US08305225B2
A lamp assembly to be incorporated into or positioned on a truck's existing support structure comprising: a heat sink; an electrically insulating dielectric coating disposed on the heat sink; a plurality of circuit traces disposed on the dielectric coating; a plurality of LEDs disposed on and electrically connected to one another by the dielectric coating; and a cover disposed substantially over and protecting the heat sink, the dielectric coating, the circuit traces, and the LEDs. The LEDs are spaced apart at intervals to provide general illumination. The cover can be clear or be solid and have a plurality of apertures, each corresponding to one LED, and can further include a lens over the apertures.
US08305223B2
An Intelligent Electronic Device with integrated protection, and/or control, and/or monitoring for two power system primary objects or more power system primary objects, responsive to a plurality of inputs from the power system primary objects, and providing a plurality of outputs to the power system primary objects.
US08305215B2
A method and system for identification, tracking and locating in wireless communications and wireless networks. The method and system use reference and/or pilot signals that are present in wireless communications and wireless networks. The method and system can also use RTT, TOA and time-stamping measurements/techniques to determine one or more reference signals traveling time between the Base Station (eNB) or its functional equivalent and mobile device (UE) and or network device. The method and system includes multi-path mitigations processor and multi-path mitigations techniques and algorithms which improve the track-locate accuracy. The method and system allow achieving increased accuracy by using multi-path mitigations processor and multi-path mitigations techniques and algorithms. The techniques of Digital Signal Processing and Software-Defined Radio are used.
US08305210B2
A method is provided for a user equipment (UE) 110 to respond to an emergency-related message sent to the UE 110. The method comprises the UE 110 receiving a first message 150 containing an indicator 160 indicating that an emergency-related request has been made, the UE 110 recognizing the indicator 160 as an indication that the emergency-related request is related to an emergency, and the UE 110 sending a second message 170 containing emergency-related information 180 about itself.
US08305207B2
A reset system includes a communication device mounted on a vehicle; and a mobile device that performs wireless communication with the communication device. The mobile device includes a control instruction unit giving an instruction for controlling an in-vehicle device based on a depressed button, and an instruction unit giving the communication device an instruction for setting a reference value when a predetermined specific button is depressed. The communication device includes an acquisition unit acquiring a tire pressure of the vehicle, a determination unit comparing the tire pressure with the reference value to determine whether the air pressure is abnormal, a control unit controlling an in-vehicle device based on the instruction given from the control instruction unit, and a setting unit, when the instruction has been given from the instruction unit, calculating and setting the reference value based on the tire pressure acquired when the setting instruction has been given.
US08305206B2
In at least one embodiment, a method for generating a speed alert with an electronic device in a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating the speed at which the vehicle is traveling on a road and receiving a speed limit signal indicating the posted speed limit for the road traveled by the vehicle. The method further comprises adding a predetermined speed buffer to the posted speed limit and comparing the posted speed limit and the predetermined speed buffer to the vehicle speed signal. The method further comprises generating an alert if the vehicle speed signal is greater than the posted speed limit and the predetermined speed buffer.
US08305198B2
System, methods and computer program product are provided for an adaptive control for adjusting the electromagnetic interrogation signal of an RFID transceiver where said signal is used to read and/or write to an RFID transponder, or to adjust the gain of the RFID transceiver, or adjust both the gain and the signal strength. The system includes a RFID transceiver having at least a transmitter portion and a receiver portion and capable of generating electromagnetic signals, a signal-to-noise ratio module, and an adaptive control module that adjusts the power of the electromagnetic signal of the transmitter portion or the gain of the receiver portion according to the signal-to-noise ratio of a first electromagnetic signal. In one embodiment the system may be employed in printer-encoder devices for reading or encoding RFID transponders during a printing process.
US08305196B2
A method and apparatus for accounting for responders at a site, includes obtaining a first RFID from a scanning of a responder radio performed in a vicinity of the site; determining, by using the first RFID, a responder identity from a RFID database that associates each one of a plurality of responder identities to a corresponding responder radio RFID; adding at least one of the responder identity and the first RFID to an active responder database for the site; initiating an acknowledgement to the responder radio; obtaining a second RFID as a result of a second scanning; and removing the responder identity from the active responder database when the second RFID matches the first RFID.
US08305195B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) communication system and method is provided to resolve the power-consuming problems of an active RFID tag while operating at a receiving mode in a long duration. A designated channel is established between the reader and the RFID tag, and also the reader sends a designated message so that the actuated active RFID tag can receive the designated messages and dynamically enter into a receiving mode. Therefore, normal communications may be conducted between the reader and the RFID and the usage period or technical performance can be improved as well.
US08305167B2
To provide a twin-type power electromagnetic relay having high reliability, having a reduced size and low mounting height, and suitable for surface mounting.By inserting projections provided in a coil spool, which is a component constituting an electromagnetic relay block, into projection insertion holes 5a and 5b formed in a base plate 5, two electromagnetic relay blocks 4A and 4B are arranged side by side on the base plate 5 such that their central axes are nearly parallel to the base plate. A base protective wall 5c is provided on the base plate 5, and a coil wire winding terminal portion of a spool is covered by the base protective wall and by a fixed terminal protective wall on the fixed terminal block when assembled, preventing foreign matters such as flux from entering between the contacts from the winding terminal portion.
US08305166B2
To provide an electromagnetic relay having a reduced size, high conductivity, a high insulating performance between two fixed contact terminals and between each of the fixed contact terminals and backstop, a small number of factors causing a failure, and high reliability of electric contact.An electromagnetic relay has an electromagnetic block provided with a movable contact spring 14 swung by current flowing in a coil, two fixed contact terminals 22 and 22′ each having a fixed contact, a backstop 23 having two movable contact abutment portions, and a base block 2 for retaining the above components. The base block 2 has a base portion 20 having substantially a rectangular shape, fixed contact terminal retaining portions 21 and 21′ extending vertically from two opposing sides of the rectangle so as to retain the two fixed contact terminals, and a backstop retaining portion 24 extending vertically from the center portion of one of the remaining two opposing sides of the rectangle.
US08305165B2
The present invention relates to low vibration probes. Specifically, the present invention relates to low vibration probes in dielectric resonant oscillators. Accordingly, the present invention provides a dielectric resonant oscillator apparatus comprising a casing; a lid; a puck mounted on a support and one or more probes wherein the support comprises a hollow ceramic tube.
US08305162B2
A surface acoustic wave resonator includes: an IDT which is disposed on a quartz crystal substrate with an Euler angle of (−1.5°≦φ≦1.5°, 117°≦θ≦142°, 41.9°≦|ψ|≦49.57°) and which excites a surface acoustic wave in an upper mode of a stop band; and an inter-electrode-finger groove formed by recessing the quartz crystal substrate between electrode fingers of the IDT, wherein the following expression: 0.01λ≦G where λ represents a wavelength of the surface acoustic wave and G represents a depth of the inter-electrode-finger groove, is satisfied and when a line occupancy of the IDT is η, the depth of the inter-electrode-finger groove G and the line occupancy η are set to satisfy the following expression: −2.5×G/λ+0.675≦η≦−2.5×G/λ+0.775.
US08305161B2
A band-stop filter is proposed which is constructed on a multilayered substrate and consists of a parallel circuit comprising a bandpass filter and a high-pass filter. The two filters are at least partly realized in the form of LC-elements integrated into the substrate. Further circuit components can be arranged as discrete components on the substrate. In the filter branch having the bandpass filter, an electroacoustic resonator is arranged in a transverse branch to ground. By means of the filter, a wide stop band is obtained, while the passband or passbands can comprise a plurality of radio bands.
US08305160B2
An elastic wave device includes an unbalanced terminal and first and second balanced terminals. A longitudinally-coupled-resonator-type first elastic wave filter is provided between the unbalanced terminal and the first balanced terminal. An elastic wave filter, which is connected in parallel with the first elastic wave filter, is connected between the unbalanced terminal and the second balanced terminal. The current paths through which IDT electrodes of the elastic wave filters of the elastic wave device are connected to ground terminals, are not symmetrical.
US08305154B1
The present invention is a piezoelectric crystal oscillator using parametric amplification to enhance the Q. Parametric amplification is accomplished by driving the same region of the crystal as used for the oscillator with an overtone of the crystal resonator.
US08305151B2
A resonance type oscillation circuit includes an inductance element which is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal, an amplifier circuit which is connected in parallel with the inductance element between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a first capacitance element which is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. The oscillation circuit further includes a pair of lead-out regions which are provided on the way of one end and the other end of the inductance element, a switch element which is connected between the pair of lead-out regions and provides short-circuit between the pair of lead-out regions when the switch element is on, and a second capacitance element which is connected between the pair of lead-out regions in parallel with the switch element.
US08305148B2
An actual linear amplifier distorts an input signal, such as an RF signal, and generates third order intermodulation (IM3) products. In an embodiment of a Class A amplifier, the linear amplifier is a bipolar, common emitter-configured (CE) transistor using a cascode transistor to provide a fixed collector bias voltage to the CE transistor. The CE transistor has a transconductance vs. base-emitter voltage (VBE) characteristic which, when plotted, shows a transconductance that increases with an increasing VBE to a maximum, then drops, then tapers off, wherein there is an inflection point between the maximum transconductance and where the transconductance tapers off. A DC bias circuit provides a DC bias voltage to the base of the CE transistor that causes the CE transistor's operating point to track the inflection point over a range of temperatures. This operating point causes the IM3 products to be greatly reduced.
US08305131B2
A zero-crossing detector with effective offset cancellation includes a set of series connected capacitors and an amplifier having an input terminal. An offset capacitor is operatively connected between the amplifier and the set of series connected capacitors. A switch is operatively connected to the input terminal, and an offset sampling capacitor is operatively connected to the switch. The switch connects the offset sampling capacitor to the input terminal of the amplifier during a charge transfer phase.
US08305130B2
A MOS-type semiconductor clamping circuit is disclosed. The clamping circuit comprises a pmos device coupled to a nmos device in series to form the clamping circuit to selectively clamp a signal to a reference voltage, the signal configured to swing between a first voltage and a second voltage about the reference voltage. When the signal is swung between the first voltage and the second voltage, the pmos device and the nmos device are subjected to a voltage swing less than the voltage swing between the first voltage and the second voltage.
US08305127B2
A data delay control circuit and method that can adaptively reflect changes in an operating environment, such as an operating temperature, an operating voltage and a manufacturing process of a semiconductor chip. The data delay control circuit is designed to be able to adaptibly delay data when an expected delay of a predetermined period should be required when the semiconductor chip is designed. The data delay circuit includes a clock oscillation unit that can reflect changes in a delay period of a delay cell and automatically adjust the delay period of the delay cell. Since the data delay circuit includes a monitoring circuit and a plurality of delay paths, the data delay circuit can provide a delay path having a desired delay value. Therefore, even when the operating environment of a semiconductor device changes, the data delay circuit can control the delay period of a data signal. Consequently, the data delay circuit can automatically generate a data delay signal according to the changes in the operating environment.
US08305123B2
Provided is a duty detection circuit including: a first capacitor; a first transistor that controls charge or discharge currents of the first capacitor during a first period of a clock signal; a second capacitor; a second transistor that controls charge or discharge currents of the second capacitor during a second period of the clock signal; and a latch circuit that detects that a potential of one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor reaches a predetermined potential, and latches an output based on a result of the detection.
US08305116B2
An injection-locked frequency dividing apparatus including a frequency multiplier, a first linear mixer, a second linear mixer, and an oscillator is disclosed. The frequency multiplier receives a frequency signal and generates a multiple-frequency signal accordingly. The first and the second linear mixer both receive the multiple-frequency signal and respectively receive a first input signal and a second input signal, wherein the phases of the first and the second input signal are complementary. The first and the second linear mixer respectively mix the multiple-frequency signal with the first and the second input signal to respectively generate a first mixed signal and a second mixed signal. The oscillator generates the frequency signal. The oscillator further receives the first and the second mixed signal and generates a first output signal and a second output signal accordingly, wherein the phases of the first and the second output signal are complementary.
US08305113B1
A method for deskewing a differential signal is provided. A common-mode voltage of a differential signal and an average for the common-mode voltage of the differential signal are measured. A difference between first and second portions of the differential signal is determined, and deskew information is derived from the common-mode voltage and the average. The deskew information can then be combined with the difference to deskew the differential signal.
US08305112B2
In some embodiments, a logic circuit is provided that has a plurality of gates with gate inputs. Also provided is one or more latch circuits coupled to the logic circuit to provide operational data when in an operational mode and to cause at least some of the gate inputs to be at values resulting in reduced leakage during a sleep mode. Additionally provided are embodiments of non-destructive latch circuits, which may be used to implement the latch circuits just discussed. Other embodiments are disclosed and/or claimed herein.
US08305111B2
A matrix chip having N inputs, M outputs and a number of crosspoint switches, preferably N×M crosspoint switches. The crosspoint switches form a switching matrix that connects the inputs and outputs so that any input is randomly connectable to any output. In order to minimize the signal path lengths on the chip, the inputs and outputs are arranged on the matrix chip in the shape of a cross dividing the matrix into four sectors.
US08305107B2
A system for testing a power supply unit includes a test sub-system and a test control sub-system connected to the test sub-system and the power supply unit. The test sub-system perform tests and record the results. The test control sub-system is capable of selecting test items to test the power supply unit and setting an execution sequence of the test items. The test items includes a standby test item for testing the power supply unit at a standby state, a normal test item for testing the power supply unit at a normal state, and an over temperature protection test item for testing the power supply unit at an over heated state. The test control sub-system is further capable of automatically switching the standby test item to the normal test item, and switching the normal test item to the over temperature protection test item.
US08305103B2
Provided are apparatus and method of testing solid state drives. The method includes accommodating solid state drives to be tested in a magazine with one or more cassettes, sorting the solid state drives into operable solid state drives or defective solid state drives by testing electrical characteristics, and loading the sorted solid state drives.
US08305097B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method, in one embodiment, includes calibrating an inspection tool configured to obtain a measurement of a semiconductor feature, including: 1) providing a test structure comprising a substrate having a trench therein, and a post feature located over the substrate adjacent the trench. The post feature, in this embodiment, includes a second layer positioned over a first layer, wherein the first layer has a notch or bulge in a sidewall thereof; 2) finding a location of the notch or bulge relative to a different known point of the test structure using a probe of the inspection tool; and 3) calculating a dimension of the probe using the relative locations of the notch or bulge and the different known point.
US08305084B2
A voltage measuring apparatus measures an output voltage of an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in series and are divided into a plurality of blocks. The apparatus includes: a block voltage detection section which detects a voltage of at least one of the plurality of blocks and provides an analog voltage signal; a reference power supply which generates a reference voltage; a sampling voltage generation section which generates a sampling voltage based on the reference voltage; a storage for storing voltage date corresponding to the sampling voltage; and an A/D conversion section of the block voltage detection section that digitizes the sampling voltage with the reference voltage for A/D conversion. A difference between the digitized sampling voltage and the voltage data is calculated and it is determined that abnormality occurs in the A/D conversion section when the difference is larger than a threshold.
US08305083B2
Methods for making calibrated microresistivity logging measurements in nonconductive drilling fluid are disclosed. A calibrated measurement parameter (e.g., a calibrated electrical impedance or a calibrated potential difference) is obtained and further utilized to compute a formation resistivity. The methods tend to be particularly well suited for drilling applications in which the borehole environment is highly resistive (i.e., boreholes in which both the drilling fluid and the formation have a high resistivity).
US08305080B2
In one embodiment, a power supply for a static tap changer transformer is provided. The power supply comprises a rectifier section configured to supply input voltage, a latch circuit section coupled to the rectifier section and a tap changing section comprising three taps for each phase of three phase input power supply. The latch circuit section comprises a zener breakdown circuit with a selected breakdown voltage rating, an operational amplifier configured to activate the latch circuit section when the input voltage is higher than the selected breakdown voltage, a gate control device configured to generate a tap changing signal and thereby control the operation of the latch circuit section and a semi-conductor diode coupled to the gate control device and the operational amplifier, the semiconductor diode configured to provide the tap changing signal to the operational amplifier. Further, each tap in the tap changing section comprises a single MOSFET configured to act as a switch based on the output from the zener breakdown circuit and the gate control device.
US08305077B2
The disclosure provides phase-sensitive methods of radio frequency field mapping (e.g., B1 mapping), in which flip angle is encoded in the phase of a transverse magnetization produced by a series of RF pulses. The phase-sensitive methods can measure flip angle over a wider range than other methods such as double-angle methods. In one aspect, a phase-sensitive method of radio frequency mapping includes acquiring a first transverse magnetization phase measurement using an RF excitation pulse with flip angle 2α and acquiring a second transverse magnetization phase measurement using an RF excitation pulse with flip angle −2α. The method also includes computing a phase difference between the two phase measurements and generating a radio frequency map based on the phase difference. The radio frequency map may be used, for example, to correct an image for variation in image intensity caused by B1 field inhomogeneity and correct T1 measurements for variations caused by B1 field inhomogeneity.
US08305076B2
A device and method for producing mechanical oscillations in a research object using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) with a membrane that can be set into periodic motion and a transmission element for the transmission of periodic motion of the membrane onto the research object, whereby the membrane is connected to the transmission element by means of a mounting medium in such a way that periodic motion of the membrane is transmitted over the mounting medium to the transmission element.
US08305070B2
A controller and methodology for a power supply are disclosed. The controller includes output channels for providing a pulse width modulation (PWM) voltage signal for driving a load, for example, a microprocessor. Each channel provides a portion of the PWM signal. The controller receives user input information and uses that information to automatically determine window sizes. A window size defines the maximum output current level for a given window. The controller uses feedback signals to determine the current being drawn by the load, and selects the number of windows and channels that are needed to adequately provide that current. The controller selectively activates and deactivates the output channels accordingly. In response a change in the user input information the controller automatically adjusts the window sizes.
US08305069B2
Bandgap reference circuit, comprising a voltage generator (VG) designed to produce a voltage or a current proportional to absolute temperature, a supply circuit (SC), designed to produce a supply for operating the voltage generator (VG), comprising a bias element (BS) and a control element (CS), and a bias circuit (BC), designed to produce a bias for operating the voltage generator (VG), comprising a bias element (BB) and a control element (CB). At least one of the control element (CS) of the supply circuit (SC) and the control element (CB) of the bias circuit (BC) comprises a pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor or a hetero-junction bipolar transistor and/or at least one of the bias element (BS) of the supply circuit (SC) and the bias element (BB) of the bias circuit (BC) comprises a long-gate pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor or a resistor. Method for producing the circuit wherein the pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistors and the hetero-junction bipolar transistors are produced using a GaAs BiFET technology process.
US08305066B2
A low dropout regulator having a power transistor, a current-voltage converting circuit, a current variation sensing circuit and a compensation circuit is provided. The power transistor has a power terminal receiving an input voltage, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the current-voltage converting circuit to generate an output voltage. The current variation sensing circuit provides a first and a second output terminal and, according to a current variation of the power transistor, the first and second output terminals vary with distinct voltage transition speeds. The compensation circuit controls the control terminal of the power transistor to adjust the output voltage according to a first voltage difference between a feedback of the output voltage and a reference voltage and a second voltage difference between the second and first output terminals of the current variation sensing circuit.
US08305065B2
A first-order feedback control power supply apparatus being arranged in such a manner that when the apparatus is driven under light load condition, a current flowing through an inductor is detected by employing a second CR smoothing filter; when the present load condition is judged as a light load condition based upon the detected inductor current, both upper-sided/lower-sided power MOSFETs and a PWM oscillator are turned OFF so as to be brought into sleep states; when an output voltage of the power supply apparatus is lowered and the lowered output voltage reaches a lower limit threshold of a transient variation detecting circuit, the upper-sided power MOSFET is turned ON to recover the output voltage; and when the output voltage of the power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage, the upper-sided power MOSFET is turned OFF so as to be again brought into the sleep state.
US08305064B2
A control device for a switching converter, the converter having at least one transistor supplied by an input voltage and adapted to supply a load by means of an output voltage. The converter also including a circuit adapted to turn on and off the at least one transistor. The control device includes an operation circuit adapted to change the state of the at least one transistor from turned on to turned off or vice versa, respectively when the output voltage goes down or goes up by a first voltage of a given value by defining a first state; the operation circuit including a further circuit adapted to generate a ramp signal and to change the first state of the at least one transistor from turned on to turned off or vice versa when the ramp voltage is equal to the output voltage of the converter.
US08305062B2
An embodiment of method is described for controlling a voltage regulator of the type comprising at least one modulator of the PWM type, the method comprising: 1) generation of a control voltage signal for said PWM modulator; 2) frequency modulation of said control voltage signal obtaining a modulated control voltage signal having an harmonic at a switching frequency of said voltage regulator of reduced entity with respect to said control voltage signal; and 3) application of said modulated control voltage signal to said PWM modulator for generating a driving signal for said voltage regulator.
US08305060B2
In a switching power source which controls a current which flows in an inductor through a switching element which performs a switching operation in response to a PWM signal, and forms an output voltage by a capacitor which is provided in series in the inductor, a booster circuit which is constituted of a bootstrap capacity and a MOSFET is provided between an output node of the switching element and a predetermined voltage terminal. The boosted voltage is used as an operational voltage of a driving circuit of the switching element, another source/drain region and a substrate gate are connected with each other such that when the MOSFET is made to assume an OFF state, and a junction diode between one source/drain region and the substrate gate is inversely directed with respect to the boosted voltage which is formed by the bootstrap capacity.
US08305059B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a regulator circuit that regulates a substantially constant magnitude of an output voltage at an output node. The circuit includes a master stage configured to set a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage. The first threshold voltage can have a magnitude that is greater than the second threshold voltage. The circuit also includes a charging follower stage configured to conduct a first current from a first power rail to the output node. The first current can increase in response to a transient decrease of the output voltage relative to the first threshold voltage. The circuit further includes a discharging follower stage configured to conduct a second current from the output node to a second power rail. The second current can increase in response to a transient increase of the output voltage relative to the second threshold voltage.
US08305056B2
A low drop-out (LDO) voltage regulator with a wide bandwidth power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) is described. In one aspect, the LDO voltage regulator includes two individual voltage regulator circuit stages. A first stage voltage regulator circuit output is at an intermediate voltage (VINT) between an input supply voltage (VDD) and a final regulated output voltage (VREG). A second stage voltage regulator circuit output is at the final regulated output voltage (VREG) and is optimized for noise-sensitive analog circuits across a wide operating bandwidth. The first stage voltage regulator circuit has a zero frequency while the second stage voltage regulator circuit has a matching pole frequency to minimize the AC response from VDD to VREG across all frequencies.
US08305055B2
A non-inverting buck boost voltage converter includes a buck boost voltage regulation circuitry for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. A current sensor monitors an input current to the buck boost voltage regulation circuitry. Buck boost mode control circuitry controls the buck boost voltage regulation circuitry using peak current mode control in a buck mode of operation and valley current mode control in boost mode of operation responsive to the monitored input current.
US08305049B2
An electric power generation system has a synchronous machine, a starter excitation source and an exciter field driver. The starter excitation source is connected to the synchronous machine via multiple phase connections, and the exciter field driver is connected to the synchronous machine via a portion of the same phase connections. At least one of the phase connections is connected to each other phase connection via a transient voltage suppressor.
US08305048B2
A vehicle power generating device includes an alternator which has a voltage regulator that keeps the voltage of generated power constant, and an electronic control unit that controls the voltage regulator. In this vehicle power generating device, the alternator has an abnormally high temperature determining portion that determines whether the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, and an abnormal signal outputting portion which, when it has been determined by the abnormally high temperature determining portion that the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, outputs a signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high to the electronic control unit. Also, when the electronic control unit receives the signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high, the electronic control unit controls the voltage regulator such that the voltage generated by the alternator is suppressed.
US08305037B2
A battery powered device includes a base unit, a connector coupled to the base unit for controlling an electronic device, and a retaining cap. The connector further comprises one or more contact points. The retaining cap further comprises a cell for powering the base unit, one or more electrical contact terminals for coupling the cell and the one or more contact points for providing an electrical connection to the base unit, and a locking mechanism for locking the retaining cap to the base unit and for sealing the electrical connection to the base unit. Further, the coupling of the base unit and connector, and locking of the base unit and the retaining cap provides powering of the battery powered device.
US08305021B2
An apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously measuring the rotational speed and/or direction of a shaft, and providing control power in accordance with the shaft rotation. The apparatus includes a permanent magnet machine (PMM) having a multipole rotor and a stator. The rotor has a plurality of permanent magnet poles and connection to the rotating shaft; the stator includes a winding and electrical connections, so that motion of the rotor with respect to the stator causes a voltage signal at the electrical connections. The apparatus also includes a circuit including a power conversion portion and a speed/direction sensing portion. The circuit receives the voltage signal from the PMM, and simultaneously outputs control power from the power conversion portion and a signal indicating the rotational speed and/or direction of the shaft from the sensing portion.
US08305018B2
If it is determined that excess power is generated based on overcharge information of a power storage device, a controller starts an operation of consuming the excess power by an excessive power consuming circuit. The controller counts elapsed time from the time point when the power consuming operation started, and if the counted elapsed time exceeds a minimum on-time set in advance, switches the excessive power consuming circuit from active to inactive state. The minimum on-time is set based on a pattern that is expected to cause generation of excessive regenerative power from an AC electric motor because of abrupt change in running status of an electric powered vehicle mounting a motor drive system.
US08305014B1
A lighting control system determines an optimal way to operate one or more lamps to achieve a desired light output and/or to control one or more parameters. The lighting control system includes a detection circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit performs a wide-scope scan and a narrow-scope scan to find the best way to operate the lamps. The wide-scope scan includes driving the lamp(s) using multiple output settings, evaluating the light output at each setting, and determining which setting produced the best results. The narrow-scope scan includes making small adjustments to the settings to better refine the light output. The detection circuit includes one or more sensors for providing measurements of the light output by the lamp(s) or of a controller parameter, such as power consumption, for each setting evaluated by the control circuit.
US08305011B2
Multiple LED terminals are provided to multiple LEDs, respectively. Each of these LED terminals is connected to the anode of the corresponding LED. A booster circuit boosts an input voltage. Multiple constant current sources are provided to the multiple LEDs, respectively. One terminal of each of the constant current sources is connected to the corresponding one of the LEDs via the corresponding one of the LED terminals. Multiple switches are provided to the multiple constant current sources, respectively, each of which selectively outputs a voltage selected from the input voltage and the output voltage of the booster circuit to the corresponding constant current source. A control circuit monitors each of the voltages at the multiple LED terminals, and controls the connection state of each of the switches based upon the corresponding voltage.
US08305008B2
A constant-current controller for a LED light string has a control unit, multiple constant current circuits, multiple first switches and multiple second switches. The control unit outputs driving signals to turn on the first switches, causing the second switches being turned on subsequently. Therefore, the constant current circuits output electric currents flowing through the second switches to activate the LED light string.
US08305007B2
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) implements non-uniform conversion accuracy so as to allow for high conversion accuracy for a select narrower input range while also accommodating a wider overall input range and requiring fewer conversion bits compared to conventional ADCs. The ADC includes an ADC core that receives an input signal and outputs a first digital value having a first number of bits, the first digital value based on the input signal and an accuracy configuration of the ADC core. The ADC also includes an encoder to generate a second digital value have a second number of bits, greater than the first number of bits, based on the first digital value and the accuracy configuration of the ADC core. The ADC further includes an accuracy controller to adjust the accuracy configuration of the ADC core based on a relationship between the first digital value and at least one threshold.
US08305006B2
A light emitting element control circuit comprising: a variable current generation circuit configured to generate a variable current varying in a direction of increase or in a direction of decrease; a fixed current generation circuit configured to generate a fixed current smaller than a predetermined current of a light emitting element; and a mode setting circuit configured to selectively set a first mode of prohibiting supply of the variable current and the fixed current to the light emitting element, a second mode of supplying the variable current to the light emitting element, and a third mode of supplying the fixed current to the light emitting element, for the variable current generation circuit and the fixed current generation circuit.
US08304999B2
The present invention discloses a LED controlling driver comprising light emitting diodes and a detection-control module and a power supply unit in addition to the light source. The detection-control module includes a power/blinking control unit and a LED driver IC. The power supply unit outputs power to the light source and the detection-control module and provides different switching information so that the LED drive unit of the detection-control module is controlled by power/blinking control signals. Further, a power switch enables the power supply unit to output the corresponding switching information to the detection-control module based on switching actions inputted by a user so that the user only needs to simply switch the power switch to achieve the goal of switching power levels or blinking states of the LED.
US08304998B2
A compact gas discharge lamp (301) comprising four (or more) interconnected tube segments (11, 12, 13, 14) is provided with an external electrode (310) that extends at least throughout the length of the tube segments and that is in contact with all tube segments. Several embodiments of the external electrode are disclosed. The external electrode is preferably connected to a node (C) midway between the lamp electrodes, to which end a capacitive divider (441, 442) is arranged in parallel with the lamp.
US08304992B2
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate on which a first electrode and a second electrode are positioned parallel to each other, a first black layer at a position corresponding to the first electrode, a second black layer at a position corresponding to the second electrode, a rear substrate positioned opposite the front substrate, and a barrier rib positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate to partition a discharge cell. An interval between the first black layer and the second black layer ranges from 0.7 to times a shortest interval between at least one of the first and second black layers and the barrier rib.
US08304991B2
This organic electroluminescent element sealing composition contains an addition reaction curing type silicone composition which is liquid at normal temperature and has a curing temperature of 100 degrees C. or below and a moisture content of 400 ppm or less. The addition reaction curing type silicone composition contains (A) polyorganosiloxane having an average of 0.2 to 5 alkenyl groups bonded to silicon atoms in one molecule, (B) polyorganohydrogensiloxane having at least two or more hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atoms in one molecule, and (C) a platinum-based catalyst. The organic electroluminescent element sealing composition can prevent deterioration of the organic electroluminescent element and can provide the organic light-emitting device having a good light-emitting property for a long period.
US08304987B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes a pixel unit on which an organic light emitting device is formed, a thin film transistor (TFT) electrically connected to the pixel unit and a data line and a scan line electrically connected to the TFT and disposed crossing each other on a substrate. The data line and the scan line are formed in one layer. A bridge that allows one of the data line and the scan line to bypass the other is on an intersection of the data line and the scan line.
US08304979B2
A light emitting device (10) of the present invention includes luminescent particles (14) and a pair of electrodes (12, 16) for injecting an electric current into the luminescent particles (14). An inorganic hole transport material (15) is disposed between the electrodes (12, 16). The luminescent particles (14) are dispersed in the inorganic hole transport material (15). Conductive fine particles may be adhered to at least a part of the surfaces of the luminescent particles (14) for the purpose of achieving further high brightness and high efficiency.
US08304976B2
A lighting system provides a system optical output, such as white light, as a function of an applied electrical signal. The system output can be characterized by a color temperature or other measure that represents the color or output spectrum of the output. The system is designed so that the color temperature changes as a function of the applied electrical signal. The changes in color temperature are at least in part a result of a phenomenon known as “current crowding”.
US08304975B2
There is provided a new electron beam apparatus which improves the instability of an electron emission characteristic and provides a high efficient electron emission characteristic. The electron beam apparatus includes: an insulating member having a recess on its surface; a cathode having a protruding portion extending over the outer surface of the insulating member and the inner surface of the recess; a gate positioned at the outer surface of the insulating member in opposition to the protruding portion; and an anode positioned in opposition to the protruding portion through the gate.
US08304970B2
A lighting fixture, such as a recessed or can type lighting fixture, has an external housing containing a number of LEDs used to provide light. The LEDs are connected to a power supply, and are mounted on a heat sink that includes heat-dissipating fins that are oriented vertically within a vertical portion of an internal flow tube. The internal flow tube may be U-shaped, with entry and exit points on opposite ends of the flow tube. The external housing and flow tube are oriented so as to create a path for air to rise along the heat sink as it is heated then flow back down along the unheated path of the flow tube. An air mover may also be placed in the flow tube to provide further air flow through the flow tube.
US08304966B2
To provide a piezoelectric thin film element capable of improving piezoelectric characteristics and realize a piezoelectric thin film device with high performance and high reliability, comprising: a substrate; and a piezoelectric thin film formed on the substrate by a sputtering method, with perovskite oxide expressed by (NaxKyLiz)NbO3 (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦0, 2, x+y+z=1) as a main phase, wherein an absolute value of an internal stress of the piezoelectric thin film is 1.6 GPa or less.
US08304964B2
A mobile device and a power supply device are provided in which a first part of a connector detachably connects an electrical device to the mobile device, a second part of the connector matches the first part, and a converter generates electrical energy by converting energy of a mechanical movement into electrical energy, where the electrical energy is generated by relative mechanical movement occurring between first and second parts of the connector when the first and second parts are connected.
US08304963B2
A piezoactuator of multilayer design includes piezoelectric layers and electrode layers to form a stack. A predetermined breaking layer for the targeted origination and guiding of cracks is introduced between two adjacent electrode layers. The predetermined breaking layer has a barrier region, in which the formation of continuous electrically conductive paths or the formation of cracks leading through the barrier region is impeded.
US08304960B2
A method, computer readable medium, and a system for reducing power consumption of an at least partially resonant actuator system includes adjusting a driving system with an actuator controller computing device configured to provide a driving signal including a delay interval during a transition in the driving signal. The driving system provides the driving signal with the delay interval to an at least one partially resonant actuator device.
US08304953B2
A rotating electrical machine includes: a rotor comprising a rotor core and a field winding wound round the rotor core; and a stator comprising a stator core and a stator winding wound round the stator core. The stator is arranged in opposition to the rotor with a predetermined spacing therebetween. the stator core is formed by punching a split piece, which comprises teeth for insertion of the stator winding thereinto and a core back on an outer periphery thereof, from a magnetic steel sheet, and laminating a plurality of those circular configurations in an axial direction, in which a plurality of the split pieces are arranged in a circle in a circumferential direction. The stator core has magnetic steel sheets, which are different in magnetic permeability in a diametrical direction, laminated at an axial end region of and in an axial central region of the stator core.
US08304948B2
A rotor structure of a permanent magnet electrical machine and a method for manufacture of the rotor structure. The rotor structure has a shaft. An outer surface of the shaft is provided with a permanent magnet. A support collar encircles the permanent magnet. A protective piece is located between the outer surface of the shaft and an inner surface of the support collar and is arranged as an axial mechanical extension for the permanent magnet. The protective piece reduces local maximum values of forces forming between the support collar and the permanent magnet during rotation of the rotor.
US08304940B2
A stator that includes a cylindrical stator core, which has a plurality of slots that are provided at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction and open toward an inner peripheral surface of the stator core; and a coil, which has a coil end portion protruding from an axial end of the stator core.
US08304939B2
An electric water pump may include a stator generating a magnetic field according to a control signal and a rotor rotated by the magnetic field generated at the stator and pressurizing coolant. According to the electric water pump, the stator may include, a stator core formed by stacking a plurality of pieces made of a magnetic material, an insulator connecting pieces of the stator core to each other, a coil coiling the stator core so as to form a magnetic path, a Hall sensor detecting a position of the rotor, a Hall sensor board controlling the control signal supplied to the stator according to the position of the rotor detected by the Hall sensor, and a stator case wrapping and sealing the stator core, the insulator, the coil, the Hall sensor, and the Hall sensor board.
US08304937B2
An AMPG device for generation of electrical energy, including a bobbin, at least one magnet, and at least one spring member. The magnet is arranged to be movable together with the spring member. The device is arranged so that when exposed to an acceleration component in a possible path of mobility of the first magnet, the first magnet will, due to its association with the spring member, move in an oscillating manner in relation to the bobbin, so as to generate electrical energy. The device is arranged to at a limiting position of the mobile magnet's path of mobility a spring member with an equal or higher spring constant than the remainder portions of the magnet's mobile path acting on the magnet. An AMPG device assembly includes several AMPG devices. A method to optimize the electrical output of the device adapts the device to the frequencies appearing in the application where it shall be used.
US08304936B2
An appliance control circuit has an occupancy sensor, a control signal receiver, a control signal transmitter, a control element, and a power supply. In operation, when the occupancy sensor senses an occupant, the occupancy sensor outputs a signal to cause the control element 9 to control power from the source of power to the appliance. Similarly, when a control signal is received by the control signal receiver the receiver outputs a signal to cause the control element to control power from the source of power to the appliance. At the same time, the control signal transmitter is activated based on the signal from the occupancy sensor. Multiple control circuits can be used to control one another. The appliance could be for example a light, a thermostat, or a camera.
US08304930B2
A Fieldbus system comprising a plurality of segments each comprising a trunk with its own primary power supply, and a shared redundancy system comprising one or more auxiliary power supplies and monitoring and control means, in which the monitoring and control means is adapted to detect failures in any part of any of the plurality of segments, in which in the event of a failure being detected by the monitoring and control means in any one of the plurality of segments, the monitoring and control means isolates the trunk in that segment from its primary power supply and connects said trunk to one of the one or more auxiliary power supplies, and in which any one of the auxiliary power supplies is connectable to any two or more of the trunks.
US08304924B2
The invention provides a composition for sealing a semiconductor, the composition being able to form a thin resin layer, suppress the diffusion of a metal component to a porous interlayer dielectric layer, and exhibit superior adherence with respect to an interconnection material. The composition for sealing a semiconductor contains a resin having two or more cationic functional groups and a weight-average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 100,000; contains sodium and potassium each in an amount based on element content of not more than 10 ppb by weight; and has a volume average particle diameter, measured by a dynamic light scattering method, of not more than 10 nm.
US08304923B2
A chip packaging structure comprising a chip, a plurality of conductive pillars surrounding the chip, an encapsulation encapsulating the chip and the conductive pillars, and a connecting layer is provided. The encapsulation has a first side and a second side corresponding to the first side. The connecting layer is disposed at the first side of the encapsulation and electrically connected between the chip and the conductive pillars. Furthermore, a chip packaging process accompanying the chip packaging structure is also provided. The chip packaging structure is more useful and powerful and is suitable for various chip packaging applications, and the chip packaging process can reduce the manufacturing time and save the production cost.
US08304920B2
In a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition or a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet containing an energy ray-curable polymer, problems associated with the volatilization of a low molecular weight compound contained in the composition are overcome. An energy ray-curable polymer characterized by comprising a radical generating group, which is capable of initiating a polymerization reaction upon excitation with an energy ray, and an energy ray-polymerizable group bonded together in the main or side chain.
US08304918B2
An electronic device is disclosed which can suppress the formation of voids in a region below an overhanging portion of a first semiconductor device overhanging a support member. The support member is disposed over a package substrate. The first semiconductor device is disposed over the support member and, when seen in plan, at least a part of the first semiconductor device overhangs the support member. A first resin layer fills up a space below the first semiconductor device in at least a part of the overhanging portion of the first semiconductor device around the support member. The first resin layer is in contact with the support member. A second resin layer seals the first semiconductor device and the support member.
US08304914B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a bit line in a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of word lines which intersect with the bit line at predetermined intervals on the semiconductor substrate; eliminating a portion of the plurality of word lines; forming an interlayer insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; and forming a metal plug which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film and is coupled to the bit line in a region where the portion of the plurality of word lines was eliminated.
US08304912B2
A transistor device and method of forming the same comprises a substrate; a first gate electrode over the substrate; a second gate electrode over the substrate; and a landing pad comprising a pair of flanged ends overlapping the second gate electrode, wherein the structure of the second gate electrode is discontinuous with the structure of the landing pad.
US08304911B2
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first stacked structure, a second stacked structure, a dielectric element, and a conductive line. The first stacked structure and the second stacked structure are disposed on the substrate. Each of the first stacked structure and the second stacked structure includes conductive strips and insulating strips stacked alternately. The conductive strips are separated from each other by the insulating strips. The dielectric element is disposed on the first stacked structure and the second stacked structure and includes a second dielectric portion. The first stacked structure and the second stacked structure are separated from each other by only the second dielectric portion. The conductive line is disposed on the stack sidewalls of the first stacked structure and the second stacked structure far from the second dielectric portion.
US08304901B2
In a termination structure in which a JTE layer is provided, a level or defect existing at an interface between a semiconductor layer and an insulating film, or a minute amount of adventitious impurities that infiltrate into the semiconductor interface from the insulating film or from an outside through the insulating film becomes a source or a breakdown point of a leakage current, which deteriorates a breakdown voltage. A semiconductor device includes: an n− type semiconductor layer formed on an n+ type semiconductor substrate; a first electrode that is formed on the n− type semiconductor layer and functions as a Schottky electrode; a GR layer that is a first p type semiconductor layer formed on a surface of the n− type semiconductor layer below an end of the first electrode and a perimeter thereof; a JTE layer that is formed of a second p type semiconductor layer formed on a bottom and a lateral surface of a groove arranged in a ring shape around the GR layer apart from the GR layer, in a surface of the n− type semiconductor layer; an insulating film provided so as to cover the GR layer and the JTE layer; and a second electrode that is an Ohmic electrode formed below a rear surface of the n+ type semiconductor substrate.
US08304897B2
An electronic package 100 comprising a semiconductor device 105, a heat spreader layer 110, and a thermal interface material layer 115 located between the semiconductor device and the heat spreader layer. The thermal interface material layer includes a resin layer 120 having heat conductive particles 125 suspended therein. A portion of the particles are exposed on at least one non-planar surface 135 of the resin layer such that the portion of exposed particles 130 occupies a majority of a total area of a horizontal plane 140 of the non-planar surface.
US08304894B2
A wafer level package, and a semiconductor wafer, electronic system, and a memory module that include one or more of the wafer level packages, and methods of fabricating the die packages on a wafer level, and integrated circuit modules that include one or more die packages are provided. In one embodiment, the die package comprises a redistribution layer interconnecting two or more dies disposed on a substrate, typically a semiconductor wafer, the redistribution layer including a first trace connecting a bond pad of each of two dies, and a second trace connecting one of the bond pads of the two dies to a ball pad. The die package of the invention can comprise memory devices such as static random access memories (SRAMs), and can be incorporated into a variety of electronic systems as part of memory packages such as single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) or dual in-line memory modules.
US08304891B2
A semiconductor package device, a semiconductor package structure, and fabrication methods thereof are provided, which mainly includes disposing a plurality of semiconductor chips on a wafer formed with TSVs (Through Silicon Vias) and electrically connecting the semiconductor chips to the TSVs; encapsulating the semiconductor chips with an encapsulant; and disposing a hard component on the encapsulant. The hard component ensures flatness of the wafer during a solder bump process and provides support to the wafer during a singulation process such that the wafer can firmly lie on a singulation carrier, thereby overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art, namely difficulty in mounting of solder bumps, and difficulty in cutting of the wafer.
US08304888B2
This document discusses, among other things, a semiconductor die package having a first and a second discrete components embedded into a dielectric substrate. An integrated circuit (IC) die is surface mounted on a first side of the dielectric substrate. The semiconductor die package includes a plurality of conductive regions on the second side of the dielectric substrate for mounting the semiconductor die package. A plurality of through hole vias couple the IC die to the first and second discrete components and the plurality of conductive regions.
US08304886B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming a semiconductor device in which a plurality of patterns are simultaneously formed to have different widths and the pattern densities of some regions are increased using a double patterning. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of conductive lines each including a first line portion and a second line portion, where the first line portion extends on a substrate in a first direction, the second line portion extends from one end of the first line portion in a second direction different from the first direction; a plurality of contact pads each of which is connected with a respective conductive line of the plurality of conductive lines and a respective second line portion of a respective conductive line of the plurality of conductive lines; and a plurality of dummy conductive lines each including a first dummy portion extending from a respective contact pad of the plurality of contact pads, in parallel with the corresponding second line portion in the second direction.
US08304873B2
A method for manufacturing a display device includes a first step of preparing a first substrate which has a first area to be etched and a second area located at a periphery of the first area and which has a display element on its surface, a second step of etching and removing the first area of the first substrate, a third step of forming a second substrate on a surface of the first substrate that is opposite to the surface on which the display element is located, and a fourth step of removing the second area of the first substrate.
US08304871B2
A packaged semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die including a substrate having a topside including active circuitry and a bottomside with at least one backside metal layer directly attached. A package including a molding material having a die pad and a plurality of leads is encapsulated within the molding material, wherein the leads include an exposed portion that includes a bonding portion. The topside of the semiconductor die is attached to the die pad, and the package includes a gap that exposes the backside metal layer along a bottom surface of the package. Bond wires couple pads on the topside of the semiconductor die to the leads. The bonding portions, the molding material along the bottom surface of the package, and the backside metal layer are all substantially planar to one another.
US08304850B2
An infrared (IR) radiation sensor device (27) includes an integrated circuit radiation sensor chip (1A) including first (7) and second (8) temperature-sensitive elements connected within a dielectric stack (3) of the chip, the first temperature-sensitive element (7) being more thermally insulated from a substrate (2) than the second temperature-sensitive element (8). Bonding pads (28A) on the chip (1) are coupled to the first and second temperature-sensitive elements. Bump conductors (28) are bonded to the bonding pads (28A), respectively, for physically and electrically connecting the radiation sensor chip (1) to corresponding mounting conductors (23A). A diffractive optical element (21,22,23,31,32 or 34) is integrated with a back surface (25) of the radiation sensor chip (1) to direct IR radiation toward the first temperature-sensitive element (7).
US08304848B2
Certain embodiments provide an infrared imaging device including: an SOI structure that is placed at a distance from a substrate, and includes: heat-sensitive diodes that detect infrared rays and convert the infrared rays into heat; and STI regions that separate the heat-sensitive diodes from one another; an interlayer insulating film that is stacked on the SOI structure; and supporting legs that are connected to the heat-sensitive diodes and vertical signal lines provided in outer peripheral regions of the heat-sensitive diodes. Each of the supporting legs includes: an interconnect unit that transmit signals to the vertical signal lines; and interlayer insulating layers that sandwich the interconnect unit, each bottom side of the interlayer insulating layers being located in a higher position than the SOI structure.
US08304842B2
The disclosure relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to an interconnection structure for N/P metal gates. An exemplary structure for an interconnection structure comprises a first gate electrode having a first portion of a first work-function metal layer under a first portion of a signal metal layer; and a second gate electrode having a second portion of the first work-function metal layer interposed between a second work-function metal layer and a second portion of the signal metal layer, wherein the second portion of the signal metal layer is over the second portion of the first work-function metal layer, wherein the second portion of the signal metal layer and the first portion of the signal metal layer are continuous, and wherein a maximum thickness of the second portion of the signal metal layer is less than a maximum thickness of the first portion of the signal metal layer.
US08304839B2
Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. In an example, a method includes forming an isolation region on a substrate, wherein the isolation region extends a depth into the substrate from a substrate surface; forming a recess in the isolation region, wherein the recess is defined by a concave surface of the isolation region; and forming a first gate structure over the substrate surface and a second gate structure over the concave surface of the isolation region.
US08304834B2
An integrated circuit is provided. A gate dielectric and a gate are provided respectively on and over a semiconductor substrate. A junction is formed adjacent the gate dielectric and a shaped spacer is formed around the gate. A spacer is formed under the shaped spacer and a liner is formed under the spacer. A first dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate, the shaped spacer, the spacer, the liner, and the gate. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. A local interconnect opening is formed in the second dielectric layer down to the first dielectric layer. The local interconnect opening in the first dielectric layer is opened to expose the junction in the semiconductor substrate and the first gate. The local interconnect openings in the first and second dielectric layers are filled with a conductive material.
US08304832B2
A semiconductor device with increased freedom of wirings and a manufacturing method thereof are provided by enabling favorable connection between an upper wiring layer and a lower wiring layer through a semiconductor element. The semiconductor device includes: a first insulating layer over an insulating substrate; a first wiring layer and a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; a single crystal semiconductor layer including a channel region and an impurity region, on the first wiring layer and the second insulating layer; a gate electrode over the channel region with a gate insulating layer interposed therebetween; a third insulating layer covering the first wiring layer, the single crystal semiconductor layer, and the gate electrode; and a second wiring layer over the third insulating layer. The first wiring layer is in contact with the impurity region, and the first and wiring layers are electrically connected to each other.
US08304822B2
Provided is a pixel for picking up an image signal capable of suppressing an occurrence of a cross-talk. The pixel for picking up an image signal includes a substrate surrounded by a trench, a photodiode, and a pass transistor. The photodiode is formed at an upper portion of the substrate and includes a P-type diffusion area and an N-type diffusion area which are joined with each other in a longitudinal direction. The pass transistor is formed at the upper portion of the substrate and includes the one terminal that is the joined P-type diffusion area and the N-type diffusion area, the other terminal that is a floating diffusion area, and a gate terminal disposed between the two terminals. The pixel for picking up an image signal is surrounded by the trench which penetrates the substrate from the upper portion to the lower portion of the substrate, and the trench is filled with an insulator.
US08304818B2
The invention includes a method of forming a semiconductor construction. Dopant is implanted into the upper surface of a monocrystalline silicon substrate. The substrate is etched to form a plurality of trenches and cross-trenches which define a plurality of pillars. After the etching, dopant is implanted within the trenches to form a source/drain region that extends less than an entirety of the trench width. The invention includes a semiconductor construction having a bit line disposed within a semiconductor substrate below a first elevation. A wordline extends elevationally upward from the first elevation and substantially orthogonal relative to the bit line. A vertical transistor structure is associated with the wordline. The transistor structure has a channel region laterally surrounded by a gate layer and is horizontally offset relative to the bit line.
US08304813B2
A connection between a first circuit within an I/O region of an integrated circuit chip and a second circuit within a core region of the chip. The first circuit is connected to a bonding pad through a first conductor in a first layer of an I/O region. The second circuit is connected to the bonding pad through a second conductor in a second layer of an I/O region above the first layer.
US08304803B2
A light-emitting diode includes an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, a multiple quantum well, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, a window electrode layer, a p-side electrode, and an n-side electrode, which are stacked in this order. The window electrode layer comprises an n-type single-crystalline ITO transparent film and an n-type single-crystalline ZnO transparent film. The p-type nitride semiconductor layer is in contact with the n-type single-crystalline ITO transparent film, the n-type single-crystalline ITO transparent film is in contact with the n-type single-crystalline ZnO transparent film, and the p-side electrode is in connected with the n-type single-crystalline ZnO transparent film. The n-type single-crystalline ITO transparent film contains Ga, a molar ratio of Ga/(In+Ga) being not less than 0.08 and not more than 0.5. Thickness of the n-type single-crystalline ITO transparent film is not less than 1.1 nm and not more than 55 nm.
US08304798B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) module includes a substrate, an LED, a first encapsulation element and a second light-pervious encapsulation element. The substrate has a first surface, a second surface, a circuit layer and an opening, wherein the opening penetrates through the first surface and the second surface, and the circuit layer includes at least one first conductive contact disposed on the first surface. The LED is disposed in the opening and is electrically connected to the first conductive contact. The first encapsulation element and the second light-pervious encapsulation element are respectively disposed on the first surface and the second surface, for encapsulating the LED and the first conductive contact. The aforementioned LED module may output light from the back of the LED, thereby improving the light output efficiency of the LED module. A manufacturing method of the aforementioned LED module is also herein disclosed.
US08304797B2
An LED light source (10) comprises a ceramic substrate (20) with first and second opposed surfaces (30, 40). Pockets (50) are formed in the first surface (30) and each of the pockets includes a bottom (60) and a sidewall or sidewalls (70). A final electrical contact (105) comprised of a first electrically conductive material (57) with a coating of a second electrically conductive material (100) thereover is positioned in each of the pockets (50). An LED (110) is positioned in each of the pockets (50) and affixed to the electrical contact (105) and electrical connections (120), preferably in form of wire bonds, join the LEDs, the electrical connections (120) extending from a first LED (110) to an adjacent electrical contact (105). The ceramic substrate (20) is formed by injection molding a ceramic material and binder to form a green substrate (12) and subsequently sintering the green substrate to form the substrate (20). An LED light (150) can be formed from the LED light source (10) by adding a dome (150) formed of a ceramic material containing therein a homogeneous dispersion of a phosphor material capable of emitting light when excited by the light emitted from the operating LEDs (110).
US08304788B2
To further improve light extraction efficiency, a light-emitting apparatus includes a cavity for resonating light emitted from a emission layer between a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface is located on a first electrode side relative to the emission layer. The second reflective surface is located on a second electrode side relative to the emission layer. A periodic structure for extracting, to outside of a light-emitting device, light which is generated from the emission layer and wave-guided in an in-plane direction of the light-emitting device between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface is formed in the first reflective surface, or in the second reflective surface, or between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface.
US08304784B2
An illumination device having a plurality of light emitting diodes is provided. The light emitting diode may include a plurality of semiconductor layers at least one of which has a light emitting surface which may include a rough surface pattern having a pre-determined pattern. The pre-determined pattern may include one or more impurity regions with each region having a recess for guiding current across the light emitting surface and maximizing the emission of light (i.e. light intensity) of the illumination device. Each recess may include a lower internal portion having a bottom contact point located on a bottom surface and an upper internal portion integrally connected to the lower internal portion by a plurality of center contact points. The gaps created between the center and bottom contact points in adjacent recesses may act as spark gaps allowing for the current to flow through the entire light emitting surface.
US08304783B2
Schottky diodes including polysilicon having low barrier heights and methods of fabricating the same
Hybrid semiconductor devices including a PIN diode portion and a Schottky diode portion are provided. The PIN diode portion is provided on a semiconductor substrate and has an anode contact on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate. The Schottky diode portion is also provided on the semiconductor substrate and includes a polysilicon layer on the semiconductor substrate and a ohmic contact on the polysilicon layer. Related Schottky diodes are also provided herein.
US08304780B2
A method for making an electronic device, such as a MOS transistor, including the steps of forming a plurality of semiconductor islands on an electrically functional substrate, printing a first dielectric layer on or over a first subset of the semiconductor islands and optionally a second dielectric layer on or over a second subset of the semiconductor islands, and annealing. The first dielectric layer contains a first dopant, and the (optional) second dielectric layer contains a second dopant different from the first dopant. The dielectric layer(s), semiconductor islands and substrate are annealed sufficiently to diffuse the first dopant into the first subset of semiconductor islands and, when present, the second dopant into the second subset of semiconductor islands.
US08304775B2
A thin film transistor includes a gate insulating layer covering a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer in contact with the gate insulating layer, and impurity semiconductor layers which are in contact with part of the semiconductor layer and which form a source region and a drain region. The semiconductor layer includes a microcrystalline semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer and a microcrystalline semiconductor region containing nitrogen in contact with the microcrystalline semiconductor layer. The thin film transistor in which off-current is small and on-current is large can be manufactured with high productivity.
US08304767B2
Provided is a crystalline silicon thin film semiconductor device which is capable of reducing off-state leakage current and has excellent current rising characteristics. The thin film transistor includes a semiconductor layer formed of an amorphous silicon layer and a crystalline silicon layer. A drain electrode is provided in direct contact with the crystalline silicon layer of the semiconductor layer, to thereby improve the current rising characteristics.
US08304764B2
The present invention provides a white organic electroluminescent element which can emits white light and is free from deviation of chromaticity. This organic electroluminescent element comprises a substrate and, provided on the substrate, at least an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer held between the anode and the cathode. This organic electroluminescent element is characterized in that the light emitting layer contains at least three types of light emitting materials different from each other in λ max, and the absolute value of HOMO level of the light emitting material having the shortest wavelength is smaller than the absolute value of HOMO level of the other light emitting materials.
US08304750B2
Methods are disclosed that include exposing, in direct succession, portions of a surface of a sample to a charged particle beam, the portions of the surface of the sample forming a row in a first direction, the charged particle beam having an average spot size f at the surface of the sample, each portion being spaced from its neighboring portions by a distance of at least d in the first direction, and a ratio d/f being 2 or more.
US08304748B2
Herein is described a method for identifying semiconductor radiation detector materials based on the mobility of internally generated electrons and holes. It was designed for the early stages of exploration, when samples are not available as single crystals, but as crystalline powders. Samples are confined under pressure in an electric field and the increase in current resulting from exposure to a high-intensity source of ionization current (e.g., 60Co gamma rays) is measured. A pressure cell device is described herein to carry out the method. For known semiconductors, the d.c. ionization current depends on voltage according to the Hecht equation, and for known insulators the d.c. ionization current is below detection limits. This shows that the method can identify semiconductors in spite of significant carrier trapping. Using this method and pressure cell, it was determined that new materials BiOI, PbIF, BiPbO2Cl, BiPbO2Br, BiPbO2I, Bi2GdO4Cl, Pb3O2I2, and Pb5O4I2 are semiconductors.
US08304746B2
Disclosed herein is a fluorescence measurement device for a living body configured to be able to reduce wavelength components that will become leak light and to easily switch a wavelength and an irradiation direction. The fluorescence measurement device for a living body comprises: a sample holder on which a living body sample is to be placed; an exciting light-irradiating device having a plurality of exciting light sources arranged at mutually different positions, each of which is composed of a laser diode or a light-emitting diode and is provided with a filter having an optical property to eliminate, from a spectrum of the exciting light source, disturbing wavelength components overlapping with wavelength components of fluorescence to be detected; an electrical switch for switching lighting of the exciting light sources; a detector for picking up an image produced by fluorescence emitted from the sample placed on the sample holder; and an image display device for displaying the image picked up by the detector.
US08304737B2
An imaging system employing a coded aperture mask having multiple pinholes is provided. The coded aperture mask is placed at a radiation source to pass the radiation through. The radiation impinges on, and passes through an object, which alters the radiation by absorption and/or scattering. Upon passing through the object, the radiation is detected at a detector plane to form an encoded image, which includes information on the absorption and/or scattering caused by the material and structural attributes of the object. The encoded image is decoded to provide a reconstructed image of the object. Because the coded aperture mask includes multiple pinholes, the radiation intensity is greater than a comparable system employing a single pinhole, thereby enabling a higher resolution. Further, the decoding of the encoded image can be performed to generate multiple images of the object at different distances from the detector plane. Methods and programs for operating the imaging system are also disclosed.
US08304735B2
To reduce peeling between members constituting an radiation detecting apparatus, the radiation detecting apparatus of the present invention includes a laminating layered structure in which a supporting substance, an adhesive layer, an array substrate having a photoelectric conversion element, a scintillator layer for converting a radiation into light and a resin layer are stacked in this order. Of arrangement regions of each layer in a plane direction, an arrangement region of the scintillator layer is broader than the region opposed to a photoelectric conversion element, and an arrangement region of the adhesive layer is the same as or broader than the arrangement region of the photoelectric conversion element and at least a portion of the arrangement region of the adhesive layer is narrower than that of the scintillator layer.
US08304732B2
A measuring method that includes holding a specimen to be measured on a flat-plate periodic structure, applying a linearly-polarized electromagnetic wave to the flat-plate periodic structure, detecting the electromagnetic wave scattered forward or backward by the flat-plate periodic structure, and measuring characteristics of the specimen on the basis of a phenomenon that a dip waveform appearing in a frequency characteristic of the forward-scattered electromagnetic wave or a peak waveform appearing in a frequency characteristic of the backward-scattered electromagnetic wave is changed with the presence of the specimen. The flat-plate periodic structure is a flat-plate structure in which at least two voids penetrating through the structure in a direction perpendicular to a principal surface thereof are periodically arrayed in at least one direction on the principal surface, and the electromagnetic wave is applied to the principal surface of the flat-plate periodic structure from the direction perpendicular to the principal surface.
US08304729B2
The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses that detect, classify and locate flash events. In some implementations, some of the methods detect a flash event, trigger an imaging system in response to detecting the flash event to capture an image of an area that includes the flash event, and determines a location of the flash event.
US08304723B2
In a defect inspection apparatus which combines a plurality of probes for measuring electric properties of a specimen including a fine circuit line pattern with a charged particle beam apparatus, the charged particle beam apparatus reduces a degradation in resolution even with an image-shift of ±75 μm or more. The defect inspection apparatus has a CAD navigation function associated with an image-shift function. The CAD navigation function uses coordinates for converting an image-shift moving amount to a DUT stage moving amount in communications between an image processing unit for processing charged particle beam images and a memory for storing information on circuit line patterns. The defect inspection provides the user with significantly improved usability.
US08304720B2
The invention provides a two-dimensional ion trap, comprising a plurality of elongate electrodes positioned between first and second end electrodes, the plurality of electrodes and first and second end electrodes defining a trapping volume. A controller in electrical communication with the plurality of elongate electrodes and the first and second end electrodes is configured to progressively vary a periodic voltage applied to at least one of the plurality of elongate electrodes to cause ions to be radially ejected from the ion trap in order of their mass to charge ratios. Concurrently, the controller is configured to progressively vary a DC offset of least one of the first and second end electrodes with respect to the plurality of elongate electrodes.
US08304717B2
The invention relates to measuring the mobility spectra of ions with ion mobility spectrometers (IMS). The invention provides an analog modulation of the ion current of an IMS ion source with a continuous modulation function, the instantaneous frequency of which temporally varies across a large frequency range, and a generation of the mobility spectrum from the measured ion current by a correlation analysis with the modulation pattern. The modulation can, for example, be produced by the gating grid, which is usually present. The analog modulation removes many of the difficulties which occur with square-wave modulation and leads to a surprisingly stable evaluation which is relatively insensitive to noisy signals and produces a high mobility resolution at very low noise.
US08304716B2
The present invention discloses a sampling device for an ion migration spectrometer (IMS), comprising: an inner sleeve part, inside of which an inner cavity is defined, one end of the inner sleeve part is connected with an inlet of an migration pipe via an inner-layer channel, and the other end of the inner sleeve part is configured with an inner end cap having an inner opening; and an outer sleeve part, which is configured as an eccentric sleeve that is coaxial with the inner sleeve part and able to rotate with respect to the inner sleeve part, so as to form a sleeve cavity between the inner sleeve part and the outer sleeve part, wherein one end of the outer sleeve part is configured with at least one connecting opening that is selectively connected with the inner-layer channel, and the other end of the outer sleeve part is configured with an outer end cap, on which a first outer opening selectively connected with the inner opening and a second outer opening selectively connected with the sleeve cavity are configured, wherein the outer end cap is configured to be able to rotate between a first location and a second location with respect to the inner end cap, so as to selectively introduce a sample to be detected into the inner-layer channel via one of the inner cavity and the sleeve cavity. Moreover, the present invention further relates to a method for solid and gas sampling by using the above sampling device.
US08304709B2
Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide a color digital camera with direct luminance detection. The luminance signals are obtained directly from a broadband image sensor channel without interpolation of RGB data. The chrominance signals are obtained from one or more additional image sensor channels comprising red and/or blue color band detection capability. The red and blue signals are directly combined with the luminance image sensor channel signals. The digital camera generates and outputs an image in YCrCb color space by directly combining outputs of the broadband, red and blue sensors.
US08304700B1
A portable space heater is combined with a compact and collapsible rack that may be folded, stored and transported adjacent with, in the outline of, and supported by the portable space heater. The rack may be removed from the storage position, unfolded, and coupled to a protective grid found on the face of the portable space heater. The rack positively engages with this grid using bifurcated legs that swivel about a main support surface. The bifurcated legs intertwine with the protective grid in such a way as to prevent the rack from collapsing, even when impacted with substantial force. The main support surface of the rack is vertically displaced from the space heater heating element, so that food or beverage is much less likely to contaminate the heating element.
US08304698B1
Whether a temperature of a portion of a die of an integrated circuit device having a central processing device and one or more peripheral components has exceeded a first temperature threshold is determined. In response to determining that the temperature of the portion of the die has exceeded the first temperature threshold, a first thermal reduction process for a first peripheral component of the one or more peripheral components is selected and the first thermal reduction process for the first peripheral component is implemented.
US08304697B2
A smoker device having a low profile fits beneath the lower most rack of an oven thereby allowing full use of all possible shelves of the oven. The smoker device comprises a uniquely shaped bi-level heater element that allows the smoker device pan to be cradled just above the bottom wall of the oven chamber. A method and system allow a processor control of the smoker device manually or automatically as a part of a programmed recipe.
US08304684B2
A plasma torch rotation assembly for relieving stress on a lead. The rotation assembly can include an outer housing, which can have a mounting surface adapted to be fixedly coupled to a torch mount. The rotation assembly can include an inner component disposed at least partially within the outer housing, and a bearing structure disposed between the outer housing and the inner component. The bearing structure can facilitate rotational movement of the outer housing relative to the inner component, about a longitudinal axis of the rotation assembly. The rotation assembly can include a torch adapter disposed near a first end of the inner component. The torch adapter can be adapted to mate with a plasma arc torch. The rotation assembly can include a receiving portion disposed at a second end of the inner component, the receiving portion adapted to receive at least a portion a lead.
US08304678B2
The vacuum insulated switch-gear is configured to be capable of being lifted up with a jack-up bolt to adjust a seated height of the vacuum insulated switch-gear. The switch-gear comprises a nut fixed on a base plate forming a bottom of the vacuum insulated switch-gear. The nut is used as a mating component with the jack-up bolt.
US08304676B2
Disclosed is a gas insulated switchgear constituted such that electrical contacts are placed inside a sealed vessel filled with an arc extinguishing gas, and when electrical current passes, the electrical contacts are held in contact and pass electricity, and when the current is interrupted, the electrical contacts are separated and an arc discharge is produced in the arc extinguishing gas, and the current is interrupted by extinguishing this arc. The arc extinguishing gas is a mixed gas, the main constituents of which are N2 gas and CH4 gas, and the CH4 content is at least 30%. Alternatively, the arc extinguishing gas is a mixed gas, the main constituents of which are CO2 gas and CH4 gas, and the CH4 content is at least 5%.
US08304667B2
A multilayer printed circuit board, including: a signal interconnection which transmits and receives an electrical signal between electronic components; a ground interconnection connected to a ground of a circuit; a power interconnection connected to a power layer to supply power to electronic components; at least one ground layer installed in an inner layer; at least one clearance which passes through the ground layer; and a ground via which connects the ground interconnection with the ground layer. The signal interconnection and the ground interconnection or the signal interconnection and the power interconnection are installed in a pair, and a pair of interconnection vias for interlayer connection are inserted through the clearance installed in the ground layer so that one of the pair of interconnection vias is connected to the ground layer by the ground interconnection.
US08304664B2
An electronic component (chip) mounted structure includes a chip having a terminal, a wiring board having a terminal electrically connected to the terminal of the chip, and an interposing board disposed between the chip and the wiring board and having a structure including an insulating base material provided with a large number of filamentous conductors penetrating the insulating base material in a thickness direction thereof. The terminal of the chip is electrically connected to the terminal of the wiring board via a plurality of filamentous conductors provided in the interposing board.
US08304655B2
A busbar for being accommodated in a case includes a metal plate, a regulating portion and a connected portion. The regulating portion is provided at a part of an edge of the metal plate. The regulating portion has a burr extending in a direction opposite to an inserting direction in which the busbar is inserted into the case. The regulating portion is adapted to come in contact with a part of an inner wall of the case so as to regulate a position of the busbar. The connected portion is provided at a part of the edge of the metal plate. The connected portion has a burr extending in the inserting direction. The connected portion is adapted to be disposed so as not to contact the inner wall of the case.
US08304638B2
The present invention relates to an inbred sunflower line, designated OI1153A/B. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred sunflower line OI1153A/B, to the plants of inbred sunflower line OI1153A/B and to the methods for producing a sunflower plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line OI1153A/B with itself or another sunflower line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a sunflower plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred sunflower lines derived from the inbred OI1153A/B.
US08304632B1
A novel maize variety designated PHVZS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHVZS with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHVZS through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHVZS or a locus conversion of PHVZS with another maize variety.
US08304625B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP38009 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP38009, cells from soybean variety XBP38009, plants of soybean XBP38009, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP38009. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP38009 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP38009, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP38009, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP38009. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP38009 are further provided.
US08304620B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB16N10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB16N10, cells from soybean variety XB16N10, plants of soybean XB16N10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB16N10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB16N10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB16N10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB16N10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB16N10 are further provided.
US08304619B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB04S10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB04S10, cells from soybean variety XB04S10, plants of soybean XB04S10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB04S10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB04S10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB04S10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB04S10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB04S10 are further provided.
US08304616B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to the new soybean variety designated G00-3209 as well as the seeds, plants and derivatives of the new soybean variety G00-3209. Also provided are tissue cultures of the new soybean variety G00-3209 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the new soybean variety G00-3209 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08304614B2
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola cultivar, designated G2X0044. Also included are seeds of canola cultivar G2X0044, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola G2X0044 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola G2X0044 with itself or another canola cultivar, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola G2X0044.
US08304611B2
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola cultivar, designated G2X0023. Also included are seeds of canola cultivar G2X0023, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola G2X0023 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola G2X0023 with itself or another canola cultivar, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola G2X0023.
US08304608B2
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a transcription factor. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the transcription factor, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of accumulated oil in a transformed host cell.
US08304605B2
DIG-11 Cry toxins, polynucleotides encoding such toxins, use of such toxins to control pests, and transgenic plants that produce such toxins are disclosed.
US08304601B2
It is intended to provide an animal model which shows a naturally occurring eye disease symptom, particularly ocular hypertension and/or retinal degeneration. The invention relates to a non-human animal for eye disease model in which the function of Vav2 gene and/or Vav3 gene have/has been impaired. Because the animal shows a naturally occurring eye disease symptom, such as ocular hypertension and/or retinal degeneration without administering a drug or placing it in a special growth environment, it can be used as a model useful for elucidation of onset mechanism of eye disease or evaluation for therapeutic agent for eye disease. When it is applied for such a purpose, because it is not affected by an exogenous factor, which is conventionally administered for artificially inducing eye disease, it reflects a natural pathology, therefore, the clinical and industrial usefulness thereof is high.
US08304596B2
A fecal sample collecting device and method. The device of an embodiment includes a removable first layer, having primary and secondary apertures and a second layer having a releaseable adhesive on an inner surface that secures the first and second layers, a flap aligned with the primary aperture, and an integrally formed removable tab. The device also includes a sheet between the two layers. In a first configuration, the sheet is aligned with the primary aperture such that a sample is deposited thereon when the device is used to wipe one's anus, and the removable tab is aligned with the secondary aperture such that a second sample is deposited thereon. Subsequently, the first layer is discarded, thereby exposing the adhesive on the inner surface of the second layer. The device is placed in a second configuration by folding the inner surface upon itself. Thus, primary and secondary samples are enclosed.
US08304591B2
A novel, energy efficient process of producing jet fuel is disclosed herein. The process is based on utilizing a medium chain fatty acid source such as cuphea oil, which precludes the need for high-energy fatty acid chain cracking to achieve the shorter molecules needed for jet fuels and other fuels with low-temperature flow requirements. In an embodiment, a process for producing a jet fuel comprises providing a medium chain fatty acid source. The method also comprises cleaving the one or more medium chain fatty acid groups from the glycerides to form glycerol and one or more free fatty acids. The method further comprises decarboxylating the one or more medium chain fatty acids to form one or more hydrocarbons for the production of the jet fuel.
US08304584B2
Herein disclosed is a method of hydrating an alkylene oxide. In an embodiment, the method comprises (a) introducing an alkylene oxide into water to form a first stream; (b) flowing the first stream through a high shear device to produce a second stream; and (c) contacting the second stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the alkylene oxide and form an alkylene glycol. In some embodiments, alkylene oxide comprises ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, producing the second stream comprises an energy expenditure of at least about 1000 W/m3. In some embodiments, the catalyst comprises an amine, an acid catalyst, an organometallic compound, an alkali metal halide, a quaternary ammonium halide, zeolites, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the alkylene glycol comprises ethylene glycol.
US08304564B2
The invention relates to a process for removing poly(propylene oxide) from propylene oxide by membrane separation, wherein a membrane having an average pore size of from 0 to 5 nm is used. In said process, a liquid feed comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) may be separated by the membrane into a permeate comprising propylene oxide and either no poly(propylene oxide) or poly(propylene oxide) at a concentration which is lower than the poly(propylene oxide) concentration in the feed, and a retentate comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) at a concentration which is higher than the poly(propylene oxide) concentration in the feed.
US08304559B2
The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of the 5-amino-1-phenyl-3-cyano-4-trifluoromethyl sulfinyl pyrazole having the described general formula (I), particularly preferred for the synthesis of Fipronil, through oxidation of a compound having the general formula (II) as follows: wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or halogen, and wherein the oxidizing agent is dichloroperacetic acid.
US08304553B2
A process is provided for the synthesis of 4,5-diamino cyclohexene carboxylate ester (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. R1-R3 are a silyl-, an aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, or an arylalicyclic group. R4, R11 and R12 are H, a silyl-group, an aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, or an arylalicyclic group. 3,4-Dihydropyran compound (9): with R5 and R6 being suitable protecting groups, is reacted to form aldehyde (4): which is oxidized and converted to N-substituted carbamate (3): with R7 being a suitable protecting group. (3) is, via oxazolinidone (13): converted to azido carboxylate ester (2): and then to 4,5-diamino cyclohexene carboxylate ester (1).
US08304550B2
Described is a process for preparing diaryl ethers of the formula (I) Ar—O—Ar′ (I) In which Ar is an aryl or substituted aryl group and Ar′ is an aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl group,by reacting an aryl of formula (II) or a aryloxy salt of formula (III) Ar—OH (II) Ar—OR (III) In which Ar has the same meaning as in formula (I) and R is an alkali metal,with an aryl or heteroaryl bromide of formula (IV) Ar′—Br (IV) In which Ar′ has the same meaning as in formula (I),characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of a copper(I)salt and a 1-substituted imidazole as catalyst system.
US08304548B2
The present inventions provide a method for commercially producing a 1,2-dihydropyridine-2-one compound represented by the following formula (III-a) wherein the ring A represents an optionally substituted 2-pyridyl group, the ring B represents an optionally substituted phenyl group, and the ring C represents an optionally substituted phenyl group. Further, the invention provides crystals of 3-(2-cyanophenyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)-1-phenyl-1,2-dihydropyridin-2-one and production processes therefor.
US08304538B2
A method of producing a compound represented by Formula (I), which comprises a step A of reacting an anthranilic acid compound with a carboxylic halide in the absence of a base, but does not comprise a step of isolating of an amide intermediate compound represented by Formula (II): wherein R1 represents a substituent; n1 is an integer of 0 to 4; R2 represents an n2-valent substituent or a linking group; and n2 is an integer of 1 to 4.
US08304537B2
Heterocyclic compounds incorporating a [1,3]oxazine ring may be used to make chromogenic materials. These molecules switch from a colorless state to a colored form upon addition of either acid or base. In both instances, the [1,3]oxazine ring opens in response to the pH change forming an indolium cation, after the addition of acid, or a phenolate anion, after the addition of base. Alternatively, the switch may occur in response to a change in electrical current or potential or a change in temperature. Chromophores absorb in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Hence, their formation translates into the appearance of color. These processes are fully reversible and the original colorless state can be regenerated by switching the pH back to neutral. Thus, these halochromic compounds can be used to develop displays, filters, indicators, lenses, sensors, switches, or windows able to switch their color in response to pH changes.
US08304532B2
A solution phase synthesis method for preparing an oligonucleotide, wherein at least some of the reagents are solid supported. The method suitable for large-scale synthesis comprises coupling a protected compound with a nucleotide derivative having a protection group in the presence of a solid supported activator to give an elongated oligonucleotide with a P(III)-internucleotide bond; optionally processing the elongated oligonucleotide by capping by reaction with a solid supported capping agent and/or by oxidizing or sulfurizing by reaction of the oligonucleotide with a solid supported oxidizing or sulfurization reagent; and removing the protection group. The coupling may include reacting a 3′-protected compound of formula: with a nucleotide derivative having a 5′-protection group, or reacting a 5′-protected compound of formula with a nucleotide derivative having a 3′-protection group.
US08304525B2
Glycolipids of branched chain alkyl oligosaccharides according to this patent comprise of a primary alcohol branched in the 2-position and an oligosaccharide, covalently bond to the alcohol in either α- or β-linkage (shown in Formula I and Formula II). These compounds show particularly interesting phase behavior not found for the corresponding straight chain counterparts. The properties involve an ambient temperature liquid crystalline appearance and thermotropic liquid crystal phase polymorphism. Upon the latter, the formation of cubic phases is considered most interesting with respect to life science applications, e.g. liposome for drug delivery. Depending on the choice of sugar head group and alkyl tail, various levels of water miscibility may be adjusted to meet applications requirements (complete solubility for emulsifier applications, e.g. cosmetic creams, to limited water swelling only, e.g. for the preparation of artificial membranes). The closed structural relationship to natural lipids also make branched chain alkyl oligosaccharides valuable subjects for biochemical investigations, e.g. membrane studies. The range of possible applications for glycolipids of branched chain alkyl oligosaccharides involve material science liquid crystal applications, e.g, optical switches, as well as surfactants and the life science applications.
US08304517B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for easily producing granular carboxyl group-containing polymer particles that have a high bulk density and readily swell in water. The present invention provides a method for producing granular carboxyl group-containing polymer particles, which includes: producing carboxyl group-containing polymer particles; preparing an aggregate of the carboxyl group-containing polymer particles by allowing the carboxyl group-containing polymer particles to absorb an polar organic solvent to a liquid content of 5 to 25% by mass; and drying the aggregate of the carboxyl group-containing polymer particles and then grinding the dried aggregate.
US08304516B2
The present invention provides a method for continuously washing poly(vinyl butyral) in which a poly(vinyl butyral) slurry is passed through multiple continuous stirred tank reactors, each of which is adjusted to specific processing parameters that allow for continuous input, washing, and removal of poly(vinyl butyral). The resulting poly(vinyl butyral) can then be dried to form a powder resin that can be used in place of conventional poly(vinyl butyral) resin. In an alternative embodiment, a counter current screw washing unit is provided that passes wash water over the poly(vinyl butyral) in a direction opposite to the flow of the poly(vinyl butyral), thereby allowing the continuous washing of the poly(vinyl butyral) resin.
US08304514B2
The invention provides a conjugated polymer, a method for preparing the same, and optoelectronic devices employing the same. The conjugated polymer includes a structure represented by Formula (I), wherein, R1 is independently an octyl or dodecyl group, R2 is independently an H or 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, and, n is an integer larger than 1.
US08304513B2
Disclosed are polyesters, particularly poly(trimethylene terephthalate), comprising fluorovinylether functionalized aromatic repeat units, and methods to make the polyester polymers. The polymers are useful for imparting soil resistance to polyesters, particularly in the form of fibers, fabrics, and carpets.
US08304512B2
A polymer semiconductor that includes a polythiophene having an Mn from about 1,000 to about 400,000 Daltons and derived from benzodithiophene monomer segments of Formula (1) and at least one divalent linkage providing compound selected from the group consisting of an aromatic or heteroaromatic electron acceptor compound X and an aromatic or heteroaromatic compound Y, wherein R1 and R2 are side chains independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a heteroatom and combinations thereof.
US08304511B2
The present invention is directed a method comprising administering a composition to an individual, wherein the composition comprises a plurality of conjugates, each conjugate in the plurality a protein derivatized with a water-soluble polymer, wherein the polymer is coupled to the protein via succinimide groups covalently attached to either cysteine sulfhydryl groups or lysine amino groups, and substantially all of the succinimide groups present in the composition are present in a ring-opened form.
US08304498B2
The present invention refers to medical devices comprising a modified polyamide or to modified polyamides or modified polyamide elastomers with the polyamides having high flexibility and high stress resistance, especially tensile strength or tear resistance, in addition to the good physical characteristics of the known polyamide elastomers.
US08304497B2
The present invention discloses a vesicle which is excellent in structure stability and environmental responsiveness and also can be produced by a simple operation. More particularly, the present invention discloses a vesicle comprising a membrane formed of a first block copolymer containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment, and a second block copolymer containing a non-chargeable hydrophilic segment and a chargeable segment having an electric charge which is opposite to that of the chargeable segment of the first block copolymer.
US08304494B2
A polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention comprises about 40 to about 99% by weight of a polycarbonate resin (A), about 1 to about 60% by weight of an acrylic copolymer (B) having a high refractive index and a flexible structure, and about 0 to about 60% by weight of acrylic resin (C). A polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention can have excellent transparency and scratch resistance without requiring extra compatibilizers by including an acrylic copolymer having a high refractive index and a flexible structure with the polycarbonate resin.
US08304488B2
Conjugated diene polymer is provided that comprises a constitutional unit based on a conjugated diene and a constitutional unit based on a compound represented by Formula (1) below: R1Si(—R2-A)mR33-m (1) wherein m represents an integer of 1 to 3; R1 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; R2 represents a hydrocarbylene group, and, when there are plural R2s, R2s each may be the same or different; A represents a substituted amino group, and, when there are plural A's, A's each may be the same or different; R3 represents a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group or a substituted amino group, and, when there are plural R3s, R3s each may be the same or different.
US08304481B2
Process for preparing a thermoplastic resin composition containing an aromatic polycarbonate resin which may include a thermoplastic resin other than the aromatic polycarbonate resin, a granular talc, and optionally a rubber polymer, a flame retardant or a fluorinated polyolefin. The granular talc has a particle size in which a proportion of a 500 μm-mesh screen residue thereof is not less than 55% by weight.
US08304468B2
This invention is in the field of polymer chemistry. More in particular it provides a method to produce polymers such as block copolymers or cross-linked networks that are suitable for medical applications. The invention also provides degradable materials that may degrade completely when used in the human or animal body, minimizing residual components that may be toxic or otherwise undesirable.
US08304466B2
The invention relates to a composite comprising a thermosetting resin with a hardness of at least 55 Shore D, wherein the resin essentially consists of an ethylene α-olefin copolymer with a density of less than 880 kg/m3, which resin is crosslinked to a degree such that the volume swelling measured in decaline after 64 hours at 23° C. is less than 50% by volume on the composite and the composite contains at least 40% by volume of a reinforcing filler, wherein the vol % of the filler is related to the volume of the resin. The composite according to the invention is an excellent isolator when at least 100 phr cork are present in the composite. A composite according to the invention can be made by crosslinking of the copolymer in the presence of a high amount of peroxide in the presence of at least 40% by volume on the resin of a filler.
US08304447B2
A compound is represented by Structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method of treating a subject in need thereof comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The subject has type 2 diabetes; renal hypertrophy or hyperplasia associated with diabetic nephropathy; Tay-Sachs; Gaucher's; or Fabry's disease. Methods of decreasing plasma TNF-α, lowering blood glucose levels, decreasing glycated hemoglobin levels, inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase, and lowering glycosphingolipid concentrations in a subject in need thereof respectively comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08304446B2
Indazole compounds, processes for their preparation, intermediates usable in these processes, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and their use in therapy.
US08304443B2
Compounds represented by the Formula (A-1) and the Formula (1) or salt thereof are provided. The compounds represented by the Formula (A-1) and the Formula (1) or salt thereof have a β3 adrenergic receptor agonist activity, and therefore are useful as an agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, depression, biliary stone, a disorder derived from hyperactivity of biliary tract, a disorder derived from hyperactivity of digestive tract, interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence or a disorder derived from decreased tear secretion, etc.
US08304441B2
The present invention relates to thiazolidinedione analogues that are useful for treating hypertension, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases.
US08304431B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds and compositions of compounds having D4 and 5-HT2A antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic activity for the treatment of the underlying dysregulation of the emotional functionality of mental disorders (i.e. affect instability-hypersensitivity-hyperaesthesia-dissociative phenomena-etc). The invention also relates to methods comprising administering to a patient diagnosed as having a neuropsychiatric disorder a pharmaceutical composition containing (i) compounds having D4 antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic activity and (ii) compounds having 5-HT2A antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic, and (iii) any known medicinal compound and compositions of said compounds. The combined D4 and 5-HT2A antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic effects may reside within the same chemical or biological compound or in two different chemical and/or biological compounds.
US08304428B2
The present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds that bind to Bcl proteins and inhibit Bcl function, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating and modulating disorders associated with hyperproliferation, such as cancer.
US08304425B2
The present invention relates to pyrrolidin-2-one, pyrrolidin-2,5-dione, pyrrolidine and thiosucciniroide compounds of formulae (I)-(IV), and methods of preparation of these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising pyrrolidin-2-one, pyrrolidin-2,5-dione, pyrrolidine and thiosuccinimide compounds. The present invention provides methods of treating a cell proliferative disorder, such as a cancer, by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of pyrrolidin-2-one, pyrrolidin-2,5-dione, pyrrolidine and thiosuccinimide compound of the present invention.
US08304423B2
The present invention relates to modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US08304420B2
This invention relates to the discovery of prodrugs of 3-or 5-substituted analogues of the selective platelet lowering agent anagrelide which have reduced potential for cardiovascular side-effects and which should therefore lead to improved patient compliance and safety in the treatment of myeloproliferative diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to prodrugs of certain imidazoquinazoline derivatives which have utility as platelet lowering agents in humans. The compounds of the present invention function by inhibiting the formation of blood platelets. An example of a compound of the present invention is methyl 2-(2-amino-5,6- dichloroquinazolin-3 (4H)-yl)-2-methylpropanoate or the 3,3-demethyl anagrelide open-ringed analog.
US08304419B2
The present invention relates to compounds that are a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and to processes for the preparation and use of the same. Specifically, the present invention includes methods of using such compounds in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
US08304416B2
Novel compounds of the formula I in which R1, R2, R3 and Het are as defined herein, which are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases and/or Raf kinases and can be employed for the treatment of tumors, for neuroprotection and for protection of the stress proteins of the skin.
US08304404B2
An aspirin-theanine cocrystal composition including a quantity of acetylsalicylic acid and a quantity of a theanine enantiomer combined with the quantity of acetylsalicylic acid in a mixture. The theanine enantiomer may be L-theanine, D-theanine, or DL-theanine.
US08304393B2
It is intended to provide a novel oligopeptide which can be relatively easily produced, has not only a hair growth-stimulating effect but also an effect of promoting the growth of epithelial cells (for example, skin regeneration) and can easily pass through the horny layer to thereby reach the desired target cells in which its effects are to be exerted. Namely, water-soluble oligopeptides containing a proryl isoleucyl glycyl unit or an isoleucyl glycyl serine unit and having from 3 to 7 amino acids and water-soluble salts thereof.
US08304379B2
According to the present invention, a solidified detergent composition is provided. The solidified detergent composition is characterized by having a reduced-pressure dried substance obtained by reduced-pressure drying a solution of (a) a silicon-containing compound with the addition of (b) at least one of surfactant to the silicon-containing compound, or a reduced-pressure dried substance obtained by reduced-pressure drying a solution of (a) a silicon-containing compound and (b) at least one of surfactant added to the resultant reduced-pressure dried substance, the silicon-containing compound being represented by the following general formula (1): (wherein R1 shows a hydrocarbon group having 6 or more carbon atom number, R2 and R3 show a lower hydrocarbon group which may be same or different each other, R4 shows a bivalent lower hydrocarbon group, R5, R6 and R7 show a lower alkyl group or lower alkoxy group which may be same or different each other, X shows a halogen ion or organic carbonyloxy ion) and the surfactant being selected from the group consisting of (b1) a cationic surfactant (but excluding the above silicon-containing compound) and (b2) a nonionic surfactant.
US08304373B2
A solid lubricant for being embedded in pores or grooves formed at a sliding surface of a sliding member body, comprises 5 to 30% by volume of a polyethylene resin, 20 to 60% by volume of a hydrocarbon-based wax and 10 to 60% by volume of melamine cyanurate. Such a solid lubricant can exhibit sliding properties identical to or higher than those of lead-containing solid lubricants, even under high load conditions.
US08304368B2
Alkaline membrane fuel cells designed with silver cathode catalysts include a catalyst layer comprising silver metal nano-particles and an anion-conducting ionomer. The silver nano-particles are mixed with a solution of the ionomer to form a catalyst ink that is applied to an alkaline membrane to form an ultra-thin cathode catalyst layer on the membrane surface.
US08304365B2
A stabilized platinum nanoparticle has a core portion surrounded by a plurality of outer surfaces. The outer surfaces include terrace regions formed of platinum atoms, and edge and corner regions formed of atoms from a second metal. The stabilized nanoparticle may be formed by combining a platinum nanoparticle with a metal salt in a solution. Ions of the second metal react with platinum and replace platinum atoms on the nanoparticle. Platinum atoms from the edge and corner regions react with the second metal ions quicker than surface atoms from the terraces, due to a greater difference in electrode potential between the platinum atoms at the edge and corner regions, as compared to the second metal in the solution. The platinum nanoparticle may include surface defects, such as steps and kinks, which may also be replaced with atoms of the second metal. In an exemplary embodiment, the platinum nanoparticle is a cathode catalyst in an electro-chemical cell.
US08304357B2
A ceramic material composition comprising from 20 to 50 mass % of a borosilicate glass powder, from 25 to 55 mass % of an alumina filler powder and from 10 to 45 mass % of a filler powder (a high refractive index filler powder) having a refractive index higher than the alumina filler powder, wherein the borosilicate glass powder comprises, as calculated as oxides, from 30 to 70 mass % of SiO2, from 5 to 28 mass % of B2O3, from 5 to 30 mass % of Al2O3, from 3 to 35 mass % of CaO, from 0 to 25 mass % of SrO, from 0 to 25 mass % of BaO, from 0 to 10 mass % of Na2O, from 0 to 10 mass % of K2O, from 0.5 to 10 mass % of Na2O+K2O and from 3 to 40 mass % of CaO+SrO+BaO, and satisfies the following conditions: in the borosilicate glass powder, as represented by mass %, the value of “three times the B2O3 content”+“twice (the CaO content+the SrO content+the BaO content)”+“ten times (the Na2O content+the K2O content)”, is within a range of from 105 to 165.
US08304355B2
An elastic composite strip has a longitudinally elongated substrate strip having a pair of opposite faces and formed of an elastomer that is highly stretchable longitudinally but only limitedly or not stretchy at all transversely. A respective soft knit fabric cover strip that is highly stretchable longitudinally but only limitedly or not stretchy at all transversely extends longitudinally on each of the faces. Respective arrays of longitudinally spaced and transversely extending lines of adhesive are bonded to the faces and to filaments of the respective cover strips.
US08304346B2
The present invention relates to a polishing composition used in a step of polishing until a barrier layer adjacent to a copper layer is exposed, in a pattern formation of polishing the copper layer provided on an insulating layer through the barrier layer thereby alternately forming a copper embedded wiring and the insulating layer, the polishing composition including: an alicyclic resin acid; a colloidal silica in which a content thereof in the polishing composition is from 0.1 to 1.5% by mass, an average primary particle size thereof is from 10 to 40 nm, an average secondary particle size thereof is from 30 to 80 nm, and (the average secondary particle size×the content) is in a range of from 10 to 40; and tetramethylammonium ion.
US08304343B2
In a method of manufacturing a metal wiring structure, a first metal wiring and a first barrier layer are formed on a substrate, and the first barrier layer is nitridated. An insulating interlayer is formed on the substrate so as to extend over the first metal wiring and the first barrier layer. Part of the insulating interlayer is removed to form a hole exposing at least part of the first metal wiring and part of the first barrier layer. A nitridation plasma treatment is performed on the exposed portion of the first barrier layer. A second barrier layer is formed along the bottom and sides of the hole. A plug is formed on the second barrier layer to fill the hole.
US08304341B2
The invention relates to a dicing die-bonding film having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2) on a substrate material (1) and a die-bonding adhesive layer (3) on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2), wherein the adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2) to the die-bonding adhesive layer (3), as determined under the conditions of a peel angle of 15° and a peel point moving rate of 2.5 mm/sec. at 23° C., is different between a region (2a) corresponding to a work attachment region (3a) and a region (2b) corresponding to a part or the whole of the other region (3b), in the die-bonding adhesive layer (3), and satisfies the following relationship: adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (2a)
US08304339B2
A flip chip semiconductor package has a substrate with a plurality of active devices. A contact pad is formed on the substrate in electrical contact with the plurality of active devices. A passivation layer, second barrier layer, and adhesion layer are formed between the substrate and an intermediate conductive layer. The intermediate conductive layer is in electrical contact with the contact pad. A copper inner core pillar is formed by plating over the intermediate conductive layer. The inner core pillar has a rectangular, cylindrical, toroidal, or hollow cylinder form factor. A solder bump is formed around the inner core pillar by plating solder material and reflowing the solder material to form the solder bump. A first barrier layer and wetting layer are formed between the inner core pillar and solder bump. The solder bump is in electrical contact with the intermediate conductive layer.
US08304334B2
Favorable-quality III-V crystals are easily obtained at low cost without causing cracks, even when using a variety of substrates, and can be used to manufacture semiconductor devices with good quality and at high yields. The III-V crystals are characterized by the following properties: the carrier concentration, resistivity, and dislocation density of the III-V compound crystal are uniform to within ±30% variation along the surface; the III-V compound crystal is misoriented from the c-plane such that the crystal surface does not include any region where its off-axis angle with the c-plane is 0°; and the full width at half-maximum in XRD at the crystal center of the III-V compound is not greater than 150 arcsec.
US08304329B2
Vertical power devices which include an insulated trench containing insulating material and a gate electrode, and related methods. A body region is positioned so that a voltage bias on the gate electrode will cause an inversion layer in the body region. A layer of permanent charge, at or near the sidewall of the trench, provides charge balancing for the space charge in the depleted semiconductor material during the OFF state. A conductive shield layer is positioned below the gate electrode in the insulating material, and reduces capacitive coupling between the gate and the lower part of the trench. This reduces switching losses. In other embodiments, a planar gate electrode controls horizontal carrier injection into the vertical conduction pathway along the trench, while a shield plate lies over the trench itself to reduce capacitive coupling.
US08304328B2
To realize a high productivity while maintaining excellent film deposition characteristics on a substrate even if a plurality of processing gases of different gas species are used. There are provided the step of loading a plurality of substrates into a processing chamber; supplying a first processing gas to an upper stream side of a gas flow outside of a region where a plurality of substrates loaded into a processing chamber are arranged, supplying a second processing gas to the upper stream side of the gas flow outside of the region where the plurality of substrates loaded into the processing chamber are arranged, supplying the first processing gas to a middle part of the gas flow in the region where the plurality of substrates loaded into the processing chamber are arranged, and causing the first processing gas and the second processing gas to react with each other in the processing chamber, to form an amorphous material and form a thin film on main surfaces of the plurality of substrates; and the step of unloading the substrate after forming the thin film from the processing camber.
US08304326B2
In one embodiment, an edge seal region of a semiconductor die is formed by forming a first dielectric layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate near an edge of the semiconductor die and extending across into a scribe grid region of the semiconductor substrate. Another dielectric layer is formed overlying the first dielectric layer. An opening is formed through the first and second dielectric layers. The second dielectric layer is used as a mask for forming a doped region on the semiconductor substrate through the opening. A metal is formed that electrically contacts the doped region and an exterior edge of the first dielectric layer within the opening.
US08304315B2
A main FET and one or more sense FETs are formed in a common substrate. The main FET and sense FET(s) include a source terminal, a gate terminal and a drain terminal. The common gate pad connects the gate terminals of the main FET and sense FET(s). An electrical isolation may be between the gate terminals of the main FET and the sense FET(s). A sense pad in electrical contact with the source of the one or more sense FETs does not overlap an area of the device containing the sense FET(s). It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08304313B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide laser irradiation apparatus and method which can decrease the proportion of the microcrystal region in the whole irradiated region and can irradiate a semiconductor film homogeneously with a laser beam. A low-intensity part of a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator is blocked by a slit, the laser beam is deflected by a mirror, and the beam is shaped into a desired size by using two convex cylindrical lenses. Then, the laser beam is delivered to the irradiation surface.
US08304311B2
Process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device, wherein a trench is formed in a semiconductor body having a first conductivity type; the trench is annealed for shaping purpose; and the trench is filled with semiconductor material via epitaxial growth so as to obtain a first column having a second conductivity type. The epitaxial growth is performed by supplying a gas containing silicon and a gas containing dopant ions of the second conductivity type in presence of a halogenide gas and occurs with uniform distribution of the dopant ions. The flow of the gas containing dopant ions is varied according to a linear ramp during the epitaxial growth; in particular, in the case of selective growth of the semiconductor material in the presence of a hard mask, the flow decreases; in the case of non-selective growth, in the absence of hard mask, the flow increases.
US08304303B2
Semiconductor devices (102) and drain extended PMOS transistors (CT1a) are provided, as well as fabrication methods (202) therefor, in which a p-type separation region (130) is formed between an n-buried layer (108) and the transistor backgate (126) to increase breakdown voltage performance without increasing epitaxial thickness.
US08304302B2
A photovoltaic device and methods for forming the same. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic device has a silicon substrate, and a film comprising a plurality of single wall carbon nanotubes disposed on the silicon substrate, wherein the plurality of single wall carbon nanotubes forms a plurality of heterojunctions with the silicon in the substrate.
US08304296B2
A method of manufacture of a semiconductor packaging system includes: providing a substrate; mounting a semiconductor chip to the substrate; mounting a pillar ball having a ball height electrically connected to the substrate; mounting an interposer above the semiconductor chip and electrically connected to the pillar ball; and wherein: mounting the interposer or mounting the substrate includes connecting the pillar ball to a pillar base having a base height substantially less than the ball height of the pillar ball and the pillar base having vertical sides not covered by the pillar ball.
US08304291B2
Various thermal interface structures and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided. The method includes providing plural carbon nanotubes in a thermal interface structure. The thermal interface structure is soldered to a side of a semiconductor chip. In another aspect, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a thermal interface structure that has plural carbon nanotubes. A semiconductor chip is soldered to the thermal interface structure.
US08304290B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for connecting an integrated circuit device to a substrate. A plurality of standard diameter pillars and three or more increased diameter pillars are disposed on an integrated circuit device. The increased diameter pillars have a diameter that is greater than the standard diameter pillars and a height that is similar to the standard diameter pillars. The standard diameter pillars and the increased diameter pillars form a pattern on the integrated circuit device that corresponds to contact pads on a substrate opposite the integrated circuit device. A first group of solder bumps is disposed between the standard diameter pillars and the contact pads. A second group of solder bumps is disposed between the increased diameter pillars and the contact pads. The second group of solder bumps has pre-connection heights that are greater than pre-connection heights of the first group of solder bumps.
US08304289B2
Multiple semiconductor device components and passive device components fixed to a substrate are embedded within an electroconductive-film/insulating-resin-film structure, and are thermally bonded to an insulating resin film.
US08304279B2
An LED package having an anodized insulation layer which increases heat radiation effect to prolong the lifetime LEDs and maintains high luminance and high output, and a method therefor. The LED package includes an Al substrate having a reflecting region and a light source mounted on the substrate and connected to patterned electrodes. The package also includes an anodized insulation layer formed between the patterned electrodes and the substrate and a lens covering over the light source of the substrate. The Al substrate provides superior heat radiation effect of the LED, thereby significantly increasing the lifetime and light emission efficiency of the LED.
US08304278B2
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes: a first interlayer insulation film disposed on a semiconductor substrate; a first plug disposed in a first hole in the first interlayer insulation film, and serving to electrically connect between a plurality of active regions disposed in the semiconductor substrate, between gate electrodes of a plurality of MOS transistors, or between the active region and the gate electrode of the MOS transistor, not through the wiring of the wiring layer; and a second plug disposed in a second hole in the first interlayer insulation film, the second plug being electrically connected to the active region, wherein a wiring arranged over the second plug and closest to the second plug is electrically connected to the second plug, and the wiring electrically connected to the second plug forms a portion of dual damascene structure. By such a structure, incidence efficiency of light onto a photoelectric conversion element can be improved.
US08304273B2
The present invention provides a method to eliminate undesired parallel conductive paths of nanogap devices for aqueous sensing. The method involves the electrical insulation of an electrode pair, except for the nanogap region wherein electrical response is measured. The magnitude of undesired ionic current in a measurement is reduced by two orders of magnitude. The process to accomplish the present invention is self-aligned and avoids fabrication complexity. The invention has a great potential in nanogap device applications.
US08304270B2
A suspension or solution for an organic optoelectronic device is disclosed. The composition of the suspension or solution includes at least one kind of micro/nano transition metal oxide and a solvent. The composition of the suspension or solution can selectively include at least one kind of transition metal oxide ions or a precursor of transition metal oxide. Moreover, the method of making and applications of the suspension or solution are also disclosed.
US08304269B2
A group III nitride semiconductor device having a gallium nitride based semiconductor film with an excellent surface morphology is provided. A group III nitride optical semiconductor device 11a includes a group III nitride semiconductor supporting base 13, a GaN based semiconductor region 15, an active layer active layer 17, and a GaN semiconductor region 19. The primary surface 13a of the group III nitride semiconductor supporting base 13 is not any polar plane, and forms a finite angle with a reference plane Sc that is orthogonal to a reference axis Cx extending in the direction of a c-axis of the group III nitride semiconductor. The GaN based semiconductor region 15 is grown on the semipolar primary surface 13a. A GaN based semiconductor layer 21 of the GaN based semiconductor region 15 is, for example, an n-type GaN based semiconductor, and the n-type GaN based semiconductor is doped with silicon. A GaN based semiconductor layer 23 of an oxygen concentration of 5×1016 cm−3 or more provides an active layer 17 with an excellent crystal quality, and the active layer 17 is grown on the primary surface of the GaN based semiconductor layer 23.
US08304266B2
A manufacturing method of thin film transistor substrate of a liquid crystal display panel includes following steps. A substrate is provided. Then, a transparent conducting layer and an opaque conducting layer are formed on the substrate. Thereafter, the transparent conducting layer and the opaque conducting layer are patterned by a gray-tone mask to form at least one storage capacitor electrode. Next, a first insulating layer is formed on the storage capacitor electrode. Then, at least one gate electrode is formed on the substrate. Subsequently, at least one gate insulating layer, a patterned semiconductor layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a second insulating layer are formed sequentially on the gate electrode. Moreover, at least one pixel electrode is formed on the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. A part of the pixel electrode overlaps a part of the storage capacitor electrode to form a storage capacitor.
US08304261B2
A thermal treatment apparatus having a first light source emitting a first light having light diffusion property, a reflectance measuring unit irradiating a treatment target with the light from plural directions by the first light source and determining a light reflectance of the treatment target, a light irradiation controller adjusting an intensity of a second light of a second light source on the basis of the light reflectance, the second light has diffusion property, and a thermal treatment unit irradiating the treatment target with the second light having adjusted the intensity of the second light by the light irradiation controller.
US08304260B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a buffer circuit. In the method, a plurality of semiconductor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of semiconductor elements are connected in parallel to each other in the buffer circuit. In the method, driving forces of the formed semiconductor elements is evaluated. In the method, one mask is selected from a plurality of masks based on the evaluating. The plurality of masks are formed in advance to have different wiring mask patterns to cause the numbers of semiconductor elements connected in parallel with each other among the plurality of semiconductor elements of the buffer circuit to be different from each other. In the method, a wiring pattern corresponding to the wiring mask pattern is formed by using the selected one mask.
US08304254B2
Assays in which samples of biological fluids are dispensed onto reagent-containing porous substrates are improved in the accuracy and repeatability by dispensing the biological fluids in two or more fractions thereof, separated by intervals in which the biological fluid is not dispensed. Reagents and other fluids may be dispensed during the intervals when the biological fluid is not dispensed. Alternatively, reagents and other fluids may be dispensed in a similar manner onto substrates already containing biological fluids.
US08304253B2
A refill droplet facilitates the extraction of a droplet laterally from a channel in a microfluidic apparatus. Such extraction allows a discrete band of separated particles or solute molecules to be excised from a fluid stream and processed and analyzed separately. An extraction point is located along the length of the channel and includes an EWOD surface or similar microfluidic technology to extract a droplet. An opening in the channel opposite the extraction means is equipped with microfluidic technology to transport a refill droplet to the opening. The refill droplet is moved into the channel or column to occupy the area previously occupied by the extracted droplet. This prevents distortion or mixing of the bands of particles or molecules within the channel and prevents the draining of any portion of the fluidic system.
US08304251B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to automatically detect the presence of a substance on a test swipe by capturing a background image of the test swipe; applying one or more test chemicals to a test swipe; adjusting the temperature of the test swipe to a predetermined temperature range; capturing an in-situ image of the test swipe after the application of chemical at the predetermined temperature range; subtracting the background image from the in-situ image; generating a difference value from the two images; and searching a known database to identify the substance.
US08304250B2
A multi-dimensional chromatographic method for the separation of N-glycans. The method comprises providing a glycan preparation that includes at least one negatively charged N-glycan. The glycan preparation is then separated by anion-exchange chromatography and at least one secondary chromatographic technique.
US08304249B2
The invention is directed to a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; a protein comprising an amino acid sequence with one to ten amino acid deletions, substitutions, or additions in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and having fructosyl peptide oxidase activity; a protein comprising an amino acid sequence having 99% or higher homology to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and having fructosyl peptide oxidase activity; and a protein having fructosyl peptide oxidase activity, which is encoded by an expression plasmid harbored by the Escherichia coli XL1-Blue MRF′ strain deposited under Accession No. FERM BP-11026; as well as uses of such proteins.
US08304243B2
A reagent for classification of leukocytes includes (a) at least two cationic surfactants; (b) at least one organic compound bearing a hydrophobic group and an anionic group; (c) a buffer for adjusting pH into a range of approximately 2-8. Also disclosed is a method for classifying leukocytes with the reagent. With the reagent and method, erythrocytes are lysed rapidly and classification of leukocytes into five groups is achieved in the same channel. The reaction may be carried out at approximately between 10-40° C. and scattered light signals may be detected at two angles for measuring the classification of leukocytes into five groups.
US08304224B2
The present invention relates a host cell comprising an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein requiring gamma-carboxylation and associated expression control sequences and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vitamin K epoxido reductase and associated expression control sequences and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a γ-glutamyl carboxylase and associated control sequences. The invention further relates to a method of producing a protein requiring gamma-carboxylation in high yields.
US08304221B2
The present invention generally relates to hyphal growth in fungi and in particular describes the modulation of genes associated with hyphal growth in filamentous fungi. The present invention provides methods and systems for the production of proteins and/or chemicals from filamentous fungi which comprise modulation of genes associated with hyphal growth. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a full length cotA gene, its gene product and methods of use.
US08304201B2
The present disclosure provides immunoassays and kits for detection or quantification of an analyte of interest in a test sample that potentially contains endogenously produced autoantibodies reactive with the analyte.
US08304191B2
Sequencing methods that use an exonuclease that comprises template dependent nucleobase binding activity are provided. Related compositions and sequencing systems are also provided.
US08304190B2
A method of determining a suitable blood pressure lowering treatment for an individual comprises a step of assaying a biological sample from the individual for the presence or absence of the C-5312T SNP in a distal enhancer region of the renin gene. The presence of at least one T allele is indicative of an increased response to a blood pressure lowering treatment selected from the group comprising: angiotensin-2-receptor blockers; ACE Inhibitors; aldosterone receptor blockers; and beta-receptor blockers. The absence of at least one T allele is indicative of an increased response to a blood pressure lowering treatment selected from the group comprising: renin inhibitors; calcium channel blockers; and diuretics.
US08304187B2
A method for preserving and processing cell-free nucleic acids located within a blood sample is disclosed, wherein a blood sample containing cell-free nucleic acids is treated to reduce both blood cell lysis and nuclease activity within the blood sample. The treatment of the sample aids in increasing the amount of cell-free nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while maintaining the structure and integrity of the nucleic acids.
US08304166B2
A heat-sensitive positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (1) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (2) a heat-sensitive coating, comprising an underlayer on said support and thereon an upperlayer, an IR absorbing agent in at least one of said underlayer and upperlayer, a phenolic resin in said upperlayer, and a first polymer in said underlayer, characterized in that said first polymer is an alkaline soluble polymer comprising a first sulfonamide containing monomeric unit having a specified structure according to formula I or formula II and a second amide containing monomeric unit having a specified structure according to formula III. The printing plates show an improved chemical resistance of the coating and a reduced undercutting of the image forming parts of the coating.
US08304165B2
A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye; characterized in that: said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, said compound comprising an aromatic moiety and at least one acidic group or salt thereof and having a most bathochromic light absorption peak at a wavelength between 300 nm and 450 nm.
US08304140B2
A fuel cell is formed by stacking first cell units and second cell units alternately. An inlet buffer and an outlet buffer are formed on a surface of a first metal separator of the first cell unit. Bosses are provided in the inlet buffer and the outlet buffer of the first metal separator. An inlet buffer and an outlet buffer are formed on a surface of the second metal separator of the first cell unit. Continuous guide ridges are formed in the inlet buffer and the outlet buffer of the second metal separator. The bosses and the continuous guide ridges are provided at positions overlapped with each other in the stacking direction.
US08304137B2
A fuel cell housing structure includes a fuel cell, an electrically insulated housing, a vent gas intake port and a vent gas exhaust port. The electrically insulated housing contains the fuel cell. The housing is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. At least one of the vent gas intake port and the vent gas exhaust port is fluidly connected to the space at a position above or on the same level as the fuel cell. The at least one of the vent gas intake port and the vent gas exhaust port forms at least one of: vertically extending opening that opens to the external environment, and an opening that faces the space in a direction other than a direction facing the fuel cell.
US08304133B2
The invention provides a method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane including (A) a membrane formation step of forming a membrane-form product of an ionic group-containing polymer electrolyte on a support, (B) an acid treatment step of exchanging the ionic group into an acid type by bringing the membrane into contact with an inorganic acid-containing acidic liquid, (C) an acid removal step of removing a free acid in the acid-treated membrane, and (D) a drying step of drying the acid-removed membrane, wherein the steps (B) to (D) are carried out without separating the membrane from the support.
US08304129B2
A solid electrolyte fuel cell comprising a cathode layer 12 formed on one side of a solid electrolyte layer 10 and an anode layer 18 formed on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer 10, wherein the cathode layer 16 comprises a first cathode layer 12 formed in contact with the solid electrolyte layer and a second cathode layer 14 formed covering the first cathode layer 12, the second cathode layer 14 is formed having a higher porosity than the first cathode layer 12 and the first cathode layer 12 is divided into a plurality of island-shaped portions 12a, 12a.
US08304123B2
A fuel cell system is provided that is capable of operating at high temperatures and near-ambient pressure with partial humidification of air supplied to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cells of the stack incorporate gas diffusion barrier layers at the cathode side thereof. The system includes a cooling loop for circulating a liquid coolant through the stack. In some embodiments, an incoming air stream is partially humidified with water vapor transferred from a cathode exhaust stream in a gas-exchange humidifier or enthalpy wheel. In other embodiments, a cathode recycle is employed to partially humidify the incoming air. The humidity of the air and cathode exhaust streams is maintained below a stack saturation point. Methods of operating the fuel cell system are also provided.
US08304121B2
A primary aluminum hydride cell and a battery formed with a plurality of the cells is described herein. The cells are constructed of an anode, a cathode and an aqueous electrolyte, and the anode comprises aluminum hydride and a conductive material. In some embodiments, the cathode comprises an air diffusion cathode.
US08304113B2
A ceramic microporous polyolefin battery separator membrane, high in air permeability, low in shrinkage and improved temperature resistance addresses the safety requirements of lithium ion batteries. The separators made by the current invention consists of one or more polyolefin polymers and kaolin fillers comprised of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide. The membranes of current invention have a thickness of 5-200 microns, air permeability of 1-200 sec/10 cc (Gurley seconds), and average pore diameter of less than 1 micron.
US08304102B2
A battery pack for being slidably loaded on an electronic apparatus. The battery pack has a terminal case disposed on the battery case. Terminal grooves, in which are disposed terminal members, arc disposed on the terminal case. Guide grooves are provided in the terminal case. Positioning ribs are formed on the battery case; and a terminal pressing rib is formed on the battery case for pressing the terminal case in the battery case.
US08304099B2
A transparent heat shielding material, a fabrication method thereof and a transparent heat shielding structure are provided. The transparent heat shielding material is represented by MxWO3-yAy, wherein M is at least one element of alkali metal, W is tungsten, O is oxygen, A is halogen, 0
US08304097B2
Provided is a white organic light emitting device including an anode, a cathode and an organic layer disposed therebetween, the organic layer having a structure wherein an arrangement of a green emissive layer and a blue emissive layer is formed on both surfaces of a red emissive layer such that the resultant structure is symmetrical around the red emissive layer, and a spacer layer is disposed between opposing surfaces of the blue emissive layer and the green emissive layer, where the white organic light emitting device including this structure exhibits a constant luminescence spectra irrespective of any change in current density. A method of forming the white organic light emitting device is also disclosed.
US08304095B2
The present invention relates to the improvement of blue-emitting organic electroluminescent devices comprising stilbenamines, and to materials for the production of these electroluminescent devices.
US08304091B2
Present invention provides an electrodeposited copper foil with carrier foil that assure high bonding strength between a surface of the bulk copper layer and a resin substrate layer even when surface roughness is low, and hardly occurs delamination even when pin holes and the like remain in a bulk copper layer or in the side wall of the through holes or via holes and the like after contact with a desmear solution and the like. To solve such a problem, electrodeposited copper foil with carrier foil with a primer resin layer comprising a bonding interface layer, a bulk copper layer, a plated Ni—Zn alloy layer and a primer resin layer which is formed in this order at least on one surface of the carrier foil is applied.
US08304088B2
A building board with coating includes at least one end face (7) covered by two superposed layers (10, 12) of a sheet material, and a layer (11) of filler material is applied between the sheet layers (10, 12).
US08304081B2
The invention relates to a process for making a SiO2—RExOy—Al2O3 glass comprising preparing a glass according to a conventional process wherein the conventional process comprises a step of heat treating a mixture of SiO2, RExOy, and Al2O3 at a temperature greater than the spinodal temperature for 0.1 to 10 hours wherein RExOy is a rare earth oxide and RE is a rare earth element chosen from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and combinations thereof. The invention also relates to glasses prepared by the process and glass lasers, optical amplifiers and laminated glass that comprise the glass prepared by the process.
US08304060B2
Glass having metal moldings with improved continuity. The outer surface (18) of an end of a metal molding (13) is flush with an outer surface (19) of a resin molding (16) so that there is no step between the outer surfaces.
US08304058B2
A glass film laminate has a glass film, a support sheet laminated on one surface of the glass film to extend off the glass film, and a protective sheet peelably laminated on the other surface of the glass film to cover the edges of the glass film. A glass roll is produced by winding the laminate.
US08304055B2
An anti-glare film, a method for manufacturing the anti-glare film, and a display device provided with the anti-glare film are provided. The anti-glare film includes fine irregularities formed on a surface of the anti-glare film, and wherein arithmetic mean roughness Ra of a roughness curve of the surface is 0.05 to 0.5 micrometers, and root mean square slope RΔq is 0.003 to 0.05 micrometers.
US08304052B2
A friction lining, which has a friction part and a backing part. As a preform, wound from a strand material and treated with a binder, the friction part is subjected to hot pressing. It is suggested that the backing part is subjected to hot pressing together with the preform, so that a bond is created between the friction part and the backing part by the polymerization of the binder.
US08304039B2
A liquid crystal display is provided that includes a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a field generating electrode disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; an alignment layer disposed on the field generating electrode; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a liquid crystal and an alignment polymer. The alignment layer initially contains an alignment material including an initiator, and the alignment polymer initially contains an alignment aid.
US08304033B2
Disclosed are methods of operation to grow, modify, deposit, or dope a layer upon a substrate using a multi-nozzle and skimmer assembly for introducing a process gas mixture, or multiple process gases mixtures, in a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) system. Also disclosed is a method of forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure on a substrate, for example, an SiO2 STI structure, using a multiple nozzle system with two separate gas supplies, for example providing a silicon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas.
US08304031B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal aligning agent containing a radiation sensitive polyorganosiloxane which is obtained by reacting at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyorganosiloxane having a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1), a hydrolysate thereof and a condensate of the hydrolysis with a cinnamic acid derivative having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, —SH, —NCO, —NHR (R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms), —CH═CH2 and —SO2Cl: (in the formula (1), X1 is a monovalent organic group having an epoxy group, and Y1 is a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms).
US08304027B2
A bar coater includes: a bar for applying a coating liquid to a web; a support member which is arranged on a lower side of the bar so as to rotatably support the bar; a weir arranged at an upstream side of the bar, the weir having a leading end surface at its distal end portion to form a bead of the coating liquid in a space between the leading end surface and the web; a reservoir including the bar, the support member and the weir, the reservoir for accumulating the coating liquid; a pump for supplying the coating liquid to the reservoir; a liquid discharge passage through which the coating liquid excessively supplied to the reservoir is discharged; and a controlling device for controlling the pump so as not to cause distortion of a dynamic contact line which is formed at interface between the coating liquid and the atmosphere.
US08304020B2
There are provided an adhesion promoting process using a comparatively small amount of an adhesion promoting gas for processing a workpiece, an adhesion promoting device for carrying out the adhesion promoting process, a coating and developing system including the adhesion promoting device, and a storage medium storing a program specifying a set of instructions for carrying out the adhesion promoting process.The adhesion promoting process includes the steps of: placing a workpiece on a support table disposed in a processing space defined by a processing vessel; adjusting the temperature of the workpiece placed on the support table to a first temperature at which an adhesion promoting gas does not condense on the workpiece in dew drops; supplying the adhesion promoting gas to the temperature-controlled workpiece to make a surface of the workpiece hydrophobic through the interaction of molecules contained in the adhesion promoting gas and the surface of the workpiece; and adjusting the temperature of the workpiece to a second temperature higher than the first temperature to supply thermal energy to excessive molecules remaining on the surface of the workpiece and evacuating the processing space to remove the excessive molecules from the surface of the workpiece.
US08304018B2
There is provided a coating method which can efficiently apply a coating liquid, such as a liquid resist, to the entire surface of a wafer even when the coating liquid is supplied in a smaller amount than a conventional one, and can therefore reduce the consumption of the coating liquid. The coating method includes: a first step of rotating the substrate at a first rotating speed while supplying the coating liquid onto approximately the center of the rotating substrate; a second step of rotating the substrate at a second rotating speed which is lower than the first rotating speed; a third step of rotating the substrate at a third rotating speed which is higher than the second rotating speed; and a fourth step of rotating the substrate at a fourth rotating speed which is higher than the second rotating speed and lower than the third rotating speed.
US08304014B2
A method of aligning an OLED substrate with a shadow mask includes forming a shadow mask with at least three spaced alignment openings, providing a precision alignment element into each of the alignment openings, and positioning the OLED substrate so that the edges of the OLED substrate engage the precision alignment elements and thereby align the shadow mask with the OLED substrate.
US08304013B2
In a method for producing especially doped layers for electronic, luminescent or photovoltaic components, especially OLEDs, one or more liquid or solid starting materials are evaporated in a source (11, 12, 13, 14) or are admixed as aerosol to a carrier gas and transported in this form to a deposition chamber (1) where they condense on a substrate (5), especially as a result of a temperature gradient, forming a doped matrix. In order to improve the doping of electronic, luminescent or photovoltaic layers, it is proposed that the doping occurs by modification of a starting material during its transport.
US08304011B1
Dehydrated potato pellets are made by preparing an aqueous mixture of dried potato pieces, an emulsifier, and oil, and, optionally, a freshly cooked potato, homogenizing the mixture to produce a pumpable, flowable aqueous dispersion, mixing the dispersion with more dried potato pieces and, optionally, freshly cooked potatoes, forming the mixture into pellets, and drying them.
US08304007B2
Provided is a syrup extracted from red shiso and having a clear red color. The method of obtaining this involves: (1) draining water after blanching raw red shiso; (2) extracting, with water, the blanched red shiso while applying heat; and (3) adding an acid to the extract of the red shiso.
US08303992B2
A method of producing a dried formulation for an active substance such as a drug compound is described. The method involves dispersing a discontinuous phase (e.g. an oil-based or lipidic medium) comprising the active substance into a continuous phase (e.g. water) so as to form a two-phase liquid system comprising droplets of said discontinuous phase, allowing nanoparticles to congregate at the phase interface at the surface of the droplets such that at least one layer of nanoparticles coat the droplets and thereby provide sufficient structural integrity to the droplets to enable the subsequent removal of the continuous phase, and thereafter removing the continuous phase from the nanoparticle-coated droplets to produce a dried formulation.
US08303991B2
The invention relates to a method for making composite active particles for use in a pharmaceutical composition for pulmonary administration, the method comprising a milling step in which particles of active material are milled in the presence of particles of an additive material which is suitable for the promotion of the dispersal of the composite active particles upon actuation of an inhaler. The invention also relates to compositions for inhalation prepared by the method.
US08303985B2
A therapeutic method is described in which copper is delivered into the skin as a complex with sodium chlorophyllin. Sodium copper chlorophyllin is encapsulated in suitable lecithin-type liposomes, containing a high concentration of linoleic acid and having diameters in the range 150-350 nanometers. The method provides therapeutic benefits in the treatment of environmentally-induced premature skin aging, excessively oily skin, acne and acne-related skin disorders, acne-rosacea, and also stimulates the natural tanning response of skin to sunlight and other ultraviolet-containing radiation.
US08303981B2
Cross-linked hydrogels comprise a variety of biologic and non-biologic polymers, such as proteins, polysaccharides, and synthetic polymers. Such hydrogels preferably have no free aqueous phase and may be applied to target sites in a patient's body by extruding the hydrogel through an orifice at the target site. Alternatively, the hydrogels may be mechanically disrupted and used in implantable articles, such as breast implants. When used in vivo, the compositions are useful for controlled release drug delivery, for inhibiting post-surgical spinal and other tissue adhesions, for filling tissue divots, tissue tracts, body cavities, surgical defects, and the like.
US08303972B2
Bioscaffoldings formed of hydrogels that are crosslinked in situ in an infarcted region of the heart (myocardium) by a Michael's addition reaction or by a disulfide bond formed by an oxidative process are described. Each of the bioscaffoldings described includes hyaluronan as one of the hydrogel components and the other component is selected from collagen, collagen-laminin, poly-l-lysine, and fibrin. The bioscaffolding may further include an alginate component. The bioscaffoldings may have biofunctional groups such as angiogenic factors and stem cell homing factors bound to the collagen, collagen-laminin, poly-l-lysine, or fibrinogen hydrogel component. In particular, the biofunctional groups may be PR11, PR39, VEGF, bFGF, a polyarginine/DNA plasmid complex, or a DNA/polyethyleneimine (PEI) complex. Additionally, the hydrogel components may be injected into the infarct region along with stem cells and microspheres containing stem cell homing factors. The bioscaffolding may be formed on a stent or a cardiac medical device.
US08303967B2
The invention relates to biocompatible bone graft materials for repairing bone defects and the application of such bone grafts. The devices of the invention comprise resorbable calcium phosphate, resorbable collagen, and bioactive glasses.
US08303966B2
The present invention provides a polynucleotide adjuvant (PICKCa) composition and methods of use in eliciting an immune response, in particular a mucosal immune response. The polynucleotide adjuvant comprises of a polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (PIC), at least one antibiotic and at least one positive ion. The present invention also provides an immunogenic composition comprising the polynucleotide adjuvant composition together with other immunogenic compositions such as an antigen (e.g., as in a vaccine) selected from viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic and/or cancer antigens. The present invention further contemplates methods of use of such adjuvant compositions, particularly in eliciting an immune response, in particular a mucosal immune response to an antigenic compound.
US08303965B2
The present invention provides a polynucleotide adjuvant composition and methods of use in eliciting an immune response. The present invention also provides an immunogenic composition comprising the polynucleotide adjuvant composition together with an antigen (e.g., as in a vaccine). The adjuvant compositions of the invention have particular physical properties (e.g., molecular weight, concentration, and pH) which address the need for a safe adjuvant for eliciting an enhanced immune response. The present invention further contemplates methods of use of such adjuvant compositions, particularly in eliciting an immune response to an antigenic compound.
US08303958B2
The disclosure provides a non-naturally occurring BAFF-R glycoprotein having a deletion in the extracellular domain which results in an altered 0-linked glycosylation pattern. The disclosure also provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating B-cell- and T-cell-mediated disorders.
US08303949B2
The present invention generally relates to the field of treating oxidative stress disorders by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound that elevates the intracellular levels of glutathone or intracelluar levels of at least one Phase II detoxification enzyme in animal tissue. The present invention also relates to the field of protecting a subject from oxidative stress disorders by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound that elevates the intracellular levels of glutathone or intracelluar levels of at least one Phase II detoxification enzyme in the subject. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful for the treatment of oxidative stress disorders.
US08303948B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating a skin wound in an individual, comprising applying to the skin wound of the individual a therapeutically effective quantity of gingival fibroblasts.
US08303947B2
This invention addresses how to rapidly prevent alphavirus-induced encephalitides before and after exposure to alphaviruses. The invention discloses a single dose administration of two types of recombinant viral vectors: one expressing interferon and another expressing the structural proteins of alphaviruses or a single dose administration of the recombinant viral vector co-expressing both interferon and the structural proteins of alphaviruses. This invention can be used to prevent humans from alphavirus-induced encephalitides in the event of a bioterrorism attack or biowarfare in which alphaviruses such as Venezuelan (VEEV), eastern (EEEV) and western (WEEV) equine encephalitis viruses are deliberately released to humans, a natural outbreak of alphaviruses, and an accidental exposure to alphaviruses in laboratory.
US08303944B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection.
US08303940B2
Methods and compositions useful in enhancing protection from UV radiation, the compositions containing octyl triazone and diethylthexyl syringylidene malonate in an amount effective to photostabilize octyl triazone.
US08303937B2
A dendritic polymer and a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent employing the same. The magnetic resonance contrast agent includes the dendritic polymer according to the structure of SP-DZ-L)i)j or SP-DX-Z-L)i)j, wherein, S is cyclosilane moiety with j silicon oxygen residual groups, and j is not less than 2; P is and l is not less than 1; D is a C3-30 dendritic moiety having n oxygen residue, and n is not less than 3; X is C3-30 moiety having bi-functional groups; Z is a C3-20 moiety having a plurality of functional group; and L is a metal cation.
US08303934B2
A method for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The method includes the administration of a 32P-labeled agent as a beta emitter, such as 32P-labeled ATP or other 32P-labeled adenine nucleotides, whereby the 32P-labeled agent seeks and then permeates the atherosclerotic plaque en bloc without prior degradation. The accumulation of the 32P-labeled agent in the atherosclerotic plaque is achieved at time points whereby the 32P-labeled agent is cleared from the blood. Thus, radionuclide-labeled adenine nucleotides accumulate with high specificity in atherosclerotic lesions and in the heart. The beta particles (electrons) emitted by the 32P-label have a maximal path distance of about 0.5 cm and their energy preferentially destroy cells present in the atherosclerotic plaque without affecting vessel integrity or inducing arterial thrombosis.
US08303933B2
An organized mobile multicomponent conjugate (OMMC) and method of using to enhance binding of weakly binding compounds to a target. A lamellar structure containing at least two binding compounds is assembled under conditions in which the binding compounds self-regulate in or on the lamellar structure, forming a cooperative ensemble that is capable of binding with enhanced affinity to a complementary affinity site on a target. Each binding compound is bound to the lamellar surface, and may be connected by a linker. The OMMC may contain an effector molecule, such as a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, for administration to a patient who is then diagnosed or treated using the effector molecule.
US08303931B2
The present invention pertains to a three compartment structured polymer nanoparticle (core-shell-corona) for multimodal imaging with specificity for cells or cellular components, thus enabling more advanced diagnostic approaches and targeted therapy on the cellular level without the use of additional biologically active materials.
US08303930B2
The present invention relates to various processes for recovering high purity gaseous hydrogen and high purity gaseous carbon dioxide from the gas stream produced using steam hydrocarbon reforming, especially steam methane reforming, utilizing a H2 pressure swing adsorption unit followed by either a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit or a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit in combination with an additional CO2 pressure swing adsorption unit. By using an uncoupled H2 PSA and CO2 VSA unit it is possible to produce high purity H2 and high purity CO2. The present invention further relates to a process for optimizing the recovery of CO2 from waste gas streams produced during the hydrogen purification step of a steam hydrocarbon reforming/H2 pressure swing adsorption unit utilizing either a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit or a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit in combination with a CO2 pressure swing adsorption unit. The present invention even further relates to the apparatus necessary to carry out the various processes of the present invention.
US08303929B2
A process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas by catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming with an overall steam-to-carbon molar ratio between 1.5 and 2.4 for the process. The process stream is reacted in at least two prereformers prior to reaction in catalyst-containing tubes in a top-fired reformer furnace. The process stream is reacted adiabatically in the first prereformer, while the process stream is heated prior to being introduced into the second prereformer and/or the second prereformer is heated. The process avoids carbon formation on the catalyst in the catalyst-containing tubes in the primary reformer.
US08303924B2
A bulk AlN single crystal is grown on a monocrystalline AlN seed crystal having a central longitudinal mid-axis and disposed in a crystal growth region of a growing crucible. The bulk AlN single crystal grows in a growth direction oriented parallel to the longitudinal mid-axis by deposition on the AlN seed crystal. The crucible has a lateral crucible inner wall extending in the growth direction, a free space being provided between the AlN seed crystal and the growing bulk AlN single crystal on the one hand, and the lateral crucible inner wall on the other hand. Bulk AlN single crystals and monocrystalline AlN substrates produced therefrom are therefore obtained with only few dislocations, which furthermore are substantially distributed homogeneously. The growing crucible, inside which the crystal growth region is located, is an inner growing crucible which is arranged in an outer growing crucible. The two growing crucibles are provided with a crucible lid with a gap formed between the inner growing crucible and the crucible lid through which some of the AlN growth gas phase generated inside the crystal growth region escapes and is deposited on a crucible bottom of the outer growing crucible which lies opposite the crucible lid.
US08303918B2
In a method for preparing cerium carbonate powder by mixing a cerium precursor solution with a urea solution and carrying out a precipitation reaction, wherein the cerium carbonate powder has a hexagonal crystal structure, by using at least one type of organic solvent as a solvent for either or both the cerium precursor solution and the urea solution, and adjusting temperature of the precipitation reaction within a range of 120° C. to 300° C. Also, the method can yield cerium carbonate powder, cerium oxide powder from the cerium carbonate powder, and CMP slurry including the cerium oxide powder as an abrasive. In the method, urea as a precipitant can improve the uniformity of a reaction, and thus it is possible to easily and inexpensively obtain cerium carbonate powder with a hexagonal crystal structure without the danger by high-temperature high-pressure and the need for an expensive system in hydrothermal synthesis.
US08303911B2
A microfluidic system for processing a sample includes a microfluidic CD in the form a rotatable disc, the disc containing a plurality of separate lysis chambers therein. A magnetic lysis blade and lysis beads are disposed in each of the lysis chambers and a plurality of stationary magnets are disposed adjacent to and separate from the microfluidic CD. The stationary magnets are configured to magnetically interact with each of the magnetic lysis blades upon rotation of the microfluidic CD. Each lysis chamber may have its own separate sample inlet port or, alternatively, the lysis chambers may be connected to one another with a single inlet port coupled to one of the lysis chambers. Downstream processing may include nucleic acid amplification using thermoelectric heating as well as detection using a nucleic acid microarray.
US08303904B2
With the help of a fixing device for catalyzer particles, wherein the catalyzer particles are packed in a bed which can be passed through by a gas flow in the direction of gravity, it is intended to achieve a minimum specific pressure loss which will remain low even if dirt should arise from the operating process; a fixing device which has a minimum influence on the period of presence of the gas flowing through; which ensures the reliable hold-down of the catalyzer particles even at high approach velocities; and which is flexible to a certain degree in order to adapt to bed changes. This is achieved by placing at least one layer of a metal braiding on the packed bed of the catalyzer particles, and the metal braiding consisting of individual metal braiding elements which are firmly braided together.
US08303897B2
An organic chemical sensor includes a dielectric core that comprises an elastomer and a high dielectric constant material. The elastomer absorbs an organic chemical to be sensed. An electrically conductive layer is secured to a first side of the dielectric core. A permeable conductive layer is secured to a second side of the dielectric core. The permeable conductive layer is electrically conductive and permeable to the organic chemical to be sensed. The absorption of the organic chemical to be sensed by the elastomeric layer causes a decrease in the capacitance between the electrically conductive layer and the permeable conductive layer.
US08303895B2
An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture contained in a chamber of a reaction vessel comprises a thermal surface for contacting a flexible wall of the chamber and an automated machine for increasing the pressure in the chamber. The pressure increase in the chamber is sufficient to force the flexible wall to conform to the thermal surface for good thermal conductance. The apparatus also includes at least one thermal element for heating or cooling the surface to induce a temperature change within the chamber.
US08303886B2
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object is disclosed, in which the object is solidified layer by layer by solidifying a building material by means of a beam of a gas laser at locations in each layer corresponding to the cross section of the object, wherein the power of the laser is measured and the power of the laser is controlled according to the measured value. The power measurement takes place in a time window, in which a change of the power occurs, and an input control signal of the laser is controlled according to the measured values.
US08303875B2
A method for producing a vinylidene fluoride resin film having excellent transparency, weather resistance, chemical resistance, break resistance and formability is provided. The film is shaped by sandwiching a vinylidene fluoride resin in a molten state between rollers or metal belts so as to let them cool down, thus realizing polyvinylidene fluoride with a fine average spherocrystal diameter. Thus, the vinylidene fluoride resin film having the above-stated properties can be obtained.
US08303864B2
Flame-retardant plastics mouldings composed of polyphenyl sulphones (PPSUs) or of polycarbonates (PCs) are coloured with Iridoin® pigments in such a way as to have a metallic effect. The effect is resistant to the usual stresses present in an aircraft cabin and complies with the respective fire-protection requirements.
US08303859B2
An optical film includes a near-infrared absorbing layer, the near-infrared absorbing layer containing at least one colorant having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 900 nm to 1,100 nm, and a transparent copolymer resin containing fine rubber particles.
US08303857B2
The invention relates to a composite with inverse thermochromic properties, the composite changing from a colorless into a colored state with increasing temperature. The composite thereby contains a colorant, a developer and a fluxing agent and also an inorganic filler. The invention likewise relates to a composite material which contains a polymer-based matrix into which at least one composite with inverse thermochromic properties is doped. These composite materials are used in the field of sensor technology, solar technology, transport and communications technology and medical technology.
US08303856B2
Disclosed is a conductive laminated body, and a method for preparing the same, wherein the conductive laminated body including: a substrate; a zinc oxide-based thin film doped with an element M; and an interlayer including an oxide M′2O3, which is interposed between the substrate and the zinc oxide-based thin film. The disclosed conductive laminated body includes a metal oxide interlayer of an oxidation number +3, between a substrate and a zinc oxide layer. Therefore, it is possible to improve electrical properties of a transparent conductive thin film, especially, a resistivity property, and to minimize the unevenness in electrical properties between a middle portion and a circumferential portion on the surface of the thin film in sputtering deposition. Also, in deposition of a zinc oxide film, in addition to inert gas such as argon gas, the use of hydrogen gas can improve the concentration of electrons, and herein, the interposition of an interlayer including a metal oxide, between the substrate and the zinc oxide-based transparent conductive film, allows the heat-resistance/moisture-resistance stability and the uniformity of electrical properties.
US08303855B2
The invention covers a powderous lithium transition metal oxide having a layered crystal structure Li1+aM1−aO2+bM′k Sm with −0.03
US08303853B2
A method using a chemical synthesis method to produce a metallic nanoparticle inorganic composite having fine metallic nanoparticles that are uniformly dispersed at a high density in a solidified matrix, a metallic nanoparticle inorganic composite, and a plasmon waveguide using this composite are provided. Thus, a method including: preparing a precursor solution, applying the precursor solution onto a substrate, and then hydrolyzing the precursor solution to form an oxide film having fine pores, bringing the oxide film into contact with an acidic aqueous solution of tin chloride to chemically adsorb Sn2+ ions in the fine pores, removing an excess of the Sn2+ ions, bringing the oxide film into contact with an aqueous metal chelate solution to precipitate metallic nanoparticles in the fine pores, and removing an excess of ions of the metal is provided.
US08303850B2
A rust preventive oil composition includes at least one base oil selected from the group consisting of mineral oils and synthetic oils, having a 5%-distillation temperature of not less than 140° C. and not more than 250° C., a 95%-distillation temperature of 250° C. or less, a difference between the 5%-distillation temperature and the 95%-distillation temperature of 90° C. or less, an aromatic content of 5% by volume or less, a naphthene content of not less than 30% by volume and not more than 95% by volume, a density at 15° C. of 0.75 g/cm3 or more, and a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of not less than 0.3 mm2/s and not more than 5.0 mm2/s; at least one base oil selected from the group consisting of mineral oils and synthetic oils; and a rust-preventing additive.
US08303846B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an infra-red light emitting phosphor having an excellent chemical stability and desirable light emitting properties. The infra-red light emitting phosphor is represented by a chemical formula: (A1-x-yNdxYby)VO4, wherein A represents at least one element selected from yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), lutetium (Lu) and lanthanum (La); x and y respectively satisfy the requirements: 0.01≦x≦0.3 and 0.01≦y≦0.4, provided that (x+y)≦0.5 and 0.2≦(y/x)≦6. This vanadate phosphor having the constitution described above can act as an infra-red light emitting phosphor having an excellent chemical stability and desirable light emitting properties.
US08303844B2
The present invention relates to benzo[f]chromene and pyrano[3,2-f]-chromene derivatives of the formula I in which L1, L2, R1, R2, A1, A2, Z1, Z2, m and n are as defined in claim 1, to the preparation thereof, to the use thereof as components in liquid-crystalline media, and to electro-optical display elements which contain the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention.
US08303838B2
There is provided novel curable ink compositions comprising inorganic oxide-coated magnetic metal nanoparticles. In particular, there is provided ultraviolet (UV) curable gel inks comprising at least the inorganic oxide-coated magnetic metal nanoparticles, one curable monomer, a radiation activated initiator that initiates polymerization of curable components of the ink. In particular the ink may include a gellant. The inks may also include optional colorants and one or more optional additives. These curable UV ink compositions can be used for ink jet printing in a variety of applications.
US08303837B2
A rotating machine comprising a sintered ferrite magnet having an M-type ferrite structure, comprising Ca, an R element that is at least one of rare earth elements and indispensably includes La, Ba, Fe and Co as indispensable elements, and having a composition represented by the formula: Ca1-x-yRxBayFe2n-zCoz, wherein (1−x−y), x, y, z and n represent the contents of Ca, the R element, Ba and Co, and a molar ratio, meeting 0.3≦1−x−y≦0.65, 0.2≦x≦0.65, 0.001≦y≦0.2, 0.03≦z≦0.65, 4≦n≦7, and 1−x−y>y; a bonded magnet comprising ferrite powder having the above composition and a binder, and a magnet roll, at least one magnetic pole portion of which is made of the above bonded magnet.
US08303828B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing, in a simple process, a magnetic recording medium having a distinct magnetic recording pattern formed thereon. A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium having a magnetically-separated magnetic recording pattern MP, the method at least including; a first step of forming a first magnetic layer 11 on a non-magnetic substrate 10; a second step of forming a resist layer 12 on the first magnetic layer 11, the resist layer 12 being patterned in correspondence with the magnetic recording pattern MP; a third step of forming a second magnetic layer 13 so as to cover a surface of the first magnetic layer 11 having the resist layer 12 formed thereon; a fourth step of removing the resist layer 12 together with the second magnetic layer 13 formed thereon; and a fifth step of partially removing the first magnetic layer 11 or partially modifying magnetic property of the first magnetic layer 11.
US08303813B2
The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a water filter, a water filter housing, a water filter cap, and a tool for rotating the water filter cap. Engagement of the tool and the water filter cap and subsequent rotation of the tool thereby rotates the water filter cap and water filter. The tool includes a head portion and a body portion and the head portion is an inverse surface of at least a portion of the water filter cap for mating with the water filter cap.
US08303803B2
In one aspect, the inventive process comprises a process for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nonvolatiles in a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system. The inventive process comprises: (a) heating the nonvolatile-containing hydrocarbon feedstock upstream of a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system to a temperature sufficient to form a vapor phase that is essentially free of nonvolatiles and a liquid phase containing the nonvolatiles; (b) separating said vapor phase from said liquid phase; (c) feeding the separated vapor phase to the pyrolysis reactor system; and (d) converting the separated vapor phase in said pyrolysis reactor system to form a pyrolysis product.
US08303802B2
An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system, and also a method for upgrading an existing ebullated bed hydroprocessing system, involves introducing a colloidal or molecular catalyst, or a catalyst precursor capable of forming the colloidal or molecular catalyst, into an ebullated bed reactor. The colloidal or molecular catalyst is formed by intimately mixing a catalyst precursor into a heavy oil feedstock and raising the temperature of the feedstock to above the decomposition temperature of the catalyst precursor to form the colloidal or molecular catalyst in situ. The improved ebullated bed hydroprocessing system includes at least one ebullated bed reactor that employs both a porous supported catalyst and the colloidal or molecular catalyst to catalyze hydroprocessing reactions involving the feedstock and hydrogen. The colloidal or molecular catalyst provides catalyst in what would otherwise constitute catalyst free zones within the ebullated bed hydroprocessing system. Asphaltene or other hydrocarbon molecules too large to diffuse into the pores of the supported catalyst can be upgraded by the colloidal or molecular catalyst. A slurry phase reactor may be positioned upstream from one or more ebullated bed reactors or converted from an existing ebullated bed reactor.
US08303796B2
Disclosed is a novel method for producing high-purity silicon at low cost. Particularly disclosed is a novel method for producing high-purity silicon, which can be suitably used as a raw material for solar cells, at low cost. Specifically, a method for producing silicon wherein silica is subjected to molten salt electrolysis in an electrolysis vessel comprises, in the following order, a step (1) wherein the silicon content in an silicon-containing alloy, which is in a liquid phase at the electrolysis temperature, is increased by using the alloy as the cathode and performing electrolysis; a step (2) wherein the silicon-containing alloy serving as the cathode is taken out of the electrolysis vessel before it reaches the concentration at which silicon begins to precipitate at the electrolysis temperature; a step (3) wherein silicon is solidified by cooling the taken-out silicon-containing alloy within the temperature range higher than the eutectic point but lower than the electrolysis temperature; and a step (4) wherein the solidified silicon is collected.
US08303793B2
The invention relates to a method of providing an electric current taker made from silver and having a highly electroconductive contact surface into an aluminium support bar to be used in electrolysis. In order for the support bar and the electric current taker therein to be easily, quickly and inexpensively manufactured, the method comprises a) heating a first end of the support bar and providing on top of it a solder containing a substance whose affinity to oxygen is high after a temperature of an aluminium surface is at a temperature which exceeds a melting temperature of the solder, whereby the solder is spread in a molten state on top of the surface, b) breaking an aluminium oxide layer between the aluminium and the molten solder by a mechanical treatment so that oxygen is released from the aluminium oxide layer, the oxygen reacting with the substance of the solder having a high affinity to oxygen and forming, together with the substance, on the surface of the molten solder an oxide layer, and c) providing, on top of the solder, the electric current taker and letting the solder to solidify and the electric current taker to become attached to the solidified solder. The invention further relates to a support bar.
US08303787B2
Systems and methods are provided herein for improving the selectivity and productivity of sensors via digital signal processing techniques. According to one illustrative embodiment, in an electrochemical method for monitoring of a select analyte in a mixed sample with an interfering analyte, an improvement is provided that includes applying a large amplitude potential stimulus waveform to the sample to generate a nonlinear current signal; and resolving a signal contribution from the select analyte in the generated signal by a vector projection method with an analyte vector comprising a plurality of real and imaginary parts of one or more Fourier coefficients at one or more frequencies of a reference current signal for the select analyte.
US08303786B2
A sputtering apparatus comprises a plurality of independent plasma generation regions formed in a single process chamber; a cathode disposed at an edge portion of each of the plurality of independent plasma generation regions; a gas supply line to supply a reaction gas to the plurality of independent plasma generation regions; and a shielding film disposed between the plurality of independent plasma generation regions to prevent reaction gases generated in the plurality of independent plasma generation regions from being mixed and introduced to an outside.
US08303776B2
The invention relates to a shoe press belt comprising an elastomer polymer having nanoparticles attached therewith through covalent bonds.
US08303762B2
Compositions comprising at least one oxidant or adhesion promoter, and at least one molecule selected from an aromatic nitroso compound or an aromatic nitroso compound precursor dinitrosobenzene precursor and combinations thereof are provided. At least one of the components is encapsulated. The compositions may find utility in polymer to metal, in particular, rubber to metal bonding. The aromatic nitroso compound or an aromatic nitroso compound precursor may be nitrosobenzene/dinitrosobenzene or nitrosobenzene/dinitrosobenzene precursor respectfully. The nitrosobenzene or dinitrosobenzene precursor may be at least one of a quinone oxime or a quinone dioxime.
US08303758B2
Methods for manufacturing composite sections for aircraft fuselages and other structures are disclosed herein. A method for manufacturing a shell structure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes applying composite material to an interior mold surface of a tool to form a skin extending 360 degrees around an axis. The method can further include positioning a plurality of stiffeners on an inner surface of the skin. After the stiffeners have been positioned, a vacuum bag can be installed over the stiffeners and evacuated to press the stiffeners and the skin outwardly against the interior mold surface of the tool. Next, the skin/stiffener combination can be cocured to bond the stiffeners to the skin and harden the shell structure.
US08303750B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an air mat that reduces a thickness of a cushion part by means of both slush molding and rotational molding, enhances a bonding efficiency between a lower sheet and the cushion part, and obviates the need of any separate communicating members for forming the communicating passageways for a plurality of air pockets of the cushion part, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes.
US08303746B2
An ocular prosthesis includes a posterior sclera portion partially nested with an anterior clear portion. An iris disk piece and/or a retinal chip may also be disposed between the posterior and anterior portions. A method for manufacturing the ocular prosthesis includes scanning an impression of an eye socket or an existing ocular prosthesis, fabricating posterior and anterior portions from geometrical models generated from the scans, and forming the ocular prosthesis by joining the two portions. In another embodiment of the method, a photograph of an iris is provided and manipulated to form a multi disk iris piece to be used in the ocular prosthesis.
US08303743B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a thermoplastic composite sheet, comprising the steps of impregnating fibers with a thermoplastic resin melt, drawing and pressing the impregnated fibers in a tape or strand shape, preparing a prepreg layer by aligning the drawn and pressed fibers to form wefts and wraps, providing the prepreg layer on at least one surface of a center layer, and compressing the layers.
US08303735B2
A conventional low-temperature solder containing Pb or Cd had problems with respect to environmental pollution. A conventional low-temperature lead-free solder had a liquidus temperature which was too high for low heat resistance parts having a heat resistance temperature of 130° C., or it was brittle or had low mechanical strength. A lead-free low-temperature solder according to the present invention comprises 48-52.5 mass % of In and a balance of Bi, and most of the structure is constituted by a BiIn2 intermetallic compound which is not brittle. Zn or La can be added in order to further improve solderability, and a small amount of P can be added to prevent corrosion at high temperatures and high humidities.
US08303732B2
A rare earth magnet having a composition represented by RTB wherein R denotes a rare earth element, T a transition metal and B boron, the magnet being composed of magnet powder constituted by crystalline particles. The particles of the magnetic powder have a ratio of a short diameter being 10 μm or more to a long diameter is 0.5 or less. An element Rm having a magnetic anisotropy higher than that of the rare earth element is contained in the surface and inside of the magnet constituted by the magnet powder in an approximately constant concentration. An oxy-fluoride and carbon are present at boundaries of the particles of the magnet powder.
US08303728B2
A pass-through dishwasher is provided having at least one washing zone, at least one rinsing zone and a drying zone. The pass-through dishwasher is used to clean items to be washed and comprises a conveyor device for conveying the items to be washed through successive treatment zones. The pass-through dishwasher comprises a drying zone which has arranged in it at least one drying fan whose rotation speed can be controlled.
US08303725B2
A dishwasher includes lower and upper racks that slide in and out for loading and unloading of dishes. Either or both of the racks includes a handle secured to the front wall of the rack. The handle is molded from a thermoset polymer material and at least part of the handle is plated with a bright-finish metal coating such as powdered stainless steel. The handle for the lower rack extends above the upper edge of the front wall of the rack for easier accessibility. The upper handle is arranged to be contacted by the door of the dishwasher when the door is closed such that the upper rack is urged inwardly to a correct position for connecting a mid-level spray arm delivery tube to a check valve assembly of the water delivery system.
US08303722B2
There is provided a storage water of a silicon wafer wherein a liquid temperature of the storage water is 0 to 18° C. And there is provided a shower water of a silicon wafer wherein a liquid temperature of the shower water is 0 to 18° C. The wafer is stored in the storage water, and showered using the shower water. The present invention also relates to a method for storing silicon wafer wherein the silicon wafer is showered using a shower water of which liquid temperature is 0 to 18° C., and is then stored in liquid using a storage water of which liquid temperature is 0 to 18° C. Thereby, there can be provided a water for storing a silicon wafer, a method for storing it, a water for showering it and a method for showering it wherein degradation of the wafer quality can be prevented.
US08303721B2
A phosphate-free dishwasher detergent which contains a builder, bleaching agents, and also a) a copolymer comprising i) monomers from the group of mono- or polyunsaturated carboxylic acids; ii) monomers of general formula R1(R2)C═C(R3)—X—R4; and iii) optionally further monomers, and b) a nonionic surfactant of general formula R1—CH(OH)CH2O-(AO)w-(A′O)x-(A″O)y-(A′″O)z—R2. The detergent has good cleaning and rinsing results which are comparable to those of phosphate-containing dishwasher detergents or even outdo them.
US08303718B2
Sterilizable washing machine using ultraviolet radiation and sterilizable washing method in the same
The present invention discloses a sterilizable washing machine using ultraviolet radiation, and a sterilizable washing method in the same. The sterilizable washing machine includes a cabinet (2) having an inlet for putting the laundry into the washing machine, a door (50) installed at the cabinet (2), for opening and closing the inlet of the cabinet (2), a tub (6) installed in the cabinet with a buffing function and containable wash water, a drum (8) rotatably installed inside the tub (6) for performing washing, a gasket G installed between the inlet of the cabinet (2) and the tub (6), for sealing the gap between the door (50) and the tub (6), and an ultraviolet light source (20) installed at the gasket (6), for radiating ultraviolet rays into the drum (8).
US08303714B2
The plasma CVD apparatus of the present invention comprises a pair of deposition rolls 2 and 3 disposed oppositely in parallel so that a substrate S wound thereon faces each other; a magnetic field generating member 12 and 13 provided inside each of the deposition rolls 2 and 3, which generates a magnetic field so as to converge plasma to the vicinity of a roll surface thereof facing a space 5 between the deposition rolls; a plasma power source 14 with polarity alternately reversing between one electrode and the other electrode; a gas supply pipe 8 for supplying a film-forming gas to the space 5; and evacuation means for evacuating the space. One electrode of the plasma power source 14 is connected to one deposition roll 2, and the other electrode thereof to the other deposition roll 3.
US08303711B2
An electrode anchoring structure in a crystal-growing furnace includes at least one graphite electrode pillar, at least one metal electrode pillar, at least one anchoring base, and at least one locking nut, wherein the graphite electrode pillar is engaged with a nut base of the metal electrode pillar, and the at least one metal electrode pillar is, through the anchoring base, is secured to furnace wall. Therefore, the at least one graphite electrode pillar acts both as weight support and electrical-conducting electrode. Since the flange welded on furnace wall has a greater area exposed to the atmosphere, a desirable cooling effect can be achieved, and temperature drop can be expedited if water spray is performed. The anchoring base is provided with a resilient washer, such that a resilient force can be employed to adjust loading of each graphite electrode pillar in an axial direction.
US08303709B2
The invention provides a set gypsum-containing product having increased resistance to permanent deformation and a method for preparing it comprising forming a mixture of a calcium sulfate material, water, and an appropriate amount of one or more enhancing materials chosen from condensed phosphoric acids, each of which comprises 2 or more phosphoric acid units; and salts or ions of condensed phosphates, each of which comprises 2 or more phosphate units. The mixture is then maintained under conditions sufficient for the calcium sulfate material to form a set gypsum material.
US08303701B2
A novel modified thermoplastic starch is manufactured from a native starch using a polysaccharide produced by the fungus species Ophiostoma ulmi, by growing a culture in a yeast extract medium; adding the native starch; mixing, and harvesting the modified thermoplastic starch. The modified thermoplastic starch may be used in the manufacture of a biodegradable plastic which exhibits low water absorbency and high tensile strength. The plastic may be used to manufacture films or molding products by casting, extrusion, injection, or compression techniques.
US08303682B2
The support structure is used in a filter bag for filtering gas and has a plurality of tubular pipe elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the filter bag. The tubular pipe elements are connected to annular elements located at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction. The annular elements include elements formed by a number of parts, each part having two ends and extending between adjacent longitudinally extending tubular pipe elements.
US08303677B2
An indoor unit (13) of an air conditioner (43) including: a filter member (41) for trapping dust contained in air sucked through an inlet (22); a dust removing means (42) configured to remove the dust trapped on the filter member (41) from the filter member (41); and a dust container (43) for containing the dust removed from the filter member (41) by the dust removing means (42), wherein the indoor unit (13) further includes a container lifting/lowering means (44) for lifting/lowering only the dust container (43) relative to the casing (34).
US08303668B2
A prosthetic femoral stem component includes a body element, a neck element and a stem element. The body element, neck element and stem element are secured to one another with a modular connection, the modular connection having a taper junction and an engaged-fit junction. The engaged-fit junction is formed by interaction of first and second concentric walls, the first concentric wall being formed on a shaft of the neck element and the second concentric wall being formed along a portion of a sidewall defining an aperture extending through the body element.
US08303665B2
This glenoidal component for a shoulder prosthesis comprises a base which may be immobilized on the glenoid cavity of a shoulder, and an element provided to be mounted on this base and forming a convex surface of articulation centered on an axis of symmetry. This axis of symmetry is non-perpendicular to a rear face of the base intended to abut against the glenoid cavity, this making it possible to compensate a defect in parallelism between the resectioned surface of the glenoid cavity and the axis of the patient's spinal column. A surgeon can select the component most adapted to the orientation of the resectioned surface from a set of components in which the axes of symmetry of the components are oriented differently with respect to their rear faces.
US08303654B2
A sealing device for use inside a capsular bag after the natural lens has been removed comprises a plug part adapted to seal a rhexis in a capsular bag, thus preventing displacement through the rhexis of a lens-forming liquid material injected through the rhexis and adapted to replace the natural lens and form an intraocular lens implant. The plug part has a slightly larger area than the capsulorhexis and is made of a deformable polymer. The sealing device further comprises a removable adjusting means connected to the plug part, the adjusting means protruding anteriorly from an outer surface of the plug part and being capable of positioning the plug part to a desired location.
US08303653B2
The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.
US08303652B2
A heart valve holder-inserter (21, 121) is designed to facilitate easy implantation of a mechanical heart valve prosthesis (23, 123). This holder-inserter, at its distal end, incorporates a pair of diametrically opposed guide members (47, 49, 81, 147, 149) which extend well beyond the leading edge of the prosthesis and which have exterior surfaces (53, 83, 153) of substantial dimension that are smoothly curved and proportioned so as to slowly spread the tissue annulus in order to facilitate easy entrance thereinto of the leading edge portion of the mechanical valve body.
US08303650B2
Disclosed herein is a biodegradable prosthesis that includes a first end, a second end, and an elongate tubular body with a lumen therethrough. The prosthesis has a first outer layer with a drug delivery element that may include polyphosphoester microspheres. The prosthesis also can have a second layer comprising a set of flexible interbraided bioabsorbable filaments. Also, the prosthesis can have a third inner layer comprising a porous thermoplastic material.
US08303647B2
Composite leaflets and prosthetic valves incorporating the same are disclosed. An illustrative composite leaflet includes a flexible inner region, which is formed with a synthetic polymeric material, and a flexible peripheral region, which is formed with a remodelable material effective to promote tissue ingrowth. The peripheral region extends from at least a portion of the flexible inner region and is configured to contact a wall of a tubular body passage and thereby promote tissue ingrowth into the peripheral region from the wall of the tubular body passage.
US08303643B2
A device and method are provided for spontaneous electrochemical production of therapeutic species, in vivo. An active metal is implanted in the tissue. The metal undergoes corrosion, thus acting as a reducing agent to constituents in the tissue, so as to cause these constituents to form the therapeutic agents.
US08303633B2
Provided is a novel system that includes a low profile dynamic anterior vertebral body plate and bone screws for the fixation and stabilization of the cervical spine, the system having a locking element through which the bone screw passes, the locking element being capable of movement relative to the plate when the bone screws are fully inserted and in a locked position. Also provided is a method of stabilizing cervical vertebrae using the disclosed system.
US08303629B1
A spinal implant device immobilizes an attached vertebrae through a minimally invasive surgical approach while providing a compartment within the implant for the placement of bone graft or bone graft substitute. The bone graft material fuses the spinous processes and/or lamina portion of bone of the vertebral bone to which the device is attached.
US08303624B2
In one example implementation, a device for closing an opening in tissue includes a proximal end and a distal end. The device further includes a port that extends from the proximal end of the device towards the distal end of the device. In addition to extending from the proximal end of the device towards the distal end of the device, the port includes a restriction zone and a storage region. The device further includes a blocking element that is configured to move between a neutral position, located in the storage region of the port, and a blocking position, located in the restriction zone of the port. When the blocking element is in the blocking position, the blocking element cooperates with the restriction zone in the port to assist in blocking fluid flow through the port.
US08303622B2
Apparatus for attaching a prosthetic tether between a leaflet of a patient's heart valve and another portion of the patient's heart to help prevent prolapse of the leaflet and/or to otherwise improve leaflet function. The apparatus can be used with relatively low invasiveness of the patient's body. The apparatus releasably clamps the leaflet during attachment of the tether to the leaflet. The apparatus may include an integrated display for indicating how extensively the leaflet is being clamped. The apparatus may include structure for stabilizing the leaflet for better clamping. The apparatus may enter the heart through an aperture in the wall of the heart, and may include structure for helping to reduce blood leakage from that aperture. The apparatus may be able to enter the heart by following a guide wire. The apparatus may include various means for attaching the tether to the leaflet.
US08303621B2
A surgical treatment instrument according to the invention includes an insertion portion, an operation portion provided on one end of the insertion portion, a treatment portion provided so as to extend from the other end of the insertion portion, two gripping members provided on the treatment portion, each having a gripping face, an open/close operating member provided on the operation portion to perform opening/closing by at least one of the two griping members being moved, variable angle operating members respectively provided on the operation portion to change the treatment portion to a predetermined angle, a braked member provided within the operation portion and operating in conjunction with the operation of the variable angle operation portion, and a braking member provided within the operation portion to brake the braked member by operating in conjunction with the operation of the open/close operation member, wherein the treatment portion maintains a predetermined angle by the braked member being braked by the braking member.
US08303620B2
The present invention relates generally to first aid articles and more specifically tourniquets. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter includes a tourniquet article having a substantially rigid base. A handle is provided, the handle has first and second ends and a slot disposed between the first and second ends. A strap disposed adjacent to the substantially rigid base and passes through the slot of the handle. A structural member having first and second sides is attached to the base at least at first and second points along each of the first and second sides of the base such that the strap being sandwiched between at least a portion of the structural member and said base.
US08303618B2
A filter disposed at the distal end of an elongate guidewire. Catheters are provided for delivering the filter to, and retrieving the filter from, a treatment site. The catheters can be over-the-wire or single operator exchange. The catheters include a housing for receiving the filter therein. The housing has an atraumatic distal end.
US08303613B2
A Langevin transducer horn uses split electroding or selective electroding of transducer elements and phase relationships of the voltages applied thereto to determine the relative longitudinal and flexural/transverse motion induced in the tip of the horn.
US08303607B2
A medical device includes a main body elongated in a vertical direction. A guide section protrudes from a lower end of the main body in a direction crossing the vertical direction and includes first and second guide holes. A first unit includes a first puncture needle slidably supported by the main body near an upper end of the first puncture needle in the vertical direction and having a sharp lower end slidably inserted into the first guide hole from above. The first unit has a first holding plate integrally fixed to the first puncture needle. A second unit includes a second puncture needle slidably inserted into the second guide hole from above and a second holding plate integrally fixed to the second puncture needle. The second holding plate separably abuts on the first holding plate from above. A position of the second guide hole is selectable along the guide section.
US08303605B2
A device for elastic ligature of tissues comprises: a first and a second element, one of which exhibits a support portion for at least a rubber ring, the elements being slidably coupled to one another such that a reciprocal sliding between the elements determines a release of a rubber ring from the support portion; a trigger, manually maneuverable by an operator and acting on at least the second element for realizing a reciprocal sliding between the elements; a connecting portion, connected to the trigger and to the second element and being elastically deformable in order to enable a reciprocal change of orientation between the trigger and the second element.
US08303600B2
A universal targeting apparatus includes a generally U-shaped body having one end configured to be coupled to the proximal end of the intramedullary implant and a mounting portion at an opposite end of said body. An arm is rotatably mounted to the mounting portion of the U-shaped body and includes bores defined at its opposite ends. Each bore is arranged at a different angle to correspond to the angle of a transverse aperture in the intramedullary implant. The arm can be rotated so an appropriate one of the angled bores is aligned with the transverse aperture to serve as a guide for creating targeting holes in the bone.
US08303596B2
The present invention relates to a device for positioning a jig at a structure using at least one fixing element comprising at least one adjusting element which can directly interact with or guide the at least one fixing element and which can interact with the jig, so that the relative position between the at least one fixing element and the jig can be adjusted by changing the position of the at least one adjusting element, as well as to a method for positioning a jig at a structure comprising two rotatable adjusting elements, wherein the resection plane of the jig can be moved along or in a first direction when the adjusting elements are moved in the same direction and wherein the resection plane is turned if the adjusting elements are moved in an opposite or different direction or only one adjusting element is moved.
US08303595B2
A rod reduction device includes a rod reducing member, an anchoring member, and a sleeve. The rod reducing member is configured to engage a spinal rod. The anchoring member is configured to removably attach to a bone anchor. The sleeve defines a longitudinal axis and is operably associated with the rod reducing member and the anchoring member. The sleeve is rotatable with respect to the anchoring member for longitudinally translating the rod reducing member relative to the anchoring member.
US08303585B2
A medical device for simultaneously cutting tissue with a heating element, cauterizing the tissue with sealing elements, and stapling the tissue together. The heating elements comprise bipolar RF electrodes.
US08303584B2
A monopolar electrosurgical instrument includes a hollow cylindrical metallic electrode which is connected to one pole of a radio frequency generator via a first end of the electrode, and a handle connected to and partially covering the electrode. The electrode includes at least one lumen to permit liquid supply of cooling liquid to the hollow electrode, a part covered with an insulative material, and a coagulating and cutting uninsulated tip. The tip includes a round ending part, a part attached to the cutting metal blade near the round ending part, and a part non-attached to the cutting metal blade. It is useful for precisely cutting the tissue that it is previously coagulated, using a single instrument, and avoiding risk of bleeding.
US08303583B2
An electrosurgical system has an electrosurgical generator with a multiple-phase RF output stage coupled to a multiple-electrode electrosurgical instrument. The instrument has three treatment electrodes each of which is coupled to a respective generator output driven from, for instance, a three-phase output transformer. Continuous RF output voltage waveforms are simultaneously delivered to respective generator outputs at the operating frequency, each waveform being phase-displaced with respect to the other waveforms. The magnitude of the RF output voltage waveform delivered to at least one of the generator outputs is sufficient to cause tissue vaporization at the respective treatment electrodes when the system is used for tissue treatment. Also disclosed is an electrosurgical generator in which the output transformer has windings forming at least three phases, the transformer core being constructed to provide at least three magnetic circuits each of which is inductively linked to the windings of at least two of the three phases.
US08303576B2
A robotic medical system comprises a medical instrument assembly having a retainer, a serial array of instruments disposed in the retainer, a chamber, and an instrument driver. The robotic medical system further comprises a user interface configured for generating at least one command signal, a drive unit coupled to the first mechanism, second mechanism, and instrument driver, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command signal(s), for directing the drive unit to linearly displace the array of instruments within the retainer, to displace a selected one of the instruments from the retainer into the chamber, and to distally advance the instrument driver within the chamber to engage the selected instrument.
US08303572B2
A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. A base is provided which is adapted to receive a reservoir. The base has a base engagement member, such as a detent, projecting therefrom. A cap is provided which is adapted to receive the base. The cap includes a first cap engagement member, such as a detent opening, which is adapted to removably engage the base detent. The cap further includes a second cap detent opening which is adapted to removably engage the base detent. A piercing member, such as a needle, is disposed in the interior of the cap in such a manner that the needle is separated from the reservoir septum when the base detent is in the first cap detent opening, and the needle pierces the reservoir septum when the base detent is in the second cap detent opening. When the reservoir, the base and the cap are connected to form an integrated unit, this unit is then capable of being inserted and secured in the infusion pump housing.
US08303569B2
A medical catheter including a composite laminated shaft having a longitudinal segment that is mechanically deformed to have reduced and varying stiffness. A method of making the catheter is also disclosed.
US08303566B2
A system for transferring solutions from a first cartridge into a second cartridge comprises a cartridge holder, a plunger driver, and a cartridge connector. The cartridge connector carries a transfer needle and an exhaust needle. The cartridge holder positions the first cartridge against the cartridge connector so that the transfer needle penetrates the first cartridge septum. The second cartridge is removably inserted into another end of the cartridge connector so that both the transfer needle and the exhaust needle penetrate the second cartridge septum. The plunger driver is disposed to advance a plunger on the first cartridge to transfer solution from the first cartridge into the second cartridge thus displacing solution from the second cartridge through the exhaust needle. The cartridge connector includes a sealed interior waste chamber for receiving the solution from the second cartridge.
US08303557B2
An absorbent article in which a plurality of absorbent components is layered, and the absorbent component on top is peeled off after use. The article is configured to inhibit twisting or wrinkling during use. In the absorbent article, the upper absorbent component is layered on the skin-facing surface of the bottom absorbent component and peelably bonded by the temporal adhesive member. The bottom absorbent component has higher flexural rigidity than the upper absorbent component, and the compression recovery rate of the bottom absorbent component is also set so as to be higher than that of the upper absorbent component. It is thereby possible to prevent the bottom absorbent component from twisting and wrinkling when the upper absorbent component is placed against the discharge area, and after the upper absorbent component is peeled off, the volume of the bottom absorbent component is restored, and comfort during contact thereof with the discharge area is improved.
US08303555B2
A collector for a negative pressure wound therapy system has a soft collecting bag with a gas-permeable unit and a liquid absorber. The collecting bag is connected to a wound-dressing unit via an inlet connecting set and is connected to a sensor assembly via a detecting connecting set. With the soft collecting bag, the collector occupies less volume. By the gas-permeable unit and the liquid absorber, the liquid and gas entering into the collecting bag quickly isolate. Moreover, multiple collectors connect in series to form a collector combination to reduce the frequency to replace the collector combination so that a longer usage time of the collector combination is available.
US08303540B2
A disposable syringe includes a barrel with a bushing unit disposed on an inner surrounding surface thereof, a tubular grip unit in fluid-tight engagement with the bushing unit for holding a needle seat, a tubular plunger having a seal ring that is slidable on and in fluid-tight frictional engagement with the bushing unit so as to cooperate with the grip unit to define a medicament chamber, and a shield plug member in fluid-tight engagement with the grip unit and having a duct that communicates a needle cannula with the medicament chamber, thereby ensuring fluid-tightness of the medicament chamber.
US08303537B2
The present invention is directed to distal tip designs for catheter, wherein distal tip material is positioned about an inner shaft. The distal tip material may also be used as a tie layer for thermally bonding two incompatible materials together, such as a waist portion of a balloon to the inner shaft.
US08303534B2
The present invention comprises a sedation and analgesia system having integrated patient monitoring and drug delivery, where information related to monitored patient parameters and drug delivery is accessible and controllable from a remote location. Information relative to monitored patient parameters and drug delivery may be provided in real-time or near real-time, to an attending nurse, physician, insurance company, billing department, or other suitable party according to the present invention via a computing device, video monitor, over the Internet, over an intranet, or by any other suitable means of transmitting and displaying critical data. The present invention further comprises an integrated in-room monitor, where data related to critical patient parameters and drug delivery may be integrated with other means of communicating data related to a patient, a procedure, or a medical device.
US08303529B2
A cardiotomy and venous blood reservoir, including a housing assembly, a venous inlet port, a venous sub-assembly, a cardiotomy inlet port, and a cardiotomy sub-assembly. The housing forms a chamber. The venous sub-assembly includes a downtube and a bowl. A diameter of the downtube lumen increases to a downstream end. The bowl forms a floor surface for receiving flow from the lumen. The cardiotomy sub-assembly includes a dish and an inner post. The dish defines an aperture. The inner post extends from the dish and forms a guide surface received within the central aperture and forming an undulating curvature increasing to a diameter greater than the diameter of the central aperture. Cardiotomy liquid drops from the dish fall on to the undulating, closely positioned guide surface with minimal splashing.
US08303528B2
In an embodiment, an orthopedic device in the form of a lumbar support includes first and second elongate belt members, an anatomically shaped plate, and a closure system connecting the belt members to the plate. The closure system is arranged to move the belt members relative to the plate, and connects to the belt members via a flexible belt attachment which removably secures to the belt members. The closure system includes tensioning elements corresponding to the belt members, and a pulley system connecting to the tensioning elements. The closure system is slidably mounted to the plate and arranged to the belt members relative to the plate between opposed linear directions. The plate has various contours which provide pressure distribution over a lumbar region of a back. Anatomically shaped and resiliently formed handles secure to the tensioning elements and the belt members.
US08303527B2
A unitized cast system for immobilizing and supporting a body part. The unitized casting system includes a first inner layer for padding and dissipating heat against the patient's skin. A second layer is formed from a thermoformable structural material such as perforated plastic. A protective third outer layer is provided to provide insulation for the second layer. These three layers are formed together to form a unitized cast system that is easily formed and applied to the patient.
US08303525B2
Provided is a walking assist device including a seat member having a holding portion to be held by a user, a leg link connected to the seat member, and a driving source capable of driving the leg link in a direction of pushing up the seat member. At least a part of the body weight of a user is supported by the leg link through the seat member. The walking assist device can be self-mounted easily by the user. When a holding detection unit detects that the holding portion is held by the user, the walking assist device performs a mounting assist control by driving the leg link in the direction of pushing up the seat member until a seating detection unit detects the contact of the seat member with the crotch of the user.
US08303516B2
Described herein are devices, systems and methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device or a region of a device. In general, a device for determining if a nerve is nearby a device includes an elongate body having an outer surface with one or more bipole pairs arranged on the outer surface. Bipole pairs may also be referred to as tight bipoles. The bipole pairs may be arranged as a bipole network, and may include a cathode and an anode that are spaced relatively close together to form a limited broadcast field. In general, the broadcast filed is a controlled or “tight” broadcast field that extends from the bipole pair(s). Methods of using these devices and system are also described.
US08303507B2
A Doppler signal detecting unit 42 and spectrum calculating unit 44 measure a Doppler spectrum from a reception signal obtained by ultrasonic wave transmission/reception with respect to a diagnosis region of an object to be examined. A local maximum/minimum detecting unit 62 detects a plurality of local maximum/minimum pairs with respect to a trace waveform generated by a trace waveform generating unit 61 on the basis of the Doppler spectrum. A feature amount selecting unit 64 selects a desired waveform from a plurality of local maximum/minimum pairs in a predetermined cardiac cycle set by a cardiac cycle setting unit 63 by using heartbeat information from a living body measuring unit 9 on the basis of a preset selection criterion. A diagnostic parameter is measured on the basis of the position information or amplitude information of the selected waveform.
US08303496B2
Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retraction of tissue, neural elements, organs or other anatomical structures at locations distally of the retractor sleeve providing percutaneous access to the locations.
US08303491B2
An image pick-up unit inserted in the body picks up an image of the body, and transmits by radio the image to an extra-corporeal unit which is arranged outside the body. The image pick-up unit includes an image pick-up portion capturing an image, a data transmitting portion for transmitting the image obtained by the image pick-up portion to the extra-corporeal unit at a plurality of transmitting ratios, a characteristic amount detecting portion for detecting a predetermined amount of characteristics based on the image, and a determining portion for determining a valid image based on an output from the characteristic amount detecting portion. The data transmitting portion controls the data transmitting ratio in accordance with the determining result of the determining portion.
US08303489B2
The rear end side of treatment equipment-side duct which enables treatment equipment provided within an insertion unit to be inserted, and which also serves as a suction duct, is disposed generally in parallel with the tip side of a suction-side duct extending forward from a universal cable side so as to be an opening end, and both opening ends are detachably attached with a filter unit in which a forceps plug portion serving as a suction duct opening, and a filter portion for retrieving (storing) tissue by suction are provided, and a suction switchover valve for performing a suction switchover operation is provided at the backward side thereof, thereby enabling retrieval of tissue without influence of the periphery of the suction switchover valve. Thus, defects due to a long duct can be eliminated, and tissue can be retrieved without influence of the periphery of the suction switchover valve.
US08303481B2
Devices and methods for assisting heart function. In at least one embodiment of a device for assisting heart function, the device comprises at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface, a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder, and at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder.
US08303480B2
The invention involves enhancing brain function by stimulating the brain using magnetic fields. Applications of the new methods include improving the condition of individuals with cognitive disorders, such as depression, and studying the effects of neural stimulation using induced electric fields. These techniques can avoid deleterious effects of psychotropic pharmaceutical treatments, and provide a relatively safe, comfortable, inexpensive means of direct cranial stimulation.
US08303467B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism and operable to control a differential state between its input and output speeds by controlling an operating state of an electric motor connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism, and (b) a transmission portion which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and a drive wheel of a vehicle, the control apparatus including a non-iso-power shifting control portion configured to implement a non-iso-power shifting control of the vehicular drive system (differential portion) when a required special shifting action of the transmission portion not according to a shifting boundary line map should be restricted.
US08303459B2
A forward-reverse switching device for a vehicle includes a planetary gear set and a one-way clutch coupled to any two rotating elements among first, second and third rotating elements, each corresponding to any one of a ring gear, a carrier and a sun gear, of the planetary gear set. The first rotating element is coupled to a driving force source. The third rotating element is coupled to a drive wheel. Rotation of the second rotating element is prohibited to rotate the third rotating element in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the first rotating element. The first to third rotating elements are integrally rotated to rotate the third rotating element in the same direction as the first rotating element. The one-way clutch is engaged when the rotational speed of the third rotating element exceeds the rotational speed of the first rotating element.
US08303453B2
A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08303447B1
A power transmission system includes an input shaft, a first planetary gear set having first, second, and third rotation elements, wherein the first rotation element is connected to a first motor/generator and the third rotation element is connected to the input shaft, a second planetary gear set having fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, wherein the fourth rotation element is connected to the second rotation element and a second motor/generator, and the fifth rotation element engagable with the first rotation element, an output gear connected to the sixth rotation element, a first clutch selectively connecting the first rotation element with the fifth rotation element, a second clutch selectively connecting two rotation elements among the rotation elements of the first planetary gear set, a first brake interposed between the fifth rotation element and a transmission housing, and a second brake interposed between the fourth rotation element and the transmission housing.
US08303445B2
Disclosed is a power train of a hybrid vehicle that includes a first, second and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third elements; a first motor generator connected with the first element of the second planetary gear set and the first element of the third planetary gear set; a second motor generator connected with the first element of the first planetary gear set; an engine connected with the second element of the second planetary gear set and the second element of the third planetary gear set; an output shaft connected with the second element of the first planetary gear set and the third element of the second planetary gear set; a brake selectively restraining rotation of the third element of the first planetary gear set; and a clutch selectively engaging/disengaging the third element of the first planetary gear set with the third element of the third planetary gear set.
US08303443B2
A front derailleur for shifting a bicycle chain between chain rings of a bicycle crank set. The front derailleur may include an attachment mechanism for securing the derailleur to a bicycle frame member. The front derailleur may further include a chain guide for enclosing a bicycle chain and contacting the chain during shifting. The front derailleur may further include a six link movement mechanism adjustably affixed to the attachment mechanism and chain guide for selectively moving the chain guide and enclosed bicycle chain during shifting.
US08303440B1
A positioning device for holding member of a sport racket stringing machine includes a rack which is engaged with the top board of the stringing machine and has multiple one-way ratchet teeth. The holding member has a chamber and a contact member is movably located in the chamber and inclinedly engaged with the ratchet teeth of the rack to position the holding member. A spring is connected between the body and the contact member to urge the contact member to contact the rack. The operation member is pivotably connected to the chamber. The operation member has a driving portion and a positioning portion with a curved operation portion connected therebetween. The operation portion is pivotably connected to the body. The top end of the contact member extends between the driving portion and the positioning portion and the driving portion pivots the contact member to move the holding member.
US08303431B2
A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
US08303428B2
A short game training device 10 for use with a golf club comprises an two-axis linear accelerometer 12, a fastener 50 for removably attaching the accelerometer to the golf club head H so that the X and Y axes of the accelerometer 12 are disposed approximately parallel with the club face and oriented at approximately a forty-five degree angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane V containing the aim line A established when addressing the golf ball G with the club face aligned perpendicularly to the aim line A, a detectable alarm 18, and a microprocessor 14 for calculating differences in forces measured by the X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to positioning the club and for activating the alarm 18 when the differences exceed a selected threshold.
US08303426B2
A round ride with passenger-initiated motion profiles controlling vertical vehicle movements. The ride includes a drive assembly with a rotating hub that includes support arms extending outward from the structure supporting passenger vehicles. Each of the vehicles includes a triggering device capable of generating either an onboard or offboard discrete signal when operated by a passenger causing a controller to select a motion profile from a number of stored profiles that each defines an actuator motion profile (or angular movement of a support arm about its pivotal mounting point to the rotatable central hub). The motion profiles define different angular rotations for a support arm to cause a vehicle to jump to differing heights, and the profile may be chosen by the controller based on vehicle height and position along the circular path and other environmental inputs such as a game state for the vehicle or a show/ride status.
US08303422B2
A torsional vibration damper (1) comprising two elements (4, 5) which are rotatable relative to one another making use of at least one coupling part (3) which is arranged axially displaceable in a housing (2), in which the housing (2) is divided by the coupling element (3) into a first pressure chamber/partial chamber (D1) and a second pressure chamber/partial chamber (D2), and the first pressure chamber (D1) is connected to a first damping chamber (12) and the second pressure chamber (D2) is connected to a second damping chamber (13) and the first pressure chamber (D1) is filled with a damping medium (10) and the first damping chamber (12) is filled with the damping medium (10) and/or a first damping element (14) and the second pressure chamber (D2) is filled with a damping medium (10) and the second damping chamber (13) is filled with the damping medium (10) and/or a second damping element (15).
US08303415B2
The present disclosure relates to games and applications in general and in particular to computer-implemented online games, such as online role-playing games, playable by more than one person from more than one location. The game engine can search a player's social network to find friends to play with. These social networks can be constructed implicitly by analyzing a player's game play information and other information.
US08303409B2
The game apparatus indicates to a player the slide playing technique that not less than two of fret buttons are operated according to the alignment sequence thereof. When the operation in replay to the indication is evaluated, the game apparatus determines whether the operation for the slide playing technique has succeeded or not, under such condition that with respect to the operations of adjacent two fret buttons, the operation to the preceding fret button to be operated precedingly is detected, the operation to the next fret button to be operated next is detected, and after detecting the operation, the release operation of the preceding fret button is detected, the condition being at least one part of required condition.
US08303407B2
Systems and methods for displaying multiple visual images from a single source at a gaming machine are disclosed. A reversible display device at the gaming machine presents multiple visual images from a display cell or other core display component. Virtual curtains alternate between blocking and permitting the display of visual images at various surfaces of the reversible display device. For a display cell or similar component needing a separate illumination source, illumination components alternate on and off in coordinated fashion with the virtual curtains, and are arranged to reflect light through the display cell in one direction to display one visual image at one surface and then in an opposite direction to display another visual image at the opposite surface. Lenses, mirrors and other optical devices redirect or alter a visual image from a surface such that it is not viewed directly from the display device itself.
US08303401B2
A progressive jackpot (PJP) system of the invention increments two types of jackpot values. A PJP controller increments a first jackpot value by a percentage of each bet placed on gaming machines. The increment rate of the first jackpot value is predetermined from a payout percentage of the PJP system. A second jackpot value is incremented at a higher rate than the first jackpot value. Each gaming machine or the PJP controller may increment the second jackpot value. The actual amount of an award for a jackpot corresponds to the second jackpot value. The second jackpot value is reduced at appropriate intervals, even if no jackpot has been won. Preferably, the probability of the reduction of the second jackpot value is adjusted, and thereby, the average difference between the first and second jackpot values at the time a jackpot has been won is adjusted to be zero.
US08303397B2
A gaming machine includes a lottery region defined such that cell columns are arranged to be parallel with each other. Symbols in each symbol column are moved along the cell column at a predetermined game opportunity and are stopped in one cell unit. A determination is performed as to whether a combination of symbols stopped in a determination target cell group forms a prize winning pattern. Reduced cells are defined by equally dividing a cell in a cell column when a predetermined reduction condition is satisfied, reduces symbols corresponding to the reduced cells, recognizes that at least one normal cell and the reduced cells are included in the target cell group, selects the reduced cells included in the target cell group, and determines that a combination of a symbol stopped in the selected reduced cell and the normal cell included in the target cell group forms the prize winning pattern.
US08303383B2
Method and apparatus are provided for mechanically processing an organ or organs taken out from slaughtered poultry in a processing device or processing line, which organ or organs form part of an organ package and wherein the organ or organs are separated from the organ package. The organ package is spatially oriented by the processing device without notably breaking tissue connections in the package, and in a preselected order so as to cause the harvesting of organs from the package to occur in a preselected sequence that depends on the location of the organ package in the processing device or processing line.
US08303381B2
A clamping-type knife sharpener is designed with anti-rocking blade holding capability. The knife sharpener includes first and second clamping members and a clamping member adjustment mechanism configured to adjustably manipulate the clamping members into clamping engagement with a knife blade to be sharpened. The knife blade is maintained by the clamping members in orientation with a planar knife sharpener axis extending along a centerline of the knife blade that passes through an edge of the knife blade. First and second deformable clamping boots are respectively disposed on the first and second clamping members. The first and second clamping boots have respective first and second clamping faces adapted to engage the knife blade when the clamping members are in the clamping engagement with the knife blade. At least one of the clamping faces has a blade-conforming contour that substantially conforms to a surface contour of the knife blade and restrains the knife blade against rocking during sharpening. The blade-conforming contour may include at least one region that is angled with respect to the planar knife sharpener axis.
US08303380B2
A head for an orbital abrading machine comprising a housing, a shroud including inner and outer portions, defining a chamber between the inner and outer portions, a drive means for driving an abrading pad, the drive means at least partially enclosed by the housing and the shroud, wherein the drive means produces an exhaust which is directly vented into the chamber without leaving the head, and wherein the chamber includes at least one opening for directing the exhaust toward the abrading pad for cooling the pad with the exhaust.
US08303376B2
A device and method for positioning and blocking steady rests for rolling milly cylinders in grinding machines and grinding machines employing the same. A positioning and blocking device for steady rests includes a substantially flat carriage including a translation mechanism and a blocking mechanism, wherein the blocking mechanism is magnetic.
US08303373B2
A diluted slurry supplying apparatus utilized in a polishing apparatus for finishing a semiconductor wafer with a slurry containing colloidal silica and water-soluble polymer is provided. The polishing method comprises: a slurry supplier capable of supplying the slurry containing the colloidal silica and the water-soluble polymer; a diluent supplier capable of supplying a diluent containing an aggregation preventing agent to dilute the slurry; a mixer capable of receiving the slurry and the diluent having been supplied from the slurry supplier and the diluent supplier, respectively, the mixer forming a diluted slurry with a pH value of at least 9; and an ultrasonic vibrator capable of applying an ultrasonic vibration to the diluted slurry staying in the mixer or being fed out from the mixer. Here, the diluent supplying apparatus can change a dilution proportion of the diluted slurry.
US08303372B2
A polishing pad having excellent planarization performance and wear resistance includes a polishing layer including a polyurethane foam having fine cells. The polyurethane foam is a cured product of a reaction of (1) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer (A) that is capable of reacting with 4,4′-methylenebis(o-chloroaniline) to form a non-foamed polyurethane having a tan δ peak temperature of 100° C. or more, (2) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer (B) that is capable of reacting with 4,4′-methylenebis(o-chloroaniline) to form a non-foamed polyurethane having a tan δ peak temperature of 40° C. or less, and (3) 4,4′-methylenebis(o-chloroaniline), and the isocyanate-terminated prepolymers (A) and (B) are mixed in an (A)/(B) ratio of 50/50 to 90/10 (by wt%). The pad so made is used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
US08303370B2
An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes a processing control unit (50) which in the soft processing mode, roughs the lens such that the torque threshold value is set to a value Tθs lower than the threshold value TθN of a normal processing mode, and when torque detected by a sensor unit does not exceed the threshold value Tθs, a axis-to-axis distance varying unit or a lens rotating unit is controlled so that a cutting amount per rotation of the lens reaches a threshold cutting amount, and when the detected torque exceeds the threshold value Tθs, the axis-to-axis distance varying unit or the lens rotating unit is controlled so that the torque becomes lower than the threshold value Tθs to decrease the threshold cutting amount.
US08303366B2
Magnetic and electronic toy construction systems and elements are provided that include an assembly of at least two panels that have at least three magnets located around the perimeter of the panel such that the dipole axes of magnets in a single panel are coplanar and intersect to define a polygon. When attaching two adjacent panels, at least two ferromagnetic spheres are used such that the dipole axes of one magnet from each of the adjacent panels are collinear, and such that the dipole axes are collinear with the centers of the ferromagnetic spheres. In this manner, several panels configured in this way may be nested together to form great varieties of constructions.
US08303364B2
A remote controlled transformable toy vehicle that is remotely transformable from a standing position to a flying position, where the toy performs like a helicopter and also to a driving position, where the toy performs like a wheeled vehicle. Transformations are carried out on-the-fly by remote control and the toy vehicle has the ability to maintain proper center of gravity for stable flight, takeoff and landing. Also provided is a remotely controlled toy vehicle that is driven by a rotating blade system so as to both drive over the ground and hover or fly in the air.
US08303355B2
Rims of an opening of each recess form a parallelogram, and comprise two first opening rims that are parallel to a first direction and two second opening rims that are parallel to a second direction. The first opening rims of each of the recesses that are aligned along the first direction are arranged on a straight line along the first direction. The second opening rims of each of the recesses that are aligned along the second direction are arranged on a straight line along the second direction. The recesses are formed by pressing a wire barrel with a die where a plurality of protruding parts are formed so as to correspond to the recesses.
US08303354B2
A wire barrel to be crimped onto an end of an electric wire has a surface on a side to face the electric wire. The surface has a plurality of recesses that extend in a direction that is to cross the axial direction of the electric wire and are separated from each other in the direction that is to cross the axial direction of the electric wire. The wire barrel has a thickness in a range from 0.15 mm to 1 mm before being crimped to the electric wire. Each recess has a depth in a range from 30% to 60% of the thickness of the wire barrel before the wire barrel is crimped onto the electric wire.
US08303353B2
An electrical connector including an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals secured in the housing. The insulative housing defines a mating surface, an assembling surface opposite to the mating surface and a plurality of passageways penetrating through the mating surface and the assembling surface. Each passageway defines two parallel first grooves at each inside wall thereof which run through the assembling surface. A slit are located in front of the first groove and extends perpendicular to and communicates with the first grooves. The terminals are inserted into and received in the passageways from the assembling surface of the insulative housing. Each terminal includes a retention portion with barbs at lateral sides thereof The barbs of the retention portions pass through the first grooves from the assembling surface and are pressed in the slits in a first direction perpendicular to the assembly surface.
US08303351B2
A distribution terminal for a wire-type fusible link is provided. The distribution terminal includes: an electrically-conductive metal plate having a fixing hole formed therethrough so as to be fastened to a battery terminal bolt; and a plurality of press-clamping barrels formed on the metal plate and provided corresponding respectively to a plurality of wire-type fusible links, each of the press-clamping barrels having a press-fastening leg for being press-clamped to a fusible conductor of the corresponding wire-type fusible link.
US08303349B2
An electrical connector for electrically connecting multiple photovoltaic bus bars. A casing includes first and second opposing walls. An elastic strip is bent into a bent elastic strip with a first leg and a second leg. The bent elastic strip is disposed between the first and second walls of the casing with the first leg pressing against the first wall and the second leg pressing against the second wall. The bent elastic strip is configured to hold at least one of the photovoltaic bus bars between the first leg and the first wall and another of the photovoltaic bus bars between the second leg and the second wall. The bent elastic strip may be formed of resilient spring metal with a thickness and an elastic modulus. The thickness and/or the elastic modulus of the elastic strip is/are configured so that the bus bars are inserted without requiring a tool to open a space and so that the bus bars are removed from the connector without requiring a tool to break the electrical connection.
US08303342B2
An electrical connector (100) includes a housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) receiving in the housing, a metal shell (6), enclosing the housing and including two stopping tabs (620) formed at two sides of thereof, and two insulative cover (4,5), comprising cooperation structure (42) respectively to interfere with the two side of the stopping tabs and assembling to the metal shell along different directions.
US08303329B2
A cable connector assembly (100), comprising: an insulative housing (1), a plurality of first contacts (2) and second contacts (3) received in the insulative housing (1), and each first contact (2) comprising a front flat first mating portion (21) and a back first punctured portion (22), each second contact (3) comprising a first elastic second mating portion (31) and a back second punctured portion (32), the first mating portions (21) being arranged in front of the second mating portion (31), a cable (4) comprising a plurality of first wires (40) connected with the first contacts (2) and a plurality of second wires (41) connected with the second contacts (3), the first wires (40) and the second wires (41) arranged in a row and separated from each other, the first punctured portion (22) connecting with the first wires (40) by insulation displacement connection, the second punctured portion (32) connecting with the second wires (41) by insulation displacement connection.
US08303320B2
A connector (1), which is connectable with a counter-connector (2), including a connector housing (3) with main contacts, which are connectable to contacts of the counter-connector (2), a lever (5), which is arranged displaceably between an open position and a closed position on the connector housing (3) and is, starting from the closed position, displaceable into an end position on the connector housing, wherein the lever (5) serves to connect the connector (1) in an insertion direction to the counter-connector by means of displacing the lever (5), as well as a secondary connector 10, which has secondary contacts, which are connectable to secondary contacts of the counter-connector (2). The secondary connector (10) is arranged displaceably between a first position and a second position on the connector housing (3), and for displacing the secondary connector the lever is coupled at least over a part of the displacement path of the lever to the secondary connector.
US08303317B1
A connector assembly includes a socket connector, and a plug connector including a plug housing and plug terminals disposed in the plug housing and each having a contact portion projected sideward out of the plug housing. The socket connector includes a socket housing defining an insertion space, plug terminals disposed in the socket housing and contact pads embedded in two opposite inner sidewalls of the insertion space to connect with the plug terminals and exposed in the insertion space. Two end edges of the inner sidewalls of the insertion space are designed with two arc-shaped guiding surfaces. A bottom of each contact pad is bent and embedded in the inner sidewall to realize a smooth connection of the contact pad and the guiding surface so as to guide the contact portions to be inserted into the insertion space along the guiding surfaces and electrically contact with the contact pads.
US08303316B2
The patent deals with a contact fixture for a PCB with one first plug-in connector and one second plug-in connector, whereby the first plug-in connector has a number of first contact elements, the second plug-in connector has a number of second contact elements, the first plug-in connector is arranged on the first side of the PCB, the second plug-in connector is arranged on the second side of the PCB opposite to the first side, the first contact element and/or the second contact element is/are designed as a connector to establish a detachable electrically conductive connection with at least the second contact element or the first contact element, and the first contact element and the second contact element are connected through an opening in the PCB.
US08303306B2
A dental prosthesis removal tool includes a handle portion and a top portion, the top portion including a head portion and a beak portion. The beak portion is configured to engage both a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis without the tool needing to be reoriented. The dental prosthesis removal tool makes it possible for a dental prosthesis wearer to remove dental prostheses without the user placing his or her fingers inside of his or her mouth. The dental prosthesis removal tool also allows a denture wearer to remove dental prostheses without bending, work hardening, or breaking metal clasps contained in some dental prostheses. The dental prosthesis removal tool further allows a denture wearer to more comfortably remove his or her dental prosthesis, promoting better patient compliance with maintenance procedures and oral hygiene.
US08303303B2
An arrangement for determining position and fixation of an element relative to a part in or on a bone or a model of a bone. An expansion spacer extends through a sleeve. The spacer includes a first flange engages a first end of the sleeve and a second flange engages a second end of the sleeve when the spacer is expanded to vertically fix the spacer relative to the sleeve. An expansion screw extends through the spacer and includes an outer conical expansion surface configured to cooperate with an inner conical expansion surface on the spacer to radially expand the spacer causing the outer surface on the spacer to engage the inner surface of the sleeve, thereby determining the position of the sleeve relative to the part and fixing the sleeve.
US08303302B2
Embodiments presented herein provide apparatus and methods for forming and coupling an attachment device onto one or more teeth. A system comprises a template including a shell having a cavity defining a shape that is operable to receive one or more teeth. The template comprises an aperture at one or more predetermined locations. The aperture defines an aperture perimeter. The system further comprises one or more attachment molds. Each attachment mold comprises a mold bore therethrough. The attachment mold further includes a mold perimeter surface that defines a predetermined shape, wherein each of the aperture perimeters being operable to receive and cooperate with the mold perimeter surface of one of the attachment molds. Each mold bore being operable for providing a mold for forming an attachment device coupled to a tooth of a desired shape and orientation from curable material that may be disposed within the mold bore.
US08303300B2
An inter-maxillary fixation bracket having a top section having a mechanism for permitting attachment of a connection device and a base integrated with the top section where the base has grooves embedded on its underside for application of a dental adhesive such that a bracket can be fixed to a patient's tooth. An assembly includes a bracket with a connector attached to it utilizing a bracket connection mechanism, a linkage device, and another bracket and connector attached similarly. A method is also described for the immobilizing a patient's jaws including the modeling of a bracket assembly proximate to the patient's teeth to determine if the bracket assembly must be adjusted. And if so then adjustments to the linkage and connectors are made as appropriate. Adhesive is applied to bracket pads before attachment of the bracket pads to selected teeth and repeating the process for more brackets.
US08303298B2
A gas torch is provided that includes an auto-ignition system disposed within the gas torch, a preheat oxygen conduit array extending through the gas torch, a fuel gas conduit array extending through the gas torch, and a cutting oxygen conduit array extending through the gas torch. At least one safety device is disposed within the gas torch, such as check valves and flashback arrestors, by way of example. The gas torch also includes a cutting oxygen trigger and an ignition trigger operable to start preheat gas flow and to ignite the gas torch. The ignition trigger is configured for automatic disengagement of the auto-ignition system when the ignition trigger is released.
US08303288B2
A machine for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric includes a conveyer net, a spunbonding apparatus, and a container. In use, the spunbonding apparatus can project at least one fiber onto the conveyer net. The container can contain liquid, wherein the liquid level of the container is higher than at least a part of the conveyer net which the fiber is projected onto.
US08303287B2
A spunbonding apparatus includes at least one nozzle, a coagulating tank, a deformation region, a slit passage, and a drawing flow pump. The nozzle extrudes at least one spinning solution. The coagulating tank contains coagulating liquid to coagulate the spinning solution into at least one fiber. The deformation region is located between the coagulating tank and the nozzle. The slit passage is connected to the coagulating tank and allows the fiber to pass therethrough. The drawing flow pump provides a drawing flow to the slit passage.
US08303285B2
An injection nozzle having a nozzle body defining an injection cavity and at least one curing device integrally formed within the nozzle body.
US08303282B2
The invention relates to a gear pump, especially for a power steering system, having a housing, a first cover and a second cover, the first cover being integrated into the housing.
US08303281B2
A high performance gear type oil pump for an internal combustion engine which has drive and driven gears which are, on one common side of the gears, respectively supported from the housing by a drive shaft and an idler shaft. In order to avoid cantilevering of the gears when generating pressurized oil, the other common side of the gears are each rotatable mounted on stub axles or pins which themselves are fixedly attached to the housing. In order to minimize wear, oil under pressure is supplied to the bearing surfaces of stub axles or pins which extend interiorly of the gears and also to the bearing surfaces of the housing which faces the common side of the gears where the stub axles are located, through oil supply passageways in the stub axles or pins.
US08303278B2
A scroll compressor that utilizes liquid or vapor injection to cool a working fluid being compressed by an orbiting scroll member and a non-orbiting scroll member, and/or to increase the efficiency of the compressor. An injection fitting is secured to, and extends through, the compressor housing and receives liquid or vapor working fluid from a source external to the compressor. The non-orbiting scroll member may be fixedly mounted with respect to the crankcase of the compressor, and internal passages formed within the crankcase and the non-orbiting scroll member, which are substantially isolated from the suction pressure and discharge pressure chambers of the compressor, are used to convey liquid or vapor working fluid from the injection fitting into intermediate pressure working pockets defined between the scroll members. The compressor may include an end cap fitted over an open end of its housing which overlaps an end of the passage provided in the non-orbiting scroll member to provide a robust sealing of the passage.
US08303262B1
A wheeled, manually movable, internal combustion engine powered trash pump is mounted in a rigid frame formed of tubular steel elements. A pair of aligned wheels is pivotally mounted independently to each opposite side of the frame. Each pair of aligned wheels is provided with a pivot pin mechanism that enables the rear wheels to be lifted off the ground to facilitate pivoting the unit on the front wheels. Each pair of aligned wheels is selectively detachable from the frame to facilitate shipping. The internal combustion engine is mounted toward the front end of the frame. The upper front portion of the frame houses a fuel tank completely within the outline of the frame, and the tank holds more than two gallons of fuel.
US08303255B2
Shaft trim balancing devices, related systems and methods are provided. In this regard, an representative device for trim balancing a rotatable shaft includes: an intermediate section being annularly shaped and having terminating ends spaced from each other in an uncompressed state of the device; and first and second sets of counterweights extending longitudinally from opposing sides of the intermediate section.
US08303247B2
A turbine engine blade outer air seal segment has a body having a base portion. The base portion has a transversely concave ID face, a forward end, an aft end, and first and second circumferential edges. The body has at least one mounting hook. The body comprises a metallic member and a ceramic member. The ceramic member and metallic member are joined along the base portion with the ceramic member inboard of the metallic member.
US08303239B2
A percussive digging tool attachment for a small robotic platform employs a percussor module for applying percussive impulses of relatively low impact at relatively high frequency to an attached digging tool to dig into or break up soil and rocks. By using low-impact, high-frequency percussive forces, it reduces the reaction loads on the small robotic platform while providing increased capability.
US08303235B2
A vehicle restraint installed within a pit underneath a dock leveler of a loading dock platform includes a single actuator that both extends and raises a barrier into engagement with a vehicle's ICC bar. When the barrier is in a retracted, stored position, the barrier is underneath the dock leveler and behind a front face of the loading dock platform. To engage the vehicle's ICC bar, the single actuator extends to first push the barrier along a first track to an intermediate position. That same actuator then pushes the barrier along a second track to a raised, operative position where the barrier engages and captures the vehicle's ICC bar. A spring coupled to the actuator provides the barrier with freedom to float along the second track to accommodate similar incidental movement of the ICC bar as the vehicle is serviced at the dock.
US08303227B2
Fastener assemblies, elements for fastener assemblies and methods of making and assembling elements for fastener assemblies, for example for insulation blanket fasteners such as those used on aircraft, may include a formed monolithic metal configuration having first and second side portions with a plurality of panel retaining elements arranged linearly along the side portions. A planar retaining element, for example a disc, may be assembled with the metal portion to form a fastener assembly, such as may be used to retain and insulation blanket. The planar retaining element may include a rolled edge, and if a coated part, may include surface projections to keep adjacent parts from sticking together during the coating process.
US08303226B1
A manufacturing method and device for supporting conductors. Using a non-metallic insulating material extending beyond one or both parallel legs of a staple the thumb and forefinger may grip this extension while the staple is being driven into a supporting structure. This finger grip allows for a small, insulated staple to be held with increased safety to thumb and forefinger during penetration of staple into support.
US08303216B2
A laying device simultaneous lays at least two substantially parallel and axially spaced apart groups of flexible media lines in at least one flat layer in the soil, wherein each group of flexible media lines has at least one flexible media line. The laying device has a cutting device for generating at least one slot in the ground. The cutting device has one or more substantially vertical blades and a substantially horizontal blade connected to a lower end of the one or more vertical blades, or the cutting device, viewed in the cutting direction, has a round, semi-circular, oval, polygonal or Y-shaped configuration. At least two devices for dispensing the groups of media lines are arranged on the side of the laying device that is facing away from the cutting direction.
US08303208B2
An exemplary lock out assembly includes a lock nut defined about an axis. The lock nut defines inner apertures along an inner diameter and outer apertures along an outer diameter. The inner apertures are at least partially threaded. The outer apertures are at least partially threaded. The inner apertures are radially spaced from the outer apertures.
US08303204B2
A cosmetic applicator for a cosmetic agent includes a capless housing; a seal for sealing the housing from an exterior; a seal opener for opening the seal to prevent damage to the cosmetic agent; and a control for manipulating the seal opener to open the seal and advancing the cosmetic agent is advanced from a stored position to an advanced position beyond the seal.
US08303203B2
The substance application bar includes an application portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface and configured for applying a substance to a receiving surface and at least one blocking extension extending adjacent the interior surface of the application portion to define a retaining recess therebetween. The blocking extension and the interior surface are associated to cooperatively substantially block movement of an object received in the retaining recess in a direction generally along the interior surface against the blocking extension. The substance application bar may also include at least one bar-preserving extension associated with the interior surface to maintain a portion of the recess open to the atmosphere. This facilitates air flow through and drying of the recess for resisting deterioration of the bar. An assembly of application bars in stacked association also is included.
US08303186B2
A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. A sensor holder with an embedded wheel speed detecting sensor is mounted on an inner side end of the outer member. A pulser ring has an encoder with circumferential characteristics that alternately and equidistantly change. A metal core is press formed from a steel plate and insert-molded into the sensor holder. A sealing member is integrally bonded to the metal core. A connector for electrically connecting the wheel speed detecting sensor to a harness, connected to an electronic circuit, is mounted at a predetermined position on the circumference of the sensor holder. The connector projects radially outward from the circumference at a predetermined inclined. A recess is formed in the connector. The recess is fit onto an inner side end of the outer member in a manner to cover the inner side end, via a predetermined interface.
US08303184B1
A bearing that is used in a motor pump in which a liquid is, not only pumped by means of an impeller driven by the pump, but also is used to lubricate components of the motor pump including the motor pump shaft. The bearing is for supporting the shaft at at least one location of the shaft. The bearing is constructed of a bronze material having added thereto a small amount of graphite, preferably around 2.5%.
US08303175B2
A framework is provided for positioning a testing cabinet for testing an appliance. The framework includes a base for supporting the appliance; a first side frame attached to the base; a rear frame attached to the base; a second side frame attached to the base and located opposite to the first side frame; and a top frame attached to the first side frame. The first side frame, the rear frame, the second side frame, and the top frame are adapted to hold panels of the testing cabinet in a predetermined position relative to the appliance, and the framework is adapted to hold a side panel of the panels of the testing cabinet in a plurality of different positions.
US08303172B2
The disclosure relates to methods and devices for monitoring e.g., fatigue levels by measuring a subject's body core temperature. In one embodiment, microwave radiometry is used to measure such core temperature.
US08303166B2
A cooking apparatus includes a spatula assembly and a cooking container comprising an upper access opening and an inner, cooking surface having a spherical surface portion. The spatula assembly includes a spatula driver and a curved spatula pivotally mounted to the cooking container for moving along the cooking surface and about a pivot axis between first and second positions. The pivot axis passes through the center point of the spherical surface portion. The spatula assembly may be constructed so that at least one of the first and second positions is above the pivot axis. The curved spatula may also include a spatula body having an outer surface and a barrier member extending radially inwardly from the outer surface, the outer surface contacting the cooking surface of the cooking container.
US08303161B2
A means for mixing drinking water stored in large storage tanks, preventing stratification of the water, detects incipient stratification of water along thermoclines, and, responsive to thermocline detection, generates large mixing bubbles toward the bottom of the tank, causing mixing of layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank.
US08303158B2
An LED light device with special effects utilizes persistence of vision theory to cause an LED(s) or LED array to change faster than the human eye response time of 1/16 to 1/24 second to display a special message, time, drawing, light patterns, or color changes. In addition, the light device may be provided with a sealed-unit arranged to receive a variety of eye-catching shades.
US08303155B2
A light guide plate has a main-side microprism array sheet (main-side MPA sheet) 3 adhered to the top face 2a thereof, and a sub-side microprism array sheet (sub-side MPA sheet) 4 adhered to the bottom face 2b thereof. A prism formation region of the sub-side MPA sheet 4 is smaller than that of the main-side MPA sheet 3. Prisms in the prism formation region of the main-side MPA sheet 3 are, in an arrangement where the density of prisms arranged increases with distance from a light source 5, so arranged that the density of prisms arranged increases in a region that faces the prism formation region of the sub-side MPA sheet 4.
US08303150B2
A projection assembly is arranged to be added onto or built into at least one LED-unit or other light-unit of an illuminated object that has more than one LED or other light source to cause the object to be illuminated and show the object's design or appearance while also offering illumination to people. The illuminated object may include all kinds of seasonal lighting, regular light fixtures, track lights, desktop lights, and battery operated lights having more than one light-unit or LED-unit.
US08303148B2
An illumination unit having at least one light emitting diode chip and a housing (100) that at least partially surrounds the at least one light emitting diode chip (3), the housing (100) having fastening means for mounting the illumination unit in a luminaire, wherein the fastening means comprise at least one projection or one depression (122; 102) that is arranged on the housing (100) and, in order to mount the illumination unit in the luminaire, cooperates with a counterpart (210; 203′), coordinated in an accurately fitting fashion therewith, on a luminaire part (200; 200′, 200″) of the luminaire in such a way that the at least one projection or the at least one depression (122; 102) and the counterpart (210; 203′) interlock in an accurately fitting fashion.
US08303145B2
A marine lighting device mounts in-line with a tubular member of a marine vessel structure such as a T-top, tower or hand rail. An LED light bar having an array of LEDs supportably mounted to a circuit board is sealably enclosed in a tubular lens which, in turn is disposed within a tubular housing, a central portion of which is provided with an opening through which illumination from the LEDs is emitted after passing through the lens. A sleeve coupling is used to mount at least one end of the housing to a free end of the tubular member. In lieu of using a sleeve coupling at both ends one end of the housing may be flared to receive one of the free ends of the tubular member. A lighted T-top incorporating at least one such marine lighting device and a lighted marine handrail are also disclosed.
US08303143B2
A portable light tower comprises a base and a mast. The mast is movable between a first configuration in which the mast is stored substantially within the base and a second configuration in which the mast extends in an upright position from the base. A light source is disposed on the base and a reflector is positioned on an end of the mast opposite the base. The reflector is configured to reflect light from the light source toward the surroundings of the light tower.
US08303134B2
A flush mount mirror assembly (100) has a housing (102), a mirror assembly (110) and a light array (116). The mirror assembly (110) includes a mirror (114) coupled to a telescoping tube pair (124). The mirror (114) reflects light and is adjustable to various angular orientations.
US08303129B1
A dual-ended illumination device that is fastened to a user's wrist is herein disclosed, comprising a small cylindrical flashlight having a first end with at least three (3) white light-emitting diodes (LED's) and a second end having at least one (1) red LED. A four position switch located at a midpoint on a housing provides for OFF-WHITE-RED-BOTH positions. The flashlight attaches to one's wrist by use of a nylon strap secured with a fastening means. It is positioned on either the inside or outside of the wrist to suit a desired illumination need. An inside position would be used when reading a book, or performing physical tasks. The outside position would be used when riding or bike or walking, with perhaps all lamps illuminated to serve as a warning light to others. The device is viewed as being especially valuable in areas where it is impossible to hold a flashlight or have others hold one while performing work with both hands.
US08303122B2
A glazing panel includes a sheet of glass and a series of spatially separated optical elements disposed on a major face of glass. Each element has an upwardly-facing reflective surface, which extends out of the plane of the glass. A region of the material, having an optical transmission coefficient, which varies across its width, is disposed below the surface. Light incident on the upwardly facing reflective side surfaces is reflected upwardly into the area on the other side of the glazing panel. Light entering the area through the region is attenuated and diffused. The elements may be printed onto the glass, or onto a film, that is applied to the glass. Alternatively, the elements may include profiled formations which are adhered to the glass.
US08303120B2
An image display apparatus includes a projector receiving an image signal and projecting image light and a screen including a projection plane of arbitrary shape. The projector and screen are connected with link mechanisms and link mechanisms. The relative position and posture between the projector and the screen are automatically or manually changeable. The relative position and posture between the projector and the screen are measured, and correction parameters for correcting distortion of image light projected from the projector onto the screen are calculated from the previously set viewing position of the viewer and the shape of the projection plane of the projector. Based on the calculated correction parameters, the image signal inputted into the projector is subjected to distortion correction processing. It is therefore possible to allow the viewer to see a clear image even if the position of the screen is changed.
US08303118B2
A video projector includes a first discharge port from which a cooling current is sent out of a duct to an optical component. A cooling fan generates the cooling current which flows through the duct. The first discharge port includes first and second wall surfaces opposed to each other in an optical axis direction in which the light is transmitted through the optical component, third and fourth wall surfaces opposed to each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, a discharge port inlet into which the cooling current from the cooling fan is drawn, and a discharge port outlet from which the cooling current is sent toward the optical component. A gap between the first and second wall surfaces and a gap between the third and fourth wall surfaces become narrower from the discharge port inlet to the discharge port outlet.
US08303115B2
A method for quantifying disease progression through retinal health assessment and management. The method comprises obtaining a first image of a retina or iris at a point in time; generating a first vascular map of the first image of the retina or the iris; obtaining a second image of the retina or the iris at a later point in time; generating a second vascular map of the second image of the retina or the iris; registering the first image and the second image on the basis of the first vascular map and the second vascular map; and displaying at least one difference between the registered first image and the second image to quantify a disease progression.
US08303113B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a progressive spectacle lens and to a corresponding apparatus, a computer program product, a storage medium and to the use of a progressive spectacle lens. The invention also relates to a method for producing a progressive spectacle lens for correcting defective vision of a spectacle wearer, comprising the following steps: the vertical and/or the horizontal spatial position of a distance reference point and/or a near reference point is specified or determined in accordance with individual data of the spectacle wearer; the spectacle lens is optimized or calculated such that the required dioptric effect of the spectacle lens is obtained in the individually determined distance reference point and/or the near reference point.
US08303108B2
A printer unit is provided comprising a print engine for printing on print media, a print media supply for supplying print media to the print engine and a body arranged to house the print engine and to be mountable to a substantially vertical surface so as to suspend the printer unit. The print engine and print media supply are contained in the body so as to be substantially hidden. Such a wall mountable printer is capable of blending into the design of a home or a work space within office environment whilst providing high-speed, e.g., more than 30 pages per minute, and high-quality, e.g., images of about 1200 dots per inch or more, printing capabilities and ease of use.
US08303100B2
A method for imprinting objects, including providing a printing machine configured to deliver at least one object to be imprinted to a printing apparatus using a retaining apparatus or an inscription carrier. A data processing system is provided and includes at least one print pattern stored in at least one database. The data processing system is connected to the printing machine and configured to control the printing machine. A liquid is applied so as to generate the at least one print pattern on a surface of the at least one object using the printing apparatus. The at least one object is then exposed to a radiation so as to dry and cure the liquid and then the retaining apparatus or the inscription carrier is conveyed to an output station. The retaining apparatus and inscription carrier are stackable in the output station.
US08303097B2
The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer, comprising an ink storage chamber formed by a concave housing (3) and a flexible and deformable film (2), a fluid outlet (5) connected with a fluid inlet of the printer, an information storage device (11), a locking mechanism (6) and a detection mechanism for detecting ink consumption. The detection mechanism comprises a lever component (4) positioned in the ink storage chamber and a force transmission component (10) positioned on the housing, made of deformable material and communicated with the ink storage chamber. This ink cartridge can solve the technical problems that the conventional detection mechanism of the ink cartridge of the ink jet printer is complex and low in reliability.
US08303096B2
Disclosed is a liquid supplying apparatus including an ink cartridge, a sub-tank, nozzles, and an ink cartridge installation part. The ink cartridge has a first ink container and a second ink container. The first ink container has a holding member that has its position lowered. The second ink container has an operating member, a biasing unit, and a locking unit. The locking unit engages the operating member until the remaining amount of the ink is below a prescribed value and the holding member engages the locking unit. The locking unit releases engagement of the operating member when the remaining amount of ink is below the prescribed value and the holding member engages the locking unit. The operating member protrudes from the ink cartridge installation part and is opened to the position allowing the operation on the ink cartridge when the engagement with the locking unit is released.
US08303094B2
The liquid supply apparatus has: a main tank which stores liquid; a sub tank which is disposed vertically above a recording head configured to eject the liquid and which is not connected to atmosphere, the sub tank being composed of a deformable member so that a volume of the sub tank is changed depending on a volume of the liquid in the sub tank; a first flow channel which connects the main tank with the sub tank; a second flow channel which connects the sub tank with the recording head; a flow rate determination device which determines a flow rate of the liquid in the second flow channel; a first pressure control device which controls an internal pressure of the main tank according to the flow rate determined by the flow rate determination device; and a second pressure control device which controls an internal pressure of the sub tank so as to fall within a prescribed range.
US08303093B2
A method for assembling an inkjet jet print head enables piezoelectric transducers to be bonded to an inkjet ejector without closing inlets to a pressure chamber within the inkjet ejector. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer with a thermoset adhesive, placing thermoset polymer in areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer, and drilling inlets through the thermoset polymer and the diaphragm at the openings in the diaphragm.
US08303085B2
A lyophobic treatment method of imparting lyophobic properties to a surface of a base material having hole sections, includes: an organic film formation step of forming an organic film on the surface of the base material and inner wall faces of the hole sections of the base material; a protective member formation step of forming a protective member on the organic film on the surface of the base material; an organic film removal step of removing the organic film on the inner wall faces of the hole sections of the base material; a protective member removal step of removing the protective member on the organic film on the surface of the base material; and a fluorination step of carrying out fluorination processing of the organic film on the surface of the base material.
US08303084B2
An inkjet printhead to prevent clogging of nozzles and spreading of ink during ejection, and a method of manufacturing the inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substrate, a passage forming layer formed on the substrate, and a nozzle layer formed on the passage forming layer and including a material including an epoxy group or a hydroxyl group, wherein the epoxy group or the hydroxyl group is protected by an alcohol-protecting group.
US08303075B2
An apparatus according to the present invention comprises control unit configured to control print unit to print a code in a prescribed area on a sheet, and search unit configured to search the code on the sheet placed on a manuscript table, wherein a search area in which the search unit searches the code is wider than the prescribed area.
US08303074B2
An inkjet printer includes (a) a media support defining a surface; (b) an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward a print region proximate the defined surface; (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; (d) a monitor for tracking the position of the carriage; (e) a light source directed toward the defined surface; (f) a light sensing device mounted on the movable carriage; and (g) an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in order to provide substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.
US08303071B2
A method enables a printing system to register images printed by two printers accurately. The method includes operating at least one marking station in a first printer with reference to a low frequency component and a high frequency of a velocity measurement for a web in the first printer, printing fiducial marks on the web with a marking station in the first printer, detecting the fiducial marks with a fiducial mark sensor in a second printer, generating a velocity measurement for the web as the web moves along a web path in the second printer that corresponds with the detected fiducial marks, and operating at least one marking station in the second printer with reference to a low frequency component and a high frequency component of the velocity measurement of the web moving along a web path in the second printer.
US08303063B2
A printing apparatus including a first nozzle that ejects dye ink; a second nozzle that ejects pigment ink of a color that is the same as the dye ink; and a controller that controls ejection of ink from the first nozzle and the second nozzle. The controller performs a first ejection operation, in which the pigment ink is ejected from the second nozzle after the dye ink is ejected from the first nozzle, for a predetermined position on a medium and performs a second ejection operation, in which the dye ink is ejected from the first nozzle after the pigment ink is ejected from the second nozzle, for a second position on the medium. An amount of the pigment ink per unit area that is ejected in the second ejection operation is made smaller than an amount of the pigment ink per the unit area in the first ejection operation.
US08303060B2
An image forming apparatus includes a suction unit; a pressure unit configured to pressurize the inside of a supply channel extending from a liquid container to a recording head at a pressurizing position along the supply channel; an opening and closing unit configured to open and close the supply channel at a position downstream of the pressurizing position; and a control unit configured to cap a nozzle surface with a cap and suction ink from nozzles with the suction unit, to move the cap away from the nozzle surface after pressurizing the inside of the supply channel with the pressure unit to a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure, to wipe the nozzle surface with a wiping part after closing the supply channel with the opening and closing unit, and to open the supply channel with the opening and closing unit after wiping the nozzle surface.
US08303048B2
The invention relates to a brake control system for motor vehicles and, in particular, to a hydraulic control system. The invention also applies to hybrid braking systems such as those provided in hybrid vehicles (vehicles propelled electrically and propelled using internal combustion engines) comprising a hydraulically operating braking system which comprises a simulator (3) not mechanically coupled to the brake booster piston (42) and an electric braking system using the electric propulsion motor or motors as electric generators.
US08303047B2
Systems and methods to prevent dragging of a fluid pressure type disk brake system are described herein. Brake fluid pressure generated by a master cylinder during a braking operation is transmitted to a wheel cylinder via a VSA system. The VSA system includes a low pressure accumulator and an out-valve disposed between the wheel cylinder and the low pressure accumulator. Temporarily opening the out-valve during a braking operation allows part of the brake fluid that would otherwise be supplied to the wheel cylinder to be supplied to the low pressure accumulator. After the braking operation by the driver is completed, brake fluid supplied to the wheel cylinder is returned to the master cylinder. Thus, a piston of the wheel cylinder is withdrawn by an extra amount corresponding to the amount of brake fluid supplied to the low pressure accumulator, thus reliably prevents disk pad dragging in the disk brake system.
US08303046B2
There is provide a brake control technology according to which a target hydraulic pressure is reliably achieved when a hydraulic pressure is decreased during hydraulic control and brake drag does not occur even when the target hydraulic pressure is zero. In a brake apparatus, a dead-band region is set for the target hydraulic pressure that is used in the hydraulic control. When braking control is switched from the hydraulic control to regenerative control in cooperative braking control, residual pressure reduction control is executed. In the residual pressure reduction control, the target hydraulic pressure is set to a value that is lower than zero to which the hydraulic pressure should be brought.
US08303045B2
A protective device for tire walls has a holder for attaching the protective device on a wheel. The protective device has protective elements connected to the holder. The protective elements are shape-stable parts that under load are elastically deformable. They extend approximately radially away from the holder. The protective elements do not protect the entire tire but only the endangered area of the tire walls.
US08303044B2
A dumping vehicle with a dump bed for holding and dumping material is disclosed. Embodiments include a coupler for coupling the dump bed with a tractor and a linkage connecting the dump bed and coupler, the linkage maintaining the orientation of the coupler steady during dumping. Embodiments include a linkage, dump bed and coupler forming a quadrilateral that deforms during dumping. The linkage can include two arms of different lengths, each pivotally connected to the dump bed and the coupler. In alternate embodiments, the dump bed and a rear support connect at a physical pivot location and the dump bed rotates about a location that is different from the physical pivot location and can rotate about a location that moves. The hinge assembly can include two hinge arms of different lengths that move the dump bed sill rearward and upward as the forward end of the dump bed is raised.
US08303043B2
Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.
US08303040B2
A pillow support structure of a chair contains a fixing unit including a body and a back cover, wherein the body includes a longitudinal groove having a laterally through slot and a limiting piece with a tilted guide recess and a defining end; the longitudinal groove includes a resilient swinging rib with a tooth portion and an abutting tab; a vertical moving unit including a moving member and a sliding panel having a stop element, a plurality of peripheral teeth, and includes a side rim biased against the abutting tab; an inserting member including a biasing end and a pressing segment, such that the stop element of the sliding panel of the moving member is capable of preventing from contacting with the defining end of the body so that the sliding panel of the moving member disengages from the body smoothly.
US08303036B2
An aircraft seat having a movable squab and backrest, and a fixed seat chassis is presented. A mechanism for moving the squab and backrest has a linear runner mounted on the seat chassis and includes a linear drive for extending (and retracting) the assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. A first cam track allows adjustment the height of the back edge of the seat squab, the first cam track being generally parallel to the linear runner through the majority of its length and having a rearmost substantially vertical portion. A first cam follower mechanism interconnects a back edge of the seat squab, the first cam track and the linear drive, for motion of the seal squab. A second cam track is provided for adjusting the inclination of the backrest and a second follower is connected to the seatback.
US08303032B1
A portable collapsible chair and sling is provided for facilitating carrying of a collapsible chair using a sling attached directly to the collapsible chair. The assembly includes a frame having a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, and a plurality of scissor arms coupling the front legs to the rear legs. Thus, the frame is adjustable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. A sheet of material is coupled to the frame and includes a seat portion extending between the front legs and the rear legs of the frame. A sling is coupled to the frame including a first end coupled to a lower end of one of the rear legs and a second end coupled to a top of the frame.
US08303028B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of vehicles and vehicle body assemblies incorporating slide rail reinforcements. One embodiment of a vehicle body assembly comprises an inner body panel and an outer body panel spaced a distance from the inner body panel in an outboard direction of a vehicle. The outer body panel has an outer surface and an opposing inner surface. An elongated slide track is mounted on the outer surface of the outer body panel. A force distribution member has a support surface fixed to the inner surface of the outer body panel directly opposite a portion of the elongated slide track and first and second distribution legs extending from the support surface and fixed to the inner body panel.
US08303025B2
A system of aerodynamic skirt fairings designed to minimize aerodynamic drag and maintain smoother air flow over highway-operated long-haul tractor-trailer vehicles.
US08303019B2
A child seat mount assembly, a seat for mounting a child seat, and a passenger vehicle having a stowable child seat are provided. A seat back is connected to the body for closing an access opening to a storage compartment and seating an occupant in an upright position, and for opening the access opening in a collapsed position. A child seat mounting plate is connected to the seat back such that the mounting plate and child seat extend into the storage compartment in the upright position of the seat back, and such that the child seat is in a seating position in the collapsed position of the seat back. A method is provided for converting a vehicle seat for receiving and storing a child seat in the storage compartment, and for deploying a child seat in the collapsed position of the seat back.
US08303013B2
A pick-up style utility vehicle with an expandable cargo bed. The vehicle includes a chassis supporting a front seat, a rear seat, a screen formation, and a bottom plate of the cargo bed. The pick-up style utility vehicle is capable of being changed between a normal state in which the rear seat is situated on the bottom plate and an expanded state in which the rear seat is moved from the top of the bottom plate. A screen formation is positioned between the cargo bed in the normal state and the rear seat, and includes two screen formation divisions as a double door, and each of the screen formation divisions is supported rotatably around a vertical shaft by the chassis. In the normal state, the two screen formation divisions close the front of the cargo bed. In the expanded state, the two screen formation divisions open the front of the cargo bed and form side plates in the cargo bed.
US08303012B2
A pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from a front of the vehicle. The cargo bed has at least left and right stationary side panels and expandable side panels that extend forward from the front ends of the stationary side panels. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward into a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The expandable side panels are rotatable about rotational shafts forward and rearward in a vehicle width direction so as to be shiftable between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state.
US08303008B2
A plunger for holding and moving electronic components in particular for introduction and removal of IC's to and from a contacting device connected to a test bed comprises a plunger head with at least one suction head for sectional contact with a component. A heat-conducting body, temperature-controlled by means of a fluid, is arranged such that the suction-contacted component is in contact with the heat-conducting body. The suction head passes through the heat-conducting body.
US08303001B2
A pipe connector including a connection member having a through-hole extending from a connection hole on one side to a coupling hole by way of an insertion hole in a stepped manner, a packing member fitted into the coupling hole, a guide member provided rearwards from the packing member with a tapered opening formed therein, a clamp member fitted into the tapered opening with a plurality of clamp pieces which are slanted so as to bite an outer circumference of a pipe, and a fastening member coupled to the connection member with a fixing section provided on one side with an inclined fixing protrusion protruding towards inside from the fixing section so as to push up the clamp pieces when inserted into the clamp pieces.
US08303000B2
A quick release connector has a body, a sealing valve and an outer sleeve. The body is hollow, is manufactured as a single piece and has a connecting end, a holding end, an air inlet chamber, a mounting recess, an air outlet chamber, multiple ball holes, multiple releasing holes, a returning spring and multiple balls. The sealing valve is movably mounted in the body. The sealing valve selectively abuts a sealing ring of the body and has an external surface, a closed end, an open end, at lease one air inlet and a pressing ring. The outer sleeve is slidably mounted around the body and has a mounting end, a pushing end, an internal surface, a spring recess, an abutting recess, a holding recess and a pressing spring.
US08302996B2
The present invention relates to a basket for a ski pole at the tip of the pole, in which the basket comprises a disk of flexible rods, bristles or filaments extending from a hub and in which the hub contains a center opening for a ski pole shaft to be inserted. The rods, bristles or filaments extend from perpendicular to the shaft down to 45 degrees towards the tip of the pole.
US08302995B2
A vehicle occupant restraint system provides protection during a collision and subsequent rollover. Left and right shoulder belt retractors are actuated differentially in reaction to a lateral component of the crash force to lock one of the shoulder belts while allowing the other shoulder belt to extend under loading applied by a seat occupant. If a subsequent rollover is detected, the second shoulder belt retractor is actuated to lock or retract the second shoulder belt. The second shoulder belt may be retracted to achieve a specified level of tension and/or to achieve an extended length approximately equal to the extended length of the first shoulder belt.
US08302993B2
A support device for use in a walking machine including a frame-like base connected to a chassis, sheath tubes fixed on the frame-like base, extensible arms provided in the sheath tubes, support parts provided on outward ends of the extensible arms and extensible perpendicularly, wherein, the sheath tubes are arranged in double X-form, one pair of sheathe tubes arranged diagonally are parallel and at same height, another pair of the sheath tubes that are arranged diagonally and are also parallel and at a same height are at a different height from the pair of the sheath tubes.
US08302992B2
The present invention provides a gas generator, including: a tubular housing, an ignition device attached to one end of the tubular housing, a diffuser portion having a gas discharge port and being attached to the other end of the tubular housing, in the tubular housing, a first combustion chamber defined by a first perforated-plate member on one end side in the tubular housing and filled with a first gas generating agent, a tubular member disposed in the remaining inner space of the tubular housing and having a communication hole on a peripheral wall portion thereof, a second-perforated plate member disposed between the first perforated-plate member and the tubular member, a second combustion chamber defined by the tubular member and filled with a second gas generating agent, the tubular member being disposed so that a gap is formed between the peripheral wall portion of the tubular housing and the tubular member, the tubular member having a first opening end portion abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the tubular housing in the side of the first perforated-plate member and a second end portion supported in the side of the diffuser portion.
US08302987B2
A hitch apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, a tow bar movably disposed within the housing, a hitch member assembly, and a fastener configured to removably secure the hitch member assembly to the height adjustment member at any of a plurality of selected elevations. The tow bar is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing when in an extended position. As such, a hitch member at the distal end of the tow bar has horizontal and vertical adjustment capabilities.
US08302976B2
In a working machine, a towing handle is mounted on a top section of a machine body in such a manner that the handle is pivotable between a stored position and a deployed position, and the machine body is towable with the handle in the deployed position. The handle in the stored position extends along outer peripheral portions of the top section and a predetermined wall section of the machine, and the wall section has an upper end region that extends in a machine-towing direction to connect to the top section and has to-be-protected member provided thereon. The handle in the stored position projects outwardly beyond the top section and the wall section.
US08302972B2
A gasket (1) and seat (2) system for sealing a joint, such as flanges (3, 4), tube or pipe couplings, housings, shafts, is disclosed. The gasket (1) comprises according to one embodiment an inner portion (10), with a wall (17) facing an interior of the coupling and an outer portion (11), which extends axially forming radial end walls (12, 13). The inner portion (10) of the gasket (1) is formed with an angled wall (18), making the inner portion (10) expand inwards, which angled wall (18) interacts with a matching angled wall (25) of the seat (2), such that the joint has provisions for increasing the sealing ability in cases with increased pressure in the coupling. In an embodiment, the gasket may further have the wall (17) facing the interior being adapted to be flush with an interior surface (26) when mounted in the seat and may also have provisions for heat expansion and elevated pressures, in order to remain flush with the coupling at elevated temperatures and in order to ensure sealing at elevated pressures.
US08302971B2
A sealing device for a pump has a sleeve, a rotary collar, a first O-ring, a stationary collar, a mounting bracket, a second O-ring, a mounting collar and a locking pin. The rotary collar, stationary collar, mounting bracket and mounting collar are mounted around the sleeve. The first O-ring is mounted between the sleeve and the rotary collar. The second O-ring is mounted between the mounting bracket and the stationary collar. The locking pin is mounted securely between the mounting bracket and the stationary collar. The O-rings provide multi-sealing functions. The locking pin prevents relative rotation between the mounting bracket and stationary collar.
US08302970B2
An interactive gaming apparatus for participation in a card-style game includes a stationary gaming surface having a channel defined therethrough. The channel establishes a travel path for a roller chain driven by rotatable drive shafts and thereby translating movement to a bandolier. The bandolier includes a plurality of card inserts with slots that accommodate insertion of a card tile therein such that any card tile is interchangeable in any card inert slot. Movement of the bandolier thereby conveys likewise movement to card tiles retained by the card insert slots relative to the gaming surface. The gaming surface further includes a continuous groove and one or more linear grooves defined therein. One or more chip members are slidable along the continuous and linear grooves to provide players with player and dealer designation or to designate various betting amounts available to each player.
US08302963B2
An image forming apparatus with a double-face printing function is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet feeding path including a regular feeding path and a return-feeding path and capable of accommodating a plurality of recording sheets, a sheet-ejection controller to eject the recording sheet out of the sheet feeding path through a sheet outlet. The sheet-ejection controller controls a recording sheet closer to the sheet outlet in the direction of sheet-conveyance along the sheet feeding path to be ejected prior to a recording sheet further from the sheet outlet when cancellation of the print job is entered during a double-face printing operation, in which the images are formed on one side of N pieces of recording sheets continuously and the other side of M pieces of recording sheets thereafter, whilst M is smaller than or equal to N.
US08302951B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a holding portion that nips and holds a booklet, which includes folded sheets, by a pair of holding members opposite to each other, and a pressing portion that enters a gap between the pair of holding members to press a spine of the booklet held by the holding portion while moving along the spine of the booklet so as to deform the spine of the booklet, wherein the pressing portion changes its moving direction along the spine of the booklet and changes the pressing position thereof in the thickness direction of the booklet held between the pair of holding members, when the pressing portion deforms the spine of the booklet.
US08302950B2
A printing system includes a media storage module, a printing station for processing a portion of the receiving media, a receiving station for receiving the processed media, and a base member for supporting the printing system on a support surface. A receiving device is configured to receive a folding module for folding the processed receiving media. The receiving device is positioned substantially in a volume extending from the area defined by the cumulative normal projection of the media storage module and the printing station on the support surface, the volume extending perpendicular to the support surface in the direction of the printing station. A guiding device is configured to guide the processed media to one of the receiving station and the folding module. A method of modifying the printing system includes removing a media storage module to create a vacancy and inserting a folding module into the vacancy.
US08302943B2
A humidifier pad assembly for a humidifier that is configured for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system of a building or other structure. The humidifier pad assembly may include a frame for holding a replaceable humidifier pad within the housing of the humidifier. The frame may be structured to hold the replaceable humidifier pad within the housing such that a back major surface of the replaceable humidifier pad generally faces the back side of the housing, and a front opposing major surface of the humidifier pad generally faces the front side of the housing. The frame may further be structured to permit removal and replacement of the replaceable humidifier pad through the front side of the frame. In some cases, the housing may be configured such that the frame (and the replaceable humidifier pad) may be slid out of apertures in the right side and/or left side of the housing. In some instances, the humidifier may include a drain funnel structured to collect water from substantially the entire bottom side of the frame and direct the water to a water drain. The drain funnel may be structured to allow the frame to be slidably moved (e.g. in the left and/or right direction) relative to the drain funnel and removed from the housing through at least one of the left side or the right side of the housing. In some cases, a water distributor is releasably attachable to the frame along a top side of the frame.
US08302942B2
A microbubble water generator includes a gas absorbing device respectively communicating with a pressure conveying motor, a gas supplier and a water switch. Wherein, the water switch is electrically connected with the pressure conveying motor and the gas supplier, and the pressure conveying motor communicates with a booster pipe. The booster pipe is further connected to a pressure release coupling, and the pressure release coupling thence joints to a water output valve, thereby outputting microbubble water with even and fine properties.
US08302940B2
An energy-saving and wind-powered aerator includes a floating carrier (1), a wind turbine (2), a water stirrer (3), and a transmission element (4). The floating carrier (1) has a supporting structure (12). The wind turbine (2) is connected to an upper portion of the supporting structure (12). The water stirrer (3) is mounted to the floating carrier (1). The transmission element (4) is connected to the wind turbine (2) and the water stirrer (3). The water stirrer (3) is rotated by means of the rotation of the wind turbine (2) and a driving action of the transmission element (4). With this arrangement, the wind turbine (2) is blown by natural and inexhaustible wind to rotate, so that the water stirrer (3) can be driven by the transmission element (4) to beat water rapidly, thereby increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water and facilitating the decomposition of organic compounds in the water. In this way, the water quality can be improved and the amount of electricity consumed in aquaculture industries can be reduced to increase the profit.
US08302930B2
An actuator having a linearly movable push rod for use in automotive engineering, which may be for operating a switching element of a valve, in particular a container control valve of a commercial vehicle, having a housing having an expandable material working element and an electrical heater for heating the expandable material working element. Furthermore, a device is provided for the controlled operation of a switching element of a valve, in particular a container control valve of a commercial vehicle, which includes an actuator of the aforementioned kind.
US08302926B2
A slip-on hook, having a hook portion and a body portion connected to the hook portion, is provided. The slip-on hook releasably retains an elongated material of an article. The hook portion of the slip-on hook engages a supporting bar for hanging the article for illustration purposes. The body portion of the slip-on hook engages the elongated material of the article. The body portion has an upper flange, an opposite lower flange, and a connecting web partially connecting the upper flange and the lower flange in the middle of the flanges. Spaces are provided between the upper flange and the lower flange at either side of the connecting web for receiving the elongated material of the article.
US08302924B2
A drive mount includes a first mounting frame and a second mounting frame. The first mounting frame includes a bottom plate which defines a first slot and a second slot therein. The first slot and the second slot intersect and angle from each other. An entrance port is formed between the first slot and the second slot. The second mounting frame includes a top plate with a connecting tube protruding towards the first mounting frame. A free end of the connecting tube expands outwardly to form a locking portion. The connecting tube and the locking portion of the second mounting frame are received in the entrance port, and the connecting tube can selectively slip along the first slot or the second slot, with the locking portion engaging edges of the first slot or the second slot to connect the first and second mounting frames together.
US08302917B2
The present disclosure relates to a bracket, particularly to a universal style bracket for mounting a speaker to a television or monitor panel.
US08302916B2
A bag support is provided for supporting the upper portion of a bag. The bag support includes first and second side rails generally parallel to each other. A first bag retainer is positioned between the first and second rails for receiving a first portion of an upper end of a first bag thereon. The first bag retainer pivotable between a first position and a second retaining position for supporting the first bag in an open configuration.
US08302912B2
A shock bump (10) comprising a diverging nose (20) and a converging tail. The tail has at least one plan-form contour line with a pair of concave opposite sides (22, 23). The shock bump provides an improved shape with relatively low drag. Furthermore, the concave shape of the tail tends to promote the development of longitudinal vortices which can reduce shock induced buffet at certain operating conditions.
US08302908B1
Apparatus and methods provide for a blended wing passenger or cargo aircraft. Aspects of the disclosure provide an aircraft having wings with spars having a thickness at the wing root corresponding to a height of the payload space within the fuselage to which the wings are attached. The wing spars within the wings on each side of the aircraft may each be spliced into an aircraft frame that is part of the fuselage. The wing thickness provides mounting locations for aircraft engines and other components within the wing and passing through the wing spars. With this mid-wing configuration, the fuselage provides support for the various loads experienced by the wings without the use of a conventional structural wing box.
US08302905B2
An aircraft landing gear including a leg, a bracket which defines the axis of rotation of the leg on the operating plane defined by the leg extension and retraction positions and a leg operating device consisting of at least one strut whose first end is provided with a first means for connecting to the landing gear element and second end is provided with a second means for connecting to the element of the gear-receiving landing gear casing for which the at least one strut expands outside of the operating plane of the gear leg.
US08302902B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed in which an aircraft landing system is at least partly primarily powered by power provided by a ram air turbine (RAT).
US08302901B2
The invention arose in the design of vertical takeoff craft where a bladed rotor directs a jet of fluid over a curved surface so that the jet is turned from a radial direction towards an axial direction to create lift. These craft have stability problems when an attempt is made to hover close to the ground or to a vertical surface and for this reason such craft have been confined to paper proposals and unsuccessful experimental models. In accordance with the invention, the craft is designed so that its rotor and other moving parts have a large angular momentum. In this way, a gyroscopic effect is achieved, sufficient to give positive stability to the craft, eliminating the aforementioned problem.
US08302894B2
The invention is a restrainer for a spool (10) of thread to prevent the thread (13) from being freely drawn off of the spool (10). It comprises a resilient element (12) that extends around the circumference of the outer surface (14) of the spool (10) so that the thread (13) being drawn from the spool (10) must pass between the outer surface of the spool (10) at the inner surface of the resilient element (12) there by impeding the free removal of the thread (13). The invention prevents excessive thread being jerked from the spool.
US08302888B2
The invention relates to a fuel injector, in particular a common rail injector, for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a multi-part injection valve element, which is adjustable between a closing position and an opening position and includes a first part and at least one second part that is adjustable relative to the first part. The first and second parts are coupled to one another via a hydraulic coupler volume. According to the invention, it is provided that the first part is guided in the second part, or the second part is guided in the first part, and that the coupler volume communicates with an injector volume via at least one throttle arrangement. The throttle arrangement is embodied such that the volumetric through flow increases only disproportionately little with an increasing pressure difference between the coupler volume and the injector volume.
US08302885B2
A sprayer with an improved spraying structure comprises a body, a nozzle, a knob, and a nozzle sleeve. The body has a passage and a valve. At the end of the passage is an air outlet. A mounting part with an insertion hole is provided around the body. The assembly of the nozzle, the knob, and the nozzle sleeve is inserted in the mounting part. The paint bottle with paint is connected to the knob.
US08302883B2
A thermal fuse integrated into an electrical circuit powering a heater element having a positive temperature coefficient includes at least one terminal in electrical connection with the heater element thereby connecting the heater element to a power source, and a solder jacket that mechanically retains the electrical connection between the terminal and heater element, wherein a biasing load is applied to the terminal when retained by the solder jacket, and wherein the terminal breaks connection with the heater element under the force of the bias when the solder jacket melts should the heater element overheat. By selecting the solder material forming the solder jacket according to its melt temperature, a temperature specific overheat protection for a heated fuel injector can be provided. Since the injector's metering circuit is separate from the thermal fuse circuit, the fuel injector remains operational even after the heater circuit is opened.
US08302882B2
A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area to be sprinkled includes a sprinkler head to move between a first position and a second position. The sprinkler system further includes a sprinkler head positioner to move the sprinkler head between the first and second positions, a sprinkler head position determiner to determine a current sprinkler head position between the first and second positions, a flow control valve to control flow of water from a water supply to the sprinkler head, a flow control valve positioner to establish a current control valve position for the flow control valve between an essentially fully closed control valve position and an essentially fully open control valve position, and a controller to receive a sprinkler head position signal from the sprinkler head position determiner and send a control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner in response thereto.
US08302879B2
Rail expansion device having stock and tongue rails which can be displaced longitudinally with respect to one another and bear against one another transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rails under the application of force, wherein a holder releasably holds the tongue rail at a distance from the region thereof which bears against the stock rail, and wherein the tongue rail in the holder is non-positively and positively connected to a standard rail passing into it or to a section thereof or to a section of the holder having a profile which merges with that of the standard rail.
US08302878B2
A rail joint arrangement comprises two rails. The rails have adjacent rail ends separated and thereby forming a gap. The rails have a top end containing a rail head and a bottom end. The gap is defined between the top end and the bottom end of the rails, and the width of the gap is non-uniform throughout its entire length. In addition, the rail joint arrangement comprises at least one electric insulator positioned within the gap. The rail joint arrangement is fastened together by a rail joint bar attaching the two rails together.
US08302872B2
A credit card is provided that may include a credit card number, where at least a portion of the credit card number changes periodically. A magnetic emulator and/or magnetic stripe encoder may be provided to communicate at least a portion of the information needed to complete a credit card transaction to a credit card reader. For example, a magnetic emulator may be provided about a magnetic stripe so that the magnetic emulator communicates the information that changes and the magnetic stripe communicates the information that does not change. In doing so, the amount of power used by a credit card may be reduced with respect to a credit card that communicates, for example, all of the information with a magnetic emulator.
