US08279522B2
A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.
US08279521B2
The present invention is low cost, does not exert a negative influence on the surroundings, has a small group-velocity delay dispersion, efficiently blocks reflected return light such that the laser light does not return to the laser light source, and allows properly polarized laser light to enter a polarization-dependent element in a subsequent stage. An optical device is provided which includes a laser light source, an optical system that transmits laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a polarization-dependent element into which the laser light transmitted by the optical system enters. The characteristics of outgoing light are changed according to a polarization state of the incident light. The optical system includes a reflected-light generator that reflects a part of the transmitted laser light, and λ/4 wave plates are disposed such that the reflected-light generator is disposed therebetween.
US08279505B2
A print controller controlling a print process in which black ink having permeability to a recording medium and a plurality of kinds of chromatic color ink having permeability to the recording medium different from the permeability of the black ink are used to form an image on the recording medium. The subject pixel setting unit sets, as a subject pixel, one pixel that satisfies conditions that the pixel is a black pixel and that peripheral pixels that are located adjacent to the pixel and that surround the pixel include at least one chromatic pixel. The reducing unit reduces a black component value of the subject pixel to a reduced black component value. The increasing unit increases chromatic component values of the subject pixel to increased chromatic component values. The print executing unit executes the print based on the reduced black component value and the increased chromatic component values of the subject pixel.
US08279504B2
Pieces of reading frequency information representing the use frequencies of first and second reading units are acquired. Read color information of a color on a document that is read by the first or second reading unit is acquired. Based on the acquired pieces of reading frequency information and the acquired read color information, one of the first and second reading units is decided as a reference reading unit serving as a reference when performing correction to make the reading characteristics of the first and second reading units relatively coincide with each other.
US08279500B2
Two images are stitched together through minimization of a cost function that consists of registration errors from image data of the two images, as well as the estimated errors from a set of sensors. The weight function in the cost function is derived from the confidence value of sensor estimation that considers the sensor errors including lift and off page as well as a measure of accuracy of the sensor readings. Weights are used to adjust image registration accuracy against sensor accuracy to produce a set of registration parameters that would best stitch the two images together. In order to handle large errors for initial registration parameters and to avoid local minima in the minimization process, the image pair may be registered in a lower resolution and then refined in a higher resolution.
US08279499B2
Various embodiments provide illuminators and related scanner illuminating systems, wherein the illuminators can include a light source having one or more LEDs coupled to a plurality of light guides through one or more light splitters such that light emitted from the light source can be split into each of the plurality of light guides.
US08279495B2
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus casing installing an image formation section, an upper cover member that swingably covers and uncovers the apparatus casing, and an image reading unit supported by the apparatus casing via the upper cover member. A lock device is provided to maintain the upper cover member in a closed state. An unlock device is provided to unlock the lock device. An unlock operation section is displaced by an operator and activates the unlock device to operate when the lock device is unlocked. An unlock operation invalidating mechanism is provided to invalidate an unlock operation executed through the operation section by interrupting transmission of the displacement of the operation section to the lock device when unlock is prohibited.
US08279493B2
Image processing method, program thereof, image processing apparatus, and inkjet recording apparatus
An image processing method is disclosed. A printer driver is a program for performing the method. The printer driver forms print image data that are printed by an inkjet recording apparatus capable of forming multi-level dots by ejecting droplets of recording liquid. The printer driver transforms image data of a manuscript into manuscript image data corresponding to the multi-level dots capable of being output from the inkjet recording apparatus by applying an image process such as a CMM process, a BG/UCR/γ correction process, and a gradation process to the image data of the manuscript; further, forms the print image data corresponding to the multi-level dots capable of being output from the inkjet recording apparatus by combining the manuscript image data with data corresponding to the multi-level dots of an image pattern indicating that the manuscript is prohibited from being duplicated by a manuscript and tint block pattern combining section.
US08279492B2
An image processing device includes an image quality determining unit that determines whether data of an original image meets a particular criterion of a particular image quality category, a thumbnail list image data generating unit that generates image data of a thumbnail list, and a mark adding unit that adds particular indicator mark image data to the thumbnail list image data when it is determined that the original image data does not meet the particular criterion. The particular indicator mark image data corresponds to a particular indicator mark positioned in the thumbnail list at a position corresponding to the thumbnail of the original image. The particular indicator mark indicates a result of the determination made by the image quality determining unit. An output unit outputs the thumbnail list based on the thumbnail list image data.
US08279485B2
There is described a regulating system for register adjustment in a printing press which has at least one printing unit, wherein the regulating system has at least one register regulator. In the regulating system, a pilot control variable and/or a register error estimated variable are/is provided for influencing the register adjustment. A drive bus is advantageously used for transferring these variables between different printing units, wherein the register regulation is advantageously distributed in a decentralized manner among different regulating devices for carrying out the drive regulation.
US08279484B2
A multi-function machine is provided. The multi-function machine includes a scanning module for scanning in a document and generating a corresponding image. The multi-function machine also includes one or more processors operatively connected to a user interface module executable by a user and a service log module having a set of programmable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for receiving an image corresponding to a scanned in service log form having service log information. Additionally, a service log record with service log information from the scanned in image is included.
US08279483B2
An image processing device that outputs a raster image to an image forming unit that forms an image at a first resolution based on the raster image, generates a raster image at a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution; inspects pixels of the generated raster image having the second resolution, and if there is a pixel group including a pixel and pixels surrounding the pixel that has a layout pattern identical to a predetermined layout pattern, replaces the pixel with a predetermined raster image having the first resolution; inspects pixels of the raster image having the first resolution, and if there is a pixel group including a pixel and pixels surrounding the pixel that satisfies a predetermined condition, replaces the pixel with a pixel of a different color; and outputs the raster image having the first resolution subjected to line-thinning to the image forming unit.
US08279479B2
A network scanner, communication protocols, and client and server programs and are provided which provide an improved way to transmit legally binding documents, obviating the need for outmoded, legacy fax transmissions. Using the network scanner, a document may be scanned and transferred directly into any shared folder inbox residing on any computer attached to the Internet. Enhanced server systems and network communications and messaging protocols are provided that are more practical to use than email for sending documents such as executed legal documents or other documents requiring robust integrity and authenticatability. Similarly, the inventive network scanner, server systems and communication protocols provide improved ways to perform large file transfers and to manage bandwidth to minimize problems associated with uploading/downloading large files as attachments to/from email servers and for enabling user control over VoIP quality during file transmission sessions.
US08279477B2
A print management system and method for optimizing cost associated with one or more rendering devices (e.g., printers) in a customer environment. A service cost associated with a rendering device can be included in the print management system so that end-users can have the option to perform rendering at a lower service cost rendering device when rendering a complex print document. The service cost and the rendered volume can be recorded by an asset management unit and a helpdesk unit. A real time feedback related to an alternate rendering device can be provided so that the end-user can cancel the current print job and resubmit the print document at the lower cost, comparable, reliable rendering device. Also, automatic job redirection can also be provided by automatically redirecting the rendering job to the lower cost reliable rendering device based on end-user approval or pre-approval.
US08279457B2
Provided are a method, system, and program generating user defined marking settings to print marks to control post-processing devices. A user interface is generated to enable user input to define at least one marking setting comprising a name of the marking setting, a dimension of a marking, and a location of the marking on the print medium. Marking settings control a printer to output markings on a print medium. The outputted markings on the print medium control at least one post processor device to perform post processing operations on the print medium. User input is received from the user interface defining at least one marking setting. The user defined at least one marking setting is stored with an existing set of marking settings to control the printer.
US08279447B2
Disclosed is a method for measuring a thickness of a subjecting layer attached on a base layer by means of an interferometer, which includes the steps of: obtaining a correlation equation of a phase difference with respect to thicknesses of sample layers, the thicknesses being different from each other, the sample layers being made from a material substantially equal to a material of the subjecting layer; obtaining a first interference signal with respect to an optical axial direction incident to the base layer at a boundary surface between an air layer and the base layer; obtaining a second interference signal with respect to the optical axial direction at a boundary surface between the subjecting layer and the base layer; obtaining a phase difference between a phase of the first interference signal and a phase of the second interference signal at respective heights substantially equal to each other with respect to the optical axial direction; and determining a thickness of the subjecting layer by inserting the phase difference into the correlation equation.
US08279445B2
A planar optical waveguide interferometer includes a substrate, a bimodal waveguide having at least one layer deposited on the substrate, and a sensor plate located in a selected area of the upper side of the bimodal waveguide. The bimodal waveguide supports a zero-order and a first-order transverse propagating modes where the transverse propagating modes has different dispersion. The bimodal waveguide is designed for confining light in lateral direction and thus is designed for supporting one lateral mode. The sensor plate is designed for receiving a chemical, biological or physical stimulus. The stimulus changes the effective refractive index of said bimodal waveguide. Chip, sensor and sensing method utilize a planar optical waveguide interferometer are provided.
US08279435B2
Metal-polyaniline (PANI) composites are provided together with a process of preparing such composites by an electrodeless process. The metal of the composite can have nanoscale structural features and the composites can be used in applications such as catalysis for hydrogenation reactions and for analytical detection methods employing SERS.
US08279433B2
A haemolysator having a sonotrode plate and oscillation generating elements acting thereupon, wherein the oscillation generating elements are set into mechanical oscillations by an electrical AC-signal generator. The haemolysater also includes a sample chamber to which the sonotrode plate transmits mechanical oscillations, and has oscillation generating elements that are excitable toward mechanical oscillations in a wide frequency band.
US08279432B2
The present invention is to lessen work burden on a user, to eliminate determination error, to prevent a substrate from being damaged, and to prevent prolonged working time by automatically determining whether or not a particle to be removed is present. A particle inspection and removal apparatus of the present invention includes a particle information acquisition section acquiring particle information on a particle adhering onto a substrate surface, a particle removal section removing the particle adhering onto the substrate surface, a comparison section comparing a threshold set for each of regions of the substrate surface with the particle information on each of the region obtained by the particle information acquisition section, and a particle removal control section controlling the particle removal section to remove the particle on the substrate surface based on a comparison result of the comparison section.
US08279430B2
A measuring system includes a laser tracker (10), a target point marked by a reflector (12), a surveying apparatus (13), and an arithmetic and control unit (14). The laser tracker emits a measuring beam (M) which is reflected by the reflector, a process that is used for determining the distance between the laser tracker (10) and the reflector (12). The surveying apparatus has a known position and orientation relative to the measuring beam (M) while preferably being embodied as a survey camera. The inventive measuring system is designed so as to track the reflector (12) via the measuring beam (M). In a normal tracking mode (A), a measured value for controlling the orientation of the measuring beam (M) is derived from the detection of the measuring beam reflected by the reflector (12).
US08279424B2
A Doppler velocimeter apparatus that may have a coherent light source for generating a beam of coherent light. A modulating subsystem may receive and modulate at least a first portion of the beam of coherent light to form a first beam portion, the first beam portion forming a frequency offset and being a modulated, coherent optical signal. An optical element may receive the first beam portion and direct the first beam portion at a subject, the first beam portion being reflected from the subject to form a reflected beam that has a frequency that is modified in relation to the motion of the subject. A processing subsystem may receive a second portion of the beam of coherent light, and also the reflected beam, and uses the second beam portion and the reflected beam to determine a Doppler shift of the reflected beam.
US08279423B2
A system for computation of wind velocity including a laser adapted to transmit a beam to a target, a collecting lens for receiving a beam returning from the target, and receiver optics comprising a multi-element detector array at a focal plane of the collecting lens, wherein for each element of the multi-element detector array there is a specific optical path in the atmosphere leading from the laser to the target and back from the target to the element; and processor apparatus operative to measure signal fluctuations of an element of the multi-element detector array, and compute therefrom crosswind velocity of wind in the atmosphere, wherein said processor apparatus is operative to calculate turbulence strength changes and wind profiles.
US08279408B2
An object support positioning device configured to position an object support includes first and second side-beams having respective first and second sliders mounted thereon, first and second motors configured to move the first and second sliders along each respective side beam, a cross beam mounted proximate first and second ends thereof to the first and second sliders respectively and having a third slider mounted thereto, the cross-beam and the first and second slider being mounted together, and a third motor configured to move the third slider longitudinally along the cross-beam, the third slider being adapted to support the one object support. A fluid bearing is provided in at least one of the first, second and third sliders, the fluid bearing including multiple bearing surfaces to exert reaction forces in a first direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the sliding direction of the at least one slider.
US08279393B2
As shown in the figures, the main surface of the first substrate and the main surface of the second substrate are bent in the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, where a sealing material is provided outside the display region and has a protrusion formed in at least one corner of the display region, and the distance between the side of the display region facing the protrusion and the sealing material is greater than the distance between the portion of the side and the sealing material where there is no protrusion.
US08279392B2
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel formed by enclosing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal display device having the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display panel can be easily connected to a circuit board. The liquid crystal display panel includes a scan electrode substrate having a plurality of scan electrodes formed like strips extending in parallel, a data electrode substrate having a plurality of data electrodes formed like strips extending in parallel, and a plurality of connection terminals formed at one edge of the scan electrode substrate to provide electrical connection with the data electrodes.
US08279391B2
A liquid crystal display device which can be manufactured at a low cost is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate, a CF substrate of a size smaller than a size of the TFT substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. A ground pad is formed on a portion of the TFT substrate where the CF substrate does not overlap with the TFT substrate. A transparent conductive film is formed on an upper surface of the CF substrate. The transparent conductive film of the CF substrate and the ground pad formed on the TFT substrate are electrically connected with each other via a thermocompression bonding conductive tape. A double-sided adhesive tape is arranged between the thermocompression bonding conductive tape and an upper surface of the CF substrate and between the thermocompression bonding conductive tape and the TFT substrate.
US08279384B2
A substrate for a display panel includes a transparent electrode layer and an alignment layer. The transparent electrode layer is disposed on an insulating substrate, the transparent electrode layer being electrically floated. The alignment layer is disposed on the insulating substrate on which the transparent electrode layer is formed, and the alignment layer having a pre-tilt angle tilted about 85° to about 90° form the insulating substrate.
US08279368B2
A lighting device 12 for a display device of the present invention includes linear light sources 17 arranged in parallel, connectors 21 for feeding power to the linear light sources 17 and a chassis 14 for housing the linear light sources 17. The chassis 14 has fixing holes 30 for fixing the connectors 21. Each of the fixing holes 30 is formed in a longitudinal shape with its longitudinal direction along the parallel direction of the linear light sources 17. Each of the connectors 21 has a stopper 25 to be fitted in the chassis 14. When the stopper 25 is fitted in the fixing hole 30, the connector 21 is positioned and fitted in the fixing hole 30. The connectors 21 are fixable in a plurality of locations along the longitudinal direction of the fixing hole 30.
US08279366B2
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display and a lower substrate thereof are disclosed. The voltage provided by coupling electrode lines is swung between a high voltage level and a low voltage level. Therefore, with different coupling of a large pixel electrode and of a small pixel electrode that both receive the same color displaying data, the voltage on the large pixel electrode is different from that on the small pixel electrode. The tilt angle of the liquid crystal between the large pixel electrode and the upper electrode is different from the tilt angle of the liquid crystal between the small pixel electrode and the upper electrode for compensating the gamma value of the color. Besides, through adjusting the value of the voltage respectively on the coupling electrode lines to compensate the gamma values of different colors and the gamma values of different colors will tend to be uniform.
US08279365B2
An active device array substrate includes a substrate, scan lines disposed on the substrate, data lines intersected with the scan lines, scan signal transmission lines, and pixel units. The scan signal transmission lines are intersected with the scan lines. Each scan signal transmission line connects one scan line through a node. The pixel unit electrically connects the corresponding data line and the corresponding scan line and includes an active device and a pixel electrode. The active device has a gate, a source, and a drain. The pixel electrode electrically connects the drain. In the pixel units not adjacent to the nodes, a gate-to-drain capacitance of each active device is Cgd1. In the pixel units adjacent to the nodes, the gate-to-drain capacitances of some active devices are Cgd2, the gate-to-drain capacitances of the other active devices are Cgd1, and Cgd1≠Cgd2.
US08279355B2
In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus for receiving multiple channels from a broadcast source and interfacing to multiple demodulators within a common silicon implementation is disclosed. A receiver apparatus is disclosed that may aggregate multiple channels output by multiple tuners into at least one composite signal. The at least one composite signal may be passed to a single ADC. The channels may then be extracted from the at least one composite signal in the digital domain prior to demodulation in separate demodulators.
US08279350B2
A method of composite decoding in which the input signal is converted into the frequency domain, and the symmetry of frequency components with respect to the subcarrier frequency is compared. The comparison is varied in dependence upon the frequency being processed. In this way, the separation can be adapted to suit known characteristics of different portions on the input spectrum. This is particularly useful for processing NTSC signals. The allocation of a particular component to chrominance may be biased in dependence upon a measure of the luminance information of the composite signal at a corresponding spatial frequency.
US08279349B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for controlling visual parameters of a capturing device to minimize clipping and saturation according to predefined parameters. The method may include processing pixel values of a current input frame of a received video signal captured by a capturing device; accumulating processing results of the current input frame to processing results of one or more previous input frames and calculating a desired dynamic range based on pre-determined user parameters. The processing may further include checking if the accumulated results are within the desired dynamic range and determining if adjustment is desired. If the accumulated results are not within the desired dynamic range, adjusting visual parameters for a subsequent input frame, by controlling the capturing device and if the accumulated results are within the desired dynamic range maintaining current visual parameters of the current input frame for the subsequent input frame.
US08279346B2
In an image processing apparatus, degradation of edges of stationary subjects can be suppressed in a moving image obtained by converting moving image data having F frames per unit time into moving image data having 2F sub frames per the unit time. For this purpose, pixel data is inputted in order of raster scanning into an input terminal. Then three contiguous pixel data X1 to X3 are obtained by the input terminal and two delay circuits. A differentiator calculates a difference d1 (=X1−X2) between the pixel data of interest X2 and the neighbor pixel data X1 and a difference d2 (=X3−X2) between the pixel data of interest X2 and the neighbor pixel data X3. A multiplier coefficient for low-pass filter calculation is determined based on the differences d1 and d2, and pixel data X2′ is calculated as pixel data after filter-processing of the pixel data of interest X2.
US08279345B2
A system and method for estimating random noise in an image frame or a sequence of image frames are presented. In some embodiments, the method includes performing Global Noise Estimation by comparing current and past filtered frames; converting global noise estimates into local noise estimates using estimated noise parameters based on current input image's local mean intensity; and providing local noise estimates to an adapted generic spatio-temporal filter. A parameter-based noise model is applied in the noise calculation.
US08279338B2
The information communication terminal includes a first housing having a display unit and a second housing having an operating unit. The first housing can be arranged as follows: the first state where the display unit is directed oppositely to the photographing direction of the imaging unit; the second state where the display unit is directed in the photographing direction of the imaging unit; the third state where the rotary shaft direction of the first housing is made to adjoin the direction perpendicular to the open/close shaft direction of the second housing and the display unit and the operating unit are directed to the same side; and fourth state where the direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft direction of the first housing is made to adjoin the open/close shaft direction of the second housing through the hinge and the display unit and the operating unit are directed to the same side.
US08279326B2
A light quantity detecting apparatus is disclosed which includes: an integration detection section configured to output a signal that varies with integrated quantities of light received by a light-receiving device; a comparison section configured to compare the signal output by the integration detection section with a reference value in order to output a signal representing a result of the comparison; a dummy signal generation section configured to generate a signal equivalent to the comparison result signal output by the comparison section; a changeover section configured to change the output of the comparison section with the output of the dummy signal generation section in response to a control signal; and an integration signal generation section configured to generate a signal indicating an end of the integration of the quantities of received light in accordance with the signal forwarded via the changeover section.
US08279315B2
A read-out arrangement for reading a CCD-sensor (1-1), detector (1-2) which has an active area including pixels that receives charges and a read-out register (1-4) in functional connection with the active area. Charges are transferred from the active area into a read-out register (1-4) and to at least one read-out well (106, 108) arranged in connection with at least output (1-4a1-4b) of the read-out register (1-4). The dynamics of the CCD-sensor can be changed by changing binning of the charges at least partly in response to a control signal.
US08279312B2
The present invention concerns an image sensor having a plurality of pixels each including a photosensor, a first node having a first capacitance connected to the photosensor, a second node having a second capacitance and selectively connected to the photosensor, and reading circuitry operable to read independently a first voltage value stored at the first node and a second voltage value stored at the second node.
US08279305B2
A photographing apparatus may include an image pickup device which captures an image and converts the captured image into an electric image signal. A luminance detector may calculate a plurality of luminance evaluation values corresponding to a plurality of metering modes using light measurement areas of the image of the electric image signal. The light measurement areas corresponding to each of the plurality of metering modes may be different from each other. An exposure value calculator may calculate an automatic exposure value based on the luminance evaluation value corresponding to each of the plurality of metering modes. The apparatus may also include a photographing controller which performs photographing in a plurality of times corresponding to the metering modes by operating the image pickup device using the automatic exposure values to capture a plurality of photographed images. A display unit may display the plurality of photographed images.
US08279296B2
An information processing apparatus includes a video obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of items of video data captured by a plurality of image-capturing devices; a position information obtaining unit configured to obtain position information including an orientation and an angle of view of each of the image-capturing devices; a reproduction position calculation unit configured to calculate a reproduction position of each item of the video data so that a projection direction and an angle of view of the item of the video data matches the orientation and the angle of view of a corresponding one of the image-capturing devices by using the position information; and a reproduction controller configured to reproduce each item of the video data at the corresponding reproduction position.
US08279274B2
To provide a transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and an in-vivo information acquiring system that enable to acquire image information corresponding to one image, by assuredly synchronizing between a capsule endoscope and the receiving apparatus. According to the present invention, a capsule endoscope 2 that transmits a radio signal including at least an image signal S to the receiving apparatus includes a signal processor 12 that outputs the image signal S, a reference signal generator 24 that generates a reference signal including a different signal level and outputs a reference signal component D including at least the reference signal, an inserting unit 14 that inserts the reference signal component D into a predetermined heading period of the image signal S and at least a portion of a blanking period in which a signal component does not exist, and a transmitting unit 15 that wirelessly transmits the image signal S output from the inserting unit 14 to an outside.
US08279269B2
The present invention discloses a mobile information kiosk with a three-dimensional imaging effect, which is primarily applied to a hand-held mobile information kiosk. The kiosk includes a dual-lens photographing device with various light traveling angles, a displayer, a stereoscopic optical element which is provided on the displayer, and a data processing module for three-dimensional display. The displayer displays an interleaved grid-shape pattern which is processed by the data processing module. The grid-shape pattern is deflected leftward and rightward in a longitudinal series through the stereoscopic optical element and is projected respectively to both eyes of a user, such that the user can visually sense a three-dimensional image.
US08279267B2
An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor, a lens, an adjusting mechanism, and a controller. The image sensor is configured for detecting incident light to generate a corresponding captured image. The lens is configured for guiding light of a scene toward the image sensor. The adjusting mechanism is configured for adjusting a relative position relationship between the image sensor and the lens when the image capture apparatus is capturing the scene. The controller is configured for controlling the image sensor to generate a plurality of captured images of the scene in response to different relative position relationships between the image sensor and the lens.
US08279263B2
A block-based, no-reference sharpness metric is provided taking advantage of Human Visual System (HVS) characteristics. Texture and smooth region blocks are excluded in computing the metric since sharpness is perceived mostly around edges. Overall sharpness metric is computed by pooling simulated combination of information in human brain employing a logistic function to replicate the behavior of HVS.
US08279262B2
A method for preventing movement in a telepresence system, includes a plurality of cameras. Each camera has a respective field of vision for viewing one or more users. The fields of vision each have lateral boundaries. The system also includes a plurality of restrictive elements. Each restrictive element is positioned along a respective lateral boundary of a field of vision of the fields of vision of the plurality of cameras such that viewed users each positioned within a field of vision of the plurality of cameras are restricted by the plurality of restrictive elements from moving outside of the field of vision in which each viewed user is positioned.
US08279261B2
A system and method for a management server to schedule a conference call. The management server may manage conferencing equipment, including a schedule for the managed conferencing equipment. The management server may receive scheduling information for the conference call, which may specify a time and two or more endpoints for the conference call. At least one of the endpoints may be managed by the management server. The management server may determine whether the conference call is possible, based on the scheduling information and the schedule for the managed conferencing equipment. If the conference call is determined to be possible, the conference call may be scheduled, in which case the management server may enter the scheduling information into the schedule for managed conferencing equipment.
US08279260B2
Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals.
US08279250B2
A scanning optical device, comprises a light source to emit a light beam; a deflecting section to deflect the emitted light beam so as to scan; an optical element to make the scanning light beam to converge; and a correcting mechanism to correct an attitude of the optical element so as to adjust a convergence position of the scanning light beam; wherein at least a part of the correcting mechanism is arranged between the deflecting section and the optical element.
US08279248B2
A thermal head includes heat generating parts and a conductive layer having connecting parts electrically connected to ends of the heat generating parts. The conductive layer has wiring parts whose cross-sectional areas are smaller than cross-sectional areas of the respective connecting parts in directions. The wiring parts has a first upper layer and a second upper layer which have smaller widths in arrow directions than widths of the respective connecting parts as well as a first lower layer and a second lower layer which have lengths not shorter than the widths of the respective connecting parts and greater than the widths of the respective upper layers. The respective upper layers and the respective lower layers are arranged to overlap each other.
US08279245B2
A liquid crystal display is disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel; a backlight unit; a panel drive circuit; a timing controller; a data stretching unit that modulates an internal video signal using a data stretching curve determined depending on a brightness of the internal video signal for a self-screen drive; an internal memory; a self-screen drive controller; a scaler unit; a selection unit; an internal power circuit; an external power circuit; and a microprocessor that blocks an output of the external power circuit from being supplied to the scaler unit in the self-screen drive.
US08279243B2
A driving circuit includes: a switch unit operable according to a scan signal, and adapted for permitting transfer of a data signal when operating in an on state; a capacitor having a first end that is coupled to the switch unit, and a second end; a first transistor having a first terminal that is adapted for coupling to a voltage source, a second terminal that is coupled to the second end of the capacitor and that is adapted to be coupled to a load, and a control terminal that is coupled to the first end of the capacitor; and a second transistor having a first terminal that is adapted for coupling to the voltage source, a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, and a control terminal that is adapted for receiving a bias voltage. Each of the first and second transistors operates in the linear region.
US08279234B2
The present invention relates to a gamma data generation method of a display device. In the method, gamma data including red gamma data, green gamma data, and blue gamma data is determined. A target luminance and a target color coordinate of a first reference gray are determined. Then, an image is displayed on a display device based on red, green, and blue input image signals for a first reference gray, and a first luminance and a first color coordinate from the image are measured. Then, it is determined whether a coordinate difference between the first color coordinate and the target color coordinate and a luminance difference between the first luminance and the target luminance are in an allowable error range or not. The first luminance and the first color coordinate are converted to a first coordinate of a CIE XYZ coordinate system, and the target luminance and the target color coordinate are converted to a target coordinate of the CIE XYZ coordinate system if the coordinate difference and the luminance difference are not in the allowable error range. Finally, the red gamma data, the green gamma data, or the blue gamma data is corrected so that a red luminance, a green luminance, or a blue luminance of the image is changed according to a comparison of the first coordinate of the CIE XYZ coordinate system with the target coordinate of the CIE XYZ coordinate system.
US08279223B2
An image processing apparatus capable of displaying image data on a display device that has resolution lower than that of the image data, includes a processor that categorizes image data of one screen into a plurality of groups by setting two or more pixels of the image data being mutually adjacent on the screen as one group and that outputs data to be displayed time-divisionally and sequentially on one pixel of the display device respectively based on data of the pixels in each of the groups.
US08279220B1
Systems and methods for estimating light transport between respective points includes selecting a plurality of first sub-paths extending the first point A, and selecting a plurality of second sub-paths extending from a second point B. A plurality of transport paths are constructed, wherein each one of the plurality of the first sub-paths is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of second paths, and wherein each transport path comprises one first sub-path and one second sub-path. Two or more of the transport paths are sampled, and a light transport value for each of the sampled transport paths is calculated to estimate the light transported between first point A and second point B.
US08279217B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes a sub-pixel array, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of data lines. The sub-pixel array has a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in array. Any two neighboring scan lines of the scan lines and a row of the sub-pixels disposed between the two neighboring scan liens are electrically connected. The sub-pixels arranged in odd rows are electrically connected to the odd-numbered data lines, and the sub-pixels arranged in even rows are electrically connected to the even-numbered data lines. Thus, the liquid crystal display panel is able to reduce mura phenomenon through the above-mentioned layout. A driving method of the above-mentioned liquid crystal display panel is also provided.
US08279213B2
An electronic device comprises a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, and a power control unit comprising logic to develop a predictive model of power states for a central processing unit in the electronic device, and use the predictive model to synchronize activity of a graphics processing unit in the electronic device with periods of activity in the central processing unit. Other embodiments may be described.
US08279212B2
An organic light emitting display includes a first power block for receiving a first input voltage to output a first output voltage and configured to be driven in a normal operation mode corresponding to an enable signal, a second power block for receiving a second input voltage to output a second output voltage and configured to be driven in an alternate operation mode corresponding to the enable signal, and a voltage input unit for transmitting the first input voltage to the first power block in the normal operation mode, and for transmitting the second input voltage to the second power block and stopping the transmitting of the first input voltage to the first power block in the alternate operation mode, corresponding to the enable signal.
US08279211B2
A light emitting device has a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a drive transistor, a light emitting element and signal lines, a property parameter acquisition circuit which acquires property parameter, a signal correction circuit that generates a corrected gradation signal by correcting the image data based on the property parameter, and a drive signal impressing circuit that impresses a drive signal, generated based on the corrected gradation signal, on the pixel to drive it. The property parameter is constituted of a threshold voltage, a current amplification factor and its irregularity of the drive transistor, and is acquired based on measured voltages of the signal lines after each of a plurality of predetermined settling times elapses from the time when the light emitting device cuts off a voltage subsequent to impressing the voltage on each pixel for a predetermined length of time.
US08279210B2
In a display apparatus and a method of driving the display apparatus, data voltages, which correspond to image data, are supplied to data lines to drive a plurality of pixels arranged in pixel areas defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines, and gate signals are sequentially supplied to gate lines. The gate signals are maintained at a level of gate on voltage such that the data voltages of the data lines are supplied to corresponding pixels during a scan period, and alternately have a first voltage level and a second voltage level in synchronization with a common voltage during a non-scan period.
US08279205B2
A system improves the subjective impression of a digitized image displayed with a low amplitude resolution. The system digitizes an analog video signal with a first amplitude resolution. Before the amplitude resolution of the video signal is reduced to a second, lower amplitude resolution, the system adds a digital noise signal to the digital video signal. The maximum amplitude of the added digital noise signal is about equal to or smaller than the amplitude corresponding to the least significant bit of the second resolution.
US08279190B2
A filtering system, adapted to remove a direct current (DC) component and a high frequency noise component of a touch-sensed signal is provided. The filtering system includes: an analog to digital converter for transforming the touch-sensed signal into a discrete-time input signal; a direct current removing unit for removing direct current components of the discrete-time input signal to obtain a differentiated signal; a de-noise unit for removing noise components of the differentiated signal to obtain a de-noise signal; and a reconstructive unit for processing the de-noise signal to obtain an output signal.
US08279187B2
A matrix touch panel having upper and lower electrodes, the upper electrodes being composite electrodes made of a plurality of spaced micro-wires, and allowing, for example, an electric field from lower electrodes to pass between the micro-wires and thereby capacitively couple with a touching object, such as a finger.
US08279184B2
A handheld electronic device having a touchscreen and a method of using a touchscreen of a handheld electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of input using a touchscreen display of a handheld electronic device, comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on the touchscreen display, the graphical user interface comprising a plurality of selectable user interface elements, each having an area of the touchscreen display associated herewith and each generating a respective input signal in response to selection thereof; detecting a touch input on the touchscreen display having a touch point; determining an orientation of the handheld electronic device; determining a touch offset in accordance with the orientation of the handheld electronic device; determining an adjusted touch point on the touch-sensitive input surface in accordance with the touch point and the touch offset; and generating an input signal associated with a respective user interface element displayed at the adjusted touch point when the adjusted touch point is associated with one of the plurality of selectable user interface elements in the graphical user interface.
US08279174B2
A mobile terminal is provided that includes a first display module to receive a touch signal and a second display module configured to be extensible. An image and a pointer may be displayed on the second display module if the second display is ejected from the mobile terminal. The pointer may move according to a drag direction and a drag distance corresponding to the touch signal if a touch signal with directivity is detected from the first display module. A character-input operation and/or a search operation may be performed on the image displayed on the second display module using the first display module.
US08279173B2
There is disclosed a user interface for selecting a photo tag. In an embodiment, the user interface embodies a method of selecting a photo tag for a tagged photo, comprising: providing a tag entry field for entering a photo tag; in dependence upon a string entered by a user, displaying in a matching tag list any tags from one or more selected tag sources matching the entered string. The method may further comprise displaying a tag type for each tag appearing in the matching tag list. The method may further comprise allowing user selection of a tag in the matching tag list to complete the tag entry field.
US08279172B2
A hybrid haptic feedback system in which a host computer and haptic feedback device share processing loads to various degrees in the output of haptic sensations, and features for efficient output of haptic sensations in such a system. A haptic feedback interface device in communication with a host computer includes a device microcontroller outputting force values to the actuator to control output forces. In various embodiments, the microcontroller can determine force values for one type of force effect while receiving force values computed by the host computer for a different type of force effect. For example, the microcontroller can determine closed loop effect values and receive computed open loop effect values from the host; or the microcontroller can determine high frequency open loop effect values and receive low frequency open loop effect values from the host. Various features allow the host to efficiently stream computed force values to the device.
US08279171B2
A voice input device, in which a content spoken by a user is reflected on a confirmation screen when executing the content, allows the user to confirm that a command, corresponding to the content which is spoken by the user who intended for the execution, is executed after being recognized by the voice input device. The voice input device includes a command storage section that stores a command in which one representative command name is associated with at least one paraphrased command name, a voice acquisition section that acquires voice spoken by a user, a command recognition section that refers to the command storage section and to recognize a paraphrased command name based on the voice acquired by the voice acquisition section, an execution section that executes a command corresponding to the paraphrased command name recognized by the command recognition section, and a display control section that displays the paraphrased command name recognized by the command recognition section when the execution section executes the command corresponding to the paraphrased command name.
US08279160B2
An LED driving element that can perform black line insertion display without increasing the clock frequency. LED driving element 11 has first and second shift registers 34a, 34b used for controlling the light-emitting elements on one side among the light-emitting elements arranged in two adjacent rows. In the normal mode, the first and second shift registers 34a, 34b are connected in series. In the image quality improvement mode, the first or second shift register is bypassed by short circuit line 30. In the normal mode, the light emission data are moved serially through the first and second shift registers 34a, 34b. In the image quality improvement mode, the light emission data are moved in only one shift register, that is, shift register 34a or 34b, so that black line insertion can be performed in the same rewriting time per row as in the normal mode without increasing the clock frequency.
US08279159B2
A liquid crystal backlight device and a method for controlling the same are applied to a liquid crystal display apparatus, in which a backlight module is disposed behind a liquid crystal panel to illuminate the panel. The backlight device produces stable illumination to solve the hold type problem due to the hold-type effect of liquid crystal occurred in the prior art. The control method is used to acquire a stable display time from the liquid crystal characteristics and then process the scan signal to match the display data. Controls of the backlight activation signal, including on/off, time delay, and duty cycle adjustment, are then performed to generate a pulse-width modulated signal and a brightness modulated signal so as to produce stable backlight illumination effect. A better display effect can therefore be accomplished.
US08279151B2
The present invention efficiently arranges a spare TFT element in a pixel region of a liquid crystal display device. A display device includes a substrate on which TFT elements which are arranged in pixel regions each of which is surrounded by two neighboring scanning signal lines and two neighboring video signal lines are formed. The substrate arranges a first TFT element and a second TFT element in each pixel region in which the first TFT element and the second TFT element independently include a channel layer, a drain electrode and a source electrode respectively, only either one of the first TFT element and the second TFT element in each pixel region is operated when a video signal is applied to the video signal line and a scanning signal is applied to the scanning signal line, and the first TFT element and the second TFT element differ from each other in largeness or a shape of an occupied area or a channel width and a channel length of each TFT element when the substrate is viewed in a plan view.
US08279145B2
A display device, including a substrate; a first layer having an array of row electrodes formed in rows across the substrate in a first direction and a second layer having an array of column electrodes formed in columns across the substrate in a second direction different from the first direction wherein the row and column electrodes overlap to form pixel locations; one or more layers of light-emitting material formed between the row and column electrodes to form a two-dimensional array of pixels, the pixels being located in the pixel locations; and a plurality of row driver chiplets and a separate plurality of column driver chiplets distributed relative to the two-dimensional array of pixels, each row driver chiplet exclusively connected to and controlling an independent set of row electrodes and each column driver chiplet exclusively connected to and controlling an independent set of column electrodes.
US08279135B2
A dielectrically loaded backfire helical antenna has a cylindrical ceramic core and a feed structure which passes axially through the core to a distal end face of the core where it is connected to helical conductors located on the outside of the core. Opening out on the proximal end face of the core is a cavity which is coaxial with the feed structure. A conductive balun layer encircling a portion of the core extends over the proximal end face of the core and the wall of the cavity to connect the helical elements to the feeder structure when it emerges into the cavity. The presence of the cavity and accommodating some of the length of the balun in the cavity allows a reduction in the size and weight of a dielectrically loaded backfire antenna.
US08279126B2
A communication device is disclosed that includes an antenna apparatus including: a feeding portion, a looped antenna element connected to the feeding portion, and a resistor inserted into the looped antenna element; and a communication circuit configured to process data that is transmitted and received via the antenna apparatus.
US08279117B2
A system and method for providing a spectrally compact modulation of a tracking signal for directional beam scanning systems is presented. The system and method scans a tracking signal to produce a modulation of the tracking signal. When an impairment is anticipated, the system and method modifies the scan path to avoid the impairment and maintains the spectral compactness of the modulation of the tracking signal.
US08279112B2
Apparatus and methods are described which are useful for determining a distance between an RFID tag and an RFID tag reader. In various embodiments, signals backscattered from a singulated tag over a range of frequencies are evaluated for in-phase I and in-quadrature Q signal components. The I-Q data is processed to determine phase delay angles associated with each signal frequency. The phase delay data can be processed by a sum of squared errors method or Fourier transform method to determine a distance to the singulated tag. The methods can also be used to determine any of a location, a radial velocity, a directional velocity of the singulated tag, and proximity of the singulated tag to a second tag.
US08279108B2
The general field of the invention is that of viewing systems of the synthetic vision type SVS, for a first aircraft, the said system comprising at least one cartographic database of a terrain, position sensors, for the said aircraft, an air traffic detection system calculating the position and the danger rating of at least one second aircraft exhibiting a risk of collision with the said first aircraft on the basis of data originating from sensors or systems such as TCAS or ADS-B, an electronic computer, a man-machine interface means and a display screen, the computer comprising means for processing the various items of information originating from the database, sensors and interface means, the said processing means arranged so as to provide the display screen with a synthetic image of the terrain comprising a representation of the said second aircraft. The said representation comprises a first symbol representing in a stylized manner the said second aircraft and a second symbol, situated to the right of the first symbol when the second aircraft is facing towards the first aircraft and situated to the left of the first symbol when the second aircraft is facing away from the first aircraft.
US08279103B2
A remote control device and a remote control method thereof are provided. The remote control method is adapted to a remote control device, which includes a sensing unit for generating remote controlling signals while shaking the remote control device. The remote control method includes the following steps. Firstly, a series of sensing signal is provided by the sensing unit. Next, a series of reference value is generated according to the series of sensing signal. Then, when to start/stop to store the series sensing signal is determined according to the series of reference value. Afterwards, the series of sensing signal is recognized for generating the remote controlling signal. Finally, the remote controlling signal is transmitted.
US08279100B2
A Complex Analog to Digital Converter System on Chip (CADC SoC) implemented into a microcircuit system is provided. A series of stagger clock signals can be fixed on either a rising or falling edge of the system clock and a plurality of A/D converters can be grouped by sets (i.e. odd and even) and assigned to odd or even stagger clocks. A complex I&Q data manager is provided for controlling the system. A clock management system is responsive to an external signal to select from a set of stagger clock settings, thereby improving anti-alias performance.
US08279095B2
A method for storing node information of a Huffman tree. The method creates an index of each node in the Huffman tree using a breadth first search (BFS) algorithm. The method further reads each node of the Huffman tree beginning from a root node according to a sequence of the index of each node, and stores node information of each node into an array of the Huffman tree.
US08279094B2
Embodiments of an encoder and a decoder are described. The encoder encodes data into a series of parallel codewords. Each codeword is expressed two sets of logic values (e.g., a set of logic 0s and a set of logic 1s) on two corresponding sets of output nodes, a first set and a second set. The encoder selects a current codeword such that it differs from the immediately preceding codeword by a fixed number of zero-to-one transitions on the first set of nodes and a fixed number of one-to-zero transitions on the second set of nodes. A decoder receives and decodes the codewords by comparing symbols on node pairs for which the symbols expressed in the prior code word were alike and decoding the results of those comparisons.
US08279089B2
A method for monitoring a function of a safety unit, in particular of a bilge blower of a boat with a combustion engine, connected via a manually operated switch to a voltage supply. The current flowing through the safety unit is measured and an acoustic alarm is triggered, if a sensor voltage derived from the measured current falls below a reference voltage.
US08279087B2
A method for determining a parking spot including at least the following steps: measuring a parking spot and outputting a measured length of the parking spot; comparing the determined length to at least one limiting value and determining an indicator signal; outputting the indicator signal to the driver; recording vehicle dynamics signals, during a parking operation; evaluating the parking operation on the basis of the recorded vehicle dynamics signals and outputting an evaluation signal, and changing the at least one limiting value as a function of the evaluation signal and the indicator signal. An adaptive parking spot measurement is created in which an evaluation of the parking spot length is automatically adapted to the driving behavior and the driving skills of the respective driver, resulting in a particularly high degree of acceptance of the PSM system by the driver.
US08279086B2
A method and system are provided for determining travel time through intersections by assigning an initial position for a virtual probe in the intersection and updating the position and velocity for the virtual probe such that the position and velocity of the virtual probe are determined multiple times from a time when the virtual probe is at an initial position until the time when the updated position of the virtual probe is past a stop line at the intersection. Updating the position and velocity of the virtual probe involves retrieving vehicle detection data and traffic control signal data to determine a distance from the virtual probe to the closer of a stop line and a vehicle in a queue in front of the virtual probe. The length of the queue is determined using the intersection of two shockwaves.
US08279083B2
A vehicle information communication method is provided in which at least one of host vehicle probe data and surrounding vehicle probe data is collected in a host vehicle. After collection, the data is transmitted to a carrier vehicle. The carrier vehicle then disassociates identifying information from the data before sending the data to an external communication device.
US08279078B2
A communication device includes an enclosure including a recess member including a bottom wall and an accommodating portion, a circuit board mounted on the bottom wall, and a light guiding member received in the accommodating portion. The circuit board includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a circular array. The light guiding member includes a light guiding portion to transmit light from the light sources to an outer surface of the communication device and a light shielding portion to shield the light to the outer surface and fix the light guiding portion in the accommodating portion. The light guiding portion includes a light guiding bottom wall surrounding the light sources and a light guiding sidewall. The light guiding sidewall includes an annular end surface to indicate signal strength and a strong signal orientation received by an antenna of the communication device.
US08279071B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for the real-time notification of user events. According to various embodiments described herein, a user initiates a notification process in which the geographic location of a device associated with the user, as well as any desired activity data, is generated into a real-time notification for another party. The location of the user device is determined upon the initiation of the notification process. Original or pre-programmed messages may be posted on a website or delivered along with the location of the user device to any number of communication devices. The various embodiments provide an efficient manner of updating selected individuals with the location of a user and of providing those individuals with desired information.
US08279068B2
A surgical sponge detection system includes a device for automatically counting soiled surgical sponges which includes a reader which scans each sponge entered and determines sponge type from a tag affixed to each sponge and a control unit which processes data received from reader contained within sponges entered. The reader includes a non-optical scanner means which can read an indicating means on the sponges even when the indicating means is covered with blood or other body fluids.
US08279062B2
The present invention relates generally to tracking systems and methods for monitoring the location of an asset or group of assets. In particular, the present invention provides systems for monitoring the location of a large group of assets. Furthermore, the present invention provides systems and methods for identifying an asset within a group of assets.
US08279058B2
A system, method and device for communicating over a power line are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a first device configured to communicate via broadband communications having a bandwidth greater than one megahertz, and a second device having a first port and a second port. The second port may be configured to communicate with the first device via broadband communications and the first port configured to communicate over one or more power lines with one or more remote devices via one or more of a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein each of the plurality of frequency bands has a bandwidth that is less than five hundred kilohertz. The second device may select one of the plurality of frequency bands and one of a plurality of modulations schemes based on channel conditions and/or operational parameters. The second device may be configured to transmit and receive data in a multitude of the plurality of frequency band concurrently.
US08279053B2
This disclosure relates to a vibrotactile mobile device which induces a tactile sense at various positions in an interface method of operating the mobile device so that a user may intuitively interact with the mobile device while seeing a program execution status, and to a method of driving the vibrotactile mobile device. The method of driving the vibrotactile mobile device includes: providing a user interface for inputting a command signal on a screen operated in accordance with a program; calculating a target vibration position and a direction and a speed of a vibration flow with time so as to recognize a trajectory of the command signal displayed on the screen and supply a vibration stimulus corresponding to the trajectory of the command signal; and driving the vibration module by controlling a supply of power to be applied to vibration modules based on the calculated result.
US08279041B2
A method for transferring energy between first and second units with first and second meters and subscriptions to first and second backend platforms, as well as a first unit for supporting such energy transfer, where the backend platforms execute an authentication procedure and a switch is unbarred by a first control box upon successful execution of the authentication procedure. A second control box sends an amount of the transferred energy measured by the second meter to the first control box, energy consumption data is sent to the backend platforms, and a consumption clearing procedure is executed between the first and the second units at the backend platforms by means of the received energy consumption data.
US08279033B2
A power transformer apparatus and method of assembling are provided. In one aspect, a method of assembling a transformer is provided. The method includes providing a heat sink including a plurality of exterior ribs, wherein the heat sink forms a bottom wall of an enclosure. The method also includes coupling at least one diaphragm to the heat sink such that a bottom surface of the diaphragm is in contact with the heat sink, coupling at least one winding to the at least one diaphragm, and coupling a terminal board to the heat sink such that a plurality of spacers are positioned between the terminal board and the heat sink.
US08279030B2
A method and apparatus of electrical, mechanical and thermal isolation of superconductive magnet coils includes a superconductive magnet for environments wherein large differences of electrical potential between the interior superconductive winding and the exterior of the device, on the order of 103to 106 Volts may exist. The methods and apparatus also includes insulation, cooling, and structural elements such that the interior of the device is capable of maintaining cryogenic temperatures needed for superconductivity, even in the presence of high heat flux incident on the overall winding housing. Finally, a device includes structural elements for support against gravity and other forces exerted on the assembly that include expansion jointing and stabilization to minimize warping or bending of the assembly due to temperature gradients. These supports include accoutrements for supplying electrical power, cryogenic coolant, and other supply leads to the magnet head, while also being isolated from thermal and electrical effects.
US08279022B2
Systems and devices for providing differential input/output communication with a superconducting device are described. Each differential I/O communication is electrically filtered using a respective tubular filter structure incorporating superconducting lumped element devices and high frequency dissipation by metal powder epoxy. A plurality of such tubular filter structures is arranged in a cryogenic, multi-tiered assembly further including structural/thermalization supports and a device sample holder assembly for securing a device sample, for example a superconducting quantum processor. The interface between the cryogenic tubular filter assembly and room temperature electronics is achieved using hermetically sealed vacuum feed-through structures designed to receive flexible printed circuit board cable.
US08279014B2
A frequency synthesizer of a transceiver for generating a crystal oscillation frequency and a carry frequency having been done a process of frequency offset cancellation with that of another transceiver. The frequency offset cancellation of the frequency synthesizer is done in accordance with a wireless signal which is transmitted from another transceiver received. The frequency synthesizer has a first sigma-delta modulator receiving a signal transmitted by a transceiver at far area responding thereafter a frequency divisor value in accordance with the channel information of the received signal and a frequency offset between two.
US08279011B2
An amplifier circuit and a method of signal amplification are provided. The amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier and a charge pump. The first amplifier includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal is coupled to a first external voltage. The second terminal is coupled to a negative voltage. The third terminal is coupled to a ground reference voltage. The charge pump is coupled to the first amplifier for providing the negative voltage transformed from a second external voltage.
US08279003B2
An RF amplifier including first and second branches coupled in parallel between first and second supply voltage terminals, and a differential pair including first and second transistors each having first and second main current terminals, the second main current terminal of the first transistor being coupled by a first capacitor to the first main current terminal of the second transistor, and the second main current terminal of the second transistor being coupled by a second capacitor to the first main current terminal of the first transistor, wherein the first branch includes a first resistor coupled between the first main current terminal of the first transistor and the second capacitor, and the second branch includes a second resistor; coupled between the first main current terminal of the second transistor and the first capacitor.
US08279002B2
A variable gain amplifier circuit includes: an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal applied with a predetermined voltage; a feedback resistor having one end connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and the other end connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier; and a variable resistor having one end applied with an input voltage and the other end connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.
US08278991B2
A power supply circuit includes a charge pump circuit configured to raise a voltage inputted from an input terminal and supply the raised voltage from an output terminal to a given load and a control circuit unit. The charge pump circuit includes a fly-back capacitor configured to store a charge of the voltage inputted from the input terminal and an output transistor connected between one terminal of the fly-back capacitor and the output terminal of the charge pump circuit. The control circuit unit receives a reference voltage and the voltage outputted from the charge pump circuit and is configured to generate a proportional voltage proportional to the voltage outputted from the charge pump circuit and output a voltage to control the output transistor depending on a difference between the proportional voltage and the reference voltage so that the proportional voltage has the same voltage level as the reference voltage.
US08278990B2
An electric fuse cutoff control circuit controlling cutoff of a plurality of electric fuses including: a cutoff information storage circuit adapted to store cutoff information about whether or not each of the plurality of electric fuses is cut off; a cutoff information control circuit controlling the cutoff of the plurality of electric fuses based on an output signal of the cutoff information storage circuit; and a cutoff information renewal circuit receiving an output signal of the cutoff information control circuit and renewing the cutoff information set for the cutoff information storage circuit.
US08278989B2
A semiconductor device includes an analog circuit with a first delay variation in response to a variation in a power supply potential, and a digital circuit with a second delay variation smaller than the first delay variation. The analog circuit is connected to a first power supply potential. The digital circuit includes a detecting circuit detecting a first delay caused by a first circuit connected to the first power supply potential, and a second circuit generating a control signal to control the analog circuit, the second circuit being connected to a second power supply potential whose potential variation is smaller than the first power supply potential. A second delay caused by the second circuit is controlled in correlation to the first delay.
US08278982B2
A frequency synthesis circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a phase-locked loop and multi-phase oscillator such as a rotary traveling wave oscillator (RTWO). The oscillator provides a plurality of phases that are applied to a selection circuit. The selection circuit, in response to the output of a delta-sigma modulator, selects one of the phases of the multi-phase oscillator to minimize phase shift noise when the divider ratio in the loop changes, thereby eliminating a source of noise that contaminates the synthesized frequency. This permits the use of the frequency synthesis in applications requiring a high degree of spectral purity.
US08278976B2
The present application discloses trapezoidal fire pulse generating methods and devices. According to the devices and methods of the present application, the voltage value of the positive DC control voltage signal, the voltage value of the negative DC control voltage signal, the voltage value of the rise-time DC control voltage signal and a fall-time DC control voltage signal can be determined according to the parameter values of a trapezoidal fire pulse required to be output. Thus, corresponding DC control voltage signals can be generated. Further, the positive DC control voltage signal and the negative DC control voltage signal can be modulated to a square-wave pulse. Then, the rise-time DC control voltage signal, the fall-time DC control voltage signal and the square-wave pulse can be input to a inverse integrator so as to generate a trapezoidal fire pulse. Since there are specific quantitative relations between the rise time and fall time of the trapezoidal fire pulse and the voltage values of the rise-time and fall-time DC control voltage signals, the corresponding rise time and fall time of the trapezoidal fire pulses can be accurately controlled and adjusted so that the output trapezoidal fire pulses can be more stable and accurate.
US08278974B2
A divider circuit includes a shift register which generates 2X (X is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) pulse signals in accordance with a first clock signal or a second clock signal and outputs them, and a divided signal output circuit which generates a signal to be a third clock signal with a cycle X times longer than a cycle of the first clock signal in accordance with the 2X pulse signals and outputs it. The divided signal output circuit includes X first transistors which control whether voltage of the signal to be the third clock signal is set to first voltage; and X second transistors which control whether voltage of the signal to be the third clock signal is set to second voltage.
US08278962B2
There is provided a transfer circuit including a transmitter that outputs a transmission signal and a receiver that receives the transmission signal. Here, the receiver supplies to the transmitter a feedback signal for controlling a common level of the transmission signal output from the transmitter, and the transmitter controls the common level of the transmission signal output therefrom, in accordance with the feedback signal received from the receiver. The receiver includes a receiving section that operates in accordance with the transmission signal, a reference level generating section that generates a reference level representing an expected level for the common level of the transmission signal input into the receiving section, and a comparing section that compares the common level of the transmission signal input into the receiving section against the reference level and generates the feedback signal in accordance with a result of the comparison.
US08278957B2
Provided is a circuit board unit for connecting a connecting terminal of a testing apparatus to a connected terminal of a device under test, including: a circuit board having, on one surface, a contact corresponding to the connected terminal; and a connector guide provided on the one surface of the circuit board, the connector guide guiding a connector having the connecting terminal to the circuit board, and pulling the connector towards the circuit board. In this circuit board unit, the connector guide may bias the connector on a side of the connecting terminal, towards the circuit board. Moreover in the circuit board unit, the circuit board may further have a substrate frame that is coupled to the connector guide and biases the connector guide towards the circuit board.
US08278940B2
A signal acquisition system has a signal acquisition probe having probe tip circuitry coupled to a resistive center conductor signal cable. The resistive center conductor signal cable is coupled to a compensation system in a signal processing instrument via an input node and input circuitry in the signal processing instrument. The signal acquisition probe and the signal processing instrument have mismatched time constants at the input node with the compensation system having an input amplifier with feedback loop circuitry and a compensation digital filter providing pole-zero pairs for maintaining flatness over the signal acquisition system frequency bandwidth.
US08278933B2
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring an automotive electrical system including an inverter having at least one switch. First and second voltage commands corresponding to respective first and second components of a commanded voltage vector on a synchronous frame of reference coordinate system are received. A plurality of duty cycles for operating the at least one switch are calculated based on the first and second voltage commands. First and second actual voltages are calculated based on the plurality of duty cycles. The first and second actual voltages correspond to respective first and second components of an actual voltage vector on the synchronous frame of reference coordinate system. An indication of a fault is generated based on the difference between the first components of the commanded voltage vector and the actual voltage vector and the difference between the second components of the commanded voltage vector and the actual voltage vector.
US08278926B2
A method for determining attenuation values of an object is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes stationary positioning of the object, irradiation of the object via a radiation source, measurement of the object's transmission data via a detection system, determination of at least one geometric property of the object on the basis of the transmission data, and assignment of attenuation values to the object on the basis of the geometric property.
US08278916B2
A rotational angle sensor includes: a magnet rotor in which multiple magnetic poles are formed along the circumferential direction of the magnet rotor; and three sensor devices that are arranged on a circle concentric with the magnet rotor at regular angle intervals. Each of the sensor devices includes three half-bridge circuits each of which has a pair of spin valve magnetic resistances that are connected in series in such a manner that the magnetization directions of spin fixed layers of the spin valve magnetic resistances are opposite to each other. Each of the sensor devices is formed in such a manner that phases of the sensor signals output from the respective half-bridge circuits based on a change in magnetic flux caused by the rotation of the magnet rotor are offset from each other by an electrical angle of 120°.
US08278912B2
A twist-grip control device that produces a pair of electrical signals indicative of the relative angular position of the rotor portion. These signals are correlated with one another such that one of the signals may be used as a control signal indicative of the extent of an associated controlled physical magnitude desired by the user, and the other signal may be used as a control signal adapted to enable the detection of the occurrence of operating malfunctions or failures when these signals are no longer correlated with one another in the predetermined relationship.
US08278908B2
A charged particle beam system for measuring a sample such as a photomask is provided. The system is capable of adjusting its condition with high accuracy to measure the sample even when a back surface of the sample is charged. The charged particle beam system measures an electric potential distribution on the back surface of the sample during a process for transporting the sample. The system controls the degree of charge neutralization of the sample based on the result of the measurement, or estimates or calculates an electric potential distribution appearing on a front surface of the sample and obtained when the sample is placed on the sample holder or the like. The system is capable of measuring or inspecting the sample such as a photomask at high speed and with high accuracy even when the sample has a large amount of charges accumulated on its surface different from its pattern surface.
US08278894B2
A DC-DC converter adopted in a mobile device, for converting a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage is provided. The converter comprises an input circuit, a control circuit, and a switch. The input circuit is connected in series with a line for supplying the DC input voltage and includes a parallel connection of a first capacitor and a snubber circuit. The control circuit is provided for producing a control signal. The switch, connected with the input circuit, is adapted to turn ON or OFF in accordance with the control signal, so as to produce the DC output voltage.
US08278893B2
A system including a first transistor, a first capacitor and a circuit. The first transistor has a first control input and is configured to regulate an output voltage. The first capacitor is coupled at one end to the first control input and at another end to a circuit reference. The circuit is configured to provide a first voltage to the first control input, where the first voltage includes an offset voltage that is referenced to the output voltage and adjusted to compensate for variations in the first transistor.
US08278890B2
A power supply circuit has a first MOSFET having a body region between the source and drain. The body region is connected so as to be at the same potential as the source. Application of a suitable potential to the gate causes the MOSFET to switch to a conductive on state. The power supply circuit also has signal generation circuitry, which generates a signal indicative of a conductive state of the first MOSFET. The signal generation circuitry generates a reference voltage of a predetermined potential difference from the source potential. The power supply circuit further comprises a second MOSFET having a body region connected so as to be at the same potential as the drain of the first MOSFET, and the second gate is connected to receive the reference voltage. When the potential of the drain of the first MOSFET falls a predetermined voltage below the reference voltage the second MOSFET is switched to a conductive on state between the second source and the second drain, the signal being dependent upon the state of the second MOSFET.
US08278885B2
A switching power source apparatus includes a converting unit to convert a voltage level of power, a first switch to switch power supplied to the converting unit, a second switch connected in series with the first switch and turned on after the first switch has been turned on, and a voltage clamp unit to clamp a level of a voltage applied across the series connection of the first switch and the second switch to a predetermined voltage or less.
US08278882B2
A charging monitor has a switch disposed between a load section having a storage battery and an external AC power supply supplying a current to the load section via a plurality of lines and interrupts the supply of the current from the external AC power supply to the load section; a current detection circuit; a suppression circuit that suppresses a DC component contained in the detection signal; a filter circuit that filters a plurality of frequency components contained in the detection signal so that attenuation increases as a frequency becomes high; a rectifier smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothens an output signal; and an electric leakage determination circuit that detects an electric leakage and shuts off the switch.
US08278879B2
A system for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel, the system including an energy storage device aboard a marine vessel, an interface device connected to the energy storage device configured to provide power to charge the energy storage device and/or provide power from the energy storage device to the marine vessel, a converter device connected to the interface device configured to convert power to alternating current and/or direct current, depending on an intended purpose of the system, and a conditioning device connected to the converter device, interface device, and/or energy storage device, and configured to establish an acceptable power level and/or an acceptable power waveform. The energy storage device is configured to provide power to the marine vessel to reduce fuel used, emission output, and/or mechanical noise output. A method for providing rechargeable energy onboard a marine vessel is further disclosed.
US08278868B2
An environmental power generation device may include a base, a turbine mounting structure carried by the base and a wind turbine carried by the turbine mounting structure. The environmental power generation device may also include a power generator in communication with the wind turbine. The power generator may include a rotor in communication with the wind turbine, and a stator in rotational communication with the rotor. The environmental power generation device may further include a solar cell mounting structure connected to the base, and a solar cell connected to the solar cell mounting structure and positioned to overlie the wind turbine.
US08278865B2
A control device that controls a plurality of inverters respectively provided corresponding to a plurality of alternating-current electric motors so as to control the plurality of alternating-current electric motors by current feedback. The control device comprises a carrier frequency setting unit that individually selects and sets one of a plurality of carrier frequencies, each of which is a frequency of a carrier for generating switching control signals for the inverter based on a pulse width modulation method, for each of the plurality of inverters, and a switching timing table that specifies a switching timing serving as a permissible timing of switching to a different carrier frequency pair from each of a plurality of carrier frequency pairs each of which is composed of a combination of the carrier frequencies set for each of the plurality of inverters.
US08278861B2
A system includes a power control module, a period determination module, and a control module. The power control module controls current through stator coils of a motor to rotate a rotor. The period determination module determines a first length of time between a first set of induced stator coil voltages and determines a second length of time between a second set of induced stator coil voltages. The control module determines whether an external disturbance disturbs rotation of the rotor based on a difference between the first and second lengths of time.
US08278858B2
A permanent magnet comprises a primary winding, a secondary winding, a permanent magnet, an output terminal for connection to an external load, and a switching mechanism with two modes. In a first mode of the switching mechanism, the primary winding is connected between neutral and the output terminal, and the varying magnetic flux from the permanent magnet induces a nonzero voltage at the output terminal. In the second mode, the secondary winding provides a return path to neutral for the primary winding, thereby providing negligible voltage and current at the output terminal and substantially canceling change in magnetic flux from the permanent magnet.
US08278854B2
A control device has a unit for selecting each of controlled voltages outputted from an inverter to a generator, a unit for judging a polarity of a current flowing through the generator, a unit for predicting a current of the generator from each selected voltage to be outputted from the inverter in the succeeding period, while performing the prediction based on the current polarity each time the selected voltage differs from the voltage already outputted from the inverter in the present period, a unit for determining one voltage corresponding to one predicted current nearest to an instructed current among the predicted currents, and a unit for controlling the generator by controlling the inverter to change the voltage already outputted from the inverter to the determined voltage and to apply the determined voltage to the generator in the succeeding period.
US08278850B2
Methods, system and apparatus are provided for increasing voltage utilization in a five-phase vector controlled machine drive system that employs third harmonic current injection to increase torque and power output by a five-phase machine. To do so, a fundamental current angle of a fundamental current vector is optimized for each particular torque-speed of operating point of the five-phase machine.
US08278836B2
An evaluation device for measuring the ignition energy of a discharge lamp that is ignited by means of a superposed ignition unit, with the aid of a measuring signal that is proportional to the voltage across the discharge, and a measuring signal that is proportional to the current flowing through the lamp, is provided. The evaluation device is configured such that the energy injected into a discharge lamp during a high voltage pulse is suitably evaluated by means of a combination of an analog circuit and a digital circuit.
US08278828B1
An active matrix organic LED display having a matrix of multiple light emitting pixels and electronic drive circuitry for selectively addressing the pixels, each pixel containing an organic LED. The electronic drive circuitry includes row scan electrodes and column data electrodes that interconnect the matrix of pixels. The circuitry also includes a MEMS switching device and a memory capacitor for each pixel, the MEMS switching device connecting the memory capacitor to a column data electrode during addressing of a pixel and connecting the memory capacitor to the organic LED of each pixel during light emission.
US08278827B2
An exemplary light emitting diode (LED) lamp includes a lamp body, an LED module and a switching member. The LED module is mounted on the lamp body and includes a plurality of first LED components emitting a first light with a first color temperature and a plurality of second LED components emitting a second light with a second color temperature. The switching member is mounted around the lamp body and can be operated to cause the LED lamp to work in different modes. In the different modes, different numbers of the first and second LED components are driven to emit light with different color temperatures.
US08278826B2
A multimode controller for LED light sources, especially sources in warning lights, such as light bars, provides for a temporary increase in brightness from the LEDs by providing a burst mode, in addition to a flashing mode and a continuous mode. The modes are carried out by programming a microprocessor which receives signals from control switches, which may be pressed and released. The programming precludes the burst mode to continue for longer than a predetermined time thereby ensuring that the power does not exceed the LEDs damage threshold characteristic. The controller thereby provides for temporary bursting to make visible the region in front of or around an emergency vehicle for a short period of time without the need for light sources dedicated solely to the high intensity brightness mode of operation of a warning light system.
US08278824B1
Electrode and electrode pad configurations for a gas discharge device having one or more substrates and a multiplicity of pixels or sub-pixels that are defined by a hollow plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas. The invention is described with reference to a plasma-dome, but other plasma-shell geometric shapes may be used including plasma-discs and plasma-spheres.
US08278804B2
A multicolor light-emitting organic electroluminescent (EL) display device including a plurality of organic EL light-emitting regions including a red light-emitting layer, a green light-emitting layer, and a blue light-emitting layer on a main substrate includes: a magenta color filter, as a first light-adjusting layer, having predetermined transmission property for blue light and red light; and a second light-adjusting layer having predetermined absorption property for light with a wavelength intermediate between the red light and green light, wherein the magenta color filter is laid over the blue light-emitting layer, the red light-emitting layer, and a bank which is a non light-emitting region, and the second light-adjusting layer is laid over the blue light-emitting layer, the green light-emitting layer, the red light-emitting layer, and the bank which is the non light-emitting region.
US08278797B2
An electrostatic motor has a disc-shaped stator and a disc-shaped rotor are opposed to each other in a vacuum container. In the stator, first electrodes and second electrodes, which are attached to electrode supports, and which are electrically insulated from each other by an insulator, are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. In the rotor, first electrodes and second electrodes, which are attached to electrode supports, and which are electrically insulated from each other by an insulator, are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. The first electrodes and the second electrodes on the side of the stator are arranged at a spacing of two or more rows at a predetermined distance from the center of a rotating shaft. The first electrodes and the second electrodes on the side of the rotor are arranged at a predetermined distance from the center of the rotating shaft and at an intermediate position between the rows of the first electrodes and the second electrodes on the side of the stator. As a result, the electrostatic motor can establish a high electric field in the vacuum so that it can rotationally drive with a sufficient driving force.
US08278795B2
A voltage grading structure (40) as may be used in the stator coils of an electromotive machine is provided. A filler material (44) may be disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface of a stack of coil strands (22). The voltage grading structure may include an electrical isolation layer (46) on the filler material and may further include an electrically conductive layer (48) on the electrical isolation layer. An electrically conductive bar (50) is positioned on the electrically conductive layer. The conductive bar is electrically connected to at least one of the coil strands (22) to shunt a capacitance effect between the conductive layer and the stack of coil strands and force the conductive layer to be substantially at a common voltage level relative to the stack of coil strands and thereby avoid an overvoltage condition.
US08278793B2
An electric motor assembly is configured to be mounted within a machine in a selected one of multiple possible motor dispositions corresponding with different motor axis positions. The motor assembly includes an endshield having a pair of opposite generally radially-extending mounting flanges. Each mounting flange presents an engagement portion that includes a plurality of spaced apart, dissimilarly-shaped recesses that extend in a generally common direction. The pair of flanges cooperatively present corresponding sets of like-shaped recesses, each of which is associated with one of the motor dispositions, but only one of the sets of recesses extends entirely through the engagement portions to define a single set of like-shaped fastener-receiving through holes corresponding to the selected motor disposition. A method of manufacturing components for electric motor assemblies configured to be mounted within respective machines in a selected one of multiple possible dispositions is also disclosed.
US08278788B2
A heat-generating portion cooling structure of vehicle drive apparatus that sufficiently supplies cooling oil to heat-generating portions to enhance efficiency of the vehicle drive apparatus when the heat-generating portions generate maximum heat includes drawing means for drawing oil in a case into a catch tank, and an oil circulation passage for circulating the oil through the catch tank while supplying the oil to first and second heat-generating portions. The oil circulation passage includes a first passage for the oil to flow to the first heat-generating portion when the oil surface in the catch tank is at a first height and a second passage for the oil to flow to the second heat-generating portion when the oil surface is at a second height lower than the first height, and more amount of oil flows to the second heat-generating portion than to the first heat-generating portion when the oil surface is low.
US08278779B2
A system for providing redundant power to a device includes a first power supply unit that includes a first communication module including first and second first power supply unit transmitters and first and second first power supply unit receivers and a second power supply unit that includes a second communication module coupled to the first communication module and including first and second second power supply unit transmitters and first and second second power supply unit receivers coupled, respectively, to the first and second first power supply unit transmitters. The first power supply unit transmits on both the first and second first transmitters and the second power supply is configured to provide power to the device in the event that signals are not received from both the first and second first power supply unit transmitters by the first and second second power supply unit receivers.
US08278778B2
A power supply for an HVAC/R system is configured to provide back-up power functionality for situations when the main source of power fails. The power supply includes a DC power bus which receives power from the main source of power as well as a back up source. When the main source fails the back up source provides power to the DC power bus. Connected to the DC power bus is a variable frequency drive power supply (VFD). The VFD is configured to provide power to the components of the HVAC/R system based on power received from the DC power bus.
US08278774B2
A gas turbine engine including an electrical assembly operable as at least one of an electric motor and a generator, with an electromagnetic rotor formed in part by a portion of one of a main shaft concentrically and drivingly connected to at least one turbine rotor and a tower shaft directly driven by the main shaft and extending generally radially therefrom.
US08278761B2
A circuit layout structure includes a metal interlayer dielectric layer surrounding a metal interconnect and a metal pattern within a scrub line. The scrub line is in the vicinity of the metal interlayer dielectric layer and the metal interconnect. The metal pattern or the metal interconnect are suitably segregated to reduce a capacitance charging effect.
US08278759B2
A structure for measuring misalignment of patterns may include a first wiring and a second wiring. The first wiring may include a first lower pattern and a first upper pattern. The first upper pattern may extend in a y-direction, and a first end portion of the first upper pattern that is relatively further toward (proximal to) a negative y-direction may contact the first lower pattern. The second wiring may include a second lower pattern and a second upper pattern. The second upper pattern may extend in the y-direction, a second end portion of the second upper pattern that is relatively further toward (proximal to) a positive y-direction may contact the second lower pattern. The second wiring may be spaced apart from the first wiring along the negative y-direction.
US08278754B2
A method includes forming a buffer lower metal line over a semiconductor substrate for absorbing an external impact, forming a pre-metal-dielectric layer which covers the buffer lower metal line, the pre-metal-dielectric layer having a via hole formed therein to expose a portion of the buffer lower metal line, forming a seed layer over a surface of the pre-metal-dielectric layer having the via hole formed therein, forming polyimide which exposes the via hole and the seed layer formed over the pre-metal-dielectric layer in the vicinity of the via hole, growing an upper metal line over the exposed seed layer, subjecting the semiconductor substrate having the upper metal line formed thereon to a thermal process, removing the polyimide by dry etching, and bonding a bonding portion onto the upper metal line.
US08278753B2
The semiconductor device comprises a support plate; a semiconductor element; and conductor posts consisting of a conductor having a first end at one end and a second end at the other end, the second end being connected to the semiconductor element and the conductor posts being connected to the support plate at a position on the side of the second end that is closer to the first end, wherein the conductor posts have a heat conductivity of approximately 200 W/m·K or higher and a Vickers hardness of approximately 70 or lower.
US08278751B2
Methods and systems for adhering microfeature workpieces to support members are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes disposing a first adhesive on a surface of a microfeature workpiece, and disposing a second adhesive on a surface of a support member. The method can further include adhesively attaching the microfeature workpiece to the support member by contacting the first adhesive with the second adhesive while the second adhesive is only partially cured. In further particular embodiments, the first and second adhesives can have different compositions, and the second adhesive can be fully cured after the microfeature workpiece and support member are adhesively attached.
US08278740B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device including an insulating layer with a high dielectric strength voltage, a low dielectric constant, and low hygroscopicity. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic appliance with high performance and high reliability, which uses the semiconductor device. An insulator containing nitrogen, such as silicon oxynitride or silicon nitride oxide, and an insulator containing nitrogen and fluorine, such as silicon oxynitride added with fluorine or silicon nitride oxide added with fluorine, are alternately deposited so that an insulating layer is formed. By sandwiching an insulator containing nitrogen and fluorine between insulators containing nitrogen, the insulator containing nitrogen and fluorine can be prevented from absorbing moisture and thus a dielectric strength voltage can be increased. Further, an insulator contains fluorine so that a dielectric constant can be reduced.
US08278739B2
A method for manufacturing is: forming an insulating film over a substrate; forming an amorphous semiconductor film over the insulating film; forming over the amorphous semiconductor film, a silicon nitride film in which a film thickness is equal to or more than 200 nm and equal to or less than 1000 nm, equal to or less than 10 atomic % of oxygen is included, and a relative proportion of nitrogen to silicon is equal to or more than 1.3 and equal to or less than 1.5; irradiating the amorphous semiconductor film with a continuous-wave laser light or a laser light with repetition rate of equal to or more than the wave length of 10 MHz transmitting the silicon nitride film to melt and later crystallize the amorphous semiconductor film to form a crystalline semiconductor film.
US08278738B2
A method of producing a semiconductor device which can reliably perform conductor filling to form a through hole electrode by a simple method is provided. A method of producing a semiconductor device of the present invention includes the steps of thinning a substrate from its back side in a state in which a first supporting body is attached to the front side of the substrate, removing the first supporting body from the substrate and attaching a second supporting body having an opening to the back side of the substrate, forming a through hole communicating with the opening of the second supporting body in the substrate before or after attaching the second supporting body, forming an insulating film within the through hole, and filling a conductor into the through hole of the substrate.
US08278724B2
Methods of fabricating a microelectromechanical structure are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a method of fabricating a microelectromechanical structure comprises providing a substrate. A first patterned sacrificial layer is formed on portions of the substrate, the first patterned sacrificial layer comprises a bulk portion and a protrusion portion. A second patterned sacrificial layer is formed over the first sacrificial layer, covering the protrusion portion and portions of the bulk portion of the first patterned sacrificial layer, wherein the second patterned sacrificial layer does not cover sidewalls of the first patterned sacrificial layer. An element layer is formed over the substrate, covering portions of the substrate, the first patterned sacrificial layer and second patterned sacrificial layer. The first and second patterned sacrificial layers are removed, leaving a microstructure on the substrate.
US08278721B2
The invention provides a method for forming a contact plug, comprising: forming a gate, a sidewall spacer, a sacrificial sidewall spacer, a source region and a drain region on a substrate, wherein the sidewall spacer is formed around the gate, the sacrificial sidewall spacer is formed over the sidewall spacer, and the source region and the drain region are formed within the substrate and on respective sides of the gate; forming an interlayer dielectric layer, with the gate, the sidewall spacer and the sacrificial sidewall spacer being exposed; removing the sacrificial sidewall spacer to form a contact space, the sacrificial sidewall spacer material being different from that of the gate, the sidewall spacer and the interlayer dielectric layer; forming a conducting layer to fill the contact space; and cutting off the conducting layer, to form at least two conductors connected to the source region and the drain region respectively.
US08278715B2
An ESD protection structure is disclosed. A substrate comprises a first conductive type. A first diffusion region is formed in the substrate. A first doped region is formed in the first diffusion region. A second doped region is formed in the first diffusion region. A third doped region is formed in the substrate. A first isolation region is formed in the substrate, covers a portion of the first diffusion region and is located between the second and the third doped regions. A fourth doped region is formed in the substrate. When the first doped region is coupled to a first power line and the third and the fourth doped regions are coupled to a second power line, an ESD current can be released to the second power line from the first power line. During the release of the ESD current, the second doped region is not electrically connected to the first power line.
US08278705B2
A field effect transistor includes a plurality of trenches extending into a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type. The plurality of trenches includes a plurality of gated trenches and a plurality of non-gated trenches. A body region of a second conductivity extends in the semiconductor region between adjacent trenches. A dielectric material fills a bottom portion of each of the gated and non-gated trenches. A gate electrode is disposed in each gated trench. A conductive material of the second conductivity type is disposed in each non-gated trench such that the conductive material and contacts corresponding body regions along sidewalls of the non-gated trench.
US08278695B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, and a plurality of memory strings, the memory string including a first selection transistor including a first pillar shaped semiconductor formed perpendicular to the substrate, a first gate insulating film formed around the first pillar shaped semiconductor, and a first gate electrode formed around the first gate insulating film, and a plurality of memory cells including a second pillar shaped semiconductor formed on the first pillar shaped semiconductor, the diameter of the first pillar shaped semiconductor being larger than the diameter of the second pillar shaped semiconductor at the part where the second pillar shaped semiconductor is connected to the first pillar shaped semiconductor, a first insulating film formed around the second pillar shaped semiconductor, a charge storage layer formed around the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed around the charge storage layer, and first to nth electrodes formed around the second insulating film (n is a natural number not less than 2), the first to nth electrodes being plate shaped, the first to nth electrodes being first to nth conductor layers spread in two dimensions, and a second selection transistor including a third pillar shaped semiconductor formed on the second pillar shaped semiconductor, a second gate insulating film formed around the third pillar shaped semiconductor and a second gate electrode formed around the second gate insulating film.
US08278694B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device having a plurality of vertical transistors, which includes, on a substrate, a semiconductor pillar 5; gate electrode 11 provided on the side of the pillar via gate insulating film 10; first diffusion layer 9 connected to the bottom of the pillar; and second diffusion layer 16 connected to the top of the pillar, second diffusion layer 16 includes first portion 14 formed within the area over the pillar, and second portion 15 which is an epitaxial growth layer, formed on the first portion and contacting with insulating film 17 which is provided between adjacent vertical transistors.
US08278691B2
There is provided a low power memory device with JFET device structures. Specifically, a low power memory device is provided that includes a plurality memory cells having a memory element and a JFET access device electrically coupled to the memory element. The memory cells may be isolated using diffusion based isolation.
US08278689B1
A memory array including a diffusion layer, a poly layer, a metal one layer, a metal two layer, and a contact. The diffusion layer comprises diffusion lines extending in a first direction. The poly layer comprises poly lines extending in the first direction and being arranged on top of and insulated from the diffusion layer. The metal one layer comprises metal one lines extending in the first direction and being arranged on top of and insulated from the poly layer. The metal two layer comprises a metal two line extending in the first direction and being arranged on top of and insulated from the metal one layer. The contact extends through the poly layer, and connects a metal one line to a diffusion line. A poly line further extends in a second direction to bend around the contact such that a predetermined distance separates the poly lines from the contact.
US08278685B2
A semiconductor device, which reduces the earth inductance, and a fabrication method for the same is provided.The semiconductor device and the fabrication method for the same including: a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode which are placed on a first surface of a semi-insulating substrate 11, and have a plurality of fingers; an earth conductor 26 placed on a second surface of an opposite side with the first surface; a gate terminal electrode 14, a source terminal electrode 18, and a drain terminal electrode 12 which are connecting a plurality of fingers, respectively, and formed for every the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; an active layer formed on the semi-insulating substrate 11 under the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; a multi stage VIA hole composed of a small caliber VIA hole 30 near the first surface and a large caliber VIA hole 20 near the second surface; and an earth electrode 23 which is formed in an internal wall surface of the multi stage VIA hole and the second surface, and is connected from an earth conductor placed at the second surface side for the source terminal electrode 18.
US08278684B1
A voltage protection device and method is provided to prevent accidental triggering of an silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) unless the electrostatic discharge (ESD) is at a predefined threshold above the normal power supply operating voltage or below the ground supply operating voltage. The holding voltage upon the SCR is maintained above the threshold voltage to prevent accidental triggering. The present SCR avoids use of an additional field effect transistor (FET), and avoids relying upon the breakdown of the drain terminal of the FET, but instead programs the amount of holding voltage needed above the power supply voltage using mask-programmability, fuses, or other means for maintaining the holding voltage to a desired range above the power supply voltage. The programmed holding voltage is implemented using a barrier region between the PNP and the NPN of the PNPN junctions of the SCR. In addition to or as an alternative to the barrier region, hole sink junctions can be implemented close to the anode to reduce the substrate resistance in the vicinity of the anode and, therefore, extract holes from their normal target destination.
US08278677B2
Disclosed is a light emitting diode lamp that has low resistance to heat emitted therefrom. The LED lamp may include a heat coupling member thermally coupling a top part of a first lead to a top part of a second lead. The LED lamp may further include one or more top parts for lowering thermal resistance of the LED lamp. This configuration facilitates heat transfer from the first lead having an LED chip mounted thereon to the top part of the second lead and/or to the other top parts, lowering resistance to heat emitted from the LED lamp.
US08278676B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes: a first semiconductor layer having a first major surface and a second major surface which is an opposite side to the first major surface; a second semiconductor layer provided on the second major surface of the first semiconductor layer and including a light-emitting layer; a first electrode provided on the second major surface of the first semiconductor layer; a second electrode provided on a surface of the second semiconductor layer, the surface being an opposite side to the first semiconductor layer; an insulating film provided on a side surface of the second semiconductor layer, and an edge of an interface between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; and a metal film provided on the insulating film from the second electrode side toward the edge of the interface.
US08278674B2
A semiconductor structure including a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region is attached to a compound substrate including a host which provides mechanical support to the device and a ceramic layer including a luminescent material. In some embodiments the compound substrate includes a crystalline seed layer on which the semiconductor structure is grown. The ceramic layer is disposed between the seed layer and the host. In some embodiments, the compound substrate is attached to the semiconductor structure after growth of the structure on a conventional growth substrate. In some embodiments, the compound substrate is spaced apart from the semiconductor structure and does not provide mechanical support to the structure. In some embodiments, the ceramic layer has a thickness less than 500 μm.
US08278668B2
The present invention is directed to a vertical-type luminous device and high through-put methods of manufacturing the luminous device. These luminous devices can be utilized in a variety of luminous packages, which can be placed in luminous systems. The luminous devices are designed to maximize light emitting efficiency and/or thermal dissipation. Other improvements include an embedded zener diode to protect against harmful reverse bias voltages.
US08278665B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a thin film transistor on a substrate (1). The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode (2), a gate insulating film (3) that covers the gate electrode (2), a first semiconductor film (4) provided on the gate insulating film (3), a second semiconductor film (5) provided on the first semiconductor film (4), a back channel protection insulating film (7) and an ohmic contact film (8) provided on the second semiconductor film (5), and source/drain electrodes (9). A crystallinity of the first semiconductor film (4) is higher than that of the second semiconductor film (5). The back channel protection insulating film (7) is formed as one of an organic insulating film and an organic/inorganic hybrid insulating film. The thin film transistor has excellent off-state characteristics, swing characteristics, and saturation characteristics.
US08278655B2
Objects of the present invention are to provide novel anthracene derivatives and novel organic compounds; a light-emitting element that has high emission efficiency; a light-emitting element that is capable of emitting blue light with high luminous efficiency; a light-emitting element that is capable of operation for a long time; and a light-emitting device and an electronic device that have lower power consumption. An anthracene derivative represented by a general formula (1) and an organic compound represented by a general formula (17) are provided. A light-emitting element that has high emission efficiency can be obtained by use of the anthracene derivative represented by the general formula (1). Further, a light-emitting element that has a long life can be obtained by use of the anthracene derivative represented by the general formula (1).
US08278654B2
An atomic scale electroconductivity device with electrostatic regulation includes a perturbing species having a localized electronic charge. A sensing species having an electronic conductivity is placed in proximity to the perturbing species at a distance sufficient to induce a change in the electronic conductivity associated with the localized electronic charge. Electronics are provided to measure the conductivity via the sensing species. A temporally controlled atomic scale transistor is provided by biasing a substrate to a substrate voltage with respect to ground.
US08278647B2
One or more quantum dots are used to control current flow in a transistor. Instead of being disposed in a channel between source and drain, the quantum dot (or dots) are vertically separated from the source and drain by an insulating layer. Current can tunnel between the source/drain electrodes and the quantum dot (or dots) by tunneling through the insulating layer. Quantum dot energy levels can be controlled with one or more gate electrodes capacitively coupled to some or all of the quantum dot(s). Current can flow between source and drain if a quantum dot energy level is aligned with the energy of incident tunneling electrons. Current flow between source and drain is inhibited if no quantum dot energy level is aligned with the energy of incident tunneling electrons. Here energy level alignment is understood to have a margin of about the thermal energy (e.g., 26 meV at room temperature).
US08278638B2
A data storage device including a stack of layers is provided. The stack of layers includes at least one memory layer able to effect a storage of data in a plurality of portions of the memory layer by a modification of at least one physico-chemical property of the material of the portions of the memory layer under the effect of an electric current passing through the portions of the memory layer. A plurality of photoconductive columns disposed in the stack of layers passes through each layer in this stack. Each of the portions of the memory layer surrounds one of the photoconductive columns.
US08278631B2
Disclosed is a device for monitoring one or more of integral value of time and temperature, UV light exposure and a pre-determined temperature of an item. The device is useful for monitoring items or materials which are sensitive to time-temperature, UV light and/or a pre-determined temperature. Radiation sensitive devices such as self-indicating instant radiation alert dosimeters (SIRAD) can be accidentally, inadvertently or intentionally over exposed to time-temperature, UV light and a pre-determined higher temperature. Such over exposure can provide a false positive or false negative signal. A device based on polymerization of diacetylenes and melting of partially polymerized diacetylenes, both of which are associated with color changes, are proposed as false positive, false negative, and tamper indicator.
US08278627B2
A sample feeding device for a trace detector is disclosed. The sample feeding device comprises: a sample feeding chamber disposed in the sample feeding device to desorb a sample from a sample feeding member; and a valve assembly configured to fluidly communicate the sample feeding chamber with a drift tube of the trace detector during feeding sample. With the above configuration of the present invention, for example, the sensitivity of the detector can be increased by improving the permeation ratio of the sample. In addition, interior environment of the drift tube is isolated from exterior environment to avoid a drift region of the drift tube from being polluted. The important parameters, such as sensitivity, a position of a peak of a substance, a resolution, of the detector can be kept constant. As a result, operation reliability and consistency of the detector can be achieved.
US08278626B2
In a device for mass spectrometry, an analyte contained in a sample is desorbed from a surface of the device by irradiating the sample in contact with the surface with measurement light. The device includes a micro-structure having a plurality of metal bodies on a surface of a substrate, and the plurality of metal bodies have sizes that can excite localized plasmons by irradiation with the measurement light. Further, the device includes an initiator fixed at least to a part of a surface of the micro-structure.
US08278625B2
A radiation detecting apparatus of this invention includes an arithmetic processing device which has a first adding step for adding signal strengths in one portion of a two-dimensional position map, draws respective boundaries based on results of addition in the first adding step, and corrects the two-dimensional position map based on signal strengths enclosed by these boundaries. The signal strengths of one portion of the two-dimensional position map, and not all the areas of the two-dimensional position map, are added. As a result, incident positions can be discriminated efficiently, and radiation detecting positions can be determined efficiently.
US08278624B2
LSO scintillation crystals with improved scintillation and optical properties are achieved by controlled co-doping a LSO crystal melt with amounts of cerium and an additional codopant such as calcium or other divalent cations. Crystal growth atmosphere is optimized by controlling the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Zinc is added as an additional material to restabilize crystal growth where calcium co-dopant is added. The decay time of the scintillation crystal can be controlled by controlling the concentration of co-dopant added.
US08278623B2
A novel technique is disclosed for varying a size of an aperture within a vacuum chamber. A drive mechanism within the vacuum chamber is used to adjust a partial horizontal overlap between at least two blades, wherein a perimeter of the aperture opening is defined by edges of said blades. In one embodiment, a variable aperture mechanism includes first and second blades attached to a first support, and third and fourth blades attached to a second support. The first blade is spaced vertically above the second blade on the first support; a second support, and the fourth blade is spaced vertically above the third blade on the second support. There is a partial horizontal overlap between the first and third blades and between the fourth and second blades, and the aperture opening has a perimeter defined by edges of the four blades. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08278617B2
A cargo shipment security system includes a flexible body configured to completely enclose and contain cargo within an internal environment having a predetermined pressure. The system includes a sealable vacuum port disposed on and through the body and configured to couple with a vacuum source for creating a vacuum within the internal environment. The system includes one or more sealable ports disposed on and through the body, positioned to cause a turbulent flow through a predetermined volume of the internal environment of the body when the vacuum source is applied at the vacuum port and fluid is caused to enter the internal environment. The system includes one or more detectors positioned to intercept fluid flowing from the internal environment to an external environment outside the body, in such a way as to enable detection of the presence of a substance exiting from the internal environment.
US08278615B2
An imaging system according to the present invention includes: a light source unit which emits illuminating light to illuminate an object; an illuminating-light transmitting unit which transmits the illuminating light; a timing adjustment unit which, being placed between the illuminating-light transmitting unit and the object, varies timing with which rays contained in the illuminating light which has passed through the illuminating-light transmitting unit reach a surface of the object; a reflected-light incidence unit upon which reflected light coming from the surface of the object is incident; a light detection unit which temporally breaks down the reflected light incident upon the reflected-light incidence unit, converts the reflected light into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal in sequence; and a signal processing unit which converts the electrical signal outputted in sequence by the light detection unit into pixel information about an optical image on the surface of the object.
US08278610B2
The resonance chamber (1) has the form of an elongated closed shape. Microwave generators are fastened to the walls (1.1,1.2) of the chamber (1), their antennae (3,4) directed to the inside of the chamber (1). The microwave generators with antennae (3) are fastened to the chamber wall (1.1), while the microwave generators with antennae (4) are fastened to the wall (1.2) of the resonance chamber. The microwave generators on the wall (1.1) of the chamber are fastened so that in an orthogonal projection into the opposite wall of the chamber the antennae of two neighboring magnetrons are situated on the opposite sides of the product flow conduit (2). The antennae (3) of the successive magnetrons of the first series are situated alternately on the left and on the right side of the product flow conduit (2). Similarly distributed are the antennae (4) of the successive magnetrons of the second row.
US08278602B2
A heating element includes a base material and a heater disposed on the base material, which can be deformed to accommodate a part of the heater. A steering wheel equipped with the heating element is free from surface protrusions caused by the heater. Employment of a linear heater reduces connections between the heater and power supply lines, and a high connecting reliability is obtained. The steering wheel includes the heating element and the power lines, and connections between the heating element and the power lines are disposed in the boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is further provided with a temperature detector, a temperature detector heater and a temperature controller, and the detector and the detector heater are disposed in the boss portion. Thus, a steering wheel with a good grip and a good appearance can be provided at a low cost.
US08278599B2
A welding wire feed drive system is provided including belts mounted on wire drive rollers. One or both belts may be poly-V belts mounted on the rollers and positioned such that grooves of the belts are outward facing. Opposing grooves and projections of the belts may form an interfacing or interlocking arrangement suitable for the securement of a welding wire therein. The grooves and projections of the belts may be utilized to facilitate the movement of the welding wire towards a welding application.
US08278598B2
Methods and systems for resistance spot welding using direct current micro pulses are described. One described method comprises comprising forming a weld joint by applying a plurality of direct current micro pulses to at least two pieces of materials through a first electrode and a second electrode.
US08278596B2
An apparatus for forming a pattern using a laser is provided. The apparatus includes a pattern storing unit, a controller, a laser oscillating unit, an X-Y driver, a header unit, and a stage. The pattern storing unit stores data on light guide patterns of a discontinuous straight line shape. The controller transmits position signal of the light guide patterns to the X-Y driver and simultaneously, transmits a switching signal to the laser oscillating unit. The laser oscillating unit outputs a laser beam synchronized with a movement of the header unit. The X-Y driver moves the header unit and the stage. The header unit moves along a first guide rail. The stage moves along a fixed second guide rail in the front and rear direction of the light guide panel.
US08278594B2
A method and an apparatus for perforating a printed circuit board are provided so that the processing efficiency and the board densification can be improved. In test processing, a conductor layer 50i is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam 4a whose energy density is set at a value high enough to process the conductor layer 50i while emission 23a from a processed portion is monitored. Thus, the number of pulses of irradiation required for processing a window in the conductor layer 50i is obtained. An insulating layer 51i is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam 5a whose energy density is set at a value high enough to process the insulating layer 51i but low enough not to process a conductor layer 50i+1 under the insulating layer 51i. Thus, the number of pulses of irradiation required for processing a window in the insulating layer 51i is obtained. The conductor layer 50i is irradiated with the laser beam 4a the obtained number of pulses of irradiation, and the insulating layer 51i is irradiated with the laser beam 5a the obtained number of pulses of irradiation. Thus, a hole is processed in the printed circuit board.
US08278590B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for laser micro-machining, which may include dividing a long line illumination field into a plurality of individual fields, wherein each of the plurality of fields includes an aspect ratio of about 4:1 or greater, directing the plurality of individual fields onto at least one mask, wherein each individual field illuminates a corresponding area on the mask and translating the mask and/or workpiece relative to one another along a scan axis.
US08278587B2
A welding system and method includes a main torch including a main electrode configured to form a first arc with a base metal; a first bypass torch including a first bypass electrode configured to form a second arc with the main electrode; and a second bypass torch including a second bypass electrode configured to form a third arc with the main electrode.
US08278581B2
A system and method designed to transport and package sequenced product. The system includes a first transport system for receiving and transporting, in a closed position, holders each of which contain product. A second transport system transports, in the closed position, the holders until each of the holders are aligned within a respective release position, at which operational stage the second transport system is capable of opening the holders to discharge the product in a sequenced order. A packager receives the discharged product and packages the product in the sequenced order.
US08278563B1
Method and apparatuses directed to printed circuit boards (PCB) including plated through-holes for interconnecting to plating busses are described herein. A PCB strip may include an inner circuitry layer comprising a plurality of trace lines, and a top circuitry layer formed over the inner circuitry layer, the top circuitry layer including a plating bus, and at least one plated through-hole interconnecting the plating bus to one or more trace lines of the inner circuitry layer. The plating bus of the top circuitry layer and the plated through-holes may be located within at least one saw street of the PCB strip.
US08278553B2
A harness module structure includes a module mounting portion, which is formed upon an obverse surface of a steering support member, which extends in approximately the direction of the width of a vehicle. A harness module is installed upon the module mounting portion. The harness module includes a harness module body proper, and a module cover, which is mounted upon the harness module body proper. The harness module body proper is enclosed by the module cover and the module mounting portion, and the module cover includes a grounding portion with respect to the module mounting portion, such that the harness module body proper has an interstice with respect to the module mounting portion, and is supported in a non-contact state thereupon, by way of the grounding portion.
US08278546B2
A mobile terminal having a disc-like interface and a controlling method thereof allows various functions to be controlled and pre-stored sound effects are outputted when performing music playback music such that an improved user interface and more intuitive control can be provided.
US08278545B2
A morphed musical piece generation system that enables even a user with little knowledge of music to easily generate a morphed musical piece between two different musical pieces is provided. A first intermediate time-span tree data generation section 6 selectively removes difference information between common time-span tree data and first time-span tree data from the first time-span tree data.Also, a second intermediate time-span tree data generation section 7 performs the same operation to obtain second intermediate time-span tree data. A data combining section combines the first intermediate time-span tree data and the second intermediate time-span tree data to generate combined time-span tree data. A musical piece data generation section generates a morphed musical piece on the basis of the combined time-span tree data.
US08278543B2
A system, method, and apparatus for learning music through an educational audio track embodied on a computer readable medium are presented. The system can have components including a processor, an input device, a database, a transformation module, an emulation recording module, an integration engine, an output module, and an output device, wherein each component is operable in itself to perform it's function in the system and operable with other system components to provide a system to a user for learning music.
US08278532B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH958300. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH958300, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH958300 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH958300.
US08278531B1
A soybean cultivar designated 01166158 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 01166158, to the plants of soybean cultivar 01166158, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 01166158, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 01166158. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 01166158. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 01166158, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 01166158 with another soybean cultivar.
US08278528B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP49006 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP49006, cells from soybean variety XBP49006, plants of soybean XBP49006, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP49006. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP49006 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP49006, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP49006. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP49006 are further provided.
US08278527B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP42002 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP42002, cells from soybean variety XBP42002, plants of soybean XBP42002, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP42002. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP42002 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP42002, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP42002. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP42002 are further provided.
US08278523B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB31A10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB31A10, cells from soybean variety XB31A10, plants of soybean XB31A10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB31A10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB31A10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB31A10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB31A10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB31A10 are further provided.
US08278521B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP30004 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP30004, cells from soybean variety XBP30004, plants of soybean XBP30004, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP30004. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP30004 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP30004, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP30004. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP30004 are further provided.
US08278514B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016515. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016515. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016515 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016515 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08278512B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015631. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015631. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015631 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015631 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08278505B2
The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D, but also to a pyridyloxyacetate herbicide. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention “stacked” together with one or more other herbicide resistance genes. The subject invention enables novel combinations of herbicides to be used in new ways. Furthermore, the subject invention provides novel methods of preventing the development of, and controlling, strains of weeds that are resistant to one or more herbicides such as glyphosate. The preferred enzyme and gene for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD-13 (AryloxyAlkanoate Dioxygenase). This highly novel discovery is the basis of significant herbicide tolerant crop trait and selectable marker opportunities.
US08278503B1
A novel maize variety designated X08A106 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A106 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A106 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A106, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A106. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A106.
US08278499B2
Disclosed is a nonhuman animal showing the symptoms of human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis which is obtained by transplanting human hepatocytes into an immunodeficient hepatopathic nonhuman animal to produce a chimeric nonhuman animal and then transplanting human hepatocytes that are propagated in the body of the chimeric nonhuman animal into an immunodeficient hepatopathic nonhuman animal of the same species as the immunodeficient hepatopathic nonhuman animal described above, as well as a nonhuman animal showing the symptoms of human fatty liver which is obtained by transplanting human hepatocytes into an immunodeficient hepatopathic nonhuman animal to produce a chimeric nonhuman animal.
US08278498B2
A method for producing immortalized antibody-secreting cells, comprising: (a) providing a transgenic animal having antibody-secreting cells capable of expressing one or more transgenes, wherein the antibody-secreting cells are in a non-immortalized state in the absence of a stimulus and are capable of changing to an immortalized state by means of the transgene or transgenes upon exposure of the cells to the stimulus; (b) extracting the antibody-secreting cells from the animal; and (c) exposing the antibody-secreting cells to the stimulus, thereby immortalizing the antibody secreting cells by means of the transgene or transgenes.
US08278485B2
A process for obtaining therapeutically active 2-[4-(3- and 2-(fluorobenzyloxy)benzylamino]propanamides and their salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids with high purity degree, in particular, with a content of dibenzyl derivatives impurities lower than 0.03%, preferably lower than 0.01% by weight.The process is carried out by submitting the Schiff bases intermediates 2-[4-(3- and 2-fluorobenzyloxy)benzylideneamino]propanamides to catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst in a protic organic solvent.
US08278484B2
Disclosed is a process for preparing anti-inflammatory compound nepafenac comprising preparing a compound of formula (V) wherein a N-halosuccinimide is used as the halogenating agent, followed by desulfurization using Raney Nickel. Also disclosed is a polymorphic form B of 2-amino-3-benzoyl-α-(methylthio)-benzeneacetamide (i.e., a compound of formula (V) wherein R is methyl
US08278477B2
The method for making a phosphorus ylide produces the ylide 2,3-bismethoxycarbonyl-4-phenyl-5-arylhydrazono-cyclopenta-1,3-dienyl-triphenylphosphonium in pure form by simple recrystallization of the reaction product. 3-Oxo-3-phenyl-2-(arylhydrozono)propanal and dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate are mixed in dichloromethane at room temperature. After cyclization of the intermediate (preferably at least two hours), triphenylphosphine is added to the mixture, ultimately resulting in formation of 2,3-bismethoxycarbonyl-4-phenyl-5-arylhydrazono-cyclopenta-1,3-dienyl-triphenylphosphonium. The product is recrystallized to produce 2,3-bismethoxycarbonyl-4-phenyl-5-arylhydrazono-cyclopenta-1,3-dienyl-triphenylphosphonium in pure form and in high yield. The aryl group may be any aromatic or aliphatic group.
US08278474B2
A process is described for separating mixtures of isomeric pentenenitriles, in which at least one isomer is removed from the mixture, wherein the separation of the substance mixtures of isomeric pentenenitriles is effected distillatively under reduced pressure.
US08278470B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a trialkyl gallium comprising the steps of reacting gallium, magnesium, and an alkyl halide in an ether, and diluting during the reaction the reaction system with an ether; a method for producing a trialkyl gallium comprising the steps of heating in a vacuum a mixture of magnesium and molten gallium, and reacting the mixture with an alkyl halide in a solvent; and a method for producing a trialkyl gallium comprising the step of reacting an alkyl metal with an alkylgallium halide compound represented by the formula Ga2RmX6−m wherein R is a methyl or ethyl group, X is a halogen atom, and m is an integer from 1 to 5.
US08278469B2
The invention relates to 17-hydroxy-17-pentafluoroethyl-estra-4,9(10)-dien-11-aryl derivatives of Formula I with progesterone antagonizing action and method of production thereof, use thereof for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and use thereof for the production of medicinal products for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular of fibroids of the uterus (myomas, uterine leiomyoma), endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeds, meningiomas, hormone-dependent breast cancers and complaints associated with the menopause or for fertility control and emergency contraception.
US08278463B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of pure Duloxetine hydrochloride. The present invention further relates to duloxetine hydrochloride substantially free of residual hydrochloric acid.
US08278461B2
The present invention provides a novel stable amorphous form of carvedilol dihydrogen phosphate and the process for its preparation that involves reaction of carvedilol base with ortho phosphoric acid in the presence of stabilizer in a suitable solvent or mixture of solvents followed by concentration and isolation. An alternate process for preparation of amorphous form of carvedilol dihydrogen phosphate involves addition of stabiliser to the solution of stable amorphous or crystalline carvedilol dihydrogen phosphate in a suitable solvent or mixture of solvents followed by concentration and isolation. The novel stable amorphous form of carvedilol dihydrogen phosphate is highly stable.
US08278457B2
The invention is directed to a class of compounds, including the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds, having the structure of formula I: as defined in the specification. The invention is also directed to compositions containing and uses of the compounds of formula I.
US08278453B2
The present invention is directed to quinolizidinone compounds of formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases mediated by the M1 receptor.
US08278450B2
Compounds are provided for use with kinases that comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of: wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds; methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds; and methods of using said compounds.
US08278445B2
Preparation method of a compound of general formula (I) comprises the following steps: (1) a compound of general formula (II) reacts with a formylating agent in an aprotic solvent at a temperature between −20° C. and 200° C. in the presence of a Lewis acid, then an organic base is added to promote the reaction to obtain an intermediate product; (2) the above intermediate product reacts with a methylating agent in the presence of an alkali at a temperature between −20° C. and 100° C. to obtain the compound of formula (I).
US08278439B2
A method of making a phosphono-substituted dipyrromethane comprises reacting an aldehyde or acetal having at least one phosphono group substituted thereon with pyrrole to produce a phosphono-substituted dipyrromethane; and wherein the phosphono is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl phosphono, diaryl phosphono, and dialkylaryl phosphono. Additional methods, intermediates and products are also described.
US08278433B2
The present invention provides novel canine pol I regulatory nucleic acid sequences useful for the expression of nucleic acid sequences in canine cells such as MDCK cells. The invention further provides expression vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acids as well as methods of using such nucleic acids to make influenza viruses, including infectious influenza viruses.
US08278430B2
The invention relates to Glycoprotein VI (GPVI), its isolation, purification, and methods for recombinant production. Especially, the invention relates to the use of GPVI, preferably recombinant GPVI, in the treatment of disorders and pathological events correlated directly or indirectly to blood coagulation disorders such as thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases. The extracellular recombinant protein can also be used for establishing screening assays to find potential inhibitors of the membrane bound GPVI in order to inhibit binding of thrombocytes and platelets, respectively, to collagen. Changes in GPVI can be used to monitor platelet age and exposure to thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases.
US08278424B2
Antibodies and molecules derived therefrom that bind to novel PSCA protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein PSCA exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, PSCA provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The PSCA gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with PSCA can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08278423B2
The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies and fragment thereof directed against the human Anti-Müllerian Hormone type II receptor (AMHR-II) and their use for treating and diagnosing cancer diseases, such as ovarian cancers.
US08278421B2
The present invention relates to materials and methods for human antibodies specific for the peptide hormone gastrin and uses of these antibodies in the treatment of subjects having cancer and other conditions or disorders related to gastrin expression.
US08278416B1
The invention provides an isolated major ampullate spidroin protein, which consists of from 150 to 420 amino acid residues and is defined by the formula REP-CT. REP is a repetitive, N-terminally derived protein fragment having from 80 to 300 amino acid residues. CT is a C-terminally derived protein fragment having from 70 to 120 amino acid residues. The invention further provides an isolated fusion protein consisting of a first protein fragment, which is a major ampullate spidroin protein, and a second protein fragment comprising a fusion partner and a cleavage agent recognition site. The first protein fragment is coupled via said cleavage agent recognition site to the fusion partner. The invention also provides a method of producing a major ampullate spidroin protein and polymers thereof.
US08278409B2
Copolymers exhibiting the following combinations of properties, including without limitation, ε-caprolactone in an amount ranging from about 12 to about 70 mole percent, glycolide in an amount ranging from about 30 to about 88 mole percent, crystallinity ranging from about 10 to about 50% as measured by WAXD or about 10 to about 50 J/g as measured by DSC, and an inherent viscosity ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.45 dL/g as measured in a 0.1 g/dl solution of HFIP at 25° C.; a method for melt blowing such copolymers and nonwoven constructs produced therefrom are described herein.
US08278400B2
Polyamine cross-linked polysiloxanes, such as functionalized polysiloxane cross-linked with a polyalkylenepolyamine are described herein. The polyamine cross-linked polysiloxanes may be used in an antifouling composition to prevent biological fouling in marine environments.
US08278399B2
Processes for preparing siloxane-modified polyisocyanates, the processes comprising: providing a polyisocyanate reactant; and reacting the polyisocyanate reactant with a hydroxyl-containing siloxane having a number-average molecular weight of 200 to 3000 g/mol and an average OH functionality of greater than or equal to 1.8, and corresponding to the general formula (I): wherein X represents an aliphatic, unbranched or branched C1 to C20 radical optionally containing ether groups; R represents a hydroxyl-functional radical; R1 represents a hydrogen or an optionally heteroatom-containing C1 to C20 hydrocarbon radical; and n is 1 to 40; siloxane-modified polyisocyanates prepared thereby, and uses therefor.
US08278394B2
The invention relates to polymers comprising indenofluorene units or derivatives thereof, organic semiconductor (OSC) materials comprising them, their use in electronic or electrooptical devices, and devices comprising said polymers or materials.
US08278390B2
A coating composition contains a carbamate-functional film-forming material, a carbinol-functional, nonlinear siloxane resin, and an aminoplast crosslinking agent. The composition provides excellent high-bake repair adhesion of a repair-coating layer over the initial coating.
US08278389B2
It is an object of the present invention to improve drawbacks in conventional technology and provide a fiber-reinforced composite material having both an excellent static strength property and impact resistance, and an epoxy resin composition for obtaining the fiber-reinforced composite material. More particularly, it is the object of the present invention to provide the epoxy resin composition that gives a cured material having a high elastic modulus, a high heat resistance, a high plastic deformation capacity and a high toughness.The epoxy resin composition containing following [A] to [D], a prepreg obtained by impregnating a fiber substrate with the epoxy resin composition, a fiber-reinforced composite material obtained by curing the prepreg and a tubular body thereof. [A] 10 to 60 parts by weight of an amine type epoxy resin, [B] 40 to 90 parts by weight of a bisphenol-type epoxy resin, [C] 1 to 10 parts by weight of dicyandiamide or a derivative thereof, and [D] 1 to 10 parts by weight of at least one block copolymer selected from the group consisting of S-B-M, B-M and M-B-M.
US08278387B2
The invention provides a resin composition for laser engraving, containing at least (A) a polymerizable compound having two or more ethylenic unsaturated bonds, a carbon-sulfur bond being contained at the site where two among the two or more ethylenic unsaturated bonds are connected and (B) a binder polymer. The invention further provides an image forming material containing the resin composition, a relief printing plate precursor having a relief forming layer which contains the resin composition, a relief printing plate precursor having a relief forming layer which contains a product formed by subjecting the resin composition to cross-linking, a method for manufacturing a relief printing plate including subjecting the relief printing plate precursor having the relief forming layer which contains the resin composition to cross-linking, and a relief printing plate manufactured by the manufacturing method.
US08278383B2
A method for preparing a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprises combining a solvent and an unexfoliated organoclay to provide a first mixture, wherein the unexfoliated organoclay comprises alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, and has an initial spacing between the silicate layers; exposing the first mixture to an energized condition of a sufficient intensity and duration to increase the initial spacing of the inorganic silicate layers, to provide a second mixture; contacting the second mixture with a polymer composition so that the polymer composition fills at least one region located between at least one pair of silicate layers, wherein the polymer composition is at least partially soluble in the solvent; and removing at least a portion of the solvent from the second mixture, wherein the inorganic silicate layers remain separated by the polymer after removal of the solvent.
US08278377B2
A resin composition which is excellent in appearance, impact strength, hydrolysis resistance and drip prevention properties. The resin composition comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of an aromatic polycarbonate resin (component A), (B) 0.01 to 6 parts by weight of a polymer mixture (component B) obtained by suspension polymerizing a styrene monomer, a maleic anhydride monomer and an acrylic monomer in the presence of polytetrafluoroethylene particles, and (C) 0.01 to 30 parts by weight of a flame retardant (component C).
US08278373B2
Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment; processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.
US08278367B2
A subject-matter of the invention is an impression material with at least one compound with at least two alkenyl groups as component (a), at least one compound with at least one chelating group as component (b), at least one organohydropolysiloxane as component (c), at least one hydrosilylation catalyst as component (d) and at least one compound with a chelatable metal atom as component (e), the chelating group of the component (b) exhibiting no reactive groups which can react with the component (c) and/or the component (d).The invention achieves a long storage stability.
US08278363B2
A method of converting synthesis gas into Fischer-Tropsch products comprises: (a) charging synthesis gas to a reactor comprising a shell, having an inlet nozzle near one end for receiving synthesis gas and an outlet nozzle near the opposite end for discharging products, with a plurality of heat transfer tubes inside the shell, having associated therewith means to pass heat transfer fluids through the inside of said heat transfer tubes to remove heat, and whereby the outside surfaces of said tubes have a layer of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, (b) converting exothermically on said catalyst layer at least a portion of said synthesis gas to produce heat and Fischer-Tropsch products, (c) removing heat from said catalyst layer by passage of a heat transfer fluid through the inside of said tubes, and (d) recovering Fischer-Tropsch products from said reactor.
US08278362B2
A method for producing hydrocarbon fuels from environmentally friendly non-petroleum based sources using existing chemical reactions is disclosed. In this method, air is passed through a reactor containing amine and carbon dioxide mixture to produce carbon dioxide. The reactor containing amine and carbon dioxide mixture, a Sabatier reactor, a partial oxidation reactor and a Fischer-Tropsch reactor are in thermal contact with each other. Heat derived from the exothermic reactions is used to release carbon dioxide from the amine-carbon dioxide mixture. The resulting hydrocarbon fuel products are separated from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor and sold.
US08278360B2
Provided are a behavior-disrupting agent of Argentine ants for controlling them or suppressing their reproduction is a safer and more effective manner, and the behavior-disrupting method of them. More specifically, a behavior-disrupting agent of Argentine ants comprising Z-9-hexadecenal, and a behavior-disrupting method of Argentine ants comprising a step of using the behavior-disrupting agent are provided based on the finding that the behavior of Argentine ants is disrupted by emission of Z-9-hexadecenal, which is a trail pheromone, into the atmosphere.
US08278352B2
New pesticide compositions comprising an alkyl formate and an isothiocyanic ester are described, as are methods of delivering fumigants and methods of pest control using a combination of fumigants.
US08278349B2
Methods of treating cancer by administering effective amounts of a Ras antagonist comprising FTS, or analogs thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) to a patient are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions useful in treating cancer containing a Ras antagonist comprising FTS, or analogs thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and 2DG are also disclosed.
US08278346B2
Di-tin fused thiophene (FT) compounds, FT polymers, such as of the formula -{-(FTx)-(Ar)m-}n-, FT polymer containing articles or devices, and methods for making and using the FT compounds and polymers thereof of the formulas, as defined herein.
US08278343B2
This invention relates to a class of pyrrolidine compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, to their use in medicine, to compositions containing them, and to processes for their preparation. It also relates to intermediates used in the preparation of such compounds and derivatives. In particular the compounds of formula (I) are useful for the treatment of EP2-mediated conditions, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids (leiomyomata), menorrhagia, adenomyosis, primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea (including symptoms of dyspareunia, dyschexia and chronic pelvic pain), chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
US08278340B2
Disclosure is provided for methods of preventing, removing or inhibiting microbial biofilm formation or microbial infection in a plant or plant part thereof, including applying thereto a treatment effective amount of an active compound as described herein, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. Methods of enhancing a microbicide (e.g., including a copper, antibiotic, bacteriophage, etc.) and/or plant defense activator are also provided, including applying an active compound as described herein. Compositions comprising an active compound as described herein in an agriculturally acceptable carrier are also provided, and in some embodiments the compositions further include a microbicide (e.g., including copper, antibiotic, bacteriophage, etc.) and/or plant defense activator.
US08278336B2
The present invention relates to new CGRP-antagonists of general formulae Ia and Ib wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined as mentioned below, the tautomers, the isomers, the diastereomers, the enantiomers, the hydrates, the mixtures and the salts thereof as well as the hydrates of the salts, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, the use thereof and processes for the preparation thereof.
US08278332B2
The photostabilizing electronic excited state energy—particularly singlet state energy from retinoid compounds—has been found to be readily transferred to (accepted by) α-cyanodiphenylacrylate compounds having an alkoxy radical in the four (para) position (hereinafter “alkoxycrylenes”) on one of the phenyl rings having the formula (I): wherein one of R1 and R2 is a straight or branched chain C1-C30 alkoxy radical, preferably C1-C8, more preferably methoxy, and the non-alkoxy radical R1 or R2 is hydrogen; and R3 is a straight or branched chain C1-C30 alkyl radical, preferably C2-C20. The alkoxycrylene compounds of formula (I) significantly increase the photostability of retinoid compounds in a composition by at least 3-fold.
US08278331B2
Compounds of the present invention find utility in the treatment of mammalian cancers and especially human cancers including, but not limited to, malignant melanomas, solid tumors, glioblastomas, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancers, breast cancers, kidney cancers, hepatic cancers, cervical carcinomas, metastasis of primary tumor sites, myeloproliferative diseases, chronic myelogenous leukemia, leukemias, papillary thyroid carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, hypereosinophilic syndrome, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, colonic cancers, ocular diseases characterized by hyperproliferation leading to blindness including various retinopathies, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mastocytosis, mast cell leukemia, and diseases caused by PDGFR-α kinase, PDGFR-β kinase, c-KIT kinase, cFMS kinase, c-MET kinase, and oncogenic forms, aberrant fusion proteins and polymorphs of any of the foregoing kinases.
US08278326B2
Inhibitors of Protein Phosphatase-1 have been shown to slow replication of HIV-1. Inhibitors of PP 1 and their use for treatment or prevention of HIV-1 infections are disclosed.
US08278324B2
The present invention relates to novel oxadiazole derivatives having pharmacological activity, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of various disorders.
US08278321B2
The present disclosure characterizes the activity of Golgicide A (GCA), as a potent, specific and reversible small molecule inhibitor of Golgi BFA resistance factor 1 (GBF1) function. A mutant GBF1 gene that is resistant to GCA is also described. Methods of using GCA and the GCA-resistant GBF1 gene are described including methods for modulating GBF1 activity for research and therapeutic purposes. Also described are compositions incorporating a GCA-resistant GBF1.
US08278315B2
A method of treating living mammals including humans uses x-rays to disrupt DNA in malfunctioning cells such as cancerous or tumorous cells. A compound comprising a pre-selected element is administered to the mammal so that the compound associates with DNA. Then a localized region of cells which contains the malfunctioning cells is irradiated with line emission x-rays of an energy selected to cause emission of Auger electrons from the pre-selected element of the compound to disrupt DNA proximate to the irradiated pre-selected element. A kit useful for the treatment comprises an x-ray tube capable of emitting monochromatic line emission x-rays and a compound which associates with DNA and has an element which when irradiated emits said Auger electrons.
US08278313B2
Macrocyclic Spiro pyrimidine compounds of formula (I): compositions comprising such compounds, methods for making the compounds, and methods of treating and preventing the progression of diseases, conditions, and disorders using such compounds and compositions are described herein.
US08278311B2
The present application describes substituted pyrimidine compounds of formula (I) wherein X, A1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, p, q, r, v, and w are defined in the specification, compositions comprising such compounds, methods for making the compounds, and methods of treating and preventing the progression of diseases, conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US08278304B2
The present invention relates to substituted 4-hydroxypyrimidine-5-carboxamides useful as HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia and like conditions.
US08278302B2
Object of the present invention are novel substituted compounds of the formula 1, wherein A, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined as in the description. Another object of the present invention is to provide antagonists of CCR3, more particularly to provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of the compounds of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08278300B2
The present invention is concerned with the use of PDE5 inhibitors in medicine.
US08278298B2
A composition and use thereof for the prophylaxis or treatment of Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone disease, Lewy body disease, Pick's disease or progressive supranuclear palsy. The composition includes an agent which modulates or inhibits tau-tau association and which does not inhibit tau-tubulin binding. In the method the agent is administered to an individual in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Preferably the agent which is administered is a phenothiazine compound.
US08278293B2
The invention relates to diazo bicyclic mimetics of Smac which function as inhibitors of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins. The invention also relates to the use of these mimetics for inducing apoptotic cell death and for sensitizing cells to inducers of apoptosis.
US08278291B1
The invention relates to the treatment of wrinkles in the face, wrinkles at open-necked regions, pregnancy strias, and stretched strias on the lower abdomen, thighs or buttocks with a steroidal aromatase inhibitor which also has 5-alpha reductase inhibitor activity which is 4-hydroxyandrostenedione or a derivative thereof.
US08278290B2
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I) as tublin polymerization inhibitors and methods for preparing such compounds.
US08278284B2
The present invention provides novel methods for treating diseases associated with apoptotic degeneration in ocular tissue cells by effective administration of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF). The present inventors studied PEDF as a means to prevent ganglion cell death, the final pathology of glaucoma. The present invention is particularly focused on SIV vectors for effective methods for delivering PEDF, and constructed an SIV-PEDF vector. When the SIV-PEDF vector was administered subretinally to an ischemia reperfusion model and NMDA-induced model, a significant suppression effect on ganglion cell death was observed. The present inventors therefore discovered that the SIV-PEDF vector is an effective pharmaceutical agent for treating diseases associated with apoptotic degeneration in ocular tissue cells, such as glaucoma.
US08278280B2
The present invention relates to composition of matter involving bradykinin B1 receptor antagonist peptides conjugated to a multivalent vehicle, including peptides conjugated to multivalent PEG. These compositions can be used as therapeutics or prophylactics against diseases or conditions, such as inflammation or pain, linked to the bradykinin B1 receptor.
US08278279B2
The present disclosure includes methods and compositions for treating any condition involving prostatitis and similar diseases and/or conditions. These methods and compositions involve the use of targeted modified pore-forming proteins, including variant proaerolysin proteins.
US08278275B2
The present invention relates to methods for enhancing the hemodynamic stability of an individual undergoing surgery by administering a composition comprising a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of polyalkylene oxide modified hemoglobins with reduced cooperativity and a high oxygen affinity to enhance oxygen offloading as a preventative measure to avoid hemodynamic stability-related complications during surgery.
US08278274B2
Fibrin-binding peptides having high binding affinity and excellent physical characteristics compared to previously known fibrin-binding peptides are provided. These fibrin-binding peptides may be conjugated to a detectable label or a therapeutic agent and used to detect and facilitate treatment of pathological conditions associated with the presence of fibrin such as thrombic, angiogenic and neoplastic conditions. These peptides may be used in imaging processes such as MRI, ultrasound and nuclear medicine imaging (e.g. PET, scintigraphic imaging, etc.). The peptides may also be used therapeutically. The present invention also provides processes and methods for making and using such peptides and conjugates thereof.
US08278267B2
Compositions and methods for preventing, treating or controlling conditions or disorders associated with obesity, diet and nutrition are provided. The methods provided generally involve the administration of an Amylin or an Amylin agonist to a subject in order to prevent, treat or control conditions or disorders associated with obesity, diet and nutrition.
US08278265B2
The present invention refers to uses of crotamine and compositions containing it, based on its characteristic of interaction with genetic material. Under submicromolar quantities, the polypeptide is no longer toxic, presenting the characteristics properties of cell penetration, transport of molecules to the surface, cytoplasm or cell nucleus and particularly, selective cell penetration.The invention also refers to compositions comprising a pharmaceutically effective concentration of crotamine and its use for the treatment of diseases and dysfunctions, based on its characteristics of interaction with genetic material, such as DNA and RNA, and cell selectivity.Further, the invention refers to a kit comprising crotamine as a reagent to: (i) transfect or carry molecules to the surface, cytoplasm or nucleus of the cell or (ii) identify and select actively proliferating cells in a homogeneous and/or mixed cell population, particularly the ones originated from the umbilical cord and/or bone marrow and others undifferentiated cells such as progenitors and stem cells from different sources of organism and cancer cells.
US08278264B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing delivery of drugs and other agents across epithelial tissues, including into and across ocular tissues and the like. The compositions and methods are also useful for delivery across endothelial tissues, including the blood brain barrier. The compositions and methods employ a delivery enhancing transporter that has sufficient guanidino or amidino sidechain moieties to enhance delivery of a compound conjugated to the reagent across one or more layers of the tissue, compared to the non-conjugated compound. The delivery-enhancing polymers include, for example, poly-arginine molecules that are preferably between about 6 and 25 residues in length (for example, SEQ ID NO:86).
US08278256B2
Polymers of formula Q-O-[A-B]z-[A-B′]z-A-Q′ (I) wherein: A=-(X)a—O-A′-(X′)b— with A′=perfluoropolyether chain and X, X′=—CF2—, —CF2CF2—; a, b=0.1 with the proviso that a=1 if A is linked to Q-O—; b=0 when A is linked to Q′; B derives from homopolymerizable olefins by radical route, of formula: —[(CR1R2—CR3R4)j(CR5R6—CR7R8)j′]— (Ia) wherein j is an integer from 1 to 30, j′ is an integer from 0 to 29 with the proviso that (j+j′) is higher than 2 and lower than 30; R1-R8 are halogen; H; C1-C6 (per)haloalkyl; C1-C6 alkyl; or C1-C6 oxy(per)fluoroalkyl; B′=B but at least one among R1-R8 has a meaning different from that in B; z, z′ are such that the number average molecular weight of the polymer of formula (I) is between 500 and 150,000; Q, Q′=C1-C3 (per)fluoroalkyl or functional end group —(CFW)-Dq-Tk; W=F, CF3; k and q are integers, k ranges from 1 to 4, q is an integer and is equal to 0 or 1; with the proviso that at least one of Q, Q′ is functional end group.
US08278253B2
The resistance to oxidation of a lubricating oil is enhanced by the addition to the lubricating oil of an additive amount of an ionic liquid.
US08278250B2
Methods of using relative permeability modifiers for the diversion of aqueous fluids during subterranean operations are provided. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of diverting fluids in a subterranean formation that may comprise providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a relative permeability modifier that comprises water-soluble polymer with hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification; introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; and at least a first portion of the treatment fluid to penetrate into a portion of the subterranean formation so as to substantially divert a second portion of the treatment fluid or another aqueous treatment fluid to another portion of the subterranean.
US08278246B2
Bacterial compositions effective for inhibiting fungal diseases of potatoes and/or potato sprouting are produced by co-culture of two or more of Pseudomonas fluorescens (NRRL B-21133), Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar (NRRL B-21053), Pseudomonas fluorescens (NRRL B-21102) and Enterobacter cloacae (NRRL B-21050). Compositions produced by co-culture of these bacteria together in the same culture medium are significantly more effective for inhibiting fungi-induced diseases of potatoes and/or inhibiting sprouting of potatoes, than blends or mixtures of the same bacteria cultured separately.
US08278245B2
The present invention relates to aqueous-containing pesticide concentrates containing an ionic nitrate salt additive as a corrosion inhibitor as well as pesticide compositions prepared from these concentrates and to the use of said compositions for controlling pests.
US08278237B2
A catalyst for producing aromatic compounds from lower hydrocarbons while improving activity life stability of methane conversion rate; benzene formation rate; naphthalene formation rate; and total formation rate of benzene, toluene and xylene is formed by loading molybdenum and copper on metallo-silicate serving as a substrate and then calcining the metallo-silicate. When the catalyst is reacted with a reaction gas containing lower hydrocarbons and carbonic acid gas, aromatic compounds are produced. In order to obtain the catalyst, it is preferable that molybdenum and copper are loaded on zeolite formed of metallo-silicate after the zeolite is treated with a silane compound larger than a pore of the zeolite in diameter and having an amino group and a straight-chain hydrocarbon group, the amino group being able to selectively react with the zeolite at a Bronsted acid point of the zeolite. It is preferable that a loaded amount of molybdenum is within a range of from 2 to 12 wt. % based on total amount of the calcined catalyst while copper is loaded at a copper to molybdenum molar ratio of 0.01 to 0.8.
US08278233B2
A translucent polycrystalline sintered body is mainly composed of an alumina, is suitable for the manufacture of an arc tube for a high-intensity discharge lamp, and has an average grain diameter of 35 to 70 μm, preferably 50 to 60 μm. In a case where the sintered body is in a 0.5-mm-thick flat plate shape, the in-line transmittance of the sintered body is 30% or more, preferably 50% or more. In this case, the ratio between maximum and minimum in-line transmittance values is 2:1 to 1:1 in the visible region of 360 to 830 nm. The bending strength of the sintered body is 250 MPa or more, preferably 300 MPa or more.
US08278224B1
Methods and apparatus for filling gaps on partially manufactured semiconductor substrates with dielectric material are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods include introducing a first process gas into the processing chamber and accumulating a second process gas in an accumulator maintained at a pressure level substantially highest than that of the processing chamber pressure level. The second process gas is then rapidly introduced from the accumulator into the processing chamber. An excess amount of the second process gas may be provided in the processing chamber during the introduction of the second process gas. Flowable silicon-containing films forms on a surface of the substrate to at least partially fill the gaps.
US08278212B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory element including a chalcogenide material layer and an electrode layer, each having an improved adhesion, and a sputtering apparatus thereof. One embodiment of the present invention is the method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory element including: a first step of forming the chalcogenide material layer (113); and a second step of forming a second electrode layer (114b) on the chalcogenide material layer (113) by sputtering through the use of a mixed gas of a reactive gas and an inert gas, while applying a cathode voltage to a target. In the second step, introduction of the reactive gas is carried out at a flow rate ratio included in a hysteresis area (40) appearing in the relationship between a cathode voltage applied to the cathode and the flow rate ratio of the reactive gas in the mixed gas.
US08278209B2
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the device include connecting a second wafer to a first wafer, forming a hard mask layer on and/or over a backside of the second wafer, forming a hard mask pattern over the second layer and then forming a via hole by etching the first and the second wafers to a predetermined depth using the hard mask pattern as an etching mask.
US08278205B2
The present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a conductor and an insulating film on a substrate, the method including the steps of forming the conductor on the substrate, forming the insulating film on the conductor, removing the insulating film on the conductor, and blowing an organosilane gas and a hydrogen gas to reduce an oxidized region on the conductor, wherein the oxidized region on the conductor is formed when the insulating film is removed.
US08278204B2
It is required that a line width of a wiring is prevented from being wider to be miniaturized when the wiring or the like is formed by a dropping method typified by an ink-jetting method. The invention provides a method for narrowing (miniaturizing) a line width according to a method different from a conventional method. One feature of the invention is that a plasma treatment is performed before forming a wiring or the like by a dropping method typified by an ink-jetting method. As the result of the plasma treatment, a surface for forming a conductive film is modified to be liquid-repellent. Consequently, a wiring or the like formed by a dropping method can be miniaturized.
US08278203B2
Methods for fabricating control gates in non-volatile storage are disclosed. When forming stacks for floating gate memory cells and transistor control gates, a sacrificial material may be formed at the top of the stacks. After insulation is formed between the stacks, the sacrificial material may be removed to reveal openings. In some embodiments, cutouts are then formed in regions in which control gates of transistors are to be formed. Metal is then formed in the openings, which may include the cutout regions. Therefore, floating gate memory cells having at least partially metal control gates and transistors having at least partially metal control gates may be formed in the same process. A barrier layer may be formed prior to depositing the metal in order to prevent silicidation of polysilicon in the control gates.
US08278200B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, said operations including: depositing a first layer having a first metal on a surface of a semiconductor structure, where depositing the first layer creates a first intermix region at an interface of the first layer and the semiconductor structure; removing a portion of the deposited first layer to expose the first intermix region; depositing a second layer having a second metal on the first intermix region, where depositing the second layer creates a second intermix region at an interface of the second layer and the first intermix region; removing a portion of the deposited second layer to expose the second intermix region; and performing at least one anneal on the semiconductor structure.
US08278197B2
The invention provides a method to enhance the programmability of a prompt-shift device, which reduces the programming time to sub-millisecond times, by altering the extension and halo implants, instead of simply omitting the same from one side of the device as is the case in the prior art prompt-shift devices. The invention includes an embodiment in which no additional masks are employed, or one additional mask is employed. The altered extension implant is performed at a reduced ion dose as compared to a conventional extension implant process, while the altered halo implant is performed at a higher ion dose than a conventional halo implant. The altered halo/extension implant shifts the peak of the electrical field to under an extension dielectric spacer.
US08278183B2
A description is given of a method for producing isolation trenches (32, 34) with different sidewall dopings on a silicon-based substrate wafer for use in the trench-isolated smart power technology. In this case, a first trench (32) having a first width and a second trench (34) having a second width which is greater than the first width are formed using a hard mask (30). The sidewalls of the first and second trenches are doped in accordance with a first doping type in order to produce sidewalls having a first doping. A material layer (50, 51, 60, 61) is deposited with a thickness determined so as to fill the first trench (32) completely up to and beyond the hard mask and to maintain the gap (34a) in the second trench (34). By means of isotropic etching the material layer is removed from the second trench, but residual material of the material layer is maintained in the first trench. A further doping of sidewalls of the first trench or of the second trench in the presence of the residual material is then performed.
US08278169B2
The present invention provides a technology capable of reducing an area occupied by a nonvolatile memory while improving the reliability of the nonvolatile memory. In a semiconductor device, the structure of a code flash memory cell is differentiated from that of a data flash memory cell. More specifically, in the code flash memory cell, a memory gate electrode is formed only over the side surface on one side of a control gate electrode to improve a reading speed. In the data flash memory cell, on the other hand, a memory gate electrode is formed over the side surfaces on both sides of a control gate electrode. By using a multivalued memory cell instead of a binary memory cell, the resulting data flash memory cell can have improved reliability while preventing deterioration of retention properties and reduce its area.
US08278166B2
A method of manufacturing a CMOS device includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a first gate structure and a second gate structure, each of the gate structures comprising a sacrificial layer and a hard mask layer; forming a patterned first protecting layer covering the first region and a first spacer on sidewalls of the second gate structure; performing an etching process to form first recesses in the substrate; performing a SEG process to form epitaxial silicon layers in each first recess; forming a patterned second protecting layer covering the second region; and performing a dry etching process with the patterned second protecting layer serving as an etching mask to etch back the patterned first protecting layer to form a second spacer on sidewalls of the first gate structure and to thin down the hard mask layer on the first gate structure.
US08278165B2
Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The methods include providing a semiconductor substrate having pFET and nFET regions, each having active areas and shallow trench isolation. A hardmask layer is formed overlying the semiconductor substrate. A photoresist layer is provided over the hardmask layer. The phoresist layer is patterned. An exposed portion of the hardmask layer is removed from one of the pFET region and nFET region with the patterned photoresist acting as an etch mask to define a masked region and an unmasked region. An epitaxial silicon layer is formed on the active area in the unmasked region. A protective oxide layer is formed overlying the epitaxial silicon layer. The hardmask layer is removed from the masked region with the protective oxide layer protecting the epitaxial silicon layer during such removal step. The protective oxide layer is removed from the epitaxial silicon layer.
US08278164B2
A semiconductor structure has embedded stressor material for enhanced transistor performance. The method of forming the semiconductor structure includes etching an undercut in a substrate material under one or more gate structures while protecting an implant with a liner material. The method further includes removing the liner material on a side of the implant and depositing stressor material in the undercut under the one or more gate structures.
US08278163B2
A semiconductor processing apparatus includes: a stage on which a substrate having a semiconductor film to be processed is to be mounted; a supply section that supplies a plurality of energy beams onto the semiconductor film mounted on the stage in such a way that irradiation points of the energy beams are aligned at given intervals; and a control section that moves the plurality of energy beams and the substrate relative to each other in a direction not in parallel to alignment of the irradiation points of the plurality of energy beams supplied by the supply section, and scans the semiconductor film with the irradiation points of the plurality of energy beams in parallel to thereby control a heat treatment on the semiconductor film.
US08278157B2
Methods for fabricating array substrates are provided. A method for fabricating an array substrate includes forming a first metal layer over a substrate and then patterned by a first photolithography to forming a gate line, a gate electrode connecting the gate line, and a pad over the substrate. An insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and an ohmic contact layer are formed over the substrate to cover the gate line, the gate electrode and the pad. The ohmic contact layer, the semiconductor layer, and portions of the insulating layer are patterned by a second photolithography to forming a semiconductor structure over the substrate and a via hole in the insulating layer over the pad to exposing a part of the pad.
US08278144B2
A solder mask for flip chip interconnection has a common opening that spans a plurality of circuit elements. The solder mask allows confinement of the solder during the remelt stage of interconnection, yet it is within common design rules for solder mask patterning. Also, a substrate for flip chip interconnection includes a substrate having the common opening that spans a plurality of circuit elements. Also, a flip chip package includes a substrate having a common opening that spans a plurality of circuit elements.
US08278141B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: fabricating an integrated circuit substrate; forming an internal stacking module coupled to the integrated circuit substrate including: forming a flexible substrate, coupling a stacking module integrated circuit to the flexible substrate, and bending a flexible extension over the stacking module integrated circuit; molding a package body on the integrated circuit substrate and the internal stacking module; and coupling an external integrated circuit to the internal stacking module exposed through the package body.
US08278140B2
A method for preparing IGZO particles and a method for preparing an IGZO thin film by using the IGZO particles are disclosed. The method for preparing the IGZO particles comprises the following steps: (A) providing a solution of metal acid salts, which contains a zinc salt, an indium salt, and a gallium salt; (B) mixing the solution of the metal acid salts with a basic solution to obtain an oxide precursor; and (C) heating the oxide precursor to obtain IGZO particles.
US08278139B2
A method and apparatus is provided for forming a resistive memory device having good adhesion among the components thereof. A first conductive layer is formed on a substrate, and the surface of the first conductive layer is treated to add adhesion promoting materials to the surface. The adhesion promoting materials may form a layer on the surface, or they may incorporate into the surface or merely passivate the surface of the first conductive layer. A variable resistance layer is formed on the treated surface, and a second conductive layer is formed on the variable resistance layer. Adhesion promoting materials may also be included at the interface between the variable resistance layer and the second conductive layer.
US08278134B2
The production method of a photoelectric conversion device comprises adding a chalcogenide powder of a group-IIIB element to an organic solvent including a single source precursor containing a group-IB element, a group-IIIB element, and a chalcogen element to prepare a solution for forming a semiconductor, and forming a semiconductor containing a group-I-III-VI compound by use of the solution for forming a semiconductor.
US08278132B2
The present invention provides an image sensor and a fabricating method thereof capable of approaching higher quantum efficiency and reducing cost. The method comprises: providing a substrate; forming a pixel region on a top surface of the substrate; forming an interlayer insulating layer and at least a metal line on the pixel region; forming an isolation carrier layer having a hole array therein on the interlayer insulating layer; grinding a lower surface of the substrate to reduce the thickness of the substrate; placing a plurality of conductors into the hole array to form a plurality of bumps on the isolation carrier layer.
US08278126B2
The present invention is intended to provide a method for manufacturing an organic EL device, which method can form a film having high barrier properties to water vapor or oxygen, while suppressing damage to an organic EL element, during formation of the film including inorganic layers for sealing the organic EL element. When an organic EL element (20) which is composed of a pair of electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes being transparent or translucent and an organic EL layer (22) which comprises a light-emitting layer held between the electrodes, and a sealing layer (30) which includes at least one layer of inorganic film being in contact with the organic EL element (20) and which seals the organic EL element (20) are formed on a substrate (10), a first sealing film (31) which is included in the sealing layer (30) and which is in contact with the organic EL element (20) is formed by ion beam sputtering method, and the other inorganic film which is included in the sealing layer (30) is formed by any method other than the ion beam sputtering method.
US08278125B2
A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate; silicon faceted structures formed on a top surface of the silicon substrate; and a group-III nitride layer over the silicon faceted structures. The silicon faceted structures are separated from each other, and have a repeated pattern.
US08278122B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a bottom electrode layer over a substrate; forming magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layers over the bottom electrode layer; patterning the MTJ layers to form a MTJ stack; forming a dielectric layer covering the MTJ stack; forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the MTJ stack; filling the opening with a top electrode material; and performing a planarization to the top electrode material. After the step of performing the planarization, the top electrode material and the dielectric layer are patterned, wherein a first portion of the top electrode material in the opening forms a top electrode, and a second portion of the top electrode material forms a metal strip over the dielectric layer and connected to the top electrode.
US08278116B2
This invention relates, inter alia, to detecting and/or measuring succinylacetone and one or more additional biological analytes using mass spectrometry.
US08278114B2
A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. A detecting apparatus may be configured so that light from luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a a first lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon an image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The detecting apparatus may further include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and/or a robot for handling of samples and reagents.
US08278112B2
The present invention provides reagents and methods for the introduction of analogues of methyl or acetyl lysine into histone proteins.
US08278109B2
The present invention related to a pregnancy test device that can selectively detect hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-H) in a liquid sample. The sample can be deposited on a proximal portion of the device for transport to a distal portion of the device. The device can include a release medium formed of a first material and including a detectable label thereon and a capture medium, including a capture site, in fluid communication with the release medium and formed of a second, different material. At least one of the release medium and the capture medium includes a binding member that exhibits a moderate to high affinity for hCG-H and is selectively or preferentially reactive with hCG-H.
US08278102B2
Viable progenitor cells are extracted from frozen umbilical cord tissue. In embodiments, the umbilical cord tissue is a blood vessel bearing perivascular Wharton's jelly, and the extracted progenitor cells are HUCPVCs.
US08278095B2
The invention is directed to substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, compositions comprising the substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, and to methods of creating such substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, as well as methods of use. The invention is further directed to antibodies, in particular, monoclonal antibodies, that bind to amnion-derived cells or, alternatively, to one or more amnion-derived cell surface protein markers. The invention is further directed to methods for producing the antibodies, methods for using the antibodies, and kits comprising the antibodies.
US08278093B2
The invention is related to polynucleotide-based cytomegalovirus vaccines. In particular, the invention is plasmids operably encoding HCMV antigens, in which the naturally-occurring coding regions for the HCMV antigens have been modified for improved translation in human or other mammalian cells through codon optimization. HCMV antigens which are useful in the invention include, but are not limited to pp65, glycoprotein B (gB), IE1, and fragments, variants or derivatives of either of these antigens. In certain embodiments, sequences have been deleted, e.g., the Arg435-Lys438 putative kinase in pp65 and the membrane anchor and endocellular domains in gB. The invention is further directed to methods to induce an immune response to HCMV in a mammal, for example, a human, comprising delivering a plasmid encoding a codon-optimized HCMV antigen as described above. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising plasmids encoding a codon-optimized HCMV antigen as described above, and further comprising adjuvants, excipients, or immune modulators.
US08278092B2
The invention is directed to novel reductive dehalogenase genes encoding for reductive dehalogenases which are capable of dehalogenating halogenated organic compounds and may be useful in the bioremediation of pollutants. In particular, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide of a novel vinyl chloride dehalogenase gene (bvcA). The novel vinyl chloride dehalogenase gene encodes a reductive dehalogenase that is capable of the complete reduction of vinyl chloride to ethene.
US08278087B2
The present invention relates to the field of degradation with hyperthermophilic organisms, and in particular to the use of hyperthermophilic degradation to produce heat and energy rich components including hydrogen and ethanol from a biomass. In some embodiments, a biomass is fermented in the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms to produce heat. The heat is used to heat a liquid which is used directly in a heat pump or radiant heat or to produce electricity or drive a steam turbine. In some embodiments, acetate is utilized as a substrate to produce energy by methanogenesis.
US08278086B2
The present invention is directed to a composition comprising a vanadium-containing phosphatase inhibitor and a polyol. In the presence of the polyol the effect of the inhibitor is enhanced, even in the presence of chelating agents or reducing agents. The invention also concerns the use of the inventive composition for inhibiting a phosphatase, as well as kits comprising the composition.
US08278082B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for robust and long-term sequestration of carbon. In particular, the present invention relates to sequestration of carbon as carbonates, using coccolithophorid algae grown using land-based aquaculture. The invention also relates to improved methods of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTCE).
US08278080B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing bioethanol from biomass. The feedstock for preparation of bioethanol, i.e. the biomass, is pretreated by a combination of chemical and physical methods. The method is advantageous in that detoxification is unnecessary since the substances that inhibit fermentation are not produced and acid reconcentration for recycling is not needed. Further, since the sonication makes saccharification easier, removal of lignin (delignification), which interferes with the saccharification of cellulose, is unnecessary. Accordingly, the present disclosure allows to produce bioethanol with high yield and at low cost in an environment-friendly manner.
US08278071B2
A method comprising subjecting one or more sample portion(s) to a single amplification step, thereby amplifying a single molecule in the sample portion to a detectable level, and, in some embodiments, then determining whether the sample portion contains at least one molecule of the target nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the sample portion is in a porous sample structure, or in a sample chamber which comprises means for minimizing diffusion of the sample portion, or in a sample chamber which is inside a microcapillary device, or in a sample retaining means.
US08278070B2
Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution, under alkaline conditions, in the presence of one or more organo-mercaptan and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.
US08278067B2
This invention provides a method of preventing or treating in a subject contact dermatitis which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a compound capable of inhibiting the stem cell factor signaling pathway effective to prevent or treating contact dermatitis so as to thereby prevent or treat contact dermatitis in the subject. This invention also provides a method of preventing or treating in a subject hyperpigmentation, asthma, cutaneous inflammation, anaphylaxis and bronchospasm, mastocytosis, tumors which express activated kit, and conception.
US08278064B2
Methods for detecting proteases by contacting a sample to be assayed with a substrate at least partially coated with a film of a synthetic polymeric matrix, and measuring a signal output of the substrate is provided herein.
US08278062B2
A method of producing one or more of a carbohydrate ester, a protein ester, a protein subunit ester or a hydroxyl acid ester, which method comprises admixing an acyl donor, an acyl acceptor and water to produce a high water environment comprising 5-98% water, wherein said acyl donor is a lipid substrate selected from one or more of the group consisting of a phospholipid, a lysophospholipid, a triacylglyceride, a diglyceride, a glycolipid or a lysoglycolipid and said acyl acceptor is selected from one ore more of the group consisting of a carbohydrate, a protein, a protein subunit, or a hydroxyl acid; and contacting the admixture with a lipid acyltransferase, such that said lipid acyl transferase catalyses one or both of the following reactions: alcoholysis or transesterification.
US08278054B2
An in vitro method for diagnosing a contact allergy in a subject comprises: (i) providing (a) a contact allergen; (b) T-cells from said subject; and (c) a surface to which is immobilized a first specific binding agent capable of specifically binding to a cytokine released from a T-cell in response to said allergen; (ii) contacting said sample with said allergen under conditions which are suitable for (a) release of said cytokine by T cells that have been presensitized in vivo to said allergen; and (b) binding of said cytokine to said first specific binding agent; and (iii) detecting binding of said substance to said first specific binding agent. A kit which enables the method to be carried out is also described.
US08278049B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for selectively enriching genomic CpG island (CGI)- and other epigenetically informative CG-rich polynucleotide targets. The method involves co-incubation of denatured or partially denatured polynucleotide fragments containing the CGI- or CG-targeted region(s) of interest with an oligonucleotide capture pool collectively designed to selectively target CGIs. The oligonucleotide capture pool includes a plurality of different oligonucleotides, each oligonucleotide coupled to a capture tag, whereby the oligonucleotide includes a CpG target sequence restricted to 4 to 10 bases. Upon binding, capture oligonucleotides bound to the target fragments are enriched by separating the bound fragments from the unbound fragments. The enriched fragments may be subjected to further analyses, including bisulfite sequencing to generate a methylation profile at the single nucleotide level.
US08278048B2
This document provides methods and materials for detecting target nucleic acid. For example, methods and materials for detecting the presence or absence of target nucleic acid, methods and materials for detecting the amount of target nucleic acid present within a sample, kits for detecting the presence or absence of target nucleic acid, kits for detecting the amount of target nucleic acid present within a sample, and methods for making such kits are provided.
US08278044B2
The present invention relates to methods for the identification of genotoxic carcinogenic compounds. In particular, a method is disclosed for the identification of genotoxic carcinogenic compounds wherein a eukaryotic cell is exposed to a potentially genotoxic compound in a culture medium where after samples are taken from the cell and/or the culture medium at least one predetermined time point which samples are then analysed for increased or decreased expression levels of at least three DNA repair genes as compared to a control cell that is not exposed to the carcinogenic compound.
US08278037B2
An enzyme which transfers N-acetylgalactosamine to N-acetylglucosamine via a β1-4 linkage was isolated and the structure of its gene was explained. This led to the production of said enzyme or the like by genetic engineering techniques, the production of oligosaccharides using said enzyme, and the diagnosis of diseases on the basis of said gene or the like.The present invention uses a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 26 or 27 in the Sequence Listing or a variant of said amino acid sequence wherein one or more acids are substituted or deleted, or one or more acids are inserted or added and having the activity of transferring N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) to N-acetylglucosamine serving as a substrate via a β1-4 linkage and nucleic acids encoding said protein.
US08278031B2
The present invention relates to a method for improving viability and/or stress tolerance of viable biological material and using the said material comprising applying hydrostatic pressure to said biological material; keeping the said viable biological material at the hydrostatic pressure for a predetermined time period; releasing the hydrostatic pressure; and using the said material for any desired purpose in accordance with any useful protocol. The usage of the said biological material incorporates any techniques, protocols that are applicable in the field of assisted reproductive techniques, biotechnical and/or biotechnological manipulations.
US08278028B2
The present invention relates to a material pattern, and mold using thereof, metal thin-film pattern, metal pattern, and method of forming the sames. A method of forming the material pattern according to the present invention comprises the steps of; (a) forming a photo-sensitive material film by coating a photo-sensitive material on a substrate; (b) deciding an exposure section on the photo-sensitive material film; (c) disposing a light refraction film and a light diffusion film at a route of light exposed on the photo-sensitive material film; and (d) forming a pattern on the photo-sensitive material film, by projecting a light on the exposure section of the photo-sensitive material film, wherein the light transmits the light refraction film and the light diffusion film.A method of forming the material pattern according to the present invention can form the material pattern of three-dimensional asymmetric structure having various inclinations and shapes and can form simply mold, metal thin-film and metal pattern using thereof.
US08278003B2
According to one embodiment, a direct methanol fuel cell includes an anode to which an aqueous methanol solution is supplied as the fuel, a cathode to which oxidizing gas is supplied, an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode, a first separator disposed on the surface of the anode on the side opposite to the electrolyte membrane side and a second separator disposed on the surface of the cathode on the side opposite to the electrolyte membrane side, wherein the first and second separators are respectively made of a membrane containing a copolymer of a first vinyl monomer having a cyclic functional group bonded with a carbonyl group, a second vinyl monomer having a carboxyl group and a third vinyl monomer having an aromatic group, and a carbon powder dispersed in the copolymer.
US08277998B2
An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.
US08277997B2
Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling the operation of fuel cell assemblies included therein. In some embodiments, the fuel cell assemblies include a fuel processor and a fuel cell stack, and the fuel cell system includes a control system that controls the operation thereof based upon at least one variable associated therewith. In some embodiments, the variable is associated with the hydrogen (or other product) stream from the fuel processor. In some embodiments, the variable is the pressure of this stream. In some embodiments, the control system controls the operation of the fuel cell system to maintain the pressure of the hydrogen stream within one or more threshold values. In some embodiments, the control system controls the operation of the fuel cell system to maintain the pressure of the hydrogen stream within selected threshold values and to maintain the fuel cell stack's output voltage above a selected threshold.
US08277986B2
One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face.
US08277977B2
The present invention aims at providing slurry for electrodes having advantageous homogeneity and stability, an electrode having advantageous homogeneous thickness and density, and further, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having small variability in battery properties.In the present invention, slurry for electrodes is produced by using the binder composition used for manufacturing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery wherein polymers for binding active materials are dissolved or dispersed in organic solvent or water, and a total sum of content ratios of monomer and oligomer is 300 ppm or less.
US08277975B2
The effective ionic conductivity in a composite structure is believed to decrease rapidly with volume fraction. A system, such as a bipolar device or energy storage device, has structures or components in which the diffusion length or path that electrodes or ions must traverse is minimized and the interfacial area exposed to the ions or electrons is maximized. The device includes components that can be reticulated or has a reticulated interface so that an interface area can be increased. The increased interfacial perimeter increases the available sites for reaction of ionic species. Many different reticulation patterns can be used. The aspect ratio of the reticulated features can be varied. Such bipolar devices can be fabricated by a variety of methods or procedures. A bipolar device having structures of reticulated interface can be tailored for the purposes of controlling and optimizing charge and discharge kinetics. A bipolar device having graded porosity structures can have improved transport properties because the diffusion controlling reaction kinetics can be modified. Graded porosity electrodes can be linearly or nonlinearly graded. A bipolar device having perforated structures also provides improved transport properties by removing tortuosity and reducing diffusion distance.
US08277969B2
A lithium ion secondary battery 1 includes a spirally wound electrode assembly 20 and a cylindrical battery container 10. The spirally wound electrode assembly 20 includes a negative electrode 21, a positive electrode 22 and a separator 23. The negative electrode 21 includes negative-electrode active material layers 21b and 21c containing a negative-electrode active material capable of forming an alloy with lithium. The lithium ion secondary battery 1 includes an urging part 20a. The urging part 20a is disposed in the center of and in contact with the spirally wound electrode assembly 20. The urging part 20a is contractible in diameter. The urging part 20a is configured to urge the spirally wound electrode assembly 20 radially outward at least when contracting in diameter.
US08277968B2
Provided is a reactive polymer-supporting porous film for use as a battery separator which comprises a porous substrate film and a partially crosslinked reactive polymer supported on the porous substrate film, the partially crosslinked reactive polymer being obtained by the reaction of a crosslinkable polymer having at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of 3-oxetanyl group and epoxy group in the molecule with a monocarboxylic acid. Further, provided is a method of manufacturing a battery which comprises layering electrodes on the reactive polymer-supporting porous film.
US08277960B2
The invention relates to inorganic, intermetallic, inhomogeneous compounds having a magnetic resistance effect and an intrinsic field sensitivity of at least 7% at 1 T at room temperature. The invention further relates to a method for the production and use thereof, particularly as magnetic field sensors or in spin electronics.
US08277957B2
A quinoxaline derivative represented by Formula (I) or (II) is provided. In Formula (I) or (II), R1 and R2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, aryl or heteroaryl, for example phenyl, furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, benzothiazolyl or benzoimidazolyl. An organic light-emitting diode including the quinoxaline derivative is also provided.
US08277947B2
A charging member is provided having a support, a conductive elastic layer formed on the support and a surface layer formed on the conductive elastic layer. The surface layer contains a polysiloxane having at least one of structures represented by the following formulas (1a1), (1a2), (1b1) and (1b2): Toners and external additives used in the toners clinging to the charging member surface can be minimized even through repeated use over a long period of time, thus the charging member can perform stable charging and image reproduction even when used in the DC contact charging method.
US08277946B2
In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes respective layers including hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) and zirconium nitride before heat treatment (HT). During HT, the hydrogenated DLC acts as a fuel which upon combustion with oxygen produces carbon dioxide and/or water. The high temperature developed during this combustion heats the zirconium nitride to a temperature(s) well above the heat treating temperature, thereby causing the zirconium nitride to be transformed into a new post-HT layer including zirconium oxide that is very scratch resistant and durable.
US08277940B2
A scent emitting patch remains securely attached to the skin of a wearer and is appointed for controlled release of scents. The patch is constructed having an external top layer and backing layer with a skin-contacting portion. The skin-contacting segment contains an adhesive. At least one reservoir comprising pockets or microcapsules containing a scent is disposed in at least one portion of the backing layer. These pockets or microcapsules are operative to rupture upon application of pressure or scratching by the patch wearer. Upon rupture, scent is delivered to the skin to emit aroma. Pockets containing the scent are formed in the backing layer. Microcapsules, if present, are preferably incorporated in the adhesive. A plethora of aromas are provided in the form of a perfume or cologne and correlating shapes can be used to form the patch. Scent is released at the skin-contact interface when pressure is applied ruptures the pockets or microcapsules, permitting controlled release at the wearer's election.
US08277939B2
An article of manufacture comprising (i) at least one glass substrate and (ii) a coating layer on at least a portion of at least one side of the glass substrate wherein the coating layer comprises a cured silicone resin composition selected from a hydrosilylation cured silicone resin composition, a condensation cured silicone resin composition, or a tree radical cured silicone resin composition; the glass being preferably a thin glass (5-500 micrometers).
US08277932B2
Membranes, methods of making membranes, and methods of separating gases using membranes are provided. The membranes can include at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one cross-linking agent, at least one base, and at least one amino compound. The methods of separating gases using membranes can include contacting a gas stream containing at least one of CO2, H2S, and HCl with one side of a nonporous and at least one of CO2, H2S, and HCl selectively permeable membrane such that at least one of CO2, H2S, and HCl is selectively transported through the membrane.
US08277931B1
The subject invention relates to a facer which is comprised of a breathable film and a glass mat, wherein the breathable film and the glass mat are bonded together with an adhesive, wherein the breathable film is comprised of a breathable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, and thermoplastic elastomers, and wherein the facer is water resistant. The facers of this invention can be employed in manufacturing construction board, such as polyisocyanurate boards, polystyrene boards, or gypsum boards. The present invention accordingly more specifically discloses a construction board which is comprised of a rigid sheet and a facer, wherein the facer is bonded to at least one side of said rigid sheet, wherein the rigid sheet is comprised of a member selected from the group consisting of gypsum, blown polystyrene, and polyisocyanurate, wherein the facer is comprised of a breathable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, and thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the breathable polymeric material is bonded to another substrate, such as a glass mat with an adhesive, and wherein the facer is water resistant.
US08277929B2
A method for modifying the surface of a substrate includes the following steps: (1) a step for forming a polysilazane coating by applying a polysilazane onto the surface of a substrate; (2) a step for applying an organic compound of which main backbone comprises an organic group represented by the following formula [1]: —[(R)mO]n— (wherein R represents an alkylene group, and m and n respectively represent a positive number of not less than 1) onto the surface of the polysilazane coating; and (3) a step for heating the substrate having undergone the steps (1) and (2), thereby converting the polysilazane to silica and bonding the organic compound to the silica of the silica layer.
US08277922B2
A stem web is disclosed that comprises a backing layer having a first surface and a second surface, and an array of 600 to 20000 upstanding stems projecting from the first surface of the backing. The stems comprise a height from 0.3 and 2.0 millimeters and a shore hardness less than 90A. In one embodiment, the stem web further comprises a reinforcing layer secured to the second surface. In one embodiment, the stem web is secured to a tool to be passed across a surface to be cleaned to capture lint and hair.
US08277904B2
A method for producing a thermoelectric material is provided. A semiconductor material powder is provided. An electroless plating process is preformed to deposit metal nano-particles on the surface of semiconductor material powder. An electrical current activated sintering process is performed to form a thermoelectric material having one and plurality grain boundaries.
US08277901B2
In the condition where a nozzle for applying a coating liquid is disposed on the lower side of a substrate and a substrate surface controlled in wettability is faced down, the nozzle and the substrate are moved relative to each other, whereby the coating liquid is applied to a desired region of the substrate, and then the coating liquid is dried, to obtain a pattern included a dried coating layer.
US08277900B2
In the condition where a nozzle for applying a coating liquid is disposed on the lower side of a substrate and a substrate surface controlled in wettability is faced down, the nozzle and the substrate are moved relative to each other, whereby the coating liquid is applied to a desired region of the substrate, and then the coating liquid is dried, to obtain a pattern included a dried coating layer.
US08277898B2
The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.
US08277894B2
A selenium ink comprising selenium stably dispersed in a liquid medium is provided, wherein the selenium ink is hydrazine free and hydrazinium free. Also provided are methods of preparing the selenium ink and of using the selenium ink to deposit selenium on a substrate for use in the manufacture of a variety of chalcogenide containing semiconductor materials, such as, thin film transistors (TFTs), light emitting diodes (LEDs); and photo responsive devices (e.g., electrophotography (e.g., laser printers and copiers), rectifiers, photographic exposure meters and photo voltaic cells) and chalcogenide containing phase change memory materials.
US08277880B2
A method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb structure including a step of mixing ceramic particles with a gas on one end face side of the plugged honeycomb structure, and a step of sucking the gas containing the ceramic particles from the other end face side of the plugged honeycomb structure to send the ceramic particles mixed in the gas into cells of the plugged honeycomb structure to allow the ceramic particles to adhere to surfaces in the cells of the plugged honeycomb structure.
US08277873B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a fuel cell, such as a hydrogen separation membrane fuel cell, having in its anode a hydrogen separation membrane (12f) selectively permeable by hydrogen. An electrolyte membrane (10) is formed on the hydrogen separation membrane, and the curvature of the electrolyte membrane is changed to generate a compressive stress in the electrolyte membrane.
US08277870B2
A method of controlling corrosion at an interface formed between at least two metal components includes applying a blend of magnesium particles and one of an adhesive or a sealant to the interface. The magnesium particles have a diameter sufficient to span a distance between the metal components. The method further includes exposing the metal components to a substantially corrosive environment, where the corrosive environment at least partially dissolves the magnesium particles. At least partial dissolution of the magnesium particles i) cathodically protects the metal components at the interface, ii) alkalizes the corrosive environment, and iii) generates hydrogen bubbles that substantially block a crevice formed at the interface.
US08277869B2
Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web through the chemical combination of a metal and chalcogen in solution form. The web and/or the solutions may be heated by one or a plurality of heating elements that may be disposed out of physical contact with the web, allowing enhanced control over the reaction speed through fine temperature control. One or more properties of the chalcogenide layer may be measured, and the temperature of the system may be adjusted in response.
US08277868B2
A drug delivery device for delivering therapeutic agents and a method of making such a device is disclosed. The device includes an inflatable balloon. A microporous coating covers a portion of the outer surface of the wall of the balloon. The thickness of the coating and the size of the micropores can permit desirable delivery of a substance from the micropores of the coating and into the tissue of a patient's lumen.
US08277863B2
The present invention is directed to a novel method for increasing the production of acetate, decreasing the production of butyrate, increasing the population and species of beneficial bacteria and slowing the rate of fermentation of prebiotics within the gut of a formula-fed infant. The method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of PDX to the infant.
US08277862B2
Beverage products are provided which include rebaudioside A, erythritol, and an acid component. The beverage product has a titratable acidity in the range of about 8.75 to about 10.25, and a pH in the range of about 2.8 to about 3.3. Beverage products disclosed herein achieve a proper sweet/tart ratio to increase sweetness and to reduce tartness and bitterness of beverages made with natural sweeteners.
US08277861B2
Beverage compositions including a steviol glycoside and an acid component are provided. The beverage has a titratable acidity of about 9 to about 11.
US08277856B2
An acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage having a favorable flavor and an improved survival rate for bifidobacteria. The acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage of the present invention includes bifidobacteria and inulin, wherein the inulin is not fermented by the bifidobacteria. The inulin content is preferably within a range from 1 to 10% by mass, and the pH of the acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage is preferably within a range from 4.1 to 4.8.
US08277848B2
Disclosed herein is a method for preparing an aqueous solution of high-concentration calcium phosphate, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an acidic aqueous solution using an acidic chelating agent; and dissolving a calcium phosphate-based compound in the acidic aqueous solution, and then adding a pH-adjusting agent to the acidic aqueous solution to adjust the pH of the acidic aqueous solution. The disclosed aqueous solution does not form a precipitate after neutralization so that it can be used in various calcium-containing products, including foods, drugs, or quasi-drugs.
US08277846B2
The invention provides a composition containing particulate composite of a polymer and a therapeutic agent. The composition also contains a complexing agent. The polymer interacts with the complexing agent in a host-guest or a guest-host interaction to form an inclusion complex. A therapeutic composition of the invention may be used to deliver the therapeutic agent and to treat various disorders. Both the polymer of the particulate composite and the complexing agent may be used to introduce functionality into the therapeutic composition. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a composition. The method combines a therapeutic agent, a polymer having host or guest functionality, and a complexing agent having guest or host functionality to form the therapeutic composition. The complexing agent forms an inclusion complex with the polymer. The invention also relates to a method of delivering a therapeutic agent. According to the method, a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic composition of the invention is administered to a mammal (e.g. person or animal) in recognized need of the therapeutic. Also disclosed are compounds having the formula:
US08277840B2
The present invention is directed towards the preparation of extended release Alprazolam formulation. The formulation thus obtained provides an efficient mode of delivery of Alprazolam in a continuous manner.
US08277835B2
The present invention provides a method and composition for the treatment and/or prevention of infection, said method comprising orally administering a composition to a mammal, said composition comprising a galactose containing indigestible oligosaccharide and immunoglobulin from the milk or colostrum of hyperimmunized cows.
US08277830B2
A therapeutic device to release a therapeutic agent comprises a porous structure coupled to a container comprising a reservoir. The reservoir comprises a volume sized to release therapeutic amounts of the therapeutic agent for an extended time when coupled to the porous structure and implanted in the patient. The porous structure may comprise a first side coupled to the reservoir and a second side to couple to the patient to release the therapeutic agent. A plurality of interconnecting channels can extend from the first side to the second side so as to connect a first a plurality of openings on the first side with a second plurality of openings on the second side.
US08277829B2
A biocompatible inorganic porous material having a three-dimensional coexistent network of interconnected macro-pores and nanopores produced by the steps of mixing an organic water-soluble polymer (e.g., polyethylene oxide or a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide), an alkoxysilane, and an inorganic water-soluble calcium salt in an aqueous acid solution, such that a sol-gel process of hydrolysis and polycondensation is initiated and thereby producing a gel; drying the gel to remove solvent by evaporation; and heating the gel to remove the polymer by thermal decomposition, thereby forming an inorganic porous material, which may be suitable for use as a bone tissue scaffold.
US08277825B2
The present invention utilizes a fatty acid as an attractant in a method of attracting whiteflies. By using a fatty acid as a whitefly attractant, it is possible to attract whiteflies to a desired location. The fatty acid can be used in a lure or other propagator to provide a dispersion of fatty acid in the air, the variation in the concentration of the fatty acid in the air being such that a whitefly is attracted to the lure as the source of the fatty acid. The use of a fatty acid as an attractant results in significantly higher levels of attraction, as measured by the number of whiteflies attracted to a sticky trap, as compared to the use of color alone.
US08277823B2
The present invention relates to liposome formulations that are physically stable. In particular the present invention relates to steric stabilization of cationic liposomes by incorporating glycolipids into the liposomes. The stabilized liposomes can be used either as an adjuvant for antigenic components or as a drug delivery system. In particular the invention relates to vaccines with adjuvants in aqueous media for immunization, where the final product is stable.
US08277821B2
The present invention provides compositions including siderophore receptor polypeptides and porins from gram negative microbes, and preferably, lipopolysaccarhide at a concentration of no greater than about 10.0 endotoxin units per milliliter. The present invention also provides methods of making and methods of using such compositions.
US08277819B2
Norovirus capsid protein monomers having only the P domain, and not the hinge or S domain, can assemble spontaneously into an icosahedral form herein called the P-particle. Factors affecting the formation and stability of the P-particle, as well as providing methods for diagnosing and treating Norovirus-infected individuals and creating a vaccine for prevention of Norovirus infection are presented.
US08277818B2
The present invention provides a herpes virus with improved oncolytic properties which comprises a gene encoding an immunomodulatory cytokine and which lacks a functional ICP34.5 gene and a functional ICP47 encoding gene.
US08277816B2
The present invention relates to the intersection of the fields of immunology and protein engineering, and particularly to antigens and vaccines useful in prevention of infection by Bacillus anthracis. Provided are recombinant protein antigens, compositions, and methods for the production and use of such antigens and vaccine compositions.
US08277813B2
The invention relates to a new polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide expressed in the salivary glands of ticks, more particularly the Ixodes ricinus arthropod tick, during the slow-feeding phase of the blood meal have. The polynucleotide and related polypeptide may be used in different constructions and for different applications which are also included in the present invention.
US08277812B2
The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides synthetic nanocarriers capable of eliciting an immune system response in the form of antibody production, wherein the nanocarriers lack any T cell antigens. In some embodiments, the invention provides nanocarriers that comprise an immunofeature surface, which provides high avidity binding of the nanocarriers to antigen presenting cells. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising inventive nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using inventive nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US08277810B2
Compositions and methods of therapy for treating diseases mediated by stimulation of CD40 signaling on CD40-expressing cells are provided. The methods comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist anti-CD40 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof to a patient in need thereof. The antagonist anti-CD40 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is free of significant agonist activity, but exhibits antagonist activity when the antibody binds a CD40 antigen on a human CD40-expressing cell. Antagonist activity of the anti-CD40 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof beneficially inhibits proliferation and/or differentiation of human CD40-expressing cells, such as B cells.
US08277808B2
The present invention relates to isolated antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind naturally occurring human MAdCAM, wherein said naturally occurring human MAdCAM comprises a polypeptide with at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4, said naturally occurring human MAdCAM binds α4β7, and wherein said isolated antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof inhibit binding of said naturally occurring human MAdCAM to human α4β7, and wherein said antibody inhibits adhesion of RPMI 8866 cells to cells that express said human MAdCAM.
US08277807B2
The invention provides combinations comprising (or consisting essentially of) one or more ancillary compound(s) and a compound of the formula (I): or salts, tautomers, solvates and N-oxides thereof; wherein R1 is hydroxy or hydrogen; R2 is hydroxy; methoxy or hydrogen; provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is hydroxy; R3 is selected from hydrogen; halogen; cyano; optionally substituted C1-5 hydrocarbyl and optionally substituted C1-5 hydrocarbyloxy; R4 is selected from hydrogen; a group —(O)n—R7 where n is 0 or 1 and R7 is an optionally substituted acyclic C1-5 hydrocarbyl group or a monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having 3 to 7 ring members; halogen; cyano; hydroxy; amino; and optionally substituted mono- or di-C1-5 hydrocarbyl-amino; or R3 and R4 together form a monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring of 5 to 7 ring members; and NR5R6 forms an optionally substituted bicyclic heterocyclic group having 8 to 12 ring members of which up to 5 ring members are heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. The combinations have activity as Hsp90 inhibitors.
US08277791B2
Cosmetic compositions and methods with improved transfer resistance and long wear properties are disclosed. The cosmetic compositions contain a synergistic combination of at least one silicone polyurethane polymer and at least one elastomer.
US08277779B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods to reduce renal damage caused by nephrotoxic drugs. The invention provides compositions comprising an anionically substituted cyclodextrin, a nephrotoxic drug and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, where the cyclodextrin is present in an amount effective for substantially inhibiting the nephrotoxic effect of the drug.
US08277773B2
The present invention provides catalysts, reactors, and methods of steam reforming over a catalyst. Surprisingly superior results and properties obtained in methods and catalysts of the present invention are also described. For example, a coated catalyst was demonstrated to be highly stable under steam reforming conditions (high temperature and high pressure of steam). Methods of making steam reforming catalysts are also described.
US08277770B2
Carbon atoms are fed to a catalytic metal particle 10 having a atomic arrangement of triangular lattices in a round (or partly round) of a side wall, and a graphen sheet 18 having a six-membered structure reflecting the atomic arrangement of the triangular lattices is consecutively formed by the metal catalyst, whereby a tubular structure of the carbon atoms is formed. Thus, the chirality of the tubular structure can be controlled by the growth direction of the graphen sheet with respect to the direction of the triangular lattices, and the diameter of the tubular structure can be controlled by the size of the catalytic metal particle.
US08277761B2
A fluidic device (100) comprising a substrate (101) and a transport medium (103) provided on the substrate (101) to define a transport path for transporting a fluidic sample (104) driven by an electric force.
US08277758B2
In an assembly for actuating a syringe, two gripping devices are designed to receive and withhold a containment cylinder and, respectively, a piston of the syringe, and are defined by respective pairs of jaws for gripping a flange of the containment cylinder and, respectively, of an end head of the piston, the jaws of at least one gripping device being mobile with respect to one another between a gripping position and a release position under the thrust of a corresponding actuation device.
US08277747B2
An apparatus comprising a chamber where a base concentrate common to at least a first flavored food product and a second flavored food product is formed, the first flavored food product having different flavoring than the second flavored food product, the base concentrate having a first temperature. The apparatus also comprises a process line that receives the base concentrate from the chamber, heated liquid from a heated liquid source, and flavoring from either a first flavor source or a second flavor source to form a mixture of base concentrate, heated liquid and flavoring. The mixture has a has second temperature sufficient to achieve a change in the mixture selected from the group consisting of microbial change, chemical change, biochemical change, and enzymatic change, and combinations thereof. A method is also disclosed for change over from forming a first flavored food product to forming a second flavored food product.
US08277741B2
The present invention relates an apparatus that reduces and/or eliminates germs and/or bacteria from the soles of a person's footwear, and an associated method of use. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a person can step onto and stand on the exemplary apparatus to have germs and/or bacteria reduced and/or eliminated from the soles of his or her footwear through the use of anti-germicidal and/or antimicrobial radiation and/or light. An exemplary apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be configured so that when a person stands on a top portion, the person's footwear sinks to a bottom portion that is substantially transparent, displacing substantially opaque gel so that at least one of the soles of the person's footwear is exposed to the anti-germicidal and/or antimicrobial radiation and/or light source.
US08277740B2
An ozone generator includes a housing with a plurality of openings and containing an ultraviolet lamp and a blower. A control is remotely connected to the housing for turning the generator on and off. The ultraviolet lamp emits ultraviolet radiation. The blower moves air into contact with radiation from the ultraviolet lamp. A modular arrangement of the invention includes components for assembling an ozone generator. The arrangement includes a first generator component and a second generator component connected by a hose. Another embodiment of a modular arrangement includes a generator and a blower connected by a hose. A method for operating an ozone generator includes placing an ozone generator in an unoccupied, enclosed space; placing a controller that is connected to the generator outside of the enclosed space; and turning on the controller.
US08277735B2
This document describes a high intensity air purifier (HAIP), a super oxidation purifier, and a controller for controlling operation of any of various purification systems. In some implementations, a HAIP includes an air purifier system coupled within a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air purifier system includes a pre-filter coupled to the air inlet, an axial fan for receiving and forwarding air from the air inlet. The air purifier system further includes a UV reaction chamber having a UV-light source for providing UV light to the forwarded air from the air inlet and a reflective lining to reflect the provided UV light, to provide UV purified air from the UV reaction chamber. The air purifier system further includes a chemical catalyst cartridge for receiving the UV purified air from the UV reaction chamber, for further purifying the UV purified air, and a post filter coupled to the air outlet.
US08277725B2
Air freshener products and methods for freshening air are disclosed. In some embodiments, the air freshening product may include a container for storing an air freshening composition that may contain compressed gas such as compressed air, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, inert gases, or carbon dioxide. When the container is completely filled with propellant and air freshening composition, the air freshening composition may be released from the container at a flow rate of from about 0.8 grams/second to about 1.5 grams/second, wherein the mean particle size of the released spray droplets is from about 10 microns to about 100 microns.The method of freshening air, in certain embodiments, provides improved delivery of an air freshening composition using a non-hydrocarbon propellant. If malodor counteractants are used, the method may also provide a reduction in malodors.
US08277711B2
A process and apparatus for forming nanofibers from a spinning melt utilizing a high speed rotating distribution disc. The fibers can be collected into a uniform web for selective barrier end uses. Fibers with an average fiber diameter of less that 1,000 nm can be produced.
US08277710B2
The invention relates to biaxially oriented polyester films which contain 0.1-5.0% by weight (based on the weight of the film) of a hydrolysis stabilizer based on epoxidized fatty acid esters and 0.2-10% by weight (based on the weight of the film) of epoxidized fatty acid glycerides, the epoxidized fatty acid esters having a mean molecular weight of at least 425 g/mol. Such films find use in outdoor applications, as a ribbon cable, as a backside laminate of solar modules and in electrical insulation applications.
US08277694B2
Provided is an amorphous film substantially comprised of indium, tin, calcium and oxygen, wherein tin is contained at a ratio of 5 to 15% based on an atomicity ratio of Sn/(In+Sn+Ca) and calcium is contained at a ratio of 0.1 to 2.0% based on an atomicity ratio of Ca/(In+Sn+Ca), and remnant is indium and oxygen. The film can be further crystallized by annealing at a temperature of 260° C. or lower in which resistivity of the film will be 0.4 mΩcm or less. An ITO thin film for use as a display electrode or the like in a flat panel display can be made into an amorphous ITO film by way of sputter deposition without heating the substrate or adding water during deposition. This ITO film is characterized in that it will crystallize by annealing at a temperature of 260° C. or less, which is not such a high temperature, and have low resistivity after being crystallized. Thus, the present invention aims to provide a method of producing such a film and a sintered compact for producing such a film.
US08277681B2
A metal polishing slurry which is capable of simultaneously realizing a high polishing speed and reduced dishing in the polishing of a subject to be polished is provided. The metal polishing slurry includes, an oxidizing agent; and an organic acid; and a compound represented by the following general formula (1):
US08277676B2
Cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels, as well as methods for making such cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels are described.
US08277670B2
A method for etching features in a dielectric layer through a photoresist (PR) mask is provided. The PR mask is patterned using laser light having a wavelength not more than 193 nm. The PR mask is pre-treated with a noble gas plasma, and then a plurality of cycles of a plasma process is provided. Each cycle includes a deposition phase that deposits a deposition layer over the PR mask, the deposition layer covering a top and sidewalls of mask features of the PR mask, and a shaping phase that shapes the deposition layer deposited over the PR mask.
US08277667B2
A magnetic element and its manufacturing method are provided. A magnetic element includes an actuation part having a first surface and a second surface, a torsion bar connected to the actuation part, and a frame connected to the first torsion bar, wherein the first surface of the actuation part is an uneven surface. The manufacturing method of the magnetic element starts with forming an passivation layer on a substrate and defining a special area by the mask method, then continues with forming the adhesion layer and electroplate-initializing layer on the substrate sequentially. The photoresist layer are formed and the magnetic-inductive material is electroformed on the electroplate area. Finally, the substrate is etched and the passivation layer is removed to obtain the magnetic element. The manufacturing method of magnetic element of the present invention can be applied in the microelectromechanical system field and other categories.
US08277661B2
A hydrothermally stable, microporous organic-inorganic hybrid membrane based on silica, having an mean pore diameter of between 0.2 and 1.5 nm, is characterised in that between 5 and 40 mole % of the Si—O—Si bonds have been replaced by moieties having the one of the formulas: Si—{[CmH(n-1)X]—Si—}q, Si—[CmH(n-2)X2]—Si or Si—CmHn—Si{(CmHn)—Si—}y in which m=1-8, n=2m, 2m−2, 2m−4, 2m−6 or 2m−8; provided that n≧2, X=H or (CH2)pSi, p=0 or 1, and q=1, 2, 3 or 4. The membrane can be produced by acid-catalysed hydrolysis of suitable bis-silane precursors such as bis(trialkoxysily)alkanes, preferably in the presence of monoorganyl-silane precursors such as trialkoxy-alkylsilanes.
US08277656B2
The filter device is provided with a housing (1) and with a stack of filter plates (10, 11) arranged therein at a spacing from one another. The housing includes an inlet (7) for the fluid to be filtered, an outlet (9) for the filtrate which is connected in a conducting manner to the inside of the filter plates (10, 11), and a cavity extending through the stack and formed by recesses in the filter plates (10, 11). The filter plate stack is arranged fixed to the housing, and a centrifugal pump (14) with several impellers (15) is arranged within the filter plate stack. This pump ensures an intensive through-flow of the filter plate stack and thus a removal of the filter residues.
US08277640B2
The present invention relates to a process for thermal cracking of heavy petroleum oil, in which when a thermal cracking facility having a cracking furnace, two or more of trains each comprising two reaction vessels and one distillation tower is operated, each train is operated by repeating a cycle comprising drawing the heavy petroleum oil from the cracking furnace, feeding the drawn heavy petroleum oil into the first reaction vessel and then feeding the drawn heavy petroleum oil into the second reaction vessel, steam is directly brought in contact with the heavy petroleum oil to be thermally cracked, and gaseous cracked substances produced and steam are introduced into the distillation tower to be distilled and separated, wherein phase delay is provided for the cycle repeated in each train so that the thermal cracking facility is operated with the different initiation time of feeding to the first reaction vessel in each train. According to the present invention, the instability of the flow-in quantity of the gaseous substances to the distillation tower is improved, and the improvement of separation performance, the increase of processing capacity of the facility and the like can be achieved.
US08277636B2
The present invention relates to a glucose sensor (2) including an electrode (32) which includes a conductive component and glucose dehydrogenase immobilized to the conductive component. As the glucose dehydrogenase, use is made of a protein complex including a catalytic activity subunit which has glucose dehydrogenase activity, and an electron mediator subunit for supplying an electron donated from the catalytic activity subunit to the conductive component. Preferably, the glucose sensor (2) is designed to continuously measure the glucose level or successively measure the glucose level a plurality of times.
US08277635B2
Disclosed herein is an electrochemical biosensor measuring device which comprises at least two photodiodes for emitting light beams at regular time intervals in a sequential manner, with the insertion of an electrochemical biosensor thereto, and a detector for sensing the emitted light beams, thereby identifying the production lot information recorded on a production lot information identification portion on the electrochemical biosensor. Thus, the device enjoys economic advantages of not requiring a high-priced optical filter in detecting the light absorbed through or reflected from the production identification information recorded in biosensor and a complicated software algorithm to recover the production lot information. Also, the measuring device automatically identifies the production lot information recorded on the biosensor, so that the frequency of inconvenience and error that occur when a user personally inputs the production lot information of the biosensor can be reduced, with the result that the measured values can be conveniently and accurately acquired.
US08277627B2
An electrically-driven separation apparatus can be utilized to desalinate seawater and/or brackish water to provide irrigation water having a desired sodium adsorption ratio (SAR).
US08277624B2
A workpiece holder for fluid processing a workpiece including a transportable frame, a flexible member connected to the frame and defining at least one retaining feature, and a ring comprising at least one engagement feature engageable with the at least one retaining feature of the flexible member, wherein the flexible member is flexed to provide a force to the at least one engagement feature to cause the ring to form a barrier to fluid entry with the workpiece.
US08277618B2
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell comprising a vibratile electrode (eg a vibratile microelectrode).
US08277617B2
An apparatus and method for magnetron sputter coating of an interior surface of a hollow substrate defining at least one irregular contour. The apparatus may contain a vacuum chamber and a target containing one or more metals having an exterior surface defining at least one irregular contour. The exterior surface of the target may be configured to conform to at least a portion of an irregular contour of the interior surface of the hollow substrate to be coated. A magnet assembly may be supplied which may include a plurality of magnets where the magnets are positioned substantially within a metallic target alloy.
US08277598B2
In a method for manufacturing a display including a light-transmissive substrate bonded onto a display surface of a display body, a bonding surface of the display body and a bonding surface of the light-transmissive substrate are set in a mutually opposed manner across compression-deformable clearance regulation members. The compression-deformable clearance regulation members are provided between the display body and the light-transmissive substrate. An adhesive, previously applied to one terminal edge of a bonding surface, is spread between the bonding surfaces of both the display body and the light-transmissive substrate. This is done by pressing the light-transmissive substrate against the display body starting from one terminal edge towards an other terminal edge thereof and by gradually decreasing a clearance between the bonding surfaces by serially compression-deforming the clearance regulation member from the one terminal edge towards the other terminal edge.
US08277586B2
A production process is provided for a board of hydraulic binder with a facing on each of its sides. The process includes on one side first tapered parallel edges and on the same side or the other side, two second tapered parallel edges perpendicular to the first. The process also includes the use of a forming lath having at least two distal parts. The process can be used in a production line that includes a specific lath.
US08277581B2
Nickel-iron-zinc alloy nanoparticles of the present invention are in the form of tabular particles having a thickness of 1 μm or less and an aspect ratio of 2 or more, wherein the (220) plane which is the crystal plane of the face-centered cubic lattice is oriented on the tabular surface of the particles.
US08277577B2
The invention relates to a method for obtaining a surface of a titanium-based metal implant intended to be inserted into bone tissue, comprising: (a) projecting particles of aluminum oxide under pressure on the external area of the implant; (b) chemically treating the sandblasted external area of the implant with an acid composition comprising sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid; and (c) thermally treating the sandblasted external area of the implant by heating at a temperature of 200-450° C. for 15-120 min. The invention likewise defines a metal implant having said surface. The surface thus obtained has good micrometer-scale roughness with a suitable morphology, as well as a composition which is virtually free of impurities and a thickness which is approximately three times the thickness of conventional surfaces, which characteristics provide it with very good osseointegration properties.
US08277574B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet whose iron losses are reduced by laser beam irradiation, capable of improving the iron losses in both the L-direction and the C-direction while easily ensuring high productivity. The method for manufacturing a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet reduces iron losses by scanning and irradiating a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet with a continuous-wave laser beam condensed into a circular or elliptical shape at constant intervals in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rolling direction of the grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet, wherein when an average irradiation energy density Ua is defined as Ua=P/(Vc×PL) (mJ/mm2), where P (W) is average power of the laser beam, Vc (m/s) is a beam scanning velocity, and PL (mm) is an irradiation interval in a rolling direction, PL and Ua are in the following ranges: 1.0 mm≦PL≦3.0 mm, 0.8 mJ/mm2≦Ua≦2.0 mJ/mm2.
US08277571B2
Water fill level detection techniques are provided for a dishwasher system. A dishwasher system includes a tub; a fluid circulation system for circulating water in the tub and a controller. The fluid circulation system includes at least one motor and at least one fill valve. The controller monitors a current drawn by the motor to control an operation of the fill valve. The controller performs a frequency analysis on the current to detect a water fill level in the tub.
US08277563B2
The invention provides a plasma processing method which includes (i) feeding a transferring gas which decreases a pressure difference between a processing chamber and a transfer chamber in order to prevent particles from adhering a processing sample, to be processed, passed to the processing chamber, before transferring the sample into the processing chamber; (ii) transferring the sample into the processing chamber while continuing to feed the transferring gas to the processing chamber; (iii) generating a plasma from the transferring gas in the processing chamber while continuing to feed the transferring gas to the processing chamber after the step of transferring the sample; and (iv) changing a gas supplied to the processing chamber from the transferring gas used in the step of generating the plasma to a processing gas for subjecting the processing sample, different from a cleaning sample, to plasma processing.
US08277554B2
The invention relates to a hot melt adhesive, comprising at least one polysaccharide ester gained by a reaction of a polysaccharide with an imidazolide in melted imidazole. The invention relates, further, to a process for producing the hot melt adhesive, in which imidazole is melted, and an acid chloride and/or an acid anhydride and/or a lactone is reacted in and with the melted imidazole to form an imidazolide, whereby at least one polysaccharide is added to the melted imidazole, whereby the polysaccharide is reacted with the imidazolide to form a polysaccharide ester.
US08277549B2
The present invention provides a water-based ink for ink-jet recording containing a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. The coloring agent contains a dye represented by the following general formula (1). The ink further includes a boron compound and at least one of amino polycarboxylic acid and amino polycarboxylate.
US08277542B2
The present invention relates to use of carbon-based sorbents such as activated carbon for controlling vapor phase mercury emissions in coal-fired power plant flue gases or waste incineration flue gases. The invention features new methods that improve the performance of carbonaceous sorbents for mercury control compared to the previous methods. One method consists of injecting the sorbent (consisting of at least some carbonaceous material) into the flue gas where the flue gas temperature is at a value above about 1100° F. and below about 2000° F. The invention also consists of injecting the sorbent within or upstream of an economizer section in a coal-fired power boiler. Injecting the sorbent at the locations indicated above, rather than further downstream, provides increased residence time for contact between the flue gas and the sorbent resulting in increased mercury capture, improved sorbent utilization, and improved fly ash properties.
US08277534B2
Disclosed is a method of: providing a mixture of a polymer or a resin and a transition metal compound, producing a fiber from the mixture, and heating the fiber under conditions effective to form a carbon nanotube-containing carbonaceous fiber. The polymer or resin is an aromatic polymer or a precursor thereof and the mixture is a neat mixture or is combined with a solvent. Also disclosed are a carbonaceous fiber or carbonaceous nanofiber sheet having at least 15 wt. % carbon nanotubes, a fiber or nanofiber sheet having the a polymer or a resin and the transition metal compound, and a fiber or nanofiber sheet having an aromatic polymer and metal nanoparticles.
US08277531B2
A filter element, and filter apparatus, include a filter pack, a seal member, and a seal support frame operatively connecting the seal member to the filter pack. The seal support frame includes an annular extension, which is preferably canted at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis, for supporting the seal member. The seal support frame also preferably includes a first end thereof including the annular extension, and a second end thereof spaced from the first end thereof along the longitudinal axis, with the first and second ends of the seal support frame joined by a hub of the outer peripheral sidewall of the seal support frame to define a cavity within the seal support frame for receiving the filter pack. The first and second ends of the seal support frame, and the filter pack are preferably joined and sealed to one another by a single bead of adhesive.
US08277524B2
A method for determining an optimal combustion interval during start-up of a hydrocarbon catalytic reformer under various conditions of temperature, fuel type, and combustion fuel flow rate. An initial catalyst temperature is measured and an algorithm is used to calculate a rate of heating of the catalyst by combustion based upon heat content of the fuel, selected fuel flow rate, and heat capacity and mass of the catalyst and reformer passages. From the initial temperature and the heating gradient, an optimal combustion interval is inferred through the algorithm and used to terminate combustion, initiate a combustion quench interval, and change over the fuel flow rate and mixture from combustion to reforming.
US08277523B2
A method of operating a gasification facility includes channeling a conveying fluid at a first temperature through at least one first steam heating device to increase the temperature of the conveying fluid to a second predetermined temperature. The method also includes channeling the conveying fluid at the second predetermined temperature through a second steam heating device to increase the temperature of the conveying fluid to a third predetermined temperature. The method further includes channeling the conveying fluid at the third predetermined temperature to a solids conveyance system. Solids become entrained within the conveying fluid. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the solids to a gasification system.
US08277517B2
Method for lightening keratinous fibers, wherein a cosmetic carrier comprises (i) at least one oxidation agent, (ii) at least one acylpyridinium derivative of formula (I) and (iii) at least one amino acid comprising hydroxyl groups and/or the physiologically compatible salts thereof and/or the alkyl esters thereof.
US08277510B2
The present disclosure relates to a spinal fusion impactor tool that includes an attachment means for securing an implant device to the distal end of the tool, a means for adjusting the angle of the distal head relative to the handle to better position the implant for introduction into the implant site, means for remotely releasing the implant device at the distal end and a clamp device on the shaft of the tool to secure tabs, attachments and other devices. The impactor tool is preferably used in conjunction with implantation of an intervertebral fusion cage that is equipped with shims having tabs or other removing means, but may also be used to introduce, for example, an implant, graft, fusion device, wedge or distractor device into any joint space or bony region in preparation for implantation.
US08277509B2
An intervertebral prosthetic implant having a first endplate having a first surface configured to substantially engage with a first vertebral body and a second surface having an extension with a concave contact surface, the concave contact surface being spaced apart from the second surface. A second endplate is provided with a first surface configured to substantially engage with a second vertebral body and a second surface comprising a convex contact surface, and the second endplate having a securing element positioned along and above the second surface defining a first and second window on opposing sides of the second surface. The securing element extends along the width and length of the lower endplate and configured with an access hole. An extension portion extends from the first surface of the first endplate through the access hole of the securing element and contacts the second surface of the second endplate.
US08277508B2
An intervertebral disc prosthesis is adapted for implantation between first and second vertebral endplates. The prosthesis comprises a first endplate assembly for engaging the first vertebral endplate. The first endplate assembly has a concave first inner surface. The prosthesis further comprises a second endplate assembly for engaging the second vertebral endplate. The second endplate assembly has a concave second inner surface. The prosthesis further comprises a core component extending between the first and second inner surfaces and adapted to move relative to the concave first and second inner surfaces. The core component includes a flexible body extending between first and second end surfaces such that the end surfaces are not contiguous. The first and second end surfaces have a hardness greater than the flexible body.
US08277506B2
An apparatus for stabilizing a vertebral body using a structural support to stabilize the vertebral body. The apparatus includes a first curable material deposit proximal to a first endplate of a vertebral body for providing support to the first endplate of the vertebral body and a second curable material deposit proximal to a second endplate of a vertebral body for providing support to a second endplate of the vertebral body. The apparatus also utilizes a stabilizing structure between the first curable material deposit and the second curable material deposit and connecting the first curable material deposit and the second curable material deposit for providing support to the vertebral body.
US08277505B1
The subject invention provides a modular six-degrees-of-freedom spatial mechanism for spinal disc prosthesis, with up to three independent rotational and up to three independent translational degrees-of-freedom. The prosthesis can maintain non-separable, and non-restrictive, mechanical linkage by establishing a linked series, or chain, of kinematic pairs (joints) between components. In embodiment, a superior plate links to a planar pair (two independent degrees of translational freedom), which links to spherical pair (three independent degrees of rotational freedom), which links to a prismatic pair (one independent degree of translational freedom), which links to an inferior plate, completing the jointed kinematic chain. The kinematic pairs can be lower (surface contact) or higher (point, line, and/or curve contact) order pairs, or combinations. The subject invention can enforce the kinematic constraints to realize the kinematic pairs and can also limit the range of operation of the degrees of freedom for each pair.
US08277500B2
The invention relates to an expandable stent comprising circumferentially adjacent modules. The modules comprise longitudinally adjacent slide-and-lock radial elements which permit one-way sliding of the radial elements from a collapsed diameter to an expanded/deployed diameter, but inhibit radial recoil from the expanded diameter.
US08277498B2
Methods and systems of delivering a stent at an elevated temperature are disclosed herein.
US08277494B2
A bone anchoring device includes an anchoring element having a shank to be anchored in a bone or a vertebra, a rod for connecting at least two anchoring elements, the rod being made of an elastic material. The bone anchoring device further includes a receiving part being connected to the shank for receiving the rod, a seat for the rod being provided in the receiving part the seat having a rod contacting surface, and a locking device cooperating with the receiving part for fixation of the rod in the seat. The locking device includes a rod contacting surface, wherein the rod contacting surface of the seat and/or the rod contacting surface of the locking device includes an engagement structure for engaging the rod, the engagement structure having an asymmetric cross section.
US08277492B2
A bone-anchored surgical mesh has slot-like anchoring members that allow for the variable placement of screws and other bone fasteners. This permits the surgeon discretion in the placement of bone fasteners used to attach the mesh to the patient's bone. The elongate openings of the anchoring members allow for a sliding motion between the bone fasteners and the anchoring members, and facilitates positioning and articulation of the mesh. The anchoring members may include bushings to aid the sliding motion of the anchoring member on the bone fastener. In one embodiment, the mesh consists of shorter modular strips that overlap each other such that a single bone fastener is passed through two overlapping anchoring members to lock the two modular mesh strips together. Additional modular mesh strips can be added on at either end, as desired, to provide the desired length of dural coverage.
US08277491B2
Minimally invasive methods and devices for introducing a spinal fixation element into a surgical site in a patient's spinal column are provided. In one embodiment, a dissection tool is provided for separating muscles along a muscle plane without causing damage to the muscles. The dissection tool can also include a lumen extending therethrough for receiving a guide wire. The tool allows the guide wire to be positioned relative to a vertebra, and once properly positioned, the tool can be removed to allow a spinal anchor to be delivered along the guide wire and implanted into the vertebra.
US08277483B2
Wound closure apparatus is provided including a body having an elongated, lowermost force-transmitting surface operable to be placed in a proximal, external, wound-closing position on a patient, together with a force-exerting assembly coupled with the body and operable to exert a downwardly directed force serving to generate wound-closing pressure against the patient's tissue. The force-transmitting surface is preferably three-dimensionally asymmetric so that forces of different magnitude are exerted at different locations along the length of the surface. The apparatus is especially designed for the closure of wounds attendant to endovascular interventions, e.g., a femoral artery puncture wound incident to percutaneous cardiac intervention (PCI), and is capable of quickly effecting wound closure with a time-to-ambulation (TTA) of approximately 60 minutes, and with a very low complication rate.
US08277482B2
A method for closing a body opening in a patient is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a delivery catheter within the body opening. The delivery catheter includes a closure device comprising a distal occluding body and a proximal occluding body. The closure device is collapsibly disposed within a distal end of the delivery catheter. The method further includes deploying the closure device from the delivery catheter about the body opening such that a distal frame of the distal occluding body expands to its expanded configuration at a distal end of the body opening and a proximal frame of the proximal occluding body expands to its expanded configuration at an opposing proximal end of the body opening.
US08277478B2
A balloon dilation catheter includes a substantially rigid inner guide member and a movable shaft coupled to a balloon that is slidably mounted on the substantially rigid inner guide member. To treat a sinus cavity of a subject using the balloon dilation the substantially rigid inner guide member is advanced into a drainage pathway of the sinus (e.g., frontal recess) of the subject via a nasal passageway. The shaft and balloon are advanced in a distal direction over the substantially rigid inner guide member to place the balloon in the drainage pathway. The balloon is inflated to expand or otherwise remodel the drainage pathway.
US08277476B2
The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing means in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing means may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically, or by human intervention. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing means is affixed to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid, by any of a variety of techniques, such that the position of the stabilizing means becomes fixed by the support, and the heart remains substantially motionless for the duration of the procedure.
US08277466B2
An apparatus and method for using an anastomosis device to repair severed tissues resulting from a surgical medical procedure such as a radical prostatectomy, ilio-orthotopic neobladder construction, cystoprostatectomy, cystectomy, urethral anastomosis, or ureteral anastomosis.
US08277465B2
The present invention provides a system and method for forming a side branch on a hollow vessel, such as the aorta. The side branch is preferably adapted to be connected to a connector conduit, but any other suitable use is also acceptable. The system comprises a graft including a side branch portion, and an applicator comprising a hole forming element adapted to form a hole in the wall of the vessel and an insertion element adapted to be inserted through the wall of the vessel, the insertion element comprising a retraction element adapted to enter into engagement with the graft. The hole forming element may comprise a cutting element adapted to cut a hole in the wall of the vessel, and a positioning element adapted to hold the position of the applicator relative to the vessel. The system further comprises a graft protection element adapted to prevent the graft from being damaged by the cutting element. In this case, the clamping element and the graft protection element may be the same element, for example, an expansion element, which may be expandable from an unexpanded state to fully expanded state and to a partially expanded state. The expansion element may be a balloon, which may be in the shape of a circular toroid, and may include a tension member that restricts the dimensions of the balloon. In addition, the expansion element may be an umbrella mechanism.
US08277464B2
Devices and methods useful for suturing soft tissue to bone are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bone-suturing device is provided and can include a delivery needle, a delivery needle driving element, a capture needle, and a capture needle driving element. The delivery needle driving element and capture needle driving element can advance the delivery needle and the capture needle through soft tissue and into bone, respectively, and the paths of the delivery needle and the capture needle can intersect therein. The delivery needle can be adapted for holding a suture and the capture needle can be adapted for receiving the suture held by the delivery needle. An injection device can be provided to deliver an adhesive material into bone.
US08277461B2
A method of determining the pedicle base circumference and the pedicle isthmus to facilitate screw placement in a pedicle of a vertebral body during spinal surgery, comprising providing a series of first lines tangential to the outer cortical surface of the vertebral body in and near the pedicle on a transverse section from a three-dimensional image of the vertebral body, providing a series of second lines extending through the vertebral body in and near the pedicle thereof in perpendicular relation to the series of first lines, identifying the pedicle base circumference as the areas of the outer cortical surface where adjacent second lines are at the greatest angle with respect to one another, and identifying the pedicle isthmus as the areas of the outer cortical surface where the second lines that are opposed to each other are closest to being parallel to one another.
US08277452B2
A bone resection device for use in resection of bone during joint replacement surgery includes a handle, an elongate shaft rotatably mounted to the handle, a cutting tool housing attached to the shaft at or towards the distal end of the shaft, at least one cutting tool fastened to the housing, and a pivot control member configured to be at least partially disposed about the elongate shaft, the pivot control member being attached at or toward the distal end of the pivot control member to the at least one cutting tool, the distal end of the pivot control member and the distal end of the shaft being configured to be axially displaceable with respect to one another a predetermined distance, during operation of the device.
US08277445B2
A method and system for achieving hemostasis (the stoppage of bleeding) is described. RF (radio frequency) energy is used to ablate the surface of tissue to stop bleeding. The depth of destruction of the tissue can be controlled so as to desiccate and coagulate the tissue. In one implementation, an electrode carrier including bipolar electrodes is applied to the tissue, and RF energy transmitted through the bipolar electrodes to ablate the tissue. A layer of desiccated tissue can be created as well as coagulation of the tissue to achieve hemostasis.
US08277443B2
A manipulator includes a wire which is movable back and forth, a driven wire both ends of which are connected to the wire, an idle pulley, a guide pulley, a driven pulley which is movable back and forth, and an end effector coupled to the driven pulley. The driven wire passes from a terminal along a first side on the idle pulley and extends to a second side opposite to the first side, and then passes along the second side on the driven pulley. The driven wire is then wound around the driven pulley and passes along the first side on the driven pulley and then the second side on the idle pulley, and finally returns to the terminal, thereby making up an 8-shaped configuration path. The driven wire is crossed between the idle pulley and the guide pulley.
US08277435B2
Some embodiments of a portable infusion pump system can be configured to can be configured to adjust the sensitivity of particular detectors or alert systems based (at least in part) on information received from a monitoring device. For example, a glucose monitoring device can communication with an infusion pump assembly used to supply insulin or another medication to a user. In such circumstances, the data received from the monitoring device can be used to adjust the sensitivity of an occlusion detection system.
US08277431B2
An absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, feminine protection articles and the like having a specific elasticated topsheet comprising multitude of elasticated areas and one or more openings to receive e.g. feces, the elasticated areas being typically straight, but the elasticated areas operating jointly to provide a diverting-like elastic behavior, and the elasticated areas having optionally different elastic properties.
US08277422B2
A retractable safety syringe may have a needle, needle holder, syringe body, and a plunger assembly. A proximal portion of the body and a piston of the plunger may define a vacuum chamber. The plunger assembly may comprise a distal piston and a proximal piston, with an intermediate chamber disposed between the two plungers. A vent through the syringe body pneumatically connects ambient air and the intermediate chamber allowing air to escape out of the intermediate chamber when a plunger assembly traversed toward the engaged position and allow air to be introduced into the intermediate chamber. A retraction force may be created by the vacuum chamber by traversing the plunger assembly to the engaged position. At the engaged position, the distal piston may engage the needle holder and the retraction force may retract the needle holder and needle into the syringe body to prevent accidental needle pricking and needle reuse.
US08277421B2
A drug solution injector comprises a needle tube having a sharp needlepoint, a bottomed outer cylinder arranged on the base end side of the needle tube and having an inside space communicable with the inside of the needle tube, a gasket slidable within the outer cylinder, a drug solution in the space formed by the outer cylinder and the gasket, a support member supporting the needle tube and having a flow channel communicating with the inside of the needle tube, an operation mechanism permitting selection between a communicated state wherein the inside of the needle tube and the inside of the outer cylinder communicate with each other through the flow channel and a blocked state wherein the communication is blocked by rotating the support member, and an exposure preventer for preventing exposure of the needlepoint.
US08277417B2
A central venous catheter kit enables health care workers quickly and controllably gain ultrasound supported access to vascular tissue for catheterization. Ultrasound support requires gel for reducing acoustic impedance and reflectance loss, which gel is included in the kit, as well as at least two newly conceived devices, the first for gripping the guide wire in an otherwise gelled environment, and the second for marking the skin for proper needle localization. State of the art kit components are thus included in the kit, in addition to the scanning gel and the noted device(s). The devices each comprise certain finger- or digit-grippable structure, and textured surfacing for enhancing the frictional contact between the user's digits and the devices.
US08277408B2
The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a cannula channel with a finger lock for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.
US08277407B2
Artificial kidney for gradual, and at least semi-continuous, blood treatment, wherein a blood stream is fed from a body of a living human or animal being into the artificial kidney, where anticoagulation is first effected, blood cells and molecules of large and medium molecular weight, such as proteins, are then primarily separated from plasma and fed back to the blood stream, regulating a water and salt balance by diverting excess plasma water and further removing from the blood stream, plasma or plasma water accumulated and toxic substances, by removal of specific electrolytes and waste products and wherein purified or partially purified plasma and plasma water is being carried back to the blood tract of the body.
US08277403B2
An adjustable support assembly for an orthopedic brace has a support arm, a housing and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a travel track which slidably receives the support arm. The locking mechanism includes a lock lever which selectively applies a sufficient force to the support arm to prevent slidable displacement of the support arm in the travel track.
US08277396B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for assessing proprioception in a subject. One embodiment of an apparatus of the invention comprises two articulating members attachable to a pair of limbs of a subject, and provides data relating to geometry and/or location and/or motion of each limb in 2- or 3-dimensional space. The apparatus may include means for monitoring gaze direction. The apparatus may comprise a robotic linkage. One embodiment of the method comprises obtaining data relating to the geometry and/or location and/or motion of the limbs, or portions thereof, of a subject as the subject performs a matching task. Another embodiment comprises obtaining data relating to the location of a limb of a subject, together with data relating to gaze direction as the subject looks toward the perceived location of limb.
US08277395B2
Various embodiments of a measurement device used to measure a size of a lumen and related methods of use are disclosed. For example, the device may include a proximal handle, a distal member including a radially expandable portion, a control member connecting the proximal handle to the distal member, and a measurement indication member for displaying a value indicative of a size of the expandable portion. The radially expandable portion may be configured to expand from a contracted state to an expanded state to measure the size of a lumen.
US08277391B2
In order to later identify the location of a biopsy or surgery, various means and methods for permanently and non-surgically marking selected tissue in the human body are used. Later visualization of the markers is readily accomplished using state-of-the-art imaging systems.
US08277390B2
A method and device for automatically assessing loss of hearing sensitivity and compression (recruitment) with user defined frequency resolution by means of extrapolated DPOAE I/O functions and ABRs as well as for automatically fitting hearing aids without any cooperation of the subject tested using a device having a display screen attached to a handheld device generating and collecting otoacoustic emission signals and brain stem response signals into a programmed with a clinical audiogram with fitting parameters for hearing aids calculated on the basis of assessed hearing threshold and compression and identifying the type of hearing required for the individual.
US08277386B2
The present invention provides for an improved combination sensor tip that includes an ultrasound transducer and a pressure sensor both disposed at or in close proximity to the distal end of the combination sensor tip. The present invention also provides for an improved connector to couple a guide wire to a physiology monitor that reduces torsional resistance when maneuvering the guide wire.
US08277383B2
A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from the echoes received by the single omnidirectional transducer is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. Specular reflections are attenuated by using even a single omnidirectional receiver displaced from the insonifying probe. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. In fact, gaps can be left to accommodate spanning a patient's ribs, or simply to reduce the cost of the large aperture array. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images.
US08277358B2
The present invention relates to an epicyclic reduction gear with multiple modular stages (M1, M2, M3) for tubular motor reducers operating winding roller shutters, roller shades and the like. Each reduction stage is provided with a central toothed hub (1) on one side and a central splined hub (5) on the other side, in compliance with the said hub, the hub (8) of a stage being designed to be coupled with a pin (5) of the adjacent stage.
US08277357B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08277356B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.
US08277354B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
US08277349B2
An actuation system includes a prime mover, a mechanical option module, an actuator, and a controller. The prime mover includes a drive shaft. The mechanical option module includes a housing, an input shaft coupled to the drive shaft, an output shaft, and a planetary gear module. The planetary gear module includes a sun gear coupled to the input shaft, a planet carrier coupled to the output shaft, an outer ring, and planet gears meshed with the sun gear and the outer ring. The application-specific module is connected to the housing and configured to selectively influence movement of the outer ring of the planetary gear module. The actuator includes an actuator input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the mechanical option module. The controller controls an operation of at least one of the prime mover, the mechanical option module, and the actuator.
US08277346B2
A bicycle rear derailleur comprises a base member; a movable member that supports a chain guide including a first pulley that rotates around a first pulley axis, wherein the pulley has a pulley plane; and a first linking member coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the chain guide moves laterally relative to the base member between a first lateral position and a second lateral position. The pulley plane intersects the first linking member when the chain guide is located at a first position between the first lateral position and the second lateral position.
US08277345B2
A stepless transmitting and speed-varying structure contains a power mechanism to drive a first transmission shaft by using power. The first transmission shaft is connected with a set of disk members including fixed and movable discs. A transmitting mechanism includes a belt disposed on the disk members, with one end of the belt connected with an intermediate speed-varying stem coaxial with a transmitting member to actuate a second transmission shaft. The second transmission shaft includes a resilient member, with one end of the resilient member coupled with the intermediate speed-varying stem and with another end thereof connected with a fixed member. A speed varying mechanism includes the second transmission shaft connected with a variable speed member, an actuated member, and plural eccentric blocks. The variable speed member couples with a connecting rod, with one end of the connecting rod joined with the movable disc.
US08277330B2
A connecting arrangement between a shaft journal and a constant velocity rotary joint having a joint inner part and a joint outer part, in which the shaft journal engages in a rotationally fixed manner in one of the joint parts, and the shaft journal and the constant velocity rotary joint are two components. At least one clamping sleeve is provided which is axially secured on one of the components, and which includes at least one elastic element which can lock in place in a contour of the other component.
US08277319B2
The present invention provides a system and method for an improved communications interface for a gaming machine. Certain embodiments of an improved gaming network include a gaming system including a communication interface, and a server providing at least one of an application, a service, and a status to the gaming system. The communication interface initiates communication with the server to transmit and/or receive information. The communication interface may allow games or other applications/services to be downloaded to the gaming system. In an embodiment, the communication interface facilitates voice over internet protocol communication, for example. The communication interface may also provide a secondary game at the gaming system and/or access to the Internet or other network, for example. In an embodiment, the communication interface facilitates purchase and/or confirmation of items and/or services at the gaming system. The communication interface may translate information to an appropriate protocol for the gaming system.
US08277318B2
A game system involves software executing from a machine-readable physical medium on a computerized appliance, an interactive interface provided by the software and accessible to a client, enabling the client to participate in a video game incorporating an avatar associated with the client, a jumbled association of parts of a specific vehicle represented in a scene in the video game, and one or more trigger devices available to the client, individual trigger devices associated with different specific vehicles. Applying a trigger device from the one or more devices to the association of parts, if the device is associated with that specific vehicle, causes the parts to rearrange in the interactive interface into a recognizable vehicle operable by the avatar manipulated by the client.
US08277313B2
A gaming terminal includes a base game offering a chance of winning a payout according to a predetermined combination; a chance game offering a chance of obtaining a chance flag which qualifies a player to join a special game offering a chance of winning a higher payout than the base game; a terminal storage unit storing the number of chance flags; a terminal display which displays images of the base game, the chance game, and the special game; and a terminal controller. The terminal controller performs the steps of: running the base game and the chance game at the same time; determining and awarding a payout according to a result of the base game; determining and awarding the number of chance flags according to a result of the chance game; accumulatively storing in the terminal storage unit the number of chance flags awarded; awarding a payout determined according to a result of the special game which is run when the number of the chance flags stored in the terminal storage unit equals or surpasses a predetermined number; and awarding a determined special payout, when a value obtained by subtracting a sum of one or more payouts of the special game from a sum of one or more game values inserted from the game value insertion unit equals or surpasses a predetermined value.
US08277307B2
The gaming device and method disclosed herein have a plurality of reels and at least one expanding and roaming wild symbol. The wild symbol moves relative to the reels to provide additional award opportunities. When both the wild symbol and a designated trigger symbol appear on one of the reels, the wild symbol expands to form an expanded wild symbol set that includes a plurality of individual wild symbols. The designated trigger symbol determines the number of moves. For each move, the expanded wild symbol set moves to one of the reels. That is, the expanded wild symbol set enables a plurality of individual wild symbols to randomly move from reel to reel for a number of moves, wherein the number is determined based on the designated trigger symbol. After each move, the gaming device performs an award evaluation to determine whether a winning combination is displayed on the reels.
US08277302B2
A method, system, device and computer readable medium are described, in which a wagering game and a secondary game may be provided at a gaming device, wherein the secondary game comprises detecting an occurrence of a trigger; determining, responsive to the trigger, a player number based on a first criterion; determining, responsive to the trigger, a match number based on a second criterion; and determining if the match number meets a third criterion with respect to the player number.
US08277296B2
In the horse race gaming machine 60001, orders of arrival in racing games are stored for each of the player's racehorses. If the player's racehorses, in consecutive racing games equal to or more than a predetermined number of times including a result of this racing game, have finished consecutively in a place equal to or lower than a predetermined place (S60602: YES), a part of total BET amount specified by the player for this racing game is refunded to the player (S60603). Otherwise, a part or all of insurance is paid to the player in accordance with the predetermined number. Incidentally, to have a player's racehorse run in this racing game, there may be a case that the player is required to pay an entry point given to the player in accordance with BET amount specified by the player. By the player's specifying a side bet, the player's racehorse is able to be made a race entry in any of the racing games.
US08277295B2
A ventilation member (1) comprises a support body (2), a ventilation membrane (10), and a cover part (3). The support body (2) includes a bottom surface portion (4) connected to the casing (50) and a side surface portion (5) on which the ventilation membrane (10) is installed. A first opening (4h) is formed in the bottom surface portion (4), and a second opening (5h) is formed in the side surface portion (5). The ventilation membrane (10) is installed on the side surface portion (5) so as to close the second opening (5h). The cover part (3) has a cylindrical side wall part (3b) that circumferentially surrounds the support body (2) in such a state that the support body (2) is assembled therein. The position of the second opening (5h) to be formed in the side surface portion (5) of the support body (2) is adjusted so that the ventilation membrane (10) is protected when the membrane faces the cylindrical side wall part (3b).
US08277293B2
A holding device for a stuffing machine for stuffing sausages, having a head provided with a casing brake, and a drive shaft through which the casing brake can be driven, the casing brake enclosing the free end of a filling tube of the stuffing machine at an operating position and exposing the free end of the filling tube by pivoting the head away at a sausage casing pull-on position. When the head is being moved from the operating position to the sausage casing pull-on position, the drive shaft is deflected at an angle α relative to the longitudinal axis of the holding device without decoupling of the power train.
US08277284B2
A sharpening machine generally includes a grinding wheel having a perimeter that is rotatable about a first axis. The sharpening machine includes an adjustment device adapted to be coupled to a structure of the sharpening machine. A shaft is mounted to the adjustment device. The shaft defines a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis when the adjustment device is coupled to the structure. The shaft is movable along a predetermined feed axis toward the grinding wheel. A carousel is rotatably connected to the shaft of the adjustment device. A contouring tool is rotatably connected to the carousel. The contouring tool has a contour surface. Movement of the shaft of the adjustment device along the feed axis is configured to translate the carousel and move the contouring tool into and out of engagement with the grinding wheel to facilitate dressing of the perimeter of the grinding wheel to a grinding wheel contour.
US08277283B2
A wafer is polished by a method comprising a slicing step of cutting out a wafer from a single crystal ingot and a step of polishing at least one of both surfaces and an end face of the wafer, wherein the at least one surface and end face of the wafer are simultaneously subjected to a mirror polishing.
US08277275B2
A game call apparatus comprises a mouthpiece including an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and a mouthpiece air passageway connecting the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening. The game call apparatus further comprises an outer sound chamber including an air inlet opening, an air exit opening, and an internal surface connecting the air inlet opening of the outer sound chamber and the air exit opening. The game call further comprises an inner sound chamber including an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening disposed within the outer sound chamber. The inner sound chamber air passageway connects the air inlet opening of the inner sound chamber and the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber, and the inner sound chamber air passageway is in communication with the mouthpiece air passageway to permit air passage between the air inlet opening of the mouthpiece and the air exit opening of the outer sound chamber.
US08277271B2
A fuel supply system for a boat includes a vapor separator tank arranged to be connected to a fuel tank mounted on a hull of the boat and arranged to contain fuel therein, an injector arranged to supply fuel to an engine, a high-pressure fuel pump arranged to supply the fuel contained in the vapor separator tank to the injector, and a throttle body including a throttle valve arranged to adjust a flow rate of air supplied to the engine. The vapor separator tank is disposed adjacent to the throttle body. The fuel supply system minimizes deterioration in engine startability.
US08277259B2
A connector includes a first terminal housing with a plurality of first joining terminals aligned and accommodated therein, a second terminal housing with a plurality of second joining terminals aligned and accommodated therein, a connecting member for pressing and thereby collectively fixing the plural first joining terminals and the plural second joining terminals at the contacts therebetween respectively, and a covering member slidably provided to cover the connecting member, to maintain the pressing force of the pressed connecting member at a specified or greater pressing force that assures the stable connections between the first joining terminals and the second joining terminals, respectively, the covering member being provided in such a manner that it is not slidable to cover the connecting member until the pressing force of the connecting member reaches the pressing force that assures the stable connections between the first joining terminals and the second joining terminals, respectively.
US08277255B2
An interconnect member is provided for electrically connecting an electronic module to a printed circuit. The interconnect member includes a substrate having a module side and an opposite circuit side. Module contacts are held by the substrate. The module contacts are arranged within an array along the module side of the substrate. The module contacts include module mating interfaces that are configured to be electrically connected to the electronic module. Circuit contacts are held by the substrate. The circuit contacts are arranged within an array along the circuit side of the substrate. The circuit contacts include circuit mating interfaces that are configured to be electrically connected to the printed circuit. Electrical components extend between and electrically connect corresponding module contacts to corresponding circuit contacts to provide electrical paths for electrical signals transmitted between the module and circuit contacts. At least one of the electrical components modifies the corresponding electrical signal transmitted along the electrical path between the corresponding module and circuit contacts.
US08277249B2
A contact for coaxial cable attached to an end of a coaxial cable includes a contact part and a connection part. The connection part includes a conductor barrel, an open crimp barrel, and a junction band narrow in width. The conductor barrel is disposed on a side to a base end portion of the contact part and can crimp the inner conductor. The open crimp barrel is adjacent to the conductor barrel and can crimp an exposed portion of the dielectric body so as to surround the exposed portion of the dielectric body in a cylindrical shape. The junction band joins the conductor barrel with the open crimp barrel so as to bridge the two. The both end portions of the junction band are torn during or after crimping of the conductor barrel and the open crimp barrel.
US08277244B2
Electrical connecting element (2) that is designed to be welded or soldered onto an electrically conductive component (11) of a window pane, comprising an electrically conductive body (20), of which one section is designed to be welded or soldered onto the component (11) for its electrical connection, and of which another if section is designed to be connected in the direction of the outer side of the window pane, characterized in that the body comprises an electrically conductive foil (21) with a thickness between 1 and 500 μm and intermediate means (5, 6) that serve as shock-absorbing means between the stiff section of the body of the connecting element and the window pane.
US08277240B2
A connector has a first member connectable to a first object and a second member connectable to a second object. The second member is arranged so as to restrict movement of the first member in a first horizontal direction. The connector also has a connection member configured to connect the first member and the second member to each other so that the first member is movable relative to the second member in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.
US08277239B1
The USB AC adapter with removable USB vehicle power adapter comprises of a housing with a slot that holds a removable vehicle power adapter. The housing has an alternating current plug adapted to be insertable into an alternating current source. The housing further encloses a universal serial bus. Power conversion circuits are enclosed in the housing to convert the 110V alternating current to both 5V and 12V direct currents. The 5V direct current is directed through the universal serial bus in the housing. The 12V direct current is directed to the slot that holds the removable vehicle power adapter. The removable vehicle power adapter is adapted to be removable from the housing and insertable into a vehicle's cigarette lighter socket and converts the 12V from the vehicle's direct current power supply to 5V direct current output through a universal serial bus.
US08277237B1
The improved electrical plug includes electrical prongs that extend and retract into the housing via actuating means comprising a twisting action or a sliding tab. A twisting embodiment extends and retracts into the housing via a twisting action about a portion of the housing. A sliding tab embodiment includes a sliding tab located on a side of the housing that when moved up or down will extend or retract the prongs out of or into the housing, respectively. Either embodiment can be integrated into the design of an electrical cord or as an after-market product that is installed upon an electrical cord.
US08277226B2
An electric connector connecting one plug with several sockets in a housing, arranged to allow rotating the plug relative to the housing, as well as linearly moving the plug along the housing, while keeping the connector functional. The plug pins are movably connected to round flat tracks, which are movably connected to linear tracks that are connected via straps to the corresponding sockets' slots.
US08277220B2
The invention relates to an implant (1), particularly a jaw implant, which comprises several structural zones (5, 6, 12) made of a material which is non-resorbable, particularly from bones, for the implantation on bones or at least in the vicinity of bones. In an advantageous further embodiment of the implant, two or more of said structural zones (5, 6, 12) have respectively different material properties, in particular different physical properties such as different deformation and/or strength properties. The invention also relates to a method for determining load-dependent deformations in different bone regions, according to which X-ray images of the bone regions are taken with and without mechanical load for comparison. By comparing the X-ray images taken of the individual bone regions under or without load, the resulting deformation can be determined due to the applied load.
US08277219B2
Implant (10) having a shaft which is adapted in use to be embedded in bone tissue and which has an outer surface provided with a circumferentially-oriented roughness. The circumferentially-oriented roughness has first and second axial sections (19, 21) with each section comprising a series of circumferentially-oriented peaks which have a crest and which are axially spaced apart by troughs. The axial spacing (d) between the crests of adjacent peaks in the first axial section (19) is less than the axial spacing (3d) between the crests of adjacent peaks in the second axial section (21). Although the axial spacing between the crests of adjacent peaks in the first and second axial sections of circumferentially-oriented roughness differs, the first and second axial sections of circumferentially-oriented roughness are adapted in use to provide the same or substantially the same pitch.
US08277211B2
An apparatus comprising a transferring element for transferring a dose of flowable material, said dose being provided with an elongated body having a transverse dimension and an end zone, a receiving member for receiving said dose from said transferring element, wherein said transferring element comprising an end-forming arrangement for forming said end zone in such a way as to decrease said transverse dimension in the vicinity of said end zone. A dose of plastics comprises an elongated body provided with a transverse dimension, said elongated body comprising an end zone provided with a respective transverse dimension that is less than said transverse dimension.
US08277209B2
Relatively uniform spherical shaped solid pellets (prills) may be created by passing molten sulfur through a nested strainer to remove particles that would otherwise become trapped in the system, a drip tray with a heating channel attached on its underside, an injection conduit for delivery of a cooled zone of water to create solid prills, and thereafter moving the prills through a stationary curved screen to remove most of the excess water and a vibrating screen.
US08277206B2
A pressure enclosure includes a first component having an opening, a second component coupled to the first component in a position over the opening, a third component positioned between the first and second components and covering the opening, and a load chamber defined by a space between the second and third components and configured such that pressure in the load chamber biases the third component against the first component to seal the opening. The pressure enclosure may be a cylinder of a pump for pressurizing fluid or gas, with the first component a cylinder body, the second component an end cap and the third component a valve body, with the load chamber biasing the valve body against the cylinder body.
US08277199B2
An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor are disclosed in which a frequency is variably controlled to uniformly maintain a phase difference between current and stroke, a load is determined with a size of frequency at a point of time when the phase difference between the current and the stroke is uniformly maintained, and capacity is varied according to the determined load, to thus improve an operation efficiency. The apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes: a control unit for detecting a phase difference between current and stroke and outputting a frequency variable signal or a frequency detect signal based on the detected phase difference; a load detecting unit for detecting a current operation load according to the frequency detect signal; and a stroke reference value determining unit for determining a stroke reference value corresponding to the detected load.
US08277195B2
Turbine components with different types of coatings on different parts thereof are described. The coatings are chosen such that they are especially adapted to the thermal and corrosive conditions being present on the parts of the component during use. A method to coat a turbine component is also described.
US08277193B1
A thin wall turbine blade used in a gas turbine engine, in which the blade is cast in conventional grain from a super alloy using the lost wax process as a single piece, and then the blade walls are machined to remove enough material to leave a thin wall. The blade is cast with a wall thickness greater than the designed for thin wall in order that any core shifting during the casting process will be accounted for in the machining process. prior to machining, a scanning process is used to measure the actual wall thickness on all portions of the blade wall in order to determine how much material must be removed to leave the blade wall with the proper thinness.
US08277187B2
A radial compressor rotor is provided for stabilizing the flow behavior of a delivery gas, consisting of a wheel disc and blades arranged uniformly in the circumferential direction, wherein the generatrix of the surface of the blades is designed as a curved line at least in a curved section, such that the surface is curved in two directions in this section.
US08277185B2
A wind turbine having at least one rotor blade attached to a rotor hub is provided, wherein the wind turbine further includes at least one sensor disposed at or near the rotor blade, the sensor being adapted to detect an aerodynamic condition of the rotor blade.
US08277180B2
The invention relates to an axial fan (1) for conveying cooling air for a cooling device of a motor vehicle, wherein the axial fan (1) has axial vanes (4) each having a front edge (4a) and a rear edge (4b), a van tip (4c) and a circumferential ring (5) which is connected to the vane tips (4c) and has an approach edge (5a) and a dispersing edge (5b). It is proposed that the approach edge (5a) of the circumferential rind (5) is set back in the flow direction (L) in relation to the front edges (4a) of the axial vanes (4).
US08277175B2
A combustion air supply blower includes a blower housing having a housing body and housing cover. The cover is removably attached to the housing body and generally provides access to a motor and fan assembly including a fan and a motor. The motor and fan assembly is removably mounted within the housing body and is captured between the housing body and the housing cover such that, upon removal of the housing cover, the motor and fan assembly is exposed and may then be lifted out of the housing body for easy maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of any portion of the motor and fan assembly. Alternatively, upon removal of the housing cover, the motor and fan assembly may be accessed while remaining within the housing body to complete any maintenance and/or repair of the motor and fan assembly.
US08277169B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a disk coverplate for a turbine rotor, the disk coverplate comprising a plurality of cooling holes, wherein the distance between the centers of any two adjacent cooling holes is greater than twice the average diameter of the two adjacent cooling holes. A method to control turbine cooling air flow is also disclosed.
US08277165B2
An integrated robotic mechanism is disclosed for improving transport equipment, integrating an object movement with other functionalities such as alignment or identification. The disclosed integrated robot assembly can comprise a multiple end effector for moving a plurality of workpieces, a single end effector for moving a single workpiece, a rotation chuck incorporated on the robot body to provide alignment capability, and an optional identification subsystem for identify the object during transport. The present invention robot assembly can be used in a sorter or stocker equipment, in processing equipment, and a transfer system.
US08277162B2
A unit for opening an insert of a test tray which comprises an accommodating space for accommodating a semiconductor device and a support for supporting the semiconductor device accommodated in the accommodating space, the unit includes a body, a pair of opening devices provided in the body to open the insert, and a positioning guide unit protruding to be inserted into an accommodating space for a semiconductor device when opening the insert and supporting the semiconductor device that is transferred into the accommodating space to be spaced upward apart from a support provided in the accommodating space.
US08277160B1
An apparatus for protecting and fastening a wire to a mounting object includes a molded unibody having a first section connected to a second section, wherein the first section includes a surface that operates to receive a fastener, such as a staple, therethrough to secure the wire in place against the mounting object, and the second section protrudes from the surface of the first section and extends away from the surface of the first section for a user to safely hold the first section in place as the user mounts the apparatus and the wire to the mounting object.
US08277158B2
Methods relating to and apparatus such as floating nut plates may include complementary surfaces limiting movement of a retainer toward or away from side walls of a receiver, such as wherein a nut element is positioned between the retainer and the receiver. One of the complementary surfaces may be a groove formed in the retainer. In one configuration, the receiver and/or retainer are non-metal.
US08277153B2
A combination of a cutting insert and a shim. The cutting insert and shim have two opposing end surfaces with two identical opposing major side surfaces and two identical opposing minor side surfaces extending between the minor side surfaces. Each end surface of the insert has two lowered abutment members, each having a shim abutment surface for contacting the shim. One end surface of the shim has two raised abutment members, each having an insert abutment surface for contacting the insert. The abutment surfaces contact each other in an area where high cutting forces occur so as to help distribute the loads encountered in the cutting operation, as well as provide protection of the insert pocket in case of insert failure.
US08277146B2
An improved wave energy collecting apparatus comprising a frame (1) including at least one hinged (2) vertically tilting or rotating surface (3), such as a barrier in the form of a panel or a sail, for collecting energy from passing wave pressure fronts via a tilting or rotating motion within the frame (1), wherein the hinge (2) is positioned below the surface of the fluid at the trough of the passing waves, said barrier (3) being connected to a device capable of transforming the tilting or rotating motion into different types of energy, wherein the apparatus is located at a depth such that the tilting or rotating barrier (3) breaks the surface of passing waves at the crest of the waves. Such an apparatus may also include vertically positioned side walls (4) for directing the pressure fronts from passing waves towards the tilting barrier (3).
US08277139B1
A hand-held cosmetic powder applicator brush apparatus for applying cosmetic powders such as facial powders and other powders to a user. The brush apparatus comprises a housing having a chamber for holding a powder to be dispensed and a valve mechanism for selectively opening and closing the chamber to a brush mounted on the housing so that powder in the housing may be dispensed to the bristles of the brush. The valve is operable by rotating an upper housing section such as a sleeve on the housing in a first direction to cause such opening. When the brush is not used, the upper housing section is rotated in the opposite direction to cause the valve mechanism to close. There is also a shield which extends around a portion of the brush to engage and protect the bristles when an outer cap is placed over the brush.
US08277138B2
A moveable machine to rapidly apply and cure thin layers of a UV curable coating on a surface such as a floor. The machine has an applicator to apply a thin curable coating in a path following the direction of motion of the machine. The machine also has UV lamps to cure the curable coating with a curing beam that overlaps newly applied coating. The UV lamps emit an intense UV radiation beam creating an annular cure zone around the applicator path. Movement of the machine along with the ensuing movement of the applicator and rotating UV lamps causes the applied curable coating to be exposed to the annular cure zone and cured. This rapid curing of applicator coating paths allows the machine to be immediately passed over the cured area multiple times and rapidly build up multiple thin cured layers to achieve a thick coating.
US08277133B2
A focal plane shutter for cameras includes: a shutter blade assembly; an electromagnet assembly; driving means that includes a mounting member mounted with an iron scrap member that cooperates with an iron core member of the electromagnet assembly; and a setting member that operates the driving means to a set position. The iron scrap member includes a shaft fitted in a mounting hole of the mounting member, an iron scrap portion provided at one end of the shaft and brought into contact with the iron core member, and a removal preventing flange provided at the other end of the shaft, a collar member is fitted to the shaft between the mounting hole and the flange, an edge of the mounting hole is formed to have an arcuate surface protruding toward the collar member, and the collar member is formed to have, on the edge side, an arcuate surface protruding toward the flange and substantially perpendicular to the arcuate surface.
US08277129B2
Disclosed is an optical connector which terminates an optical fiber inside the optical connector. The optical connector includes a main body. The main body includes: a reflector for reflecting light; a groove portion formed in a top surface of the main body; an optical fiber insertion hole opened in the groove portion, the optical fiber being inserted in the optical fiber insertion hole; an optical fiber placement stage provided in the groove portion, a front end portion of the optical fiber being placed on the optical fiber placement stage. The groove portion includes the optical fiber insertion hole formed at a back inner surface of the groove. The optical fiber placement stage is formed by projecting from the side surface of the groove portion.
US08277127B2
A bearing cage for large radial or axial roller bearings, which has two axially opposed, circular ring-shaped side washers held at a distance to each other by connecting elements, and roll-shaped rolling elements disposed between the side washers which have bolt-like elements on the faces thereof. A side washer on at least one side of the rolling element has radial recesses into which the bolt-like elements protrude. At least one securing element suitable for holding the bolt-like elements in the area of the radial recesses in the assembled state is provided. Shaped elements that can each be introduced at least partially into the radial recesses of the side washer are provided as the securing element. This construction achieves easy assembly and disassembly of the housing, allowing high flexibility in repairing a roller bearing so equipped.
US08277118B2
Drop counter and flow meter for apparatus and method for determining the thermal stability of fluids
A thermal oxidation tester is shown for determining thermal stability of a fluid, particularly hydrocarbons when subjected to elevated temperatures. The tendency of the heated fluid to oxidize and (1) form deposits on a surface of a heater tube and (2) form solids therein, are both measured at a given flow rate, temperature and time. The measured results are used to determine whether a fluid sample passes or fails the test. Sample flow rate is important in the jet fuel thermal oxidation test. Current practice requires manual drop counting or flow confirmation with the use of volumetric glassware. An apparatus is described to precisely measure the flow rate and automatically perform flow rate check using a drip rate method and/or volumetric method.
US08277117B2
The invention relates to a timepiece component (1) that has an aperture (7) for receiving a support element (3) and includes a clamping system (13) for exerting radial force, allowing said timepiece component to be secured to said support element. According to the invention, the clamping system (13) includes a radial clamping device (15) that has a crown (6) for exerting said radial force and a concentric, blind recess (8) spaced apart from said aperture, for allowing said crown to travel.The invention concerns the field of timepieces.
US08277113B2
A dispenser apparatus for dispensing an adhesive containing at least two components includes a mixing device and a header. The mixing device comprises a conveying plate having first and second grooved surfaces each overlaid by a respective cover plate. The conveying plate and opposed cover plates cooperate to define a plurality of separated channels extending through the mixing device. The discharge ends of the channels are interdigitated. First and a second distribution manifolds are defined within the mixing device. A supply port adapted to receive one adhesive component extends through a respective cover plate into fluid communication with one of the distribution manifolds.
US08277111B1
Several improvements are provided for a microingredient additive dispensing system. One improvement is the use of a fluid eductor to entrain and mix the additives. Another improvement is to weigh and dispense ingredients using one or more non-compartmentalized vibratory trays that are mounted on a single weigh frame. Another improvement is a summing and filtering circuit that sums and filters the signals from four different load cells to accurately determine the weight of the dispensed additives. Yet another improvement is the placement of a pump upstream of the eductor, isolating the pump from additives that are pumped to the feed mixing station. Another improvement is a line-flushing mode in which a turbulent mixture of air and water are used to clean the delivery conduit of residue.
US08277106B2
The present invention provides a lighting device, comprising a first light guide adapted to guide light and output the light in a first direction; a second light guide adapted to guide light and output the light in another, second direction; a dividing structure adapted to receive light from a light source and guide the light into the first light guide and into the second light guide, wherein the dividing structure comprises controllable dividing means for guiding a first percentage of the light from the light source into the first light guide, and a second percentage of the light from the light source into the second light guide.
