US08169070B2
The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip defining a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, the semiconductor chip comprising at least one contact element on the first face of the semiconductor chip, an encapsulating body encapsulating the semiconductor chip, the encapsulating body having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, a redistribution layer extending over the semiconductor chip and the first face of the encapsulating body and containing a metallization layer comprising contact areas connected with the contact elements of the semiconductor chip, and an array of external contact elements located on the second phase of the encapsulating body.
US08169067B2
Methods and apparatuses for improved thermal, electrical and/or mechanical performance in integrated circuit (IC) packages are described. An IC circuit package comprises a substrate having a central opening. An IC die, resides within the opening in the substrate. Wirebonds couples a plurality of bond pads on a top surface of the IC die to a plurality of bond fingers on a top surface the substrate. An encapsulating material encapsulates at least the IC die and the wirebonds such that at least a bottom surface of the IC die is left exposed. The encapsulating material suspends the die such that at least a portion of the die is held within the opening in the substrate.
US08169060B2
Some embodiments herein relate to a transmitter. The transmitter includes an integrated circuit (IC) package including a first antenna configured to radiate a first electromagnetic signal therefrom. A printed circuit board (PCB) substrate includes a waveguide configured to receive the first electromagnetic signal and to generate a waveguide signal based thereon. A second antenna can be electrically coupled to the waveguide and can radiate a second electromagnetic signal that corresponds to the waveguide signal. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
US08169053B2
Provided are resistive random access memories (RRAMs) and methods of manufacturing the same. A RRAM includes a storage node including a variable resistance layer, a switching device connected to the storage node, and a protective layer covering an exposed part of the variable resistance layer. The protective layer includes at least one of aluminum oxide and titanium oxide. The variable resistance layer is a metal oxide layer.
US08169051B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an insulating film formed over the substrate, first and second conductive plugs formed in the insulating film, a capacitor element, and a wiring. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode, a dielectric film, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode is connected to an end of the first plug and formed on the insulating film, and includes a first barrier film. The dielectric film is formed on upper and side surfaces of the lower electrode. The upper electrode is formed on the dielectric film, and includes a second barrier metal film being wider than the lower electrode. The wiring is connected to an end of the second plug and formed on the insulating film, and includes a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first and second layers include the first and second barrier metal films, respectively.
US08169043B2
An optical sensor package structure includes a substrate, a metal plate, an optical sensing chip, a plurality of bonding wires and a lens module. The substrate includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a hole penetrating the top surface and the bottom surface. The metal plate covers the hole from the bottom surface of the substrate. The optical sensing chip is received in the hole and mounted on the metal plate. The bonding wires interconnect the optical sensing chip and the top surface of substrate. The lens module is covering on the hole and mounting on the top surface of the substrate to enclose the optical sensing chip and the bonding wires. Because the optical sensing chip is received in the hole of the substrate, the height of the optical sensor package structure can be reduced to adapt to a compact size electrical device.
US08169041B2
A micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) package is described herein. The package includes a carrier substrate having a top side, a MEMS chip mounted on the top side of the carrier substrate, and at least one chip component on or above the top side of the carrier substrate or embedded in the carrier substrate. The package also includes a thin metallic shielding layer covering the MEMS chip and the chip component and forming a seal with the top side of the carrier substrate.
US08169040B2
A semiconductor device includes: an n-channel MIS transistor and a p-channel MIS transistor. An n-channel MIS transistor includes: a first gate insulating film having an amorphous layer or an epitaxial layer formed on a p-type semiconductor region between a first source/drain regions; and a first gate electrode having a stack structure formed with a first metal layer and a first compound layer. The first metal layer is formed on the first gate insulating film and made of a first metal having a work function of 4.3 eV or smaller, and the first compound layer is formed on the first metal layer and contains a compound of a second metal and a IV-group semiconductor. The second metal is different from the first metal. A p-channel MIS transistor includes a second gate electrode having a second compound layer containing a compound of the same composition as the first compound layer.
US08169037B2
A MISFET includes a drain diffusion layer of a first conductivity type, a source diffusion layer of the first conductivity type, a gate electrode, and a substrate/well of a second conductivity type. In the MISFET, first diffusion layers of the first conductivity type are provided at two or more positions at predetermined intervals with an isolation therebetween respectively. The two or more positions are facing at least two sides of the element isolation insulation around the drain diffusion layer. A second diffusion layer of the second conductivity type is provided so as to be close to or to come in contact with the source diffusion layer.
US08169036B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a control signal system for avoiding failure to check an indefinite signal propagation prevention circuit, for facilitating a check included in an automated tool, and for facilitating a power shutdown control inside a chip. In the semiconductor integrated circuit device, power shutdown priorities are provided by independent power domains (Area A to Area I). A method for preventing a power domain having a lower priority from being turned OFF when a circuit having a high priority is turned ON is also provided.
US08169033B2
Methods of forming transistors and structures thereof are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a semiconductor device including a workpiece, a gate dielectric disposed over the workpiece, and a thin layer of conductive material disposed over the gate dielectric. A layer of semiconductive material is disposed over the thin layer of conductive material. The layer of semiconductive material and the thin layer of conductive material comprise a gate electrode of a transistor. A source region and a drain region are formed in the workpiece proximate the gate dielectric. The thin layer of conductive material comprises a thickness of about 50 Angstroms or less.
US08169031B2
A contact structure is disclosed in which a continuous metal semiconductor alloy is located within a via contained within a dielectric material. The continuous semiconductor metal alloy is in direct contact with an upper metal line of a first metal level located atop the continuous semiconductor metal alloy and at least a surface of each source and drain diffusion region located beneath the continuous metal semiconductor alloy. The continuous metal semiconductor alloy can be derived from either a semiconductor nanowire or an epitaxial grown semiconductor material. The continuous metal semiconductor alloy includes a lower portion that is contained within an upper surface of each source and drain region, and a vertical pillar portion extending upward from the lower portion. The lower portion of the continuous metal semiconductor alloy and the vertical pillar portion are not separated by a material interface. Instead, the two portions of the continuous metal semiconductor alloy are of unitary construction, i.e., a single piece.
US08169026B2
A semiconductor device including: a silicon dioxide layer; an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) including at least one recessed source/drain trench and located over a portion of the silicon dioxide layer; a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) including at least one recessed source/drain trench and located over a portion of the silicon dioxide layer; a nitride stress liner over the NFET and the PFET, the nitride stress liner filling the at least one recessed source/drain trench of the NFET and the at least one recessed source/drain trench of the PFET; and a first contact formed in the silicon dioxide layer, the first contact abutting one of the NFET or the PFET.
US08169024B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided in which the channel of the device is present in an extremely thin silicon on insulator (ETSOI) layer, i.e., a silicon containing layer having a thickness of less than 10.0 nm. In one embodiment, the method may begin with providing a substrate having at least a first semiconductor layer overlying a dielectric layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of less than 10.0 nm. A gate structure is formed directly on the first semiconductor layer. A in-situ doped semiconductor material is formed on the first semiconductor layer adjacent to the gate structure. The dopant from the in-situ doped semiconductor material is then diffused into the first semiconductor layer to form extension regions. The method is also applicable to finFET structures.
US08169020B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having trenches, buried bit lines formed in the substrate, and including a metal silicide layer and a metallic layer, wherein the metal silicide layer contacts sidewalls of the trenches and the metallic layer is formed over the sidewalls of the trenches and contacts the metal silicide layer.
US08169016B2
A plurality of conductive layers are stacked in a first region and a second region. A semiconductor layer is surrounded by the conductive layers in the first region, includes a columnar portion extending in a perpendicular direction with respect to a substrate. A charge storage layer is formed between the conductive layers and a side surface of the columnar portion. The conductive layers includes first trenches, second trenches, and third trenches. The first trenches are arranged in the first region so as to have a first pitch in a first direction. The second trenches are arranged in the second region so as to have a second pitch in the first direction. The third trenches are arranged in the second region so as to have a third pitch in the first direction and so as to be sandwiched by the second trenches.
US08169015B2
This semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a plurality of cylindrical lower electrodes aligned densely in a memory array region; a plate-like support which is contacted on the side surface of the cylindrical lower electrodes, and links to support the plurality of the cylindrical lower electrodes; a pore portion provided in the plate-like support; a dielectric film covering the entire surface of the cylindrical lower electrodes and the plate-like support in which the pore portion is formed; and an upper electrode formed on the surface of the dielectric film, wherein the boundary length of the part on the side surface of the cylindrical lower electrode which is exposed on the pore portion is shorter than the boundary length of the part on the side surface of the cylindrical lower electrode which is not exposed on the pore portion.
US08169009B2
A semiconductor device includes N fins made of semiconductor regions aligned in parallel with each other in the top view plain, a gate electrode formed on both side surfaces of each of the N fins to cross the fins, source/drain layers formed in each of the N fins by sandwiching the gate electrode, a first wiring connected to one of the source/drain layers via a first contact formed in each of M fins, and a second wiring connected to the other one of the source/drain layers via a second contact formed in each of K fins.
US08169006B2
Provided is a bio-sensor chip. The bio-sensor chip includes a sensing part, a board circuit part, a channel part, and a cover. In the sensing part, a target material and a detection material interact with each other to detect the target material. The board circuit part is electrically connected to the sensing part. The channel part provides a solution material containing the target material into the sensing part. The cover is coupled to the board circuit part to cover the channel part and the sensing part.
US08169000B2
A lateral transient voltage suppressor with ultra low capacitance is disclosed. The suppressor comprises a first conductivity type substrate and at least one diode cascade structure arranged in the first conductivity type substrate. The cascade structure further comprises at least one second conductivity type lightly doped well and at least one first conductivity type lightly doped well, wherein there are two heavily doped areas arranged in the second conductivity type lightly doped well and the first conductivity type lightly doped well. The cascade structure neighbors a second conductivity type well, wherein there are three heavily doped areas arranged in the second conductivity type well. The suppressor further comprises a plurality of deep isolation trenches arranged in the first conductivity type substrate and having a depth greater than depths of the second conductivity type lightly doped well, the second conductivity type well and the first conductivity type lightly doped well. Each doped well is isolated by trenches.
US08168998B2
A light emitting device comprises a flip-chip light emitting diode (LED) die mounted on a submount. The top surface of the submount has a reflective layer. Over the LED die is molded a hemispherical first transparent layer. A low index of refraction layer is then provided over the first transparent layer to provide TIR of phosphor light. A hemispherical phosphor layer is then provided over the low index layer. A lens is then molded over the phosphor layer. The reflection achieved by the reflective submount layer, combined with the TIR at the interface of the high index phosphor layer and the underlying low index layer, greatly improves the efficiency of the lamp. Other material may be used. The low index layer may be an air gap or a molded layer. Instead of a low index layer, a distributed Bragg reflector may be sputtered over the first transparent layer.
US08168997B2
Provided is an LED package including a printed circuit board (PCB); a conductive structure that is formed on the PCB and is composed of any one selected from a silicon structure and an aluminum structure; and an LED chip that is mounted on the PCB and is electrically connected to the PCB through the conductive structure.
US08168996B2
An excellent light emitting element capable of improving problems caused by a material having high light-reflectivity and susceptible to electromigration, especially Al used for the electrode. FIG. 2A depicts semiconductor light emitting element having a first and second electrodes 20 and 30 disposed at a same surface side respectively on a first and second conductive type semiconductor layer 11 and 13. In the electrode disposing surface, the first electrode 20 comprises a first base part 23 and a first extended part 24 extending from the first base part, and a plurality of separated external connecting parts 31 of the second electrode 30 arranged side by side in extending direction of the first extended part.
US08168994B2
A light emitting diode (LED) formed by depositing an LED chip and coupling a stability layer to the LED chip. Semiconductor nanocrystals are placed in a first matrix material to form a nanocrystal complex layer. The nanocrystal complex layer is deposited on top of the stability layer. A thickness of the stability layer is chosen to maximizes a power of a light output by the nanocrystal complex layer. The matrix material and the stability layer can be of the same type of material. Additional layers of matrix material can be deposited on top of the nanocrystal complex layer. These additional layers can comprise matrix material only or can comprise matrix material and semiconductor nanocrystals to form another nanocrystal complex layer.
US08168993B2
A light emitting device according to the embodiment includes a reflecting layer; an adhesion layer including an oxide-based material on the reflecting layer; an ohmic contact layer on the adhesion layer; and a light emitting structure layer on the ohmic contact layer.
US08168981B2
A display substrate includes; a gate line disposed on a substrate, a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate including the gate line, the first insulating layer including an opening part extended in a direction crossing the gate line, a data line disposed on the first insulating layer and an inner surface of the opening part, the data line extending in a direction substantially parallel with an extension direction of the opening part, a protective layer disposed on the first insulating layer and the data line, a switching element electrically connected to the gate line and the data line and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element.
US08168980B2
In an active matrix substrate of the present invention, a gate insulating film for covering a gate electrode of each transistor has a thin portion, having a reduced film thickness, which is provided on a part overlapped on the gate electrode, and the thin portion is formed by using the gate electrode, on which the thin portion is overlapped, as a mask, and each transistor has a first drain electrode section and a second drain electrode section which are respectively provided on both sides of a source electrode, and the thin portion has two edges opposite to each other, and the first drain electrode section is overlapped on the one edge, and the second drain electrode section is overlapped on the other edge. This makes it possible to provide an active matrix substrate which realizes high display quality while suppressing unevenness of parasitic capacitances (particularly, Cgd) of TFTs in the active matrix substrate whose each TFT has a thin portion in its gate insulating film.
US08168977B2
The present invention provides a thin film transistor having high performance in a liquid crystal display, and a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that includes: forming a gate line including a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate line; forming a data line including a source electrode and a drain electrode facing the source electrode on the gate insulating layer; forming a partition defining a pixel area and having an opening region exposing the gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, the source electrode and the drain electrode on the gate line, and the data line and the drain electrode; forming a semiconductor in the opening region; forming a color filter in the pixel area defined by the partition; and forming a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode on the color filter.
US08168975B2
A wiring line is electrically connected in parallel to an auxiliary wiring line via a plurality of contact holes. The contact holes are formed through an insulating film and arranged in vertical direction to the wiring line. Since the auxiliary wiring line is formed in the same layer as an electrode that constitutes a TFT, the electric resistance of the wiring line can be reduced effectively without increasing the number of manufacturing steps.
US08168973B2
The thin film transistor includes, over a substrate having an insulating surface, a gate insulating layer covering a gate electrode, an amorphous semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer including an impurity element imparting one conductivity type over the amorphous semiconductor layer. The amorphous semiconductor layer comprises an NH radical. Defects of the amorphous semiconductor layer are reduced by cross-linking dangling bonds with the NH radical in the amorphous semiconductor layer.
US08168971B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing and more particularly to a CMOS device with at least one embedded SiGe layer in the source/drain region of the PFET, and at least one embedded SiGe layer in the channel region of the NFET. In one embodiment, the structure of the invention enhances the electron mobility in the NFET device, and further enhances the hole mobility in the PFET device. Additionally, by using the fabrication methods and hence achieving the final structure of the invention, it is also possible to construct a PFET and NFET each with embedded SiGe layers on the same substrate.
US08168970B2
Timely testing of die on wafer reduces the cost to manufacture ICs. This disclosure describes a die test structure and process to reduce test time by adding test pads on the top surface of the die. The added test pads allow a tester to probe and test more circuits within the die simultaneously. Also, the added test pads contribute to a reduction in the amount of test wiring overhead traditionally required to access and test circuits within a die, thus reducing die size.
US08168969B2
The present invention provides semiconductor-on-diamond devices, and methods for the formation thereof. In one aspect, a mold is provided which has an interface surface configured to inversely match a configuration intended for the device surface of a diamond layer. An adynamic diamond layer is then deposited upon the diamond interface surface of the mold, and a substrate is joined to the growth surface of the adynamic diamond layer. At least a portion of the mold can then be removed to expose the device surface of the diamond which has received a shape which inversely corresponds to the configuration of the mold's diamond interface surface. The mold can be formed of a suitable semiconductor material which is thinned to produce a final device. Optionally, a semiconductor material can be coupled to the diamond layer subsequent to removal of the mold.
US08168966B2
A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device includes (A) a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 13 having n-type conductivity, (B) an active layer 15 having a multi-quantum well structure including well layers and barrier layers for separating between the well layers, and (C) a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer 17 having p-type conductivity. The well layers are disposed in the active layer 15 so as to satisfy the relation d1
US08168962B2
Initially, an ion beam is formed as an elongated shape incident on a wafer, where the shape has a length along a first axis longer than a diameter of the wafer, and a width along a second axis shorter than the diameter of the wafer. Then, a center of the wafer is moved along a scan path intersecting the ion beam at a movement velocity, and the wafer is rotated around at a rotation velocity simultaneously. During the simultaneous movement and rotation, the wafer is totally overlapped with the ion beam along the first axis when the wafer intersects with the ion beam, and the rotation velocity is at most a few times of the movement velocity. Both the movement velocity and the rotation velocity can be a constant or have a velocity profile relative to a position of the ion beam across the wafer.
US08168959B2
A position measurement device 29 measures the position of a position measurement mark 26 formed on the lower surface of a reticle 1, thereby measuring the position of the reticle 1. A position measurement device 30 measures the position of the position measurement mark 27 formed on the lower surface of a lower lid 2b, thereby measuring the position of the lower lid 2b. The relative displacement of the reticle 1 and lower lid 2b is known when the position of the reticle 1 and the position of the lower lid 2b are known. Therefore, when the lower lid 2b having the reticle 1 loaded thereon is carried with a carrying device and set in an exposure device, the stop position of the lower lid 2b is determined by taking this displacement into account. As a result, the reticle 1 can be correctly set in the exposure device.
US08168948B2
The invention relates to a method for producing high-quality samples for e.g. TEM inspection. When thinning samples with e.g. a Focused Ion Beam apparatus (FIB), the sample often oxidizes when taken from the FIB due to the exposure to air. This results in low-quality samples, that may be unfit for further analysis. By forming a passivation layer, preferably a hydrogen passivation layer, on the sample in situ, that is: before taking the sample from the FIB, high quality TEM samples can be produced.
US08168947B2
An electrostatic latent image evaluation device includes an optical scanner configured to irradiate laser light of a wavelength of 400 nm-800 nm on a photoreceptor sample, and form an electrostatic latent image, an electron gun configured to irradiate a charged particle beam to the photoreceptor sample having the electrostatic latent image, and surface electric charge distribution or surface electric potential distribution, a detector configured to detect an electron emitted from the photoreceptor sample by the irradiation of the charged particle beam, and an electrostatic latent image evaluation section configured to calculate sizes of a plurality of electrostatic latent images formed by the laser light each having different exposure energy density according to a detection signal detected by the detector, and evaluate the electrostatic latent image according to a change in the calculated sizes.
US08168934B2
Integrated circuit (1) comprising: an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), a plurality of read-out circuits, each SPADs being coupled to one read-out circuit, wherein at least some of the read-out circuits comprise time-to-digital converters (TDC) and/or a digital asynchronous counter, wherein a plurality of SPADs are coupled to one single read-out circuit. The read-out circuit may comprise a transformer for decoupling the SPAD from other parts of said read-out circuit.
US08168933B2
An image sensor having shield structures and methods of forming the same are provided. Generally, the image sensor includes: (i) substrate having at least one photosensitive element formed therein; (ii) a dielectric layer overlying the substrate and the photosensitive element; and (iii) an annular reflective waveguide disposed in the dielectric layer above the photosensitive element to reduce cross-talk between adjacent elements of the sensor while increasing sensitivity of the sensor. In certain embodiments, the sensor further includes a photoshield disposed in the dielectric above the photosensitive element and about the waveguide to further reduce the possibility of cross-talk. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08168928B2
A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, an upper space formed above the cooking cavity, lateral side spaces formed to at opposite lateral sides of the cooking cavity, a rear space formed behind the cooking cavity, and a lower space formed below the cooking cavity. A fan provided in the rear space generates a cooling flow that cools components housed in the rear space. A cooling flow path extends from the rear space and into the upper space and lateral side spaces. Flow from the upper space enters the door to cool the door and is exhausted through a lower portion of the door. Flow from the lateral side spaces, which includes an exhaust flow from the cooking cavity, is guided to the lower space and exhausted. In this manner, the cooking apparatus can be completely cooled and cooking odors and heat appropriately exhausted by the cooling fan positioned in the rear space.
US08168926B2
A first heating element and a second heating element, which are capable of individually controlling temperatures thereof, are embedded in a ceramic base. Each of the first heating element and the second heating element is formed into a spiral shape so as not to contact the other from a central portion of the base to an outer circumferential portion thereof in substantially the same plane parallel to a heating surface of the base. One of the first and second heating elements includes a high heating density portion on the central portion side of the base, and a low heating density portion on the peripheral portion side of the base, and the other of the first and second heating elements includes a low heating density portion on the central portion side of the base, and a high heating density portion on the peripheral portion side of the base.
US08168923B2
The invention involves a temperature regulated heated Pizza/Food delivery system that ca provide a continuous warming solution for pizza and food from the store, to the car and to the customer, in a vehicle, including the ability to be battery-powered, should an electrical outlet not be available. This invention can use a dual powered technology to power the heater directly from 110/220V AC wall outlets or 12V DC automotive outlets without needing power adapters. The heater's power plug can be a magnetic breakaway connector, accessible through an opening in the insulated bag. Two colored LED indicators can be used to indicate the source of power. A set of detachable feet that fit into the keyhole slot of the heater can allow it to stand independently. The Nonstick, water-resistant heater surface can allow it to serve heated food directly, replacing the ubiquitous fire hazard, Sterno.
US08168913B2
An EDM die sinking device includes a tank for holding a fluid, and at least one electrode in the tank having a shape for imparting to a first portion of a workpiece. A workpiece holder positions the workpiece at least partially immersed in the fluid and alternately moves the workpiece between an inoperable position and a first operable position of the first electrode at which electric discharge machining occurs on the first portion. A pulse generator creates an electric discharge between the first portion and the first electrode to remove material from the first portion in response to the workpiece being in the first operable position. Movement of the workpiece from the electrode flushes particle containing fluid away from the workpiece and the electrode. A segmented electrode includes a separate pulse generator for each segment may also be employed.
US08168903B2
An illuminated keyboard includes a frame plate, a character keycap, a light source, a membrane plate, a switch circuit plate and a base plate. The character keycap is connected with the frame plate, and movable upwardly or downwardly with respect to the frame plate. The light source is disposed under the character keycap for emitting invisible light. The character keycap, the frame plate, the membrane plate, the switch circuit plate and the base plate are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. The illuminated keyboard further includes a luminous substance, which is excited by the light source to generate visible light to irradiate the illuminated keyboard.
US08168899B2
A coil bobbin to which an immobilizer coil is mounted, coil connecting terminals to which ends of the coil are connected, a fixed contact, a terminal for the fixed contact and connector terminals are integrally formed by resin molding into a coil bobbin integrated type insulator. Then, the coil connecting terminals, the terminal for the fixed contact, and the connector terminals are respectively soldered to a wiring board. All of them are incorporated in a body. In this manner, stress exerted on the soldered areas between the coil connecting terminals and the wiring board can be moderated to the substantially same extent as stress exerted on the soldered areas between the terminal for the fixed contact and the connector terminals, and the wiring board.
US08168895B2
Provided is a multilayer printed wiring board in which multiple via holes that connect a first power supply wiring with a second power supply wiring are aligned in a line in parallel to a direction along which current flows. In order to prevent current from being concentrated on the via hole connected to a farthest end of the power supply wiring among the via holes, a narrow portion between the via hole and the via hole is narrowed to increase a resistance. A narrow portion that is narrowed is disposed similarly at a farthest end of the power supply wiring of the second conductor layer.
US08168893B2
A multilayer wiring board includes a multilayer wiring substrate having a concave portion which accommodates an electronic component. The multilayer wiring substrate has multiple insulation layers, multiple conductive circuits, multiple vias and an electromagnetic shielding layer. The conductive circuits are separated by the insulation layers and electrically connected through the vias. The electromagnetic shielding layer has a roughened surface and formed along one of a bottom surface and side surfaces of the concave portion in the multilayer wiring substrate.
US08168889B2
Disclosed is a thermosetting conductive paste which is advantageous in that an external electrode for multilayer ceramic electronic part formed using the paste exhibits excellent bonding properties with an internal electrode and is suitable for mounting on a substrate or plating, achieving excellent electric properties (electrostatic capacity, tan δ. A thermosetting conductive paste comprising: (A) metal powder having a melting point of 700° C. or higher; (B) metal powder having a melting point of higher than 300 to lower than 700° C.; and (C) a thermosetting resin.
US08168886B2
Disclosed is a back contact-type solar cell wherein both of n+-type layer and p+-type layer are formed in the opposite side from a sunlight receiving side, wherein an electrode formed on the opposite side comprises a conductive component comprising silver and an added metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, W, Re, Os, Ir and Pt.
US08168885B2
The present invention provides a pre-formed bi-layer thermoplastic film or sheet comprising a first surface layer made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and a second surface layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising the same, and a simplified process for manufacturing a solar cell module derived therefrom.
US08168884B2
A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.
US08168883B2
An adjustable solar powerer having photovoltaic cells made of either silicon, polycrystalline or single-crystalline located on a stabilizing base converts solar power or artificial light into electric energy. This solar powerer is made up of unilateral flat and movable elements, each having unilaterally installed photovoltaic cells, these elements being connected with each other by a yoke and catch at one end, the yoke and pivot being connected to a tripod.
US08168882B2
Provided are an integrated thin-film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The method comprises forming and patterning a conductive material to be adjacently spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other on a substrate; forming a solar cell (semiconductor) layer on the resultant substrate; obliquely depositing a first transparent conductive material on the solar cell layer; etching the solar cell layer using the first transparent conductive material as a mask; and obliquely depositing a second transparent conductive material on the resultant substrate, and electrically connecting the conductive material with the first transparent conductive material.
US08168875B2
The drumstick provided for musical instruments such as drums and percussion instruments comprises a drumstick shaft and a drumstick head comprising an outlet opening from which the light of at least one light-emitting diode provided in the drumstick can exit. According to the invention, the drumstick comprises two shells that are complementary to one another and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drumstick, said shells being glued together and preferably made of wood, at least the first shell of which comprising a notch within which a switching apparatus is disposed for controlling the light-emitting diode which is located in the drumstick head or which is located in the drumstick shaft and is connected to at least one fiber-optic cable that leads to the outlet opening of the drumstick head.
US08168871B1
A bow attachment device attaches to the end of a bow to compensate for a smaller or under-developed digit. The bow attachment device provides a block that attaches to the bow in a manner allowing the stick of the bow to slide through the block. A leg on the block provides a ledge that extends outward from the block allowing the digit to rest on the ledge and be elevated higher than other digits. The device creates an extension between the bow stick and the smaller digit allowing the digit to participate in subtle manipulation of the bow.
US08168867B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB38W09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB38W09, to the plants of soybean XB38W09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB38W09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB38W09 with another soybean plant, using XB38W09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08168864B2
Methods are provided for imparting desirable phenotypic traits to transgenic plants, among them being increased tolerance to external stresses such as drought, freezing temperatures, high salt conditions, and the like. In addition, the present invention is directed toward methods for increasing the yield of seeds from plants by using the pollen from a transgenic plant transformed to overexpress a vacuolar proton-pumping pyrophosphatase to fertilize plants, and to the pollen of transgenic plants itself.
US08168859B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for a constitutive regulatory element isolated from sorghum. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the regulatory sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one or more of the regulatory sequences of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.
US08168857B2
Isolated polynucleotides are provided. Each of the isolated polynucleotides comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs:130-258 and 536-791, wherein the polypeptide is capable of regulating cotton fiber development. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides for improving fiber quality and/or yield of a fiber producing plant, as well as methods of using such polynucleotides for producing plants having increased biomass/vigor/yield.
US08168856B2
An isolated sucrose synthase peptide. Also, a method of preparing ADPglucose by incubating the isolated sucrose synthase peptide with ADP in suitable conditions and then isolating and purifying the ADPG produced. Also, an assay kit for the spectrophotometric, fluorimetric or amperometric determination of sucrose, which kit includes the isolated sucrose synthase peptide. Also, a method of producing a transgenic plant that overexpresses sucrose synthase by inserting a genetic construct containing a DNA fragment that encodes the sucrose synthase peptide into a vector and transferring to a plant genome, and a transgenic plant obtained thereby.
US08168855B2
The present disclosure describes tobacco varieties having reduced levels of DVTs, methods of making such varieties, and tobacco compositions including such varieties.
US08168848B2
A wound dressing member is provided for use in a vacuum bandage connected to a vacuum source and for use with a wound having a wound surface. The member may include a top surface and a bottom surface adapted to be in contact with and generally conform to the wound surface. The member may further include a plurality of discrete holes formed in the bottom surface and at least one discrete opening formed in the top surface. A port of the member may be provided to communicate with the vacuum source, each discrete hole, and the at least one discrete opening.
US08168816B2
A method for producing a purified formylcyclopropane compound represented by the formula (1) comprising (A) a step of reacting a crude formylcyclopropane compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 represents an alkyl group or the like, with an alkali metal hydrogen sulfite to obtain an alkali metal hydroxymethanesulfonate represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 represents the same meaning as defined above and M represents an alkali metal, and (B) a step of reacting an acid, a base or a water-soluble aldehyde with the alkali metal hydroxymethanesulfonate represented by the formula (2) obtained in the above-mentioned step (A) to obtain a purified formylcyclopropane compound represented by the formula (1).
US08168810B2
7-phenyl-substituted tetracycline compounds, methods of treating tetracycline responsive states, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the 7-phenyl-substituted tetracycline compounds are described.
US08168799B2
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof; wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, or C1-6 alkyl groups or R1 and R2 are linked and, together with the cyclopentane carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a cyclopropyl ring.
US08168795B2
Described herein are compounds useful as antagonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. Further described herein is the use of these compounds and related pharmaceutical compositions to treat disorders associated with sphingosine-1-phosphate-3 (S1P3) receptor modulation.
US08168794B2
The present invention relates to new compounds of Formulas I and II, their tautomers, stereoisomers and polymorphs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, metabolites or prodrugs thereof, compositions of the new compounds together with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, and uses of the new compounds, either alone or in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent, in the inhibition of Pim kinase activity and/or the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer.
US08168793B2
New compounds of formula I are described. The compounds have potentially valuable pharmaceutical properties in the treatment of some central and peripheral nervous system disorders.
US08168786B2
The present invention relates to Radiolabeled Compounds and methods of use thereof for treating or preventing a psychiatric disorder in a subject, for stabilizing the mood of a subject having a mood disorder, or as imaging agents for a serotonin receptor. Compositions comprising an imaging-effective amount of a Radiolabeled Compound are also disclosed.
US08168782B2
The present invention provides processes, methods and intermediates for the preparation of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, salts, hydrates and crystal forms thereof which are useful as serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists for the treatment of, for example, central nervous system disorders such as obesity.
US08168781B2
An organic semiconducting material comprises a naphthalocyanine derivative represented by formula (1); wherein M represents Si, Ge or Sn, R1 to R3 represent substituents other than a hydrogen atom except that all of R1 to R3 are identical straight-chain alkyl groups, and R4 to R27 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
US08168777B2
Methods for treating nucleic acid including: (a) providing an alkali environment to a nucleic acid sample; (b) reacting the nucleic acid sample with a bisulphite reagent and incubating the reaction so as to form a treated nucleic acid sample where methylated nucleotides in the nucleic acid sample remain unchanged while unmethylated nucleotides are converted to another form; (c) removing unwanted reagents or diluents from the treated nucleic acid sample; and (d) carrying out de-sulphonation of the precipitated treated nucleic acid at a temperature from 70° C. to 95° C. by adjusting the precipitated treated nucleic acid to a pH of between 10 and less than 12.5 to remove sulphonate groups present on the treated nucleic acid and obtain a nucleic acid sample substantially free of sulphonate groups.
US08168772B2
The invention provides polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded therefrom having advantageous properties, including an ability to induce an immune response to flaviviruses. The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention are useful in methods of inducing immune response against flaviviruses, including dengue viruses. Compositions and methods for utilizing polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are also provided.
US08168766B2
A compound of formula (A) or salt thereof: wherein each of R1, R2, and R3 independently represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, acyl, sulfonyl, or silyl; P represents hydrogen or a hydroxy protective group. This compound may be used an intermediate for making a 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-D-ribofuranosyl nucleosides, such as gemcitabine.
US08168765B2
The present invention relates to a process by which a pectin extract is first de-esterified using a biocatalyst. Secondly, the resulting high molecular weight de-esterified pectin is further de-esterified and optionally amidated using conventional methods. Since the bio-catalyst may de-esterify to a DE of about 25%, conventional acid or alkali de-esterification and optionally amidation will have little impact on the molecular weight of the pectin in question because the number of ester groups have been substantially reduced in the first part of the process. In addition, the novel process leads to novel pectin compositions having higher molecular weight and higher intrinsic viscosity compared to known pectin compositions. These changes lead to low ester pectins providing gels of higher gel strength.
US08168753B2
The invention relates to factor X analogues containing the thrombin-cleavable sequence Pro-Arg-Ala in place of the-sequence Thr-Arg-Ile of the activation site of native factor X. These factor X analogues can be used to obtain procoagulant medicinal products.
US08168741B2
The present invention relates to novel silicon-based polymers, particularly silicon-based polymers having citrate groups, and their use as chelating agents, for forming nanostructures, as surfactants, as reducing agents and as stabilizers.
US08168740B2
Process for producing an organosiloxane polymer and novel organosiloxane polymer compositions. The process according to the invention comprises hydrolyzing tetraalkoxysilane monomers in a hydrolysis step; and polymerizing said hydrolyzed monomers in a polymerization step by subjecting them to conditions conducive to polymerization to form an organosiloxane polymer. The hydrolysis step is conducted in a reaction medium comprising an organic compound with hydroxy groups. The invention allows for the synthesis of siloxane polymer compositions suitable for thin-film applications using a high content of tetra- and trifunctional silixane polymer precursors.
US08168736B2
The invention describes anemulsion polymer which can be obtained by polymerization of a mixture comprising a) from 5 to 99.9% by weight of one or more monomers having a solubility in water of <2% by weight at 20° C. and selected from the group consisting of monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers, styrene and vinyl esters; b) from 0 to 70% by weight of one or more monomers which can be copolymerized with the monomers a); c) from 0 to 20% by weight of one or more doubly or multiply vinylically unsaturated compounds; d) from 0 to 20% by weight of one or more polar monomers having a solubility in water of >2% by weight at 20° C.; and e) 0.1-95% by weight of at least one activator, with the components a) to e) adding up to 100% by weight of the polymerizable constituents of the mixture, and is characterized in that e1) the activator is a compound of the Formula I, where the radicals R1 to R7 and X have the meanings given in the description; and in that e2) the activator e) is incorporated via covalent bonds into the emulsion polymer. The emulsion polymer makes it possible to form core-shell polymers having a protected activator fixed to the polymer and can be used particularly advantageously for controlling the pot life of two-component or multicomponent systems, for example in adhesives, pourable resins, floor coatings, compositions for reactive pegs, dental compositions or sealing compositions.
US08168730B2
Provided is a curable silicone rubber composition, comprising (A) an organopolysiloxane containing two or more aliphatic unsaturated bonds within each molecule, having a viscosity at 25° C. within a range from 10 to 100,000 mm2/s, and containing a phenyl group and/or cyclohexyl group, (B) an organopolysiloxane with a resin structure comprising SiO2 units and (R1)3SiO0.5 units (wherein, each R1 represents, independently, a vinyl group, an allyl group, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group that contains no aliphatic unsaturated bonds, provided one or more of all the R1 groups within this component (B) represent, independently, a phenyl group or a cyclohexyl group), (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, and (D) a platinum group metal-based catalyst, wherein the component (B) exists in a quantity that represents from 20 to 80% by mass of the combination of the component (A) and the component (B). The composition is capable of forming a cured product with improved hardness, no surface tackiness, and a high refractive index, without any loss in rubber-like properties such as elongation. A substrate such as an electrical or electronic component or an optoelectronic component can be coated with the cured product by applying the composition to the substrate and curing the composition to form the cured product on top of the substrate.
US08168729B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a thermosetting resin composition which can provide a cured material which is excellent in heat resistance, electrical properties, and flexibility, and has storage stability before curing, and in order to achieve the object, the present invention provide a thermosetting resin composition containing a polyurethane resin (A) which has the structure represented by the following general formula (1) and/or the general formula (2), and an epoxy resin (B). (In the chemical formulae, X represents a residue in which two phenolic hydroxyl groups are excluded from a phenol compound having two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups in the molecule.)
US08168726B2
A method of making a thermoplastic composition comprises melt blending two polysiloxane/polyimide block copolymers. Both of the block copolymers have extended polysiloxane blocks.
US08168721B2
Disclosed are solvent borne thermosetting coating compositions that contain a curable polyester resin blended with an acrylic copolymer, a crosslinker, and a solvent. The polyester resin contains 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and exhibits good dry time, compatibility with acrylic resins, sag resistance and hardness development in a coating composition. The coating compositions can be used to prepare clear coat or pigmented coatings for automotive OEM, auto refinish, and other applications.
US08168720B2
This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.
US08168716B2
Aqueous emulsions of a silicone resin are disclosed that provide a solid silicone resineous coating upon removing water from a film of the emulsion. The silicone resin emulsions are useful for treating various substrates for imparting water resistance/repellence and improving wear/weather protective properties. In particular, they are useful for rendering mineral-based building materials water-resistant, and also as binders in paints.
US08168714B2
A (per)fluoroelastomeric composition curable by peroxidic way comprising: 100 phr as (per)fluoroelastomer as filler, 0.5-50 phr of silica having a pH value, determined according to the DIN ISO 787-9 standard, higher than 7, preferably higher than 8, as crosslinking agent, from 0.5 to 10 phr of a bis-olefin having general formula: wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, equal to or different from each other, are H or C1-C5 alkyls; Z is selected between a C1-C18 linear or branched alkylene or cycloalkylene radical, optionally containing oxygen atoms, preferably at least partially fluorinated, or a (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene radical.
US08168710B2
A golf ball having a core, a cover layer, and an optional intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover layer is disclosed and described. One or more of the core, the cover layer, or the intermediate layer is formed of a highly neutralized polymer blend of an acid copolymer and a metallocene-catalyzed copolymer, an olefinic block copolymer, a sufficient amount of a suitable cation source and a fatty acid or salt of a fatty acid. The highly neutralized polymer blend is neutralized from 80% to 100% while still retaining processability. Further, the core can have a diameter of 0.5 inches to about 1.62 inches and an Atti compression less than or equal to 105. The cover layer can have a material hardness between about 30 and 70 Shore D.
US08168704B2
An adhesive composition includes a base polymer, the base polymer including a copolymer having at least one (meth)acrylic ester with a halogen element and at least one (meth)acrylate in a copolymeric unit, and an antistatic agent, the antistatic agent including an ionic compound.
US08168700B2
Provided is an electrodepositable coating composition of a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium, the resinous phase including (a) an active hydrogen-containing, cationic salt group-containing resin; and (b) an at least partially blocked polyisocyanate curing agent. The composition contains an organotin catalyst which is or is derived from a dialkyltin compound having the structure (I): [R1][R2]—Sn═O (I) where R1 and R2 are the same or different, and each independently represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group wherein the sum of the carbon atoms in R1 and R2 is greater than 8. The catalyst is present in an amount sufficient to effect cure at a temperature at or below 340° F. (171.1° C.). Methods of preparing and using the composition also are provided.
US08168695B2
This invention provides an ink composition capable of forming an image which has favorable curing sensitivity, is excellent in rubbing resistance and blocking properties, and has controlled surface stickiness and improved surface curing properties, an inkjet recording method using the ink composition, and a printed material; and the ink composition containing a polymer (a) including a partial structure selected from the group consisting of fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon group, a siloxane skeleton group, and a long-chain alkyl group; a radical polymerizable group, and a tertiary amine structure.
US08168694B2
An ink composition is provided and includes: a dye; and at least one polymer of an oxidation-resistant polymer having a weight-average molecula weight of 3,000 or more, an association-accelerating polymer and an amidic polymer. An image printed with the ink composition has an ozone degradation rate of 1/5 or less of that of an image printed with an ink composition free of the at least one polymer. The ink composition has an extremely high image durability.
US08168688B2
A process for making a solid component out of recycled paint sludge is provided. The process can include providing a paint sludge and providing a second material. Thereafter, the paint sludge and the second material are mixed to produce a paint sludge-second material mixture. The paint sludge-second material mixture is processed in order to produce a polymer containing precursor. The processing can include granulating or densifying the paint sludge-second material mixture. After the precursor has been produced, it can be placed within a molding machine and a solid component is molded. The molding machine can be an injection molding machine, an extrusion molding machine or a blow molding machine.
US08168675B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions for treating and preventing presbycusis.
US08168670B2
Pyrazolone derivative emulsion formulations are provided. The emulsion formulations include a pyrazolone derivative active agent, e.g., Edaravone, oil, water and an emulsifier. Also provided are methods of making and using the subject emulsion formulations.
US08168657B2
The present invention relates to solenopsin A and its analogs for use as angiogenesis inhibitors. The present compounds unexpectedly exhibit good activity as angiogenesis inhibitors, which find use as antitumor/anticancer agents as well as to treat a number of conditions or disease states in which angiogenesis is a factor.
US08168654B2
Compounds of formula I in salt or zwitterionic form wherein, wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions that are mediated by the muscarinic M3 receptor. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and a process for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08168650B2
A series of N-substituted 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl phenylcarbamate analogs are disclosed, as well as methods of their preparation. Their affinities for sigma (σ1 and σ2) receptors are described. Two new compounds, N-(9-(4-aminobutyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl)-N′-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)carbamate and N-(9-(6-aminohexyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl)-N′-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)carbamate, are shown to have a high affinity and selectivity for σ2 versus σ1 receptors. Among the disclosed compounds are biotinylated and fluorescent analogs. These compounds can serve as probes to the σ2 receptor. In addition, some disclosed compounds can induce apoptotic cell death by both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mechanisms, and are effective for treatment of tumors. The compounds can be used as chemotherapeutics or chemosensitizers in the treatment of a wide variety of solid tumors.
US08168647B2
The invention provides vinblastine derivatives represented by the following formula 1 or their physiologically acceptable salts, their preparation, use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the said derivatives. The said vinblastine derivatives show inhibiting activities against tumor cell lines and can be used as medicaments for treating malignant tumors.
US08168646B2
Disclosed are 3,4-dihydroquinazoline derivatives of formula (I), a process of preparing them and a pharmaceutical composition including them. The 3,4-dihydroquinazoline derivatives of the present invention have excellent T-type calcium channel blocking effect and anti-cancer activity
US08168641B2
Disclosed are compounds of formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, U, W, X, R1, R2, R6, R7, R30 and R31 are as described above in the specification. Also disclosed is the method of inhibiting aspartyl protease, and in particular, the methods of treating cardiovascular diseases, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. Also disclosed are methods of treating cognitive or neurodegenerative diseases using the compounds of formula I in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor or a muscarinic m1 agonist or m2 antagonist.
US08168640B2
Cosmetic compositions comprising 1-aroyl-N-(2-oxo-3-piperidinyl)-2-piperazine carboxamides and methods of using such compositions to impart anti-aging benefits to the skin are disclosed. The 1-aroyl-N-(2-oxo-3-piperidinyl)-2-piperazine carboxamides are believed to have modulatory activity against one or more biochemical pathways implicated in skin aging.
US08168629B2
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a combination of a dose of meloxicam or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a dose of tramadol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the combination in an amount sufficient to provide an analgesic effect in a human patient. Also disclosed is a method of effectively treating pain in humans or other mammals, comprising administering to the patient a combination of a dose of meloxicam or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a dose of tramadol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof such that the dosing interval of the meloxicam overlaps with the dosing interval of the tramadol, the combination in an amount sufficient to provide an analgesic effect in a human patient.
US08168628B2
Novel chemical conjugates of psychotropic drugs and organic acids, uses thereof in the treatment of psychotic and/or proliferative disorders and diseases and as chemosensitizing agents, and their syntheses are disclosed. The organic acids are selected to reduce side effects induced by the psychotropic drugs and/or to exert an anti-proliferative activity.
US08168619B1
A method of preventing estrogen deficiencies and osteoporosis in menopausal women by continuously orally administering without interruption to menopausal women in need thereof an amount of 0.3 to 3 mg of 17β-estradiol or esters thereof and 0.3 to 1.25 mg of nomegestrol or esters thereof in an amount sufficient to prevent said problems.
US08168600B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods which enhance the delivery of nucleic acids and other nucleosidic moieties via topical routes of administration. The invention relates to the use of an aqueous solution to preferentially deliver nucleic acids preferentially to hair follicles. The invention relates to a method of inhibiting hair growth comprising administration of a nucleic acid preferentially to a hair follicle.
US08168598B2
The invention provides a tobramycin formulation for delivery by aerosolization in the form of additive-free, isotonic solution whose pH has been optimised to ensure adequate shelf-life at room temperature. Said formulation can be advantageously used for the treatment and prophylaxis of acute and chronic endobronchial infections, in particular those caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated to lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
US08168585B2
The invention relates to the purification of peptides from colostrum. The method involves the addition of an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol to the mixture in order to form an alcohol phase rich in the peptides, and a precipitate. The peptide-rich alcohol phase is subsequently recovered and subjected to further fractionation. The invention is particularly useful in the purification of colostrinin from colostrum.
US08168577B2
A microelectronic cleaning compositions of: a) from about 80% to about 99% by weight of the composition of at least one organic sulfone; b) from about 0.5% to about 19% by weight of the composition of water; and c) from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition of at least one component providing tetrafluoroborate ion, and d) optionally at least one polyhydric alcohol is especially useful to clean etch/ash residues from microelectronic substrates or device having both Si-based anti-reflective coatings and low-k dielectrics.
US08168568B1
A method for selecting combinations of drugs for treatment of diseases that arise from deranged signaling pathways is disclosed. The method involves measuring the activity states for signaling proteins in a diseased cell and determining whether the activity states are different from the activity states observed for a reference cell such as a normal cell. Based on the observed differences, combinations of two or more drugs are selected to reduce these differences. Treatment of a subject with the combinations restores the activity states of the signaling proteins of the deranged disease-associated signaling pathways toward the activity states observed in the reference cell. Since the diseased cell and the reference cell can both be obtained from the same subject, combinations of drugs that specifically target patient-specific signaling derangements is possible.
US08168556B2
A metallocene compound with the 4- and 7-positions on the indenyl moiety possessing large aromatic substituents is prepared in accordance with a method which produces substantially 100 percent racemic isomer. Advantageously, polymerization catalysts including the metallocene of the invention provide superior olefin polymerization results.
US08168552B2
The subject of the invention is a method of refining glass for which the temperature (T log 2) corresponding to a viscosity of 100 poise (10 Pa·s) is greater than or equal to 1480° C., characterized in that sulfides are used as a refining agent. It also relates to the glass article capable of being obtained by this method.
US08168549B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and a substrate processing apparatus by which the quality of a silicon nitride film can be improved. The method comprises: (a) supplying a silicon-containing gas into a process chamber accommodating a substrate in a heated state; (b) switching between an exhaust stop state and an exhaust operation state at least two times while a nitrogen-containing gas is supplied into the process chamber so as to vary an inside pressure of the process chamber such that a maximum inside pressure of the process chamber is at least twenty times higher than a minimum inside pressure of the process chamber. The steps (a) and (b) are alternately repeated to form a silicon nitride film on the substrate.
US08168543B2
Methods of forming a barrier layer are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate into a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber, supplying at least two reactive gases and an inert gas into the PVD chamber, sputtering a source material from a target disposed in the processing chamber in the presence of a plasma formed from the gas mixture, and forming a metal containing dielectric layer on the substrate from the source material. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate into a PVD chamber, supplying a reactive gas the PVD chamber, sputtering a source material from a target disposed in the PVD chamber in the presence of a plasma formed from the reactive gas, forming a metal containing dielectric layer on the substrate from the source material, and post treating the metal containing layer in presence of species generated from a remote plasma chamber.
US08168535B2
A method of fabricating a phase change memory device includes the use of first, second and third polishing processes. The first polishing process forms a first contact portion using a first sacrificial layer and the second polishing process forms a phase change material pattern using a second sacrificial layer. After removing the first and second sacrificial layers to expose resultant protruding structures of the first contact portion and the phase change material pattern, a third polishing process is used to polish the resultant protruding structures using an insulation layer as a polishing stopper layer.
US08168527B2
A semiconductor chip includes a silicon substrate, a first dielectric layer over said silicon substrate, a metallization structure over said first dielectric layer, wherein said metallization structure comprises a first metal layer and a second metal layer over said first metal layer, a second dielectric layer between said first and second metal layers, a passivation layer over said metallization structure and over said first and second dielectric layers, an opening in said passivation layer exposing a pad of said metallization structure, a polymer bump over said passivation layer, wherein said polymer bump has a thickness of between 5 and 25 micrometers, an adhesion/barrier layer on said pad exposed by said opening, over said passivation layer and on a top surface and a portion of sidewall(s) of said polymer bump, a seed layer on said adhesion/barrier layer; and a third metal layer on said seed layer.
US08168518B2
A gate insulating film (13) is formed on a substrate (1) so as to cover a gate electrode (11), and an amorphous silicon film (semiconductor thin film) (15) is further formed. A light absorption layer (19) is formed thereon through a buffer layer (17). Energy lines Lh are applied to the light absorption layer (19) from a continuous-wave laser such as a semiconductor laser. This oxidizes only a surface side of the light absorption layer Lh and produces a beautiful crystalline silicon film (15a) obtained by crystallizing the amorphous silicon film (15) using heat generated by thermal conversion of the energy lines Lh at the light absorption layer (19) and heat of the oxidation reaction. This provides a method for crystallizing a thin film with good controllability at low costs achieved with simpler process.
US08168517B2
There are provided a method for epitaxial growth capable of securing stable optical and electrical characteristics by minimizing defects produced in a second epitaxial layer when growing the second epitaxial layer on a first epitaxial layer having defects formed therein, and an epitaxial layer structure using the method. The method includes preparing a first epitaxial layer having a defect formed therein, forming a metal quantum dot on the first epitaxial layer, allowing the metal quantum dot to be moved onto a step of the first epitaxial layer due to a difference of surface energy, converting the metal quantum dot into a metal quantum-dot semiconductor crystal having a lattice constant corresponding to that of the first epitaxial layer, and growing a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer.
US08168505B2
A method of fabricating a transistor is provided. The transistor includes a SiGe epitaxial layer formed in a recess region of a substrate at both side of a gate electrode and a SiGe capping layer formed on the SiGe epitaxial layer. The transistor further includes a SiGe seed layer formed under the SiGe epitaxial layer and a silicon capping layer formed on the SiGe capping layer.
US08168494B2
Trench portions (10) are formed in a well (5) in order to provide unevenness in the well (5). A gate electrode (2) is formed via an insulating film (7) on the upper surface and inside of the trench portions (10). A source region (3) is formed on one side of the gate electrode (2) in a gate length direction while a drain region (4) on another side. Both of the source region (3) and the drain region (4) are formed down to near the bottom portion of the gate electrode (2). By deeply forming the source region (3) and the drain region (4), current uniformly flows through the whole trench portions (10), and the unevenness formed in the well (5) increase the effective gate width to decrease the on-resistance of a semiconductor device 1 and to enhance the drivability thereof.
US08168491B2
A method for fabricating a dual poly gate in a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a gate insulation layer and a polysilicon layer on a semiconductor substrate that defines a first region and a second region; implanting first and second conductive type impurity ions into the first region and the second region of the polysilicon layer, respectively; forming first and second conductive type polysilicon layer in the first and second regions, respectively, by annealing the semiconductor substrate; forming a barrier metal layer on the first and second conductive type polysilicon layers; forming an oxide layer that lowers resistance of a metal by an oxidation process; forming a metal layer and a hard mask layer on the oxide layer; and forming a first conductive type poly gate on the first region and a second conductive type poly gate on the second region by a patterning process.
US08168472B2
A semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip having an active surface with flip-chip contacts and a passive surface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the flip-chip contacts are surrounded by an electrically insulating layer as underfill material, the layer having a UV B-stageable material. The UV B-stageable material is applied on the active surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US08168468B2
A method for making a semiconductor device (10) includes providing an interconnect layer (14) over an underlying layer (12), forming a first insulating layer (16) over the interconnect layer, and forming an opening (18) through the insulating layer to the interconnect layer. A first conductive layer (24) is formed over the interconnect layer and in the opening. This is performed by plating so it is selective. A second conductive layer (28) in the opening is formed by displacement by immersion. This is performed after the first conductive layer has been formed. The result is the second conductive layer is formed by a selective deposition and is effective for providing it with bridging material. A layer of bridgeable material (34) is formed over the second conductive layer and in the opening. A third conductive layer (42) is formed over the bridgeable material. The semiconductor device may be useable as a conductive bridge memory device.
US08168466B2
In one embodiment, a Schottky diode is formed on a semiconductor substrate with other semiconductor devices and is also formed with a high breakdown voltage and a low forward resistance.
US08168463B2
A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a substrate comprising an absorber layer and an overlying window layer. The substrate is loaded into a chamber and subjected to a vacuum environment. The vacuum environment is at a pressure ranging from 0.1 Torr to about 0.02 Torr. In a specific embodiment, a mixture of reactant species derived from diethylzinc species, water species and a carrier gas is introduced into the chamber. The method further introduces a diborane species using a selected flow rate into the mixture of reactant species. A zinc oxide film is formed overlying the window layer to define a transparent conductive oxide using the selected flow rate to provide a resistivity of about 2.5 milliohm-cm and less and an average grain size of about 3000 to 5000 Angstroms.
US08168462B2
Embodiments of the invention contemplate the formation of a high efficiency solar cell using a novel plasma oxidation process to form a passivation film stack on a surface of a solar cell substrate. In one embodiment, the methods include providing a substrate having a first type of doping atom on a back surface of the substrate and a second type of doping atom on a front surface of the substrate, plasma oxidizing the back surface of the substrate to form an oxidation layer thereon, and forming a silicon nitride layer on the oxidation layer.
US08168460B2
A method for manufacturing a Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention, comprising forming, on a substrate, a semiconductor layer comprised of a Group III nitride compound semiconductor containing Ga as a Group III element by a sputtering method, wherein during the formation of the semiconductor layer, sputtering is performed under the condition where at least the surface layer of a sputtering target comprised of Ga is liquefied.
US08168459B2
A method for manufacturing a resin-embedded semiconductor light-emitting device that is capable of preventing a semiconductor film from being damaged when a growth substrate is delaminated using a laser lift-off method, and that is capable of preventing foreign matter from adhering to the semiconductor film when a resin material is applied. A laser exposure step to delaminate the growth substrate from the semiconductor film comprises a first laser exposure step for performing laser exposure at an energy density at which the resin is broken down but the semiconductor film is not broken down, in a range including a portion adjacent to at least one section of the semiconductor film divided by dividing grooves and at least one section of resin, and a second exposure step for performing laser exposure at an energy density at which the semiconductor film can be broken down in a range including at least one section.
US08168458B2
A semiconductor wafer contains a plurality of semiconductor die each having a peripheral area around the die. A recessed region with angled or vertical sidewall is formed in the peripheral area. A conductive layer is formed in the recessed region. A first stud bump is formed over a contact pad of the semiconductor die. A second stud bump is formed over the first conductive layer within the recessed region. A bond wire is formed between the first and second stud bumps. A third stud bump is formed over the bond wire and first stud bump. A dicing channel partially formed through the peripheral area. The semiconductor wafer undergoes backgrinding to the dicing channel to singulate the semiconductor wafer and separate the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die can be disposed in a semiconductor package with other components and electrically interconnected through the bond wire and stud bumps.
US08168453B2
An LED package and a fabrication method therefor. The LED package includes first and second lead frames made of heat and electric conductors, each of the lead frames comprising a planar base and extensions extending in opposed directions and upward directions from the base. The package also includes a package body made of a resin and configured to surround the extensions of the first and second lead frames to fix the first and second lead frames while exposing underside surfaces of the first and second lead frames. The LED package further includes a light emitting diode chip disposed on an upper surface of the base of the first lead frame and electrically connected to the bases of the first and second lead frames, and a transparent encapsulant for encapsulating the light emitting diode chip.
US08168439B2
An electrochemical immunosensor system with reduced interference, comprising: a first immunosensor that generates an electrochemical signal based on the formation of a sandwich between an immobilized antibody, a target analyte and a labeled antibody, wherein a portion of the signal arises from non-specific binding of the labeled antibody in the region of the first immunosensor, anda second immunosensor that acts as an immuno-reference sensor and generates a signal that is the same as or predictably related to the degree of non-specific binding which occurs in the region of the first immunosensor, and has an immunocomplex between an immobilized antibody and an endogenous or exogenous protein that is in the sample and that is not the target analyte.
US08168430B2
This invention relates to an agent for promoting differentiation of an ES cell, preferably an agent for promoting differentiation of an ES cell into a hepatocyte or a prophylactic agent for teratoma, comprising uPA. Furthermore this invention relates to a method of promoting differentiation of an ES cell, preferably a method of promoting differentiation of an ES cell into a hepatocyte, comprising the step of contacting uPA with the ES cell, or a method of preparing a hepatocyte comprising the step of contacting uPA with an ES cell to differentiate the ES cell into a hepatocyte.
US08168428B2
The present invention provides for compositions and methods for modulating hematopoietic stem cell populations by using HCS modulators, which are agents that either increase HSC numbers or decrease HSC numbers as desired by a particular indication. For example, HSC modulators found to increase HSC numbers include prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and agents that stimulate the PGE2 pathway. Conversely, HSC modulators that prevent PGE2 synthesis decrease HSC numbers. HCS modulators may be used in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo.
US08168418B2
The present invention relates to the efficient expression of HIV polypeptides in a variety of cell types, including, but not limited to, mammalian, insect, and plant cells. Synthetic expression cassettes encoding the HIV Gag-containing polypeptides are described, as are uses of the expression cassettes in applications including DNA immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of Env-, tat- or Gag-containing proteins. The invention provides methods of producing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), as well as, uses of the VLPs including, but not limited to, vehicles for the presentation of antigens and stimulation of immune response in subjects to whom the VLPs are administered.
US08168417B2
The present invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide of the complete chromosome of Bacillus licheniformis. The present invention also relates to isolated genes of the chromosome of Bacillus licheniformis which encode biologically active substances and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the genes as well as methods for producing biologically active substances encoded by the genes and to methods of using the isolated genes of the complete chromosome of Bacillus licheniformis.
US08168408B2
The present inventors succeeded in cloning the CDT genes of C. coli and C. fetus, which were previously unknown, and in determining their sequences. In addition, the inventors also developed specific primers and primers common to the two species by comparing the CDTs of C. jejuni and C. fetus. Furthermore, the inventors demonstrated that these primers were applicable to multiplex PCR that simultaneously allows for the rapid and convenient determination of the presence of Campylobacter CDT and identification of species, and that they can also be used in PCR-RFLP-based typing.
US08168406B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a dry analytical element for measurement of pancreatic lipase contained in a body fluid which contains triglyceride of long chain alkyl fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, monoglyceride lipase, and a glycerine measurement reagent, and comprises a water-impermeable support and at least one spreading or reagent layer, said method comprising the step of coating an emulsion/dispersion solution of triglyceride with an average particle size of 1 μm or less.
US08168403B2
The present invention relates to agonists of the human bitter-taste receptor hTAS2R40 and their role in bitter taste transduction. The invention also relates to assays for screening molecules that modulate, e.g. suppress or block hTAS2R40 bitter taste transduction or bitter taste response.
US08168398B2
The present invention provides diagnostic methods based on levels of osteopontin.
US08168397B2
The present invention relates to methods for the control of virulence of infectious bacteria by modulating the extra-cellular concentration of bacterial cell signalling molecules. Derivatives of cell signalling molecules are conjugated to suitable carrier proteins and used to isolate high affinity receptors recognizing the native signal molecule(s). By binding to signalling molecules, the receptors reduce and maintain extra-cellular concentrations of signal molecules below the threshold level that would otherwise result in certain opportunistic pathogens adopting a virulent form, and can transform virulent organisms to non-virulent states. These receptors have applications for the treatment of individuals with susceptibility to infection, the treatment of patients with existing infections, in disease monitoring and management, and in related applications where the host for infection is an animal or plant.
US08168384B2
The present invention provides methods for predicting tolerance associated with 6-mercaptopurine drug treatment of an immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease. In particular, the present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction (or tolerance) to a 6-mercaptopurine drug by genotyping a patient at a polymorphic site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of a xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene, molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MOCOS) gene, and aldehyde oxidase (AOX) gene. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a 6-mercaptopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in at least one of the XDH, MOCOS, and AOX genes.
US08168383B2
Novel gene deletions and translocations involving chromosome 2 resulting in fusion proteins combining part of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) kinase with part of a secondary protein have now been identified in human solid tumors, e.g. non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Secondary proteins include Echinoderm Microtubule-Associated Protein-Like 4 (EML-4) and TRK-Fusion Gene (TFG). The EML4-ALK fusion protein, which retains ALK tyrosine kinase activity, was confirmed to drive the proliferation and survival of NSCLC characterized by this mutation. The invention therefore provides, in part, isolated polynucleotides and vectors encoding the disclosed mutant polypeptides, probes for detecting it, isolated mutant polypeptides, and reagents for detecting the fusion and truncated polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for determining the presence of these mutant polypeptides in a biological sample, methods for screening for compounds that inhibit the proteins, and methods for inhibiting the progression of a cancer characterized by the mutant polynucleotides or polypeptides.
US08168379B2
The present invention discloses using SPR technology to simultaneously and qualitatively detect different HPV genotypes. It also discloses an efficient formula to make a mixed SAM that can greatly enhance the immobilization ability of the metal surface in SPR based techniques, which is good for the immobilization of HPV specific DNA probes used for the detection of different HPV genotypes.
US08168374B2
A method of forming a contact hole is provided. A pattern is formed in a photo resist layer. The pattern is exchanged into a silicon photo resist layer to form a first opening. Another pattern is formed in another photo resist layer. The pattern is exchanged into a silicon photo resist layer to form a second opening. The pattern having the first, and second openings is exchanged into the interlayer dielectric layer, and etching stop layer to form the contact hole. The present invention has twice exposure processes and twice etching processes to form the contact hole having small distance.
US08168372B2
Novel, developer-soluble, hard mask compositions and methods of using those compositions to form microelectronic structures are provided. The composition comprises the compound a compound for controlling development rate, and a crosslinking agent in a solvent system. The methods involve applying the composition to a substrate and curing the composition. An imaging layer is applied to the composition, followed by light exposure and developing, during which the light-exposed portions of the imaging layer are removed, along with portions of the hard mask composition adjacent said light-exposed portions. The size of the hard mask composition structures are controlled by the development rate, and they yield feature sizes that are a fraction of the imaging layer feature sizes, to give a pattern that can ultimately be transferred to the substrate.
US08168371B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a positive photosensitive resin composition capable of easily forming an image having high water repellency and high oil repellency on a surface of a cured film thereof even after a treatment with oxygen plasma or the like, and also having an insulating property with high precision and high throughput; and a cured film suitable for a film material of various displays obtained using the positive photosensitive resin composition.
US08168368B2
A system and method for forming encoded microparticles is described. One embodiment includes a system for forming encoded microparticles, the system comprising a step and repeat exposure system capable of performing a method comprising: printing at a first time a first portion of a code of a microparticle; and printing at a second time after the first time a second portion of the code of the microparticle; and a computer readable medium having a sequence of computer executable instructions for controlling the step and repeat exposure system to perform said method.
US08168353B2
Disclosed herein is a method of curing a color filter for an electronic display using an electron beam at low temperature. A conventional method of curing the color filter by thermal-heating is not suitable for a process of fabricating next generation flexible displays. In the method of the invention, after a color resist pattern is formed on a substrate, the resist is cured by an electron beam at 100° C. or less. Hence, the method can minimize damage of the substrate while facilitating dimension control of the color pattern and achieving precision of a fine pattern. A method of fabricating a color filter for an electronic display using the method is also disclosed.
US08168332B2
A separator includes a porous substrate having a plurality of pores; and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer, wherein the binder polymer includes a first polyvinylidene fluoride based copolymer having solubility of 25 weight % or more with respect to acetone at 35° C.; a second polyvinylidene fluoride-based copolymer having solubility of 10 weight % or less with respect to acetone at 35° C.; and a polymer having a cyano group. This separator decelerates deterioration of life span of an electrochemical device, and prevents disintercalation of inorganic particles in the porous coating layer, thereby improving safety of the electrochemical device.
US08168330B2
A method of manufacturing a lithium cell is disclosed. The method can include providing a lithium cell having an operating voltage range, where the lithium cell includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte in contact with, and between, the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The negative electrode can include lithium titanate and the electrolyte can include an additive. The method can also include reducing the additive to form a coating on a surface of the negative electrode in contact with the electrolyte. The reducing step can include overcharging the lithium cell to a voltage greater than an upper limit of the operating voltage range and dropping a voltage of the negative electrode to 0.2-1V vs. lithium.
US08168329B2
A composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is described. The composition may comprise a material represented by a general formula MyXO4 or AxMyXO4, where each of A (where present), M, and X independently represents at least one element, O represents oxygen, and each of x (where present) and y represent a number, and an oxide of at least one of various elements, wherein the material and the oxide are cocrystailine, and/or wherein a volume of a crystalline structural unit of the composition may be different than a volume of a crystalline structural unit of the material alone. An electrode comprising such a composition is also described, as is an electrochemical cell comprising such an electrode. A process of preparing a composition for use in an electrochemical redox reaction is also described.
US08168305B1
A display device for spreading a turkey's tail feathers in a fan-like display is provided. The device consists of an elongated shank having two opposing ends, and two quill clips located one at each of the two opposing ends of said shank having grooves that snap onto the quills near the base of two or more of the turkey's outer tail feathers located to either opposite side of the huh. When installed, the device is invisible to view. An adjustable joint may be provided to enable adjusting a version of the shank having two arms to a certain angle to optimize the turkey fan display. A mounting mechanism may further be provided for mounting an object to the turkey fan display such as the heard, or a pole for use of the fan as a decoy in the field.
US08168303B2
The present invention relates to the use of popcorn as material that provides structure and that stabilizes dimensions, for lignocellulose-containing molded articles, such as wood/composite materials, and also to the use of popcorn as binder for formaldehyde in wood/composite materials.
US08168280B2
Unwinding, or “lanemarking,” of lint roll tape during use can be greatly minimized or eliminated by providing a roll of tape that comprises a backing having a first side and a second side, an adhesive on the first side of the backing, a plurality of separation lines separating the tape into sheets, a low adhesion zone adjacent each separation lines extending in an upweb direction along the tape from the separation line. The low adhesion zone has a lower adhesion than the adhesive. Each separation line extends beyond the next adjacent and underlying low adhesion zone.
US08168276B2
Food and beverage containers and methods of coating are provided. The food and beverage containers include a metal substrate that is at least partially coated with a coating prepared from a composition that includes a resin system, a crosslinker, and a catalyst. Preferably, the coating composition is substantially Bisphenol A-free.
US08168274B2
The present invention relates to a film comprising at least one layer comprising an ethylene homo- or copolymer which has a complex viscosity at 5 kPa shear stress eta5 of 200,000 or less and a shear thinning index SHI(5/300) measured at 190° C. as the ratio between the complex viscosity at 5 kPa shear stress and the complex viscosity at 300 kPa shear stress of 120 or more.
US08168272B2
A storage container for containing a photomask-forming synthetic quartz glass substrate comprises inner walls facing the front and back surfaces of the glass substrate, and reservoirs provided on the container inner walls for receiving an absorber for components outgassing from the container. A ratio A/B is in the range of 1.0-120 m2/cm2 provided that A is the product (m2) of the total weight (g) of the absorber multiplied by the BET specific surface area (m2/g) of the absorber and B is the total area (cm2) of the front and back surfaces of the glass substrate.
US08168271B2
Microstructured optical films, assemblies of films including at least one microstructured optical film, and (e.g. illuminated) display devices including a single microstructured optical film or assembly.
US08168269B2
A batch processing chamber includes a chamber housing, a substrate boat for containing a batch of substrates in a process region, and an excitation assembly for exciting species of a processing gas. The excitation assembly is positioned within the chamber housing and may include plasma, UV, or ion assistance.
US08168263B2
A photo-curable composition including (A) a cationic polymerizable compound, (B) a sensitizing colorant represented by the following formula (I), and (C) an onium salt; an ink composition containing the photo-curable composition; an inkjet recording method using the ink composition are provided, and in formula (I), X represents O, S or NR, R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an acyl group, n represents 0 or 1, each of R1 to R8 independently represents a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent substituent.
US08168260B2
The invention provides a cross-linkable elestomeric thermoplastic polyurethane that is urea free, isocyanutrate free, oxazolinyl free, functional radically-polymerizable pendant group free and having terminal functional radically-polymerizable groups at both ends, and thermoset polyurethanes obtained therefrom.The invention also provides applications of the compositions, and processes for manufacturing these compositions.
US08168255B2
To manufacture a photochromic lens by uniformly applying a coating liquid having a photochromic function without leaving an uncoated area, with a minimum necessary coating amount. There is provided a manufacturing method of the photochromic lens for dripping and applying a coating liquid 9 having the photochromic function onto a coating surface 2 of a spectacle lens, while rotating a spectacle lens 1, and forming a photochromic film having the photochromic function on the coating surface, comprising dripping (ring-shaped drip part 25) the coating liquid in a ring shape in the vicinity of an outer circumference on the coating surface of the spectacle lens, and thereafter dripping (spiral-shaped drip part 26) the coating liquid in a spiral shape toward a geometrical center or an optical center of the spectacle lens from the vicinity of the outer circumference, wherein the coating surface has a convex curved shape, and a viscosity of the coating liquid is 25 to 500 cps at 25° C.
US08168249B2
A medical device is disclosed, comprising a substrate, having on its surface, on at least a part thereof, a hydrophilic surface layer providing low-friction surface character of the medical device when wetted by a wetting fluid. The substrate is made of a polymer blend comprising a polyolefin and a composition having molecules with active hydrogen(s), such as polyamide or polyurethane. The hydrophilic surface layer is preferably adhered to the substrate by a polyurea network, whereby said polyurea network forms a covalent bond to said active hydrogen(s) in the substrate. The new substrate material is environmentally acceptable and cost effective, has adequate mechanical and chemical properties and enables the hydrophilic coating to be adequately adhered.
US08168244B2
High fiber-containing pastry products are described. The high fiber-containing pastry products typically comprise about 5-10 grams of fiber in a 54 gram serving of the pastry. The high fiber-containing pastry products comprise a fried laminated dough piece prepared from a developed dough that comprises, inter alia, wheat flour, resistant wheat starch, and vital wheat gluten. The use of a reduced amount of wheat flour along with the addition of resistant wheat starch and vital wheat gluten enables the production of a dough composition that has a high fiber content while retaining desirable organoleptic and processing characteristics.
US08168240B2
Disclosed is an effervescent composition that includes an effervescent agent and cranberry extract, preferably in an amount sufficient to decrease the measurable amount of bacteria present in the urine of an individual having a urinary tract infection.
US08168239B1
Disclosed is a method for the production of a diet food with medicinal herbs. According to the method, herbs which have physiological activities suitable for dieting are selected by making reference to various reports and through experimentation. Depending on nutritional and pharmaceutical ingredients responsible for the physiological functions and activities, the herbs are classified into three groups, and combined with each other to form a composition which is extracted in such a manner that as few effective ingredients are lost as possible. The diet food is effective for the prevention and treatment of obesity.
US08168238B2
The invention discloses an ethyl acetate layer of methanol extract of Aquilaria hulls for killing cancer cells and treating/preventing cancers and its uses. The extracts of Aquilaria hulls has an significant amount of cucurbitacins and these cucurbitacins are effective in killing cancer cells and treating/preventing cancers.
US08168237B2
Disclosed is an anti-obesity active extract obtained from a medicinal plant. More specifically, the extract obtained from lysimachiae foenum-graeci herba (which is a medicinal plant traditionally used in the East) can be used as an active ingredient for a raw material, a functional food, cosmetic, a crude drug, etc. for an obesity preventing or therapeutic agent because the extract can suppress the adipocyte differentiation and decrease the body weight and body fat in an obese animal, thereby suppressing fat accumulation (that is, a factor for obesity).
US08168224B2
The present disclosure relates to a kind of sodium alginate microsphere vascular embolus that contains water-soluble drug and preparation and application thereof. The embolus preparation falls into dry microsphere type and wet one that are made of degradable materials. The drug carrier can be sodium alginate, human serum albumin, chitosan or sodium hyalurate, solidifying and forming microsphere together with calcium ion solution under presence of static charge. The microsphere can have a diameter in the range of 20-1000 μm and can be divided into a wide variety of sizes in case of need. The present disclosure adopts raw materials that are good at mechanical strength, bio-compatibility, bio-degradability and stability. In vitro experiments, animal trials and clinical observations reveal that this embolus is a good targeting medication for embolism treatment and immunochemotherapy, which is safe, effective for the treatment of solid tumors including primary liver cancer, lung cancer, renal tumors, bladder cancer, uterine cancer, ovary cancer, colon carcinoma and rectal cancer.
US08168223B1
Engineered particles are provided may be used for the delivery of a bioactive agent to the respiratory tract of a patient. The particles may be used in the form of dry powders or in the form of stabilized dispersions comprising a nonaqueous continuous phase. In particularly preferred embodiments the particles may be used in conjunction with an inhalation device such as a dry powder inhaler, metered dose inhaler or a nebulizer.
US08168212B2
Cosmetic compositions comprising non-natural, non-proteogenic amino acids and methods of using such compositions to impart antiaging benefits to the skin are disclosed.The non-natural, non-proteogenic amino acids are believed to have modulatory activity against one or more biochemical pathways implicated in skin aging, and in particular, are enhancers of LOXL-1.
US08168207B2
The invention provides novel immunogenic proteins LigA and LigB from Leptospira for use in the development of effective vaccines and antibodies, as well as improved diagnostic methods and kits.
US08168189B2
Methods and compositions for modulating an immune response in a subject are provided. Methods include administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of a lymphocyte differentiation factor, e.g., protein A (PA), sufficient to modulate the immune response. Compositions include a lymphocyte differentiation factor, e.g., protein A (PA), in an amount less than 1 μg.
US08168182B2
A medicament based on antibodies contains an activated form of ultra-low doses of monoclonal, polyclonal, or natural antibodies to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NO synthase), the activated form being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors, preferably according to the homeopathic technology. A method of treating erectile dysfunctions and vegetative disturbances of male climax by regulating the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the cavernous bodies on sexual stimulation, the method being characterized by the use of activated forms of ultra-low doses of antibodies to the entire molecule of the endothelial NO synthase or to its polypeptide fragments, activated forms being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors.
US08168179B2
Compositions for cancer or infection treatment via immunopotentiation caused by inhibition of immunosuppressive signal induced by PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 and therapies using them, immunopotentiative substrates included as the active ingredient, screening methods of the substrates for cancer or infection treatment, cell lines used for the screening methods, evaluation methods that select the substrates for cancer treatment, and carcinoma cell transplanted mammals used for the evaluation methods. The compositions of the present invention that inhibits the function of PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 are useful for treatment of cancer or infection.
US08168174B2
A method for isolating human neuroepithelial precursor cells from human fetal tissue by culturing the human fetal cells in fibroblast growth factor and chick embryo extract and immunodepleting from the cultured human fetal cells any cells expressing A2B5, NG2 and eNCAM is provided. In addition, methods for transplanting these cells into an animal are provided. Animals models transplanted with these human neuroepithelial precursor cells and methods for monitoring survival, proliferation, differentiation and migration of the cells in the animal model via detection of human specific markers are also provided.
US08168169B2
In general, the invention relates to marrow-derived adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) and their use in methods of treating various medical disorders, typically caused by or involving loss of cells or loss of cell function. These cells, when administered, e.g., intranasally, can cross the blood brain barrier and terminally differentiate into cholinergic neurons or otherwise localize and terminally differentiate.
US08168166B2
Method for inoculating a vertebrate host against malaria, by administering to the host a live Plasmodium organism that is genetically engineered to disrupt a liver-stage-specific gene function.
US08168165B2
Alkylated interleukin-18 (IL-18), compositions comprising alkylated IL-18, kits comprising such compositions, methods of alkylating IL-18, and methods of using compositions comprising alkylated IL-18.
US08168162B2
The invention relates to agents for temporarily shaping keratin fibers, said agents containing: a) at least one film-forming and/or setting amphoteric polymer A and b) at least one copolymer B formed by at least one monomer B1 selected from acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-alkylacrylamide and N-alkylmethacrylamide, at least one monomer B2 selected from N-vinyllactams, at least one monomer B3 selected from quaternized N-vinylimidazoles and the monomer N-vinylimidazole. The invention also relates to the use of the agents for temporarily shaping hair and to an aerosol styling mousse that contains a corresponding agent and at least one propellant.
US08168157B2
It is to provide a production method of zinc oxide powder excellent in UV protection ability and transparency and to provide cosmetics containing the same. The fine particle zinc oxide powder is produced by subjecting either an aqueous solution containing both a water-soluble zinc salt and a carboxylic acid or an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble zinc carboxylate to pH adjustment with an alkali carbonate agent and aging the resulting mixture without calcining. The alkali carbonate agent may be 0.1 to 2 mol/L aqueous solution and the carboxylate group is 1 to 5 times in moles with respect to zinc. The pH adjustment can be carried out by dropwise addition of the alkali carbonate aqueous solution at 0.5 to 5 mL/min per 100 mL of either the aqueous solution containing both the water-soluble zinc salt and the carboxylic acid or the aqueous solution containing the water-soluble zinc carboxylate.
US08168150B2
The invention relates to binary, ternary and quaternary lithium phosphates of general formula Li(FexM1yM2z)PO4 wherein M1 represents at least one element of the group comprising Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr, and La; M2 represents at least one element of the group comprising Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr, and La; x=between 0.5 and 1, y=between 0 and 0.5, z=between 0 and 0.5, provided that x+y+z=1, or x=0, y=1 and z=0. The said lithium phosphates can be obtained according to a method whereby precursor compounds of elements Li, Fe, M1 and/or M2 are precipitated from aqueous solutions and the precipitation product is dried in an inert gas atmosphere or a reducing atmosphere at a temperature which is between room temperature and approximately 200° C. and tempered at a temperature of between 300° C. and 1000° C. The inventive lithium phosphates have a very high capacity when used as cathode material in lithium accumulators.
US08168146B2
The disclosed technology relates to a dispersion comprising LiOH and/or LiOH.H2O particulates dispersed in an organic medium comprising at least one oil and at least one surfactant, the concentration of LiOH and/or LiOH.H2O particulates in the dispersion being greater than 10% by weight, the LiOH and/or LiOH.H2O particulates having a mean particle size in the range up to about 10 microns wherein at least about 99% by weight of the LiOH particulates have a particle size in the range up to about 20 microns. A process for making the dispersion is disclosed. Grease compositions made using the dispersion are disclosed.
US08168137B2
The pipette rack comprises a plate, a peripheral base and a peripheral skirt. The plate has a first surface and defines an array of tip receptacles extending therethrough in a first direction orthogonal to the first surface. The tip receptacles are contoured to provide a clearance fit at locations axially offset from one another along a part of a pipette tip. The base extends in the first direction from the plate to a distal end surface. The skirt extends in the first direction from the base, and is outwardly offset therefrom to expose the distal end surface of the base so that the distal end surface contacts the plate of a similar pipette rack when the pipette racks are stacked.
US08168136B2
A fluid-conveying apparatus conveys fluid using a channel for the fluid to flow. The apparatus includes a pressure-generating device for generating pressure for conveying the fluid, a plurality of processing areas for processing the fluid, a valve which is disposed between the processing areas and controls the fluid flow, and a pressure-relieving device for relieving the pressure in the channel.
US08168130B2
A method and system for surely and conveniently generating plasma in a narrow tube having a small diameter.A first electrode formed by a conductive member covered with an insulator or dielectric is inserted into a narrow tube. The narrow tube is located on a second electrode. A power supply applies an alternating voltage or pulse voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode so that plasma is generated in the narrow tube around the first electrode.
US08168116B2
The invention relates to a method for production of an object with an at least partly silicon carbide structure from a blank of a carbon-containing material, wherein, in a first step, the object made from the carbon-containing material is produced essentially in the desired end form and/or end size, the object made from the carbon-containing material is then at least partly enveloped in a carbon-rich silicon dioxide granulate and then fired at least once in the envelope in a protective gas atmosphere such that the silicon dioxide granulate gives off gas containing silicon carbide which diffuses into the object and the carbon-containing material is completely or partly converted into silicon carbide. The invention further relates to a method for producing an object with an at least partly silicon carbide structure from a blank made from a carbon-containing material or a porous silicon carbide in which the pre-made object is infiltrated with a precursor sol containing silicon and carbon and fired at least once in a protective gas atmosphere at a firing temperature for carrying out a carbothermal reduction, wherein the infiltrated precursor sol gives off a gas containing silicon carbide which converts the material of the object partly or completely into silicon carbide.
US08168113B2
A process for the preparation of a ceramic molded part from a suspension/dispersion with a solids content and a fluid content by depositing solids content at the periphery of a porous self-supporting support that is at least partially immersed in the suspension/dispersion and has the same shape as the molded part to be prepared, but with a reduced size, wherein: the solids content contains oxide-ceramic particles; the porous self-supporting support is detachably connected with a discharge in a zone that is not immersed in the suspension/dispersion; the suspension/dispersion is moved towards the porous self-supporting support by means of a positive pressure difference between a pressure prevailing in the suspension/dispersion and a pressure prevailing in the discharge; wherein the fluid content of the suspension/dispersion enters in the porous self-supporting support with depositing solids content at the periphery of the porous self-supporting support.
US08168111B2
An injection molding method in which plastic material under pressure is injected from a storage chamber with a closable outlet into a mold cavity and fills same under pressure, wherein the volume of the storage chamber and the pressure obtaining therein upon opening of the closure means are of values which are sufficient for filling of the mold cavity by expansion of the material in the storage chamber, and the storage chamber is arranged in the mold forming the mold cavity.
US08168102B2
A machine utilized for producing and manufacturing a film, soft at touch, resilient and suitable at draining use. A film produced by such a machine, presents, at least, on one surface an essentially continuous pattern of micro-funnels three-dimensional (3D) directed in an essentially perpendicular way to the surface from which the micro-openings have origin. It presents also on the opposite surface a continuous pattern, composed by 3D macro-funnels directed in an essentially perpendicular way to the surface from which the macro-funnels have origin. The “micro-funnels” term, intend to describe a multitude of funnels non distinguishable by the human eye at a distance equal or higher than 450 mm. while the “macro funnels” term, intend to describe funnels clearly visible by the human eye at a distance higher than 450 mm.
US08168097B2
An injection molding machine 1 includes mode selection means 8 that can selectively switch between a first control mode M1 and a second control mode M2. In the first control mode M1, control is performed by a first control system Cf in which a screw speed is controlled by feedback with a speed detection value Vd that is detected by screw speed detection means 5 and a speed target value Vfc, and an injection pressure is controlled by feedback with a pressure detection value Pid that is detected by injection pressure detection means 6 and a pressure target value Pic, whereas, in the second control mode M2, control is performed by a second control system Cs in which the screw speed is open-loop controlled with a speed target value Vsc, and a pump pressure is controlled by feedback with a pressure detection value Ppd that is detected by pump pressure detection means 7 and that is related to the pump pressure of the hydraulic pump 4 and a pressure target value Ppc.
US08168095B2
According to a first aspect of the invention, a process is provided for the preparation of amorphous particles comprising a homogeneous distribution of one or more dyes encapsulated by an amorphous, siliceous encapsulating agent, the process comprising: (a) providing a precursor of the encapsulating agent in liquid form; (b) providing the one or more dyes in liquid form; (c) mixing the liquid forms; (d) aerosolizing the mixture to form droplets comprising the one or more dyes and encapsulating agent; and (e) heating the droplets to form the particles comprising the one or more dyes encapsulated by the siliceous encapsulating agent; wherein at least one of the liquid forms provided is aqueous and the or each aqueous liquid form is acidic. According to a second aspect of the invention, encapsulated dyes made by the process of the first aspect of the invention are provided.
US08168086B2
A light emitting device comprising a light producing element configured to generate ultraviolet light having a wavelength of from about 250 nm to about 400 nm and a self-activating phosphor comprising an ordered oxyfluoride compound is provided. The nitrogen-free or nitrogen-containing ordered oxyfluoride compound has a formula: A3-3a/2RaMO4-δ1-w′F1-δ2-w—Nw where A is Sr alone or Sr mixed with Ba and/or Ca such that A comprises at least about ⅔ mole % of Sr and up to about ⅓ mole percent of Ba and/or Ca; R is a rare earth element or a mixture of rare earth elements; M is Al, Ga, In, W, Mo, Bi, or mixtures thereof; 0
US08168081B2
The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of dielectrically negative, polar compounds which comprises at least one compound of the formula I in which the parameters have the meanings indicated in claim 1, to the use thereof in an electro-optical display, particularly in an active-matrix display based on the VA, ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect, and to displays of this type.
US08168080B2
An identifying medium comprises a nematic liquid crystal layer for forming a latent image with gradation, and the nematic liquid crystal layer has a thickness distribution corresponding to the gradation.
US08168076B2
A mould for objects made of polymer material is produced by successively depositing a barrier thin layer and a thin layer of diamond-like carbon on at least a part of a metal support. The thin layer of diamond-like carbon is then nanopatterned with a predetermined pattern presenting a form factor of more than 1. Nanopatterning is performed by selective chemical etching in dry phase through a hard mask and etching stops at an interface between the thin layer of diamond-like carbon and the barrier thin layer. The hard mask used was formed beforehand on a free surface of the thin layer of diamond-like carbon by selective chemical etching in dry phase performed through a void lattice delineated by nanoparticles deposited beforehand on a free surface of said hard mask. The barrier thin layer and the nanopatterned thin layer of diamond-like carbon form a bilayer coating presenting a thickness comprised between about 100 nm and about 10 μm.
US08168072B2
There is provided a method of inhibiting the development of a biofilm adjacent a surface, the method comprising intermittently applying a biofilm inhibiting substance to a collection of microorganisms having biofilm developing potential. Other embodiments are also described.
US08168071B2
An apparatus and process for treating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock having a specific gravity differential between components of the feedstock is disclosed. The apparatus includes a treatment vessel having an inlet for receiving the feedstock. The apparatus also includes a primary separation container located in the treatment vessel, the primary separation container being operable to accumulate feedstock to cause a low specific gravity portion of the feedstock to separate and rise to an upper surface of the accumulated feedstock. The apparatus also includes a first weir for collecting the low specific gravity portion from the surface of the accumulated feedstock in the primary separation container. The apparatus further includes a first outlet in the primary separation container, the first outlet being operably configured to receive settling solids in the accumulated feedstock and to produce a first discharge stream at the first outlet. The apparatus also includes a secondary separation container located in the treatment vessel to receive the collected low specific gravity portion, the secondary separation container being operable to accumulate the collected low specific gravity portion to cause hydrocarbon products to separate and rise to an upper surface of the accumulated low specific gravity portion of the feedstock. The apparatus further includes a product outlet for collecting the hydrocarbon products from the upper surface of the accumulated low specific gravity portion to produce a hydrocarbon product stream at the product outlet.
US08168066B2
An apparatus, system, and method for a quick-drain filter includes a filter housing, a clean fluid passage disposed axially in the housing, and a service drain passage disposed at an axial end of the housing and spaced radially away from the clean fluid passage. A protrusion extending radially from a stand pipe defining the clean fluid passage, disposed axially in the housing, defines the inner radius of the drain passage, and a housing member defines the outer radius. A plug extends axially from a filter cartridge to plug the drain passage when the cartridge is installed in the housing.
US08168065B1
A swimming pool skimmer basket and chlorinator includes a basket and a removable divider that partitions the basket into a chlorine tablet compartment below and a debris compartment above. The basket is cylindrical with a flat base and has a plurality of apertures for passing water. The divider is a round disk with a plurality of apertures for passing water from the debris compartment to the tablet compartment. The disk has a handle with a vertical post and a cross bar. A latch retains the divider in the basket so the handle can pull the basket from the skimmer well. The latch includes protrusions from the ends of the cross bar that fit into corresponding depressions in the basket wall.
US08168061B2
This invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of vacuum gas oil. The vacuum gas oil is treated in a two step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of thermal conversion. The product slate can be varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step. The combined products from thermal and catalytic cracking are separated in a divided wall fractionator.
US08168060B2
A method is disclosed for operating an electrochemical gas sensor with a measuring electrode pair and a pumping electrode pair. The method includes obtaining a measurement of the interfering species at a location spatially adjacent to a measuring electrode of the measuring electrode pair; and adjusting one or more of an operation or an output processing of the electrochemical gas sensor based on the measurement of the interfering species. In this manner, the measurement of the interfering species may be used to adjust the removal rates of the interfering species and/or to adjust an offset of an analyte measurement to compensate for the presence of the interfering species.
US08168050B2
There is disclosed a wafer processing apparatus having optimized electrode patterns for its resistive heating element. The optimized electrode pattern is designed to compensate for the heat loss around contact areas, electrical connections, and through-holes, etc., by generating more heat near or around those areas, providing maximum temperature uniformity. In another embodiment of the optimized design of the invention, the resistance of heating element closely matches the impedance of the power supply for higher efficiency, especially when higher operating temperature or higher electrical power is required.
US08168043B2
A retort apparatus includes a primary rotating pipe within a second rotating pipe within a fixed pipe (27). The interior area of the primary rotating pipe is bounded by a heated pipe. A first annulus is formed between the primary and second rotating pipes. A second annulus is formed between the second rotating pipe and the heated pipe. A third annulus is formed between the primary rotating pipe and the fixed pipe. A heater is positioned within the interior area of said primary rotating pipe. In one embodiment, an inlet gate is provided for introducing a liquid and solid mixture into the first annulus proximate the second end thereof. A first conveyor is provided to move the mixture toward the hot end of the primary rotating pipe. A second conveyance is provided for transferring the mixture from the first annulus to the second annulus within the interior of the primary rotating pipe, and a third conveyance is provided to move the mixture within the second annulus in a direction toward the cooler end of the primary rotating pipe. A method according to the invention includes introducing a liquid and solid mixture into an annulus formed between the two rotating pipes and causing the mixture to move within the annulus toward one end of the pipe. The method also includes transferring the mixture from the annulus to the interior area of the inner rotating pipe, and causing the mixture within the interior area to move in a direction toward the other end of the rotating pipe.
US08168034B2
A manufacturing method of an absorbent article according to the present invention includes the steps of: splitting an elastic member bundle having line-splitting strength within the predetermined range into multiple first elastic members by feeding the elastic member bundle in an MD via a line splitter, the line-splitting strength measured by a predetermined measuring method; applying an adhesive at least on a predetermined curved line on a web continuously conveyed; and placing the multiple elastic members thus split on the web while swinging the elastic members in a CD. The elastic member bundle is formed by splitting a single original elastic member with a slit into the multiple elastic members, and bundling and pressurizing the multiple elastic members.
US08168025B2
The present invention is related to methods of making membrane electrode assembly components. The methods include transferring a catalyst layer to a polymer electrolyte membrane or a gas diffusion layer. Methods of making membrane electrode assemblies with these components are also disclosed.
US08168023B2
Composite sections for aircraft fuselages and other structures, and methods and systems for manufacturing such sections, are disclosed herein. A method for manufacturing a shell structure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes applying composite material to an interior mold surface of a tool to form a skin extending 360 degrees around an axis. The method can further include positioning a plurality of stiffeners on an inner surface of the skin. After the stiffeners have been positioned, a vacuum bag can be installed over the stiffeners and evacuated to press the stiffeners and the skin outwardly against the interior mold surface of the tool. Next, the skin/stiffener combination can be cocured to bond the stiffeners to the skin and harden the shell structure.
US08168014B2
The method for manufacturing a martensitic stainless pipe includes heating the steel pipe until the external surface temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature not lower than A3 transformation point+20° C. and not higher than 980° C. The heated steel pipe is first water cooled until the external surface temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature not lower than 350° C. The water cooled steel pipe is air cooled until the external surface temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature not higher than 250° C. The air cooled steel pipe is either water or air cooled until the external surface temperature thereof reaches normal temperature. The cooling rate of the steel pipe in the first cooling step is determined according to the wall thickness of the steel pipe so that the amount of heat recuperation for the external surface temperature of the steel pipe in the second cooling step is not higher than 50° C.
US08168008B2
A martensitic stainless steel pipe having a heat-affected zone with high resistance to intergranular stress corrosion cracking is provided. In particular, the martensitic stainless steel pipe contains less than 0.0100% of C; less than 0.0100% of N; 10% to 14% of Cr; and 3% to 8% of Ni on a mass basis. Alternatively, the martensitic stainless steel pipe may further contain Si, Mn, P, S, and Al within an appropriate content range. The martensitic stainless steel pipe may further contain one or more selected from the group consisting of 4% or less of Cu, 4% or less of Co, 4% or less of Mo, and 4% or less of W and one or more selected from the group consisting of 0.15% or less of Ti, 0.10% or less of Nb, 0.10% or less of V, 0.10% or less of Zr, 0.20% or less of Hf, and 0.20% or less of Ta on a mass basis. The content Csol defined by the following equation is equal to less than 0.0050%: Csol=C−⅓×Cpre, wherein Cpre=12.0 {Ti/47.9+½(Nb/92.9+Zr/91.2)+⅓(V/50.9+Hf/178.5+Ta/180.9)−N/14.0} or Cpre=0 when Cpre<0.
US08168004B2
A washing machine that is capable of providing a stable washing mode even when a washing-related device is abnormal during a washing operation is disclosed. When a steam generation unit, which generates high-temperature steam into a drum, is abnormal, the operation of the steam generation unit is interrupted, and an operation for driving a washing heater mounted in a tub is performed, or an operation for driving a drying unit, which supplies high-temperature dry hot air into the drum, is performed. A steam substituting algorithm is provided when the steam generation unit is abnormal during the operation using the high-temperature steam. Consequently, the interruption of the washing operation due to the abnormal steam injection function is prevented, and therefore, the reliability of the product is improved while the inconvenience of use is minimized.
US08168001B2
Film-forming apparatus including a film-forming vacuum chamber having a stage for a substrate, a chamber for mixing gas comprising a raw gas and a reactive gas connected to the film-forming chamber, a chamber for vaporizing the raw material, and a gas head for introducing the mixed gas into the film-forming chamber, disposed on the upper face of the film-forming chamber and opposed to the stage. Particle traps with controllable temperatures are positioned between the vaporization chamber and the mixing chamber and on the downstream side of the mixing chamber. When forming a thin film with the apparatus, a reactive gas and/or a carrier gas are passed through the film-forming chamber while opening a valve in a by-pass line, connecting the primary side to the secondary side of the particle trap arranged at the downstream side of the mixing chamber. The valve is then closed and the film-forming operation is initiated.
US08167994B2
A cementitious slurry and method of making the cementitious slurry comprising mixing a pozzolanic component, a foaming agent of hypochlorite, and a hydroxide solution of soluble hydroxide dissolved in water, whereby the slurry is foamed and hardened into a cellular cementitious composition.
US08167993B2
Asphalt emulsion compositions for use in priming a granular surface such as a road bed are provided. The asphalt emulsion comprises asphalt, an amphoteric emulsifier, and water. The asphalt emulsion priming composition may be used on road beds to prepare the road bed for paving. Application of the asphalt emulsion priming composition to a granular surface, such as a road bed, can provide several advantages, including reducing or eliminating dust generated by traffic on the granular surface.
US08167984B1
A system for the electrical agglomeration of particles in a fluid using a plurality of electrically charged panels, such as electrets, metal panels, or any conductive material, positioned in series perpendicular to the direction of flow of fluid. The panels are about 20% to 80% open to the flow of fluid. The panels produce agglomerates of increasing size and number from the particles in a fluid as the fluid flows through each of the panels. The panels have an electrical charge of about 5,000 to 12,000 volts with amperage about 0.001 amps to 100 amps. Agglomerates are trapped by downstream capture media.
US08167971B2
A sliding part in which a surface coverage ratio of copper in the sliding part increases. A bearing which is the sliding part is formed by filling the raw powder into the filling portion of the forming mold, compacting the raw powder to form a powder compact, and sintering the powder compact. A copper-based raw powder is composed of a copper-based flat raw powder having an average diameter smaller than that of an iron-based raw powder and an aspect ratio larger than that of the iron-based raw powder, and a copper-based small-sized raw powder having the average diameter is smaller than that of the copper-based flat raw powder. The copper segregates at the surface of the sliding part. In the bearing in which the copper-based flat powder segregates at the surface, the surface is covered with the copper-based small-sized raw powder that has emerged on the surface, as well as the copper-based flat raw powder, thereby it is possible to increase the surface coverage ratio of copper. Furthermore, containing calcium fluoride improves the seizure resistance.
US08167968B2
In a vehicle having an air cleaner for cleaning incoming intake air supplied to an engine, a stepped surface is formed on at least one of a plurality of walls of an air cleaner housing. The stepped surface is formed on an upper wall of the air cleaner housing, such that an outer step is arranged on a periphery of an inner step. The upper wall is formed into a stereoscopic shape by providing the stepped surface thereon, such that the rigidity of the upper wall is enhanced, and a sonic resonance of the upper wall can be suppressed during vehicle operation, thereby reducing intake noises. By providing the stepped surface to the upper wall of the air cleaner for reducing intake noises, and it is unnecessary to add one or more extra components to the air cleaner for reducing intake noises.
US08167964B2
A cyclonic chamber for use in air filtration devices. The chamber includes an apex opposite a base with sidewalls extending therebetween. The cyclonic chamber is preferably parabolic in cross-section or tubular with a hemi-spherical cap. The base contains an outflow passage and a conical filter extending therefrom. An inflow passage is provided proximate the apex. The inflow and outflow passages are parallel but not aligned. The chamber interior is smooth. The smooth interior and offset relationship of the inflow and outflow passages causes air to take a cyclonic path between the inflow passage and the filter. Debris in the airstream is pushed outward—away from the filter—by centripetal force. Eddies form proximate the base. Debris escapes the airstream there, where it either remains or, depending upon the chamber's orientation relative to gravity, falls back into the airflow where it is again directed away from the filter.
US08167963B2
An apparatus for purifying and humidifying air which enables separate supply of purified air and humidified air and controls the amount of humidified air discharged and which includes dual flow paths to increase the efficiency of air transfer. The apparatus includes a case having a suction port through which external air is introduced thereinto and a discharge port through which the introduced air is discharged, a circulation fan for causing the introduced air to flow toward the discharge port, a filter unit disposed in the case to filter the introduced air, a humidification unit disposed at a low position in the case to supply the air passed through the filter unit with moisture, and a flow path control unit disposed between the suction port and the humidification unit to control flow of the air passed through the filter unit.
US08167957B2
An agent and method for treating biodegradable synthetic yarns fabricated from a polymer comprising lactic acid as a main component, which enable improved lubricity, cohesion, etc. to be so imparted to the biodegradable synthetic yarns that the yarns can be prevented from fuzzing and breaking at every step from spinning to down-stream step, especially at a false twisting step and improved in terms of bulkiness, providing yarns having improved mechanical properties in a stable manner. The agent of the invention comprises 0.1 to 30 weight % of a specific functional agent, and a lubricant and a surfactant in the total amount of 70 weight % or greater, and has a friction coefficient in the range of 0.04 to 0.35.
US08167956B2
The prosthetic foot (1) is a lamina of composite material with a characteristic J-shape, fixable by a TT bracket (2) directly to a socket (3) containing the stump, i.e. the residual part of the amputated lower limb, in the case of users with transtibial amputations, or to a TF bracket (2a) itself fixable to a mechanical knee (G) fixable to a socket (3a), in the case of users with transfemoral amputations. Said socket (3 or 3a) has a main axis (5) defined by the loading straight line by which the user, after applying the prosthesis, discharges body weight in the static position, and passing through a point (4) identifying the femoral epicondyle.
US08167952B2
An arthroplastic implant for a basilar joint of a hand of a patient includes a body having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite therefrom. The distal surface is to be positioned adjacent a first metacarpal bone at the basilar joint of the hand of the patient. The arthroplastic implant also includes a shield extending outwardly from the distal surface of the body to shield adjacent portions of the first metacarpal bone and a second metacarpal bone of the hand of the patient.
US08167949B2
An intervertebral implant includes an upper surface configured for engagement with a first vertebral body, and a lower surface configured for engagement with a second vertebral body. A wall extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, and forms a chamber for containing osteogenic material. At least a portion of the wall is collapsible from a first position associated with a first volume of the chamber to a second position associated with a second volume of the chamber. The second volume is less than the first volume.
US08167941B2
An intraocular lens comprises an optical element adapted to be implanted within the capsular bag of a human eye. The optical element includes one or more internal layers formed by one or more planes that are moveable relative to one another in order to effect the power of the optical element.
US08167935B2
The present invention provides a valve configured for insertion on the proximal and distal sides of a heart valve annulus to replace the heart valve of a patient. The valve comprises a first substantially annular portion adapted to be positioned on a proximal side of the annulus of a patient and a second substantially annular portion adapted to be positioned on a distal side of the annulus of a patient, wherein at least one of the first and second substantially annular portions is movable towards the other portion to a clamped position to clamp around the annulus. The second portion has a flow restricting portion extending therefrom and is movable between a first position to permit the flow of blood and a second position to restrict the flow of blood. In one embodiment, the valve has a suture joining the first and second portions to draw the first and second portions into closer proximity and a cinch member to secure the suture to maintain the first and second portions in the clamped position. In another embodiment, the first and second portions are connected by a first segment which biases the first and second portions toward the clamped position.
US08167921B2
A method for treating a subject having Parkinson's disease is provided. The method includes noninvasively delivering light energy having a wavelength of about 630 nanometers to about 904 nanometers to the brain of the subject. Delivering the light energy can include (i) irradiating the scalp with light energy having an incident power density less than 1000 mW/cm2 and (ii) transmitting a portion of the light energy through the scalp and the skull to the brain.
US08167918B2
The present invention is a MTP plate that has a first embodiment with a profile having bilateral mirror symmetry of the about a transverse plane with an angle of about 5° for dorsiflexion and an angle of about 10° for valgus. Both ends of the plate include a central arm having a slot for compression and two offset arms having offset ears with locking screw holes that provide for multiplanar compressive fixation. The bone contacting surface of the plate is radiused to allow the plate to be in snug contact with the bone. In a second embodiment of the plate for revision surgery, the proximal end of the plate includes a metatarsal extension and the plate has a central locking hole for securing bone graft.
US08167917B2
A posterior spine fixation assembly includes a first elongated plate having first and second ends and a second elongated plate having first and second ends. The first and second elongated plates are arranged in an X-shaped configuration and are attached to each other via a first screw. The assembly also includes a first elongated rod having a first end configured to be removable attached to the second end of the first elongated plate and a second elongated rod having a first end configured to be removable attached to the second end of the second elongate plate. The assembly is attached to a first spine location with the first screw. The first and second plates are configured to rotate around an axis passing through the first screw and the distance between the first elongated rod and the second elongated rod is adjusted via this rotation.
US08167914B1
A spine stabilization system having collars, resilient inserts and pins for coupling a rod to bone fasteners. A bone fastener may be advanced into a vertebral body. A first collar having a set of deflectable arms and a channel in a first end and an opening in the second end recessing to form a cavity may be positioned with the head of the bone fastener in the cavity. A rod may be advanced into the channel in the first end of each collar. The deflectable arms may have a set of recessed portions. The recessed portions may have an angular or arcuate profile. A resilient insert may be advanced into the collar and positioned in the recessed portions, with the bottom surface of the resilient insert in contact with the rod. A pin may be inserted in the resilient insert to inhibit removal of the resilient insert.
US08167913B2
A stabilization system for implantation in a patient includes: a bone anchor including a head and a shaft, the shaft extending away from the head in a bone insertion direction and being operable for connection to a bone of the patient; and a tulip including: at least one channel having an opening for receiving an elongate member, the opening being oriented in a receiving direction having at least a component thereof substantially opposite to the bone insertion direction of the anchor, and (ii) a fastening mechanism operable to apply a tangential load on the elongate member to maintain the elongate member within the channel, wherein the tangential load is transverse to at least the receiving direction.
US08167911B2
An apparatus includes a fastener engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member to the bone portion. A housing has a first passage configured to receive the longitudinal member and a second passage extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener extends through an opening in the housing into the second passage. The second passage includes a plurality of frustoconical surfaces for engagement with the fastener.
US08167907B2
A therapeutic treatment table includes a plurality of table sections for supporting the body of a patient, one of which sections is a drop section. The table includes an extension/flexion section which includes a frame having a pivot axis and a terminal end, and a rotary actuator that is adapted to repeatedly pivot the frame of the extension/flexion section about the pivot axis so as to raise the terminal end of the frame during an extension phase and to lower the terminal end of the frame during a flexion phase. A mechanism is provided for setting an operational range of motion for the extension/flexion section including an operational extension limit and an operational flexion limit, so that the rotary actuator will pivot the frame of the extension/flexion section between the operational extension limit and the operational flexion limit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mechanism is provided for setting a comfort zone range of motion within the operational range of motion which includes comfort zone extension limit and a comfort zone flexion limit. A comfort zone actuation switch is also provided in the preferred embodiment for switching the operation of the rotary actuator from the operational range of motion to the comfort zone range of motion, so that the rotary actuator will pivot the frame of the extension/flexion section between the comfort zone extension limit and the comfort zone flexion limit.
US08167904B2
A grip arrangement, for a medical instrument having a handle with two rod-shaped grip parts each with a grip surface, has, for each grip, a grip shell which can be secured in a detachable manner on the respective grip part, with in each case a grip surface of the grip parts which is of a larger size and/or of a different shape compared to the grip surface of the grip parts.
US08167901B2
A removable vena cava filter configured for simplified delivery to and retrieval from the vena cava of a patient is disclosed. The filter includes struts configured to be arranged in consistent orientation together between expanded (opened) and collapsed (closed) configurations, thereby minimizing entanglement of the struts. Each of the struts has a circumferential bend relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter. The circumferential bends allow for consistent orientation of the struts when moved between the expanded and collapsed configurations and when placed in the closed configuration of the filter.
US08167896B2
A device, system and method for providing tissue and organ restriction. Embodiments of an implantable magnetic device are described with respect to restricting gastric capacity while avoiding nutritional deficiencies and other complications. Further, a delivery device is described for facilitating the delivery of the magnetic device to a targeted site. Additionally, methods are described for delivering the magnetic devices to a stomach.
US08167894B2
A medical system for treating an internal tissue opening can include a closure device and associated delivery device. The closure device can include a multi-cellular body portion operatively associated with a first anchor and a second anchor. The closure device can be configured to apply lateral force to tissue of the internal tissue opening for tissue approximation. The closure device can have a substantially flat aspect, and have a depth that is substantially greater than the thickness of a majority of the members forming the closure device. The closure device can also include an in-growth material. The delivery device can include an actuating assembly configured to partially deploy the closure device by a first movement, and deploy a second portion of the closure device by a second movement. The delivery device can also include a release assembly to selectively release or disconnect the closure device from the delivery device.
US08167884B2
A method for providing access to the interior of a pedicle for a desired transpedicular procedure including the step of positioning a cannula through a drilled opening in the posterior cortex of the pedicle, the cannula having an inner section positioned in the opening and an enlarged outer section extending from the cortex. The outer section having a longitudinal slot which enables an instrument that is straight or angled to be inserted through the slot and into the pedicle for a surgical procedure.
US08167865B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for avoiding that any of at least one first or at least one second access device (20, 30) is unintentionally withdrawn from a vessel (11). According to the present invention this is achieved by inserting the first access device in a first direction in the vessel, inserting the second access device in a second direction in the vessel, the second direction being different from the first direction and interconnecting the first and the second access device by providing a fixed length of an interconnecting device (50).
US08167857B2
An ostomy drainage system comprising an ostomy bag or pouch connected by tubes to a container which is connected via tubes to a vacuum device whereby the contents of the ostomy bag can be suctioned into the container to prevent frequent changing of the ostomy bag thereby improving sanitation and convenience for ostomy patients.
US08167854B2
The invention relates to an implantable drug reservoir (10) having a cavity (28) enclosed by a sheathing (12) and arranged between a proximal end (14) and a distal end (16) for storing one or more drugs (50), having an outlet opening (24) for the drug(s) (50). The drug(s) (50) can be delivered to a delivery region (70) through a puncture device (20) at one end (16). The invention also relates to a device (100) having a drug reservoir (10).
US08167846B2
A reservoir may be filled with fluidic media in a first type of environment, a plunger head may be placed within the reservoir in the first type of environment, and a casing that may be configured to envelop at least a portion of a plunger arm operatively connected to the plunger head may be attached adjacent to at least a portion of the reservoir in a second type of environment. A reservoir may be provided having a first and second portion for respectively containing fluidic media, the second portion may be adapted to be removable, the reservoir may be selectively filled with a first volume or a second volume of fluidic media, a seal member may be placed in the reservoir, and the second portion may be removed in a case where the reservoir contains the first volume of fluidic media.
US08167835B2
A single chamber device for drawing in and dispensing components comprising a syringe housing, a piston that is actuatable by a plunger unit, and a mixing assembly whose rod is guided through the piston and operatively connected to the plunger unit. The plunger unit comprises a plunger rod that is articulated at the mixing rod and provided with means that are engageable with the mixing rod. In this manner, a mixture of different components, particularly also bone cement, can be both created and dispensed in a simple and inexpensive single chamber device.
US08167833B2
The present disclosed subject matter provides a breast pump in which, by the use of an operation performed by a user, the negative pressure (suctioning pressure) can be adjusted in accordance with the amount of the operation in a linear fashion without the occurrence of a steep gradient, and the negative pressure can be readily adjusted even during the expression of milk.
US08167829B2
In one embodiment of the invention, an orthotic apparatus includes a frame structure having an upper frame portion moveable relative to a lower frame portion. The orthotic apparatus further includes at least one strap attached to the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion of the frame structure. The at least one strap and the frame structure, together, are configured to apply a therapeutic moment to a joint of a limb responsive to positioning the limb within a limb-receiving space formed between the at least one strap and the frame structure.
US08167826B2
A means is provided for generating a vibration or a vibration signal, which contains audible range components that are vibration components in the audible frequency range and super-high-frequency components within a range exceeding the audible frequency range up to a predetermined maximum frequency, and which has an autocorrelation order represented by at least either one of a first property and a second property. By applying the vibration or an actual vibration generated from the vibration signal to a human being, a fundamental brain activation effect activating the fundamental brain network system constituted of a fundamental brain including the brain stem, thalamus and hypothalamus that are regions to bear the fundamental function of the human being and the fundamental brain network of neuronal projection from the fundamental brain to various brain regions is introduced.
US08167825B2
A method of hysteretic palpatory training includes providing a wire or a computer controlled actuator having a plunger that hysteretically resists the application of a palpatory force. An increasing palpatory force is applied in a first direction to the wire or the plunger, whereupon the wire or plunger hysteretically resist displacement from a first position to a second position. The palpatory force is then withdrawn whereupon the elasticity of wire or the elasticity emulated by the plunger causes it to return to a position intermediate the first and second positions. The applied palpatory force versus displacement in response to applying and withdrawing the palpatory force to the wire or the plunger is then detected.
US08167821B2
A guidewire can include a shaft or core wire that has a distal section configured for access to a vascular treatment site and a proximal section configured for intervention at a vascular treatment site. At least a portion of the distal section of the shaft or core wire can have a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the proximal section.
US08167816B2
A method is provided for calibrating a surgical biopsy system. The biopsy system includes a biopsy instrument and control unit. The biopsy instrument includes a piercer, rotatable cutter, and a port for receiving tissue samples. The method comprises the steps of translating the cutter distally until the translation of the cutter is stopped at an extended position and recording the extended position. The cutter is then translated from the extended position proximally until the translation of the cutter is stopped at a retracted position proximal to the extended position. The retracted position is recorded. The method further comprises the step of rotating the cutter to a rotation speed while the cutter is located at the retracted position and, if determined that the rotation speed is within a predetermined rotation speed range, a feedback signal is provided on the display allowing the operator to progress to the next procedural step.
US08167806B2
An ultrasonograph capable of generating a transmission beam having a uniform width over a wide range in an ultrasonic wave propagation direction is provided. A weighted mean value of a plurality of transmission delay time values corresponding to focal lengths of transmission pulse waves set in the ultrasonic wave propagation direction is calculated for each element constituting a transmission aperture and used as the delay time for the element when waves are transmitted. As the weight used for obtaining the weighted mean value, a transmission effective aperture width according to each transmission focal length is selected, and a weight in the direction of the transmit aperture realizing the width is calculated and is used in a focal length direction.
US08167804B2
An optimized elastic modulus reconstruction procedure can estimate the nonlinear elastic properties of vascular wall from intramural strain and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements. A noninvasive free-hand ultrasound scanning procedure is used to apply external force, comparable to the force in measuring a subject's blood pressure, to achieve higher strains by equalizing the internal arterial baseline pressure. PWV is estimated at the same location where intramural strain is measured. The reconstructed elastic modulus is optimized and the arterial elastic modulus can be determined and monitored using a simple dual elastic modulus reconstruction procedure.
US08167796B2
An endoscope light source unit for making illumination light incident on a light guide, includes a rotary aperture plate, aperture openings of different opening ratios and an auxiliary-light aperture opening of a maximum opening ratio formed in the rotary aperture plate; a rotating device; an auxiliary light; a first sensing portion and a plurality of second sensing portions formed in the rotary aperture plate in association with the auxiliary-light aperture opening and the aperture openings; a first sensor which detects the first sensing portion; a second sensor which detects the first sensing portion and detects the second sensing portions; and a controller which controls the rotary aperture plate in accordance with the first and/or second sensors. When the auxiliary light is in the retracted position, the controller drives the rotary aperture plate while the second sensor detects the first sensing portion.
US08167795B2
A method and system are provided for configuring a variable direction of view endoscope, generally comprising a video display screen and an endoscope having a view controlling device for moving the view vector between predefined, discrete view vector positions. The video display screen displays a set of these view vector positions, and the view vector is moved from one of these positions directly to another in response to a command from a user via the video display screen.
US08167789B2
An image processing system includes an orientation specifying unit that specifies orientation of the body-insertable apparatus at the time of capturing the image data with respect to a reference direction, a rotation correcting unit that performs rotation correction on image data based on the specified orientation, a screen generating unit that generates a screen displaying the image data, an average color bar generating unit that calculates an average color of the image data, generates an image of the calculated average color, and generates an average color bar in which images of the generated average colors are connected in accordance with order of the image data, and an organ image generating unit that generates an organ image obtained by superimposing the images of the average colors generated by the average color bar generating unit. The screen generating incorporates the average color bar and the organ image into the screen.
US08167786B2
Medical implant delivery devices and systems are disclosed. In general, an exemplary delivery device comprises a shaft and a handle. An exemplary system includes any number of the following: a delivery device, a sling assembly, guide members, and connectors that interconnect the above. Embodiments of all the above components and their combinations are disclosed. Methods of using the above system in trans-obturator approaches are disclosed.
US08167784B1
This invention presents a new method to generate therapeutically superior Bipolar PEMFs while significantly reducing the overall power consumption allowing for the use of low-power coin cell batteries; and presents a new frequency format to be followed for long-duration exposure PEMF Therapy devices. This is accomplished using a battery powered crystal clocked microcontroller and H-Bridge to pulse an electromagnetic inductor with a storage capacitor to generate a positive pulse followed by a shorter negative pulse, followed by some period of no current flowing generating frequencies in support of mammalian Circadian Rhythms.
US08167776B2
In general, a computing device disposed in a cardio exercise machine receives data related to a fitness level of a user. The computing device selects a workout program based at least in part on the data. The operations of the cardio exercise machine are controlled based at least in part on the workout program. The computing device generates audio feedback based on at least one of the user's operation of the cardio exercise machine and the selected workout program. The processed data is stored on a removable computer storage medium that is insertable into a port of the cardio exercise machine.
US08167771B2
A method of controlling an automatic shifting power transmission having a fluid coupling device, at least one reaction clutch disposed in series with the fluid coupling device, and an electric machine disposed in series with the fluid coupling device and the at least one reaction clutch includes energizing the electric machine to provide additional torque to the first gear reaction clutch when the automatic shifting power transmission is in a first gear launch maneuver and partially engaging the at least one reaction clutch corresponding to a first gear engagement to effect the first gear launch maneuver when engine load is at or above a predetermined value. The at least one reaction clutch corresponding to the first gear engagement is fully engaged when engine load is below the predetermined value.
US08167770B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members, and five torque transmitting mechanisms. The planetary gear sets include first, second and third members. The plurality of interconnecting members each continuously interconnect one of the first, second and third members of the planetary gear sets with another one of the first, second and third members of the planetary gear sets, and a stationary member. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
US08167756B2
A lubricating oil supply device for an automatic transmission that includes a washer arranged inside the automatic transmission and regulating a movement of an input shaft in the automatic transmission in a shaft direction, wherein the washer includes: an oil reception section that receives lubricating oil scattered by a centrifugal force in a radial direction of the input shaft of the automatic transmission, and a guide path that guides the lubricating oil received by the oil reception section to a thrust surface at an end surface of the washer in the shaft direction.
US08167755B2
One implementation of a six-speed transmission includes a first gearset including first and second planetary gearsets each having a number of teeth. The transmission also has a second gearset including a third planetary gearset operably associated with the first and second planetary gearsets. The third planetary gearset has an equal number of teeth with respect to one of the first and second planetary gearsets. The transmission also has a first plurality of shift elements operably associated with the first and second planetary gearsets, each of the first plurality of shift elements being movable between a released state and an applied state to selectively engage at least one of the first and second planetary gearsets. The transmission also has a second plurality of shift elements operably associated with the third planetary gearset, each of the second plurality of shift elements being movable between a released state and an applied state to selectively engage the third planetary gearset. The transmission also has a controller operably associated with the first plurality of shift elements and the second plurality of shift elements to selectively engage the first, second and third planetary gearsets.
US08167754B2
A hybrid electro-mechanical transmission connectable with multiple power sources for launching and propelling a vehicle includes an output member and a stationary member. The transmission also includes a first planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third node, and a compound planetary gear arrangement having a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh node. The power sources include an engine, a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator. The engine, the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are each operatively connected with the first planetary gear set, and the output member and the second motor/generator are each operatively connected with the compound planetary gear arrangement. Thus configured, the transmission provides forward under-drive and forward direct-drive gears for launching and propelling the vehicle, as well as a reverse gear.
US08167747B2
An arrowhead is provided which includes a body and one or more blades fastened to the body. The end of the blade extends behind the end of the body and consequently behind the end of an arrow shaft. This arrangement moves the FOC back towards the center of gravity of the arrow.
US08167746B2
A portable pitching rubber adapted to be firmly but removably mounted to an underlying surface without damaging the underlying surface. The pitching rubber includes a pad having a top surface, a bottom surface, two longitudinal side surfaces, two transverse side surfaces and a plurality of spikes extending from the bottom surface of the pad. The spikes are directed at acute angles towards adjacent longitudinal side surfaces.
US08167745B2
An indoor basketball backboard is provided lhat makes it easier for players to use the backboard to score baskets. The indoor backboard includes a plurality of voids to adjust a bounce characteristic of the backboard. A basketball backboard having a plurality of voids has bounce characteristics less than that of existing solid backboards. Such backboard may be a polymer backboard or a backboard made from one or more other materials.
US08167743B1
A football training system which allows for the quick and easy movement of the target unit, i.e., a blocking dummy. The training system comprises one or more combinations of a base, a flexible support member mountable at one of three locations on the base, and a padded target mounted on the flexible support member.
US08167740B2
Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber inner core, a thermoset rubber first intermediate core layer, a thermoplastic second intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. The inner core is preferably formed from a harder rubber than the first intermediate core layer.
US08167738B2
In one embodiment, a golf club head can include a golf club face comprising two or more grooves. A first cross section of a first region of a first end of a first groove of the two or more grooves is taken perpendicular to an edge of a sidewall of the first region of the first end, and a second cross section of a second region of the first end is taken perpendicular to an edge of a sidewall of the second region of the first end, and the first cross section is substantially proportional to the second cross section, and each of the first and second cross sections are symmetric. A third cross section of the first region of the first end is taken perpendicular to a bottom of the first region of the first end, and a fourth cross section of the second region of the first end is taken perpendicular to a bottom of the second region of the first end, and the third cross section is substantially non-proportional to the fourth cross section, and each of the third and fourth cross sections are symmetric. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08167730B2
A shaft assembly includes a shaft member having an inside surface and defined by an axis, an absorber assembly disposed within the shaft member and including a cantilever device spacing a mass member away from a base and including damping material disposed around the cantilever device.
US08167725B1
A system, computer-readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method for obtaining votes for participants in a television program are described, in which code for a game is transmitted to a computer system, where the game includes an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast votes for participants in a television program. At least one vote for at least one participant in the television program is received from the in-game voting module. A database including vote counts for the participants in the television program is updated based on the at least one vote for the at least one participant.
US08167724B2
A guest management method and system for an online multi-player virtual realty environment or social networking site. A network interface receives guest access requests from guest clients and input data from a plurality of remotely-located clients. The input data is operative to control avatars associated with the clients in a modeled virtual reality environment. A memory holds program instructions for determining whether the guest access is associated with a member client. If the guest access request is associated with the member client, then the guest client is allowed to access the virtual reality environment via a guest avatar. The guest avatar's movements in the virtual reality environment are restricted based on a location of a member avatar controlled by the associated member client. For example, the guest avatar may only be permitted to move within an area that is bounded by a perimeter about the member avatar.
US08167722B2
A solution for managing communicative interactions between network elements is described herein. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a processor module that monitors communications between a program resident on a user machine and a server program resident on a computing device remote from the user. The processor module may be utilized to effectively reduce the number of communications actually transmitted between the client program and the server program. For example, the processor module may intercept certain client initiated communications intended for the server program, process those communications without server program involvement, and respond to the client program.
US08167720B2
A game apparatus includes a controller provided with an acceleration sensor for detecting accelerations on at least two axes orthogonal to each other. When playing a game, the controller is given a rotating operation so as to rotate around an axis orthogonal to the two axes. The accelerations on the two axes detected according to the rotating operation are converted into a point on a two-dimensional coordinate system. An angle of each converted point is calculated, and an angle change is also calculated. Based on the angle change corrected to change smoothly and a previous correction angle, a present correction angle is calculated. Game processing according to the correction angle is performed, and a game object is moved by an amount corresponding to the correction angle, for example.
US08167719B2
A method for providing an audio game, apparatus and computer-readable recording medium with program therefor are provided. The game apparatus is disclosed having a touch screen for generating player selected music and its music related tracks on which a number of index marks are arranged in a predetermined pattern in relation to the music and a timeline is moved in a predetermined direction until it overlaps with the arranged index marks, and when a positional value is received corresponding to the index marks from the touch screen by the player's performance a preset performance sound that corresponds to its index mark is produced.
US08167717B2
A gaming machine of the present invention includes: a plurality of gaming terminals each of which has a first light emitting portion, and which runs a base game and a special game configured to award a special payout; and a shared display. When the special game is run, an emission color of the first light emitting portion and that of the second emitting portions are determined for each gaming terminal, based on a game value. Further, every time a gaming terminal achieves a predetermined winning in the special game having been run, the first light emitting portion is activated in the emission color thus determined, and the second light emitting portions forming a route associated with the gaming terminal turn active so that a predetermined number of the second light emitting portions light in the emission color thus determined, sequentially from the one closest to the gaming terminal, according to the number of the predetermined winnings the gaming terminal have achieved. When second light emitting portions forming any one of the routes is activated all the way to the shared display, a special payout is awarded to a player of the gaming terminal associated with the route.
US08167709B2
Methods and apparatus for auctioning an item via a gaming device are disclosed. The methods and apparatus enable a gaming device player (e.g., a slot machine player) to select one or more auction items the player is interested in bidding on. As the player plays the gaming device, a portion of each bet and/or a portion of each win is allocated to an accumulating bid on the selected auction item(s). In one embodiment, other players, connected via a network, also bid on the auction item(s) in a similar fashion. At the end of an auction, the highest bidder is awarded with the auction item. In one embodiment, the auction item is a physical auction item physically displayed at the gaming device.
US08167706B2
Players participate in bingo games through player stations each having a suitable player interface. The player may manually select between multiple modes in which the player's bingo card representations are daubed. In one daub mode, once a player is assigned a bingo card representation and a game designation set is associated with the bingo card representation, daubing the bingo card representation must be performed manually by the player at the player's respective player station using a suitable interface at the player station. In a card daub mode, one or more of the player's bingo card representations is automatically daubed in response to a card daub input made by the player at the player station using a suitable input device. In a game daub mode, one or more of the player's bingo card representations are daubed without any action by the player other than the player's selection of the game daub mode and the player's submission of a request to enter a bingo game offered by the system.
US08167705B2
A system installed in a casino allows gambling chips in the casino to have variable values. Each chip has an electronic circuit installed in it to store a chip identifier and data indicative of a value currently associated with the chip. Slot machines and other devices are arranged to interact with the gambling chips to read and write data from and into the chips. A central controller is connected to the slot machines and other devices that interact with the chips. The chips carry a display and/or an audio device to apprise players of the value currently associated with the chip.
US08167700B2
A gaming device includes a plurality of stations which can be played by respective ones of a plurality of player. A detection section detects a motion of the player at the respective one of the stations. A controller communicates with the plurality of stations. This gaming device includes processes of: (i) receiving acceptance information of a game from the plurality of stations; (ii) causing the display section to display the BET image corresponding to the respective one of the stations; (iii) causing the detection section to detect a motion of the player when a gaming medium is BET-operated on the BET image displayed at the display section; (iv) causing the image acquisition section to acquire an image of the player who is present at the respective one of the stations and to image-process the acquired image information; (v) judging whether or not the notification section performs notification based upon a result of the detection of the motion of the player and a result of the image processing of the image acquisition; and (vi) causing the notification section to perform notification in accordance to a result of the judging result.
US08167692B2
A moving character and a background image are displayed on a display screen with a touch panel thereon. When the player operates the touch panel to draw a line in an intended path extending between a start point and an end point along which the player wishes to guide the moving character, an operation trace image having the shape of the line drawn is displayed on the display screen. Then, the moving character moves along or in parallel to the operation trace image. The operation trace image is gradually erased after a predetermined amount of time elapses. Thus, it is possible to provide a video game device and a video game program in which the player can influence the moving path or the moving direction of the player (moving) character based on the shape and/or the direction of the line drawn by the player.
US08167691B2
In a crop residue chopping and distributing arrangement for a combine harvester (10) with a straw chopper (60) and two discharge blowers (100), a guide element (150) distributes the crop residue stream over the two discharge blowers (100) is arranged between said blowers. Passages (162) remain between the guide element (150) and the discharge blowers (100) such that the crop residues can be rearwardly discharged onto the field by the straw chopper (60) through said passages. Outer guide elements (141) are provided between the straw chopper (60) and the discharge blowers (100) in order to deflect the outer regions of the crop residue stream inward. The straw chopper housing (19) may feature a curved bottom (112) that axially conveys the crop residues to the discharge blowers (100) at an angle, wherein a flat crop residue guide element (112) is arranged between the straw chopper housing (90) and the discharge blowers (100).
US08167684B2
A chemical mechanical polishing slurry for polishing a copper layer without excessively or destructively polishing a barrier layer beneath the copper layer is disclosed and includes an acid, a surfactant, and a silica sol having silica polishing particles that are surface modified with a surface charge modifier and that have potassium ions attached thereto. A method for preparing the chemical mechanical polishing slurry and a chemical mechanical polishing method using the chemical mechanical polishing slurry are also disclosed.
US08167671B2
A water-ski or water board locating device comprised of a buoyant body detachably secured to the top of the ski or board, behind the boot, by means of a base plate and the boot's binding screws. In this position, the device effectively uprights the water-ski or water board when floating unattended. By uprighting the water-ski or water board, the device increases its visibility, aiding in the recovery of the ski or board and increasing its safety as a floating obstacle.
US08167663B1
The power connector includes a plug assembly and a casing with a plug seat. The plug seat is formed with a room. There is a pair of rails in the room. Two electrode pins are separately mounted in the rails with exposed flexible contact portions. The plug assembly is provided with two plug pins and a pair of troughs corresponding to the two rails. Each of the plug pins has a conduction portion protruding from the troughs for making an electric connection with the flexible contact portions.
US08167656B2
A connector and method of crosstalk compensation within a connector is disclosed. The method includes determining an uncompensated crosstalk, including an uncompensated capacitive crosstalk and an uncompensated inductive crosstalk, of a wired pair in a connector. The uncompensated crosstalk includes common mode and differential mode crosstalk. The method includes applying at least one inductive element to the wired pair, where the at least one inductive element is configured and arranged to provide balanced compensation for the inductive crosstalk caused by the one or more pairs. The method further includes applying at least one capacitive element to the wired pair, where the at least one capacitive element is configured and arranged to provide balanced compensation for the capacitive crosstalk caused by the one or more wired pairs.
US08167652B1
A shielded connector. In one embodiment, the shielded connector includes: a seat, including a plurality of receiving slots, in which a shielding body is formed on at least a part of an inner surface of the receiving slot by physical-plating and an insulating paint layer is formed on the shielding body by immersing, spraying or coating, at least one conductive body disposed outside the receiving slots and connected to the shielding bodies, and at least one lead-out portion disposed adjacent to the motherboard and electrically connecting the conductive body to the motherboard; and a plurality of conductive terminals, accommodated in the receiving slots, each including a contact portion exposed at one side of the seat, a body portion extending from the contact portion into the receiving slot, and a connecting portion extending from the body portion and exposed outside the receiving slot.
US08167651B2
High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.
US08167647B1
A coaxial connector includes a clamping tube, which has a narrow body, a tapered head axially forwardly and radially outwardly extended from the narrow body, a stop flange extending around the periphery of the distal end of the tapered head, a retaining structure located on the inside of the distal end of the tapered head and longitudinal slits axially extending from the narrow body through the tapered head and the stop flange, and a chuck shell, which is sleeved onto the clamping tube and axially movable between the narrow body and the tapered head to force the retaining structure into engagement with the outer thread of the metal connection member of the complementary Female connector or to allow disengagement of the retaining structure from the outer thread of the metal connection member of the complementary Female connector.
US08167641B2
A mounting assembly configured to mount a communication connector to a panel of an electrical system. The mounting assembly including a stress-distribution member that has an abutment surface abutting a flange of the connector. The stress-distribution member has a fastener opening. The mounting assembly also includes a fastener element that extends along a central axis. The fastener element has a cross-section taken perpendicular to the central axis that is sized and shaped to permit the fastener element to be freely inserted through through-holes of the connector and the panel. The fastener element is inserted into the fastener opening and secured to the fastener element. The stress-distribution member distributes mechanical energy provided by the fastener element when the connector is in a shock or vibration environment.
US08167640B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an electrical connector having a side wall defining a lumen and an elongate opening. The lumen is configured to receive at least a conductive portion of an electronic implant. The elongate opening divides the side wall into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the side wall is configured to move relative to the second portion of the side wall between a first position and a second position. The first portion of the side wall is electrically conductive and includes a protrusion. The protrusion is configured to contact the conductive portion of the electronic implant such that the conductive portion of the electronic implant is electrically coupled to the first portion of the side wall when the first portion of the side wall is in the second position.
US08167636B1
A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body attached to a post, wherein the post includes a flange, a port coupling element rotatable about the post, and a continuity member positioned within a cavity, the cavity being located on an outer surface of the flange of the post, wherein the continuity member establishes and maintains electrical and physical contact between the post and the port coupling element. Furthermore, an associated method for maintaining ground continuity with a coaxial cable port is also provided.
US08167624B2
A fastening system for fastening a cabin fitting element with at least one electrical installation on a support structure of an aircraft. During installation into the support structure, the cabin fitting element is fixed in succession by at least one loose bearing in at least one degree of translational freedom and then by at least one fixed bearing in the at least one further degree of translational freedom. In order to ensure an improved installation and dismantling of cabin covering panels with electrical installation and to reduce the weight due to the components and also the installation space which is required, according to the disclosed embodiments a contact device with a bush arrangement and a plug arrangement is integrated in the at least one loose bearing and/or the at least one fixed bearing, by which an electrical connection is produced between the support structure and the electrical installation of the cabin fitting element on fixing at least of one degree of translational freedom.
US08167617B2
A system for a dental superstructure to be attached to an implant using a digital model description of a shape of the superstructure, the superstructure including first and second elements. The system comprises a computing device arranged to (a) analyze a recorded real clinical situation or shaped clinical situation of an implant axis and insertion axis, (b) compute a shape of the dental superstructure based at least in part on the determined implant axis, (c) generate digital data representing the shape of the superstructure, and (d) separate the computed shape into first digital data representing a shape of the first element to be connected to the implant and second digital data representing a shape of the second element to be connected to the first element, the shape of the first element being optimized, at least in part, based on a tilt angle between the determined implant axis and insertion axis.
US08167605B2
An assembly and related process for mass producing a resin coated article including an input line transporting a plurality of inserts and an output line removing the resin coated articles. One or more mold supporting and closed loop conveyor lines extend between the input and output lines, the conveyor line including a mold assembly line and an empty mold return line. A first lift and transfer mechanism communicates between the input line and mold assembly line for collecting, in succession, an insert and an upper mold half for installation with a lower mold half supported upon the assembly line. A mixing and dispensing station communicates with each mold in succession to fill an interior thereof with a viscous and curable resin material. A second lift and transfer mechanism is communicable between the mold assembly line and output line for removing the finished articles from the mold and depositing upon the output line, concurrent with redirecting the empty mold halves along return lines for redelivery to said mold assembly line.
US08167600B2
An apparatus and method suitable for producing a polymer film, particularly a polyimide film, perform drying and heat treatment using a tenter type feeding apparatus that suppresses the problems of deformation of film in the vicinity of pore into which the pins bite and breakage of the pores to form long pores in the width direction. The apparatus includes a device to suppress deformation of the film in the vicinity of the tenter pins at the time point when the both ends of the film is pierced with the pins and cools the pin temperature to less than 180° C. at the time when the film is pierced with the pins. Individual pins can be arranged on the innermost side of the pin sheets so that they are all disposed at the same distance both in the film feeding direction in the individual pin sheets and between other pin sheets.
US08167597B2
A bearing material composition that lines a support includes a combination of a thermoplastic conforming material and abrasive particles which provide a combined effect for remedying the effects due to edge loading that may be caused by misalignment between the bearing and a shaft to which a portion is rotatably mounted. The conforming material may be PTFE such that it does not have a memory and is subject to cold flow and creep. As a result, misalignment problems and edge loading are remedied by the combination of abrasive removal of metal material from the drive shaft at the location of edge loading and creep of the conforming material at the location of edge loading which may provide an overall greater bearing interface surface.
US08167592B2
The present disclosure relates to a rotor assembly for a peristaltic pump. The pump includes a first rotor having a plurality of rollers and a second rotor, coupled to the first rotor, having a plurality of rollers. The rollers of the first and second rotors are located at an angle of about 45° relative to each other. In an embodiment, the first rotor and the second rotor are circular. In another embodiment, the rollers of the first rotor are equally spaced or located at an angle, about 90°, relative to each other. In yet another embodiment, the rollers of the second rotor are equally spaced or located at an angle, about 90°, relative to each other. A peristaltic pump and a method of supplying fluid to a surgical area are also disclosed.
US08167587B2
A pump assembly includes a housing and first and second valves. The housing has a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. The first and second valves are substantially identical valves both including a mounting portion, a valve seat and a valve body. The mounting portion has a first end and a second opposite end. The first and second ends are both selectively mountable to a conduit defining a fluid path. The valve seat is interconnected to the mounting portion. The valve body is interconnected to at least one of the mounting portion and the valve seat for movement relative to the valve seat between a seated position and a closed position. The valve body includes a first side and a second side and is operative to seal against back flow from the first side and open to positive pressures on the second side. The first valve is mounted to the fluid inlet port with the first end such that the first valve normally functions to only permit fluid to flow into the housing. The second valve is mounted to the fluid outlet port with the second end such that the second valve normally functions to only permit fluid to flow out of the housing.
US08167584B2
The invention relates to improvements in compressor units, and in particular to a modular compressor unit which has separate sections for the compressor, the controls and the air intake. The modular compressor unit comprises three separate adjoining sections, being an intake section, a compression section and a control section. The intake section comprises air intake means which provide an inlet for ambient air to be compressed and for cooling the compressor motor and comprise filters to filter air entering the intake means, noise attenuation means provided in the air intake means, and means for directing air to components in the compression section. The compression section comprises a compressor, a motor arranged to drive all compressor and all components within the unit required to cool compressed air, the motor and to remove heat from the compression section. The control section houses all the control means for operating the compressor unit.
US08167576B2
A rotor assembly for rotary vacuum pumps has improved mechanical characteristics and low manufacturing cost due to a one-step thermal coupling of a rotor having a male axial projection and its supporting shaft having an end portion comprising a female cavity with a shape and size for receiving the male projection with interference at an ambient temperature. The rotor and the shaft are made of different materials. Heating of the end portion of the shaft provides expansion of the female cavity and allows for inserting the mail projection of the rotor into the female cavity of the shaft. By cooling the end portion to the ambient temperature the contraction of the cavity is obtained forming fixed interference coupling between the shaft and the rotor, where the end portion of the shaft contracts and compresses about the male axis projection of the rotor.
US08167571B2
A horizontal axis wind turbine rotor assembly utilizes rotor blades having the aerodynamic characteristics of low aspect ratio lifting bodies. The aerodynamic characteristics of low aspect ratio lifting bodies at typical operating wind velocities permits high energy conversion efficiencies throughout a wide range of wind speeds.
US08167570B2
A fluid turbine blade is provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one rib assembly affixed to said longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a skin attached to the at least one rib.
US08167568B2
A two-stage high pressure turbine includes a second stage blade having an airfoil with a profile substantially in accordance with at least an intermediate portion of the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 2. The X and Y values are distances, which when smoothly connected by an appropriate continuing curve, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08167562B2
A centrifugal fan includes a plurality of blades, a first wall disposed at first axial ends of the blades, and a second wall disposed at second axial ends of the blades and having a shaft portion at a center. At least one of the first wall and the second wall has a cutout portion configured to control balance.
US08167560B2
A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine and having at least one cooling system. At least a portion of the cooling system may include one or more cooling channels having a plurality of turbulators protruding from an inner surface and positioned generally nonorthogonal and nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the airfoil cooling channel. The cooling channel may also include a plurality of vortex enhancers protruding from an inner surface forming the cooling channel and positioned nonparallel to the turbulators. In one embodiment, the vortex enhancers may be positioned generally orthogonal to the turbulators. The configuration of turbulators and vortex enhancers creates a higher internal convective cooling potential for the blade cooling passage, thereby generating a high rate of internal convective heat transfer and attendant improvement in overall cooling performance. This translates into a reduction in cooling fluid demand and better turbine performance.
US08167559B2
A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine having an outer wall containing a plurality of serpentine cooling channels. The serpentine cooling channels may be configured to receive cooling fluids from internal cooling fluids supply channels. The serpentine cooling channels may be positioned in the pressure side and suction side outer walls and configured such that a first pass is positioned radially outward from an internal chamber a greater distance than a second pass. As such, cooling fluids are first passed proximate to an outer surface where the fluids are heated and then passed proximate to an inner surface, thereby establishing a smaller thermal gradient than typically found in conventional turbine blade outer walls.
US08167554B2
A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may generally include a shell having a pressure side and a suction side. The shell may define an opening in at least one of the pressure and suction sides. The rotor blade may also include a base and at least two surface features spaced apart along the outer perimeter of the base. The base may generally be movable relative to the opening between a recessed position and an actuated position. Additionally, the base may be rotatable within the shell in order to adjust which of the surface features is received within the opening when the base is moved to the actuated position.
US08167547B2
A gas turbine engine is provided with turbine sealing structures including knife edge seals which extend at an angle relative to an axial center line of the engine. Each knife edge seal is associated with a control pocket defined between a radially inner surface and a spaced radially outer surface. The control pockets and their associated knife edge seals create a difficult flow path to prevent leakage into radially inner portions of the turbine section.
US08167544B2
The invention relates to a rotational device that is to be used in a fluid in order to generate power from the moving stream of a fluid or to convert energy into a motion of a fluid. Said rotational device comprises main rotating means which is fixedly connected to a central rotary shaft of the rotational device, one or several rotational surfaces which are mounted on the main rotating means so as to be rotatable about rotational surface rotary shafts spaced away from the rotary shaft such that the main rotating means are able to perform a rotational motion about the central rotary shaft by means of at least one rotational surface, the rotational surface rotary shafts extending parallel to the rotary shaft of the main body. A device is provided which adjusts an angle of the rotational surface relative to the direction of flow of the fluid in such way that the buoyancy principle is maintained on the rotational surface.
US08167543B2
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. Anticipated primary load paths within the rotor blade are predicted. Fibers of reinforcing material are dispensed onto a mold, having an orientation pattern of the fibers which is selected in dependence on the predicting step. Resin is also dispensed into the mold. A wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The blade comprises fibers of reinforcing material which are embedded in resin. The fibers are short, say in the range of 5 to 200 mm, and are orientated in dependence on an anticipated structural loading pattern of the rotor blade.
US08167538B2
A torque monitoring apparatus is disclosed herein. The torque monitoring apparatus includes a hub extending along an axis of rotation between first and second opposite ends. The torque monitoring apparatus also includes a plurality of spokes positioned on the hub and extending radially outward from the hub to respective distal ends. The torque monitoring apparatus also includes a plurality of projections spaced from the plurality of spokes along the axis of rotation. Each of the plurality of projections extends radially outward from the hub to respective distal ends. The plurality of projections are thinner along the axis than the plurality of spokes.
US08167527B2
An agricultural auger wagon includes a horizontal floor auger and a forward lift auger for delivering grain to a transport vehicle. The lift auger is a folding auger which includes a fixed lower auger section and an upper auger section mounted above the lower auger section in use. The upper auger section is moved by an hydraulic cylinder between the upright delivery position for delivering the contents of the wagon to an adjacent transport vehicle, such as a truck, and a folded transport position. The folding upper auger section has a retractable delivery hood. In the use or delivery position, the upper and lower left auger sections are aligned for delivering product. During the movement of the upper auger section to the delivery position, the delivery hood is moved by linkage to the distal upper end of the upper auger section for maximum height and reach in delivering grain to an adjacent vehicle. To place the lift auger assembly in the transport position, an hydraulic cylinder pivots the upper auger section from the raised, delivery position to a horizontal transport position in which the upper, moveable auger section lies immediately in front of the wagon in a generally horizontal disposition with its axis extending transverse of the direction of travel. A linkage is actuated by the folding action of the upper auger section to move the delivery hood along the upper auger housing to reduce the overall length of the upper auger section in transport while increasing its reach in the delivery position.
US08167523B2
Singulation handler is provided which comprises a loading zone where a carrier mechanism receives and holds an electronic component and a singulation zone where the electronic component held by the carrier mechanism is singulated. A loader that is movable along an axis is operative to place the electronic component onto the carrier mechanism when it is situated in the loading zone and a vision system that is movable along substantially the same axis as the loader is operative to obtain at least one image of the electronic component showing alignment information so that the electronic component can be properly aligned during singulation.
US08167520B2
A device is provided for securing an item comprising a body, a plurality of fingers having a first end secured to the body with the first end having an aperture, a second end, a cavity defined by the interior of the finger that is accessible from the aperture to receive a fluid therein to extend the second end from a first position outwardly from the body to a second position to secure the item, and a plurality of valve elements in fluid communication with the aperture to prevent backflow of the fluid from the cavity.
US08167519B2
The present invention is a coring unit adapted to be engaged to an articulated arm, to reduce the labor necessary for on-site coring of sewage and water pipes. The coring unit includes a frame containing the components of the unit, which include a coring bit, a coring bit motor, a traverse mechanism, and a stabilizer for allowing ready orientation of the coring unit with respect to an object being cored. The unit may also he provided with a traverse motor for driving the coring bit into an object being cored, and for withdrawing the coring bit once a core has been formed. The coring unit may additionally be adapted to allow for remote operation of the coring unit.
US08167515B2
The hot-rolled straight-web steel sheet pile comprises a straight web delimited on each longitudinal side respectively by an interlock strip. The web has a rolled-in taper which is designed in such a way that, in a tensile test of two samples from this sheet pile which are connected by means of their interlock strips, the web is deformed plastically in the region of this taper before a failure of the interlock connection can occur. The rolling of such a sheet pile, which is distinguished in cellular cofferdams by a high plastic deformation capacity, can take place by means of slightly modified standard rolls and consequently requires no major investment.
US08167512B2
A barrier assembly includes a barrier having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end. The interior surface bounds a chamber that is adapted to receive a ballast. The barrier also has an internal sidewall extending between top and bottom surfaces of the barrier so as to bound a passage extending completely through the barrier between the top and bottom surfaces. The barrier assembly also includes an elongated coupler extending down through the passage and projecting below the bottom surface of the barrier. A means for securing the coupler within the passage is formed on or attached to the coupler. The means for securing the coupler within the passage prevents the coupler from being removed from the passage while allowing the coupler to freely rotate within the passage.
US08167511B2
A passage block coupling apparatus is provided with a bolt insertion hole 13 and a pin insertion hole 14 formed in an upper-stage passage block 3, a screw hole 15 and a non-screw hole 16 that are formed in a lower-stage passage block 4, a bolt 11 that is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 13, and threaded with the screw hole 15, and a positioning pin 12 that is inserted to the pin insertion hole 14, with its lower end portion being fitted to the non-screw hole 16. A cut-out section 17 is formed near the lower end portion of the positioning pin 12, and a protruding portion 18 to be fitted to the cut-out section 17 is formed on the opening portion of the non-screw hole 16. A tightening force exerted by the bolt 11 and a force exerted by the lower end portion of the positioning pin 12 to press the protruding portion 18 of the non-screw hole 16 upward are balanced with each other so that an evenly fastened state is achieved so that the passage blocks 3 and 4 are coupled with each other.
US08167508B2
A light amount adjusting device includes: a cover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amount adjusting blade movable between the cover plate and the first separator; a second light amount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the second separator; a base body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole.
US08167506B2
Disclosed is a device providing the control and movement of a camera. The device includes a housing configured to form a protective chamber around the camera, the housing being mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis with respect to an arm. The device further includes a first slip ring between the housing and the arm, and a second slip ring. Power for the camera is transmitted in the first and second slip ring.
US08167504B2
An optical fiber terminal apparatus includes an optical fiber protection jacket including a pre-defined, longitudinally extending seam that can be opened at a selected location along the jacket to define an opening into the optical fiber protection jacket at the selected location. The apparatus further includes an adapter terminal configured to mate with an outer profile of the optical fiber protection jacket. The adapter terminal includes a body portion that is configured to support a coupling between an optical fiber extending from the opening in the optical fiber protection jacket to a customer optical fiber. The seam may be repeatably and selectively closable.
US08167498B2
A body part of a rotation detecting sensor of a rotation number detector which is provided on a bearing apparatus for an axle has a large diameter part formed in its upper part and a small diameter part formed in its lower part, and at the same time, a sensor fitting hole part which is formed in an outer ring of a bearing part and into which the body part of the rotation detecting sensor is inserted is so formed that an radially outer part thereof has an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the large diameter part of the body part, and a lower part thereof has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the small diameter part of the body part.
US08167495B2
A device is provided having a support structure and a rotating shaft having a center axis which rotating shaft and support structure are pivotable supported against each other by at least one hydrodynamic rotary bearing including a first bearing part and a second bearing part pivotable relatively to each other, a lubricant and a contact zone between the first bearing part and the second bearing part at least when the hydrodynamic rotary bearing is at rest, wherein the rotating shaft and the support structure are shaped in such a way and the hydrodynamic rotary bearing is in such a way arranged on the rotating shaft and the support structure that the contact zone of the hydrodynamic rotary bearing is submerged in the lubricant even when the hydrodynamic rotary bearing is at rest.
US08167494B2
A squeeze-film damper arrangement comprising: concentric inner and outer components defining an annular gap there between for accommodating radial motion of the inner component within the outer component; and a fluid filling the annular gap around the outside of the inner component for damping said radial motion of the inner component, the fluid being axially contained between spaced-apart, radially-compliant first and second face-seals provided between the inner and outer components; wherein the first face-seal is provided between the opposing faces of a first pair of radially overlapping circumferential sealing elements associated with the inner and outer components respectively, a first one of the circumferential sealing elements in said pair being mounted for axial movement relative to the associated inner or outer component and being axially biased against the second of said circumferential sealing elements in said pair to form the first face-seal.
US08167491B2
A hydrostatic mounting of longitudinally displaceably arranged machine parts, which have pressure pockets for hydraulic fluid for building up a hydrostatic pressure between two machine parts, gaps connected to the pressure pockets and delimited by gap faces of the two machine parts, a drainage for the reception of hydraulic fluid flowing out from the gaps, and a seal, arranged effectively between the machine parts and surrounding the gaps, sealing against the escape of hydraulic fluid. An environment-side portion of the seal is at the same time a portion of the drainage creating a double-acting portion. The double-acting portion of the seal is formed from a material permeable to the hydraulic fluid.
US08167487B2
This disclosure describes a secure access, easy opening tamper evident feature for sealable bags. The tamper evident feature provides dual zones for tamper-detection and may be sealed within a bag to form a package in such a manner that allows for the filling of product into the package and the handling of the package to be safely made, as the tamper evident feature may be positioned away from deleterious contact with the product. The package may be a combination of the tamper evident feature and a flexible bag. The package may include an easy opening end configuration for secure access inside the bag when the tamper evident feature is exposed and subsequently torn open by an end-user along the dual zones for tamper detection. The package may be formed with bags having side gussets or, alternatively, with folded-closed end. Methods for making and filling such packages are also provided.
US08167486B2
When a gain correction is performed for the radiographed object image, the acquisition of the object image having a high grade quality and no artifact is realized. For that purpose, an image storing unit is provided for storing an image for correction radiographed based on conditions set with the table in a state in which no object exists to each operation modes of the plurality of operation modes; and an image processing unit is provided for performing a gain correction processing of the radiographed object image and performs the gain correction processing of the radiographed object image obtained based on the conditions set in the table of the operation mode selected by the selecting unit in a state in which the object exists using a corresponding image for correction extracted from the image storage unit based on the operation mode selected by the selecting unit.
US08167482B2
A method for detecting surface discontinuities in a test specimen. The method includes applying a one or more substances including a detection medium to the test specimen wherein the detection medium enters at least one surface discontinuity in the test specimen. The specimen surface is monitored for discontinuity signatures produced by the detection medium. The monitoring includes monitoring the detection medium to detect a temperature differential indicative of a surface discontinuity in the test specimen wherein the discontinuity signatures include a warm signature emitted by the detection medium that has entered the surface discontinuity.
US08167476B2
A light source device comprising: a point light source for emitting light; a light source substrate directly mounting the point light source; a light source substrate cover having a through hole or a notch in a position to which the point light source corresponds, the light source substrate cover arranged opposite to a surface of the light source substrate on which the point light source is mounted; and a support member for supporting the light source substrate, the support member arranged to be opposed to the reverse side of the mounting surface of the light source substrate, the support member has a substantially same size with the light source substrate; wherein the light source substrate cover and the support member sandwich the light source substrate to support the light source substrate.
US08167469B2
A surface light emitting apparatus capable of providing uniform illumination while efficiently using a laser light. The apparatus comprises a light source section that includes at least one light source which emits laser beam; an optical element section that includes at least one diffractive optical element section that modifies a wavefront of the laser beam emitted from the light source section by diffraction action; and an optical guiding section that guides from an incidence surface of the optical guiding section the laser beam emitted from the diffraction optical section and emits the laser beam from a radiation surface of the optical guiding section.
US08167468B1
An LED lighting fixture includes a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) having a rear side and a front side. At least one LED is mounted to the front side of the MCPCB. A transparent window is mounted and sealed to the front side of the MCPCB to enclose the LED. A portion of the MCPCB extends from the transparent window so that it can be in heat exchange contact with water when the window of the lighting fixture is submerged in water.
US08167461B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes separating a plurality of regions in a film with a thickness not greater than 0.5 millimeters to form a plurality of legs continuous with a body of film, folding the plurality of legs such that each leg terminates in a stack of bounding edges, disposing the stack of bounding edges proximate at least one light source such that light from the at least one light source propagates through the legs and the body by total internal reflection, and treating the film to form a plurality of light scattering features therein such that frustrated totally internally reflected light exits the light emitting device at a visible light emitting area and the light emitting area is at most barely visible when not illuminated by the at least one light source.
US08167456B2
An illumination device includes a base board, an insulator, a conductor, a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements and a light-transmissive sealing member. The base board includes a surface and projection portions. The projection portion is formed to become gradually thicker from its end toward the surface of the base board. The insulator is formed on the surface. The conductor is formed on the insulator. The semiconductor light-emitting elements are mounted on the projection portions. The semiconductor light-emitting elements are electrically connected to the conductor via connection members. The sealing member covers the insulator, the projection portions, the semiconductor light-emitting elements and the connection members.
US08167455B2
An LED lamp includes a lamp shade, an optical lens mounted in the lamp shade, and an LED module mounted in the lamp shade. Thus, the optical lens has a curved surface with different curvatures to reflect and refract the light beams of the LED module in different angles and directions so that after the light beams of the LED module pass through and emerge from the optical lens, the light beams of the LED module are scattered and diverged in different angles and directions from the optical lens and are distributed on the optical lens evenly and smoothly such that the LED module has a larger lighting angle so as to enhance the lighting effect and the aesthetic quality of the LED lamp.
US08167449B2
An inspection lamp includes a housing with an external opening providing access to a socket having an electrical contact, an interchangeable light source module including a tab adapted to be inserted into the opening and received into the socket, the tab including a mating electrical contact for making an electrical connection with the electrical contact of the socket, the light source module including at least one light emitting diode, and a switch for controlling the light emitted by the light source module.
US08167446B2
The invention concerns a spotlight for use in bodies of water. The spotlight has at least one lighting unit for illuminating fountains, water jets or the like, wherein the lighting unit is liquid-cooled and has at least one light emitting diode or a light emitting diode cluster arranged in the housing.
US08167434B2
The invention relates to a light projection system (10) for use in conjunction with a display device (40). The light projection system comprises a light source for emitting light being modulated by video and/or audio content of the display device (40), and a light guide (20). The longitudinal light guide guides light emitted by the light source substantially along a longitudinal axis (26) and projects the light propagating through the longitudinal light guide on a projection surface (50). The longitudinal light guide comprises: a light input window, and a plurality of light out-coupling elements. The plurality of light out-coupling elements project the light on the projection surface via light out-coupling elements comprising sub-sets (70a, 70d) of light out-coupling elements. A particular sub-set (70a, 70d) is arranged for substantially illuminating a particular area (50a, 50d) of the projection surface (50). A luminous intensity emitted by the particular sub-set is dependent on a distance (da, dd) along a straight line between the particular sub-set and the particular area, and/or on an angle between the straight line and normal of the projection surface. The effect of the measures according to the invention is that the variation of the luminous intensity over the particular area is reduced.
US08167425B2
A method of printing an indication of defective printing can print a defective printing mark indicating that printing was not completed normally on a printout containing unprinted or missing dots. When printing one page of print data on recording paper is completed but before a paper discharge command indicating a page break (step ST3) is executed, the operation printing the one page of print data is interrupted and whether or not ink droplets are being discharged normally from the ink nozzles of the inkjet head is detected. If the ink droplets are not being discharged normally, the recording paper is conveyed in reverse direction and print data for the defective printing mark is printed on the recording paper as part of the interrupt process. Therefore, if the recording paper contains unprinted (missing) dots, a defective printing mark is printed on the recording paper and printing the one page of print data then ends.
US08167415B2
A liquid container includes a liquid containing portion, a case, a liquid detection unit, and an impact absorbing portion. The liquid containing portion contains liquid. The case forms a space that accommodates the liquid containing portion. The liquid detection unit includes a liquid introducing portion that is connected through an attachment portion, which is provided in the case, to a liquid delivery port of the liquid containing portion. The impact absorbing portion is provided at least between a bottom face of the case and the liquid detection unit to absorb an impact applied to the liquid detection unit.
US08167412B2
Dot positions are measured by recording dots on a recording medium in a measurement line pattern including a plurality of lines of rows of the dots respectively corresponding to a plurality of recording elements. The measurement line pattern is read where a longitudinal direction of the plurality of lines is directed to a sub-scanning direction of an image reading apparatus. A plurality of averaging regions is allocated to different positions of line blocks, the lines arranged in a main scanning direction. The image signal is averaged in the allocated averaging regions, and average profile images are created for positions in terms of the main scanning direction. Positions of both edges of each line are determined according to the average profile images. Line positions in the averaging regions are determined according to the edge positions. Line positions in the line blocks are determined according to the line positions in the averaging regions.
US08167409B2
A liquid ejecting head unit including liquid ejecting head bodies for ejecting liquid by the drive of a pressure generating device; wiring members for feeding drive signals to the pressure generating device of the liquid ejecting head bodies; and connector members provided at an end of the wiring members, being connected by the wiring members, and having second connector sections detachable from first connectors of the liquid ejecting head bodies; wherein the connector members respectively include a base member equipped with a wiring member connector for inserting the connecting end of the wiring member for connection, and a retaining member fixed to the base member covering the wiring member connector section; wherein the wiring members inserted into the wiring member connector are retained in a folded state by the retaining members.
US08167408B2
An ink jet recording head includes a recording element substrate; an electric wiring member including an array of leads connected to the recording element substrate at an electrical connecting portion; a supporting portion including a surface supporting the electric wiring member and a recessed bottom surface for supporting the recording element substrate; sealing material covering a part of an upper surface of the electric wiring member, the electrical connecting portion, a part of an upper surface of the recording element substrate, and the array of leads; and a projection provided between the electric wiring member and the recording element substrate at an end of the array. A level difference between upper surfaces of the projection and the recording element substrate is smaller than a level difference between the upper surfaces of the recording element substrate and the electric wiring member.
US08167405B2
A liquid ejection head, including: plates including a nozzle plate in which nozzles for ejecting liquid are formed, and stacked on each other with the nozzle plate being as an outermost plate, wherein the nozzle plate includes a first area in which the nozzles are formed and a second area adjacent to the first area and located on a plate-side of the first area in a plates-stack direction, on which plate-side at least one of the plates different from the nozzle plate is located, wherein the nozzle plate further includes a first nozzle plate positioner formed in the first area and a second nozzle plate positioner larger than the first nozzle plate positioner and formed in the second area, and wherein each of the at least one of the plates includes a plate positioner formed therein and at least partly overlapping the first nozzle plate positioner in the plates-stack direction.
US08167404B2
An imaging device includes an image receiving surface configured to move in a process direction in the imaging device. A plurality of printhead arrays are arranged to deposit marking material onto the image receiving surface. Each printhead array includes a plurality of printheads arrayed in a cross-process direction across the image receiving surface. Each printhead array includes at least one stitch line corresponding to a position along an axis parallel to the cross-process direction where an end of one printhead in the printhead array aligns with an end of another printhead in the printhead array. The at least one stitch line of each printhead array is offset a predetermined distance in the cross-process direction from the at least one stitch line of each of the other printhead arrays.
US08167401B2
The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head which has a nozzle surface including a plurality of nozzles; a cap device which comes in contact with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and enables liquid inside the nozzles to be suctioned or pressurized; and a selection device which selects whether or not the liquid inside the nozzles is suctioned or pressurized, for each of at least two nozzle groups into which the nozzles are divided.
US08167398B2
A recording apparatus includes: a recording head that has: an inlet; an outlet; a supply and discharge flow path; a nozzle; and a liquid supply flow path, a liquid flow forming unit that forms a flow of liquid toward the outlet in the supply and discharge flow path; a first temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor; a heating unit; and a control unit that controls the liquid flow forming unit and the heating unit on the basis of a first detection temperature and a second detection temperature, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed in a first position between the inlet and the communicating position of the liquid supply flow path, wherein the second temperature sensor is disposed in a second position between the outlet and the communicating position, wherein the heating unit is disposed in a third position between the inlet and the communicating position.
US08167396B2
A contraction portion of a vibration pulse includes a first contraction element which occurs subsequent to an expansion portion, a contraction maintaining element which follows the first contraction element, and a second contraction element which follows the contraction maintaining element, and when a time from a start point time of the expansion portion to an end point time of the expansion portion is set as t1, a time from the end point time of the expansion portion to a start point time of the contraction portion is set as t2, and a natural vibration period of ink in an ink flow path including a pressure chamber is set as Tc, the start point time (t1+t2) of the contraction portion is set to be in the range of any one of the following expressions (1) and (2). (t1+t2)
US08167381B2
A brake fluid pressure control device for a bar handle vehicle has a front wheel brake system which imparts a braking force to a front wheel and a rear wheel brake system which imparts a braking force to a rear wheel. At least one of the brake systems has a master cylinder which generates brake fluid pressure in accordance with an operation amount of a brake operation element, first and second wheel cylinders both of which impart the brake force on one of the front and rear wheels, a first hydraulic path which communicates the master cylinder with the first wheel cylinder, a second hydraulic path which is branched from the first hydraulic path and connected to the second wheel cylinder and a boosting unit which boosts the brake fluid pressure in the second wheel cylinder without boosting the brake fluid pressure in the first wheel cylinder.
US08167379B1
Disclosed herein is a method of processing rounded toothbrush bristles using synthetic bristles. The method includes cutting one end of a filament bundle of synthetic bristles, mechanically polishing the cut end of the filament bundle of synthetic bristles, heat treating the polished end of the filament bundle of synthetic bristles, and caustisizing the heat-treated end of the filament bundle of synthetic bristles into a round shape. In this method, at least one end of the toothbrush bristle is softly rounded to protect gum damage due to irritation of the one end of the toothbrush bristle and to provide a gum massaging effect for healthy gum with the rounded end of the toothbrush bristle.
US08167376B2
A headrest apparatus for vehicle seats. The headrest apparatus includes coupling holders, a support, a headrest, and an actuating unit. The headrest apparatus further includes a connector body mounted outside any one of the coupling holders, and configured to have guide rails that extend from the connector body in the ascending and descending direction of the support; a slider coupled to the connector body so as to be moved along the guide rails; and connectors configured to be respectively mounted to a lower end of the support and the slider, to be coupled to or separated from each other according to the ascent and descent of the support, and to be respectively connected with the power line, which is connected to the actuating unit of the headrest, and the power line, which is connected to the power supply unit of the vehicle via the seat main body.
US08167374B2
A swivel chair including a swivel-mounting assembly having a lower plate, and an upper plate, and bearings for rotatably mounting the upper plate to the lower plate. The lower plate and the upper plate defining an annular gap therebetween cooperating with the interior of the swivel-mounting assembly. The improvement includes an annular gasket having a first portion that receives the bearings is positioned in-between the plates. The annular gasket further having a second portion depending from the first. The second portion includes upper and lower sections extending from the first portion and have an inside facing section being in partial surface-to-surface contact with the lower and upper plates. Thus, the annular gasket prevents foreign particles from entering into the interior of the swivel-mounting assembly.
US08167373B2
A height adjustment mechanism is disclosed that includes a pedestal height variability mechanism. The pedestal height variability mechanism includes a first member and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism is configured to hold the first member in a first position. The first member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The biasing mechanism has a first portion attached to the first member adjacent the first end of the first member. The biasing mechanism also has a second portion attached to the first member adjacent to the second end of the first member. Preferably, a second member is also provided that is moveably attached to the first member. The second member may be configured such that movement of the second member actuates height adjustment of a chair.
US08167367B1
The seat cover with adjustable cushion apparatus provides for removable fit to a variety of seats. Various sizes and dimensions of the apparatus are provided so that a plurality of seat types and sizes are properly fitted. The apparatus provides a multitude of features and conveniences including seat heating and back massage. The memory hinge importantly provides a user with headrest cushion adjustability whereby the headrest cushion shape is altered and retained thusly until changed again by a user. A user's head can be supported rearwardly and to both sides as tightly or as loosely as a user wishes. The seat back provides for storage of personal items such as cell phone and pencils and the like.
US08167363B2
Methods of prestressing a vehicle structural member include forming a support structure, applying a preformed reinforcing component to the support structure, the preformed reinforcing component having a size changing material that changes in dimension upon application of a stimulus and transforming the preformed reinforcing component from a first configuration to a second configuration.
US08167358B2
An automatic gap closing system automatically moves a gap closing cover between an un-deployed and a deployed configuration to selectively cover a gap between two coupled vehicles (e.g., tractor-trailer combination) in response to an actual or expected speed of at least one of the vehicles, thereby increasing fuel efficiency at relatively high or fast speeds without hindering maneuverability of the coupled vehicles at relatively low or slow speeds. Indications of speed and/or location may come from speed sensors, on-board computers (i.e., black box), GPS receivers, or wireless receivers.
US08167357B2
A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a hatch frame slidably mounted thereto. A hatch closure is pivotally mounted to the hatch frame. The hatch frame is slidably movable between a slide closed position and a slide open position and the hatch closure is pivotally movable between a pivot closed position and a pivot open position.
US08167352B2
A floor carpet (40) for covering a vehicle floor as well as a tool storage area is disclosed. The floor carpet has an overlapping flap (57) for overlapping a rear surface (33) of a peripheral edge of an opening (32) formed in a vehicle body (11) when the opening is closed, the flap being able to be pulled toward the surface of the opening when opened. The overlapping flap has a plurality of small lap portions (61) and a plurality of large lap portions (62) for overlapping the rear surface of the peripheral edge of the opening to a small degree and a large degree. The small lap portions and the large lap portions are alternately arranged in a wave shape.
US08167351B2
A seat/flatbed/drop-in-container assembly for a cart comprises a framework extending from and supported by the cart, including at least one support member, and defining a volume of space interiorly of the support member and a remaining portion of the framework. A seat is supported by the framework within the volume of space and adapted to extend to define a flatbed supported by the framework within the volume of space. A container is adapted to be dropped in the volume of space and supported upon the flatbed. To secure the container to the framework upon the flatbed, the support member extends through an aperture disposed completely through the container and/or is interferingly fitted between a body of the container and lip of a rim thereof. Alternatively, to secure the container upon the flatbed, the seat includes a seat back, and the container defines a flange that holds the seat back.
US08167346B2
A gripper assembly includes at least one gripper jaw, a fluid driven actuator for moving the at least one gripper jaw, and a valve located adjacent the fluid driven actuator for selectively delivering a fluid to the fluid driven actuator.
US08167345B2
A robot hand converts the longitudinal extending and retracting motion of an actuating rod of a linear actuator into opening and closing motion of left and right first links via a link mechanism. The link mechanism includes left and right middle links composed of coil springs. When the left and right first links come in contact with an object to be gripped, the middle links elastically deform and expand, and the force gripping the object gradually increases due to the elastic deformation of the middle links. It is possible to prevent a large gripping force from acting suddenly on the object and to prevent the object from being deformed, damaged, or otherwise suffering harmful effects.
US08167343B2
The invention concerns a device which is based on thermoplastic material for the attachment of a bumper covering at the body of a motor vehicle which includes a base body and a cover plate as well as a security pin for securing the cover plate; the base body and the cover plate are configured as separate components and the security pin when inserted into safety lugs at the base body locks the cover plate in place.
US08167338B2
A continuous, non-metallic conduit for conductors, such as electrical wiring and/or fiber optic cable. The continuous conduit being formed from at least one pair of first and second conduits having enlarged ends coupled together. The enlarged ends are belled or otherwise have a diameter greater than that of the straight run (non-belled) portions of the conduit. The enlarged ends of the conduit being coupled together by fusion or welding, and an internal bead or ridge being formed by the coupling process. The enlarged ends are dimensioned such that the internal bead or ridge formed at the junction between the two enlarged ends does not project radially inward to a position equal to or less than the diameter of the straight run portion of the conduits. The continuous conduit is configured to allow the conductor to be passed therethrough such that the conductor does not contact the internal bead or ridge.
US08167336B2
Labels and methods for removing a portion of a release liner from a label are disclosed. An example labels includes a substrate, a layer of adhesive on the substrate, a layer of release coating in contact with the layer of adhesive, and a release line in contact with the release coating. The release liner includes a first edge, a second edge, and a first line of weakness. The first line of weakness includes a tapered or curved portion and extends from the first edge of the release liner to between the first edge and the second edge of the release liner.
US08167335B2
The present invention discloses a fender liner attached to a motor vehicle wheel house. The fender liner includes a breathable base material layer produced by forming a fiber assembly into a shape along the wheel house and a protective layer made of waterproof material. The protective layer is superimposed on a surface of the base material layer that is opposite to a side facing the wheel house. The protective layer is provided with a plurality of through-holes that allow air to flow through the protective layer to the surface of the base material layer on which the protective layer is superimposed.
US08167334B2
The invention relates to a gas generator for an airbag module, comprising a housing, and a filter fastened in the housing for filtering a gas that can be generated with the gas generator. According to the invention, it is provided that a part of the gas generator is inserted into a recess of the filter for fastening the filter in the housing.
US08167333B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a frame for mounting the seat to a vehicle. The seat assembly also includes a seat pad molded from a polymeric material and located proximate the frame. A trim cover is disposed over the seat pad, and includes a seam adjacent a side of the seat pad. An airbag assembly, which includes an airbag and an inflator configured to supply gas to the airbag, is also part of the seat assembly. A force concentrator covers at least a portion of the seat pad for protecting it during deployment of the airbag. The force concentrator includes inner and outer panels which form a deployment channel for the airbag, and thereby inhibit contact of the airbag with the seat pad as the airbag deploys.
US08167332B2
A folding stroller of the present invention includes four struts, two sliding members, a fore double bar linkage, an aft double bar linkage and two linking bars. The sliding members are slidably disposed on one of the struts separately. The aft double bar linkage includes two aft bars. The fore double bar linkage includes two fore bars. The aft bars, the fore bars and the linking bars are separately pivotally connected one of the sliding member to one of the struts. As such, users may fold or unfold the folding stroller easily by moving the sliding members.
US08167328B2
A suspension system for a handlebar-steered vehicle includes an upper tube, a lower tube reciprocally slidable relative to the upper tube. A positive spring assembly biases the upper and lower tubes away from each other. A piston assembly is attached to the lower tube. The suspension includes a travel adjustment mechanism including a locking mechanism and an actuator. The locking mechanism is connected to the positive spring assembly and selectively maintains a first portion of the positive spring assembly in a compressed state with the upper and lower tubes drawn toward each other. The actuator is operatively connected to the locking mechanism to releasably engage the locking mechanism to maintain the first portion of the positive spring assembly in the compressed state.
US08167323B1
The handcart has various embodiments, each embodiment having a pair of larger wheels at the back of the load-carrying platform and a rear axle located above the plane of at least the forward portion of the platform. Smaller caster wheels are mounted on arms extending forward and outward from the forward corners of the platform. The outward ends of the arms are displaced upwardly to place the platform bottom only very slightly higher than the bottoms of the forward casters, thus increasing stability by lowering the center of gravity of the cart and contents, and facilitating loading and unloading of the cart due to the very low platform. The cart need not be tilted rearward to lift the platform from the floor, but may be pushed over the underlying surface with the load-carrying platform remaining level and with all four wheels rolling over the underlying surface.
US08167299B2
A sheet feeder is provided with a storing section for storing transfer sheets, a feed roller for feeding the transfer sheets stored in the storing section one by one from the uppermost one; a separation roller arranged to face the feed roller; a transport roller arranged downstream of the feed roller in a transport direction; and a transfer sheet guide for guiding the transfer sheet to the transport roller, wherein the transfer sheet guide includes a guide face formed to extend from the storing section along the transport direction of the transfer sheet on or in a vicinity of an extension of a line tangent to the feed roller and the transport roller on the side of transporting the transfer sheet, the guide face being formed in an area between the storing section and the separation roller.
US08167297B2
A sheet separating device includes: an air blowing unit that is configured to blow air toward a side face of stacked sheets being stacked with a plurality of sheets to separate the sheets by forming an air layer between the sheets; and a sheet pressing unit that is configured to apply a pressing force on the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheets while the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets, the pressing force having a downward component and a component in a direction along the uppermost sheet.
US08167293B2
This invention provides a system and method for aligning, feeding, trimming, slitting, rotating, cross-slitting and stacking sheets, each containing one or more discrete page images thereon that allows for greater automation of the overall process so that reduced or no manual intervention is required to generate completed book stacks or “blocks” from a stream or stack of printed sheets. Sheets are fed downstream on a feed surface, trimmed at a first, upstream trimming station to remove margin edges and optionally separate the sheets relative to the discrete page images. The sheets are then rotated 90 degrees and fed to a second, downstream trimming station that trims the right-angle edges and optionally separates the sheets into a final group of full-bleed pages, removing margins and gutter strips. The sheets are feed to a stacking assembly to be tacked in page order and any rejected, defective sheets or stacks are removed from the order. Trimming stations can be automatically adjusted to accommodate different numbers and sizes of pages in sheets. The stacking assembly can include a right-angle merge assembly that can include a plurality of decks, served by divert gates to handle a large number of separated pages to-be-stacked.
US08167292B1
Jaw plates for removably attaching to the jaws of machine vises extend above the top of the jaw to hold taller workpieces. They are made from aluminum alloy for readily machining to conform to contours of a workpiece not easily held by flat jaw faces. They are sections cut from a special extrusion for enhanced physical properties and economy of production. Through holes are drilled for fastening to the jaw face. The plate has a planar vertical face for lying flat on the vertical jaw face. A second face engages the top horizontal face of the jaw. A groove between the two plate faces ensures the second face engages the horizontal face of the jaw away from the intersection of the faces. Alternatively, material on the plate may conform to the workpiece when hot and retain shape when cool.
US08167291B2
A jaw plate for a vise including a selectively extendable pin for locating a workpiece. An exemplary jaw plate may be installed in a workholding device, such as a vise, which may be used to hold a workpiece proximate a machine tool. An exemplary jaw plate includes a plurality of pins at predetermined locations along the jaw plate's front face. The pins may be individually selectively extended or retracted by an operator. In their extended positions, the pins may assist the operator in locating the workpiece relative to the machine tool in a correct and repeatable position.
US08167287B2
A jig is used for positioning a retaining ring that retains a seal ring in an inner periphery of a blade ring relative to the blade ring that constitutes a gas passage of a turbine. The jig includes a base that determines a measurement point on the blade ring, a shaft arranged displaceably relative to the base, a probe that is fixed to the shaft and determines a measurement point on the retaining ring, and a measuring unit that is arranged in the base and measures a displacement amount of the shaft relative to the base.
US08167286B2
A cylindrical vibration isolating device having an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder, an elastic leg having a pair of right and left leg portions to connect the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and, when viewed in the axial direction of the inner cylinder, being formed in a substantially inverted V-shape while placing the inner cylinder in an intermediate position, and a mass projection being provided in the elastic leg such that the mass projection resonates in a frequency range that the elastic leg causes bending resonance. The mass projection is provided outside of an inner restraint line that is a perpendicular line passing an outermost point of an inner restrained portion that is a connected portion between the inner cylinder and the elastic leg.
US08167277B2
A carburetor booster that produces a shear factor to maintain emulsification of fluid passing through, out of, and around the booster body. The booster includes ports between a groove at a bottom portion of the booster and a plenum in the booster, the plenum being a source of a fuel mixture.
US08167261B2
A mount structure includes a base and a bearer. The base has a slot, and at least one combining block is disposed protruding from the slot. The bearer has a bearing portion and a combining portion. The bearing portion is connected to a display, and the combining portion is installed in the slot through hooks, buckles, latches, screws, or other combining methods, such that the bearer is fixed on the base. Moreover, the combining portion is provided with reinforcing ribs for enhancing the structural strength of the bearer.
US08167255B2
“HINGE WITH ELASTIC ELEMENT AND TAB ADAPTED IN CARDBOARD DISPLAY STANDS FOR ASSEMBLY, FLATTENING AND AUTOMATIC SET-UP SYSTEMS”, formed from a cardboard plate (1) with creases (2), (3) and (4) which mark the swinging segments (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10), forming a hinge (14) to be applied to display stands (such as display shelf, display-box, totem and other similar objects obtained from the central cardboard cutting and creasing design), operating through tension imposed by the elastic loop (15) anchored into the cuts (17) of a beveled tab (16) internal or posterior, positioned in the junction points of the adjacent walls (P) of the display stand (D). The hinge (14) works in clamping system, closing itself strongly tensioned during the display stand (D) flattening, for piling, transportation and delivery to the client, secured in an envelope. After delivery, the hinge (14) is opened by pulling offered by the loop (15), pushing forcefully the flattened walls (P) of the display stand (D), for its automatic opening and set-up.
US08167254B2
A trash container emptying mechanism provides an upstanding “U” shaped yoke with two horizontally spaced apart vertically extending arms each having a perpendicular base portion mounted to wheeled cart. A trash container carrier having a partially circumferentially extending rigid upper support, a vertically spaced apart bottom support and at least one vertical leg communicating between the rigid upper support and the bottom support is pivotally carried within the yoke on two offset pivot spacers and two horizontal axles extending therethrough and therebetween. A flexible length adjustable strap releasably secures the trash container to the carrier and a removable position locking pin extends through aligned axle holes defined in yoke vertical arm and carrier to positionally secure the carrier and trash container in a vertical orientation within the yoke.
US08167252B2
One example embodiment includes a system for securing a portion of a medical device. The system includes a first arm, where the first arm includes a gripper. The system also includes a second arm. The second arm is attached to the first arm, can move relative to the first arm and includes a gripper. The gripper of the first arm and the gripper of the second arm are configured to grip an external object. The system further includes a fastener, where the fastener is configured to releasably attach the first arm to the second arm, and a holder, where the holder is configured to hold at least a portion of a medical device.
US08167247B2
A space-based occulter is selectively movable between stowed and deployed configurations. A base hub has a longitudinally oriented center axis. A plurality of petals are provided, each petal extending radially outward from, and spaced radially apart from, the base hub when in the deployed configuration. Each petal has a hypergaussian edge made up of a plurality of hypergaussian edge panels. Each hypergaussian edge panel defines a portion of the hypergaussian edge of the petal. Each hypergaussian edge panel is made substantially of a material having a near zero coefficient of thermal expansion. A circular central portion is located radially between the base hub and the plurality of petals. A covering skin extends laterally between the hypergaussian edges of each petal and over the circular central portion. The covering skin defines a substantially planar surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the center axis when the occulter is in the deployed configuration.
US08167237B2
A mounting system for a gas turbine engine includes a mounting linkage assembly and a tangential link positioned generally transverse to the mounting linkage assembly. The mounting linkage assembly reacts at least a thrust load. The tangential link reacts at least a vertical load, a side load, and a torque load of the gas turbine engine.
US08167211B2
A card carrying device may include a stacker in which a plurality of cards is stacked, a card pushing-out member for engaging with the rear edge of a card at a lowest position of the cards to push the card at the lowest position outside from the stacker, a carrying-out roller for carrying the card outside from the stacker, and a card pushing-up member for pushing up other cards stacked on the card at the lowest position in an upper direction in a period after the carrying-out roller comes in contact with the card at the lowest position and before the card at the lowest position has been carried outside from the stacker.
US08167206B2
A reader for reading computer-generated individualized holograms which are written into a storage medium, having a light source for generating a light beam, a recording means for acquiring image data generated by the light beam by illuminating the individualized hologram, and display means for displaying the display data generated from the image data, wherein all the components are combined in a portable handheld unit.
US08167196B2
Accommodating the data needed to process checks for payment under the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act by using expanded fields of a financial data file. The financial data file can comprise the complete, original MICR data from an original or substitute paper check. The financial data file can comprise truncated data in conventional fields F1-F7 and untruncated data in expanded fields F10-F11. The financial data file further can comprise a result from an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check. The untruncated MICR data and the electronic check image can be used to correct errors in the financial data file and to present the check for payment via a substitute check or an electronic image cash letter. The truncated MICR data can be used to electronically process the check via conventional means.
US08167193B2
A packaging container for containing an object includes a substantially square-shaped first sheet member and a substantially square-shaped second sheet member overlaid on one another and forming four sides. At least one of the four sides forms an opening from which the object can be inserted. The packaging container also includes a first flap adjacent to the first sheet member through a first fold line at the opening, including a first cover piece to cover one half of the opening when folded, and a second flap adjacent to the second sheet member through a second fold line at the opening, including a second cover piece to cover another half of the opening when folded. The first flap and the second flap are provided at the opening so as not to overlap each other, and the first cover piece and the second cover piece cover substantially all the opening when folded.
US08167192B1
Disclosed herein is a manufacturing method for a ceramic heater. The manufacturing method includes the step of manufacturing a sintered ceramic substrate using a ceramic material and forming a conductive through hole in the ceramic substrate, the step of screen printing low temperature firing paste on the ceramic substrate, thus forming a heating wire, the step of screen printing Ag paste on the through hole, thus forming an electrode, the step of joining, using heat and pressure, a green sheet to a surface of the ceramic substrate on which the heating wire is formed, the step of firing the joined ceramic substrate and green sheet at low temperature, thus manufacturing a substrate body, and the step of brazing the lead wire to the electrode of the substrate body using filler metal while the lead wire is exposed to atmosphere.
US08167191B2
A multi-layer seal arrangement includes a dissolution barrier between a braze alloy and a ceramic component. The inventive seal is useful for joining a ceramic component to another ceramic component or a metal component, for example. In one example, the braze comprises a gold alloy and the dissolution barrier comprises a layer of alumina on the order of 2-3 microns thick. A titanium wetting layer is provided between the alumina layer and the alloy. A metallization layer provided between the dissolution barrier and the ceramic component in one example comprises a layer of gold between two thin layers of titanium. In one particular example, a platinum mesh is included with the gold of the braze alloy to control braze flow during the brazing operation.
US08167190B1
Polymer compositions containing a polymer matrix, a graphene that is covalently bonded to the polymer matrix and metal particles are described herein. A combined concentration of the metal particles and the graphene in the polymer matrix exceeds an electrical percolation threshold. In general, the graphene has a carbon:oxygen ratio of at least about 20:1 so as to impart a high electrical conductivity thereto. The polymer compositions can be used as a lead-free solder material, in which case they can allow multiple rework operations to take place at a connection. Methods for making and using such electrically conductive polymer compositions are also described.
US08167189B2
Methods for reworking a solder containing one or more joined members are described herein. Such methods can include applying a disintegrating agent to a solder containing a solder material, disintegrating the solder material to form a disintegrated solder material, and removing the disintegrated solder material from the solder. Such methods can also include applying a disintegrating agent containing bismuth to a solder containing a solder material, and heating the solder to liquefy the disintegrating agent. Such methods can also include applying a disintegrating agent containing a bismuth alloy to a solder having a solder material that contains metal nanoparticles, and heating the solder to liquefy the bismuth alloy.
US08167187B2
A method and a device is provided for levelling an area region on the surface of a metal or metallization layer of a carrier. The area region is made planar by the action of a stamp or of a roller.
US08167185B2
A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.
US08167180B2
A method and arrangement for providing a load carrying apparatus for securing an elongate article, such as a canoe of kayak, to a vehicle generally includes a plurality of load bars, a guide pivotally secured to each of the load bars, an aperture disposed along a length of each guide, and at least one retaining strap threadably received by each aperture. The at least one retaining strap is disposed about the elongate article and is secured to the load bars such that the elongate article may be secured between the retaining strap and the guide. In a preferred aspect, the retaining strap is disposed through the aperture, about the elongate article, about the load bars, and is secured to itself under a tensioning force.
US08167169B2
Reservoir for a dispense system designed to maintain a suspending fluid flow within the reservoir. The fluid dispense system is particularly well suited to be manufactured in a single-use format comprising a fluid reservoir and fill tube assembly, particularly comprising a reservoir, tubing, fittings and connectors, and a needle. The system ensures uniformity within the liquid by moving the fluid through the product reservoir such as with a continuous or pulsating flow, and is designed to maintain the fluid in motion in order to maintain a homogenous solution. The reservoir is designed to minimize any fluid dead zones.
US08167166B2
A container having a base with extending sidewalls therefrom and a lid hingedly connected thereto. The container may have an alignment mechanism having a lower alignment member and an upper alignment member locating surface on the base and lid, respectively, at the region where the base and the lid are hingedly connected. The container may have a plurality of locking mechanisms in which each locking mechanism includes an extending latching portion and a corresponding circular opening for engagement thereof. The locking mechanism is configured to securely lock the lid to the base wherein an appropriate amount of pulling force must be applied thereto in order to disengage the lid from the base.
US08167156B2
The convertible child-resistant vial includes a container having an aperture and a peripheral wall and being provided with a first connection element in the form of contiguous locking and freeing housings provided in a collar extending from the peripheral wall; and a cap hingedly mounted to the container integrally thereof and including a second connection element for cooperating with the first connection element to close the vial in a child safe-manner. The second connection element is in the form of a tooth which is easily removable to convert the child-resistant vial into a non-child-resistant vial. The vial can be molded in a one piece body. The integral mounting of the cap to the container allows easing the distribution and handling of the vial.
US08167153B1
A support system for use on mast climbing scaffolding systems comprising a plate system with integral fastening components that attach along outer edges of a horizontal surface of the scaffolding assembly is herein disclosed. The system is utilized to mount a hoisting device to lift building tools, supplies and materials. The system may be folded thereinto a compact configuration for transport between job sites.
US08167149B2
A merchandise security system includes a merchandise display having a first display member and a second display member vertically spaced from the first display member. At least one tile is mounted to the first display member. The at least one tile is movable between a first position blocking access to a desired column of associated merchandise stored on one of the first and second display members to a second position allowing access to the desired column of the associated merchandise. A lock member is operatively connected to the at least one tile for restricting movement of the at least one tile from its first position. The lock member is movable from the locked position where at the lock member interferes with movement from the at least one tile from its first position to an unlocked position which enables the at least one tile to be moved from its first position to its second position for allowing access to the desired column of associated merchandise.
US08167146B2
A cable management apparatus includes a cable support, and a connecting member. The cable support includes a first support and a second support. A rail assembly includes an outer rail and an inner rail slidably attached to the outer rail. The first support is rotationally attached to the inner rail and the second support is rotationally attached to the outer rail. The connecting member connects the first and second supports and extends a blocking portion. The first support is capable of changing position relative to the second support while the inner rail and the outer rail stay relatively static. The blocking portion is supported by the supporting member and is capable of disengaging from the supporting member.
US08167141B2
A gravity-fed carbon block water filter in one embodiment includes a filter block comprising multiple sub-blocks each comprising filter media walls surrounding and defining a cavity for receiving fluid. Each of the sub-blocks is connected to at least one other of the sub-blocks by filter media of which the filter block is made. In one approach, the filter media includes about 20-90 wt % activated carbon, and about 5-50 wt % binder. In another approach, a lead concentration in a final liter of effluent water filtered by the filter is less than about 10 μg/liter after about 151 liters (40 gallons) of source water filtration, the source water having a pH of 8.5 and containing 135-165 ppb total lead with 30-60 ppb being colloidal lead greater than 0.1 μm in diameter. A gravity-fed water filter in other embodiments has no specified shape but achieves a FRAP factor of about 350 or less.
US08167140B2
A filter apparatus capable of releasing air from a filter body, comprising a filter body held by a holder. The filter body includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter body is disposed in the holder so as to rotate around an axis of rotation that passes through the fluid inlet. The holder includes a front panel. The front panel comprises engaging portions, for temporarily engaging the fluid outlet at either an air releasing position or at a filtering position, and a fixing means for fixing the filter body at each position. The filter apparatus further includes means for rotating the filter body.
US08167125B2
In one embodiment, a retail display includes a first box having walls that define a first interior compartment. The walls include a top wall that is formed of a transparent material to permit viewing of the first interior compartment. The display also includes an inner box that is open along a top thereof and is disposed within the first interior compartment. The inner box partitions the interior compartment into a first section and a second section where the inner box is disposed. The inner box has a second interior compartment. The retail display includes a first article of clothing disposed within the first section, wherein the degree of movement of the first article of clothing is limited by walls of the first box and the vertical side wall of the inner box. A second article of clothing is disposed within the second interior compartment of the inner box. An aperture is formed in the top wall of the first box and positioned so that it extends across the vertical side wall of the inner box and allows access to both the first and second interior compartments to permit contact with both the first and second articles of clothing.
US08167121B2
The invention relates to a belt retention guide for retaining the position of a belt having beads along its peripheral edge. The belt retention guide comprises a first roller, a movable portion, and a fixing portion. The first roller engages with the beads and retains the position of the beads. The movable portion supports the first roller and the fixing portion engages with the movable portion. The beads are pinched between the first roller and the fixing portion, thereby retaining the position of the belt. The movable portion is configured to be movable between a fixed position where the first roller engages with the beads to pinch them, and a released position where the first roller is separated from the beads to release them. The movable portion is secured in the fixed position by insertion of a stop member through or between the movable portion and the fixing portion.
US08167119B2
A low-pressure accumulation system and a conveyor belt in an accumulation conveyor for the use with the system. The belt, which is flanked on opposite sides by lines of gravity rollers, has a longitudinal lane of article-supporting belt rollers arranged in groups along the length of the conveyor belt. The groups are spaced apart from each at regular intervals. Trays sit atop the gravity rollers until they are lifted slightly higher by one of the slightly elevated groups of article-supporting belt rollers, which engage the bottom of the tray and convey it along toward a discharge end. Retractable stops selectively block the trays from advancing on the accumulation conveyor. The freely rotatable article-supporting belt rollers roll along the bottoms of any blocked and accumulated trays and provide low back pressure. The belt may also include low-friction rollers that ride on bearing surfaces below the belt to help lower friction between the belt and the conveyor structure while the belt is running.
US08167118B2
A conveyor, a conveyor belt used in the conveyor, and a belt module used to construct the conveyor belt, in which the module includes belt rollers that extend outward of a conveyor surface of the modules to support conveyed articles. The belt rollers are mounted in cavities in the modules that open onto the conveying surface and a recessed surface recessed inward of an outermost surface opposite the conveying surface through the thickness of the modules. Bearing surfaces, such as the peripheries of conveyor rollers underlying the conveyor belt along a carryway run, extend into the conveyor belt past the outer surface to contact the belt rollers. As the belt advances, the belt rollers rotate on the bearing surfaces to push conveyed articles along or across the belt.
US08167116B2
A method of reducing drag on the web of a positive displacement sorter is used with a web made up of a plurality of parallel slats interconnected at their opposite ends with chain assemblies in an endless loop. A plurality of pusher shoes each travel along at least one of said slats. The sorter further includes a driven sprocket assembly and a non-driven sprocket assembly. Each of the sprocket assemblies includes at least two sprockets on a shaft, each for engaging one of the chain assemblies. The sprocket assemblies support the chain assemblies at opposite ends of the web. The method includes auditing the sorter including determining if the slats are skewed with respect to the direction of travel of the web. If it is determined that the slats are skewed, then the chain assemblies and the non-driven sprocket assembly are modified. The chain assemblies are modified by adding side thrust wheels on opposite sides of the web. The non-driven sprocket is modified by locking the sprockets to the shaft such that the sprockets rotate together.
US08167113B2
The method consists in collecting products (2) that are arriving spaced and in line on a conveyor (1). This collection is carried out by means of a collector device (40), in the form of a comb, arranged transversally, forming an angle between 60 and 120° in relation to the product advancement direction (2).The collector (40) deposits and drops the collected products at a take-up station which is located on the side of said supply conveyor (1); it is capable of a loop movement that can be divided, for the collecting of said products, into a transversal movement combined with a longitudinal movement upwards of the vial queue.The installation for the implementation of the method comprises a table (3) arranged at the level of and along the conveyor (1), a collector (40) carried by an appropriate structure in order to be displaced longitudinally and transversally above said conveyor (1) and said table (3).The table (3) is comprised of two panels (31, 32) which extend on either side of the supply conveyor (1) in order to allow for the depositing and a dropping of the collected products on each side of said conveyor (1).
US08167112B2
An arrangement to turn print products transported in a conveyed flow along a conveying path in a conveying direction that includes a first conveyor having a traction device guided over a reversing wheel. First clamps are attached to the traction device to clamp the respective print products. A second conveyor is arranged downstream the first conveyor includes second clamps arranged to receive the print products from the first conveyor. A curved turning section connects the first conveyor with the second conveyor along which the print products are turned upside down. The transfer device assists to transfer the print products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and to turn the print products in the turning section prior to being clamped by the second clamps. The transfer device includes transfer tongs to turn the respective print products around an axis transverse to the conveying direction.
US08167108B2
A clutch includes a clutch inner and a clutch outer that houses the clutch inner and that transmits or interrupts torque between itself and the clutch inner. The clutch outer has a thick portion that has a larger thickness than the other portions of the clutch outer. A position-of-center-of-gravity adjusting portion for bringing the center of gravity of the clutch close to the axial center of a driven shaft is formed at a position separate from the axial center of the driven shaft of the thick portion. Efficiency of manufacture work of bringing the position of the center of gravity close to the center of rotation is thereby enhanced.
US08167101B2
A shock absorber comprises a first passage (2a, 2b) and a second passage (15) connecting a first fluid chamber (41) and a second fluid chamber (42). A throttle (12, 14) narrows an inflow of fluid to the first passage (2a, 2b) according to an applied displacement pressure. The displacement pressure includes a fluid pressure in one of the two fluid chambers (41, 42) and a pressure that depends on a velocity of the fluid flow through the throttle (12, 14). A spring (25, 29) biases the throttle (12, 14) in the opposite direction to narrow the fluid flow. The second passage (15) comprises a pair of orifices (16a, 17a). By exerting a pressure between the pair of orifices (16a, 17a) on the throttle (12, 14) in the opposite direction to narrow the fluid flow, the spring load required of the spring (25, 29) is reduced.
US08167098B2
A brake dust collecting device for a motor vehicle has a dust collecting unit and an air flow generating device that generates an air flow that flows across brake parts of a motor vehicle wheel brake and that supplies brake dust of the wheel brake to the dust collecting unit. The air flow generating device has a rotatable fan blade and the dust collecting unit is a filter element.
US08167097B2
The present invention is predicated upon friction material and more particularly to chopped basalt reinforcement fibers within a friction material.
US08167090B2
An apparatus is disclosed for safely lowering a user from a structure. The apparatus includes a frame; a spool including a cable rotatably mounted on the frame; a securing device attached to the cable and adapted to securely attached to the structure; a user support adapted to support the user and securely attached to the frame; and a pair of centrifugal hydraulic brake systems adapted to slow a rotation of the spool to cause the user support, spool and frame to descend at a safe rate for the user. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame; a spool including a cable rotatably mounted on the frame; a securing device attached to the frame and adapted to securely attached to the structure; a user support adapted to support the user and attached to the cable; and a pair of centrifugal hydraulic brake systems adapted to slow a rotation of the spool to cause the user support to descend at a safe rate for the user.
US08167084B1
A sound suppressor suppresses sound and flash by creating interacting paths of gas. While a first portion of the gas follows a first path through the suppressor, a second portion of the gas is diverted radially from the first path to a second path and then repeatedly made to cross the first path by a series of baffles with alternating radial passages so that the two portions of gas interfere and interact with each other, and therefore quickly give up much of their kinetic energy before they exit the suppressor. Preferably, the baffles defining the second path impart a swirl to the second portion of gas to cause the present suppressor to flush itself of carbon and metal particles. The interaction of the two portions also accelerates completion of combustion of the gas to thereby reduce flash.
US08167082B2
Methods and systems are provided for inducing seismic energy waves in a subterranean formation. More specifically, seismic transducers are provided that incorporate enhanced seismic baseplates. In certain embodiments, baseplates comprise certain enhancements such as having a perimeter in the shape of a polygon, such as, a hexagon or an octagon. In other embodiments, the perimeter of the baseplate may take the form of a polygon having n sides, where n is any integer greater than 4. Advantages of such baseplate enhancements include, but are not limited to, a reduction of baseplate harmonics or ringing, enhanced baseplate strength so as to reduce baseplate fatigue or failure, a reduction of baseplate flexure, and a consequent reduction of baseplate weight resulting in a more responsive baseplate. These advantages ultimately translate to improved seismic surveys, having higher resolution of the formations surveyed and resulting in surveys reaching greater depths.
US08167077B2
A wheel type work machine having improved ease of assembly and a compact-sized traveling system power transmission mechanism. The wheeled work machine comprises a traveling body (2) having an engine (7) mounted at the rear of a machine frame (6) supported by front and rear wheels (4, 5) and the traveling system power transmission mechanism (8) for transmitting power from the engine (7) to the rear wheels (5). The traveling system power transmission mechanism (8) comprises a rear wheel differential device (38) disposed on the front side of the engine (7), a hydrostatic transmission (35) disposed on the front side and the rear wheel differential device and receiving the power from the engine (7), and a mechanical transmission device (37) disposed between the hydrostatic transmission (35) and the rear wheel differential device (38) and transmitting the power from the hydrostatic transmission (35) to the rear wheel differential device (38). The rear wheel differential device (38), the mechanical transmission device (37), and the hydrostatic transmission (35) are formed integrally with the engine (7).
US08167075B2
An air bag system includes an air bag which can cover a front surface side of a front pillar of a vehicle. The air bag includes an inflatable main body portion and a supporting inflatable portion. The inflatable main body portion covers a front surface of the front pillar when the air bag is inflated completely. The supporting inflatable portion stretches continuously from the inflation main body portion so as to extend towards an outside of the vehicle from the inflation main body portion and is disposed to be brought into abutment with an upper surface of a mirror main body of a door mirror which is in a usable position on a lower surface side so as to be supported thereon to thereby support the inflatable main body portion, when the air bag is inflated completely.
US08167074B1
A slow speed, driver's stand-up only, three-wheels, portable, leverless, extremely lightweight, two-part personal mobility vehicle. A front major part, wheel drive assembly, comprising of an upper sub-part, comprising of levers free steering handle mounted on steering column. A lower sub-part comprises of an extended backwards supporting leg, a control box, an electric chain motor assembly, a fork assembly, and front wheel assembly. A two-part hinge assembly below the steering column, enabling folding steering column, and, if necessary, removal. A second major part, a rear assembly chassis, comprising of a riders flat platform surface mounted on a rectangular metal frame, partially mounted on a rear axle, which is connected to both rear wheels. A rear hydraulic foot brake system installed in both rear wheels, whereby a foot brake (pedal) lever formed on top platform surface. An alternative, none-emergency hand brake lever, may be fastened on the steering handle. A removable battery pack is formed on the platform surface. A two-part telescopic box fit assembly, whereby a receiving part is mounted upward on the end of extended leg; a second, sleeve-type part, is formed, respectively, downward on the front platform frame, for interconnecting both major vehicle parts into a complete vehicle, ready to drive at lower speed than 5 MPH. Two sets of simple outlet-plug assembly are formed on respective parts of the battery and platform, and on both ends of the telescopic assembly to supply power to the motor. Said telescopic connecting mechanism enables assembly, disassembly, loading and unloading in less than seven seconds.
US08167072B2
A utility vehicle with space utilization features is disclosed. The space utilization features provide storage and access to components.
US08167071B2
An engine hood for a motor vehicle has an outer planking and an inner part. Between the outer planking and the inner part, a supporting part is arranged, which reinforces the outer planking. In order to reduce the manufacturing costs for an engine hood while maintaining a favorable delay pattern in the event of a head impact, the supporting part has supporting elements which, in the event of an essentially vertical admission of force, permit a displacement of the outer planking relative to the inner part until the supporting part rests with its predominant surface against the inner part.
US08167070B2
A battery housing structure, in an electric vehicle, is operable to regulate a temperature of a battery disposed between front and rear wheels of the vehicle. The battery housing structure includes a main housing body for receiving the battery, inlet and outlet ports for respectively supplying air to and discharging air from the main housing body; and a fan for discharging air from the main housing body. A bypass passage is provided in the battery housing structure for selectively connecting a downstream side of the fan with the inlet ports. First and second air flow control valves are also provided in the battery housing structure for selectively controlling and routing the flow of air within the battery housing structure.
US08167069B2
The invention relates to a battery changing system comprising an industrial truck and a battery pack, which is or can inserted into a battery compartment of the industrial truck, wherein the battery pack may be inserted into a lateral access opening of the battery compartment with a first end leading into the battery compartment and may be withdrawn from the battery compartment with its first end at the rear, wherein the battery pack accommodated in the battery compartment can be supported in the vicinity of its first end with at least one rolling body on the base of the battery compartment, and at least one transport device, on which the battery pack can be accommodated. The transport device may comprise a changeable adapter, which can be aligned in a predetermined position for a battery changing operation relative to the industrial truck by means of mutually interacting alignment means.
US08167067B2
A self-propelled low-emission off-road vehicle has an internal combustion engine supported in an engine compartment and also includes a vehicle cooling assembly and an engine exhaust treatment device positioned in the compartment. The vehicle cooling assembly includes a powered fan and an enclosure with a heat exchanger operable to discharge heat produced by the vehicle. The enclosure presents an inlet, outlet, and air flow plenum, with the fan directing air flow along a path between the inlet and outlet. The exhaust treatment device is operable to treat engine exhaust flow. The exhaust treatment device is positioned at least partly in the air flow plenum and in the path between the inlet and outlet.
US08167064B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular drive apparatus including an engine and a motor is provided. The control apparatus includes a controller that determines the operating point of the engine and the operating point of the motor based on the characteristic of the vehicular drive apparatus. When at least one of the operating point of the motor and the operating point of the engine is in at least one of a motor noise occurrence region and a gear noise occurrence region, the controller changes the at least one of the operating point of the motor and the operating point of the engine so that the at least one of the operating point of the motor and the operating point of the engine avoids the at least one of the motor noise occurrence region and the gear noise occurrence region. This suppresses at least one of motor noise and gear noise.
US08167060B2
A jetting hose is conveyed downhole retracted within a tubing string for jetting lateral boreholes from a main wellbore, is released at the jetting depth and pumped from the tubing string and into a lateral borehole with jetting fluid. A piston is secured to the upper end of the jetting hose, and the pumped jetting fluid drives the piston. A speed control regulates the penetration rate of the jetting hose into the formation independent of the tubing string weight.
US08167045B2
Methods comprising providing a polymerizable treatment fluid that comprises furfuryl alcohol monomer dispersed in an aqueous base fluid; introducing the polymerizable treatment fluid to a portion of a subterranean formation; and allowing the polymerizable treatment fluid to polymerize in the subterranean formation. The methods may include the use of contacting the furfuryl alcohol with an initiator to begin polymerization.
US08167043B2
A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.
US08167030B2
A micro-evaporator is disclosed which is easy to manipulate and can be operated problem-free over a large temperature range. The micro-evaporator has micro-evaporator channels in a trapezoidal region, comprising an inlet region opening in the liquid feed chamber with a small diameter, and an outlet region opening into the vapor collecting chamber with a large diameter.
US08167025B2
The invention relates to a dummy bar (1) for a continuous casting installation for casting a metal strand, including a dummy bar head (2), a transition piece (3) and a link chain (4), wherein the transition piece (3) and/or the link chain (4) are made of a plurality of links (5, 6) that are connected to each other in an articulated manner, and wherein the links (5, 6) can be pivoted relative to each other about a transverse axis (Q) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the dummy bar (1). In order to particularly prevent internal stresses in the dummy bar when replacing parts of the dummy bar, the invention provides for at least one articulated joint (7) to be configured between two links (5, 6) that are connected to each other in an articulated manner, such that said joint allows a relative pivoting movement of the links (5, 6) about the transverse axis (Q) that is greater than any pivot angle (α) occurring during the use of the dummy bar (1). In or on the joint (7), a locking element (8) is displaceably arranged in a direction (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the dummy bar (1) and perpendicular to the transverse axis (Q). The locking element (8) can assume a position (A) in which the pivoting movement of the links (5, 6) is not influenced by the locking element (8), and a position (B) in which the pivoting movement of the links (5, 6) is limited to a predetermined pivot angle in a pivoting direction. The invention further relates to a method of the continuous casting of a metal billet using such a dummy bar.
US08167014B2
A tread forming step of forming a non-conductive tread rubber includes a first step of forming the tread rubber in such a manner that a shoulder portion becomes smaller in diameter than a finish cross sectional shape, a second step of setting up a conductive layer extending along a tire circumferential direction while alternately passing through a first position which is exposed to a tread surface of the shoulder portion, and a second position which comes into contact with a sidewall rubber in an outer side in a tire width direction than the first position, and a third step forming a finish cross sectional shape of the tread rubber by adding a non-conductive rubber to the shoulder portion of the tread rubber.
US08167008B2
A tablet filling instrument 1 for dispensing tablets into a vial 9 in accordance with prescription data and discharging the vial 9 filled with the tablets in an outlet 113 includes a pair of holding members 111 each provided with at least one slope extending from an upper end located within the instrument 1 to a lower end located in the outlet 113, the holding members 111 being designed to receive at the upper ends the vial 9 filled with the tablets and to allow the vial 9 to slide down under its own weight to the lower ends with supporting a flange 9a around an outer periphery of the vial 9.
US08167003B1
A refueling system including a nozzle configured to dispense fuel through a fuel path thereof into a vehicle tank. The nozzle includes a vapor path configured such that vapor recovered from the vehicle tank during refueling is passable therethrough. The system further includes a sensing valve disposed in the vapor path, wherein the sensing valve is configured to generally block the associated part of the vapor path when a sufficient vacuum from the vehicle tank is applied to the sensing valve during refueling. The system also includes a regulator valve disposed in the vapor path and arranged in series with the sensing valve, the regulator valve being configured to regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to the sensing valve.
US08167000B2
A valve assembly includes a solenoid can having an internal coil. A valve body connected to the solenoid can includes an inlet port and a first valve seat. An axially adjustable retainer threadably connected to the valve body includes an end portion defining a second valve seat. A homogenous valve member/armature slidably disposed in the valve body moves in the presence of a coil generated magnetic flux between valve closed and valve open positions. A valve member/armature first surface area is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid through the inlet port. A valve member/armature second surface area is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid in the valve closed position. The first surface area is equal to the second surface area and the pressurized fluid acts equally on the first and second surface areas defining a pressure balanced condition in the valve closed position.
US08166988B1
The medically equippable walker device provides numerous important features to aid a patient in ambulation and in personal medical equipment carriage. The inverted U's may provide wheels in front and feet in the rear so that a user can easily walk as desired, by tilting the walker off of the feet, and also maintain stability when stopped by allowing the feet to be firmly planted. One side of the device provides two cross rails that are ideal for the sleeves to slideably adjust for desired positioning of a ring and a basket to hold an oxygen tank securely. The second side inverted U holds like upper and lower cross rails with an adjustably positioned rail between. Any number of right angled supports are provided for the carriage of various medical equipment such as IV bags and urine bags, for example.
US08166985B2
When a substrate is subjected to bevel cleaning processing, a first magnet plate is arranged at a lower position, and a second magnet plate is arranged at an upper position. In this case, each of chuck pins enters a closed state in a region outside the first magnet plate, while entering an opened state in a region outside the second magnet plate. That is, a holder in each of the chuck pins is maintained in contact with an outer edge of the substrate when it passes through the region outside the first magnet plate, while being spaced apart from the outer edge of the substrate when it passes through the region outside the second magnet plate.
US08166978B2
Endoluminal treatment devices and methods are provided. Generally, the devices and methods can allow an endoluminal device to be introduced into a lumen of a patient and engage a wall of lumen with an implant device, which can be a drug delivery device or medical device. In one embodiment, an endoluminal treatment method is provided that includes forming an incision in body tissue, attaching first and second pledgets to the body tissue near the incision, attaching a manipulation line to body tissue near the incision by attaching a first free end of the manipulation line to the first pledget, introducing a surgical tool through the incision in the body tissue, attaching a second free end of the manipulation line to the surgical tool such that the manipulation line extends between the first pledget and the surgical tool, and manipulating the surgical tool to perform a medical treatment procedure.
US08166972B2
The invention is an antiseptic mask, comprising a canister configured to store an antiseptic agent, one or more filters adapted to receive the antiseptic agent and a housing comprising a passageway from an air intake through the one or more filters and to a nose/mouth port. Further, the present invention describes an antiseptic mask and method for treating breathable air contaminated with pathogens through a facial mask filter system using an antiseptic agent to be distributed to a filter through which the air may pass.
US08166961B2
A retrofit kit for providing flexible paintball loading mechanism is disclosed. In one embodiment, the retrofit kit includes a right side portion of a receiver, a left side portion of the receiver, and a bottom removable adapter. The right side portion of a receiver having a first feed hatch is able to receive paintballs through an upper loading mechanism. The left side portion of the receiver after coupling with the right side portion of the receiver to form a receiver is capable of coupling to a barrel as well as a pressured gas container. The bottom removable adapter, in one embodiment, facilitates to receive paintballs via a bottom feeding mechanism.
US08166957B2
Systems and methods are provided for operating an engine exhaust system. In one example, a system comprises a first valve, and a second valve coupled to the first valve via a shaft. A first position of the shaft situates the first valve closed and the second valve open, a second position situates the second valve closed and the first valve open by a first amount, and a third position situates the second valve closed and the first valve open by a second, larger amount.
US08166946B2
A diesel engine start-up assisting device includes a plurality of first-and-second switching elements 11a to 11d between a common direct-current power source 1 and a plurality of electrical load 3a to 3d, a plurality of start-up assisting main parts 10a to 10d and an input-and-output unit 7. The diesel engine start-up assisting device is constructed so as to enable start-up of a diesel engine when power distribution is applied to at least one of the electrical loads 3a to 3d. In arrangement, the first-and-second switching elements 11a to 11d, the start-up assisting main parts 10a to 10d and the input-and-output unit 7 are integrated into one package having a lead frame. Defining the first-and-second switching element as a pair of switching elements, the first-and-second switching elements 11a to 11d are arranged in parallel with each other on the lead frame, and the lead frame has a notch part formed between two pairs of switching elements adjoined to each other.
US08166934B2
A locking and rotation angle device for locking and setting maximum rotational adjustability of a drive part fixed to the crankshaft and a driven part fixed to the camshaft of a camshaft adjuster. The driven part is pivotably adjusted to the drive part, which has a locking bar received in the drive or driven part, a locking bar member formed in the respectively other part, and a rotation angle limiting member formed in the correspondingly other part. Limiting wall sections serve as stops for the locking bar for adjusting a maximum rotational adjustability. The locking bar member, rotation angle limiting member, and locking bar are disposed such that the locking bar is displaced via the displacement mechanism into a locking position, engaging into the locking bar member, and into an unlocking position, in which it is released by the locking bar member and engages in the rotation angle limiting member.
US08166932B2
The movable element of a solenoid valve is displaced by means of application to the solenoid of alternating phases at constant voltage and at zero voltage, so as to give rise to an alternation of phases of charging and discharging of the solenoid (switching), corresponding to increases and decreases of current around a substantially constant current value. The alternating phases at constant voltage and at zero voltage are controlled so that the phase at constant voltage is maintained for a pre-set time and the phase at zero voltage is terminated when the decreasing current reaches a pre-set value. Alternatively, it is possible to envisage that the phase at constant voltage will be terminated when the increasing current reaches a pre-set value and the phase at zero voltage is maintained for a pre-set time, or else again that both the phase at constant voltage and the phase at zero voltage will be terminated when the increasing current or decreasing current reaches a pre-set value. In any case, the duration of each cycle of charging and discharging of the solenoid is constantly monitored. It is thus possible to identify the instant at which the movable element of the solenoid valve reaches its end-of-travel position as the instant that separates two successive cycles of charging and discharging of the solenoid having durations that differ from one another by a value higher than a pre-set threshold value.
US08166924B2
A non-choking harness for a pet which evenly distributes stress throughout the chest area and away from the neck area of the pet when the leash is pulled to prevent choking. The non-choking harness comprises a body part, an adjustable strap, and a connection part. The body part comprises a center portion which substantially covers the chest area of the pet, two neck ends configured to wrap around a neck of the pet to provide a neck opening and two torso ends configured to wrap around a torso of the pet to provide a torso opening. The adjustable strap removably connects a first torso end to a second torso end, and adjusts the size of the torso opening to provide a comfortable fit. The connection part is configured to removably connect to the two neck ends, removably connect to the adjustable strap; and to adjust the size of the neck opening. At least one D-ring for attaching a leash is fixedly attached to the connection part. Preferably, the D-ring is fixedly attached to retain pendular motion but inhibit sliding movements. The non-choking harness completely opens up for easy access in fitting the pet.
US08166919B2
A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.
US08166918B2
A self-cleaning litter box (50) provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to use a one piece litter cartridge (20) having a litter compartment (26) and a waste compartment 24. In another embodiment, the cartridge (20) is non-compartmentalized. In another embodiment, the system includes a rake assembly (56) configured with a drive assembly (58) that is protected from waste contamination. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning litter box (50) is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.
US08166903B1
As typically embodied, the present invention's add-on device includes two wedge-shaped structural components that are oppositely congruent and symmetrically connected. In profile, the device describes a pair of nearly triangular quadrilateral figures that are enantiomorphs (mirror images) with respect to the linear bisector (mirror line) at which they join. The device's V-angular upper surface defines the same V-angularity (“deadrise”) as does a V-angular hull bottom, the device thus fitting beneath the hull bottom. The device's V-angular lower surface defines a different angularity, which is imparted to the hull bottom when the device is attached thereto. According to typical inventive practice, the device alters the hull bottom's V-angularity by at least 1° and, at least, covers approximately 100% of the hull bottom's widthwise expanse along approximately 50% or more of the hull bottom's lengthwise expanse. The device modifies a marine vessel's hydrodynamics and/or hydrostatics, and may provide armor and/or wear benefits.
US08166886B2
A wear monitoring system is provided for monitoring the wear and/or abrasion of at least one system component of a cable operated transportation system, where the system component is subjected to wear and/or abrasion and is mounted in rotating and/or circulating manner. A parameter measuring device is provided for measuring an actual value and/or a time-dependent actual value function of at least one electrical and/or mechanical parameter of the at least one system component and/or the drive unit. An evaluating device is provided for determining a parameter deviation of the actual value from a desired value in dependence on time or a time interval and/or of the actual value function from a time-dependent desired value function of the at least one parameter. The parameter deviation corresponds to the state of abrasion and/or the state of wear of the at least one system component.
US08166882B2
A shaped charge has a case defining a volume therein. A liner is located in the volume. An explosive is located between the case and the liner. The liner defines an interior volume and an opening thereto. The liner also has an apex portion that is distal from the opening. The liner has a first thick portion and a second thick portion. A thin portion is located between the first thick portion and the second thick portion in a direction extending from the apex portion along the liner toward the opening. The thin portion is thinner than the first thick portion and thinner than the second thick portion.
US08166880B2
A micro-machined or micro-engraved safety and arming device for a pyrotechnic train of a projectile to which axial spin is imparted after firing, such device comprising a substrate onto which a shutter to break the pyrotechnic train is positioned, such shutter being mobile in translation on the substrate, device in which the train-breaking shutter is held immobile by at least two locks, a first lock, or axial acceleration lock, which is released further to the application of the acceleration communicated to the projectile during firing, and a second lock, device wherein the second lock is a centrifugal lock that is released further to the projectile being made to spin.
US08166878B2
An ultraviolet drying device (37) and a photoelectric sensor (70) for detecting the outer surface of a transport cylinder (36) are provided at a position close to the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36) arranged downstream in a sheet-like material convey direction of a reverse printing unit (11) for subsequent printing. When the ultraviolet drying device (37) is turned on and the photoelectric sensor (70) detects that a contamination-preventive member is mounted on the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36), the driving of a printing press stops. Also, when an IR lamp (46) of an infrared drying device (47) is turned on and the photoelectric sensor (70) detects that the contamination-preventive member is not mounted on the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36), the driving of the printing press is stopped. With this arrangement, deformation of the contamination-preventive member mounted to protect the cylinder is prevented in a liquid transfer apparatus.
US08166868B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
US08166867B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
US08166861B2
A shock reduction muzzle brake 100 for the muzzle end of a gun barrel 106 (i) maintains sufficient rearward-facing surface area in the path of the expanding propellant gas to counter the recoil, while also (ii) guiding shock waves away from a path of a projectile 104 and (iii) decreasing the rate of base decompression to minimize decompression shock. The muzzle brake 100 includes (a) a tube 102 that defines a path for a projectile 104, and (b) multiple forwardly-inclined holes 122 extending through the side wall 116 of the tube 102 to divert propellant gases away from the path of the projectile 104. The forwardly-inclined holes 122 have an outlet of that is closer to the forward end 114 of the tube 102 than the inlet of the hole 122, thereby limiting the surface area that could reflect shock waves back onto the projectile 104. The holes 122 are sized to slow release of the base pressure to minimize decompression shock.
US08166853B2
A digital torque wrench includes a position sensor assembly which measures the movement of a load beam with respect to an indicator beam to determine the torque being applied to a working element by the torque wrench. The position sensor assembly includes a first position sensor portion having multiple rotatable pinion gears coupled to a potentiometer, and includes a second position sensor portion having a rack gear that engages one of the pinion gears of the first position sensor portion. The first and second position sensor portions are attached to different ones of the load beam and the indicator beam so that at least one of the pinion gears rotates along the rack gear in response to force (torque) being applied through the load beam to the working element.
US08166849B2
A combination open-ended ratcheting wrench with a box-end wrench has a wrench having a wrench head, the wrench head having a first aperture with a first opening, a receptacle formed at an inner wall of the first aperture, at least one limiting groove disposed around the inner wall of the first aperture; a control member pushing against an elastic member acceptable in the receptacle and having a ratcheting surface and a smooth surface, and at least one stopping edge corresponding to and accepting the limiting members; a ratchet disposed in the first aperture and having a ratcheting aperture, the ratcheting aperture having a ratchet opening, a ratcheting pawl formed around an outer circumference of the ratchet and corresponding to the ratcheting surface of the control member; and a rotation cap disposed on the wrench head covering a portion of the ratchet in the first aperture and having a second opening.
US08166845B2
A theftproof clutch handle for a motorcycle includes a clutch connector, at least one fixed shaft mounted on the clutch connector, a handle body removably mounted on the fixed shaft, and a locking shaft movably mounted on the handle body and releasably locked onto the fixed shaft. The fixed shaft has a locking groove. The handle body has at least one shaft hole. The locking shaft has a release groove. Thus, when the locking shaft is pressed, the fixed shaft is released from the release groove of the locking shaft, and the locking shaft is released from the locking groove of the fixed shaft to unlock the fixed shaft from the locking shaft so that the handle body can be removed from the fixed shaft to provide a theftproof effect.
US08166840B2
In a twin clutch type speed change control system in which changeover of gear position is carried out by switching between a pair of clutches, to suppress the noises of clutch being in the disengaged condition during a normal operation with a fixed gear position. In the twin clutch type speed change control system, changeover of gear position between an odd-ordinal gear position and an even-ordinal gear position is effected by disengaging an engaged clutch and engaging a disengaged clutch. During the normal operation with a fixed gear position, the clutch being in the disengaged condition is supplied with a minute oil pressure toward the clutch engaging side, whereby the clutch is moved by a minute amount toward the clutch engaging side.
US08166836B2
The invention relates to a tool which has more than one function. As a first function, the tool is capable of activating a fastening element, either by direct physical contact or by remote activation. As a second function, the tool is capable of detecting an attribute of the fastening element. The attribute can include position or location of the fastening element, status of the fastening element, identity of the fastening element, environmental factors affecting the fastening element, size of the fastening element, sequence in which the fastening element must be activated, history of the fastening element, authorization requirements in relation to the fastening element, or activation requirements of the fastening element.
US08166833B2
Embodiments of the invention relate a charge indicator for determining the mass of a fluid contained within a fluid enclosure, wherein the charge indicator responds to a deformation of a solid component in contact with the fluid and wherein the deformation is a function of the mass of fluid contained within the fluid enclosure.
US08166831B2
The present invention provides a force measuring rigid load binder in the field of goods holding. The force measuring rigid load binder of the invention address the problems of conventional force measuring rigid load binders, such as potential damages to goods, adverse affection on goods transportation, increased difficulty in manual control, time and labor consumption and inconsistent tensioning forces of the binding belt. The force measuring rigid load binder of the invention includes a tensioning mechanism having a handle. Each of both ends of the tensioning mechanism is connected with a hook respectively. The tensioning mechanism is made of a rigid material. The distance between two hooks could be adjusted by the tensioning mechanism when the handle is pulled. A sensor is provided at a forced part of the tensioning mechanism, which could generate a signal corresponding to the size of the tensioning force when the load binder is in operation. The sensor is connected with a signal processing circuit which could receive and process said signal. A display device is connected with the signal processing circuit to display the size of the tensioning force. The force measuring rigid load binder of the invention has advantages including timely availability of the size of the tensioning force of the load binder, a high safety property, a compact structure and a low manufacturing cost.
US08166829B2
Ultrasonic flow meter transducer assembly. At least one some of the illustrative embodiment are systems including: a spool piece that defines an exterior surface, a central passage, and a transducer port extending from the exterior surface to the central passage; and a transducer assembly coupled to the transducer port. The transducer assembly includes: a transition element coupled to the spool piece, the transition element having a first end disposed within the transducer port, and a second end residing outside the exterior surface; a piezoelectric module with a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric module directly coupled to the first end of the transition element and the piezoelectric module disposed within the exterior surface; a transformer module with a transformer disposed therein, the transformer module directly coupled to the second end of the transition element and the transformer module disposed outside the exterior surface; and an electrical conductor disposed within a passage through the transition element, the electrical conductor couples the transformer to the piezoelectric element.
US08166816B2
Capacitive bulk acoustic wave x, y and z-axes gyroscopes implemented on (100) and (111) silicon substrates are disclosed. Exemplary gyroscopes comprise a handle substrate, a bulk acoustic wave resonator element supported by the handle substrate, and a plurality of electrodes surrounding and separated from the resonator element by very small capacitive gaps. The electrodes can excite and detect at least two degenerate bulk acoustic wave resonant modes in the resonator. Advantages include reduced size; higher Q, which improves noise and bias stability; larger bandwidth, and improved shock resistance. In addition, the high Q is maintained in atmospheric or near-atmospheric pressure which reduces the cost and complexity of the wafer-scale packaging of the gyroscope.
US08166815B2
An angular velocity sensor element is provided which is capable of preventing even transmission of sudden externally-applied vibration to an element portion by absorbing the vibration. An angular velocity sensor element 2 according to the present embodiment has a fixing portion 21 in the form of a frame, an element portion 20 disposed in the frame of the fixing portion 21 and having vibrating arms 21 to 24 in a drive system and a detection system, and a connecting portion 25 formed as a fixed-fixed beam having its both ends connected to the fixing portion 21 and having its intermediate portion connected to the element portion 20.
US08166809B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for monitoring tire related conditions. A substrate is provided having one or more pairs of sensors mounted thereon. The pairs of sensors are mounted in predetermined relationship to each other at predetermined separation distances such that rotational direction, speed and other parameters of a tire with which the sensors may be associated may be determined. In some embodiments, plural effective pairs of sensors are provided so that mounting orientation of the sensor need not be predetermined.
US08166807B2
An apparatus and method is described for testing a multi-hole fuel injector nozzle. The apparatus comprises mounting means for the multi-hole nozzle and fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the multi-hole nozzle. The multi-hole nozzle is mounted outside a measurement chamber for capturing the fuel spray from an individual spray hole outlet of the multi-hole nozzle. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a spray target plate, located within the measurement chamber, at which the fuel spray is directed. The spray target plate (28) is connected to a remote pressure sensor, which is used to determine the spray force of the fuel spray acting on the spray target plate. The apparatus is further arranged to determine the mass flow rate of the fuel spray. A new parameter, referred to as ‘momentum efficiency’ is defined, and calculated using the determined values of spray force and mass flow rate.
US08166806B2
A method and a device for monitoring a fuel injection system are described. A manipulated variable is modified by a certain amount. A first value of a measured variable is detected prior to the modification and at least a second value is detected after the modification. An error is detected when the first value and/or the at least second value deviate from an expected value.
US08166795B2
A method for resetting a calibration of a sensor operating out-of-range in a hydraulic actuation system is provided. The hydraulic actuation system includes a pump, a reservoir, a plurality of work-ports, a plurality of sensors, and a valve system, and a controller for regulating the hydraulic actuation system based on fluid flow demand and sensed pressures. The method includes detecting the sensor operating out-of-range, opening all work-ports to the reservoir, resetting all sensors to reservoir pressure, supplying all sensors with fluid at maximum pump pressure, and sensing the maximum pump pressure at each sensor. Additionally, the method includes determining an average pressure value across all sensors, assigning the determined average pressure value to the sensor that is operating out-of-range, and resetting the calibration of the sensor that is operating out-of-range based on the reservoir pressure and the average pressure values.
US08166794B2
A positive electrode active material quality judgment method that can easily and accurately judge the quality of a positive electrode active material used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell without having to complete the positive electrode. The positive electrode active material quality judgment method includes: heating a positive electrode active material mainly made of a lithium nickel composite oxide to a temperature x (° C.) of 200° C. or higher and 400° C. or lower; measuring the amount of carbon dioxide gas generated from the heating; and the positive electrode active material as a suitable positive electrode active material when the positive electrode active material satisfies formulas 3 and 4: y<(1.31x−258)/1000000(200≦x<300) formula 3 y<1.20x−225/1000000(300≦x≦400) formula 4 where x is the heating temperature x (° C.) and y is the amount of carbon dioxide gas (mole/g) generated per 1 g of the positive electrode active material in the heating to the heating temperature x (° C.).
US08166790B2
Example embodiments relate to a continuous metal extruder that includes a rotatable member having an extrusion screw portion for transporting metal to be extruded in an axial direction of the rotatable member, a fixed part, a spring element for biasing the rotatable member and the fixed part in relation to each other, and a thrust bearing arranged between the rotatable member and the fixed part.
US08166788B2
A lip-rolling and flanging tool for bending back and/or widening fender-wheelwell edges of motor vehicles, the tool having a flanging roll (46) that is attached through a telescoping tube arrangement (10) to an affixing flange (4) mountable on a wheel axle of the motor vehicle, and while generating a pressing force against the fender-wheelwell edge is pivotable together with the wheel axle, the flanging roll (46) is mounted in a forked support bracket (44) disposed at one end of the telescoping tube arrangement (10), which bracket is disposed in a rotatable and lockable manner between the clamping jaws (40, 40′) attached to the telescoping tube arrangement (10′), the clamping jaws (40, 40′) each have at least one recess or milled-out section (100,100′) that interacts with a pin (103) disposed in the flanging-roll support bracket (44) so as to restrict the pivoting range of the flanging-roll support bracket (44).
US08166787B2
The present invention relates to a system for and a method of manufacturing a linear gear (rack gear), in which a forming roll and a guide roll are used to form gear teeth in a sequential manner so as not to require a high load, thereby enabling to easily manufacture the rack gear. A system for manufacturing a rack gear according to the invention includes a forming roll having a convexo-concave portion formed on a part of the surface contacting with a linear bar, a guide roll adapted to roll while facing the forming roll, and at least one support member for supporting the linear bar so as to allow the linear bar to linearly move. A method of manufacturing a rack gear according to the invention includes a first step of passing a linear bar through between a pair of rollers provided in front of a forming roll and a guide roll, a second step of charging the linear bar into a charging hole between the forming roll and the guide roll, a third step of rolling the forming roll and the guide roll to partly form teeth on the outer circumferential surface of the linear bar, and a fourth step of rolling the forming roll and the guide roll forward or backward to discharge the linear bar.
US08166777B2
A glass foaming material and method are disclosed for filling void spaces in electrochemical devices. The glass material includes a reagent that foams at a temperature above the softening point of the glass. Expansion of the glass fills void spaces including by-pass and tolerance channels of electrochemical devices. In addition, cassette to cassette seals can also be formed while channels and other void spaces are filled, reducing the number of processing steps needed.
US08166752B2
An exhaust gas cooling apparatus and method for cooling an exhaust gas is provided. The exhaust cooling apparatus having a first fluid conduit having a variable nozzle opening disposed at one end of the first fluid conduit, the variable nozzle opening being defined by a shape memory alloy extending from the first fluid conduit; and a second fluid conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end, the variable nozzle opening being disposed in the second fluid conduit proximate to the inlet end of the second fluid conduit such that a fluid inlet opening is disposed about an outer periphery of the variable nozzle opening and an inner surface of the inlet end of the second fluid conduit, the shape memory alloy varying the size of the variable nozzle opening by moving toward or away from a center line of the first fluid conduit in response to a temperature of an exhaust gas flowing through the first fluid conduit.
US08166739B2
A windrow merger has a frame supporting first, second and third pickup assemblies, with the two outside pickup assemblies foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position. Each of the pickup assemblies includes a reversible conveyor providing multiple windrow merging configurations. The pickup assemblies are interchangeable and aligned to define an unobstructed pickup face.
US08166738B1
A header (20) for an agricultural combine (10) comprises a laterally extending frame (28) supporting a laterally extending cutter bar (54) and left and right lateral belt conveyors (32, 34) supported on the frame (28). Each of the belt conveyors (32, 34) has a feeding direction from an outer side end towards a center of the header (20). Rotationally drivable left and right crop compression rollers (74) are supported on the frame (28) above the left and right lateral belt conveyors (32, 34). The crop compression rollers (74) extend substantially over the length of the left and right lateral belt conveyors (32, 34) and have a smooth cylindrical surface.
US08166735B1
A gang-type lawn mower system comprises a main frame and a plurality of mower decks secured to the main frame. Mounted on the frame is a power source such as an internal combustion engine. A drive train is interconnected between the power source and each of the mower decks. Thus, each mower deck is driven by the single power source. Further, the frame structure includes a tongue that is adapted to be connected to a tractor. Therefore, in cutting grass, the frame structure is pulled over the ground and each of the mower decks, driven by the power source, cuts grass or other vegetation that passes under the mower deck. Additionally, each mower deck is pivotally connected to the frame structure about at least one pivot axis.
US08166726B2
The process of tiling a floor is disclosed in which the leveling of the tile members being attached to a floor or counter top includes selecting and attaching a plurality of tile height spacers to each piece of tile. Each tile height spacer has a plurality of feet extending from one side thereof and an adhesive coating on the other side having a protective cover thereover. The adhesive cover is removed from the tile so that the tile height spacer can be attached to the bottom of a tile member for pressing the tile member and tile height spacers attached thereto into the tile bonding agent applied to the floor for leveling the tile.
US08166722B2
The present invention provides a modular flooring system including a ramp to facilitate entry and exit from the flooring system. The ramp may be modular and interconnect with all or parts of a perimeter of the flooring system, and the ramp may also interconnect with adjacent ramp members.
US08166717B2
Provided are a stiffener for connecting a prestressed concrete beam and a method of constructing a structure using the same, in which the beam such as the prestressed concrete beam which is covered with concrete is connected to a target structure including a column structure or a girder. The stiffener is made up of a buried stiffener, an end face stiffener, and a joint stiffener, thereby enabling simple connection, excellent stress transmission, and very efficient construction of (building) structures.
US08166712B2
A gutter insert formed of a flexible open cell porous foam has five or more sides and forms an inverted “V” or check-mark shape. Four gutter inserts may be cut from one column of foam material, thereby reducing foam waste. The four gutter inserts may be shipped nested together in columnar form, and separated at the jobsite just before installation.
US08166699B1
A swiveling tip for a fishing rod includes a housing with a barrel positioned therein and a roller. The housing includes a first bore for receiving the barrel and a second bore for receiving a fishing rod. The barrel is capable of rotating 360° around a longitudinal axis of the second bore. The barrel has an axle mounting member at a distal end thereof and a through hole that is parallel to and offset from the second longitudinal axis for receiving a fishing line. The roller is configured to rotate about the axle and is adapted to redirect the fishing line from a first direction to a second direction.
US08166693B2
A method performed by a weapon, includes interacting with a user of the weapon to receive a first code; determining whether the first code is consistent with a second code in a memory of the weapon to produce a result of determining; testing whether the weapon is in a zone; performing an operation of the weapon in accordance with the result and the weapon being in the zone. Interacting may include monitoring a switch that is operated by the user; and receiving may include determining the first code in accordance with a time between successive operations of the switch. The method may further include disabling performance of the operation in accordance with the weapon being not in the zone. And, after disabling, requiring a repeat performance of interacting and determining whether the first code is consistent with the second code before enabling performing a further operation of the weapon. An assembly for upgrading an electronic control device, the assembly includes an enclosure, an electrical connector, a battery, and a transceiver. The transceiver supplies to the electronic control device a current that conveys a result of testing whether the assembly is in a zone. A device detects that an electronic control device has been used. The device includes a radio receiver and a circuit. The electronic control device generates a radio signal when used. The circuit detects a plurality of properties of the received radio signal and outputs a signal in response to detecting.
US08166692B2
The present invention is a self-leveling follower for an ammunition magazine. Side extensions provide greater stability to the follower and aid in its self-leveling feature. The follower according to the present invention is also manufactured to facilitate removal from and insertion into the magazine casing when maintaining the magazine. Additional features provide greater utility by improving bolt-stop capacity and consistency of ammunition feed.
US08166684B2
The present invention provides a display board comprising two flexible planar members joined together along an upper edge. The planar members are extendable between a first position for transport and storage where their lower edges are adjacent and a second position where their lower edges are spaced apart and the flexible planar members are curved. The display board can be used to display posters and other printed matter. It is lightweight and very stable even in the presence of strong winds.
US08166683B2
A card holder includes a unitary hollow main body having with a base portion, a first side, a second side, and a top portion. The first side and the second side are angled toward one another and coupled to the top portion. The base portion is coupled to at least one of the first side and the second side. At least one of the first side, the second side, and the top portion has a plurality of grooves formed therein. Each of the grooves has a depth sufficient to hold at least one card in a substantially upright position.
US08166671B2
An adjustable shock attenuating means comprises at least one arch element (1) and at least one tensile element (2) arranged between any two positions at a concave surface of the element (1) or between two ends of the arch element (1). This means further comprises at least one additional arch element (12) arranged intersecting with the arch element (1) or arranged with the arch element (1) side by side. The arch element (1) has a U-shaped cut-out (13, 14) at its two ends respectively and the tensile element (2) correspondingly has a connecting piece (23, 24) at its two ends respectively to be coupled with the U-shaped cut-outs (13, 14) of the arch element (1) with which the tensile element (2) is coupled with the arch element (1).
US08166669B2
The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a method for operating the same for removing wrinkles or the like from laundry by using high temperature and high humidity air instead of steam. The method for operating a laundry machine includes the steps of a course selecting step for selecting an operating course, and a high temperature and high humidity air supply step for supplying high temperature high humidity air to a drum from an air supply unit.
US08166665B2
A paint brush cleaning apparatus having a rod with a first end portion spaced apart from a second end portion and a paint brush holder having a securement member for releasably securing a paint brush thereto. The rod having a longitudinal axis about which the rod and paint brush holder may rotate. An electric drill may be used in connection with the paint brush cleaning apparatus, with the first end portion typically sized and shaped to engage a drill bit receiving chamber of the electric drill. A protective sheet adapted to protect users from flying paint during the cleaning process may also be employed.
US08166657B2
A steel retainer (3), which retains needle rollers (2), is formed from a steel plate containing 0.15 to 1.10% by mass of carbon. After being formed, the steel plate is subjected to induction heat treatment which includes induction hardening and induction tempering. Such heat treatment can be carried out efficiently in a short period of time, using compact treatment facilities, even in small-lot production. The retainer (3) thus formed is sufficiently resistant to wear and surface damage, and is high in fatigue strength and fracture strength as a whole.
US08166656B2
A method of improving working of grooves of a screw rotor, in particular, working of grooves side in working efficiency, a working apparatus, a working tool, and a method of manufacturing a screw compressor are provided. A method of controlling rotation of a work and turning of a tool at a time to form a screw tooth space based on a five-axis NC machine, and a special end mill having a cutting edge of a short length and a neck portion provided between the cutting edge and a shank portion to be made thin is used to perform working in grooves side finish working process.
US08166625B2
Diorama having a focal zone and a plurality of inclined panels on which different areas of the image are displayed disposed about the focal zone, with the image flowing continuously between the panels and no physical seams between areas of the image displayed on adjacent ones of the panels. The diorama is created from a two-dimensional image by constructing a layout guide in the form of a two-dimensional projection of the diorama with guide lines diverging outwardly from the focal zone and outlining the projected panels, superimposing the layout guide on the two-dimensional image with the focal zone in registration with a focal area of the image, selecting areas of the image for display on the panels of the diorama, creating an adjusted image having panels in which the selected areas are adjusted in size and/or shape to fit precisely within the guide lines for the panels of the diorama, selecting an anchor panel which remains fixed in place with the focal area of the adjusted image, rotating the other panels of the adjusted image about the focal area from a seam line toward the anchor panel to separate the image at the seam line and bring facing edges of adjacent ones of the image panels together to form an image that extends continuously across the panels from one side of the seam line to the other, printing the image with the rotated panels, trimming the printed image along facing edges of the image where it was separated at the seam line, and bringing the trimmed edges together along the seam line to form a three-dimensional image.
US08166623B2
A connector includes a housing having a bore with a housing groove disposed on an inside surface of the bore with a groove establishing a release angle between a housing groove bottom and a bore inside surface. A retainer defines a spring cavity between a retainer and the release angle and a circular radial canted coil spring is disposed in the spring cavity. A pin having a tapered end and a body diameter sized for sliding engagement with the bore is provided which includes a circumferential groove in the pin body for receiving the coil spring upon insertion of the pin into the bore. A circumferential groove includes a load angle for rotating the coil spring in an orientation in which the major spring axis is parallel to the release angle upon initial withdrawal of the pin from the bore. The coil is further compressed along the spring minor axis and expands radially upon continued withdrawal of the pin from the bore.
US08166619B2
A fluid-tight slide fastener including coated tapes equipped with teeth, opposite stops and a slider operable between the opposite stops to engage or disengage the teeth. The coated tapes include a core textile layer and a fluid-barrier coating made of a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), the teeth being made of a thermoplastic material. The textile material of the core layer of the coated tapes is chosen among polyester, polyamide and their blends or copolymers. The thermoplastic elastomer material of the coating is chosen between thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (TPE-U) and thermoplastic elastomer polyester (TPE-E). The thermoplastic material of the teeth is chosen among PBT, ABS, polyamide and their blends or copolymers.
US08166618B2
A strapping device used for installing, supporting, and sealing under-mount sinks comprises a series of straps looped by a series of rings and locking tightening devices. The locking tightening devices are used to tighten the straps and raise and support an under-mount sink in position. The rings and straps are anchored to hooks attached to the edge of the sink opening on the counter top underlay. A series of hooks are capable of holding a series of straps under tension to support an under mount sink in position with a located on the lip of the under-mount sink. A continuous loop of closed cell PVC is disposed atop the lip of the sink, so that when the sink is tightened through the countertop underlay, the lip of the sink encounters the underside of the countertop and the sealing material is compressed, forming a permanent, flexible, water-tight seal.
US08166605B2
A windshield wiper arm bracket includes a pair of side walls. Each of said side walls include at least one centrally located pin arm receiving hole formed therein. The bracket also includes a post attaching the pair of side walls together. The post is for receiving a pin arm adaptor thereon. The bracket also includes an attachment arm formed on a bottom of each of the pair of side walls. The attachment arms are for connecting the bracket to a windshield wiper assembly. An adaptor for a windshield wiper arm bracket includes a top portion and a web portion. The web portion includes a central aperture formed therein. The central aperture includes a first portion for receiving a post of the windshield wiper arm bracket and a second aperture for receiving a pin arm of a windshield wiper arm.
US08166601B2
A head for an electric toothbrush includes a support member having a plurality of holes extending completely therethrough. A plurality of tufts of bristles each extends through one of the holes. A first brushing end of each tuft projects from a first side of the support member. Each tuft is prevented from being withdrawn from its hole when a tensile force is applied to the first end of each tuft along a long axis of the tuft. A resilient cushion is positioned adjacent a second side of the support member such that a second end of each tuft can contact the cushion. When a compressive force is applied to the first end of each tuft along the long axis of each tuft, each tuft can move in its hole in a first direction into the cushion. When the compressive force is removed the cushion causes each tuft to move in its hole in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.
US08166588B1
An adjustable swivel lift grab bar includes an angled lift member and an adjustable bottom leg. The adjustable bottom leg allows angular adjustment of the angled lift member. The adjustable bottom leg includes a top leg, a bottom leg and a clamping knob with plunger. One end of the top leg is pivotally retained by a pole and the clamping knob is retained in the other end. The bottom leg includes a plurality of holes to receive the plunger of the clamping knob. One end of the bottom leg is attached to a bottom of the angle lift member. A top attachment bracket is secured to a top of the angled lift member for pivotal retention on a pivot post secured to a wall, a floor mounted pole, a double flange pole or a moveable support pole. Rotation of the angled lift member may be braked or motorized.
US08166581B2
A toilet device includes a seat (2) with a pair of side walls (14 & 16) pivotally connected thereto. The side walls are capable of three configurations with respect to the seat portion (2). In a first folded configuration they extend towards one another for compact storage of the device. In a second configuration they extend downwardly in right angles to the seat for use as a chamber pot when supplied with a suitable liner. In a third configuration the side walls extend outwardly away from one another so that the device can be placed on a conventional toilet seat and adapt that seat to the user of the device. Locking and locating means are provided for locking and/or locating the device in the three configurations.
US08166574B2
The invention relates to a protective helmet (10), particularly for motorcyclists or the like, having an exterior casing particularly configured as an exterior shell (11), and a lining element arrangement (12), which is received in the exterior casing and lines the same at least in some regions, wherein the lining element arrangement (12) has at least two lining elements, wherein at least one lining element is configured as a cushion element (14) filled with filling bodies (21), and at least one further lining element is configured as a lining shell element (17), wherein the cushion element (14) is surrounded at least along its contour by at least one lining shell element (17), which at least partially supports a contour surface of the cushion element (14).
US08166572B1
A sleeping bag system relating to assisting a user to choose to walk, stand upright, sit, use one's arms and hands, or be otherwise mobile while inside the comfort and warmth of a sleeping bag. The system also provides for full enclosure within the sleeping bag as well as hygienic access without exiting the sleeping bag.
