US08106486B2
In a method of making an electronic apparatus, electronic devices and a mold are placed in a package such that pads of electronic devices are covered with the mold. An electrical insulator is poured into the package, in which the mold is placed, to fill the package. The mold is removed from the electrical insulator to form a space where the pads are exposed. An electrical conductor is placed in the space such that the pads are electrically connected together through the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is in the form of a liquid or a solid having both fluidity and deformability.
US08106481B2
Most semiconductor devices manufactured today, have uniform dopant concentration, either in the lateral or vertical device active (and isolation) regions. By grading the dopant concentration, the performance in various semiconductor devices can be significantly improved. Performance improvements can be obtained in application specific areas like increase in frequency of operation for digital logic, various power MOSFET and IGBT ICS, improvement in refresh time for DRAM's, decrease in programming time for nonvolatile memory, better visual quality including pixel resolution and color sensitivity for imaging ICs, better sensitivity for varactors in tunable filters, higher drive capabilities for JFET's, and a host of other applications.
US08106479B1
Integrated circuits are disclosed including at least one inductor-capacitor component, where each of the inductor-capacitor components includes an inductor and a capacitor constructed between the inductor and a substrate. The inductor includes at least one metal loop over a shield pattern forming a first capacitor terminal over patterned oxide layer with a second capacitor layer between the patterned oxide layer and the substrate.
US08106478B2
A power source noise of a semiconductor device having a core cell configuring a logic circuit is reduced. Above the core cell configuring the logic circuit provided on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate are provided a first branch line for a first power source of the core cell, which is electrically connected to a first power source trunk line, and a second branch line for a second power source of the core cell, which is electrically connected to a second power source trunk line. The first and second branch lines are oppositely provided, thereby forming a capacitor between the first and second power sources.
US08106473B2
A germanium (Ge) photodiode array on a glass substrate is provided with a corresponding fabrication method. A Ge substrate is provided that is either not doped or lightly doped with a first dopant. The first dopant can be either an n or p type dopant. A first surface of the Ge substrate is moderately doped with the first dopant and bonded to a glass substrate top surface. Then, a first region of a Ge substrate second surface is heavily doped with the first dopant. A second region of the Ge substrate second surface is heavily doped with a second dopant, having the opposite electron affinity than the first dopant, forming a pn junction. An interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer is formed overlying the Ge substrate second surface and contact holes are etched in the ILD layer overlying the first and second regions of the Ge substrate second surface. The contact holes are filled with metal and metal pads are formed overlying the contact holes.
US08106472B2
The pixel for use in an image sensor comprises a low-doped semiconductor substrate (A). On the substrate (A), an arrangement of a plurality of floating areas, e.g., floating gates (FG2-FG6), is provided. Neighboring floating gates are electrically isolated from each other yet capacitively coupled to each other. By applying a voltage (V2−V1) to two contact areas (FG1, FG7), a lateral steplike electric field is generated. Photogenerated charge carriers move along the electric-field lines to the point of highest potential energy, where a floating diffusion (D) accumulate the photocharges. The charges accumulated in the various pixels are sequentially read out with a suitable circuit known from image-sensor literature, such as a source follower or a charge amplifier with row and column select mechanisms. The pixel of offers at the same time a large sensing area, a high photocharge-detection sensitivity and a high response speed, without any static current consumption.
US08106459B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a planar transistor on a first portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first portion of the semiconductor substrate has a first top surface; and a multiple-gate transistor on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate. The second portion of the semiconductor substrate is recessed from the first top surface to form a fin of the multiple-gate transistor. The fin is electrically isolated from the semiconductor substrate by an insulator.
US08106456B2
A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistor device includes a buried insulator layer formed over a bulk substrate; an SOI layer formed on the buried insulator layer; and a pair of silicon containing epitaxial regions disposed adjacent opposing sides of a gate conductor, the epitaxial regions corresponding to source and drain regions of the transistor device; wherein portions of the epitaxial regions are embedded in the buried insulator and are in contact with both vertical and bottom surfaces of the SOI layer corresponding to source and drain extension regions at opposing ends of a channel region of the transistor device.
US08106451B2
A lateral DMOS transistor that includes two RESURF regions of one conductivity and two RESURF regions of another conductivity disposed between the base region and the drain region thereof.
US08106448B2
A method of manufacturing a NAND flash memory device. A semiconductor substrate of a portion in which a source select line SSL and a drain select line DSL will be formed is recessed selectively or entirely to a predetermined depth. Accordingly, the channel length of a gate can be increased and disturbance can be reduced. It is therefore possible to improve the reliability and yield of devices.
US08106436B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed having a trench structure. The trench structure includes a single crystalline semiconductor plug formed along exposed upper surfaces of the trench. In one embodiment, the single crystalline semiconductor plug seals the trench to form a sealed core.
US08106434B2
A semiconductor device includes a channel region 18 of semiconductor, a conductive gate electrode 12 adjacent to the channel region 18 and a gate dielectric 10 between the conductive gate electrode 12 and the channel region 18. The gate dielectric 10 is formed of a material that is a ferroelectric in bulk but in a superparaelectric state. The gate dielectric may be for instance of formula AXO3, where A is a group I or II element, and X is titanium, niobium, zirconium and/or hafnium. Such a gate dielectric 10 may be formed for example by low temperature deposition of the gate dielectric 10 or by using dopants of metal oxides to prevent domain growth, or both.
US08106433B2
In a pixel part, in a first active region, a photodiode and a transferring transistor are formed. In a second active region, a resetting transistor is formed. In a pixel part, in a first active region, a photodiode and a transferring transistor are formed. In a second active region, an amplifying transistor is formed. The first and second active regions are respectively the same in shape in image pixel parts. The resetting transistor and the amplifying transistor are shared by the pixel parts.
US08106418B2
A light emitting device includes a first lead and a second lead. The first lead has a top surface which a light emitting element is mounted thereon and a bottom surface opposed to the top surface. The second lead has a lead peripheral region where a wire connected to an electrode of the light emitting element is bonded therewith. The first lead includes a lead middle region where the semiconductor light emitting element is mounted thereon to thermally conduct therewith. A bottom surface of the lead middle region is exposed from a package. The second lead has an outer lead region that is projected outwardly from the both side surfaces of the package. The bottom surface of the first lead middle region is substantially coplanar with a bottom surface of the outer lead region.
US08106413B2
A light emitting device is provided which has a reflector having a reflection surface made of porous alumina having an apparent density of 2.5 to 3.3 g/cm3, and an LED disposed on the reflection surface or near the reflection surface. There are provided: a light emitting device equipped with an LED chip and a reflector having a high reflectivity relative to near infrared to ultraviolet rays irradiated from an LED chip and fluorescent material; and the reflector.
US08106411B2
A light emitting device made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter can provide countermeasures against static electricity and can be configured in a relatively small size. The lighting emitting device can include both a first conductor pattern and a second conductor pattern on an insulating board. In one example, a first LED chip having a high electrostatic breakdown voltage is electrically connected to the first conductor pattern and a second LED chip having a low electrostatic breakdown voltage is electrically connected to the second conductor pattern. The LED chips can be encapsulated with an encapsulating resin on the insulating board. At least part of the first conductor pattern is exposed at a farther position than a furthest portion of the second conductor pattern from a mounting surface so as to act as a lightning rod. Thus, the second LED chip having a low electrostatic breakdown voltage can be protected from static electricity by the first conductor pattern that is connected to the first LED chip.
US08106410B2
A method of manufacturing a display device including the steps of: forming drive elements on a substrate; forming a planarization film in a position corresponding to each of the drive elements; forming a bottom electrode corresponding to each of the plurality of organic light emitting elements; forming a pixel isolation insulating film in a region between the bottom electrodes; forming an organic layer including a light emission layer above the bottom electrode by evaporation using an evaporation mask; and forming a top electrode over the organic layer. In the step of forming the bottom electrode includes the steps of: forming a bottom electrode material film; forming a photoresist film on the bottom electrode material film; exposing the photoresist film using the evaporation mask and developing it; and selectively removing the bottom electrode material film by etching using the photoresist film as a mask.
US08106407B2
Although an organic resin substrate is highly effective at reducing the weight and improving the shock resistance of a display device, it is required to improve the moisture resistance of the organic resin substrate for the sake of maintaining the reliability of an EL element. Hard carbon films are formed to cover a surface of the organic resin substrate and outer surfaces of a seating member. Typically, DLC (Diamond like Carbon) films are used as the carbon films. The DLC films have a construction where carbon atoms are bonded into an SP3 bond in terms of a short-distance order, although the films have an amorphous construction from a macroscopic viewpoint. The DLC films contain 95 to 70 atomic % carbon and 5 to 30 atomic % hydrogen, so that the DLC films are very hard and minute and have a superior gas barrier property and insulation performance.
US08106406B2
A package is disclosed. The package includes a premolded substrate having a leadframe structure, a first device attached to the leadframe structure, and a molding material covering at least part of the leadframe structure and the first device. It also includes a second device attached to the premolded substrate.
US08106402B2
A flat panel display apparatus that can be manufactured with less patterning operations using a mask, and a method of manufacturing the same, the flat panel display apparatus including a substrate; an active layer of a thin film transistor (TFT); a first bottom electrode and a first top electrode of a capacitor; a first insulation layer formed on the substrate; a gate bottom electrode and a gate top electrode corresponding to the channel region; a second bottom electrode and a second top electrode of the capacitor; a pixel bottom electrode and a pixel top electrode; a second insulation layer formed on the gate electrode, the second electrode of the capacitor, and the pixel top electrode; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the second insulation layer.
US08106396B2
A thin film transistor array substrate includes a substrate having a display area and a peripheral area, a plurality of pixel units, a plurality of signal lines, and a testing circuit. The signal lines are electrically connected with the pixel units disposed in the display area. The testing circuit disposed in the peripheral area is electrically connected with terminals, located in the peripheral area, of a portion of the signal lines. The testing circuit includes a common gate line having a plurality of notches formed on an edge thereof, a plurality of channel layers, source electrodes, and drain electrodes. The source electrodes and the drain electrodes are disposed correspondingly on the channel layers disposed above the common gate line. Each drain electrode extends from the top of the common gate line to the top of one notch and extends to the terminal of one signal line for electrically connecting thereto.
US08106388B2
A solar cell including a quantum dot, an electron conductor, and a rigid bridge molecule disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The rigid bridge molecule may include a first anchor group that bonds to the quantum dot and a second anchor group that bonds to the electron conductor. The solar cell may include a hole conductor that is configured to reduce the quantum dot once the quantum dot absorbs a photon and ejects an electron through the rigid bridge molecule and into the electron conductor.
US08106387B2
Organic thin film transistors with improved mobility are disclosed. The transistor contains two interfacial layers between the dielectric layer and the semiconducting layer. One interfacial layer is formed from a siloxane polymer or silsesquioxane polymer. The other interfacial layer is formed from an alkyl-containing silane of Formula (I): where R′ is alkyl having from about 1 to about 24 carbon atoms; R″ is alkyl having from about 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, halogen, alkoxy, hydroxyl, or amino; L is halogen, oxygen, alkoxy, hydroxyl, or amino; k is 1 or 2; and m is 1 or 2.
US08106383B2
A graphene field effect transistor includes a gate stack, the gate stack including a seed layer, a gate oxide formed over the seed layer, and a gate metal formed over the gate oxide; an insulating layer; and a graphene sheet displaced between the seed layer and the insulating layer.
US08106382B2
A source electrode 105 which is connected to a portion of at least one semiconductor nanostructure 103 among a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures, a drain electrode 106 connected to another portion of the semiconductor nanostructure 103, and a gate electrode 102 capable of controlling electrical conduction of the semiconductor nanostructure 103 are included. The semiconductor nanostructures 103 include a low concentration region 108 having a relatively low doping concentration and a pair of high concentration regions 107 having a higher doping concentration than that of the low concentration region 108 and being connected to both ends of the low concentration region 108. The doping concentration of the high concentration regions 107 is 1×1019 cm−3 or more; the length of the low concentration region 108 is shorter than a length of the gate electrode 102 along a direction from the source electrode 105 to the drain electrode 106; and the length of the gate electrode 102 is shorter than the interspace between the source electrode 105 and the drain electrode 106.
US08106372B2
A containment medical apparatus for use in association with medical treatments requiring radioactive substances has a tubular housing with a cap configured for closing an open end of the tubular housing. A quick release mechanism holds the cap on an open end of the tubular housing.
US08106368B2
A fluorescence detecting method utilizes surface plasmon enhancement. An electric field enhancing field is caused to be generated at a detecting portion that includes a metal film provided on a surface of a dielectric prism. Fluorescence emitted by fluorescent labels, which are attached to a detection target substance, due to the excitation effect of the electric field enhancing field is detected by a photodetector. During the detection, a plurality of fine metal particles are dispersed on the detecting portion.
US08106367B2
An ionizer includes a high voltage AC generator, and a planar ion emitter mounted on an insulating substrate and having an array of planar needles that protrude from an edge of the substrate. The high voltage AC generator may be actuated by a switch having a pair of mutually insulated planar contacts located near an edge of the insulating substrate and configured to be contacted by an electrically conductive coil spring. The coil spring is supported by a slider that is moveable toward the ion emitter from an initial position wherein the planar contacts are shorted by the spring so as to actuate the high voltage AC generator. Continued movement of the spring collects dust in its coils while breaking the switch contacts and de-energizing the high voltage AC generator.
US08106366B2
Provided are an ion beam control apparatus and a control method for controlling an ion beam energy expansion level and an ion beam size in a radial direction. An ion beam control apparatus Sa is provided with an ion beam generating unit 2, and an ion beam control unit 1a in which a generated ion beam (IB) is input and controlled to be output with the prescribed level of energy expansion and the prescribed diameter in the radial direction. In the ion beam control unit 1a, phase rotation by a radio frequency electric field that increases existing probability with the prescribed level of energy is at least used.
US08106363B2
A digital radiography panel has a scintillator screen having a light-exiting surface from a material with a first index of refraction n1 and a photosensor array having a light-accepting surface from a material with a second index of refraction n2. A pressure-sensitive adhesive couples the light-exiting surface of the scintillator screen to the light-accepting surface of the photosensor array and has a third index of refraction that has a value nPSA that either lies in the range between n1 and n2, or substantially matches n1 or n2, or both.
US08106361B2
A method determines an alcohol content of liquids that contain at least water and alcohol as well as sugar or similar substances, in the liquid. The liquid is located in an analysis cell is irradiated by an IR-LED light source, which emits infrared radiation with λ=1000-1500 nm. The IR light absorption is measured at least two different wavelengths, and the measurement values are converted into data on the alcohol content of the liquid. The liquid is irradiated with a first IR radiation with a wavelength λ1, where the absorption coefficient of the alcohol, and the absorption coefficient of the water, are identical in magnitude, and with at least a second IR radiation with a wavelength λ2, where the absorption coefficients and are different. The absorption measurement values determined by an IR detector are applied to a calculating unit for the calculation of the alcohol content.
US08106347B2
A vehicular interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly, which includes an ambient light sensor operable to sense ambient light and a glare light sensor operable to sense glare light. A control is operable to establish a reflectance level of a transflective electrochromic reflective element of the mirror assembly and is responsive to light detection by the ambient light sensor and/or the glare light sensor. A backlit video screen is disposed behind the reflective element and is operable to display information through the mirror reflector of the reflective element. A display intensity control adjusts display intensity responsive to a light detection by the glare light sensor and/or the ambient light sensor and as a function of a ratio of a glare light value sensed by the glare light sensor to an ambient light value sensed by the ambient light sensor.
US08106345B2
A photo sensor in a flat panel display includes a first transistor having first, second, and gate electrodes respectively coupled to first, second, and third nodes; a second transistor having first, second, and gate electrodes, respectively coupled to a fourth node, the first node, and a first control signal line; a third transistor having first, second, and gate electrodes, respectively coupled to the second node, the third node, and the first control signal line; a fourth transistor having first, second, and gate electrodes, respectively coupled to a reset power line, the third node, and a reset signal line; a fifth transistor having first, second, and gate electrodes, respectively coupled to a first power source, the first node, and a second control signal line; a sixth transistor having first, second, and gate electrodes, respectively coupled to the second node, output line, and the second control signal line; and a seventh transistor.
US08106344B2
A compound eye camera module according to the present invention includes a lens array including at least two lenses; an imaging element having two imaging areas corresponding to the two lenses; a light shielding block having a light shielding wall for separating optical paths of light transmitted through the two lenses; an optical filter for transmitting light of a specific wavelength range among the light transmitted through the two lenses; and a substrate having an opening larger than the optical filter. The imaging areas and the optical filter are located at a position corresponding to the opening. The imaging element is fixed to a face of the substrate opposite to the side of the lens array. The imaging element is in contact with a face of the optical filter which faces the imaging element. The light shielding block is fixed to a face of the optical filter which faces the light shielding block. The optical filter has portions protruding outside both of ends of the imaging element in a direction connecting the two optical axes of the two lenses. The light shielding block is fixed to the protruding portions of the optical filter.
US08106343B2
An image sensing apparatus includes a pixel array, a first color filter, a second color filter, and a light shielding portion. The amount of electric charges generated in a first pixel after light of a first wavelength enters the first pixel is larger than that of electric charges generated in a second pixel after light of a second wavelength enters the second pixel. The light shielding portion defines the aperture regions of the first and second pixels so as to set the aperture area of the first pixel larger than that of the second pixel.
US08106341B2
The irradiation unevenness caused by drift occurring in a beam short-axis direction is reduced without adding a new beam shaping unit and affecting the propagation characteristic of a beam in an optical resonator. A position deviation detector for detecting a position deviation of a laser beam before passing through a beam shaping optical system, an angle deviation detector for detecting an angle deviation of the laser beam before passing through the beam shaping optical system, a deflection mirror for deflecting the laser beam, which is disposed in an optical path between a laser and an object (substrate), and a mirror controller for controlling orientation of the deflection mirror, based on detection data obtained using the position deviation detector and the angle deviation detector so as to eliminate the position deviation from a reference irradiation position in the short-axis direction of a linear beam on a surface to be irradiated.
US08106337B2
A modular water heating assembly containing two heating elements (1, 2), each having a thermostat module (5, 6) inserted into a sensing tube (3, 4) and attached to the same threaded boss (7). The heating elements are therefor contained in a single assembly with the elements having a fixed temperature set point differential such that the elements are switched on or off to maintain a constant temperature and reduce energy consumption by minimizing temperature overshoot.
US08106331B2
An apparatus for maintaining alignment between precision ground plates includes a first plate including a main body portion having plurality of passages. The first plate also includes a first heating device mounted to heat the main body portion to a selected temperature. A second plate including a main body portion having a plurality of passages is positioned adjacent the first plate. The second plate includes a second heating device mounted to heat the main body portion to a selected temperature. A controller operatively connected to the first and second heating devices selectively establishes a desired temperature in each of the first and second plates to facilitate a desired alignment between the plurality of passages in the first plate and the plurality of passages in the second plate.
US08106330B2
A technique to control segregation of impurities when reforming crystallinity and crystallization of a semiconductor film by using a laser beam irradiation is provided. The present invention is to irradiate the substrate with applying ultrasonic vibration while keeping the end portion of the substrate in space. The substrate on which a semiconductor film is formed is kept onto the stage provided with opening pores, and floated by spouting gas from opening pores. Supersonic vibration can be efficiently provided to the substrate by irradiating with a laser beam with ultrasonic vibration while keeping the end portion of the substrate.
US08106321B2
A circuit breaker device has a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece. In order to ensure protection from weather, the circuit breaker device is equipped with an electrically isolating housing. The electrically isolating housing has a first shell and a second shell. The first shell serves as a volatile casing for the second shell during production.
US08106320B2
Provided are a decorative sheet which is enhanced in durability of an edge portion of a soft feel layer thereof and which is unlikely to suffer breakage, a method of manufacturing such a decorative sheet, a decorative molded body, and a decorative key sheet. A compressed portion formed by crushing a foam layer in a thickness direction is provided at a side surface of an edge portion of a decorative sheet with a soft touch feeling.
US08106317B2
A rotary control device includes a body, a knob rotatably provided on the body, a push button provided on a side portion of the knob so as to be depressed, a lock member that moves in response to a depressing operation of the push button, and a lock portion provided in the body. The lock member is retained to the lock portion of the body so as to restrain a rotary operation of the knob before the push button is depressed. When the push button is depressed, the lock member is moved to a space where the lock member is movable in conjunction with the rotary operation of the knob so that a restraint of the rotary operation of the knob is released.
US08106316B2
A control unit for an electrical switching device comprises: a control shaft which is rotatable about a control axis for operating a moveable contact of the electrical switching device, a first blocking mechanism for the control shaft, which can be activated to block a rotary movement of the control shaft in a first rotation direction, and an activation mechanism for the first blocking mechanism, which is designed to activate the first blocking mechanism.
US08106312B2
A sealing structure to seal housings includes a sealing member disposed between housings to be bonded to allow penetration of at least one signal line; and an adhesive material disposed between the signal lines penetrating the sealing member to bond the signal lines to be overlapped.
US08106305B2
A print circuit board includes: a first surface; a guard plane disposed on an inner layer; a high insulated region formed on the first surface of the board so as to be opposed to the guard plane, the high insulated region being substantially surrounded by one or more first guard patterns; and a quasi-high insulated region formed on the first surface of the board so as to be disposed adjacent to the high insulated region. The quasi-high insulated region is substantially surrounded by at least a part of the one or more first guard patterns and by one or more second guard patterns, in which the one or more first guard patterns and the one or more second guard patterns are each formed by forming one or more trenches in the first surface of the board so as to expose the guard plane on a bottom surface of the trenches.
US08106301B2
A connecting member includes a cable configured to transfer signal, two securing members, and a resilient component. The two securing members secure the resilient component to the cable, the resilient component is elastically deformable between a first state, in which the resilient component and the cable are contracted, and a second state, in which the resilient component and the cable are extended.
US08106287B2
Virtual damper position data, simulatively representing a position of a damper member provided for suppressing vibration of a string in a physical tone generating mechanism of the acoustic piano, is generated on the basis of key-on data, key-off data, released key position data, damper pedal position data, sostenute pedal-on data and sostenute pedal-off data. Release characteristic of a tone signal to be generated is controlled on the basis of the virtual damper position data. When the sostenute pedal-on data or key-on data has been supplied, the virtual damper position data is set at a value corresponding to a maximum damper release position. Virtual damper position data is variably generated on the basis of at least one of the released key position data, damper pedal position data supplied after the supply of the sostenute pedal-off data or key-off data.
US08106284B2
A playback apparatus is able to present song categories to the user that are suited to the current environmental noise. An audio pickup picks up noise data of the surrounding environment. A noise analyzer analyzes the noise data, and then extracts characteristic quantities expressing the characteristics of the noise data. A noise categorizer categorizes the noise data on the basis of the extracted noise data characteristic quantities. A content category database stores content data recorded onto a recording medium in association with categories based on characteristic quantities of the content data. A content category selector cross-references the noise data categorization result with the content category database, and on the basis thereof, selects a plurality of content data categories from among the categorized content data recorded onto the recording medium. A display unit then displays the selected plurality of content data categories.
US08106280B2
To help young children and other individuals learn music while playing and having fun, a novel card or device is presented that includes, on a first side, an image of a musical note on its surface, and on a second side an image of at least a portion of a musical instrument on its surface, the portion indicating a location on the instrument responsible for creating an audible sound associated with the musical note on the first side.
US08106276B2
An inbred rice line designated P64-2S is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred rice line P64-2S, to the plants of inbred rice line P64-2S and to methods for producing a rice plant produced by crossing the inbred rice line P64-2S with itself or another rice plant. The invention further relates to hybrid rice seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred rice line P64-2S with another rice plant. This invention further relates to growing and producing blends of rice seeds comprised of seeds of inbred rice line P64-2S with rice seed of one, two, three, four or more of another rice hybrid, rice variety or rice inbred.
US08106273B2
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid HNS12846080 and parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of such plants, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, including 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.
US08106269B2
A soybean cultivar designated S090001 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S090001, to the plants of soybean S090001, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S090001, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S090001 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S090001, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S090001, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S090001 with another soybean cultivar.
US08106268B2
A soybean cultivar designated 8734242 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 8734242, to the plants of soybean 8734242, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 8734242, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 8734242 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 8734242, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 8734242, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 8734242 with another soybean cultivar.
US08106261B2
The present invention describes an alternative approach to increase GABA production in prokaryotes or eukaryotes, namely by the insertion of the putrescine catabolic pathway in organisms where the pathway does not exist or has not clearly been identified. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode functional putrescine aminotransferase (PAT) and gamma-aminobutyricaldehyde dehydrogenase (GABAlde DeHase) polypeptides in plants to increase GABA production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Changes in GABA availability will improve growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.
US08106255B2
The present invention provides for a method or methods of targeted genetic recombination or mutagenesis in a host cell or organism, and compositions useful for carrying out the method. The targeting method of the present invention exploits endogenous cellular mechanisms for homologous recombination and repair of double stranded breaks in genetic material. The present invention provides numerous improvements over previous mutagenesis methods, such advantages include that the method is generally applicable to a wide variety of organisms, the method is targeted so that the disadvantages associated with random insertion of DNA in-to host genetic material are eliminated, and certain embodiments require relatively little manipulation of the host genetic material for success. Additionally, it provides a method that produces organisms with specific gene modifications in a short period of time.
US08106251B2
The present invention provides tissues derived from animals, which lack any expression of functional alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase (alpha-1,3-GT). Such tissues can be used in the field of xenotransplantation, such as orthopedic reconstruction and repair, skin repair and internal tissue repair or as medical devices.
US08106250B2
The present invention relates to a process for removing organic silicon compounds from hydrocarbon streams by contact with an adsorbent and hydrogen. The adsorbent is composed of lamellar double hydroxides and group VI-B or group VIII hydrogenating metal. More specifically, the process of the present invention involves a stage of activation for formation of the lamellar double hydroxide, and maintaining the phase of lamellar double hydroxide by adding water.
US08106249B2
Methods of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is provided wherein conducting ODH in microchannels has unexpectedly been found to yield superior performance when compared to the same reactions at the same conditions in larger reactors. ODH methods employing a Mo—V—Mg—O catalyst is also described. Microchannel apparatus for conducting ODH is also disclosed.
US08106239B2
A coalescent composition for coating compositions such as paints, adhesives, and coatings comprising a blend of dibasic esters, specifically (i) esters of adipic, glutaric, and/or succinic diacids and/or (ii) esters of isomers of adipic acid have advantages, including efficiency and low VOC.
US08106236B2
The present invention relates to compounds having the general formula (I) with the definitions of X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, R9, R10 given below, and solvates, hydrates, esters, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.Furthermore the invention relates to the use of said compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and their use for the modulation of γ-secretase activity.
US08106220B2
A process is described for preparing phthalic anhydride by catalytic gas phase oxidation of o-xylene, in which a gaseous mixture of o-xylene and an oxygenous gas is converted in a main reactor to a gaseous intermediate reaction product which comprises unconverted o-xylene, phthalic anhydride underoxidation products and phthalic anhydride, the heat of reaction which arises in the main reactor being removed at least partly by indirect cooling with a heat carrier medium, and the intermediate reaction product being introduced into a postreactor. The concentration of unconverted o-xylene in the intermediate reaction product is at least 1% by weight, and the sum of the concentrations of phthalic anhydride underoxidation products in the intermediate reaction product is at least 0.5% by weight. The process allows an increase in the overall yield of phthalic anhydride without or without significant deterioration in the product quality.
US08106209B2
The invention provides amino-substituted aminothiazole compounds of Formula I and Formula II where A is a group of the formula: and the variables X, Y, R, and R1 to R7 are described herein. These compounds are prodrugs of compounds useful as inhibitors of viral replication. Compositions containing such compounds, and methods of treating viral infections with these compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds are also provided by the invention.
US08106207B2
The invention is directed to delta opioid receptor modulators. More specifically, the invention relates to tricyclic δ-opioid modulators. Pharmaceutical and veterinary compositions and methods of treating mild to severe pain and various diseases using compounds of the invention are also described.
US08106201B2
This invention relates to intermediates useful in the preparation of opiate alkaloids, particularly morphinane compounds. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such intermediates and to processes which utilise such intermediates in the synthesis of morphinane compounds.
US08106198B2
A theme of the present invention is to provide a new transition metal complex, useful as a photosensitizer dye for a photoelectric conversion element having an excellent durability and a high photoelectric conversion characteristic. The present invention provides a bivalent transition metal complex constituted of (i) a bipyridyl polyacidic ligand, such as a dicarboxybipyridyl (dcbpy) ligand, as an adsorption site for adsorption onto titanium dioxide particle surfaces; (ii) a ligand, selected from the group consisting of an isothiocyanato group, an isocyanato group, and an isoselenocyanato group and enabling absorption and excitation at long wavelengths and charge transfer; and (iii) a bipyridyl (bpy) ligand, having an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, preferably a long-chain alkyl group, and a conjugately bonded thienylvinylene group, aminophenylenevinylene group, etc., and improving an absorbance of a transition metal complex and imparting stability against nucleophile to a sensitizer dye that improves an absorption bathochromic effect.
US08106197B2
Aminopyridine and aminopyrazine compounds of formula (1), compositions including these compounds, and methods of their use are provided. Preferred compounds of formula 1 have activity as protein kinase inhibitors, including as inhibitors of c-MET.
US08106196B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof. The present invention further relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of formula (I) and optical isomers and to use of the compounds of formula (I), isomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof as medicaments, in particular as medicaments for the treatment and prevention of Hepatitis B.
US08106188B2
An improved for preparing Olanzapine Form I of Formula 1 in the presence of one solvent or a mixture of solvents.
US08106185B2
The present invention is related to a modified hydroxypolymer conjugates preferably a guanidine-dextran conjugate having a tumor cell killing activity. The modified hydroxypolymer conjugate is used as medicine, particularly for manufacturing a medicine or tumor killing composition for treating tumors. A method for producing said hydroxypolymer conjugate and a method for killing cancer cells and treating tumors is also disclosed. The invention is also related to a method for killing tumor cells and treating tumors by administering an effective amount of the modified hydroxypolymer conjugate.
US08106184B2
The invention relates to compositions of nicotinoyl ribosides and nicotinamide riboside derivatives and their methods of use. In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods of making nicotinoyl ribosides. In some embodiments, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and nutritional supplements containing a nicotinoyl riboside. In further embodiments, the invention relates to methods of using nicotinoyl ribosides and nicotinamide riboside derivatives that promote the increase of intracellular levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in cells and tissues for improving cell and tissue survival.
US08106181B2
Methods for producing interfering RNA molecules in mammalian cells are provided. Therapeutic uses for the expressed molecules, including inhibiting expression of HIV, are also provided.
US08106176B2
Compositions comprising matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) or stromelysin-3 (ST-3) or the nucleic acid encoding the MMP-11 for use in vaccines for treating tumors and cancers, which overexpress MMP-11, are described. In particular embodiments, the compositions comprise a nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide that includes the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element wherein the codons encoding the MMP-11 and the immunoenhancing element have been optimized for enhanced expression of the fusion polypeptide in human cells. In other embodiments, the compositions comprise the catalytically inactivated MMP-11 linked at the C-terminus to an immunoenhancing element. The compositions can be used alone or in synergy with vaccines against other tumor associated antigens as well as with conventional therapies such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
US08106169B2
This invention provides for the plant production of immunoglobulins, wherein at least a portion of the glycans attached to the immunoglobulins lack fucose. The invention also provides the constructs; plasmids; vectors; transformed plant cells, transformed plant calli; transformed plant tissues (e.g., leaves, seeds, tubers, etc.); transformed whole plants used to produce such immunoglobulins; methods of producing the immunoglobulins; the immunoglobulins produced by the disclosed methods; and the use of such immunoglobulins.
US08106168B2
Proteins that bind to matrix metalloproteinase 14 and methods of using such proteins are described.
US08106164B2
The invention pertains to the development of antibodies that specifically bind amyloid beta protein (Abeta) in its protofibril conformation. The invention also comprises methods of using anti-Abeta protofibril antibodies to diagnose or treat Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome Lewybody dementia, vascular dementia, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, the invention pertains to the use of anti-Abeta protofibril antibodies to screen and identify substances that will modulate protofibril activity or formation in vitro or in vivo. The invention also pertains to methods for synthesising pure Abeta protofibril antigens as well as to a method for stabilising Abeta protofibrils antigens as well as to a method for stabilising Abeta protofibrils.
US08106163B2
The present invention relates to antibodies that specifically bind to the BAFF receptor (BAFFR). The invention more specifically relates to specific antibodies that are BAFFR antagonists with in vivo B cell depleting activity and compositions and methods of use for said antibodies to treat pathological disorders that can be treated by killing or depleting B cells, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases or lymphomas, leukemias and myelomas.
US08106161B2
The invention relates to novel binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion proteins that feature a binding domain for a cognate structure such as an antigen, a counterreceptor or the like, a hinge region polypeptide having either zero or one cysteine residue, and immunoglobulin CH2 and CH3 domains, and that are capable of ADCC and/or CDC while occurring predominantly as monomeric polypeptides. The fusion proteins can be recombinantly produced at high expression levels. Also provided are related compositions and methods, including immunotherapeutic applications.
US08106159B2
The subject invention relates to insecticidal toxin complex (“TC”) fusion proteins and to polynucleotides that encode these fusion proteins. In some embodiments, the invention provides a fusion protein comprising a Class A protein, a Class B protein, and a Class C TC protein fused together to form a single protein. In some other embodiments, the invention provides a fusion protein comprising a Class B and a Class C TC proteins fused together. In the latter embodiments, the BC or CB fusion protein can be used to enhance or potentiate the anti-insect activity of a “Toxin A” or Class A protein. The subject invention also includes plants, cells (bacterial and plant cells for example), and seeds that comprise the polynucleotides. The subject invention also includes methods of controlling pests (preferably insects and other plant pests) with fusion proteins of the subject invention.
US08106153B2
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for antigenic peptides derived from IgE molecule can be generated in vitro by stimulating resting naive CD8 T cells with IgE peptides presented by artificial antigen presenting cells. The IgE specific CTLs lyse the target cells loaded with IgE peptides in vitro and inhibit antigen specific IgE response in vivo. In addition, adoptive transfer of the IgE specific CTL to an asthmatic mouse model can inhibit the development of lung inflammation and airway hypersensitivity. IgE specific CTL provides a treatment for allergic asthma and other IgE-mediated allergic diseases. Antigenic peptides identified from non-tumor self-antigens induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) in vitro. The CTL induced by peptides identified from CD40L can kill activated CD4 T cells. In vitro generated CTL specific for CD40L inhibit CD4-dependent antibody responses of all isotypes in vivo. In contrast, CTL induced by antigenic peptides derived from IgE specifically inhibit IgE responses, and adoptive transfer of CD40L-specific CTL to NOD mice at early age delay the development of diabetes in NOD mice. In vitro generated CTL specific for non-tumor self-antigens expressed on activated CD4 T cells regulate immune responses in vivo.
US08106152B2
The present invention relates to novel antimicrobial composition comprising a peptide which can be obtained from the milk protein casein or chemically synthesised or produced by recombinant DNA technology and a divalent cation.
US08106143B2
A resin composition includes a polycarbonate resin derived from an ether diol residue such as isosorbide and has excellent impact resistance, heat resistance, heat stability and moldability. The resin composition includes a rubber polymer (component B) in an amount of 1 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin (component A) which contains a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1) as the main constituent and has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 145 to 165° C. and a 5% weight loss temperature (Td) of 320 to 400° C.
US08106141B2
Reaction products prepared from reactants including: (a) at least one compound of structural Formula (I): wherein R1 is selected from aryl and heteroaryl; X is selected from a direct bond, —O—, —S—, —NH—, alkylene, cycloalkylene, heterocyclylene, arylene, alkarylene, and heteroarylene; Y is a substituted alkylene group having at least two contiguous carbon atoms and which can be interrupted by one or more —O—, —S—, or —NH— moieties as defined herein, wherein the alkylene group of Y has substituents independently selected from —OH, —NH2, —SH, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, or two hydrogen atoms on the same carbon atom of Y are replaced by carbonyl, and wherein at least two substituents of Y are each independently selected from —OH, —NH2, and —SH, as defined herein; and (b) at least one isocyanate functional material.
US08106131B2
The present invention is directed to hydrolytically stabilized maleimide-functionalized water soluble polymers and to methods for making and utilizing such polymers and their precursors.
US08106129B2
The invention relates to a method for producing meth)acrylate-based ABA triblock copolymers in which the A blocks are amine-functionalized.
US08106122B2
A propylene-based polymer composition for adhesive use and a laminate structure thereof are provided, wherein decrease of bonding strength is prevented when the laminate structure is formed and heat treatment is applied and whitening in bending process is suppressed. Provided are a propylene-based polymer composition (D) for adhesive use comprising (i) 40 to 92 wt % of a graft-modified polypropylene (A); (ii) 5 to 30 wt % of an ethylene.α-olefin copolymer (B) having a melt flow rate (MFR) of 0.01 to 10 g/10 min at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg and a density of 0.940 g/cm3 or less; and (iii) 3 to 30 wt % of a block copolymer (C) composed of an olefin crystalline segment and an ethylene.α-olefin segment, wherein the sum of (A), (B) and (C) is 100 wt %, and a laminate comprising at least one layer of the propylene-based polymer composition for adhesive use.
US08106121B2
The invention relates to graft polyols with a bimodal particle size distribution and a total solid content of between 5 and 65 wt. %. Said polyols contain small particles with a particle diameter of between 0.05 and 0.7 μm and large particles with a particle diameter of between 0.4 and 5.0 μm, whereby the peaks of the large and small particles measured during a representation according to the light-scattering analysis method do not overlap. The total solid content with the defined particle sizes consists of a volumetric fraction of between 5 and 45% small particles and a volumetric fraction of between 95 and 55% large particles, said volumetric fractions totalling 100%. The invention also relates to a method for producing graft polyols of this type and to the use thereof for producing polyurethanes.
US08106106B2
A method for producing polyisocyanurate insulation foams, the method comprising contacting an A-side stream of reactants that includes an isocyanate with a B-side stream of reactants that include a polyol and a blowing agent, where the blowing agent includes isopentane and n-pentane in a substantial absence of cyclopentane.
US08106104B1
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 plastic content predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
US08106102B2
A process (10) for the preparation and conversion of synthesis gas includes reforming a feed gas (34) comprising methane in a reforming stage (18) to produce synthesis gas (46) which includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Some of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide is converted to a Fischer-Tropsch product (48) in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (24). A tail gas (52), including unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product (48). In a tail gas treatment stage (28,30), the tail gas (52) is treated by reforming the methane in the tail gas (52) with steam (66) and removing carbon dioxide to produce a hydrogen rich gas (56). The tail gas treatment stage (28,30) may be either a combined tail gas treatment stage (28,30) or a composite tail gas treatment stage. The carbon dioxide from the tail gas treatment stage (28,30) is fed to the reforming stage (18).
US08106098B2
The present invention broadly relates to the field of protein modification, and, more specifically, to conjugates of proteins or analogs thereof to a water-soluble biocompatible polymer and methods of making and using the same.
US08106096B2
The present invention provides a method for treating or reducing damage to the optic nerve in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of prostaglandin J2 alone or in combination with an effective amount of GM-CSF. In particular aspects of the invention, the subject is a mammal, and in further aspects the mammal is a human.
US08106094B2
This invention relates to methods and compositions for treating and ameliorating skin conditions including post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). More particularly, this invention relates to compositions containing certain natural extracts, salicylic acid, and natural or synthetic retinoids. The composition was clinically proven to reduce PIH.
US08106091B2
Compounds of formula (IA) or (IB) are inhibitors of IkB kinase (IKK) activity, and are useful in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: wherein R7 is hydrogen or optionally substituted (C1-C6)alkyl; ring A is an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl ring of 5-13 ring atoms; Z is a radical of formula R-L1-Y1—(CH2)z—, wherein: z is 0 or 1; R is a radical of formula (X) or (Y) R1 is a carboxylic acid group (—COOH), or an ester group which is hydrolysable by one or more intracellular esterase enzymes to a carboxylic acid group; R6 is hydrogen, or optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl or —(C═O)R3, —(C═O)OR3, or —(C═O)NR3 wherein R3 is hydrogen or optionally substituted (C1-C6)alkyl; Y1 is a bond, —(C═O)—, —S(O2)—, —C(═O)O—, —OC(═O)—, —(C═O)NR3—, —NR3(C═O)—, —S(O2)NR3—, —NR3S(O2)—, or —NR3(C═O)NR4—, wherein R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or optionally substituted (C1-C6)alkyl, L1 is a divalent linker radical of formula -(Alk1)m(Q)n(Alk2)p- wherein m, n, p, Q, Alk1 and Alk2 are as defined in the claims.
US08106075B2
Compounds of formula I wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts and all stereoisomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula I can be used as agrochemical active ingredients and can be prepared in a manner known per se.
US08106074B2
The invention concerns the use pf compounds of general formula (I) for treating opioid drug dependence, hyperalgesia induced by opiate drug withdrawal and psychological craving induced by opiate drug withdrawal.
US08106071B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating or reducing the development of a hyperproliferative disorder, which comprises administering to a subject a composition, which comprises as an active ingredient the compound represented by the Formula 1: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 independently represent hydrogen, halo, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, nitro, nitroso, carboxyl, C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C5-C7 cycloalkenyl, C1-C6 alkylamino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl or alkylaryl; X and Y independently represent hydrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, bound to a carbon atom via a single or double bond; Z represents hydrogen, halo, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, nitro, nitroso, carboxyl, C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C5-C7 cycloalkenyl, C1-C6 alkylamino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, alkylaryl or —NH—R8; R8 represents hydrogen, halo, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, nitro, nitroso, carboxyl, C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C5-C7 cycloalkenyl, C1-C6 alkylamino, C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl or alkylaryl; n is an integer of 0-3.
US08106069B2
Compounds which are pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, their preparation process and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; these compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases caused by and/or associated with an altered protein kinase activity such as cancer, cell proliferative disorders, Alzheimer's disease, viral infections, auto-immune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders; also disclosed is a process under SPS conditions for preparing the compounds of the invention and chemical libraries comprising a plurality of them.
US08106067B2
Novel compounds of the formula (I), in which X, Y, R, R1, R1, R1′, R2, R2′, R3, R4, R4′, R5 and n have the meanings indicated in patent claim 1, are suitable as antidiabetics.
US08106051B2
Compounds having an activity to enhance the expression of apoAI are provided, which are used as medicaments.Compounds of formula (I): in which ring A and Ar1 are independently a monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic carbocyclic group or aromatic heterocyclic group, each of which may be optionally substituted, or the like; R is a hydrogen or the like; Z is oxygen or the like; Y1 and Y2 are a hydrogen, a lower alkyl, or the like; n is an integer of 0 to 2; the broken line is the presence or absence of a bond; and the wavy line represents a cis- or trans-geometrical isomerism with respect to the double bond; are disclosed.
US08106046B2
A compound of Formula (I) and enantiomers, diastereomers and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and combinations containing compounds of Formula I and methods of treating diseases or disorders including metabolic and inflammatory or immune associated diseases or disorders.
US08106045B2
A compound represented by the formula (I), an optically active isomer thereof, or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof: wherein X represents CH or N; represents a C1-C12 alkyl; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or the like; R′ represents a C1-C6 alkyl or the like; q represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 7; Y represents a C1-C6 alkyl or the like; p represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 5; R represents a 2,3-dihydroindolyl or the like, which is used for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease caused by tau protein kinase 1 hyperactivity such as a neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer disease).
US08106044B2
The invention relates to the novel mesylate of a phenylpiperazine derivative of the formula (I). This salt has a favorable properties as compared with the free base of this compound.
US08106034B2
A compound having the structure wherein R is an angiotensin receptor blocking group Y is —(CR1R20)1-7R5, or —C(O)(CR1R20)1-7R5; R1 and R20 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; R5 is —O—N═N(O)—NR3R4; and R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of —CH2CH2OH, —CH2CH2OCH3, —C1-4 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C1-6 alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted morpholino, amino, unsubstituted or substituted benzyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted arylC1-4 alkyl, or R3 and R4 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a ring selected from the group consisting of or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the stereoisomer thereof, which is useful for treating hypertension.
US08106032B2
The invention relates to methods of treating viral infections, and in particular hepatitis B virus. The method comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment an infection-controlling amount of a phospholipid or phospholipid derivative to inhibit the activity of the viral infection.
US08106029B2
Myocardial imaging methods are provided that are accomplished by administering doses of a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more adenosine A2A receptor agonists, in particular regadenoson, useful for, among other indications, myocardial imaging and coronary vasodilation, in an amount sufficient to achieve at least a minimal increase in average coronary peak flow velocity.
US08106027B2
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.
US08106020B2
A calcium receptor activator and compositions containing at least one of the following: γ-Glu-Cys-Gly, γ-Glu-Cys(SNO)-Gly, γ-Glu-Ala, γ-Glu-Gly, γ-Glu-Cys, γ-Glu-Met, γ-Glu-Thr, γ-Glu-Val, γ-Glu-Orn, Asp-Gly, Cys-Gly, Cys-Met, Glu-Cys, Gly-Cys, Leu-Asp, D-Cys, γ-Glu-Met(O), γ-Glu-Val-Val, γ-Glu-Val-Glu, γ-Glu-Val-Lys, γ-Glu-γ-Glu-Val, γ-Glu-Val-NH2, γ-Glu-Val-ol, γ-Glu-Ser, γ-Glu-Tau, γ-Glu-Cys(S-Me)(O), γ-Glu-Leu, γ-Glu-Ile, γ-Glu-t-Leu, γ-Glu-Cys(S-allyl)-Gly, γ-Glu-Gly-Gly, γ-Glu-Val-Phe, γ-Glu-Val-Ser, γ-Glu-Val-Pro, γ-Glu-Val-Arg, γ-Glu-Val-Asp, γ-Glu-Val-Met, γ-Glu-Val-Thr, γ-Glu-Val-His, γ-Glu-Val-Asn, γ-Glu-Val-Gln, γ-Glu-Val-Cys, γ-Glu-Val-Orn, γ-Glu-Ser-Gly, γ-Glu-Cys(S-Me), γ-Glu-Abu-Gly, γ-Glu-Cys(S-Me)-Gly, and γ-Glu-Val-Gly.
US08106017B2
The present invention relates to a peptide comprising a specific amino acid sequence possessing human thymosin β-4 (Tβ4) activities and its uses. The peptide of this invention has identical or similar functions or actions to human Tβ4 and its biological activity is almost identical to natural-occurring Tβ4. In addition, the peptide of this invention exhibits much higher stability and skin permeation than natural-occurring Tβ4. In these connections, the composition comprising the peptides of this invention can exhibit excellent efficacies on improvement in thymosin β-4-effective disorders or conditions. In addition, the peptide of this invention can be advantageously applied to drugs, cosmetics, toothpaste and compositions for mouth cleaning and caring, most preferably, cosmetics. Specifically, the peptide of this invention is advantageously applied to cosmetics for promoting hair growth.
US08106014B2
A medical device comprises a tubular body having a lumen and a long axis; and a plurality of silk elements laid substantially parallel along the long axis of the lumen of the tubular body. A method of manufacturing the medical device comprises forming the tubular body and introducing the silk elements into the lumen of the tubular body so as to lie substantially parallel along the long axis of the lumen of the tubular body. The device can be used in a method for the regeneration of nerve cells comprising the implantation of a medical device at a site for regeneration of nerves.
US08105993B2
Methods and compositions are provided for forming ester based compositions. The ester based compositions may be used in consumer products. In one aspect, a method is provided for producing acyl alkylisethionate esters by the esterification of a sulfonate composition having two or more sulfonate isomers with fatty acid(s). In another aspect, a method is provided for forming an ester based composition including a blend of acyl alkylisethionate and acylisethionate esters.
US08105990B2
The lubricating base oil of the invention satisfies at least one of conditions (a) or (b) below. The lubricating oil composition for an internal combustion engine according to the invention comprises the lubricating base oil of the invention, an ashless antioxidant containing essentially no sulfur as a constituent element, and at least one compound selected from among ashless antioxidants containing sulfur as a constituent element and organic molybdenum compounds. Also, a lubricating oil composition for a power train device according to the invention comprises the lubricating base oil of the invention, a poly(meth)acrylate-based viscosity index improver and a phosphorus-containing compound. (a) The saturated component content is 90% by mass or greater, and the proportion of cyclic saturated components among the saturated components is 10-40% by mass. (b) The condition represented by the following formula (1) is satisfied. 1.440≦n20−0.002×kv100≦1.453 (1) [wherein n20 represents the 20° C. refractive index of the lubricating base oil, and kv100 represents the kinematic viscosity at 100° C. (mm2/s) of the lubricating base oil.]
US08105976B2
A separation medium, such as a chromatography filling or packing, containing a modified graphite oxide material, which is a thermally exfoliated graphite oxide with a surface area of from about 300 m2/g to 2600 m2/g, wherein the thermally exfoliated graphite oxide has a surface that has been at least partially functionalized.
US08105974B2
A process of forming a hydrogen storage material, including the steps of: providing a first material of the formula M(BH4)X, where M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, providing a second material selected from M(AlH4)x, a mixture of M(AlH4)x and MClx, a mixture of MClx and Al, a mixture of MClx and AlH3, a mixture of MHx and Al, Al, and AlH3. The first and second materials are combined at an elevated temperature and at an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period forming a third material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the first material and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the second material.
US08105973B2
Chemical combination (C) between an active solid phase which is covalently bound to the surface of an inert solid phase, characterized in that said solid active phase essentially consists in a solid solution of a mixture of at least a magnesium oxide type phase compound and at least a magnesium silicate type phase compound in which Al, and Rh and/or Ni cations are soluted and characterized in that said inert solid phase is either a compound represented by the general formula (I): AlaNibRhcMgdSieOf (I) wherein a, b, c, d, and e are integers which are greater than or equal to 0, f is an integer greater than 0, the sum a+b+c+d≠0, and wherein (3a+2b+3c+2d+4e)/2=f, or a mixture of compounds represented by the said general formula (I), provided that at least one of the Si, Al, Mg, Rh or Ni elements, which is present in the solid active phase, is also present in the solid inert phase.Use of a catalyst in chemical reactions involving the conversion of hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks.
US08105957B2
Disclosed is a producing method of a semiconductor device comprising a first step of supplying a first reactant to a substrate to cause a ligand-exchange reaction between a ligand of the first reactant and a ligand as a reactive site existing on a surface of the substrate, a second step of removing a surplus of the first reactant, a third step of supplying a second reactant to the substrate to cause a ligand-exchange reaction to change the ligand after the exchange in the first step into a reactive site, a fourth step of removing a surplus of the second reactant, and a fifth step of supplying a plasma-excited third reactant to the substrate to cause a ligand-exchange reaction to exchange a ligand which has not been exchange-reacted into the reactive site in the third step into the reactive site, wherein the first to fifth steps are repeated predetermined times.
US08105955B2
An integrated circuit system includes a substrate, a carbon-containing silicon region over the substrate, a non-carbon-containing silicon region over the substrate, and a silicon-carbon region, including the non-carbon-containing silicon region and the carbon-containing silicon region.
US08105953B2
A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a chamber, a gas supplier, a vacuum pump, an electrode, a conductive knitted wire mesh and a radio frequency power supply. The electrode is placed outside of the chamber and fixed to the chamber. The gas supplier supplies gas into the chamber. The vacuum pump exhausts the chamber. The radio frequency power supply supplies radio frequency power to the electrode through the conductive knitted wire mesh.
US08105952B2
A pattern forming method is provided, which includes forming, above a substrate, a layer of a diblock copolymer composition containing at least PS and PEO, subjecting the layer to phase separation to obtain a phase-separated layer, thereby forming an easy-to-etch region constituted by PS and having a cylindrical or lamellar configuration extending in a first direction, forming an imprinting resist layer on the phase-separated layer, subjecting the imprinting resist layer to imprinting to form, on the imprinting resist layer, an uneven pattern consisting of projections and recesses extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, selectively removing, from the imprinting resist layer, the recesses, thereby leaving only the projections and, at the same time, selectively removing the PS from the phase-separated layer to obtain an etching resistive pattern containing PEO, and etching the substrate using, as a mask, not only the projections but also the etching resistive pattern.
US08105942B2
An improved metal interconnect is formed with reduced metal voids and dendrites. An embodiment includes forming a mask layer on a dielectric layer, forming openings in the mask and dielectric layers, depositing a planarization layer over the mask layer and filling the openings, planarizing to remove the mask layer, removing the planarization layer from the openings, and filling the openings with metal. The planarization step prior to depositing the metal removes the etch undercut that occurs during formation of the openings and reduces the aspect ratio in the openings, thereby improving metal fill uniformity.
US08105939B2
A LDMOS transistor and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor includes a first dielectric layer formed on a top surface of a substrate; a plurality of second dielectric layers on a top surface of the first dielectric layer; a plurality of contact plugs spaced apart by a predetermined distance in an active region of the substrate, passing through the first and second dielectric layers; and a bridge metal line formed in the second dielectric layers, inter-connecting the contact plugs in a horizontal direction. The bridge metal line formed to inter-connect the contact plugs allows for more current to flow in the presently disclosed LDMOS transistor than in a conventional LDMOS transistor of identical size.
US08105938B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate. The method includes: (a) forming a wiring pattern on a substrate; (b) covering the wiring pattern with an insulating resin, thereby forming a first insulating layer; (c) forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; (d) forming a plurality of grooves through the second insulating layer; (e) forming at least one via hole through the first and second insulating layers by irradiating at least one of the grooves with a laser beam; (f) forming a seed metal layer on an inner surface of the at least one via hole, inner surfaces of the grooves, and a surface of the second insulating layer; and (g) forming a plating layer in the at least one via hole and the grooves, by an electrolytic plating using the seed metal layer as a power feeding layer.
US08105932B2
One embodiment includes an encapsulated semiconductor package having a lead frame with die pad surrounded by a plurality of first and second leadfingers. A semiconductor chip including chip contact pads on its upper active surface is attached to the die pad. A plurality of first bond wires, including a first electrically conductive material, extend between the chip contact pads and the plurality of first leadfingers. A plurality of second bond wires, including a second electrically conductive material, extend between a chip contact pad and a second leadfinger. The semiconductor package further includes a plurality of electrically conducting means attached to the second leadfingers.
US08105921B2
The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
US08105915B2
A semiconductor device is made by forming a first conductive layer over a first temporary carrier having rounded indentations. The first conductive layer has a non-linear portion due to the rounded indentations. A bump is formed over the non-linear portion of the first conductive layer. A semiconductor die is mounted over the carrier. A second conductive layer is formed over a second temporary carrier having rounded indentations. The second conductive layer has a non-linear portion due to the rounded indentations. The second carrier is mounted over the bump. An encapsulant is deposited between the first and second temporary carriers around the first semiconductor die. The first and second carriers are removed to leave the first and second conductive layers. A conductive via is formed through the first conductive layer and encapsulant to electrically connect to a contact pad on the first semiconductor die.
US08105914B2
A method of fabricating an organic memory device is provided. In the method, a bottom electrode is formed on a substrate. A first surface treatment is performed on the bottom electrode to form a bottom surface treatment layer on a surface thereof. A polymer thin film is formed on the bottom surface treatment layer, and a top electrode is formed on the polymer thin film.
US08105912B2
A method for increasing a voltage tolerance of a MOS device having a first capacitance value associated therewith is provided. The method includes the steps of: connecting at least a first capacitor in series with the MOS device, the first capacitor having a first capacitance value associated therewith, the first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a gate of the MOS device and a second terminal adapted to receive a first signal; and adjusting a ratio of the first capacitance value and a second capacitance value associated with the MOS device such that a second signal present at the gate of the MOS device will be an attenuated version of the first signal. An amount of attenuation of the first signal is a function of the ratio of the first and second capacitance values.
US08105908B2
Methods are provided for manufacturing transistors and altering the stress in the channel region of a single transistor. One or more parameters that are effect stress in the channel region are altered for a single transistor to increase or decrease the channel stress in PMOS and NMOS transistors.
US08105885B1
Hardened programmable logic devices are provided with programmable circuitry. The programmable circuitry may be hardwired to implement a custom logic circuit. Generic fabrication masks may be used to form the programmable circuitry and may be used in manufacturing a product family of hardened programmable logic devices, each of which may implement a different custom logic circuit. Custom fabrication masks may be used to hardwire the programmable circuitry to implement a specific custom logic circuit. The programmable circuitry may be hardwired in such a way that signal timing characteristics of a hardened programmable logic device that implements a custom logic circuit may match the signal timing characteristics of a programmable logic device that implements the same custom logic circuit using configuration data.
US08105883B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which movement of an island in resin sealing is prevented. A molding die includes an upper die and a lower die. The upper and lower dies are fitted together to form cavities and runners. In the lower die, a pod is provided. After heating and melting of a tablet made of a solid resin and housed in the pod, the melted sealing resin is pressurized by a plunger, and is supplied to each of the cavities. Specifically, a liquid sealing resin is supplied from the pod to the cavities, sequentially, from the upstream of the flow of the sealing resin supplied from the pod. The cavities communicate with each other through the runners. Furthermore, the runners through which the cavities communicate are provided to be tilted with respect to a path for supplying the sealing resin.
US08105880B2
Methods are disclosed related to attaching a die to a leadframe. One such method includes initially bonding a carrier pad which is pre-coated with a thermosetting first adhesive to the leadframe. The first adhesive can be raised to its thermosetting cure temperature by heating the leadframe to a temperature just above the thermosetting cure temperature of the first adhesive. A thermosetting second adhesive which is liquid at room temperature can be applied to a second major surface of the carrier pad, and the die can be placed on the second adhesive and aligned with the leadframe. The second adhesive can be raised to its thermosetting cure temperature to bond the die to the carrier pad, and in turn form a bonded assembly.
US08105876B2
A leadframe employed by a leadless package comprises a plurality of package units and an adhesive tape. Each of the package units has a die pad with a plurality of openings and a plurality of pins disposed in the plurality of openings. The adhesive tape is adhered to the surfaces of the plurality of package units and fixes the die pad and the plurality of pins.
US08105875B1
A method includes providing an interposer wafer including a substrate, and a plurality of through-substrate vias (TSVs) extending from a front surface of the substrate into the substrate. A plurality of dies is bonded onto a front surface of the interposer wafer. After the step of bonding the plurality of dies, a grinding is performed on a backside of the substrate to expose the plurality of TSVs. A plurality of metal bumps is formed on a backside of the interposer wafer and electrically coupled to the plurality of TSVs.
US08105874B2
A memory circuit arrangement and fabrication method thereof are presented in which the parts of the memory circuit arrangement are situated on two different substrates. An integrated memory cell array is situated on one substrate. An integrated control circuit that controls access to the memory cells is situated on the other (logic circuit) substrate. The control circuit controls sequences when reading, writing or erasing content of a memory cell. The logic circuit substrate also contains a CPU and encryption coprocessor. The memory circuit contains a sense amplifier, with the aid of which the memory state of a memory cell can be determined, and a decoding circuit that selects a word or bit line.
US08105872B2
A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die mounted to a temporary carrier. A prefabricated shielding frame has a plate and integrated bodies extending from the plate. The bodies define a plurality of cavities in the shielding frame. A penetrable material is deposited in the cavities of the shielding frame. The shielding frame is mounted over the semiconductor die such that the penetrable material encapsulates the die. The carrier is removed. An interconnect structure is formed over the die, shielding frame, and penetrable material. The bodies of the shielding frame are electrically connected through the interconnect structure to a ground point. The shielding frame is singulated through the bodies or through the plate and penetrable material to separate the die. TIM is formed over the die adjacent to the plate of the shielding frame. A heat sink is mounted over the plate of the shielding frame.
US08105861B2
A carbon-containing semiconductor layer is formed on exposed surfaces of a p− doped semiconductor layer abutting sidewalls of a shallow trench. Following formation of a dielectric layer on the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, a surface pinning layer having a p-type doping is formed underneath the carbon-containing semiconductor layer. A shallow trench isolation structure and a photodiode are subsequently formed. Diffusion of defects directly beneath the shallow trench isolation structure, now contained in the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, is suppressed. Further, boron diffusion into the shallow trench isolation structure and into the photodiode is also suppressed by the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, providing reduction in dark current and enhancement of performance of the photodiode.
US08105860B2
The specification teaches a device for use in the manufacturing of microelectronic, microoptoelectronic or micromechanical devices (microdevices) in which a contaminant absorption layer improves the life and operation of the microdevice. In a preferred embodiment the invention includes a mechanical supporting base, and a layer of a gas absorbing or purifier material is deposited on the base by a variety of techniques and a layer for temporary protection of the purification material is placed on top of the purification material. The temporary protection material is compatible for use in the microdevice and can be removed during the manufacture of the microdevice.
US08105859B2
A method for fabricating a phase change memory device including a plurality of in via phase change memory cells includes forming pillar heaters formed of a conductive material along a contact surface of a substrate corresponding to each of an array of conductive contacts to be connected to access circuitry, forming a dielectric layer along exposed areas of the substrate surrounding the pillar heaters, forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer above the dielectric layer, etching a via to the dielectric layer, each via corresponding to each of pillar heater such that an upper surface of each pillar heater is exposed within each via, recessing each pillar heater, depositing phase change material in each via on each recessed pillar heater, recessing the phase change material within each via, and forming a top electrode within the via on the phase change material.
US08105854B2
A Chip on Board (COB) package which can reduce the manufacturing costs by using a general PCB as a substrate, increase a heat radiation effect from a light source, thereby realizing a high quality light source at low costs, and a manufacturing method thereof. The COB package includes a board-like substrate with a circuit printed on a surface thereof, the substrate having a through hole. The package also includes a light source positioned in the through hole and including a submount and a dome structure made of resin, covering and fixing the light source to the substrate. The invention allows a good heat radiation effect by using the general PCB as the substrate, enabling manufacture of a high quality COB package at low costs. This in turn improves emission efficiency of the light source, ultimately realizing a high quality light source.
US08105851B1
Provided is a method of removing a nitride material from a semiconductor wafer. The method includes monitoring a silicon concentration level in a chemical solution. The chemical solution may include a phosphoric acid. The method includes adjusting the silicon concentration level in response to the monitoring. The method includes heating the chemical solution. The method includes applying the heated chemical solution to a wafer surface in a manner so that a temperature of the heated chemical solution is within a predefined temperature range throughout the wafer surface. The method includes etching a nitride material of the wafer using the heated chemical solution.
US08105845B2
A method for determining one or more kinetic parameters of binding between a first binding member and a second binding member. The method comprises adsorbing the first binding member to a surface at a plurality of microspots. The second binding member is then presented to the first binding member at each of the microspots, there being a plurality of combinations of first binding member surface density and second binding member concentration among the plurality of microspots. Data indicative of a binding reaction between the first of microspots are then obtained and analyzed so as to obtain one or more kinetic parameters of the binding between the first and second binding members. The invention also provides a system for carrying out the method. A method for localizing a molecular species at microspots on a surface, and a probe array produced by the method are also provided.
US08105837B2
A method for assaying anionic detergents in seawater comprises: (1) flow a sample through a sample system and an analysis-detection system; flow a reference solution through a reference system, a valve, and the analysis-detection system; where the sample and reference are mixed; and flow the mixture into an optical cell to produce a baseline, (2) flow a sample through the sample system and analysis-detection system; flow a buffer through a buffer system and a color developing system; where the buffer and a color developer are mixed; and flow the resulting mixture through the valve and analysis-detection system; where the sample is mixed with the buffer and developer mixture; and flow the resulting mixture into the cell to produce the sample spectrogram, (3) repeat (1) and (2) with standards of known detergent concentrations for corresponding spectrograms, and (4) compare the sample spectrogram with the standard spectrograms to determine the sample detergent content.
US08105835B2
The present invention provides a method of micropropagating a monocotyledonous plant comprising: (a) cultivating an explant of tissue from a monocotyledonous plant shoot tip on a primary medium, wherein the explant has been pretreated with a cold temperature and the primary medium comprises auxin or auxin and cytokinin, to produce a totipotent embryogenic cell culture; (b) treating the totipotent embryonic cell culture with a cold temperature; (c) maintaining the totipotent embryogenic cell culture by cultivation on a secondary medium, whereby a totipotent embryogenic cell culture of a monocotyledonous plant is produced and maintained; and (d) transferring the embryogenic cell culture of step (c) to a tertiary medium to continue multiplication and to produce a plantlet with roots and shoots, thereby micropropagating a monocotyledonous plant. The micropropagation techniques described herein provide plants for such purposes as development of elite plant lines, phytoremediation and biomass production.
US08105833B2
A method for forming an organ and/or tissue from undifferentiated cells derived from a vertebrate animal in vitro, which comprises the step of culturing the undifferentiated cells derived from a vertebrate animal in the presence of a retinoic acid X receptor ligand (e.g., a retinoic acid X receptor agonist or antagonist), and a method for forming a pancreas from undifferentiated cells derived from a vertebrate animal in vitro or a method for forming a tissue having morphology and function of a pancreas from undifferentiated cells derived from a vertebrate in vitro, which comprises the step of culturing the undifferentiated cells derived from a vertebrate animal in the presence of a retinoic acid receptor ligand, together with activin, that does not substantially bind to the retinoic acid receptor subtype γ.
US08105828B2
Nucleic acids and vectors for interfering with the expression of membrane efflux transport proteins in cells that express such proteins are provided. Also provided are cells and cell lines comprising such nucleic acids and vectors. Methods for screening chemicals and biomolecules for gastrointestinal absorption in animals, and kits for practicing such methods are also provided.
US08105827B2
Disclosed are recombinant non-insect host cells and use of activation of CMV or SV40 promoters by IE1, IE2 and the enhancer hr of the baculovirus in non-insect host cells for expression heterologous RNAs or polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods of using the cells.
US08105821B2
Silanation compositions containing a mixture of two or more silanation reagents, where at least one silanation reagent includes a functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis and at least one silanation reagent includes no functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis are useful in modulating the active site density and hydrolytic stability of a surface. These compositions are particularly useful in silanating a surface prior to preparation of a polymer array and provide for increased hybridization results.
US08105816B2
The present invention relates to a new splice variant of BANK1, the use of SNPs in BANK1 for diagnostics and the use of antagonists to modulate BANK1 and/or the BANK1 pathway.
US08105804B2
The present invention provides novel polynucleotides encoding PCSK9b and PCSK9c polypeptides, fragments and homologues thereof. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing said polypeptides. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods for applying these novel PCSK9b and PCSK9c polypeptides to the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of various diseases and/or disorders related to these polypeptides. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention.
US08105803B2
An object of the invention is to provide a dephosphorylation enzyme that regulates cardiomyocyte differentiation, dominant negative enzyme thereof, a gene encoding the enzyme protein and use thereof. A protein or the like consisting of any one of the following amino acid sequences (A) to (C) is used: (A) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; (B) an amino acid sequence wherein one or several amino acids except for cysteine at position 138 are deleted, substituted or added in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence has a dual specificity phosphatase activity; and (C) an amino acid sequence having at least 60% or more homology to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and having cysteine at position 138, wherein a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence has a dual specificity phosphatase activity.
US08105801B2
The present invention relates to a process for enzymatic hydrolysis of granular starch into a soluble starch hydrolysate at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of said granular starch.
US08105799B2
Revealed are that the actions of inflammatory cytokine and the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF induced by an inflammatory stimulus as well as the production of other inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 induced by the former class of inflammatory cytokines are all suppressed by inhibiting the signal transduction through TAK1.
US08105790B2
Methods, compositions and kits are provided for measuring aspirin's anti-thrombotic effectiveness on a subject. Included are a novel assay for quickly and specifically measuring TxA2 metabolite levels in urine and correlating the levels with aspirin dose in a subject. The methods, compositions and kits utilize a novel anti TxA2 metabolite antibody.
US08105788B2
Methods, systems, kits and assays for diagnosing, monitoring or screening for mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and methods and systems for assaying test compounds for therapeutic activity are described, whereby MPS marker protein levels are assayed as an indication of MPS.
US08105786B2
A method of producing a low molecular weight organic compound (e.g. a plant or bacteria secondary metabolite) in increased yields involving use of a microorganism cell, which comprises a gene involved in the biosynthesis pathway leading to a low molecular weight organic aglycon compound and a glycosyltransferase gene capable of glycosylating the produced aglycon.
US08105784B2
The invention relates to methods for pairwise sequencing of a double-stranded polynucleotide template, which methods result in the sequential determination of nucleotide sequences in two distinct and separate regions of the polynucleotide template. Using the methods of the invention it is possible to obtain two linked or paired reads of sequence information from each double-stranded template on a clustered array, rather than just a single sequencing read from one strand of the template.
US08105778B2
The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid probes to identify analytes in a sample. In the preferred embodiments, metastable nucleic acid monomers are provided that associate in the presence of an initiator nucleic acid. Upon exposure to the initiator, the monomers self-assemble in a hybridization chain reaction. The initiator nucleic acid may be, for example, a portion of an analyte to be detected or may be part of an initiation trigger such that it is made available in the presence of a target analyte.
US08105775B2
The invention provides methods and compositions relating to identification and use of genetic information from the IL-I gene cluster—including the structure and organization of novel IL-I-like genes found within the IL-I locus as well as polymorphisms and associated haplotypes within these genes. The invention thereby expands the repertoire of useful genetic information available from the IL-I locus—which contains the previously-identified IL-1α, EL-1β and IL-IRN genes, for predicting IL-I associated phenotypes (e.g. increased or decreased risks of inflammatory disease) and for treating IL-I haplotype associated inflammatory phenotypes.
US08105774B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated PGC-1β nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel PGC-1 related coactivator molecules. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing PGC-1β nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a PGC-1β gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated PGC-1β proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-PGC-1β antibodies. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US08105773B2
The present invention provides sets of oligonucleotides corresponding to genes encoding proteins involved in protein synthesis and/or stability or genes encoding proteins involved in the regulation of defence and/or chromatin remodelling for use in preparing transcript patterns particularly for cancer diagnosis. The invention also extends to such sets and kits containing such sets as well as related methods reliant on analysis of marker polypeptides encoded by the genes to develop characteristic expression profiles.
US08105762B2
A pattern and method for forming a pattern includes providing a substrate on which a plurality of unit panels and etching object layers on the respective unit panel areas are formed, dividing the substrate into at least two or more areas, providing a cliché on which multiple grooves are formed, filling resist in the grooves, applying the resist filled in the groove of the cliché onto the etching object layer of the substrate by the divided area unit.
US08105752B2
The invention pertains to an epoxy-modified photosensitive polyimide, which possesses excellent heat resistance, chemistry resistance, and flexibility, and can be used in a liquid photo resist or dry film resist, or used in a solder resist, coverlay film, or printed circuit board.
US08105751B2
The invention has a support, a recording layer provided on the support, and a protective layer containing a hydrophilic polymer and silica-coated organic resin fine particles provided as the uppermost layer. The organic resin fine particles are preferably composed of at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid resins, polyurethane resins, polystyrene resins, polyester resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, and melamine resins, and the protective layer preferably contains a mica compound.
US08105750B2
Recording and reproducing characteristics and data saving reliability are secured in a write-once two-layer recording medium.A second recording layer from a side irradiated with light for recording and reproduction includes organic dye shown by a general formula of a chemical formula 3 described below (in the formula, R1 and R2 are alkyl groups of carbon number 1 to 4; Y1, Y2 respectively are organic groups independently; and X is Cl04, BF4, PF6, SbF6), and organic dye shown by a general formula of a chemical formula 4 described below (in the formula, R1, R4 are alkyl groups of carbon number 1 to 4; R2, R3 are alkyl groups of carbon number 1 to 4 or groups forming 3 to 6 membered rings by being coupled; Y1, Y2 respectively are organic groups independently; and X is Cl04, BF4, PF6, SbF6), to secure durability.
US08105743B2
The present invention provides an organic silicone fine particle for latent electrostatic image developing toners, wherein the organic silicone fine particle has a volume average particle diameter of 0.05 μm to 6.0 μm which is obtained by measurement based on Coulter principle, and has a hemispherical polysiloxane cross-linked structure.By mixing an appropriate amount of an organic silicone resin particle formed in a deformed shape (a hemispherical shape) in a toner or developer, the present invention prevents movement of the organic silicone resin particle from surface functional sites, the movement caused by a phenomenon such as detachment thereof from a toner surface or rolling movement on the toner surface, by the effect of its shape, and makes it possible to effectively achieve the expected function.
US08105737B2
A method of correcting patterns includes attaining a correcting amount distribution map using a photo mask, the photo mask including a transparent substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other and a mask pattern on the first surface, attaining a plurality of shadowing maps based on the correction amount distribution map, each of the shadowing maps including a unit section having a different plane area, and forming a plurality of shadowing regions with shadowing elements in the transparent substrate of the photo mask using respective shadowing maps.
US08105733B2
A process for producing a separator-electrode assemblies (SEAs) which comprises a porous electrode useful as a positive or negative electrode in a lithium battery and a separator layer applied to this electrode wherein the separator layer being an inorganic separator layer comprising at least two fractions of metal oxide particles different from each other in their average particle size and/or in the metal, and the electrode having active mass particles that are bonded together and to a current collector by an inorganic adhesive; and the separator-electrode assembly comprises no organic polymer binder. The process comprising form the porous electrode by applying a suspension comprising active mass particles suspended in a sol or a dispersion of nanoscale active mass particles in a solvent and solidifying the suspension.
US08105732B2
The direct oxidation fuel cell of the invention includes at least one unit cell, the unit cell including: a membrane-electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; an anode-side separator; and a cathode-side separator. The cathode includes a first cathode catalyst layer, a diffusion layer being in contact with the cathode-side separator, and an intermediate layer disposed therebetween. The intermediate layer includes a second cathode catalyst layer and a porous composite layer, the porous composite layer containing a hydrophobic material and an electron-conductive material. The anode-side separator has a fuel flow channel, and the cathode-side separator has an oxidant flow channel. At least a portion of the intermediate layer facing the upstream portion of the fuel flow channel includes the second cathode catalyst layer, and at least portions of the intermediate layer facing the midstream and downstream portions of the fuel flow channel include the porous composite layer.
US08105727B2
The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.
US08105719B2
Primary and secondary Li-ion and lithium-metal based electrochemical cell systems. The suppression of gas generation is achieved through the addition of an additive or additives to the electrolyte system of respective cell, or to the cell itself whether it be a liquid, a solid- or plasticized polymer electrolyte system. The gas suppression additives are primarily based on unsaturated hydrocarbons.
US08105709B2
There is disclosed a battery module that includes a housing. At least one terminal is melt joined with the bus member of the housing sealing the terminal relative to the bus member and providing a conductive path to an interior of the battery module. The terminal may be melt joined in an ultrasonic joining operation or in a thermal insertion operation. A plurality of cells are disposed in the housing with each of the cells electrically coupled via bus bars integrated into a bus member. Each of the cells includes a plurality of positive and negative electrodes that are spaced by a separator. The negative electrode includes a substrate having tab meeting at a flange that is connected to an active material portion of the electrode. The positive electrode includes a substrate having a tab meeting at a flange that is connected to an active material portion of the electrode.
US08105686B2
A polymeric film for labeling articles comprises an asymmetric multilayered film comprising specialized skin and core layers whose compositions address multiple needs including adhesion of a printing ink and an adhesive and die-cuttability. The polymeric film provides improved performance in the conversion to an adhesive containing label stock and adhesive label.
US08105682B2
The present invention provides methods of making micron, submicron or nanometer dimension thermoplastic polymer microfibrillar composites and fibers, and methods of using the thermoplastic polymer microfibers and nanofibers in woven fabrics, biocidal textiles, biosensors, membranes, filters, protein support and organ repairs. The methods typically include admixing a thermoplastic polymer and a matrix material to form a mixture, where the thermoplastic and the matrix are thermodynamically immiscible, followed by extruding the mixture under conditions sufficient to form a microfibrillar composite containing a plurality of the thermoplastic polymer microfibers and/or nanofibers embedded in the matrix material. The microfibers and/or nanofibers are isolated by removing the surrounding matrix. In one embodiment, the microfibrillar composite formed is further extended under conditions sufficient to form a drawn microfibrillar and/or nanofibrillar composite with controlled diameters.
US08105679B2
The present invention relates to an active energy beam-curable ink comprising polymerizable monomers, wherein relative to the total of all the polymerizable monomers, the polymerizable monomers comprise from 95 to 99.99% by weight of a monofunctional monomer and from 0.01 to 5% by weight of a polyfunctional monomer, and a cured film of thickness 10 μm formed using the active energy beam-curable ink exhibits a drawing ability exceeding 120% when stretched at a temperature of 170° C. at a strain rate of 2/min.
US08105675B2
There is disclosed a honeycomb structure 1 which is made of a ceramic material and in which a plurality of honeycomb segments 12 having cell structures 5 and porous outer walls 7 on outer peripheries of the cell structures 5 are integrated by bonding the outer walls 7 to one another with a bonding material, each of the cell structures being provided with a plurality of cells 3 constituting fluid channels divided by porous partition walls 2, wherein the bonding material contains a bio-soluble fiber. The honeycomb structure 1 of the present invention has a performance equivalent to that of a honeycomb structure in which a heretofore used ceramic fiber is contained.
US08105660B2
A method of forming a diamond-like carbon coating by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition on an internal surface of a hollow component having an inner surface. A reduced atmospheric pressure is created within a pipe or other hollow component to be treated. A diamondoid precursor gas is introduced to the interior of the component. A bias voltage is established between a first electrode and one or more second electrodes. The first electrode is or is attached to the component. The second electrode is externally offset from an opening of the component, by a hollow insulator. A plasma region is established adjacent an inner surface of the component and extends through the hollow insulator. The precursor gas comprises at least one diamondoid. The pressure and bias voltage are selected such as to cause the deposition of diamond-like carbon on the inner surface.
US08105655B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a belt material and methods for making and using the belt material. In one embodiment, the belt material can be a fast and low-temperature cured polyimide belt that includes a plurality of thermally-conductive species dispersed in a polyimide resin. In another embodiment, the belt material can include one or more layers formed over the fast and low-temperature cured polyimide belt substrate that includes a plurality of thermally-conductive species dispersed in the polyimide resin. For example, the fast and low-temperature cured polyimide belt or belt substrate can be cured at a temperature of about 300° C. or lower for a time length of less than about one hour. The belt material can be suitable for use in an electrostatographic printing process as a fuser belt, a fixing belt, a pressure belt, and/or a release agent donor belt.
US08105644B2
A screen plate having a plurality of openings is placed on a suspension substrate in which a plurality of conductive pads are formed. Conductive paste is moved in one direction on an upper surface of the screen plate, so that the conductive paste is applied onto the conductive pads through the openings. A recess that is inwardly bent is formed in each of the openings of the screen plate.
US08105641B2
Methods for the production of minced meat products with the incorporated feta cheese pieces dispersed throughout the product and with the incorporation of olive oil. The products prepared by the methods of the present invention have exceptional solidness, as far as structure is concerned, and retain the organoleptic characteristics of the feta cheese pieces contained within the products, and the physical-chemical characteristics of the incorporated olive oil.
US08105637B2
To supply the ginkgo biloba extract which contains no ginkgolic acid but the active ingredient of existing ginkgo biloba extract and which achieves significant effects in activation of the brain cells. The composition comprises nanoparticle ginkgo biloba extract as the active ingredient, which has the effect of brain function activation. The ginkgo biloba extract is free of ginkgolic acid and is made with the breakdown method, the combination of dry and wet process, crushing ginkgo biloba extract powder. The nanoparticle is 100 nm and below. The above composition has the form from the group consisting of condiments, food additives, food materials, food and drink, health food and drink, drugs, quasi drugs and feeding stuffs. The above health food and drink is for patients with abnormality in cerebral blood flow and metabolism and with the effect of brain function activation prevents or improves the symptom. The above drugs and quasi drugs are intended for human or animal use.
US08105628B2
Two (or more), -component, body-implantable, absorbable, biocompatible, putty, and non-putty hemostatic tamponades for use in surgery. Component 1 is a finely powdered bulking material, preferably less than 50 microns, e.g. the calcium, magnesium, aluminum, or barium salts of saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acids containing about 6 to 22 carbon atoms, hydroxyapatite, DBM, polyglycolide, polylactide, polydioxinones, polycaprolactones, absorbable glasses, gelatin, collagens, mono, and polysaccharides starches. Component 2, a dispersing vehicle, may be esters of C8-C18 monohydric alcohols with C2-C6 aliphatic monocarboxylic acids; C2-C18 monohydric alcohols with polycarboxylic acids; C8-C30 monohydric alcohols; tocopherol and esters thereof with C2-C10 aliphatic monocarboxylic acids or polycarboxylic acids; absorbable 10-14C hydrocarbons; free carboxylic acids such as oleic, capric, and lauric; dialkyl ethers and ketones; alkyl aryl ethers and ketones, polyhydroxy compounds and esters and ethers thereof; (ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers), oils e.g. olive oil, castor oil and triglycerides.
US08105626B2
It is intended to provide preparations such as capsules containing an acid-unstable medicament (in particular, a benzimidazole compound having an antiulcer effect, etc.) at a high concentration which are prepared by using about 12% by weight or more (based on the total granules) of the acid-unstable chemical and blending a basic inorganic salt therewith to give granules of about 600 μm or more in the average particle size.
US08105618B2
Dermatological/cosmetic gel compositions suited for preventing or treating cell differentiation and/or proliferation and/or keratinization disorders, including preventing or treating common acne, comprise (i) at least one retinoid, (ii) dispersed benzoyl peroxide and (iii) at least one pH-independent gelling agent, formulated into (iv) a physiologically acceptable medium therefor.
US08105617B2
A cosmetic composition is provided which includes a silicone elastomer, a cationic copolymer with monomeric units selected from at least an acryloylethyl tri(C1-C3 alkyl)ammonium salt, and light reflecting platelet shaped particles. The compositions are particularly useful to impart radiance as well as soft focus effects onto the skin. A particular useful cationic copolymer is that of acrylamide/acryloylethyl trimethylammonium chloride/tris(hydroxymethyl)acrylamidomethane copolymer.
US08105611B2
Methods of treating one or more autoimmune disorders include a step of administering a Clostridial neurotoxin, such as a botulinum toxin, to a patient that has an autoimmune disorder. In one aspect, a method includes a step of administering the neurotoxin to the thymus gland or near the thymus gland of the patient. In another aspect, a method includes a step of administering the neurotoxin in combination with administering a cytokine inhibitor to the patient. Compositions are also described.
US08105605B2
Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising tyrosine, an optionally modified allergen, and 3-DMPL, which is useful in the prevention and treatment of allergies.
US08105601B2
The present invention provides a composition for suppressing an inflammatory immune response comprising the excretory/secretory (ES) component of Fasciola hepatica or a fraction thereof. The composition has particular utility in the treatment or prophylaxis of T cell mediated inflammatory immune responses, and in particular autoimmune disease. The invention further extends to methods for modulating a T cell mediated immune response wherein a therapeutically effective amount of the excretory/secretory (ES) component from Fasciola hepatica is administered to a subject in need of such treatment in order to suppress the development of the response.
US08105591B2
Use of antagonists to IL-31Ra and OSMRb are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include soluble receptors, antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08105588B2
Isolated human monoclonal antibodies which bind to IL-8 (e.g., human IL-8) are disclosed. The human antibodies can be produced in a hybridoma, transfectoma or in a non-human transgenic animal, e.g., a transgenic mouse, capable of producing multiple isotypes of human monoclonal antibodies by undergoing V-D-J recombination and isotype switching. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the human antibodies, non-human transgenic animals, hybridomas, and transfectomas which produce the human antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the human antibodies.
US08105587B2
This invention relates to methods employing IL-1β-ligand/IL-1 receptor disrupting compounds (herein referred to as “IL-1beta Compounds”); such as small molecular compounds disrupting IL-1β ligand-IL-1 receptor interaction, IL-1β antibodies or IL-1 receptor antibodies, e.g. IL-1β binding molecules as described herein, e.g. antibodies disclosed herein, e.g. IL-1β binding compounds or IL-1 receptor binding compounds, and/or RNA compounds decreasing either IL-1β ligands or IL-1 receptor protein levels, in the treatment and/or prevention of auto-inflammatory syndromes, e.g. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or adult rheumatoid arthritis syndrome and to methods of treating and/or preventing auto-inflammatory syndromes, e.g. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or adult rheumatoid arthritis syndrome, in mammals, particularly humans.
US08105580B2
Cells present in adipose tissue are used to promote wound healing in a patient. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of regenerative cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the regenerative cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in adipose tissue are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic benefit.
US08105575B2
The present invention relates to the use of internal promoters in mammalian expression vectors including plasmid vectors and enhancer-deleted retroviral vectors. The retroviral vectors have improved safety and optimal levels of transgene expression and vector titers.
US08105563B2
Example embodiments relate to methods of controlling hydrogen concentrations in an offgas system of a nuclear reactor by passive air injection. A method according to a non-limiting embodiment may include passively injecting ambient air through the hydrogen water chemistry system into an existing offgas line of the offgas system. The offgas line is configured to transport non-condensable gases, including hydrogen, from a condenser to a recombiner. As a result of the passive air injection, the combined flow of hydrogen and oxygen react in the recombiner to form water vapor, thereby reducing the hydrogen concentration of the offgas exiting the recombiner.
US08105557B2
A microreactor assembly [100] is provided comprising a fluidic interconnect backbone [10] and plurality of fluidic microstructures. Interconnect input/output ports [12] of the fluidic interconnect backbone [10] are interfaced with microchannel input/output ports [14] of the fluidic microstructures at a plurality of non-polymeric interconnect seals [50]. Interconnect microchannels [15] are defined entirely by the fluidic interconnect backbone [10] and extend between the non-polymeric interconnect seals [50] without interruption by additional sealed interfaces. At least one of the fluidic microstructures [20, 30, 40] may comprise a mixing microstructure formed by a molding process. Another of the fluidic microstructures [20, 30, 40] may comprise an extruded reactor body. Still another fluidic microstructure [20, 30, 40] may comprise a quench-flow or hydrolysis microreactor formed by a hot-pressing method.
US08105554B2
An interface is provided for storing microfluidic samples in a nanoliter sample chip. A fluid access structure provides a fluid access region to a selected subset of sample wells from an array of sample wells. A fluid introduction mechanism introduces a sample fluid to the fluid access region so that the sample wells in the selected subset are populated with the sample fluid without the unselected sample wells being populated with the sample fluid.
US08105547B2
A polymerization reactor having at least three side wall surfaces and a bottom wall surface forming a reservoir and at least one heat exchanger plate in fluid communication with a coolant source, wherein each of the at least one heat exchanger plate is disposed on a lid. The polymerization reactors of the present invention permit large amounts of polymer to be formed in each reactor batch. Preferably, polymers are formed in the polymerization reactor by bulk polymerization. Methods for forming polymers is also disclosed.
US08105546B2
A non-thermal plasma (NTP) system is used to treat air containing volatile organic compounds (VOC) and/or halogenated volatile organic compounds (HVOC), some of which may be odorous, and/or fine organic particulate (smoke) emissions to be released into the environment by commercial and/or industrial air exhausting, using one or more compound dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) devices that each incorporate a plurality of catalytically active DBD electrodes, catalytically active parts and dielectrics to develop one or more NTP fields so as to create sufficient reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl species and other highly ionized molecules and atomic species so as to cause the oxidation and/or reduction of VOC's and/or HVOC's and/or fine organic particulate contaminants in the air streams to be decomposed to simpler, non pollutant, non odorous compounds that can be subsequently released into the environment.
US08105539B2
Chemical sensors whose active element exhibits both a visual change in color and a measurable change in electrical resistance when exposed to an analyte to which it selectively reacts are provided. These sensor have several unique features including vastly improved stability measured in years, irreversible visual changes and surprisingly reversible electrical changes. The combined unique features enable a new generation of ultra low power alerting, alarming and readout devices for hydrazines and other strongly reducing chemicals.
US08105536B2
A storage cartridge for dispensing biosensors used in the determination of an analyte in body fluid comprises a hollow body for housing a stack of biosensors having an open top, a flexible conveying member disposed over the open top of the body, the flexible conveying member having an aperture formed therein for receiving a biosensor from the stack of biosensors, a plate adapted to press the sliding conveying member against the open top to form a substantially moisture-impervious seal around the open top of the body and to permit the conveying member to slide between the plate and the open top, and a biasing mechanism the stack of biosensors towards the open top.
US08105529B1
A system and method are provided for molding a solid plastic part utilizing a mold having at least a core portion and a cavity portion which define a mold cavity. With the mold closed, pressurized steam is circulated through the mold cavity to heat the interior surface of the mold cavity. Once the mold cavity surface has reached the desired temperature, the pressurized steam is vented. When the condensate has been sufficiently removed, a fluid plastic is injected into the mold to the mold cavity. A pressurized fluid is introduced in the mold through a port on the mold core portion to bias the part being formed into engagement with the mold cavity. Once the part is cooled sufficiently to be stable, the mold is opened and the part is removed.
US08105527B2
A stereolithography apparatus having a resin vat with resupply containers in one-way flow communication and a leveling container in two-way how communication, an automatic offload cart to remove and replace build support platforms, an elevator assembly for supporting and releasably retaining a build platform removably attached to the stereolithography apparatus frame such that elevator forks supporting the build platform can be released into the vat and removed from the stereolithography apparatus with the vat, and a recoater assembly and recoater blade for mapping the resin surface in the vat and applying a fresh coating of resin to a cross-section being built in the vat.
US08105524B2
First, a horizontal nozzle is inserted between an upper mold section and a lower mold section in a horizontally extending state. Then, liquid resin is horizontally discharged from a discharge port of the horizontal nozzle. Thus, the liquid resin is supplied into a cavity. Thereafter the upper mold section and the lower mold section are closed. Consequently, an electronic component mounted on a substrate is dipped in the liquid resin stored in the cavity. Therefore, the electronic component is resin-sealed on the substrate by compression molding.
US08105521B2
Disclosed are wholly aromatic polyamide filament and a method of manufacturing the same, characterized in that, in a process of preparing wholly aromatic polyamide polymer, a multiple tubular feed pipe for polymeric monomer and polymerization solvent with specific construction of adjacent inner paths 11a and outer paths 11b which are alternately arranged one another is used to feed either aromatic diacid chloride A or aromatic diamine dissolved in the polymerization solvent B into a polymerization reactor 20 through corresponding one among the inner and outer paths 11a and 11b. The present invention is effective to progress uniform and homogeneous polymerization over all of area of a polymerization reactor 20 leading to reduction of deviation in degree of polymerization, since polymeric monomers are miscible and react together very well immediately after putting the monomers into the reactor 20. Accordingly, the wholly aromatic polyamide filament produced exhibits narrow PDI and increased ACS, so as to considerably improve strength and modulus thereof.
US08105501B2
A liquid-crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, and a plurality of pixel areas formed on the first substrate, where each pixel area has red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel areas. Red, green and blue color filter layers are disposed on the red, green and blue sub-pixel areas, respectively, and an overcoat layer is disposed over the red, green and blue color filter layers, where a portion of the overcoat layer forms a white color filter layer in the white sub-pixel area. The overcoat layer is formed from a UV-curable liquid pre-polymer material, which includes monomers each having a mono-functional group, and at least a di-functional group or a tri-functional group.
US08105499B2
A mask fixture for etching an item includes: a top fixture disposed over the item, including a reservoir centered within the top fixture for containing an etchant; a bottom fixture underneath the item to be etched including a recessed surface area centered within the bottom fixture; and an etch-resistant window for holding the item to be etched, the etch-resistant window disposed entirely within the recessed surface area. In addition, a small via centered within and intersecting both the top and bottom fixtures acts as a path for a high intensity light beam.
US08105498B2
A method for fabricating micromachined structures is provided. A structure including a dielectric layer, a metal layer and a passivation layer is formed, wherein the dielectric layer has a via thereon. An etching window is formed on the passivation layer. An etching solution is poured into the via through the etching window to perform a process of etching. After etching, the etching solution is removed and the passivation layer is removed. Finally, the structure is etched again to form the micromachined structure.
US08105496B2
Improvements in an interferometric modulator that cavity defined by two walls.
US08105489B2
Embodiments include treatments for acid mine drainage generation sources (10 perhaps by injection of at least one substrate (11) and biologically constructing a protective biofilm (13) on acid mine drainage generation source materials (14). Further embodiments include treatments for degradation of contaminated water environments (17) with substrates such as returned milk and the like.
US08105482B1
The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents. The method for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprises introducing a particulate heat carrier into an upflow reactor, introducing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock into the upflow reactor at a location above that of the particulate heat carrier, allowing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to interact with the heat carrier to produce a product stream, separating the product stream from the particulate heat carrier, regenerating the particulate heat carrier, and collecting a gaseous and liquid product from the product stream.
US08105478B2
In order to follow the change in concentration of a redox-active substance, potential suitable for a reducing process or oxidation process are applied to the working electrode of a measuring device. The potential of the working electrode is pulsed and measuring phases and relaxation phases are alternately produced, the pulse lengths of the measuring phase and relaxation phase being predetermined in a suitable manner. In this manner, a rapid relaxation of the concentration gradient is forced electrochemically so that the measurement can be carried out on simple transducer arrays. The device includes a transducer array in addition to a suitable potentiostat. The transducer array may include a planar metal substrate on which at least one flexible insulator having a firm connection between the metal surface and the insulator surface is located. The array is generated by suitably structuring the substrate.
US08105475B2
A method includes identifying first data associated with cyclic voltammetry measurements of a material being examined. The cyclic voltammetry measurements include applying a varying first voltage to the material and measuring a first current. The method also includes identifying second data associated with impedance measurements. The impedance measurements include applying a second voltage to the material and measuring a second current. The second data includes a scaling factor. The method further includes adjusting at least part of the first data using the scaling factor and identifying a composition of the material using the adjusted first data. The first data could include a current versus voltage curve that associates values of the first current to values of a sweep voltage. The first data could be adjusted by normalizing the curve using the scaling factor, and the normalized curve could be used to generate a current derivative curve.
US08105474B2
An electrochemical device having a proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, an anode plate adjacent the anode electrode and forming at least one anode flow channel, and a cathode plate adjacent the cathode electrode and forming at least one cathode flow channel, in which a bio-oil is introduced into the at least one anode flow channel, and a carbohydrate is introduced into the at least one cathode flow channel. The bio-oil is oxidized at the anode, producing the biofuel, and protons from the anode electrode migrate to the cathode electrode and are reduced to hydrogen and/or reacted with the carbohydrate at the cathode, producing hydrogen and carbon-hydrogen biofuel.
US08105464B2
A device is provided for distribution of 2-13% cellulose pulp to a movable processing surface in a pulp processing device to form a pulp web thereon. An inlet box has an inlet and an outlet defined therein. A rotatable distribution means is arranged for distributing pulp along an entire length of the outlet. The distribution means is placed so that a first distance (a1) between the distribution means and a first outlet wall is greater than a second distance (a2) between the distribution means and a movable processing surface.
US08105460B2
A handling layer and adhesive parts having the handling layer are formed according to the present invention along with used therefore.
US08105456B2
A method of making a breathable film laminate includes: (a) providing a TPU film; (b) applying to a release substrate a layer of a film-formable liquid composition containing a volatile component; (c) heating the liquid composition on the release substrate to expel the volatile component, thereby forming a porous film; (d) transferring the porous film to a surface of the TPU film from the release substrate and pressing the porous film against the TPU film while the porous film is hot, thereby bonding thermally the porous film to the TPU film; and (e) cooling the porous film.
US08105454B2
A filament winding apparatus includes a control unit, a rotation mechanism that rotates a mandrel, a hoop winding head that performs hoop-winding, and a helical winding head that performs helical-winding. The hoop winding head includes bobbins that feed fiber bundles to the mandrel and a circulation mechanism that circulates the bobbins around the mandrel. The control unit controls the rotation and circulation mechanisms such that the mandrel is rotated and the bobbins are circulated in the same direction during helical-winding. It is not necessary to cut fiber bundles after hoop-winding, and wasted fiber is not fed during helical-winding, thereby increasing economy and productivity.
US08105448B2
A method for manufacturing a sheet metal for use in a boiling water nuclear reactor and such a sheet metal. The method includes providing a material of a zirconium alloy that includes zirconium, and whose main alloying materials include niobium. The material is annealed so that essentially all niobium containing secondary phase particles are transformed to β-niobium particles.
US08105446B2
Disclosed are a method for producing alloy flakes for rare earth sintered magnets, which makes uniform the intervals, size, orientation, and shape of the R-rich region and the dendrites of the 2-14-1 phase, and alloy flakes for a rare earth sintered magnet obtained by the method. A rare earth sintered magnet employing the alloy flakes is also disclosed.
US08105443B2
A method for the production of pressed permanent magnets comprises the following steps: A mixture of at least one magnetic powder and a thermosetting binder is provided and pressed to produce a moulded body. In order to obtain a permanent and particularly reliable protection against oxidation and corrosion, the moulded body is impregnated with an acid and solvent mixture in an impregnating bath before the cure of the thermosetting binder, whereby the entire surface of the permanent magnet is coated with a reaction layer [FIG. 1].
US08105442B2
A tubular measurement system for in service cleaning, inspecting, and measuring of a tubular, comprising: a first and second housing portion connected using hinges operable by hydraulic actuators. At least one high pressure water jet unit and a marine growth plough is disposed on a cleaning end of the housing. At least one enclosable camera block containing at least one digital camera is disposed on an inspection end of the housing. A first set of roller assemblies is disposed on the cleaning end and a second set of roller assemblies is disposed on the inspection end. A communication conduit is used to transfer signals from the digital cameras to a remote location. A hydraulic conduit and a high pressure water conduit provide hydraulic fluid and high pressure water from the remote location. A tether is used to provide a variable tension from the remote location to the housing.
US08105439B2
A water quality control method for an evaporative cooling water chiller uses a water pump to transport cooling water from a water tank to a water-spraying element via a water pipe. The cooling water is sprayed onto fins and a refrigerant pipe of a first heat exchanger, flows along the fins and is collected in the water tank. Thereby, the cooling water reduces the temperature of the heat exchanger. The water pump is set to operate for a first period and to stop for a second period so that the temperature of the fins and the refrigerant pipe increases. Thereby, the limescales attached to the heat exchanger are detached and drop into the water tank. Subsequently the water pump is turned on again. The cooling water in the water tank flushes out the accumulated particles on the bottom of the water tank, and clean cooling water is added.
US08105438B2
An exemplary film coating device includes a film coating holder and a film coating cover. The film coating holder includes a plurality of through holes defined therein for receiving workpieces to be coated. The film coating cover includes a first cover body and a second cover body. The first cover body includes a frame and a plurality of arms. A plurality of shelter pieces is set on the inner side of each arm. Each shelter piece is spatially arranged corresponding to one of the plurality of through holes. The second cover body is configured for covering the first cover body. The height of the second cover body is no less than that of the first cover body.
US08105427B2
An ink composition that can form a high-quality image free from bleeding or beading even on printing paper or off-set printing paper such as art paper, in particular, even in a case of low-resolution printing, and is excellent in the property of recovering from clogging even after having been left under environment of high temperature and low humidity. The ink composition for ink jet recording includes at least a coloring material, water, a slightly water-soluble alkanediol, and a polyalkylene glycol.
US08105417B2
A system comprises a particulate matter (PM) filter that comprises an upstream end for receiving exhaust gas, a downstream end and at least one portion. A control module initiates combustion of PM in the PM filter using a heater and selectively adjusts oxygen levels of the exhaust gas to adjust a temperature of combustion adjacent to the at least one portion of the PM filter. A method comprises providing a particulate matter (PM) filter that comprises an upstream end for receiving exhaust gas, a downstream end and at least one portion; initiating combustion of PM in the PM filter using a heater; selectively adjusting oxygen levels of the exhaust gas to adjust a temperature of combustion adjacent to the at least one portion of the PM filter.
US08105412B2
A filter assembly includes a laterally extending filter element having an element plate extending laterally outwardly therefrom and mounted between axially spaced first and second housing shells. First and second sets of one or more windows are formed axially through the element plate and define a flow path through the assembly.
US08105409B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a filter latching device for use in a filtering system that provides filtered intake air for a power generation facility. In some embodiments, a filter latch is provided that includes a hinge coupled to the filter frame and an S-shaped retaining plate rotatably coupled to the hinge. In some embodiments, the S-shaped retaining plate provides an over-center action mechanism that locks the retaining plate in place against a sealing flange and a camming surface that provides gradually increasing pressure on the sealing flange as the latch is engaged.
US08105401B2
A method for using a downdraft gasifier comprising a housing and a refractory stack contained within the housing. The refractory stack may comprise various sections. Apertures in the sections may be aligned to form multiple columnar cavities. Each columnar cavity may comprise an individual oxidation zone. The method of use may include the steps of placing a feedstock into an upper portion of the refractory stack, measuring the temperature of each columnar cavity, and adjusting the flow of oxygen to a particular columnar cavity to maintain the temperature of the particular columnar cavity within a particular range.
US08105397B2
Catalytic process for the transformation of carbon compounds into liquid fuel, in which the reaction is catalysed by an Alumino silicate catalyst comprising counter ion Na and/or K in a sufficient amount so that when mixing 0.2 g of catalyst in powder form with 20 ml water having a pH of 5.56 so as to form a water/catalyst mixture, the pH of the water/catalyst mixture comprised between 4 and 6, said catalytic system further comprising 0.005% to 1% by weight of Ba and/or Sr.
US08105393B2
Compositions and methods relating to the use of pigment compositions are revealed, which can be used to impart color to hair. For instance, treatment formulations that include a pigment-functionalized cationic polymer can be utilized. In some particular instances, a plurality of serially applied treatment formulations is used to improve the characteristics of hair coloring. In addition, other formulations or treatments, such as one or more sealing compositions, or a final coating formulation can also be used to impart other desired characteristics such as treatment durability. Other components of various formulations/compositions are also discussed. Processes for using such compositions/formulations are disclosed. Along with the compositions, kits can be assembled where various compositions/formulations are compartmentalized for storage until the time for application.
US08105374B2
The disclosure describes a coating for medical implants, in particular, vascular stents, said coating comprising silicon dioxide, towards medical implants with a coating containing silicon dioxide and towards a method for their production. The coating can contain additional admixtures and have functionalization coats. The substrate of the coating is produced from a durable material, preferably from a stainless steel.
US08105372B1
A system and method for treating and repairing complex anatomy characterized by a plurality of vessel portions oriented at various angles relative to each other. The system including a graft device that is capable of being assembled in situ and has associated therewith a method that avoids the cessation of blood flow to vital organs. A delivery catheter system and various graft supporting, mating and anchoring structures are additionally included.
US08105368B2
A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having an elongate core and an outer sleeve. The core may be substantially cylindrical, of one-piece construction, and includes end portions for attachment to the bone anchors. A portion of the core extending between the bone anchors has at least one slit. The outer sleeve may include compression grooves. The sleeve surrounds the core and extends between the pair of bone anchors, the sleeve being compressible in a longitudinal direction between the bone anchors.
US08105366B2
Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.
US08105363B2
A spinal implant system for restricting flexion of a spine includes an elongate band proportioned to engage at least two spinous processes. During use, the band is positioned engaging the spinous processes at a spinal segment of interest, where it restricts flexion at the segment. The length and tension of the band may be adjustable following to implantation using percutaneous or transcutaneous means.
US08105362B2
A spinal rod implantation system may be used with pedicle screws to be secured to respective pedicles of a patient's spine, each pedicle screw having a spinal rod channel therethrough. The system may include extenders each including an inner member having a distal end, and an outer member surrounding the inner member and being slidable relative thereto to permit removable coupling of the distal end to a respective pedicle screw. The inner and outer members may include respective features defining a first joint permitting at least partial relative rotation to provide a first degree of rotational freedom. The system may further include extender heads each pivotally coupled to a proximal end of a respective outer member to define a second joint providing a second degree of rotational freedom. A spinal rod insertion assembly may be coupled to the extender heads for guiding the spinal rod through the spinal rod channels.
US08105357B2
An intervertebral process brace is disclosed and can include a frame that can support a first vertebral process and a second vertebral process. The intervertebral process brace can also include a first vertebral process support strap that can span a first portion of the frame. The first vertebral process support strap can engage the first vertebral process and bind the first vertebral process between the first vertebral process support strap and the first portion of the frame.
US08105346B2
The medical handpiece of the present invention has a cutting tool having a flexible shank and a bur provided at the distal end of the cutting tool for cutting an affected area, a tubular sheath for receiving the cutting tool therein, and a handpiece body for detachably holding the proximal end of the cutting tool and transmitting driving force from a drive source to the cutting tool. The sheath and the cutting tool are made flexible for a particular range, with the sheath being plastically deformable and the shank of the cutting tool being elastically deformable. The medical handpiece is further provided with a plurality of bearings arranged in the sheath, first interposed members that are tubular and flexible and arranged proximal to, distal to, and between the bearings, and second interposed members that are tubular and flexible and arranged inside the first interposed members.
US08105335B1
A manually manipulatable tool for removing a fecal impaction, the tool is adapted for insertion into a patient's rectum to engage and penetrate the impaction. The tool is fitted with flexible, arcuately configured elements collapsible at least partially during insertion into the rectum and penetration of the fecal impaction, withdrawal of the tool deploying the elements to exert traction on the impaction thus facilitating withdrawal of at least portions of the impaction. A body member of the tool is preferably elongated and can optionally be provided with a longitudinally extending lumen for introduction of an enema solution concurrently with or independently of impaction removal.
US08105324B2
Methods and devices for the non-thermal, electrically-induced temporary or permanent closure of blood vessels. The subject methods and devices employ pulsed electrical energy according to a defined regime to effect controlled occlusion of targeted blood vessels without heating the vessel and with minimal damage to adjacent tissue. The extent of vessel closure, i.e., temporary (vasoconstriction) or permanent (thrombosis), is controlled based on the manipulation of various parameters of the electrical stimulation regime as well as the configuration of the electrodes used to apply the regime.
US08105318B2
Improved anastomosis devices having structural upgrades to increase ease of use while simultaneously increasing patent safety. The anastomosis device can include an introducer member having an introducer rod and an introducer cap to provide additional support to a catheter portion of the anastomosis device such that damage associated with installation of the catheter, deployment of tissue approximating structures and/or removal of the catheter can be minimized. The anastomosis device can further include a valve cap designed to constrain and reinforce a thin-walled section of a proximal funnel portion of the anastomosis device such that ballooning of the thin-walled section under the influence of a pressurized inflation fluid can be avoided during inflation as well as a time of tissue approximation and tissue healing.
US08105313B2
An adapter assembly (120) for connecting a catheter assembly (50,52) to a tunneler (110) having a generally tubular body (122) having a first end (124), a second end (126) and a longitudinal axis (128) extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first end (124) of the adapter is constructed to engage the proximal end (114) of a trocar (110). The second end (126) of the adapter is constructed to releasably engage at least one catheter lumen (50,52). A slider (140) is disposed about the adapter (120) and is longitudinally slidable along the adapter. When the slider (140) is slid towards the second end (126) of the adapter, the slider engages a plurality of legs (134a-134d) on the adapter and biases the plurality of legs toward each other and the longitudinal axis of the adapter. A method of subcutaneously tunneling a catheter using the adapter assembly is also described that comprises inserting a catheter into a patient, connecting the proximal end of a trocar to the adapter assembly, releasably restraining at least one lumen of the catheter in the adapter, and tunneling the assembly.
US08105293B2
The syringe is intended for one-off use and has a syringe barrel (1), a barrel stopper (12) which can be displaced in the syringe barrel (1) by means of a plunger rod (11) and a needle unit (25) accommodated in the syringe barrel (1). The plunger rod (11) and the needle unit (25) are connected to one another by coupling means (20, 40) in order to retract the needle unit (25) into the syringe barrel (1) after the injection. As proposed by the invention, the needle unit (25) comprises a needle holder (26) made from plastic surrounding an injection needle (27) made from stainless steel along part of its length, which is closed off from an interior of the syringe barrel (1) containing an injection solution (50) by means of a seal insert (36) made from pharmaceutical rubber through the injection needle (27) extends from the rear end. As a result of this feature, an injection solution (50) contained in the syringe is in contact exclusively with permitted materials and the syringe can therefore be stored pre-filled.
US08105285B2
A laparoscopic insufflation device is provided in the configuration of a coil with a blunt tip. The device is capable of passing through the abdominal wall without cutting tissue, and exiting the abdominal wall substantially parallel to the inner surface. While rotation of the coiled device results in forward movement through the abdominal wall, a counter force can be applied to the device to create a safety space between the wall and the interior organs. With the blunt distal tip, parallel exit angle, and safety space, there is substantially no threat to the interior organs during placement of the device. Further space can be generated with the use of pressured gas to produce an abdominal cavity for the subsequent placement of trocars. By rotatably attaching the coiled insufflation device to a trocar, the advantage of a counter force can be used not only to establish the safety space but also to pull the trocar into the abdominal wall with a counterforce which resists tenting.
US08105283B2
The miniaturized injection device (1) for medical use comprises a tube (2) extending along a certain axis (A-A) and in which there is disposed at least one reservoir (12) for receiving a medicinal substance, the reservoir being connected to at least one needle (14). The needle is movable in the tube (2) along said axis (A-A) and the injection device (1) further includes a pump (13) interposed between the needle and the reservoir. The pump is controlled by a switch (21) that operates in response to the needle (14) moving in the tube along said axis (A-A).
US08105274B2
A catheter is disclosed providing a balloon catheter having a distal tip that is flexible while additionally incorporating high column strength. The present invention additionally provides a distal tip region that accommodates for various sized guidewires. In preferred embodiments, the distal tip region is initially configured for accommodating the passage of 0.12-inch guidewires only. Through specific manufacturing processes, however, the distal tip is modified so that it also may be expanded to accommodate the passage of 0.14-inch guidewires. In additional preferred embodiments, an elastomeric sleeve is disposed over the modified distal tip to allow the tip to return to the initial 0.12 -inch accommodating profile when the larger 0.14-inch guidewire is withdrawn from the catheter.
US08105270B2
A medical device includes a sensor that is configured to measure a property of an outer layer of an anatomical body surface. The sensor includes a source probe configured to stimulate a local surface of the outer layer of an anatomical body surface. The sensor also includes a detector configured to measure a response of the outer layer resulting from the source probe stimulation. A controller coupled to the source probe and the sensor drives the source probe using a tailored stochastic sequence and determines the property of the outer layer using the measured response received from the detector. The sensor can be used with medical devices, such as drug delivery devices including microneedle transport devices and needleless injection devices.
US08105266B2
A dialysis system includes a dialysis instrument including at least one pump actuator; a disposable cassette operable with the at least one pump actuator; a plurality of supply containers connected fluidly to the disposable cassette; and a cart which includes a rotatable bearing plate onto which the instrument and supply containers are loaded, the bearing plate allowing a patient to turn the instrument and supply containers relative to the cart for selective access to the instrument or the supply containers.
US08105265B2
A cardiopulmonary bypass system utilizing membrane-based reciprocating positive displacement blood pumps (“pod pumps”). In one aspect, the pod pumps are constructed to provide reduced shear forces on the blood being pumped. In another aspect blood flow through the pod pumps can be controlled by a controller using information from pressure sensors in the control chamber of the pod pumps. In another aspect, the pod pumps are included on a disposable unit that can be received and held by a receptacle means on a base unit, the base unit also providing pressurized control fluid to the pod pumps on the disposable unit through the receptacle means.
US08105260B2
A machine (1) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises a device (2) for ultrafiltration of a liquid through a semi-permeable membrane (3) of a blood treatment device (4), a first sensor (11) for ultrafiltration rate through the membrane, a second group of sensors (13) for measuring a trans-membrane pressure, and a programmed controller (14) for calculating a maximum ultrafiltration rate as a function of the transmembrane pressure. The machine is suitable for kidney failure treatments, such as hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration. In a relatively short time the machine enables a large quantity of corporeal blood to be removed from the patient.
US08105259B2
The present invention provides a catheter for extraction that can efficiently extract blood flowing in coronary sinus from coronary artery through coronary vein and has the same operability as catheters used in conventional PCI. The present invention also provides a catheter for extracorporeal circulation that can lessen an introduction number of devices for blood access as little as possible and reduce further the burden to a patient, in addition to the same operability as the catheters used in the conventional PCI. The catheter for extraction is equipped with blood extracting lumen in an inside and equipped with a hub at a proximal end portion, and when a minimum sectional area to a circumferential direction of the blood extracting lumen is referred to as S1 and immersion side length is referred to as L1, an equivalent diameter D1 satisfies the formula defined by D1=(4×S1)/L1 and the equivalent diameter D1 is at 1.80 mm. The catheter for extracorporeal circulation also has blood extracting lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end and blood return lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter to a fixed length distal end.
US08105256B1
A compression garment for treating post operative patients involved in body contouring surgery and structured for removable disposition in an operative position about the torso or other predetermined portion of the patient's body. The compression garment is dimensioned, configured and structured to apply a predetermined, appropriate compression to the surgically affected portions of the patient in order to reduce pain, diminish swelling and avoid fluid accumulation, while not impairing the venous and lymphatic circulation of the affected body portion. The garment includes a base of flexible, compressible material having at least one, but more practically both a first and second cover member overlying the internal and external surfaces of the base, wherein a closure assembly serves to removably maintain the garment in a variably closed orientation while in the operative position such that appropriate compressive force is applied to the affected areas including adjacent soft tissue and bony prominences.
US08105239B2
A non-invasive screening technique for visualizing coronary arteries which overcomes the problems of visualizing the curved arteries by projecting the three dimensional volume of the arteries onto a two dimensional screen. Blood filled areas such as the coronary arteries and veins, are highlighted to contrast with other nearby tissues using non-linear classification and segmentation techniques. Data is gathered as a sequence of 2D slices stored as a 3D volume. Software interpolates voxels intermediate to the slices. Wiener filtering or LMS spatial filtering can be implemented on each 2D scan to improve lateral resolution and reduce noise prior to the use of the scan data with the classification and segmentation algorithms. A traditional handheld ultrasound probe is employed to enable the technician to locate the area of interest, but a gyroscopic stabilizer is added to minimize unwanted variation on two axes of rotation.
US08105228B2
A method and morphologically adaptable apparatus for altering the charge distribution upon living membranes with functional stabilization of the membrane physical electrical integrity further comprising a method for using quadripolar, circular, center charged, energy balanced magnetic device in a four (4) magnet array of alternating polarity in which the magnetic poles are in multiple planes and are separated by a predetermined distance which provide an effective magnetic sphere of influence on all adjacent poles to suppress the firing of action potentials of mammalian sensory neurons. The method and apparatus further provides a static magnetic device for production of a magnetic field for treatment of various disorders that can be focused at the site of pain or edema to deliver a gradient in the magnetic field to prevent or reduce charge flow. Further there is provided a static magnetic device for production of a magnetic field for treatment of disorders wherein the device provides a static magnetic field such that the focused magnetic field gradient is oriented To be perpendicular to the neuron or membrane charge flow providing maximum deflection of the ion or charge flow.
US08105227B2
A device for folding sheets of a medium is provided. The device has a frame; a cam mechanism attached to the frame; a lever attached to the frame, the lever being actuated by the cam mechanism; a first scissor arm attached to the frame, the first scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of first rolls, one of the first rolls being movable by the first scissor arm; a second scissor arm attached to the frame, the second scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of second rolls, one of the second rolls being movable by the second scissor arm; and a crease blade for contacting the sheets to create a crease in the sheets. Rotation of the cam mechanism through a first period of rotation causes the crease blade to move in a contact direction to create the crease in the sheets by pushing the sheets between the first rolls. Rotation of the cam mechanism through a second period of rotation causes the crease blade to move in a retracting direction away from the sheets and causes the lever to move the first and second scissor arms such that the first pair of rolls is separated and the second pair of rolls is separated.
US08105222B2
A roller device for a toner cartridge includes a spindle and a roller body. The roller body has a foam layer disposed around the spindle, and an outer tube disposed around the foam layer. Both of the outer tube and the foam layer are made of a thermoplastic material. The roller body has a bulk resistance ranging from 102 ohms to 1010 ohms.
US08105220B2
Toy device (1) for coordination and motion skill development having a hollow spherical-segment or spherical-cap shape, it comprises an alternate-geometry portion (3) arranged in an annular fashion in the region of the edge of the spherical-cap portion (2) thereof. Preferably the spherical-cap portion (2) thereof is a hemisphere surface, that is, the spherical cap is produced by intersecting the sphere with a plane passing through the centre of the sphere, and a cylindrical portion (4) is connected to the spherical-cap portion (2) thereof along the circumference of the spherical cap, with the toy device comprising an annular side flange (6) extending outward from the axis of symmetry (5) of the sphere, with the side flange (6) being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (5) of the sphere, and the side flange (6) having an endless wavy shape (7) configuration.
US08105219B1
A training apparatus for use by flyers in a cheerleading squad includes a stable base assembly, a balancing assembly, and a fixed or adjustable column located between the stable base assembly and the balancing assembly. The balancing assembly includes a deflectably resilient member and a standing surface that promotes proper alignment and mimics the feel that a flyer experiences when being supported by a base cheerleader. The deflectably resilient member provides two degrees of freedom of movement to the standing surface when the standing surface is under an external load. The standing surface preferably provides about the same standing area that typically provided by a base cheerleader. The column may be a fluid-activated cylinder that moves between a first and second vertical position and simulates a flyer being raised by the base.
US08105217B2
A grip element for an exercise machine, comprising at least a substantially tubular handgrip (2), forming at least one outer surface (3) to be gripped by the user's hand while performing exercises to develop muscles or the like, and having at least one substantially longitudinal through-channel (4) in which there will engage at least one flexible cable (5) connected to at least one resistant load of at least one exercise machine, the grip element being characterized in that said handgrip (2) comprises means (6) for selective locking of the grip element in any position along the cable (5), the locking means being designed to prevent the handgrip (2) from sliding relative to the cable (5) when the grip element is manually translated and/or rotated in any direction in space.
US08105210B2
A jaw relaxation exercise appliance and method of use to relieve the symptoms of the temporal mandibular joint (TMJ), such as limited opening and jaw pain, that is inexpensive and easy to use. The appliance may be form fit to each user and is designed to be a partial coverage appliance with a bottom guide plane for ease of movement to achieve optimal jaw position. It is also intended to be utilized in conjunction with an exercise. The appliance should be used for short intervals during the day. Patients are directed to slowly move or slide their lower jaw forward and then slowly slide the lower jaw rearward along the plane to a point of comfort.
US08105206B2
An exercise machine includes a frame including a first portion and a second portion positioned in a plane generally perpendicular to the first portion. A carriage assembly moves along a linear path parallel to the first portion. A drive unit is joined to the frame for movement the carriage assembly in a first direction and a second direction. The drive unit includes a motor, a ball screw joined to the motor, and at least one support bearing rotatably joined to the ball screw and joined to the carriage assembly for enabling the carriage to move along the linear path in response to the ball screw rotating. A first sensor activates the motor in a first mode to move the carriage in the first direction. A second sensor activates the motor in a second mode to move the carriage in the second direction.
US08105198B2
A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08105192B2
A motor vehicle transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio. The transmission includes an input-side torque converter that is optionally connectable on the output side through a first transmission stage with a predetermined gear ratio, or through a second, continuously variable transmission stage, to the output shaft of the transmission so that it transmits torque. The transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission stage is adjustable in such a way that the rotational speed of the transmission output shaft remains constant when the transmission of torque is shifted from the first transmission stage to the second transmission stage.
US08105179B1
An apparatus and method for an improved handle configuration are disclosed. The apparatus and method include an upper handle secured to a shaft that has a longitudinal axis and a lower handle secured to the shaft opposite the upper handle at a location spaced from the upper handle along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The upper handle and lower handles each have grip portion that extends at an angle substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and that is spaced apart from the shaft in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The upper handle and lower handle are secured to the shaft at an end of the shaft opposite a device configured to contact an object when the shaft is swung.
US08105178B2
Side locking adjustable shaft connection systems for removably connecting a golf club head and shaft
Releasable golf club head/shaft connection systems and methods allow one to change shafts on a single club head, change club heads on a single shaft, and/or change the angular orientation features of a golf club. Such systems may include: (a) a club head body including a hosel and a locking nut stabilizer; (b) a shaft releasably engaged with the club head body, wherein an end of the shaft includes a retaining member that is inserted into the club head body; and (c) a locking nut engaged with a side surface of the club head body such that a body portion of the locking nut extends at least partially through the hosel and is supported by the locking nut stabilizer. The locking nut is movably engaged with the club head body such that it securely holds the shaft or allows the shaft to be removed therefrom.
US08105165B2
A method, gaming system, and computer program storage product are disclosed. At least one unique identifier is received from a remote processing system. The at least one remote unique identifier is associated with a remote software package that is on the remote processing system. The at least one remote unique identifier and a local unique identifier associated with a local software package on a local processing system are compared. The local software package corresponds to the remote software package. The at least one remote unique identifier indicates that the remote software package is one of a parent copy and a child copy of a software package executable. The local unique identifier indicates that the local software package is one of a parent copy and a child copy of the software package executable. An operation of the local software package is authorized based upon the comparing.
US08105159B2
A player roster interface is described including display logic operable to display a table having a playing region (e.g., a first set of rows of the table) and player logic for displaying a plurality of players (e.g., names, thumbnail images, etc.), where at least a portion of the players may be positioned within the playing region. The interface further includes selection logic for moving a player within the table in response to a drag-and-drop operation. Displayed players may be moved within the table between the playing region and a bench region (e.g., a second set of rows of the table) to make changes to a roster and select a starting roster. Such an interface may allow a user to select and view a player roster (e.g., for a fantasy sports team) by positioning players within the playing region.
US08105157B2
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method comprises associating, with a casino patron, a benefit of a first value. The benefit of the first value is determined based on a first algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a first portion of a period of time. The method further comprises associating, with the patron, a benefit of a second value. The benefit of the second value is determined based on a second algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion. Associating the benefit of the second value is only performed if the associating the benefit of the first value is first performed.
US08105156B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for enabling a player to take a tour of a secondary game at a game machine. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes offering to enable entry of a player into a bonus round of a game machine in exchange for a fee, receiving the fee from the player, and enabling entry of the player into the bonus round. The method further includes receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round, and determining an outcome based on the at least one player selection. In other embodiments, the method includes providing a prize to the player based on the outcome.
US08105154B2
A gaming machine determines a winning combination by lottery. A first special game state is determined as a game state advantageous to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination. A second special game state is provided in which a predetermined number of game media is paid out when the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played reaches a set value. A payout mode is selected in the special game state from a plurality of predetermined payout modes.
US08105153B2
Methods and systems for automatically determining game content based upon dynamically adjusted individual skill levels are provided. Example embodiments provide an Electronic Gaming Engine (“EGE”), which includes a Dynamic Challenge Level Adjuster for supporting multi-player, individualized skill-based games. In one embodiment, the EGE comprises game flow logic; game content models, for example, question and answer (“Q&A”) challenge models; a Dynamic Challenge Level Adjuster; one or more scoring modules; challenge data; participant data; and an input/output interface. These components cooperate to determine and assign skill level indexes on an individual basis and to automatically present game content appropriate to each individual player's skill level.
US08105152B2
To provide a game system that enables a degree of difficulty of an occurrence of a predetermined game event to be changed depending on a degree of proficiency of a player in a game in which the predetermined event is made to occur when a controller is operated according to specific procedures. The present invention relates to a game system including one or more controllers. In the game system, a determining unit (52) determines whether or not a criterion operation data string has been inputted from the controller within a determination target period, a game event generation unit (58) generates a predetermined game event according to a result of the determination made by the determining unit (52), and the determining unit (52) changes a length of the determination target period based on a result of a past determination on at least one of the one or more controllers.
US08105148B2
This invention is directed to an amusement device consisting of a vertically oriented hollow wheel that is rotated at a constant rate and that has a series of cavities provided along the inner surface of the outer wheel rim. The wheel has front and rear enclosures that prevent game pieces, such as elastic balls, from falling out of the wheel. A player attempts to time the release of game pieces from a holding area located within the wheel to try to have the pieces come to rest in preselected adjoining cavities. If the pieces are detected within the cavities in a winning orientation, a signal is transmitted to a central processing unit which then activates a ticket dispenser.
US08105146B2
A gaming machine includes plural stations and a processor. Each station can determine a game result and execute a game independently. The processor accepts each station's entry to an event game when a predetermined condition is satisfied. There is collected an entry fee depending on a contribution degree of a station whose entry to the event game has been accepted. Then, there is executed the event game in common at each station whose entry to the event game has been accepted.
US08105145B2
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a display for displaying a plurality of symbols arranged in an array of symbol positions. The plurality of symbols include at least one expandable symbol. The plurality of symbol positions include at least one expandable position. The controller is operative to vary the symbols displayed in the symbol positions, and if the expandable symbol appears in the expandable position, expand the expandable symbol into at least one other symbol position to form and display an expanded symbol.
US08105144B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprises revealing a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a plurality of user-playable hands. At least one hand from the plurality of user-playable hands is discarded, via player selection. A first plurality of community symbol-bearing objects is revealed. The plurality of community symbol-bearing objects is capable of being combined with one or more of the non-discarded plurality of user-playable hands to form an individual best hand.
US08105134B2
An improved low pressure low speed concrete polishing apparatus and method of cleaning and polishing a floor is used with a conventional rotary flooring machine. A polishing pad has interchangeable polymer strips that are slideably received within the housing of the pad. The polymer strips have an abrasive material embedded therein which collectively work to polish the floor while cleaning the floor during normal low speed floor cleaning conditions.
US08105131B2
Methods and apparatus for removing materials from microfeature workpieces. One embodiment of a subpad in accordance with the invention comprises a matrix having a first surface configured to support a polishing medium and a second surface opposite the first surface. The subpad in this embodiment further includes a hydro-control agent in the matrix. The hydro-control agent has a hydrophobicity that inhibits liquid from absorbing into the subpad. The hydro-control agent, for example, can be coupling agents that are generally hydrophobic, surfactants that are hydrophobic, or other agents that are compatible with the matrix and at least generally hydrophobic.
US08105128B1
A toy building element includes side walls, a top having an upper surface that extends from the side walls, and a plurality of projections extending upward from the extensive upper surface, an open bottom and an interior. The interior is accessible through the open bottom for receiving a plurality of projections of another building element of a set of toy building elements. The interior includes a plurality of hollow members that extend downward from a respective portion of the extensive upper surface that is disposed between two of the projections; and the hollow members are open to the extensive upper surface. The hollow members partition the interior into regions in which a plurality of projections of another building element is received; and the regions of the building element are disposed directly below the projections of the same building element for receiving the projections of the other building element.
US08105123B2
A marine electric generator flushing system for a boat has a liquid container attached in the generator raw cooling water intake line and mounted in a boat hull positioned along the water line of the boat. The liquid container has a fresh water inlet that allows a fresh water hose to be connected thereto and which automatically blocks the raw water line anytime fresh water is entering the liquid container so that fresh water is drawn through the generator cooling system.
US08105117B2
A spring connector includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The inner conductor is formed of a conductive material, and has a small-diameter portion, a large-diameter portion, and a resilient portion axially disposed so as to be integrally and continuously formed with each other. The outer conductor is formed of a conductive material, and is provided with a hole having a predetermined inside diameter. The outer conductor accommodates the large-diameter portion and the resilient portion in the hole while the small-diameter portion protrudes from an end of the hole.
US08105114B2
An intermediate electrical connector for connecting two electrical connectors includes a blade assembly formed of a plurality of blades and a ground plate attached to the blades; a plurality of terminals disposed on each of the blades and extending in parallel to each other; and a holding member for holding the blade assembly. The intermediate electrical connector may further include an intermediate portion disposed between the holding members.
US08105111B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a longitude base with a plurality of contacts retained therein in a first direction, a pair of opposite arms extending from ends of the longitude base in the first direction and a shielding shell includes a top plate and a bottom plate covering on the housing. A receiving space is enclosed with the top plate, the bottom plate of the shielding shell and the pair of arms of the insulative housing. An arm-limited means is unitarily formed on the shell to abut against inside face of the pair of arms.
US08105110B2
A cage for shielding and handling electrical connectors, the cage has a pair of sidewalls each having a first and second longitudinal portions. A transverse link pierce joins the first longitudinal portions to form a single piece. Support members extend from the sidewalls and disposed in the space between the second longitudinal portions. A portion of the electrical connector is seated onto the support members, with the mounting portions of the contact terminals of the connector exposed. The electrical connector can be carried and positioned onto a PCB during the assembling process, by handling the cage only. The electrical connector is movable relative to the cage along vertical direction when contact terminals are brought into contact with the PCB to ensure the coplanary of contact terminals and PCB circuits. The present invention ensures the positioning accuracy of the connector onto the PCB and eases handling and assembling process.
US08105106B1
A disposable, non servicable, illuminating electrical adapter (205) that quickly illuminates and attaches to a conventional electrical plug (285) and functions to illuminate both an electrical receptacle 220 and the adapter face itself for the purpose of locating and safely inserting electrical adapter between electrical plug and an electrical receptacle. Additional features include opaque 255 and translucent 260 image applications that enable the adapter 205 to function as a combination promotional/awareness generating product and also a safety promoting, useful tool.
US08105103B2
Provided are a ground connecting device occupying only a little space and a wire harness having the ground connecting device. The ground connecting device comprises first and second ground joint connectors to connect a plurality of first and second grounding wires included in a wire harness to a ground site. The first ground joint connector includes a plurality of first wire terminals to be attached to respective terminal ends of the first grounding wires and a first ground conductor having a first ground-side terminal portion and a first connector housing which holds the first ground conductor. The second ground joint connector includes a plurality of wire terminals to be attached to respective terminal ends of the second remaining grounding wires, and a second ground conductor having a second ground-side terminal portion, and a second connector housing which holds the second ground conductor. The first and second connector housings are stacked above a wall surface while the ground-side terminal portions of the first and second ground conductors are stacked.
US08105102B2
An electrical connector for connecting a flat conductive member includes a housing made of an electrical insulating material and including a terminal holding groove, and a terminal held in the terminal holding groove for contacting with the flat conductive member. The terminal holding groove includes a first groove portion and a second groove portion. The groove portion has a first groove width, and the second groove portion has a second groove width smaller than the first groove width. The terminal includes an upper arm portion, a lower arm portion extending in parallel with the upper arm portion, and a combining portion combining the upper arm portion and the lower arm portion. The lower arm portion includes a connecting portion accommodated in the first groove portion and to be soldered to a circuit board. The upper arm portion includes a pressing portion for pressing the flat conductive member.
US08105101B2
A lamp socket has a mover and a supporter. At an open position, the supporter supports the mover so that the mover does not prevent a lamp from being moved to or from a mounting position along a specified direction. When the lamp can be moved from the mounting position along the specified direction, the supporter supports the mover so that the contacts do not make contact with lamp pins, respectively. At the close position, the supporter supports the mover so that the mover prevents the lamp from being moved from or to the mounting position along the specified direction. If the mover is at the close position, and the lamp is in a posture by which it can be moved from the mounting position along the specified direction in case of the open position, the supporter supports the mover so that the contacts make contact with the pins, respectively.
US08105094B2
An electrical receptacle is disclosed. The electrical receptacle includes a housing and at least one socket at least partially disposed within the housing and having at least a pair of entry ports. The at least one socket is controllable by a radio frequency signal. The electrical receptacle also includes an antenna at least partially disposed within the housing configured to at least receive the radio frequency signal used to control the at least one socket. The electrical receptacle further includes at least one tamper resistant device at least partially disposed within the housing. The at least one tamper resistant device is configured to block the entry ports unless a mating electrical plug is inserted into the at least one socket.
US08105093B2
An exemplary socket assembly includes a circuit plate and a socket mounted on the circuit plate for fixing an IC. The socket includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member. The first fixing member includes installed portions, elastic connecting portions, and a first buckling portion, the elastic connecting portions interconnects the electric portions and the first buckling portion. The second fixing member includes electric portions, elastic connecting portions, and a second buckling portion, and the elastic connecting portions interconnect the electric portions and the second buckling portion. Wherein when the IC is attached to the socket, the first buckling portion and the second buckling portion are initially disengaged from each other, pins of the IC is electrically connected with the electric portions, the first buckling portion and the second buckling portion are brought together with the elastic connecting portions elastically deforming, and the first buckling portion and the second buckling portion are locked together and hold the IC in the socket.
US08105085B1
An endodontic instrument with an elongate shaft and a plurality of inverted frusto-conical sections with radial cutting edge disposed along a working portion of the shaft.
US08105074B2
A stream of hot oxygen is formed by providing a duct and a fuel lance movable axially within the duct, flowing gaseous fuel out of the lance into the duct, mixing it in the duct with gaseous oxidant, flowing the mixture out of the duct into an atmosphere which is hot enough that it ignites the mixture without aid of an ignition source other than said atmosphere, and combusting said mixture in a flame that does not extend into said duct; then moving the lance so its fuel outlet approaches the duct exit orifice so that the base of said flame moves inside said duct to the fuel outlet; and then moving the lance to draw the fuel outlet and the flame attached thereto away from the exit orifice into the duct; and increasing the flow rate of gaseous oxidant in said duct, so that combustion of fuel within the duct heats uncombusted oxygen which emerges as a stream of hot oxidant.
US08105068B2
A reusable apparatus and method for forming a composite part through vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). The reusable apparatus may be configured to vacuum seal a curable material, such as composite material, against a tool and disperse a permeating substance such as liquid resin through the curable material. The reusable apparatus may comprise a sheet of material such as rubber having a plurality of surface deviations facing the curable material and the tool. The surface deviations may provide paths for evenly distributed air flow as air is evacuated from between the sheet of material and the tool. Additionally, the surface deviations may allow the permeating substance to be evenly dispersed throughout the curable material. A vacuum outlet of the tool may be positioned between two sealing apparatuses to provide continuous vacuum suction proximate a perimeter of the sheet of material to prevent air from leaking in.
US08105067B2
A method and an apparatus for casting concrete products substantially with a horizontal slipforming process, the concrete mass in said method being fed by means of at least one feed element (2) through a limited cross section (13, 7, 8) for forming a concrete product, whereby the feed elements (2, 5, 15, 16) produce a two-directional compacting motion for compacting the concrete mass.
US08105066B2
A solid imaging apparatus is provided that includes a replaceable cartridge containing a source of build material and an extendable and retractable flexible transport film for transporting the build material layer-by-layer from the cartridge to the surface of a build in an image plane. An operator using the device needs merely to remove a spent cartridge and replace it with a fresh cartridge to continue solid imaging virtually uninterrupted. The apparatus also includes the capability of withdrawing and inserting an imager without the operator having to perform a separate alignment step. A brush attached to the transport film and forming part of the cartridge provides for intra-layer removal of excess uncured build material. If desired, the apparatus can produce a fully reacted build. A high intensity UV source cures the build between layers. An injection molded build pad is designed to hold a build in an inverted position for improving the build. The invention also provides for tilting the build elevator to reduce air entrainment and for releasing the build from the image plane.
US08105055B2
A suction manifold mounting for a fluid end of a high pressure pump having a frame assembly. The fluid end has a body forging with a detachable suction manifold plate. The plate is pivotally attached at opposed ends to a pair of swivel arms through a cooperating pair of yoke limbs. The swivel arms are rigidly affixed to the frame member. When attachment bolts are removed from the manifold plate, the plate may pivot from a first closed position wherein the mounting holes in the plate are aligned with mounting holes in the forging to a second open position.
US08105053B2
A turbocharger includes a housing, and a turbine shaft supported in a center hole in the housing through rolling bearings. A tank portion for storing lubrication oil is formed in the housing, and the lubricating oil is supplied from the tank portion to the rolling bearings through wick members extending from the tank portion respectively to the rolling bearings. The wick member includes a bundle of fibers made of a plastics material, and a distal end portion thereof is separated into a fibrous condition, and this distal end portion is held in contact with the bearing. The lubricating oil is supplied to the bearing by a capillary action of the wick member.
US08105049B2
A hydraulic system for a transmission has a diffuser housing with a fluid inlet passage that feeds one or more pump inlet ports, and a fluid return passage, such as to return fluid from a pressure regulator valve, that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet passage. The hydraulic system also has a filter housing with a filter outlet portion that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet passage upstream of the pump inlet port(s). The fluid return passage is downstream of the filter outlet portion. Thus, flow through the fluid return passage can create suction, causing increased flow through the filter outlet portion, such as from a fluid sump. Specifically, the diffuser housing is configured so that the fluid inlet passage has a converging portion downstream of the filter outlet portion and a diverging portion downstream of the converging portion.
US08105046B2
A propeller for watercraft having excellent abrasion resistance includes a propeller body having a blade and a hub portion, the propeller body being molded by casting an aluminum alloy, and an anodic oxide coating provided so as to cover a surface of the propeller body, the anodic oxide coating being obtained by performing a blast treatment for the surface of the propeller body and thereafter subjecting the surface to anodic oxidation.
US08105040B2
A wind turbine rotor blade is provided, the rotor blade comprising a root portion and a tip portion extending therefrom. The root portion comprises a plurality of inserts embedded therein, each insert being configured to receive respective connecting means for connecting the wind turbine rotor blade to a wind turbine hub. The inserts are of at least two different lengths such that they extend into the rotor blade by different distances.
US08105029B2
A method an apparatus of automatically controlling a wind turbine re provided. of: A time-series of measurement values of the aerodynamic flow property of the wind turbine rotor blade is determined; a predictive wind field model representing a structure of a wind field acting on the wind turbine rotor blade is generated based on the time-series of measurement values, and a control value is generated based on the wind-field model.
US08105025B2
A collecting chamber of a flow machine which expands in the direction of circumference, including at least one outer shell part and a contour insert is provided. The contour insert is provided with a groove which extends in the circumferential direction and is preferably configured as a helical spiral. The contour insert, is cut from a whole unit and is delimited at one end in the circumferential direction by a bent edge so that the flow losses are minimized during the passage from the collecting chamber into a subsequent diffuser.
US08105023B2
A steam turbine has: a casing; a rotor rotatably arranged in the casing; a nozzle diaphragm concentrically arranged with respect to the rotor, the nozzle diaphragm being engaged with the casing; moving blades arranged in circumferential direction on outer circumference of the rotor at positions adjacent to the nozzle diaphragm; seal strips circumferentially extending on tips of the moving blades, the seal strips protruding in radial outward direction; and an abradable structure rigidly connected to the nozzle diaphragm. The abradable structure faces the seal strips in radial direction at a facing surface, and has an abradable part made of an abradable material arranged at the facing surface.
US08105021B2
Gas turbine engine systems involving hydrostatic face seals with integrated back-up seals are provided. In this regard, a representative seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a stator assembly and a rotor assembly configured to operatively engage each other to form a first seal and a second seal; the first seal being provided by a hydrostatic seal having a seal face and a seal runner; and the second seal being provided by a back-up seal such that responsive to a failure of the first seal, the back-up seal maintains at least a portion of a pressure differential established by the first seal prior to the failure.
US08105012B2
An adjustable bleed apparatus and method for bleeding air to or from the impeller inlet region of a centrifugal compressor through a segmented annular bleed slot. An annular support member, connected to the fixed intake casing, supports a downstream annular shroud segment and an upstream annular shroud segment such that the downstream end of the downstream shroud segment is unconstrained. The spaced-apart distance between the shroud segments defines an annular bleed slot, which is segmented by bridge members. The connections between the shroud segments and the annular support member are configured such that the spaced apart distance of the annular bleed slot is adjustable. The connections between the annular support member and the fixed intake casing are configured such that the running clearance between the downstream shroud segment and the impeller is adjustable independently from the width of bleed slot.
US08104986B2
An applicator for a liquid product includes an elongated base having a product cup sized for retaining a single-dose quantity of a liquid product; an applicator cup for receiving an applicator pad; and a channel interconnecting the product cup and the applicator cup. An absorbent applicator pad is disposed in the applicator cup. A liquid product is positively retained in the product cup until it is desired to apply the liquid product.
US08104984B2
To enable a material extruding container to carry out various combined operations, first and second engagement portions (8, 9) are provided within a container (100), both the first and second engagement portions (8, 9) operate to move a moving body (6) forward when a container front portion (1) and a container rear portion (3) are relatively rotated in one direction, the engagement of the first engagement portion (8) is cancelled when the first engagement portion (8) operates in a fixed section corresponding to the relative rotation between the container front portion (1) and the container rear portions (1, 3) in one direction, and only the second engagement portion (9) operates to move the moving body (6) forward and backward when they are further relatively rotated in one direction, while leads of the first and second engagement portions (8, 9) may be differentiated or reverse moving screws may be set.
US08104983B2
A writing instrument, which has an inner and outer writing element with separate writing medium reservoirs. The writing elements are coaxially mounted in an outer barrel and axially moveable with respect to one another. A driving mechanism may be actuated to allow a user to selectively extend one writing element. The inner and outer writing elements may have an inner sleeve therebetween to improve, for instance, rigidity of the outer writing element and to prevent contamination of the writing medium reservoirs. An outer sleeve may also be provided over the outer writing element. The outer sleeve can function to hold various components of the outer writing element together, and to allow for clean and easy refill of the outer writing element, especially when the outer writing element is a nib-type writing element with a filler-type reservoir. The writing instrument is designed so that a user can replace the inner and/or outer writing elements when their respective writing medium have been expended.
US08104971B2
It is a cage that is formed of a resin and that holds balls serving as rolling elements. The cage includes an annular base portion, and a plurality of claw portions that are formed to be arranged at constant intervals on the circumference of the base portion and to protrude therefrom. A pocket for accommodating the ball is formed between each pair of adjacent ones of the claw portions. In the resin cage for a ball bearing, thinning recesses are formed in end parts 11a of the claw portions and a rear surface of the base portion, respectively.
US08104970B2
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and inner ring, double row rolling elements contained between the inner member and the outer member, and; seals mounted between the outer member and the inner member. A stepped portion is formed between an inner side surface of the wheel mounting flange and its base. The stepped portion is formed with a circular arc cross-section with a predetermined radius of curvature. An annular recessed portion is formed on an inner circumference of the outer side end of the outer member. The recessed portion is arranged opposite to a corner edge of the stepped portion, via a small gap. The gap forms an annular labyrinth seal having a substantially “L” shaped cross-section.
US08104959B2
A sealed multi-handled bag is provided that includes a first handle at a first end and a second handle at a second end. In one embodiment, the handles are on substantially opposite ends of the bag. The sealed bag may be made from plastic and may contain loose materials, such as a salt. In some embodiments, one or more of the handles are formed from heat-sealed layers of bag material having a grip cut therein. A method for filling and sealing the multi-handled sealed bag includes filling a bag having a first closed end through a second open end, and sealing the second open end to form a handle. In one embodiment, sealing the second open end includes heat-sealing opposing layers of bag material together and cutting a handle through the layers. In another embodiment, the method includes folding-over the layers of bag material.
US08104958B2
The present application relates to an x-ray marker device comprising an arrangement of x-ray markers, wherein the arrangement defines straight lines which are referred to as device straight lines, wherein at least some of the device straight lines, which are referred to as pyramid straight lines, comprise portions which define edges of at least one pyramid.
US08104956B2
A thermocouple measuring circuit for sensing a temperature at a measuring point is provided. The thermocouple measurement circuit (12) includes a thermocouple input for sensing a temperature at a measuring point, a compensation circuit (14) for compensating thermocouple effects of junctions of the thermocouple, and an instrumentation amplifier (16) for summing an output of the thermocouple and an output of the compensation circuit and outputting a voltage indicative of the temperature sensed, wherein the output of the compensation circuit is a reference voltage for the output of the instrumentation amplifier. Various embodiments of the thermocouple measurement circuit may be employed in electrosurgical generators for controlling output power dependent on temperature conditions.
US08104947B2
A concrete agitating drum (1) is driven by a hydraulic motor (81). A connection switch-over valve (20) is arranged to have a function to regulate a flow cross-sectional area of pressurized working oil supplied to the hydraulic motor (81) from a variable capacity hydraulic pump (10). The variable capacity hydraulic pump (10) is driven by a combustion engine (60) together with a charge pump (11). When a discharge pressure of the charge pump (11) is low, the connection switch-over valve (20) maintains a small flow cross-sectional area to rotate the agitating drum (1) at a low rotation speed so that fuel consumption of the combustion engine (60) is suppressed to be small. When the discharge pressure of the charge pump (11) becomes high, the connection switch-over valve (20) enlarges the flow cross-sectional area, thereby realizing a rated rotation speed of the agitating drum (1).
US08104940B2
A vehicle headlamp includes a projection lens, a halogen bulb disposed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens and below an optical axis, a main reflector which forwardly reflects and converges a first part of direct light from the halogen bulb toward the optical axis, the halogen bulb being inserted in the main reflector in a sidewise direction, a movable shade disposed between the projection lens and the halogen bulb to shield a portion of the first part of the light reflected by the main reflector and a second part of the direct light from the halogen bulb to form a cutoff line, an actuator which moves the movable shade, and an auxiliary reflector disposed below the optical axis to forwardly and diffusely reflect a third part of the direct light from the halogen bulb such that the third part of the light passes below the projection lens.
US08104933B2
A connector for connecting a lamp to a pole, includes a frame and a bracket pivotably attached to the frame. The frame has multiple positioning holes defined therein, and the bracket has two slots defined corresponding to the positioning holes. A blot extends through the frame and the bracket, and a screw is selected to extend through one of the positioning holes and a corresponding slot to fix the bracket to the frame with a required angle.
US08104927B2
An apparatus and method for adjusting a high intensity discharge arc tube to a predetermined (e.g., relatively horizontal) operating position in a light fixture regardless of aiming orientation of the light fixture towards a target. In one aspect, the light source is mounted in an independently pivotal yoke in the light fixture. A mechanical linkage proportionally pivots the light source relative to any pivoting motion of the fixture over a range of positions such that a selected light source orientation can be approximately maintained regardless of aiming orientation of the fixture.
US08104919B2
An LED lamp comprises a heat sink, a plurality of LED modules respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the heat sink, a casing attached to a front of the heat sink, two envelopes respectively located at the two opposite lateral sides of the heat sink and covering the LED modules therein and a holder connecting the casing for holding the LED lamp in position.
US08104909B2
A light unit and a display device having the light unit are provided. The light unit comprises a plurality of light emitting modules each comprising a board and a light emitting device on the board, a bottom cover under the light emitting modules, a module connecting member that electrically interconnects the light emitting modules using an elastic body and is fixed on the bottom cover, and an optical sheet unit above the light emitting module.
US08104901B2
Provided are an image projection system and method, the image projection system including: a light source for providing illumination light; an illumination optics for receiving and illuminating the illumination light; a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) having 2 rows of modulation devices formed to be offset from each other, each of the modulation devices modulating the light illuminated from the illumination optics; a frame scanner for scanning the modulated light from the SLM onto a screen to thereby generate a two-dimensional (2D) image corresponding to one frame on the screen; and a projection optics for projecting and focusing the modulated light transmitted from the frame scanner onto the screen.
US08104896B1
According to an embodiment, a color is projected onto a surface. An estimate of the surface color is processed and a projection color is selected as a function of the surface color estimate and a chosen color so that the projection color yields the chosen color or a color substantially similar to the chosen color when projected onto the surface. The projection color can then be projected onto the surface for display.
US08104876B2
A liquid transporting apparatus includes a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a vibration plate covering the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer formed on a surface, of the vibration plate, not facing the pressure chamber; an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate at a portion facing the pressure chamber; a contact point formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate; and a connecting portion formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate and connecting the electrode and the contact point; and the connecting portion extends from the contact point and is connected to a portion, of the electrode, which is different from a nearest portion nearest to the contact point.
US08104870B2
A method of purging and printing from an inkjet printhead. The method comprises the steps of: (i) purging the printhead using a purging ink, thereby flooding an ink ejection face of the printhead; (ii) removing the flooded ink from the ink ejection face by feeding a transfer surface past the printhead, wherein no part of the transfer surface makes contact with the printhead; and (iii) printing from the printhead using a printing ink.
US08104862B2
Provided are a method of precisely evaluating the performance of an optical sensor including light-emitting elements corresponding to light-emitting wavelengths respectively representing multiple colors as well as a light-receiving element even under a condition in which mists of color inks adhere to the sensor, and a printing apparatus for carrying out the method. To this end, how much the performance of the optical sensor mounted on a carriage decreases is evaluated based on a cumulative number of ejections for each ink color, which number corresponds to the amount of mist, and a degree at which each ink affects each color LED. This makes it possible to precisely evaluate the performance of the optical sensor including the light-emitting elements corresponding to the light-emitting wavelengths respectively representing the multiple colors as well as the light-receiving element even under the condition in which the mists of the color inks adhere to the sensor.
US08104858B2
An inkjet head may comprise an ejection port which ejects ink and an ink flow path which supplies the ink to the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise an ejection actuator which supplies ejection energy to the ink in the ink flow path. The ejection energy may cause the ink to be ejected from the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise a wall portion. The wall portion may be located at a position farther from the ejection port along the ink flow path with respect to a position at which the ejection energy is supplied. The wall portion may define an inner wall surface of the ink flow path. The wall portion may deform to decrease a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as a temperature of the ink in the ink flow path increases. The wall portion may deform to increase a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as the temperature of the ink in the ink flow path decreases.
US08104856B2
A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a supporting device, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The axes X and Y pass through the print substrate. The movement controller is configured to move the holding unit and the printer head relative to each other in the directions of the axes X, Y and Z which are substantially perpendicular to each other and configured to rotate the holding unit about the axes X and Y relative to the printer head. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a relative position of the holding unit and the printer head.
US08104855B2
An inkjet printer system includes a print head, a sub tank, and a sensor. The print head is configured to eject ink. The sub tank includes an ink supply chamber and an ink detection chamber. The ink supply chamber has an ink inlet hole and an ink outlet hole connected to the print head. Ink is supplied to the sub tank through the ink inlet hole. Ink is supplied to the print head from the sub tank through the ink outlet hole. The ink detection chamber communicates with the ink supply chamber. The sensor is configured to detect an amount of ink contained in the sub tank and includes a float member provided in the ink detection chamber to float in the ink.
US08104852B2
Refrigerator for enabling putting in or taking out food to/from a basket (55) therein with of lowering a position of the user, such as bending oneself, and enabling the user to look into an inside of the basket (55) conveniently as the basket (55) is tilted in a lifted up state.
US08104840B2
Seat pads of the present invention are sewn by hollow weave, and includes skins having single sheets of woven cloth integrally continuously having single layer portions and laminated layers portions in a shape of a hollow bag, and cushioning members enclosed at inner portions of the laminated layers portions and having a shape the same as that of the laminated layers portion and having an elasticity, the laminated layers portions are formed at portions of the single sheets of woven cloth intended to support the physical body of a seated person, the cushioning members are provided with predetermined thicknesses, the laminated layers portion are formed with recesses and projections of the same shape projected by a predetermined amount from head and tail faces of the single layer portions, and attachably and detachably mounted to a seating face of a seat, a recessed portion constituting a shape the same as that of the laminated layers portion is formed at a position of the seating face of the seat facing the laminated layers portions, and when mounted to the seat, the laminated layers portions are contained in the recessed portion of the seating face.
US08104838B2
An armrest assembly includes a mounting bracket, a limit member mounted on the mounting bracket, and an armrest support mounted on the limit member. The bottom of the mounting bracket is provided with a slideway which has a first side provided with an upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique limit face. The limit member has a first side provided with an upright mating face abutting the upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique mating face abutting the oblique limit face. Thus, the upright mating face and the oblique mating face are limited by the upright limit face and the oblique limit face respectively, so that the limit member is moved in the slideway smoothly and stably without producing any vibration to facilitate movement of the armrest support relative to the mounting bracket.
US08104837B2
The invention provides a chair armrest that is variably adjustable to allow a user to assume an ergonomically preferred sitting position. The ergonomic chair armrest comprises, either separately or together, an arm support assembly capable of adjustment to various positions through a vertical plane and an arm pad assembly capable of adjustment to various positions through a horizontal plane. The invention further provides an ergonomic chair having an armrest that is adjustable in both a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.
US08104835B2
An apparatus is disclosed as having, for example, a frame, a backrest assembly including a pivot bracket, a seat assembly pivotably connected to the pivot bracket and the frame, a leg rest assembly pivotably connected to the frame, a link connected to the leg rest assembly at a first pivot joint and the pivot bracket at a second pivot joint, and a lock connected to the leg rest assembly and the frame.
US08104825B2
A vehicle bumper assembly includes a bracket for mounting to an interior of a vehicle, the bracket defining a protrusion portion to engage with one end of a bumper cover and an elastic clip coupled to the bracket, wherein the elastic clip is adapted to contact the bumper cover of the vehicle. A finger protection assembly for a vehicle is provided wherein the assembly includes a bracket for mounting to an interior of a vehicle, the bracket defining a protrusion portion to engage with one end of a bumper cover and an elastic clip coupled to the bracket, the clip adapted to contact the bumper cover of the vehicle, wherein the elastic clip is capable of deforming to prevent injury to the finger inserted between a rear door and the bumper cover.
US08104818B2
The invention relates to a dashboard seal provided between the windshield (1), the sound-proofing wall (2) of the engine compartment and the dashboard (3) in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The dashboard seal is characterized in that the upper lip (6) includes a closed pocket (8) extending along a transverse section under the latter and limited by said upper lip (6), by the clamp (5) and, at the lower portion thereof, by a connection arm (8a) connected both to the upper lip (6) and to the clamp (5).
US08104805B2
An object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing member enabled to reduce stress applied at the moment of impact to each part serving as an attaching portion. The shock absorbing member 10A includes a pressure receiving wall portion 11A to be pressed at the moment of impact, a side wall portion 21A formed on one end portion side in a direction H perpendicular to a longitudinal direction L of the pressure receiving wall portion 11A to extend along the longitudinal direction L towards a rear of the pressure receiving wall portion 11A, a plurality of vertical ribs 31A that are formed on the other end portion side of the pressure receiving wall portion 11A opposite to the one end portion side, on which the side wall portion 21A is formed, that are provided towards the rear of said pressure receiving wall portion 11A to intersect with the longitudinal direction L, that are arranged like rows to the longitudinal direction L, and flange portions 41A and 51A respectively formed on one end portion side of the side wall portion 21A, which is opposite to the pressure receiving wall portion 11A, and on one end portion side of each of the vertical ribs 31A, which is opposite to the pressure receiving wall portion 11A.
US08104802B2
An integrated latch dish device including a latch with a translatable bolt for engaging a strike and a two part recessed dish having a lower first part and an upper second part adjacent to the lower first part, the lower first and upper second parts of the recessed dish each having front and back sides and cavities on each of the front sides, the latch pivotally mounted in the cavity of the lower first part of the recessed dish, the upper second part of the recessed dish comprising the strike integral with the dish and adjacent to the cavity, the integrated latch dish device further including means for affixing the latch to the dish through the back side of the lower first part of the recessed dish to shield the means for affixing the latch from environmental elements while providing tension on the strike by exerting a force through the bolt in a direction opposite from the strike.
US08104795B2
An expandable card form is described that includes a plurality of foldable leafs that are foldable onto one another at fold lines which separate each adjacent pair of foldable leafs. A slot can be cut through the fold line separating one of the adjacent pairs of foldable leafs. The plurality of foldable leafs can be connected to one another linearly and can include adhesive sections so that, when assembled, the foldable leafs form an expandable card. One end leaf can include a projecting panel attached thereto. The projecting panel can be extended through the slot when the card is expanded and can be retracted so as not to be visible when the card is oriented into its closed configuration. The expandable card can include information printed thereon to create a business card, a place setting card, a medical information card, or a gift card.
US08104789B2
A seat assembly having a seat structure, a cover, a back panel, and a package plate. The back panel has a lateral wall that covers a receiving space in which a side airbag module is arranged. The package plate is arranged between the lateral wall and the side airbag module. The package plate has a back end that engages the seat structure and a front end disposed opposite the back end that is located within the receiving space. An airbag of the side airbag module is configured to deploy between the front end and the cover and between the cover and a free end of the lateral wall.
US08104786B2
A binding for fixing a shoe to a snowboard and the like comprising a base body that can be fixed to a snowboard and the like by an angular positioning disk with engagement of contact elements defined by the base body on the snowboard, elements for fastening a shoe being associable with the base body and elastic shock-absorbing elements being also associable and interposable between the snowboard and the like and the base body, the shock-absorbing elements at least partially surrounding the external lateral profiles of the rear region of the base body.
US08104785B2
A system for alpine touring, a low-profile, selectively pivotal riser, and a method of releasably locking a ski boot heel. In an embodiment, the system for alpine touring includes a pair of skis; a pair of low-profile, selectively pivotal risers, and a pair of alpine ski boot bindings. In one embodiment, the riser includes an alpine binding attachment plate, a first anchor portion for pivotally attaching the riser thereto; and a second anchor portion for selectively attaching the riser thereto.
US08104783B2
A fork lift hitch receiver has a trailer attachment side and a fork lift receiving side separated by an insert guard. Top, middle and bottom structural layers on the fork lift receiving side are provided with apertures which form a rod reception path. The fork lift receiving side is inserted into a receiving cavity of the forklift where an attachment rod of the forklift is inserted through the rod reception path. The insert guard covers the receiving cavity and assists in orienting the fork lift receiving side to a location within the cavity where the attachment rod can be inserted through the reception path. A guide path formed in the top layer on the receiving side of the fork lift hitch receiver further aids in guiding the attachment rod to the reception path. A ball and a ball support member are attached to the trailer attachment side.
US08104775B2
A dolly or pallet equipped with an elastically suspended load-bearing surface so as to responsively move downwards as materials are loaded and move upwards as loads are removed thereby reducing variation in the height of the top of the stack. The elastic suspension elements are connected to suspension support structures configured to fold into a compact folded position to facilitate storage and return transport and to unfold into a fully erected position at the time of use.
US08104764B2
A banknote cassette advantageously uses injection molded endcaps to capture and secure a connecting sleeve to collectively form a generally rectangular housing of the banknote cassette. A movable access lid cooperates with the endcaps and connecting sleeve for locking of the cassette. Preferably, a banknote slot is formed as part of one of the endcaps to provide precision in the size of position of the banknote slot. The endcaps can be used with different sized connecting sleeves to simplify the manufacture of different capacity banknote cassettes. Preferably, the connecting sleeve is of a metal material.
US08104757B2
A stapler is provided in a housing of a finisher. The stapler has a sheet insertion opening extending in a direction along conveyed sheets. The stapler staples the sheets inserted into the sheet insertion opening in the housing. The finisher includes a rotating mechanism that rotates, when the stapler is moved in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheets and removed to the outside of the housing, the stapler such that the sheet insertion opening of the stapler faces a further upper side than the direction along the sheets.
US08104738B2
A turnbuckle device (12, 13, 14; 20; 35a, 35b, 35c; 44a, 44b, 44c) for clamping concrete shell elements (1, 2), having two claws (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 16c; 21, 22) and a wedge (17a, 17b, 17c; 23; 37a, 37b, 37c; 46a, 46b, 46c), the claws being displaceable toward one another in a clamping direction (34), the wedge being guided in the clamping device along a wedge guiding direction (33), and the scale of the propulsion of the wedge in the turnbuckle device determining the displacement of the claws, is characterized in that the wedge guiding direction and the clamping direction enclose an angle less than 90°. Mutual obstruction of the turnbuckle devices neighboring wedges is thus avoided.
US08104735B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for holding a removable component in a rack or similar mount, and more particularly a latching mechanism for holding a radio transceiver in a shock-absorbing mounting rack such as in a vehicle.
US08104727B2
An adjustable support for holding an article such as a notebook computer. The support has a base; an article holding platform; and a single, adjustable, articulated, link connected at one end to the base and at its other end to the platform. The link has two spaced-apart lockable pivots, the pivots dividing the link into a base link member connected to the base, an intermediate link member, and a platform link member connected to the platform. The pivots are of the type having a locking member movable toward the pivot to unlock the pivot. The pivots are normally locked to hold the platform is a desired working position for a user of the notebook. The support has an unlocking mechanism, operable by one hand, for unlocking the pivots simultaneously. While the pivots are unlocked, the platform can be manipulating by the one hand on the unlocking mechanism to adjust the platform to a new working position and then locked in the new position.
US08104717B2
An exemplary embodiment provides an air transport that has a scalloped aerodynamic underside that includes at least one depression. The depression is configured to receive at least an upper portion of a cargo pod to preclude an air passage way between an upper surface of a pod and the scalloped underside of the transport. Certain embodiments provide conformal pods that nest into the depressions so that pod under surfaces blend smoothly with the scalloped underside of the transport to provide a smooth aerodynamic underside. The scalloped underside may be retrofitted to existing aircraft or supplied as original equipment on new transports, and may be of composite, plastic or other light weight materials.
US08104715B2
A window arrangement is provided for enlarging a window area in an aircraft. The window arrangement includes, but is not limited to at least one first installation element. The at least one first installation element is designed to convey fluids, and furthermore includes, but is not limited to a transparent region which covers a first window region such that light waves in the visible spectrum can be let through.
US08104712B2
An aircraft fuselage element includes an outer shell and an inner shell that is disposed with clearance relative to the outer shell. An intermediate space between the outer shell and the inner shell is connectable to an air source. A ventilation aperture that is formed in the aircraft fuselage element and connectable to the air source is provided with a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane is permeable to air flow in both directions and permeable to water in a flow direction into the intermediate space from outside the outer shell or the inner shell.
US08104708B2
The present invention relates to an isostatic suspension for mounting a turbojet engine on a pylon of an aircraft, the turbojet engine comprising a front fan, an intermediate casing downstream of the fan with an outer shell and a hub interconnected by radial arms, and an exhaust casing with an outer shell on the same axis XX, the suspension comprising a front attachment on the intermediate casing, a rear attachment with at least two rear attachment links connected to the outer shell of the exhaust casing, a pair of thrust bars being fixed at their upstream ends to the hub of the intermediate casing. It is characterized in that the plane formed by the two links of the rear attachment is inclined with respect to the plane of the exhaust casing.
US08104694B2
An air spray gun is used to blow dry a painted surface of cold baked coating, wherein an air-taking ring in a shape of an annular air chamber is formed after screwing a front tube with a rear tube in the air spray gun, and a gap size of the air-taking ring can be changed by rotating the front tube, to control air blow rate as required. Through a position-limiting slot formed at the front tube, and a position-limiting element assembled at the rear tube, when the gap size of the air-taking ring is adjusted, the rotation of the front tube is properly restricted. In addition, by screwing the front tube with the rear tube, functions of disassembling and cleaning can be achieved.
US08104692B2
A method generates and evaluates a fiducial pattern for an imaging system. The method includes generating a fiducial pattern for an image substrate, and measuring a difference between a structure of the fiducial pattern and at least one of a structure of a printing system and a structure of a measurement pattern to determine whether the structure of the fiducial pattern is distinguishable from at least one of the structure of the printing system and the structure of the measurement pattern.
US08104687B2
A card reading device for vehicles having a base plate, a sliding plate part, and a spring part. The base plate has a vaulted groove, an opening surface located at one end, and an annular groove provided on the base surface of said vaulted groove. The sliding plate part is provided above the vaulted groove of the base plate, A bulging structure, contacts an inserted card and drives the sliding plate part in a direction vertical to the opening phase and facing away from the opening surface. A sliding part is provided on the side of the sliding plate part pointing toward the vaulted roof of the base plate. The sliding part slides in the direction parallel to the opening surface and is guided by the annular groove and restricted in the positioning thereof. The spring element and the base plate and the sliding plate part have contact with one another, and force is applied to the directed vertically to the opening surface. Fixing of the card and also easy removal are made possible.
US08104677B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for efficiently authenticating a document (e.g. a credit card) having a magnetic stripe are provided. The magnetic field at different points of the magnetic stripe are measured, e.g., by a checkout scanner to create a magnetic signature. Digital samples of the measurements may be transformed into coefficients of continuous basis functions, e.g., a Fourier transform. These coefficients are then compared to reference values (e.g. corresponding coefficients) to produce a measure of the authenticity of the document. The number of coefficients used can advantageously be smaller than the number of digital samples without compromising accuracy, thus using less bandwidth between a scanner and an authentication entity.
US08104676B2
A banking system operates to allocate funds in accounts in response to data bearing records in the form of paper financial checks. A mobile phone has a camera and a programmable memory. The memory stores phone user data, including a bank account number and an electronic signature. The camera can be used to capture an image of a paper check which has the phone user as the payee. The phone can wirelessly transmit the account number, the electronic signature, and the check image to a bank deposit system. The system can store the check image and the electronic signature in correlated relation in a deposit transaction record. The system can cause the phone user's bank account to be credited a cash value corresponding to the check value. Confirmation of the check deposit can be transmitted to the user's phone.
US08104668B2
A method for fine positioning a component through the use of fusible elements having two or more melting points so as to establish intermediate displacements between totally melted fusible elements and unmelted fusible elements. Because of the use of non-eutectic fusible materials, fine adjustments in the displacement may be achieved.
US08104662B2
A novel inert environment enclosure includes an object inlet where production objects enter the enclosure and an object outlet where the production objects exit. At least one of the object inlet and the object outlet includes both a top-side flow obstructer and a bottom-side flow obstructer for preventing air from entering the enclosure. In a particular embodiment, the top-side flow obstructer and the bottom-side flow obstructer each include a curtain constructed from a flexible fabric having a plurality of individual adjacent fingers. In another particular embodiment, the inert environment enclosure is a nitrogen hood that houses a wave soldering machine. A inert gas nozzle is mounted at or near the inlet and/or the outlet. The inert environment enclosure maintains a positive pressure with respect to the surrounding environment when production objects are passed through the enclosure.
US08104659B2
An electromagnetic stapler includes a driver for driving fasteners into a workpiece, and a solenoid for providing power to the driver. The solenoid has a coil, and a core that is operatively connected to the driver. The stapler also includes a manually adjustable depth adjuster for adjusting a depth of drive of the fasteners. The depth adjuster is movable between a plurality of predefined positions, including a maximum depth of drive position, a minimum depth of drive position, and at least one intermediate depth of drive position. The depth adjuster includes a cam having a cam surface that interacts with the core so as to define an upper position of the core, an adjustment knob operatively connected to the cam, and a detent mechanism for securing the cam at one of the plurality of predefined positions to thereby define the upper position of the core.
US08104653B1
An air breathing battery apparatus is connected to the hollow tubing of a backpack frame to provide an uninterrupted, water-resistant, light-weight power supply during extended remote operations in the field. Air breathing power sources are connected to the hollow tubes of the backpack assembly to provide a constant uninterrupted air supply in a relatively small package that fits easily into the backpack frame with only negligible added weight. The positioning of the air breathing power source in a backpack composed of hollow tubing also protects the battery from inclement weather or when the user is in water, for example, while fording a river or stream, to permit the uninterrupted use of the electronics powered by the battery.
US08104651B2
A support assembly to support a bar (11) of a roof rack assembly for a motor vehicle includes a base (12) to which the bar (11) is attached. The bar (11) includes a longitudinal cavity (46) that provides for the attachment of articles to the bar (11). The support assembly further includes a cover (24) that is captively attached to the base (12) but movable relative thereto between a lock position preventing access to a threaded shaft (18) that is used to secure the support assembly to the vehicle and the cavity (46), and a displaced position providing access to the cavity (46) and threaded shaft (18).
US08104650B2
An anti-drip device is for use in association with a liquid dispenser having a nozzle. The anti-drip device is adapted to fit into the nozzle. The device has an outer cross sectional dimension, an inner cross sectional dimension and an inner surface. The inner cross sectional dimension is the sum of a length of the inner surface and the inner surface is shaped such that the inner cross sectional dimension is larger than a length of the outer cross sectional dimension.
US08104645B2
A device for discharging granular material, has a receptacle into which the granular material may be introduced, with a separation grid, which is disposed in the receptacle, and an intermediate plate, which is disposed beneath the separation grid. The intermediate plate is equipped with a through-opening for the granular material, and with an aperture, which is provided beneath the intermediate plate and through which the granular material may be removed from the receptacle. The intermediate plate is disposed to be rotatable relative to the separation grid and the separation grid is disposed to be stationary relative to the receptacle.
US08104625B2
A microporous membrane made of polyolefins which comprises polyethylene (PEA) 8-60 wt. % of which is accounted for by components having a molecular weight of 10,000 or lower and in which the ratio of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn), Mw/Mn, is 11-100 and the viscosity-average molecular weight (Mv) is 100,000-1,000,000 and polypropylene, and which has a content of components having a molecular weight of 10,000 or lower of 8-60 wt. %, a porosity of 20-95%, and a degree of thermal shrinkage at 100° C. of 10% or lower.
US08104623B2
A screen is described for use in a vibrating machine for separating solids from liquid material, comprising woven wire cloth of orthogonal warp and weft wires, tensioned and bonded to a support structure defining at least one rectangular opening across which the cloth extends. The orientation of the cloth is chosen so that the warp wires extend across the width (i.e. shorter dimension) of the opening(s). If the cloth has a square mesh and the warp wires are of greater cross section than the weft wires, the warp wires will extend across the width of the frame, and if the cloth has a rectangular mesh, the greater number of warp wires per unit length will also extend across the width of the frame, so that in each case warp wires will resist in use the stresses across the width of the central region of the or each opening.
US08104622B2
A cyclone structured for separating feed material having mixtures of differently sized material, the cyclone having a separating section and an inlet head having a feed inlet zone, wherein the feed inlet zone has a volute axis and adjacent sectors in which the volute axis progressively decreases relative to and in the direction of the central axis through subsequent sectors extending downstream from the inlet port of the inlet head. The inlet head is also structured with a vortex finder extending into the feed chamber a distance L1, and an inlet port formed in the inlet head which extends a vertical distance H1, such that the ratio of L1 to H1 is less than one (L1:H1=0.0 to 0.95).
US08104621B2
Process for classifying a particulate water-absorbing resin using a sieving apparatus at a reduced pressure compared with the ambient pressure and a sieving apparatus for classifying a particulate water-absorbing resin at a reduced pressure compared with the ambient pressure.
US08104608B2
A contact lens package includes a substrate, a first sheet removably sealed to one side of the substrate, and a second sheet sealed to the other side of the substrate with a contact lens contained between the first and second sheets.
US08104607B2
Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
US08104602B2
An apparatus for continuous loading and accumulation of rows of suspendedly handled items includes a feed jig at a top of the apparatus with one or more feed channels having grippers for holding the row, and a continuous-motion loader at a bottom of the apparatus having panels or walls on an outer periphery to define a plurality of passageways, wherein the continuous-motion loader has a length defining a row loading area, which is defined by the feed jig, and a pickup area for the rows so loaded, external to the feed jig.
US08104592B2
A damper device includes a cylinder body and a piston body. At least one of the cylinder body and the piston body is attached to an article subject to damping so that the damping is applied to a movement or a relative movement of the article subject to the damping. The damper device has a run-through hole formed in an inner recess part of the cylinder body facing the piston body, and a stopper body having a shaft part, which is inserted into the run-through hole. A dimension of insertion of the shaft part of the stopper body into the run-through hole changes by a change of pressure caused by a movement of the piston body.
US08104590B2
A railcar brake head having an upper end, a lower end, and a pair of sides. The brake head further includes an elongated concave keyway defining an elongated axis and opening to the upper and lower ends of the brake head. At least a portion of the keyway is defined between a rear wall and spaced transversely extending upper and lower lugs. A front surface of each lug is adapted for mounting engagement with a brake shoe. The longitudinal spacing between the centralized upper and lower lugs is such that a keybridge extending from a rear face of the brake shoe is received and accommodated therebetween whereby inhibiting endwise movement of the brake shoe relative to the brake head. The centrally disposed upper lug on the brake head is configured with a camming surface, a longitudinal portion of which is arranged relative to the keyway for guiding and facilitating movement of a free end of an elongated key downwardly past the upper lug whereby permitting the key to establish a proper locking relation with the keybridge of the brake shoe.
US08104582B2
The invention relates to an arrangement in connection with a central lubrication system. The arrangement includes a lubricant vessel, a pump unit, a control unit, pipe systems, a pressure monitor unit, at least one lubricant feeder provided with at least one piston which moves due to the influence of the pressure of a lubricant present in the pipe system/object to be lubricated, and a movement monitor unit to monitor the operation of the feeder. The movement monitor unit includes a sensor part mounted to a nipple manufactured from a weakly magnetable material. The nipple includes a permanent magnet to generate a magnetic field, and a sensor for detecting movement of the piston, and an electronics part which processes a signal received from the sensor and forwards this processed signal to the control unit.
US08104573B2
An insulating isolator for a heat shield has a unitary first land, a bead portion, a second land and a half bead. The first land defines a fastener aperture. In one case, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart petals is formed in the isolator. The petals may be separated by gaps. In another case, a set of circumferentially spaced apart apertures are formed in the isolator.The heat shield may have at least two disk apertures. Two metallic disks are located in the area of at least one of the two disk apertures. The metallic disks are connected to each other, have aligned fastener openings that are smaller than the disk apertures and they are smaller than the metallic sheet. One of the metallic disks may have a bead.
US08104572B2
A muffler for attenuating acoustic noise in a gas flow which includes a casing having an inlet and an outlet, such that the gas flow passes through the casing from the inlet to the outlet. The muffler also includes an acoustic trap disposed within the casing and which spans the distance between opposing top and bottom walls of the casing. The acoustic trap further comprises a first arcuate deflector having a concave frontside surface configured to direct the gas flow from the inlet through a first segment of an expanding spiral revolution, and one or more second arcuate deflectors which are radially offset from the first arcuate deflector and configured to direct a portion of the inlet gas flow through a remainder segment of the expanding spiral revolution.
US08104571B2
A silencer capable of preventing a damage of a metallic layer formed on an inner surface of an external cylinder formed from CFRP, and the external cylinder for the silencer. The silencer 1 includes the external cylinder 2, an internal cylinder 3 and an acoustic absorbent (not shown). A posterior end 2r of the external cylinder 2 is detachably provided with a tail cap 4. An anterior end 2f of the external cylinder 2 is detachably provided with a coupling body 5. An inner circumferential surface of the posterior end 2r of the external cylinder 2 includes a posterior covering portion 30 while an inner circumferential surface of the anterior end 2f thereof includes an anterior covering portion 32. This posterior covering portion 30 covers a posterior end portion 8r of a metallic layer 8 while the anterior covering portion 32 covers an anterior end portion 8f thereof.
US08104559B2
A cooling system for a compact vehicle such as a compact loader having an engine and an engine compartment, includes a single axial flow fan that is surrounded by a shroud and has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. Air flow generated by the fan is used for cooling components of the compact vehicle and exhausting heated air from a second shroud. Auxiliary openings are provided between the engine compartment and the shrouds to provide air flow between the engine compartment and one or both of the shrouds when the fan is rotating. The motor driving the fan is reversible.
US08104544B2
The invention relates to a hand machine tool, in particular, a hammer drill or chisel, having a gearbox housing and a gearbox unit with a switching device. The switching device includes a switching spring and an operating unit which may be mounted in the gearbox housing with a transfer element. According to the invention, the switching spring has a housing region provided for housing the transfer element of the assembled operating unit, on assembly of the gearbox housing and the gearbox unit.
US08104543B2
A row planter assembly comprising: a frame; an opening disk rotatably mounted to the frame; and a gauge wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed alongside, but spaced from, the opening disk so as to create a narrow gap therebetween; wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one opening in the side wall thereof so as to permit soil to pass from the gap located between the opening disk and the gauge wheel to the region outside of the gauge wheel.
US08104540B2
A differential pressure operated blanking tool includes a Y-tool having first and second limbs connected together via a throat. A ball valve is selectively positionable to close one or other limb of the Y-tube against fluid flow. A housing has an opening in one side thereof of a size sufficient to allow the hall to pass through, and an actuator mounted on the second limb and in the housing wherein fluid flow within the tool carries the ball valve through the opening in the housing to a position where the second limb is closed against bias of the actuator. When the fluid flow is removed, the actuator operates to force the ball valve out of engagement with the second limb whereupon the ball passes through the opening in the housing towards the first limb.
US08104537B2
A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter. The cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material. The cooling fluid is circulated across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water.
US08104535B2
The present invention is directed to a method of hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes providing a substantially horizontal wellbore having at least one productive interval within a hydrocarbon reservoir and forming at least one non-conductive transverse fracture in the reservoir along the substantially horizontal wellbore. An injection well is also provided. A fluid is injected into the reservoir through the injection well to displace hydrocarbons within the reservoir toward a production portion of the substantially horizontal wellbore. Hydrocarbons are drained from the reservoir into at least one production interval of the substantially horizontal wellbore. Fluid production from the at least one production interval into the substantially horizontal wellbore flows through an inflow control device that can restrict the fluid flow. A non-conductive transverse fracture can form a barrier within the reservoir to divert injected fluids to increase sweep efficiency and reduce the influx of injected fluids into the production interval.
US08104526B2
A sheet laminating apparatus with an instant heat control function includes a first cylindrical roller, a second cylindrical roller, a first long metal sheet, a first heat-generating case, a second long metal sheet, a second heat-generating case, a contact sensor and a controller. The first long metal sheet and the second long metal sheet are very thin and small, so that the temperature is quickly changed. By using the contact sensor to detect the surface temperature of the first cylindrical roller under control of the controller, the instant heat control function of the sheet laminating apparatus is achieved.
US08104525B2
A pneumatic tire comprises a tread-reinforcing band made of at least one spirally wound cord, wherein the band cord consists of materially identical high-strength high-modulus organic filaments, and the band cord is formed by first twisting each of filament bunches, subjecting the first twisted bunches to a dip-and-stretch treatment, and then twisting the treated bunches together, whereby the load-elongation curve of the band cord comprises a low-modulus zone and a high-modulus zone whose boundary point is in an elongation range of from 1 to 7%, and the ratio EH/EL of a nominal elastic modulus EH of the high-modulus zone and a nominal elastic modulus EL of the low-modulus zone is in a range of from 2.0 to 10.0. Therefore, high-modulus aramid cords, PEN cords and the like can be used to reduce the tire weight.
US08104524B2
A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner surface, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, oriented and comprised of a material that facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a hub and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface may assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load. Since the tire is non-pneumatic, it may be easier to maintain and may have a longer life than standard pneumatic tires since it eliminates the possibility of blowouts, flat tires, or tires operating with low air pressure. By virtue of the portion of the tire in the footprint region not bearing a significant portion of the load, non-pneumatic tire may also exhibit a more comfortable ride subject to less noise and vibration and improved handling capabilities.
US08104523B2
A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply and at least one annual reinforcing structure associated with the carcass ply, a tread band made of an elastomeric material at a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure, a belt structure interposed between the carcass structure and the tread band and a pair of axially opposite side walls on the carcass structure, wherein the tread band has i) at least one first sector, radially extending, substantially of a first elastomeric material; ii) a plurality of second sectors radially extending, positioned at axially opposite sides of the at least one first sector and substantially of a second elastomeric material; iii) at least one longitudinal groove formed in the at least one first sector and extending substantially for the entire circumferential development of the tread band, wherein the first elastomeric material has a modulus of elasticity under compression at 23° C. greater than the modulus of elasticity under compression at 23° C. of the second elastomeric material, and wherein the modulus of elasticity under compression at 23° C. of the first elastomeric material is about 20 to about 80 MPa.
US08104521B2
A dosage-dispensing device includes a drive device and a source container that can be set into the drive device, wherein a dosage-dispensing head is connected to a closure shaft which is movably constrained in the source container. The closure shaft has a coupler part configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from a drive shaft of the drive device. The source container has a first form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a first counterpart element formed on the drive device and serves to precisely position the coupler part in relation to the drive shaft. The source container further has a second form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a second counterpart element formed on the drive device and which, when in operating position, serves to precisely position the dosage-dispensing head in relation to a target container.
US08104520B2
A method of forming a transportable container of bulk goods begins by placing the distributing end of a hopper over the open top of a bunched bag. Bulk goods are dispensed from the distributing end of the hopper through the open top of the bag to establish a level of bulk goods in the bag. The hopper moves vertically relative to the closed base of the bag during the dispensing of bulk goods from the distributing end of the hopper to maintain vertical spacing between the distributing end of the hopper and the level of bulk goods in the bag. A hopper fill level is maintained in the hopper during the dispensing of bulk goods from the hopper. An outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bag while filling the bag to form the transportable container. The outer wrap is maintained near the level of bulk goods in the bag.
US08104511B2
A sequential stepped directional control valve accepts pressurized hydraulic fluid from a pressure port, and directs that pressurized fluid to a first stage port, or to both a first stage port and a second stage port. In the neutral position, the valve blocks the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the valve. In the first stage position, pressurized hydraulic fluid flows into the valve and is directed by the valve to the first stage port, however, the fluid flow to the second stage port is blocked. In the second stage position, pressurized hydraulic fluid flows into the valve and is directed to both the first and second stage ports. When the valve transitions from the first stage position to the second stage position, the valve does not cycle through a neutral position, and the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first stage port is uninterrupted.
US08104509B2
A water timer system includes a base assembly and an input and display module. The base assembly includes (i) a conduit structure defining an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending therebetween, (ii) a first housing defining a first chamber, (iii) a motor located within the first chamber and having an output member, (iv) a gear set located within the first chamber, (v) a valve member movable between a first valve position in which the valve member is positioned to prevent water flow through the passage and a second valve position in which the valve member is positioned to enable water flow through the passage, wherein movement of the gear set causes the valve member to move between the first valve position and the second valve position, and (vi) a receptacle structure defining a first aperture and a second aperture.
US08104506B2
A diaphragm-sealed valve having communication mechanisms operatively connecting neighboring pairs of grooves is provided. Each communication mechanism has a communication port opening in an interface of a valve cap, between the neighboring grooves. The communication mechanism also has a communication conduit extending within the valve cap and connecting the communication port and one of the neighboring grooves. It also has a recess within a valve body aligned with the communication port and with the other one of the neighboring grooves, a flexible sealing surface of the diaphragm being seated within the recess and resiliently biased away from the interface of the valve cap. A plunger assembly is also provided, including plungers movable to push flexible sealing surface towards the communication port.
US08104497B2
A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
US08104487B2
A dental floss holder. The dental floss holder includes a body having a spool case for holding a length of dental floss, a cover for the spool case, a neck extending from the spool case along a first axis, and first and second fingers extending outward from said neck at an arcuate angle. In an embodiment, the fingers may be parallel. A manually engageable clamp is provided with threaded fastener that engages a threaded nut having a compressing flange, so that the compressing flange works against a land provided on the outside of the cover. A pivot post is provided to prevent dental floss from becoming entangled with the threads of the fastener.
US08104478B2
An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep, advantageously while not interfering with normal functioning of the epiglottis. The appliance may be made of a super elastic material, for example, Nitinol, and may be submucossally implanted in the pharyngeal walls.
US08104476B2
An adjustable flange for a tracheostomy tube has a locking assembly (25) with two C shape clamp arms (26) and (27) hinged together at one end (28). A lever (50) with a threaded stem (51) extends through the opposite end of one arm (27) and into a threaded aperture (32) in the other arm (26). When the handle (55) of the lever (50) is inclined out of the plane of the locking assembly (25) it can be slid freely along the tracheostomy tube (1) for positioning. The locking assembly (25) is locked in position by rotating the handle (55) down to lie in the plane of the locking assembly. The flange (20) has two wings (22) and (23) connected with a central plate (20) by webs (42) and (43) of reduced width so that the webs flex to allow the wings to be lifted readily.
US08104470B2
Methods and systems involve coordinating therapies used for treating disordered breathing. Disordered breathing therapies may include cardiac electrical stimulation therapy and external respiratory therapy as well as other therapies for treating disordered breathing in a patient. The therapies delivered to the patient may be coordinated to enhance effectiveness of the therapy, to reduce therapy interactions, to improve patient sleep, or to achieve other therapeutic goals.
US08104460B2
Bows and crossbows having two limbs, of which at least one limb (4a, 4c or 36a) can elastically deform by deflection or simultaneous deflection and bending thanks to the synergy of the draw on the string (10) and on auxiliary cables (7) secured at the ends (4ad, 4cd or 36ad) of the limbs (4a, 4c or 36a) and to anchors (8, 41) on the heads of the riser (1) or the stock (33).
US08104451B2
A fuel injection device for injecting fuel includes an electrical-plug-and-socket connection configured as a modular component. The electrical-plug-and-socket connection includes an electric line region and exactly one one-piece plug contact molding. The plug contact molding surrounds the electric line region, and the plug contact molding forms a part of the outer geometry of the fuel injection device.
US08104449B2
A system for an engine includes an engine block having a cylinder, an oil delivery system including an oil reservoir at least partially enclosing an oil emulsion and providing lubricating oil to at least one cylinder, and a controller configured to adjust the heat delivered to the engine via a heat adjustment mechanism in response to a concentration of water in the oil emulsion.
US08104445B2
A spark plug comprises a spark plug body, which carries two electrodes bordering a spark gap at one end, and exhibits a nut with external thread that can rotate around the spark plug body. A cylinder head exhibits a rotational coding complementary to the rotational coding of the spark plug body.
US08104442B2
A mechanical roller tappet (1a, 1b) comprising a tappet housing (2a, 2b) shaped out of sheet metal, a drive roller (3) actuable by a cam (9) and an axle (5a, 5b) on which the drive roller (3) is mounted, end portions (24) of the axle (5a, 5b) being supported in axle eyes (23) of the tappet housing (2a, 2b), said tappet housing (2a, 2b) comprising a tappet skirt (10a, 10b) and a tappet bottom (16) possessing a contact surface (21) for an adjacent engine component on a power take-off side and at an end of the tappet skirt facing the cam, the tappet bottom is connected to the tappet skirt and is shaped into the interior of the tappet skirt while forming a pocket for receiving the drive roller, the axle eyes being arranged in first sections (18) of the tappet bottom while being spaced from an inner peripheral surface (19) of the tappet skirt and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tappet skirt, the contact surface being arranged on a second section (20) of the tappet bottom connecting the first sections to each other.
US08104440B2
The CVVL device includes a rocking cam having a rolling face contacting a rocker arm is formed to press the rocker arm when pivoted, a rocking roller, which is disposed above the drive cam and rolls on an outer circumference of the drive cam, a control apparatus, which changes a position of the rocking roller rolling on the outer circumference of the drive cam; and a rocking apparatus, which pivots the rocking cam according to a position of the rocking roller such that a position where the rocker arm is contacted with the rolling face is changed depending on the position of the rocking roller.
US08104438B2
A two stroke engine of a particular configuration can have its power output increased by running bigger pistons and using ports in the piston skirt through which to conduct compressed air within the skirt through short passages in the cylinder housing that conduct the air from within the skirt to above the piston. As a result a larger piston can be used for the same spacing and opening size in the block to save the need to redesign the block and the crankshaft. A position adjuster for the piston moves it axially without rotation of the piston ports out of alignment with inlet ports in the housing. The piston rod is held in the crosshead using a flat to prevent rotation while an adjuster nut that is turned creates axial movement in the piston rod with a lock nut securing the final piston position.
US08104435B2
Methods and systems are provided for reducing aerodynamic drag on a moving vehicle. One example method comprises, during a first vehicle moving condition, operating the cooling fan, and during a second vehicle moving condition, selectively applying a braking torque on the fan.
US08104429B2
A pet impact protector is disclosed. This device is directed to a cleanable, removable device for a vehicle car seat comprising a contiguous pliable material having a pet seating area and a pet capture area. The pet impact protector is designed such that the force of the pet impact protector plus the pet, upon impact with the vehicle during a stop or slowing of the vehicle, causes the pet impact protector to partially collapse and form a protective impact area around the pet. This device is directed to the reduction of injury to a pet riding in a vehicle during an accident, stop or slowdown of the vehicle.
US08104427B2
The present invention is a method and device, which is suitable for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device, for example a stent. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon. The device is configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of a stent only. This is done by use of a drop-on-demand inkjet printing system in association with an optical scanning device. The device is further configured so as to, if necessary, apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness. The section of the housing in which the stent is held during the coating procedure is detachable from the housing base. The detachable housing section may be easily cleaned and re-sterilized or simply disposed or simply disposed of.
US08104418B1
An anchoring system for a boat includes a pair of anchor fixtures, each having a base and a tube carried by and extending across the base. A first of the anchor fixtures is mountable proximate the peripheral edge of the vessel with the tube oriented to extend in a generally horizontal direction. The other, second anchor fixture is mounted exteriorly to the transom of other surface of the hull such that the longitudinal axis of the tube extends generally vertically. The first anchor fixture accommodates an adjustable pole holder that has a stem for selectively engaging with the first anchor fixture to provide anchoring, transporting and stowed conditions. A sleeve is interconnected angularly to the stem for holding a first pole, which may be operated by adjusting the pole holder to engage the bottom of the body of water. A second pole is received by the tube of the second anchor fixture to likewise engage the bottom of the body of water such that the boat is anchored thereto.
US08104417B1
A device for dynamically positioning a ship, assisting in offload of a processed hydrocarbon fluid, and assisting in return of hydrocarbon vapors is disclosed herein. The device can be a soft yoke that is pivotable and collapsible with at least two telescoping mooring arms having a boom and jib in a nested arrangement to safely hold floating stations to transport vessels. The boom and the jib can form a gangway to move personal and loads.
US08104410B2
A desk having a reversible work platform. In one embodiment, the reversible work platform is attached to a frame assembly with a plurality of bushings and associated bolts, and can be reconfigured from a left-handed configuration to a right-handed configuration by removing the bushings and bolts from above the desk, flipping the reversible work platform, and reinstalling the bushings and bolts from above the desk. In one embodiment, an L-shaped desk is reconfigured by flipping the reversible work platform and rearranging the parts of the frame assembly. Leg assemblies of the frame assembly include height adjustment mechanisms, which are actuated by a hand crank to change the height of the reversible work platform.
US08104407B1
An electrified projectile, according to various aspects of the present invention, delivers a current through electrodes and through a target. The projectile stows the electrodes with a film and deploys the electrodes in the absence of the film. Deployment is accomplished by a release of torsion. A spur may include two electrodes and a loop. The spur may store the torsion and conduct the current.
US08104406B1
The present invention provides an explosive device for use with a warhead comprising a rupturable core having an interior chamber which is filled with a volume of a gas. A frequency generator resonates the gas at a high frequency to fully resonate the gas to produce a new and more powerful type of explosion. Means for securing the frequency generator to the core are also provided, as well as a detonator having a high-temperature metal as a conductive material and means for inserting the conductive material into the core.
US08104396B2
A reactive armor that may include multiple layers. The reactive armor may include a self-healing outer layer, a ceramic tile layer and a backing layer. The ceramic tile layer may include a plurality of ceramic tiles and explosive material. The ceramic tiles may be hexagonal. The ceramic tiles may each define a hollow space in which the explosive material is deposited. The reactive armor may be combined with non-reactive armor.
US08104382B2
A universal joint includes a coupling member having an end for coupling with a tool. A body includes a rounded base pivotably mounted to the other end of the coupling member. The body further includes a drive column spaced from the rounded base along an axis. A reinforcing section is intermediate the rounded base and the drive column. The reinforcing section includes an outer periphery having a recessed portion with a receptacle extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis. A control member is moveably received in the receptacle to control coupling of the drive column and an object to be driven. In any case, a spacing from an outer end of the control member to the axis in the radial direction is substantially not larger than a spacing from the outer periphery of the reinforcing section to the axis in the radial direction.
US08104376B2
The invention relates to a machine for the labeling of items, such as containers or the like, with at least one carousel, at least one labeling unit for the labeling of the items positioned on its periphery, and synchronously drivable transport elements for the feeding and removing of the items in a manner adjusted to position, whereby the transport elements are supported on a table plate, and the carousel is supported in a rotary bearing positioned outside the table plate.
US08104373B2
A cable-type driving force transmission mechanism includes a driving member including first and second end pin attachment holes, a cable including an inner wire and an outer tube, whose one end is detachably and immovably attached to an outer tube attachment portion, a cable end pin including a shaft portion and first and second arm portions, and a first plate spring including first and second engagement pieces for rotating the cable end pin and for restricting an inverse direction of the cable end pin, wherein the end pin attachment hole includes a rotation allowing hole portion and a deformation allowing hole portion, and an end portion of the inner wire is connected to the driving member via the cable end pin and the end portion of the outer tube is attachable to the outer tube attachment portion from an outside of the housing.
US08104370B2
A carrier plate and related method for an automatic transmission is provided, whereby the carrier plate has a ring gear (1) connected to a driving plate (2) by means of welding and has at least one thickening plate (4, 5) connected to the driving plate (2) by means of welding. Preferably the ring gear (1) is connected to the driving plate (2) means of beam welding using auxiliary material.
US08104364B2
Described is a gyroscope with a vibrating structure, produced by micromachining in a thin wafer, which comprises a movable inertial assembly comprising at least one movable mass able to vibrate in the plane of the wafer along a drive axis x and along a sense axis y roughly perpendicular to the x-axis, an interdigital sensor comb and an interdigital drive comb. It furthermore comprises at least one additional interdigital comb, called the quadrature-error compensation comb, connected to the mass and which has two asymmetric air gaps e and λe, λ being a positive real number, for subjecting the mass to an adjustable electrostatic stiffness due to coupling between the x-axis and the y-axis by applying a variable DC voltage V to this comb, the adjustable stiffness allowing compensation for the quadrature error of the gyroscope.
US08104363B2
A laminated packaging material is composed of a thermoplastic material outermost layer, a paper base material layer, a conductive barrier layer and a heat sealing innermost layer. An apparatus inspects an opening section, which is formed by at least partly eliminating the thermoplastic material outermost layer and the paper base material layer and by being sealed to be easily opened. In the apparatus, a probe electrode and a grounding electrode are arranged on the outer side and the inner side of the opening section, a current flowing between the probe electrode and the grounding electrode is detected by using the conductive barrier layer, and the sealing status of the opening section is inspected by a judging mechanism.
US08104344B2
Beams 70a, 70b, 70c and, 70d of an angular velocity sensor 100 is provided with a folded type beam 73 that has a spring constant which is smaller along the excitation direction (x-axis direction) than along a detecting direction (y-axis direction), and a straight type beam 75 that has a spring constant which is smaller along the detecting direction (y-axis direction) than along the excitation direction (x-axis direction). The folded type beam 73 is arranged closer to the mass portion 40 than the straight type beam 75. The detecting member 60 is disposed on a farther beam portion of the beam 70b, wherein the farther beam portion is arranged farther away from the mass portion 40 than the folded type beam 73.
US08104342B2
An instrument for measuring a parameter comprises a substrate, a plurality of sensors carried by and distributed across a surface of the substrate that individually measure the parameter at different positions, an electronic processing component carried by the substrate surface, electrical conductors extending across the surface connected to the sensors and the electronic processing component, and a cover disposed over the sensors, electronic processing component and conductors. The cover and substrate have similar material properties to a production substrate processed by a substrate processing cell. The instrument has approximately the same thickness and/or flatness as the production substrate. The instrument may be subjected a substrate process and one or more parameters may be measured with the instrument during the process. The behavior of a production wafer in the substrate process may be characterized based on measurements of the parameters made with the one or more sensors.
US08104337B2
A measurement device is disclosed which includes a structure adapted to be removably coupled to a Christmas tree, a sleeve operatively coupled to the structure and a flowmeter positioned at least partially within the sleeve.
US08104336B2
An acoustic capacity measurement method for finding capacity of a container or object by removing effect of the surface area without using an approximate expression of acoustic impedance is provided. The acoustic capacity measurement method for finding capacity of a container includes a pressure change ratio calculating step, a rotation step, an oblique coordinate transformation step, and a capacity calculating step.
US08104332B2
To provide a probe 1 for use in a cantilever 2 of an scanning probe microscope (SPM) manufacturable in a simple manufacturing process and usable while allowing full use of the properties of single-crystalline material and a cantilever 2 using that probe. A probe 1 disposed at the tip of beam part 2a of a cantilever 2 used for an SPM, wherein the probe 1 comprises a needle-like part 1a having a length of not less than 10 μm or and a flat plate part 1b having a face contacting a beam part of the cantilever, the needle-like part 1a and the flat plate part 1b are integrally formed with a single-crystalline material, and at least one side face of the flat plate part 1b contains a flat surface 1c in order to indicate the crystal orientation of the single-crystalline material.
US08104331B2
Applicants' teachings relate to a method and device to extract components contained in a fluid. More particularly, the applicants' teachings are directed towards a method and sampling device for quick extraction of targeted components from their in vivo surroundings. In accordance with various embodiments of applicants' teachings a sampling device and method to extract components, such as, for example, analytes, from a fluid is provided. The device is interfaced with a fluid source, such as, for example, but not limited to, a circulatory system of an animal, to enable extraction of target molecules with minimal loss of fluid (e.g., blood) to the source. The device facilitates an interface between the circulatory system of an animal and a suitable sampling probe such as, for example, a solid phase microextraction (SPME) probe. The targeted compounds are desorbed in small volumes of solvents that can be analyzed with highly specific instruments.
US08104327B1
A leak detection method for determining changes in helium concentration over time in an interstitial space between a primary vessel and a secondary vessel. The primary vessel is disposed inside a secondary vessel and charged with helium. An expected concentration of the helium in the interstitial space resulting from permeation of the primary vessel material is calculated and accounted for to determine a leak in the primary vessel. In another embodiment of the leak detection method, air flow is circulated in the interstitial space between the primary and second vessels. An abrupt change in measured concentrations can be used to determine the approximate location of the leak in the primary vessel.
US08104323B2
A testing method for testing a flow controller with high accuracy by shortening as much as possible the time required for the test including the wait time. A testing-subject flow controller and a testing-standard flow controller are arranged in that order in series from the upstream side in a flow channel through which a fluid whose flow is to be controlled flows. In a flow-uncontrolled state in which the valve of the testing-subject flow controller is practically in the full-open state, and with the fluid flow controlled to a predetermined flow rate by the testing-standard flow controller, whether the actual flow-rate measurement according to the testing-subject flow controller falls within a predetermined range of actual flow-rate measurements according to the testing-standard flow controller is determined.
US08104315B2
A key ring includes a D-ring, and a key-holding ring. The D-ring couples the key-holding ring to a band.
US08104309B2
The method provides an improved quartz glass body, especially an improved quartz glass crucible for melting non-metals, non-ferrous metals, or silicon. The quartz glass body is made by a method in which a quartz glass-water mixture is supplied to a gypsum casting mold comprising an outer part and an inner part, dried in the gypsum mold, and put under an overpressure via a system of ducts in the form of textile tubes embedded in the mold during the drying. Later a resulting green glass body is removed from the mold. At least a portion of the shaping surfaces of the inner part of the gypsum mold are surfaces of a water-impermeable substance. The method provides a cast body with a reduced tendency to crack and with a smaller open porosity.
US08104306B1
A fan driven evaporator is one component for use in refrigeration applications such as an evaporative cooler which employs refrigeration. In one embodiment, a frosting evaporative cooler utilizes an evaporator in the shape of a squirrel cage blower that utilizes alternating and opposing flows of refrigerant in refrigerant tubing to allow for the dehumidifying and cooling of humid air without freezing over and losing air flow. A fan for use in coolers in humid conditions comprises a motor driving a centrifugal blower. At least two cooling coils that are parallel have cooling fins separating all the coils. The coils surround the blower wheel thereby matching the shape of the outside of the blower housing.
US08104302B2
There is disclosed a low-temperature showcase in which dew condensation water from outer surfaces of transparent walls is securely treated and in which air can smoothly be blown from a mechanical chamber to the outer surfaces of the transparent walls. The low-temperature showcase includes a showroom having the transparent walls, the mechanical chamber constituted under this showroom, and a cooling unit constituted of a compressor, a condenser, a fan for the condenser and the like arranged in the mechanical chamber. The low-temperature showcase further comprises blow-off portions which are formed at lower portions of the transparent walls and which blow air discharged from the fan for the condenser in the mechanical chamber toward outer surfaces of the transparent walls, and water receiving portions which are defined between the blow-off portions and the outer surfaces of the transparent walls and which allows inflow of dew condensation water flowing down along the outer surfaces of the transparent walls.
US08104299B2
An air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger (radiator) and a controller. The radiator causes heat radiation to be performed with respect to air from a supercritical refrigerant during heating operation. The controller controls a room temperature by causing a high-pressure side pressure and a refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator to reach respective target values. Preferably, the controller detects a refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator with an outlet temperature sensor and detects a room temperature with a room temperature sensor. The controller increases or decreases a target value of the high-pressure side pressure when the controller has judged that there is an excess or a deficiency of capacity in view of the room temperature inside a room that is to be heated even when the refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator has reached a target value during heating.
US08104298B2
A vapor compression system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. Refrigerant circulates though the closed circuit vapor compression system. Touchdown bearings protect a rotor during power shutdown of the compressor. Liquid refrigerant from the condenser flows along a supply line and lubricates the touchdown bearings. The refrigerant from the touchdown bearings is discharged through an outlet and flows along a discharge line to the evaporator.
US08104295B2
A cooling system includes a container that is conductively coupled or convectively coupled to a thermoelectric device to selectively cool and/or heat the container. A climate controlled container system for a vehicle includes a container or cavity and a conduction element configured to cool the cavity. In some embodiments, the cooling system includes a housing, a housing inlet, a fluid passage and one or more thermoelectric devices and fluid transfer devices positioned within the housing.
US08104281B2
A valve in an engine exhaust system is disclosed. The valve can improve engine operation and reduce engine component degradation during cold engine starting. The valve may also be configured to provide different levels of restriction to exhaust gases flowing to a turbocharger turbine.
US08104250B2
An applicator (10a) affixes fitments (12) to paperboard cartons (20), each fitment (12) comprising a screw cap on a pour spout. An ultrasonic horn (18) reciprocates between a retracted position for receiving a fitment (12) and an advanced position for depositing the fitment (12) on an outer surface of a carton (20). A duct (26) extends and provides fluid communication between an air handler and a fitment-holding recess (30) formed in the horn (18). The air handler is actuable to evacuate the duct (26) to retain a fitment (12) in the recess (30) by suction while transporting the fitment (12) to be affixed to the container wall. The air handler also supplies pressurized gas to the duct (26) to blow the fitment (12) from the horn (18) before the horn returns to the retracted position. A receiver reciprocates between a pick-up position for receiving a fitment (12) and a delivery position for passing the fitment (12) to the horn (18), the receiver comprising a head (34c) with a suction opening (40a) formed in the end portion thereof for communication with the interior of the fitment.
US08104246B2
The invention therefore proposes an anchorage unit for anchoring at least one prestressing member, capable of being tensioned, onto a structural component to be strengthened or repaired by additional prestressing. The anchorage unit includes means of fixing onto the structural component and means of anchoring the prestressing member located adjacent to a first side of the anchorage unit oriented towards a regular section of the prestressing member. The fixing means are located adjacent to a second side, opposite the first side, of the anchorage unit, which is so provided that it may be put into traction when the prestressing member is tensioned.
US08104237B2
An insulating glass element for the at least partial delimitation of a combustion chamber, having at least two viewing panes, which have at least some areas a transparent glass or ceramic-glass material and are arranged spaced apart from each other while leaving an air chamber, and wherein a viewing area is created at least in parts of the air chamber. The two viewing panes are connected with each other by a temperature-resistant adhesive, and the adhesive encloses a viewing area of the viewing panes all around, or a spacing element, which runs around them at least partially, is connected with the two viewing panes in a material-to-material manner, preferably by a glued connection.
US08104215B2
The present invention provides a pre-packaged kit and a method for creating unique multi-toned custom patterns or camouflage on a surface, and in particular the surfaces of a firearm. The multi-toned custom patterns or camouflage are created by separating or peeling off pre-cut stencil/templates from sheet or roll stock adhesive backed masking material and applying the stencil/templates to a surface. The surface is subsequently sprayed with coatings, finishers and sealants. Additional layers of stencil/templates are then added and sprayed with various colors or tones of coatings, finishers and sealants to complete the desired effect on the firearm surface.
US08104212B2
Firearm supports (e.g., firearm shooting bags) and firearm support assemblies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a firearm support includes a generally pliable cover at least partially enclosing an internal space, and a generally inflexible support structure coupled to the pliable cover and configured to assist the pliable cover in maintaining a particular shape.
US08104206B2
A holder of product identification indicia incorporated with a specifically printed illuminated sign in a beverage vending machine. The holder allows enhanced product identification relating to a separate, existing selection button panel. The holder is securely attached to the back of the illuminated sign that has clear viewing windows registered to the holder. Specifically, it is intended as a retrofit kit for existing beverage vending machines to allow the display of product contained in the machine by use of significantly larger product identification indicia than the existing product identification indicia. The larger display windows may be specifically correlated to the existing selection mechanisms by way of numbers, letters, symbols, connecting lines and/or colors.
US08104205B2
A portable sign stand with wheels or rollers, an adjustable weighted base member, and a sign display member. The base member has one or more compartments so that liquid or solid ballast can be added to stabilize the sign stand in windy conditions. The upper and lower surface members of the otherwise hollow base member are joined together at one or more locations where the sign display member is connected to the base member. The base member can be made by blow molding techniques. One or more wheels are provided on the base member in order to allow the sign stand to be rolled and easily moved to different positions. One or more resilient members can be used to connect the sign display member to the base member.
US08104201B2
A control method and device for the automatic water-replenishing for a boiler iron producing continuous steaming is disclosed. The method, which comprises a normally-closed pressure switch that can control power on/off of the boiler with respect to pressure and a normally-closed thermostat for maintaining a boiler thermostatic state, comprises the following steps: (1) determining whether the thermostat switch is off; if yes, step (3) is carried out, and if no, step (2) is carried out; (2) detecting whether the steam is being ejected; if yes, the electromagnetic valve will be opened to eject steam, while simultaneously pumping a relatively small amount of water into the boiler; (3) controlling the pump to pump a large amount of water into the boiler. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step (2), the quantity of water is slightly less than the quantity of water that is ejected as steam.
US08104200B2
A lock that includes a wedge that is used to releasably secure separable components of an assembly together. The wedge can be used with a spool. The wedge and spool are threadedly coupled together to drive the wedge into and out of an opening in the assembly without hammering or prying. The direct coupling of the wedge and spool eliminates the need for bolts, washers, nuts and other hardware so as to minimize the number of parts. As a result, the lock is inexpensive to make, easy to use, and unlikely to become inoperative because of lost or broken parts or due to fines or other difficulties encountered in harsh digging environments. Further, the wedge can be driven into the assembly to provide the degree of tightness necessary for the intended operation and/or to re-tighten the assembly after incurring wear during use. A latch assembly is preferably provided to securely hold the wedge in place and avoid an undesired loss of parts during use.
US08104199B2
A ripper boot to cleave through hard ground. A carrier portion is connected to a shank of a vehicle. A tooth portion is integral or removably engaged with the carrier portion including a longitudinal axis and a socket at a working end. The socket extends partially into the working end including a base and one or more side walls extending forwardly of the base. The side walls extend parallel with or at a slight angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A high tensile tip includes a shaft and a conical head to extend out of the tooth portion to form a first point of contact between the tooth portion and the ground. The shaft includes a corresponding number of walls to that of the socket. The shaft of the high tensile tip is locked inside the tooth portion socket by press fitting.
US08104185B2
A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably mounted to the second bracket; and a rod having a threaded portion and an attachment portion near a first end of the rod. The first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod, and the handle is threaded to engage the threaded portion of the rod, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel.
US08104180B2
A tie wrap cutting tool has a press arm and a die arm, each arm having a tool end and an opposing handle. The arms are pivotally coupled together, such that relative movement of the handles produces a corresponding movement of the tool ends. A cutting insert is removably coupled to the tool end of the die arm, the cutting insert having a transverse guide slot configured for receiving a tie wrap to be cut. At least one cutter is carried by the cutting insert, the cutter having a selected geometric shape. A press face is formed in the press arm for forcing the tie wrap against the at least one cutter, so that selected movement of the handles causes the at least one cutter to cut the selected geometric shape in a tie wrap received in the slot.
US08104178B2
The invention relates to a cutting head (1), comprising a lower and an upper shears blade (2, 3), for an electric hair cutting machine (4). The lower shears blade and the upper shear blade (2, 3) are connected to each other, whereby a cutting blade (5), made from a planar material (7), is driven in oscillation in a slot (31) between the lower and the upper shears blade (2, 3) and is provided with cutting teeth (6).
US08104176B2
A method of manufacturing a developing agent regulating member is provided. The method includes providing a non-magnetic member and a magnetic member. The non-magnetic member and the magnetic member are fixed together by caulking such that an end face of the non-magnetic member and an end face of the magnetic member are substantially aligned with each other, and such that the non-magnetic member and the magnetic member are closely pressed together in order to reduce a gap between the non-magnetic member and the magnetic member. The end face of the non-magnetic member and the end face of the magnetic member are polished so as to prepare the regulating face of the developing agent regulating member by making the end face of the non-magnetic member and the end face of the magnetic member flush.
US08104175B2
A method of manufacturing a cylinder block for a multi-cylinder engine is disclosed herein. The cylinder block includes a crankcase and cylinder bores disposed therein separated by cylinder walls. The crankcase is adapted to receive a crankshaft and includes crank chambers disposed therein separated by partition walls. Each of the crank chambers of the crankcase corresponds to one of the cylinder bores of the cylinder block. The cylinder bore side of each partition wall has a honing runoff portion thinner in section than the crankshaft side thereof such that a step face results in the partition walls. Further, a runoff groove is formed in the partition walls of the crank chambers, and also a communication hole is formed at least partially within the runoff groove in at least one of the partition walls to enable communication between crank chambers.
US08104170B2
A charge plate and a method for fabricating a charge plate for an ink jet printhead includes the steps of removing portions of conductive material from a dimensionally stable substrate with a coating of conductive material to form at least a first and second electrode on a first face with a first space between the first and second electrodes, removing portions of conductive material from the dimensionally stable substrate with a coating of conductive material to form a first electrode extension which engages the first electrode on the conductive charging face, and a second electrode extension which engages the second electrode on the conductive charging face, whereby the first and second electrode extensions are electrically isolated from each other, additionally forming a first space between the electrode extensions, which connects with the first space between the electrode extensions.
US08104165B1
Various methods are disclosed herein for forming an apparatus, which is configured to reduce the electromagnetic interference between a pair of antennas coupled to a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the method includes extracting a shape of the apparatus from a thin sheet of conductive material, and folding the shape into a plurality of resonant circuit elements. In other embodiments, the apparatus is formed within various cavities of a mold; a liquefied substance may be inserted into the mold for filling the various cavities and forming a plurality of resonant circuit elements. In all embodiments, the plurality of resonant circuit elements are each configured to resonate at (or near) a carrier frequency of a signal transmitted by one of the pair of antennas.
US08104158B2
Detecting inconsistencies proximate a panel splice joint involves trimming a portion of a first panel overlapping a second panel to expose a previously overlapped region of the second panel. The previously overlapped region of the second panel may be inspected to detect any inconsistencies present thereon after trimming the portion.
US08104147B2
A fluid tight slide fastener (10) including a slider (15) slidably associated with opposite edges (12a) of two flanking strips (12) to provide for their closure, and an upper end stop (16) with which the slider (15) is removably engaged upon closure. A clearance-recovery wedge-like coupling is included at the upper stop (16) and in the slider (15), which includes respective tilted sections (19,21) and opposite tilted sections (46,47) to make, upon engagement of the upper stop (16) and slider (15), a clearance-recovery taper fit.
US08104145B1
A leash handle includes rigid housing including a generally cylindrical graspable portion having a cavity holding a drawer for holding items, such as bags for cleaning animal waste. The drawer can be slid between a closed position, within the housing, and an open position, extending outward from the housing. A member for holding one or more individual animal leashes is pivotally mounted on the housing.
US08104143B2
A built-in domestic appliance which comprises hinges for hinging a door to the furniture body of the built-in domestic appliance. The door is used to close an opening of the first furniture body. The hinges are adapted to perform a defined opening and closing movement of the door, a gap forming during this movement between the edge of the door and especially the front of a second furniture body adjoining the furniture body. In order to obviate the risk of injury caused for example by limbs being caught in the gap and any claims for damages resulting therefrom, a plate element in the area of the door and in a transitional area between the furniture body of the built-in domestic appliance and the second furniture body is mounted in such a manner that it covers the gap if possible across its entire length.
US08104136B2
A windshield wiper blade device is constructed and formed to be releasably secured in a fitted engagement upon an existing wiper arm and blade assembly to provide an effective wiping blade that is easily installed and replaceable in an integral form. The present device comprises a wiper jacket constructed in an envelope-like form partially sealed along its top edge and open but sealable along the remainder of the edge to allow the insertion of an existing wiper blade assembly within the walls of the jacket. A bladed edge having a multi-channel configuration is provided externally along the bottom of the jacket while the interior length of its chamber is formed to provide an angled nesting area for the foot of the wiper blade assembly inserted within the jacket. The chamber walls of the wiper jacket are lined with a resilient foam material on opposite sides to engage the existing blade assembly transversely and secure its position within the wiper jacket. The open top edge of the wiper jacket is provided with fastening material on opposed surfaces and a plurality of releasable straps to selectively close the open edge in a sealed engagement.
US08104126B2
A method of inflating, in alternating manner, inflatable cells of a support device for supporting an element to be supported is provided, which device is of the mattress type for supporting the body of a patient, said mattress being made up of cells that are inflatable with a fluid, in particular air, and having at least one zone made up of first and second series of inflatable cells referred to respectively as “first” cells and as “second” cells, the cells of each series communicating fluidly with one another and with inflation means, in which method alternating deflation and re-inflation cycles are performed during which each of said series of cells is deflated and then re-inflated in alternation and in succession, said first cells being deflated and then re-inflated simultaneously respectively with the re-inflation and with the deflation of said second cells, the alternating deflation and re-inflation of said first and second cells of the support device taking place in a cycle controlled by said inflation means being switched on/off, wherein the switching on/off of said inflation means is controlled as a function of the values of the pressures of the fluid measured inside said cells and of comparison of said values with at least one reference pressure value determined as a function of the morphology of the patient.
US08104123B2
A multi-position support apparatus including a base for supporting the apparatus on a flat horizontal surface, a tiltable frame assembly tiltably supported on the base in a selected position; a body supporting member supported on the tiltable frame assembly; and a feet-engaging member engageable with the bottom surface of the user's feet. The feet-engaging member is coupled to the tiltable frame assembly, and the body supporting member is configured to move in relation to the tiltable frame assembly and below the feet engaging member. Optionally, the body supporting member supports a mattress. When the body supporting member moves, the mattress supported by the it moves also, thereby achieving a relative movement between the feet-engaging member and the mattress and thereby to prevent sliding of the user's body with respect to the tiltable frame assembly when the body supporting member is moved to a vertical position. The multi-position support apparatus is capable of changing its height and angle in relation to the ground and moving from an approximately vertical position to an approximately horizontal position.
US08104119B2
A headboard and/or footboard cover for a bed comprised of a back panel with at least one cinch cord and at least one tie back on each side of said back panel; a front panel with at least one cinch cord and at least one tie back on each side of the front panel; wherein the front panel has at least one pocket which may be filled with foam, feather, polyester or other like material; and a top cinch cord; wherein the top cinch cord connects the back and front panels.
US08104111B2
A shower device is proposed that features a fixed-installation housing. This housing can, for example, stand up from the floor and may extend beyond normal human body size. The housing is fitted with a shower arm that can be moved out of an inactive position. In the inactive position, the surface of the shower arm lies flush with the surface of the housing. The jet discharge area of a shower head arranged in the shower arm faces inwards, so that it is only possible to see a flat surface on the exterior of the housing. Through pressure on this surface, a catch mechanism is released and this causes the shower arm to move out of the housing. This is accomplished via a drive mechanism, which may feature a spring, for example. Extension is performed at a relatively slow speed, which can be achieved using a damper device. The shower arm moves to a position in which the now-visible jet discharge disc of the shower head can be used as an overhead shower. The use position effected via the drive mechanism can also, however, be adjusted by the user, without impeding the drive mechanism. After use, the user can move the shower arm back into the housing manually, which will then cause the spring to be re-tensed. It is hereby intended that the shower arm features an overhead shower. However, it is also possible to design the shower arm in a lower position and for a different purpose.
US08104103B2
A flapper flush valve assembly includes a pair of laterally movable mounting arms which may be adjusted to vary a width therebetween to accommodate overflow tubes of different sizes. The flapper valve assembly is coupled to pivot members connected to an overflow tube. Mounting ears on the pivot members may include projections to provide spacing between the rotating mounting arms and adjacent sidewall of a toilet tank, thereby preventing jams.
US08104098B1
A glove, particularly useful for automobile mechanic work and other types of working environments or sports which brings the dorsal side of the hand in contact with hard objects or the like which may result in injuries to the knuckles of the fingers, thumb and dorsal side of the hand is provided with padding positioned to circumscribe the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and the thumb. The pad covers the distal ends of the metacarpals and the proximal ends of the proximal phalanxes of the fingers with padding being absent at the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers.
US08108940B2
The present invention relates to a method for protecting user data from unauthorized access, the method comprising the steps of, on a data processing system: maintaining said user data in encrypted form stored on a second storage, when loading an operating system using an operating system loader: receiving in a first disk key transmission step from a first user system a symmetric user key that is only accessible by the data processing system if the operating system loader has been started on behalf of said first user system, wherein the symmetric user key is received sealed to a combination of the operating system loader and a user identifier corresponding to said first user system in said first disk key transmission step; accessing the symmetric user key, if the operating system loader has been started on behalf of said first user system; decrypting in a user data decryption step said user data using the symmetric user key, maintaining said symmetric user key in a volatile memory.
US08108928B2
One embodiment of the present invention includes a method for traitor tracing that selects a probability distribution for the assignment of file-segment variations in a digital file. This probability distribution is selected to improve traceability for a particular size of a coalition of attackers. At least one symbol for each file-segment variation is then distributed based on the selected probability distribution.
US08108921B2
A single-sign-on method in a wired/wireless hybrid environment and a system using the method are provided. The single-sign-on method includes: requesting user authentication by transmitting information required for authentication of a user using wireless Internet to an authentication message generator; generating authentication domain location information including location information of a current domain and information required for processing a user authentication message and transmitting the generated authentication domain location information to the user; and if an authentication message of a markup language format is received from the authentication message generator, analyzing the user authentication message and permitting or rejecting access of the user to resources.
US08108913B2
A system and method for marking and controlling the transfer of information between several users (2i, 9i). An authority (3) marks information to be transmitted. A directory (4) or device containing the certificates of all users as well as the certificates of all the components of the architecture. A security office (5) is used to, a key management device (6a) and a privilege management device (6b).
US08108909B2
A new approach to network security includes manipulating an access point such that an initial communication from an external device is passed to a restricted subset of a computing network including a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is configured to enforce a security policy against the external device before granting access to a less-restricted subset of the computing network. If requirements of the security policy are satisfied, then the gatekeeper reconfigures the access point such that further communication from the external device may be received by elements of the less-restricted subset. Enforcement of the security policy optionally includes performing a security audit of the external device.
US08108908B2
A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for preventing an untrusted work unit message from compromising throughput in a highly threaded Network On a Chip (NOC) processor are presented. A security message, which is associated with the untrusted work unit message, directs other resources within the NOC to operate in a secure mode while a specified node, within the NOC, executes instructions from the work unit message in a less privileged non-secure mode. Thus, throughput within the NOC is uncompromised due to resources, other than the first node, being protected from the untrusted work unit message.
US08108904B1
A controller may receive a request from an endpoint and determine whether the endpoint connects via a first network or a second network. The controller may download first software to the endpoint when the endpoint connects via the first network, where the first software facilitates authentication of the endpoint via another device and instructs the endpoint to not store information regarding the controller. The controller may download second software to the endpoint when the endpoint connects via the second network, where the second software facilitates authentication of the endpoint by the device and instructs the endpoint to store information regarding the controller.
US08108898B2
A system and method is provided for identifying, accessing, and managing service applications for use with associated consumer electronic devices in a home network system. A client side process, executed by a client computing system in the home network system, operates in conjunction with a server side process executed by a server computing system that is coupled with the client computing system via the Internet. The client computing system is implemented by a gateway device coupled with each of the devices via the home network. The client side process includes the steps of: determining device ID information associated with at least one selected one of the consumer electronic devices in the home network system; determining a home network system configuration profile based at least on the device ID information; providing the home network system configuration profile to a selected server computing system via the Internet; downloading an application from the selected server computing system, the application being operative to provide a process associated with the selected electronic devices; and executing the downloaded application at the gateway device to provide a remote interactive process associated with the selected electronic devices.
US08108896B2
A method for providing service to an end user, the method includes: converting images to multiple end user device readable pictures; receiving a request from an end user to display at least one image, wherein the request is conveyed over a TVOD infrastructure; and providing the end user with a stream of end user device readable pictures that includes at least one end user device readable picture that corresponds to the requested image.
US08108893B2
A method and apparatus for controllably delivering a multicast broadcast stream to a client via a VLAN channel and, in response to the detection of a splice point, delivering a unicast stream to the client via a sub-VLAN channel.
US08108891B1
Systems, methods and apparatuses are provided for allowing a user to supervise personal exposure to a program exhibited by a consumer electronics device, such as, e.g., a television system. The consumer electronics device includes “V-chip” circuitry that analyzes a program signal and either blocks or passes the program signal based on certain content and time based criteria. In this connection, a user can program the “V-chip” circuitry with the content- and time-based criteria in the form of one or more content-based specifications, which specify a rating and/or a subject matter category, and finite time range specifications, which are associated with the content-based specifications. The “V-chip” circuitry receives one or more content-based indicators, which are indicative of a rating and/or a subject matter category of the program, and a reference time from an external source, such as the program signal. The “V-chip” circuitry compares the content-based indicators with the content-based specifications when the reference time falls within one of the finite time ranges. Based on this comparison, the “V-chip” circuitry either passes the program signal to an output device for transformation of the program signal into the program or blocks the program signal from being sent to the output device.
US08108890B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to automatically creating localized menus for interactive media such as, for example, DVD-Video menus, via a menu component comprising references to an instance of menu background data, a menu text template defining text positions and sets of menu texts in different texts. The menu is then derived by processing the menu component. This enables localized menus to be produced more cost-effectively and more quickly than in non-automated prior art methods.
US08108889B2
A DTV module includes a CPU, a decoder, and a CA interface circuit. The decoder executes a decoding processing on a digital television signal inputted from a demodulator provided on a motherboard, so as to decode the digital television signal into a video signal and an audio signal, and outputs the video signal and audio signal. The CA interface circuit is connected to a CA module via a PC card socket, and executes input and output processings on signals communicated among the demodulator, CA module, decoder, and CPU. The CPU controls the CA interface circuit by switching types of the signals, so that a selected type of signal conforms to a type of the CA module, in response to a broadcasting system of a digital television signal or the type of the connected CA module.
US08108864B2
A method, system and computer program product for tracking arbitrary task dependencies on computers in a grid environment including the steps of downloading a task to a computer coupled to the grid and identifying the dependencies necessary to perform the task and downloading the dependency executables to check the dependencies on the computer, and executing the downloaded dependency executables on the computer. When the dependencies are satisfied, executing the task on the computer and returning the results of the task to the grid server. When at least one of the dependencies are checked and are not satisfied on the computer, returning an error for the task to the grid server, recording the particular dependencies that failed as not satisfied for the computer, and recording a timestamp indicating when the dependency was checked. Assigning a task to a particular computer coupled to the grid if there are no recorded failed dependencies required for the task associated with the computer or the timestamp associated with a recorded dependency failure is of a predetermined age.
US08108861B2
An information management apparatus presents an unexpected event to all users.This apparatus displays time ranges of scheduled events from the start time to the end time along a time axis based on an operation performed to schedule the start time and end time of the events. Further, this apparatus displays a time range of an unexpected event along the same time axis on the same screen based on an operation corresponding to a start of the unexpected event such that the time of the operation is set as a starting point and the time range of the unexpected event is extended as time elapses until an operation corresponding to an end of that unexpected event is performed.
US08108858B2
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program of instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations concerning at least two virtual machines operative in the computer system, the operations comprising: detecting computer system resources associated with each of the at least two virtual machines; displaying an interactive, integrated graphical user interface (GUI) on a display device associated with the computer system, whereby the GUI simultaneously displays graphical elements representing the detected computer system resources associated with the virtual machines; receiving commands entered, at least in part, using the GUI to perform actions on the detected computer system resources associated with the virtual machines; and executing actions corresponding to the commands entered using the GUI on the detected computer system resources associated with the virtual machines while maintaining the independence of the operating environments of the virtual machines.
US08108852B2
A procedure is provided to implement modifications to a running object-oriented program, in particular a program for controlling an automation facility. The program is stored temporarily in a memory in the form of an intermediate code which can be converted into executable machine code in runtime. The method includes the steps of providing a modified program or a modified program module, also in the form of an intermediate code, and comparing the intermediate code of the modified program or that of the modified program module with the intermediate code of the running program for determining the modifications, and implementing modifications to the running program. A correspondingly adapted run-time system is also provided, which is suitable for implementing the procedure as well as the integration of this run-time system into an automation facility.
US08108843B2
A method (and system) for performing an emulation of an operation of a target computing system, includes interpreting a target instruction, recognizing an unused capacity of a host system when the host system is interpreting the instruction, and performing a translation of the instruction without increasing a time of interpreting the instruction.
US08108842B2
A native binding technique is provided for inserting calls to native functions during translation of subject code to target code, such that function calls in the subject program to subject code functions are replaced in target code with calls to native equivalents of the same functions. Parameters of native function calls are transformed from target code representations to be consistent with native code representations, native code calling conventions, and native function prototypes.
US08108837B2
A core idea of present invention is not only to have one fixed link/reference to one specific database, but to use a script/formula (e.g. a Notes @formula/expression) that resolves to a link to a specific database at runtime. This allows pointing to different NSFs in the development environment vs. production environment vs. any other environment. This reference (e.g., the @formula/expression) is written in a new user interface (UI) of the Lotus Notes Composite Application Editor (CAE) that is part of the current UI to define component property preferences. This UI would generate the XML below so that users don't have to do this manually.
US08108830B2
A system and method for generating a screen element, based on a data object, of a component application is disclosed. The component application includes a data component having a data field definition and a screen component having a screen element definition. A mapping manager identifies a mapping present in the screen component. The mapping specifies dynamic relationships between the screen component and the data component by an identifier, and for selecting the data component mapped by the mapping according to the mapping identifier. The mapping manager maintains dynamic integrity and automatically synchronizes changes between the screen component and the corresponding data component. A data manager obtains a data object field value corresponding to the data field definition of the mapped data component; and a presentation manager generates a screen element from the screen element definition to include the data object field value.
US08108816B2
A system and method for the adjustment of history based delay variation during static timing analysis of an integrated circuit design. The method may include obtaining information through sources of variability of history based components of delay variability, and a relationship between the sources of variability and one or more bounded device histories. Then, inputting history bounds for at least one signal of the integrated circuit design, and computing and propagating history bounds through at least one first segment of the integrated circuit design to at least one signal of the integrated circuit design. Further, the method may include evaluating from at least one of the propagated history bounds, device history bounds for at least one second segment of the integrated circuit design, and based on the evaluated device history bounds, adjusting at least one of a value of the history based delay variability and propagation of timing.
US08108807B2
The delay time variation of transistors caused by the manufacturing variation is desired to be adjusted. A relation table storing a relation between sizes and voltage values (supply voltages and bias voltages) is provided. Macros each of which includes a transistor and a setting voltage generation circuit for applying a setting voltage to the transistor are formed on a chip. A process data indicating a size of the transistor is generated. The voltage value corresponding to the size of the transistor indicated by the process data in the relation table is selected as an optimum voltage value (supply voltage Vdd, bias voltage Bias) for each of the macros. The setting voltage of each of the macros is set to the optimum voltage value. The delay time can be adjusted without requiring a detection circuit for detecting the delay time.
US08108793B2
Zone-associated objects enable easier consumption of electronic media items that are presented to a user on a screen of a computing device. Zone-associated objects enable displaying electronic content on the screen of the computing device, the screen having multiple zones. Each object presented on the screen may be associated with one or more of the zones. The user may then select one of the multiple zones and, in response, may be allowed to select objects associated with that zone. In some instances, the user may then select one or more of these zone-associated objects to perform the action defined by the object.
US08108789B2
To group a plurality of data items through a simple operation, an information processing device includes a displaying unit for displaying an image of a virtual space where a plurality of data-related positions respectively associated with a plurality of data items are set and each data-related position is surrounded solely or together with other data-related position by a closed area, such that each closed area is distinctive; an operation unit for allowing a user to operate so as to arbitrarily move the data-related position in the virtual space; a closed area update unit for updating each closed area in the virtual space according to movement of the data-related position in the virtual space; and a grouping unit for grouping, when the plurality of data-related positions are surrounded by a common closed area, data associated with the respective data-related positions.
US08108784B2
Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.
US08108783B2
A system and associated method for migrating from a first application to a second application where the second application is an alternative to the first application with respect to functionality. Overlaying a first graphical user interface (GUI) onto the second application where the first GUI corresponding to the first application. Sending to a display device a set of steps which if executed would invoke a feature utilizing a second GUI after the feature was invoked utilizing the first GUI. Removing the first GUI with respect to the feature and displaying the second GUI with respect to the feature after satisfying a condition. Finally, repeating the steps of sending to a display device and removing the first GUI for all features common to both the first application and the second application.
US08108780B2
Collaborative voting widgets (or controls) provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that is adapted for collaborative effort between groups of individuals. The widgets have a modal selection state that changes the appearance and functionality of the widget depending on whether the widget is being presented to a particular user (e.g., a group leader) or a member of the group. The group provides user input to vote on a value of the widget. The particular user may subsequently override the voting result, reset the votes and optionally call for a re-vote, overriding the group consensus or breaking ties.
US08108767B2
An EDI document instance is generated or edited via an editor tool that also displays a corresponding EDI schema, thus allowing editing of an EDI document instance alongside its corresponding EDI schema, thereby interrelating EDI document creation or editing with the corresponding EDI schema. Either the EDI document instance or the EDI schema elements can be modified via the editor tool, and in various non-limiting embodiments, any errors in the formation or modification of an EDI document are automatically highlighted or otherwise recorded and/or displayed via the editor tool. EDI instances can be edited in either native or XML form.
US08108766B2
A computer-implemented method, device, and computer readable medium transform a markup language document from a digital form to a user-specified form on a display device. Based on a configuration file, a digital markup language document is processed. For a current navigated-to page in the markup language document, context is set to a page node, and a page transformation is performed by the computer. A selection language expression is evaluated, and a node transformation is performed. The node transformation may include setting context, determining the type of decoration associated with the current context, reading the selection language expressions, computing a decoration parameter value for each of the decoration parameters associated with each declaration, and creating and displaying a decoration based on the computed decoration parameter values. The steps may be repeated for remaining markup language node and for each remaining decoration declaration.
US08108755B2
Example embodiments provide a method and apparatus of correcting error data due to charge loss within a non-volatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells. The method of correcting error data within the non-volatile memory devices may include detecting error data in a second data group by comparing a first data group read from memory cells in response to a first voltage with the second data group read from memory cells in response to a second voltage. The second voltage is higher than the first voltage. Error data in the first data group is detected by error-correcting code (ECC). Re-writing data in the memory cells is performed by correcting error data in the first data group and error data in the second data group. A central processing unit (CPU) may detect error in the second data group. The second data group may be read through a page buffer and compared with the first data group stored in a SRAM. The detected error may be updated to the page buffer. Error data in the first data group may be updated to the page buffer. The CPU corrects error in the final error data, and the page buffer rewrites the corrected data in the plurality of memory cells.
US08108754B1
In one embodiment, a method of verifying a programming operation of a programmable logic device includes storing in non-volatile memory within the programmable logic device configuration data and a pre-calculated code value based on the configuration data. The method further includes transferring the configuration data from non-volatile memory to configuration memory within the programmable logic device; calculating a code value based on the configuration data transferred from the non-volatile memory to the configuration memory; and comparing the calculated code value to the pre-calculated code value.
US08108746B2
A disclosed radio communications apparatus performs at least an automatic repeat request control and performs radio communications using a frame that occupies predetermined plural frequency bands. This apparatus includes a reception portion that receives feedback information about each of a plurality of frequency bands from a communications party, a determination portion that determines which frequency band among the plural frequency bands is to be used to retransmit a retransmission packet indicated by the feedback information, and a transmission portion that transmits the retransmission packet using one or more determined frequency bands.
US08108743B2
A method and apparatus to compact test responses containing unknown values or multiple fault effects in a deterministic test environment. The proposed selective compactor employs a linear compactor with selection circuitry for selectively passing test responses to the compactor. In one embodiment, gating logic is controlled by a control register, a decoder, and flag registers. This circuitry, in conjunction with any conventional parallel test-response compaction scheme, allows control circuitry to selectively enable serial outputs of desired scan chains to be fed into a parallel compactor at a particular clock rate. A first flag register determines whether all, or only some, scan chain outputs are enabled and fed through the compactor. A second flag register determines if the scan chain selected by the selector register is enabled and all other scan chains are disabled, or the selected scan chain is disabled and all other scan chains are enabled. Other embodiments allow selective masking of a variable number of scan chain outputs.
US08108730B2
A data processing system 2 is provided with multiple processors 4, 6 which can operate in either a split-mode in which each processor executes its own program flow or a locked-mode in which the processors execute the same program flow. Debug circuitry 8, 10 is associated with each of the processors. In an emulation-locked mode of operation, one of the processors 4 is active and its respective debug circuitry 8 is active to update the debug state data so as to debug the locked mode code. At the same time, the second processor 6 is held inactive and its state is maintained as well as the debug state data of the debug circuitry 10 within that inactive processor. This maintains the debug state data of the processor 6 across entry and exit to the locked mode of operation.
US08108720B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for predicting failures in power supplies. A count of exception messages is set to zero. When a exception message is received, the count of exception messages is incremented and compared to a threshold value. When the count of exception messages equals the threshold value, a cooling fan is determined to be failed, and a prediction is made that a power supply is proceeding towards failure.
US08108717B2
A system receives a program, allocates the program to a first software unit of execution (UE) and a second software UE, executes a first portion of the program with the first and second software UEs in parallel, and determines whether an error is detected during execution of the first portion of the program by the first and second software UEs. The system also sends a signal, between the first and second software UEs, to execute a second portion of the program when the error is detected in the first portion of the program, executes the second portion of the program with the first and second software UEs when the error is detected, and provides for display information associated with execution of the first portion and the second portion of the program by the first and second software UEs.
US08108715B1
A computer-implemented method for resolving split-brain scenarios in computer clusters may include (1) identifying a plurality of nodes within a computer cluster that are configured to collectively perform at least one task, (2) receiving, from a node within the computer cluster, a failure notification that identifies a link-based communication failure experienced by the node that prevents the nodes within the computer cluster from collectively performing the task, and, upon receiving the failure notification, (3) immediately prompting each node within the computer cluster to participate in an arbitration event in order to identify a subset of the nodes that is to assume responsibility for performing the task subsequent to the link-based communication failure. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08108713B2
Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information.
US08108709B2
A circuit for generating an output enable signal includes a reset signal generator for synchronizing a reset signal with an external clock signal to generate an output enable (OE) reset signal, synchronizers for synchronizing the OE reset signal with an internal clock signal to generate a source reset signal, and an output enable signal output unit, reset by the source reset signal, for counting pulses of the external clock signal and the internal clock signal to output an output enable signal corresponding to a read command and CAS latency.
