.128 where A denotes an integrated value of an electric current over a time for which the polarity of the wire is positive, and B denotes an integrated value of an electric current over a time for which the polarity of the wire is negative; and thereby an amount of heat input into the aluminum cast material during the welding is set at not more than 67.8 J/mm2.
US08101884B2
A pressure sensitive adhesive sheet 1 includes a base material 11 and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 12. A plurality of through holes 2 pass through one face of the pressure sensitive adhesive sheet 1 to the other face. The hole diameter of the through holes 2 is 0.1 to 300 μm and the hole density is 30 to 50,000/100 cm2. It is preferable to form the through holes 2 using a laser beam machining. In the pressure sensitive adhesive sheet 1, an air trapping or a blister can be prevented or removed without disfiguring the pressure sensitive adhesive sheet and while maintaining sufficient adhesive strength.
US08101882B2
An improved electrode for use in a plasma arc torch. The electrode includes an electrode body, a bore defined by and disposed in the electrode body, and an insert disposed in the bore. The insert and/or the bore of the electrode are configured to improve retention of the insert in the electrode, thereby extending electrode life. The invention also includes a method for forming the electrode. The method includes a step of positioning an insert into a bore of an electrode such that an exterior gap is established that is greater than a second gap.
US08101874B2
A watertight junction box includes a box body, a lower floating plate, an upper floating plate, a lock cap, a modular cable inserted into the box body and kept in contact with sharp copper contacts, a holding down plate for holding down an external power wire on the upper floating plate to cause electric contact between the external power wire and the sharp copper contacts, and a predetermined amount of silicon rubber filled in between the lower and upper floating plate that is deformed to wrap about the connection area between the sharp copper contacts and the external power wire when the lock cap is tightly fastened to the box body to force down the holding down plate.
US08101873B2
In a protective structure for a circuit board (1) that includes a casing (3) for receiving the circuit board, the casing is provided with a recess (11) for receiving a large component part protruding from the circuit board therein, and potting material (6) is filled in a space defined between the large component part and a surrounding wall of the recess. Typically, the potting material is filled in a gap between the large component part and the surrounding wall of the recess without substantially extending out of the recess. Because the large component part is not only supported by the circuit board but also by the casing via the cured potting material, the stress acting on a connection part that connects the large component part to the circuit board is minimized, and this enhances the mechanical integrity of the circuit board assembly. Because the use of the potting material is limited to the recess, the required amount of the potting material can be minimized, and this means a lower material cost and a reduced weight. Reducing the amount of the potting material means a shorter period of time required for curing it, and this improves the production efficiency of the circuit board assembly. If the protection of the component parts from intrusion of moisture is desired, protective coating may be additionally applied to the circuit board.
US08101870B2
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board. The method includes: preparing a printed wiring board, the printed wiring board comprising through holes and a plurality of electrode pads; coating surfaces of the plurality of electrode pads and surfaces of the through holes on an one side of the printed wiring board with a bonding material; mounting a semiconductor package on the printed wiring board such that a plurality of bumps on a surface of the semiconductor package corresponds to the plurality of electrode pads; bonding the bumps to the electrode pads by heating the printed wiring board on which the semiconductor package is mounted; and filling a space between the semiconductor package and the printed wiring board with a filler material.
US08101868B2
A multilayered printed circuit board or a substrate for mounting a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor device, a first resin insulating layer accommodating the semiconductor device, a second resin insulating layer provided on the first resin insulating layer, a conductor circuit provided on the second resin insulating layer, and via holes for electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductor circuit, wherein the semiconductor device is accommodated in a recess provided in the first resin insulating layer, and a metal layer for placing the semiconductor device is provided on the bottom face of the recess. A multilayered printed circuit board in which the installed semiconductor device establishes electrical connection through the via holes is provided.
US08101861B1
A cover for electrical devices is disclosed. Particular implementations include an electrical device cover configured to mount over an electrical device includes a lid having a flexible membrane. The lid is coupled by a hinge to a base and the cover includes a cord port in an edge of a surface of the cover. The lid is configured to expand through the flexible membrane to an expanded position to accommodate an electrical connector coupled with the electrical device. The lid may also be configured to reduce in depth as the lid retracts from the expanded position to a refracted position through the flexible membrane.
US08101860B1
An electrical device cover configured for mounting over an electrical device comprises a frame including a frame channel and an frame opening. The frame opening is defined by at least four sides and is large enough to receive at least one electrical device. A sliding tab comprising a screw channel is provided, the sliding tab is slidably coupled with the frame channel and is slideable to a closed position in which the screw channel at least partially surrounds a box mounting screw of the at least one electrical device.
US08101859B2
This invention is directed to mechanical and electromagnetic shielding features of an electronic device case. An electronic device case is formed of two housings, each housing having integrated snaps, channels, or other retaining features used to secure the housings together. The housings additionally include integrated retaining features used to secure electronic components within the device case. The housings and retaining features are formed of amorphous metals or other materials with high elasticities. Because the retaining features necessary to assemble the case and secure the electronic components to the case form integral parts of the housings, no external retaining features are required to assemble the electronic device in the case.
US08101856B2
Two junction solar energy conversion devices, i.e. photovoltaic cells have a bottom silicon N+/P/P+ photovoltaic cell and an upper GaP N+/P/P+ photovoltaic cell containing quantum well layers which extend the wavelength range over which the GaP cell absorbs light. The quantum well layers are composed of materials other than Gallium Phosphide (GaP) and may be either pseudomorphic or metamorphic. Light trapping may be incorporated at the top surface of the GaP photovoltaic cell along with anti-reflective coatings, and light trapping may be incorporated on the bottom surface of the silicon cell. The bottom surface of the silicon photovoltaic cell is coated with a passivating dielectric layer and electrical contact to the silicon is made with conductive vias extending through the passivating layer.
US08101832B2
A soybean cultivar designated S080121 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080121, to the plants of soybean S080121, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080121, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080121 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080121, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080121, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080121 with another soybean cultivar.
US08101831B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB49H09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB49H09, to the plants of soybean XB49H09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB49H09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB49H09 with another soybean plant, using XB49H09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08101829B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS35006. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS35006, to the plants of soybean RJS35006 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS35006 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS35006 with another soybean plant, using RJS35006 as either the male or the female parent.
US08101828B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS09002. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS09002, to the plants of soybean RJS09002 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS09002 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS09002 with another soybean plant, using RJS09002 as either the male or the female parent.
US08101823B2
A method of controlling a genetically-modified multi-cellular organism or a part thereof, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a multi-cellular organism or a part thereof, whereby cells of said multi-cellular organism or said part contain a heterologous nucleic acid, (b) causing expression of a I protein from said heterologous nucleic acid in at least some of said cells, wherein said protein is capable of (i) leaving a cell and entering other cells of said multi-cellular organism or a part thereof, (ii) causing expression of said protein in cells containing said heterologous nucleic acid, and optionally (iii) controlling a cellular process of interest.
US08101815B2
A pet waste absorption sheet includes a liquid-impermeable backsheet, a liquid-permeable topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The topsheet is a resin film formed with a plurality of apertures for passage of liquid. The topsheet is bonded to the absorbent core through a hot-melt type adhesive. The hot-melt type adhesive is applied in a plurality of continuous lines including curved portions.
US08101812B2
Solvents and methods are provided for extracting a hydrocarbon fraction from a solid, semi-solid, liquid or viscous liquid hydrocarbon-containing material.
US08101809B2
Provided is a base oil, comprising one or more oligomerized olefins, wherein the base oil has: (d) a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. grater than 2.9 mm2/s; (e) a viscosity index from 25 to 90; and (f) a cloud point less than −55° C. Provided is a base oil made by oligomerizing propylene in an ionic liquid catalyst, where the base oil has a viscosity index from 25 to 90 and the base oil is colorless. Provided is a base oil made by oligomerizing an olefin feed comprising propylene in an acidic alkyl-pyridinium chloroaluminate ionic liquid, wherein the base oil has a viscosity index from 25 to 90, and a cloud point less than −55° C.
US08101796B2
Process for producing acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in at least one carbonylation reaction zone containing a liquid reaction composition containing an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate. Indium and rhenium are present as promoters.
US08101792B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds from Antrodia cinnamomea and their use.
US08101789B2
Siloxy-substituted silane-containing polymerizable silicones are prepared in high purity by metering a substituted alkoxysilane into a mixture of disiloxane, acetic acid, and acid catalyst, adding acetyl chloride, separating an acidic phase from a product phase, and adding hexamethyldisilazane to the product phase, which is then distilled.
US08101785B2
The invention relates to a method for producing fatty acid alkanol amides by reacting at least one amine that contains at least one primary or secondary amino group and at least one hydroxyl group with at least one fatty acid to form an ammonium salt, said ammonium salt being subsequently converted into the alkanol amide by means of microwave radiation.
US08101783B1
A novel compound showing anti-tumor properties was synthesized by reacting Cp2TiCl2 with maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) and a pH of 5.4, leading to a complete replacement of Cp and chloride ligands affording, Ti(maltolato)2(OH)2. The further crystallization of Ti(maltolato)2(OH)2 at pH of 8.4 leads to the formation of the novel anti-tumor compound [Ti4(maltolato)8(μ-O4)].
US08101778B2
The present invention provides a method for treating a thrombotic or an inflammatory disorder administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I) or Formula (V): or a stereoisomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the variables A, L, Z, R3, R4, R6, R11, X1, X2, and X3 are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as selective inhibitors of serine protease enzymes of the coagulation cascade and/or contact activation system; for example thrombin, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor IXa, factor VIIa and/or plasma kallikrein. In particular, it relates to compounds that are selective factor XIa inhibitors. This invention also provides compounds within the scope of Formula I and relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.
US08101773B2
The compound 4-{4-[({3-tert-Butyl-1-[3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-1H-pyrazol-5-yl}carbamoyl)amino]-3-fluorophenoxy}-N-methylpyridine-2-carboxamide and alternative forms thereof (e.g., salts, solvates, hydrates, prodrugs, polymorphs and metabolites); pharmaceutical compositions which contain them; and methods for treating cancer using them.
US08101771B2
A novel triazole derivative which has a large energy gap and can be used for electron-transporting layer of a light-emitting element or as a host material. In addition, a light-emitting element which has higher emission efficiency by using the novel triazole derivative. Furthermore, a low power consumption light-emitting device and electronic device.A triazole derivative having a structure represented by the formula (G1). In the formula, Py represents a pyridyl group. R11 and R12 each represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group.
US08101757B2
The invention provides a process for the conversion of opioid derivatives into normorphinan compounds useful for making “nal” compound analgesics and antagonists. In particular, the process may be used for the production of pure normorphinan salts from crude opioid substrates.
US08101754B2
The invention relates to compounds of the formula I: wherein n is 1 or 2, Ar is a C-bound 1,2,4-triazol radical which carries a radical R1 on the remaining carbon atom and a radical R1a on one of the nitrogen atoms; R1 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C4 alkoxymethyl, fluorinated C1-C6 alkyl, fluorinated C3-C6 cycloalkyl, fluorinated C1-C4 alkoxymethyl, or optionially substituted phenyl or 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl; R1a is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl; and R2 is C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, fluorinated C1-C6 alkyl or fluorinated C3-C6 cycloalkyl; and to the physiologically tolerated acid addition salts of these compounds. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition that comprises at least one triazole compound of the formula I and/or at least one physiologically tolerated acid addition salt thereof, and further to a method for treating disorders that respond beneficially to dopamine D3 receptor antagonists or dopamine D3 agonists, said method comprising administering an effective amount of at least one triazole compound or physiologically tolerated acid addition salt of the formula I to a subject in need thereof.
US08101753B2
4-amino-6-alkynyloxypyrimidine compounds shown by the formula (V) which has a controlling activity against pests can be produced by the method which comprises the first step which produces a 4-fluoro-6-alkynyloxypyrimidine compound shown by the formula (I) by making a 4,6-difluoropyrimidine compound shown by the formula (II) react with an alcohol compound shown by the formula (III) H—OR2 (III) in the presence of a tertiary amine; and the second step which produces the 4-amino-6-alkynyloxypyrimidine compound shown by the formula (V) by making the 4-fluoro-6-alkynyloxypyrimidine compound shown by the formula (I) react with an amine compound shown by the formula (IV)
US08101744B2
Disclosed are water-soluble ionic liquids suitable for promoting adsorption of nucleic acids to a solid phase. The use thereof, particularly methods for the isolation of nucleic acids from an aqueous solution, as well as kits for performing those methods are disclosed.
US08101743B2
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of transthyretin. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding transthyretin. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of transthyretin expression and for diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with expression of transthyretin are provided.
US08101735B2
A polynucleotide sequence is provided comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA).Also provided are expression vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide sequence of the invention, and methods for producing rPA.
US08101731B2
The present invention relates to novel yellow anionic dyes, a process for their preparation, certain novel intermediates necessary for their preparation and the use of these dyes for dyeing natural or synthetic materials, in particular, paper. The dyes are of formula (14), (15) or (16) in which R1 represents hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy or SO3H, R2 represents SO3H or CO2H, R3 represents hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C4alkoxy, carboxy, NH2 or NHC1-C4alkyl, R3a represents hydrogen or NH2 and A1 and A2, independently of the other, is selected from the group consisting of an acetoacetylated amine, a derivative of barbituric acid, a 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine derivative, a pyridone derivative, an aminopyrazole or a pyrazolone derivative and a benzoic acid derivative, or A1 and A2, each one independently of the other, represent a certain phenol residue.
US08101727B2
Antibodies and fragments that bind to the protein target c-Met, particularly to epitopes located in the c-Met extracellular domain, are provided, as are methods of use of the antibodies and kits, for treating an unwanted cell, in particular, a cell associated with a c-Met-related condition such as a cancer, a metastasis, or an inflammatory condition.
US08101721B2
The present invention is related to antibodies with binding affinity to fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) optionally with binding affinity to other FGF receptors, which block both ligand-dependent and constitutive ligand independent receptor activation. Specifically, the present invention relates to antibodies with high affinity to more than one FGF receptor subtype, and fragments thereof, useful in treating disorders including cell proliferative diseases.
US08101718B2
The present invention provides a method of administering porcine B-domainless factor VIII (OBI-1) to a patient having factor VIII deficiency to provide more rapid and effective protection against bleeding episodes, compared to formerly available methods, or to provide more effective protection to such patients during non-bleeding periods. This invention is based on the discovery that the recombinant B-domainless porcine fVIII, termed OBI-1, has greater bioavailability compared to the natural porcine fVIII partially purified from porcine plasma, termed HYATE:C. Therefore, the inventive method employs lower unit doses of OBI-1, including, alternatively, omission of antibody-neutralizing dosage, or has longer intervals between the administration, compared to HYATE:C, to provide equivalent protection in patients having fVIII deficiency. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing OBI-1 in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, that are useful for treating patients in need of fVIII more effectively.
US08101715B2
The genes encoding ryanodine receptor homologs have been characterized from multiple insect families including lepidopteran tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), homopteran green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), corn plant hopper (Peregrinus maidis), cotton melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) and fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster). The full-length genes have been isolated, cloned and amplified in bacterial cells. Expression in insect cells shows that the recombinant protein folds into a functional calcium release channel. The genes and their corresponding polypeptides have a number of uses including, but not limited to, the isolation of other pest ryanodine receptors, the development of screens to identify insecticidally active compounds, use of fragments of genes as pesticides, fragments of protein for antibody production, fragments of protein for determination of the structure of insecticide binding sites, and identification of insecticides that disrupt the calcium balance in cells through other messengers that interact with the receptor calcium release mechanism. Methods are outlined for overcoming toxic effects of expressing recombinant proteins in host cells.
US08101713B2
The present invention relates to novel antibodies and their use for detecting, imaging, staging, treating and monitoring of prostate cancer, and/or metastasis thereof. The present invention also relates to novel pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of prostate cancer. Furthermore the present invention relates to assay systems and kits for detecting, imaging, staging, treating and monitoring of prostate cancer, and/or metastasis thereof.
US08101708B2
What is disclosed relates to polymers that resist dissolution in organic solvents, are vasodilators, and are tunable explosives. These polymers also form solvent resistant coatings and solvent resistant fibers as well as bonding materials.
US08101698B2
Provided are surface modified contact lenses formed from one or more fumaric-or itaconic-containing prepolymers having polymerizable functionality that is complimentary to polymerizable hydrophilic polymers.
US08101692B2
A process comprising polymerising in a loop reactor of continuous tubular construction an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the reactor is at least 700 millimeters and the solids concentration in the reactor is at least 20 volume % is disclosed.
US08101690B2
An amine functional adduct is obtained by admixing a stoichiometric excess of a cycloaliphatic diamine and a compound having an epoxide group and an alpha, beta unsaturated carbonyl group.
US08101675B2
A process is disclosed for producing a polyester in powder form, which process comprises: (a) rendering a polyester comminutable by (i) chemical pre-treatment of the polyester, or (ii) irradiating the polyester; and (b) comminuting the polyester produced in step (a) to form a powder.
US08101674B2
A pharmaceutical/medical rubber compound contains the following components: (A) a composition obtainable by crosslinking (a) 100 parts by weight of an isobutylene polymer having terminal alkenyl groups with (d) a hydrosilyl-containing compound in the presence of (b) from 5 to 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin and (c) from 5 to 100 parts by weight of polybutene during melt kneading, and (B) an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene powder. Compared with conventional thermoplastic elastomers, the pharmaceutical/medical rubber compound and its molded article are free from deformations and have sufficient permanent set resistance even under high temperature conditions, have excellent mechanical properties, low water absorption property, low reactivity and superb gas barrier properties, and can withstand high-temperature sterilization.
US08101670B2
The present invention discloses polymers prepared through the Diels-Alder reaction with benzoxazine groups in their main chains. Moreover, polymers with high molecular weight could be successfully prepared via this method. Furthermore, the mentioned polymers are able to undergo crosslinking reaction by heat treatment. Heat energy causes the ring-opening reaction of benzoxazine in polymer main chains to undergo crosslinking reaction, and cross-linked polymers are thereby formed with great flexibility and high crosslinking degree.
US08101667B2
The present invention is directed to the pesticidal treatment of stored foodstuffs, chambers, structures and works of art, using a volatile sulphur compound of general formula: in which R represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is equal to 0, 1 or 2, x is a number ranging from 0 to 4, and R′ represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or, only if n=x=0, a hydrogen atom. These sulphur compounds (in particular dimethyl disulphide) are applied by nebulization directly to the material to be treated.
US08101666B2
The invention provides methods for detection of medical disorders, associated with cellular oxidative stress, cell degeneration and/or cell death. The invention further relates to compounds comprising a thiol (—SH) group, for detecting cells undergoing oxidative stress, degeneration and/or a death process. The invention further provides methods for utilizing the compounds in medical practice, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
US08101660B2
The present invention relates to the use of a 2,5-dihydroxybenzene derivative of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, isomer, or prodrug thereof for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of, inter alia, skin cancer.
US08101658B2
Nitroderivatives of prostaglandins having improved pharmacological activity and enhanced tolerability are described. They can be employed for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
US08101646B2
In illustrative embodiments, there is provided an amorphous form of L-arginine salt of perindopril which may be particularly suitable for pharmaceutical applications, and processes for preparing said form.
US08101645B2
The present invention is directed to novel compounds of Formula (I) wherein the variables are defined as herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as CRTH2 antagonists and as such would be useful in treating certain conditions and diseases, especially asthma, allergic asthma, allergic inflammation, rhinitis, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis.
US08101642B2
Racemic or enantiomerically enriched 3-substituted propanamine compounds represented by the following structural formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the subject compounds are also disclosed. The subject compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, such as depression, anxiety and pain disorders.
US08101630B2
This invention relates to an abuse deterrent dosage form of opioid analgesics, wherein an analgesically effective amount of opioid analgesic is combined with a polymer to form a matrix.
US08101629B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising as active ingredient the hydrochloric acid salt of 4-[[4-[[4-(2-cyanoethenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-phenyl]amino]-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]benzonitrile and to processes for their preparation.
US08101626B2
The present invention relates to the use of GPR119 receptor agonists for treating or preventing a condition characterized by low bone mass, such as osteoporosis, and for increasing bone mass in an individual. The present invention further relates to the use of a GPR119 receptor agonist in combination with a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor for treating or preventing a condition characterized by low bone mass, such as osteoporosis, and for increasing bone mass in an individual. A GPR119 receptor agonist and the combination of a GPR119 receptor agonist and a DPP-IV inhibitor promote bone formation in an individual.
US08101619B2
The invention relates to a group of novel phenylpiperazine derivatives with a dual mode of action: serotonin reuptake inhibition and partial agonism on dopamine-D2 receptors. The invention also relates to the use of a compound disclosed herein for the manufacture of a medicament giving a beneficial effect.The compounds have the general formula (1): wherein the symbols have the meanings given in the specification, and tautomers, stereoisomers and N-oxides thereof, as well as pharmacologically acceptable salts, hydrates and solvates of said compounds of formula (1) and its tautomers, stereoisomers and N-oxides.
US08101615B2
The invention relates to novel heterocyclic derivatives of the general formula (I), processes for their preparation, and their use in medicaments, especially for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction and heart failure development.
US08101614B2
The present application relates to calcium channel inhibitors comprising compounds of formula (I), formula (II), formula (III), or formula (IV), wherein L1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and Rc are as defined in the specification. The present application also relates to compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US08101608B2
The invention provides a novel class of compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity, particularly diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of the Abl, Bcr-Abl, cSrc, TPR-Met, Tie2, MET, FGFR3, Aurora, Axl, Bmx, BTK, c-kit, CHK2, Flt3, MST2, p70S6K, PDGFR, PKB, PKC, Raf, ROCK-II, Rsk1, SGK, TrkA, TrkB and TrkC kinases.
US08101603B2
The present invention relates to 5H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridine derivatives, that are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases, for treating disorders associated with MET activity, and for inhibiting the receptor tyrosine kinase MET. The invention also related to compositions which comprise these compounds, and methods of using them to treat cancer in mammals.
US08101593B2
The present application is directed to an aqueous pharmaceutical formulation comprising less than about 5% w/v sodium deoxycholate maintained at a pH sufficient to substantially inhibit precipitation of the sodium deoxycholate. Also disclosed herein, are methods for inhibiting precipitation of sodium deoxycholate in an aqueous solution comprising less than about 5% w/v of sodium deoxycholate, said method comprising maintaining pH of the solution of from at least about 8.0 to about 8.5.
US08101585B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment and diagnosis of diseases or disorders amenable to treatment through modulation of expression of a gene encoding a Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1 protein.
US08101584B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting gene expression using double stranded RNA molecules that are between 15 and 21 nucleotides in length and are complementary to a target gene sequence.
US08101579B2
Compositions and related methods for treating IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders and conditions (e.g., gastrointestinal motility disorders, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenogastric reflux, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, functional heartburn, dyspepsia (including functional dyspepsia or nonulcer dyspepsia), gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (or colonic pseudoobstruction), and disorders and conditions associated with constipation, e.g., constipation associated with use of opiate pain killers, post-surgical constipation, and constipation associated with neuropathic disorders as well as other conditions and disorders are described. The compositions feature peptides that activate the guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor.
US08101578B2
The present invention provides a peptide which functions as a mimic peptide of an amyloid β peptide and is capable of inhibiting the fibrillogenesis of an amyloid β peptide. The present invention relates to: an 8- to 30-amino acid residue peptide comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the following formula (I): X1-Asp-X2-X3-X4-Pro-X5-X6 (SEQ ID NO: 28) (I) wherein X1 represents a branched chain amino acid, and X2, X3, X4, X5, and X6 are the same or different and each represents an α-amino acid; a 9- to 30-amino acid residue peptide comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the following formula (III): Z1-X13-Gly-X14-X15-Pro-Trp-Met-Z2 (SEQ ID NO: 31) (III) wherein X13, X14, and X15 are the same or different and each represents an α-amino acid, Z1 and Z2 are the same or different and each represents cysteine or serine, and when Z1 and Z2 represent cysteine, they may be crosslinked; and a pharmaceutical composition and an amyloid β fibrillogenesis inhibitor comprising the peptide.
US08101573B2
The invention relates to novel conopeptides and/or novel uses of conopeptides. The conopeptides of the invention are analogs of α-Conotoxin MII that are selective for α6-containing nAChRs as described herein.
US08101567B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug, thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis c virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis c virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08101559B2
Copolymers are obtainable by polymerizing a monomer composition containing a) 0% to 40% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of the formula (I), b) 10% to 99.9% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of the formula (II), c) 0% to 80% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of the formula (III), d) 0.1% to 30% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated, polar ester compounds of the formula (IV), and e) 0% to 50% by weight of comonomer, based in each case on the total weight of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
US08101557B2
Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their viscosities reduced (gels broken) by the direct or indirect action of a synergistic internal breaker composition that contains at least one first internal breaker that may be a mineral oil and a second breaker that may be an unsaturated fatty acid. The internal breakers may initially be dispersed oil droplets in an internal, discontinuous phase of the fluid. This combination of different types of internal breakers break the VES-gelled aqueous fluid faster than if one of the breaker types is used alone in an equivalent total amount.
US08101556B2
The present invention provides treatment fluids useful for subterranean operations, and more particularly, in at least one aspect, a treatment fluid that comprises a carrier fluid and a cationic surfactant comprising a cationic head group, a polar group attached to the head group, and a hydrophobic group that is either a saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight chain alkyl, and comprises about 6 carbons to about 22 carbons. The treatment fluids of the present invention are at least suitable for use as a remedial treatment for the reduction of existing water blocks, oil blocks, and/or gas condensates.
US08101553B1
An antibody library is prepared by selecting a light chain variable region capable of binding to the variable region of heavy chain to reproduce an active conformation and using the same. Because of being capable of maintaining the diversity of the heavy chain variable region at a high ratio in vitro, the antibody library of the present invention is expected as enabling the acquisition of antibodies with various binding activities.
US08101549B2
A method of preventing damage to the shoots and foliage of a plant by a pest includes treating a seed having an exogenous gene that encodes for the production of a protein having activity against European corn borer or corn root worm with a composition comprising at least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid that is selected on the basis of having an activity against an insect other than European corn borer or corn root worm. Treated seeds are also provided.
US08101548B2
Urea Phosphite is a new composition of matter useful as a fertilizer and as a fungicide. It is made by reacting phosphorous acid with urea. Urea Phosphite is characterized by being a liquid produced in an unprocessed reaction, and by having phosphite as a phosphorus source and urea as a nitrogen source. The reaction products may be separated, blended with an admix and spray dried, or, dissolved in water.
US08101542B2
Provided are a catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide and a method of preparing the same. The catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide includes platinum and a transition metal which exists in a bimetallic phase, and the bimetallic phase of the platinum and the transition metal is supported by a support including a vacancy of oxygen. The catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide shows much higher activity than a conventional catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide even at a relatively low temperature.
US08101537B2
A method of producing a prepolymerized catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising a fine powder removal step of removing fine particles from olefin-prepolymerized catalyst particles for olefin polymerization. The prepolymerized catalyst having a low fine particle content is applicable suitably to the field of continuous polymerization of olefins.
US08101535B2
A ceramic ballistic material and method of manufacture is disclosed. A filler material is provided. The filler material is divided into filler granules collectively having a median diameter approximately 10 microns or less. An amount of carbon is provided. The carbon is divided into carbon particles and the carbon particles are allowed to coat the filler granules. The mixture of carbon-coated filler granules is formed into a ballistic armor shape. The formed mixture is placed in a substantial vacuum. The mixture is introduced to a pre-selected amount of silicon and the mixture of carbon-coated filler granules and silicon is heated to a temperature at or above the melting point of the silicon.
US08101533B2
A fabric treating composition comprising primarily an organopolysiloxane of formula (1) having a viscosity of 100 to 1,000,000 mPa-s at 25° C. is provided. R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R2 is a monovalent organic group of formula: —R4(NR5CH2CH2)aNR6R7 wherein R4 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, R5 to R7 are hydrogen, monovalent hydrocarbon groups, or R8, R8 is a group of formula: —(CO—C5H10O)b—R9 (R9 is hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, b is 1 to 50), a is 0 to 4, with the proviso that at least one of R5, R6 and R7 present in the organopolysiloxane is R8, R3 is hydroxyl, —OR10, R1, or R2, R10 being a monovalent hydrocarbon group, m is 10 to 1,500, and n is 0 to 100, with the proviso that when n=0, at least one R3 is R2.
US08101531B1
Methods and hardware for depositing thin conformal films using plasma-activated conformal film deposition (CFD) processes are described herein. In one example, a method for forming a thin conformal film comprises, in a first phase, generating precursor radicals off of a surface of the substrate and adsorbing the precursor radicals to the surface to form surface active species; in a first purge phase, purging residual precursor from the process station; in a second phase, supplying a reactive plasma to the surface, the reactive plasma configured to react with the surface active species and generate the thin conformal film; and in a second purge phase, purging residual reactant from the process station.
US08101525B2
Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device having a lanthanum-family-based oxide layer are described. A gate stack having a lanthanum-family-based oxide layer is provided above a substrate. At least a portion of the lanthanum-family-based oxide layer is modified to form a lanthanum-family-based halide portion. The lanthanum-family-based halide portion is removed with a water vapor treatment.
US08101519B2
The present invention relates to a mold, a manufacturing method of the mold, and a method of forming patterns using the mold. The mold may include a main body having a convex portion and a recess portion, and a polymer layer formed over the main body by processing a surface of the main body with a high molecular weight material through a surface treatment.
US08101512B2
In a mesa isolation configuration for forming a transistor on a semiconductor island, an additional planarization step is performed to enhance the uniformity of the gate patterning process. In some illustrative embodiments, the gate electrode material may be planarized, for instance, on the basis of CMP, to compensate for the highly non-uniform surface topography, when the gate electrode material is formed above the non-filled isolation trenches. Consequently, significant advantages of the mesa isolation strategy may be combined with a high degree of scalability due to the enhancement of the critical gate patterning process.
US08101497B2
Methods for forming a semiconductor device include forming self-aligned trenches, in which a first set of trenches is used to align a second set trenches. Methods taught herein can be used as a pitch doubling technique, and may therefore enhance device integration. Further, employing a very thin CMP stop layer, and recessing surrounding materials by about an equal amount to the thickness of the CMP stop layer, provides improved planarity at the surface of the device.
US08101494B2
A method of making a semiconductor structure includes forming at least a first trench and a second trench having different depths in a substrate, forming a capacitor in the first trench, and forming a via in the second trench. A semiconductor structure includes a capacitor arranged in a first trench formed in a substrate and a via arranged in a second trench formed in the substrate. The first and second trenches have different depths in the substrate.
US08101490B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: irradiating a growth substrate with laser light to focus the laser light into a prescribed position inside a crystal for a semiconductor device or inside the growth substrate, the crystal for the semiconductor device being formed on a first major surface of the growth substrate; moving the laser light in a direction parallel to the first major surface; and peeling off a thin layer including the crystal for the semiconductor device from the growth substrate, a wavelength of the laser light being longer than an absorption end wavelength of the crystal for the semiconductor device or the growth substrate, the laser light being irradiated inside a crystal for the semiconductor device or inside the growth substrate.
US08101487B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is presented. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a gate stack over the substrate. A first laser processing to form vacancy rich regions within the substrate on opposing sides of the gate stack is performed. The vacancy rich regions have a first depth from a surface of the substrate. A first implant causing end of range defect regions to be formed on opposing sides of the gate stack at a second depth from the surface of the substrate is also carried out, wherein the first depth is proximate to the second depth.
US08101485B2
Some embodiments of the present invention include apparatuses and methods relating to NMOS and PMOS transistor strain.
US08101481B1
A spacer lithography process for creating negative features such as, for example, cut-lines, or trenches, and holes is provided. The negative spacer lithography process may be utilized along with positive spacer lithography to fabricate electronic devices or the like. In one embodiment, a process is provided for fabricating a 6-transistor Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM) cell or arrays of 6-transistor SRAM cells using only, or at least primarily, positive and negative spacer lithography.
US08101480B1
A method of forming a transistor induces stress in the channel region using a stress memorization technique (SMT). Impurities are implanted into a substrate adjacent a gate electrode structure to produce an amorphous region adjacent the channel region. The amorphous region is then recrystallized by forming a metal-oxide layer over the amorphous region, and then thermally treating the same. The crystallization creates compressive stress in the amorphous region. As a result, stress is induced in the channel region of the substrate located under the gate electrode structure.
US08101475B2
A field effect transistor (FET) and a method for manufacturing the same, in which the FET may include an isolation film formed on a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, and a gate electrode formed on a given portion of the semiconductor substrate. A channel layer may be formed on a portion of the gate electrode, with source and drain regions formed on either side of the channel layer so that boundaries between the channel layer and the source and drain regions of the FET may be perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08101474B2
A novel buried-channel graphene device structure and method for manufacture. The new structure includes a two level channel layer comprised of a buried-channel graphene layer with an amorphous silicon top channel layer. The method for making such structure includes the steps of depositing a graphene layer on a substrate, depositing an amorphous silicon layer on the graphene layer, converting the upper layer of the amorphous silicon layer to a gate dielectric by nitridation, oxidation or oxynitridation, while keeping the lower layer of the amorphous silicon layer to serve as part of the channel to form the buried-channel graphene device.
US08101472B2
A method for manufacturing a TFT substrate in which a channel length can be stably formed while the number of masks is reduced. The method includes processing a gate of the n-type TFT, a gate of the p-type TFT, and an upper capacitor electrode by using a half-tone mask instead of some of normal masks to reduce the number of masks, and changing impurity concentrations of semiconductor films located in regions which become a channel of the n-type TFT, a source and a drain of the n-type TFT, a channel of the p-type TFT, a source and a drain of the p-type TFT, and an lower capacitor electrode, by using a pattern of the half-tone mask and a normal mask.
US08101463B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes placing a chip on a carrier, and applying an electrically conducting layer to the chip and the carrier. The method additionally includes converting the electrically conducting layer into an electrically insulating layer.
US08101460B2
A plurality of stacked semiconductor wafers each contain a plurality of semiconductor die. The semiconductor die each have a conductive via formed through the die. A gap is created between the semiconductor die. A conductive material is deposited in a bottom portion of the gap. An insulating material is deposited in the gap and over the semiconductor die. A portion of the insulating material in the gap is removed to form a recess between each semiconductor die extending to the conductive material. A shielding layer is formed over the insulating material and in the recess to contact the conductive material. The shielding layer isolates the semiconductor die from inter-device interference. A substrate is formed as a build-up structure on the semiconductor die adjacent to the conductive material. The conductive material electrically connects to a ground point in the substrate. The gap is singulating to separate the semiconductor die.
US08101459B2
A method for assembling semiconductor devices includes providing a first semiconductor device, securing spacers to noncircuit bond pads of the first semiconductor device, and positioning a second semiconductor device on the spacers. Adhesive material may be applied to a surface of one or both of the first and second semiconductor devices prior to positioning of the second semiconductor device, or introduced between first and second semiconductor devices. The noncircuit bond pads may be electrically isolated from other structures of the first semiconductor device or communicate with a ground or reference voltage plane, in which case the back side of the second semiconductor device may communicate with the ground or reference voltage plane upon being positioned against the spacers. Additional semiconductor devices may be added to the assembly. The first semiconductor device may be associated with a substrate. Assemblies and packages at least partially fabricated by the method are also disclosed.
US08101454B2
A pixel cell having a photosensor within a silicon substrate; and an oxide layer provided over the photosensor, the oxide layer having a grated interface with said silicon substrate, and a method of fabricating the pixel cell having a grated interface.
US08101451B1
A semiconductor assembly is described in which a support element is constructed on a surface of a semiconductor lamina. Following formation of the thin lamina, which may have a thickness about 50 microns or less, the support element is formed, for example by plating, or by application of a precursor and curing in situ, resulting in a support element which may be, for example, metal, ceramic, polymer, etc. This is in contrast to a rigid or semi-rigid pre-formed support element which is affixed to the lamina following its formation, or to a donor wafer from which the lamina is subsequently cleaved. Fabricating the support element in situ may avoid the use of adhesives to attach the lamina to a permanent support element; such adhesives may be unable to tolerate processing temperatures and conditions required to complete the device. In some embodiments, this process flow allows the lamina to be annealed at high temperature, then to have an amorphous silicon layer formed on each face of the lamina following that anneal. A device may be formed which comprises the lamina, such as a photovoltaic cell.
US08101450B1
Shallow trench isolation regions are disposed in an n-type silicon semiconductor layer laterally adjacent to a collection region of a photodetector and laterally adjacent to a charge-to-voltage conversion region. The shallow trench isolation regions each include a trench disposed in the silicon semiconductor layer and a first dielectric structure disposed along an interior bottom and sidewalls of each trench. A second dielectric structure is disposed over the pinning layer. The dielectric structures include a silicon nitride layer disposed over an oxide layer. An n-type isolation layer is disposed along only a portion of the exterior bottom of the trench and the exterior sidewall of the trench immediately adjacent to the photodetector. The n-type isolation layer is not disposed along the remaining portion of the bottom or the opposing exterior sidewall of the trench.
US08101446B2
There is provided a method for the production of diode laser bars from a wafer, wherein a metal layer is applied to the wafer in such a way that it does not extend up to the later facets of the diode laser bars to be separated, the diode laser bars are separated and stacked one atop another, the metal layer producing a gap between the facets of the stacked diode laser bars and the metal layer being selected in such a way that clogging of the gap during coating of a facet is prevented.
US08101438B2
A method of fabricating a printhead integrated circuit configured for backside electrical connections. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a wafer comprising a plurality of partially-fabricated nozzle assemblies on a frontside of the wafer and through-silicon connectors extending from the frontside towards a backside of the wafer; (b) depositing a conductive layer on the frontside of said wafer and etching to form an actuator for each nozzle assembly and a frontside contact pad over a head of each through-silicon connector; (c) performing further MEMS processing steps to complete formation of nozzle assemblies ink supply channels through-silicon connectors; and (d) dividing the wafer into individual printhead integrated circuits. Each printhead integrated circuit thus formed is configured for backside-connection to the drive circuitry via the through-silicon connectors the contact pads.
US08101431B2
Described herein is an analyte detection device and method related to a portable instrument suitable for point-of-care analyses. In some embodiments, a portable instrument may include a disposable cartridge, an optical detector, a sample collection device and/or sample reservoir, reagent delivery systems, fluid delivery systems, one or more channels, and/or waste reservoirs. Use of a portable instrument may reduce the hazard to an operator by reducing an operator's contact with a sample for analysis. The device is capable of obtaining diagnostic information using cellular- and/or particle-based analyses and may be used in conjunction with membrane- and/or particle-based analysis cartridges. Analytes, including proteins and cells and/or microbes may be detected using the membrane and/or particle based analysis system.
US08101429B2
This invention is directed to a lateral flow assay for detecting the presence of an analyte in a liquid test sample. The lateral flow assay represents an improvement in the ability to accurately and with high fidelity to detect the presence or absence of a target analyte in a liquid sample, in part, by encompassing a reference region of immobilized, non-diffusible analyte that allows for detection of any factors that interfere with the interaction and binding of the analyte to the labeled capture reagent. Any influences on the interaction and binding of the analyte that is free in solution in the liquid test sample to its complementary labeled reagent will be encountered in parallel in the binding between the immobilized analyte in reference region to the labeled reagent as it diffuses through the reference region. In one embodiment, the lateral flow assay of the invention is a urine-based human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) assay.
US08101426B2
A system and method for the measurement of multiple fluorescence emissions in a flow cytometry system is disclosed where each excitation light source is modulated with a different frequency. A single detector is used to collect the fluorescent emissions excited by all light sources, and the emissions are segregated using Fourier Transform techniques. Systems and methods for the correction of inter-beam coincidence are also disclosed.
US08101422B2
An ion chromatography apparatus comprising: (a) a first chromatography column, (b) a second chromatography column, the volume of the second column being no greater than 0.9 times the volume of the first; and (c) valving disposed between said first and second columns permitting selective transfer of separated ionic species from first chamber to second chamber for further analysis.
US08101420B2
Apparatus and methods for measuring the concentrations of organic and inorganic carbon, or of other materials, in aqueous samples are described, together with related, specially adapted components and sub-assemblies and related control, operational and monitoring systems.
US08101418B2
Apparatus and methods for measuring the concentrations of organic and inorganic carbon, or of other materials, in aqueous samples are described, together with related, specially adapted components and sub-assemblies and related control, operational and monitoring systems.
US08101413B2
Embodiments provide expanded ability to communicate calibration information to diagnostic systems for determining a characteristic of a test sample. An example system for determining a characteristic of a test sample includes: a test sensor for receiving a test sample; a sensor meter responsive to the test sensor, the sensor meter determining a characteristic of the test sample received on the test sensor; and a calibration element including electrical contacts readable by the sensor meter. The electrical contacts are configurable in one of a plurality of patterns that communicates, to the sensor meter, information relating to the determination of the characteristic of the test sample. The plurality of patterns include two or more of the electrical contacts that are electrically isolated from any other electrical contacts. The sensor meter determines at least partially the information from the electrical contacts by determining a combination of values corresponding to the isolated electrical contacts.
US08101408B2
The invention may be summarized as follows. The present invention provides insecticides comprised of naturally-occurring compounds, such as, for example, PA1b-related peptides and terpenoid saponins. The present invention also provides for identification and characterization of a synergistic insecticidal effect between peptides and saponins extracted from plants. Furthermore, simplified extraction procedures are provided that avoid the use of a chloroform defatting step or a column chromatography step.
US08101404B2
A system that is suitable for extracting plasma from blood received from a blood supply is provided. The system comprises a housing, an inlet opening for receiving the blood, a filtration chamber comprising a membrane, and a plasma compartment. The membrane forms a barrier between the blood and the plasma extracted from the blood, and the plasma compartment collects the plasma extracted from the blood. In some embodiments, the system comprises a plasma flow path compression chamber for pulling plasma across the membrane. In some embodiments, the system comprises a blood flow path compression chamber for facilitating blood flow. Some embodiments of the system further comprise means for measuring plasma and blood analytes using spectroscopic and biosensor techniques.
US08101398B2
A modified Family 6 cellulase enzyme comprising a proline residue at position 413 is provided. Genetic constructs and genetically modified microbes comprising DNA sequences encoding the modified Family 6 cellulase are also provided. Family 6 cellulases of the invention display improved thermostability, thermophilicity, alkalophilicity, or a combination thereof, relative to the parent Family 6 cellulases. Such cellulases find use in a variety of applications in industry that require cellulase stability and activities at temperatures, pH values, or both, above that of the native enzyme.
US08101395B2
The present invention relates to novel halohydrin dehalogenase polypeptides and the polynucleotides that encode them. These polypeptides are useful in the production of 4-substituted-3-butyric acid derivatives and vicinal cyano, hydroxyl substituted carboxylic acid esters. The invention also provides related vectors, host cells and methods.
US08101394B2
Polynucleotides and polypeptides relating to a recombinantly-modified plasmin(ogen) molecule are provided. The plasmin(ogen) molecule has a single kringle domain N-terminal to the activation site present in the native human plasminogen molecule, combined such that no foreign sequences are present, and exhibits lysine-binding and significant enzymatic characteristics associated with the native enzyme.
US08101386B2
The present invention relates to the fields of microbiology and microbial genetics. More specifically, the invention relates to novel bacteria strains and processes employing these strains for the fermentative production of amino acids such as threonine.
US08101385B2
Materials and methods are provided for producing aptamer therapeutics having modified nucleotide triphosphates incorporated into their sequence.
US08101383B2
The present invention relates to methods for syngas-production from biomass enabling the conversion of pre-treated biomasses having a high dry-matter content into electricity or oil-based products such as petrol, diesel, chemicals and plastics through the formation of syngas. The biomasses are converted into a biomass slurry having a suitable particle size and dry-matter content for optimal feeding and gasification in a pressurised gasifier.
US08101378B2
The present invention features vectors that contain a promoter effective for expression in bacterial cells and a promoter effective for expression in insect cells. The dual promoter system allows use of the same vector in both host cell systems so that construction of only a single vector is needed to express a polynucleotide inserted at a downstream cloning site. In preferred embodiments the vector is used to derive a recombinant baculovirus that is used to infect host cells. In particular vectors the promoters are a baculovirus polh promoter and a T7lac promoter. In particular vectors the promoter effective for expression in bacteria is positioned between the promoter effective for expression in insect cells and a cloning site. The invention also features various high throughput screening methods.
US08101373B2
Truncated fragments of the small fragment of β-galactosidase are provided that have low affinity for the large fragment of β-galactosidase and provide for robust signals when two fusion proteins are complexed due to the binding of the proteins to which the β-galactosidase fragments are fused. The truncated fragments do not interfere with the complexing of the two proteins and allow for the two proteins to function and be responsive to candidate compounds that affect complex formation.
US08101372B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer which utilize isolated polynucleotides corresponding to the human SGP28 gene, proteins encoded by the SGP28 gene and fragments thereof, and antibodies capable of specifically recognizing and binding to SGP28 proteins.
US08101362B2
The invention provides methods to detect C. difficile in biological samples using real-time PCR. Primers and probes for the detection of C. difficile are provided by the invention. Articles of manufacture containing such primers and probes for detecting C. difficile are further provided by the invention.
US08101354B2
A method for screening for a Tobiano genotype includes obtaining a nucleic acid from an equine animal, and analyzing the nucleic acid for the presence of an inversion in a chromosome ECA3q which is indicative of the genotype for Tobiano. The method includes detecting at least one of a telomeric breakpoint of an inverted ECA3q chromosome and/or a centromeric breakpoint of an inverted ECA3q chromosome. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid may be analyzed by the steps of hybridizing the group of probes or primers having the sequences set forth herein in SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO: 9, and SEQ ID NO: 10, or sequences complementary thereto, and preparing an amplification product. A 209 bp nucleic acid amplification product (SEQ ID NO:11) indicates the presence of the inversion.
US08101347B2
A method of inhibiting, moderating or diagnosing Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is disclosed. In one embodiment, this method comprises inoculating a patient with an effective amount of PcrV antigen.
US08101342B2
Disclosed herein is a DNA vaccine for treating cervical cancer including an E5 gene of human papillomavirus (HPV). Also, disclosed is a combination DNA vaccine for preventing and treating cervical cancer including a gene encoding HPV L1 and/or L2 along with the HPV E5 gene.
US08101334B2
To provide an image processing method including at least one of recording an image onto a thermoreversible recording medium in which transparency or color tone reversibly changes depending upon temperature, by applying a laser beam with the use of a semiconductor laser device so as to heat the thermoreversible recording medium, and erasing an image recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium, by heating the thermoreversible recording medium, wherein an intensity distribution of the laser beam applied in the image recording step satisfies the relationship represented by Expression 1 shown below, 1.20≦I1/I2≦1.29 Expression 1 where I1 denotes an irradiation intensity of the applied laser beam in a central position of the applied laser beam, and I2 denotes an irradiation intensity of the applied laser beam on a plane corresponding to 95% of the total irradiation energy of the applied laser beam.
US08101326B2
A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.
US08101322B2
A plate for a fuel cell is disclosed, wherein an inlet aperture is disposed at a first end of the plate and an outlet aperture is disposed at a second end of the plate. The plate includes a first side and a second side. The first side of the plate has a flow field formed therein between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, the flow field having a plurality of flow channels formed therein, the plurality of flow channels in communication with a plurality of outlet ports formed in the plate. The second side of the plate has a plurality of drainage channels formed therein adjacent the outlet aperture, the plurality of drainage channels in fluid communication with the outlet ports and the outlet aperture, wherein a cross-sectional area occupied by each of the plurality of flow channels is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area occupied by each of the plurality of drainage channels.
US08101307B2
A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream, separating at least a portion of hydrogen contained in the fuel exhaust stream using a high temperature, low hydration ion exchange membrane cell stack, and providing the hydrogen separated from the fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
US08101299B2
A method for producing, maturing and drying negative and positive plates for lead accumulators during which, in a pasting step, the plates are manufactured by introducing lead paste serving as an active material into an electrode support. The plates are directly placed one atop the other in stacks; the plates are matured at temperatures higher than 70° C. while maintaining a residual moisture of the active material, which prevents or reduces a spontaneous oxidation of the lead oxides, to form a porous cross-linked structure comprised of 3- and/or 4-basic lead sulfates, the 3- and/or 4-basic lead sulfates having a greater density than that of the active material that forms the starting material, and; the plates are dried to a desired final moisture while exploiting a permeability, which is suited for the active material due to the porosity resulting from the maturing, and the oxidation of lead remaining in the active material in the plate stack by applying an overpressure or underpressure, which has a pressure difference of more than 10 mbar between an inflow side and an outflow side of the plate stack, by means of oxygen-containing gas flowing through the active material.
US08101297B2
An organic electrolytic solution including a lithium salt; an organic solvent including a high dielectric solvent and a low boiling point solvent; and an additive compound containing an electron withdrawing group and hydrocarbon-based substituents. A lithium battery using the organic electrolytic solution can have improved cycle characteristics and cycle life through preventing decomposition of the electrolyte.
US08101291B2
The present invention relates to coated cutting tool inserts particularly useful for heavy roughing turning operations of very large steel components, such as drive shafts for ships and shafts for wind power plants. The inserts are large with an iC, inscribed circle diameter, of greater than or equal to about 19 mm and a thickness of greater than or equal to about 6 mm with a composition of from about 5 to about 10 wt-% Co, from about 5 to about 12 wt-% cubic carbides or carbonitrides of the metals Ti, Ta and/or Nb, and balance WC with a stratified binder phase enriched surface zone from about 15 to about 40 μm thick. The inserts have an edge rounding before coating of 35-95 μm. The coating comprises a first, innermost layer of TiCxNyOz and a total thickness from about 0.1 to about 1.5 μm, a second layer of TiCxNy with a thickness of from about 4.5 to about 9.5 μm with columnar grains, a third layer of TiCxNyOz with a thickness of from about 0.3 to about 1.5 μm, a fourth layer of a smooth α-Al2O3 with a thickness of from about 4.5 to about 9.5 μm and, a from about 0.1 to about 2 μm thick colored top layer, preferably TiN or ZrN, on the clearance sides. The invention also relates to the method of making such inserts and the use thereof for heavy roughing turning operations of very large steel components.
US08101290B2
Disclosed herein are several organic compounds having electron-transporting and/or hole-blocking performance and their preparation method and use and the OLEDs comprising the organic compound. The organic compounds exhibit high ionization potential (IP), electron affinity (Ea), glass transition temperature (Tg) and high electron mobility, and are a kind of good electron-transporting material with good hole-blocking ability. The devices comprising these compounds as one of the emitting layer, electron-transporting layer (ETL) and hole-blocking layer (HBL) show improved efficiency and better color purity.
US08101289B2
By use of a 2,9,10-triaryl anthracene derivative in which a diarylamino-substituted aryl group is bonded to the 2-position of a 9,10-diarylanthracene for a light-emitting element, a light-emitting element having high efficiency can be obtained. The emission wavelength of the anthracene derivative is suitable for use in a white light-emitting element. By use of the anthracene derivative for a white light-emitting element, a white light-emitting element having high efficiency can be obtained.
US08101287B1
A housing includes a substrate; a tin layer deposited on the substrate; a magnesium-tin layer formed between the substrate and the tin layer; a chromium layer deposited on the tin layer; a chromium-tin layer formed between tin layer on the chromium layer; and a chromium oxide or nitrogen layer deposited on the chromium layer. The substrate is made of magnesium or magnesium alloy; the tin layer is comprised of tin; the magnesium-tin layer is a magnesium-tin layer; the chromium layer is comprised of chromium; the chromium-tin layer is a chromium-tin layer; the chromium oxide or nitrogen layer is a chromium oxide nitrogen layer.
US08101278B2
A coated article is provided with an absorbing layer(s). The coating is, in certain example embodiments, designed so that significant changes in visible transmission can be made by adjusting thickness of the absorbing layer without significantly affecting certain other characteristics such as certain color values. Such coated articles may be used monolithically or in the context of insulating glass (IG) units in different embodiments of this invention, and may or may not be heat treated.
US08101274B2
Disclosed herein are glycosylated amphiphilic molecules composed of hydrophobic “tails” and hydrophilic “heads” that self align to form a membrane at the interface of a polar solvent and a non-polar liquid or a solid. The present invention is directed to a solid state membrane, typically a thin film, composed of a non-polar solid material having the hydrophobic “tail” of a glycosylated amphiphilic molecule embedded in or linked to its surface such that the hydrophilic “head” protrudes from the solid surface and presents useful properties to the surrounding environment. A membrane or film in accordance with the present invention is produced when a non-polar liquid, in the presence of a polar solvent and an amphiphilic biological compound, undergoes a transformation from liquid to solid, through thermal, chemical or radiative means, with the resultant effect that the amphiphilic molecule is affixed or “locked” to the surface, more particularly the hydrophobic ends of the amphiphilic compounds are mechanically or chemically linked to or embedded in the non-polar solid. The membrane and micelles produced therefrom remain stable even in the absence of the polar solvent, thereby allowing the hydrophilic components of the amphiphilic compounds to present useful properties at the surface thereof.
US08101267B2
The present invention provides for certain multilayer polymeric laminates and high strength laminates produced therefrom. The multilayer polymeric laminates provide improved acoustic barrier properties of the high strength laminates of the present invention.
US08101263B2
A cooling system comprising a plurality of coolant channels comprising a fluid-impervious surface comprising a base surface, at least one distinct region of the base surface covered by a mixed monolayer, the mixed monolayer comprising a species having a functional group M1 and a species having a functional group M2 where M1 and M2 have different surface energies, the mixed monolayer forming a surface energy gradient within the region and wherein any portions of the surface that border the at least one distinct region have substantially equal surface energies.
US08101259B2
A composite thermally insulating material suitable for use in houses, which can manifest high thermal insulation performance when packed into a restricted cavity between outer and inner walls. The composite is constructed from two sheet-shaped fiber-based thermally insulating materials and a vacuum thermally insulating material incorporated between the fiber-based thermally insulating materials. The region between the fiber-based thermally insulating materials and vacuum thermally insulating material can be secured with adhesive agent.
US08101243B2
The invention provides thin, hydrogen-permeable, sulfur-resistant membranes formed from palladium or palladium-alloy coatings on porous, ceramic or metal supports. Also disclosed are methods of making these membranes via sequential electroless plating techniques, wherein the method of making the membrane includes decomposing any organic ligands present on the substrate, reducing the palladium crystallites on the substrate to reduced palladium crystallites, depositing a film of palladium metal on the substrate and then depositing a second, gold film on the palladium film. These two metal films are then annealed at a temperature between about 200° C. and about 1200° C. to form a sulfur-resistant, composite PdAu alloy membrane.
US08101240B2
A release coating having improved stability under aging conditions of heat and humidity is described whose release force can be altered by varying the amount of multi-lobe emulsion polymers relative to release agent.
US08101238B2
Adhesive polymers are formed when polyvalent azides and alkynes are assembled into crosslinked polymer networks by copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The condensation polymerization is efficiently promoted by Cu ions either leached from the metal surface or added to the monomer mixture, and strong interactions with metal surfaces are provided by the multiple triazole binding elements produced. The adhesive polymers may be formed either as adhesive polymer coatings or as adhesive polymer cement.
US08101234B2
A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.
US08101226B2
The present invention relates to a solid product comprising an extrudable mixture of an oil in water emulsion and a solid matrix. The solid product may be used in foodstuff e.g. as a beverage additive or as an instant beverage products or. The present invention further provides an oil in water emulsion that is stable under the conditions required to prepare such a solid product. Furthermore, in contrast to traditional spray- and freeze-dried powder based foodstuff additives like creamers, the solid product of the present invention spontaneously disperses when added to a aqueous media, i.e. stirring is not required. Furthermore, it may generate a foam without any foaming agents.
US08101215B2
The invention relates to a process for cosmetic treatment, including the reduction of superficial and deep wrinkles, using ferutinine from Ferula spp extracts.
US08101213B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising an effective amount of xanthohumol and honokiol. The present invention comprises compositions comprising an effective amount of xanthohumol and genistein. The present invention comprises compositions comprising an effective amount of xanthohumol and guggulsterone. The compositions of the present invention may be effective to decrease mature adipocytes viability, induce apoptosis of mature adipocytes, increase lipolysis in mature adipocytes, and/or reduce adipogenesis during the maturation of pre-adipocytes. The present invention further provides methods of treating obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis or bone disorders in a subject, which comprise administering to the subject compositions comprising an effective amount of xanthohumol and honokiol, guggulsterone, or genistein.
US08101212B2
The present invention is directed to bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions derived from membrane and cell serum fractions of plant cell juice. The present invention also relates to the methods for preparing these bioactive botanical cosmetic compositions and the uses of these compositions in various cosmetic formulations and as topical skin cosmetic applications.
US08101211B2
A composition for retarding skin aging which contains an edible herb medicine or medicines round in Taiwan, in particular a plant extract or extracts having melanin formation-unhibiting, elastase-inhibiting, hyaluronidase-inhibiting, active oxygen-eliminating and/or radical-capturing type antioxidant activities, and a medicinally acceptable base and/or additives for external dermal application. The composition is useful in promoting skin whitening effects, maintaining the tension and elasticity of the skin, facilitating skin moistening and providing the skin with anti-inflammatory and/or anti-allergic properties.
US08101207B2
A composition containing a very low water-soluble drug, which composition is produced by treating, with a supercritical or subcritical carbon dioxide fluid, a mixture containing a very low water-soluble drug and a porous material (exclusive of a porous silica material characterized in that the material has an average pore diameter of 1 to 20 nm, the total pore volume of the material that have a diameter falling within a range of ±40% of the average pore diameter account for 60% or more the volume of all the pores of the material, and, when subjected to X-ray diffractometry, the material exhibits one or more peaks at a diffraction angle (2θ) corresponding to d of 1 nm or more); and a method for producing the composition.The very-low-water-soluble-drug-containing composition of the present invention ensures improved dissolution of the very low water-soluble drug.
US08101206B2
The present invention provides a method of attenuating the formation or reducing the severity of swelling and/or inflammation in the tissue of a patient via applying a composition comprising a hydrophilic foam substrate and a polymeric hydrophilic agent to a portion of the surface of the skin in an amount and at a location sufficient to attenuate formation of or reduce the severity of swelling and/or inflammation.
US08101202B2
Useful materials are produced from keratin containing raw materials by a process that includes gentle lanthionization of cystine disulfide bonds. Hydratable materials are produced for use in medical and cosmetic applications.
US08101199B2
A stent is provided in combination with delivery of a tocopherol agent, and in particular a des-methyl tocopherol agent, and further beneficially a gamma-tocopherol agent, so as to reduce restenosis along the vessel or other lumenal wall where the stent is implanted. In particular applications, the stent is an endolumenal stent, and more specific beneficial applications is an endovascular stent, and the gamma-tocopherol elutes from a coating or carrier coupled with the stent. Certain combinations are provided with the des-methyl-tocopherol or phytyl substituted chromanol, e.g. gamma-tocopherol, combined with an additional agent such as an anti-restenosis agent, e.g. sirolimus, tacrolimus, everolimus, or paclitaxel, in order to provide synergistic benefit to tissues along the stented or recanalized regions. Other forms of tocopherol or tocotrienol, or other phytyl substituted chromanols, and other compounds such as palm oil, are also contemplated, for use to treat restenosis.
US08101192B2
Methods for producing an immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are disclosed herein. In several examples, the immune response is a protective immune response. In additional embodiments, methods are disclosed for preventing an infection with Mtb, or treating an infection with Mtb. Pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of tuberculosis are also disclosed.
US08101190B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining if an individual is infected by a staphylococcus bacterium, comprising: determining if antibodies directed against at least 2 proteins comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 6, are present in a biological sample of the individual, and deducing therefrom that the individual is infected by a staphylococcus bacterium.
US08101188B2
Described is the modulation of the neovascularization and/or growth of collateral arteries and/or other arteries from preexisting arteriolar connections. Methods are provided for enhancing neovascularization and/or the growth of collateral arteries and/or other arteries from preexisting arteriolar connections comprising contacting organs, tissue or cells with a colony stimulating factor (CSF) or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said CSF. Furthermore, the use of a CSF or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said CSF for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for enhancing neovascularization and/or collateral growth of collateral arteries and/or other arteries from preexisting arteriolar connections is described. Also provided are methods for the treatment of tumors comprising contacting an organ, tissue or cells with an agent which suppresses neovascularization and/or the growth of collateral arteries and/or other arteries from preexisting arteriolar connections through the inhibition of the biological activity of CSFs. Described is further the use of an agent which suppresses neovascularization and/or the growth of collateral arteries and/or other arteries from preexisting arteriolar connections through inhibition of the biological activity of CSFs for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of tumors.
US08101172B2
A Unique Solenopsis invicta virus (SINV 3) has been identified and its genome sequenced. Oligonucleotide primers have been developed using the isolated nucleic acid sequences of the SINV 3. The virus is used as a biocontrol agent for control of fire ants.
US08101169B2
The present invention provides a method of treating an ocular disease in a subject. In a first step, a nucleic acid is introduced into cells or a tissue. The nucleic acid is introduced by electron avalanche transfection. With this technique, a high electric field induces a vapor bubble and plasma discharge between an electrode and the surrounding medium. The formation of a vapor bubble generates mechanical stress. Plasma discharge through the ionized vapor in the bubble enables connectivity between the electrode and the surrounding medium, so that mechanical stress and electric field are applied simultaneously, which results in permeabilization of the cells or tissue. This permeabilization in turn allows the nucleic acid to enter the cell or tissue. Cells or tissue containing the nucleic acid are then transplanted into an ocular region of the subject.
US08101164B2
The present invention relates to conjugate comprising a carrier substituted with one or more occurrences of a moiety having the structure (I): wherein each occurrence of M is independently a modifier having a molecular weight ≦10 kDa; denotes direct of indirect attachment of M to linker LM; and each occurrence of LM is independently an optionally substituted succinamide-containing linker, whereby the modifier M is directly or indirectly attached to the succinamide linker through an amide bond, and the carrier is linked directly or indirectly to each occurrence of the succinamide linker through an ester bond. In another aspect, the invention provides compositions comprising the conjugates, methods for their preparation, and methods of use thereof in the treatment of various disorder, including, but not limited to cancer.
US08101147B2
A method of using a catalyst comprises exposing a catalyst to at least one reactant in a chemical process. The catalyst comprises copper and a small pore molecular sieve having a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms. The chemical process undergoes at least one period of exposure to a reducing atmosphere. The catalyst has an initial activity and the catalyst has a final activity after the at least one period of exposure to the reducing atmosphere. The final activity is within 30% of the initial activity at a temperature between 200 and 500° C.
US08101141B2
A unified fuel processing reactor for a solid oxide fuel cell can reform hydrocarbon-based fuel into hydrogen-rich gas, remove a sulfur component, and convert non-converted fuel and a low carbon (C2˜C5) hydrocarbon compound into hydrogen and methane in a single reactor. The reactor comprises a primary-reformer which reforms a hydrocarbon-base fuel and generates hydrogen-rich reformed gas, a desulfurizer which removes a sulfur component from the reformed gas, and a post-reformer which selectively decomposes a low carbon (C2˜C5) hydrocarbon in the desulfurized reformed gas into hydrogen and methane. The primary-reformer, desulfurizer and post-reformer are in the unified reactor and isolated, except for a fluid passage, from each other by internal partition walls. The primary-reformer is disposed at a center portion of the reactor. The post-reformer and the desulfurizer are concentrically disposed outside of the primary-reformer.
US08101137B2
An analysis instrument for processing a microfluidic device, having sample storage means, a microfluidic device holder, sample loading means for loading sample into a microfluidic device disposed in the holder, processing means for enabling a reaction in a microfluidic device, and detection means for detecting and/or measuring the reaction is disclosed. The microfluidic device holder is adapted to hold the microfluidic device including a tape in position for processing and/or detection. A microfluidic processing device is also disclosed which includes a reaction chamber, and a sample loading chamber into which a sample is injectable. The reaction chamber is operatively connected to the sample loading chamber. A cover extends across at least part of the sample loading chamber. The cover and the reaction chamber include pierceable material and are separated by an overspill cavity configured to accept any overspill of an injected sample. A kit is also disclosed which has the analysis instrument and the microfluidic processing device as described above.
US08101128B2
A microreactor assembly is provided comprising a fluidic microstructure and an injector assembly. The injector assembly comprises a liquid inlet, a gas inlet, a liquid outlet, a gas outlet, a liquid flow portion extending from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet, and a gas flow portion extending from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. Further, the injector assembly defines an injection interface with a microchannel input port of the fluidic microstructure. The injector assembly is configured such that the gas outlet of the gas flow portion is positioned to inject gas into the liquid flow portion upstream of the liquid outlet, into the liquid flow portion at the liquid outlet, or into an extension of the liquid flow portion downstream of the liquid outlet and is configured such that gas is injected into the liquid flow portion or the extension thereof as a series of gas bubbles.
US08101120B2
A method and device for the heat treatment of a profile, in particular an extruded profile for aircraft. The profile may be formed by one or more different, in particular curable, aluminium alloys. The method provides that at least two regions of a profile are subjected to a different heat treatment. The device includes a first chamber that encloses a first region of a profile and a second chamber that encloses a second region of the profile, wherein different temperatures can be set in the first and second chambers. The profile has at least two regions that each have different material properties and are formed by differential heat treatment.
US08101119B2
An object is to provide an electromagnetic stirrer that can provide an excellent stirring force more than before. An electromagnetic stirrer has a vertical electromagnetic field generating coil (1) vertically and circumferentially provided on the outer side of a container (5), and a rotational electromagnetic field generating coil (2) provided on the outer side of the vertical electromagnetic field generating coil (1), in which an iron core (3) is inserted between the vertical electromagnetic field generating coils (1) and between the rotational electromagnetic field generating coils (2), the iron core (3) being formed of a magnetic material with magnetic isotropy and having comb teeth 3a extended to the inner surface of the vertical electromagnetic field generating coil (1).
US08101111B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for the production of plastic molded skins, which are formed by consecutively performing a plurality of partial melting processes of a plurality of plastic materials, wherein the first plastic material is applied to the mold as a plastic powder in a centrifugal molding method and the second plastic material by a spraying method.
US08101103B2
An earbud (10) for carrying sound from a source (16) to a person's ear canal, includes a soft foam body (20) and a sleeve (26) of stiffer material lying within the body. The body is molded around the sleeve and is chemically bonded to the sleeve without an adhesive between them. The earbud is molded around the sleeve by placing the sleeve on a mandrel pin (42) within a mold cavity (32), placing foamable material in the mold and closing the mold. The mold has shoulders with one mold shoulder (52) that abuts one end (46) of the sleeve and another mold shoulder (60) that lies within 0.1 millimeter of the other sleeve end (62), to prevent foaming material from leaking into the space (64) between the mandrel pin and the sleeve passage.
US08101094B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one fluoroolefin and an effective amount of stabilizer that may be a terpene, terpenoid or fullerene; or a mixture of a terpene, terpenoid or fullerene with other stabilizers. The stabilized compositions may be useful in cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers, and heat pumps, as well as in applications as foam blowing agents, solvents, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishants, and sterilants.
US08101083B2
A pre-treatment method for cleaning and maintaining reverse osmosis membrane filters by injecting sulfurous acid into waters with suspended solids in a liquid fraction to be filtered to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3) to acid leach heavy metals into the liquid fraction, reduce alkalinity and mineral scaling, add sufficient SO2 as a biocide to attack bacteria and other micro organisms to prevent membrane fouling, reduce iron to prevent iron deposit build-up, scavenge and remove dissolved oxygen prior to filtration to prevent membrane oxidation, and then sequentially filtering the acidified water through membrane filters to create a metal free permeate and a brine retentate, which can be pH adjusted to remove the heavy metals as metal hydroxide precipitates.
US08101082B2
A method for treating waste-activated sludge comprises adding (1) a pozzolanic material to waste-activated sludge to form a mixture. The mixture is homogenized and aerated (2). The pozzolanic material reacts with the waste-activated sludge. The mixture is allowed to settle (3). A portion of the mixture is recirculated (4) from a downstream location to an upstream location. The recycled mixture includes pozzolanic material. Some embodiments provide advantages over existing wastewater treatment methods which may include: reduction or elimination of unpleasant odours, reduction of overall costs, conversion of waste into useful products, and/or reduction or elimination of discharged bacteria or other undesirable materials.
US08101078B1
Disclosed is a system for reducing the demand of wastewater volume flowing through a wastewater collection piping system and thereby increasing the effective capacity of the system. A portion of the wastewater is diverted from a sewer main. The solids are separated from the liquid, for example, by a vortex separator. The recovered liquid can be treated and made available for reuse or can be disposed of, for example, in a body of water or pumped into the ground. The concentrated solids are reintroduced into the main sewage line in a portion that adjusts the wastewater loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range. Also disclosed is a system capable of reintroducing the concentrated solids into the sewer main in a portion that adjusts the solids loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range.
US08101077B2
A device for separating platelets from a fluid suspension comprises a mixing chamber operable to receive and mix fluid suspensions and an aggregating agent to form platelet aggregates and residual fluid components. A filter can be configured to be in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and can be further configured to collect platelet aggregates and allow residual fluid components to pass therethrough. The mixing chamber and the filter are operable by a user without input from an external energy source.
US08101071B2
One aspect of the present disclosure includes an oil removal reclamation clarifier system in communication with a body of oil laden wastewater fluid and a conduit for transporting the fluid to the reclamation clarifier system. The reclamation clarifier system includes an oil removal mixing containment device having an influent port, an agent inlet, a sludge collection section in a lower portion of the device for collecting the dispersed liquid, a sludge outlet, and, at least one decant valves located on or near an upper portion of a sidewall of the oil removal clarifier device for permitting unsettled material to exit from the clarifier.
US08101070B2
A chemical/biological wastewater treatment apparatus employing rapid sludge chemical dewatering technology in conjunction with an environmental biological system for treating the separated treated wastewater by land applying it for the propagation of biosynthetic fuels and other plants; and/or passing it through aqueous plant, algae, or microbial reduction of the dissolved solids and ammonia for BOD compliance to produce water of sufficient quality to meet open stream and ocean effluent discharge requirements; and disposing of the high BTU low moisture solids.
US08101069B2
An External Filtering and Absorbing Device for Use in a Local Containment Area contains filter material with a mesh size not less than 50 microns for removing contaminants from ballast or bilge water from a ship or effluent from a storm drain. Examples of contaminants removed are aquatic nonindigenous species such as Fish, Zebra and Quagga Mussels, Asiatic Clam, Aquatic Weeds, Green Crabs, or other suspended particle contaminants. Filtering is accomplished above the ambient water allowing easy visual verification and visual gratification of the efficacy of the filter unlike closed on-board systems. Water and oil permeate the filter and flow into a local containment area where oil is absorbed by absorbent pads held in pockets. The filter is easily removed and can be sent to authorities to demonstrate compliance with environmental standards. Water sampling containers or instruments used with the assembly allow for further compliance monitoring.
US08101063B2
A method of measuring a quantity of a substrate contained in sample liquid is provided. This method can reduce measurement errors caused by a biosensor. The biosensor includes at least a pair of electrodes on an insulating board and is inserted into a measuring device which includes a supporting section for supporting detachably the biosensor, plural connecting terminals to be coupled to the respective electrodes, and a driving power supply which applies a voltage to the respective electrodes via the connecting terminals. One of the electrodes of the biosensor is connected to the first and second connecting terminals of the measuring device only when the biosensor is inserted into the measuring device in a given direction, and has a structure such that the electrode becomes conductive between the first and second connecting terminals due to a voltage application by the driving power supply.
US08101058B2
The present invention generally relates to devices able to purify fluids electrically that are contained within pressure vessels, as well as to methods of manufacture and use thereof. Liquids or other fluids to be purified enter the purification device and, under the influence of an electric field, are treated to produce an ion-depleted liquid. Species from the entering liquids are collected to produce an ion-concentrated liquid. Increasing the exterior pressure on the device may reduce the pressure difference between the interior of the device and the exterior, which may reduce manufacturing costs or simplify construction.
US08101057B2
Methods and devices are described for concentration and cleanup of samples containing bio-molecule analytes (e.g., polynucleotides, such as DNA, RNA, PNA). Various embodiments provide for pH-mediated sample concentration and cleanup of nucleic acid samples with channel devices (e.g., cross-T format, microchannel devices).
US08101054B2
A magnetic particle trapper for use in a sputtering system includes a roller cover plate having a plurality of openings arranged and dimensioned to accommodate a plurality of rollers associated with a mechanical transport mechanism of the sputtering system, and a plurality of magnets to trap magnetic particles, the plurality of magnets being attached to the roller cover plate in locations proximate to the plurality of openings.
US08101047B2
Ash composition measurements of calcium carbonate and gypsum in paper is accomplished with a dual X-ray sensor system with one X-ray source that is powered at about 5.9 KV and a second X-ray source that is powered at about 4.2 KV. Corresponding detectors measure radiation from the respective X-ray sources that is emitted from the paper. Data derived from the measurements yields the gypsum and crystal water content in the paper. The dual X-ray sensor system can be employed in conjunction with infrared total moisture measurements of paper products being manufactured on a papermaking making machine, which contain gypsum and calcium carbonate, in order to correct for the gypsum crystal water effect.
US08101031B2
A hollow shaft material is provided with, on an outer peripheral surface side thereof, for example, a movable induction heating coil wrapped therearound. While a high-frequency current with a predetermined frequency is caused to flow through the induction heating coil, the induction heating coil is axially moved to perform induction hardening of the hollow shaft material from the outer peripheral surface side. At this moment, the frequency of the high-frequency current caused to flow through the induction heating coil is set relatively low as to the small-diameter portions, which have a relatively small thickness, and the frequency of the high-frequency current caused to flow through the induction heating coil is set relatively high as to the large-diameter portion, which has a relatively small thickness.
US08101029B2
A weld metal of a high-strength Cr—Mo steel formed by shielded metal arc welding contains: 0.04 to 0.10% by mass C, 0.15 to 0.5% by mass Si, 0.5 to 1.0% by mass Mn, 2.00 to 3.25% by mass Cr, 0.9 to 1.2% by mass Mo, 0.01 to 0.03% by mass Nb, 0.2 to 0.7% by mass V, 0.003% by mass or below and above 0% by mass B, 0.02 to 0.05% by mass O, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities. A residual extracted by electrolytic extraction from only an unaffected zone of the weld metal contains precipitated Cr in a Cr content below 0.3% by mass, and precipitated Nb in a Nb content of 0.005% by mass or above.
US08101021B2
A population of nanocrystals having a narrow and controllable size distribution and can be prepared by a segmented-flow method.
US08101020B2
A crystal growth apparatus comprises a reaction vessel holding a melt mixture containing an alkali metal and a group III metal, a gas supplying apparatus supplying a nitrogen source gas to a vessel space exposed to the melt mixture inside the reaction vessel, a heating unit heating the melt mixture to a crystal growth temperature, and a support unit supporting a seed crystal of a group III nitride crystal inside the melt mixture.
US08101016B2
A precast concrete component material mixture and method of precasting, which is used to manufacture sleepers for transportation tracks, and related precast concrete components, are provided. The precast concrete component material mixture include: 891 to 963 kg/m3 of coarse aggregate(ca); 811 to 876 kg/m3 of fine aggregate(fa); pozzolan material containing 90 to 97 kg/m3 of fly ash and 31 to 34 kg/m3 of silica fume; cementing material containing 235 to 350 kg/m3 of cement and 78 to 117 kg/m3 of blast furnace slag; 122 to 165 kg/m3 of water; carboxylic acid superplasticizer, which is 0.7 to 2.0 wt % of the total usage of the pozzolan and cementing material; and steel fiber accounting for 0.5 to 1.0% of the total volume.
US08101014B2
The invention relates to a process for coating metallic surfaces with a composition containing silane/silanol/siloxane/polysiloxane, wherein, in addition to a) at least one compound selected from silanes, silanols, siloxanes and polysiloxanes, b) at least one compound containing titanium, hafnium, zirconium, aluminum and/or boron, and c) at least one type of cation selected from cations of metals of subgroups 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, including lanthanides, and of main group 2 of the periodic table of the elements, and/or at least one corresponding compound, the composition contains at least one substance d) selected from: d1) silicon-free compounds having at least one amino, urea and/or ureido group in each case, d2) anions of nitrite and/or compounds having at least one nitro group, d3) compounds based on peroxide, and d4) phosphorus-containing compounds, anions of at least one phosphate and/or anions of at least one phosphonate, as well as e) water, and f) optionally also at least one organic solvent. The invention further relates to corresponding aqueous compositions.
US08101011B2
A coloring matter which has a good hue, and is capable of forming an image high in fastness property under various use conditions and environmental conditions, and particularly suitable for an ink. The coloring matter is represented by the following formula (I): wherein in the formula, G represents a heterocyclic group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 3; when n is 1, R, X, Y, Z, Q, and G each represents a monovalent group; when n is 2, R, X, Y, Z, Q, and G each represents a monovalent or divalent substituent, provided that at least one represents a divalent substituent; and when n is 3, R, X, Y, Z, Q, and G each represents a monovalent, divalent or trivalent substituent, provided that at least two each represents a divalent substituent, or at least one represents a trivalent substituent.
US08101003B2
A filter cartridge, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly are described. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The filter cartridge generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration. Preferred cartridges include a seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Preferred features are described. Methods of assembly and use are also provided.
US08100993B2
A hydrogen gas generator generates hydrogen gas by mixing two reactants. The generator has a reaction chamber for receiving a solid reactant. The chamber has a reaction product separator impermeable to the solid reactant and a biasing means for biasing reactant products against the separator. The generator also has a liquid reactant dispenser for storing a liquid reactant and is fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber, such that dispensed liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a waste product that are substantially permeable through the separator. The generator also has a product collector coupled to the reaction chamber for collecting hydrogen gas and waste product that have passed through the separator.
US08100990B2
Methods, process, apparatus, equipment, and systems are disclosed for converting biomass into bio-oil fractions for chemicals, materials, feedstocks and fuels using a low-cost, integrated fast pyrolysis system. The system improves upon prior art by creating stable, bio-oil fractions which have unique properties that make them individually superior to conventional bio-oil. The invention enables water and low-molecular weight compounds to be separated into a final value-added fraction suitable for upgrading or extracting into value-added chemicals, fuels and water. Initial bio-oil fractions from the process are chemically distinct, have low-water content and acidity which reduces processing costs normally associated with conventional bio-oil post-production upgrading since fewer separation steps, milder processing conditions and lower auxiliary inputs are required. Biochar is stabilized so that it can be handled safely. The integrated fast pyrolysis process includes biomass storage, preparation, pretreatment, and conversion, product recovery and processing to create and store stable biochar and bio-oil fractions.
US08100984B2
A pre-assembled orthopaedic implant adapted for improved gas sterilization. The implant includes a first component adapted for assembly with a second component such that a mating surface of the first component is in close proximity with a mating surface of the second component. At least one gas conduit associated with the mating surface of the first component facilitates a sterilizing gas to penetrate into and dissipate from the interface defined by the mating surfaces.
US08100979B2
A method and system for the creation or modification of the wear surface of orthopedic joints, involving the preparation and use of one or more partially or fully preformed and procured components, adapted for insertion and placement into the body and at the joint site. In a preferred embodiment, component(s) can be partially cured and generally formed ex vivo and further and further formed in vivo at the joint site to enhance conformance and improve long term performance. In another embodiment, a preformed balloon or composite material can be inserted into the joint site and filled with a flowable biomaterial in situ to conform to the joint site. In yet another embodiment, the preformed component(s) can be fully cured and formed ex vivo and optionally further fitted and secured at the joint site. Preformed components can be sufficiently pliant to permit insertion through a minimally invasive portal, yet resilient enough to substantially assume, or tend towards, the desired form in vivo with additional forming there as needed.
US08100974B2
An artificial disc prosthesis is provided. The prosthesis of the present invention enables spinal segment alignment by having a variable height across its surface. The variable height is achieved by an asymmetric artificial nucleus or by at least one variable height end plate.
US08100973B2
A cement-directing structure for use in cement-injection bone therapy includes a collapsible, self-restoring braided structure with regions of differential permeability to the bone cement. The regions of differential permeability may be provided by areas where the braided mesh density is greater or lesser than surrounding areas and/or by means of a baffle. After the structure is placed in a void within a bony structure, cement is injected into the interior of the structure then oozes out in preferred directions according to the locations of the regions of differential permeability.
US08100963B2
A device that is at least partially formed of a biodegradable polymer. The device can be at least partially formed by MEMS technology. The device can include one or more micro-structures that are also formed by MEMS technology. The device can include one or more agents that can be controllably and/or uncontrollably released from the device.
US08100956B2
An oxygenation and temperature thermal therapy and oxygenation treatment pad with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed for treatment of skin wound tissues. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The thermal therapy and oxygenation treatment pad includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient in conjunction with oxygenation. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression. Oxygenation is provided subsequent to initial heating in order to promote oxygen absorption by the wound tissues prior to the cooling thereof which facilitates pulling oxygen into the wound tissues. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08100953B2
A bone plate is described which is adapted for use in situ to fix a spatial relationship of at least two bone parts. The bone plate has at least one pair of the bone screw apertures that are adjoined by a relief-space contiguous with the open space of the screw apertures themselves. An adjoined aperture pair forms a complex aperture and has a center-to-center distance d of the apertures along an axis running through the centers of the apertures. The center-to-center distance d is equal to or greater than the sum of the radii (r1+r2) of the heads of the individual bone screw used with the aperture pair.
US08100946B2
A polyaxial bone anchor includes an anchor head, an anchor member, a bushing, a sleeve and a fastener. The anchor head has a longitudinal bore and an inner spherical surface on a lower portion. The bushing is received within the longitudinal bore adjacent the lower portion and includes an exterior spherical surface for interacting with the inner spherical surface in the anchor head, an internal space defining an inner spherical surface for mating with a spherical head portion of the anchor member and a slot. The inner spherical surface of the bushing has a spherical centerpoint and the exterior spherical surface of the bushing has a spherical centerpoint. The spherical centerpoint of the inner spherical surface is vertically displaced toward the bottom end relative to the spherical centerpoint of the exterior spherical surface. The sleeve is received within the longitudinal bore. The fastener is mountable to the anchor head.
US08100943B2
An apparatus includes an elongate member having a portion configured to be deformed from a first configuration to a second configuration. In one variation, the apparatus includes an outer body, having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and an inner body. A portion of the outer body is configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes. The inner body is disposed within the interior region of the outer body. The inner body has an outer surface in slidable contact with an inner surface of the outer body.
US08100937B2
A pressure assist system for facilitating vascular hemostasis includes a support bar and a midbar extending perpendicularly from a middle portion of the support bar, for supporting a user's thumb when the user grasps the midbar. A base extends perpendicularly from a bottom of the support bar, for supporting the user's knuckles when the user grasps the midbar. A foot for pressing against a wound is configured with a bottom surface of the base. The midbar may be adjustable along the support bar, according to user grip preference. In a related method, a hand-held pressure assist system is provided, having a support bar, a midbar and base extending perpendicularly from the support bar, and a foot beneath the base. A use's thumb and knuckles are positioned over the midbar and base, respectively. The foot is placed over a wound and downward pressure is applied until hemostasis is achieved.
US08100926B1
A surgical clip comprises an upper jaw (12) and a lower jaw 14), a section lining, and includes a complex shape for the upper jaw (12) comprising a first generally straight section (120) and a second shallow curved section (122) thereby enabling the clip to be inserted down a narrow magazine tube and to be able to be operable into a wide capture opening to capture larger vessels and then closed into a latched position on application of force the relatively straight section (120) and then to the shallow curved section (122).
US08100923B2
The present invention relates to devices and methods for securing a pair of suture lengths together or for using a single strand of suture to secure tissue(s) together at an operative site in a patient without necessarily tying a knot. The suture lock device may include a suturing securing device having an outer body member having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen defining a suture path through the outer body, an inner wedge member axially insertable into the outer body member to secure a portion of a suture between the wedge and the interior surface of the lock member, an outer tube carrying the outer body member at the distal end of the outer tube, the outer tube carrying the wedge proximal to the outer body member, and a pusher member slidable within the outer tube to push the wedge into the lock member.
US08100921B2
The present invention involves new interventional methods for reducing gastric volume, and thereby treating obesity. The procedures are generally performed laparoscopically and may generally be described as laparoscopic plication gastroplasty (LPG) in which, after obtaining abdominal access, spaced apart sites on a gastric wall are engaged, approximated and fastened to create one or more tissue folds forming one or more plications projecting into the gastrointestinal space. The serosal tissue may optionally be treated during the procedure to promote the formation of a strong serosa-to-serosa bond that ensures the long-term stability of the tissue plication. These procedures are preferably carried out entirely extragastrically (i.e. without penetrating through the gastrointestinal wall), thereby minimizing the risks of serious complications.
US08100915B2
A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws. The tool set includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Intermediate guide tools having guiding pass through slots are utilized to guide intermediate locations along the rod toward associated bone screws. An attachment structure operably connects the guide tools to the bone screws. The guide tools each include a lower guide and advancement structure to allow a closure top with mating structure to be rotated and driven downward against the rod and to cooperate with similar structure in the bone screw to seat and lock the rod therein. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the rod in the patient.
US08100912B2
A surgical sagittal saw with a head that is able to index, rotate, relative to the longitudinal axis of the saw housing. The head has a neck that extends into an open distal end of the housing. A biasing assembly holds the head and neck sub-assembly in the open distal end of the housing. The biasing assembly is rotatable relative to the housing. A separate lock mechanism selectively holds the head in a fixed orientation around the saw housing longitudinal axis.
US08100909B2
Self-contained assembly for installation of orthopedic implant components onto an orthopedic implant
A self-contained orthopedic implant component assembly provides for concerted or concerted and independent installation of orthopedic components onto an orthopedic implant. The assembly includes a first orthopedic component formation for installation of a first orthopedic component thereof onto the orthopedic implant and a second orthopedic component formation for installation of a second orthopedic component thereof onto the orthopedic implant. The second orthopedic implant formation is carried by the first orthopedic implant formation such that installation of the first orthopedic implant formation into the orthopedic implant at least partially installs the second orthopedic implant formation into the orthopedic implant. One or both of the first and second orthopedic component formations includes a component driver for receipt of installation torque whereby application of rotational torque installs the orthopedic component(s) onto the orthopedic implant. A component driver is detachable from its formation during or after installation of the corresponding orthopedic component depending on form of the self-contained orthopedic implant component assembly.
US08100902B2
A sheath system for selectively covering a distal end of an electrocautery blade is provided. The sheath system includes a hub having a body portion defining a lumen therethrough and a sheath having a body portion defining a lumen therethrough. The lumen of the sheath is configured and dimensioned to operatively receive an electrocautery blade therein. The sheath is translatably associated with the hub such that rotation of the hub in a first direction results in axial movement of the sheath in a first direction to expose a distal end of the electrocautery blade and rotation of the hub in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, results in axial movement of the sheath in a second direction to cover the distal end of the electrocautery blade. The hub and the sheath may be concentric with one another.
US08100885B2
A cap assembly is disclosed for use with a lock solution delivery device. The cap assembly includes a housing defining a receptacle and having an inlet end and an outlet end. A plunger is movable axially within the receptacle from a retracted position to an advanced position and is rotatably supported within the receptacle from a first position to a second position. The plunger includes an axial extension configured to non-rotatably engage a syringe connected to the inlet end of the housing. The plunger is positioned to move from the first position to the second position in response to rotatable detachment of a syringe from the inlet end of the housing.
US08100883B1
A catheter for insertion into the right atrium from the right subclavian vein has an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion has a preformed shape including a first arc portion having a curvature of from about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees relative to the proximal portion and a second arc portion extending distally from the first arc and having a curvature of from about 135 to about 200 degrees relative to the first portion. The first arc has an arc radius of from about 6 inches to about 10 inches and the second arc has an arc radius of from about 1 to about 2 inches. The catheter terminates in a generally straight terminal portion extending distally from the preformed shape.
US08100875B2
A single-use ostomy appliance is described including an ostomy coupling for releasable coupling first and second portions at a stomal orifice. The two portions may be separable body-side and non-body-side parts, or the two portions may be portions of a unitary ostomy device such as a controlled evacuation device. The coupling includes a mechanical fastener configured such that the coupling is rendered substantially not resecurable after the fastener is released.
US08100874B1
A device for use in a system or method of collecting and processing aspirated tissue received from a harvesting device is provided by a canister body having a vacuum port and an evacuation port operable to be placed in communication with a vacuum source, a tissue harvesting port for directing tissue into the canister body received from the harvesting device under suction, and a separator element dividing the canister body into an upper vacuum chamber in communication with the vacuum port and the tissue harvesting port and a lower vacuum chamber in communication with the evacuation port, the separator element including a plurality of apertures enabling fluid to pass between the chambers while restricting tissue from doing the same and a depression with a channel leading to a tissue retrieval port to facilitate processed tissue collection.
US08100857B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying and deploying a protective cover about a percutaneous puncture site formed by a hypodermic needle. In the preferred embodiment, a marking agent or puncture site covering, the latter of which preferably takes the form of a bandage, is releasably secured upon either the needle hub of the hypodermic needle or on a sliding member or sleeve axially moveable along the length of said needle that forms a marking or detaches therefrom once compressed about the puncture site.
US08100855B2
Systems, devices and methods for eluting an agent at a treatment site are disclosed. The devices include an expandable frame and at least one membrane. The membrane may carry an agent to elute at the treatment site. The membrane may allow blood flow at the treatment site during agent delivery.
US08100852B2
An ambulatory medical device for detecting acceleration, temperature, and/or humidity conditions in or around the medical device is provided. The medical device includes one or more acceleration, thermal, and/or humidity sensors which detect acceleration, temperature, and/or humidity conditions in or around the medical device. In response to detected conditions, the medical device may, among other things, alter the operation of the device, provide an alarm or warning to the user, or transmit data about the detected conditions to another device.
US08100850B2
A pyloric valve is provided for inhibiting the flow of chyme through the pyloric region of the gastrointestinal tract. The pyloric valve includes a blocking portion having at least one axially-aligned annular flange defining a central opening and a support having a rim and a support surface. The support may be disposed in a nested position wherein the support surface is disposed within the central opening and an inverted position wherein the support surface is disposed away from the central opening. The pyloric valve may further include a sleeve that may have a beveled distal end. The pyloric valve may be constructed of silicon. Also provided are methods of inserting and removing the pyloric valve, which each include a step of manipulating the support between its inverted and nested positions. Insertion and removal systems are also provided for use with the pyloric valve.
US08100845B2
A foot support having straps which receive the calcaneous and wrap around the midfoot in a tensioned state for stabilizing the rearfoot and the midfoot to avoid excessive inversion and eversion of the foot.
US08100844B2
A hinge or joint assembly includes a first member movably connected to a second member to allow angular displacement of the first member relative to the second member in each of extension and flexion (clockwise and counterclockwise) directions, where one elastomeric spring restrains angular displacement in a flexion position, and another elastomeric spring restrains angular displacement in an extension position. In each direction, the angular movement is dampened through compression of the respective elastomeric spring. After dampening the movement in either direction, returning movement is assisted through decompression of the respective elastomeric spring. Alternatively, one or more elastomeric springs are arranged to both dampen through compression and assist through decompression angular movement in each of the flexion and extension directions. The elastomeric spring can provide a pre-determined force deflection curve in compression and an independent rate of return hysteresis in decompression. The elastomeric springs could be urethane.
US08100833B2
An image diagnostic system controls a probe to perform radial scanning within a body cavity and to acquire reflected signals through the probe. The system produces data based on the signals, constructs and outputs tomographic images of the body cavity and biotissue surrounding the body cavity. The system includes an extraction unit for extracting portions of the produced data on the basis of a frame rate upon successively outputting the tomographic images, and a first output control unit for forming, based on the extracted data, real time tomographic images of the body cavity and biotissue which are outputted in real time during radial scanning. A storage device stores the produced data, and a second output control unit forms, subsequent to the radial scanning, tomographic images of the body cavity and biotissue based on the stored data which are then outputted.
US08100825B2
An endoscope includes an insertion portion having a bendable portion; an operation portion from which the insertion portion extends; a first bending operation knob arranged on a surface of the operation portion and including depressions and first protrusions, to bend the bendable portion in a first direction when rotated; and a second bending operation knob arranged over the first bending operation knob and including depressions and second protrusions, to bend the bendable portion in a second direction when rotated. A length of the second protrusion from a center of rotation to a tip portion is longer than a length of the first protrusion from the center of rotation to tip portions of the first protrusions, and the second protrusion has a depression near a projection of a circular orbit of rotation of each tip portion of the first protrusions onto a surface facing the first bending operation knob.
US08100818B2
A surgical device for localized delivery of beta radiation in surgical procedures, particularly ophthalmic procedures. Preferred surgical devices include a cannula with a beta radiotherapy emitting material at the distal end of the cannula. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in the treatment of treat Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
US08100805B2
An electronically controlled locking differential includes an electromagnetic coil and a wire harness adapted to logically control operation of the differential and having a circuit. The circuit has a latching switch that is electrically connected to a first source of power and adapted to provide latching power of the differential. A double-pole, double-throw control relay is electrically connected to the latching switch and includes a first switch, a second switch, and a coil. The second switch is adapted to “jump” the latching switch. The circuit is disabled when power to the harness is turned off and in “standby” mode when power to the harness is turned on. Upon the latching switch being activated, current flows from a starting point of the circuit through the circuit to activate the relay, the first switch closes to energize the differential, the second switch closes such that the current “jumps” the latching switch, and the differential is actuated.
US08100804B2
A hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission, which includes a brake, used to establish a first gear step and a reverse gear step. The hydraulic control system includes a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve and a control valve, which is switched by a hydraulic signal from the second solenoid valve, and that are operated simultaneously to engage the first-gear step and reverse gear step engagement element; and an neutral gear position engagement control unit that activates both solenoid valves when a shift lever is shifted to neutral to engage the brake. Thus, the generation of a shock may be prevented when the shift lever is shifted from the N position to an R position.
US08100800B2
A fluid is supplied to a housing of a hybrid transmission. An overall system line pressure is elevated to induce leakage of the fluid through a control system. The leaked fluid is flowed through at least one backfill passage to the housing of the hybrid transmission. The leaked fluid is flowed over the motors disposed within the housing to cool the motors. The fluid that is flowed over the motors is collected to create a head pressure within the housing. The head pressure forces the collected fluid upwards within the transmission housing and into clutches that are disposed therein.
US08100799B2
Methods and systems for driving an automobile are provided. The system includes a prime mover power source and a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission, including first and second motors, coupled to the prime mover power source, a power inverter coupled to the first and second motors, and a processor coupled to the first and second motors and the power inverter. The processor is configured to modify a signal controlling the power inverter utilizing a first voltage distortion compensation method if a modulation index of the signal is less than a first modulation index value and modify the signal utilizing a second voltage distortion compensation method if the modulation index is at least equal to the first modulation index value.
US08100798B2
A belt for a continuously variable transmission and elements used in the belt. The elements include a stopper portion formed integrally with a neck portion erected upwardly from a saddle face to hold a width end portion of the ring. The elements are juxtaposed annularly in a same orientation and fastened by rings disposed on a saddle face of the element thereby forming a belt for a continuously variable transmission. A recessed portion is formed by depressing the saddle face at a corner between a side face of the neck portion and the saddle face; and an inner face of the recessed portion includes a first inner face extending smoothly into the side face of the neck portion and having a relatively larger curvature radius, and a second inner face extending smoothly into the first inner face and having a relatively smaller curvature radius.
US08100793B2
A tensioner (1; 50; 60) for a vehicle belt drive, having a housing (2) defining a cavity (3) having an axis (A); at least one arm (4) fitted to the housing (2) to rotate about the axis (A); an idle pulley (5) fitted to the arm (4); a torsion bar elastic member (6) housed at least partly in the cavity (3) and having a first end portion (15) integral with the arm (4), and a second hand portion (16) connected rigidly to a retaining portion (17) to permit tensioning of the elastic member (6); and a damping device (30) for damping oscillation of the arm (4), and having a conical friction member (32) cooperating axially with a mating surface (34) and loaded by axial elastic means (33). The friction member (32) is interposed between the arm (4) and the housing (2); and the elastic member (6) produces an axial thrust component depending on torsion of the elastic member and for pressing the friction member (32) and the mating surface.
US08100792B2
A hydraulic auto-tensioner includes a high-pressure oil chamber and a low-pressure oil chamber, and oil (L) in the high-pressure oil chamber passes through a clearance (G) between a cylinder (17) and a piston portion (18) of a plunger and leaks into the low-pressure oil chamber from an end of the clearance (G) near an end surface of the cylinder (17). A recessed groove (40) is provided in an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder (17) by a conical surface (41) having a groove angle of 5 to 15 degrees from the end of the clearance (G), a throttle portion (45) projecting onto the piston portion (18) side is provided further toward the end surface side of the cylinder than the groove (40) in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder (17), and a throttle gap (A) larger than the clearance (G) is formed between the throttle portion (45) and the piston portion (18).
US08100788B2
An arrowhead includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first blade, and a first fastener that extends through a portion of the body and engages the first blade to secure the first blade in position relative to the body. The first fastener is offset relative to the longitudinal axis.
US08100781B2
A more efficient triangular shape for metal wood clubs or driver clubs is disclosed. This triangular shape allows the clubs to have higher rotational moments of inertia in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and a lower center of gravity.
US08100773B2
A joint whose number of parts is reduced and whose production process is simplified. The joint has spherical bodies (29a-29d), a circular cylindrical inner hub (20) in which hemispherical receiving sections (22a-22d) for receiving the spherical bodies (29a-29d) are formed in curved surfaces, and an outer hub (10) that has a receiving section (17) for receiving the inner hub (20) and also has longitudinal grooves (12a-12d) integrally formed with the receiving section (17) and in which the spherical bodies (29a-29d) received in the receiving sections (22a-22d) are received.
US08100768B2
A game apparatus includes a plurality of controllers. Each of the controllers is provided with an acceleration sensor, for example, for detecting a motion thereof. A magnitude of a motion value detected by each of the controllers is determined, and a motion with a maximum value is determined to be effective, and a game processing is executed.
US08100761B2
There is disclosed a game feature forming part of a gaming machine apparatus (10). The game feature (42) is configured to award a bonus outcome that is determined on the basis of a dynamic bonus modifier (44). The game feature (42) additionally includes a motion indicator (65) associated with the dynamic bonus modifier (44), and during play a value of said dynamic award modifier is adjusted in relation to at least one parameter of a movement of the motion indicator (65). The bonus modifier (44) may be adjusted in concert with, or in response to, the parameter.
US08100760B2
A bonus controller for generating a competitive bonus game in a gaming system, the bonus controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The bonus controller being programmed to: receive wagering data corresponding to a casino game, enter a first player associated with a first gaming apparatus into the competitive bonus game when the first player obtains a qualifying win at the casino game, determine odds for the first player to win the competitive bonus game, vary odds of winning the competitive bonus game for at least a second player after entering the first player into the competitive bonus game, the second player having been previously entered into the competitive bonus game, determine an outcome of the competitive bonus game, and transmit data corresponding to the outcome of the competitive bonus game to a display unit.
US08100753B2
A system and method may provide playing cards which are selected based on a desired set of payout or house odds and/or house advantage. The system and method may display payout odds for respective player positions. The system and method may operate a playing card handling device to provide the playing cards in a random or pseudo-random fashion, based at least in part on the selected payout or house odds and/or house advantage.
US08100751B2
A pay line system has a novel type of pay line that can be provided in a variety of different display systems, including at least 3×3 reel-type displays, 3×4, 4×3, 3×5, 5×3, 4×5 and 5×4 displays. The pay lines are preferably displayed on 3×5 or 5×3 window formats and comprise “horseshoe” arrays of frames or H-Configuration arrays of frames. The horseshoe arrays may be provided with the horseshoe opening at 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° with respect to vertical on the screen or with respect to the vertical orientation of a column, and the horseshoe may have three adjacent frames parallel to three of the four sides of the rectangular display created by the columns and rows. In a 3×5 display format, this allows for the horseshoe pay lines to provide twelve new pay lines and six H-Configuration pay lines. These new 7-symbol pay lines may be in addition to other pay lines or as alternatives to other pay lines. The preferred pay line is a series of three lines of equal dimensions (e.g., three frames along each line) in which only one line is a connecting perpendicular to two lines and only two lines are parallel to each other (forming a horseshoe or U-shape, or forming an H-shape). The pay lines may be numbered and any winning amounts could be multiplied by the value of the number of the winning pay line.
US08100743B2
A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, a top ring body configured to hold and press a substrate against the polishing surface, a retainer ring provided at an outer peripheral portion of the top ring body and configured to press the polishing surface, and a retainer ring guide fixed to the top ring body and configured to be brought into sliding contact with a ring member of the retainer ring to guide a movement of said ring member. Either one of sliding contact surfaces of the ring member and the retainer ring guide which are brought into sliding contact with each other comprises a low friction material.
US08100736B2
A housing supports a rotatable handle grip and is constructed to be received upon the end of a bicycle handlebar in place of a standard hand grip. The housing further supports a dial-type tachometer type readout. A gear drive within the housing responds to movement of the rotatable handle grip to produce tachometer readings. A sound producing device also responds to the handle grip movement to produce engine sounds.
US08100733B1
The invention is the addition to traditional shafts used for stand-up paddling that normally have a standard paddle at one end of the shaft and a handle at the other end of the shaft. The invention incorporates a second paddle attached to the shaft at the location of the handle. The paddle may have an interior opening surrounding a portion of the handle to enable a user to grasp the handle with a user's hand. Alternatively, the body of the paddle can be oriented at an angle relative to the handle so that a gap is formed between an interior surface of the body of the paddle and the handle so that the handle can be grasped by a user's hand with the user's fingers resting in the gap.
US08100732B2
A boat propulsion unit minimizes a shock upon switching of an engagement state of a clutch mechanism. The boat propulsion unit includes an upper clutch mechanism that is arranged on an axis of a lower drive shaft and that can be switched between an engagement state (first engagement state) in which driving force of an engine is transmitted to a downstream side, and a half clutch state in which the driving force of the engine is reduced and then is transmitted; and an advance-reverse drive that is disposed on an axis of a front propeller drive shaft and a rear propeller drive shaft and that can be switched between a forward travel engagement state and a reverse travel engagement state (second disengagement state) in which the driving force of the engine is transmitted to a front propeller and a rear propeller in order to propel a boat, and a disengagement state (second disengagement state) in which the driving force of the engine is disengaged.
US08100731B2
An electric connector has a contact spring. The contact spring includes a fixed portion that is retained by a housing, an involute portion that is extended from the fixed portion into an inward spiral pattern, a revolute portion that is inverted from the involute portion and extended into an outward spiral pattern along the involute portion, an arm portion that is connected to a tail end portion of the revolute portion, a tangential direction of a portion connected to the revolute portion in the arm portion being aligned with a tangential direction of the tail end portion of the revolute portion, and a contact portion that is provided at a leading end of the arm portion to be projected to an outside of the housing, the contact portion abutting on the-other-end electrode to receive a pressing force in a direction in which the arm portion is substantially extended.
US08100720B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a mating cavity, a tongue portion forwards extending into the mating cavity and defining thereon first and second faces opposite to each other, and first and second sets of contacts retained to the housing. The first set of contacts includes pairs of differential pairs and grounding contacts arranged at opposite sides of the differential pairs, and each of the differential pairs defines a first contacting section disposed in the first face and a soldering section. The second set of contacts each defines a deflectable cantilevered beam accessible from the second face. At least one of the grounding contacts defines a main section retained in the tongue portion and further extending into the mating cavity along the tongue portion, and the main section is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the first face.
US08100716B2
Electrical connector including a sealing mat made of a deformable material body having a thick portion and a thin portion having: an upper face a lower face parallel to the upper face, hollow passageways extending along a longitudinal axis from the upper face to the lower face, a housing including a receiving portion, a grid including a compression portion, the sealing mat being compressed between the receiving and compression portions.
US08100715B2
A socket connector includes a conductive center receptacle, first outer socket contact having a first socket contact surface, second outer socket contact having a second socket contact surface, and non-conductive socket body. The socket contact surfaces are separated longitudinally along an axis of the receptacle. The socket body maintains the socket contacts electrically isolated from each other and the receptacle whenever the socket connector is not mated with a bi-conducting plug connector. A plug connector includes a conductive center pin, first outer plug contact having a first plug contact surface, second outer plug contact having a second plug contact surface, annular insulator, and non-conductive plug body. The plug contact surfaces are separated longitudinally along an axis of the pin. The plug body and insulator maintain the plug contacts electrically isolated from each other and the pin whenever the plug connector is not mated with a bi-conducting socket connector.
US08100713B2
An electrical connector includes a row of terminals arranged in the first direction and including contact portions and soldering tails, an insulative housing in which the contact portions of the terminal are arranged and behind which the soldering tails are arranged and a spacer securely attached to the housing to position the soldering tail. The spacer has a top face and a bottom face and a row of through holes running through the top face and the bottom face to receive the corresponding soldering tails thereof. Each of through holes includes a guiding hole communicating with the top face and a receiving hole communicating with the bottom face. The guiding hole defines guiding faces intersecting with the top face to form a frame intersection. The frame intersections are aligned in the first direction while the receiving holes are offset.
US08100702B2
A receptacle connector for receiving a complementary plug includes an insulative housing (100), a number of contacts (200) received in the housing, a metallic shell (300) partially covering the housing and a pair of fixing members (400) assembled between the housing and the shell. The housing has a pair of end walls (103) including a top wall and a bottom wall, a rear wall (104), a pair of side walls (102), and a receiving space (105) defined therebetween for receiving the complementary plug. The rear wall defines a number of receiving channels (113). The top wall defines a top surface (117) and a plurality of receiving slots (111) opened on the top surface. Each contact includes a retention portion (201), a contact portion (202) and a tail portion (205). The top wall forms a protrusion (112) protruded in each receiving slot, and each contact portion has a free end (204) abutting against the protrusion and being capable of moving in the receiving slot when the contact portion is engaged with and deflected by the complementary plug.
US08100700B2
An electrical connector assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposite upper and lower surfaces, an insulating housing having opposite top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of terminals disposed on a bottom surface thereof. Each terminal defines a fusible member disposed thereon. The insulating housing can place the terminal on the upper surface of the PCB and is removed from the terminals after the terminals are soldered on the PCB through the fusible members.
US08100698B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts received in the housing. Each contact includes a body portion, a spring portion and a soldering tail. The insulative housing includes a smooth top face, a plurality of generally parallel ridges extending from an opposite face to the top face to provide with interposed grooves between every adjacent ridges. The body portions of the contacts are individually engaged in the corresponding grooves and the spring portions extend forwards beyond a front face of the housing. The insulating housing includes a mounting face opposite to the smooth top face for confronting with a printed circuit board and the soldering tails extend downwards beyond the mounting face.
US08100695B2
Simulator for medical training having at least a detachable, fluid-tight hollow member comprising: at least a portion (1; 25) made of a self-sealing material; an opening (2; 17) to fill said hollow member with a fluid, said opening (2, 17) being provided with closure means (4; 26) or being connected (8) to closure means; fastening means (4,5; 28) to detachably fasten said hollow member to said simulator. The portion made of self-sealing material allows multiple punctures before having to be replaced.
US08100694B2
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to an infrared weapon aimpoint and triggering detection system that includes an IRED that is modulated in two modes for training and evaluating first responders who are required to enter buildings and raid houses. The IRED mode is either an aiming mode or a triggered mode. The triggered mode is initiated for a short period when the weapon is fired as sensed by a recoil sensing mechanism. An IRED detector and controller sense and process the signal, and may provide output to an instructor, evaluator or a target controller to control the behavior of a target.
US08100690B2
Described is a method as well as a cooler (1) for cooling hot particulate material which has been the subject of heat treatment in an industrial furnace, such as a rotary kiln (3) for manufacturing cement clinker, by which method the hot material from the kiln (3) is directed to an inlet grate (21) in the cooler (1), in which cooling air from an underlying compartment (24) is led via a number of channels (28) through gaps (20) in the inlet grate for cooling the hot material and where compressed air from a separate system (25) via a number of ducts (26) can be intermittently injected into the material on the inlet grate (21). The channels (28) for cooling air are blanked off in connection with the injection of compressed air.
US08100681B2
A mold for a battery, such as a secondary battery, and a method of molding a battery, such as a secondary battery, using the mold, uses a minimum amount of a molding substance, such as a resin, has its molding time shortened, and has a safety vent of a can being prevented from being fractured by high pressure during a molding process. Runners, through which a resin flows, are arranged parallel to cavities and the safety vent of the can is positioned closest to the gates, into which a resin is injected after the can and a protective circuit board are seated in the cavities. Due to the structure of the runners of the mold and the location of the safety vent of the can, the amount of resin used and the molding time are reduced. A fracture of the safety vent is avoided since a lower pressure occurs at the location closest to the gates during a resin filling process.
US08100679B2
A center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer is provided with a screwing mechanism provided with a screw shaft and a screw nut screwed onto the screw shaft, a motor for rotating the screw shaft so as to raise and lower an upper ring body, an inverter for controlling the motor, and a mechanical brake for retaining a predetermined position of the upper ring body so that a bladder retains a shaping state. Within a time range from start of a closing action of the upper die to contact between the upper die and the upper ring body, an operation of the mechanical brake is released and position control of the upper ring body by the inverter is started, and at least after the release of the operation of the mechanical brake, a position of the upper ring body is controlled by the inverter. By such a configuration, even when there is an erroneous operation of the brake or incorrect setting, it is possible to prevent damage and breakage of constituent parts and have a simple structure.
US08100675B2
A fluid transporting device comprises a tube frame having a tube guide wall for arranging a tube having an elasticity in an arcuate shape, and a rotary pressure mechanism having a plurality of rollers. The rotary pressure mechanism is arranged, when the tube is arranged in the tube frame, on the side opposite to the guide wall side of the tube, such that its center of rotation is aligned with the center of the arc of the tube guide wall. A plurality of push pins are interposed between the tube and the rotary pressure mechanism and are arranged radially of the center of rotation of the rotary pressure mechanism. A switching mechanism moves at least one of the rollers to a position for the push pins to release the tube and a position for the push pins to press the tube.
US08100671B2
Low pressure off gases such as from dry gas seals may be recompressed to a higher pressure using multiple tandem supersonic ejectors in which upstream ejectors operate at a higher nozzle exit Mach number than down stream ejectors and all ejectors are operated at exit Mach numbers greater than 1.
US08100669B2
A micro-pump for atomizing and including a main-housing, a nozzle plate, at least an actuator, and a liquid transport pipe is provided. The main-housing has a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, an air inlet, and a micro-droplet outlet. The nozzle plate is assembled to the main-housing and has at least one nozzle. The nozzle plate divides the interior of the main-housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. The nozzle and the liquid inlet are connected with the first chamber. The air inlet, the liquid outlet, and the micro-droplet outlet are connected with the second chamber. The actuator is disposed on at least one of the main-housing or the nozzle plate. The actuator drives the nozzle plate, so that liquid is filled into the first chamber and sprayed out through the nozzle into the second chamber. The liquid transport pipe connects the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet.
US08100665B2
A fan module, particularly for cooling motor vehicle engines allows for improved cooling of the fan motor. The fan housing (101) in which the fan motor (105) is arranged has fixed air-channeling elements (109) which are arranged in the region of a fan hub (2) of the fan wheel (1) driven by the fan motor (105) and which only partially cover an outlet cross section (102, 118) defined by the fan housing (101).
US08100637B2
A double inlet centrifugal fan includes an impeller and fan inlet port. The impeller has a main plate connected to the drive shaft in a fan casing, fan side plates, and a plurality of blades between the main plate and each of the fan side plates. The fan inlet port has an opening corresponding to the inner diameter of the blades. The blades on the side of the larger pressure loss in the suction air passage to the fan inlet port have a smaller inner diameter than the blades on the side of the smaller pressure loss. This equalizes the total pressure increase in the blades along the drive shaft, resulting in a compact double inlet centrifugal fan capable of supplying the required air flow.
US08100635B2
A turbine stage in a turbine engine, including a wheel with blades rotating inside a sealing ring held by a casing of the turbine, and an annular thermal protection sheet mounted between the casing and the sealing ring is disclosed. The annular thermal protection sheet is formed by a plurality of curved plates mounted end-to-end and attached by pins to the casing.
US08100630B2
A fluid flow machine includes at least one casing 1 and at least one rotor drum 3 rotatable about a machine axis 4, with stator vanes 8 and rotor blades 7 being arranged in an annulus duct 2 formed between the casing 1 and the rotor drum 3 The annulus duct 2 is divided into an outer annular duct 5 and an inner annular duct 6 by at least one annular flow divider 11, in each of which rotor blades 7 and stator vanes 8 are arranged Outer rotor blades 7a, which are arranged in the outer annular duct 5, are rotatable at a different speed than the inner rotor blades 7b, which are arranged in the inner annular duct 6.
US08100620B2
A vacuum processing apparatus includes vacuum processing vessels each having a processing chamber with a pressure-reduced interior space, a vacuum transfer vessel which is coupled to the vacuum vessels disposed therearound and which has a low-pressure interior space in which a to-be-processed workpiece is conveyed, an atmospheric air transfer vessel which is coupled to the front side of the vacuum transfer vessel and which includes on its front face side cassette tables mounting thereon a cassette with the workpiece received therein for conveying the workpiece in an interior space under an atmospheric pressure, a position-aligning machine disposed within the atmospheric air transfer vessel at one of right and left ends for adjusting a position of the workpiece, and an adjuster disposed between lower part of this machine and a floor face for adjusting the supply of a fluid being fed to the vacuum processing vessels.
US08100619B2
A corner-cut corrugated fastener in accordance with the principles of the invention includes one or more features to facilitate fastening corner joints. The corrugated fastener includes a corrugated body member having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The corrugated body member may have a notch along the trailing edge, or chamfers at opposing ends of the leading edge, or both a notch along the trailing edge and chamfers at opposing ends of the leading edge. Additionally or alternatively, the corrugated body member may include a corrugation that extends a full length of each lateral edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge in order to provide enhanced strength.
US08100602B2
A machine or apparatus for installing resilient or elastomeric strip seals of indefinite length in expansion joints in, for example, highways and bridges. The machine includes an open, upper frame connected to a lower frame supported at its four corners by four freely rotating wheels. A pair of clamping pistons on the lower frame includes rollers which are adjusted to engage one face of the expansion joint. A toothed wheel or blade rotates about an inclined axis and is powered by a motor through a speed reducing gearbox. The toothed wheel engages the seal and forces it into a channel on the side of the expansion joint opposite to the side engaged by the rollers.
US08100600B2
A connector is configured to connect two frame members. The connector includes a body with a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. A fulcrum is coupled to the body between the first end and the second end. The body is configured to be received in a channel of a frame member and pivots about the fulcrum inside the channel between a first pivot position in which the frame members are free to move relative to one another and a second pivot position in which the frame members are locked against relative movement.
US08100599B1
A surface cleaning device comprising a cleaning element, optionally with an impermeable barrier between wetting and drying parts. The cleaning element may be supported by a main body, e.g., an elongated tubular form, having at least one main body hole for fluid to flow through it to the cleaning element. An inner body has at least one inner body hole and is slideable relative to the main body, in response to finger pressure and preferably an opposing biasing means, between a neutral position and a dispensing position. In the dispensing position, the locations of the inner body and main body allow fluid to flow from the inner body hole into the main body hole. In the neutral position, a seal is formed at least in part by the fit between the inner body and the main body for substantially preventing the flow. Preferably, a stopping component limits outward movement and anti-twist features resist twisting of the inner body relative to the main body.
US08100595B2
A label printing apparatus comprising a cassette receiving bay arranged to receive a cassette; and an engagement member. The engagement member is movable between a first position, in which the engagement member is engaged with the cassette, and a second position in which the engagement member is disengaged with the cassette.
US08100590B2
The main objective of the present invention is to provide maintenance mechanism for lighting equipment in a closed space of high radiation activity, which comprises a passage, a lamp base, a multi-section slide rail, a lighting handle, a stainless steel fixation plate, a lead glass lamp guard and a convex lead plug. On the top side of the passage there is a multi-section slide rail with the lamp base attached to move the lamp. The maintenance hole at the end of the passage has a convex lead plug and a stainless steel fixation plate. When the hole closes, the convex lead plug is locked to the lead plug positioning screw under the stainless steel fixation plate; while the maintenance hole opens, on the top right and top left of the stainless steel fixation plate there is a L-shaped short iron plate and a L-shaped long iron plate respectively. On the L-shaped long iron plate there is an axial screw as the axis for the convex lead plug to move and rotate. On the L-shaped short iron plate there is a lead plug positioning screw for the convex lead plug after being pulled out to have temporary fixation. At the radiation space end of the passage there is a semi-circular lead glass lamp guard for the shielding wall to be fixed without moving with the lighting equipment.
US08100564B2
An illuminating device in which stray lights are prevented and light distribution design is easy by making it possible to receive lights emitted from an LED lamp with an external reflecting mirror as much as possible is provided. A reflecting mirror having a concave reflecting surface reflecting an incident light, a light emitting element, and a lens molding a light emitting element therein and having a lens surface opposed to a light emitting surface of the light emitting element, the lens surface being in a slope shape with its central portion being projected to the light emitting element are included, and the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror and the light emitting surface of the light emitting element are disposed to be opposed to each other with the lens surface of the lens therebetween so that light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected at the lens surface to be emitted outside the lens to be incident on the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror.
US08100560B2
A submersible high illumination light source assembly is disclosed, comprising at least one module. A module comprises a heat sink having a front surface and a rear surface. A printed circuit board comprising one or more electrical connections sized and shaped to couple with a plurality of high-illumination light emitting diode (LED) lamps is in thermal communication with the front surface of the heat sink. The plurality of high-illumination LED lamps are coupled in electronic communication with the printed circuit board via the one or more electrical connections. At least one reflector is sized and shaped to accept the insertion of one or more of the plurality of high-illumination LED lamps. A window is in watertight communication with the reflector plate. The submersible high illumination light source assembly operates both when submerged underwater and exposed to air.
US08100556B2
A light fixture includes a member having a substantially frusto-conical shape. A channel extends between a wide top end of the member and a narrower bottom end of the member. The member includes multiple surfaces (“facets”) disposed around its outer surface. Each facet is configured to receive one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) in a linear or non-linear array. Each facet can be integral to the member or coupled to the member. The channel is configured to transfer heat generated by the LEDs through convection. Fins can be disposed within the channel, extending from the inner surface of the member to an inner channel. The fins are configured to transfer heat away from, and provide a greater surface area for convecting heat away from, the member. For example, one or both of the channels can transfer heat by a venturi effect.
US08100549B2
An illuminating lens includes: a light entrance surface through which light emitted from a light source enters the lens; and a light exit surface through which the light that has entered the lens exits the lens. The light exit surface has: a concave portion intersecting the optical axis; and a convex portion provided around the concave portion to extend continuously from the concave portion. The light exit surface is formed in a shape such that a curvature C of micro-segments of the light exit surface in a cross section including the optical axis has a maximum value at a position outward from the midpoint of the convex portion.
US08100546B2
A sculpted decorative object, such as a Christmas tree, is shown which has a motor driven vertical drive shaft and three rotating sections. Rotation of the vertical drive shaft and an associated drive gear causes relative rotation of a driven gear and, in turn, a respective rotating section of the object about the axis of the drive shaft. A fiber optic bundle is mounted within each rotating section of the object. Each bundle contains several fiber optic strands which terminate at a LED light source at one end and at a light emitting element at an opposite end. Each LED light source is supplied from a common electrical source by means of a series of wiper contacts and rotatable contact rings carried by respective stationary and rotating portions of the sculpted object.
US08100543B1
A display system and method are provided for displaying an object utilizing at least one mirror. In use, a first angular dimension, a second angular dimension, and a curvature of the mirror are controlled for manipulating the display of the object. By this design, a variety of applications may be provided.
US08100540B2
A low cost, light projection and sensing system that projects an image onto a display surface using an array of light emitters. Further, the device has an integral sensing capability of the display surface using light sensors. Both the emitters and sensors are coupled to a control unit. Whereby, the device can modify the light-projected image and sensor view region with its control unit. The device can also project an animated overlaid image or large tiled image of photographic resolution. In operation, the device can determine the position and range of a remote object, along with illuminating its touch sensitive housing with a projected image.
US08100535B2
An optical system is provided. The optical system comprises a first polarizing beamsplitter (PBS), a first reflecting image-forming device, and a first quarter-wave retarding element. An optical system is also provided that comprises an image-forming device, a reflective polarizing layer, at least a first birefringent element disposed on an optical path between the image-forming device and the polarizing layer, and a quarter-wave retarding element. Further provided is an optical system comprising a color combiner unit, at least two polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs), and a first quarter-wave retarding element. The present application also provides methods of compensating for birefringence in an image projection system.
US08100527B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of correcting vision, which comprises determining a residual accommodation exhibited by a natural, crystalline lens of an eye, and selecting a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL), which exhibits a far-focus optical power (e.g., in a range of about −15 to about +50 Diopters (D)) and an add power (e.g., in a range of about 1 D to about 4 D), for implantation in the eye while retaining the natural lens. The add power of the IOL is selected as a function of the residual accommodation such that a combination of the IOL and the natural lens provides a visual contrast greater than about 10% at a spatial frequency of about 20 cycles/degree for viewing objects at a distance greater than about 30 cm from the eye.
US08100520B2
An inkjet printhead includes an ink flow channel including a pressure chamber, a nozzle to communicate with the pressure chamber, an actuator to provide a driving force to eject ink from the pressure chamber, and a plurality of electrodes, a lower voltage is applied to an electrode closer to the nozzle as compared to an electrode farther from the nozzle to form a non-uniform electric field in the ink flow channel, and a method of removing bubbles in the inkjet printhead.
US08100517B2
An inkjet printer that has a printhead with an ink ejection face, an ink supply system for supplying ink to the printhead and a foaming system for generating a liquid foam on the ejection face. The liquid foam is a matrix of liquid membranes forming randomly-packed Voronoi polyhedra.
US08100516B2
A device and method for storing pressure-regulated fluid for a printer is disclosed. The pistonless, pressure-regulated storage device for fluid has three main components: a sealing cap, a mounting base, and a flexible membrane positioned between the sealing cap and the mounting base. The sealing cap has an inlet and an outlet for fluid flow. A pressure sensing device is positioned to monitor the pressure in the fluid storage device. The mounting base has a chamber formed therein and the membrane is positioned over the chamber. The membrane is flexible and configured to conform to the shape of the chamber when the membrane retains fluid, such as ink, from a reservoir. The membrane accumulates fluid until a pressure sensor alerts the pump that the maximum capacity has been reached. When pressure within the storage device falls, such as when downstream demand for ink begins or increases, the pump is signaled to begin filling the storage device.
US08100513B2
A ferroelectric film having a columnar structure constituted by a plurality of columnar grains, and containing as a main component a perovskite oxide which has a composition expressed by a compositional formula A1+δ[(ZrxTi1−x)1−yMy]Oz, where A represents one or more A-site elements including lead (Pb) as a main component, M represents one or more of vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), and antimony (Sb) as one or more B-site elements, zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti) are also B-site elements, 0
US08100510B2
An inkjet nozzle array includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle includes a chamber having an input aperture adapted to receive ink into the chamber and an output aperture through which ink is ejected from the chamber. Each chamber further includes a window adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation and operable to heat ink in the chamber responsive to the electromagnetic radiation and eject an ink droplet through the output aperture.
US08100507B2
A printer comprising a base module having a main drive element and a print zone, a main module back plane coupled with the base module, a machine base rail system coupled to the base module, and an expansion module releasably coupled to the machine base rail system between an operating position and a removed position.
US08100503B2
The present invention relates to a printhead assembly for a printer. The printhead assembly includes a mounting plate assembly for mounting to a chassis of the printer. An ink ejection printhead is mounted to the mounting plate assembly. A capping mechanism is mounted to the mounting plate assembly. The capping mechanism includes a capping member configured to cap the printhead. A carrier supports the capping member. An actuating mechanism is arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the printhead and a second position at which the capping member contacts the printhead.
US08100500B2
An ink jet printer is provided with an ink circulation route which includes an ink jet head, an ink supply tank and an ink collection tank. A measuring unit obtains a value indicative of the flow resistance measured when ink flows from the ink supply tank to the ink collection tank through the ink jet head. A control unit is operable to select one of maintenance operations on the basis of the value indicative of measured flow resistance. When the flow resistance value is lower than a predetermined value, the control unit selects the operation of circulating ink around the ink circulation route as a maintenance operation, and the maintenance unit does not perform the maintenance operation which consumes some amount of ink. This configuration makes it possible to perform maintenance in accordance with the ink viscosity by use of a simple structure.
US08100496B2
An ink tank receives data signals from a printer and an LED provided on the ink tank is driven on the basis of the received data signals. The LED is driven in an inactive time period that is different from the time period in which the date signals are input to the ink tank.
US08100490B2
A liquid storage device includes a storage portion that is configured to store liquid therein, a rotating member that is provided in a bottom portion at inside of the storage portion so as to be capable of rotating, a driving member that is provided at outside of the storage portion in a non-contact state with respect to the rotating member so as to drive the rotating member by magnetic force, the driving member rotating to allow the rotating member to rotate, a detecting portion that is capable of detecting a degree of rotation of the rotating member, and a determining portion that is capable of acquiring difference information of rotation between the rotating member and the driving member on the basis of a detection result by the detecting portion and determining presence of liquid in the storage portion on the basis of the difference information.
US08100489B2
A method for double-sided printing may include ejecting printing fluid from a fluid ejector to a platen configured to receive print media, the platen supporting a nonabsorbent substrate. In any sequence, a first print media side and a second print media side may be printed by ejecting printing fluid from the fluid ejector to the first print media side, and contacting the second print media side with the nonabsorbent substrate to transfer printing fluid from the nonabsorbent substrate to the second print media side. A method for double-side printing may further include increasing the contact between the second print media side with the nonabsorbent substrate to increase transfer of printing fluid.
US08100485B2
A rotating door mechanism includes: a front door member having a door panel part having a nearly cylindrical side surface which is opened and closed on a side surface of a cabinet; a base member; and a rotating member, wherein the rotating member is rotatably mounted on the base member, the front door member is movably mounted on the rotating member from a direction of the door front side to a depth direction while the front door member is energized to the door front side, the base member is formed with a guiding part guiding the movement of the front door member, and the door panel part is slid to rotate the rotating member and the front door member is moved with movements in a front/depth direction and in the rotating direction by the rotating member and the guiding part, whereby the door panel part is opened and closed.
US08100478B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat base having a rack gear mounted thereto and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat base with a pinion gear mounted at a lower end thereof. The pinion gear and the rack gear are arranged such that pivotal movement of the seat back effects longitudinal movement of the seat base.
US08100477B2
The synchronizing device comprises a seat carrier for carrying a seat of said office chair, a seat arm to be connected to a chair column of said office chair, said seat carrier being pivotable in relation to said seat arm about a transverse axis, a backrest arm connected to said seat arm and to said seat carrier such as to be pivotable about a transverse axis, a spring adapted to counter a synchronized movement of said seat carrier and backrest arm, and a sliding member extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of said seat and being articulated to said seat arm, said seat carrier being slidable in relation to said sliding member substantially in said longitudinal direction of said seat.
US08100476B2
An apparatus for sitting, including: a keystone assembly which connects various parts of the apparatus; a back that provides support for at least a person's back or shoulders; a floating lumbar support, which provides support for a person's lower back, attached to the keystone assembly; a seat that can adjust between a forward tilted and reclined position; a plurality of rollers, disposed on the keystone assembly, on which the seat rests; a central column, attached to the keystone assembly, on which the seat can spin; and a lower torsion spring connected to the seat and disposed on the keystone assembly allowing controlled movement of the seat.
US08100473B2
An automobile seat includes a swinging motion restraint mechanism for restraining a swinging motion of a sub-frame relative to side frames. The swinging motion restraint mechanism includes a swing axis mounted on the sub-frame, a swinging motion restraint member rotatably mounted on one of the side frames and having a first contact portion and a second contact portion, both of which are brought into contact with the swing axis one at a time, and an elastic member for biasing the swinging motion restraint member toward the swing axis. In an initial state in which no load is applied to a seat back, the first contact portion of the swinging motion restraint member is held in contact with the swing axis, while when a load greater than a predetermined value is inputted to the seat back in a rearward direction, the sub-frame is caused to swing about a hinge to thereby move a headrest forward, and the second contact portion of the swinging motion restraint member is brought into contact with the swing axis, thereby holding the headrest at a position after the movement.
US08100471B2
An adjustable seat ramp adapted for use with a seat base and defining a first angle of inclination, includes a structure translatably disposed within or integrally formed with the base and presenting a first position, and further includes an actuator employing a shape memory material element and configured to cause the structure to translate to a second position, wherein a second angle of inclination is defined.
US08100466B2
A vehicle roof for a passenger car, the vehicle roof having a modular, multishell structure, the vehicle roof including a variably configurable functional shell for providing stiffness to the vehicle roof and configured to be directly attached to a body shell of the vehicle and for variable accommodation of functional elements; an outside roof skin configured to be fixed to an outside surface of the functional shell with a fixing means; and at least one inside lining element configured to be fixed to an inside surface of the functional shell.
US08100465B2
A rear frame of a trailer has an elongated horizontal sill having a closed cross-section which is rigid in bending and in torsion. The elongated horizontal sill is formed of a fantail and a base plate attached to an underside of the fantail. The base plate has front and rear sections that are not notched as notching of the sill can weaken it. The front section is horizontal and the rear section is angled upwardly relative to the horizontal front section at a predetermined angle of approximately 22 degrees. The angling of the base plate provides a specialized geometry for accommodating a tuck-under lift gate. The sill also has minimal vertical dimensions to aid in the non-interference with legs of the tuck-under lift gate.
US08100464B2
A vehicle substructure includes a side member inner that becomes a pillar member, a rear side member, and a side member outer. The vehicle substructure includes, for example, a partition as a load transmitting member that is inserted between the side member inner and the rear side member and comes into contact with the wall surface of the side member outer facing a vehicle compartment. It is preferable that the partition have a laminated structure including members and the like. Further, it is more preferable that the vehicle substructure include reinforcing members.
US08100447B2
A shoveling implement includes an elongate handle which may be pivotally attached to a shovelhead having at least two blade faces. The shovelhead may be configured so that the blade faces always remain at a fixed angle to the ground, or may be designed as a combination scoop and pusher shovel, with either blade being utilized by rotating the handle 180 degrees.
US08100443B2
Rotary knob or handle 1 for opening and/or closing doors, gates or windows, comprising a first part 2 designed to operate a closing mechanism by rotation around a rotation axis X, a second part 3 which is rotatable around substantially the same axis X, a connecting part 5, which is coupled to said second part 3 in rotation around said axis X. The connecting part 5 is movable with respect to the first part 2 along said axis X, between a first position and a second position. In said first position of the connecting part 5, the connecting part 5, and with it the second part 3, are substantially freely rotatable around said axis X with respect to said first part 2. In said second position of the connecting part 5, the connecting part 5 and the second part 3 are rotationally coupled by a dog clutch to said first part 2. The rotary knob or handle 1 is provided with several push buttons 4 on said second part 3, arranged at an angle with respect to said rotation axis X. Any one of said at least two push buttons, when pushed, displaces said connecting part 5 from said first position towards said second position, closing the dog clutch and enabling the operation of the closing mechanism through rotation of the second part 3.
US08100441B2
An electronic device and its push-lock and push-release type of latch structure are provided in the invention. The latch structure includes a platform, an elastic restorable element connected to the platform, and two side bases respectively disposed on two opposite edges of the platform. Each of the side bases has a base body having a loop track with a stopper, a driven element movably disposed on the base body and movable with the platform, and a “U” type rod pivotally connected to the driven element at one end thereof and extending into the loop track at another end thereof.
US08100428B2
The present invention is a configurable trailer hitch that provides an extended towing position for transferring a tractor force to a load, and a retracted storage position for safely stowing the hitch under a towing vehicle. The trailer hitch has a spring loaded retaining pin which engages a hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the towing position, and a storage latch adapted to hold the hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the storage position.
US08100427B2
A pin box assembly is provided for a trailer. The pin box assembly includes a first section having a trailer attachment point, a second section carrying a king pin and a pivot connecting the first and second sections together. In addition the pin box assembly includes a shock absorber having a first end connected to the first section and a second end connected to the second sections. Still further, the pin box assembly includes an air spring connected between the first and second sections.
US08100423B2
A connector piece for the articulated connection of structural elements of a chassis of a motor vehicle. The connector piece has a main body, formed from at least one metal sheet, which has at least one bearing or joint and includes a housing connected to the main body and an inner part which is fitted within an inside space of the housing and can move relative to the housing. The housing comprises a housing portion that surrounds the inside space and includes at least two sheet-metal strips that are arranged adjacent one another, in a longitudinal direction, and are bent between their ends, in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal direction, such that the metal strips partially surround the inside space on different sides.
US08100420B2
A skateboard that includes a board (12) with an upper part (30) and a lower part (34), wheel supports (14), as well as elements (28) for orientation of the wheel supports (14), whereby the elements (28) for orientation include a pin (52) whose tip (54) is housed in a recess so as to create a connection that is essentially equivalent to a ball joint; the skateboard is characterized in that in its lower part (34), it includes receiving elements (58) that are manufactured with the board (12) and are able to accommodate each wheel support (14).
US08100416B1
A utility push cart comprising an elongated frame extending vertically behind a power lawn tool, where the power lawn tool rests against the elongated frame, a top bar attached to a top portion of the elongated frame and protruding horizontally from the elongated frame, a wheel connected to a bottom end of the elongated frame, an upper cage fastened below the top bar against the elongated frame, where the upper cage straps around a motor of the power lawn tool, a lower cage fastened below the upper cage along the elongated frame, where the lower cage straps a tube from the power lawn tool against the elongated frame, and a carrying means behind the elongated frame to support a mulch bag connected to the power lawn tool wherein the carrying means prevents a user from tripping over the mulch bag during use.
US08100415B2
The present invention relates to a wheel suspension for mounting on a frame (3) of a vehicle, which, in its direction of propulsion, is arranged to be able to scale an obstacle (7), the wheel suspension (1) comprises a link element (9) arranged rotatably about a rotation point (R), to which rotation point (R), via the frame (3), can be applied a force (Gx) for propulsion, the link element (9) comprises a first and a second wheel axle (11, 13), the second wheel axle (13) serves as a moment axis (X) about which the link element (9) tends to rotate when a force (F) is applied to the first wheel axle (11) in the direction opposite to the direction of travel. The link element (9) acts as a lever arm by virtue of the rotation point (R) being situated at a distance from an imaginary straight line (L) intersecting the first and the second wheel axle (11, 13) and in a plane transversely to the extent of the moment axis (X).
US08100409B2
A metal gasket has at least two metal layers having an aligned fluid-conveying opening. One of the metal layers includes a carrier layer and an active layer. The active layer has a raised metal sealing bead circumscribing the opening. The carrier layer and the active layer are at least partially coplanar and are spaced from one another within the plane by at least one cut-out region between the carrier layer and the active layer. The cut-out region allows the active layer to move out of the plane of the carrier layer, and thus, the active layer is able to self-adjust for sealing engagement between opposing surfaces in assembly and during use.
US08100408B2
A sealing element is provided for placement between first and second components, wherein the first component includes a cylindrical cavity with a step-shaped shoulder which narrows the cavity, and the second component is a cylindrical component for placement in the cavity. The sealing element comprises a stiffening body with a L-shaped longitudinal cut surface, with the first leg of the L shape being provided extending between the jackets of the cavity and of the second component, and the second leg being provided essentially in the region of the shoulder extending between the two components and at least in partial regions for touching the shoulder and the end side of the second component. The sealing element also comprises a sealing body which is made integrally continuous with a first sealing region for contact with the peripheral surface of the outside jacket of the second component and with a second sealing region for contact with an annularly peripheral region on the end surface of the shoulder of the first component.
US08100399B1
A printing device has at least one printing engine, at least one media path adjacent the printing engine, and a paper tray adjacent the media path. The paper tray stores media and supplies the media to the media path. Further, at least one sheet guide is attached to the paper tray, and at least one rectangular member is attached to the sheet guide. The rectangular member has a sheet guide opening, and the sheet guide opening attaches to the sheet guide. The rectangular member has a first planar surface that is coplanar with a second planar surface of the sheet guide. Also, the first planar surface is at least twice the two-dimensional size of the second planar surface. The first planar surface and the second planar surface contact media stored within the paper tray.
US08100394B2
A marking ribbon (2) is affixed to a book block (3) in that a partial book block (10; 10.1 . . . 3) with at least one sheet (8.3) has the marking ribbon (2) is placed on the top sheet (8.3) before at least one other sheet (8.4) is deposited on the partial book block (10; 10.1 . . . 3) with the marking ribbon (2) placed thereon during the additional gathering. The gathered book block (12) with the marking ribbon (2) is subsequently bound and trimmed on three sides at the non-bound edges.
US08100387B2
A combination oil/gas spring includes a first hollow casing, a piston capable of fluid-tightly sliding within the casing, a rod connected rigidly with an end portion thereof to a central portion of the piston, a first chamber containing an actuating rod provided inside the casing, a second sealed chamber provided within the same casing on the opposite side of the piston, a mass of hydraulic fluid filling the second sealed chamber, a second hollow casing and a respective second piston provided to slide therewithin, a first conduit connecting the interior of the second sealed chamber with the interior of the second hollow casing, a first valve connected to the first conduit and adapted to selectively open and close it, a second conduit being provided to connect an expansion vessel to the first conduit at a position upstream of the first valve, and a second valve being provided on the second conduit. The combination oil/gas spring also includes a pressure-exerting unit adapted to act by exerting a controllable pressure upon the surface of the liquid in the expansion vessel.
US08100372B2
The invention provides a corner mount apparatus for a flat screen display that is installable on either the left-wall or right-wall of a corner. The corner mount system includes a wall bracket having a first side edge and a second side edge. A first angled surface extends at an angle from the first side edge, and it includes at least one opening. The wall bracket also has a securing region with at least one hole. The corner mount system may further include an interface member. The interface member has a tapered opening defined by opposed flanges. The interface member has an aperture that is aligned with the opening of the first angled surface of the wall bracket. A fastener is received by the aperture and the opening to couple the interface member to the wall bracket. The corner mount system also includes a support arm assembly for supporting the flat screen display. The support arm assembly includes a connector, a first arm and a flat screen display bracket. The connector is slidably received by the tapered opening of the interface member to couple the support arm assembly to the interface member and wall bracket.
US08100362B2
A cockpit and an aircraft including such cockpit. The cockpit includes a front section of an aircraft. Such cockpit includes a pressure bulkhead sealing the section and a pressurization system for pressurizing such section.
US08100354B2
An apparatus containing crushing screws (11) of the same pitch direction and without central shaft, provided with short drive shafts (112) on their driven end, wherein the rotational axis of the discharging screw (151) and the plane determined by the rotational axes of the two crushing screws (11) define an acute angle.
US08100351B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for grinding hot, wet raw material.The invention is particularly suitable for the cement industry and the grinding and simultaneous drying of cement clinker, slag and aggregates. In order to achieve a throughput increase and energy saving, as well as an improvement in the product quality, particularly with mixed cements, there is a simultaneous grinding and drying through a controlled supply of a cooling gas in the upper mill part with a relatively high hot gas inlet temperature in the lower mill part. The cooling gas supplies ensures a predetermined gas-product temperature downstream of the classifier and replaces or significantly reduces the disadvantageous cooling water injection.
US08100344B2
A fuel injector which may be employed in injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes an injector body and a head body formed to be separate from the injector body. The head body has installed therein a fuel pressure sensor working to measure the pressure of fuel in the fuel injector and is joined detachably to the injector body. The fuel injector alternatively includes an injector body and a fuel pressure-sensing unit equipped with a fuel pressure sensor. The fuel pressure-sensing unit is installed detachably on the injector body. This structure provides enhanced productivity of the fuel injector and facilitate the ease of replacement of the fuel pressure sensor.
US08100341B1
A dual air cavity roof has a continuous upper cavity which is cooled by fans, while the lower cavity is generally sealed. Preferably the cavities are separated by a radiant barrier. The fans are preferably powered by one or more photovoltaic cells that are also disposed on the roof. The roof can be pre-cooled with cooler night air and fans only activated when necessary to remove heat from the solar load on the upper cavity. When it is desirable to remove heat, the fan speed is optimized in each zone of the roof to enhance the natural convective flow to the optimum level. A radiant barrier can also cover the roof substrate, which is optionally an existing roof that is in need of repair. The roof structure is preferably assembled in parallel modules using insulating support brackets that support the outer surface and the barrier that separates the upper and lower cavity.
US08100336B2
The invention relates to a method of securing applications on a chip card which is disposed in a digital appliance. A count is made of the number of times a personal identification number of a chip card application is input erroneously. When this number reaches a threshold, the application or the chip card is blocked. The erroneous input count and unblocking the chip card or the application is restarted when the personal identification number of the chip card is input. In this way, PIN-secured applications offer a high level of security without requiring the storing of additional unblocking data.
US08100323B1
An automated banking machine is provided which may comprise a trusted platform (TP) including a trusted platform module (TPM) in a computer of the machine. Through use of the TP, the machine may perform cryptographic functions for use in enabling the machine to perform transaction functions for users. The machine may be operative to use the TP to securely store secret keys, or other critical information in sealed storage on a data store of the machine. The TP may also be used to measure, attest, and verify transaction function devices, hardware devices, firmware, software, and/or other components of the machine prior to enabling the machine to function in an enabled mode. The TP may also be used to establish secure communication between components of the machine. The TP may also be used to perform key transfers between the machine and a host banking system.
US08100322B1
Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for collecting and combining consumer satisfaction ratings for online purchases. Users may be prompted for purchase satisfaction after an expected delivery date. Information from one or more user responses may then be compiled and used to rate online vendors.
US08100318B1
A process of making useful shapes by joining of tungsten alloys. Joining of tungsten heavy alloys which are alloys typically made from W—Ni—Fe is used. These alloys are typically manufactured by liquid phase sintering. This leads to difficulty in producing large length to diameter ratio parts that have some significant weight (such as penetrators). A “brick and mortar” approach is employed wherein smaller segments of this alloy (low length to diameter ratio) are joined to together to produce a larger part with higher length to diameter ratio.
US08100302B2
This invention disclosed herein relates to a pump apparatus for use with a liquid container for transferring liquid from a liquid container. It comprises a pump means comprising a manually-operable pump for pumping liquid and formed with a pump chamber through which liquid can be pumped by the pump. It also has an inlet opening for receiving liquid into the pump chamber and an outlet opening for dispensing liquid out of the pump chamber when liquid is pumped through the chamber using the pump. There is a coupling means for mounting the pump means to the opening of a liquid container to permit the gravitational flow of liquid into the pump chamber through the inlet opening when the mounted pump means is placed on ground level and the pump pumped.
US08100299B2
The present invention provides an in-counter viscous liquid dispensing system. The features of the viscous liquid dispensing system include a quick mounting reservoir assembly that allows an installer to install the reservoir assembly in any orientation of the reservoir assembly to the counter mounted parts of the system. Other features include a mounting system which allows an installer to install the in-counter dispensing system with out the need to work both above and below the counter top.
