US08198937B1
A switched-capacitor amplifier circuit (200 and 300) with rail-to-rail capability without requiring a rail-to-rail operational amplifier includes a switched-capacitor amplifier (202 and 302) and an input network (201) coupled to the switched-capacitor amplifier. The switched-capacitor amplifier includes a non-rail-to-rail operational amplifier (275 and 375). The input network prevents the non-rail-to-rail operational amplifier from receiving an input differential signal that has a common-mode voltage at or near rails of the non-rail-to-rail operational amplifier. Voltages at input terminals of the operational amplifier remain near analog ground, which is an arbitrary voltage level between the rails, during both phases of switching in the switched-capacitor amplifier. In one embodiment, the switched-capacitor amplifier uses a correlated double sampling technique.
US08198936B2
A semiconductor device is provided, which comprises a first demodulation circuit, a second demodulation circuit, a first bias circuit, a second bias circuit, a comparator, an analog buffer circuit, and a pulse detection circuit. An input portion of the pulse detection circuit is electrically connected to an output portion of the analog buffer circuit, a first output portion of the pulse detection circuit is electrically connected to an input portion of the first bias circuit, and a second output portion of the pulse detection circuit is electrically connected to an input portion of the second bias circuit.
US08198927B2
In an embodiment, a primary charge pump and replica charge pump may be coupled to matching control mechanisms and loads. In an embodiment, the replica charge pump may produce an error current originating from charge pump timing mismatches in a steady locked loop state. The error current produced by the replica charge pump may be measured by a difference amplifier to adjust at least one current source to compensate for the error current originating from the timing mismatches. To adjust the current sources, the amplifier may cause the current source to produce an equal but opposite current to cancel the effects of the error current, resulting in a constant output voltage.
US08198924B2
A triangular waveform generator includes a square waveform clock circuit and an active integrator. The active integrator receives input from the square waveform clock circuit and generates a triangular waveform output. An active feedback network is operatively added to the active integrator to reduce the audio band noise content in the triangular waveform output. The feedback network acts as a DC balance without significant sacrifice in the linearity of the triangular waveform output.
US08198920B2
A low current comparator with programmable hysteresis is disclosed that uses a ratio of latch intrinsic (internal) latch capacitance and capacitance of a sample capacitor to adjust hysteresis. In some implementations, the comparator includes a switch capacitor sampling stage coupled to a dynamic latch output stage. Depending on an output state (0 or 1) of the comparator, hysteresis is generated by adding or subtracting a first charge stored in the latch intrinsic capacitance to or from a second charge stored in the sampling capacitor. The ratio of latch intrinsic capacitance and the capacitance of the sampling capacitor can be adjusted to trim hysteresis value. The hysteresis function does not require additional capacitors or additional logic.
US08198909B2
The invention relates to a tester apparatus of the kind including a portable supporting structure for removably holding and testing a substrate carrying a microelectronic circuit. An interface on the stationary structure is connected to the first interface when the portable structure is held by the stationary structure and is disconnected from the first interface when the portable supporting structure is removed from the stationary structure. An electrical tester is connected through the interfaces so that signals may be transmitted between the electrical tester and the microelectronic circuit to test the microelectronic circuit.
US08198908B2
Disclosed are a probe substrate and a probe card using the same. The probe substrate includes a ceramic stack structure stacked with a plurality of layers; vias disposed in the ceramic stack structure to perform inner-layer connection, and pads electrically connected to the vias; a contact opening disposed at the ceramic stack structure, and partially exposing the pads; and contact pads disposed at side walls of the contact opening, electrically connected to the pads, and electrically connected to pogo pins.
US08198905B2
A mailing system includes a mailing machine having an envelope feed path, a sealing system configured to apply a liquid to an envelope in the envelope feed path, a capacitive sensor located in the envelope feed path downstream from the sealing system, and a controller connected to the capacitive sensor. The sealing system may include a liquid reservoir and a liquid applicator. The capacitive sensor is configured to measure a quantity of liquid on a portion of the envelope applied by the sealing system and to generate a signal based on the measured quantity. The controller is configured to perform an operation based on the measured quantity signal from the capacitive sensor.
US08198904B2
Voltage instantaneous value time-series estimation data and a present-time voltage estimation value are calculated by using an actually-measured frequency and voltage instantaneous value time-series data according to a least square method. A present-time voltage effective value is determined by using the calculated voltage instantaneous value time-series estimation data, and a present-time synchrophasor, a voltage distortion degree and an inter-bus-line synchrophasor phase angle difference are determined by using the present-time voltage effective value and the present-time voltage estimation value.
US08198902B2
An insulation state detector includes a capacitor, a measurement section measuring a charging voltage of the capacitor, a measuring circuit that connects the capacitor, which is insulated from a DC power source after being charged by the DC power source, between the measurement section and a ground potential portion, a detector detecting an insulation state of a voltage boosting circuit, and a reversed-polarity measuring circuit that connects the capacitor to the measurement section and the ground potential portion with reversed polarity when a potential corresponding to a division ratio of a positive-side ground fault resistor and a negative-side ground fault resistor on a secondary side of the voltage boosting circuit exceeds a positive potential of the DC power source and the capacitor is charged with reversed polarity by a secondary-side positive potential at the time of charging of the capacitor using the positive potential of the DC power source.
US08198900B2
An automotive battery charging system tester for testing the charging system of an automotive vehicle includes AC and DC voltage measurement circuits and a microprocessor controlled testing sequence. The microprocessor is used to perform a series of tests and to instruct an operator to perform steps associated with performing those tests. Through the application of various loads at various engine speeds, the tester is capable of identifying faults in the battery charging system including a bad battery, problems in the alternator or associated electronics, and problems in the starting system.
US08198899B2
A marine electromagnetic sensor system includes a sensor cable having at least one electromagnetic sensor thereon. A first calibration electrode is disposed on the cable on one side of the sensor. A second calibration electrode is disposed on the cable on an opposite side of the sensor. A calibration power supply is coupled to the first and second calibration electrodes. A measuring circuit is coupled to the sensor. A method for calibrating marine electromagnetic survey electrodes includes imparting electric current between calibration electrodes disposed at spaced apart locations on a cable deployed in the water. Voltages impressed across a pair of electrodes disposed on the cable between the calibration electrodes are detected in response to the current. A change in sensitivity of the at least one pair of electrodes is determined using the detected voltages.
US08198895B2
An apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic resonance (MR) coil elements and a plurality of voltage-actuated switches coupled to the plurality of MR coil elements, each voltage-actuated switch configured to selectively activate a respective MR coil element. The apparatus also includes a voltage source configured to supply a voltage to the plurality of voltage-actuated switches, a control unit coupled to the voltage source, and a plurality of transmission lines coupled to the plurality of voltage-actuated switches and to the control unit and configured to provide an actuation signal from the voltage source to the plurality of voltage-actuated switches. The plurality of transmission lines being free of discrete resistive elements and having a substantially uniform resistivity such that an interaction between the plurality of transmission lines and the plurality of MR coil elements is minimized and thermal dissipation is distributed over a length of each of the plurality of transmission lines.
US08198884B2
A digital multimeter displays a miniature version of a live actual reading of the multimeter. The miniature version typically appears after a larger version of the live actual reading is displaced by other display elements. The miniature version of the live actual reading may be accompanied by a warning icon or other graphical symbol to alert a user of a potentially hazardous electrical condition.
US08198880B2
The present invention discloses a control circuit for constant on-time converter and a control method thereof. The proposed constant on-time DC/DC converter stabilizes the system and improves the performance of the load transient response without large equivalent series resistance of the output capacitor.
US08198876B2
An approach is provided for a power factor compensating method to compensate other electronic devices that use a common power source in order to improve power factor from the perspective of a power company. The other electronic device is a type of a non-linear load, and the method enables a compensator to receive a supply voltage from the power source commonly connected to the traditional electronic devices and disables a load of the compensator for a period. The period corresponds to a range that makes an overall supply current more proportional to the supply voltage.
US08198874B2
A switching power converter having a current sensing transformer providing input to an auxiliary power supply provides efficient current sensing, while reducing the cost of the magnetic coupling element. The auxiliary power supply and current sense circuit both receive input from a secondary winding of a current sensing transformer having a primary winding coupled in series with the converter's main magnetic coupling element. To provide accurate sensing, the magnetization the current sensing transformer is accounted for. The magnetization is compensated for in the current sensing result, current sensing is performed during a part of the cycle in which charging of the auxiliary power supply is disabled, or the core of the current sensing transformer is made large, raising its mutual inductance. In another alternative technique, a circuit node can be pre-charged to a value that cancels the offset due to the magnetization current.
US08198872B2
An electrical power system may comprise a main generator with a rotor having field windings and at least one embedded permanent magnet. A generator control unit (GCU) may be connected to receive excitation current produced by the main generator with flux from the at least one permanent magnet. An exciter generator may be connected to be provided with excitation from the GCU. The exciter generator may provide excitation current to the field windings of the main generator. The main generator may produce output current from flux from the field windings and the at least one permanent magnet.
US08198870B2
A circuit for balancing a sub-stack voltage in a stack of ultracapacitors includes a pair of electrical leads that are connectable across a first sub-stack of one or more ultracapacitors, wherein a stack includes N sub-stacks of ultracapacitors coupled to an electrical bus, a discharge device switchably connectable with the pair of electrical leads, the discharge device configured to discharge the sub-stack of ultracapacitors, a voltage sensing circuit coupled to the electrical bus and configured to sense and output a voltage of the stack of ultracapacitors after the first sub-stack of one or more ultracapacitors has been discharged to a given threshold, and a voltage amplifier coupled to the output of the voltage sensing circuit and coupled to the pair of electrical leads, the voltage amplifier configured to provide a re-charge voltage to the first sub-stack of one or more ultracapacitors.
US08198869B2
A circuit for charging a capacitor block including series-connected capacitive elements has an input node for receiving an input, an output node coupled to the capacitor block, a third capacitive element connectable to the input node and the output node, and first and second switching circuitries coupled to the third capacitive element. A voltage sensor determines a relationship between first voltage at the first capacitive element and second voltage at the second capacitive element to separately control switching of the first and second switching circuitries in accordance with the relationship between the voltages.
US08198867B2
A method and a charger for auxiliarily charging a secondary battery to a desired SOC with high accuracy. A charger for a secondary battery includes a charge termination condition storing unit which stores a relationship between open circuit voltages OCV of a plurality of secondary batteries and an amount of change of terminal voltage ΔV until a desired state of charge SOC is reached, which is previously created. A target terminal voltage Vmap at the time of the auxiliary charge is calculated by adding the amount of change of terminal voltage ΔV corresponding to the open circuit voltage OCV of a secondary battery to be auxiliarily charged to the open circuit voltage OCV which is measured. A terminal voltage Vb of the secondary battery at the time of auxiliary charge and the target terminal voltage Vmap are compared to each other by a comparison unit, and when the target terminal voltage Vmap is reached, auxiliary charge is terminated.
US08198860B2
A charger includes a charger base, a charging circuitry, and an analyzer arrangement. The charger base includes at least one charging platform defining a receiving cavity. The analyzer arrangement includes an analyzing circuitry and an analyzer connector. The analyzer connector is provided on the charger base for electrically connecting the battery discharging terminals with the analyzing circuitry, wherein the charger is arranged to operate in at least one of a charger mode and an analyzer mode. In the charger mode, the rechargeable battery is arranged to insert in the receiving cavity in for charging the rechargeable by the charging circuitry. In the analyzer mode, the rechargeable battery is arranged to insert into the receiving cavity while the analyzer connector is extended from the charger base to electrically contact with the battery discharging terminals for allowing the rechargeable battery to be discharged and tested by the analyzing circuitry.
US08198854B2
A starting circuit for a single-phase AC motor, the single-phase AC motor comprising a main winding and a starting winding, and the starting circuit comprising a detecting circuit, a rectifying circuit, a triggering circuit, and a switch, wherein the detecting circuit is connected in series with the main winding, the switch is connected in series with the starting winding, the detecting circuit transfers current parameters of the main winding into detecting signals, the rectifying circuit processes the detecting signals and transmits the detecting signals to the triggering circuit, the triggering circuit controls the switch according to the detecting signals whereby controlling power-on and power-off of the starting winding, and the triggering circuit is a hysteresis comparing circuit.
US08198851B2
A motor controller capable of detecting an oscillation of a feedback loop and performing gain adjustment while updating a gain value of a control unit is provided. The motor controller includes an electric motor, an operation-amount detector, a control unit, a machine, a disturbance signal generator which generates a sweep sine wave, a compensation-driving-force detector, a vibration calculator, an oscillation detector, a vibration storage, a simulated open-loop gain calculator, a gain changer, and an automatic gain changer, and detects an oscillation by processing a response signal in time series on the basis of a first threshold regarding to a magnitude of vibration and a second threshold regarding a frequency.
US08198848B2
A system for compensating the characteristics of a fan, applied to a heat-dissipating fan of an electronic device. This system comprises of an analyzing module for analyzing the relation between the duty ratio of pulse width modulation (PWM) and the rotational speed of the fan to generate analyzing data, and a compensating module for generating compensating data basing on the analyzing data and a specific proportion relation between the temperature and the duty ratio of PWM.
US08198835B2
A power tool, having attached thereto a battery device including one or a plurality of cell assemblies, includes a motor which is supplied with a DC current from the battery device, a switching element which controls a drive and a stop of the motor, means which detects a number of cell assemblies, and control means which controls the switching element in such a way as to stop the drive of the motor when the number of cell assemblies is smaller than a prescribed value.
US08198823B2
Techniques are disclosed that allow for the use of metal halide lamps in dimming applications, as well as other discharge lamps susceptible to dimming-induced chromaticity drift. Examination of such lamps reveals that some of the spectral changes that cause chromaticity drift during dimming are localized in narrow band regions of the spectrum, and lamp emission in these regions is enhanced (either increased or decreased) relative to the rest of the spectrum. Selective filtering of the enhanced emission caused by dimming can be used to reduce chromaticity shift. For instance, a filter deposited on and/or integrated into a lamp component (such as the arc tube, shroud, and/or outer jacket) operates to block transmission of those regions of the spectrum.
US08198817B2
Provided is a lighting unit and a discharge lamp each of which is capable of causing a capacitor to break down by heat generated in a heat generating component, so that circuit operation is safely terminated without any additional cost. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp is provided with a lighting unit (50) housed in a case. The lighting unit (50) causes an arc tube to emit light and is composed of a plurality of electronic components, including a rectifier/smoothing circuit portion, an inverter circuit portion having transistors (Q1 and Q2), a resonant circuit portion, and a preheating circuit portion having a positive temperature coefficient element. Among the plurality of electronic components, the transistors (Q1 and Q2) and the positive temperature coefficient element generate excessive heat when, for example, the lamp is operated at the end of electrode's life. Capacitors (C4 and C6) disposed in the vicinity of the positive temperature coefficient element would break down by heat in a short mode.
US08198812B1
A gas filled detector shell with attached antenna for the detection of high energy transmissions, including microwaves, lasers, electromagnetic signals, RF waves, radiation, and/or other transmissions emitted by a source including a weapon system. The shell may also be used as a safety device to warn and alert personnel working around high energy devices of electromagnetic leaks.
US08198802B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the OLED display includes i) an OLED comprising i) a first electrode, ii) an organic emission layer formed on the first electrode, and iii) a second electrode formed on the organic emission layer, ii) a dual brightness enhancement film (DBEF) formed over the second electrode of the OLED, iii) a first polarizing plate formed on the DBEF, iv) a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer formed on the first polarizing plate, v) a phase delay plate that is a ¼ wavelength plate formed on the CLC layer and vi) a second polarizing plate formed on the phase delay plate.
US08198791B2
A spark plug and method of manufacturing the same. The spark plug includes a tubular insulator holding a center electrode, and a tubular metallic shell holding the insulator. The insulator is inserted into the metallic shell from the rear end side thereof until a portion of the insulator engages the metallic shell. In this state, the circumferential edge of the rear end portion of the metallic shell is crimped, whereby the insulator is unitarily fixed to the metallic shell. A talc charged layer is formed in a clearance portion between the insulator and the metallic shell, and a wire packing is placed on a rear end portion of the talc charged layer for engaging the crimp portion. A portion of the talc charged layer is interposed between the wire packing and the rear trunk portion of the insulator.
US08198786B2
An inertial driving actuator includes a fixing member, a moving element that is fixed to the fixing member and generates a small displacement by extension and contraction, an oscillation substrate that is fixed to the moving element and is moved linearly reciprocally by the small displacement, and a moving body that is moved by reciprocal movement of the oscillation substrate. The moving body has a first electrode. The oscillation substrate has a second electrode, the area of the facing portion of the second electrode and the first electrode changing continuously as the moving body moves. The actuator further includes a frictional force controller that controls a frictional force generated between the oscillation substrate and moving body, and a position detector that detects the position of the moving body on the basis of the electrostatic capacitance of the facing portion of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08198783B2
In a method for the production of a gradient encapsulation layer 20 on a piezoelectric actuator 1, based on this gradient encapsulation layer 20, the piezoelectric actuator 1 does not 5 require an additional housing-like enveloping structure in order to be protected externally. The gradient encapsulation layer 20 is produced by cold gas spraying of particles having different material properties.
US08198782B2
An ultrasonic transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an insulating film disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a cavity disposed between the first and second electrodes. The insulating film includes a projection extending in the cavity, and a portion of the cavity is disposed between the projection and the first electrode. A portion of one of the first electrode and the second electrode has an opening corresponding to a position of the projection of the insulating film when viewed in plan view.
US08198781B2
A boundary acoustic wave device includes an IDT electrode disposed at the boundary between a first medium and a second medium, the IDT electrode having electrode fingers, in which a third medium is arranged between the electrode fingers of the IDT electrode, the third medium having an acoustic impedance ZB3 satisfying Expression (1), wherein ZB2 is the acoustic impedance of the second medium and ZIDT is the acoustic impedance of the IDT electrode: |ZB3/ZIDT−1|<|ZB2/ZIDT−1| Expression (1).
US08198773B2
An enhanced counter-rotating electric motor and an associate propulsion system for use with a water-vehicle includes a motor housing, a stator within the housing that rotates about a central axis in one direction, an armature within the stator that rotates about the central axis in an opposite direction from the stator, a first axle that is secured to the stator and extends out from the housing, a second axle that is secured to the armature and extends out from the housing, water-tight rotational seals about each of the two axles, a centrifugal-force-balancing electrical connection mechanism that supplies functioning electrical communication between the motor and external electrical circuitry while operating the motor, and a propeller secured to each said axle.
US08198772B2
A spindle motor can include a rotor support piece, which may rotatably support a rotor that is inserted onto one end, and which may include a projecting part that protrudes from the other end and a mounting part that has a flat surface formed along the periphery of the projecting part; a base plate, in which an insertion hole may be formed for inserting the projecting part through, and on which multiple support protrusions may be formed along the periphery of the insertion hole for supporting the mounting part along a periphery of the insertion hole; and a buffer member, which may include a projecting-part hole for inserting the projecting part through and support-protrusion holes for inserting the support protrusions through, and which may be positioned between the rotor support piece and the base plate to absorb vibration. This arrangement can reduce the occurrence and transfer of vibrations.
US08198770B2
A method of cooling shaft bearings of a high speed rotating machine is provided. In various embodiments, the method includes utilizing a primary cooling circuit of the machine that is structured and operable to cool a drive package of the machine to cool condenser ends of each of a plurality of heat pipes absent an auxiliary cooling system structured for cooling the heat pipe condenser ends. Each heat pipe including a respective evaporator end disposed proximate the shaft bearings to absorb heat generated by the bearings during operation of the machine.
US08198766B2
A spindle motor is disclosed, wherein a coupling protruder of a stopper is penetrated into a rotor yoke by caulking. Therefore, no foreign objects that are generated from welding process are produced to inhibit the spindle motor from generating defects caused by the foreign objects and to improve the product reliability. Furthermore, the coupled protruder of the stopper is coupled to the rotor yoke by caulking, to make an assembly process simple. Still furthermore, the spindle motor according to the present invention is economical in that, in a case the coupled stopper is to be separated from the rotor yoke, the coupled stopper and the rotor yoke can be simply separated by cutting off a caulked portion of the coupled protruder, thereby allowing the rotor yoke to be re-used.
US08198764B2
An air-gap is between a rotor and a stator. The stator comprises a number of stacked laminate-plates. The laminate-plates are positioned and fixed by a structural support and by end-plates in relation to a central-part of the stator to achieve the air-gap. A cavity is formed by the end-plates, the central-part of the stator, the air-gap and an internal surface of the rotor. An air-cooling arrangement is arranged and used to circulate a gaseous medium for cooling purposes inside the cavity.
US08198763B2
In a controller-integrated electric rotating machine provided with a power circuit unit and a control circuit unit, a cooling property is improved so that the control circuit unit does not impair a flow of air for cooling the power circuit unit.A power circuit unit (30) having switching elements (30a, 30b) for converting DC power to AC power for supplying the AC power to an electric rotating machine (2), a control circuit unit (32) for controlling the switching elements (30a, 30b) of the power circuit unit (30), and a rotational position detection sensor (4) arranged on a rotating shaft (22) for detecting the rotation of the rotating shaft (22) are provided, and the control circuit unit (32) is disposed at a position where the power circuit unit (30) is not disposed when viewed in the direction of the rotating shaft, and is disposed at a position shifted radially outward so as not to be overlapped with the rotational position detection sensor (4) when viewed in the direction of the rotating shaft.
US08198755B2
The present invention relates to a device for the contactless energy and data transmission, having a primary unit provided with a primary inductor, and a secondary unit provided with a secondary inductor. The primary and secondary units are at least temporarily so relatively positioned that between the primary inductor and the secondary inductor a transformer coupling distance is formed. Furthermore, the primary unit is set up for the contactless transmission of energy to the secondary unit and the secondary unit is designed for supplying terminals connected thereto. The device is further developed in that the primary unit has means for interrupting the energy transmission across the transformer coupling distance in energy transmission intervals and the secondary unit has means for detecting the energy transmission intervals. Further, the secondary unit has means for transmitting data in the energy transmission intervals and/or the primary unit has means for transmitting data to the secondary unit. The invention also relates to a method for the contactless energy and data transmission.
US08198754B2
A power transmission control device provided in a power transmitting device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a driver control circuit that controls a power transmitting driver that drives a primary coil, a load state detection circuit that detects a power-receiving-side load state, and a control circuit that controls the power transmission control device. The control circuit acquires a reference value used to determine a power-receiving-side load state after starting normal power transmission in a reference value acquisition period, the reference value acquisition period being a period after receiving ID authentication information from the power receiving device, but before starting the normal power transmission.
US08198753B2
A method of operating a power system is provided. The power system has a plurality of generator sets and a bus. The method monitors the bus and generator sets disconnected from the bus. The method supplies to a control device information associated with the operating state of each of the generator sets and the bus. The method determines a relative frequency mismatch, multiplied by a first weight factor, and a relative phase mismatch, multiplied by a second weight factor, between the frequency and phase of the bus and a generator, and generates a frequency speed bias and a phase speed bias for the generator. The method adds the frequency and phase speed biases to form a total speed bias and connects the generator to the bus when the voltage, frequency, and phase of the generator are within a permissible range of the bus.
US08198750B2
A battery unit arrangement for high voltage applications. The battery unit arrangement includes a battery unit having a battery chassis, and a switching device. The switching device includes switching mechanism for switching the battery chassis between two positions, a first position connecting the battery chassis to a pole of the battery uniti and a second position connecting the battery chassis to a zero potential. The invention also relates to a connection and disconnection arrangement and methods for operating such connection and disconnection arrangement.
US08198749B2
A wind turbine generator that allows for size and weight reduction of a nacelle bedplate and that enables easier maintainability, such as device replaceability, is provided. In a wind turbine generator that generates electricity by driving a generator connected, via a drive train, to a rotor head that has wind-turbine rotor blade attached thereto and rotates together therewith, at least a part of the drive train that transmits torque from the rotor head to the generator is disposed on a front side of the rotor head opposite a nacelle.
US08198748B1
A barrel type, or squirrel cage type wind generator that pairs two fundamental and separate features. The first being its tapered squirrel cage construction that is magnetically suspended above the turbine's bottom stator and thereby eliminates friction and wear normally associated with bearings. Its bearing-less levitation avoids overheating, increases efficiency, and facilitates extended use at high speeds.The second is the electromagnetic interconnection between the rotor and the stator that utilizes both the configuration of a linear generator situated along the perimeters of the upper and lower stators and two hydroelectric-type drag-control generators attached to the upper and lower spindles.Version of this Turbine may also utilize (a) the principles of the Mini-Romag's “magnetic current” to support generating electrical power, (b) variable resistance coreless coils to overcome “start-up drag”, and (c) CAD-optimized aerogel-based blades featuring renewable energy generating coating.The above described patentable both design and its features considerably reduce the costs, size, and complexity found in conventional wind turbines.This unique Magnetically Levitated Linear Barrel Generator allows for smaller, lighter, cost-effective, and easy to install renewable resource generator on rooftops, on existing water-tank towers, and within the telecommunication lattice towers.
US08198747B2
A blade for a windmill disposed around a rotation center (M) in a vertical direction so as to receive wind force, comprising a front surface (26) including; a front nose surface (26F) being disposed at front of a traveling direction, also having a greatest average curvature a low speed airflow passing surface (26L) disposed on a closer side to the rotation center, and formed continuously from the front nose surface to rearward of the traveling direction, and a high speed airflow passing surface (26H) disposed a distant side from the rotation center, formed continuously from the front nose surface to rearward of the traveling direction with a curved surface swollen greater than the low speed airflow passing surface, and having length as viewed from the vertical direction greater than the low speed airflow passing surface.
US08198744B2
An electrical generator for extraction of electrical power from a gas turbine engine includes a rotor portion and a stator portion disposed within a booster cavity of the gas turbine engine. The rotor portion is rotatably supported about the stator portion. The stator portion rigidly is supported within the booster cavity. The rotor portion has a plurality of poles circumferentially arranged opposite the stator portion. The stator portion includes a plurality of coil portions disposed about an outer periphery of the stator portion adjacent to the stator portion. The stator and rotor portions are configured to generate electrical power when the rotor portion is rotated about the stator portion by a shaft of the gas turbine engine to induce electrical currents in the coil portions. The electrical generator extracts electric power from the turbine engine to supplement primary electrical generation sources of the engine.
US08198735B2
An integrated circuit package system includes a base substrate, attaching a base die over the base substrate, attaching an integrated interposer having interposer circuit devices, over the base die, and forming a package system encapsulant having an encapsulant cavity over the integrated interposer on a side opposite the base die.
US08198729B2
A semiconductor chip or wafer includes a passivation layer, a pad and a bump. The pad is exposed by an opening in the passivation layer. The bump is connected to the pad, wherein the area of the connection between the pad and the bump is larger than 30,000 μm2.
US08198725B2
An integrated circuit assembly includes a heat sink and a substrate coupled to the heat sink. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins disposed on the base, the base has an intermediate portion and two side portions connected to the intermediate portion, the intermediate portion has a first width and the side portions has a second width larger than the first width, and the fins are disposed on the side portions of the base. The substrate is made of ceramic material and has an upper surface with an opening and a lower surface with a groove, the groove matches the intermediate portion of the heat sink, and the opening is configured to expose a portion of the intermediate portion to receive an integrated circuit package.
US08198724B1
An integrated circuit device having a multi-layer substrate coupled to receive an integrated circuit die and enabling fixed voltage reference signals of a power distribution network and input/output signals to be routed in the integrated circuit device. The multi-layer substrate comprises a first metal layer comprising a reference signal plane of coupling a first fixed voltage reference signal; a dielectric layer positioned on the first metal layer; and a second metal layer having a plurality of conductive traces, wherein the plurality of conductive traces comprise conductive traces for coupling a second fixed reference signal and input/output signals. The plurality of conductive traces may be in a predetermined pattern having reference signal traces and input/output signal traces. A method of enabling different signals comprising reference signals and input/output signals to be routed in a multi-layer substrate adapted to receive a die in an integrated circuit is also disclosed.
US08198721B2
A semiconductor substrate and a method for producing it is disclosed. In one embodiment, a contact region and a corresponding contact material of the semiconductor substrate are formed, in regions or completely, with a protection against oxidation.
US08198718B2
A semiconductor device includes first to third semiconductor chips. The second semiconductor chip is stacked over the first semiconductor chip. The third semiconductor chip is stacked over the second semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip shields the first semiconductor chip from noises generated by the third semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip shields the third semiconductor chip from noises generated by the first semiconductor chip.
US08198715B2
A MEMS transducer includes a substrate, a membrane layer and a back-plate layer. The membrane layer is supported by the substrate. The back-plate layer is supported by the membrane layer and includes a respective sidewall portion and a respective raised portion. One or more columns, separate from the sidewall portion of the back-plate layer, connect the back-plate layer, the membrane layer and the substrate.
US08198714B2
Aspects of a method and system for configuring a transformer embedded in a multi-layer integrated circuit package are provided. In this regard, a windings ratio of a transformer embedded in a multi-layer IC package bonded to an IC may be configured, via logic, circuitry, and/or code in the IC, based on signal levels at one or more terminals of the transformer. The transformer may comprise a plurality of inductive loops fabricated in transmission line media. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package. The IC may comprise a signal strength indicator enabled to measure signal levels input to or output by the transformer. The windings ratio may be configured via one or more switches in the IC and/or in the multi-layer package. The IC and/or the multi-layer package may comprise ferromagnetic material which may improve magnetic coupling of the transformer.
US08198713B2
One embodiment provides a semiconductor wafer structure including a semiconductor wafer and a spacer layer. The semiconductor wafer includes active areas. The spacer layer is configured to provide spacing between the semiconductor dice in a stacked die package and the spacer layer is disposed on one side of the semiconductor wafer.
US08198709B2
An integrated circuit device includes a die, a lead, and an electrically-conductive structure that is arranged to facilitate electrical communication between the die and the lead. The device also includes a potting material, in which the electrically conductive structure, the die, and at least part of the lead are embedded. An electrically-conductive housing encases the potting material and forms exterior packaging of the device. During manufacturing, the electrically-conductive structure, the die, and at least part of the lead may be arranged within the electrically-conductive housing either before or after the potting material is disposed in the housing. When the integrated circuit device is operating, heat is removable from the die via a thermal conduction path formed by the electrically-conductive structure, the potting material, and the electrically-conductive housing.
US08198705B2
In accordance with a specific embodiment, a method of processing a semiconductor substrate is disclosed whereby the substrate is thinned, and the dice formed on the substrate are singulated by a common process. Trench regions are formed on a backside of the substrate. An isotropic etch of the backside results in a thinning of the substrate while maintaining the depth of the trenches, thereby facilitating singulation of the die.
US08198704B2
In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a crystalline semiconductor layer includes preparing a semiconductor substrate and forming a preliminary active pattern on the semiconductor substrate. The preliminary active pattern includes a barrier pattern and a non-single crystal semiconductor pattern. A sacrificial non-single crystal semiconductor layer covers the preliminary active pattern and the semiconductor substrate. By crystallizing the sacrificial non-single crystal semiconductor layer and the non-single crystal semiconductor pattern, using the semiconductor substrate as a seed layer, the sacrificial non-single crystal semiconductor layer and the non-single crystal semiconductor pattern are changed to a sacrificial crystalline semiconductor layer and a crystalline semiconductor pattern, respectively. The crystalline semiconductor pattern and the barrier pattern constitute an active pattern. The sacrificial crystalline semiconductor layer is removed.
US08198703B2
A Zener diode is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate having semiconductor material thereon. The Zener diode includes a first well region having a first conductivity type, formed in the semiconductor material. The Zener diode also includes a first region having a second conductivity type, formed in the first well region (the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type). The Zener diode also includes a second region having the first conductivity type, wherein the second region is formed in the first well region and overlying the first region. An electrode is formed in the first region, and the electrode is electrically coupled to the second region.
US08198694B2
A back-illuminated type solid-state imaging device including (a) a semiconductor layer on a front surface side of a semiconductor substrate with an insulation film between them; (b) a photoelectric conversion element that constitutes a pixel in the semiconductor substrate; (c) at least part of transistors that constitute the pixel in the semiconductor film; and (d) a rear surface electrode to which a voltage is applied on the rear surface side of the semiconductor substrate, wherein, (1) a semiconductor layer of an opposite conduction type to a charge accumulation portion of the photoelectric conversion element is formed in the semiconductor substrate under the insulation film, and (2) the same voltage as the voltage applied to the rear surface electrode is applied to the semiconductor layer.
US08198689B2
Proposed is a package structure having a micro-electromechanical (MEMS) element, including a chip having a plurality of electrical connecting pads and a MEMS element formed thereon; a lid disposed on the chip for covering the MEMS element; a stud bump disposed on each of the electrical connecting pads; an encapsulant formed on the chip with part of the stud bumps being exposed from the encapsulant; and a metal conductive layer formed on the encapsulant and connected to the stud bumps. The invention is characterized by completing the packaging process on the wafer directly to enable thinner and cheaper package structures to be fabricated within less time. This invention further provides a method for fabricating the package structure as described above.
US08198686B2
A semiconductor device includes a first MIS transistor and a second MIS transistor. The first MIS transistor includes a first gate electrode includes a second metal film formed on a first gate insulating film, and an insulating film formed, extending over side surfaces of the first gate electrode and upper surfaces of regions located in the first active region laterally outside the first gate electrode. The second MIS transistor includes a second gate electrode including a first metal film formed on a second gate insulating film and a conductive film formed on the first metal film, and the insulating film formed, extending over side surfaces of the second gate electrode and upper surfaces of regions located in the second active region laterally outside the second gate electrode. The first and second metal films are made of different metal materials.
US08198667B2
A laminated body is formed by alternately laminating a plurality of dielectric films and electrode films on a silicon substrate. Next, a through hole extending in the lamination direction is formed in the laminated body. Next, a selective nitridation process is performed to selectively form a charge layer made of silicon nitride in a region of an inner surface of the through hole corresponding to the electrode film. Next, a high-pressure oxidation process is performed to form a block layer made of silicon oxide between the charge layer and the electrode film. Next, a tunnel layer made of silicon oxide is formed on an inner side surface of the through hole. Thus, a flash memory can be manufactured in which the charge layer is split for each electrode film.
US08198664B2
A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of supports extending parallel to each other in a first direction on a semiconductor substrate, and capacitor lower electrode rows including a plurality of capacitor lower electrodes arranged in a line along the first direction between two adjacent supports from among the plurality of supports, each capacitor lower electrode including outside walls, wherein each of the capacitor lower electrodes includes two support contact surfaces on the outside walls of the capacitor lower electrode, the support contact surfaces respectively contacting the two adjacent supports from among the plurality of supports.
US08198656B2
A cell of a semiconductor device is disclosed to include a diffusion level including a plurality of diffusion regions separated by inactive regions. The cell also includes a gate electrode level including a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the conductive features within the gate electrode level is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. The gate electrode level includes conductive features defined along at least four different virtual lines of extent in the first parallel direction. A width size of the conductive features within a five wavelength photolithographic interaction radius within the gate electrode level is less than a wavelength of light of 193 nanometers. The cell also includes a number of interconnect levels formed above the gate electrode level.
US08198655B1
An integrated circuit comprising both memory and logic wherein at least one layer of the integrated circuit is fabricated using a common grating pattern for both memory and logic is described. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit comprises a substrate, an active layer, and a gate material layer such as a polysilicon layer, and the active layer, the gate material layer, or both the active layer and the gate material layer are formed using a common grating pattern for both memory and logic. By using a common grating pattern for both memory and logic, a corresponding layer of the integrated circuit can be reliably and affordably manufactured using sub-wavelength lithography.
US08198653B2
An i-GaN layer (electron transit layer), an n-GaN layer (compound semiconductor layer) formed over the i-GaN layer (electron transit layer), and a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode formed over the n-GaN layer (compound semiconductor layer) are provided. A recess portion is formed inside an area between the source electrode and the drain electrode of the n-GaN layer (compound semiconductor layer) and at a portion separating from the gate electrode.
US08198648B2
An LED chip (1) grown on an electrically insulating substrate (4) comprises a lower current-distributing layer (5) of a first conductivity type, a first electrode (2), a vertical layer structure (5, 6, 7), the last two being formed on the lower current-distributing layer horizontally separated from each other, the vertical layer structure comprising an active layer (6) and an upper current-distributing layer (8) of a second conductivity type above the active layer, and a second electrode (3) formed on the upper current-distributing layer, the geometry of the electrodes being adjusted to provide a horizontal distance between the electrodes lower than the current spreading length of the chip. According to the present invention, a vertical trench (9) is formed between the electrodes (2, 3), the trench extending through the chip (1), including the lower current-distributing layer (5), for controlling the horizontal current flow in order to achieve a uniform current density over the active layer (6).
US08198639B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device employs a substrate formed by successively stacking an n-type semiconductor layered portion including an AlGaN layer, a light emitting layer containing In and a p-type semiconductor layered portion on a group III nitride semiconductor substrate having a larger lattice constant than AlGaN. This method includes the steps of selectively etching the substrate from the side of the p-type semiconductor layered portion along a cutting line to expose the AlGaN layer along the cutting line, forming a division guide groove along the cutting line on the exposed AlGaN layer, and dividing the substrate along the division guide groove.
US08198636B2
A light-emitting device includes a power feeding line to which a predetermined voltage is supplied; a light-emitting element formed of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a driving transistor that controls the amount of current supplied to the light-emitting element from the power feeding line. The power feeding line includes a portion interposed between the first electrode and the driving transistor.
US08198635B2
An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a light emitting device capable of reducing deterioration of elements due to electrostatic charge caused in manufacturing the light emitting device. Another object of the invention is to provide a light emitting device in which defects due to the deterioration of elements caused by the electrostatic charge are reduced. The method for manufacturing the light emitting device includes a step of forming a top-gate type transistor for driving a light emitting element. In the step of forming the top-gate type transistor, when processing a semiconductor layer, a first grid-like semiconductor layer extending in rows and columns is formed over a substrate. The plurality of second island-like semiconductor layers are formed between the first semiconductor layer. The plurality of second island-like second semiconductor layers serve as an active layer of the transistor.
US08198634B2
A thin film transistor (TFT), a method of fabricating the same, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device including the TFT. The TFT includes a substrate having a pixel region and a non-pixel region, a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes disposed on the pixel region, at least one gettering site disposed on the non-pixel region, and at least one connection portion to connect the at least one gettering site and the semiconductor layer The method of fabricating the TFT includes patterning a polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) layer to form a plurality of semiconductor layers, connection portions, and at least one gettering site, the semiconductor layers being connected to the at least one gettering site via the connection portions, and annealing the substrate to getter the plurality of semiconductor layers.
US08198633B2
A gate electrode structure of a transistor may be formed so as to exhibit a high crystalline quality at the interface formed with a gate dielectric material, while upper portions of the gate electrode may have an inferior crystalline quality. In a later manufacturing stage after implementing one or more strain-inducing mechanisms, the gate electrode may be re-crystallized, thereby providing increased stress transfer efficiency, which in turn results in an enhanced transistor performance.
US08198628B2
A semiconductor structure that is to be heated. The structure includes a substrate for the front face deposition of a useful layer intended to receive components for electronics, optics or optoelectronics. The structure contains doped elements that absorb infrared radiation so as to substantially increase infrared absorption by the structure so that the front face reaches a given temperature when a given infrared power is supplied to the structure. At least one part of the doped elements have insufficient electrical activity or localization in the structure, such that they cannot disturb the operation of the components. In addition, a method of producing this structure and a method of forming a useful layer of semiconductor material on the structure.
US08198619B2
A memory cell described herein includes a memory element comprising programmable resistance memory material overlying a conductive contact. An insulator element includes a pipe shaped portion extending from the conductive contact into the memory element, the pipe shaped portion having proximal and distal ends and an inside surface defining an interior, the proximal end adjacent the conductive contact. A bottom electrode contacts the conductive contact and extends upwardly within the interior from the proximal end to the distal end, the bottom electrode having a top surface contacting the memory element adjacent the distal end at a first contact surface. A top electrode is separated from the distal end of the pipe shaped portion by the memory element and contacts the memory element at a second contact surface, the second contact surface having a surface area greater than that of the first contact surface.
US08198613B2
The EUV light source device eliminates radiation other than EUV radiation from the light which it emits, and supplies only the EUV radiation to an exposure device. A composite layer consisting of a plurality of Mo/Si pair layers is provided upon the front surface of an EUV collector mirror, and blazed grooves are formed in this composite layer. Radiation emitted from a plasma is incident upon this EUV collector mirror, and is reflected or diffracted. The reflected EUV radiation (including diffracted EUV) proceeds towards an intermediate focal point IF. The radiation of other wavelengths proceeds towards some position other than this focal point IF, because its reflection angle or diffraction angle is different. A SPF shield having an aperture portion is provided at the focal point IF. Accordingly, only the EUV radiation passes through the aperture portion and is supplied to the exposure device, while the other radiation is intercepted by the shield.
US08198611B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a laser beam formatting module for use in a lithographic system to fabricate a semiconductor wafer comprises an aperture plate having, for example, a circular aperture and capable of being situated between a laser source and a target, and a lens assembly, in a light path between the aperture plate and the target. The laser beam formatting module can produce a substantially uniform laser beam intensity across a target during fabrication of a semiconductor wafer in a laser-produced plasma (LPP) lithographic process using, for example, extreme ultraviolet light (EUV). In one embodiment, a laser beam formatting module improves energy conversion efficiency, reduces out-of-band radiation emission, avoids heating of reflective optics, and eliminates the need for an out-of-band radiation filter.
US08198602B2
An electrostatic lens comprising a first conductive plate with a first aperture, a second conductive plate with a second aperture, the second aperture being substantially aligned with the first aperture, a voltage supply for supplying a first voltage to the first conductive plate and a second voltage to the second conductive plate, the first voltage being lower than the second voltage, and an insulating structure for separating the first conductive plate from the second conductive plate. The insulating structure comprises a first portion in contact with the first conductive plate and a second portion in contact with the second conductive plate, the first portion having an overhanging portion and the second portion having an indented portion at an edge of the insulating structure, so that a gap is formed between the overhanging portion and the second conductive plate.
US08198575B2
A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel array; a reference signal generation unit operable to generate a reference signal that changes monotonically for a predetermined period in a horizontal period; a comparator operable to compare the level of a pixel signal with the level of a reference signal; a counter operable to count input clock pulses; a memory operable to store the number of counts counted by the counter as a digital value; and a timing control unit operable to generate a clock that is to be input into the counter, and change frequency of the clock that is to be input into the counter based on external input data.
US08198573B2
A light source device includes: a plurality of light emission units which emit light; a scattering unit which scatters at least a part of light received from the plural light emission units; a light detecting unit which detects a part of light emitted from the plural light emission units and scattered by the scattering unit; and a control unit which controls the plural light emission units based on detection result from the light detecting unit.
US08198561B2
A switching mechanism for a switching device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a contact element which is mounted in a switching shaft segment such that it can rotate and can be switched off automatically in the event of a fault via said switching mechanism, a switching lever for switching the contact element on and off manually; a cocking lever which is mounted in a fixed position such that it can rotate and interacts with a catch; and a toggle lever joint including a coupling lug for connection to the contact element, a pivoting lever and a toggle lever joint shaft. The switching lever can assume at least one switched-on position, a manual switched-off position or automatically unlatched tripped position, or an intermediate switch position which is located between the switched-on position and the tripped position when a contact element is welded. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the switching link of the switching lever has at least one blocking element, which interacts with the coupling lug such that the switching lever remains in the intermediate switch position if an opening operation is carried out when a contact element is welded.
US08198559B2
An illuminated push button switch includes a manipulation knob, a hollow slider, a casing, which vertically guides the slider, a switch element, which is operated by the vertical movement of the slider, and a light source. A front end portion of the slider protrudes forward from the casing. The manipulation knob includes: a body; a skirt portion, which protrudes backward from a peripheral edge of the body and surrounds the front end portion of the slider; connection pieces protruding backward from a rear surface of the body more than the skirt portion and inserted into the slider; and locking holes provided in the connection piece. An inner wall surface of the slider is provided with locking claws which are snapped into the locking holes of the connection pieces so that the manipulation knob is snap-connected to the slider.
US08198555B2
A multi-position switch assembly for controlling a vehicle display screen includes a rocker configured to spherically rotate. The rocker defines an interior space. A pushbutton extends through the interior space of the rocker. The pushbutton is fixed with respect to rotation and is movable linearly relative to the rocker. An encoder detects a rotation angle of the rocker. A first input device is actuated by the spherical movement of the rocker. A second input device is actuated by the linear movement of the pushbutton.
US08198554B2
A load cell unit which can satisfactorily measure the weight of a measured object if ambient temperature changes, and a weight checker and an electric balance using the load cell unit, are provided. A strain generating element includes plural strain generating portions. Each of strain gauges is a gauge of a temperature/sensitivity compensated type and is placed in a position on a corresponding strain generating portion. A bridge circuit includes the strain gauges. A zero compensation element compensates the zero of the bridge circuit in accordance with the temperature of the strain generating element, to roughly correct an output of the bridge circuit. A thermal sensitive resistor is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the strain generating element. The zero compensation element and the thermal sensitive resistor are provided on a thick portion interposed between adjacent strain generating portions. A signal processor minutely corrects a roughly-corrected output of the bridge circuit. Thus, software compensation of zero can be further provided to an output of the bridge circuit, to which circuital compensation of zero is provided.
US08198545B2
There is provided a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a first ground layer extended in one direction; a first dielectric layer laminated on the first ground layer and extended in the same direction of the first ground layer; a signal transmission line laminated on the first dielectric layer and extended in the same direction of the first dielectric layer; a first bonding sheet disposed above the first dielectric layer; a second bonding sheet disposed above the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer disposed above the signal transmission line, the first bonding sheet, and the second bonding sheet; and a second ground layer laminated on the second dielectric layer.
US08198543B2
Disclosed is a rigid-flexible circuit board, which includes a rigid region and a flexible region, the rigid region including a flexible substrate having a first circuit layer on both surfaces thereof, a metal core substrate formed on the flexible substrate and having a second circuit layer on both surfaces thereof, and an adhesive layer disposed between the flexible substrate and the metal core substrate, wherein the metal core substrate includes a metal core having a through hole, and an insulating layer formed on a surface of the metal core, so that the rigid region and the flexible region are thermally separated from each other and heat dissipation properties of the rigid region are improved. A method of manufacturing the rigid-flexible circuit board is also provided.
US08198537B2
A foldable electric cord includes a flexible insulated strap, a wire in the flexible strap. The flexible strap includes at least one first fixing member and at least one second fixing member formed thereon. The first fixing member may be fixed to the second fixing member, to fold the flexible strap at least one time. An electrical connecting device including the foldable electric cord is also disclosed.
US08198519B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB29AF10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB29AF10, cells from soybean variety XB29AF10, plants of soybean XB29AF10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB29AF10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB29AF10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB29AF10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB29AF10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB29AF10 are further provided.
US08198512B2
A method for the creation of high pigment yellow or golden beets is described. High pigment yellow beets have enhanced levels of betaxanthins while limiting the abundance of betacyanins so that the beets themselves are yellow. The beets are useful as a table food having enhanced nutritional value because of the enhanced pigment concentration and also as a source of pigment itself.
US08198510B2
Isolated nucleic acid molecules that confer resistance to the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris are provided. These molecules may be introduced into plants that are otherwise susceptible to infection by this bacterium in order to enhance the resistance of the plant to this plant pathogen. Additionally provided are isolated polypeptides and isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising plant promoters. Methods of using the nucleic acid molecules to increase the resistance of plants to pathogens and to express genes of interest in plants are provided.
US08198509B2
The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and disease resistance. More specifically, the invention includes a method for breeding soybean plants containing one or more quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to Southern Root Knot Nematode (SRKN). The invention further provides germplasm and the use of germplasm containing QTL conferring disease resistance for introgression into elite germplasm in a breeding program, thus producing novel elite germplasm comprising one or more SRKN resistance QTL.
US08198507B2
The invention concerns transgenic or recombinant non-human mammals, wherein the expression of the gene coding for a microtubule associated protein (MAP) is modified (STOP gene) (inactivation or overexpression) and their uses in screening medicines useful in schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorders, with anxious, paranoiac or depressive component.
US08198506B2
An absorbent article includes a liquid pervious liner, a liquid impervious back sheet, and an absorbent composite located between the liner and the back sheet. The absorbent composite includes a first sheet, a second sheet, and a unitary absorbent core. The unitary absorbent core has a plurality of holes there through, wherein each hole has an area less than 200 mm2. The unitary absorbent core has a uniform density and is positioned between the first sheet and the second sheet. The first sheet is directly joined with the second sheet at a plurality of bond points. The bond points are located within the holes and are substantially devoid of absorbent material.
US08198503B2
The present inventions relates to a disposable absorbent articles, including diapers and sanitary napkins, comprising a bleach activator system for controlling odors associated with bodily fluids. The bleach activator system may comprise a peroxygen bleach compound (including a source of hydrogen peroxide) and a bleach activator compound capable of generating a peroxyacid in-situ within the absorbent article.
US08198496B2
This disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing a mono-alkylaromatic aromatic compound, said process comprising contacting a feedstock comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and an alkylating agent under alkylation reaction conditions with a catalyst comprising EMM-13, wherein said EMM-13 is a molecular sieve comprising a framework of tetrahedral atoms bridged by oxygen atoms, the tetrahedral atom framework being defined by a unit cell with atomic coordinates in nanometers shown in Table 3.
US08198495B2
Processes and systems for synthesizing alkyl bromides to hydrocarbon products, such as high molecular weight hydrocarbons, olefins or mixtures thereof, wherein one or more streams of alkyl bromides may be synthesized in sequential or concurrent stages at different temperatures. The catalyst used in the synthesis stages may be the same or different and at least in one instance is chosen to form hydrocarbon products having a significant C6+ paraffin content. The stages may be conducted in one or more reactors and the catalyst may be deployed in fixed beds or fluidized beds.
US08198486B2
Disclosed are methods for generating propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols from biomass using hydrogen produced from the biomass. The methods involve reacting a portion of an aqueous stream of a biomass feedstock solution over a catalyst under aqueous phase reforming conditions to produce hydrogen, and then reacting the hydrogen and the aqueous feedstock solution over a catalyst to produce propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and the other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols. The disclosed methods can be run at lower temperatures and pressures, and allows for the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons without the need for hydrogen from an external source.
US08198484B2
The present invention is directed to the labeled compounds, wherein C* is each either 13C and 12C where at least one C* is 13C, each hydrogen of the methylene group is hydrogen or deuterium, the methyl group includes either zero or three deuterium atoms, Q is sulfide, sulfinyl, or sulfone, Z is an aryl group such as 1-naphthyl, substituted 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, substituted 2-naphthyl, or a phenyl group wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently either hydrogen, a C1-C4 lower alkyl, a halogen, and an amino group such as NH2, NHR and NRR′ where R and R′ are each independently either a C1-C4 lower alkyl, a phenyl, and an alkoxy group, and the methyl group can include either zero or three deuterium atoms. The present invention is also directed to the labeled compounds
US08198481B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acrylic acid and a process for the preparation of polyacrylic acid comprising the process steps: (a1) preparation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from a biological material to give a fluid, in particular aqueous, phase containing 3-hydroxypropionic acid; (a2) dehydration of the 3-hydroxypropionic acid to give a fluid, in particular aqueous, solution containing acrylic acid; (a3) purification of the solution containing acrylic acid by a suspension crystallization or a layer crystallization to give a purified phase; and corresponding devices for carrying out these processes, and acrylic acid and polyacrylates. The invention is distinguished in that acrylic acid and polyacrylates can thereby be prepared efficiently, inexpensively, and sustainably with simple means and with a high purity on the basis of regenerable raw materials.
US08198472B1
Described are diol-derived organofunctional silanes in which the silanes contain cyclic and bridged alkoxy groups derived from hydrocarbon-based diols and methods for the preparation of the silanes. Also described are rubber compositions containing the diol-derived organofunctional silanes, methods for the preparation of the rubber compositions and articles of manufacture containing the rubber compositions, in particular, automotive tires and components thereof.
US08198452B2
The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of enantiomerically enriched or pure compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R6, R7 and Q are defined as in claim 1 as well as their crystalline forms for the treatment of proliferative diseases such as cancer.
US08198448B2
Selected compounds are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as HGF mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes.
US08198437B2
A compound represented by the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: which is used for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease caused by abnormal activity of tau protein kinase 1 such as a neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer disease).
US08198436B2
A chromogenic oxazine compound for the colorimetric detection of cyanide was designed. Indeed, the [1,3]oxazine ring of our compound opens to form a phenolate chromophore in response to cyanide. The heterocyclic com-pound may be comprised of fused benzooxazine and indoline rings: wherein R1 is an alkyl (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl), a substituted alkyl, a cycloalkyl (e.g., cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl), a substituted cycloalkyl, an aryl (e.g., phenyl), or a substituted aryl and R2 is a chromophore (e.g., nitroso, nitro, azo dyes). This quantitative chromogenic transformation permits the detection of micromolar concentrations of cyanide in water. Furthermore, our chromogenic oxazine is insensitive to the presence of large concentrations of fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide anions, which are generally the principal interferents in the colorimetric detection of cyanide.
US08198430B2
The application relates to nucleic acids which encode enzymes responsible for the production of the O-antigen of Francisella tularensis, and their use as or in the production of vaccines and in diagnosis.
US08198423B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for detecting HPV in a sample. This invention also provides related kits, systems, and computers.
US08198413B2
The present invention relates to new antibodies capable of binding specifically to the human CD151 protein, especially monoclonal antibodies of murine origin, which are chimeric and humanised, and also to the amino acid and nucleic sequences coding for those antibodies. The invention also includes use of those antibodies as medicaments for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of cancers and in diagnostic methods or kits for diseases associated with overexpression of the CD151 protein. Finally, the invention includes products and/or compositions comprising such antibodies in association with antibodies and/or anti-cancer agents or conjugated with toxins and/or radioelements and their use in the prevention and/or treatment of certain cancers.
US08198410B2
This invention provides antibodies that interact with or bind to human nerve growth factor (NGF) and neutralize the function of NGF thereby. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of said antibodies and methods for neutralizing NGF function, and particularly for treating NGF-related disorders (e.g., chronic pain) by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of anti-NGF antibodies. Methods of detecting the amount of NGF in a sample using anti-NGF antibodies are also provided.
US08198409B2
A mutant of the polypeptide Protein A, wherein immunoglobulin binding properties can be altered by changing temperature under the conditions of pH 5-9, below 60° C. The use of the mutant Protein A include the use thereof as a ligand coupled to an affinity chromatography support for the purification of immunoglobulins by affinity chromatography, wherein the immunoglobulins is eluted by changing temperature and thereby the conformation of the mutant Protein A.
US08198405B2
Novel polypeptides and methods of making and using the same are described herein. The polypeptides include cross-linking (“hydrocarbon stapling”) moieties to provide a tether between two amino acid moieties, which constrains the secondary structure of the polypeptide. The polypeptides described herein can be used to treat diseases characterized by excessive or inadequate cellular death.
US08198404B2
The present invention relates to an immunoglobulin-binding protein, wherein at least one asparagine residue has been mutated to an amino acid other than glutamine or aspartic acid, which mutation confers an increased chemical stability at pH-values of up to about 13-14 compared to the parental molecule. The protein can for example be derived from a protein capable of binding to other regions of the immunoglobulin molecule than the complementarity determining regions (CDR), such as protein A, and preferably the B-domain of Staphylococcal protein A. The invention also relates to a matrix for affinity separation, which comprises an immunoglobulin-binding protein as ligand coupled to a solid support, in which protein ligand at least one asparagine residue has been mutated to an amino acid other than glutamine.
US08198402B2
Disclosed is an isolated or purified polypeptide or peptidomimetic comprising an amino acid sequence of a portion of a Smoothened (SMO) protein, wherein the portion comprises an amino acid sequence of any of the intracellular loops of the SMO protein, a functional fragment thereof, or a functional variant of either the portion or the functional fragment, wherein the functional fragment comprises at least 7 contiguous amino acids of the intracellular loops, and wherein the functional fragment or functional variant inhibits proliferation of a diseased cell, or a fatty acid derivative thereof. Related conjugates, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and pharmaceutical compositions are further provided. Methods of inhibiting proliferation of a diseased cell, treating or preventing cancer, treating a neoplasm or psoriasis, and inhibiting the expression of genes involved in the Hedgehog signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the Hedgehog signaling pathway, are furthermore provided by the invention.
US08198400B2
The present invention provides liposomal vaccines containing immunogenic lipopeptides that are capable of modulating the humoral and cellular immune responses in vivo.
US08198398B2
The invention relates to a process for removing fouling on a surface, wherein the surface is contacted with an aqueous solution of a guanidine of formula R1R2N—C(═NH)—NR3R4 (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be the same or different and each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is hydrogen or hydrocarbyl.
US08198395B2
The present invention provides epoxy curing agent compositions comprising alkylated aminopropylated alkylenediamine compounds. Amine-epoxy compositions and articles produced from these amine-epoxy compositions are also disclosed.
US08198394B2
A membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells which is excellent in water repellency and gas diffusivity and which exhibits a high output power density, can be obtained by using, as an electrolyte material for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, a fluoropolymer obtained by contacting a fluoropolymer which is excellent in gas diffusivity and which has alicyclic structures in its main chain and further has sulfonic acid groups, with fluorine gas for fluorination to increase water repellency and stabilize the molecule ends. The above fluoropolymer is preferably made of a copolymer comprising repeating units based on the following monomer A and repeating units based on the following monomer B (wherein Y is a fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group, m is an integer of from 0 to 3, p is 0 or 1, and n is an integer of from 1 to 12): Monomer A: A perfluoromonomer which gives a polymer having repeating units containing cyclic structures in its main chain by radical polymerization Monomer B: CF2═CF—(OCF2CFY)m-0p-(CF2)n—SO3H.
US08198388B2
One-part self-etching, self-priming dental adhesive composition having a pH of at most 2, which comprises (a) a polymerizable acidic phosphoric acid ester monomer (b) one or more polymerizable acidic monomers (c) a polymerizable N-substituted alkylacrylic or acrylic acid amide monomer; (d) optionally an organic and/or inorganic acid; (e) an organic water soluble solvent and/or water; and (f) polymerization initiator, inhibitor and stabilizer.
US08198367B2
A thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin composition of the present invention comprises (a) a bimodal graft copolymer of a conjugated diene rubbery polymer whose average particle diameter of 800 to 1,500 Å and a conjugated diene rubbery polymer whose average particle diameter of 2,500 to 3,500 Å, the conjugated diene rubbery polymers being grafted with an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound, (b) an acrylic resin of a methacrylic or acrylic acid alkyl ester compound, an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound, (c) a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound and a vinyl cyanide compound, and (d) polysiloxane masterbatches. The ABS resin composition has excellent colorability and releasability while maintaining the inherent physical properties (e.g., impact strength and tensile strength) of the base resin.
US08198366B2
The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition containing (A) a resin mixture including (a-1) a polycarbonate resin in an amount of 45 to 97% by mass and (a-2) a fatty acid polyester in an amount of 55 to 3 % by mass, and (B) a rubber-like elastomer in an amount of 0.5 to 20 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the resin mixture, wherein component (B) is dispersed in an interface between ingredient (a-1) and ingredient (a-2) or in domains of ingredient (a-2). The composition has high impact characteristics and high fluidity and overcomes appearance defects such as pearl-like gloss and jetting marks.
US08198356B2
Disclosed herein is a composite part for an airplane engine comprising polymer selected from polyimide, polyamide-imide, polyether imides, polybenzimidazole, or blends thereof, and carbonaceous filler, which in combination provides thermal stability and wear resistance. Optionally, the composite may comprise particulate.
US08198353B2
A primer coating is provided for use on polymeric substrates to enhance adhesion of liquid toner to the substrates for printing in an electrophotographic printing device. The primer coating includes a dispersion of a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic or methacrylic acid and a compatible adhesion enhancer comprising a hydrogenated rosin or rosin ester dispersion. The coating may also include additives such as wetting agents, antiblocking agents, matting agents, and waxes. The primer coating may be applied to a variety of polymeric substrates including polypropylene, biaxially oriented polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride.
US08198352B2
The present invention relates to high purity monoalkyltin compounds, more specifically to alkyltin compound compositions containing monoalkyltin as major compound, and minor quantities of di- and/or trialkyltin compounds. The present invention also relates to the preparation processes of such high purity monoalkyltin compounds, as well as to the uses of said monoalkyltin compounds as chlorine-containing polymer-stabilizers, glass coating chemicals and catalysts, as well as articles comprising at least one polymer matrix and a high purity monoalkyltin compound.
US08198351B2
A thermoplastic polymer composition comprises a thermoplastic polymer and a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent comprises a compound conforming to the structure of Formula (I), Formula (II), or Formula (III)
US08198350B2
Methods of preparing a cross-linked, polymer-modified asphalt is provided. The method involves adding a crosslinking agent to asphalt prior to the addition of a crosslinkable polymer and an acid. Asphalt prepared by the disclosed methods exhibit improved properties such as properties measured by the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) test.
US08198345B2
The present invention relates to lubricious anaerobic curable compositions.
US08198344B2
The present invention relates to compositions of cyanoacrylate monomer, a method of improving the viscosity and the curing speed with a single additive and a process of providing sterilized cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions for application in the medical field.
US08198343B2
A dental, paste/paste self-adhesive cement includes a polymerizable acidic monomer or monomer mixtures; a polymerizable non-acidic monomer or monomer mixtures, a photo-initiator and/or a co-initiator, a reducing agent such as a benzoylthiourea and other substituted benzoylthiourea, an oxidizing agent, a thermal stabilizer and a glass filler.
US08198339B2
The invention relates to a method for the disposal and utilization of waste materials of all types, in which the waste materials are compressed in batches to form compact packets and pass through temperature treatment zones, synthesis gas being produced, and the synthesis gas is converted in a subsequent reaction into hydrocarbon molecules for the production of fuel.
US08198332B2
The application discloses compounds of Formula I: wherein Q1, Q2, R1, R2, R3, and n are defined as described herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of using, and methods of preparing the subject compounds.
US08198331B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of the 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme and their use in treatment of non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, central nervous system disorders, and diseases and conditions that are related to excessive glucocorticoids.
US08198323B2
The present invention relates to compounds capable of acting as androgen receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical formulations containing the same, and methods of use thereof. Such uses include, but are not limited to, use as antitumor agents, particularly for the treatment of cancers such as colon, skin and prostate cancer and to induce androgen receptor antagonist activity in a subject afflicted with an androgen-related affliction. Examples of androgen-related afflictions include, but are not limited to, baldness, hirsutism, behavioral disorders, acne, and uninhibited spermatogenesis wherein inhibition of spermatogenesis is so desired.
US08198310B2
Use of a compound of formula (I) in which R, R′ and R″ have the meanings given in the description, optionally in the form of a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic or mineral base, to prepare a pharmaceutical composition for reducing the blood triglyceride, cholesterol and glucose levels.
US08198303B2
Methods and compositions for treating disease caused by infectious agents, particularly tuberculosis. In particular, methods and compositions comprising substituted diamines for the treatment of infectious diseases are provided. In one embodiment, these methods and compositions are used for the treatment of mycobacterial infections, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis.
US08198298B2
Compounds which are pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, their preparation process and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; these compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases caused by and/or associated with an altered protein kinase activity such as cancer, cell proliferative disorders, Alzheimer's disease, viral infections, auto-immune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders; also disclosed is a process under SPS conditions for preparing the compounds of the invention and chemical libraries comprising a plurality of them.
US08198295B2
The compounds of formula I in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and n have the meanings as indicated in the description, are novel effective PDE3/4 inhibitors.
US08198284B2
A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder. The method includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more thiourea compounds of formula (I) or (II): Each variable in formula (I) or (II) is defined herein. Also disclosed is use of these thiourea compounds to reduce microglia-mediated neuro-inflammation or enhancing microglial phagocytosis of Aβ.
US08198283B2
Compounds of the formula II: wherein R2 is the side chain of leucine, isoleucine, cyclohexylglycine, O-methyl threonine, 4-fluoroleucine or 3-methoxyvaline; R3 is H, methyl or F; Rq is trifluoromethyl and Rq′ is H or Rq and Rq′ define keto; Q is a p-(C1-C6alkylsulphonyl)phenyl- or an optionally substituted 4-(C1-C6alkyl)piperazin-1-yl-thiazol-4-yl-moiety have utility in the treatment of disorders characterized by inappropriate expression or activation of cathepsin K, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or bone metastases.
US08198279B2
The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds for treating proliferative disorders, cancer, etc., and more specifically to certain pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazin-8-substituted compounds, as described herein, which, inter alia, inhibit RAF (e.g., B—RAF) activity. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to inhibit RAF (e.g., BRAF) activity, to inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity, to inhibit cell proliferation, and in the treatment of diseases and disorders that are ameliorated by the inhibition of RAF, RTK, etc., proliferative disorders such as cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, melanoma), etc.
US08198273B2
Compounds and salts thereof, formulations thereof, conjugates thereof, derivatives thereof, forms thereof and uses thereof are described. In certain aspects and embodiments, the described compounds or salts thereof, formulations thereof, conjugates thereof, derivatives thereof, and forms thereof are active on each of BRaf and c-Raf-1 protein kinase, and may also be active on either or both of A-Raf and B-Raf V600E protein kinase. Also described are methods of use thereof to treat diseases and conditions, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer, and biliary tract cancer.
US08198267B2
The invention relates to novel substituted oxazolidinones, to processes for preparation thereof, to the use thereof for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and to the use thereof for producing medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially of thromboembolic disorders.
US08198254B2
Amplification of the ANXA9 gene in human chromosomal region 1q21 in epithelial cancers indicates a likelihood of both in vivo drug resistance and metastasis, and serves as a biomarker indicating these aspects of the disease. ANXA9 can also serve as a therapeutic target. Interfering RNAs (iRNAs) (such as siRNA and miRNA) and shRNA adapted to inhibit ANXA9 expression, when formulated in a therapeutic composition, and delivered to cells of the tumor, function to treat the epithelial cancer.
US08198252B2
The present invention provides polynucleotides, compositions including polynucleotides, and the uses thereof for treating cancer in a subject. The polynucleotides silence the expression of coding regions that encode polypeptides such as p85α, p110α, and Akt2. The cancers treatable using the methods described herein include colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and metastases thereof.
US08198248B2
Improved methods and compositions for the treatment of native tissues with crosslinkers are provided. The methods and compositions will find particular use in increasing resistance to tearing, fissuring, rupturing, and/or delamination.
US08198247B2
A process for and intermediates in the preparation of canfosfamide and its salts. Some of the intermediates have anticancer activity.
US08198245B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising isolated human collagen, isolated human elastin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier wherein the human elastin is substantially insoluble in water with a molecular weight greater than 100 kDa. The present invention further provides methods and kits for soft tissue augmentation.
US08198242B2
The present disclosure provides variants of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), pharmaceutical compositions comprising CNP variants, and methods of making CNP variants. The CNP variants are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases responsive to CNP, including but not limited to bone-related disorders, such as skeletal dysplasias (e.g., achondroplasia), and vascular smooth muscle disorders (e.g., restenosis and arteriosclerosis).
US08198237B2
Disclosed herein are heretofore undescribed preparations of highly concentrated, solubilized proteins, such as but not limited to, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins. Such protein preparations can be formulated in an aqueous carrier at protein concentrations in excess of 10 mg/ml when using the methods of manufacture taught herein. Such methods yield stable protein preparations in either solubilized or lyophilized form. The protein preparations of the present invention are particularly beneficial when administered either locally or systemically, in part, because low administration volumes can be accomplished. This is especially important for local treatment of certain anatomic locations such as, for example, the synovial fluid of a joint when treating osteoarthritis with BMP-7 or the intradiscal space when treating degenerative disc disease with BMP-7.
US08198222B2
Formulations using tartaric compounds of the present invention in a low sulfur, low ash and low phosphorous lubricant lower wear, and friction and improves fuel economy.
US08198217B2
A mixed composition for weeding useful as a herbicide which is effective against a wide spectrum of weeds, is highly active, has excellent residual activity, and is highly safe for useful plants. It is characterized by containing as an active ingredient a combination of (A) a compound selected among a difluoromethanesulfonylanilide compound represented by the general formula (I): (wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, or C2-6 alkoxyalkyl) and salts of the compound and (B) at least one member selected among herbicidal aromatic-ring-containing compounds, e.g., indanofan, and herbicidal nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, e.g., TH-547, nicosulfuron, Flutiacet-methyl, and atrazine.
US08198206B2
The invention relates to an ink for producing catalyst layers for electrochemical devices. The ink comprises catalyst materials, ionomer material, water and at least one organic solvent. The organic solvent belongs to the class of tertiary alcohols and/or the class of aliphatic diketones and bears functional groups which are stable to oxidative degradation in the ink. This prevents formation of decomposition products in the ink. The ink of the invention displays a high storage stability and is used for producing catalyst-coated substrates for electrochemical devices, in particular fuel cells (PEMFCs, DMFCs).
US08198204B2
An alumina ceramic contains a Ba0.808Al1.71Si2.29O8 phase. The alumina ceramic has high reflectivity and is useful as a reflecting material for a light emitting element. The alumina ceramic which exhibits an X-ray diffraction pattern having a ratio of the peak intensity at 2θ=43.3° to that at 22.5° of 0.5 to 2.5 has particularly high reflectivity. The alumina ceramic shows high reflectivity particularly at wavelengths ranging from 300 to 400 nm.
US08198199B2
There are disclosed an epitaxial film, comprising: heating an Si substrate provided with an SiO2 layer with a film thickness of 1.0 nm or more to 10 nm or less on a surface of the substrate; andforming on the SiO2 layer by use of a metal target represented by the following composition formula: yA(1−y)B (1), in which A is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements including Y and Sc, B is Zr, and y is a numeric value of 0.03 or more to 0.20 or less, the epitaxial film represented by the following composition formula: xA2O3−(1−x)BO2 (2), in which A and B are respectively same elements as A and B of the composition formula (1), and x is a numeric value of 0.010 or more to 0.035 or less.
US08198198B2
The present invention relates to a method for forming electrode patterns of a ceramic substrate including the steps of: forming a plurality of conductive adhesion patterns on the ceramic substrate to be separated apart from one another; forming a plating seed layer, covering the conductive adhesion patterns, on the ceramic substrate; forming photoresist patterns, exposing parts corresponding to the conductive adhesion patterns, on the plating seed layer; forming a plating layer on the plating seed layer exposed by the photoresist patterns; removing the photoresist patterns; and etching parts of the plating seed layer exposed by removal of the photoresist patterns.
US08198197B2
The present invention is a plasma etching method for etching a surface of a substrate in which a metal nitride film and a silicon film have been respectively formed on a first base film and a second base film that had been side-by-side arranged, with surfaces of the metal nitride film and the silicon film being exposed. At least a surface area of the silicon film is nitrided. A first etching plasma is supplied onto the surface of the substrate so as to etch the metal nitride film and to expose the first base film. A second etching plasma is supplied onto the surface of the substrate so as to etch the silicon film and to expose the second base film.
US08198189B2
An integrated circuit device includes first and second conductive structures spaced apart from one another on a substrate along a first direction. The first and second conductive structures extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A contact plug is interposed between the first and second conductive structures and is separated therefrom along the first direction by respective air gaps on opposite sides of the contact plug. The air gaps define first and second air spacers that electrically insulate the contact plug from the first and second conductive structures, respectively. An upper insulation layer covers the first and second air spacers and the first and second conductive structures. The air spacers may sufficiently reduce the loading capacitance between the conductive structures. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US08198188B1
A semiconductor device and systems and methods for forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device can include patterning a first conductive element on a first layer of a semiconductor device, patterning a second conductive element on a second layer of a semiconductor device, and forming an electrical connection in a third layer of the semiconductor device at a predetermined location between the first and the second conductive elements, the connection between the first and the second conducting elements having a geometry that is larger in at least one dimension relative to the corresponding dimension of the second conductive element at the predetermined location.
US08198183B2
A feedforward control is performed so that a line width of a mask constituted by an Si3N4 layer 102 formed by using a photoresist 105b as a mask is to be the same as a line width of a mask pattern constituted by an SiO2 layer 103 based on a measured line width of the photoresist 105b and the measured line width of the mask pattern constituted by the SiO2 layer 103. For example, a control of a trimming amount of the line width of the photoresist 105b is performed so that the line width of the photoresist 105b is to be the same as the line width of the mask pattern constituted by the SiO2 layer 103.
US08198180B2
In an ion implantation method, a substrate is placed in a process zone and ions are implanted into a region of the substrate to form an ion implanted region. A porous capping layer comprising dispersed gas pockets is deposited on the ion implanted region.
US08198168B2
According to the invention, a Ti film is formed on a substrate and is annealed at the temperatures of 350° C.-400° C. under oxidative environment, so that a TiO2 film having a rutile crystal structure is formed. Since the TiO2 film having a rutile crystal structure has a high dielectric constant, it is useful for a capacitive insulating film for a capacitor.
US08198166B2
A spacer structure in sophisticated semiconductor devices is formed on the basis of a high-k dielectric material, which provides superior etch resistivity compared to conventionally used silicon dioxide liners. Consequently, a reduced thickness of the etch stop material may nevertheless provide superior etch resistivity, thereby reducing negative effects, such as dopant loss in the drain and source extension regions, creating a pronounced surface topography and the like, as are typically associated with conventional spacer material systems.
US08198161B2
A vertical transistor and a method for forming the same. The vertical transistor includes a semiconductor substrate having pillar type active patterns formed on a surface thereof; first junction regions formed in the surface of the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the active patterns; screening layers formed on sidewalls of the first junction regions; second junction regions formed on upper surfaces of the active patterns; and gates formed on sidewalls of the active patterns including the second junction regions to overlap with at least portions of the first junction regions.
US08198160B2
Vertical transistor phase change memory and methods of processing phase change memory are described herein. One or more methods include forming a dielectric on at least a portion of a vertical transistor, forming an electrode on the dielectric, and forming a vertical strip of phase change material on a portion of a side of the electrode and on a portion of a side of the dielectric extending along the electrode and the dielectric into contact with the vertical transistor.
US08198156B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a peripheral circuit region and a cell region. A method for fabricating the non-volatile memory device includes forming gate patterns over a substrate, the gate pattern including a tunnel insulation layer, a floating gate electrode, a charge blocking layer and a control gate electrode, and removing the control gate electrode and the charge blocking layer of the gate pattern formed in the peripheral circuit region.
US08198155B2
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an N-type transistor formed in a first region on a substrate, and a P-type transistor formed in a second region on the substrate. The device includes the substrate, a first gate insulation film formed on the substrate in the first and second regions, and containing silicon, a second gate insulation film formed on the first gate insulation film in the first region, and containing first metal and oxygen, a third gate insulation film formed on the first gate insulation film in the second region, and containing second metal different from the first metal and oxygen, a fourth gate insulation film formed on the second and third gate insulation films in the first and second regions, and containing hafnium, and a gate electrode layer formed on the fourth gate insulation film in the first and second regions, and containing metal and nitrogen, a thickness of the gate electrode layer formed in the second region being greater than a thickness of the gate electrode layer formed in the first region.
US08198146B2
An object is to realize an integrated circuit included in a semiconductor device which has multiple functions, or to increase the size of an integrated circuit even when the integrated circuit is formed using a silicon carbide substrate. The integrated circuit includes a first transistor including an island-shaped silicon carbide layer provided over a substrate with a first insulating layer interposed therebetween, a first gate insulating layer provided over the silicon carbide layer, and a first conductive layer provided over the first gate insulating layer and overlapped with the silicon carbide layer; and a second transistor including an island-shaped single crystal silicon layer provided over the substrate with a second insulating layer interposed therebetween, a second gate insulating layer provided over the single crystal silicon layer, and a second conductive layer provided over the second gate insulating layer and overlapped with the single crystal silicon layer.
US08198145B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device and a semiconductor memory device manufactured using the same. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises defining source/drain regions in semiconductor substrate through an etch process using a mask, and forming a gate and source/drain by depositing a conductive material over the defined regions and the semiconductor substrate and patterning the conductive material.
US08198130B2
A chip module having a substrate and at least one chip connected to the substrate is provided, the substrate featuring a first main plane of extension and the chip featuring a second main plane of extension, and an acute angle being provided between the first main plane of extension and the second main plane of extension, and the substrate also comprising a mold housing.
US08198120B2
An optical article and method of making the same are provided. The optical article has optical multi-aperture operation. The optical article has one or more electrically conductive and selectively passivated patterns.
US08198117B2
Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
US08198110B2
This invention is related to a thin film transistor (TFT) array and method of making same, for use in an active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) having a high pixel aperture ratio. The TFT array and corresponding display are made by forming the TFTs and corresponding address lines on a substrate, coating the address lines and TFTs with a photo-imageable insulating layer which acts as a negative resist, exposing portions of the insulating layer with UV light which are to remain on the substrate, removing non-exposed areas of the insulating layer so as to form contact vias, and depositing pixel electrodes on the substrate over the insulating layer so that the pixel electrodes contact respective TFT source electrodes through the contact vias. The resulting display has an increased pixel aperture ratio because the pixel electrodes are formed over the insulating layer so as to overlap portions of the array address lines.
US08198108B2
The semiconductor device 1 comprises a housing 12 which has a recess 24 in the front surface 1; a pair of lead electrodes 20 which have the distal ends 34 exposed in the recess 24, protrude from the external surface of the housing 12, and are bent along the bottom surface 16 of the housing 12; and a semiconductor element 36 which is housed in the recess 24 and is electrically connected to the pair of lead electrodes 20. The housing 12 has grooves 30 which are formed on the pair of side surfaces 18 which adjoin the front surface 14 and the bottom surface 16 on the right and left sides so as to penetrate the housing 12 from the top surface 28 toward the bottom surface 16 of the housing 12. The grooves 30 preferably have width substantially equal to the thickness of the lead electrode 20. The grooves 30 are more preferably formed to be flush with the distal ends 34 of the lead electrode 20.
US08198099B2
Semiconductor quantum dots are becoming valuable analytical tools for use in biomedical applications. Indeed, their unique properties offer the opportunity to design luminescent probes for imaging and sensing with unprecedented performance. In this context, we have identified operating principles to transduce supramolecular association of complementary receptor-ligand binding pairs into enhancement or suppression in the luminescence of sensitive quantum dots. Thus, complementary receptor-ligand binding pairs can be identified with luminescence measurements relying on our design logic. In fact, we have demonstrated with a representative example that our protocol can be adapted to signal receptor-ligand binding.
US08198095B2
Methods and devices for detecting the presence of a NO forming material (e.g., a material that can form, or is, a nitrogen monoxide molecule) are disclosed based on detection of fluorescence exhibited by NO molecules in a first vibrationally excited state of a ground electronic state. Such excited NO molecules can be formed, for example, when small amounts of explosives are photodissociated. By inducing fluorescence of the material, a distinct signature of the explosive can be detected. Such techniques can be performed quickly and with a significant standoff distance, which can add to the invention's utility. In another aspection of the invention, methods and apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. Such methods and apparatus can be used in conjunction with any detection method disclosed herein.
US08198091B2
A method for assaying the antioxidant capacity of a skin care product, the method including preparing an emulsion base, dissolving a sample of a skin care product into the emulsion base to form a homogeneous emulsion mixture, adding a detection probe to the homogeneous emulsion mixture, adding reactive oxygen species generator and/or reactive nitrogen species generator to the homogeneous emulsion mixture, measuring the fluorescence intensity change of the detection probe in the presence of the sample over time, in the presence of the standard over time, and in the presence of a blank over time, and calculating the initial rate of oxidation of the detection probe to determine the antioxidant capacity of the sample of the skin care product.
US08198086B2
The present invention provides a method for arranging various cells as cell clusters in an arbitrary three-dimensional space and producing a three dimensional structure of a desired shape constituted exclusively by cells. Furthermore, the present invention provides a support provided with a substrate and a thread or needle-shaped material that penetrates the substrate and cell clusters for positioning cell clusters in arbitrary space. The support is provided with a sheet that can be removed as necessary for covering the substrate. Further, a method for using the support structure to position cell clusters in an arbitrary space and a method for the production of three-dimensional cell structures are provided.
US08198084B2
The present invention provides a cell culture medium formulation that supports the in vitro cultivation, particularly in suspension, of mammalian cells, particularly epithelial cells and fibroblast cells, and methods for cultivating mammalian cells in suspension in vitro using these media. The media comprise a basal medium and a polyanionic or polyanionic compound, preferably a polysulfonated or polysulfated compound, and more preferably dextran sulfate. The present invention also provides chemically defined, protein-free eukaryotic cell culture media comprising an iron chelate and zinc, which is capable of supporting the growth (and particularly the high-density growth of mammalian cells) in suspension culture, increasing the level of expression of recombinant protein in cultured cells, and/or increasing virus production in cultured cells.
US08198073B2
The present invention relates to a dry stick test device for the determination of an analyte in a sample by means of a chemical assay. The device comprises: (i) optionally a solid support, (ii) at least one reagent pad comprising a reagent capable of reacting with the analyte, a derivative of said analyte or an indicator compound for said analyte to provide a detectable signal when in moistened state, and (iii) a development pad which is located in contact with the at least one reagent pad, optionally between the solid support and the at least one reagent pad, said development pad comprises at least one controlling compound capable of providing a condition required for the reagent to react with the analyte to provide a detectable signal, wherein the at least one reagent pad and the development pad are arranged to avoid precipitation of sample component(s) on the top-face of the device.
US08198072B2
A vibration type microinjection device capable of ensuring smooth piercing of membranes having different properties such as a zona pellucida, a cell membrane and a nuclear membrane included in a fertilized egg with high accuracy and efficiency is provided.A vibration type microinjection device comprises a vibrator (28) which is connected in series with a micropipette (8) and which has a piezoelectric actuator (29) installed in a housing, and a signal control device (21) for controlling an electric signal applied to the piezoelectric actuator (29), wherein vibration is applied in the longitudinal direction of the micropipette (8) via the vibrator (28) by inputting an electric signal to the piezoelectric actuator (29). By such configuration, smooth piercing of membranes having different properties such as a zona pellucida, a cell membrane and nuclear membrane included in a fertilized egg is realized with high accuracy and efficiency.
US08198071B2
A base plate having a surface on which a plurality of hydroxyl groups can be introduced, a metallic membrane disposed on the base plate and having a plurality of wells reaching the base plate, and a crosslinkable polymer membrane disposed on the metallic membrane are included.
US08198058B2
The invention provides methods for producing methanol, higher alcohols (containing 2 or more carbons), in particular ethanol, or diesel fuel from biological wastes such as manure, sewage, and crop wastes, as well as from other organic materials. In the methods, organic material is first fermented by anaerobic microorganisms to a biogas consisting primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. The biogas is then converted to synthesis gas consisting primarily of CO and H2. The synthesis gas is then contacted with a liquid fuel production catalyst to synthesize higher alcohols or other liquid fuels. The invention involves converting CO2 in the biogas to synthesis gas by combining a CO2 reforming reaction with steam reforming or partial oxidation to convert the biogas to synthesis gas. The invention also provides methods involving recirculating CO2 from the output of the liquid fuel production reaction to one or more of the fermentation reaction, the CO2 reforming reaction, or the liquid fuel production reaction.
US08198057B2
A method for producing ethanol by fermentation includes the preparation of a starter culture, inoculation of a mash with the starter culture, fermentation of the mash, and recovery of ethanol from the mash. The starter culture includes a tallow base with Chinese tallow tree parts and water which are inoculated with micro-organisms, where the micro-organisms include yeast. The micro-organisms are grown in the tallow base, and used to inoculate the mash. The mash is then fermented, and ethanol is recovered from the mash.
US08198048B2
The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of sweet taste receptors comprising two heterologous G-protein coupled receptor polypeptides from the T1R family of sensory G-protein coupled receptors, antibodies to such receptors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and receptors, and methods of screening for modulators of sweet taste receptors.
US08198041B2
A method of producing Δ1,4-Tibolone (C21H26O2), 10β-Hydroxy-Δ4-tibolone (C21H28O3). 11α,15β-Dihydroxytibolone (C21H28O4) and 11α,15β-Dihydroxy-Δ5-tibolone (C21H28O4) by contacting tibolone and 3β,6β-Dihydroxytibolone (C21H32O3) by contacting 3β-hydroxytibolone with Cunninghamella elegans (ATCC 10028b) is reported.
US08198022B2
The present invention relates to a method of identifying an increase in risk for type II Diabetes mellitus, venous thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism in a subject, wherein the presence of an amino acid exchange at position 286 from valine (Val) to alanine (Ala) in the EDG5 protein in a biological sample taken from the subject.
US08198018B2
An organic-inorganic hybrid material comprising (a) at least one soluble organic polymer and (b) at least one mono- or polynuclear metal complex having at least one ligand which comprises at least one photochemically and/or thermally polymerizable functional group. Also disclosed is an optical component which is made by using the hybrid material.
US08198017B2
A producing method of a wired circuit board includes the steps of preparing a two-layer base material including a metal supporting layer and an insulating layer, covering an upper surface of the insulating layer and respective side end surfaces of the insulating layer and the metal supporting layer with a photoresist, placing a photomask so as to light-shield an end portion and a portion where a conductive layer is to be formed of the upper surface, exposing to light the photoresist covering the upper surface from above the photoresist via the photomask, exposing to light the photoresist covering the respective side end surfaces from below the photoresist, forming an exposed portion of the photoresist into a pattern by removing an unexposed portion thereof to form a plating resist, and forming an end-portion conductive layer and the conductive layer.
US08198016B2
The present invention provides a patterning process, in which a resistance with regard to an organic solvent used for a composition for formation of a reverse film is rendered to a positive pattern to the degree of necessity and yet solubility into an alkaline etching liquid is secured, thereby enabling to finally obtain a negative image by a positive-negative reversal by performing a wet etching using an alkaline etching liquid.A resist patterning process of the present invention using a positive-negative reversal comprises at least a step of forming a resist film by applying a positive resist composition; a step of obtaining a positive pattern by exposing and developing the resist film; a step of crosslinking the positive resist pattern thus obtained; a step of forming a reverse film; and a step of reversing the positive pattern to a negative pattern by dissolving into an alkaline wet-etching liquid for removal.
US08198013B2
The invention pertains to a method for preparing a printing form from a photosensitive element having a support and a layer of photopolymerizable material adjacent the support. The method includes exposing the photosensitive element through an image mask and through a backside mask, treating the exposed element to form a relief region and to provide an unexposed region of the photopolymerizable material remaining on the support, and removing the unexposed region from the relief region, wherein the relief region remains on the support as the printing form. The method is particularly suited for preparing a composite printing form from the printing form, and in particular for preparing composite printing forms for relief printing of corrugated substrates.
US08198011B2
A method of making imaged elements such as lithographic printing plates is achieved by imagewise exposing a positive-working imageable element using energy of less than 300 mJ/cm2 to provide exposed and non-exposed regions. The imaged element is developed using an alkaline, silicate-free solution containing a carbonate to remove predominantly only the exposed regions to provide an image. The imageable element comprises a substrate and a radiation absorbing compound, and has an imageable layer on the substrate that comprises a developability-enhancing compound and a poly(vinyl acetal) in which at least 25 mol % of its recurring units comprise pendant nitro-substituted phenolic groups.
US08198001B2
A process for producing a liquid developer includes: providing a dispersion liquid containing an aqueous dispersion medium and toner mother particles including a rosin resin; chemically modifying surfaces of the toner mother particles with an amine-based material by mixing the amine-based material with the dispersion liquid to obtain toner particles; and dispersing the toner particles in an insulating liquid.
US08197992B2
A photomask blank manufacturing method that forms, on a light-transmissive substrate, a thin film for forming a transfer pattern, thereby producing a thin-film coated substrate and then presses the thin-film coated substrate. The pressing is carried out, for example, by a cold isostatic pressing method in a range of 1000 to 10000 atmospheric pressure.
US08197988B2
Disclosed is a high pressure tank configured to store hydrogen and includes a metal hydride (MH) tank capable of storing hydrogen, mounted therein. First and second solenoid valves are provided at both ends of the high pressure tank. A fuel cell stack is then connected to the buffer tank so that hydrogen from the high pressure tank or the MH tank is supplied to the stack through the buffer tank.
US08197987B2
A separator for fuel cell comprising an electrolyte with ionic conductivity, a pair of electrodes with the electrolyte sandwiched therebetween, and a separator 10 for individually supplying a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas to the pair of the electrodes, respectively, wherein the separator 10 is provided with a multilayered metal sheet with at least the outermost layer thereof, and a corrosion-resistant film covering the whole surface of the metal sheet in order to form a metal separator, and the metal separator is further provided with a reacting gas sealing unit 21, a reacting gas manifold junction unit 22, and a reacting gas rectification unit 23, formed of an elastic body.
US08197986B2
A surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion of a separator in a fuel cell stack is made to have water repellency, so that water accumulated in a fuel gas flow path can be appropriately discharged, and thus so that reduction in fuel cell performance and deterioration of the fuel electrode can be surely prevented. For that purpose, in a fuel cell device, a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode includes a cell module laminated so as to interpose a separator formed with the fuel gas flow path along the fuel electrode, and a fuel gas flows substantially perpendicularly to the direction of gravity in the fuel gas flow path. The separator is provided with a water-repellent surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion thereof.
US08197985B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fluid unit, a load applying mechanism, and a casing. The casing contains the fuel cell stack, the fluid unit, and the load applying mechanism. A heat insulating member is provided between the fuel cell stack and the load applying mechanism. The heat insulating member limits heat transmission from the fuel cell stack to the load applying mechanism. The load applying mechanism includes metal springs for applying a load to the fuel cell stack in a stacking direction of the fuel cell stack.
US08197982B2
A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of fuel cell cassettes where each fuel cell cassette has a fuel cell with an anode and cathode. The fuel cell stack includes an anode supply chimney for supplying fuel to the anode of each fuel cell cassette, an anode return chimney for removing anode exhaust from the anode of each fuel cell cassette, a cathode supply chimney for supplying oxidant to the cathode of each fuel cell cassette, and a cathode return chimney for removing cathode exhaust from the cathode of each fuel cell cassette. A first fuel cell cassette includes a flow control member disposed between the anode supply chimney and the anode return chimney or between the cathode supply chimney and the cathode return chimney such that the flow control member provides a flow restriction different from at least one other fuel cell cassettes.
US08197979B2
A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a thin ceramic electrolyte sheet having an increased street width is disclosed. Also disclosed are solid oxide fuel cells comprising: a substantially flat ceramic electrolyte sheet, a substantially flat ceramic electrolyte sheet having a seal area of greater thickness than the active area of the electrolyte sheet, a ceramic electrolyte sheet that overhangs the seal area, a ceramic electrolyte sheet and at least one substantially flat border material, and a border material having a non-linear edge. Methods of making a solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with the disclosed embodiments are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making a solid oxide fuel cell wherein the seal has a uniform thickness, wherein the seal is heated to remove a volatile component prior to sealing, and wherein the distance between the frame and the ceramic electrolyte sheet of the device is constant.
US08197974B2
A closed loop energy storage system configured with a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, a fuel cell stack and an electrolyzer. A heat exchanger freeze-dries the hydrogen and oxygen prior to their storage in their respective tanks. The heat exchanger also uses excess fuel cell heat to preheat streams of hydrogen and oxygen coming from the tanks. Phase separators serve both to separate water from hydrogen and oxygen, and to store the water. A thermal management system encloses all the system components except the tanks. An airfoil-shaped shell covers the system, and the larger of the two tanks extends substantially across the shell at its point of greatest camber thickness. The tanks are composed of polymer liners integral with composite shells.
US08197972B2
A first paste for a first electrode layer and a second paste for a second electrode layer are printed on a fired solid electrolyte by screen printing, etc. to form electrode patterns for forming the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first and second pastes can be prepared by dissolving a binder in an organic solvent, adding an appropriate amount of the obtained solution to powders of an electrode active substance material and a solid electrolyte material, and kneading the resultant mixture. The first and second pastes are applied to the fired solid electrolyte to form a cell precursor, the cell precursor is placed in a hot press mold subjected to a thermal treatment while pressing from above by a punch, whereby the first and second electrode layer are formed from the first and second pastes.
US08197960B2
A battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape; a first casing having a first holding section 42 that holds one end of the plurality of battery cells; a second casing having a second holding section 52 that holds the other end of the plurality of battery cells; and a plurality of insulating members arranged between the battery cells; wherein the battery cells are arranged lined up so that adjacent main walls thereof extending between the one ends and the other ends face each other and the plurality of insulating members are arranged in mutually separated fashion between the main walls.
US08197956B2
A battery restraint apparatus for electronic devices includes a flexible, resilient substrate having opposite, elongated end portions. An elongated aperture is formed in the substrate adjacent each end portion. The substrate has elastic memory that allows it to be flexed and bent and to thereafter resiliently recover to its original shape. The battery restraint apparatus is configured to be removably secured to an electronic device and snugly overlie a battery compartment opening thereof.
US08197955B2
Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a proton conductor; and crosslinking the proton conductor to form a cross-linked proton-conducting network. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a crosslinked proton conductor disposed on the porous substrate.
US08197951B2
The present invention provides novel structure of light emitting material and an organic light emitting diode using the same. The light emitting material can serve as a light emitting material alone, and can also serve as a light emitting host in combination with a proper light emitting dopant, or a light emitting dopant in combination with a proper light emitting host, particularly in an organic emitting diode.
US08197949B2
Provided is a blank structure for a ring member of a bearing in which a cut target surface after stainless steel is forged has uniform surface characteristics, and highly accurate cutting processing is enabled. A blank (10), which is processed to an outer race (2) and an inner race (3) of a bearing, includes: a cylindrical portion (11, 12) formed by forging a stainless-steel material, and having an inner circumferential surface (11a, 12a) and an outer circumferential surface (11b, 12b) entirely being surface eutectic carbides fragmented beds; and a clamp portion (13) provided to one end portion side of the cylindrical portion (11, 12).
US08197946B2
A barrier laminate comprising at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer, in which the organic layer comprises a polymer having a structural unit of the following formula: wherein R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; L represents an open-chain alkylene group having at least 8 carbon atoms and not containing an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom and a sulfur atom.
US08197929B2
To obtain a reflection film that does not undergo yellowing or a reduction in reflectance with a lapse of time by using, has excellent deadfold properties, generates less calorific when incinerated, and is degradable by microorganisms when subjected to earth filling, and causes no problem of waste disposal, the reflection film includes an aliphatic polyester based resin as a base resin and fine powder filler. The reflection film has pores inside thereof at a porosity of 50% or less. Preferably, the fine powder filler includes titanium oxide.
US08197926B2
A screen includes a plurality of concave recesses arranged on a flat surface, wherein the recesses are arranged in such a way that the spacing between adjacent ones of the recesses in the radial direction from a reference point located in the flat surface or a plane extended from the flat surface increase with distance from the reference point.
US08197918B2
The present invention includes an article and method for transferring an image from one substrate to another. The method includes providing or obtaining an image transfer sheet that is comprised of a substrate layer, a release layer and an image-imparting layer that may comprise a low density polyethylene or other polymeric component having a melting temperature within a range of about 90 degrees C. to about 700 degrees C. An image is imparted to the low density polyethylene area with an image-imparting medium. A second image-receiving substrate can be provided. The second image-receiving substrate is contacted to the first image transfer sheet at the polymer, image-imparting layer. Heat is applied to the image transfer sheet so that the low density polyethylene encapsulates the image-imparting medium and transfers the encapsulates to the image-receiving substrate, thereby forming a mirror image on the image-receiving substrate.
US08197914B2
The present invention discloses plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process for depositing n-type and p-type zinc oxide-based transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) at low temperatures with excellent optical and electrical properties on glass and temperature sensitive materials such as plastics and polymers. Specifically, it discloses PECVD process for depositing n-type ZnO by doping it with B or F and p-type ZnO by doping it with nitrogen excellent optical and electrical properties on glass and temperature sensitive materials such as plastics and polymers for TCO application. The process utilizes a mixture of volatile zinc compound, argon and/or helium as a diluent gas, carbon dioxide as an oxidant, and a dopant or reactant to deposit the desired ZnO-based TCOs.
US08197911B2
An object of complex three-dimensional configuration, such as an automotive vehicle body, is coated with a combination of a coating formulation and a photoactivated mixture containing active centers that have been produced prior to application. The two liquids can be intimately mixed prior to application to the object, or the coating formulation can be applied prior to the application of the photoactivated mixture. The coating formulation is cured by the active centers that have been produced prior to application.
US08197909B2
According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for forming a polymerized coating on a surface of a substrate. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing a plasma gun having an outlet; introducing a pre-polymer molecule into the outlet of the plasma gun to form a number of fragments of the pre-polymer molecule as a plasma output including a direct-spray component and an over-spray component; at least partially isolating the direct-spray component and the over-spray component from each other to respectively obtain an isolated directed-spray component and an isolated over-spray component; and depositing at least a portion of the isolated direct-spray component and the isolated over-spray component onto the surface of the substrate through the outlet to form a base polymerized coating. The plasma gun is optionally operated at atmospheric pressure.
US08197903B2
Disclosed are a protected alcohol or derivative thereof, a surface-modified organic-inorganic hybrid glass, and preparation methods thereof. More specifically, disclosed are a protected alcohol or derivative thereof and a surface-modified organic-inorganic hybrid glass, which are prepared by allowing a silane compound, having vinyl or a vinyl derivative, to react with an alcohol or derivative thereof or with an organic-inorganic hybrid glass, in the presence of an acid catalyst, a transition metal catalyst and an organic solvent, so as to introduce an organic group thereto even at room temperature, as well as preparation methods thereof. The disclosed invention allows a functional group to be effectively introduced into alcohol or a derivative thereof or into an organic-inorganic hybrid glass, not only high temperatures but also room temperature, and thus is highly effective in introducing compounds having a thermally sensitive functional group, for example, natural compounds or proteins. Also, the invention makes it possible to introduce various organic groups and to separate and purify organic macromolecule-bonded organosilane compounds using a silica gel column so as to effectively introduce large organic functional groups to inorganic materials. Accordingly, the invention is highly useful in the chemical industry.
US08197901B2
Methods and compositions for forming a transparent clear coat characterized by a desired property, such as a color effect, resistance to UV light-induced degradation and/or scratch resistance, on a substrate are detailed according to embodiments of the present invention. Particular compositions and methods for producing a transparent clear coat layer include nanoparticles formed in-situ during curing of a transparent clear coat. Curable clear coat compositions are described according to embodiments of the present invention which include one or more substantially dissolved nanoparticle precursors.
US08197898B2
A method and system for depositing a layer from a vaporized solid precursor. The method includes providing a substrate in a process chamber of a deposition system, forming a precursor vapor by light-induced vaporization of a solid precursor, and exposing the substrate to a process gas containing the precursor vapor to deposit a layer including at least one element from the precursor vapor on the substrate.
US08197896B2
It is provided a method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet which is superior in a heat-resistance. A mixture is prepared by uniformly mixing a specific polymer having hydrolyzable silyl end groups and urethane linkages and/or urea linkages in the main chains or side chains with tackifying resins. A fluorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, complex of boron trifluoride, fluorinating agent and alkali metal salt of fluorine-containing inorganic acid is uniformly mixed into the mixture to obtain a precursor of a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent. The adhesive precursor is applied on the surface of a tape substrate or sheet substrate. It is obtained a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having three-dimensional reticulation structures by curing the specific polymer having hydrolyzable silyl end groups. Thereby, it is obtained the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet.
US08197892B2
An article includes a first substrate, a functional coating deposited over at least a portion of the substrate, and a protective coating deposited over the functional coating. The functional coating and the protective coating define a coating stack. A polymeric material is deposited over at least a portion of the protective coating. The protective coating has a refractive index that is substantially the same as the refractive index of the polymeric material.
US08197874B2
A method of producing baked egg using a horizontal rotating cylinder-type continuous frying apparatus, which baked egg has a small size and a strong fried flavor, is disclosed. Egg liquid is sprayed onto the inner surface of a heating drum while rotating the heating drum to solidify the egg liquid and then to make the solidified egg liquid detach from the inner surface of the heating drum, which egg liquid is sprayed within an area of the inner surface of the heating drum, which area expands at an angle of 60° to 150° in the direction of rotation of the heating drum from a rotation origin defined as the intersection of a vertical line and the rotation axis of the heating drum, wherein the angle is indicated taking the angle of the direction of the vertical line as 0°. The heating drum has a temperature and a rotation speed such that the egg liquid sprayed onto the inner surface of the heating drum is solidified and then the solidified egg liquid is detached from the inner surface before the heating drum rotates by 360°.
US08197870B2
The invention provides improved processes for the extraction of betulin, lupeol, betulinic acid, suberinic acids, and/or other organic compounds and compositions from birch bark. In some embodiments, the birch bark can be physically processed prior to the extraction process, which can further improve the yield of the extraction. The bark processing can include, but is not limited to, one or more of pelletizing the bark, baling the bark, pucking the bark, or compressing the bark, to a form that is more dense per volume unit than prior to the processing.
US08197867B1
Of three layers, the first layer in a rapid release composition of a plurality of thermogenic constituents is about 40 percent by weight of the system plus or minus 10 percent. The second layer in a delayed release composition of energy and thyroid stimulating constituents is about 40 percent by weight of the system plus or minus 10 percent. The third layer in a sustained release composition of fat binding and appetite suppressing constituents is 20 percent by weight of the system plus or minus 10 percent.
US08197865B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating hair growth or regrowth. The compositions of the present invention include extracts of one or more of the following: Boswellia serrata, Undaria pinnatifida, green tea (e.g., Camellia sinensis), shiso, Pureraria mirifica, luteolin (e.g. Perilla ocymoides leaf extract), astilbin, vitamin E, amentoflavone, tetrahydropiperine, lichochalcone, astaxanthin, red clover, Brassica juncea, unfermented green rooibos, enzyme CoQ10, salvia, ximenynic acid, hops oleoresin, apple, soy, saw palmetto, or ellagic extract, or any derivative thereof.
US08197864B2
A medicinal preparation, a process, a nutritional composition and regenerative and insulin potentiating method for humans and also for mammals for prevention, treatment and management/glycemic control of diabetes mellitus by obtaining optimum glucose level in blood, by administering an extract of Costus pictus to produce above effect in a dose of 500-2000 mg/day in humans and 50-200 mg/kg/day in rats. A method for treating hyperglycemia in a patient by administering a medicinal preparation of Costus pictus D. Don. A method for long term management of diabetes by avoiding the problems associated with tight control of blood glucose concentrations, i.e., hypoglycemia tolerance and seizures, while simultaneously avoiding the problems associated with conventional moderate control of blood glucose concentrations, i.e., pathological complications associated with hyperglycemia, such as nephropathy, retinopathy, etc. The medicinal preparation further affords an insulin potentiating action in addition to decreasing blood glucose and/or glycosylated hemoglobin levels.
US08197863B2
A method of using hop acids for increasing food and energy uptake from feed by livestock is described which includes delivering the hop acids for oral ingestion to the animals by mixing the acids with livestock feed. The acids are mixed with the feed in an amount to inhibit certain types of undesirable bacteria in the livestock's digestive system, thereby increasing the production of propionate and lactate and decreasing the production of methane gas.
US08197854B2
A nutritional supplement for use in physiologically stressful conditions is disclosed. The nutritional supplement may include one or more of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D3, vitamin C, vitamin B1, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium, copper, iron, alpha lipoic acid, lutein and lycopene.
US08197838B2
A novel method of preparing a controlled release composition is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method of preparing controlled release compositions of ascorbic acid phosphate and absorbable polymers. Also disclosed is a novel controlled release composition of ascorbic acid phosphate made by the method of the present invention.
US08197834B2
Agricultural crops are protected from the growth of weeds and other undesirable organisms by the application of hydrogen cyanamide in a granular formulation.
US08197829B2
The present invention relates to self-emulsifying formulations based on an active ingredient component and a formulation base with a lipid component and with a binder component and to the use of this formulation as dosage form in the life science sector. The invention also describes a process for producing self-emulsifying formulations by mixing the formulation components to form a plastic mixture and, where appropriate, to manufacture the formulations as dosage form advantageously by use of melt extrusion. The formulations spontaneously form emulsions in water or aqueous media.
US08197826B2
The invention relates to an immunomodulatory product obtained from a Bifidobacterium culture, to the use thereof, especially as a medicament or a food ingredient, and to pharmaceutical or food compositions containing the same.
US08197819B2
Provided herein are small molecule CD4 mimetics effective to bind to HIV Env proteins. A CD4 mimetic of the invention, when bound to an Env protein, is effective to induce a conformational change in the Env protein such that cyptic epitopes on the Env protein are exposed. Also provided herein are related methods of identifying and using such small molecule CD4 mimetics, for example, to elicit an immune response in a subject upon administration.
US08197814B2
A recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with an extracellular domain of human CCR4; a DNA which encodes the recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof; a method for producing the recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof; a method for immunologically detecting CCR4, a method for immunologically detecting a cell which expressed CCR4 on the cell surface, a method for depleting a cell which expresses CCR4 on the cell surface, and a method for inhibiting production of Th2 cytokine, which comprise using the recombinant antibody according or antibody fragment thereof; a therapeutic or diagnostic agent for Th2-mediated immune diseases; and a therapeutic or diagnostic agent for a blood cancer.
US08197811B2
Monoclonal antibodies have been generated that bind to human sialoadhesion factor-2. These antibodies are useful as diagnostic and therapeutic reagents.
US08197803B2
Liquid hemostatic coating materials comprise a cyanoacrylate monomer and a solvent system comprising a volatile, non-reactive liquid that is non-stinging and non-irritating to a user. The material forms a coating or bandage in the form of a film that when applied and adhered to a surface or to the skin of a user inhibits the application surface from adhering to another surface.
US08197800B2
The present invention relates to a hair treating agent containing (a) an organic acid represented by the formula (1), an organic acid represented by the formula (2) or their salts and (b) a quaternary ammonium salt, a tertiary amine or a salt thereof: wherein R1 and R2 independently represent an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or —R8—COOH, R3, R4 and R8 independently represent an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R5 represent an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or —R9—COOH and R6, R7 and R9 independently represent an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
US08197797B2
The present invention generally relates to oral compositions such as toothpastes, toothpowders, liquid dentrifices, mouthwashes, rinses, dental floss, denture cleansers, chewing gums, lozenges and the like. In particular, it relates to such oral compositions that include cesium and rubidium salts. In one aspect of the present invention, a composition for oral use is provided. The composition includes a cesium or rubidium salt and water having a surface tension ranging between 45 and 70 dynes per cm2. In another aspect of the present invention, a method for improving oral hygiene in a mammal is provided. The method involves taking a volume of a solution into the mammal's mouth, where the solution includes a cesium or rubidium salt and water having a surface tension ranging between 45 and 70 dynes per cm2, swishing the solution around and expelling the solution.
US08197786B2
Porous carbon materials and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. One method includes forming a carbon-metal oxide composite by heating a coordination polymer to form a carbon-metal oxide composite, and then removing the metal oxide from the carbon-metal oxide composite. The porous carbon material has an average pore diameter ranging from about 10 nm to about 100 nm, and a d002 ranging from about 3.35 to 3.50 Å.
US08197781B2
A method of forming a lithium orthophosphate sputter target or tile and resulting target material is presented. The target is fabricated from a pure lithium orthophosphate powder refined to a fine powder grain size. After steps of consolidation into a ceramic body, packaging and degassing, the ceramic body is densified to high density, and transformed into a stable single phase of pure lithium orthophosphate under sealed atmosphere. The lithium orthophosphate target is comprised of a single phase, and can preferably have a phase purity greater than 95% and a density of greater than 95%.
US08197779B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst for removing nitrogen oxides from an exhaust gas, a method for preparing the same and a method for removing nitrogen oxide in an exhaust gas using the same, and more particularly, to a catalyst for removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas in which a ceramic fiber carrier is treated by hydrothermal reaction prior to washcoating to improve the hydrothermal stability of catalyst, a method for preparing the same and a method for removing nitrogen oxide in an exhaust gas using the same. The catalyst prepared according to the present invention has excellent hydrothermal stability and an activity of the catalyst remains for a long time. Further, by using this catalyst to remove nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas, a removal ratio of the nitrogen oxides is greatly enhanced.
US08197774B2
A microchip is provided, in which dead space provided only for holding excess fluid is made smaller. The microchip is formed by joining at least a first substrate with a trench formed on the substrate surface and a second substrate, and it has a fluid circuit formed by the trench and a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. The first substrate and/or the second substrate has a projection for moving fluid and/or air in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity during an operation of the microchip, and the projection is provided near an end portion of a through hole and/or an air vent.
US08197771B2
A portable water filtration system that interconnects two, otherwise separate, water bottles arranged vertically such that water flows under gravitational pressure from a first water bottle through a filter configured to capture small particle impurities to a second water bottle and removes small particle impurities before they enter the second water bottle. The filtration system is implemented within a cap that can attach to a variety of standard water bottles, such as NALGENE™ water bottles. A removable connector ring attaches to the cap to connect a second water bottle to the system. When vertically aligned, water flows from a first water bottle through the filter element in the cap to the second water bottle to remove small and large particles.
US08197769B2
Disclosed is a device for processing fluids, the device comprising an extruded body having multiple elongated cells therein, the body having a first fluidic passage therethrough defined principally within at least some of said cells, the first fluidic passage having a longitudinally serpentine path back and forth along the at least some of said cells.
US08197768B2
A method of heating asbestos containing materials and changing their structure from crystal fibrous to that deprived of fiber structure using an electromagnetic field is provided and is characterized by crumbling of utilized material. Crumbled material is being transported to microwave reactor. During transportation and the crumbling process, material chunks are being mixed with a heating facilitating agent. The device includes a utilized materials' crusher (1), crumbled material chunks's worm (2), heating facilitating agent's feeder (3) and microwave thermal reactor (4). The feeder (3) is adjoined to the crusher (1) and/or to the worm (2). The reactor (4) has a heating chamber (9) made of materials that do not absorb microwave radiation which is located at the transporter's (2) outlet.
US08197763B2
The desulfurization of fossil fuels is effected by the combination of fossil fuels with an aqueous mixture of hydroperoxide and quaternary ammonium fluoride phase transfer catalyst, the mixture then subjected to ultrasound to oxidize sulfur compounds present in the fuels. The polar oxidized species are removed via extraction. Another aspect is a portable, continuous ultrasound assisted desulfurization device having a sonoreactor for subjecting mixtures of fossil fuels to sonication to effect removal of sulfur containing compounds.
US08197753B2
A virtual analyzer is provided to estimate either an attribute of a reactant applied during performance of, or an amount of a reactant exhausted by, a process having multiple process parameters (MPPs) that is performed to control an amount of a pollutant emitted into the air. The virtual analyzer includes an interface which receives signals corresponding to attributes of the MPPs. If the process is a wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) process, the signals include a signal corresponding to a measured pH level of the applied reactant. If the process is a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process, the signals include a signal corresponding to a measured amount of the reactant exhausted by the process.
US08197746B2
The present invention relates to a method of arranging and setting spray nozzles in a cooling apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of constraining rolls for constraining and conveying a hot steel plate and one or more lines of spray nozzles between the pair of constraining rolls, each line having a plurality of spray nozzles and is disposed in a direction perpendicular to processing, and to the cooling apparatus and the method of cooling. The invention is characterized in that the spray nozzles are arranged such that a distribution of values ∫Pn between two edges of the steel plate in the direction perpendicular to processing is not less than 80% of its highest value, with P being cooling water impact pressure on the cooling surface, ∫Pn being the value of n power of P integrated in the processing direction between the pairs of constraining rolls, and 0.05≦n≦0.2.
US08197738B2
Provided are a method, an apparatus and a computer program for filling a liquid material, which do not require complicated parameter calculation and which are practiced with easier control. In the method for filling a gap between a substrate and a work placed thereon with the liquid material discharged from a discharge unit by utilizing a capillary action, the method is characterized in forming an application pattern made up of a temporarily stopping point and a non-stopping region along an outer periphery of the work, and correcting a discharge amount of the liquid material by increasing or reducing a time during which the discharge unit is stopped at the temporarily stopping point. The apparatus and the program for carrying out the method are also provided.
US08197737B2
A reinforced stripper rubber assembly with a stripper rubber body including a drillstring engaging portion having a drillstring bore extending axially therethrough. The drillstring engaging portion of the stripper rubber body is made from an elastomeric material, has an inner surface that engages a drillstring when the drillstring is dispose therein and has a reinforcing insert receiving recess within an exterior surface thereof extending at least partially around the drillstring bore. A reinforcing insert is disposed within the reinforcing insert receiving recess. The reinforcing insert includes an elastomeric material bonded to the stripper rubber body within the reinforcing insert receiving recess. A support structure is disposed within a support structure engaging portion of the stripper rubber body. The support structure includes a central opening generally aligned with the drillstring bore thereby allowing the drillstring to pass jointly through the central opening and the drillstring bore.
US08197735B2
The configuration of a feedstock material is controlled by bringing it into contact with at least a first gas moving against it at a location with an area and thickness of the feedstock liquid that forms drops or fibers of a selected size. In one embodiment, drops of agricultural input materials are formed for spraying on agricultural fields. In another embodiment, nanofibers of materials such as chitosan or metals are formed. In another embodiment seeds are planted with gel.
US08197734B1
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for manufacturing sheet material. In one representative embodiment, a sheet of fabric material is positioned across a patterning template that has a number of openings; and the sheet of fabric material and the patterning template are fed through an extrusion device in which extrusion material coats the fabric material and forces the fabric material into the openings in the patterning template, thereby producing a composite sheet material.
US08197730B2
A method is provided for forming a feedstock material for use in net shape molded component that includes an integral metallized coating or layer on the exterior surface thereof. The feedstock includes a carefully matched mixture of polymer resin and a metallic alloy that is suitable for use in a molding method that includes melting and injecting the material into a mold cavity under pressure. Due to the differential in material viscosities, the metal tends to migrate to the outer surface of the molded part when placed under pressure, ultimately creating a net shape molded part having a polymer core with a metallic layer at the exterior surfaces thereof.
US08197719B2
Provided herein are electroactive agglomerated particles, which comprise nanoparticles of a first electroactive material and nanoparticles of a second electroactive materials, and processes of preparation thereof.
US08197714B2
The invention provides an electrically conductive composite having high conductivity, hermeticity, high mechanical strength, low surface roughness, lightweight, and thin profile. The composite comprises a rubber modified with vinyl ester resin. After curing in mold, the composite may serve as a bipolar plate in a fuel cell. For example, the bipolar plate is combined with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to form a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).
US08197711B2
The transparent polycrystalline optoceramic has single grains with a symmetric cubic crystal structure and at least one optically active center. The optoceramic has the following formula: A2+xByDzE7, wherein 0≦x≦1.1, 0≦y≦3, 0≦z≦1.6, and 3x+4y+5z=8, and wherein A is at least one trivalent rare earth cation, B is at least one tetravalent cation, D is at least one pentavalent cation, and E is at least one divalent anion. The method of making the optoceramic includes preparing a powder mixture from starting materials, pre-sintering, sintering and then compressing to form the optoceramic. Scintillator media made from the optoceramic are also described.
US08197709B2
The present invention relates to chemical compounds containing five or more benzene rings arranged in a linear manner and two bridging units between these rings, where at least one of these units represents a —CF2O— bridge. The invention additionally relates to liquid-crystalline media and to high-frequency components comprising these media, in particular antennae, especially for the gigahertz range.
US08197706B2
An apparatus and method wherein potential ozone layer-damaging chlorodifluoromethane (Refrigerant R-22) is substituted with a mix of less environmentally damaging refrigerants pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane in chlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems mainly in residential cooling. While less environmentally damaging than chlorodifluoromethane, the substitute refrigerant has a temperature-pressure relationship similar to that of chlorodifluoromethane, making the substitute refrigerant suitable for use with chlorodifluoromethane-based air-cooling systems. In this event, it is mixed with a relatively small percentage of a lubricating oil which is compatible with both the unit refrigerant and typical R-22 system design.
US08197694B1
A holder for capillary columns (130) is realized by a mechanical holding device, also called a lead holder, which can be a mechanical pencil. The user holds the holding device in one hand and presses on an actuator (100) at the top of the holder, springably urging a plurality of jaws (115) to open. The user then slidably inserts the capillary column into the holder a desired distance and releases the actuator, causing the jaws to close around the capillary column and hold it in position within the holder. Next, a cap (140, 140′) is optionally slidably urged over the end of the holder in order to protect the exposed tip (135) of the capillary column. Removal of the capillary column is accomplished by reversing the above procedure to release the capillary column, allowing the column to be withdrawn.
US08197692B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to porous materials for use in solid phase extractions and chromatography. The materials feature at least one hydrophobic component, at least one hydrophilic component and at least one ion-exchange functional group. The materials exhibit superior wetting and ion-exchange performance.
US08197689B2
A wastewater treatment system includes wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds, an anoxic zone having denitrifying bacteria, and an aerobic zone having nitrifying bacteria. The anoxic zone is coupled to the aerobic zone, and wastewater flows from the anoxic zone to the aerobic zone or vice versa. The wastewater treatment system is configured to accept heat from a heat engine to heat the wastewater. Treating wastewater can include flowing wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds into a biological reactor having an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone, and heating the wastewater with heat from a heat engine to facilitate denitrification reactions in the anoxic zone and to facilitate nitrification reactions in the aerobic zone. In some cases, the wastewater is heated with a three phase fluidized bed heat exchanger having porous particulates in contact with heat exchange tubes, with bacteria coupled to an interior of the porous particulates.
US08197686B2
A filter cartridge has a keyed end cap which is configured and shaped for unlocking an associated valve mechanism that comprises a latch device and a valve. In this manner, when the fuel filter cartridge is placed into a fuel filter housing having such a latch and valve mechanism, the fuel filter cartridge is operable therein to filter fluid and pass the fluid into a standpipe contained within the fuel filter housing. The fuel filter cartridge of this type generally includes pleated filter paper which is disposed between two opposed end caps. The keys may be provided along the bottom end cap.
US08197673B2
A process for converting heavy sulfur-containing crude oil into lighter crude oil with lower sulfur content and lower molecular weight is provided. The process is a low-temperature process using controlled cavitation.
US08197672B2
The invention is drawn to a catalyst having a substantially bimodal support phase and an active metal phase that is suitable and stable for desulfurization of high-olefin content naphtha streams with minimal octane-loss running at low hydrogen pressure. The active metal phase preferably includes cobalt, molybdenum and at least one additional metal selected from the alkali-metals group.
US08197667B2
Recovering crude oil by separating and removing valuable hydrocarbon, water and solid components from sludge or an emulsion. A sludge or an emulsion with added reagents of predefined ratio is received to form a mixture for treatment. The mixture is processed to break a micelle structure of the sludge or the emulsion. The mixture is agitated to allow homogenization thereof. The processed mixture is centrifuged to separate hydrocarbons, water and solids from the sludge or the emulsion. The separated hydrocarbons are tested to ensure separated solids are disposed as environmentally safe materials. Basis solids and water contents of separated hydrocarbons are tested. The separated hydrocarbons are separated, and the filtered hydrocarbons (i.e., the recovered crude oil) are stored. The crude oil is thereby recovered from sludge or emulsion through a chemical exothermic reaction and centrifugation to resolve the emulsion into free water, solids and hydrocarbons.
US08197644B2
The described system allows an operator to remotely switch between cutting and boring while removing solid carbonaceous residue from large cylindrical vessels called coke drums which typically utilize a cutting head for ejecting high pressure fluids into the coke bed; a flow diversion apparatus; and a shifting apparatus.
US08197643B2
A refining segment intended for refiners of disc-type for working fibrous material. A first portion has a first pattern of coarse bars and a second portion has a second pattern of fine bars. The second portion is positioned outside the first portion. The second pattern has a higher density of bars than the first pattern. The refining segment has a deflector arrangement protruding from a bar surface of the coarse bar. The bar surface faces the rotational direction. The deflector arrangement has a deflector surface directing a flow of fibrous material away from the bar surface. A refining apparatus has two opposing rotatable refining discs, separated by a refiner gap. At least one of the two refining discs has the above described patterns and deflector arrangements.
US08197641B2
Process for treating aqueous slurries of finely divided fillers, an aqueous dispersion of at least one latex and an aqueous slurry of at least one starch being metered separately from one another into an aqueous slurry of at least one finely divided filler.
US08197631B2
The present invention relates to a method of transfer printing on substrates that comprises the steps of printing a UV-curing substance onto a polymeric release layer of a transfer material at regions not intended for transfer to the substrate. This release layer has at least one image which is printed from conventional inks, or it is a colored film. The method further comprises at least partial transfer of the image or the colored film or a combination of the aforementioned to the substrate under the action of heat and pressure, and removal of the transfer material from the substrate. The regions of the polymeric release layer coated with the UV-curing substance are detached from the substrate, and the image-bearing regions of the polymeric release layer or the colored film regions, or the combination thereof, remain joined to the substrate.
US08197624B2
A method for joining functional components with at least a thermoplastic components to thermosetting composites with at least some thermoplastic surface. The thermosetting composite has a functional thermoplastic surface layer attached by a process of selection of a compatible thermoplastic, heating the combined materials to allow migration of uncured thermosetting polymer into the thermoplastic polymer, then cooling the combined materials to provide a strongly attached thermoplastic surface. The thermosetting composite component may have a polymeric material coating. The present invention subsequently relates to the joining of the functional component and thermosetting polymer composite components, using high-speed oscillating relative displacement or high-speed continuous relative displacement.
US08197620B2
The present invention relates to a process for determining the sensitive or insensitive nature of a crystalline hexogen. Said process comprises: the formulation of said crystalline hexogen in a matrix; the analysis of a sample of said matrix charged with said crystalline hexogen by differential scanning calorimetry; said matrix consisting essentially of at least one liquid polymer that is suitable for the formulation of binders for energetic materials charged with nitro organic explosives; and of at least one adsorbent for the volatile organic compounds, which is stable at the operating temperature of the analysis and which has low affinity for water. The present invention also relates to the crystalline hexogen in such a matrix.
US08197613B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing damaging oxidation of metals. In particular, the present invention relates to nanoparticle surface treatments and use of nanoparticle surface treatments to reduce the damaging oxidation and corrosion of stainless steel and other alloy components in oxidating and corrosive conditions.
US08197608B2
A method for operating a dishwasher is provided, in which the dishwasher includes at least one washing container, a re-circulation pump for conveying washing fluid to at least one spray device for acting upon items to be cleaned, which are located in the washing container, a lye pump for pumping away washing liquid from the dishwasher. The method includes executing a wash program at least including partial program steps pre-wash (V1, V2), clean (R1, R2), intermediate rinse, clear rinse (K1, K2) and dry, and operating the re-circulation pump and the lye pump at least temporarily in an alternating manner during at least one of the partial program steps (V1, V2, R1, R2, K1, K2).
US08197603B2
The present invention is a method, process and apparatus for selective cleaning, drying, and modifying substrate surfaces and depositing thin films thereon using a dense phase gas solvent and admixtures within a first created supercritical fluid anti-solvent. Dense fluids are used in combination with sub-atmospheric, atmospheric and super-atmospheric plasma adjuncts (cold and thermal plasmas) to enhance substrate surface cleaning, modification, precision drying and deposition processes herein. Moreover, conventional wet cleaning agents such as hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride may be used with the present invention to perform substrate pre-treatments prior to precision drying and cleaning treatments described herein. Finally, dense fluid such as solid phase carbon dioxide and argon may be used as a follow-on treatment or in combination with plasmas to further treat a substrate surface.
US08197602B2
A method of in-situ cleaning of a portion of a boiling water reactor nuclear power plant. In one aspect, the method includes identifying a jet pump for the boiling water reactor nuclear power plant for cleaning, providing an ultrasonic cleaning tool that has a transducer, inserting at least a portion of the transducer into or adjacent to the interior cavity of the jet pump, in-situ, and energizing the transducer to a desired energy level.
US08197591B2
The invention relates to a pearlescent pigment comprising a metal oxide-containing, platelet-shaped substrate and having a first and a second protective layer, wherein the metal oxide has a refractive index greater than 1.8, and in which the first protective layer comprises cerium oxide and/or hydrated cerium oxide and/or cerium hydroxide, the second protective layer consists substantially, preferably completely, of SiO2, wherein the second protective layer is disposed on top of the first protective layer, and between the first and second protective layers there can be disposed metal oxide layers which differ from cerium oxide and/or hydrated cerium oxide and/or cerium hydroxide and SiO2, wherein the second protective layer has an organochemical aftercoat and the organochemical aftercoat comprises at least one silane bonded to the second protective layer by means of at least one oxygen atom, said α-silane having the formula —O(4-n-m)—Si(—R1)m(—CH2—Y)n (I), in which 1≦n+m≦3; m=0 to 2; n=1 to 3 and R1 is a hydrogen atom or an Si—C-bonded C1-C20-hydrocarbon radical or a C1-C15-hydrocarbonoxy radical, in which in each case one or more methylene units not adjacent to one another can be replaced by the groups —O—, —CO—, —COO—, —OCO—, or —OCOO—, —S—, or —NRx— and in which one or more methine units not adjacent to one another can be replaced by the groups —N═, —N═N—, or —P═, wherein R1 can independently be the same or different, Rx can be a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched and/or cyclic C1-C15-hydrocarbon radical or aryl radical, and Y is a functional binding group reactive with a binder system.
US08197581B2
A self-regenerating bio-gas treatment system that uses the bio-gas instead of atmospheric are as media transport between adsorber and desorber tanks. Each tank includes at least four horizontally stacked and evenly spaced apart, perforated trays each capable being filled with fluidized carbon which migrates downward in the adsorber tank to remove contaminants from the bio-gas. With the bio-gas function as its media transport, the carbon media continuously moves downward over the perforated trays and eventually collected in the bottom of the adsorber tank. The spent carbon is then delivered to the desorber tank. The desorber tank is filled with an inert gas produced by an inert gas generator which causes the carbon media to be regenerated. The inert gas strips the carbon media of contaminates and is then delivered to a ground flare. The carbon media is returned to the adsorber tank and re-used to treat bio-gas. A plurality of heat exchangers, blowers, valves and interconnecting conduits keep the bio-gas, the inert gas, and the carbon media continuously flowing through the system thereby enabling the system to be used at different sizes of landfills or treatment plants.
US08197580B2
Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.
US08197574B1
A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.
US08197570B2
Embodiments for a filter and method for fabricating the same are provide herein. In one embodiment, a filter is provided that includes a first end cap, a second end cap, at least a first filtration media element and at least a first brace. The first end cap has an air flow aperture formed therethrough. The first and second end caps define a central axis. The first filtration media element is coupled to the first and second end caps and has an orientation curved around the central axis. The brace separates a first closed edge of the filtration media element from a second closed edge of the filtration media element.
US08197568B2
A filter element for an extractor hood comprising a filter body including at least one covering layer, at least one intermediate filter layer and a coating layer applied to at least a portion of the at least one covering layer, wherein the at least one intermediate layer is free from this coating.
US08197563B2
A fuel reformer, includes: a reformer burner, which generates a flame in a reforming pipe disposed to surround at least the flame of the reformer burner, the reforming pipe being filled with a reforming catalyst and having corrugated portions on a surface facing the reformer burner and a bottom surface of the reforming pipe disposed adjacent to the flame in which a flame blocking member is disposed between the flame of the reformer burner and the reforming pipe to isolate the flame of the reformer burner from the reforming pipe.
US08197561B2
A process for drying coal is provided in which coal is passed into a fluidized bed reactor and heated to a predetermined temperature. The dried coal is then fed to a cooler where the temperature of the product is reduced to approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit and water is added to further passivate the coal.
US08197554B2
A rotary actuator comprises a motor, gearing connected for driving by the motor, an output drive member and bearings for carrying the output drive member, wherein the gearing comprises wave generator gearing and the gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings. In addition, an artificial limb member comprises an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises a motor connected to wave generator gearing.
US08197553B2
A composite scaffold for engineering a heterogeneous tissue is provided. The composite scaffold includes: (a) a first scaffold being capable of supporting formation of a first tissue type thereupon; and (b) a second scaffold being capable of supporting formation of a second tissue type thereupon; wherein the first scaffold and the second scaffold are arranged with respect to each other such that when the first scaffold supports the first tissue type and the second scaffold supports the second tissue type, a distance between any cell of the second tissue type and the first tissue type does not exceed 200 μm.
US08197547B2
A spinal implant for replacing the natural nucleus of the disc made from a polymer such as hydrogel having a radiopaque material located within the polymer. The material may be in the form of a powder dispersed throughout the polymer or may be in he form of a powder dispersed in layers or in other specific locations within the polymer. The radiopaque material is metal such as gold, tungsten, titanium, tantalum or platinum. The metal may also be in the form of a foil or wire located within the hydrogel such as polyurethane, thereby making the implant visible on x-rays. Other polymers besides hydrogel may be used with the radiopaque material being dispersed therein.
US08197546B2
The present invention describes an expandable vertebral implant and the method of use. The longitudinally expandable vertebral implant includes telescoping sections adapted for incremental expansion and ease of securement at any desired increment in situ, and constructed and arranged to engage opposing vertebrae. The corpectomy device is a distractible vertebral body replacement for the thoracic and lumbar spine. The device is cylindrical shaped having an inner and outer sleeve made adjustable by use of locking pads formed integral with the outer sleeve for use in engaging parallel circumferential locking grooves formed along the outer side surface of the inner sleeve.
US08197534B2
Prosthetic valve devices for implantation in body vessels are provided. The prosthetic valve device includes at least one flexible member that permits fluid flow in a first direction and substantially prevents fluid flow in a second. The valve device also includes an inflatable chamber at least partially attached to the flexible member. The inflatable chamber is adapted to receive inflating media and is adapted to contact the body vessel. A delivery system is also provided that includes a valve device and a delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus includes a member adapted for filling the chamber of the valve device with inflating media. A related method of making the valve device is also provided.
US08197528B2
The present invention relates to a medical prosthesis having a low profile for delivery into a body lumen. The stent includes a plurality of geometric cells defining the stent, which has first and second opposed open ends; and a plurality of wire strands woven to form a plurality of crossed regions defining the geometric cells. Each wire strand has strand ends and the strand ends are disposed at the second end of the stent.
US08197519B2
An apparatus for connecting a bone anchor to a support rod includes a connector body and a cap. The connector body has a channel to receive and locate the support rod relative to the bone anchor. The cap is moveable longitudinally into a partially installed position in the channel, and snaps into non-threaded engagement with the connector body by rotating from the partially installed position to an installed position without moving axially relative to the connector body. In some embodiments, a sleeve fits over a socket portion of the connector body in a temporary position in which the sleeve permits insertion of the bone anchor into the socket. The sleeve engages the connector body so as to be restrained from axial and rotational movement relative to the connector body when in the temporary position. Tools are provided for installing the connector body, sleeve, cap, and support rod.
US08197518B2
A thread-thru polyaxial pedicle screw fastening system. The fastening system consists of an anchoring bone screw having threads on one end for use in anchoring to the screw to the spine and a spherical connector on the other end operating as a pivot point about which a U-shaped connecting assembly moves in a polyaxial fashion. The U-shaped connecting assembly, for receipt of a spinal connecting rod, has a biased retainer ring for maintaining a positive tension between the connecting assembly and the anchored screw. The system allows for an improved manufacturing step wherein the threaded shank of a bone screws can be passed through a lower portion of the connecting assembly allowing a variety of bone screw sizes to be used with a common sized connector. A resilient component positioned between the upper retainer ring and the connecting assembly permits relative predetermined placement and retention of the spherical connector relative to the connector assembly due to the force generated by the resilient component and frictional engagement between the surfaces of spherical connector, the retainer ring and the connector assembly. The polyaxial ball and socket can be locked into a fixed position.
US08197517B1
Various embodiments are provided with a polyaxial spinal screw assembly that comprise a threaded screw having a bulbous or curvate head, and a receiver for receiving the head of the screw, and a slotted collet between the receiver and the screw head. The collet may, in an un-locked condition, bear against the head of the screw to frictionally retain the screw's angular position. The collet may have a lip that may engage with a corresponding internal feature of the receiver. The screw head may be able to be inserted into the receiver through the bottom of the receiver. The screw may be cannulated and also may be fenestrated. Embodiments may also include a bone screw having fenestration holes that include a component in the rotational direction, such as backward-facing with respect to the forward-rotational direction of the screw.
US08197509B2
The present invention provides a suture anchor that includes an elongate shank defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one engaging member for applying the suture anchor within the bone and securing the suture anchor in the bone once implanted formed thereon, and a drive head having a proximal end, a distal end and a radial cross-sectional geometry, where the drive head is mated to the elongate shank, includes at least one suture attachment element formed in a portion thereof and at least one anti-rotational member integral therewith, suture anchor kits utilizing the suture anchors and methods of attaching bone to gone.
US08197508B2
A fused loop of an elongated material, such as a surgical suture, and apparatus for making the loop. Portions of one or more segments to be joined together are fused in a welding process to form a welded joint. The shear area of the fused portion of the joint determines the strength of the joint and is thus preferably relatively large. Various configurations for the welding apparatus facilitate the creation of relatively large fused portions of the joint by maximizing contact between at least one of the welding members of the apparatus and at least one of the segments to be joined.
US08197502B2
A method of maintaining a constant movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide includes providing an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert a received motional current into a movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide, a measurement circuit connected in a parallel configuration with the ultrasonic transducer, and a variable power source operable to supply current through a set of connection points to the parallel configuration and thereby create the motional current in the ultrasonic transducer. Current is supplied through a set of connection points of the parallel configuration with the variable power source to, thereby, create the motional current in the ultrasonic transducer and the motional current is regulated with a current controller by varying an output of the power source, thereby maintaining a substantially constant rate of movement of the cutting blade across a variety of cutting loads.
US08197492B2
An instrument for measuring an angle about a cavity axis defined by a cavity extending into a head of a bone is provided, the bone having been resected on a plane that is inclined relative to the cavity axis. The instrument includes a stem arranged to be inserted into the cavity, a plane finder and a scale. The plane finder is coupled to the stem and arranged to contact the resection surface as the stem is inserted into the cavity and to move relative to the stem until the plane finder lies in a plane parallel to the resection surface. Movement of the plane finder relative to the stem is indicative of the angle about the cavity axis between a radial position indicated by part of the stem and a line extending perpendicularly from the resection surface. The scale is configured such that movement of the plane finder relative to the stem is indicated by the position of a portion of the plane finder relative to the scale.
US08197474B2
An osteoinductive/osteoconductive composition prepared from a quantity, of demineralized fibrous bone elements possessing an average surface area to volume ratio of about 100:1 to about 20:1, a quantity of mostly shaped regular non-fibrous bone elements possessing an average surface area to volume ratio of about 10:1 or less and a sufficient quantity of biocompatible fluid carrier sufficient to provide the composition as a deformable mass is provided herein. Also provided is a method of using the composition to repair a bone defect site.
US08197473B2
A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes an inner conductor having a length and an outer conductor coaxially surrounding the inner conductor along the length. The outer conductor has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion of the outer conductor is provided with a number of apertures N defined therein for radiating energy, where N is an integer greater than 1, each aperture having a size and extending at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor. At least one of the size and the angle of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures N−1 such that the energy radiated along the distal portion is substantially uniform.
US08197465B2
A catheter (100) having a catheter body (102) having a proximal end (106) and a distal end (104) and a proximal portion fixedly connected to the proximal end. A magnet (120,220,320) is disposed around the catheter body (112) distally of the proximal portion and may be contained within a hub (208, 308).
US08197449B2
The present invention relates to an injection device comprising an optically-based sensor for determining the position or setting of a dose setting member arranged to set a dose to be injected from the injection device. In particular, the present invention relates to an injection device comprising a rotatably mounted member having a plurality of optically coded paths arranged on an outer surface thereof. The rotatably mounted member is operatively connected to the dose setting member and is adapted to rotate with the dose setting member.
US08197448B2
A device for retaining and dispensing a free-flowing substance includes a syringe-like retaining body (12) in which a retaining space (46) is formed. A displaceable piston (22) is axially introduced into the retaining space (46) and the retaining body (12) is provided with a dispensing nozzle (18) on its front end facing away from the piston (22). A locking pin (36) through which at least one transverse channel (44) passes, with an axial channel (42) branching off therefrom, is provided on the inside of the dispensing nozzle (18). In a closed position of the locking pin (36), a flow connection between the retaining space (46) and the transverse channel (44) is blocked. In an activation position of the locking pin (36), the transverse channel (44) is connected to the retaining space (46), so that the free-flowing substance can be dispensed from the retaining space (46) via the transverse channel (44) and the axial channel (42).
US08197446B2
A cannula assembly adapted to facilitate the percutaneous introduction of surgical instrumentation. In particular, the cannula assembly includes a cannula housing and a cannula member incorporating an restrictor hinge. The restrictor hinge is configured and dimensioned to transition from a first, initial stage in which an initial internal dimension is defined, to a second, expanded stage, such that the proper orientation of any surgical instrument inserted into the cannula may be achieved and a substantially fluid-tight seal may be formed therewith.
US08197443B2
A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.
US08197440B2
The present invention relates to a needleless injection device (1) comprising a reservoir (3), obturated by an upstream stopper (4) and a downstream stopper (5) between which a liquid active principle (6) is accommodated, and a receptacle (7) comprising at least one injection conduit (8), said receptacle comprising a cavity (10) whose height is equal to the distance traveled by the downstream stopper before each injection conduit is opened, —the height of the cavity in millimeters being between a minimum height and a maximum height, respectively defined by the following relationships, •minimum height=3, •maximum height=15×exp. (−(V/9)2)+10, where V is the initial speed of ascent of the pressure profile expressed in bar per microsecond, —the ratio between the length of each injection conduit and the height of the cavity being between 1 and 2.
US08197433B2
The invention provides a flexible ear tube (10) for draining and ventilating the middle ear, the tube (10) having a flexible substantially tubular stem (12) with a lumen (14), the stem (12) being sized to be inserted through an incision in the eardrum (16) and the tube having at least two separate flexible contact surfaces (18) extending from the stem (12) and adapted to engage different spaced-apart inner surfaces of the eardrum 16, each of the contact surfaces (18) having a first axis XX extending substantially perpendicularly to the central axis of the stem and a second axis YY extending substantially perpendicularly to the first axis wherein one of the axes is between 0.6 and 3 mm and the second of the axes is between 1 and 7 mm in length.
US08197432B2
A method for batch implementation of settings in a renal replacement therapy device including: displaying on a user interface control settings which may be manually selected by an operator; selecting an independent control setting of the plurality of control settings; adjusting the independent control setting to an independent control setting level selected by an operator; temporarily storing the adjusted independent control setting level; automatically adjusting a dependent control setting level based upon the independent control level; displaying the adjusted independent control setting level and the adjusted dependent control setting, and implementing both the adjusted independent control setting level and the adjusted dependent control setting to control the device, by actuating a batch setting acceptance operation.
US08197406B2
A device for measuring the glucose level in living tissue has electrodes (5, 6) for being brought into contact with the specimen and a voltage-controlled oscillator (31) as a signal source for generating an AC voltage in a given frequency range. The AC voltage is applied to the electrodes (5, 6). A voltage over the electrodes is fed to a processing circuitry (37, 38), which converts it to the glucose level using calibration data. The voltage-controlled oscillator (31) has a symmetric design with adjustable gain for generating signals in a large frequency range with low distortions at a low supply voltage. The processing circuit comprises a simple rectifier network with software-based correction. The electrodes (5, 6) are of asymmetric design and optimized for biological compatibility.
US08197404B2
A laparoscopic disk assembly, which includes an interwoven gasket seal, either flat or conical, comprised of four gasket sections, forms a seal without anything inserted or in the presence of a laparoscopic instrument or surgeon's hand, approximating an opening of a single through hole of a lip seal providing the same sealing as a lip seal. By breaking the seal through hole into multiple pieces, the direction and amount of strain applied to any section is less than the strain applied by the simple change in diameter. The layers form contact zones with the inserted probe or hand. The sum of the array of contact zones provides contact around the full diameter of the inserted tool or hand. Additionally, the hoop stress of the seal is reduced, thereby reducing the drag force on the instrument or the hand and wrist of the doctor.
US08197403B2
An otoscopic instrument includes an instrument head attached to a handle and a speculum tip actuator mechanism for receiving, retaining and selectively ejecting an otoscopic speculum tip element. The tip actuator mechanism includes an actuator knob rotatably attached to the instrument head in which the instrument head includes annular securement slots sized for receiving external engagement features of a speculum tip element which are rotatably fitted into the slot(s). The actuator knob further includes a pin for displacing a secured speculum tip element from the securing slot upon rotation in a predetermined direction in order to eject the tip element.
US08197400B2
The present invention is a system for dissipating loops in an elongated medical device having one end secured to an anchor point, such as a housing. The system includes a selectively rotatable shaft coupler that connects a shaft to the anchor point that allows a limited amount of shaft rotation during use, but which sets a restriction on the maximum amount of shaft rotation. In another embodiment, the invention provides a shaft coupling system for connecting a proximal end of an endoscope shaft to an object without the use of adhesives or fasteners. In another embodiment, the invention provides a rotatable shaft coupling system for rotatably coupling a first and second shaft segment.
US08197392B2
An exercise strap comprises an upper strap and a lower strap. A plurality of loop members are located on the lower strap to allow for handles to be easily removed and replaced on different locations on the lower strap. An adjustment member attached to both the upper strap and the lower strap allows for the overall length of the exercise strap to be adjusted. A strap attachment member attached to the upper strap connects the exercise strap to a suitable mounting mechanism.
US08197390B2
A trampoline assembly (10) includes a bed (12), a base frame (14), a plurality of first resilient members (16) that connect the bed (12) to the base frame (14), and a support assembly (22). The support assembly (22) includes (i) a plurality of support arches (26) connected to the base frame (14) and cantilevering upward away from the base frame (14); (ii) a first support segment (28) that is connected to the base frame (14) and one of the support arches (26); (iii) a second support segment (30) that is connected to the base frame (14) and one of the support arches (26); (iv) a support bar (32); and (v) a plurality of support resilient members (34) that connect the support bar (32) to at least one of the plurality of support arches (26). In some embodiments, the plurality of support arches (26) extend around only a portion of the base frame (14). Further, each support arch (26) can be connected to at least one of the other support arches (26). Additionally, in some embodiments, the support bar (32) has a first end (48) and a spaced apart second end (50). For example, in some embodiments the support bar (32) is substantially C-shaped.
US08197381B2
An automatic transmission includes a first planetary gear set; a second planetary gear set; a third planetary gear set; an input shaft; an output shaft; and five friction elements. The five friction elements include a first friction element adapted to selectively connect a first ring gear with a second carrier, a second friction element adapted to selectively connect the first ring gear with the second rotating member, a third friction element adapted to selectively connect the second carrier with a third ring gear, a fourth friction element adapted to selectively stop a rotation of the third ring gear, and a fifth friction element adapted to selectively connect the first sun gear with the second carrier. Each of at least seven forward speed-ratios and one reverse speed-ratio is achieved by an engaged state of two friction elements selected from the five friction elements.
US08197376B2
A multi-stage transmission with nine forward gears and one reverse gear comprising four planetary gear sets, eight rotatable shafts and six shift elements. The sun gear of the first set is connected to fourth shaft which is couplable to a housing by the first brake, the carrier of the first set is connected to the third shaft, which is coupled to the housing by the second brake, which is detachably connectable to the drive shaft, via the first clutch, and via a second clutch is detachably connectable to the seventh shaft. The seventh shaft is connected to the ring gear of the second set and with the sun of the fourth set, and the drive shaft is connected to the sun of the second set and to the carrier of the third set. The sixth shaft is connected to the ring gear of the first set, the carrier of the second set and the sun gear of the third set. The ring gear of the fourth set is connected to the fifth shaft which can be coupled to the housing via the third brake. The output shaft, via a third clutch, is detachably connectable to the eighth shaft, which is connected to the ring gear of the second set and to the carrier of the fourth set.
US08197375B1
A transmission includes an input and output member, four planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, five interconnecting members continuously interconnecting members of the four planetary gear sets and six torque transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first members, second members, and third members with at least one of another of the first members, second members, third members, and a stationary member. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
US08197370B2
A chain tensioner (1) having a plunger (12) slidably assembled in a cylinder portion (13) together with a return spring (11), the chain tensioner (1) further has a stopper plate (22) having a through-hole (22a) formed therein, through which the plunger (12) is inserted; and a biasing member (24) disabling movement of the plunger (12), by applying a biasing force to the end of the stopper plate (22) so as to incline the stopper plate (22), the chain tensioner is configured to apply a hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic oil of an engine to the stopper plate (22), so as to reduce the inclination of the stopper plate (22) against the biasing force applied by the biasing member (24), to thereby allow movement of the plunger (12).
US08197365B2
An improvement is made effectively in the strength of a baseball or softball bat constructed by joining a ball-hitting member and a grip member formed of a Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) material and a metal material, respectively.In the baseball or softball bat constructed by joining a metal ball-hitting member and an FRP grip member, a joining end region of the grip member has an adhering piece bonded to one of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of a joined end region of the ball-hitting member, and a contact piece for contacting the other of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the joined end region of the ball-hitting member when the adhering piece is in a bonded state.
US08197361B2
A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, each area of the second group abutting one or more areas of the first group, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a lift coefficient (CL) of less than about 0.270 at its peak trajectory and from a Reynolds Number (Re) from about 80,000 and a spin rate in the range of about 2,900 rpm to about 3,000 rpm to a Re of about 170,000 and a spin rate in the range of about 3,400 rpm to about 3,550 rpm.
US08197346B2
A vent valve for a constant velocity joint is disclosed. The vent valve may generally include a body disposed in a bore of the cover which is axially movable in the bore and allows fluid flow through the bore, a first umbrella portion associated with a side of the body which defines a first gap between a first surface of the cover and the first umbrella portion, and a second umbrella portion associated with an opposite side of the body which defines a second gap between a second surface of the cover and the second umbrella portion.
US08197338B2
Systems and methods for suspending wagering game play on wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a content signal associated with regulated operations. The method can also include determining whether an enable signal is detected. Additionally, if the enable signal is not detected, the method can call for prohibiting performance of the regulated operations.
US08197330B2
A gaming system comprises a wager input device and a display for displaying a plurality of primary symbols, a first bonus reel, and a second bonus reel. The first and second bonus reels have a plurality of bonus symbols thereon. The system further comprises a controller operative to detect a primary wager, a first bonus wager, and a second bonus wager. The controller varies the primary symbols and spins and stops the first bonus reel and the second bonus reel to display a randomly selected outcome. The controller provides a primary award if the primary symbols display a winning outcome. The controller provides a first bonus award if the first bonus wager is detected and the first bonus reel displays a first bonus winning outcome, and provides a second bonus award if the second bonus wager is detected and the second bonus reel displays a second bonus winning outcome.
US08197311B2
An apparatus for skinning fish fillets includes a skinning knife to separate skin from the fish fillets, a delivery element to deliver the fish fillets into the region of the skinning knife, a driver roller for the skin separated from the fish fillets, a contact pressure element including a device to indicate a position of the contact pressure element, a discharge element to carry away the skinned fish fillets; and an element arranged in a region of the driver roller to monitor an input of fish fillets onto the driver roller and an output of fish fillets from the driver roller.
US08197291B2
A method for operating a vessel is provided. The method can include determining the most efficient power source from a plurality of power sources for operating the vessel. The power sources can include a battery bank and an AC power source. The method can also include drawing power from the most efficient power source to operate the vessel; harvesting energy from electrical rotating sources; monitoring the battery bank; and charging the battery bank when a state of charge of the battery bank drops below a predetermined state of charge, wherein the charging is performed using the harvested energy, the AC power source, an external power source, or a combination thereof.
US08197287B2
A coaxial connector having an outer conductor with first and second plug-side ends axially opposite, and an inner conductor with first and second plug-side ends axially opposite. The outer conductor has two separate outer conductor parts arranged and configured such that they are mobile relative to each other in the axial direction, the outer conductor being configured as an outer conductor bellows between the two outer conductor parts. An elastic spring element is provided on the outer conductor and acts upon the two outer conductor parts, driving them away from each other. A change in length of the outer conductor bellows changes capacitance of the outer conductor bellows and is compensated by a correspondingly changing opposite inductance such that the characteristic impedance of the coaxial connector remains substantially constant.
US08197282B1
A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) connector structure is disclosed. The SFP connector structure comprises an insulating body, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and a metal cover. Two card entry slots are formed vertically on the insulating body. Dovetail structures are formed on the sides of the insulating body. The first and second terminals are disposed on the insulating body and extend into the card entry slots. The metal cover is over the insulating body. Thus, the SFP connectors can be connected in parallel without tolerance variation, hence achieving better alignment. A SFP connector assembly is also disclosed.
US08197281B2
A plug connector includes an insulating housing of which a rear surface is provided with a plurality of insertion holes, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating housing and each having a soldering tail projected beyond the rear surface of the insulating housing, and a propping lid which has a base block mounted against the rear surface of the insulating housing, and a plurality of insertion bolts protruded forwards from a front face of the base block for being inserted into the corresponding insertion holes to make the propping lid detachably mounted to the insulating housing. The soldering tails can be soldered with cables respectively by means of being positioned against a top and a bottom of the base block, or directly soldered onto a printed circuit board by means of demounting the propping lid from the insulating housing to set the soldering tails free.
US08197264B1
The connector assembly includes a body extending along a length with a longitudinal height defined by a first surface and an opposing second surface. At least one terminal projects through the body. The terminal includes a blade extending from the first surface for electrically connecting with a mating connector. The terminal also includes a leg extending from the second surface. A tab has a convex surface and is formed at a distal end of the leg without any apertures formed therethrough. The convex surface is adapted for electrically connecting with a mounting surface of an electronic component upon receipt of a predetermined signal.
US08197259B2
Maternal and fetal birthing simulators are disclosed. The maternal simulator has a rotatable pelvis, legs articulated at the hip and knee joints, and a deformable covering that simulates the feel of the skin and underlying tissues. The fetal simulator has an extensible neck, a movable head, movable clavicles, and arms articulated at the shoulder and elbow joints, and may include sensors to measure spinal extension, head rotation, applied traction force, and brachial plexus displacement.
US08197253B2
Described herein is a medical or dental handpiece head having a head sleeve detachably connected by a screw or threaded connection to a closing cap, and a locking device for locking the closing cap with the head sleeve. The locking device between the closing cap and the head sleeve is formed by at least one spring element. The locking device is designed and arranged so that unintentional release of the screw connection between the closing cap and the head sleeve caused by vibrations during operation of the handpiece can be suppressed.
US08197249B1
A low-emissions high-pressure multi-fuel burner includes a fuel inlet, for receiving a fuel, an oxidizer inlet, for receiving an oxidizer gas, an injector plate, having a plurality of nozzles that are aligned with premix face of the injector plate, the plurality of nozzles in communication with the fuel and oxidizer inlets and each nozzle providing flow for one of the fuel and the oxidizer gas and an impingement-cooled face, parallel to the premix face of the injector plate and forming a micro-premix chamber between the impingement-cooled face and the in injector face. The fuel and the oxidizer gas are mixed in the micro-premix chamber through impingement-enhanced mixing of flows of the fuel and the oxidizer gas. The burner can be used for low-emissions fuel-lean fully-premixed, or fuel-rich fully-premixed hydrogen-air combustion, or for combustion with other gases such as methane or other hydrocarbons, or even liquid fuels.
US08197246B1
Disclosed is a plastic injection mold, comprising a female mold, a male mold corresponding to the female, an inclined pushing mechanism, a parting lock and a puller. The female mold comprises an accepting space. The inclined pushing mechanism comprises an inclined pusher and an inclined pushing seat, which a parting lock hole and a guide rail are formed therein. The inclined pusher is installed on the guide rail. The parting lock is fixed on the male mold. The puller is fixed on female mold. As the plastic injection mold is utilized to form a product with barb, a present slide mechanism can be replaced by the inclined pushing mechanism with the parting lock and the puller. The plastic injection mold has a simple structure and can be easily designed and manufactured. Accordingly, the plastic injection mold can be utilized to manufacture the product with barb with small size.
US08197238B2
A pump apparatus includes a drive shaft supported rotatably in a pump body; a power transmission member attached to the drive shaft, and configured to transmit power to the drive shaft; a pump element configured to pressurize and discharge working fluid; a discharge passage formed in the pump body, and configured to introduce the pressurized working fluid-discharged from the pump element to an external of the pump body; a control valve configured to control an amount of working fluid to be discharged through the discharge passage to the external, by controlling a movement of a valving element of the control valve on the basis of the pressurized working fluid; and an electromagnetic valve provided between the power transmission member and the control valve, and configured to control the control valve or a fluid pressure acting on the valving element of the control valve based on the pressurized working fluid.
US08197230B2
A damper assembly including an input member, an output member, and a transfer assembly is disclosed. The input member is configured to receive a torsional input. The output member is configured to provide a torsional output. The transfer assembly is coupled between the input member and the output member and includes a ring, a first guide, a second guide, a first spring, and a second spring. The ring defines a first linear slide path that has a first end and a second end, and a second linear slide path that has a third end and a fourth end. The first guide is slideable within the first linear slide path and coupled to the input member. The second guide is slideable within the second linear slide path and coupled to the input member. The first spring is positioned between the first guide and the second end of the first linear slide path. The second spring is positioned between the second guide and the fourth end of the second linear slide path. Movement of the input member relative to the output member causes the first guide to slide along the first linear slide path and the second guide to slide along the second linear slide path.
US08197210B1
A turbine stator vane, especially for use in the first stage of an industrial gas turbine engine, the vane including an inner endwall and an outer endwall each with an endwall overhang extending there from, and second and third cooling supply cavities formed between the endwalls and the pressure and suction side walls of the airfoil. The outer endwall includes an end cap with an opening to secure a nose piece therein, and the inner endwall includes an opening to insert the nose piece therein. A nose piece having the shape of the airfoil leading edge is inserted into the openings of the endwall and secured therein by welding. The nose piece includes a showerhead of film cooling holes with shallow angles of discharge. A leading edge impingement tube is secured within the nose piece to provide impingement cooling for the nose piece. Second and third impingement tubes are secured within the second and third cavities to provide impingement cooling therein. Receded gaps are formed in the endwalls between the nose piece, and streamwise film cooling holes in the ends of the nose piece and aligned with the gaps in the endwalls eject cooling air from the nose piece into the gaps for cooling. Because of the separated nose piece from the main vane assembly, film cooling holes of a shallow angle can be formed for providing a better film cooling layer to the vane leading edge and therefore allow for exposure to higher gas flow temperatures.
US08197206B2
An apparatus for generating electrical power from a flow of water, including a housing having a water inlet and water outlet, a first turbine (12) mounted in the housing for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and having a turbine shaft, a set of vertical blades (22), and a blade angle control mechanism, a second turbine (14) mounted in the housing adjacent to the first turbine, for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, the second turbine having a turbine shaft, a set of vertical blades (22) and a blade angle control mechanism, the housing being adapted to be mounted within the body of water and being so configured that an incoming water flow enters the housing via the inlet, and is principally directed into two driving flows (34, 36), one for each turbine, and is then directed for discharge via the outlet, the angle of each blade with respect to the driving water flow is controlled by the blade angle control mechanism such that a large blade surface area is presented to the incoming water flow for driving the turbine in a predetermined direction of rotation and a low blade surface area is presented to the incoming water flow in a direction opposite to the driving direction.
US08197198B2
A fan system with enhanced air flow-static pressure characteristics and reduced fan noise compared to the related art is provided. The number of duct blades of a duct is the same as the number of stationary blades of an axial flow fan located in front of the duct, and the duct blades correspond to the stationary blades respectively. An end surface of a rear end portion of each stationary blade and an end surface of a front portion of a duct blade corresponding to the stationary blade have the same shape, and they align together and contact each other to form one composite stationary blade, with a discharge port of each axial flow fan communicating with an inlet port of a duct housing located behind the axial flow fan.
US08197196B2
A bushing assembly for a turbine vane includes a bushing, housing, and a flexible conductor. The bushing includes a bore for receiving a trunnion of the vane and a first conductor extending from the bushing. The first conductor is adapted to be connected to a heater element disposed on the vane. The housing is positioned over the bushing, and the bushing is rotatable relative to the housing. The housing includes a second conductor extending from the housing for connection to an electrical power source. The flexible conductor is electrically connected between the first conductor and the second conductor, such that an electric current is transmitted from the second conductor to the first conductor to provide an electric current to the heater element.
US08197195B2
A turbocharger having a variable nozzle with stepped two-stage vanes (50), the variable nozzle comprising a tubular piston (70) disposed in the bore (44) of the turbine housing (38) such that the piston (70) is axially slidable adjacent to the vanes (50) that extend across the nozzle. Each vane defines a first vane stage (50a) proximate the free end of the vane, the second vane stage (50b) having a different aerodynamic contour in comparison with the first vane stage (50a), each vane comprising a step (60) transitioning from the first vane stage (50a) to the second vane stage (50b). The piston (70) in a closed position closes the second vane stage (50b) so that exhaust gas flows only through the first vane stage (50a). The second vane stage (50b) is progressively opened as the piston (70) is axially slid toward an open position.
US08197189B2
A retaining ring is mounted in frictional engagement with a static gas turbine engine part, such as a compressor shroud, in order to provide frictional damping.
US08197187B2
A plug for an inspection hole of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The plug may have a stem including a first shaft, wherein a first seal is located circumferentially about the first shaft. The plug may have a swivel seal including a second seal spaced from a ball by a second shaft, and the swivel seal may be rotatably connected to the stem by the ball. The ball and the second seal may be fixed to the second shaft.
US08197185B2
A turbine airfoil arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil having an inlet and an exit, the inlet configured to receive a cooling gas flow operable to cool at least part of an other airfoil; and a passage disposed in the airfoil and fluidly coupled to the inlet and the exit, the exit being configured to pass at least some of the cooling gas flow to the other airfoil.
US08197183B2
A turbocharger thrust bearing assembly, which maintains a constant relationship between the thrust faces, for example by use of gimbal or spherical segment geometry. Spherical geometry, while more difficult to manufacture than that of a flat thrust bearing, provides a more constant relationship between the thrust pads and thrust washers than is possible with a typical flat thrust bearing. As a consequence of this more constant relationship the thrust bearing operates with less oil flow, which ultimately may reduce vehicle emissions.
US08197178B1
Large wind cones are used to collect and discharge wind energy to small low cost wind turbines. Large straight or gradually bending windcones are installed as sails on top of ships, on anchored floating platforms and on anchored land platforms. Special ship design features to harvest and store harvested wind energy at sea as described.Also presented is a simple low cost design of a small self-azimuth-adjusting wind cone windmill, where the electric generator is located closed to the ground for easy installation and service.
US08197174B1
The automatic bag opening and slitting machine has a spike star wheels assembly comprising either of one or a combination of star wheels or cylindroid drum like object. The star wheels assembly is provided with spikes which convey a bag, impaled on the spikes when in an extended position, and extends beneath rotary cutting disks driven by two independent pneumatic or electric motors, that may make a continuous cut around three sides of the bag, so that after cutting thereof, the bag comprises two halves joined only at the rear or trailing side of the bag. These two bag halves are unfolded as one half of the bag engaged by the spikes is drawn around the upstream end of the star wheels assembly, while the other half slides over the rocker arm/bag separation bar/slide guide bar, thus emptying the powder/granular content of the bag into a hopper and releasing the emptied bag by retraction of the spikes from the bag for collection therebelow into a chute, for disposal into an endless screw which extrudes the bag into a compaction tube. The compacted bags are thereafter pushed into a waste plastic bag for refuse disposal.
US08197169B2
An anchor system for a hollow wall or ceiling includes an anchor portion having a flange and a penetrating portion extending from a rear surface of the flange. The penetrating portion has a fixed sleeve extending from the rear surface of the flange and a pivoting locking leg connected to the fixed sleeve by a hinge. The fixed sleeve has a sleeve opening extending longitudinally therethrough and the pivoting locking leg has a stub extending from a rear surface thereof to retain the penetrating portion rigid as the anchor is inserted into the wall or ceiling. A pin portion has a body and includes a flexible shaft extending from the body. The pin portion has an actuating element extending transversely from the shaft. The pin portion further includes an opening in the body, spaced from the flexible shaft. Once the pin portion is in place in the anchor, a secondary locking pin is inserted through the pin portion body opening into the hollow wall or ceiling to prevent rotation of the pin portion relative to the anchor portion.
US08197163B2
An indexable insert for a drill includes a chip breaker for disposing chips, provided at an upper face thereof along a cutting edge. The chip breaker has at least one recess. The recess is retracted from an end of the chip breaker near the cutting edge toward the center of the insert by 0.2 mm or greater, or an end of the recess near a center hole of the insert communicates with the center hole.
US08197151B2
A container for holding cosmetics which has a colored insert configured to indicate the color of a cosmetic product contained in the container. A method of replacing a lipstick cartridge comprising replacing a lipstick cartridge with a replacement lipstick cartridge and inserting a replacement colored insert in the cap of the lipstick container.
US08197142B2
A bearing apparatus includes: two split outer ring halves which includes outer ring raceway surfaces and are disposed within a supporting hole of the housing, respectively; and a plurality of rollers which are disposed on respective inner surfaces of the both split outer ring halves and supports a shaft. Each of the two split outer ring halves includes an oil hole penetrating the split outer ring half in a radial direction thereof and an oil groove formed on an outer diameter surface of the split outer ring half along a circumferential direction thereof to allow the oiling passage and the oil holes to communicate with each other. Each of the oil holes is disposed at a position located at an angle of within 45° from the joint surface of the split outer ring halves in an opposite direction to a rotating direction of the shaft.
US08197135B2
A sensor system for determining a physical, measured variable, and includes a sensor and a control/evaluation unit, which are spatially separated from one another and electrically conductively connected via a cable having at least two conductors, wherein provided in the sensor are a temperature measuring element for determining temperature and a sensor identifier for sensor identification. The control/evaluation unit drives the temperature measuring element and the sensor identifier via a shared conductor with a positive voltage or a negative voltage, and, depending on the applied voltage, reads a temperature measured value of the temperature element or an identifying value of the sensor identifier.
US08197134B2
A mounting terminal head of a thermocouple head unit having a metal casing for an end of a thermocouple wire, and thermocouple signal terminals 4 for connection to a thermocouple wire. The thermocouple head unit includes an insulating support member 8 extending around the outside of the thermocouple head unit and supporting the thermocouple signal terminals.
US08197128B2
A method and a device for temperature prediction or measurement are disclosed. The method comprises: acquiring temperature data outputted from a thermometer probe; selecting some temperature data within a valid time period from the acquired data; determining a first specific time point according to the slope change rate of the temperature curve within the valid time period and an initial temperature within the valid time period; determining a second specific time point according to the slope at or before the first specific time point; calculating a value of temperature y according to an hyperbolic formula; determining a final temperature of the object according to the maximum slope of the temperature curve in the valid time period, the initial temperature of the temperature curve in the valid time period, and the value of temperature y.
US08197110B2
A light assembly is disclosed which can include one or more light emitting diodes and a reflector. The reflector includes a reflective surface and is positioned to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitting diode. The reflector further includes a pair of flanking planar reflective surfaces. The flanking planar reflective surfaces can be positioned at a distance one half the predetermined distance between two light emitting diodes, and can simulate an extended length of the reflector.
US08197105B2
An LED-lamp (lighting bar) comprises a plurality of solid state light emitters (LEDs) configured as an elongate (linear) array and a generally concave cylindrical light reflective surface disposed along the length of the array of LEDs. The concave light reflective surface is configured to direct light over an illumination plane located to a side of the lamp. The LEDs can be configured such that their emission axes are oriented to the illumination plane at an angle of between 0° and 90. The lamp can further comprise a second generally concave cylindrical light reflective surface in which the concave light reflective surfaces are configured to direct light over illumination planes located on respective sides of the lamp. There is also disclosed a panel lamp and sign incorporating the lamp(s) of the invention.
US08197103B2
A diffusion plate for use with a lighting module is provided. The diffusion plate includes a substrate, a plurality of circular diffusion structures, and at least one star diffusion structure. The circular diffusion structures are disposed on one face of the substrate in array. Each circular diffusion structure includes a plurality of first partial reflecting units. The first partial reflecting units are disposed on the substrate in circular distribution. The outer arcs of adjacent circular diffusion structures together form a star region. The at least one star diffusion structure includes a plurality of second partial reflecting units. The second partial reflecting units are disposed in the star region on the face of the substrate, wherein the second partial reflecting units are distributed in star distribution.
US08197100B2
A LED lighting device enables the assembly of one or more LED products in a variety of structures for a broad range of applications. In particular, one or more prefabricated individual water-resistant LED products are assembled in an attachable/detachable fixing frame in a variety of structures for use in a broad range of applications which include street lights, security lighting, tunnel lights, floodlights, etc. A further advantage of a LED lighting device is that it can be conveniently used with AC power, without the use of an AC/DC adapter or a stabilizer.
US08197095B2
A two-dimensional wedge shaped UV and IR filter is formed by or substantially same size pieces of glass forming a two-dimensional wedge. The wedge reflects radiation in four different directions.
US08197094B2
A stage lighting fixture having a casing extending along a longitudinal axis; a light source housed in a closed end of the casing to emit a light beam substantially along an optical axis; an objective lens located at an open end of the casing; and beam size adjusting means located between the light source and the objective lens to intercept the beam. The beam size adjusting means have an optical element, in turn having a first region with a first concave beam incidence surface of first beam diffusion properties, and a second region with a second concave beam incidence surface of second beam diffusion properties.
US08197087B2
A light applicator for a peritoneal dialysis conduit connection includes a housing having a inner surface; a plurality of ultraviolet (“UV”) light-emitting diodes (“LED's”) positioned on the inner surface of the housing; and circuitry connected to the UV-LED's such that power can be supplied to energize the UV-LED's simultaneously.
US08197086B2
A lighting fixture includes a light-emitting section composed of a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting devices arranged separated from one another on a planar substrate and a lighting control section configured to control lighting of the semiconductor light-emitting devices of the light-emitting section. The light-emitting section is attached at a front of a fixture main body, and a convection generation section configured to generate convection is provided at a back of the fixture main body. The convection generation section generates convection and promotes heat radiation. With the configuration, even if the lighting fixture is installed to abut on a ceiling surface, the effect of radiating heat generated by the semiconductor light-emitting devices can be ensured.
US08197078B2
The invention relates to a LED light matrix (14) equipped with impulse means for illuminating a moving object (10) in a selected area (11) from an oblique direction for video imaging, said LED light matrix (14) including a group of LEDs (15, 16) each equipped with optics for focusing the light produced by the LED, and with the group being located substantially obliquely relative to the object to be illuminated. Separate LEDs (15, 16) of the LED light matrix (14) are so oriented that the intensity distribution of illumination in the selected area (11) is weighted proportionally to the distance.
US08197075B2
A rear view mirror assembly is disclosed in which the mirror has a viewing section and an alignment section meeting to form a reflex angle. The alignment section is etched with a targeting image: a cross-hair or the side surface of the vehicle. When the targeting image is aligned with appropriate feature on the side of the vehicle, the reflex angle is such that the mirror is properly aligned. Also disclosed is a mirror assembly having viewing section and an alignment section with a clear protective outer layer a selective acceptance layer below the clear protective outer layer, and a colored substrate below the selective layer. When the vehicle operator can see the colored substrate through the selective acceptance layer, which transmits only normal light, the mirror is properly aligned.
US08197073B2
A mirror hangs from a transparent enclosure which may surround a shower, a bathtub, or other bathing area. The mirror may be in a position that avoids condensation on the surface of the mirror from steam emitted from the transparent enclosure. The mirror may also be in a position so that the mirror reflects light into the enclosure. An individual in the bathing area may use the mirror from inside the transparent enclosure without the mirror fogging, which is a common problem associated with using mirrors in a bathing area. The mirror may hang from the outside of the transparent enclosure and optionally includes a sealing element or a frame surrounding the reflective element to further avoid contact with steam.
US08197071B2
A light source device includes: a light source section adapted to emit a light beam; a first optical element provided with a first entrance surface to which the light beam emitted from the light source section is input, and adapted to transmit the light beam; and a second optical element provided with a second entrance surface to which the light beam transmitted through the first optical element is input, and adapted to transmit the light beam, wherein the first entrance surface is tilted towards a direction rotated around a primary axis with respect to a principal ray of the light beam input to the first entrance surface, and the second entrance surface is tilted towards a direction rotated around a secondary axis substantially perpendicular to the primary axis with respect to the principal ray of the light beam input to the second entrance surface.
US08197070B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for identifying features using color information in an image. The image may be formed from one or more display images comprising color information and features or feature components. Because color information may be used to identify features, more than one feature or feature component may be displayed in a display image. Because a plurality of features may be identified in a calibration image, an image system, such as a projector-camera system, can reduce the number of display images needed to calibrate the system.
US08197059B2
A media storage is adapted to store a plate-shaped medium. A media drive is operable to write data in the medium. A label printer is operable to print on the medium. A media conveyer is operable to convey the medium between the media storage, the media drive and the label printer. A casing defines an interior space of the media processor. A plate-shaped frame divides the interior space into a first space located in a rear upper portion of the interior space, a second space located in a rear lower portion of the interior space and a front space located in a front portion of the interior space. The media drive is disposed in the first space. The label printer is disposed in the second space. The media storage and the media conveyer are disposed in the front space.
US08197057B2
A printing apparatus includes a rotating drum that holds a recording medium on a cylindrical outer peripheral surface thereof and rotates around a rotating shaft, and a printing head that is disposed opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum and ejects ink onto the recording medium held on the rotating drum to perform a printing operation. The rotating drum holds a first recording medium and a second recording medium arranged in a rotating direction. A distance between a rotating direction downstream end of the first recording medium and a rotating direction upstream end of the second recording medium is larger than a distance between a rotating direction downstream end of the second recording medium and a rotating direction upstream end of the first recording medium.
US08197056B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance member, and a guide member. The recording head includes a plurality of head units to discharge liquid droplets onto a recording medium, each of the plurality of head units having a plurality of nozzles through which liquid droplets are discharged. The conveyance member conveys the recording medium in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the plurality of head units are arranged. The guide member includes a plurality of ribs of at least two, first and second, types having different heights and is disposed opposite the recording head so as to guide the recording medium. The first type of ribs having a height greater than a height of the second type of ribs are disposed opposite areas where the plurality of head units overlap in the arranged direction thereof.
US08197053B2
An active energy beam-curable ink contains an active energy beam-curable resin and a photocation polymerization initiator; wherein, as the active energy beam-curable resin, a multifunctional epoxy compound, an oxetane compound and 33 to 55% by weight of a monofunctional alicyclic epoxy compound are contained. Accordingly, it is possible to stably discharge the active energy beam-curable ink from an ink jet head, and the ink having a high hardness and high adhesion after curing is provided.
US08197047B2
A liquid container mountable in a liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid container includes a liquid storage section that stores liquid, an air communication section that allows the liquid storage section and an outside of the liquid container to communicate with each other, a bubble separation unit that separates bubbles from the liquid, a communication path that allows the bubble separation unit and the liquid storage section to communicate with each other and has at one end thereof an exit connected to the bubble separation unit and at the other end thereof an entrance connected to the liquid storage section, the exit having a cross section whose area continuously increases toward the bubble separation unit, a liquid supply unit through which the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting apparatus, and a detection unit that is connected to the liquid supply unit and the bubble separation unit and detects an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid container.
US08197045B2
An ink container incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes an ink pack formed by adhering perimeters of multiple flexible films together to contain ink therein, the ink pack having at least one hole formed in a perimeter thereof and a case to hold the ink pack therein, formed by fitting together multiple members. A first member of the multiple members has a projecting portion insertable into the at least one hole formed in the ink pack. A second member of the multiple members has a recessed portion with a slot shape arranged to which the projecting portion of the first member corresponds. The multiple member are fit together by slidably moving the projecting portion of the first member to the recessed portion of the second member in a longitudinal direction of the case.
US08197039B2
A liquid ejecting device is provided. A main tank stores liquid. A sub-tank includes a variable volume liquid chamber that stores the liquid supplied from the main tank. A head ejects the liquid supplied from the sub-tank. A carriage is movable to reciprocate the sub-tank and the head. A first engagement member is provided in the sub-tank and is movable to expand the volume of the liquid chamber. A second engagement member engages with the first engagement member and moves the first engagement member. The liquid is supplied from the main tank to the sub-tank when the first engagement member is moved by the second engagement member to expand the volume of the liquid chamber.
US08197037B2
A method for mounting a piezoelectric transducer layer to a diaphragm layer exposes an electrode for each piezoelectric transducer after thermoset polymer filling the interstitial space between the piezoelectric transducers has been cured. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer, filling areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer with thermoset polymer, and removing the thermoset polymer from the piezoelectric transducers with a laser to expose a metal electrode on each piezoelectric transducer.
US08197035B2
An actuator device includes a piezoelectric element including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode that are displaceably provided in sequence on a substrate. The lower electrode includes a flat center portion and an inclined end portion that descends toward the substrate. The piezoelectric layer is disposed above the lower electrode and the substrate, and includes a first, second, and third piezoelectric layer portion constituted by a plurality of columnar crystals. The columnar crystals of the first and second piezoelectric layer portions are orthogonal to the flat portion of the lower electrode and surface of the substrate, while the columnar crystals of the third piezoelectric layer portion extend orthogonally from a surface of the inclined portion and bend to be orthogonal to the surface of the upper electrode, giving the grains of the columnar crystals of the third piezoelectric layer portion larger widths and increased stress resistance.
US08197030B1
In one embodiment, a fluid ejector structure includes an array of fluid ejector elements; an array of fluid ejection orifices, each orifice in the array positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the fluid ejector elements; and a three dimensional array of interconnected conductors within the orifice and ejector element arrays. In another embodiment an orifice sub-structure for a fluid ejector structure includes: a substrate; an array of orifices in the substrate arranged in rows in an x direction and in columns in a y direction; and a first thin film structure that includes first conductive elements within the orifice array extending in the x direction and in the y direction.
US08197028B2
A liquid discharging apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes a liquid discharging head configured to discharge liquid from nozzles in a discharged material transported in a first direction; a carriage configured to mount the liquid discharging head and reciprocate in a second direction which intersects the first direction; and a carriage moving unit configured to reciprocate the carriage, and the carriage moving unit includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit operating independently from each other, and a first supporting portion of the first drive unit with respect to the carriage and a second supporting portion of the second driving unit with respect to the carriage are located at positions displaced in the first direction.
US08197027B2
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a rotating moving table that is rotatable between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation and movable in a horizontal direction; a head cap that is movable so as to come into contact with or become spaced from the liquid ejection surface; and an interlocking mechanism that interlocks the rotating moving table with the head cap. The rotating moving table has a platen portion on which a target of ejection of a liquid can be carried; and a cleaning portion that can clean the liquid ejection surface. When the rotating moving table has been rotated to the horizontal orientation, the head cap is situated in a position spaced from the liquid ejection surface. When the rotating moving table has been rotated to the vertical orientation and is not being moved in the horizontal direction, the head cap can come into contact with the liquid ejection surface.
US08197024B2
An inkjet printer has been developed that reduces the effects of show-through by depositing ink onto a cooled print medium. The inkjet printer includes a printhead and a cooler. The printhead is configured to eject ink onto an ink receiving member as the ink receiving member is transported along a portion of a media path through the inkjet printer. The cooler is positioned proximate the media path to cool the ink receiving member prior to the printhead ejecting ink onto the ink receiving member.
US08197020B2
An image forming method for use in an inkjet head includes a pressure chamber filled with ink, a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber and in which a meniscus of the ink is formed, a piezoelectric element which pressurizes the pressure chamber, and a drive circuit which performs an operation of ejecting the ink in a printing state and generates a basic pulse for vibrating the meniscus in a non-printing state. The basic pulse is generated by turning off a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element for substantially the same period as a natural vibration period of the ink. An additional pulse is generated at least once before or after the basic pulse when the basic pulse is generated by the drive circuit in the non-printing state. The additional pulse is generated by turning off the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element.
US08197012B2
A device for supplying a downstream hydraulic brake fluid to a hydraulic brake circuit of a motor vehicle equipped with a clutch includes an enclosure intended to contain the hydraulic fluid, the enclosure being provided with at least one outlet nozzle and with an inlet orifice. The enclosure forms a downstream portion of a reservoir, the reservoir comprising an upstream portion forming an upstream enclosure intended to collect an upstream hydraulic fluid from the clutch of the vehicle. The upstream enclosure 4 includes at least one inlet nozzle serving to transfer the upstream hydraulic fluid toward the upstream enclosure 4. The inlet orifice is an intermediate orifice whereby the upstream enclosure opens into the downstream enclosure, the intermediate orifice being equipped with a means for filtering the upstream hydraulic fluid.
US08197011B2
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a mining and demolition tool are described herein. In an embodiment, a mining bit tool includes a mining and demolition bit tool base and a mining bit tool tip coupled to the mining bit tool base. The base includes a tapered portion and a stem. The tapered portion includes a first end and a second end, with a surface tapering from the first end to the second end. There are at least two flutes positioned along the tapered surface, where a first flute is positioned at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis passing through the center of the mining bit tool and a second flute is positioned to cross a path of the first flute. The stem extends from the first end of the tapered portion, and the tip is coupled to the second end of the tapered portion.
US08197008B2
A reconfigurable piece of furniture having a two-dimensional pattern for storage and multiple three-dimensional functional patterns. The furniture piece includes a central base portion of circular, oval or polygonal shape, pivoting members disposed at discrete locations along an edge of the central base portion; plural radiating members that are bi-directionally pivotally or foldably attached to a corresponding pivoting member; and fastening members disposed on corresponding portions of radiating members. After pivoting or rotating the radiating members, adjacent radiating members are releasably secured to each other to provide structure to adjacent radiating members, forming a three-dimensional furniture piece.
US08197007B2
A pivoting headrest assembly having a pivotally supported and cable actuated hook secured to fixed bracket. The hook engages a pin associated with a widthwise extending and upwardly biased support secured within a pair of side channels associated with the fixed bracket. Upon triggering the release of the hook, the support is upwardly displaced within the side channels. A pair of end supported pivotal linkages are secured in coaxial fashion with the ends of the displaceable support. Upper ends of the linkages pivotally engage a base plate of an upper pivotally driven headrest bun support offset from a pivotal engagement established between the base plate and upper end of the headrest bracket. The linkages are configured so that upward displacement exerted by the support is converted to the forward dump rotation of the headrest bun support.
US08197006B2
A vehicle seat includes a pivotable backrest, a locking/unlocking mechanism and an adjustment mechanism. The backrest is counterbalanced such that torque produced by the weight of the backrest during pivoting is adjustable by a counter torque.
US08197004B2
An adjustable seat suspension for a vehicle seat that includes a linkage arrangement disposed between a seat frame and seat base whose collapse is opposed by a spring lever arm linkage arrangement supported on a fluid powered spring actuator carried by the base that has a plurality of pivotable spring lever arms that are each coupled to a portion of the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid powered spring actuator is an air spring whose pressure is adjustable and which is powered by an air compressor to tailor suspension characteristics and provide a desired preload. The base includes an upright to which the spring lever arm linkage arrangement is pivotally mounted with its spring lever arms supported by a saddle carried by the air spring at a location disposed between the upright and where the spring lever arms couple with the seat suspension.
US08197003B2
A seating device includes a pair of side supports. Each side support includes a first arm rest that functions as a rocker runner in a rocker configuration and a second arm rest that functions as a stationary runner in a stationary configuration. A seat is fastened to the side supports. A rocker lateral support is fastened to the side supports above the seat. A stationary lateral support is fastened to the side supports below the seat. A back rest pivots inside the seat to an upright position against the rocker lateral support when the side supports are configured in the rocker configuration and to an upright position against the stationary lateral support when the side supports are configured in the stationary configuration.
US08197001B2
A pivoting headrest assembly incorporated into a rear row vehicle seat including a base and a pivotally supported seatback. A first bracket is fixedly supported atop the seatback and exhibits a striker. A second bracket is pivotally supported to the first bracket in a biased direction away from the striker and includes a headrest bun support. A hook is supported upon the second bracket in a first biased direction engaging the striker. A release element associated with the second bracket is biased direction and which, upon being actuated in a second counter-biased direction, engages a projecting portion associated with the hook. A cable is secured at a first end to a fixed location associated with the seat and extends through a redirection location an offset distance from a pivot location of the seatback, the cable securing at a second end to the release element.
US08196997B2
A sting trailer has a front end-wall located at a first standard trailer length from a rear end of the sting trailer, a false end-wall located at a second standard trailer length from the rear end of the sting trailer, and a hidden compartment located between the front end-wall and the false end-wall.
US08196994B2
A vehicle's drag-reducing apparatus, adapted to be arranged at the tail end of a vehicle, includes a diversion body positioned at the lateral surface of the vehicle and a rotary piece. The airflow flowing across the lateral surface of the vehicle body is guided to the tail end of the vehicle by the diversion body. One end of the rotary piece is pivoted to the vehicle body, while another end is fixed to the diversion body. Rotating the rotary piece will bring along the diversion body to be abutted against the tail end of the vehicle body or to be moved to the position far away from the tail end of the vehicle body. Thereby, the opening of the rear door at the tail end of the vehicle won't be hindered, even where there is an arrangement of the diversion body.
US08196985B2
A console assembly for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The console assembly includes a housing having first end wall, a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other, and an open end spaced apart from the first end wall. Each of the pair of side walls has a free end. The free end extends from the first end wall so as to define a first storage compartment. Each of the pair of side walls also includes a slot extending longitudinally from the free end towards the first end wall. The console assembly further includes a storage box slidably engaged within the housing. The storage box has a second end wall and a pair of arms spaced apart from each other. Each of the pair of arms is configured to engage respective slots of the housing. The storage box is operable to move between a first position and a second position.
US08196981B1
A compact disc retrieving device which allows for the quick, easy, and efficient removal of a CD or DVD from a CD or DVD player without damaging the CD or DVD player and without marring, scratching, deforming or otherwise causing damage to the CD or DVD. The device includes a first arm pivotally coupled to a second arm. The device further includes a third arm coupled to the first arm. The third arm includes a suction cup attached thereto.
US08196975B2
A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.
US08196969B2
An example apparatus for replacement of a breached pipe section includes a first cylindrical pipe fitting having a first surface defining a first aperture, a middle pipe member, and a second cylindrical pipe fitting having a second surface defining a second aperture, and first and second aperture caps. A first end of each of the first and second pipe fittings is welded to opposite ends of the middle section, and a second end opposite of each of the first and second pipe fittings is welded through the respective first and second apertures to opposite ends of pipe surrounding the breached pipe section. The first and second aperture caps are welded to the apertures of the first and second pipe fittings to close the respective first and second apertures.
US08196965B2
A folded label is produced without necessity of adhering any portions of a sheet to each other. The label uses only one sheet having display contents described on predetermined portions on both surface sides thereof. The label is formed by folding the sheet. Sheet sections are superposed over each other, being partitioned by a folding line. First and second sheet sections are adjacent and continuous to each other through the folding line and appear on upper and lower surface sides of the label, respectively. Only the first sheet section appears on the upper surface side of the label. The second sheet section and only one part of the first sheet section constituting a protruding portion protruding from the second sheet section on a side opposite to a side of the first folding line appear on the lower surface side of the label. Perforated lines are formed in the first sheet section.
US08196959B2
A motor vehicle having a chassis frame and a vehicle body has switchable connection elements between the chassis frame and the vehicle body. The connection elements are arranged both in front of and behind the connection line of the wheel contact points of the front wheels and/or the connection line of the wheel contact points of the rear wheels. As a result, during cornering, the vehicle body exercises a bending moment upon the chassis frame, which results in a self-steering behavior of the front axle and/or of the rear axle. This self-steering behavior can be influenced in that either the connection elements in front of or the connection elements behind the corresponding axle are triggered such that they exhibit a transverse rigidity that is as high as possible. While the respective other connection elements are triggered such that they exhibit a transverse rigidity that is as low as possible. The triggering takes place by way of a control unit which, for example, uses parameters from the driving operation of the motor vehicle as control variables.
US08196952B2
Inflatable airbag cushions are filled with inflation gas by inflators. The inflators can be coupled in fluid communication with the airbag and are typically mounted within a vehicle structure by a coupling and closing member. The coupling and closing member can be an elongated piece of a flexible material that wraps around an inflator attachment feature on the airbag. The coupling and closing member can also have structures for fixedly attaching the member to a vehicle structure.
US08196950B2
A wheelchair and an examination table is provided wherein there is provided a connector or connector assembly for connecting the wheelchair to the examination table. Once connected to the examination table, the wheelchair and patient sitting therein can be elevated, after which side frames of the wheelchair can be removed in order to facilitate examination of the patient. In addition, once elevated and the side frames removed, with the aid of a movable back that forms a part of the examination table, the back of the wheelchair can be reclined or positioned in various positions to facilitate examination and procedures.
US08196938B2
The described embodiments of the present invention provide a modular mobile workstation with storage capacity. The apparatus has a modular shell that can be used for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, a stool and low table combination, a table and coat-rack combination, and a high table combination. The modular shell encloses a removable inner shell that can be used to store goods while traveling with the unit. In one embodiment, two large wheels cap the respective ends of the shell and allow the apparatus to roll freely behind a user. A multi-use handle is also included with the apparatus. In one embodiment, the handle is collapsible and is secured to the apparatus by a securing scarf, which also serves to hold the interlocking pieces of the outer shell together. The unit is useful for travelers needing a mobile workspace, and prevents the need for additional luggage, as it also provides storage capacity.
US08196937B2
A transport wheel device for a helicopter having a runner defining an axial direction. The transport wheel includes a holding frame, a wheel axle, a slide, a wheel and a lifting device. The holding frame is detachably securable to the runner. The wheel axle is attached the holding frame by the slide. The slide is continuously adjustable axially with respect to the holding frame and securable in an axial position. A wheel is disposed on the wheel axle. The lifting device is coupled to the holding frame and the wheel axle. The lifting device is configured to vertically move the transport wheel.
US08196930B2
Described herein is a game system that includes a game control unit that communicates with a plurality of play units. Each play unit typically has a user input functionality (e.g., a button) and a visual indicator (e.g., lights). The play units can communicate and receive instructions from the game control unit. The game control unit may also include a user input, and can track play and upload results (e.g., scores) into a central data repository. Players may wear identification tags that can also provide identifying information for tracking or monitoring by the game control unit. Also described herein are methods of playing games using the system, and social networking website for players.
US08196928B2
A game is provided that simulates American style football. Action cards include offensive plays and defensive outcomes. Skill is introduced by the offensive play chosen by an offensive player. Chance is introduced by the defensive outcome corresponding to the offensive play selected by the offensive player. The game lacks dice, spinners, or other random number generators. The game includes one set of action cards, which are selected consecutively by the offensive player. As preferably listing only offensive plays, only the defensive outcomes, thus the results of the offensive plays, vary from card to card. The game includes a field with markers that may be used to track the progress of the game.
US08196921B1
In one example, a sheet handling device includes: a first mechanism configured to receive a flexible sheet moving in a first direction in a first orientation and turn the sheet to a second direction; a second mechanism configured to receive the sheet moving in the second direction, turn the sheet to a third direction and simultaneously reorient the sheet to a second orientation; and a third mechanism configured to receive the reoriented sheet moving in the third direction and turn the sheet to a fourth direction. The second mechanism may include, for example, a trio of elongated rollers and an endless loop belt wrapping the trio of rollers to form a nip between the belt and one of the rollers for receiving a first leading edge of the sheet in the second direction and expelling a second leading edge of the sheet in the third direction.
US08196917B2
In an embodiment of the invention, a detection unit arranged near a feed roller is rotatably arranged. A space where the feed roller is attached and detached is formed by rotating the detection unit. The detection unit is rotated in accordance with an operation of attaching and detaching the feed roller to and from a shaft, and the maintenance of the feed roller is performed while the formed space is used.
US08196913B2
A clamping assembly for stringing machine includes a slide member, a positioning device, a control device and a rail. The positioning device and a tube are located on two ends of the slide member. The control device includes a pin, a ring-shaped member and a knob. The pin is pivotably connected with the knob. The tube includes an engaging section and a receiving section. The receiving section has a positioning pin and a spring which biases the positioning pin so as to move the positioning pin axially. The knob having a pin hole defined in an underside thereof and can be securely positioned by inserting the insertion member into the pin hole. The knob includes a release button which is connected with a bolt. When pressing the release button, the bolt moves the insertion member which releases the knob.
US08196896B2
A flow through injection valve having a stationary member, a movable member, a surface of the stationary member interfacing with a surface of the movable member; and at least one pin isolation valve having a flow through internal conduit and movably positioned so that the internal conduit can interface with at least one flow through conduit in the movable member. The pin isolation valves are movably positioned so that the internal conduit is also capable of fluidically communicating with another flow through internal conduit in the movable member. The flow through injection valve can be combined with a similar flow through isolation valve to serve as a multiple valve and typically for replacing a conventional face seal valve of a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The multiple valve allows flow to be transferred through without need for switching or rotating under high pressure. Movement is by rotation or translation.
US08196894B2
In accordance with different embodiments of the present invention, duckbill check valve 10, having an orifice 11, and conical check valve 12, having an orifice 13, are responsive to the differential pressure of fluid F as it flows between inlet 14 and outlet 16. In an innovative aspect of the invention, orifice 11 and orifice 13 each have a variable effective diameter. In one embodiment, the duckbill check valve 10 and conical check valve 12 have a conical end that is aligned with the direction of fluid flow. In another embodiment, the duckbill check valve 10 can have a conical end that faces the direction of fluid flow. A pin may traverse orifice 11 or 13.
US08196884B2
A dual-purpose fixing stand for a computer screen and a keyboard holder includes: a main body, having an axial pivoting hole disposed at the middle of a distal surface at an end of an axle pivotal disk and a plurality of positioning grooves coaxially disposed around the external periphery of the axial pivoting hole; a universal connector, pivotally and axially coupled to another end of the axle pivotal disk, and a support plate coupled to the universal connector for selectively mounting the computer screen or the keyboard holder; a fixing base, having a support bottom selectively connected to the top or the bottom of a table, and two stand plates convexly disposed with an interval apart and at the top of a distal surface to accommodate and axially and pivotally couple the axle pivotal disk of the main body, and a positioning pin installed individually at positions on the lateral side corresponding to the positions of a plurality of positioning grooves of the axle pivotal disk for providing an elastic extension or retraction and elastically embedded into the positioning grooves to achieve the effect of limiting the position of an axial angle of the main body. Therefore, the fixing stand can be used for fixing a computer screen or a keyboard holder, and users can make an angular adjustment for its operation to enhance the users' operating comfort.
US08196870B2
A tool for fuelling an unprepared or partially prepared client satellite required for accessing, opening and closing a fuel fill valve on the satellite being serviced, storage and retrieval stations on a tool caddy on which the tools and various fuel fill valve caps are stored. The tool includes interchangeable socket modules, a support frame, a socket module holder mechanism, a socket drive mechanism, a clamping mechanism to secure the tool to a reaction area on the fuel fill valve and oxidizer fill valve, and a valve actuation mechanism. The interchangeable socket modules include a first module for removing and replacing the access valve cap, a second module for coupling the fuel fill line to the fuel tank, a third module for engaging the access valve cap on the oxidizer fill valve, and a fourth module for coupling the oxidizer fill line to the oxidizer tank.
US08196868B2
A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.
US08196864B2
Seating arrangements for passenger aircraft or other vehicles are detailed. Some arrangements position seats at offsets from a longitudinal axis of a vehicle cabin in either “V” shapes or herringbone patterns. Other arrangements include seats that are staggered within the cabin. Further arrangements include pairs of seat that are both parallel and offset from the longitudinal axis, but are placed so that feet of the port and starboard passengers point away from the fuselage. All embodiments contemplate providing seats that are convertible to beds, although this conversion is not required.
US08196863B2
According to the invention, the horizontal stabilizer comprises a fixed intermediate part secured to the structure of said aircraft and at least one mobile edge part able to slide with respect to said fixed intermediate part, transversely to the length thereof. Mobile flaps are able to provide the aerodynamic continuity of the suction face and of the pressure face of said stabilizer when said mobile edge part is deployed.
US08196847B2
A fluid spray head comprising an expulsion channel (5) provided with a spray orifice (1) and a spray profile (10) formed in an end wall of said spray head, said spray profile (10) comprising preferably non-radial spray channels (11) opening out to a central spray chamber (12) disposed directly upstream from said spray orifice (1), an insert (20) being disposed in said expulsion channel (5) so as to form a cover for said spray profile (10), the central axis (X) of said insert (20) being substantially identical to the central axis (Y) of said expulsion channel (5), and said spray head including centering means for centering said insert (20).
US08196837B2
An optical reader for reading decodable indicia is provided. In one embodiment, the optical reader can include an image sensor. In one aspect, the optical reader can be configured to read bar codes such as 1D bar codes. Particular methods and apparatus for reading decodable indicia are described.
US08196836B2
An image processing apparatus includes a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit. The first detecting unit detects a leading end portion of an information image based on a first criterion and a ratio of a width of a certain white image area in the information image to a width of a black image area being detected prior to the certain white image area. The second detecting unit takes one of the black image areas and white image areas as an image area of interest and detects a portion, other than the leading end portion, of the information image based on a second criterion and at least one of ratios of a width of the image area of interest to widths of black and white image areas being detected prior to the image area of interest.
US08196832B2
A system and method is provided wherein a device can be reprogrammed utilizing one or more programming symbols. A device subject to reprogramming can be a portable device. In one embodiment a device subject to reprogramming can be a portable symbol reading device capable of reading programming symbols.
US08196831B2
A system for power supply synchronization in an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader is shown and described. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more switched mode power supply devices and a signal generator. Each of the switched mode power supply devices provides power to at least one component of the RFID reader. The signal generator transmits a synchronization signal of a controlling frequency to each of the one or more power supply devices. In one embodiment, the system includes a signal processing unit that is configured to reject one or more spectral components from the output of the RFID reader.
US08196830B1
A hand-operated document processor includes a base for receiving a document containing magnetic ink character data to be read and recognized. A manually operated moving magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) subsystem includes a MICR read head and is attached to the base such that movement of the subsystem causes the MICR read head to pass over the magnetic ink character data on the document. MICR reading and recognition logic receives the signal from the MICR read head. A speed limiting device includes a viscous damper, and is connected to the MICR subsystem. The viscous damper provides a resistance load when the MICR subsystem is moved across the document being processed. The resistance load increases as the operator increases the speed of the MICR subsystem to encourage the operator to maintain a constant scanning rate over the length of the document.
US08196826B2
Methods, systems, and devices utilize RFID devices in order to provide integrated information for receivables, inventory, and/or transactions from point of sale (POS) devices and cash handling device(s) to accounting systems. Transactions (e.g., debit card, credit card, coin, cash, check, etc.) are allowed at POS devices. The transactions may be communicated to cash handling devices through RFID devices (e.g., coupled to or on tills, receipts, printouts, etc.). Transaction-related materials (e.g., paper currency, coins, checks, receipts, etc.) may be moved from the POS devices to cash handling device(s). Actual counts and expected counts may be determined and may be communicated to accounting systems.
US08196824B2
A method for detecting installed or associated components that are each identified by at least one unique identifier is provided. The identifiers may be read out by at least one reader device. The identifiers, for detecting the respective components, are read out automatically by the reader device. All the serialized components of the system are identified and detected.
US08196821B2
A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of product unit specific indicators, each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedence of at least one threshold by at least one product quality determining parameter, an indicator reader operative to read the product unit specific indicators and to provide output indications and a product type specific indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product unit specific, product quality status outputs.
US08196819B2
A method of conducting an economic transaction includes the steps of wirelessly receiving a card-transmitted signal, where the card-transmitted signal includes user account information and an indicator of an amount of elapsed time between a recognition of a vibration applied to a wirelessly-transmitting credit or debit card and a transmission of the card-transmitted signal from the card. The method further includes determining a last detected vibration at a point-of-sale device, calculating an amount of time elapsed since the identification of the last detected vibration, and comparing the amount of time elapsed since the identification of the last detected vibration with the amount of elapsed time between a recognition of a vibration applied to a card and a transmission of the card-transmitted signal from the card.
US08196818B2
Interrogation of an electronic device by a first terminal is facilitated, to obtain an account number associated with the electronic device. The electronic device is configured according to a payment specification. The first terminal has a first terminal payment module configured according to the payment specification and a first terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to the first terminal payment module to permit transfer of non-payment e-merchandise related information from the first terminal electronic merchandise module to the first terminal payment module. The interrogation of the electronic device is performed by the first terminal payment module. Generation of non-payment e-merchandise related information by the first terminal electronic merchandise module is facilitated. Transfer of the non-payment e-merchandise related information from the first terminal electronic merchandise module to the electronic device via the first terminal payment module, within a transaction between the electronic device and the first terminal payment module that is conducted in accordance with the payment specification, is also facilitated. The non-payment e-merchandise related information is stored on the electronic device in accordance with the payment specification. The electronic device and the first terminal independently calculate a summary data item. The first terminal calculates a first message authentication code based on the non-payment e-merchandise related information and a terminal-calculated value of the summary data item. The non-payment e-merchandise related information is stored on the electronic device together with an electronic device-calculated value of the summary data item and the first message authentication code.
US08196806B2
A foldable packing box of the present invention comprises a base board, a pair of side boards, and a pair of fixing boards. The base board includes a first end board, a bottom board connected to the first end board, and a second end board connected to the bottom board opposite to the first end board. The pair of side boards are respectively fixed to the opposite two sides of the bottom board. The fixing boards are respectively fixed to the sides of the first end board and the second end board apart from the bottom board. The base board, the side boards, and the fixing boards are foldable to locate at a same plane. While assembling the packing box, the side boards are fixed to the base board by the fixing boards. The foldable packing box of the present invention can locate in a plane to save the occupied space thereof during storage and transportation, so as to facilitate to reduce the storage and transportation cost. Furthermore, the foldable packing box of the present invention separately makes the base board, side boards, and fixing boards for make full use of the material thereby reducing the production cost.
US08196802B2
A seal device for a rotary shaft includes a sleeve, a gland, a ring, a guide block, and a fixing member. The guide block has an outer block surface extending circumferentially and abutting against a portion of an inner gland surface of the gland, and an inner block surface extending circumferentially and opposite to the outer block surface. The outer block surface has two circumferentially opposite outer ends. The inner block surface has two circumferentially opposite inner ends. The guide block further has two opposite end faces each of which connects one of the outer ends to one of the inner ends. The inner ends subtend an angle of not larger than 90° at a center line of the gland. At least one of the end faces lies in a plane line that is substantially tangent to an outer peripheral face of the ring.
US08196796B2
A surgical instrument including a drive mechanism configured to advance a staple driver and/or cutting member at a first rate and retract the staple driver and/or cutting member at a different rate. In at least one embodiment, the rate at which the driver and cutting member is advanced and/or retracted is the distance that the driver and/or cutting member is translated per actuation of a trigger, for example. In various embodiments, the cutting member can be retracted at a faster rate as compared to the rate in which it is advanced. In such embodiments, the surgical instrument can, owing to the slower advancing rate, provide a greater torque or advancing force to the cutting member while, owing to the faster retracting rate, reduce the time required for the surgeon to retract the cutting member.
US08196787B2
An apparatus comprises a print device and a strap that wraps about one or more proximal phalanges such that the print device is pivotable with the proximal phalanges relative to metacarpophalangeal joints of the hand. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a deck configured to be releasably connected to a unit having a housing and a strap that wraps about one or more proximal phalanges. In another embodiment, a gel pad includes a main portion that overlies metacarpophalangeal joints and extensions that overlie proximal phalanges.
US08196785B2
An air vent for liquid containers such as baby bottles, flasks, or the like, for containing any liquid easily poured through an upper spout such as a nipple or a hard plastic spout or even a metal spout. The container includes an air vent defined by a system based on the principle of communicating vessels acted upon by equal air pressures, defined by a duct of an adequate diameter placed in a vertical or oblique manner, whose lower end is placed inside and in the bottom of the container, while the upper end defines an external air inlet that is open to external air. The duct communicates with the main internal space in the bottom of the container, such that when the container is sufficiently tilted, the liquid inside the duct may go to the bottom of the container, enabling a free flow of external air to the bottom of the container, without passing through the liquid, thus preventing the formation of a vacuum in the bottom of the container, before even this same liquid be discharged or sucked from the container.
US08196774B1
A remote pharmaceutical dispensing system for automatically dispensing medication includes a plurality of packets each containing at least one type of medication for a predetermined hour of administration (HOA). The system also includes at least one cartridge having a housing and a feed mechanism disposed within the housing for advancing at least one of the plurality of packets toward an opening in the cartridge housing. The system further includes a dispenser having a dispenser housing configured to receive the at least one cartridge and a motor that is drivably engageable with the feed mechanism of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the dispenser. The system also includes a controller in operable communication with the motor and configured to actuate the motor to advance at least one of the plurality of packets toward an opening in the dispenser housing at the predetermined HOA.
US08196768B2
A connector for a container, particularly a cask, comprises a bush (14), intended to be received in an opening (11) in the container through which liquid is discharged, in use. The bush has a closed end (17) with a weakened portion (18), an inner thread (20) and an inner deformable portion (21). Sealing means (23) are intended to be disposed between the exterior of the bush and the interior of the opening at the position of the deformable portion. An insert (15) is screw-threadedly engageable within the bush so as to deform the deformable portion, thereby effecting compression, and thus sealing, of the sealing means between the bush and the container.
US08196765B2
A multi-function carrier includes a bottom plate bilaterally connected to pivotable lateral plates, wherein each of the lateral plates may be a one-piece grid or a two-piece folding grid, a pivotable rear plate, and a pivotable front plate. The front plate has sliding blocks for being slidably mounted on horizontal sliding guides of the bottom plate. The two lateral plates, the front plate and the rear plate, when posed vertically, are mutually coupled and jointly form a top-opened basket-like structure together with the bottom plate. When the two lateral plates and the front plate are laid over the bottom plate, the multi-function carrier provides a rack-like structure. The multi-function carrier further has an extendable gripper which is movably attached to the front plate and has a movable pressing member.
US08196756B2
This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.
US08196754B2
Water permeable membranes and methods of forming water permeable membranes are provided. The water permeable membranes are comprised of a cross-linked polyamide containing at least one bifunctional additive that is hydrophilic and reactive. Additionally, in accordance with other embodiments of this invention, methods of forming water permeable membranes comprised of a cross-linked polyamide containing at least one bifunctional additive that is hydrophilic and reactive are provided. Specifically, the water permeable membranes may comprise a membrane formed from a cross-linked aromatic or aromatic/aliphatic polyamide interfacially polymerized on a porous support. The presence of the at least one hydrophilic and reactive additive improves the flux and salt retention properties of the membrane in comparison to a membrane formed without the at least one hydrophilic and reactive additive.
US08196751B2
What is presented is a permanent magnet drum separator for removal of a ferrous fraction from a material stream comprising a pickup magnet that is a rare earth permanent magnet that can be moved within the drum separator. The drum separator comprises a rotatable outer shell having tubular shape with a circular cross section. The drum separator includes a carry magnet that is positioned at a fixed location within the rotatable outer shell near the inside circumference of the rotatable outer shell. The pickup magnet is positioned on a hinge plate within the rotatable outer shell. The hinge plate has a first end attached to a hinge and a second end attached to a movable element. The hinge is positioned at a fixed location within the rotatable outer shell near the inside circumference of said rotatable outer shell. The movable element is able to move the pickup magnet about the hinge to vary the distance between the pickup magnet and the inside circumference of the rotatable outer shell.
US08196745B2
A suppository delivery device that allows for the insertion of a suppository without having contact with the suppository or rectum. The suppository delivery device includes a stabilizing platform, a stabilizer to which the suppository is mounted, and a package, which protects the user's hands and fingers from the suppository and rectum and prevents germs from contacting the suppository before being inserted into the rectum.
US08196740B2
A bag (10) for transporting or storing a partly disassembled bicycle is provided in the form of a lightweight soft shell with strategically located rigid reinforcements. The bag (10) can be collapsed in a compact storage configuration when not in use while still providing added impact protection to the most vulnerable parts of the bicycle. Inflatable partitions (42) can be provided on either side of the bicycle frame to provide added protection while still allowing collapsing of the bag (10) when not in use. Hub attachments (18) can be provided on the side panels (16) of the bag (10) for securely holding the bicycle wheel by the hub thereof on the inner surface of the bag soft side panels (16).
US08196737B2
A method of replacing a continuous belt on a belt conveyor having a frame assembly includes providing a removable belt module with a removable belt module frame, the removable belt module frame having at one end a rotatably mounted drive pulley and having at an opposite end a rotatably mounted other pulley. The continuous belt is reeved around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The removable belt module is removed from at least one attachment surface of the frame assembly while the continuous belt remains under tension. A replacement removable belt module is then placed at the attachment surface. Optionally, the continuous belt has a low modulus characteristic, and the removable belt module may include at least one pivot arm for mounting at least one of the drive pulley and the other pulley to the removable belt module frame.
US08196727B2
A drive control system of a crawler vehicle has a lever, a hydraulic distributor for feeding pressurized oil over a feed line to a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator can engage and release a central clutch. A cable has a first end fixed to a rod of the hydraulic actuator, and a second end connected to the hydraulic distributor. The cable activates and deactivates the hydraulic distributor, depending on the position of the rod. A main pulley is integral with the lever about which the cable is wound.
US08196715B2
Disclosed is a disk brake for a vehicle having a power transmission device that presses a friction pad against a disk by using a worm gear. The disk brake includes a movable friction pad that makes contact with one lateral side of a disk rotating together with a vehicle wheel, thereby generating braking force, a wedge member, which is provided at one side thereof with the movable friction pad and moves toward the disk by means of a driving motor generating a driving force, a guide member for guiding the wedge member such that the wedge member moves back and force relative to the disk; and a power transmission device installed between the driving motor and the guide member so as to convert the driving force of the driving motor into a linear movement in a direction perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the driving motor.
US08196704B2
A linear acoustic liner for an aircraft includes a cellular core having a first surface and an opposed second surface. A substantially imperforate back skin covers the first surface, and a perforate face skin covers the second surface of the core. The perforate face skin includes an outer face skin layer having a first plurality of spaced openings, an inner face skin layer having a second plurality of spaced openings, and a porous layer disposed between the outer face skin layer and the inner face skin layer. Each of the first plurality of spaced openings are substantially aligned with one of the second plurality of spaced openings.
US08196701B1
An acoustic and heat control device is disclosed and described. The device can include a central chamber oriented along a central axis within an outer shell, said central chamber having an inlet configured to receive a high energy material from a high energy outlet. Additionally, the device can include a damper disposed proximate to the central chamber and comprising an energy absorbent material. In one aspect, the device can be used with a firearm.
US08196695B2
A brake pedal device of reducing a collision injury in a vehicle, may include a brake pedal including a hitching slot at an end portion thereof, a brake switch bracket, a first portion of which is pivotally coupled to the brake pedal by a hinge shaft, a pedal mounting bracket mounted to a vehicle body, wherein a second portion of the brake switch bracket is pivotally coupled to the pedal mounting bracket by a stopper shaft, wherein the stopper shaft of the pedal mounting bracket and the hitching slot of the brake pedal are selectively coupled to hinder rotation of the brake pedal toward a driver with respect to the hinge shaft when a collision force equal to or greater than a predetermined load is applied to the vehicle, and coupling members coupling the pedal mounting bracket and the brake switch bracket and being decoupled when the collision force is applied to the vehicle.
US08196694B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for immobilizing a motor vehicle. A system comprises an impairment sensor system and a control subsystem. The impairment sensor system is adapted to perform an analysis of a sample provided by an operator of a motor vehicle, where the analysis includes determining an impairment-related metric based on the sample. The control subsystem is adapted to control at least one mobility-related apparatus and at least one non-mobility-related apparatus of the motor vehicle. When the result of the analysis indicates that the impairment-related metric does not meet a criteria, the control subsystem is adapted to control the at least one mobility-related apparatus in a manner that disables the motor vehicle from moving and to control the at least one non-mobility-related apparatus in a manner that allows the at least one non-mobility-related apparatus to operate.
US08196692B2
A two or more person RUV (recreational utility vehicle) is provided with a multi-place multi-planar saddle seat assembly, multi-place multi-planar foot board assemblies, and grip handles.
US08196691B2
An arrangement for mounting an accumulator battery in a motor vehicle that includes a first body structure part that forms an engine compartment, in which the first structure part includes at least two substantially longitudinal and parallel side members and which is positioned to the rear of a second, a transverse structure part that forms the front filler panel of the vehicle, in which the transverse structure part includes at least one front cross member connected to the side members and supporting at its ends a light-projecting member including bulbs that are accessible from the engine compartment via at least one opening, and in which a support accommodating the accumulator battery is located to the rear of this opening. The accumulator-battery support includes a removable part providing access to the opening of the light-projecting member from the engine compartment so that dead bulbs can be changed leaving the support in position.
US08196681B2
An earth boring device for forming horizontally extending bore holes beneath the surface of the earth and installing a conduit therein without substantially disturbing the surface of the earth is disclosed. The earth boring device is a generally elongate member having a cutting tool disposed at a leading end, and means to attach a conduit to be disposed in the bore hole at a trailing end. A pair of spaced apart drive augers is disposed between the leading end and the trailing end to propel the earth boring device through the earth. The earth boring device can include at least one flexible section to enable a bending of the earth boring device for boring a curved bore hole.
US08196680B2
A tool body on tubing directs a mechanical cutter or jet bit to the casing in an oil or gas well. A hole is cut in casing and a rotary detent mechanism may be used to drill additional holes through casing and enable alignment of a jet bit with the holes for drilling drainholes without removing apparatus from the well. Disposable nozzles in a guide channel or nozzles on the tool body may be used for drilling through casing.
US08196671B2
An agricultural machine includes a disk blade assembly having a hub and a disk blade mounted to the hub. The hub has a perimeter. The disk blade is deflectable by ground forces in an area outside of the hub. A scraper assembly includes a mount, a scraper blade, and a hinge pivotally interconnecting the scraper blade with the mount. The hinge has an axis of rotation which passes through a point generally at or near a bottom of the hub perimeter, and generally coincident with the disk blade.
US08196661B2
Method for providing a preferential specific injection distribution from a horizontal injection well
A method for distributing injection fluid in a horizontal well bore in fluid communication with hydrocarbon bearing formation begins by determining flow resistance characteristics of the formation along at least a portion of the length of the horizontal well bore. An injection tubing string having a sidewall defining a tubing bore is injected into the horizontal well bore. The tubing string is provided with ports having a selected distribution and geometry. The annulus geometry is selectively controlled along the length of the tubing string through at least one of axial distribution of eccentricity and flow area of the annulus, so as to provide selected flow restriction characteristics along the annulus, such that when injection fluid is pumped into the tubing, a resulting flow resistance network is formed by the tubing bore, the ports, the annulus and the formation, resulting in a desired distribution of the fluid into the formation.
US08196655B2
Selective placement of conformance treatments in multi-zone well completions. A method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into a zone and optimizing a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid produced from the zone, including adjusting at least one flow control device between fully open and fully closed configurations. Another method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into multiple zones, one at a time, via respective flow control devices, and then producing fluid from each of the zones. Another method includes identifying which of the zones to treat by, for each of the zones: a) closing flow control devices corresponding to the other zones, and b) evaluating fluid produced from the zone; and injecting a conformance treatment into the zones identified as the zones to treat.
US08196644B1
A heat exchanger comprising a large number of flexible individual elements, has supply and discharge devices for the heat exchanger media and also has, for these elements, tension devices which expand during heating. The tensioning of the individual elements, which are adhesively bonded at each of their two ends into slots of end plates, takes place by the application of the required forces to the end plates. A heat exchanger of this type is illustrated in FIG. 1.
US08196639B2
A modular panel assembly that allows for rapid and relatively simple installation, while also providing flexibility for easy adaptation to any of a variety of constructions types. In some embodiments, the modular panel assembly involves panels which are prefabricated with panel connectors. Additionally, in some embodiments, the assembly involves two panel types that are substantially similar in their outward appearance, but differ internally so as to enable each of straight and non-straight surfaces for a structure being built.
US08196638B2
The present invention relates generally to barriers for architectural openings, in particular to a screen apparatus and method for screening off an architectural opening. The screen apparatus includes an elongated overhead frame member, a transverse fixed side frame member, a displaceable side frame member, and an elongated articulated bottom frame member. A screen member extends between the frame members, the screen member being interchangeable between a collapsed condition when the screen is open and an extended condition when the screen is closed by movement of the displaceable side frame member.
US08196626B2
A tire includes a tread profile and a plurality of ribs extending across the tread profile. Each rib includes a first portion and a second portion on two sides of the center axis of the tread profile. The first portion includes a first section which has a constant height. The length of the first section is “L1”. A first shoulder is connected between the first section and the outer side of the tire by a first radius. “R1”. The second portion includes a second section which has the same constant height as the first section. The length of the second section is “L2”. A second shoulder is connected between the second section and the inner side of the tire by a second radius “R1”. A ratio of the “L1” to the “L2” is 1.1 to 1.4, and a ratio of the “R1” to “R2” is 0.5 to 0.9.
US08196617B2
A vapor recovery system for recovering fuel vapor from a vehicle tank during dispensing of fuel into the vehicle tank. The vapor recovery system comprises a vapor recovery line for transporting fuel vapor, and detecting device for detecting a fuel vapor flow. The detecting device comprises a housing having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet, a body movably arranged in the housing, and a sensor arranged to detect a location of the body within the housing. The body is configured to move from a first position in the housing to a second position in the housing in dependence of a rate of fuel vapor flow flowing from the vapor inlet to the vapor outlet.
US08196614B2
The invention is a method that allows contamination-free transfer of a liquid from one container to another and devices including embodiments of a transfer apparatus and adaptors that are used to carry out the method. By contamination-free transfer of liquid it is meant that during the transfer process there is no leakage of the liquid or air contaminated by the liquid or vapors of the liquid to the surroundings and also that no contaminants from the surroundings come into contact with the liquid. The main advantages of the method, in addition to its simplicity, is that at no stage of the transfer procedure is there leakage of the liquid or air contaminated by the liquid or vapors of the liquid to the surroundings and also that no contaminants from the surroundings come into contact with the liquid. The present invention is particularly directed towards providing an apparatus that is adapted to effect contamination-free transfer of a hazardous drug to and from any container equipped with a standard connector port.
US08196613B2
A papermaker's fabric includes a series of repeat units. Each of the repeat units includes: a set of top machine direction (MD) yarns; a set of top cross-machine direction (CMD) yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns to form a top fabric layer; a set of bottom MD yarns; and a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns to form a bottom fabric layer. Each bottom MD yarn passes over a top CMD yarn that its immediate neighboring top MD yarn passes under. The top MD yarns, the top CMD yarns, and the bottom MD yarns interweave to form a twill papermaking surface on the top fabric layer.
US08196610B2
In a cooling system, a variable orifice controls the flow of cooling fluid through a cooling fluid flow path. The variable orifice includes an adjustable diaphragm shutter through which the cooling fluid flows. Upon manipulation of the adjustable diaphragm shutter, a diameter of an opening of the adjustable diaphragm shutter is adjusted to control the flow of the cooling fluid.
US08196600B1
Wear-resistant coating systems suitable for protecting surfaces subjected to contact wear at high temperatures, such as surfaces of an assembly comprising high-temperature components of gas turbine engines. The components have surfaces in wear contact with each other. One of the surfaces has a wear-resistant coating system thereon so as to be in wear contact with the surface of the other component. The wear-resistant coating system contains alternating layers of TiAlN and CrN.
US08196598B2
Submarine actuator for the actuation of a submarine device comprises a container body (2), from which a drive shaft (4) projects that is suitable for inserting in a seat of said submarine device, which through its rotation actuates said submarine device. Said shaft is moved by an electric motor (21, 22) arranged inside said container body and actuated by an electric control signal generated by a remote station.
US08196594B2
Provided are an apparatus for and a method of removing foreign materials from a substrate which reliably remove the foreign materials, eliminate a chance of redeposition of the foreign materials, and are applicable even to large-size substrates. The apparatus for removing foreign materials includes electrostatic chucks (2, 3) forming a substrate chucking surface (4) to which the substrate (1) is attracted; a resin sheet supplying means (9) for supplying a resin sheet (5) to the substrate chucking surface (4); resin sheet collecting means (13) for collecting the supplied resin sheet (5); and a substrate transfer means for transferring the substrate (1). The substrate (1) supplied to the electrostatic chucks (2, 3) by the substrate transfer means is attracted to the substrate chucking surface (4) through the resin sheet (5), and a foreign material (22) deposited on a side of the substrate chucking surface (4) of the substrate (1) is transferred onto the resin sheet (5) and removed.
US08196590B2
A method of navigating a medical device in an operating region in a subject. The method includes applying a magnetic field to the operating region and changing the magnetic moment of the medical device by selectively changing a physical condition of at least one magnet element in the medical device to change the orientation of the device with respect to the applied magnetic field.
US08196583B2
A patient interface assembly that includes a patient interface device having a first fastening element and a second fastening element and a headgear for attaching the patient interface device to a head of a user. The headgear includes a headgear member having a first headgear attachment portion and a second headgear attachment portion, and an attaching mechanism coupling the first headgear attachment portion to the first fastening element and coupling the second headgear attachment portion to the second fastening element. One adjustment of the attaching mechanism controls a tension in the connection between both (i) the first headgear attachment portion and the first fastening element and (ii) the second headgear attachment portion and the second fastening element simultaneously.
US08196569B2
In a method for operating an internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation, air is supplied to at least one combustion chamber via an intake manifold at least partially closable with the aid of a final control element, and a part of the exhaust gases flowing into an exhaust pipe is conducted via an EGR channel, which is at least partially closable with the aid of an EGR valve unit, into an area of the intake manifold, which lies between the final control element and the combustion chamber. A first variable, which characterizes the mass flow of the gas conducted through the EGR channel, is ascertained from a set of state variables of the internal combustion engine, which apply for an operating state in which the engine is in overrun operation and the final control element is essentially closed.
US08196562B2
A throttle opening control device for a vehicle having an engine with an electronically controlled throttle valve and an accelerator operated by a rider is provided. The throttle opening control device includes an accelerator opening acquisition module for acquiring an opening of the accelerator, an engine rotation speed acquisition module for acquiring a rotation speed of the engine, and a throttle opening control module for controlling an opening of the throttle valve based on the opening of the accelerator and the rotation speed of the engine. The throttle opening control module is configured to limit the opening of the throttle valve when the rotation speed of the engine is lower than a pre-determined idle rotation speed to prevent reverse rotation of the engine.
US08196560B2
Internal combustion engine of spark-ignition direct-injection type and fuel injecting method thereof
A multi-hole injector directly injects fuel into a combustion chamber. Intake air is introduced into the combustion chamber through intake ports to provide tumble flow in the combustion chamber. A cavity is formed in a part of the top surface of a piston which is eccentric to the exhaust side. In the intake stroke, fuel injection ends in a downstroke of a piston. When the crank angle is 100 degrees after the top dead center in the intake stroke at which the fuel injection ends, a most downward lower spray collides with a part of the top surface of the piston which ranges on the intake side from the edge on the exhaust side of the cavity. A most upward upper spray does not come into contact with a spark plug. Thus, the fuel injection can enhance the tumble flow to promote homogeneous dispersion of fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber.
US08196552B2
A system to reduce standby losses in a hot water heater is presented. The system utilizes a safety relay valve between the combination gas controller and the burner. The safety relay valve bypasses gas to a damper actuator valve to position a flapper valve located over the flue pipe. Once the flapper valve has opened to ensure combustion, the gas is allowed to flow back to the safety relay valve. Some of the bypass gas may be diverted to boost the pilot or to supply a booster. The safety relay valve is then opened to allow the gas supply to the burner. Once the burner is turned off by the combination gas controller, the small amount of bypass gas bleeds out of the damper actuator valve to close the flapper valve to reduce standby losses through the flue pipe, and to allow the safety relay valve to close tightly.
US08196547B2
An animal potty chair, particularly for a dog or cat, is to be used indoor and/or outdoor to aid civilization of domestic animals and to improve quality of life for millions of families with animals. The animal potty chair comprising: (1) a defined space with a surrounding wall-like structure with a one-way entry and one-way exit mean for an animal to release waste to a designated area without leakage to the outside of the top part of the potty chair; (2) a downwards operable mesh surface of the potty chair for an animal to stand on safely and to release waste within a protective space; (3) a fitting-sealing-fixing adaptor between the potty chair and a toilet, which is to fix the potty chair onto the toilet and to prevent leakage of the animal waste; (4) an easy cleaning container for holding animal waste, and (5) a signal system comprising a trigger mean to open the mesh and to flush the toilet by an animal with its body weight. The method on how to use the animal potty chair is also presented. The current invention helps to cause a revolutionary transformation of a pet from an accident-causing animal to a civilized non-human member of the family. The smell of the animal waste is reduced dramatically after the animal gets acquainted with using the current invention of an animal potty chair.
US08196541B2
A personal support system for persons in the cockpit of a nautical vessel is disclosed. The system includes a personal support device that releasably engages a nautical winch located near the cockpit to provide support or securing for the back or other parts of the body of a person seated, standing, or otherwise located in the cockpit. The system also includes a winch-substitute device that attaches to the vessel and releasably engages the personal support device, allowing use of the personal support device in locations in the cockpit that are not near a winch.
US08196531B2
Disclosed is a burner for oxidant gasification of pulverized fuels under high pressures, e.g. 80 bar, and temperatures, e.g. 1200 to 1900° C., in reactors with liquid slag removal for oxygen gasification. The individual pulverized coal supply tubes in the burner are inclined toward the burner axis in the direction of the burner mouth, are implemented equiareally from the burner inlet up to the burner outlet, and end at the burner mouth adjacent to the oxidant outlet. Owing to the pulverized fuel feeding elements being implemented right up to the burner mouth and the instantaneous entry of the pulverized coal into the rotating oxygen stream there is no longer any areal discontinuity at the dust outlet, since here the pulverized coal stream is immediately sucked into the oxidant stream. At the outlet of the media the individual pulverized coal streams merge into a single rotating pulverized coal/oxygen stream, thereby achieving an even flame spread and stabilization.
US08196527B2
A structurally reinforcing and three dimensional article, such as a pallet, having a structural insert of specified shape and size. A composite plasticized material is over-molded or otherwise applied upon the structural insert according to a selected thickness to encapsulate the insert. The pallets are stackable when not in use and may also include built in straps for securing cargo thereupon.
US08196524B2
A device has a pneumatic spring for supporting a load on a bogie of a rail vehicle and a compressed air supply which is pneumatically connected to the air spring via an air spring valve in order to vent and to fill the air spring with compressed air. A closed-loop control unit adjusts the air volume and/or the air pressure in the air spring. A compressed air line provides for the pneumatic connection between the compressed air supply, air spring, air spring valve and control unit. Unnecessary filling and venting of the air spring is prevented by way of a device for limiting the volume flow into the compressed air line in dependence on the speed of the rail vehicle.
US08196517B2
The invention relates to a span (2) for railway tracks with a self-supporting U-shaped structure (3), defining a section of the path for a piece of rolling stock (1), travelling on the railway track and at least one further element (6, 10, 11, 14) for the travel of the rolling stock (1) on the railway track and which can support, guide and/or supply the rolling stock (1). According to the invention, at least one (6) of the additional elements (6, 10, 11, 14) is directly integrated in the U-shaped element (3).
US08196513B1
The invention in one variation is a stand-off disrupter apparatus that includes a delivery vessel having an enlarged rounded front end with an apex and an elongate cylindrical section that in part serves to fit the apparatus onto the barrel of a shotgun. The shotgun provides propulsion. The apparatus has fins, a sighting system, a firing pin system that fires on impact, a shell loaded with shot housed in a shell chamber, and a layer of disruption medium sealed in a dish forward of the shell and set-back from the apex. The disruption medium is energized on impact by the shot from the shell and a force of the impact. The energized disruption medium can neutralize an improvised explosive device.
US08196511B2
Method for overprinting already printed packages includes preparing a raster or steel magnetic block which is provided with a clamping plate, wherein the block is engraved with the aid of a jet etching device and represents new texts or patterns which are applicable by tampon printing using specific inks on a located existing and already printed part of a box, drying, verifying and packing the box. The method is used for overprinting and includes masking an undesired area by printing a blanking pavement and afterwards by overprinting a desired text, instruction or a pattern thereon and uses an automatic line including a de-stacker (3) for automatically feeding boxes, at least one printing head (1), at least one drying tunnel (4) and at least one restacker (5).
US08196508B2
Described is a pitting machine, system and process that singularizes or individualizes fruit pieces, such as cherries, olives, dates and plums and that attempts to remove pits and pit material from each fruit piece. A conveyor comprises depressions, wells or receptacles for accepting fruit pieces for processing. The conveyor accepts fruit pieces into wells, passes the fruit pieces into a pitting area wherein the pitting machine removes pit material from the fruit pieces by a matrix of punching needles or pitting needles. The matrix moves in an oscillatory fashion in synchronization with generally continuous movement of the fruit pieces engaged in the conveyor. The singularization enables easier and better processing, sorting, and quality checking of fruit pieces. Quality checking may be done before and after pitting of fruit pieces. Quality checking may include desired color and size of each fruit piece. Quality checking virtually ensures successful or sufficient removal of pits and pit material. Any fruit piece that fails quality checking can be ejected or rejected from the conveyor.
US08196504B2
A tripod assembly having multiple interchangeable accessories for use in supporting a firearm or other device includes mounting couplers for releasably securing the assembly to an attachment point on a device to be supported, such as the forearm of a rifle, mounting brackets that are not affixed to the device to be supported, and threaded fasteners adapted for connection to standard threaded sockets for supporting devices such as cameras, spotting scopes and the like. The tripod assembly has a substantially planar, generally triangular tripod base including three sides terminating in, and defining, first, second and third vertices carrying respective first, second and third telescoping support legs.
US08196496B2
A screwdriver includes a locking member, a positioning member, a retaining member, and a rotatable member. The locking member defines a locking member hole therein. The positioning member is received in the locking member hole, and defines first and second positioning member holes. An angled surface is located between the first and second positioning member holes. The retaining member secures the positioning member to the locking member, and defines a retaining member hole to receive the positioning member. The rotatable member is received in the first positioning member hole, and slidable to abut the angled surface to slide the positioning member from a first position where the rotatable member is positioned in the first positioning member hole, to a second position where the rotatable member is positioned in the second positioning member hole so as to splay the second positioning member hole.
US08196494B2
A drive system cooperating with the drive mechanism of a ratchet wrench enables a user to use the wrench for its intended purpose and also spin the drive at high speed by pulling an endless belt. The belt is contained in a manner which causes structures on the belt to engage with exposed gear teeth of the ratchet wrench or an attachment. The containment structure provides for proper alignment and positioning of the belt to allow for the desired engagement with the drive teeth even after the user releases grip from the belt. The containment structure further allows an opposite end of the belt to hang loose and thus be easily accessible by a user. The drive system can be used on a socket ratchet without exposed teeth by adding gear teeth to a ratchet drive member or socket either permanently, as an added part or as an extension to the socket ratchet or socket.
US08196493B2
A method for manufacturing a combination wrench includes pressing a wrench material piece in a sealed mold at a temperature without generating carbon scale to form a semifinished product including first and second driving ends and a handle interconnected between the first and second driving ends. The first and second driving ends of the wrench semifinished product are processed to form a combination wrench having a box end and an open end. The wrench material piece can be obtained by shearing a material plate.
US08196490B2
The present invention provides a dial knob pivotably mounted and a hydraulic device for operating an inhibitor switch of an automatic transmission by creating hydraulic pressure using rotational motion of the dial knob, in order to provide a shift operating device for an automatic transmission that makes it possible to reduce manufacturing cost by having a simple structure and facilitate setting a layout by reducing a space for motion of shift knob, and makes it easy for a driver to shift by turning the shift knob with a hand to reduce the driver's tiredness and improve commercial value.
US08196487B2
A progressive gear assembly that is a vehicle steering gear, the assembly comprising at least one spur gear (1, 2) and a toothed structure (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) with which the spur gear (1, 2) meshes. The spur gear (1, 2) has teeth (11) arranged along a curve (10), the curve (10) comprising a radius of curvature (r) which monotonically rises over an angular range of more than 90° of the curve (10). Preferably the curve is a spiral, particularly a logarithmic spiral. This gear assembly is configured compact and simple, features smooth running and achieves a late end point.
US08196479B2
A portable multi-tube air sampler device for capturing samples of trace elements in a suspected contaminated environment which includes a plurality of sample tubes for collecting sample trace elements, parallel inlet and outlet manifolds which minimize the length of the sample inlet path while utilizing short straight sample tubes, a hinged retainer bar mechanism which allows for easy removal and replacement of the various sample tubes, and a removably attachable controller unit which can be installed on the exterior portion of the carrying case for controlling the operation of the sampling protocol. Other embodiments include heated inlet manifold and sample intake paths to prevent contamination accumulation and carryover, a clean cycle option with a filter valved into the inlet flow path to enhance the purging cycle, and a mechanism for converting the present device to a desorbing auto sampler configuration. The present system likewise incorporates a purging cycle prior to each sampling cycle.
US08196467B2
In a method of detecting an angular velocity VΩ of an angular velocity sensor including a vibrating body, a monitoring signal Vm(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a first direction and a sensing signal Vs(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a second direction crossing the first direction are detected. A difference in time between a first feature point where the monitoring signal Vm(t) crosses a first reference level and a second feature point where the sensing signal Vs(t) crosses a second reference level is set as Δt, a sensing direct-current voltage corresponding to an amplitude of the sensing signal Vs(t) is set as Vsd, a driving frequency is set as fd, and the angular velocity VΩ is calculated from formula of VΩ=Vsd×sin(2·π·fd·ΔT).
US08196465B2
An apparatus for ascertaining and monitoring the fill level of a medium in a container by means of a travel-time measuring method. The apparatus includes: A coupling unit for coupling measurement signals onto/from at least one conductive, first element extending into the container; a first securement element provided in the region of the coupling unit for securing the apparatus at the container; and a control/evaluation unit for ascertaining a fill-level measurement signal. The apparatus has a high transfer quality, while, at the same time, being mechanically and chemically stable.
US08196460B2
In relation to a jump (SP_J_LR) from a lean air-to-fuel ratio to a richer air-to-fuel ratio, a measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe is detected after a predetermined lean-to-rich delay (t_R) as a lean-to-rich signal value (SV_LR) and is placed in relation to a lean-to-reference signal value (L_REF). In relation to a jump (SP_J_RL) from a richer air-to-fuel ratio to a leaner air-to-fuel ratio, the procedure is performed equivalently. Depending on the lean-to-rich and lean-to-rich signal value put in relation, either an asymmetrically aged or non-asymmetrically aged exhaust gas probe is detected.
US08196443B2
A method corrects a head suspension by irradiating an objective part of the head suspension with a laser beam. The method is capable of precisely correcting the head suspension even when correcting the head suspension a plurality of times.The method removes residual stress created by the preceding correction from the head suspension, and then, carries out the next correction. Accordingly, the method can precisely correct the objective part of the head suspension with a laser beam even if the objective part has once been irradiated with a laser beam in the preceding correction.
US08196439B2
A washing machine is disclosed. A laundry machine includes a drum rotatably provided in a cabinet, a substance supply device to generate water based substance and to supply the water based substance to the drum, a water supply source to supply water to the substance supply device, a pump positioned between the substance supply device and the water supply source, a connection unit to connect the pump with the water supply source, and a supporting module to support the water supply source, the pump and the substance supply device. The connection unit is configured of a coupling member having both opposite ends connected with the water supply source and the pump, respectively, the connection unit formed at a predetermined portion of the supporting module.
US08196436B2
Provided are a manufacturing method of an optical fiber base material and an optical fiber base material manufactured in the manufacturing method, the manufacturing method including: a process of combining at least two core base materials 70 by fusion-bonding to produce a single core base material; a process of fusion-bonding a pair of dummy glass rods 61 and 62 at both ends of the core base material 70 to produce a starting glass rod; a process of depositing, at an outer surface of the starting glass rod, glass particles generated by flame hydrolysis, to produce a porous base material 80; and a process of sintering and vitrifying, into transparent glass, the porous base material 80, to produce an optical fiber base material 310 that includes a core portion and a clad portion.
US08196410B2
A fuel nozzle sheath has a lateral opening for admitting air about a nozzle stern. The stress distribution along the perimeter of the window is smoothed out by increasing the corner radius of the window corner presenting the highest stress concentration. The different corner radii of the window opening in the sheath allows to reduce stresses resulting from the load transferred from the combustor liner to the sheath.
US08196405B2
An energy storage system is provided which includes an electrolyser a hydrogen gas storage and a power plant. The electrolyser is connected to the hydrogen gas storage and the hydrogen gas storage is connected to the power plant. Furthermore, a method for storing and supplying energy is provided which includes delivering electrical energy to an electrolyser; decomposing water into oxygen and hydrogen gas by means of the electrolyser; storing the hydrogen gas; supplying the stored hydrogen gas to a power plant; and producing electrical energy via of the power plant.
US08196398B2
A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
US08196394B2
An exhaust purification apparatus for an engine comprises an upstream casing that has a cylindrical shape and accommodates a particulate filter; an exhaust gas outlet that is formed in a side wall of the upstream casing and discharges the exhaust gas that has passed through the particulate filter; a urea-water injector that is fixed to the upstream casing located in a position opposite to the exhaust gas outlet and injects urea-water toward the exhaust gas outlet; and a downstream casing that accommodates an ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst into which the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust gas outlet flows.
US08196383B2
The invention relates to a device for stripping leaves from heading plants grown in rows. The device, which is movable in a direction of movement, comprises at least two rotary shafts, on which leaf strippers extending substantially transversely to the shafts are provided. The shafts extend substantially in the direction of movement of the device, such that leaves that grow under a head are removable from a stalk of a plant, in particular broccoli and cauliflower, between the shafts by the leaf strippers. The shafts, which lie in a virtual plane, include an angle between each other, such that front ends of the shafts are spaced further apart than rear ends of the shafts. The leaf strippers are finger-like projections, and the finger-like projections located near the front ends of the shafts are longer than the finger-like projections located near the rear ends of the shafts.
US08196365B2
A construction of an upright panel unit adapted for use in a wall with the panel units abutting end to end in which a pair of spaced facing sheet members on either side of the panel unit have vertical edge portions joined at each end of the panel unit by being sandwiched between an inner bracket member and an outer bracket member, with the outer bracket member having male and female arms engageable and disengageable with an outer bracket member of the end of an adjacent panel unit merely by respective movement of the panel units longitudinally relative to each other.
US08196364B2
Described herein is a drywall apparatus for constructing planar partitions and corners. The drywall apparatus includes a first drywall panel, a second drywall panel and a pliable hinge connecting the first drywall panel to the second drywall panel. The hinge allows the first drywall panel and the second drywall panel to assume a range of angles therebetween to thereby enable the apparatus to be used for constructing planar partitions and corners. A flap extending from an edge of the drywall panel can also be included. The flap is designed to overlap a surface of an adjacent drywall panel abutted against the edge of the drywall panel and designed to affix the panel to a stud or other supporting member.
US08196350B2
A window regulator assembly is described that comprises a window bracket that is in contact with the bottom edge of the window; a cable; a carrier plate that is in contact with the window bracket and both ends of the cable; a tension spring located on each end of the cable; an upper bracket assembly; a drum housing having a cable drum; a hollow conduit located between the upper bracket assembly and the drum housing; and a drive unit. The upper bracket assembly, cable drum, and conduit are capable of slideably receiving the cable, while the tension springs provide a predetermined amount of tension to the cable in order for the window regulator assembly to move the window between open and closed positions. Many of the components of the window regulator assembly may be formed from a thermoplastic material.
US08196345B1
A delivery system for delivering condensed water obtained from a condensate disposal tube of an air conditioning system to a garden or lawn, the system features a main tube for fluidly connecting to the condensate disposal tube of the air conditioning system, the second end of the main tube is closed; a plurality of secondary tubes fluidly branching from the main tube; and a spike component fluidly attached on the second end of each secondary tube, the spike component has a pointed end for allowing a user to easily drive the spike component into the garden or lawn, the spike component comprises a valve system that can move between an open position and a closed, position to respectively allow and prevent the condensed water from exiting the spike component and flowing into the garden or lawn.
US08196343B1
An annular live floral holder in combination with an elongated candlestick is provided. The candlestick in includes a base, an elongated support, a tubular candle holder and a flat-circular or dish-shaped member in coaxial alignment with the candle holder. The annular live floral holder is removably seated on the flat-circular of dish-shaped member. The floral holder has a central opening that permits a candle to pass through it. A circular water-retaining trough is formed on the floral holder. At least on water retaining foam member is arranged within the water retaining trough. Live cut floral members having stalks embedded in and supported by the at least one foam member. A foam member retaining apparatus is included for securing the at least one foam member within the water-retaining trough. Preferably, the floral holder also includes a wax dripping containment portion formed on the outside of the inner wall of the trough.
US08196337B2
An apparatus for attracting fish including a fin that imparts motion to the tackle when the tackle is deployed and moves relative to water. A weighted body having a cabochon shape includes a fin member that extends past the body. The fin member includes an attachment portion and a fin that has a non-planar configuration. The attachment portion is secured to a flat surface of the body. In one embodiment the fin extends forward and forms an obtuse angle relative to the attachment portion. In another embodiment the fin has two members disposed laterally on opposite sides of the body. The fins are blades that cause the body to spin or rotate when moved relative to the water. In yet another embodiment the fin extends forward and aft relative to the body, and the fin has openings for connecting lines and hooks, thereby replacing the eyelet of other embodiments.
US08196336B2
An accessory for fishing lures of the type including strands of material camouflaging a hook is characterized by a disk formed of flexible material having a flat surface on one side and a tapered surface on the other side. The disk is positioned on the hook of the lure adjacent to a tying collar and extends the profile of the strands of material to provide a more realistic appearance of baitfish for the lure. With the flat surface of the disk adjacent to the tying collar of the lure, the profile of the strands is extended farther than when the disk is oriented with the tapered surface adjacent to the tying collar of the lure.
US08196318B2
A shoe comprising: an assembly of a shoe upper and sole unit for supporting a foot, the assembly defining a foot compartment that orients a foot in an objective (desired) tri-planar alignment to affect three areas of the foot anatomy simultaneously: (1) the sustentaculum tali; (2) the lateral calcaneus; and (3) the fifth metatarsal ray of the foot. In certain embodiments the shoe compartment is configured to correct an adverse internal rotation of the talus by: (1) vertical lift on the ST; (2) varus movement of the calcaneus; and (3) fifth ray pressure to adduct the forefoot.
US08196313B2
A method for controlling a dryer includes the steps of sensing an amount of laundry in the dryer, setting a primary drying time period T1 of the dryer with reference to the amount of laundry sensed thus, setting a secondary drying time period T2 in the middle of drying according to the primary drying time period set thus, and drying the laundry according to the secondary drying time period T2 set thus, whereby permitting setting of a more accurate drying time period because the drying time period of the dryer is set two times.
US08196311B2
A system for removing water from sludge is disclosed. The system (100) includes: de-watering (102) sludge comprising an output from a wastewater treatment system to form a semi-solid sludge cake; dispensing (104) the sludge in a sludge hopper and dispensing a blending material in a recipient blending material hopper; depositing (106) the sludge and the blending material in a mixing device; mixing (108) the sludge and the blending material having a porous structure in a weight ratio of the sludge to the blending material of about from 2:1 to about 10:1; and compressing (110) the sludge and the blending material to release moisture. The system (100) provides an improved method of de-watering sludge, for more efficient processing, transporting and recycling, depending on the application.
