US08106546B2
A reciprocating vibrator able to prevent detachment of a spindle even without an outer cover, that is, a vibration linear actuator provided with a ring-shaped weight 20 having a permanent magnet 30, 31 at its inner circumference side, a first plate spring 40 fastened to a first end face 20a of this weight 20 at outer circumference side tail parts 41a, 42a, a second plate spring 50 fastened to a second end face 20b of the weight 20 at outer circumference side tail parts 51a, 52a, and a stator supporting the first and second plate springs 40, 50 and having an excitation coil 60 generating a reciprocating vibrating magnetic field with respect to the weight 20 at an inner circumference side of the permanent magnet 30, 31, wherein the stator further has a metal end plate 70 fastening the second plate spring 50 by the ring-shaped plate part 53.
US08106545B2
Provided is a linear actuator unit that includes: a guide shaft formed of a magnetic body that is formed into a tubular shape while having a hollow portion therein, and has one linear opening portion formed thereon along an axial direction thereof; a slide member capable of reciprocating motion freely along the guide shaft; a magnet rod supported at both ends thereof in the hollow portion of the guide shaft; a forcer arranged on a periphery of the magnet rod in the hollow portion of the guide shaft, constitutes a linear motor together with the magnet rod, and is joined to the slide member while interposing the opening portion of the guide shaft therebetween; and a rod correction plate that is formed of a magnetic body, and juts out from the slide member forward and backward in a movement direction thereof so as to close the opening portion of the guide shaft.
US08106542B2
A power source includes a plurality of cells, a positive output, a negative output, a number of positive switches, a number of negative switches, and a number of serializing switches. Each of the cells includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Each of the positive switches is for connecting a corresponding positive electrode to the positive output. Each of the negative switches is for connecting a corresponding negative electrode to the negative output. Each of the serializing switches is for connecting a positive electrode of a corresponding cell to a negative electrode of an adjacent cell.
US08106525B2
A wind energy installation is provided with a generator driven by a rotor with adjustable rotor blades to produce electrical energy, with a pitch adjustment device to adjust the blades, which pitch adjustment device includes an emergency circuit with an energy store to actuate a blade actuating motor. A shunt branch is provided with a current-balancing device in parallel with the energy store, the current balancing device configured to control the current shunt branch depending on a feedback current from the blade actuating motor. A current balancing circuit is provided with which the feedback current occurring in the overrunning state is dissipated in controlled fashion via a shunt branch and therefore the electrical energy store is protected from a damaging feedback current. This prevents a damaging rise in the voltage of the electrical energy store and a rise in the motor speed of the blade actuating motor during overrunning operation.
US08106521B2
In a semiconductor device mounted structure in which device electrodes of a semiconductor device and board electrodes of a board are connected to each other via bump electrodes, respectively, and in which a sealing-bonding resin is placed between the semiconductor device and the board, a void portion is placed at a position corresponding to an edge portion of the semiconductor device in the sealing-bonding resin. Thus, stress loads generated at corner portions of the semiconductor device due to board flexures for differences in thermal expansion and thermal contraction among the individual members caused by heating and cooling during mounting of the semiconductor device, as well as for mechanical loads after the mounting process, can be absorbed by the void portion and thereby reduced, so that breakdown of the semiconductor device mounted structure is prevented.
US08106515B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method of creating local metallization in a semiconductor structure, and the use of local metallization so created in semiconductor structures. In one respect, the method includes forming an insulating layer on top of a semiconductor substrate; creating a plurality of voids inside the insulating layer, with the plurality of voids spanning across a predefined area and being substantially confined within a range of depth below a top surface of the insulating layer; creating at least one via hole in the insulating layer, with the via hole passing through the predefined area; and filling the via hole, and the plurality of voids inside the insulating layer through at least the via hole, with a conductive material to form a local metallization. A semiconductor structure having the local metallization is also provided.
US08106514B2
A semiconductor chip 100 includes a logic unit and an analog unit 153. Furthermore, the semiconductor chip 100 includes a silicon substrate 101; a first insulating film 123 to a sixth insulating film 143 formed on the silicon substrate 101; and an annular seal ring 105 consisting of a first conductive ring 125 to a sixth conductive ring 145 buried in the first insulating film 123 to the sixth insulating film 143, which surrounds the periphery of the logic unit and the analog unit 153. In the seal ring region 106, there is formed a pn junction acting as a nonconducting part 104, which blocks conduction in a path from the logic unit, through the seal ring 105 to the analog unit 153.
US08106511B2
A feature is inscribed in a major surface of a microelectronic workpiece having a material property expressed as a reference coefficient value. The feature includes a first material having a first coefficient value for the material property and a second material having a second coefficient value for the material property. The first coefficient value is different from the reference coefficient value different from the first coefficient value and the second coefficient value is different from the first coefficient value. The first and second materials behave as an aggregate having an aggregate coefficient value for the material property between the first coefficient value and the reference coefficient value.
US08106504B2
The semiconductor device package structure includes a first die with a through silicon via (TSV) open from back side of the first die to expose bonding pads; a build up layer coupled between the bonding pads to terminal metal pads by the through silicon via (TSV); a substrate with a second die embedded inside and top circuit wiring and bottom circuit wiring on top and bottom side of the substrate respectively; and a conductive through hole structure coupled between the terminal metal pads to the top circuit wiring and the bottom circuit wiring.
US08106498B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a first board-on-chip-structure having a first integrated circuit die mounted over a substrate and the substrate having a substrate cavity; mounting a second board-on-chip-structure over the first board-on-chip-structure, the second board-on-chip-structure having a second integrated circuit die mounted under an interposer and the interposer having an interposer cavity; connecting the first board-on-chip-structure to the second board-on-chip-structure with an internal interconnect; and encapsulating the first board-on-chip-structure, the second board-on-chip-structure, and the internal interconnect with an encapsulation.
US08106488B2
Through vias in a substrate are formed by creating a trench in a top side of the substrate and at least one trench in the back side of the substrate. The sum of the depths of the trenches at least equals the height of the substrate. The trenches cross at intersections, which accordingly form the through vias from the top side to the back side. The through vias are filled with a conductor to form contacts on both sides and the edge of the substrate. Contacts on the backside are formed at each of the trench. The through vias from the edge contacts. Traces connect bond pads to the conductor in the through via. Some traces are parallel to the back side traces. Some traces are skew to the back side traces. The substrate is diced to form individual die.
US08106483B2
An integrated circuit with improved intrinsic gettering ability is described, having a bulk micro-defect (BMD) density of 3.85×105-3.38×109/cm3 through first and second annealing steps. The first annealing step is performed at a first temperature in an atmosphere containing at least one of oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. The second annealing step is performed at a second temperature higher than the first temperature in the atmosphere.
US08106476B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for monitoring structural integrity of at least one fuse in semiconductor wafer, which includes at least one electrical monitoring structure, includes forming a monitoring window in a dielectric layer overlying the at least one electrical monitoring structure, where the monitoring window and a fuse window overlying the at least one fuse are, in one embodiment, formed in a same etch process. The method further includes performing at least one electrical measurement on the at least one electrical monitoring structure, wherein the at least one electrical measurement is utilized to monitor the structural integrity of the at least one fuse. A change in the at least one electrical measurement is utilized to indicate a change in the structural integrity of the at least one fuse. The at least one electrical monitoring structure can include, for example, a metal serpentine line and one or more metal combs.
US08106467B2
A transistor is formed in the active region of a semiconductor substrate. A sidewall structure is disposed on the sidewalls of a gate electrode. A stress control film covers the semiconductor substrate. The sidewall structure includes a first portion extending along partial upper sidewalls of the gate electrode, a second portion extending from partial lower sidewalls of the gate electrode to partial surfaces of the active region, a third portion extending along partial surfaces of the first active region outer than the second portions, and a fourth portion facing the sidewalls of the gate electrode and an upper surface of the active region via the first to third portions. A Young's modulus of the first portion is lower than that of the third portion. The transistor is of an n-type and stress in the stress control film is tensile, or the transistor is of a p-type and stress is compressive.
US08106465B2
Provided is a semiconductor device in which occurrence of humps can be suppressed and variations in characteristics of the semiconductor device can be suppressed. The semiconductor device includes: an element isolation film (200) formed in a semiconductor layer, the element isolation film (200) defining an element formation region; a gate electrode (130) formed above the element formation region, the gate electrode (130) having ends respectively extending above the element isolation film (200); and impurity regions (110) which are to be a source region and a drain region which are formed in the element formation region so as to sandwich therebetween a channel formation region immediately under the gate electrode (130), the gate electrode (130) including at each of the ends thereof a high work function region (124) in which work function is higher than work function in other regions over at least a part of an interface between the element formation region and the element isolation film (200).
US08106462B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate and at least one pair of complementary transistors on or in the substrate. The pair of complementary transistors comprises a first transistor and a second transistor. The structure also includes a first stress-producing layer on the first transistor and the second transistor, and a second stress-producing layer on the first stress-producing layer over the first transistor and the second transistor. The first stress-producing layer applies tensile strain force on the first transistor and the second transistor. The second stress-producing layer applies compressive strain force on the first stress-producing layer, the first transistor, and the second transistor.
US08106455B2
Multiple types of gate stacks are formed on a doped semiconductor well. A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric is formed on the doped semiconductor well. A metal gate layer is formed in one device area, while the high-k gate dielectric is exposed in other device areas. Threshold voltage adjustment oxide layers having different thicknesses are formed in the other device areas. A conductive gate material layer is then formed over the threshold voltage adjustment oxide layers. One type of field effect transistors includes a gate dielectric including a high-k gate dielectric portion. Other types of field effect transistors include a gate dielectric including a high-k gate dielectric portion and a first threshold voltage adjustment oxide portions having different thicknesses. Field effect transistors having different threshold voltages are provided by employing different gate dielectric stacks and doped semiconductor wells having the same dopant concentration.
US08106453B2
A semiconductor device having a super junction structure includes: multiple first columns extending in a current flowing direction; and multiple second columns extending in the current flowing direction. The first and second columns are alternately arranged in an alternating direction. Each first column provides a drift layer. The first and second columns have a boundary therebetween, from which a depletion layer expands in case of an off-state. At least one of the first columns and the second columns have an impurity dose, which is inhomogeneous by location with respect to the alternating direction.
US08106447B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device, including: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor region having pairs of first pillar regions of the first conductivity type, and second pillar regions of a second conductivity type alternately provided; a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type; a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type; and control electrodes each provided within a trench through an insulating film, a sidewall of the trench being formed so as to contact each of the third semiconductor region and the fourth semiconductor region.
US08106446B2
A trench type power semiconductor device which includes deposited rather than grown oxide in the trenches for the electrical isolation of electrodes disposed inside the trenches from the semiconductor body.
US08106437B2
A semiconductor storage device is provided, which inhibits shorts between cells to improve operational reliability and contributes to high-speed operation. An active region (7) where DRAM cells are formed is defined by an isolation trench (40) formed in a silicon substrate (1). The isolation trench (40) has an isolation insulating film (4) formed therein. Each DRAM cell includes a MOS transistor having a gate electrode (12) with sidewalls (13), and a capacitor having an upper electrode (22) with sidewalls (23). A recess (41) is formed in the upper portion of the isolation trench (40), and the upper electrode (22) of the capacitor has a buried portion buried in the recess (41). The outer edge (E1) of the buried portion of the upper electrode (22) is located inside the outer edge (E2) of the sidewalls (23).
US08106424B2
A field effect transistor with a heterostructure includes a strained monocrystalline semiconductor layer formed on a carrier material, which has a relaxed monocrystalline semiconductor layer made of a first semiconductor material (Si) as the topmost layer. The strained monocrystalline semiconductor layer has a semiconductor alloy (GexSi1-x), where the proportion x of a second semiconductor material can be set freely. Furthermore, a gate insulation layer and a gate layer are formed on the strained semiconductor layer. To define an undoped channel region, drain/source regions are formed laterally with respect to the gate layer at least in the strained semiconductor layer. The possibility of freely setting the Ge proportion x enables a threshold voltage to be set as desired, whereby modern logic semiconductor components can be realized.
US08106420B2
A light emitting device can have a layered structure and include a plurality of semiconductor nanocrystals. The layers of the device can be covalently bonded to each other. The device can include continuous chain of covalent bonds extending from the first electrode to the second electrode.
US08106412B2
The high luminance semiconductor light emitting device comprises: a GaAs substrate structure including a GaAs layer (3), a first metal buffer layer (2) disposed on a surface of the GaAs layer, a first metal layer (1) disposed on the first metal buffer layer, and a second metal buffer layer (4) and a second metal layer (5) disposed at a back side of the GaAs layer; and a light emitting diode structure disposed on the GaAs substrate structure and including a third metal layer (12), a metal contact layer (11) disposed on the third metal layer, a p type cladding layer (10) disposed on the metal contact layer, a multi-quantum well layer (9) disposed on the p type cladding layer, an n type cladding layer (8) disposed on the multi-quantum well layer, and a window layer 7 disposed on the n type cladding layer, wherein the GaAs substrate structure and the light emitting diode structure are bonded by using the first metal layer (1) and the third metal layer (12).
US08106408B2
A metal pattern for a high frequency signal is patterned on a flexile substrate, and the flexile substrate is bent in such a way as to form a substantially right angle at a spot corresponding to an end of the metal pattern for the signal. And an end of the metal pattern is fixedly attached to a lead pin for signaling, attached to a stem, for electrical continuity, so as to be in a posture horizontal with each other. Meanwhile, a part of the lead pins attached to the stem, being in such a state as penetrated through respective holes provided in the flexible substrate, is fixedly attached to a part of metal patterns provided on the flexible substrate so as to ensure electrical continuity therebetween.
US08106404B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a plurality of compound semiconductor layers including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer; a dot type conductive layer on the compound semiconductor layers; and an electrode layer on the dot type conductive layer.
US08106399B2
An electrophoretic display device includes a gate line on a substrate, a common line parallel to the gate line, a gate insulating layer on the gate line and the common line, a data line on the gate insulating layer, the data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, the thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, a first storage electrode extending from the common line, a first passivation layer over the thin film transistor, the gate line and the data line, the first passivation layer exposing the drain electrode, and a pixel electrode on the first passivation layer, the pixel electrode contacting the drain electrode and overlapping the gate line and the data line, wherein the pixel electrode includes a second storage electrode overlapping the first storage electrode, and the first and second storage electrodes form a storage capacitor with the gate insulating layer interposed therebetween.
US08106398B2
A thin film transistor with excellent electric characteristics and a display device having the thin film transistor are proposed. The thin film transistor includes a gate insulating film formed over a gate electrode; a microcrystalline semiconductor film including an impurity element which serves as a donor, formed over the gate insulating film; a buffer layer formed over the microcrystalline semiconductor film; a pair of semiconductor films to which an impurity element imparting one conductivity type is added, formed over the buffer layer; and wirings formed over the pair of semiconductor films. The concentration of the impurity element which serves as a donor in the microcrystalline semiconductor film is decreased from the gate insulating film side toward the buffer layer, and the buffer layer does not include the impurity element which serves as a donor at a higher concentration than the detection limit of SIMS.
US08106394B2
A multi-layer storage node, resistive random access memory device and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The resistive random access memory device includes a switching structure and a storage node connected to the switching structure. The storage node includes a lower electrode, a first layer, a second layer, and an upper electrode that may be sequentially stacked. The first layer may be formed on the lower electrode and includes at least one of oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te) and combinations thereof. The second layer may be formed on the first layer and includes at least one of copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and combinations thereof. The second layer may be formed of a material having an oxidizing power less than that of the first layer. The upper electrode may be formed on the second layer.
US08106390B2
A metal complex compound having a special structure containing metals such as iridium. An organic electroluminescence device which comprises at least one organic thin film layer sandwiched between a pair of electrode consisting of an anode and a cathode, wherein the organic thin film layer comprises the above metal complex compound, which emits light by applying an electric voltage between the pair of electrode. An organic EL device employing the novel metal complex compound emits various phosphorous lights including blue light having an enhanced current efficiency and prolonged lifetime.
US08106376B2
A memory device including a programmable resistive memory material is described along with methods for manufacturing the memory device. A memory device disclosed herein includes top and bottom electrodes and a multilayer stack disposed between the top and bottom electrodes. The multilayer stack includes a memory element comprising programmable resistive memory material and has a sidewall surface. An air gap is adjacent to the sidewall surface and self-aligned to the memory element.
US08106355B1
One embodiment relates to an apparatus for automated inspection of a semiconductor substrate. Processor-executable code is configured to control the stage electronics to move the substrate using a continuous motion in a substrate-translation direction and is configured to control the beam to scan it across the surface of the substrate and collect corresponding image data, scan lines of the scan being along a scan-line direction perpendicular to the substrate-translation direction. Processor-executable code is also configured to select from the image data two cells of the repeating pattern on the surface of the substrate, the two cells being displaced from each other by one or multiple cell heights in the scan-line direction. Finally, processor-executable code is configured to generate a difference image by subtracting image data from said two cells on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08106353B2
A method of photo-fragmentation is provided generating a beam of ions from a sample with an ion source, filtering the beam of ions in a filtering region to select desired ions, and photo-fragmenting the desired ions in a photo-fragmentation region having a higher pressure than the filtering region to generate fragment ions predominantly by prompt fragmentation. An apparatus for photo-fragmentation is provided having an ion source configured to generate a beam of ions from a sample, a filtering region for selecting desired ions, a photo-fragmentation region having a higher pressure than the filtering region to generate predominantly prompt fragmentation of the selected desired ions, an inlet for providing gas to the photo-fragmentation region to maintain a pressure in the photo-fragmentation region that is higher than the pressure in the filtering region, and a photon source emitting a beam of light for photo-fragmenting the selected ions in the photo-fragmentation region.
US08106334B2
An electric oven having a convection heater and a convection cover. The convection cover including a main outlet located at or near the periphery of the convection cover, and a sub-outlet, more centrally located near the convection heater relative to the main outlet. Together, the main outlet and the sub-outlet allow the heated air to be uniformly circulated throughout the cooking chamber and to be evenly transferred to food irrespective of the position of the food in the cooking chamber. Uniform air circulation in the cooking chamber will result in more favorable cooking results.
US08106326B2
A valley section is provided between a high-voltage arc contact and a high-voltage main contact. Because of the presence of the valley section, resistance between contacts is reduced while a moving arc contact makes contact with the high-voltage arc contact and then slides up to making contact with the high-voltage main contact.
US08106306B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a ceramic multi-layer circuit substrate. A plurality of ceramic blocks, in each of which one or more ceramic green sheets having via-electrodes are layered one atop the other, are formed and are then fired. The fired ceramic blocks are aligned with each other. One or more bonding green sheets each having bonding electrodes in positions corresponding to the via-electrodes of the ceramic blocks are prepared. Each of the bonding green sheets is interposed between a pair of the ceramic blocks opposing each other. The ceramic blocks and the bonding green sheets are bonded and are then fired.
US08106303B2
When soldering is performed, heat transferred from through hole 6b is caused to bypass a mesh-like copper foil region between non-copper-foil regions and thus the transfer of heat to a solid pattern region around thermal land 13b is delayed. Signal wirings 8e, 8f and signal wirings 8g, 8 are formed along the arrangement directions of non-copper-foil regions 15b, 16b respectively keeping a predetermined spacing between them and disposed to overlap copper foil regions, thus ensuring a current return path by means of opposing ground layer 11.
US08106300B2
A cable assembly for interconnecting a plurality of circuit boards together by using a connector assembly connected to each of the circuit boards. The cable assembly includes a first cable having a first end part and a second cable having a second end part. A first periphery of the first end part has a plurality of first half vias that collectively form a column along a width direction of the connector assembly. A second periphery of the second end part has a plurality of second half vias that collectively form a column along the width direction of the connector assembly. The first and second end parts are coupled together to form a connecting unit, such that the first half vias and the second half vias are joined together to form full vias.
US08106299B2
A multi conductor flat type cable, which is intended for connecting a portable electric power tool to a stationary power supply and operation control unit, has a connector plug (18) attached to its one end, wherein the cable (10) has a twisted shape section (A) adjacent the connector plug (18) for facilitating universal bending of the cable (10). The twisted section (A) is provided with a transition sleeve (16) with a cylindrical portion (17) at the connector plug end and two tapering tongues (20, 21) extending along the cable (10) over at least a part of the twisted section (A), wherein the cable (10) is adapted to the cylindrical shape of the connector plug (18) and strengthened against too close bending in the twisted section (A). The transition sleeve (16) is molded onto the cable (10) in a first manufacturing step, and in a second step the cable (10) together with the transition sleeve (16) are heated to a certain temperature and twisted to assume the twisted shape in the section (A).
US08106296B2
An electrical component having at least one cable element, at least one solder joint, at least one hotmelt element and at least one substrate element. The cable element is connected with the substrate element by the solder joint. The at least one solder joint is not embedded in the hotmelt element. Preferably, the solder joint is free from the hotmelt material of the hotmelt element.
US08106293B2
Systems and methods that provide a barrier for protection of active layers associated with a vertical multi junction (VMJ) photovoltaic cell. Buffer zone(s) in form of an inactive layer(s) arrangement safe guard the active layers against induced stress or strain resulting from external forces/thermal factors (e.g., welding). The buffer zone can be in form of a rim on a surface of an end layer of a cell unit, to act as a protective boundary for such active layer, and to further partially frame the VMJ cell for ease of handling and transportation.
US08106290B2
A method for manufacturing a single crystal silicon solar cell includes implanting either hydrogen ions or rare-gas ions into a single crystal silicon substrate; bringing the single crystal silicon substrate in close contact with a transparent insulator substrate via a transparent adhesive, with the ion-implanted surface being a bonding surface; curing the transparent adhesive; mechanically delaminating the single crystal silicon substrate to form a single crystal silicon layer; forming a plurality of diffusion areas of a second conductivity type in the delaminated surface side of the single crystal silicon layer, and causing a plurality of areas of a first conductivity type and the plurality of areas of the second conductivity type to be present in the delaminated surface of the single crystal silicon layer; forming each of a plurality of individual electrodes on each one of the plurality of areas of the first conductivity type and on each one of the plurality of areas of the second conductivity type; forming a collector electrode for the plurality of individual electrodes on the plurality of areas of the first conductivity type, and a collector electrode for the plurality of individual electrodes on the plurality of areas of the second conductivity type; and forming a light-reflecting film.
US08106278B2
The inventive technology, in embodiments, relates variously to item support apparatus that offer one or more of a variety of operational benefits, including but not limited to independently operable force enhancers whereby various retention forces may be enhanced independently of one another, and side-assembly. The inventive technology presents, generally, two different types of apparatus—one featuring a ball having a passage through which an item support rack member (e.g., a drum rack member) may be slidingly passed, and a second featuring a ball without a passageway therethrough.
US08106277B2
A sound generating instrument having at least three resonant struts, each resonant strut having a length, terminal ends, longitudinal axis along said length and cross section. At least nine tension elements are provided causing the resonant struts to be compressively connected to other resonant struts by attachment of the tension elements at at least two points along the longitudinal axis of each resonant strut. A striker element is provided for selectively contacting the resonant struts for generating sound.
US08106274B2
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PS02450650 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PS02450650 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08106267B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB53T09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB53T09, to the plants of soybean XB53T09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB53T09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB53T09 with another soybean plant, using XB53T09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08106266B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB31E09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB31E09, to the plants of soybean XB31E09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB31E09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB31E09 with another soybean plant, using XB31E09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08106265B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB40H09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB40H09, to the plants of soybean XB40H09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB40H09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB40H09 with another soybean plant, using XB40H09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08106244B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparation of a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof involving treating a first intermediate compound with an organoaluminum-based Lewis acid catalyst, under conditions effective to produce the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for preparation of a cannabidiol or cannabidiolate compound involving reacting a first starting compound with a second starting compound in the presence of a metal triflate catalyst, under conditions effective to form the cannabidiol or cannabidiolate compound. The present invention also relates to a compound of the formula: where R8, R9, and R10 are the same or different and independently selected from the group consisting of H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or halo, with R1, R2, and R3 defined herein.
US08106243B2
In a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, benzene and hydrogen are contacted with a catalyst under hydroalkylation conditions to produce an effluent containing cyclohexylbenzene. The catalyst comprises a composite of a molecular sieve, an inorganic oxide different from said molecular sieve and at least one hydrogenation metal, wherein at least 50 wt % of said hydrogenation metal is supported on the inorganic oxide and the inorganic oxide has an average particle size less than 40 μm (microns).
US08106242B2
Multi-step process for the preparation of compounds via hazardous intermediates comprising the steps of a) preparing in a microreactor a hazardous intermediate and b) optionally performing one or more reaction steps on the hazardous intermediate in one or more additional microreactors and c) further converting the hazardous intermediate with a suitable reaction agent in a subsequent microreactor until a stable end product is formed.
US08106240B2
A process for operating a continuous removal of a target product X in the form of fine crystals of a liquid phase P comprising the target product X and constituents other than the target product X by cooling suspension crystallization in the secondary chamber of an indirect heat exchanger to which liquid phase P flows continuously with simultaneous continuous flow through the primary chamber of the indirect heat exchanger with a coolant, and continuous withdrawal of a crystal suspension S having a degree of crystallization Y from the secondary chamber in two operating states I and II, wherein the coolant temperature is lower, the mass flow of liquid phase P is greater and the molar proportion of the constituents other than the target product X in the liquid phase P in operating state II is greater than in operating state I.
US08106234B2
An improvement in the production of methylidene malonates is attained by use of specific reaction phase and/or separation phase polymerization inhibitors and combinations thereof.
US08106233B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds of the formula (I), with radicals defined in the description, as antioxidants, to corresponding novel compounds and compositions, and to corresponding processes for the preparation of compounds and compositions.
US08106230B2
The present invention provides with a process of preparing an optically active succinimide derivative, which is a key intermediate for production of ranirestat. A compound (3) is easily prepared by treating the derivative of succinic acid diester of the formula (2): wherein R1 is an amino group protected with a group removed by hydrogenolysis or a tert-butoxycarbonylamino group and R2 is an ethyl group optionally substituted with one or two methyl group(s) at α-position, provided that R2 is not a tert-butyl group when R1 is a tert-butoxycarbonylamino group; with alkali metal alkoxide and the compound (3) can be an important intermediate for production of ranirestat.
US08106227B2
Compounds of the formula I in the form of enantiomerically pure diastereomers or a mixture of diastereomers, (I), where the radicals R1 are identical or different and are each C1-C4-alkyl; m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 3; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; R2 is a hydrocarbon radical or a C-bonded heterohydrocarbon radical; Cp is unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl; Y is a C-bonded chiral group which directs metals of metallation reagents into the ortho position; and Phos is a P-bonded P(III) substituent. The compounds are chiral ligands for complexes of transition metals which are used as homogeneous catalysts in asymmetric syntheses.
US08106212B2
The present invention relates to novel substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds, to processes for their preparation and to their use for controlling animal pests, especially arthropods, in particular insects.
US08106210B2
The present invention relates to a high assayed esomeprazole magnesium dihydrate substantially free of its trihydrate form. The present invention further provides an improved and commercially viable process for preparation of high assayed esomeprazole magnesium dihydrate substantially free of its trihydrate form. The present invention also provides an improved process for preparation of pure amorphous esomeprazole magnesium. The present invention further provides an improved and commercially viable process for preparation of substantially enantiomerically pure esomeprazole in neutral form or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or as its solvates including hydrates. The present invention also provides solid form of esomeprazole calcium salt, its polymorphs (form 1, form 2 and amorphous form) and processes for their preparation thereof.
US08106206B2
Provided is a solid luminescent quinoline compound capable of emitting light in a crystalline state, capable of changing the luminescent color not requiring modification of molecular configuration and capable of emitting light in response to external pressure such as heat, physical pressure, etc. The quinoline compound is represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 may be the same or different, each representing any of CF3 or CF3CF2; R2 represents any of an amino group, an N,N-dimethylamino group, an N-phenylamino group, a carbazole group, an N-methylamino group or an N-methyl-N-phenylamino group.
US08106204B2
The invention relates to NHE-3 inhibitor compounds of formula I: In which R1-R11 are more specifically defined herein. These substituted 2-amino-4-phenyl-dihydroquinolines are useful the treatment of various renal and respiratory disorders such as acute or chronic renal failure, for impairments of biliary function and respiratory impairments such as snoring, sleep apneas or stroke. Formulations comprising them and methods for their use are also described herein.
US08106202B2
The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing 1-substituted 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine compounds through their corresponding formamides. The invention also concerns new formamide intermediates.
US08106192B2
The invention relates to a method for producing 5-chloro-N-({5S)-2-oxo-3-[4-(3-oxo-4-morpholinyl)-phenyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-5-yl}-methyl)-2-thiophenecarboxamide starting from 5-chlorothiophene-2-carbonyl chloride, (2S)-3-amino-propane-1,2-diol and 4-(4-aminophenyl)-3-morpholinone.
US08106178B2
A nucleic acid probe for classification of pathogenic bacterial species is capable of collectively detecting bacterial strains of the same species and differentially detecting them from other bacterial species. Any one of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 81 to 83 and complementary or modified sequences thereof or a combination of at least two of them is used for detecting the gene of an infectious disease pathogenic bacterium.
US08106177B2
A human anti-IL-23p19 antibody, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one anti-IL-23p19 antibody, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in diagnostic and/or therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
US08106172B2
The present invention is related to nucleic acid sequences that can be used in the field of virus diagnostics, more specifically the diagnosis of infections with a novel human coronavirus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). With the present invention nucleotide sequences are provided that can be used as primers and probes in the amplification and detection of SARS nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequences provided with the present invention are located in the replicase gene, the nucleocapsid gene and the 3′ end non-coding region of the SARS Coronavirus genome. It has been found that, by using the sequences of the present invention in methods for the amplification and detection of nucleic acid a sensitive and specific detection of SARS Coronavirus can be obtained. The oligonucleotide sequences according to the present invention are especially useful in methods for the amplification of nucleic acid.
US08106165B2
The present invention relates to novel human secreted proteins and isolated nucleic acids containing the coding regions of the genes encoding such proteins. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant methods for producing human secreted proteins. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods useful for diagnosing and treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions related to these novel human secreted proteins.
US08106157B2
The present invention relates to peptides and polypeptides having the sequence SAVTFAVCAL or variants thereof, capable of binding to Calcineurin and/or to NS5A-TP2 and to their use in therapy, as well as to nucleic acid sequences and vectors encoding these peptides and polypeptides, and to cells comprising said polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences or vectors. The invention further relates to the use of the peptides, polypeptides or their derivatives to bring about phenotypic changes in mammalian cells, particularly to up-regulate calcineurin activity. The invention finally relates to a method for intracellular identification of substances which bind to calcineurin and which modulate the physiological effects of calcineurin.
US08106155B2
A test kit for detecting an antibiotic or antibiotics containing a β-lactam ring in a biological fluid is provided. The test kit includes at least one recognition agent, which is a receptor which specifically binds to antibiotics containing a β-lactam ring and is obtained from Bacillus licheniformis. The test kit further contains at least one reference antibiotic immobilized on a solid support.
US08106150B2
In a process of manufacturing polylactide, synthesis of high-quality polymers is achieved with a sufficient degree of vacuum secured. Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing polylactide which includes the steps of preparing lactide through oligomerization of lactic acid and depolymerization of the resulting oligomers, effecting ring-opening polymerization of the lactide, and removing unreacted lactide. The apparatus comprises an exhausting gas treatment device for reducing pressure in the step of removing unreacted lactide. The exhausting gas treatment device includes boilers (81-83) for generating water vapor; a pressure-reducing section having stages each including an ejector (71-73) driven with the water vapor, a condenser (61-63) connected downstream of the ejector, and a hot well tank (41-43) connected to the condenser; and a main condenser 60 and a main hot well tank 40 connected to the main condenser that are disposed on a pipe line through which a gas of the unreacted lactide is suctioned into the pressure-reducing section. The gas of the unreacted lactide is washed away in the main condenser using a liquid containing lactic acid as a main component that has been collected in the main hot well tank.
US08106139B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a class of mesophase separated propylene/α-olefin block interpolymers with controlled block sequences. The propylene/α-olefin interpolymers are characterized by an average block index, ABI, which is greater than zero and up to about 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.4. Preferably, the block index is from about 0.2 to about 1. In addition or alternatively, the block propylene/α-olefin interpolymer is characterized by having at least one fraction obtained by Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (“TREF”), wherein the fraction has a block index greater than about 0.3 and up to about 1.0 and the propylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.4.
US08106133B2
The invention provides a flexible tube for an endoscope, which is excellent in elasticity (impact resilience), has suitable flexibility and also has chemical resistance. Disclosed is a flexible tube for an endoscope including a flexible-tube material covered thereon with a jacket, wherein the jacket contains two or more thermoplastic polyester elastomers crosslinked therein.
US08106130B2
A modified conjugated diene polymer comprises a modifying group based on a low molecular weight compound having two or more tertiary amino groups and one or more alkoxysilyl groups in a molecule which bonds to a conjugated diene polymer obtained by polymerization of a conjugated diene compound or a conjugated diene polymer obtained by copolymerization of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound. The process for producing the modified conjugated diene polymer comprises the steps of: polymerizing a conjugated diene compound or copolymerizing a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound in a hydrocarbon solvent using an alkali metal initiator and/or an alkaline earth metal initiator; and reacting active terminals of the resulting polymer with a low molecular weight compound having two or more tertiary amino groups and one or more alkoxysilyl groups in the molecule.
US08106127B2
An in-reactor polymer blend comprises (a) a propylene-containing first polymer; and (b) an ethylene-containing second polymer such that the polymer blend comprises between about 50 wt % and about 80 wt % units derived from ethylene and between about 50 wt % and about 20 wt % units derived from propylene. The blend is substantially free of dienes and the content of ethylene in the second polymer in the form of ethylene-ethylene-ethylene triads is at least 40%. The second polymer contains at least 0.1 branch having 8 or more carbon atoms per 10,000 carbons. In addition, the blend has a strain hardening index of at least 1.8, a shear thinning slope in the plot of log(dynamic viscosity) versus log(frequency) of less than −0.2 and exhibits at least two peaks when subjected to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (first melt) corresponding to a first melting point of at least 150° C. and a second melting point of at least 40° C. such that the difference between the first and second melting temperatures is at least 20° C.
US08106126B2
A composition comprises a blend of 20 to 90 wt. % of a polycarbonate, 10 to 80 wt. % of a polyester wherein the weight percent of the polycarbonate and the polyester are each based on the total weight of the polycarbonate and the polyester. A sample of the composition having a thickness of 2.5 mm has a luminous transmittance of greater than or equal to 80% and a haze of less than 20% when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1003.
US08106109B2
The invention concerns a dental filling material with dual hardening mechanism, wherein i) a first hardening mechanism is based on a photocuring reaction, preferably a radical reaction, and ii) a second hardening mechanism is dependent on H2O as a reactant, especially as a ligand. Preferably, the second hardening mechanism is a gypsum-type reaction. Owing to the expansion of the composition an excellent marginal seal can be achieved, while the first hardening mechanism allows for a rapid cure on demand.
US08106103B1
A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a color predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
US08106088B2
Compounds of formula (I) are useful in treating conditions or disorders prevented by or ameliorated by histamine-3 receptor ligands. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the histamine-3 receptor ligands and methods for using such compounds and compositions.
US08106077B2
Compounds of formula (I) wherein variables are as defined herein and their pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are disclosed as useful for treating dyslipidemia and related diseases.
US08106073B2
The invention provides a compound of formula (I) as defined in the specification, a process for its preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, a process for preparing the pharmaceutical composition, and its use in therapy.
US08106061B2
The present invention pertains to the use of inhibitors of phosphodiesterase I, IV and V for the prophylaxis and treatment of prostatic diseases, in particular the use of a) 2-(2-propoxy-phenyl)-8-azapurin-6-one (zaprinast); b) dipyridamole; c) 1-(3-chlorophenylamino)-4-phenylphthalazine (M5445); d) 2-(N-(4-carboxypiperidine-6-chloro-4-(3,4-(methylen-dioxy)benzyl)amino)quinazoline (E 4021, ER 21355); e) 2,3-dihydro-8-hydroxy-7-nitro-1,4-benzodioxine-2-methanol, alpha-nitrate (E 4701); f) 4-((3,4-(methylendioxy)benzyl)amino)-6,7,8-trimethoxy-quinazoline; g) 1-methyl-3-propyl-6-(5-(N-(4-methylmorpholino)sulfonyl)-2-ethoxyphenyl)pyrazole[4,5]pyrimidin-4(5H)one (sildenafil); i) 1-cyclopentyl-3-methyl-6-(4-pyridinyl)pyrazolo (3,4-d)pyrimidin-4(5H)-one (WIN 58237); j) 7-(3-(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-propyl-phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-propoxy)-2-carboxy-2,3-didehydro-chronan-4-one (FPL-557212); k) quinazolines and their trimethoxy derivatives; l) Pyrazolopyrimidones; as well as pharmacologically compatible salts thereof, quinazolines and their trimethoxy derivatives, pyrazolopyrimidones or compatible salts thereof, in local and systemic administration.
US08106060B2
The invention relates to 8-[3-amino-piperidin-1-yl]-xanthines and the physiologically acceptable salts thereof, particularly the hydrochlorides thereof.
US08106047B2
The compounds of formula (I) in which R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings as given in the description are novel effective PDE2 inhibitors.
US08106028B2
The present invention embraces microRNA-21 antagonists and activators of Programmed Cell Death 4 for use in decreasing glial tumor cell proliferation and treating glioma.
US08106026B2
The present invention relates generally to viral vaccines and, more specifically, to filovirus vaccines and methods of eliciting an immune response against a filovirus or disease caused by infection with filovirus.
US08106013B2
Compositions and methods of using scorpion venom peptide that is a ligand for ABC transporters. One aspect provides a peptide having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1. The peptide Is believed to have a molecular mass of about 3.7 kDa and specifically interacts with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Methods of treating a disorder or symptom of a disorder related to aberrant ABC transporter activity are also provided.
US08106009B2
A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing cytopathy caused by ischemia, comprising a midkine family protein as an active ingredient, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing ischemic disorders, comprising a midkine family protein as an active ingredient, are provided. Midkine is efficacious in treating or preventing ischemic disorders and cytopathy caused by ischemia and can remarkably prevent, for example, the development of cerebral infarction, a representative of ischemic brain disorders. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is also efficacious against, for example, cerebral ischemic disorders such as cerebrovascular-spasm following a subarachnoid hemorrhage, Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia of Alzheimer's type, and cerebrovascular senile dementia, as well as cerebral ischemia, transient cerebral ischemic disease, and head trauma, and other cerebrovascular diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, and amyotrophic regressive disorders.
US08106007B2
The present invention relates to conjugates of a polypeptide and an oligosaccharide, wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to at least one oligosaccharide-spacer residue, the oligosaccharide being a synthetic sulfated oligosaccharide comprising 4-18 monosaccharide units and per se having affinity to antithrombin III and the spacer being a bond or an essentially pharmacologically inactive flexible linking residue, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The conjugates of the invention have improved pharmacokinetic properties when compared to the original polypeptides (i.e. the corresponding non-conjugated polypeptides per se).
US08106005B2
The use and screening of modulators of apoptosis is disclosed. The modulators may be, for example, modulator of NF-κB activity. The modulators may be used, for example, in the treatment of NF-κB-mediated diseases, conditions, and injuries.
US08106003B2
The invention relates to isolated peptides comprising at least the amino acid sequence YDRREY (SEQ ID NO:1) or a derivative thereof, nucleic acid encoding the peptides, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for modulating β 7 integrin function, including methods for treatment of inflammatory disorders, antibodies directed to the peptides and methods for identification of integrin β7 functional interactors.
US08106002B2
The present invention provides anti-cancer agents comprising protein C inhibitor (PCI) or derivatives thereof as an active ingredient. The anti-cancer agents of the present invention have activities of suppressing cancer cell growth, and cancer metastasis, infiltration, and angiogenesis. Further, the present invention has shown that derivatives containing a heparin-binding domain of PCI inhibit the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of cancer cells. Therefore, according to the present invention, PCI or derivatives thereof are useful for inhibiting the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of cancer.
US08105995B2
The present invention relates to aqueous liquid compositions in which surfactant system is specifically selected so that it cleanses well, but is mild and adequately foaming. Further the composition tolerate relatively large amounts of emollient (to help mildness) while, surprisingly, showing better stability.
US08105992B2
The invention relates to viscosity modifier polymers, concentrate and lubricant formulations utilizing a diblock polymer having one block A and one block B, block A contributing from 15 to 30% of the total chain length and block B from 70 to 85% of the total chain length, wherein block A comprises at least 93 wt % of ethylene and at least one other alpha-olefin and block B comprises an ethylene content between 40 and 75 wt % and at least one other alpha-olefin and wherein the resulting block copolymer has an average ethylene content of between about 60 wt % to 80 wt % ethylene, a fast Gaussian NMR relaxation signal between 17 and 22% and a slow exponential NMR relaxation signal between 58 and 68% of the total NMR relaxation signal, a SSI of at least 35% and a TE of at least 3.5 in order to obtain improvements in fuel economy.
US08105991B2
An overbased metal sulphonate detergent having incorporated therein at least one friction modifier including at least one amine group.
US08105988B2
One or more methods for inhibiting corrosion in a fluid that contain a composition with a specified generic formula are disclosed. The fluid can be contained in an oil or gas pipeline or refinery.
US08105984B2
A reduced abrasion drilling fluid system and method of drilling a borehole by circulating the reduced abrasion drilling fluid through the borehole is disclosed. The reduced abrasion drilling fluid comprises a drilling fluid, a first additive and a weighting agent, wherein the weighting agent has a particle size of at least 90% by volume less than 50 μm.
US08105975B2
This invention relates to a method and device for catchment of platinum group metals (PGM) in a gaseous stream, where the method comprises using a catalyst comprising a porous ceramic body in which at least a part of the surface area is covered by one or more PGM-catching metal(s)/alloy(s), and where the device comprises the porous ceramic body in which at least a part of the surface area is covered by one or more PGM-catching metal(s)/alloy(s). In a further aspect, the invention also relates to a method for producing the inventive device.
US08105970B2
A solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization containing a titanium atom, a magnesium atom, a halogen atom, and a defined internal electron donor such as dodecanedioyl dichloride; a production process of such a solid catalyst component, using a titanium compound, a magnesium compound, and the above internal electron donor, or using a solid component containing a titanium atom and a magnesium atom, and the above internal electron donor; a production process of a solid catalyst, using (i) the above solid catalyst component, (ii) an organoaluminum compound, and (iii) an external electron donor; and a production process of an olefin polymer using the above solid catalyst.
US08105965B2
The present invention relates to a waterproof material, wherein film layers are set between non-woven fabric layers, an asphalt layer is set between the film layers, and a net reinforcement layer is set within the asphalt layer. The advantages of the present invention include: (1) film layers are formed by laminating it on the compositing surfaces of the upper and lower non-woven fabric layers, which overcomes the drawback of water leaking in the background art, prevents the leaking of asphalt into the non-woven fabric or out of the non-woven fabric during the compositing process, so that the environmental pollution during transportation and application is avoided; (2) a glass-fiber netlike reinforcement layer is set within the asphalt layer, so that not only the tensile strength and compressive strength of the asphalt layer, but also the tensile strength and tear strength of the roofing underlayment material are improved; (3) the thickness and number of film layers are set to ensure the temperature-resistance and puncturing-resistance of film layers.
US08105961B2
A method of creating a sensor that may include applying a first conductive material on a first portion of a substrate to form a reference electrode and depositing a first mask over the substrate, the first mask having an opening that exposes the reference electrode and a second portion of the substrate. The method may also include depositing a second conductive material into the opening in the first mask, the second conductive material being in direct contact with the reference electrode and depositing a second mask over the second conductive material, the second mask having an opening over the second portion of the substrate, the opening exposing a portion of the second conductive material which forms a working surface to receive a fluid of interest.
US08105958B2
A selective oxidation process is performed on a gate electrode in a plasma processing apparatus 100. A wafer W with the gate electrode formed thereon is placed on a susceptor 2 within a chamber 1. Ar gas, H2 gas, and O2 gas are supplied from an Ar gas supply source 17, an H2 gas supply source 18, and an O2 gas supply source 19 in a gas supply system 16 through a gas feed member 15 into the chamber 1. At this time, a flow rate ratio H2/O2 of H2 gas relative to O2 gas is set to be 1.5 or more and 20 or less, preferably to be 4 or more, and more preferably to be 8 or more. Further, the pressure inside the chamber is set to be 3 to 700 Pa, such as 6.7 Pa (50 mTorr).
US08105954B2
Provided is a method and system for vapor deposition of a coating material onto a semiconductor substrate. In an embodiment, photoresist is deposited. An in-situ baking process may be performed with the vapor deposition. In an embodiment, a ratio of chemical components of a material to be deposited onto the substrate is changed during the deposition. Therefore, a layer having a gradient chemical component distribution may be provided. In an embodiment, a BARC layer may be provided which includes a gradient chemical component distribution providing an n,k distribution through the layer. Other materials that may be vapor deposited include pattern freezing material.
US08105936B2
Solutions for forming dielectric interconnect structures are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides methods of forming a dielectric interconnect structure having a noble metal layer that is formed directly on a modified dielectric surface. In a typical embodiment, the modified dielectric surface is created by treating an exposed dielectric layer of the interconnect structure with a gaseous ion plasma. Under the present invention, the noble metal layer could be formed directly on an optional glue layer that is maintained only on vertical surfaces of any trench or via formed in the exposed dielectric layer. In addition, the noble metal layer may be provided along an interface between the via and an internal metal layer.
US08105935B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench in the first insulating film, forming a metal interconnect in the trench, exposing the surface of the metal interconnect to a silicon-containing gas, performing a plasma treatment of the surface of the metal interconnect after exposing to the silicon-containing gas, and forming a second insulating film over the metal interconnect.
US08105933B2
In some embodiments a method of forming a gold-aluminum electrical interconnect is described. The method may include interposing a diffusion retardant layer between the gold and the aluminum (1002), the diffusion retardant layer including regions containing and regions substantially devoid of a diffusion retardant material; bringing into contact the diffusion retardant layer, the gold, and the aluminum (1004); forming alloys of gold and the diffusion retardant material in regions containing the material (1006) and forming gold-aluminum intermetallic compounds in regions substantially devoid of the material (1008); and forming a continuous electrically conducting path between the aluminum and the gold (1010). In some embodiments, a structure useful in a gold-aluminum interconnect is provided. The structure may include an aluminum alloy bond pad (530) and a diffusion retardant layer (520) in contact with the bond pad, the diffusion retardant layer including regions (522) containing and regions (524) substantially devoid of a diffusion retardant material. The structure may include a gold free air ball (714) in contact with the diffusion retardant layer.
US08105930B2
In one embodiment, the method of forming a dielectric layer includes supplying a first precursor at a temperature less than 400 degrees Celsius to a chamber including a substrate. The first precursor includes dysprosium. A first reaction gas is supplied to the chamber to react with the first precursor. A second precursor is supplied at a temperature less than 400 degrees Celsius to the chamber, and the second precursor includes scandium. A second reaction gas is supplied to the chamber to react with the second precursor.
US08105927B2
A method for manufacturing an ion implantation mask is disclosed which includes the steps of: forming an oxide film as a protective film over the entire surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a thin metal film over the oxide film; and forming an ion-inhibiting layer composed of an ion-inhibiting metal over the thin metal film. The obtained ion implantation mask is used to form a deeper selectively electroconductive region.
US08105918B2
A semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same includes preparing a substrate, forming a plurality of conductive layer patterns on the substrate, forming a gate insulation layer on sidewalls of the conductive layer patterns, forming a pillar neck pattern between the conductive layer patterns, forming a pillar head over the pillar neck pattern and the conductive layer patterns, and forming a gate electrode surrounding the pillar neck pattern and forming a pillar head pattern by selectively etching the conductive layer patterns and the pillar head formed over the pillar neck pattern.
US08105911B2
Semiconductor devices with multiple floating guard ring edge termination structures and methods of fabricating same are disclosed. A method for fabricating guard rings in a semiconductor device that includes forming a mesa structure on a semiconductor layer stack, the semiconductor stack including two or more layers of semiconductor materials including a first layer and a second layer, said second layer being on top of said first layer, forming trenches for guard rings in the first layer outside a periphery of said mesa, and forming guard rings in the trenches. The top surfaces of said guard rings have a lower elevation than a top surface of said first layer.
US08105907B2
To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor memory device, the method including forming contact plugs to be connected to a drain region or a source region of each of transistors, by using a SAC line technique of selectively etching an insulation layer that covers each of the transistors by using a mask having a line-shaped opening provided across the contact plugs. Each of the transistors constituting a sense amplifier that amplifies a potential difference between bit lines is a ring-gate transistor.
US08105898B2
A method for fabricating flash memory devices, e.g., NAND, NOR, is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a second polysilicon layer overlying a plurality of floating gate structures to cause formation of an upper surface provided on the second polysilicon layer. The upper surface has a first recessed region and a second recessed region. The method includes depositing a dielectric material overlying the upper surface to fill the first recessed region and the second recessed region to form a second upper surface region and cover a first elevated region, a second elevated region, and a third elevated region. The method subjects the second upper surface region to a chemical mechanical polishing process to remove the first elevated region, the second elevated region, and the third elevated region to cause formation of a substantially planarized second polysilicon layer free from the fill material.
US08105897B2
A method for fabricating flash memory devices, e.g., NAND, NOR, is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a second polysilicon layer overlying a plurality of floating gate structures to cause formation of an upper surface provided on the second polysilicon layer. The upper surface has a first recessed region and a second recessed region. The method includes depositing a photo resist material overlying the upper surface to fill the first recessed region and the second recessed region to form a second upper surface region and cover a first elevated region, a second elevated region, and a third elevated region. The method subjects the second upper surface region to a chemical mechanical polishing process to remove the first elevated region, the second elevated region, and the third elevated region to cause formation of a substantially planarized second polysilicon layer free from the fill material.
US08105889B2
Methods of forming Group III-nitride transistor device include forming a protective layer on a Group III-nitride semiconductor layer, forming a via hole through the protective layer to expose a portion of the Group III-nitride semiconductor layer, and forming a masking gate on the protective layer. The masking gate includes an upper portion having a width that is larger than a width of the via hole and having a lower portion extending into the via hole. The methods further include implanting source/drain regions in the Group III-nitride semiconductor layer using the masking gate as an implant mask.
US08105888B2
A diode assembly comprising first and second diodes each having a different breakdown voltage, each of the first and second diodes comprising a semiconductor substrate; an electrically conducting channel layer on the semiconductor substrate; an upper semiconductor layer on the channel layer, the upper semiconductor layer comprising a recess; first and second ohmic contacts on the upper semiconductor layer on opposite sides of the recess, the ohmic contacts being connected together to form a first diode contact; a gate electrode within the recess, the gate electrode forming a second diode contact; wherein the area of the recess of the first diode covered by the first gate electrode is different to the area of the recess of the second diode covered by the second gate electrode.
US08105884B2
A cross point memory array includes a structure in which holes are formed in an insulating layer and a storage node is formed in each of the holes. The storage node may include a memory resistor and a switching structure. The master for an imprint process used to form the cross-point memory array includes various pattern shapes, and the method of manufacturing the master uses various etching methods.
US08105869B1
Proposed is the method for forming selective emitters, field-induced emitters, back-surface field regions, and contacts to the functional regions of a solar cell by essentially electrical means and without conventional thermal diffusion and masking processes. The process includes forming conductive layers on both sides of an intermediate solar-cell structure, performing electrical and thermal treatment by passing electrical current independently through the front-side conductive layer and the back-side conductive layer, thus forming the selective emitters, the selective BSF regions, selective emitter contact regions, and contacts to the selective BSF regions. The obtained structure is then subjected to pulse electrical treatment by applying a voltage pulse or pulses between the front and back conductive layers to form the field-induced emitter and the field-induced BSF region. After the conductive layers are removed, a final solar cell is obtained. The proposed method can significantly simplify manufacturing, reduce cost, and increase throughput in the field of semiconductor fabrication.
US08105868B2
The invention pertains to a method for making a solar cell module comprising solar cells connected in series, comprising the steps of: a) making in a system composed of a substrate-overlaid by a first electrode layer, itself overlaid by an active layer, a first, interruption, groove providing an interrupt in the front electrode and the active layer and a second, interconnection, groove through the active layer, the first and second grooves being positioned close to each other; b) inserting an insulating compound into the interruption groove; c) applying a lift-off compound onto the active layer at a position adjacent to the interconnection groove on the other side of the interconnection groove than the insulation groove; d) applying the second electrode; e) removing the lift-off compound and the overlaying second electrode at that position to obtain a groove in the second electrode.
US08105867B2
A self-aligned fabrication process for three-dimensional non-volatile memory is disclosed. A double etch process forms conductors at a given level in self-alignment with memory pillars both underlying and overlying the conductors. Forming the conductors in this manner can include etching a first conductor layer using a first repeating pattern in a given direction to form a first portion of the conductors. Etching with the first pattern also defines two opposing sidewalls of an underlying pillar structure, thereby self-aligning the conductors with the pillars. After etching, a second conductor layer is deposited followed by a semiconductor layer stack. Etching with a second pattern that repeats in the same direction as the first pattern is performed, thereby forming a second portion of the conductors that is self-aligned with overlying layer stack lines. These layer stack lines are then etched orthogonally to define a second set of pillars overlying the conductors.
US08105844B2
An apparatus includes a porous membrane for retaining antigens from a sample as the sample passes through the membrane. The apparatus also includes a first binding region within the membrane. The first binding region includes antibodies associated with a first antigen of interest. At least some of the antigens retained in the membrane are brought into contact with the first binding region by applying an electrophoresis field across the membrane. The porous membrane could also include an electrophoresis buffer. A presence of the first antigen of interest could be detected by exposing the first binding region to a chemiluminescent reagent, and a quantity of the first antigen of interest could be determined by performing a chemiluminescent assay on the binding region.
US08105834B2
The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of soft tissue. Also provided are methods of isolating muscle-derived progenitor cells, and methods of genetically modifying the cells for gene transfer therapy. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, soft tissues in the treatment of various functional conditions, including malformation, injury, weakness, disease, or dysfunction. In particular, the present invention provides treatments and amelioration for urinary incontinence and other urinary tract pathologies.
US08105832B1
The invention provides a method of up-regulating genes in cultured human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, the method comprising culturing the stem cells in a nutrient medium together with cells from a limb of a limb-regenerating animal. In the method, the limb-regenerating animal is preferably a species of the family Polychrotidae. Another method of the invention provides for up-regulating genes maintaining pluripotency and proliferation in cultured human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by culturing the stem cells in a nutrient medium together with mouse embryonic stem cells.
US08105823B2
A biogas installation for production of biogas from biomass and methods for starting and shutting down a fermenter are disclosed. When biomass in a fermenter is used up, biogas production must stop, the fermented biomass removed, and the fermenter filled with fresh biomass. Biogas production and utilization is maintained for as long as possible. When the methane concentration in the biogas outlet falls below an upper limit, the biogas line is disconnected. The biogas/off-gas mixture is fed out via an exhaust chimney until the methane concentration has fallen to a lower limit. The fermenter to be shut down is purged with fresh air, and the off-gas/biogas/fresh air mixture is fed out via the exhaust chimney until the carbon-dioxide concentration in the off-gas/biogas/fresh air mixture has fallen to a first limit. The fermenter is then opened to unload the consumed biomass and load fresh biomass.
US08105817B2
Methods and systems for delivering toxin and toxin fragments to a patient's nasal cavity provide for both release of the toxin and delivery of energy which selectively porates target cells to enhance uptake of the toxin. The use of energy-mediated delivery is particularly advantageous with light chain fragment toxins which lack cell binding capacity.
US08105807B2
The present invention relates to carbamoylglycine derivatives, a process for the preparation of carbamoylglycine derivatives and the use of carbamoylglycine derivatives in the preparation of enantiomerically enriched α-amino acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the preparation of pharmaceutically active products such as perindopril and ramipril using the novel carbamoylglycine derivatives.
US08105787B2
The present invention relates to a method of isolating fragments of nucleic acid according to the density of CpG dinucleotides and subsequent procedures for producing a library and/or an array or microarray of these fragments, as well as uses thereof.
US08105782B2
The invention provides improved methods for determining the methylation profile of a nucleic acid sequence and for determining one or more base changes in the target nucleic acid sequence as compared to a corresponding control sequence. The methods are one-step methods which can be incorporated with known amplification techniques such as PCR. The invention also provides methods for determining changes in nucleic acid sequences either via their methylation profile or owing to mutations of one or more bases.
US08105780B2
There is provided a resonator sensor useful for detecting polymorphisms and mutations in DNA. The resonator sensor has a capture molecule immobilised on its surface, the capture molecule being either a probe DNA containing a reference sequence, or a mismatch binding molecule, and being capable of forming a probe DNA/target DNA/mismatch binding molecule complex on the surface of the resonator. A method for detecting mutations in a target DNA, including single nucleotide polymorphisms, is also provided.
US08105769B2
The present invention is directed to a method for determining the responsiveness of cancer to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment. In a preferred embodiment, the presence of at least one variance in the kinase domain of the erbB1 gene confers sensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Thus, a diagnostic assay for these mutations will allow for the administration of gefitinib, erlotinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors to those patients most likely to respond to the drug.
US08105765B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by performing divisional exposure on a predetermined area on a wafer, through two or more reticles, on each of which a mask pattern region is formed. The method includes arranging the reticles such that an outer most periphery of a field circle of exposure light incident on the wafer aligns with at least one side of the mask pattern region formed in the reticle, and exposing, to exposure light, the wafer, through the reticles so arranged.
US08105760B2
A pattern is formed by applying a first positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units which become alkali soluble under the action of acid onto a substrate to form a first resist coating, heat treating, exposing, heat treating, developing to form a first resist pattern, applying a pattern surface coating composition comprising a hydroxyl-containing crosslinkable polymer onto the first resist pattern and crosslinking, thereby covering the first resist pattern with a crosslinked polymer film, applying a second positive resist composition thereon, heat treating, exposing, heat treating, and developing to form a second resist pattern.
US08105759B2
A photosensitive resin composition comprising (A) a binder polymer, (B) a photopolymerizing compound with a polymerizable ethylenic unsaturated bond, (C) a photoradical polymerization initiator containing a 2,4,5-triarylimidazole dimer or its derivative, and (D) a compound represented by the following general formula (1) (wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent C1-20 alkyl, etc., and R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 each independently represent hydrogen, etc.).
US08105758B2
A maskless lithography system and method to expose a pattern on a wafer by propagating a photon beam through a waveguide on a substrate in a plane parallel to a top surface of the wafer.
US08105756B2
A method and apparatus for preparing a relief printing form from a photosensitive element that includes a photopolymerizable composition layer having an exterior surface and capable of being partially liquefied. The method includes the steps of (a) heating the exterior surface of the photopolymerizable composition layer to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy, forming the liquefied material; and (b) removing the liquefied material; wherein the heating step is performed using vibrationally-induced frictional energy.
US08105755B2
Method is described for producing an imaged lithographic printing plate from a precursor comprising a free-radical polymerizable coating and an oxygen-impermeable overcoat, characterized in that removing the overcoat, developing and gumming is carried out in one single step.
US08105746B2
(1) A polymer compound for photoresist composition which is high in dissolution rate in a developing solution after exposure and small swelling at the development and (2) a compound which is a raw material for such a polymer compound are provided. Furthermore, (3) a photoresist composition containing the subject polymer compound is provided. In detail, a tertiary alcohol derivative represented by the following general formula (1) is provided. (In the formula, R1 and R2 are taken together to form a ring together with a carbon atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded, and R1 and R2 as taken represent a linear, branched or cyclic alkylene group having from 2 to 9 carbon atoms, which may contain an oxygen atom at an arbitrary position; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; W represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkylene group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and n represents 0 or 1.)
US08105744B2
An image forming method includes forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier; developing the electrostatic latent image with a developing agent including a toner to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a surface of a target to obtain a transferred toner image; and fixing the transferred toner image; wherein the toner includes a resin particle having a core-shell structure, both of a resin constituting the core and a resin constituting the shell are a non-crystalline resin, glass transition temperatures of the resin constituting the core and the resin constituting the shell are different by about 20° C. or greater, the resin constituting the shell includes an acidic polar group, a basic polar group, or an alcoholic hydroxy group, and the fixing of the transferred toner image is performed by applying a pressure on the transferred toner image without heating.
US08105742B2
A method for manufacturing a toner, including periodically forming liquid droplets of a toner constituent liquid comprising a resin and a colorant by vibrating a thin film having a plurality of holes provided on a retention part thereof to discharge the liquid droplets of the toner constituent liquid from the plurality of holes and forming toner particles by solidifying the liquid droplets discharged from the plurality of holes. In periodically forming the liquid droplets of the toner constituent liquid, a flow of gas in a direction of discharge of the liquid droplets is formed by a gas flow generation unit provided downstream from the thin film relative to the direction of discharge of the liquid droplets, including a tapered part forming an aperture corresponding to a hole formation area of the thin film.
US08105740B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a vulcanized fatty ester.
US08105735B2
To provide an EUV mask of which a decrease in the contrast of reflected light at the mask pattern boundary, particularly a decrease in the contrast of reflected light at the boundary on the mask pattern outer edge, is suppressed, and an EUV mask blank to be used for production of the EUV mask.A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, comprising:a substrate, and a reflective layer to reflect EUV light, and an absorber layer to absorb EUV light, formed in this order over the substrate,a step on at least a part of the substrate being provided between a first portion where the absorber layer is removed at the time of patterning, and a second portion where the absorber layer is not removed at the time of patterning, adjacent to the first portion where the absorber layer is removed.
US08105731B2
A fuel cell system includes first and second fuel cell stacks which are juxtaposed to each other. An assembly manifold is attached to the first and second fuel cell stacks. A connection block is provided at a central position of the assembly manifold. A fuel gas supply port and a fuel gas discharge port are provided on a front surface of the connection block, and an oxygen-containing gas supply port and an oxygen-containing gas discharge port are provided on a back surface of the connection block. A fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are equally supplied to each of the first and second fuel cell stacks.
US08105723B2
Disclosed is a reaction device including: a reactor, a heat insulating container housing the reactor, a pipe penetrating a wall of the insulating container to connect the reactor to an outside of the insulating container, wherein the wall of the heat insulating container includes at least two regions each having a different infrared absorptivity, and the region of the wall of higher infrared absorptivity is disposed on the same plane of the wall where the pipe penetrates. Also disclosed are a fuel cell device and an electronic apparatus using the reaction device.
US08105720B2
A humidity sensing device for measuring a humidity of a reactant stream in a fuel cell system is provided. The humidity sensing device includes a humidity sensor coupled to a sensor housing. The sensor housing is adapted to selectively move the humidity sensor to an operating position and to a non-operating position in the fuel cell system. A fuel cell system and a method employing the humidity sensing device in the fuel cell system is also provided.
US08105714B2
A lithium-ion battery includes a plurality of generally planar positive and negative electrodes arranged in alternating fashion to form an electrode stack. Each of the electrodes includes a current collector having two opposed surfaces and an active material provided on at least one of the two opposed surfaces. The active material of the negative electrodes has a potential that is greater than 0.2 volts versus a reference electrode. The area of the current collectors of the negative electrodes covered by active material is not larger than the area of the current collectors of the positive electrodes covered by active material.
US08105710B2
A battery 10A with leads has a low-profile external casing acting 11 as one of a pair of electrode terminals and a closure plate 12 acting as the other of the electrode terminals. The closure plate 12 hermetically seals an opening of the external casing 11 via an insulating gasket. A pair of lead plates 13 and 14 are each welded to a different one of the electrode terminals 11 and 12. One of the lead plates 13 and 14 is secured to a circuit board X. The lead plate 14 that is secured to the circuit board has a net-like structure.
US08105697B2
Provided is a polymer memory device and a method of forming the same. The polymer memory device may include a first electrode, a first curable polymer layer, a second electrode, a second curable polymer layer, and a third electrode. The first electrode may be disposed on a substrate. The first curable polymer layer may cover the first electrode. The second electrode may be disposed on the first curable polymer layer and cross over the first electrode. The second curable polymer layer may cover the second electrode. The third electrode may be disposed on the second curable polymer layer and cross over the second electrode. Each of the first curable polymer layer and the second curable polymer layer may contain a fullerene or a fullerene derivative.
US08105696B2
The present invention is directed to composite metal foams comprising hollow metallic spheres and a solid metal matrix. The composite metal foams show high strength, particularly in comparison to previous metal foams, while maintaining a favorable strength to density ratio. The composite metal foams can be prepared by various techniques, such as powder metallurgy and casting.
US08105693B2
The present invention relates to a multilayered structure including at least one diamond layer and methods of making the multilayered structures. The multilayered structure includes a diamond layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first thin adhesion layer on the top surface, a second thin adhesion layer on the bottom surface, a first metal layer having a thermal conductivity greater than 200 W/m-K and a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than 12 ppm/K, wherein the first metal layer is deposited on the first thin adhesion layer, and a second metal layer having a thermal conductivity greater than 200 W/m-K and a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than 12 ppm/K, wherein the second metal layer is deposited on the second thin adhesion layer.
US08105688B2
The present invention relates to an inorganic solid-phase combined powder, a master batch and a method for manufacturing the same, a fiber and a method for manufacturing the same. The fiber manufactured by the above method includes the following constituents in percentage by weight: 10-20% the master batch and 80-90% the high polymer carrier section. Silver content in the fiber of the present invention can reach up to 3-10%, the bactericidal rate is high, the blocking rate against ultraviolet ray is high, the efficacy is perdurable and safe, and there is no toxic or side effects. The spinnability of the fiber is good. The water absorption, permeability, dyeing evenness and electrical conductivity of the fiber are improved greatly, and the drapability and comfortableness are increased when the textile of the fiber is worn.
US08105670B2
An intermediate transfer member, such as a belt, where the surface of the belt contains as a coating a mixture of a glycoluril resin and a polyol resin.
US08105668B2
The crystalline form of 2-(4,6-bis-biphenyl-4-yl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-5-(2-ethyl-(n)-hexyloxy)phenol, characterized by a X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by using Cu—Kα-radiation which exhibits the diffraction angles (2-Theta).
US08105665B2
An ink-jet recording medium having a non-absorbent support; an ink-receiving layer containing an inorganic pigment and a binder, disposed on one surface of the non-absorbent support; and a water-absorbent layer containing a water-absorbent polymer and a pigment, disposed on the other surface of the non-absorbent support, opposite to the one surface provided with the ink-receiving layer.
US08105663B2
Disclosed herein is a composition for forming a substrate, comprising: a liquid crystal thermosetting oligomer having one or more soluble structural units in the main chain thereof and having thermosetting groups at one or more ends of the main chain thereof; and a metal alkoxide compound having reaction groups which can be covalently bonded with the thermosetting groups.
US08105657B2
The inventions refer to method of product surface treatment, technological line and device for hot applying the coating on lengthy products. Line for applying the coating on lengthy product comprising supplying device, product surface preparing unit, devise for continuous applying the coating, cooling camera and final product acceptance unit. Device for applying the coating comprises camera (13) for applying the coating, fixed above the tank (14) with melt. In cover (16) of camera (13) there is an outlet 19 for creating pressure discharge, and in cover (21) of tank (14) there is an inlet (22). Camera (13) is provided with intake vertical passage (20) plunged into the melt of the tank. In the walls of camera (13) there are passages (23) and (24) for product (2) transporting. In working state the melt in the tank (14) and in the camera (13) occupies levels (25) and (26) correspondingly.
US08105651B2
Artifacts, methods of creating such artifacts and methods of using such artifacts are provided. In this regard, an exemplary embodiment of a method for creating an artifact for quantifying measurement accuracy of non-contact sensors included in optical three-dimensional (3-D) measuring systems, comprises: fabricating an artifact using a base material; and coating the artifact with an approximately uniform coating of dry film lubricant.
US08105643B2
The invention relates generally to a printing process. In particular, the invention relates to a printing process where a first-printed feature or vanishing trace causes a second-printed feature to have a smaller dimension than it would in the absence of the first-printed feature or vanishing trace.
US08105642B2
Dried soft aerated confections and methods of their preparation are provided having a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.4 and a glass transition temperature of less than 20° C. The confections comprise sugars, a foaming and a structuring ingredient, preferably each gelatin, and about 5 to 15% softening agent. Preferred softening agents include glycerin, polyglycerols and mixtures thereof. The confections are aerated to densities of about 0.1 to 0.5 g/cc. The soft dried aerated confections are particularly suited for addition to children's Ready-To-Eat cereals in the form of pieces weighing about 0.1 to 2 g each. The dried confection pieces maintain their soft texture over time without causing moisture migration to the cereal.
US08105636B2
The crude extract of Plectranthus Amboinicus (PA) has anti-inflammatory effects and can inhibit AP-1 binding in vitro. The incubation with PA crude extract resulted in significant inhibition of the LPS-induced expression of IL-6, IL-12, MCP-1, and RANTES in HUVEC cells. After the crude extract was further fractionated using preparative HPLC, fraction 8, 9, 10 and 11 were identified to inhibit the AP-1 binding activity. The active component of fraction 8 is Mena 987; fraction 9 is Mena 998; fraction 10 is Mena 9102; and fraction 11 is rosmarinic acid and the synthetic rosmarinic acid analogues. Other compounds showed inhibitory activities as well. These compounds have inhibitory effects on AP-1 activity and are useful as preventive or therapeutic agent for diseases in which excessive expression or activities of AP-1 are involved.
US08105630B2
A composition containing an extremely poorly water-soluble drug and obtained by treating, with a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid of carbon dioxide, a mixture comprising a porous silica material and the extremely poorly water-soluble drug; and its production process. The porous silica material has an average pore diameter in a range of from 1 to 20 nm, pores having diameters within ±40% of the average pore size account for at least 60% of a total pore volume of the porous silica material, and in X-ray diffractometry, the porous silica material has at least one peak at a position of diffraction angle (2θ) corresponding to a d value of at least 1 nm.The composition according to the present invention, which contains the extremely poorly water-soluble drug, is excellent in the dissolution of the extremely poorly water-soluble drug.
US08105623B2
The present invention relates to polymeric compositions useful in the manufacture of biocompatible medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain cationic monomers capable of polymerization to form polymeric compositions having desirable physical characteristics useful in the manufacture of ophthalmic devices. The polymer compositions comprise polymerized fluorinated polyether monomer end-capped with ethylenically unsaturated cationic hydrophilic groups.
US08105622B2
Pharmaceutically acceptable hydrogel polymers of natural, recombinant or synthetic origin, or hybrids thereof, are introduced in a dry, less hydrated, or substantially deswollen state and rehydrate in a physiological environment to undergo a volumetric expansion and to affect sealing, plugging, or augmentation of tissue, defects in tissue, or of organs. The hydrogel polymers may deliver therapeutic entities by controlled release at the site. Methods to form useful devices from such polymers, and to implant the devices are provided.
US08105620B2
The insecticide comprises an insecticide particularly for killing bed bugs comprising nanospheres and primary ingredients of Organic Andirobia, Orange, Citronella, Organic Neem and Australian Myrtle oils. The insecticide can further comprise Isopropyl Alcohol as a carrier, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandox and Leucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract.
US08105616B2
A cosmetic preparation of the oil-in-water type whose oil phase comprises one or more mineral oils and which has a flow curve depicting the dynamic viscosity as a function of the shear stress showing a maximum of up to 10 000 Pas at a shear stress of from 5 to 50 Pa and a shoulder at a shear stress of from 30 to 110 Pa.
US08105608B2
A method and pharmaceutical composition are provided for enhancing the endogenous immune response-mediated elimination of a population of pathogenic cells in a host animal wherein the pathogenic cells preferentially express, uniquely express, or overexpress a binding site for a particular ligand. The invention comprises administering the ligand conjugated to an immunogen to a host animal harboring the population of pathogenic cells. Antibodies, preexisting or administered to the host animal to establish a passive immunity, directed against the immunogen bind to the ligand-immunogen conjugate resulting in elimination of the pathogenic cells by the host's immune response. At least one additional therapeutic factor is administered selected from the group consisting of a cell killing agent, a tumor penetration enhancer, a chemotherapeutic agent, antimicrobial agent, a cytotoxic immune cell, and a compound capable of stimulating an endogenous immune response wherein the compound does not bind to the ligand-immunogen conjugate.
US08105606B2
The present invention is related to the obtaining of chimeric chains coding for proteins capable of inducing, in the recipient, a serotype-specific and protective humoral immune response against the infection by the Dengue virus, thus eliminating the effects of the serotype-nonespecific viral immunoenhancement that causes hemorrhagies and clinical complications described for this kind of pathology. These chimeric chains of nucleic acids are composed by the specific combination of fragments belonging to the gene of a mutated protein from Neisseria meningitidis with dehydrogenase activity and fragments that codify for a region of the envelope (E) protein from the Dengue virus which, when inserted to an expression vector, give rise to chimeric proteins with particular properties. The resultant chimeric molecules from this invention are applicable to the pharmaceutical industry for the obtaining of vaccine preparations and diagnostic means of high serotype-specificity to be used in humans.
US08105603B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides that inhibit APRIL and/or BAFF binding to BCMA, nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, and compositions comprising the polypeptides. The present invention also relates to methods for treating an immune-related disease or cancer using the polypeptides and compositions of the invention. The present invention also relates to methods for identifying inhibitors of APRIL/BAFF binding to BCMA and APRIL/BAFF signaling.
US08105602B2
The present invention relates to antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments thereof, specific for urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and uses thereof for the treatment or prevention of cancer. In particular, the antibodies of the invention are specific for a particular epitope on uPAR. These antibodies interfere with uPAR signaling. Such antibodies are used in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, particularly against cancer.
US08105600B2
The present relation relates to antigen-antibody complexes for use as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases of AIDS. The present invention encompasses the preparation and purification of immunogenic antibody-antigen complexes which are formulated into the vaccines of the present invention.
US08105596B2
B-cell malignancies, such as the B-cell subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, are significant contributors to cancer mortality. The response of B-cell malignancies to various forms of treatment is mixed. Traditional methods of treating B-cell malignancies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have limited utility due to toxic side effects. Immunotherapy with anti-CD20 antibodies have also provided limited success. The use of antibodies that bind with the CD22 or CD19 antigen, however, provides an effective means to treat B-cell malignancies such as indolent and aggressive forms of B-cell lymphomas, and acute and chronic forms of lymphatic leukemias. Moreover, immunotherapy with anti-CD22 and/or anti-CD19 antibodies requires comparatively low doses of antibody protein, and can be used effectively in multimodal therapies.
US08105594B2
Methods and related immunoglobulin peptides and fragments thereof are disclosed that enhance the cell-mediated immune response of a patient to deposits of amyloid fibrils. These methods exploit the opsonizing effect of antibodies directed toward amyloid material or its component parts.
US08105589B2
The present invention relates to novel Death Domain Containing Receptor (DR3 and DR3-V1) proteins that are members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human DR3 and DR3-V1 proteins. DR3 and DR3-V1 polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. Also provided are antibodies and fragments thereof that bind to polypeptides of the invention. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of DR3 and DR3-V1 activity.
US08105586B2
The invention relates to the discovery of novel soluble neutral active Hyaluronidase Glycoproteins (sHASEGPs), methods of manufacture, and their use to facilitate administration of other molecules or to alleviate glycosaminoglycan associated pathologies. Minimally active polypeptide domains of the soluble, neutral active sHASEGP domains are described that include asparagine-linked sugar moieties required for a functional neutral active hyaluronidase domain. Included are modified amino-terminal leader peptides that enhance secretion of sHASEGP. The invention further comprises sialated and pegylated form of a recombinant sHASEGP to enhance stability and serum pharmacokinetics over naturally occurring slaughterhouse enzymes. Further described are suitable formulations of a substantially purified recombinant sHASEGP glycoprotein derived from a eukaryotic cell that generate the proper glycosylation required for its optimal activity.
US08105578B2
The subject invention relates to viruses that are able to replicate and thereby kill neoplastic cells with a deficiency in the IFN-mediated antiviral response, and their use in treating neoplastic disease including cancer and large tumors. RNA and DNA viruses are useful in this regard. The invention also relates to methods for the selection, design, purification and use of such viruses for cancer therapy.
US08105574B2
Simian adenovirus nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, vectors containing same, and methods of use
A recombinant vector comprises simian adenovirus sequences and a heterologous gene under the control of regulatory sequences. A cell line which expresses simian adenovirus gene(s) is also disclosed. Methods of using the vectors and cell lines are provided.
US08105571B2
A method of treating a pulmonary disease such as, for instance idiophathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), mixed connective tissue disease and asthma, comprising administering an aerosolized interferon such as interferon γ in a therapeutically effective amount is provided herein. Also, pharmaceutical compositions of one or more aerosolized interferon(s) alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents are provided.
US08105570B2
This invention provides a method and compositions for the controlled release of drugs that have been attached by means of a covalent bond to a polymer or other moiety that blocks activity of the drug until it has been released. A two-stage process is provided in which an unmasking reaction results in the formation of a chemical group that can then undergo a second reaction to release the drug. In a preferred embodiment, the narcotic analgesic fentanyl covalently attached to an inert polymer by way of its nitrogen through the formation of a quaternary vinylammonium salt, and then released by a sequence involving hydrolysis of an acetal that exposes an alcohol that may then undergo an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction involving displacement of the nitrogen of oxycodone. The rate of this process may be controlled by controlling either or both of the rates of the acetal hydrolysis or the intramolecular substitution reaction, but is preferably controlled by the latter through varying the number of atoms in the chain connecting the alcohol group and the vinylic carbon, as well as by the addition of substituents on that chain. The drug-delivery molecules of this invention are useful for release of amine, alcohol and thiol drugs, including a number of narcotic analgesics, tricyclic amine antidepressants, and many others.
US08105568B2
The invention describes a vitamin receptor binding drug delivery conjugate, and preparations therefor. The drug delivery conjugate consists of a vitamin receptor binding moiety, a bivalent linker (L), and a drug. The vitamin receptor binding moiety includes vitamins, and vitamin receptor binding analogs and derivatives thereof, and the drug includes analogs and derivatives thereof. The vitamin receptor binding moiety is covalently linked to the bivalent linker, and the drug, or the analog or the derivative thereof, is covalently linked to the bivalent linker, wherein the bivalent linker (L) includes components such as spacer linkers, releasable linkers, and heteroatom linkers, and combinations thereof. Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for eliminating pathogenic cell populations using the drug delivery conjugate are also described.
US08105559B2
A method of reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) present in a lean gas stream comprising nitric oxide (NO) comprises the steps of: (i) net adsorbing NO per se from the lean gas stream in an adsorbent comprising palladium and a cerium oxide at below 200° C.; (ii) thermally net desorbing NO from the NO adsorbent in a lean gas stream at 200° C. and above; and (iii) catalytically reducing NOx on a catalyst other than the NO adsorbent with a reductant selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon reductant, a nitrogenous reductant, hydrogen and a mixture of any two or more thereof. A system for carrying out such a method is also disclosed.
US08105556B2
An adapter for taking up a sample container and for use in a laboratory centrifuge rotor, the adapter including a closed end, an opened end and closure assembly that releasably seals the opened end. The closed end and the opened end can be of a certain diameter. The adapter can also be a certain shape. The closure assembly can also include a handle, flange, a hold down ring, a sealing ring and bottom support for the sealing ring, hold down ring, flange and handle.
US08105550B2
A biological substrate, e.g., microfluidic chip. The substrate includes a rigid substrate material, which has a surface region capable of acting as a handle substrate. The substrate also has a deformable fluid layer coupled to the surface region. One or more well regions are formed in a first portion of the deformable fluid layer and are capable of holding a fluid therein. The one or more channel regions are formed in a second portion of the deformable fluid layer and are coupled to one or more of the well regions. An active region is formed in the deformable fluid layer. At least three fiducial markings are formed within the non-active region and disposed in a spatial manner associated with at least one of the well regions. A control layer is coupled to the fluid layer.
US08105545B2
A selective reduction catalyst includes a catalyst support in which a plurality of through holes partitioned by porous walls are formed and a first active component carried by the walls which dissolves nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust gas by the reaction with ammonia. Inlet portions and outlet portions, adjacent to each other, of the plurality of through holes are alternately sealed, and the wall carrying the first active component has ventilation and a second active component having a catalytic action so as to oxidize ammonia having passed the wall is carried on the inner surface of the though hole. An exhaust gas purifier is provided with the selective reduction catalyst, a liquid injection nozzle which is provided on the upstream side and can inject urea liquid, and an oxidation catalyst provided at the exhaust pipe on the upstream side.
US08105538B2
Compositions for sensor films used for detecting chemical analytes within sensors, such as polymer-absorption chemiresistors (i.e., conductometric sensors) are provided. Robust sensor film compositions that have low resistance, high conductivity, and greater temperature stability and sensitivity to chemical analytes are provided, as well as methods of making these sensor films. Such sensor film compositions include a matrix having a polymer resin and a plurality of conductive particles comprising an axial-geometry conductive particle. Exemplary axial-geometry conductive particles comprise graphene, such as a carbon nanotube. Blends of conductive particles are also contemplated, including blends of axial-geometry conductive particles, such as carbon nanotubes, and carbon black.
US08105528B2
An automotive fuel tank fabrication apparatus is provided. The automotive fuel tank has a blow mold and a built-in part holding unit. The built-in part holding unit includes a plurality of holding rods for holding a built-in part. The holding rods are made to freely advance and retreat in such a manner as to hold the built-in part in a position where the built-in part confronts cavities when the blow mold is opened and to retreat from the blow mold when the blow mold is closed with the built-in part left positioned in an interior of a parison. The holding rods are formed in such a manner that their diameters are reduced as they extend towards distal ends thereof and are inserted into insertion holes formed in the built-in part so as to hold the built-in part.
US08105523B2
Disclosed is a reinforcement blank, in particular a curved ring frame segment for fuselage cells of aircraft, comprising a synthetic material that is reinforced by at least one fiber laminate. The fiber laminate includes at least one full-area layer with a first fiber direction and at least one full-area layer with a second fiber direction, wherein at least one further layer with a third fiber direction is arranged in a peripheral area of the fiber laminate. This results in an orientation of the fibers in the individual layers of the fiber laminate used to reinforce the reinforcement beam that is overall suitable for the applied load, so that the reinforcement beam withstands high mechanical loads at a minimum weight.
US08105522B2
An improved compression molding process uses a separation plate 26 disposed between the upper and lower sections 22, 24 of a compression mold 20 for forming a grip with a distinct separation of multiple elastomeric materials. An optional compound retention plate 25 mounted on at least one of the mold sections forms a distinct color separation in the resulting grip. The optional compound retention plate 25 provides at least one groove formed in the split line of the grip that may be filled in with paint for a distinct overall two color appearance.
US08105513B2
The present invention relates to a pipette tip which is fitted with a porous organic monolith which is doped with active particles. Due to a unique polymerization method, the extraction tips stay highly permeable which allows sample to pass through the monolithic bed. The extraction tip represents an ideal tool for solid phase extraction, especially for desalting, isolating and purifying biomolecules such as peptides and proteins.
US08105507B2
Nanocrystal-metal oxide-polymer composites and their methods of preparation are described. The composites comprises a number of nanocrystals within a metal oxide matrix, and an oligomer or polymer covalently bonded to organic reactive groups of the metal oxide matrix. The composites can be applied to a variety of electronic devices. The electronic devices constructed from the composites do not decrease in performance rapidly due to degradation and exhibit improved stability.
US08105506B2
A laser-markable composition comprises a pigment, a solvent and a conductive polymer that absorbs IR radiation. This can be used to mark a substrate, using a low-energy laser.
US08105502B2
A luminescent material is provided, which includes a carbide oxynitride-based compound having a composition represented by formula 1: (M1−wRw)uAl1−xSi1+vOzNtCy formula 1 wherein M is at least one metal element excluding Si and Al, and R is a luminescent central element. w, u, x, v, z, t and y satisfy following relationships: 0.001
US08105500B2
A slurry rheology modifier comprises a first water-soluble low-molecular compound [referred to hereinafter as compound (A)] and a second water-soluble low-molecular compound [referred to hereinafter as compound (B)] being different from the compound (A), wherein the viscosity of an aqueous solution at 20° C. prepared by mixing an aqueous solution SA (with a viscosity at 20° C. of 100 mPa·s or less) of compound (A) with an aqueous solution SB (with a viscosity at 20° C. of 100 mPa·s or less) of compound (B) in the ratio of 50/50 by weight can be at least twice as high as the viscosity of either aqueous solution before mixed.
US08105497B2
A method for fabricating a cylinder type capacitor includes forming connection contacts passing through a lower layer over a semiconductor substrate; forming a mold layer covering the connection contacts; forming a first floated pinning layer with a stress in a first direction over the mold layer; forming a second floated pinning layer for stress relief with a stress in a second direction over the first floated pinning layer, said second direction being opposite to the first direction; forming opening holes passing through the first and second floated pinning layers and the mold layer and exposing the connection contacts; forming storage nodes following a profile of the opening holes; removing portions of the first and second floated pinning layers to form a floated pinning layer pattern, the floated pinning layer pattern exposing a portion of the mold layer and contacting upper tips of the storage nodes; exposing outer walls of the storage nodes by selectively removing the exposed mold layer; and forming a dielectric layer and an upper electrode over the storage node.
US08105494B2
A system for reducing or preventing the growth of organisms in the process water used to coat glass fibers with a formaldehyde-free binder composition. One or more biocides is added to the process water that mitigates the growth of microbes in the water. The biocides are added in an amount sufficient to minimize growth of organisms without adversely affecting the application of the binder composition to the glass fibers.
US08105490B2
A water or wastewater treatment system to reduce phosphorus or other pollutant concentrations in water or wastewater may include an optional primary treatment stage in fluid communication with a biological secondary treatment stage. The secondary treatment stage may, in turn, be fluidly connected with a tertiary treatment stage, which may include a chemical treatment portion for reducing phosphorus or other pollutants to desired levels. The precipitated phosphorus and other solids or sludge produced from the chemical treatment portion may be recycled upstream for reuse in the primary, secondary, and/or tertiary treatment stages. Such recycle may reduce the amount of added chemicals required in the tertiary treatment stage to phosphorus or other pollutants to desired amounts.
US08105473B2
The invention relates to a galvanic metal coating with an adjustable satin gloss in which a matte Ni layer is deposited on a brilliant surface and is coated with a sulfamate Ni layer.
US08105472B2
Transparent conductive coated devices (films, three dimensional objects and others) produced through coating with a nano metal containing emulsion which forms a conductive pattern with enhanced electrical, optical and other properties.
US08105467B2
Provided is a sputtering target for forming a phosphor film in an electroluminescence element, which can maintain high strength even when it is allowed to stand in the atmosphere for a long time. The target has a chemical composition of Al: 20 to 50 mass %, Eu: 1 to 10 mass %, and the remainder containing Ba and inevitable impurities, and has a structure wherein Ba in which Eu is solid-solubilized and Al form an intermetallic compound phase, wherein the intermetallic compound phase of Ba in which Eu is solid-solubilized and Al includes a BaAl4 intermetallic compound phase and a Ba7Al13 intermetallic compound phase, and Eu forms a solid solution with Ba in the BaAl4 intermetallic compound and in the Ba7Al13 intermetallic compound, respectively.
US08105458B2
Smectic liquid crystal is dropped by a dropping method in which a plurality of droplets of smectic liquid crystal are dropped to an alignment film so that the droplets are aligned in a line which is parallel to a rubbing direction of the alignment film which is formed in a region surrounded by a seal pattern of a sealant having an opening over a substrate. Excess liquid crystal is drained away from the seal pattern of a sealant through the opening of the seal pattern.
US08105455B2
A printing machine contains a transfer unit for transferring a transfer layer onto a print carrier in a transfer nip. The printing machine further has at least one applicator unit for applying an adhesive to the print carrier. The applicator unit precedes the transfer unit, and the transfer layer is detached from the carrier film in the transfer unit in the regions in which adhesive is applied. By printing units being converted into transfer units or applicator units, the functionality of the printing unit for a printing operation is lost. If the applicator device and the transfer device are located in this order on an impression cylinder of a printing unit, the applied adhesive is not predried sufficiently. To overcome these disadvantages, the transfer unit is a further processing unit and has at least one further processing device which follows the transfer nip and which acts on the print carrier.
US08105451B2
A method and a device to be used in the process of manufacturing plates, such as fiberboards or the like boards, where the raw material in form of bio-mass particles, such as wood fibers or the like, applied with a thermosetting binder is spread onto a forming belt to form a mat, and where said mat by means of a hot press is compressed into the desired thickness of the finished plate and the thermosetting binder is hardened. According to the inventing a system and corresponding method for manufacturing biomass-based products is provided that has enhanced efficiency due to the application of ultra sound.
US08105445B2
A method (and structure) of thermally treating a magnetic layer of a wafer, includes annealing, for a predetermined short duration, a magnetic layer of a single wafer.
US08105441B2
A carrier for supporting a substrate during processing by a meniscus formed by upper and lower proximity heads is described. The carrier includes a frame having an opening sized for receiving a substrate and a plurality of support pins for supporting the substrate within the opening. The opening is slightly larger than the substrate such that a gap exists between the substrate and the opening. Means for reducing a size and frequency of entrance and/or exit marks on substrates is provided, the means aiding and encouraging liquid from the meniscus to evacuate the gap. A method for reducing the size and frequency of entrance and exit marks is also provided.
US08105440B2
A CVD vacuum vessel including an electrically conductive partition plate which divides the interior of the vacuum vessel into a plasma generating space and a film-deposition processing space, and an electrically conductive spiral shield. The electrically conductive partition plate has a plurality of through-holes connecting the plasma generating space to the film-deposition processing space and a heater for heating the electrically conductive partition plate. The partitioning plate is mounted to the vacuum vessel by means of a mounting screw such that electrical contact between the partitioning plate and the vacuum vessel is achieved through said spiral shield.
US08105436B2
A single crystal silicon wafer for use in the production of insulated gate bipolar transistors is made of single crystal silicon grown by the Czochralski method and has a gate oxide with a film thickness of from 50 to 150 nm. The wafer has an interstitial oxygen concentration of at most 7.0×1017 atoms/cm3, a resistivity variation within the plane of the wafer of at most 5% and, letting tox (cm) be the gate oxide film thickness and S (cm2) be the electrode surface area when determining the TZDB pass ratio, a density d (cm−3) of crystal originated particles (COP) having a size at least twice the gate oxide film thickness which satisfies the formula d≦−ln(0.9)/(S·tox/2). The wafers have an increased production yield and a small resistivity variation.
US08105432B2
The present invention relates to a TiO2 pigment coated sequentially in a wet treatment process with hydrous silica and hydrous alumina both in the presence of citric acid wherein the resulting pigment is coated with from 1 to 4% amorphous alumina based on the weight of the untreated TiO2; from 3 to 6% silica glass based on the weight of the untreated TiO2.
US08105425B2
An air filter including a plurality of air-pervious sheets of electret filtration material. The sheets are disposed in a parallel relationship to form a stack of sheets, and each of the sheets has a plurality of slits formed therein for subsequent expanding to form openings. The stack is connected together at opposing ends, such as by bonding. The sheets can be pleated by mounting in a frame. The frame has opposing ends to which the opposing ends of the stack are mounted. The filter media initially has no frame and is not pleated, but is in a flat pad form that is expanded to be installed into a frame. The frame is then mounted in an appliance, such as a room air filter. When the filter is inserted into the filter housing it is expanded and can take a pleated form.
US08105422B2
The invention is a method and cyclonic separator for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and gaseous or vaporizable components. In this method, the fluid mixture is accelerated in a throat section of a vortex tube such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase and the fluid mixture flows as a substantially homogeneously dispersed gas-liquid mixture through the throat section; the accelerated fluid mixture is induced to swirl within a tubular mid section of the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction and a gas enriched fraction; the degassed liquid fraction is induced to flow into an annular liquid outlet conduit; and the gas enriched fraction is induced to flow into a central gas outlet conduit.
US08105419B2
The invention relates to a gas liquid contactor and effluent cleaning system and method and more particularly to an array of nozzles configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas. An embodiment of the invention is directed towards a gas liquid contactor module including a liquid inlet and outlet and a gas inlet and outlet. An array of nozzles is in communication with the liquid inlet and the gas inlet. The array of nozzles is configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas flow and maximize gas flow and liquid flow interactions while rapidly replenishing the liquid.
US08105418B2
A method is provided which can efficiently remove conidia and microbe or the like of a phytopathogen from air and does not cause generation of ozone originated from discharge or so, thereby preventing occurrence of a plant disease without damaging a plant. There are also provided a flying organism removing apparatus and a plant protecting apparatus which can adequately capture flyable organisms, such as spores of a phytopathogen and/or small vermin, by applying an electrostatic field to the flyable organisms. An electrostatic field generated by dielectric polarization is applied to flyable organisms.
US08105410B2
A water dissipation device for a breathing circuit is provided, including a bucket-shaped hollow composite structure having walls made of a first inner layer made of water vapor wicking material, and a second outer layer of a water vapor breathable medium surrounding the first inner layer. The device defines a flow space surrounded by the composite structure to provide a superior way of removal of moisture or water vapor from a breathing circuit, due to the greater surface area of flow spaces bounded by a water vapor breathable medium and the use of a water vapor wicking material and relatively long dwell times and flow paths through the device. The result is that when the device is connected to a breathing circuit, rainout or condensation in the breathing tube and collection of water within the breathing circuit is significantly reduced.
US08105408B2
A pressure equalization device adapted to be operatively connected to an enclosure, the device including an air passage which, when the device is so connected to the enclosure, provides a fluid communication between the interior of the enclosure and atmosphere, the air passage containing a barrier wall comprising an air permeable membrane forming a micro-particulate filter.
US08105400B2
A process for treating biomass comprises providing a material that contains an amount of residual moisture. The material is heated to a torrefying temperature in a low-oxygen atmosphere in a torrefaction reactor to convert it into a torrefied material. The material with the contained residual moisture is essentially fully dried in a drying chamber by evaporation of residual moisture. The torrefaction reactor comprises a torrefying chamber, in which the torrefaction of this dried material is essentially carried out. The material is conveyed through the torrefaction reactor. The drying of the material in the drying chamber is carried out by introducing into it a hot drying gas that flows therethrough cocurrently with the material. The torrefaction of the material in the torrefying chamber of the torrefaction reactor is carried out by introducing into it a hot torrefying gas that flows through the torrefying chamber countercurrently with the material.
US08105392B2
The pyloric obesity valve includes a tubular valve body having proximal and distal ends. The valve body has an intermediate section which is between the proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is enlarged transversely relative to the intermediate section. The valve body has an inner surface and a lumen. The inner surface which is within the intermediate section has a cross-sectional area which is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the inner surface which coincides with the proximal end to resist a flow through the lumen of the valve body from the proximal end to the intermediate section.
US08105390B2
A prosthesis for placement relative to a carpal complex of a wrist can generally include a carpal implant having a body including an ulnar flange and a radial flange. The body can have a bone abutment surface and at least one flange extending from the bone abutment surface. The at least one flange can extend from the bone abutment surface a distance that spans at least one bone in an implanted position. The at least one flange can have a securing aperture that selectively receives a bone screw that advances into an identified bone of the carpal complex. A wrist bearing component can selectively mate with the carpal implant.
US08105389B2
A wrist prosthesis system to replace at least a portion of a bone of a wrist of a patient. The system includes a carpal implant to replace at least a portion of a carpal bone of a carpal complex of the patient. The carpal implant includes a base and an augment that replaces at least a portion of the carpal bone. The augment is removably coupled to the base.
US08105387B2
A prosthetic knee system includes a tibial tray, a non-rotating tibial insert, and a rotating tibial insert. The non-rotating tibial insert and the rotating tibial insert are selectively coupleable to the tibial tray such that a fixed or a mobile orthopaedic prosthesis may be configured. In some embodiments, the tibial tray may be a fixed or mobile tibial tray. Additionally, in some embodiments, the prosthetic knee system may include a femoral component.
US08105383B2
The present invention is directed to a major long bone ring implant for insertion into an implantation space formed across a spinal disc between two adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine. The implantation space has a wall portion, lip, or ridge with a flat portion for abutting the leading end of the bone ring implant. The bone ring implant has a leading end and a trailing end connected by opposed sides. The leading end has a straight cut portion. The opposed sides have portions that are preferably straight and at a 90° angle to the straight cut portion of the leading end to produce straight portions that are outwardly facing. The bone ring implant may be machined from a single bone or manufactured from a composite of cortical fibers, filaments, or particles. The bone ring implant may be used in combination with lockable screws, and preferably screw locks each preferably made of cortical bone or of a bioresorbable material.
US08105381B2
An intervertebral implant, alone and in combination with an insertion tool for inserting same and a method for inserting same. The implant has upper and lower parts which have universal movement relative to each other. Each of the upper and lower parts also has a surface engaging an adjacent vertebrae. Each part has a keel extending from said surface into a cutout in the adjacent vertebrae, and each keel has an anterior opening recess therein. An insert tool has a pair of arms which are received in the recess of the keels through the anterior opening to securely hold and insert the implant. Projections and matching indentations in each arm and the base of its recess securely attached each arm within its keel.
US08105377B2
A fixation band has a tubular frame and a tube, wherein the tubular frame comprises longitudinally-extending members having a hook on its distal end and fixation means on its proximal end. The tubular frame preferably comprises a laterally-extending member for stabilization. The tube is positioned inside longitudinally-extending members and a sewing cuff is formed in the tube distal to the distalmost end of the longitudinally-extending members. A standard prosthetic valve can be secured to the fixation band by suturing the prosthetic valve's sewing cuff to the fixation band's sewing cuff and the prosthetic valve can be advanced to a valve seat. By pulling the tubular frame proximally, the hooks pass into surrounding tissue so that the fixation band and prosthetic valve are fixed against proximal movement. The fixation means then secure the fixation band to the surrounding tissue so that the prosthetic valve is fixed against distal movement.
US08105375B2
A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.
US08105370B2
A surgical barrier device includes an inflatable thermal blanket with an attached surgical drape. The inflatable thermal blanket is inflatable through an inlet by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable thermal blanket exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the inflatable thermal blanket. The surgical drape extends from the inflatable thermal blanket and is sized to substantially cover the entirety of the patient's body. Where patient access is required, that drape has an opening to provide access to a surgical site.
US08105369B2
A handpiece can treat biological tissue using electromagnetic radiation, which can be substantially fluorescent light. The handpiece includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and a nonlinear waveguide. The nonlinear waveguide is adjacent the source, receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers the electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue. The handpiece also includes a system for circulating a fluorescent substance through the nonlinear waveguide. The fluorescent substance is capable of modulating at least one property of the electromagnetic radiation.
US08105361B2
Minimally invasive methods and devices for introducing a spinal fixation element into a surgical site in a patient's spinal column are provided. In general, the method involves advancing a spinal fixation element in a first, lengthwise orientation along a pathway extending from a minimally invasive percutaneous incision to a spinal anchor site. As the spinal fixation element approaches the spinal anchor site, the fixation element can be manipulated to extend in a second orientation, which is preferably substantially transverse to the first orientation, to position the fixation element in relation to one or more spinal anchors.
US08105352B2
A medical sealing device for the sealing of a puncture hole in a vessel wall includes an inner member, which is adapted to be positioned at an interior surface of the vessel wall, and an outer member, which is adapted to be positioned outside the vessel wall, the inner member and the outer member being held together by a retaining member. The sealing device further includes a sealing element, which is adapted to be positioned between the vessel wall and the outer member to improve the sealing performance of the sealing device.
US08105351B2
The present invention provides methods and devices for promoting tissue adhesion, which utilizes the healing process and scar tissue formation to bond two tissue surfaces together. A tissue injury is accomplished by destroying the mucosal layer of tissue. After the injury is initiated, the tissue is preferably held in close contact by a tissue apposition means such as a suture, staple or clip device placed adjacent to the treatment site. The tissue injury may be initiated by electrical/radiofrequency energy or chemical or mechanical means integrated with the tissue apposition device or delivered by a separate instrument such as an electrocautery catheter through an endoscope. As scar tissue created by the injury forms, the tissue surfaces become bonded together in a permanent union.
US08105349B2
A removable filter having a collapsed state and an expanded state for capturing thrombi in a blood vessel is disclosed. The filter comprises a plurality of primary struts and a plurality of secondary struts. Each primary strut in the expanded state extends from a primary strut first end to an anchoring hook. Each primary strut extends arcuately along a longitudinal axis and linearly radially. The plurality of primary strut first ends are attached together along the longitudinal axis. Each secondary strut in the expanded state extends from a secondary strut first end to a free end. Each secondary strut extends arcuately along the longitudinal axis and linearly radially. The plurality of secondary struts are attached together along the longitudinal axis. The plurality of secondary struts centralize the filter in the expanded state in the blood vessel.
US08105347B2
Single-use blade lancet device includes a body having a rear end and a front end that includes a blade tip opening. A trigger is mounted to the body. A blade member is movably mounted within the body and includes a front end and a rear end. The blade member is movable between a first retracted position, an extended position, and a second retracted position. A biasing arrangement biases the blade member from the first retracted position towards the extended position and then towards the second retracted position. A guiding arrangement guides the blade member while the blade member moves from the first retracted position towards the extended position and then towards the second retracted position. During movement of the blade member, the guiding arrangement ensures that blade member maintains substantially the same orientation with respect to the body. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08105345B2
A system for anastomosing a first tubular structure to a second tubular structure having an opening formed therein comprises a support device having a plurality of arms forming spaces therebetween and a plurality of piercing members slidably coupled to the arms. The support device piercing members have a retracted state and an extended state to support the first tubular structure thereon for placement within an opening in the second tubular structure to facilitate anastomosing the tubular structures together. The arms can be configured to urge the first tubular structure against the portion of the second tubular structure surrounding the opening to form a seal therebetween. According to one embodiment, a plurality of discrete fasteners are provided to pass through the support device spaces and the first and second tubular structures. In another embodiment, fasteners are integrated into the support device and releasably coupled thereto for delivery to the anastomosis site.
US08105341B2
A hand-held suture removal device exhibiting a generally elongated body. First and second biasing portions extend from one end of the body and establish a gap therebetween. A blade extends from the body, typically from one of the biasing portions and in proximity to the gap defined between the biasing portions. The blade is manipulated to section a suture projecting from first and second locations of a patient's skin. A trailing edge of the suture is gripped between opposing and abutting surfaces established by the biasing portions and, upon deflecting of the device in a direction away from the patient, forcibly withdraws each of a plurality of sutures in rapid and successive fashion.
US08105337B2
A medical electrical lead implant tool includes a gripping assembly, terminating a distal end of an elongate shaft, adapted to alternately grasp the lead and release the lead and to rotate the lead, and a user control terminating a proximal end of the shaft. An internal drive cable extends within the shaft coupling the gripping assembly to the user control. The user control facilitates single-handed manipulation of a slidable dial, which may be grasped by fingers of a hand for longitudinal and rotational manipulation when a stationary handle is held in a palm of the hand; the longitudinal manipulation causing the gripping assembly, via the drive cable, to alternately grasp the lead and release the lead and the rotational manipulation causing the gripping assembly, via the drive cable, to rotate the lead.
US08105333B2
Devices and methods for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel are described. The devices are deployed in a collapsed condition and are then expanded within the body. The devices are then manipulated to engage and remove the obstruction.
US08105332B2
A lens delivery system handpiece having a threaded plunger rod with a ball lock ring. Locking the ring causes the plunger to be advanced by turning a thumbscrew or knob. Unlocking the ring allows the plunger to be advanced by pushing on the thumbscrew or knob in a manner similar to a syringe.
US08105322B2
A dermatologic treatment device having a light source emitting optical radiation beneficial to at least one dermatologic treatment, a brightness enhancer enhancing the brightness of at least some of the emitted optical radiation, and a replacement cartridge containing the light source and brightness enhancer. The cartridge facilitating replacement of the light source and brightness enhancer by a user of the device between dermatologic treatments.
US08105319B2
A double cylinder system is disclosed, comprising at least one controller being adapted to transmit hydraulic control signals; at least one slave being in fluid communication with the controller and being configured to respond to the hydraulic control signals transmitted by the controller; and at least one control line providing hydraulic communication between the controller and the slave. Also disclosed is a surgical device, comprising at least one controller located at a proximal end of the device, the controller being adapted to transmit hydraulic control signals; at least one manipulator, the manipulator being configured to be controlled by a human hand and to actuate the controller; at least one slave located at a distal end of the device, the slave being in fluid communication with the controller and being configured to respond to the hydraulic control signals transmitted by the controller; and at least one control line providing hydraulic communication between the controller and the slave.
US08105317B2
An urethral sealing device comprising first and second body portions selectively attacheable to one another to form a unitary element including a first catheter lumen extending therethrough between proximal and distal ends of the unitary element wherein, when the sealing device is in an operative position, the distal end is positioned within a urinary bladder and a sealing element extending radially outward from the unitary element so that, when the sealing device is in the operative position, the sealing element engages one of a wall of the urethra and a wall of the urinary bladder around an orifice at which the urethra opens into the urinary bladder to seal the urethra.
US08105314B2
A medical connector for use with one or more medical implements. In some embodiments, the connector minimizes or eliminates the retrograde flow of fluid into the connector from one end or port upon the disconnection of a medical implement from the other end or port. In some embodiments, the connector generates a positive flow of fluid out of the connector from one end or port when a medical implement is disconnected from the other end or port.
US08105309B2
Devices, systems, and methods for myocardial infarct border zone reinforcement. In at least one embodiment of a suction/infusion catheter for facilitating myocardial infarct border zone reinforcement, the catheter comprises one or more apertures defined along a portion of the catheter at or near a distal end of the catheter, a first configuration when the suction/infusion catheter is at least partially extended from a delivery catheter, and a second configuration when the at least one suction/infusion catheter is positioned within the delivery catheter, the second configuration different from the first configuration, wherein the suction/infusion catheter, when introduced into a pericardial space surrounding a heart at or near a myocardial infarct border zone, is operable to inject a glue-like substance through a lumen of the suction/infusion catheter and out from the one or more apertures to deliver the glue-like substance into the pericardial space at or near the myocardial infarct border zone.
US08105307B2
A device and method for determining at least one infusion and/or injection region for infusing and/or injecting a medical drug into a heterogeneous body structure in order to achieve a distribution of the medical drug in a desired target region of the heterogeneous body structure is provided. The device and method provide at least one property of the heterogeneous body structure that influences the spatial distribution of the medical drug in the heterogeneous body structure; and determine the at least one infusion and/or injection region from which the medical drug is to be transported through the heterogeneous body structure to the at least one target region as a function of the at least one property of the heterogeneous body structure and a position of the desired target region.
US08105302B2
A single adjustable sanitary napkin or panty liner includes both folding panels and tear-away panels to adjust the width and/or the length to a particular woman or outfit. The panels may be folded and/or torn away to adjust the shape and the size of the sanitary napkin or panty liner. Adhesive strips may be provided to retain folded panels. Thus a single sanitary napkin or panty liner fits the needs of a variety of women and outfits.
US08105300B2
The absorbent article provides a signal viewable from the top surface of the absorbent article which gives a perception of depth within the absorbent article. This creation of depth perception is accomplished by the use of at least two tones within a color and/or by the use of multiple tones and multiple colors operating together to create a perception of depth within the absorbent article.
US08105292B2
The present disclosure describes a needle guard device or system that can be used with drugs requiring reconstitution. The needle guard is preferably a passive needle guard that can be used during reconstitution without activating the safety mechanism. Following administration of the medication, the needle guard shields a user from inadvertent needle sticks by extending a protective shield over the needle.
US08105288B2
This invention provides devices and methods for insertion of a catheter into a vessel. The devices include coaxial slidably mounted needle, dilator and catheter components. The methods include piercing a vessel with the needle component, dilating the pierced hole with the dilator component, retraction of the needle component, insertion of the catheter and withdrawal of the dilator.
US08105286B2
An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. A track extends in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub slides along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position.
US08105279B2
Some embodiments of a medical infusion pump system include a pump device having a flexible pushrod that can adjust from a curved configuration to a generally straight configuration. The flexible pushrod is part of a drive system of the pump device so that the flexible pushrod can be controllably and incrementally advanced toward a medicine reservoir to incrementally dispense the medicine therein. In particular embodiments, the flexible pushrod may comprise an anti-rotation mechanism, an anti-torsion mechanism, or a combination thereof.
US08105272B2
Needle-free hypodermic jet injection devices having an actuation system to effect an injection from a drug delivery system. The actuation system includes an injection force assembly adapted to transmit a driving force to the drug delivery system. The actuation system further includes a trigger assembly adapted to alter the actuation system between a plurality of configurations including a fired configuration in which the injection force assembly transmits a driving force to the drug delivery system. In some embodiments, the device has a recoil restriction system including a restriction member adapted to couple the recoil restriction system to the trigger assembly and a recoil member coupled to the injection force assembly and movable relative to the restriction member. The restriction member limits movement of the recoil member once the recoil member moves a predetermined distance relative to the restriction member.
US08105269B2
An infusion pump uses sensors and a computer program to detect tubing in a tube-loading section of the pump. The pump and the computer program also measures one or more of the tubing outer diameter, outer circumference, inner diameter, inner circumference, and tubing wall thickness. The infusion pump utilizes proximity sensors, such as an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitive sensor, or even an air-in-line sensor to detect proximity between two infusion pump surfaces, such as the surfaces that clamp the tubing in the pump, to determine thickness. At least one of the clamping surfaces is equipped with sensors to indicate contact length of the tubing with the surface. Using these measurements, the tubing wall thickness and inner diameter can be determined. Knowing the actual tubing inner diameter, increased volumetric accuracy is possible, up to a three or four percent improvement over present measurements.
US08105264B2
A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
US08105248B2
A piezoelectric unit (4), preferably a piezoelectric foil, is arranged in a medical plaster unit (13) for therapeutic or stimulating influence of body tissue in an area underneath the plaster unit. The plaster unit may be equipped with a battery (11) and a microcircuit (2) for delivering voltage pulses or oscillations to the piezo unit (4). The plaster unit (13) can possibly be used as part of a system of several plaster units (13) that are activated synchronously to influence one and the same tissues area.
US08105247B2
A system for measuring the size of a gastric lumen includes a gastric banding device, an antenna positioned outside of the patient's body, and a receiver in operative communication with the antenna. The banding device comprises two orthogonal ultrasonic transceiver modules, a microprocessor, and a transmitter in electrical communication with the microprocessor. The microprocessor is in operative communication with each of the two transceiver modules. The transmitter transmits signals to a receiver positioned outside of a patient's body. Another system for measuring the size of a gastric lumen includes a gastric banding device having a first coiled conductor. The system further comprises a circuit external to the banding device, the circuit comprising a second coiled conductor. The circuit further comprises a tunable frequency generator and a spectrum analyzer, the circuit being tunable to allow a resonant frequency.
US08105246B2
An elongate medical device such as a guidewire, that may comprise a first elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen there between, a second elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the second elongate member at least partially disposed in the first elongate member, a first connection between first elongate member and the second elongate member at the proximal end of the first elongate member, a second connection between the first elongate member and the second elongate member at the distal end of the first elongate member, and a third connection between the first elongate member and the second elongate member, the third connection disposed at a point between the first connection and the second connection, wherein the third connection is substantially at a location selected by the Method for Enhancing the Ratio of Torsional Stiffness to Transverse Flexibility.
US08105244B2
An integrated lancet and testing striplet for measuring a body analyte level in a health care regimen includes a skin piercing member and an analyte sensor coupled together.
US08105242B2
A process with a corresponding device for lung ventilation involves recording an image of the lung status with an electric impedance tomography (EIT) system (2) and the total area of ventilated lung areas is determined by a computing unit (4) from all image values, subsequently divided into at least two lung areas and the extent of the homogeneity of the ventilated lung areas is determined by comparison of the impedance changes within these areas. In case of a homogeneity rated as being too low, the respiration pressures are increased step by step by means of the respirator (1) and the respiration pressure at which the greatest possible homogeneity is obtained from subsequently determined status images is determined by means of the EIT system (2). The respiration pressure is subsequently lowered again by the respirator (1) until the computing unit (4) detects a reduction in the homogeneity of ventilated lung areas, so that the respiration pressure is subsequently increased again by means of the respirator (1) to the last value at which no reduction in the homogeneity of the ventilated lung areas occurred.
US08105241B2
Combining, to a singularity, from a plurality of anatomical sites, and over a plurality of heart cycles a collection of selected heart-functionality parameter measurements, such as EMAT, LVST, PADT, and AAFT measurements, including (a) collecting ECG and heart-sound data from plural anatomical sites, (b) computer processing such data to acquire plural, per-site, per-heart-cycle, nominal values for the selected parameter, (c) utilizing arithmetic mean and selected variance calculations related to such nominal values processing, and determined weight coefficients, computing weighted nominal values, (d) computing a weighted, nominal-value average of all of the nominal values by summing all of the weighted values and dividing that sum by the sum of all of the weight coefficients, and (e) presenting the computed weighted average as the combined, singularity value of the selected heart-functionality parameter.
US08105230B2
A medical system according to the present invention includes: a medical instrument provided with a treatment portion for performing treatment operations on living body tissue; a treatment portion displacement mechanism for displacing the position of the treatment portion of the medical instrument; a treatment detection portion that detects whether the treatment portion is in a treatment state or a non-treatment state; and a control portion that controls displacement of the treatment portion by controlling the treatment portion displacement mechanism according to detection results from the treatment detection portion.
US08105229B2
An at least partially implantable hearing system comprising at least one electromechanical output transducer; a micromanipulator for positioning the transducer and for fixing the transducer in a position set by the micromanipulator, the micromanipulator being adapted to be fixedly attached by fixing means to a skull cap; and a releasable coupling unit disposed between the transducer and the micromanipulator, said coupling unit, in an assembled state, fixing the transducer with respect to the micromanipulator, and, in a released state, permitting removal of the transducer from the micromanipulator.
US08105226B2
A spout mounting method and a spout that enable smooth and high-speed mounting of the spout onto a pouch. The method includes an insertion step of inserting the spout (S) into the pouch (P) so that a mounting portion (IP) of the spout (S) is held between not-yet-sealed opening edges, a temporary fixation step of temporarily fixing the spout (S), inserted in the pouch (P), to the pouch (P), and a sealing step of fixing the mounting portion (IP) of the spout (S), temporarily fixed to the pouch (P), to the opening edges of the pouch (P) by heat-sealing. In the temporary fixation step, the opening edges of the pouch (P) are fixed together by spot-sealing near edges on both sides of the mounting portion (IP) of the spout (S) so that the spout (S) is held by the opening edges of the pouch (P).
US08105224B2
Apparatus for making a pack tray includes a body with a strip of side walls, the body including an outer envelope lined on the inside with an added sealed plastic film. The apparatus includes at least one station provided with elements for applying glue on a portion at least of the inner surface of the side wall strip of the outer envelope, also called gluing area, before placing a plastic film. The gluing pads include at least one block of a porous material that can, one the one hand, be filled with glue by loading members through a diffusion phenomenon, and that can deposit glue by contact optionally combined with a compression force on the gluing area. The pad is mounted on a bearing structure via members for handling it between expanded positions in which the pad contacts the gluing area for applying glue thereon and a folded position in which the gluing pad is remote from the outer envelope of the pack tray.
US08105218B1
An improvement is disclosed for a push-up handle of the type having a cylindrical base rotatably fixed to a grip. The improvement comprises a shell having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, and a connector for selectively fixing the grip of the push-up handle to the shell. The shell is adapted to receive the push-up handle therein so that a peripheral portion of the base contacts the inner surface of the shell. As such, with the push-up handle resting in the shell, and with the outer surface of the shell resting on a floor surface, a user may perform push-ups such that the grip imparts rotation to the shell through the contact of the base with the shell. The outer surface contacts the floor surface at essentially a single point, resulting in little effective rotational friction between the grip and the floor surface. The shell tends to maintain a stable position on the floor, resisting tipping.
US08105215B2
A pull cord assembly for body stretching exercise includes an elastic cord member and a strand-like protective member. The elastic cord member has an elastic cord body which extends along a lengthwise axis to terminate at two anchored ends. The strand-like protective member has a strand-like body which extends lengthwise to terminate at two coupled ends that are secured with the anchored ends, respectively. The strand-like body is twined around the elastic cord body along the lengthwise axis so as to enhance the safety of using the pull cord assembly.
US08105205B2
A method for adjusting the friction coefficient of a friction clutch situated in a hybrid power train between an electric machine and a combustion engine, actuated by a clutch actuator, the friction coefficient is adjusted by a torque transmitted by the friction clutch, which is determined when starting the combustion engine by the electric machine.
US08105197B2
A device for use with a vehicle transmission system includes a housing having a clutch provided therein and a first member extending from the housing and configured for coupling to a vehicle differential. The first member includes a generally hollow tube configured to carry a rotatable shaft therein. The device does not include a second member for directly coupling the device to a transmission housing or to the differential.
US08105194B2
A pivot joint for a single blade spring tensioner or double blade spring tensioner generates a biased friction loss at a pivot joint. The friction torque generated in one direction of joint rotation is greater than the friction torque generated in the opposite direction of rotation. In one embodiment, the direction of torque bias at the joints is used to make the damping of the blade spring greater in compression than in extension. High damping in compression and low damping in extension is a desirable characteristic for a tensioner in most applications. The device may be designed to act as a one-way clutch or as a two-way clutch. The device may also be designed to apply large friction torques only when the joint undergoes large amplitude motions (loss of control).
US08105189B1
In arrows with an arrow shaft, an arrow vane apparatus includes an arrow vane for connection with an arrow shaft where the arrow vane includes an inside surface for connection with the arrow shaft. A first outer surface and a second outer surface are provided such that the first outer surface and the second outer surface are connected with the inside surface. Further, the first outer surface and the second outer surface are also connected along an outside edge and the arrow vane includes an air channel.
US08105176B2
A head for a golf club, such as a putter, having a bottom surface, a heel end, a toe end and a striking face. The striking face has a planar primary portion and a secondary portion each extending from one of the two ends and meeting at an intermediate point. Each point along the striking face has a normal direction extending normally outwardly from the striking face relative to a plane tangential to the striking face at that point. The normal direction to each point on the secondary portion is directed away from the toe end. Striking a ball off of the secondary portion imparts an additional angle to the trajectory of the ball to compensate for the tendency of right-handed golfers to let the club head drift or angle when attempting left-to-right breaking putts.
US08105169B2
A portable electronic device (100) has a long sideways housing (10) whose both ends are held by the hands of a user and an LCD fitted in the surface of the housing (10). Bulges (42L, 42R) projecting outward are formed on both end portions of the rear face of the housing (10), which both end portions being held by fingers of the user holding the housing. When the fingers and palms of user's hands are placed along the bulges (42L, 42R) with the fingers and palms bent naturally, the device fits the hands and operability is less likely to be impaired even the user violently moves in game play with the device.
US08105167B2
A game machine is communicatively connected to a game server and display-outputs a game screen showing a content corresponding to the player's operation by exchanging data with the game server. The response time to the operation is stabilized, and consequently the player does not feel stress due to a variation of the response time to the operation. A reference time storage unit (38) stores a reference time from the player's operation to the display-output of the game screen showing contents corresponding to the player's operation. A waiting unit (32) awaits the display-output of the game screen showing a content corresponding to the player's operation according to the stored reference time.
US08105162B2
A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game is provided. The video game is used to simulate resale business of goods on a display screen of an image display apparatus. The image display apparatus is caused to distinguishably display dealer characters and buyer characters on the display screen of the image display apparatus. Arbitrary goods for the purpose of buying are associated with each of the buyer characters. A buying process of goods from the selected dealer character is executed when a player selects any from the dealer characters. A resale process of goods to the selected buyer character is executed when the player selects any from the buyer characters.
US08105161B2
A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered via at least one mechanical reel and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The liquid crystal display has at leas tone transparent portion through which the mechanical reel or reels can be observed. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) element is disposed near the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display, and is operable to selectively emit light or pass light, such that emitted light is passed through the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display when the OLED emits light or the at least one mechanical game object can be observed through the transparent portion of the liquid crystal display and the OLED when the OLED passes light.
US08105149B2
In one embodiment, the gaming system and method disclosed herein substantially simultaneously provides a multi-round bonus event to a plurality of players. Each players' input(s) determine, at least in part, an award, if any, provided to that player for the bonus event. In one embodiment, upon an occurrence of a suitable triggering event, a central controller of the gaming system identifies at least one player and preferably a plurality of players who are eligible for the bonus event. The central controller causes the bonus event to be provided to those eligible players. In one such embodiment, the bonus event enables one or more eligible players in the gaming system to simultaneously (or substantially simultaneously) attempt to win the award in the bonus event. In this embodiment, the outcome of the bonus event is determined, at least in part, by one or more player inputs, choices or decisions in the bonus event.
US08105147B2
A gaming machine of the present invention has a common display, terminal devices, and a mother board and a central control board. The mother board and the central control board make control of: extracting a predetermined number of terminal devices from the terminal devices; bringing side-bet coin receiving slots of the extracted terminal devices into a selectable state; repeating the above processes until the number of terminal devices having selected to participate in a game occurring on the common display reaches a predetermined value; extracting symbols, on a line or column basis, from the symbols rearranged in the matrixes of the predetermined number of terminal devices having selected to participate in a side-bet game; rearranging, on the common display, a combination of the symbols extracted on a line or column basis; and awarding a bonus payout to the terminal devices having selected to participate in the game.
US08105136B2
Computer program products for an apparatus with an automated derucker operatively associated with a netting chute whereby the derucker is configured to automatically travel through a derucker stroke cycle comprising upstream and downstream locations to pull segments of netting material toward a downstream end portion of the netting chute while product is pumped out of the horn.
US08105119B2
A spring probe utilizing a flat plunger and a round barrel having a compression spring positioned within the barrel and a wiper for internal contact between the plunger and the inside of the barrel.
US08105113B2
A fuse adapter adapts coplanar blades of fuse having a predetermined blade spacing to fit a pair of coplanar blade receiving terminal slots in a circuit having a different slot spacing. The fuse adapter includes a pair of adapter terminals. Each adapter terminal has a slotted, planar upper end spaced from the other terminal's slotted upper end by the fuse blade spacing. Each adapter terminal upper end also has an adjusting tab bent away from the upper end substantially perpendicular thereto and substantially parallel to the plane of the coplanar terminal slots. Each adjusting tab is integral with a transition portion that extends to an adapter blade. The two adapter blades are coplanar with and spaced apart to match the fuse blade receiving terminal slots in the circuit.
US08105104B2
A socket comprises an insulative base, a movable frame assembled to the insulative base, and at least one latch device pivotally assembled to the insulative base. The movable frame can move up and down relative to the insulative base. Each latch device includes a latching member pivotally assembled to the movable frame and a pressing pad linked to the latching member. The pressing pad can be able to rotate freely relative to the latching member when the movable frame actuates the latch device to rotate.
US08105098B2
The automatic loading and unloading of devices for burn-in testing is facilitated by loading burn-in boards in a magazine with the stacked boards in the magazine moved into and out of a burn-in oven by means of a trolley. The trolley can include an elevator whereby a plurality of magazines can be stacked in the oven for the simultaneous burn-in testing of devices mounted on the burn-in boards. Each board has rollers on one end which are engagable by pneumatically actuated cam mechanisms for inserting the board into an electrical contact in the oven for burn-in tests. Preferably, the cam mechanisms allow for extraction of a single board for inspection. The cam mechanisms may be mounted on a door of the oven.
US08105092B2
An electrical connector assembly is configured to be mounted to a circuit board having opposite first and second sides that are interconnected by a board edge. The connector assembly includes first and second connectors disposed along the board edge. The connectors are configured to mate with at least one of mating connectors and a circuit board of an external device to electrically couple the first and second connectors with the external device. Each of the first and second connectors has a center signal contact and a shield shell that extends around the center signal contact. The center signal contact of the first connector engages the first side of the circuit board and the center signal contact of the second connector engages the second side of the circuit board. The first and second connectors mate with the at least one of the mating connectors and the circuit board along parallel mating directions.
US08105089B2
A training model for use in training to perform a medical procedure which is invasive of a skull, such as the insertion of an external ventricular drain or the evacuation of a subdural hematoma. The training model may comprise a base component defining a training component receptacle and a training component for mounting in the training component receptacle and comprising a skull section. Alternately, the training model may comprise the skull section or the training component in isolation. The skull section comprises an outer skull layer, a middle skull layer and an inner skull layer. The outer skull layer is constructed of an outer skull material which simulates osseous tissue when penetrated. The middle skull layer is constructed of a middle skull material which simulates marrow tissue when penetrated. The inner skull layer is constructed of an inner skull material which simulates osseous tissue when penetrated.
US08105088B2
A cuff for a health managing system includes a strand having first and second terminal ends. A plurality of beads, each presenting a numerical or a non-numerical value, are slidably retainable and movable along the strand. The beads are movable between various positions between the first and second terminal ends for tabulating a health management system or preventing movement of the beads between the first and second terminal ends.
US08105078B2
A heat treatment jig for semiconductor silicon substrates is configured such that a cristobalitized oxide film is formed in a region where the cristobalitized oxide film is in contact with a silicon substrate backside. When said heat treatment jig is used, generation of a slip can be prevented during heat treatment. In the case where the heat treatment jig is used in combination with a shielding plate, particles are further prevented from adhering to the silicon substrate surface to maintain quality characteristics of the semiconductor silicon substrate at a higher level, and device production yield can largely be improved. The heat treatment jig can easily be manufactured by introducing a cristobalitization promoting agent to a surface or in the vicinity of a surface of the heat treatment jig, performing the heat treatment at temperatures in the range of 1000 to 1380° C., and repeating the introduction of the cristobalitization promoting agent and the heat treatment.
US08105077B2
An operating and control package for at least one pressurized burner. The operating and control package comprises a controller and a gas control device. The controller is an integrated packaged unit for supplying and controlling a pre-mixed air/gas pressurized burner. A housing is provided for containing the controller. The housing is preferably located at the end of the burner manifold. The gas control device comprises a gas control valve for receiving gas entering the control package and a premix blower located within the housing for receiving gas from the gas control valve and air entering the control package. The gas control device mixes the air and gas to form a pressurized combustible mixture which is fed into the burner.
US08105071B2
A mould housing for apparatuses for expanding plastic containers has at least two mould parts which can be assembled together and which in an assembled state have an interior space for accommodating the plastic container that is to be expanded. The housing has at least one insulating element which can be placed against an outer wall of at least one mould part. The insulating element has a curved profile, wherein the curvature of the insulating element is matched to a curvature of the outer wall.
US08105069B2
An apparatus for forming shaped bodies from a thermoplastic film has a stationary support, a downwardly directed upper tool fixed on the support, means for feeding the film in a transport direction in steps underneath the upper tool, a lower shaft pivotal in support below the traverse, a frame carried on the shaft and pivotal therewith about an axis of the shaft, an upwardly directed lower tool shiftable on the frame toward and away from the axis, a pair of arms extending radially from the shaft, a link extending between one of the arms and the lower tool, and a crank drive element. A connecting rod extends between the other of the arms and the crank drive element. A stationary cam adjacent the frame has a nonstraight cam formation, and a cam follower on the tool engages the cam formation. A drive rotates the crank drive element.
US08105062B2
A system for curing tires that does not require a traditional bladder is described. The system disclosed has top and bottom assembly rings that are coupled to modified mold rings. The bottom assembly ring has a curing medium delivery system, which has ports and a diverter that disperses the curing medium thereby reducing the momentum of the curing medium striking a liner of the tire being cured. The system is adapted for easy installation to existing center post presses.
US08105050B2
A housing is configured into a tubular form and receives at least a portion of an ejector functional unit, which includes a nozzle and a body. A housing side opening radially penetrates through an outer peripheral wall surface and an inner peripheral wall surface of the housing and communicates with the fluid suction opening of the body. The housing side opening is adapted to join with a suction opening side external device, through which the fluid is drawn into the fluid suction opening.
US08105047B2
A home appliance equipped with a drain function and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. A method of controlling a home appliance equipped with a drain apparatus includes switching ON/OFF the drain apparatus during a first time, switching on the drain apparatus during a second time after switching ON/OFF the drain apparatus, checking a variation of the water level according to a draining status, and controlling the drain apparatus based on the checked water-level variation result corresponding to the draining status.
US08105042B2
An intermediate-manufactured composite airfoil includes first and second composite skins each having a plurality of fibers in a polymer matrix. A composite core is removably located between the first and second composite skins. The composite core includes a dry, three-dimensional, woven fiber network. The composite core may alternatively include a three-dimensional, woven fiber network in a fully cured polymer matrix.
US08105032B2
A system may cool a wheel of a steam turbine, the wheel being associated with a rotor of the steam turbine. The system may include an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The inlet passage may be positioned to communicate steam from an exterior of the rotor, through an interior of the rotor, and to the wheel. The outlet passage may be positioned to communicate steam from the wheel, through the interior of the rotor, and to the exterior of the rotor.
US08105031B2
A turbine component includes an aft cooling circuit that extends between a turbine midsection and a turbine trailing end. The aft cooling circuit includes a trailing end section proximate the trailing end, a first interior section proximate the turbine midsection, and a first intermediate section fluidly connected between the trailing end section and the first interior section. A forward cooling circuit of the turbine component extends between the turbine midsection and a turbine leading end. The forward cooling circuit includes a leading end section proximate the leading end, a second interior section proximate the turbine midsection, and a plurality of second intermediate sections fluidly connected between the leading end section and the second interior section. The leading end section, the second intermediate section, the first intermediate section, and the trailing end section each include a plurality of coolant discharge openings for facilitating cooling of the turbine component.
US08105019B2
A turbine section of a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate vane platform segment having a substantially flat surface over which a rotational turbine vane may swing.
US08105018B2
An air turbine starter for starting an engine includes a housing, and a flow path communicating a flow of gas therethrough; a turbine member; a clutch; and a decoupler device at least partially housed within the output member of the clutch. The decoupler device includes a first shaft portion coupled to and rotating with the output member and a second shaft portion coupled to and rotating with the engine. The first and second shaft portions are axially aligned and configured to engage each another for rotation in a first direction and to separate from each other in a second direction to decouple the output member of the clutch from the engine. The starter further includes a bearing between the inner surface of the output member and the second shaft portion for reducing friction between the second shaft portion and the inner surface of the output member when the first and second shaft portions are decoupled.
US08105016B2
A damping arrangement for guide vanes, in particular for guide vanes of a gas turbine or an aircraft engine, is disclosed. Referring to this damping arrangement, the radially external ends of the guide vanes of a guide vane grid or a guide vane ring are mounted to a housing. The radially internal ends of the guide vanes form an inner shroud. At least one seal bearing is mounted to the inner shroud of the guide vanes. At least one spring element is installed between the inner shroud of the guide vanes and the, or each, seal bearing. The, or each, spring element is configured as a leaf spring.
US08105013B2
A vacuum pump comprises a first pumping section 106, and, downstream therefrom, a second pumping section 108. The pump comprises a first pump inlet 120 through which fluid can enter the pump and pass through both the first and second pumping sections towards a pump outlet, and a second pump inlet 122 through which fluid can enter the pump and pass through only the second pumping section towards the outlet. The second pumping section 108 comprises at least one turbo-molecular pumping stage 109a, 109b and, downstream therefrom, an externally threaded rotor 109c.
US08105006B2
This is a stacker cart useful to collect a paper stack in a paper-handling system. The stacker cart has movables so that it can be moved into and out of a housing in the system. At a top section of the stacker cart is a transfer plate that receives the paper stack after processing, finishing, or marking. This transfer plate and the stacker cart have on their lower surface movables that allow both easy moving of the slidable plate off the stacker cart and easy moving of the stacker cart from one location to another. The transfer plate has at least one hook that is connected to a rope or for moving the transfer plate to a second surface. The movables used in both the transfer plate and the stacker cart can be wheels, slides, or bearings.
US08105002B2
A weld nut includes a main body and a flange. The flange is extended outwardly from the main body and surrounding the main body, and comprises teeth disposed evenly on the periphery thereof. Mis-positioning of the weld nut is avoided when soldering the weld nut to a printed circuit board.
US08105001B2
This application relates to a twist drill for use in a machine tool with a major cutting edge divided into two partial cutting edges by a chisel edge wherein longitudinal cutting edges extend along the length of the drill such that the first longitudinal cutting edge makes a rough cut and the second longitudinal cutting edge makes a finishing cut during operation.
US08105000B2
A method of producing a tool insert which comprises a central metal portion having edge regions of superabrasive material bonded thereto and presenting cutting edges or points for the tool insert is disclosed. A body (50) having major surfaces on each of opposite sides thereof, each having spaced strips (64) of superabrasive material, typically abrasive compact such as PCBN or PCD, for example, separated by a metal region or regions, such as cemented carbide, is provided. Each superabrasive strip of one major surface is arranged in register with a superabrasive strip of the opposite major surface. Alternatively, each superabrasive strip extends from one major surface to the opposite major surface. The body is severed from one major surface to the opposite major surface along at least two sets of planes intersecting at or in the respective superabrasive strips to produce the tool insert.
US08104999B2
A cutting tool for grooving and turning operations has a removably securable cutting insert. The cutting insert is clamped in an insert holder with a longitudinally extending insert receiving slot lower surface. The insert receiving slot lower surface has two spaced apart contact sections, including a first contact section at a rear end having a V-shaped slot clamping surface with a wedge angle α1 in clamping contact with a first V-shaped insert clamping surface of the cutting insert lower surface also with a wedge angle α1, and a second contact section at a front end having a V-shaped slot clamping surface with a wedge angle α2 making clamping contact with a second V-shaped insert clamping surface of the cutting insert lower surface also with a wedge angle α2, where α1 and α2 are different.
US08104994B1
Disclosed is a PME unit comprising a support pipe disposed within an aperture of a support module. Advantageously the support pipe is disposed within the apertures of a plurality of spaced support modules. The PME unit is placed within an excavation to provide a subsoil fluid absorption system.
US08104991B2
Methods and compositions for improving the strength and longevity of secondary roadways through environmentally sound practices are disclosed herein. A composition for road sealing includes an aqueous emulsion of acrylic and vinyl acetate polymer, water, and a resin-modified emulsion, wherein the resin-modified emulsion includes a mixture of pitch and rosin, an emulsifying agent, and water.
US08104988B2
Components for use in a locking connector system, such a heavy duty shackles, comprise a retainer, a body structure and pin which is axially moveable into a receiving cavity of the body structure, the body structure having a transversely directed cavity interconnecting with the cavity and have a latching shoulder. The retainer has a body, a latch element associated with the body and adapted to move into a space adjacent the latching shoulder of the aperture when the retainer is inserted into the transverse aperture to retain the retainer in its aperture and the body of the retainer having a projecting portion for location adjacent the surface portion of the pin for restraining the pin from removal when the retainer is inserted, the retainer further having a latch actuator which is displaceable in the body from a released position to an engaged position for moving the latch element from its retracted position to a latching position, and the latch actuator further having releasable retention means for retaining the latch actuator in the engaged position but, on application of a retraction force, adapted to release the latch actuator to permit its return to its retracted position, thereby allowing return of the latch element to its retracted position, whereby the retainer may be removed from the aperture and the pin removed from the cavity.
US08104979B2
A keyboard includes a first housing having a plurality of first magnetic elements, a keystroke module having a key portion disposed on the first housing, a second housing combining with the first housing and has an opening, and an actuating assembly. The keystroke module is disposed corresponding to the opening. The actuating assembly is disposed movably on the second housing and has a plurality of second magnetic elements. The keystroke module is not protruded from the opening and is at a packing position. When the actuating assembly is moved along an actuating direction, at least one first magnetic element and at least one second magnetic element attract to each other to shorten the distance, which brings the second housing to move relatively to the first housing so that the key portion of the keystroke module passes though the opening and is at a using position.
US08104974B1
A method for mating optical fibers, a fiber optic connector, and a fiber optic subassembly are provided in which mating fibers have angled end faces joined by index matching fluid, but in which the angled end faces of the fibers are positioned relative to one another in rotationally misaligned relationship. Applicants discovered unexpectedly that optical fibers can be spliced, to provide satisfactory optical connections, without the need for matched cleaves, and without the need for precise rotational alignment of the cleaves, provided that angled end faces are provided on both the launch and receive fibers and that index matching gel is provided between the angled end faces. Thus, the fibers are mated in positions other than in the precise rotationally aligned position previously believed essential to adequate optical performance. Angled end faces may be positioned less than 165 degrees out of phase.
US08104966B2
In a bush (10) which relatively-rotatably supports a journal shaft (1) around its central axis by housing the journal shaft (1) in a formed bearing hole (11), the bush 10 includes an oil supply groove (16) formed spirally to supply lube oil to an inner surface of the bearing hole (11) which contacts to the journal shaft (1) when the journal shaft relatively rotates. A ratio of an area of the oil supply groove (16) to the inner surface area of the bearing hole (11) is equal to or less than 30%. A product of a distance in the central axis direction and a distance in the circumferential direction of the journal shaft (1) between the oil supply groove (16) in next to each other on the inner surface of the bearing hole (11) is within 50 to 300 mm2 range.
US08104965B2
An axle stub bearing unit for a bearing point of an axle stub of a steerable axle of a vehicle is provided, with a radial bearing that is constructed as a needle bearing, and a separate axial bearing that is constructed as a sliding bearing, which are accommodated in a cup-shaped bush (2, 12, 21, 25). The bush is a component which is formed in one piece and is provided with a sleeve (7, 14, 19, 26) in a region of the axial bearing.
US08104964B2
A fluid dynamic bearing unit is provided which has a high load capacity against a moment load, whose bearing sleeves can be manufactured and fixed easily, and which can provide a required fixing power. The bearing sleeve is inserted into an inner periphery of a housing, and its bottom end is fixed to the top end of a spacer part with an adhesive. Another bearing sleeve is inserted into another part of the inner periphery of the housing, and its top end is fixed to the bottom end of the spacer part with an adhesive.
US08104957B2
The invention relates to a method for calibrating a C-arm x-ray apparatus, comprising the following steps: a) the C-arm x-ray apparatus is moved to an initial position, in particular to an anterior-posterior position; b) a calibration image is produced; c) the position of the centre of projection in the radiation source of the C-arm x-ray apparatus is determined from the information of the calibration image and stored together with associated values for the orbital angle and the polar angle of the arm of the C-arm x-ray apparatus; d) the arm is moved to a number of calibration positions in a range of orbital angles and polar angles, and the relative position of the radiation source and the image intensifier of the C-arm x-ray apparatus is directly measured for each calibration position; e) the change in the position of the radiation source relative to the image intensifier of the C-arm x-ray apparatus is measured for each calibration position; f) the position of the centre of projection which applies to each calibration position is ascertained from: the position of the centre of projection, as determined in Step c); and from the change in the position of the radiation source relative to the image intensifier; and g) the position of the centre of projection is retrievably stored for each calibration position, i.e. for the respective orbital angle and the respective polar angle.
US08104953B2
Systems and methods for determining heat transfer characteristics are provided. In this regard, a representative system for determining heat transfer characteristics includes: a stereolithographic model of a component, the model having a surface; and a test article mounted to the surface such that an extension of the test article protrudes from and is thermally insulated from the surface of the model.
US08104951B2
Methods and apparatus for measuring substrate uniformity is provided. The invention includes placing a substrate in a thermal processing chamber, rotating the substrate while the substrate is heated, measuring a temperature of the substrate at a plurality of radial locations as the substrate rotates, correlating each temperature measurement with a location on the substrate, and generating a temperature contour map for the substrate based on the correlated temperature measurements. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08104944B2
Optical assembly comprises a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and an input edge for receiving light from light sources optically coupled to a different location along the input edge. On or in at least one of the sides of the panel member is a pattern of individual optical deformities that are varied throughout the pattern and shaped or oriented throughout the pattern to extract light propagating through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.
US08104941B2
A retrofit vehicle mini lamp assembly for attaching a mini lamp to an existing opening in a vehicle surface includes a housing having a body with an interior portion and a lens portion covering a top end of the interior portion. The lamp assembly also includes circuitry disposed within the interior portion of the housing and at least one light source being electrically connected to the circuitry. An attachment member is also provided. The attachment member includes an aperture therein adapted to receive the housing, a rim adapted to abut the vehicle surface around the existing opening, and a spacer portion extending laterally from the aperture to the rim. The spacer portion includes an outer surface, wherein the lens portion of the housing is substantially continuous with the outer surface of the spacer portion.
US08104925B2
An apparatus, method, and system of aiming devices such as antennas, free-space optical communication transmitters and lighting fixtures. One aspect of the invention mounts a substantially collimated light source on a device or lighting fixture. The direction of the substantially collimated light source is fixed in a known relationship to the aiming direction of the fixture or device. By finding the substantially collimated light source either by direct viewing, in a mirror, or with a light sensor, the aiming direction of the fixture or device can be derived by using the known the relationship between the substantially collimated light source and the aiming direction of the fixture or device. Thus, the aiming direction of the fixture or device can be derived without operating the fixture or device and can be derived even at relatively remote locations from the fixture or device. The apparatus and method can be used on one fixture or a plurality of fixtures or devices. It can also be used on one fixture of an array of fixtures or devices to aim the entire array.
US08104924B2
An LED diaphragm structure includes an insulation base, a plurality of frames, and a plurality of LED chips, wherein the insulation base includes an upper surface on which a plurality of receiving recesses are provided. The plural frames include a plurality of positive-pole frames and a negative-pole frame, where the positive-pole frames do not contact with the negative-pole frame. The plural frames and the insulation base are formed together as an integral structure. The plural LED chips are correspondingly disposed in the plural receiving recesses of the insulation base, where each LED chip has its positive-pole terminal and negative-pole terminal electrically connected with contact portions of the plural positive-pole frames and of the negative-pole frame, respectively. Accordingly, the plural frames are combined with the insulation base as an integral structure, such that the LED diaphragm structure so assembled can be lightweight and compact.
US08104921B2
The present invention relates to a daylight deflection system including an arrangement of louvers (5) which are aligned and formed to block daylight impinging from an outer side (3) at higher angles of incidence with respect to a horizontal direction (19), to deflect daylight impinging from the outer side (3) at lower angles of incidence with respect to the horizontal direction (19) towards an indoor ceiling, and to allow visual transmission in at least the horizontal direction (19). In this deflection system OLED's (8) or optical light guides (16) coupled to LED's (17) are attached to or integrated in the louvers (5), said OLED's (8) or light guides (16) being microstructured at a surface to deflect the daylight toward the indoor sealing. With this daylight deflection system indoor lighting combining daylight and artificial light is achieved in a compact manner.
US08104917B2
An LED curtain includes a plurality of transparent hollow tubes parallelly connected side by side to form an integral unit and serve as a basic curtain body; a plurality of light-emitting strings, each of which includes a plurality of serially connected light-emitting diodes (LEDs) sequentially disposed in each of the hollow tubes; and a light controller internally provided with a circuit board, from which a plurality of signal lines is extended to separately connect to the light-emitting strings. Multiple pieces of the LED curtain can be hung to a track via a plurality of hooks provided at upper ends of the light-emitting strings. By operating the light controller to control the LEDs, different patterns or animations can be displayed on the curtain via the light-emitting strings, and different brightness of LEDs can be regulated to illuminate a room or create a special atmosphere.
US08104913B2
A tool system includes a first tool having a work area and a light source position inside the tool. The light source is adapted to illuminate the work area. A base has a first port, wherein the first tool can be mounted in the first port.
US08104911B2
A display system with a distributed LED backlight includes: providing a plurality of tile LED light sources, each tile LED light source having a tile and a plurality of similar LED light sources on each tile connected for emitting light therefrom; orienting the plurality of tile LED light sources for illuminating a display from the back of the display; and integrating the plurality of tile LED light sources into a thermally and mechanically structurally integrated distributed LED tile matrix backlight light source.
US08104905B2
An optical element having an optical surface (12; 103), which optical surface has an actual shape, the actual shape deviating from a desired shape by maximum 0.2 nm, wherein the desired shape is either: a free-form surface having a deviation from its best-fitting sphere of at least 5 μm or a substantially rotationally symmetrical surface having a deviation from its best-fitting sphere of at least 0.5 mm.
US08104904B2
The baffle plate for a lens of a movie or TV camera has an add-on tube that can be slipped onto the camera lens with little clearance. The add-on tube is provided with a swivel arm, which has a swivelling axis which is fixed with respect to the camera lens and which is located in parallel to the rear plane of the add-on tube and in or behind this plane and is positioned such that the distance to the opposite rear inner edge of the add-on tube which is slipped onto the camera lens is approximately equal to or larger than the distance to the front outer edge of the camera lens. The clearance between the add-on tube and the camera lens is from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.
US08104900B2
An electronic device includes: a moving part; a projector device provided to the moving part; and a projection control unit that starts projection of an image by the projector device according to the state of the moving part, and the projection control unit starts projection of an image when a first time period has elapsed with the moving part in a predetermined state.
US08104887B2
The invention relates to a method for imprinting a three-dimensional article, in particular a container and/or workpiece, and comprises utilizing a printing means, in particular an ink-jet printing means, for imprinting a surface of the three-dimensional article, and a conveyor means for bringing about a relative movement between the printing means and the three-dimensional article to be imprinted. The method according to the invention is characterised in that it further utilizes a positioning means which is configured to bring the surface to be imprinted of the three-dimensional article into a predetermined relative relationship to, in particular a predetermined distance from, the printing means.
US08104883B2
There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a plurality of pressure generating chambers, a first substrate having a reservoir unit, and a second substrate having a compliance unit, the second substrate being combined with one surface of the first substrate via an adhesive layer. The reservoir unit has a first area and a second area whose width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers is smaller than a width of the first area, the compliance unit is provided to seal the reservoir unit and the surrounding of the compliance unit is fixed by the adhesive layer, and a width of the compliance unit corresponding to the second area of the reservoir unit is formed so as to be larger than the width of the second area.
US08104875B2
A liquid jet recording head includes a substrate on which are formed recording elements that generate energy for ejecting liquid, and a flow passage forming member that is in contact with the substrate and in which are formed ejection ports that eject liquid and flow passages that supply liquid to the ejection ports. The flow passage forming member has a groove formed along the longitudinal direction of the flow passage forming member, and each end of the groove is located nearer to the middle in the width direction of the flow passage forming member than the other part of the groove is.
US08104873B2
A recording head includes a substrate provided with a recording element that generates energy for ejecting liquid and electrical wiring that supplies power to the recording element; and a passage-forming member provided in contact with one face of the substrate and having a nozzle for ejecting the liquid and a passage for supplying the liquid to the nozzle. A groove formed by a through-hole provided in the passage-forming member is disposed such that a bottom face of the groove is located along and above the electrical wiring and positioned so as not to overlap an edge of the electrical wiring.
US08104871B2
A printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of ink chambers defined by sidewalls extending between a nozzle plate and an underlying wafer substrate, each chamber having a nozzle in the nozzle plate plurality of nozzles, and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, one of the sidewalls of each chamber having an opening to allow ink to refill the chamber; an ink conduit between the nozzle plate and underlying wafer, the ink conduit being in fluid communication with the openings of a plurality of the ink chambers; and, a plurality of ink inlets defined in said substrate; wherein, the ink conduit is in fluid communication with the plurality of ink inlets for receiving ink to supply to the ink chambers. Introducing an ink conduit that supplies several of the nozzles, and is in itself supplied by several ink inlets, reduces the chance that nozzles will be starved of ink by inlet clogging. If one inlet is clogged, the ink conduit will draw more ink from the other inlets in the wafer.
US08104868B2
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a wiper, first and second movement mechanisms, and a controller. The wiper wipes an ejection face of a head. The controller controls the first movement mechanism to make at least either one of the wiper and the head move in a first direction perpendicular to the ejection face, so as to make the wiper and the head overlap each other with respect to the first direction. And thereafter the controller controls the second movement mechanism to make the wiper perform a first wiping. In the first wiping, while liquid is forcibly ejected from the ejection face, the wiper moves along the ejection face while being in contact with the ejection face.
US08104857B2
A method of calculating a correction value includes forming a test pattern in which a dot row formed A method of calculating a correction value includes forming a test pattern in which a dot row formed by aligning dots in a direction intersecting a predetermined direction is aligned in the predetermined direction on a medium and forming information on the test pattern on the medium, calculating a correction value of the first nozzle group based on the pattern included in read-out data values in a case where the information included in the read-out data values represents that the test pattern is formed by a first nozzle group, and calculating a correction value of a second nozzle group based on the test pattern included in the read-out data values in a case where the information included in the read-out data values represents that the test pattern is formed by the second nozzle group.
US08104851B2
A sliding track assembly for a casing for installing an embedding object so that the embedding object can be pulled out or pushed thereto comprises a retaining unit having a front end and a rear end; each of the front end and the rear end having a plurality of through holes for locking the retaining unit to a casing; a base having a wall with a plurality of through holes; a sliding sleeve engaged to and slideable to the base; the sliding sleeve having a long hole; a supporting frame installed at an inner side of the sliding sleeve and having an ear; the ear having a plurality of retaining holes and a sliding groove corresponding to the long hole of the sliding sleeve; and a clamping unit installed at an outer side of the sliding sleeve.
US08104847B2
A storage and dispensing arrangement is provided to maintain moistened wipes wet. The moistened wipes are rolled around a core tube and placed inside a first housing. The first housing is then placed inside a second housing having a closing door to isolate the first housing from external environment. The unit is then hanged into a stand, a rack or a wall.
US08104846B2
A crawler has a track connection system. The crawler includes a crawler frame; at least one drive tumbler supported on the frame; a track made of a plurality of track shoes connected in series to produce a track having a first end and second end that can be connected together to form the track into an endless track. The track is wrapped around the frame, with the first and second ends spaced apart but each adjacent a section of the frame. The track connection system is mounted to the frame and includes a mover device connected to the frame; and a track engagement member coupled between the mover device and the track; iii) whereby actuation of the mover device causes the track engagement member to move the track into a position where the first and second ends can be connected.
US08104833B2
A vehicle headrest cover for covering a vehicle headrest having a display mounted therein includes a material designed to correspond with the shape and dimensions of the vehicle headrest and fit over the vehicle headrest for covering the vehicle headrest. The material has a cut-out in a face thereof which corresponds to the position of the display.
US08104829B2
A juvenile motion-inhibitor system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a juvenile seat including a seat bottom and a seat back that is arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile motion-inhibitor system also includes one or more cushions to assist in cushioning a child in the event an external force is applied to the seat bottom or back.
US08104827B2
The present invention is a component for providing alignment between at least two external components. The present invention is a bracket member having at least two attachment structures, and at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures, and the at least two attachment structures provide adjustable positioning between the at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures such that the position off the at least two externally visible components can be adjusted relative to one another.
US08104823B2
An automotive vehicle includes one or more swinging doors which may be immobilized in a number of positions, so as to allow the doors to be used to assist passengers upon entering and leaving the vehicle. The motion of the door may be damped, or stopped entirely, either at the discretion of a vehicle occupant, or automatically, in the event that the door is driven by external forces to swing at a high rate.
US08104820B2
Methods of deploying and stowing a sunshade utilizing a wiper-based system, including selectively engaging the sunshade and wiper, actuating the wiper, so as to deploy the shade, locking the wiper in the deployed position, so as to reduce the thermal load in a confined space, and returning the wiper after use, so as to stow the shade.
US08104816B2
A storage assembly for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle provides power to an electronic device from a vehicle power system. The storage assembly includes a storage bin having an exterior surface, an opening, and a storage space accessible through the opening. The storage assembly also includes a door having an outer surface which is pivotally coupled to the storage bin. A retractable cord is attached to a detachable member which is releasably attached to the storage bin. The retractable cord includes a first end having a first connector which is configured to connect the vehicle power system and a second end having a second connector configured to connect to the electronic device. A notch is formed in the housing adjacent the opening. The notch allows the second connector to extend beyond the exterior surface of the housing when a door is in the closed position.
US08104813B2
A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a rigid trim portion, a first flexible trim portion and a second flexible trim portion. The rigid trim portion includes a first assist grip opening and a second assist grip opening. The first flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the first assist grip opening. The first flexible trim portion at least partially covers the first assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion. The second flexible trim portion is attached to the rigid trim portion along an edge of the second assist grip opening. The second flexible trim portion at least partially covers the second assist grip opening of the rigid trim portion.
US08104809B1
A manually activated suction lifting device has a handle which rotates up to complete an active suction. The first stage of the suction is created by pushing firmly down on the convex top of the device. Upon creation of the final suction with the handle locked up, an alarm button is drawn into the housing, hiding an alarm ring. If the suction fails, then a vent tube transmits the lost vacuum to an alarm chamber, thereby allowing a spring to bias the alarm button outbound, exposing the alarm ring to a worker so he can grab the workpiece and prevent damage.
US08104803B2
A latching system for securing two members together includes a housing, a pawl that is pivotally attached to the housing, a locking member, an actuating mechanism, and a rocker switch. The pawl is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The rocker switch is used to control the actuating mechanism. The rocker switch includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a printed circuit board, and a button. The pawl is provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open or disengaged configuration. Energizing the electrical actuating mechanism retracts the locking member out of engagement with the pawl, thus allowing the pawl to rotate under spring bias to the open configuration.
US08104800B2
A mobile refrigerator with a refrigerator door is held magnetically against the body thereof. An additional hook lock (1 and 19) automatically engages on closing the refrigerator door and releases the refrigerator door only following the actuation of an unlocking mechanism. The unlocking mechanism disengages the hook bolt (7) from the lock striker (20), characterized in that the hook lock (1 and 19) comprises a locking member (14) by means of which the hook bolt (7) may be restrained in a disengaged position so that the refrigerator door is only held closed magnetically. The hook lock (1 and 19) is also characterized in that the locking member (14) is able to be so actuated independently of the unlocking mechanism that the hook bolt (7) is set in the disengaged position.
US08104797B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing an end fitting for a flexible pipe. The apparatus comprises an end fitting body having an open mouth for receiving an open end of a portion of flexible pipe body and an inner collar member to which the end fitting body is securable. The inner collar member includes a collar body portion and a neck portion extending away from the collar body portion. When the end fitting body is secured to the collar member the neck portion of the collar member extends in an axial direction away from the end fitting body to a region proximate to where at least one armour wire layer of the flexible pipe body is located.
US08104792B2
There is provided an airbag device being excellent in performance of protection of an occupant wherein a folded airbag (10) undergoes sequential and orderly expansion starting from a region where the expansion ought to be started. It is characterized in that a gas rectification member (12′) for rectifying and guiding a gas generated from an inflator (30) up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag (10), inflating in the initial stage of the expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag (10).
US08104788B2
A folding chair includes handle frames and front and rear legs configured to support the chair in an upright position. The front legs are pivotally attached to the rear legs. The folding chair also includes a footrest positioned between the two front legs. The footrest includes base portions attached to the two front legs and raised portions positioned between the base portions. The slots in the raised portions allow the raised portions to move with respect to the base portions. The footrest is folded as the folding chair is folded.
US08104770B2
A process chamber 10 comprising a container (12), a lid (14), and a sealed interface (16) therebetween. The container's interface surface (30) and/or the lid's interface surface (32) includes at least one groove (36) in which a seal (40) is situated. The seal (40) comprises an elastomeric element (50) and a metallic element (60). The elastomeric element (50) and the metallic element (60) can be arranged and adapted to seal the chamber's interface (16) sequentially during its conversion to a sealed condition. And/or the elastomeric element (50) and the metallic element (60) can be arranged and adapted to seal the chamber's interface in series once the lid (14) is in its sealed condition.
US08104765B2
In a document feeder, a length of a discharge path from a reading position to a discharge position is longer than a length of a supply path from a feeding position to the reading position. An idling discharge position is disposed, where the distance with the discharge position through the discharge path is shorter than a distance between the feeding position and the reading speed switching position. A control device controls driving of registration rollers, conveyor rollers and discharge rollers simultaneously when a trailing edge of an original reaches the discharge idling position of the discharge path by the discharge rollers while the discharge rollers is stopped. The document feeder efficiently supplies originals sequentially to the reading position, stably reads the image of the original without discharging a previous original during a reading, and aligns and stores the originals in a discharge stacker.
US08104759B2
A sheet finishing apparatus includes: a conveying roller configured to convey a sheet to a storage tray; a positioning stopper provided in parallel to a conveying path for the sheet; an aligning roller configured to convey the sheet, move the sheet in a lateral direction orthogonal to a direction of the conveyance, and press the sheet against the stopper to laterally align the sheet; and a moving mechanism configured to move the position of the aligning roller in the conveying direction. The sheet finishing apparatus controls the position of the aligning roller according to a size of the sheet.
US08104756B2
A method and apparatus for selecting media trays for hole punching in an image production device in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to print a print job, the print job having a required number of media sheets, determining if print job requires hole punching, wherein if it is determined that print job requires hole punching, determining the media sheet capacity of one or more media trays, determining if the capacity of one of the one or more media trays is greater or equal to the number of media sheets required for the print job, wherein if it is determined that the capacity of one of the one or more media trays is greater or equal to the number of media sheets required for the print job, selecting one of the one or more media trays having the required number of media sheets for the print job, and printing the print job with media from the selected media tray.
US08104755B2
An adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus is provided. The adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus includes a variable cutting apparatus cutting a printed web into a first signature and a second signature, a first assembly receiving the first signature and a second assembly downstream of the first assembly receiving the second signature. Also included are a first delivery section for receiving the first signature from the first assembly, a second delivery section for receiving the second signature from the second assembly and a stack receiving conveyor for receiving the first signature and the second signature. The first delivery section is movable between a first delivery and a first non-delivery position. The second delivery section is movable between a second delivery position and a second non-delivery position. The stacking receiving conveyor is movable between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. A method of producing and delivering signatures is also provided.
US08104741B2
A water-box toilet sensing flushing system including an inlet loop, loop washer, linking pipe, solenoid valve outer bracket, switch diaphragm, solenoid valve, connector, water bowl assembly, outlet washer wire, and sensor. This is an added device to the original manual structure of the water box. It does not affect the original function; but a sensing control water box automatic flushing device is added.
US08104734B2
An improved fence post mounting device is disclosed for supporting accessory articles upon a hollow fence post. The device comprises a cap member sized to fit over and upon the open top of the hollow fence post as a cover therefor, an elongated shaft member attached to the inside of the cap member and extending lengthwise therefrom to engage the chamber of the post, and support means coupled to the top of the cap member for holding or hanging the decorative accessories. In one preferred embodiment, the shaft member is fabricated having a pair of flanges formed on opposite sides of an intermediate web to provide a substantially “H” transverse cross section designed to fit closely within the chamber of a rectangular fence post while the full length of the shaft member is able to penetrate the post a sufficient length to allow a sealed fit of the cap member with the top of the post. Proper orientation of the shaft member and its transverse cross section allows the shaft member to fully penetrate the post chamber without interference with lateral rail connections made with the post and interlocks the assembly for proper mounting support.
US08104733B2
A collapsible book rest is formed of panels that are variously interconnected by means chosen from hinges, tracks, slots, ledges, and the like that allow the panels to be deployed to form a first, supporting structure. The panels include a rear panel, front panel, top panel, bottom panel, left panel and right panel. A slidable stabilizer panel is extendable and retractable from the bottom panel. The front and bottom panels of the supporting structure define a recess that accommodates an individual's abdominal shape, and the slide stabilizer defines a similarly shaped front edge. The book rest is collapsed by variously disconnecting and folding over the panels.
US08104730B2
A rail assembly of an industrial computer is arranged symmetrically to a machine frame. Each side of the rail structure includes two sets of rail and rail base within a height of 1U (4.45 cm). Each rail is formed in one piece with better mechanical strength and load ability. Each rail is arranged to a rail base. Through a protruded surface, a computer, disk driver, keyboard can be fixed and arranged to the rail base. The contact surfaces of the rails to the rail bases are formed as cambered surfaces. The two sets of rail can be arranged to the interfaces needed.
US08104729B2
A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first spherical socket and a second device having a second spherical socket. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has first and second spherical portions configured for receipt in the first and second spherical sockets, respectively. The first and second spherical portions are rotatable within the respective first and second spherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second spherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices.
US08104726B2
A bathing system assembly has; an accessory such as a grab bar, a seat or the like; a first mounting bracket affixed to a structural wall; and a second mounting bracket attaching the accessory to a bath wall. The second mounting bracket cooperates with the first mounting bracket for easy installation of the bath wall and accessory to the structural wall, e.g., stud wall. The bathing system wall including the accessory and the second mounting bracket is manipulated by an installer so that the second mounting bracket and the first mounting bracket cooperate to support the wall and the grab bar. Because the accessory is attached directly to the second mounting bracket, flanges and attachment means for hardware are eliminated. The accessory may be attached to the second mounting bracket through the bath wall at a first location and attached to the first mounting bracket at a second location.
US08104721B2
The invention relates to the monitoring of the landing flaps on an airfoil (2) for an aircraft (1), and to an aircraft (1) having such an airfoil (2). The airfoil (2) has a wingbox (3), a support (5) which is mounted relative to the wingbox (3) such that it can rotate with respect to a flap rotation axis (7), a flap (4) which is attached to the support (5) and rotates with respect to the flap rotation axis (7) during rotation of the support (5) relative to the wingbox (3), a movement mechanism (8) which is coupled to the support (5) in order to set an angle position of the flap (4) with respect to the wingbox (3) and a measurement apparatus (18) for detection of the angle position of the flap (4). The measurement apparatus (18) has a rotation sensor (19), which is arranged on the support (5), and a four-element coupling transmission (22, 24, 26, 27) which couples the rotation sensor (19) to the movement mechanism (8).
US08104718B2
The invention is an aircraft having an inflatable wing connected to a base unit, with the inflatable wing inflated with a lifting gas such as helium. The inflatable wing has a series of cell structures, and may be configured with ballonets to selectively introduce and expel outside air within the inflatable wing to vary the buoyancy and/or airfoil properties of the inflatable wing. The aircraft is particularly useful at low speeds and in thin atmospheres (such as at high Earth altitudes and on Mars), and can be used for interplanetary missions to explore planetary bodies, such as moons and planets, having atmospheres.
US08104714B2
Apparatuses and methods for joining composite members and other structural members in aircraft wings and other structures. An aircraft wing box structure configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a first composite member having a first surface portion positioned at an angle relative to a second surface portion of a second composite member. The wing box structure of this embodiment further includes at least one metallic joining member having an upstanding leg portion extending from a base portion. The base portion of the joining member is bonded to the first surface portion of the first composite member with a first portion of adhesive, and the upstanding leg portion of the metallic joining member is bonded to the second surface portion of the second composite member with a second portion of adhesive.
US08104711B2
An auxiliary actuator (49) comprises a two stage telescopic hydraulic unit comprising first (59, 63) and second (56, 50) stage piston and cylinder actuators operating coaxially within an outer casing (50). A respective actuator is connected to a respective one of the strut (1) and bogie beam (4). The second stage actuator (56, 60) serves to control the tilt position of the bogie beam (4) relative to the strut (1). The second stage actuator (56. 60), when in the retracted position with the first stage actuator (59, 63) in the extended position, limits the length ol the auxiliary actuator (9) between its connections (62,67) to the strut (1) and bogie beam (4), so as to assume a predetermined intermediate length in which the bogie beam (4) is restrained to tilt about the auxiliary pivot (14) and thereby lengthens the landing gear during take-off.
US08104709B2
A lateral force joint, with which a plate-like spar can be fastened to a fuselage strap mounted on an airplane fuselage. The plate-like spar has a through bore, into which a fastening cylinder mounted on the flange can be inserted for connecting both components. In order to allow for the location of the spar to be adjusted with respect to the fuselage strap, a bearing bush of the spar is eccentrically fitted into the through bore. Correspondingly, the fastening cylinder of the fuselage strap is mounted eccentrically on a bearing bush so that a rotation of the bearing bushes allows the lateral force joint to be adjusted.
US08104703B2
A meat mincing and mixing machine with a dual mode operation has a tilting mixing vat with inner rotating mixing blade fixed to a longitudinal horizontal axis, a unit for actuating the tilting mixing vat, a support and fixation device for supporting the axle detachably together with the mixing blades for cleaning and maintenance, a mincing body supporting the vat, separated by a sliding track door, and provided with a mincing spindle located inside the mincing body with a horizontal axis and a longitudinal direction, parallel to the longitudinal horizontal axle of the mixing blades and aligned against a front exit mouth, a protective casing covering the front exit mouth and rotating about a lower axle, a unit for actuating the mincing spindle, a folding screen provided at the rear of the vat and protecting against splattering, and actuation controls.
US08104700B2
The invention relates to a method, which can be used to detect the wear of prebeater heads of a prebeater (1) of a beater wheel mill in a simple manner.
US08104685B2
A document including a two-dimensional barcode recorded therein is scanned, the two-dimensional barcode of the scan image is decoded, a text recorded in the document is extracted, the extracted text or a document produced by a document editing unit is attached to an e-mail, and the e-mail is transmitted. The text attached to the e-mail can be viewed at the side of a receiver. Since the document can be edited using at least one of the position, the size, the color and the arrangement of the text, readability of the text can be improved. Accordingly, it is possible to search the received text to easily find a desired document at the side of the receiver.
US08104682B2
A method and apparatus for efficient handling of product returns to reduce associated costs. A computer system at a regional product return center scans a returned product for identifying information, accesses a manufacturer return approval computer system through the internet or the like, and then submits the identifying information to the manufacturer for return approval. The manufacturer computer system utilizes the identifying information to access an electronic registration database to determine whether the returned product satisfies applicable return criteria. If so, the product is approved for return to the manufacturer. The regional product return center preferably scans a plurality of returned products in a single session. In response to the product identifying information submitted by the regional product return center, the manufacturer provides a list of approved returns and unapproved returns, along with a return authorization number for the batch of approved returns. The regional product return center then assembles the approved product returns into a box, shipping pallet, or the like, applies a label indicating the return authorization label, and ships the batch to the manufacturer. Shipping costs can be saved by omitting rejected product returns from the shipment. The manufacturer can handle the approved product returns from the regional return center as a batch, thereby reducing costs.
US08104681B2
A system by which a central hub and transport means, listing means, matching engine, and operating method will capture overstock and understock information from participating retailer or distributor nodes and create congruent matches, with subsequent shipments of one to the other to improve the inventory of both nodes.
US08104678B2
A payment approval system and a method for approving a payment for credit cards are provided for providing efficient processing while maintaining accuracy in detection of fraud usage of credit cards with an IC chip. Fraud parameters obtained by modeling a pattern of fraud usage is stored in the IC chip equipped in the IC credit card to use for payment approval to achieve improved reliability of offline approval. When offline approval process finds a possibility of fraud usage, online approval for more detailed statistical analysis processing is requested to a host computer. When update information of the fraud parameter used for the judgment is transmitted together with the request for approval and the newest fraud parameter created by analyzing the newest transaction trend etc. is confirmed to have been updated at the host computer, the newest fraud parameter along with the approval result from the host computer is transmitted to the IC terminal to update the fraud parameter in the IC chip to the up-to-date state.
US08104669B2
A folder system with an accordion spine 16, and a method of making same is disclosed. The folder may have a plurality of insert elements 52, 60 either at manufacture or by a stub system which are bound into the spine at the valleys 32 of the web which forms the spine. The web is made of outer zig-zag web 40, with the inner web 42, 44, 46 joining adjacent insert elements and the outer web, to create a strong spine of web and inserts.
US08104666B1
A method of bonding includes providing a first work piece, and attaching a second work piece on the first work piece, with a solder bump disposed between the first and the second work pieces. The second work piece is heated using a heating head of a heating tool to melt the solder bump. After the step of heating the second work piece, one of the first and the second work pieces is allowed to move freely in a horizontal direction to self-align the first and the second work pieces. After the step of allowing one of the first and the second work pieces to move, a temperature of the heating head is lowed until the first solder bump solidifies to form a second solder bump.
US08104661B2
A solder bump is formed on a substrate by using a heating device where a lid structure blocks hot air from directly blowing against a solder composition. The heating device can reduce high-temperature oxygen molecules that come into contact with the solder composition, oxidation of the solder composition is suppressed. As a result, although the hot air is used for heating, a solder bump can be formed by the liquid-like solder composition. Further, because the lid structure is uniformly heated by the hot air, radiation heat from the lid structure is also uniform, and a container is more uniformly heated. In addition, because the hot air is suppressed from directly blowing against a liquid surface, the liquid-like solder composition is not scattered by the hot air.
US08104658B2
A blocking device for a nail gun includes a push member disposed on a nail pusher in a nail cartridge of the nail gun for moving toward a nail groove base with the nail pusher, a brake member movably installed on the nail pusher for moving toward the nail groove base with the nail pusher, and a rotational fastener pivotably installed on the nail groove base on a moving path of the push member and the brake member. The fastener can be touched to rotate by the push member when there are a small number of remaining nails in the nail cartridge so as to prevent the brake member moving to a position where it blocks an upward movement of the safety bar, and can be released by the push member and rotate back to an original position when there is no remaining nail in the nail cartridge so as to release the brake member to move to a position where it blocks an upward movement of the safety bar and thereby a nail shooting action of the nail gun. The accuracy of the nail shooting blocking is improved.
US08104644B2
A flexible pouch and valve assembly is provided for aseptically storing a substance, dispensing multiple portions of the stored substance therefrom, and maintaining substance remaining in the pouch in an aseptic condition sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere. The flexible pouch and valve assembly are receivable within a relatively rigid housing, and are adapted to cooperate with a pump for pumping discrete portions of substance from the pouch and through the one-way valve to dispense the substance therefrom. The assembly comprises a flexible pouch defining therein a variable-volume storage chamber sealed with respect to the ambient atmosphere for aseptically storing therein multiple portions of the substance. A one-way valve of the assembly includes a valve body defining an axially-extending valve seat and at least one flow aperture extending through the valve body and/or the valve seat.
US08104638B2
A swinging handle, which may swing with respect to a wall of a kitchen vessel, comprises an U-shape end, having free arms facing the kitchen vessel, wherein, from each end portion of the U-shape arms, mutually facing swinging pivot pins project, said pivot pins being housed in a seat of a supporting body fixed to a projection rigid with the vessel wall, the support body seat also housing herein a spring bearing with a side thereof against the bottom of the seat and by the other side thereof against one of two locating surfaces, arranged at 90° with respect to one another, and formed by an extension projecting from each swinging pivot pin.
US08104637B2
A drum assembly having opposite ends and a cylindrical drum surface extending between the ends, and a central through opening extending between the ends, a support carried in the opening and having an extended position in which a portion of the support projects endwise from the opening and a retracted position in the opening, and there being retention structure associated with the opening to retain the support alternately in positions.
US08104636B2
The present invention relates to an insulating knit bottle cozy jacket which provides a tight fit, insulation, a coaster bottom as well as the ability to have decorative cover.
US08104630B2
A display apparatus for holding a plurality of items and including a base and at least one shelf divider is disclosed. The base includes a front end, a back end, a left end, a right end, and an upper surface for supporting the items. The shelf divider is removably installable on the base and defines at least one channel dimensioned for accommodating an associated column of the items. The shelf divider includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge and at least one compliant member depending from the bottom surface. The compliant member is deflectable towards the top surface upon engagement with a portion of the base.
US08104620B2
A magnetic sweeper configured to collect magnetic metal debris, such as nails, screws, sheet metal fragments, staples, rivets and the like from a surface, and to permit easy removal of the collected debris from the sweeper is disclosed. The sweeper comprises a non-metallic body, a permanent magnet disposed within the body, a non-metallic cover hingably mounted to the underside of the body and an integrated latch configured to removably secure the cover to the body. The sweeper is configured to removably engage a handle for controlling the sweeper, and in another embodiment, an extendable, telescoping extender may be connected between the coupler and the handle to permit the sweeper to be used in a wide variety of locations. Preferably, the sweeper body is configured to swivel upon application of torque to the handle. In use, the sweeper is passed over metallic debris using the handle to guide the body. As the body passes over such debris, the magnet attracts the debris and holds it against the outer surface of the cover. When debris collection is complete, the cover is unlatched from the body, and swung outwardly from the body, thereby displacing the collected debris to a location outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and permitting the debris to fall away from the cover.
US08104616B2
A clamshell package is provided for holding and displaying a consumer product that comprises a bottle and a cap. The clamshell package comprises a first clamshell side and a second clamshell side, wherein at least a portion of the first and second clamshell sides are affixed together to hold the consumer product between the first and second clamshell sides. The clamshell package further comprises an aperture through which at least a portion of the cap of the consumer product extends from the clamshell package. The clamshell package is therefore able to hold and display the consumer product, while allowing a consumer to access the cap of the product in order to smell or to sample the product. A clamshell package is further provided for holding and displaying a consumer product comprising liquid composition contained in a tottle.
US08104613B2
The present invention relates to a disc holder for storing a plurality of discs comprising: a base; a spindle extending vertically from the base, where the spindle enables the stacking of the plurality of discs; a top cover, where the top cover locks to the base by using two sliding clasps, where one clasp is one side of the top cover and the other clasp is on the opposite side. The base may include three prongs extending vertically from three respective sides of the base in order to keep discs aligned. The enclosure may further include a receptacle for the top of the spindle and a swivel handle for carrying the unit. The plurality of discs may include compact discs and DVDs or a combination of both.
US08104610B2
A structure for mixing different materials includes a main body having a lip portion with an upper opening portion, the main body coupled to an opening of a container containing a first material; a spouting guide member movably inserted in the lip portion by a predetermined distance; a cap ascending and descending together with the spouting guide member, the cap being coupled to the main body; and a seal closer separately formed on a lower portion of the spouting guide member.
US08104609B2
A container which is not bulky at the time of shipping and can be stably stood on a suitable place. The container includes a lid member for closing a take-out opening (brittle portion) of the container body 2. On the lower outer side of the container body, there are formed slits for fitting the lid member to the container body after the container body and the lid member are separated apart, and auxiliary leg portions that protrude outward of the container body. The lid member is forming holding leg portions that protrude outward therefrom. Wing portions of the holding leg portions are inserted in the slits to fit the lid member to the container body, and the erected attitude of the container body is supported by the holding leg portions.
US08104606B2
A conveyor assembly for conveying a product to one or more product operations includes a conveyor belt rotating about a drive roller assembly and an end return roller assembly. A pair of spaced apart side frames supports the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and an inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the side frames.
US08104603B2
An article conveying device (1) comprising a star wheel (2) having a plurality of gripping devices (3) mounted on the circumference thereof, a rotary drive shaft (8), a hub (10) coupling the wheel (2) to the drive shaft (8), said conveying device (1) being characterized in that it comprises adjustable fastening devices (22) for coupling the star wheel (2) to the hub (10), each fastening device (22) comprising a drift bolt (23) including a body (24) having a threaded portion (25) screwed into a hole (26) provided in the hub (10), said body (24) protruding from an upper face (28) of the hub (10), a head (34) protruding from a lower face (31) of the hub (10), a central bore (30), a washer (36) interposed between the head (34) of the drift bolt (23) and the lower face (31) of the hub (10), said washer (36) having a predetermined thickness (T3), whereby the starwheel (2) rests on an upper face (40) of the drift bolt (23) with a predetermined clearance (C) with respect of the hub (10), a bolt (37) mounted in the bore (30), said bolt (37) having a threaded portion (38) protruding from the drift bolt (23) and screwed into a hole (39) provided in the wheel (2), thereby fastening the wheel (2) to the hub (10).
US08104600B2
Escalator with a series of steps connected to at least one drive chain, driven by a motor mechanism, travelling via an advanced track and a return track placed alongside, there being transition zones between two levels, the tracks respectively comprising a main set of guides and at least one set of additional guides for moving a movable step, via the bearing thereof, parallel to a non-movable step, so that they are positioned at the same height, creating a widened continuous platform which can accommodate a person with reduced mobility.
US08104597B2
The invention relates to a synchronization piece which, as part of a servo synchronization system comprising a sliding sleeve, a clutch body, a synchronizer ring and an idler gear, can synchronize a transmission having toothed wheel gears. The invention furthermore relates to an entire synchronizing system having a synchronization piece according to the invention. A full-servo synchronization system is also presented.
US08104594B2
A case, a system and/or a method for storing and/or for transporting articles are provided. The case, the system and/or the method operate to store and/or to transport articles, such as, for example, office-related articles and personal articles. A first compartment forms a first volume that may be protected by walls of the case. Further, a second compartment forms a second volume. The second compartment extends into the first volume of the first compartment. The second compartment receives and/or stores the articles towards the interior of the first compartment. The second compartment has a divider for maintaining a position of the articles in the second compartment and restricts movement of the articles outward with respect to the interior of the first compartment. The second compartment is opened to form a tray for accessing one or more of the articles without opening the first compartment.
US08104588B2
An apparatus for supporting a motorcycle in an upright position. The apparatus includes a base and a wheel stop coupled thereto. A cradle is pivotably coupled to the base and includes a pair of clamp members slidably coupled thereto. The pair of clamp members are biased away from each other. In other embodiments, a chock apparatus and a method of holding a motorcycle in an upright, stable position using a chock apparatus are provided.
US08104581B2
An oil module for an internal combustion engine, comprising a carrier element that can be flanged onto an engine block of the internal combustion engine and carries at least one oil filter and an oil cooler. The oil module is provided with channels for guiding oil and water, one of the channels being an oil cooler bypass channel connecting an oil inlet of the oil cooler to an oil outlet of the oil cooler. At least a main part of the oil cooler bypass channel extends through an oil cooler base plate occluding the oil cooler on the carrier element side, or through an intermediate plate arranged between the oil cooler and the carrier element in a sealing manner.
US08104578B2
A ladder includes a first section having at least one step. The ladder includes a second section having a least one step. The ladder includes a platform attached to the first and second sections. The ladder includes a hinge mechanism connected to the first section and second section, about which the first section and second section move between an open state, where the first and second sections are in an angular relationship for use, and a folded state where the first and second sections and the platform are essentially in parallel, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The ladder includes a foldable tray mechanism attached to the hinge mechanism about which the foldable tray mechanism moves between the open state independently of the first and second sections, where the foldable tray is in an angular relationship with the first and second sections for use, and a folded state where the foldable tray essentially forms a plane with the first section. A hinge for a stepladder. A step to a ladder. Methods for using a stepladder.
US08104576B2
The invention relates to scaffold steps, with two separate side pieces (11) and a plurality of separate step elements (13, 13′, 13″), which can be detachably coupled to each other and to the side pieces.
US08104565B2
A body frame for a vehicle such as a motorcycle with a minimized number of parts. A main frame is connected to a head pipe and supports a rear arm to which a rear wheel is attached. A tank rail is connected to the head pipe at one end and to the main frame at the other end.
US08104560B1
The driving device utilizing inertia mainly contains a battery, a motor, a flywheel, a casing, a transmission box, a casing, a generator, a rectifier, and a charger. The flywheel is mounted on a shaft and is housed in a vacuum chamber through shaft seal. The flywheel freely spins by itself after actuated by the motor. The flywheel's torque is then delivered to the transmission box which in turn delivers the torque to drive a vehicle such as automobile, vessel, plane, submarine, etc. On the other hand, the spinning flywheel drives the generator to produce electricity which is stored in the battery series-connected to the generator via the rectifier and the charger. As such, the driving device is able to power the vehicle while the surplus energy is stored in the battery for activating the motor and turning the flywheel to spin.
US08104558B2
A vehicle controller is mounted in a box-shaped manner beneath the floor or on the roof of a vehicle so as to supply electric power to vehicle apparatuses. The vehicle controller is configured with a plurality of functional modules; each of the functional modules has at one side thereof an interface side in which a first interface region where signal-line terminals are arranged and a second interface region where power-line terminals are arranged are separated; in each of the interface sides, the first interface region is disposed at one and the same end and the second interface region is disposed at the other and the same end.
US08104557B2
To enable control the number of revolutions of a wheel with a new structure different from an induction motor and adjust the maximum torque rapidly and accurately.A linear drive travel system includes a metal wheel 20 having a drum rotor and a stator 30 arranged inside the metal wheel 20. The stator 30 includes a plurality of rows of electromagnets 32 arranged in the direction of rotation axis, each row being formed of a plurality of electromagnets 32 arranged along the circumference around a rotary shaft 40. A drum rotor includes a plurality of arc-shaped rotor cores 23 arranged along the circumference around the rotary shaft 40. Control means (control system 80) performs control by allowing electromagnets 32 in some rows to be a magnetization coil of the rotor core and by allowing the electromagnets 32 in other rows to be a rotation coil of the drum motor.
US08104555B2
A drive system for a motor vehicle transmission includes a hydraulic pump including a shaft, an engine, a starter/alternator connected to the shaft, and a drive mechanism for transmitting torque from the engine to the shaft, and for amplifying torque produced by the starter/alternator and transmitting the amplified torque to the engine.
US08104553B2
A virtual wheel provides a leg pair as a conveyance mechanism for a land vehicle. The virtual wheel propels the vehicle across a surface using a repetitive motion of the legs that contact the ground as would a wheel, due to their geometry. Vehicle embodiments include at least two-, three-, four- and six-wheeled vehicles, both transverse and in-line. Additionally, the invention provides a bipedal walking robot. One embodiment provides a robotic mule—a payload-carrying vehicle. The invention combines the flexible mobility of bipedal vehicles with the stability and functionality of very large-wheeled vehicles. Additionally, a bimodal conveyance mechanism readily converts between walking and rolling modes.
US08104552B2
A vehicle including a linkage-based motion control system for varying a parameter (e.g., velocity) of the vehicle as a geometric relationship between a vehicle input (e.g., velocity control lever) and a vehicle output (e.g., drive train) is modified. In one embodiment, the control system provides a linkage that allows a fixed level of input applied to the control lever to produce a repeatable output to a variable drive unit even as the drive unit is moved relative to the control lever.
US08104550B2
Earth-boring tools include wear-resistant materials disposed in at least one recess formed in an exterior surface of a body thereof. Exposed surfaces of the wear-resistant material are substantially level with exterior surfaces of the body adjacent the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, recesses may be formed in formation-engaging surfaces of blades of earth-boring rotary tools, adjacent one or more inserts secured to bodies of earth-boring tools, or adjacent one or more cutting elements secured to bodies of earth-boring tools. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include filling one or more recesses formed in an exterior surface of a body with wear-resistant material and causing exposed surfaces of the wear-resistant material to be substantially level with the exterior surface of the body.
US08104546B2
The invention relates to a hand tool machine with a torque limiter (2) enabling a user to set a maximum torque which is transmitted by a motor drive (4) to a tool carrier (6). According to the invention, the hand tool machine comprises an overload clutch which interrupts a power flux between the motor drive (4) and the tool carrier (6) when the transmitted torque exceeds the overload torque.
US08104541B2
A system, including a first module (35b) configured to process fluid from a well, wherein the first module (35b) includes a processing device coupleable to a manifold (5), a first access tunnel (4b) extending through the processing device, wherein the access tunnel (4b) is configured to provide access to the manifold (5), a processing input (18a), and a processing output (19a). Further provided is a method of assembling a manifold, including coupling a processing module (35b) to a manifold (5), wherein the processing module comprises an access tunnel (4b) through the processing module (35b) that enables access to the manifold (5) while the processing module (35b) is coupled to the manifold (5).
US08104532B2
A heat exchanger placed underneath an elevated tub or shower stall or under the bathroom floor includes a flat top heat conductive plate. The top plate is fastened to a flat lower plate, having a serpentine pattern with a shallow depth embedded into the top surface. When the top plate is fastened and sealed to the lower plate, the flow of the incoming cold water is contained within the confines of the serpentine lower plate of the heat exchanger. Heat is transferred from the grey waste water falling onto the top plate to preheat the incoming cold water flowing underneath the top plate in the serpentine conduit chamber of the lower plate in contact with a bottom surface of the top plate. The cold water is thereby preheated and used as a substitute for the incoming cold water that would be normally plumbed to the discharge shower head.
US08104518B2
A corrugated hose pipe assembly has a corrugated pipe that is surrounded by an elastomeric high-pressure hose. The ends of the high-pressure hose are grasped and fixed by connectors. The connectors each have a pipe piece (210, 220) which is fitted with a circumferential, radially projecting stationary nipple stop (211, 221) at the axial end thereof facing the corrugated pipe. A hose nipple (310, 320), which is positively mounted on each pipe piece (210, 220), is provided with a radially protruding, circumferential hose stop (311, 321) at the end of the hose nipple (310, 320).
US08104517B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for stopping the flow of media within a pipeline. The pipeline generally includes one or more pipes connected end-to-end, where each of the pipes has a longitudinal axis with an annular wall. The annular wall has an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, where the inner wall surface defines an inner pipe diameter. In various embodiments, a hole is formed in the pipeline substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the annular wall and extending through the opposing pipe wall. A resilient plug is positioned within the pipeline such that it extends between the holes and is selectively expanded in a radial direction to create a seal with the inner surface of the pipe and holes to prevent flow of the media within the pipe.
US08104513B2
Disclosed is a gas flow path switching unit including a gas passage section with a target gas passage for allowing said target gas to pass therethrough. The target gas passage includes a main passage having a proximal end serving as said gas inlet and a number n of branch passages each provided with a respective gas outlet at a terminal end thereof. The branch passages are formed by repeating two or more times a branching process of branching said main passage into two sub passages at a branch point at a distal end of said main passage and further branching at least one of said sub passages into two sub-sub passages at a branch point defined by a distal end of said sub passage. The target gas passage also includes at least a number n of switching-gas supply passages connected to respective intermediate positions of said n branch passages.
US08104510B2
The invention relates to a device for regulating the flow of a liquid or gaseous medium, having a valve housing (11), which has at least one valve inlet (15, 16) and a valve outlet (17) as well as at least one valve opening (18, 19), located between the two and surrounded by a valve seat (21, 22); having a valve member (23) controlling the valve opening (18, 19); and having a valve member actuating device (14), which has a valve closing spring (36) and an actuator (37) operating counter to the valve closing spring. For creating a robust device with a long service life, and in which the valve member actuating device (14) is hermetically separated from the medium, the valve member (23) has a closing body (24), cooperating with the at least one valve seat (21, 22), and a frame (25), separated from the medium, for engaging the valve member actuating device (14), which frame surrounds the closing body (24) and is solidly joined to it.
US08104499B2
A septic field dosing system is described which utilizes a self starting true siphon to deliver a dose of septic tank effluent into a conventional septic field. The precision siphon unit not only eliminates the need for electrical services to the septic tank, thereby eliminating the need for pumps and solenoid operated valves and switches at the septic tank, but also contains the effluent handling equipment in a small unit. For example, the drawdown of the septic tank is used to entirely control the operation of the dosing siphon. Further, the dimensional configuration of the precision siphon operates within the boundaries of the draw down to deliver a proper size dose to the septic field. While a typical septic tank can hold of the order of a thousand or more gallons, the precision siphon can easily fit into a five gallon bucket.
US08104489B2
Provided is a dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a sump case forming a space to store wash liquid, and a drain pump provided at one side of the sump case. The drain pump includes a drain impeller that induces a flow of wash liquid, and a plurality of mutually separable cases covering the drain impeller.
US08104485B2
A lice comb (10) comprising a plurality of parallel teeth (12) having upper surfaces (16) and lower surfaces (18). Each pair of adjacent teeth (12) includes a first set of projections (22) on a side surface (24) of one tooth and a second set of projections (26) on a side surface (28) of the adjacent tooth. The first set of projections (22) are provided along at least a portion of the length of the tooth such that hair moving downwardly between the pair of teeth (12) passes through gaps (32) defined between the first set of projections (22). The second set of projections (26) are interspersed between and in a direction toward the lower surface (18) of the teeth (12) such that the strands of hair passing through the gaps (32) are deflected in a direction parallel to the teeth (12) in use by the second set of projections (26).
US08104482B2
A method for treating or preventing a thrombosis in a person in need thereof comprising disposing in or on an article an effective antithrombotic amount of a composition and providing the article to be in close proximity to the skin of the person, the composition comprising (i) alumina, (ii) at least one substance selected from the group consisting of silica and titanium oxide and (iii) at least one element or compound selected from the group consisting of platinum, a platinum compound, palladium, a palladium compound, iridium, an iridium compound, rhodium and a rhodium compound.
US08104480B2
A system for planning transplantation of follicular units in a body surface of a patient includes a user interface comprising a software-controlled processor, a monitor, and an input device, wherein the system is configured for acquiring images of the body surface, processing the images to produce a three-dimensional model of the body surface, displaying a graphic rendering of the body surface model on the monitor, and displaying on the body surface model a proposed recipient area for implanting follicular units based at least in part on an actual or desired physical characteristic of the patient.
US08104477B2
The fastening device in accordance with the invention is directed to a pin for securing the position of a part of a body, (for example, a head) for medical procedures. The fastening device can have an improved geometry, can be made from materials including unsubstituted, monosubstituted or multisubstituted polyphenylene, and/or silicon nitride ceramic, and can be made of one or more pieces. The fastening device in accordance with the invention produces improved performance with respect to the criteria of biocompatibility, ability to be sterilized, resistance to mechanical stress, and reduced artifact creation in medical imaging methods.
US08104472B2
A respiratory mask (10) that comprises a mask body (12) and a harness (21) that includes a carriage (22) and a strap (24). The mask body (12) lacks a rigid insert, is non-elastomeric, and is adapted for fitting over a person's nose and mouth. The mask body (12) has a nose portion (14), a chin portion (16), first and second cheek portions (18 and 20), and an axis (32) that extends from the nose portion (14) to the chin portion (16). The mask body (12) is constructed to deform such that the first and second cheek portions (18 and 20) move towards each other about the axis (32). The carriage (22) is joined to the mask body (12), and the strap (24) is joined to the carriage (22) for supporting the mask body (12) over a person's nose and mouth. When tension is applied to the strap (24) and an opposing force acts at the nose and chin portions of the mask body, the first and second cheek portions (18, 20) exhibit movement about the axis (32) towards each other. The respirator mask is beneficial in that it is lightweight, easy to manufacture, and maintains a good fit to a person's face.
US08104457B2
A diesel engine system includes a diesel engine, a throttle valve, an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) path, an EGR valve and a controller. The throttle valve controls a flow rate of intake air to the diesel engine. Exhaust gas is recirculated along the EGR path from an exhaust port to an intake port of the diesel engine. The EGR valve controls a flow rate of the exhaust gas. The controller controls the throttle valve and the EGR valve such that an opening of the throttle valve decreases and an opening of the EGR valve increases when a load of the diesel engine increases. The controller controls the EGR valve such that the opening of the EGR valve increases after the opening of the EGR valve is held constant for a first predetermined holding time.
US08104456B2
A system and method are disclosed for providing exhaust-gas recirculation in an internal combustion engine that has an exhaust-gas turbocharger. The exhaust gas to be recirculated is collected from the exhaust line downstream of a turbine of the turbocharger, passed through a condensate separator, and supplied into the intake line upstream of the compressor. The condensate is filtered, collected in a reservoir, and pumped to an injection device coupled to the engine intake at a location downstream of the compressor.
US08104455B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a passing type fuel reformer which can reform fuel fed into an engine so as to aim at further enhancing the improvement effect of fuel consumption, and which can be simply and surely installed in the vicinity of a fuel tank. Spherical particles (1c) are charged at a filling rate of not less than 90% in a cylindrical body (1) which is formed therein with through-holes at a rate of opening area of not less than 50%, the cylindrical body 1 is loosely fitted in a rigid tube body (2) while a seal member (3) such as an O-ring seal is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body (1) and the inner peripheral surface of the rigid tube body (2), connectors (4) are removably fitted respectively in the opposite ends of the rigid tube body (2), and a connecting pipe (5) is connected to the connectors (4), and is arranged between a fuel tank (7) and the engine body.
US08104453B2
An evaporated fuel treating apparatus and method of treating evaporated fuel, that can re-gasify adsorbed fuel within a canister and supply it to an engine, are obtained. A compressor, a first control valve, a storage container and a second control valve are provided at a supply delivery piping that communicates a canister with an engine air intake tube, in that order from the canister side. By driving the compressor, vapor within the canister is fed to the storage container, canister internal pressure is lowered, and gasification of a fuel component adsorbed by an adsorbent is promoted. Further, evaporated fuel stored in the storage container is forcibly fed to an engine by internal pressure of the storage container.
US08104446B2
Screw holes are provided on a contacting surface of an insulator so as to enable a carburetor to be mounted on the insulator at a plurality of positions rotated about an axial center of an intake hole. The insulator is mounted on a cylinder at a predetermined position while the carburetor is mounted on the insulator by inserting bolts for mounting the carburetor into the screw holes through through holes of the carburetor. Accordingly, the carburetor can be mounted at a plurality of positions rotated about the axial center of intake holes relative to an engine body. Thus, a protruding direction of a throttle lever from the carburetor, i.e., an operating direction of the throttle lever, can be changed.
US08104436B2
A quasi free piston engine uses, a small, lightweight crankshaft to connect the piston assemblies of the free piston engine with a flywheel. While most of the power output from the combustion pistons is extracted by pumping pistons as hydraulic power, the small crankshaft and flywheel ensure exact TDC position of the combustion pistons in operation, and provide a rotating means to drive combustion cylinder intake and exhaust valves. Flywheel speed may be monitored to provide feedback on power extraction for further control of the system. In addition, a hydraulic push-rod system for efficient valve actuation is provided.
US08104431B2
The invention relates generally to a self-filling and self-draining watering device. The invention discloses an apparatus comprising a first compartment containing a bowl accepting fluid from an inlet opening, the fluid being continuously drained from the bowl, a second compartment, proximate the bowl, housing a reservoir proximate the bowl which temporarily retains continuously drained fluid, a pump actuated by a float switch to discharge fluid from reservoir, and a sensor detecting a movement, triggering a flow of fluid into the bowl. Additionally, the invention discloses a method comprising providing an apparatus having a first compartment and a reservoir, connecting the inlet supply line to an inlet line which transports fluid into the bowl, continuously draining the fluid into the reservoir, discharging fluid from the reservoir with a pump, providing a sensor to activate a solenoid valve to allow fluid into the bowl, and enclosing the bowl and reservoir in an outer shell.
US08104428B2
A plasma processing apparatus that enables formation of a deposit film on a surface of a grounding electrode to be prevented. A substrate processing chamber has therein a processing space in which plasma processing is carried out on a substrate, an RF electrode that applies radio frequency electrical power into the processing space, a DC electrode that applies a DC voltage into the processing space, and a grounding electrode at least part of which is exposed in the substrate processing chamber. The grounding electrode is disposed in a corner portion formed through intersection of a plurality of internal surfaces in the substrate processing chamber.
US08104420B2
The problem of providing a submerged vehicle with above-the-surface communications to a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite while traveling at operating speed is solved by an efficiently deployable tethered tow body having a hydrodynamic and buoyant hull body and incorporating a lift-generating wing that provides hydrodynamic lift to efficiently lift the tow body containing antennas and other communications devices to the surface. The tow body allows for stable operation during underwater tow, surface tow, and transitions between underwater tow and surface tow. Disclosed embodiments include communications apparatuses encompassing the principles of the tethered tow body, as well as various underwater systems that incorporate a tethered tow body or communications apparatus for establishing communications with a nearby vessel, shore platform, or satellite.
US08104419B2
The present invention relates to the handling, the attaching to a drag line and the putting to sea of a submersible craft, dragged by a surface vessel. The invention includes a system for automatically attaching and handling submersible craft towed by a tow line, comprising an automatic attaching device for carrying out the mechanical attaching of the submersible craft to the drag line and the linking of the submersible craft to the structure conveying the signals and the energy in this same line. The system according to the invention also includes an automatic device for handling the submersible craft, on which device the submersible craft is positioned when it is not attached to the drag line and from which it is separated after attachment, and which makes it possible to automatically position the submersible craft with respect to the drag line in such a way that the attaching and detaching can likewise be done automatically. The invention applies to towed active sonars in which the transmission antenna is integrated into a submersible craft and the reception antenna includes a linear antenna (streamer) towed behind the submersible craft.
US08104405B2
An ammunition firing device incorporating a firing pin intended to impact a pyrotechnic composition to activate its ignition, wherein said firing pin incorporates a rod that slides when said ammunition is fired through the effect of the firing acceleration from a starting position to a deployed position, able to be locked in said deployed position, said rod being integral with a percussion tip occupying a fixed position in contact with said pyrotechnic composition, said rod being located fully inside said tip in said starting position and protruding from said tip in its deployed position, said device further incorporating a hammer to strike said rod during the impact of said ammunition on a target to cause the ignition of said composition.
US08104397B2
A diaphragm for use in a gas meter that includes an expansion section having a series of convolutions. During repeated use of the diaphragm, the expansion section flexes to allow the center section of the diaphragm and the attached diaphragm disk to move between a retracted position and extended position. The convolutions formed in the expansion section include a series of curved peaks and curved troughs joined by web sections. The multiple convolutions in the expansion section allows for more consistent and repeatable movement and volume displacement of the diaphragm between the extended and retracted positions. The action of the convolutions also contributes to extended life by eliminating wrinkling of the diaphragm material.
US08104391B2
An apparatus and method for slicing food products, and particularly soft, pliable food products susceptible to being deformed to the slicing process. The slicing apparatus includes a slicing wheel assembly and device for stabilizing the food product as it is being fed through the slicing wheel assembly. The slicing wheel assembly includes a hub, a rim circumscribing the hub so as to define an annular space therebetween, and arcuate blades extending between and removably attached to the hub and rim. The hub, rim, and blades lie in a cutting plane of the slicing wheel assembly. Each blade has an arcuate cutting edge on a convex portion thereof, with radially innermost and radially outermost extents of the blade that do not lie on the same radial of the slicing wheel assembly.
US08104390B2
A device and a method are disclosed for manually perforating a sheet of aluminum foil. The device includes a first member having a first surface with a plurality of apertures formed therein and a first guide member extending upwardly above the first surface. The device also includes a second member having a lower surface with a plurality of projections extending downwardly therefrom. Each of the projections can be simultaneously inserted into one of the plurality of apertures. A second guide member is formed on the second member and cooperates with the first guide member to permit the second member to move vertically relative to the first member. A sheet of aluminum foil can be placed between the first and second members, when they are spaced apart from one another, and the sheet of aluminum foil can be perforated by pressing the second member against the first member.
US08104389B2
A vibrating microtome and measuring device for measuring the transverse offset of a vibrating knife comprises a light barrier into which the knife is placeable and a control application signal (pklo, pkhi) that describes the time course of the vibration of the knife and an electronic measurement system of the measuring device measures the coverage of the light barrier as an oscillating signal (tpm), and determines the transverse offset from the signal values at points in time that are defined by the control application signal.
US08104387B2
An apparatus (400) for facilitating the removal of a tube stub from a drum includes an arbor (401) configured to extend within the tube stub to be removed, and a circular, rotating cutter (402) protruding from the arbor (401). The cutter (402) is configured to score an internal surface of the tube stub along an axial direction of the tube stub. A controller (403) associated with the apparatus (400) controls the axial and rotational movement of the arbor (401) to create one or more cuts in the tube stub to facilitate removal of the tube stub from the drum.
US08104378B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing of preforms (15, 25) for saw blades respectively saw bands, comprising the following steps (a) arranging a strip (30) of a cutting material for a cutting edge of saw blades respectively saw bands without any play between the edges (12, 22) of a first carrier band (10) and a second carrier band (20); (b) guiding of a laser or electron beam (40) along a first edge (32) of the strip (30) for welding part per part of the first carrier band (10) to the strip (30), wherein regions (36) along the first edge (32) of the strip (30) remain unwelded; (c) guiding of a laser or electron beam (40) along a second edge (34) of the strip (30) for welding part per part of the second carrier band (20) to the strip (30), wherein regions (36) along the second edge (34) of the strip (30) remain unwelded; and (d) guiding a laser, water or electron beam (50) between the first edge (32) and the second edge (34) of the strip (30) or the second edge (34) and the first edge (32) of the strip (30) for separating of the strip (30) into segments (31).
US08104371B2
The present invention aims to provide a dial control device having a maneuverability of a control knob improved by making this in cylindrical shape and downsized by disposing another control knob installed within the first-mentioned cylindrical control knob. A dial control device comprising: a cylindrical control knob, a sun gear rotating integrally with said control knob for transmission of a driving force from said control knob, a planet gear interlocking with said sun gear, an internal gear cooperating with said sun gear to guide said planet gear in a direction of its movement, and a control cable coupled to said planet gear so as to operate an external device, wherein said driving force generated by rotational operation of said control knob is transmitted via said sun gear, said planet gear and said control cable to the external device to control operation of said external device.
US08104368B2
A system for laterally transporting a load. The system uses a sprocket and an integrally formed rack combination. The crowns of the teeth of the rack are rounded so as to engage the lower most troughs of the space between the teeth of the sprocket so that a vertical load may be placed on the system and yet allow lateral translating of the load as the sprocket is rotated.
US08104359B2
An ultrasonic, flow measuring device having a plurality of measuring channels. At least one ultrasonic sensor is situated in a first region of a pipeline, or measuring tube; at least two ultrasonic sensors are situated in a second region of the pipeline (5), or measuring tube, in such a manner that the ultrasonic measuring signals travel through the pipeline, or measuring tube, in, or opposite to, a stream direction of the medium, on sound paths of different lengths. A transmitting stage simultaneously excites the ultrasonic sensor, or the ultrasonic sensors, of the first or second region for transmitting the ultrasonic measuring signals. Due to the different lengths of the sound paths, the receiving stage detects the ultrasonic measuring signals incoming to the ultrasonic sensors of the second or first region at separate times. The evaluating stage ascertains, on the basis of travel-time difference of the ultrasonic measuring signals on the individual sound paths, in, and opposite to, the stream direction, volume- and/or mass-flow of the medium in the pipeline, or measuring tube.
US08104355B2
A measurement element includes a semiconductor substrate with electrical insulating film formed thereon. A resistor formed on the electrical insulating film constitutes a heater; and a cavity is formed by removing a portion of the semiconductor substrate that corresponds to a region where a body part of the resistor is formed. The region where the body part of the resistor is formed is formed into a thin wall part by the cavity, and an opening and a slit is formed in a portion of the thin wall part in such a manner as to penetrate the thin wall part in the thickness direction. The measurement element has a film formed covering the region of the opening or slit.
US08104348B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a flowing medium, in particular the blood flowing in an extracorporeal blood circulation, for the presence of air, in particular micro-bubbles. A sequence of signal pulses or a continuous signal is injected into the flowing medium, and the signal pulses or continuous signal leaving the flowing medium are received. To detect micro-bubbles, a signal pattern that is characteristic of the variation over time of the received signal pulses or the continuous signal in a predetermined period of time is extracted from the signal received. The characteristic signal pattern is compared with one or more characteristic reference patterns, and the presence of air bubbles is determined if the characteristic signal pattern deviates from the characteristic reference pattern by a predetermined amount. Statistical characteristic variables, in particular the variance, are preferably determined from the signal patterns and compared with one another.
US08104341B2
An ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transducer unit that is externally mountable to a tank. An ultrasonic emitter may generate an ultrasonic beam and receive an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a liquid surface inside a tank. An acoustic lens is coupled to the ultrasonic emitter to shape the ultrasonic beam to compensate for lensing effects of the tank wall. An acoustic coupler may be disposed between the acoustic lens and the tank wall to improve the acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic emitter and the tank wall. The system determines a time-of-flight between generating the ultrasonic beam and receiving the echo. Using the time-of-flight and geometry of a tank, the system may calculate the liquid volume inside the tank. The time-of-flight may be transmitted via a satellite data link or a local data link. The local data link may further be used to configure and maintain the system.
US08104335B2
A method for measuring inflation pressure of a vehicle tire involves measuring a compressive stress. The tire includes a rubber mass, referred to as an interior rubber, delimited by an internal surface in contact with air inside the tire and an external surface in contact with a carcass ply of the tire. The compressive stress in the interior rubber of the tire, between the internal and external surfaces of the interior rubber, is measured and the inflation pressure is deduced from this compressive stress.
US08104329B2
The method comprises: causing a reference fluid (F2) having known rheological characteristics, and an unknown fluid (F1) to flow in parallel in a microchannel (126); identifying at least one data item representative of the interface (I) between these fluids in the parallel flow, and in particular the position of said interface; and determining the rheological characteristics of the unknown fluid, from the or each identified data item.
US08104319B2
In a method of forming a beverage can end wherein a beverage can end shell has a curl defining a perimeter of the can end, a chuckwall extending downwardly and radially inwardly from the curl, a generally U-shaped countersink joining the chuckwall to an outer peripheral edge of a center panel, a method of forming an arcuate chuckwall in the beverage can end shell is described. The method of forming the arcuate chuckwall comprises the steps of providing a partially formed can end, providing an upper tooling having an annular, generally arcuate segment, and providing a lower tooling having a circumferential, generally arcuate, outwardly convex segment in at least partial alignment with the annular, generally arcuate segment of the upper tooling. The annular, generally arcuate segment of the upper tooling and the circumferential, generally arcuate, outwardly convex segment of the lower tooling are brought into engagement with a public side and a product side of the partially formed can end, respectively. A portion of the partially formed can end is reformed to form a circumferential, generally arcuate, outwardly convex segment located between an upper bend in the can end having a center of curvature above a public side of the can end and a lower bend in the partially formed can end having a center of curvature below the public side of the partially formed can end.
US08104313B2
A security enclosure for a handgun includes an enclosure base having an opening to an interior portion and a cover configured to selectively cover the opening in the enclosure base. The cover may be configured in a manner to rotate from a first position in which the cover blocks access to the interior portion of the enclosure base to a second position in which the cover allows access to the interior portion of the enclosure base. A gun enclosure may be rotatably disposed within the enclosure base. A biometric recognition device may be configured to operatively unlock the cover when exposed to a required feature of an authorized user.
US08104312B2
A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a front panel defining a front portion of the washing machine, a decoration panel covering a front-outer circumference of the front panel, a coupling projection formed on at least one of the front and decoration panels, and a slot-shaped hole formed on at least one of the front and decoration panels so that the coupling projection can be sliding-coupled thereto.
US08104307B2
An expander-integrated compressor (5A) has a compression mechanism (21) for compressing a refrigerant and an expansion mechanism (22) for expanding the refrigerant. The compression mechanism (21) is located above the expansion mechanism (22) inside a closed casing (10) and shares a rotating shaft (36) with the expansion mechanism (22). An oil pump (37) is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft (36). The oil pump (37) is immersed in oil in an oil reservoir (15). Usually, the oil is placed in the oil reservoir (15) in such a manner that the oil level (OL) is located above a lower end portion (34e) of a vane (34a) of a first expansion section (30a). More preferably, the oil is placed in such a manner that the expansion mechanism (22) is immersed in the oil. An oil supply passage (38) for guiding the oil to the compression mechanism (21) is formed inside the rotating shaft (36). A suction port (37a) of the oil pump (37) is provided below the lower end portion (34e) of the vane (34a).
US08104301B2
The present invention relates to a refrigerant valve control device and a control method thereof, which adjusts eccentricity of a refrigerant valve during an operation of a refrigerator to prevent overcooling. A refrigerant valve control device of a refrigerator includes a temperature sensing part that senses temperature inside the refrigerator; a refrigerant valve that selectively opens and closes a refrigerant path; and a controlling part that controls the refrigerant valve based on temperature differences between the sensed temperature inside the refrigerator and a predetermined control temperature. In another aspect of the present invention, a control method of a refrigerant valve for a refrigerator includes determining whether refrigerant is leaked at a refrigerant valve based on temperature differences between the temperature inside the refrigerator and a predetermined control temperature; and controlling the refrigerant valve based on the result of the determination.
US08104296B2
A cryogenic storage tank comprises a partition that divides a cryogen space into a main storage space and an auxiliary space. A valve disposed inside the cryogen space is associated with a first fluid passage through the partition. The valve comprises a valve member that is actuatable by fluid forces within the cryogen space. A second fluid passage through the partition comprises a restricted flow area that is dimensioned to have a cross-sectional flow area that is smaller than that of a fill conduit such that there is a detectable increase in back-pressure when the main storage space is filled with liquefied gas.
US08104294B2
A system for controlling the temperature of a passenger cabin has a tube for receiving a heat transfer fluid from an engine and a number of heating coils being thermally connected to the tube. The system also has a number of thermo-electric heat pumps connected to the tube. The heat transfer fluid is modulated for controlling the temperature of the passenger cabin at a number of different points of the passenger cabin.
US08104292B2
A gas turbine engine shroud includes a row of different first and second shroud segments alternating circumferentially therearound. The first segments have a first pattern of first cooling holes extending therethrough. The second segments have a second pattern of second cooling holes extending therethrough. The corresponding patterns have different collective flowrate capabilities.
US08104284B2
A combustor includes a chamber mixing and burning fuel and air and an air hole plate disposed on a wall surface of the chamber. The, air hole plate includes a plurality of rows disposed concentrically of a plurality of air holes jetting coaxial jets of fuel and air into the chamber. A first fuel nozzle and a second fuel nozzle are disposed near a fuel hole for jetting fuel into an air hole row on an inner peripheral side. The first fuel nozzle is structured to suppress turbulence of a surrounding air flow and the second fuel nozzle is structured to promote turbulence of a surrounding air flow. In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, good flame stability can be maintained while further reducing NOx in a combustor using coaxial jets.
US08104283B2
A technique of controlling a boiler system such as that used in a power generation plant includes using manipulated variables associated with or control inputs to a reheater section of the boiler system to control the operation of the furnace, and in particular to control the fuel/air mixture provided to the furnace or the fuel to feedwater ratio used in the furnace or boiler. In the case of a once-through boiler type of boiler system, using the burner tilt position, damper position or reheater spray amount to control the fuel/air mixture or the fuel to feedwater flow ratio of the system provides better unit operational efficiency.
US08104280B2
A lever plate in a VGS type turbocharger that is incorporated in an exhaust guide assembly in a VGS type turbocharger. The lever plate has a fitting hole into which a shaft part of the adjustable vane is fitted formed at a position close to one end of an elongated plate main body thereof and an engaging protrusion to be engaged with the drive ring formed at the other end thereof. The engaging protrusion is formed by bending a blanking material having the shape of an elongated flat plate. The engaging protrusion is pressed in a direction of raising thereof so as to have a thickness greater than the thickness of the plate main body of the lever plate, and opposite side peripheries of the engaging protrusion are subjected to finish blanking to have an arc shape.
US08104263B2
An actuator arrangement for moving a first component relative to a second component, the arrangement comprising: an actuator chamber for receiving a fluid under pressure, a side wall of the chamber being fixed relative to the first component; an actuating element fixed relative to the second component and located inside the chamber for sliding movement along the chamber, relative to the side-wall; and a sealing element which provides a corresponding sliding seal between the actuating element and the sidewall for maintaining an actuating fluid pressure differential across the actuating element thereby to drive the actuating element relative to said side-wall, under said fluid pressure differential, for driving said relative movement of the first and second components; wherein the arrangement further comprises an external side-wall brace connected to the second component for corresponding movement with the actuating element along the outside of the sidewall, the brace being slidably or rollably braced against the outside of the side-wall close to the sealing element thereby to provide respective local reinforcement of the side-wall at or near the sliding seal, in accordance with the position of the actuating element.
US08104257B2
A tip turbine engine (10) provides first and second turbines (32) rotatably driven by a combustor (30) generating a high-energy gas stream. The first turbine (32) is mounted at an outer periphery of a first fan (24a), such that the first fan is rotatably driven by the first turbine (32a). The second turbine (32b) is mounted at an outer periphery of a second fan (24b), and is rotatably driven by the high-energy gas stream. In one embodiment, the first turbine (32a) rotatably drives a plurality of stages of first compressor blades (54) in an axial compressor (22) in a first rotational direction, while the second turbine (32b) rotatably drives a plurality of stages of second compressor blades (52) in the axial compressor (22) in a second rotational direction opposite the first. By rotatably driving alternating stages of compressor blades in opposite directions, the efficiency of the axial compressor (22) is increased and/or the number of stages of compressor blades can be reduced. Other variations are described in additional embodiments.
US08104253B2
A gang reel mower comprises a plurality of laterally spaced front reel cutting units having gaps therebetween, each gap being covered by a rear reel cutting unit that spans and overlaps the gap on each side thereof by an overlap area. Each of the front cutting units is supported for rolling on the ground by a grooved front roller having a grooved portion and by a substantially smooth rear roller having a substantially smooth rolling surface that each extend substantially across the entire width of cut of the front cutting unit. Each of the rear cutting units has a grooved front roller with side shoulders on each end and with a grooved portion between the side shoulders such that the shoulders extend substantially over the overlap areas between the front and rear cutting units with the grooved portion on the front roller of the rear cutting units not extending substantially into the overlap areas. In addition, each of the rear cutting units includes a rear roller with a rolling surface is shorter than the rear roller on the front cutting unit such that the shorter rolling surface does not extend substantially into the overlap areas.
US08104252B1
A combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly includes a front attachment assembly removably conjoined to a body of the lawn mower. A shaft is removably interfitted within lateral sides of the body. A plurality of knobs may be affixed to the axially opposed end portions of the shaft. Each of the knobs may include a pair of spring-actuated fingers. A vertically adjusting mechanism may include a rectilinear bar countersunk within a recess formed at a bottom surface of the body. A pair of rollers may be journaled about axially opposed ends of the bar. A lever may be directly coupled to the bar. A rectilinear arm may be mated to the lever. The arm may further include a distal end removably interfitted within the aperture of the one knob for preventing and allowing rotational movement of the front attachment assembly when the lever is rotatably displaced.
US08104251B2
A method of transferring a contact lens from a first location to a primary package includes transferring the contact lens with an intermediate transfer member to the primary package, wherein the transfer member is sealed in the primary package with the contact lens. Additionally, according to another of many exemplary embodiments, a system for transferring a contact lens to a primary package includes a contact lens and a transfer member associated with the contact lens, wherein an automated lens transfer device is configured to couple the contact lens and the lens transfer member.
US08104248B2
A plug finishing system involves forming a counterbore in a cover board above the head of a fastener as it is driven by a specially constructed driver. A plug, which is dimensioned for the counterbore and has a reduced portion, is inserted into the counterbore and positioned so that its exterior surface is co-planar with the exterior surface of the cover board.
US08104247B2
A disposable roof covering comprising a plastic substrate having a porous top surface, and a superabsorbent polymer located between the top surface and bottom surface of the substrate. The polymer absorbs water contacting the roof covering and allows it to evaporate over time to cool the roof structure and interior of the building. The invention provides a lightweight, low cost roof covering for cooling buildings. A method for cooling a roof structure by applying the disposable roof covering over the roof structure is also provided.
US08104236B2
The present invention provides a platform for supporting various equipment and/or structures which assists in isolating such structure from vibrations external to the platform. Generally, the platform comprises upper and lower plates, having depressions comprising a combination of linear and radial surfaces, upon which the upper plate supports the above-mentioned structure, and the lower plate contacts a surface/area upon which the platform is to rest. Between the upper and lower plates, a plurality of rigid, spherical bearings are placed within the depressions.
US08104235B2
A bird deterrent system includes a first riser attached to a structure, and a second riser attached to a structure. The bird deterrent system also includes a line attached between the first riser and the second riser. A riser includes a free end, and an attachment end. The attachment end includes an attachment mechanism for universal attachment to a frame member of a structure.
US08104234B1
A prefabricated decorative frieze trim for securement to a lower surface of an eave and an exterior wall surface of a building which comprises a low gauge flexible sheet having a front face with an infinite variety of different ornamental shapes that can be formed thereon. A substrate member is applied to an internal surface of the low grade flexible sheet to provide structural rigidity thereto. A mechanism formed on the low grade flexible sheet is for securing the low grade flexible sheet to the lower surface of the eave and upper portion of the exterior wall surface of the building, whereby a free edge of a soffit component and a free edge of a wall siding can be retained thereto.
US08104232B2
A rotatable building structure that comprises: a vertically extending building having one or more floors; a fixed core support for supporting the building, located substantially centrally beneath the building; a rotatable annular drive system for rotating the building, located lower than the building and with its centre substantially aligned with the vertical centerline of the building, the system having an upper surface and a planar lower surface; and a fixed outer support, located beneath the annular drive system, the support having a planar upper surface that contacts the planar lower surface of the annular drive system; wherein at least one of the lower surface of the annular drive system and the upper surface of the fixed outer support is a bearing material, permitting rotation of the annular drive system over the fixed outer support, such that the annular drive system is rotated via a planar to planar bearing system.
US08104230B2
A gutter retaining system incorporating a gutter clip with gutter and retaining member. Retaining member is placed along the eaves. Various embodiments of retaining member permit its use with metal flashing and allow gutter system to be held against a building with straight fascia, slanted fascia, trim board and permit free floating attachment of a debris guard. The gutter clip has an arm, lower portion and upper portion. The upper portion includes upper section which is used to slip the gutter clip over the gutter. The arm fits between the gutter and a building wall. In addition, the gutter clip is scored at scoring lines along the arm which allows segments of arm to be removed. The removal of segments permits gutter clip to be modified for placement against buildings incorporating both straight and slanted fascia and trim board. A wedge clip or extender can be used for universal applications.
US08104229B2
An automobile door is provided with a glass run that seals a peripheral part of a door glass which moves up and down. A garnish is mounted along a door frame on a vehicle-interior side thereof. The glass run includes an extension wall portion formed to extend from an end of a vehicle-interior side wall portion in a molded part of a corner portion thereof, and a catching portion that is formed in the vicinity of an inner peripheral side end part of the extension wall portion to extend to protrude into a vehicle-interior and that is caught on a folded portion of the garnish. The extension wall portion includes a deforming portion configured to be thinner than a general part of the extension wall portion.
US08104225B2
The present invention describes a method of covering a flower pot with an oversized sleeve, as well as a plant package formed therefrom. The sleeve has an inner diameter which is greater than the maximum diameter of a pot disposed therein. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion, a skirt portion with a linear or non-linear upper end, or with or without gussets in the lower end or sides. The sleeve may be secured about the pot by crimping a portion of the sleeve having a bonding material thereon, or by using a securing element.
US08104221B2
An animal trap includes a housing having an opening, a door coupled to the housing, and a latch mechanism. The door is movable between a closed position in which the door obstructs the opening and an open position in which the opening is unobstructed. The latch mechanism is coupled to either the housing or the door and is configured to enable the door to be opened after a period of time has elapsed.
US08104218B2
A firearm accessory mounting rail with an integrated back up sight system including an elongated Picatinny rail having longitudinally spaced apart first and second end regions and a transverse profile. A first sight element has a visual marker substantially centrally positioned. A second sight element has laterally spaced apart visual markers. A substantially centered longitudinal channel extends along the upper surface of the rail between the first and second sight elements. The firearm may be sighted by visually aligning the marker of the first sight element between the markers of the second sight element, the visual alignment being at least partially through the longitudinal channel. The sight elements may be defined completely within the transverse profile of the rail so as not to interfere with the normal attachment of any accessories to the rail and may be adjustable for windage and/or elevation. The visual markers may be illuminated by light gathering fiber optic or tritium elements.
US08104217B2
A riflescope high speed, coarse and fine adjustment assembly that includes a riflescope with an erector tube located inside a scope body. Formed on the scope body is a mounting surface with a lead screw slot located adjacent to the proximal end of the erector tube. Located over the mounting surface is an adjustment plate with a perpendicularly aligned post member located thereon. Located inside the post member is a threaded lead screw with threaded head that connects to the post member and a lower non-threaded neck that extends into a slot formed on the mounting surface. The adjustment plate is affixed along its front edge while the plate's opposite rear section is detached and free to move up or down. Disposed over the adjustment plate is a cover plate with a fine adjustment lever that selectively rises and lowers the rear edge of the cover plate. Attached to the cover plate is a detent plate. Attached over the detent plate is a coarse adjustment dial. During use, the coarse adjustment dial is rotated for the target distance and then the fine adjustment lever is rotated which causes the adjustment plate to finely adjust the length of the lead screw.
US08104203B2
The present invention relates to a solar power generation display assembly and methods for providing same involving solar arrays in a display of designated indicia, each solar array containing one or more electronically linked solar modules or cells of a crystalline or amorphous type and other modules. The solar modules and/or portions of the solar modules and other module portions and/or portions of the other module portions within each specific array or display may be static or manipulated electronically or mechanically to provide an enhanced indicia while a programmable display management system enables operation of electrical and mechanical management sub-systems for displaying the indicia.
US08104202B2
A labeling system comprises a wall enclosing a space and a container for holding a retractable label, the container laterally disposed in relation to the space. The retractable label is configured to extend out of and retract into the container. In some embodiments, the wall at least partially defines a container cap. In other embodiments, the wall at least partially defines another container for holding material, such as, e.g., material of medicinal utility.
US08104197B2
An article of footwear with a sole that includes a plurality of vertical grooves is disclosed. The plurality of vertical grooves may be disposed on a sidewall and a lower portion of the sole. The vertical grooves can facilitate twisting of the sole.
US08104179B2
A razor head 2 is provided with a blade member 3 having a base and a blade body 4 on the base, a blade base member 5 arranged on the bottom side of the razor head 2, and a top member 6 arranged on the top side of the razor head 2. The blade member 3 is fitted between the blade base member 5 and the top member 6. The base of the blade member 3 is supported on the blade base member 5. A cutting edge 4a of the blade body 4 is exposed at the top member 6. The base is provided with a pair of leaf springs arranged between the blade base member 5 and the top member 6. A back opening 19 is disposed on the bottom side of the razor head 2 between both leaf springs, and a front opening 20 is disposed on the top side of the razor head 2. The base is provided with a debris discharge hole 18 between the front opening 20 and the back opening 19. The debris discharge hole 18 of the base is opened on the bottom side of the razor head 2 via the back opening 19 and also opened on the top side of the razor head 2 via the front opening 20.
US08104174B2
The invention relates to a piston for a piston-cylinder arrangement, particularly a shock absorber piston, which includes a piston body, that has a circumferential surface. A sealing collar has an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface, a first peripheral surface, and a first sealing lip, and extends around the circumferential surface of the piston body and covers at least part of the circumferential surface in the axial direction. The first peripheral surface connects the two circumferential surfaces to each other at a first end of the sealing collar. The first sealing lip is delimited by the first peripheral surface and the outer circumferential surface, and the first sealing lip is configured evenly in the circumferential direction.
US08104173B2
A series of electric terminals in which each member of the series has an identical receptacle portion at one end and a unique cable attachment portion at an opposite end is manufactured by forming a generic strip of partially formed terminals having a receptacle portion at one end in a first progressive die forming operation for all members of the series of electric terminals. Strips of completely formed electric terminals of particular members of the series of electric terminals are then completed in respective unique die progressive die forming operations using the generic strip of partially formed terminals. A modular die may be used for forming the strips of completely formed electric terminals from the intermediate generic the strip of partially formed terminals.
US08104171B2
The present invention directs to fabrication methods of single-sided or double-sided multi-layered substrate by providing a lamination structure having at least a core structure and first and second laminate structures stacked over both surfaces of the core structure. The core structure functions as the temporary carrier for carrying the first and second laminate structures through the double-sided processing procedures. By way of the fabrication methods, the production yield can be greatly improved without increasing the production costs.
US08104162B2
An insert has a body which defines a cavity with a filler held in the cavity. Relative movement between the body and the filler helps dampen vibrations in a component when the insert is carried in the component and when the component is vibrated.
US08104159B2
A method for manufacturing a belt for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in which multiple V blocks of a plurality of types having different thicknesses are attached to an endless body. The method includes forming a plurality of V block groups respectively having a different ratio of different types of V blocks; and forming a series of V blocks by attaching a plurality of V blocks to the endless belt to provide said plurality of V block groups. The V block groups have different ratios of the plurality of types of V blocks to provide a belt whose noise level is low and dispersed.
US08104154B2
To efficiently fabricate a high quality piezoelectric vibrating piece regardless of an accuracy of an outer shape of a wafer, there is provided a method of fabricating a plurality of piezoelectric vibrating pieces at a time utilizing a wafer S, the method including a step of forming two or more of through holes 40 and forming outer shapes of a plurality of piezoelectric plates 10 simultaneously with the through holes by constituting reference points G by centers of the through holes by etching the wafer by a photolithography technology, a step of preparing a jig for a wafer having inserting pins formed to project by a number the same as a number of the through holes from above a flat plate portion, thereafter, mounting the wafer on the flat plate portion in a state of inserting the inserting pin into the through hole, a step of forming an electrode on outer surfaces of the plurality of piezoelectric plates, and a step of cutting to separate the plurality of piezoelectric plates from the wafer to fragment, and in the electrode forming step and the cutting step, positioning to the wafer is carried out by constituting the reference point by the center of the through hole.
US08104149B1
A money clip includes a pair of jaws joined together by means of a throat with a pair housings at least partially enveloping the jaws. A pair of operating levers are slidably mounted, respectively, in the housings with an elongated slot formed on the interior of each operating lever. A locking arm is attached to each jaw disposed and positioned to form an interlocking relationship between the jaw and respective operating lever.
US08104148B2
The invention provides a kind of prepolymer with 4-(N-maleimide phenyl)Ether (MPGE) epoxy resin and 4,4′-diphenylmethane bismaleimide (BMI) as reactants, with free radical initiator leading to reaction in solvents, and adding inhibitor after reaction, with the mole ratio of 0.05-0.5 for BMI and MPGE; the initiator usage is 0.01%-0.15% of mole total for reactant monomers; the solvent usage is 50%-70% of the total weight of the reactants; the inhibitor usage is half to double of mole amount of the initiator used. This kind of prepolymer can be used to produce high-performance thermosetting resin composition corresponding to the packaging requirements for electronic components and Integrated Circuits (IC).
US08104141B2
An angle-adjustable hinge in which a pair of floating wedge members are disposed as to be rotation symmetric for 180° around a first axis as an axis of symmetry, and each of wedge faces of four wedge-shaped window portions is serially formed on an arc around a second axis as a center, eccentric from the first axis and rotation symmetric for every 90° around the first axis as the axis of symmetry.
US08104139B2
Method of removing the contents from a pipe (1)comprising forcing a gas flow through the pipe, the pipe having a pipe volume, an inlet end and an outlet end (9), characterized in that the gas flow is forced into the pipe (1) at the inlet end by applying a gas pressure decreasing from an initial pressure to a lower final pressure to remove at least parts of the contents from the pipe and maintaining that lower final pressure to remove the remaining contents from the pipe and apparatus for removing the contents from a pipe by forcing a gas flow through a pipe (1) having an inlet end and an outlet end (9), comprising gas flow generating means (5) and a container (3) having an inlet and having an outlet connectable to the inlet end of the pipe (1).
US08104130B2
A bridge supports any desired loading capacity to cross rivers, ravines, highways, wetlands, and other areas where traffic or pedestrians conveniently access the opposite side. The structure is assembled in a number of ways at the bridge site, using smaller equipment and less time than is normally required. The prefabricated and trial fitted elements can be assembled at ground level and the structure can be launched on rollers across the area that is to be crossed, or can be assembled sequentially from one or both sides. The structure includes two or more box girders supporting the bridge deck which is integrated into the structure. The upper portion of the girders form the side barriers of the bridge and the deck with integrated cross members is fastened to the lower portion of the girders, both of which are sized to accommodate the load bearing capacity of the traffic using the structure.
US08104128B2
A vehicular slope apparatus (1) includes a first slope section (10) that is rotatably connected to a body of a vehicle, and a second slope section (20) that is slidably connected to an extension side of the first slope section (10), the first slope section (10) including assistance mechanism (50) that applies an assistance force (Mf) in a direction in which the first slope section (10) rotates upwardly and, the assistance force (Mf) being larger than a downward moment that occurs at a center of gravity (M1) of the entire apparatus (1) when the entire apparatus (1) is horizontalized in a state in which the second slope section (20) is received within the first slope section (10), and is smaller than a downward moment that occurs at a center of gravity (M2) of the entire apparatus (1) when the second slope section (20) is extended from the first slope section (10) to a maximum extent, and the first slope section (10) rotating when the second slope section (20) has been extended to a predetermined extent so that an end of the slope apparatus comes in contact with the ground.
US08104127B1
A sheet metal working tool has a shaft with a first end and a second end, a striking tool attached to the first end of the shaft, and an opener attached to the second end of the shaft. The opener includes a flat plate with a first end and a second end and a C-shaped structure having a first-end and a second end, the first end of the flat plate and the first end of the C-shaped structure joined together with the second end of the plate spaced from the second end of the C-shaped structure.
US08104118B2
A patient support incorporates a lying surface and at least one siderail on at least one side of the support. The siderails are operable between a raised position, an intermediate position, and a lowered position. When unlocked and urged from the raised position to the intermediate position, a latching mechanism automatically locks the siderails in the intermediate position. When urged from the lowered position to the raised position, the locking mechanism permits the siderails to pass through the intermediate position without locking, and to subsequently lock at the raised position. In the intermediate position, the siderails may define a gap through which a patient can ingress or egress the bed. In the raised and intermediate positions, the siderails may define gaps between each other and/or between the siderails and a headboard and footboard, that are sufficiently small to prevent accidental egress, and sufficiently large to prevent pinching and entrapment.
US08108942B2
A probe microscope includes a cantilever having a probe, a displacement detecting optical system, an observation optical system, an objective lens, and a parallel glass. The displacement detecting optical system includes a first light source and a light detecting element. The observation optical system includes a second light source, an image forming lens, and a camera. The objective lens is disposed between the cantilever and the first and second light sources, and is commonly used by the displacement detecting optical system and the observation optical system. The parallel glass is capable of being inserted and retracted freely between the cantilever and the objective lens to adjust a focal point of the objective lens.
US08108938B2
A data communication device that communicates with a storage device via a network includes an input unit for inputting user identification information, a log-in processing unit configured to enable a user to log in to access a storage area of the storage device associated with the user identification information, an accessing unit configured to access the storage area if the user logs in, a determining unit configured to determine whether data processing involving the accessed storage area is ongoing when an instruction is sent to cause the user to log out, and a controller unit configured to enable the user to log out and disable access to the storage area when the data processing is not ongoing, and, when the data processing is ongoing, enable access to the storage area even after the user has logged out until the data processing has been completed.
US08108925B2
An authentication printing system, comprising: an authentication unit that acquires authentication information from a user and authenticates based on the authentication information that the user possesses the authority to execute authentication printing (referred to as “authorized user”); a printing unit that acquires a print job corresponding to the authorized user from a printing job holding unit, and executes the authentication printing based on the print job (referred to as “print execution job”); a re-authentication unit that acquires the authentication information from a user upon completion of print processing, with regard to the print execution job, and authenticates based on the authentication information that the user is the authorized user of the print execution job; and a determination unit that determines that a printed matter is collected by the authorized user with regard to the print execution job, when re-authentication is completed with regard to the print execution job.
US08108923B1
Controlling access to a protected network is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more events that occur will a host is disconnected from the protected network are logged. The log is provided to one or more devices associated with the protected network when the host requests access to the protected network after a period in which it was not connected. In some embodiments, a network access control or other device or process uses the log to determine whether and/or an extent to which the host should be permitted to connect to the network.
US08108922B2
Techniques are described for providing customizable sign-on functionality, such as via an access manager system that provides single sign-on functionality and other functionality to other services for use with those services' users. The access manager system may maintain various sign-on and other account information for various users, and provide single sign-on functionality for those users using that maintained information on behalf of multiple unrelated services with which those users interact. The access manager may allow a variety of types of customizations to single sign-on functionality and/or other functionality available from the access manager, such as on a per-service basis via configuration by an operator of the service, such as co-branding customizations, customizations of information to be gathered from users, customizations of authority that may be delegated to other services to act on behalf of users, etc., and with the customizations that are available being determined specifically for that service.
US08108917B2
There is provided a management apparatus, which comprises a transmission condition judgment unit which refers to a target digital certificate and judges whether a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied based on a period of validity written in the target digital certificate, a mail generating unit which generates an e-mail provided with link information to a web page where updating operation on the target digital certificate is acceptable if the predetermined transmission condition is judged as satisfied by the transmission condition judgment unit, a destination setting unit which sets an destination e-mail address of the e-mail generated by the mail generating unit, and a mail transmission unit which transmits the e-mail generated by the mail generating unit to the destination e-mail address set by the destination setting unit.
US08108915B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, method, and computer program product for establishing a secure network connection between two computers, a client and a server. The client may send a connection request over a public network to the server. In response, the server may generate a set of credentials, select a controller to automatically run on the client, and send the controller and the set of credentials to the client. The controller automatically executes on the client and utilizes the set of credentials from the server to establish a secure network connection with the server without user intervention. The set of credentials is valid until the secure network connection between the client and the server is severed.
US08108905B2
A system, method, and computer-usable medium for an isolated process to control address translation. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an isolation region that is accessible only to a first processing unit in a data processing system is created. A loader is executed to load a secure process in the isolation region. If the secure process is determined to be allowed to issue real mode direct memory access commands, real mode direct memory access commands are enabled to allow the secure process to issue non-translated direct memory access commands.
US08108900B2
An apparatus coupled to, or integrated with, a tuner. This apparatus, which may be referred to herein as a “compensator,” may operate to adjust a frequency of the tuner to counteract drift or error that may cause the tuner to erroneously tune to an inaccurate or undesired frequency. The compensator may be implemented as hardware or software, and may be stand-alone or integrated into the tuner and/or LNBF.
US08108895B2
Systems and methods are presented for insertion of assets into a stream of content (e.g., audio and/or video programming). Such assets may be targeted to network users separate from the surrounding content and deliveries thereof confirmed. Among other things, these systems and methods enable a new advertising paradigm based on guaranteed delivery of targeted commercial impressions. In this regard, the systems and methods generally provide assets with broadcast network programming (e.g., via actual insertion and/or switching to an asset channel) based on actual audience observations. For example, asset providers may wish to target assets for delivery according to specific audience classifications (e.g., gender, income level, locale, age, etc.). Programming providers, such as television programmers and radio programmers (e.g., standard tower broadcast radio and satellite radio), may receive information from broadcast network users and insert the assets into available bandwidth based on that information.
US08108888B2
Methods and apparatus to monitor audio/visual content from various sources are disclosed. An example method to monitor a media content presentation comprises determining whether an audio signal is muted based on whether a number of zero crossings exceeds a threshold, and based on whether the audio signal is determined to be muted, using the audio signal to at least one of determine a source of the media content presentation or determine a special operating mode of the source of the media content presentation. Another example method to monitor a media content presentation comprises determining the source of the media content presentation based on whether the audio signal is determined to be compressed. Yet another example method to monitor a media content presentation comprises determining the source of the media content presentation based on whether the video signal is determined to be compressed.
US08108884B2
An optical disk recording/reproducing device includes a turntable 7 configured to rotate an optical disk 9 and an optical head 3 configured to record/reproduce information in/from the optical disk 9. A stepping motor 13 to drive a collimator lens 16 is mounted on a head base 17 of the optical head 3 and a part of stator 42 of the stepping motor 13 is exposed through an opening 14a of a head cover 14, an opening 15a of a flexible substrate 15, an opening 13a of a cover 41, and an opening 13b of the cover 41.
US08108883B2
Methods of populating a document with digital information content. An information management software application is launched on a computer-based platform and a data drop window or a base format document is opened such that digital files, having digital data content, may be easily dragged and dropped (or pasted) into data holder locations of the data drop window or the base format document. A third-party document generation application is launched on the computer-based platform such that the third-party document generation application is able to communicate with the information management software application, for example, through an API, or the third-party document generation application is able to open and save the base format document, such that a third-party document, that is populated with the digital data content, may be automatically generated.
US08108882B1
A processing unit is configured to establish a driver relationship between a network interface driver and a network interface device, the network interface device being configured to carry out multiple functions through the operating system. The processing unit is also configured to associate the network interface driver with a first driver of the operating system to provide a first function pathway between the network interface device and the first driver of the operating system through the network interface driver. The processing unit is also configured to associate the network interface driver with a second driver of the operating system to provide a second function pathway between the network interface device and the second driver of the operating system through the network interface driver. The first function pathway and the second function pathway allow the network interface device to carry out the multiple functions through the operating system.
US08108881B2
An improved proxy is disclosed for allowing click-through on an ad URL delivered on a web page within a Java® applet executing on a client machine. The proxy caches cookie information for the browser, to support java applications that do not allow for planting of cookies directly. When the user clicks on the ad URL, the proxy retrieves the relevant cookie and link information from a host side database, and uses the same to help the browser open the correct URL associated with the ad. The proxy acts to extend the reach and access of a conventional applet beyond the resources of a download host associated with such applet.
US08108874B2
Variations of waiting times of requests for services handled by a processor are minimized. In response to the processor receiving a request for a service, an arrival time of the request for the service is recorded and added to a total arrival time for all requests for the service, and a counter of a number of waiting requests for the service is incremented. In response to the processor processing the request, the arrival time of the request is subtracted from the total arrival time, and the counter is decremented. In either case, an average waiting time of requests for the service is determined, a history of the average waiting times is maintained, and the variation within this history is determined. Where the variation is greater than a threshold, processor resources are adjusted to minimize variations within waiting times of requests for all the services handled by the processor.
US08108863B2
A first execution time of a first thread executing on a first processing unit of a multiprocessor is determined. A second execution time of a second thread executing on a second processing unit of the multiprocessor is determined, the first and second threads executing in parallel. Power is set to the first and second processing units to effectuate the first and second threads to finish executing at approximately the same time in future executions of the first and second threads. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08108857B2
A computer system determines an optimal hardware system environment for a given set of workloads by allocating functionality from each workload to logical partitions, where each logical partition includes resource demands, assigning a priority weight factor to each resource demand, configuring potential hardware system environments, where each potential hardware system environment provides resource capacities, and computing a weighted sum of least squares metric for each potential hardware system environment.
US08108851B2
A method, system and computer program and method for modifying functionality of a computer program. In one embodiment, configuration files include configuration directives for removing and replacing computer executable codes. The configuration directives include code identifiers pointing to the computer executable codes for execution by the computer program. A lookup module is configured to recursively search for configuration files within plug-in packages. A control module is configured to modify the program flow of the computer program in accordance with the configuration directives.
US08108838B2
A method for adaptive runtime reconfiguration of a co-processor instruction set, in a computer system with at least a main processor communicatively connected to at least one reconfigurable co-processor, includes the steps of configuring the co-processor to implement an instruction set comprising one or more co-processor instructions, issuing a co-processor instruction to the co-processor, and determining whether the instruction is implemented in the co-processor. For an instruction not implemented in the co-processor instruction set, raising a stall signal to delay the main processor, determining whether there is enough space in the co-processor for the non-implemented instruction, and if there is enough space for said instruction, reconfiguring the instruction set of the co-processor by adding the non-implemented instruction to the co-processor instruction set. The stall signal is cleared and the instruction is executed.
US08108836B1
A method for updating software is disclosed. The method includes accessing system data associated with a client and determining known issues to be resolved associated with the client based on the system data. The method also includes accessing system update preferences associated with the client, the system update preferences representing a minimum system status level and determining if the client satisfies the minimum system status level based on the update preferences and based on the system data.
US08108835B2
A method and system for enforcing version control is provided. An embodiment of the method comprises receiving a command to execute code. Code is retrieved from a code management storage and loaded into a controlled storage. The code may comprise test and program components. The code is executed and the results of the executed code are recorded and logged, and the code is removed from the controlled storage. The system includes an interface for receiving the execute code command and is coupled to the controlled storage. A code loader for loading code into the controlled storage may also be provided.
US08108832B2
A system for updating multiple copies of a software program on respective multiple devices includes a system for responding to a notification of a first copy of the software program in a first one of the devices; a system for sending a notification responded signal to a second one of the devices by the first device that the notification has been responded to; and a system for automatically preventing a duplicate of the notification from occurring in a second copy of the software program on the second device based upon the notification responded signal received by the second device from the first device.
