US08350028B2
The present invention is concerned with 2-aminoquinoline derivatives of formula I wherein R1 and R2 are as described herein and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods for their manufacture. These compounds are 5-HT5A receptor antagonists, useful for the prevention and/or treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, pain, memory disorders, dementia, disorders of eating behaviors, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, abuse of drugs, motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders or gastrointestinal disorders.
US08350027B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, Z, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08350022B2
The present invention relates to a method for stereoselective synthesis of phosphorus compounds, whereby in the first reaction step a chiral auxiliary on the phosphorus atom of phosphoryl chloride, thiophosphoryl chloride or phosphorus trichloride is covalently bonded, the product from the first reaction step is reacted in the following step with an alcohol, thiol, or amine as the nucleophile in the presence of a base, and in the last step the chiral auxiliary is displaced from the product of the following step by a nucleophile.
US08350018B2
The present invention relates to Haemophilus parasuis polynucleotides produced by recombinant technology. It also relates to polypeptides that are expressed by said polynucleotides and also to a vaccine against H. parasuis that comprises said polypeptides. In another aspect, the invention also relates to the use of polynucleotides to determine if a strain of H. parasuis is virulent or avirulent.
US08350017B2
The present invention relates to peptides, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, that bind specifically to poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG), such as Staphylococcal PNAG, in acetylated, partially acetylated and/or fully deacetylated form. The invention further provides methods for using these peptides in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of infections by bacteria that express PNAG such as but not limited to Staphylococci and E. coli. Some antibodies of the invention enhance opsonophagocytic killing and in vivo protection against bacteria that express PNAG such as but not limited to Staphylococci and E. coli. Compositions of these peptides, including pharmaceutical compositions, are also provided, as are functionally equivalent variants of such peptides.
US08350006B2
A novel method for determining the bioactivity of TGF-β in a sample of milk, raw protein source, or nutritional composition is provided. The method includes particular reconstitution steps, centrifugation steps, incubation steps, and activation steps. The bioactivity of the TGF-β in the sample may be measured in a HT-2 cell bioassay or a cellomics bioassay.
US08350003B2
The present invention relates to peptides comprising amino acids according to Formula I ((X)l(Y)m)n (I) wherein l, m and n are integers from 0 to 10; X and Y, which may be the same or different, are an amino acid selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic amino acids and/or cationic amino acids, together with methods for the use of the peptides in the treatment of microbial infections.
US08350002B2
A process is provided for producing an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer by which impurities such as catalyst residue and by-products and solvent are removed to a high degree. A high-quality, homogeneous product can be efficiently produced by including a washing step including: introducing a paste containing an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer and an alcohol into a washing tank; applying a shear force to the paste to knead the paste while contacting the paste with washing water so that a surface of the paste is repeatedly displaced by an inner part thereof; and discharging the alcohol to an outside of the tank together with the washing water to obtain a water-containing ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer composition having a small alcohol content.
US08349998B2
Described herein are compositions including heterocyclic organic compounds such as fused thiophene compounds, methods for making them, and uses thereof.
US08349995B2
Disclosed is a polythiocarbonate poly(thio)epoxide in which a hydrogen atom in a mercapto group of a polythiocarbonate polythiol is substituted with a (thio)epoxy-containing group. By using this compound as a starting material, there can be obtained a polythioether or a sulfur-containing polyether having, in addition to excellent optical properties (a high refractive index and a high Abbe's number), excellent mechanical properties (a high bending distortion) and a high glass transition temperature.
US08349994B2
Disclosed is an electrode electrolyte for solid polymer fuel cells, which uses a polymer electrolyte containing a polyarylene copolymer containing a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring having a substituent represented by —SO3H, —(O(CH2)hSO3H or —O(CF2)hSO3H (wherein h represents an integer of 1-12). By having such a constitution, the electrode electrolyte for solid polymer fuel cells can be produced at a low cost, while being excellent in proton conductivity, dimensional stability, hydrothermal resistance and mechanical strength. In addition, this electrode electrolyte for solid polymer fuel cells enables to recover a catalyst metal.
US08349992B2
The present invention provides a thermosetting resin having a benzoxazine ring structure represented by the following formula (I): wherein X is a residue of a diol compound having a molecular weight or a number average molecular weight in terms of polystyrene measured by GPC of 5,000 or less; Y is a residue of a diamine compound; and n is an integer of 2 to 200.
US08349984B2
A catalyst composition comprising a zirconium complex of a polyvalent aryloxyether and a polymerization processes employing the same, especially a continuous, solution polymerization of ethylene and one or more C3-30 olefins or diolefins to prepare interpolymers having improved processing properties, are disclosed.
US08349980B2
A polyol having a substituent of formula (I) attached via a carbon-carbon single bond to a saturated carbon atom in a fatty acid hydrocarbyl group; wherein R1 and R2 are esterified residues of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols; and from 0 to 15 wt % of esterified residues of at least one C4-C12 anhydride, C4-C12 diacid or C4-C12 lactone, not including units of formula (I) attached to a fatty acid hydrocarbyl group.
US08349969B2
A method for preparing high-purity polyethyleneglycol-alkylenealdehydes and derivatives thereof is provided.
US08349962B2
A pre-adhesive composition is described comprising an acid-functional (meth)acrylate copolymer and an acylaziridine crosslinking agent, which when crosslinked provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive and pressure-sensitive adhesive articles.
US08349937B2
An insulating resin for switch gears on the basis of glycidyl ester contains methyl nadic anhydride/hydrogenated methyl nadic anhydride as hardener and an N-substituted imidazole as accelerator. Furthermore, platelet-shaped alumina is added as a filler. The resin has a substantially elevated glass transition temperature, while at the same time having a high mechanical level and being very tracking resistant. It is suitable as a casting resin in gas-insulated transmission line systems.
US08349935B2
To obtain injection molded objects having biodegradability and excellent flame retardance and mechanical strength, the injection molded object includes a lactic acid based resin; and a metal hydroxide in a ratio of 5 to 40 mass parts per 100 mass parts of the lactic acid based resin. The metal hydroxide is surface-treated, and Na2O (w-Na2O) present on a surface of grains of the metal hydroxide is 0.1 mass % or less based on the total mass of the metal hydroxide. Preferably, the injection molded object contains an aliphatic polyester other than the lactic acid based resin or an aromatic-aliphatic polyester in a ratio of 20 to 80 mass parts per 100 mass parts of the lactic acid based resin.
US08349931B2
Plastisols and organosols are provided that include plasticizers that include mono-, di- and triesters of glycerol. The plasticizers are good solvators for polyvinyl chloride and impart low plastisol and organosol viscosities.
US08349921B2
The present invention relates to films made from mixed cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content and certain plasticizers. These films can exhibit +C plate, −A plate, and biaxial Nz behavior, which make them particularly suitable for use in optical applications, such as in liquid crystal displays (LCD) as protective and compensator films.
US08349916B2
The present invention provides an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink exhibiting excellent ink storage stability, nozzle ink repellency, and ejection stability, and also exhibiting excellent curability, anti-abrasion properties, solvent resistance, flexibility, weather resistance, and substrate adhesion properties even under various ambience factors and irradiation conditions, as well as an ink-jet recording method and printed matter using the same. In an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink containing a cationically polymerizable compound and a photo-cationic polymerization initiator, an actinic energy radiation curable ink-jet ink wherein a cationically polymerizable compound having a vinyl ether group as a reactive group is contained at 50.0% by mass or more and the halogen ion content is 1.0 μg/g of the ink-100 μg/g of the ink.
US08349907B2
Preparation and use of polyurethane foams with the use of foam stabilizers of the general formula (I)
US08349900B2
Polymorphous and amorphous forms of bupropion hydrobromide are described.
US08349877B2
Ternary fungicidal compositions comprising as active components 1) boscalid, 2) chlorothalonil and 3) at least one active compound III, selected from groups A) to F): A) azoles; B) strobilurins; C) carboxamides; D) heterocyclic compounds; E) carbamates; F) other fungicides; in a synergistically effective amount, methods for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi using compositions of boscalid, chlorothalonil and at least one active compound III, the use of boscalid and chlorothalonil with at least one active compound III for preparing such compositions, and also agents and seed comprising such compositions.
US08349874B2
A method relieves both nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain and has fewer side effects. The compound includes cyclohexane derivatives represented by the following compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof or prodrugs thereof.
US08349864B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier and a compound Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.
US08349851B2
Provided herein are quinazoline compounds of formula (I): The compounds are useful for treatment of JAK kinase mediated diseases, including JAK2 kinase-, JAK3 kinase- or TYK2 kinase-mediated diseases. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions.
US08349847B2
The invention relates to substituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives of the Formula-(I), or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, which possess anti-proliferative activity such as anti-cancer activity and are accordingly useful in methods of treatment of the human or animal body. The invention also relates to processes for the manufacture of substituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound and to its use in the manufacture of medicaments for the production of an anti-proliferative effect in a warm-blooded animal such as man.
US08349845B2
Use of a compound of formula (I) wherein R is an alicyclic group; an arylethyl group; or phenyl or benzyl substituted by halogen, lower alkyl, alkoxy, OH, NH2, NHalkyl, N(alkyl)2, CN or NO2; in the manufacture of a medicament for the therapy of hyperalgesic pain conditions and their symptoms.
US08349838B2
Polycyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed.
US08349831B2
The present invention relates generally to compounds represented in Formula I, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and methods of treating of diseases or disorders related to the function of the calcium sensing receptor. The invention also relates to processes for making such compounds and to intermediates useful in these processes.
US08349826B2
The invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) wherein U, V, W, R1, R1b, A and G are as defined in the description, to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds and to the use of these compounds in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of a bacterial infection.
US08349820B2
The invention relates to the use, optionally together with oral contraception, of estradiol valerate or 17β-estradiol in combination with 17α-cyanomethyl-17-β-hydroxyestra-4,9-dien-3-one (dienogest) in a multistage or single-stage combination preparation for oral therapy to maintain and/or increase feminine libido.The total number of daily dose units of the multistage combination and of a pharmaceutically harmless placebo or a single-stage combination and optionally the pharmaceutically harmless placebo-containing or placebo- and hormone-free daily dose units amounts to 28 daily dose units.
US08349816B2
The present invention relates to use of an antibacterial agent in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of osteoarthritis, more particularly for the treatment of a bacterial infection which is responsible for osteoarthritis. Also described are methods for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis through the detection of certain bacteria in an affected joint of a patient with osteoarthritis.
US08349813B2
Methods of treating a dialysis component by providing a dialysis component and contacting the dialysis component with an enzyme are provided. The enzyme breaks down microbial contaminants in the dialysis component. The enzyme may be separated from the dialysis component to provide a purified dialysis component. The purified dialysis component may be substantially free of microbial contaminants that cause a cytokine response in humans.
US08349811B2
A stable 6-methoxy-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine comprises 6-30% water content. It is prepared by absorbing water in 6-methoxy-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine with less than 6% water content at low temperature and certain humidity, or drying 6-methoxy-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine with more than 30% water content. The stable 6-methoxy-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine can be used to prepare medicament composition, and be used to manufacture pharmaceutical for fighting hepatitis B virus or HIV.
US08349810B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for targeted cleavage of a genomic sequence, targeted alteration of a genomic sequence, and targeted recombination between a genomic region and an exogenous polynucleotide homologous to the genomic region. The compositions include fusion proteins comprising a cleavage domain (or cleavage half-domain) and an engineered zinc finger domain, as well as polynucleotides encoding same. Fusion proteins comprising cleavage half-domains are used in pairs to reconstitute a functional cleavage domain. In these fusion proteins, the zinc finger domain can be N-terminal to the cleavage half-domain, or the cleavage half-domain can be N-terminal to the zinc finger domain. The availability of fusion endonucleases having these different polarities allows targeting of zinc finger endonucleases either to opposite strands of the DNA target or to the same strand of the DNA target, thereby increasing the number of possible sequences which can be targeted and cleaved by the fusion proteins.
US08349807B2
It is an object of the present invention to a method whereby a humoral immune response is induced more efficiently in producing an antibody against an antigen protein by gene immunization. A fusion gene composed of a gene encoding the full-length of a part of the antigen protein or a gene encoding a chaperonin subunit or a chaperonin subunit linkage linked thereto is administered to express the fusion gene in the animal, thereby inducing a humoral immune response to an antigen protein by administering. An example of the chaperonin includes Escherichia coli GroEL. There is also provided with a composition for immunization, a method for producing an antibody, a method for producing a hybridoma, and a method for producing a monoclonal antibody.
US08349801B2
Disclosed are peptide ligands for G-protein coupled receptors that are useful for treating myocardial and ischemic disorders associated with G-protein coupled receptor activation.
US08349796B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for use in osteodistraction procedures. In one embodiment, a method of stimulating osteogenesis during and/or following bone distraction comprises providing a composition comprising a PDGF solution disposed in a biocompatible matrix and applying the composition to at least one site of bone distraction.
US08349780B2
The present invention relates to a composition including an active material having groups capable of covalent attachment to a substrate in the presence of an acid or a base, a photocatalyst capable of generating an acid or a base upon exposure to light, and a vehicle. The active is a silicone polymer and/or a silicone oligomer, having a molecular weight higher than 1,000 grams/mole, and at least one organic functional group. The compositions may also include surfactants, emulsifiers, oxidants, and other components. A method for treating a substrate is also disclosed. The compositions and methods described herein are useful in personal care product and consumer care product applications.
US08349762B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a catalyst for use in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation, which catalyst has a high preferential carbon monoxide oxidation activity and a high methanation activity with respect to the carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen gas, can thus stably reduce the carbon monoxide concentration to an extremely lower level and comprises porous inorganic oxide support particles and, on the basis of the mass thereof, 0.01 to 10 percent by mass of ruthenium and 0.01 to 1 percent by mass of platinum, loaded on the support. The method comprises (1) a step of loading 30 to 70 percent of the total amount of ruthenium to be loaded, on the support particles by a competitive adsorption method and (2) a step of loading the rest of the total amount of ruthenium to be loaded and the total amount of platinum to be loaded, on the ruthenium-loaded support particles produced in step (1) without using a competitive adsorption agent.
US08349746B2
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to the formation of microelectronic structures. Low k dielectric materials need to exhibit a dielectric constant of less than about 2.6 for the next technology node of 32 nm. The present invention enables the formation of semiconductor devices which make use of such low k dielectric materials while providing an improved flexural and shear strength integrity of the microelectronic structure as a whole.
US08349732B2
A device and a method for forming a metal silicide is presented. A device, which includes a gate region, a source region, and a drain region, is formed on a substrate. A metal is disposed on the substrate, followed by a first anneal, forming a metal silicide on at least one of the gate region, the source region, and the drain region. The unreacted metal is removed from the substrate. The metal silicide is implanted with atoms. The implant is followed by a super anneal of the substrate.
US08349726B2
There is described a method of fabricating a dual damascene structure for a semiconductor device. A halogen based pre-cursor is used during vapor deposition of a diffusion barrier layer in a trench or via formed in a substrate. Residual halogen from the deposition is allowed to remain on the barrier layer and is used to catalyse growth of a metal layer on the barrier layer to fill the trench or via.
US08349716B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device having a p-n junction with reduced junction leakage in the presence of metal silicide defects that extend to the junction and a method of forming the device. Specifically, a semiconductor layer having a p-n junction is formed. A metal silicide layer is formed on the semiconductor layer and a dopant is implanted into the metal silicide layer. An anneal process is performed causing the dopant to migrate toward the metal silicide-semiconductor layer interface such that the peak concentration of the dopant will be within a portion of the metal silicide layer bordering the metal silicide-semiconductor layer interface and encompassing the defects. As a result, the silicide to silicon contact is effectively engineered to increase the Schottky barrier height at the defect, which in turn drastically reduces any leakage that would otherwise occur, when the p-n junction is in reverse polarity.
US08349711B2
In a method for making a GaN article, an epitaxial nitride layer is deposited on a single-crystal substrate. A 3D nucleation GaN layer is grown on the epitaxial nitride layer by HVPE under a substantially 3D growth mode. A GaN transitional layer is grown on the 3D nucleation layer by HVPE under a condition that changes the growth mode from the substantially 3D growth mode to a substantially 2D growth mode. A bulk GaN layer is grown on the transitional layer by HVPE under the substantially 2D growth mode. A polycrystalline GaN layer is grown on the bulk GaN layer to form a GaN/substrate bi-layer. The GaN/substrate bi-layer may be cooled from the growth temperature to an ambient temperature, wherein GaN material cracks laterally and separates from the substrate, forming a free-standing article.
US08349706B2
Provided are a semiconductor surface protecting method and surface protecting sheet employing a material having adequate conformability for irregularities on semiconductor wafer circuit sides and sufficient rigidity as a support during grinding, and which does not become fluid with repeated temperature increases. Also provided is a surface protecting sheet for protection of the circuit side in the step of back side grinding of a semiconductor wafer, the surface protecting sheet having a polymeric film material with a surface protecting layer thereon that may become fluid upon heating and which hardens upon exposure to radiation or upon heating.
US08349704B2
A bond substrate is irradiated with accelerated ions to form an embrittled region in the bond substrate; an insulating layer is formed over a surface of the bond substrate or a base substrate; the bond substrate and the base substrate are bonded to each other with the insulating layer interposed therebetween; a region in which the bond substrate and the base substrate are not bonded to each other and which is closed by the bond substrate and the base substrate is formed in parts of the bond substrate and the base substrate; the bond substrate is separated at the embrittled region by heat treatment; and a semiconductor layer is formed over the base substrate.
US08349700B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device 1, comprising a first step of providing a photosensitive adhesive (insulating resin layer 7) on a board 3 which has a connecting terminal, a second step of patterning the photosensitive adhesive by light exposure and development so that openings 13 are formed where the connecting terminal is exposed, a third step of filling the openings 13 with a conductive material to form a conductive layer 9, and a fourth step of directly bonding a semiconductor chip 5 having a connecting electrode section to the photosensitive adhesive while electrically connecting the connecting terminal of the board 3 and the connecting electrode section of the semiconductor chip 5 via the conductive layer 9.
US08349699B2
First and second isolation trenches are formed into semiconductive material of a semiconductor substrate. The first isolation trench has a narrowest outermost cross sectional dimension which is less than that of the second isolation trench. An insulative layer is deposited to within the first and second isolation trenches effective to fill remaining volume of the first isolation trench within the semiconductive material but not that of the second isolation trench within the semiconductive material. The insulative layer comprises silicon dioxide deposited from flowing TEOS to the first and second isolation trenches. A spin-on-dielectric is deposited over the silicon dioxide deposited from flowing the TEOS within the second isolation trench within the semiconductive material, but not within the first isolation trench within the semiconductive material. The spin-on-dielectric is deposited effective to fill remaining volume of the second isolation trench within the semiconductive material. The spin-on-dielectric is densified within the second isolation trench.
US08349687B2
A transistor gate forming method includes forming a metal layer within a line opening and forming a fill layer within the opening over the metal layer. The fill layer is substantially selectively etchable with respect to the metal layer. A transistor structure includes a line opening, a dielectric layer within the opening, a metal layer over the dielectric layer within the opening, and a fill layer over the metal layer within the opening. The metal layer/fill layer combination exhibits less intrinsic less than would otherwise exist if the fill layer were replaced by an increased thickness of the metal layer. The inventions apply at least to 3-D transistor structures.
US08349678B2
A method of fabricating a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor includes forming a dummy gate over a substrate. A source and a drain are formed over the substrate on opposite sides of the dummy gate. A first silicide is formed on the source. A second silicide is formed on the drain so that an unsilicided region of at least one of the drain or the source is adjacent to the dummy gate. The unsilicided region of the drain provides a resistive region capable of sustaining a voltage load suitable for a high voltage LDMOS application. A replacement gate process is performed on the dummy gate to form a gate.
US08349672B2
The thin film transistor manufacturing apparatus comprises a surface modification layer forming means, which forms a surface modification layer on a substrate, an illuminating part, which irradiates light that includes ultraviolet rays, a mask, on which the patterns of the source electrode and the drain electrode are drawn, a projection optical system, which illuminates a mask using light from the illuminating part and projects the pattern of the mask to the substrate as a pattern image, and a coating part, which coats a fluid electrode material to a region in which the surface modification layer has been modified by projection of the pattern image in order to form the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08349671B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a highly reliable semiconductor device with a small amount of leakage current. In a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor, etching is conducted using a resist mask to form a back channel portion in the thin film transistor, the resist mask is removed, a part of the back channel is etched to remove etching residue and the like left over the back channel portion, whereby leakage current caused by the residue and the like can be reduced. The etching step of the back channel portion can be conducted by dry etching using non-bias.
US08349669B2
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to TFTs and methods of fabricating the TFTs. In TFTs, the active channel carries the current between the source and drain electrodes. By tailoring the composition of the active channel, the current can be controlled. The active channel may be divided into three layers, a gate control layer, a bulk layer, and an interface control layer. The separate layers may have different compositions. Each of the gate control, bulk and interface control layers may additionally comprise multiple layers that may have different compositions. The composition of the various layers of the active channel comprise oxygen, nitrogen, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zinc, indium, cadmium, tin, gallium and combinations thereof. By varying the composition among the layers, the mobility, carrier concentration and conductivity of the various layers may be controlled to produce a TFT having desired properties.
US08349663B2
In a first aspect, a method for forming a non-volatile memory cell is provided. The method includes (1) forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) antifuse stack including (a) a first metal layer; (b) a silicon dioxide, oxynitride or silicon nitride antifuse layer formed above the first metal layer; and (c) a second metal layer formed above the antifuse layer. The method also includes (2) forming a contiguous p-i-n diode above the MIM antifuse stack, the contiguous p-i-n diode comprising deposited semiconductor material; (3) forming a layer of a silicide, silicide-germanide, or germanide in contact with the deposited semiconductor material; and (4) crystallizing the deposited semiconductor material in contact with the layer of silicide, silicide-germanide, or germanide. The memory cell comprises the contiguous p-i-n diode and the MIM antifuse stack. Other aspects are provided.
US08349662B2
An integrated circuit device (e.g., a logic device or a memory device) having (i) a memory cell array which includes a plurality of memory cells (for example, memory cells having electrically floating body transistors) arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes at least one transistor having a gate, gate dielectric and first, second and body regions, wherein: (i) the gate and gate dielectric are disposed on or above the first semiconductor layer that is disposed on or above an insulating layer or region, (ii) the body region of each transistor is electrically floating, (iii) the transistors of adjacent memory cells include a layout that provides a common first region, and (iv) the first regions of the transistors are comprised of a semiconductor material which is different from the material of the first semiconductor layer. Also disclosed are inventive methods of manufacturing, for example, such integrated circuit devices.
US08349655B2
A method of fabricating a leadframe-based semiconductor package, and a semiconductor package formed thereby, are disclosed. In embodiments, a semiconductor die having die bond pads along two adjacent edges may be electrically coupled to four sides of a four-sided leadframe. Embodiments relate to lead and no-lead type leadframe.
US08349654B2
A microelectronic assembly that includes a first microelectronic element having a first rear surface. The assembly further includes a second microelectronic element having a second rear surface. The second microelectronic element is attached to the first microelectronic element so as to form a stacked package. A bridging element electrically connects the first microelectronic element and the second microelectronic element. The first rear surface of the first microelectronic element faces toward the second rear surface of the second microelectronic element.
US08349650B1
A multi-layered semiconductor apparatus capable of producing at least 500 W of continuous power includes at least two device substrates arranged in a stack. Each of the at least two device substrates has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, and each of the at least two device substrates is configured to produce an average power density higher than 100 W/cm2. A plurality of active devices are provided on the first side of each of the at least two device substrates. The plurality of active devices are radiatively coupled among the at least two device substrates. At least one of the at least two device substrates is structured to provide a plurality of cavities on its second side to receive corresponding ones of the plurality of active devices on the first side of an adjacent one of the at least two device substrates.
US08349649B2
A semiconductor device includes a first interposer provided with a first chip first interconnection; a first chip arranged to contact the first interposer in one surface of the first chip; a second interposer arranged to contact the other surface of the first chip and provided with a first chip second interconnection; and a second chip group mounted on the second interposer. The first chip has a circuit forming surface on which a circuit element is formed, as one of the surfaces of the first chip, and the first chip first interconnection and the first chip second interconnection are electrically connected with the circuit element. A through electrode is formed to pass from the one of the surfaces of the first chip to the other surface, and one of the first chip first interconnection and the first chip second interconnection is electrically connected with the circuit element through the through electrode.
US08349645B2
A mask includes: a tabular first section which includes a side portion and an opening portion formed at a position corresponding to a film formation region of a substrate and on which the substrate is to be disposed so that the first section overlaps a face of the substrate on which a film is to be formed; and a second section which is provided along the side portion of the first section, and covers at least one of portions of a side face of the substrate, wherein second sections of two adjacent masks overlap each other and a superposed section is thereby formed when a plurality of masks are arrayed in a lateral direction thereof.
US08349644B2
A method for producing a backside contact of a single p-n junction photovoltaic solar cell is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a p-type substrate having a back surface; providing a plurality of p+ diffusion regions at the back surface of the substrate; providing a plurality of n+ diffusion regions at the back surface of the substrate in an alternate pattern with the p+ diffusion regions; providing an oxide layer over the p+ and n+ regions; providing an insulating layer over the back surface of the substrate; providing at least one first metal contact at the back surface for the p+ diffusion regions; and providing at least one second metal contact at the back surface for the n+ diffusion regions.
US08349631B2
A method for fabricating a TFT array substrate includes following steps. A gate pattern and a first pad pattern are formed on a substrate. A gate insulation layer and a semiconductor layer covering the two patterns are sequentially formed. A patterned photoresist layer having different resist blocks is formed, and patterns and thicknesses of the resist blocks in different regions are adjusted. The semiconductor layer and the gate insulation layer above the first pad pattern are removed through performing an etching process and reducing a thickness of the patterned photoresist layer. After removing the patterned photoresist layer, a source pattern, a drain pattern, and a second pad pattern electrically connected to the first pad pattern are formed. A patterned passivation layer is formed on the gate insulation layer and has a second opening exposing the source pattern or the drain pattern and a third opening exposing the second pad pattern.
US08349610B2
Devices, methods and systems effective to evaluate a physical or chemical property of a surfactant-treated biological fluid sample are provided.
US08349606B2
The invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant vector characterized in that it comprises a polynucleotide comprising the cis-acting central initiation region (cPPT) and the cis-acting termination region (CTS), these regions being of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, said vector comprising in addition a defined nucleotide sequence (transgene or sequence of interest) and regulatory signals of retrotranscription, expression and encapsidation of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, wherein the composition is capable of inducing or of stimulating a cell-mediated response for instance a CTL (Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes) response or a CD4 response, against one or several epitopes encoded by the transgene sequence present in the vector.
US08349602B1
The present invention relates to biodetectors for detecting and quantifying molecules in liquid, gas, or matrices. More specifically, the present invention relates to biodetectors comprising a molecular switching mechanism to express a reporter gene upon interaction with target substances. The invention further relates to methods using such biodetectors for detecting and quantifying selected substances with high specificity and high sensitivity.
US08349597B2
A method of producing lactic acid by separating lactic acid produced in a culture solution by microbial fermentation, comprising: a step (A) of filtering the culture solution through a nano-filtration membrane; and a step (B) of distilling a lactic-acid-containing solution produced in step (A) under a pressure of 1 Pa to atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 25 to 200° C. to recover lactic acid.
US08349596B2
Provided is a composition containing: an isolated and purified polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and/or a heterodimeric enzyme containing: the isolated and purified polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and an isolated and purified polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Also provided is a process for producing a 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acid or a salt or ester thereof, wherein the process involves: contacting a 3-hydroxy carboxylic acid or a salt or ester thereof with the above-mentioned composition to produce the 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acid or the salt or ester thereof.
US08349594B2
The present invention relates to a process for enzymatic lipase interesterification of oils containing a chelating agent by sequential or simultaneous treatment with a base.
US08349589B2
The invention concerns recombinant gelatin monomers and recombinant gelatins comprising or consisting of multimers of the monomers. The recombinant gelatins can be produced with enhanced stability.
US08349581B2
Methods for characterizing the near term risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event in a patient presenting with chest pain are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises determining the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. In another embodiment, the method comprises determining the level of MPO mass in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. In another embodiment, the method comprises determining the level of one or more select MPO-generated oxidation products in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. The select MPO-generated oxidation products are dityrosine, nitrotyrosine, chlorotyrosine, methionine sulphoxide or an MPO-generated lipid peroxidation product.
US08349569B2
A method for measuring a fibronectin fragment which is easy to handle and has excellent measuring accuracy, specificity and reproducibility is provided. An anti-fibronectin fragment monoclonal antibody which reacts with a human fibronectin fragment but does not react with human fibronectin, a measuring reagent containing the monoclonal antibody, a method for measuring a fibronectin fragment which uses the monoclonal antibody and a hybridoma which produces the monoclonal antibody are provided.
US08349560B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for reducing the proliferation of ALL cancer cells through targeted interactions with ALL1 fusion proteins.
US08349557B2
Transmembrane V-ATPase proton pump complexes regulate pH of extracellular space or intracellular compartments of cells. V-ATPase complexes are ubiquitous in cells across species. A human orthologue of yeast vma21, LOC203547 (VMA21), is likely involved in the assembly of the V-ATPase. Hypomorphic mutations of VMA21 are identified from XMEA patients. Methods to diagnose and/or distinguish between different forms of vacuolar or vacuolated myopathy in an individual or patient are provided based either on the sequence of the VMA21 gene and/or the level and/or activity of the V-ATPase complex. Compositions of the present invention may comprise DNA, RNA, or protein molecules corresponding to all or a portion of VMA21 and including one or more of the mutations in VMA21 identified. Cultured cells or cell lines having one or more mutations in the VMA21 gene derived from patients having a form of vacuolar or vacuolated myopathy are provided.
US08349551B2
An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.
US08349546B2
The present invention is to provide a “fabricating method of nano-ring structure by nano-lithography” for fabricating out a new nano-ring structure in more miniature manner than that of the current fabricating facilities by directly using the current fabricating facilities without any alteration or redesign of the precision so that the number and density of the nano-ring structure in unit area or unit volume can be significantly increased in more evenness manner.
US08349542B2
A resist pattern thickening material has resin, a crosslinking agent and a compound having a cyclic structure, or resin having a cyclic structure at a part. A resist pattern has a surface layer on a resist pattern to be thickened with etching rate (nm/s) ratio of the resist pattern to be thickened the surface layer of 1.1 or more, under the same condition, or a surface layer to a resist pattern to be thickened. A process for forming a resist pattern includes applying the thickening material after forming a resist pattern to be thickened on its surface. A semiconductor device has a pattern formed by the resist pattern. A process for manufacturing the semiconductor device has applying, after forming a resist pattern to be thickened, the thickening material to the surface of the resist pattern to be thickened, and patterning the underlying layer by etching, the pattern as a mask.
US08349537B2
Disclosed is a photosensitive ink which can form a coated film that is excellent in insulation properties, heat resistance, low warping, low elasticity and adhesion with the substrate, when used as an ink for screen printing, and with which clogging of the screen, bleeding, blur, chipping and the like are unlikely to occur even when the screen printing is repeatedly carried out, so that which has an excellent ease of handling in printing. The ink composition comprises 100 parts by weight of an organic solvent-soluble polyimide block copolymer(s), and 1 to 100 parts by weight of a photoacid generator(s). The polyimide block copolymer(s) and the photoacid generator(s) are dissolved in an organic solvent. The polyimide block copolymer(s) contain(s) in its molecular skeleton a diamine having a siloxane bond, and an aromatic diamine having a hydroxyl group(s) and/or carboxyl group(s) at ortho-position with respect to an amino group.
US08349530B2
A magnetic polymer particle develops a magnetic latent image. The magnetic polymer particle includes a magnetic component, a polymer, and a colorant. The magnetic component is a magnetic particle containing iron having a number average particle diameter of from about 0.2 μm to about 1.2 μm. The magnetic particle is contained in one magnetic polymer particle in an amount of from 1 to 10 particles. The number average particle diameter of the magnetic polymer particle is from about 2.0 μm to about 7.0 μm.
US08349527B2
A nano imprint master and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes: implanting conductive metal ions into a substrate including quartz to form a conductive layer inside the quartz substrate; coating a resist on the quartz substrate in which the conductive layer is formed, to form a resist coating layer; exposing the resist coating layer to an electron beam to form micropatterns; etching the quartz substrate by using the resist coating layer, in which the micropatterns are formed, as a mask; and removing the resist coating layer to obtain a master in which micropatterns are formed.
US08349525B2
A protective apparatus that protects a predetermined area of the front surface of a mask substrate, provided with a pellicle frame that is disposed on at least a portion of the circumference of the predetermined area and bonded to the front surface of the mask substrate, and a pellicle that is mounted on the pellicle frame so as to cover an opening portion that is formed by the pellicle frame in a manner facing the predetermined area; in which the pellicle frame includes a first side portion and a second side portion, and a third side portion and a fourth side portion that are disposed at different positions along the predetermined area, and in relation to the normal direction of the front surface of the mask substrate, the rigidity of the first side portion and the second side portion is lower than the rigidity of the third side portion and the fourth side portion.
US08349521B2
A membrane electrode assembly includes a fuel electrode, an oxidizing agent electrode, and an electrolyte membrane provided between the fuel electrode and the oxidizing agent electrode with at least one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizing agent electrode contains a proton conductive inorganic oxide, which includes an oxide carrier containing Ti, Zr, Si and/or Al; and W, Mo, Cr and/or V oxide particles supported on a surface of the oxide carrier.
US08349520B2
This invention discloses a catalyst layer which is formed at first incorporating sulfonated amorphous carbons and later the sulfonated amorphous carbons are removed. In addition, said sulfonated amorphous carbons show 13C NMR spectrum which has chemical shifts indicating carbons of a condensed aromatic 6-membered ring to which sulfonic groups are attached and are not attached respectively, and a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum which has a peak corresponding to the carbon's (002) plane at 5-30 degrees of half-value width (2θ).
US08349510B2
A solid state electrochemical cell comprises a dense electrolyte layer; at least one reticulated electrode matrix (REM) of ion-conducting material partially sintered on the gas impermeable electrolyte layer, and electrode material located substantially within the REM. The REM has a majority of pores with an average pore size of less than micron. The REM can also have a porosity of 5 to 80%, thickness at or below 3.00 microns, and a mean grain size of 0.01 to 3.00 microns.
US08349503B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte battery, including a case, a positive electrode housed in the case, a negative electrode housed in the case, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing an ionic liquid and lithium ions of which molar amount is no smaller than 1.8×10−5 mol per mAh of the battery capacity.
US08349502B2
Disclosed is an electrolyte comprising a compound having both a sulfonate group and a cyclic carbonate group. The electrolyte forms a more stable and dense SEI layer on the surface of an anode, and thus improves the capacity maintenance characteristics and lifespan characteristics of a battery. Also, disclosed is a compound represented by the following Formula 1, and a method for preparing the same by reacting 4-(hydroxyalkyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one with a sulfonyl halide compound: wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents a C1˜C6 alkylene group optionally containing a C1˜C6 alkyl group or C2˜C6 alkenyl group introduced thereto; R3 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, C1˜C20 alkyl group, C3˜C8 cyclic alkyl group, C2˜C6 alkenyl group, halo-substituted alkyl group, phenyl group and benzyl group.
US08349501B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including: an electrode group in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween; and a non-aqueous electrolyte including a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent, the positive electrode including a positive electrode material mixture layer containing a nickel-containing lithium composite metal oxide, wherein a product of A and B equals 150 to 350, A equals 15 to 20%, and B equals 8 to 25%, where A (%) represents a porosity of the positive electrode material mixture layer, and B (%) represents a volume percentage of ethylene carbonate in the non-aqueous solvent.
US08349498B2
A method for making ion conducting films includes the use of primary inorganic chemicals, which are preferably water soluble; formulating the solution with appropriate solvent, preferably deionized water; and spray depositing the solid electrolyte matrix on a heated substrate, preferably at 100 to 400° C. using a spray deposition system. In the case of lithium, the deposition step is then followed by lithiation or addition of lithium, then thermal processing, at temperatures preferably ranging between 100 and 500° C., to obtain a high lithium ion conducting inorganic solid state electrolyte. The method may be used for other ionic conductors to make electrolytes for various applications. The electrolyte may be incorporated into a lithium ion battery.
US08349497B2
Disclosed is an electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same. The electrolyte includes a lithium salt, a trialkylsilyl cyanide compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and an organic solvent. In the above Chemical Formula 1, R1 to R3 are the same or different, and selected from C1 to C6 alkyls.
US08349493B2
An electrochemical cell is described. The electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode, a separator between said anode and said cathode, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte includes a salt dissolved in an organic solvent. The separator in combination with the electrolyte has an area specific resistance less than 2 ohm-cm2. The electrochemical cell has an interfacial anode to cathode ratio of less than about 1.1.
US08349484B2
The present invention relates to a process for stacking a high-power lithium battery, and the object of the present invention is to provide a process for stacking a high-power lithium battery, with lowered the error rate and minimized open circuit voltage drop of the battery. The process for stacking a high-power lithium battery according to the present invention is characterized by a process for preparing a lithium battery comprised of anodes (100), separators (300) and cathodes (200), which comprises the steps of a) providing the anode (100) attached to the separator (300); b) providing the cathode (200) attached to the separator (300); and c) alternately stacking the anodes (100) attached to the separator (300) and the cathodes (200) attached to the separator (300) to form a stack cell.
US08349482B2
The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a secondary battery with the same, more particularly to the electrode assembly which includes an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a separator disposed between the anode plate and the cathode plate, wherein the separator includes a ceramic separator including a ceramic filler which is formed by mixing two groups of particles of the same material, but with a different diameter. The particles with the comparatively smaller diameter are disposed between the particles with the comparatively greater diameter.
US08349479B2
A battery mounting mechanism includes a terminal connector, a first stopper, a second stopper, and a release button. The first stopper is disposed movably in the Z axis direction with respect to the terminal connector. The second stopper is disposed on the opposite side of the terminal connector with respect to the first stopper, and is disposed movably in the Z axis direction with respect to the terminal connector. The release button is arranged to release the restriction of the first battery or the restriction of the second battery by the first stopper, and arranged to drive the first stopper and the second stopper in the Z axis direction with respect to the terminal connector.
US08349478B2
A method of mitigating battery cell failure is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a coupling between a battery pack and an internal combustion engine exhaust system, the coupling comprising: a duct positioned between the battery pack and the internal combustion engine exhaust system, the duct including at least one one-way valve positioned to allow battery cell exhaust to pass from the battery cell to the internal combustion engine exhaust system; detecting a thermal event; activating a fan, an air pump, or both in response to the thermal event to force the battery cell exhaust through the coupling; and treating the battery cell exhaust in the internal combustion engine exhaust system. Battery failure mitigation systems are also described.
US08349474B2
The invention relates to a hob cutter tool with a coating, wherein the coating is produced by a physical vapor deposition method, in which in a coating chamber in an atmosphere containing nitrogen, an arc discharge is generated in each case between at least one anode and at least one pure Al cathode on the one hand, and at least one pure Cr cathode on the other hand, and in this way, Al and Cr are vaporized from the cathode, in which the hob cutter tool to be coated is rotated in the coating chamber, wherein the tool is subsequently guided past the at least two cathodes, and in which the vaporized Al and Cr is deposited in atomic or ionized form together with nitrogen from the atmosphere containing nitrogen onto the hob cutter tool led rotating past the cathodes. The coating has a multiplicity of layers, composed of (AlCr)-nitride, arranged on top of each other, wherein the multiplicity of layers is formed from two layer types differing with respect to their Al:Cr ratio, wherein a first layer type has an Al:Cr ratio in the range of 55:45 to 65:35, and a second layer type has an Al:Cr ratio in the range of 70:30 to 74:26, and wherein the two layer types alternate with each other in the coating, wherein each of the layers, in turn is formed from a multiplicity of nanolayers arranged on top of each other, and wherein the coating is connected to the tool base body using a bonding layer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for recoating such a hob cutter tool.
US08349460B2
Organosilicon composites are described, comprising 30 to 90 vol. % of a cured organosilicon copolymer derived by curing an organosilicon polymer having, in the same copolymer, silicon-containing repeating units comprising a silicon hydride and silicon-containing repeating units comprising a C1-10 ethylenically unsaturated group; and 10 to 70 vol. % of a dielectric filler. The composites are used in the manufacture of circuit subassemblies.
US08349452B2
Microcapsules, comprising (A) in the range from 50 to 95 parts by weight, lipophilic core material which has a solid/liquid phase transition in the temperature range from −20 to 120° C., (B) in the range from 4 to 50 parts by weight, capsule wall, and (C) in the range from 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, at least one colored or color-imparting substance selected from oil-soluble dyes and oil-soluble brighteners, where data in parts by weight are based on the total weight of the microcapsules in question.
US08349438B2
An insulative material and a method of forming the insulative material are provided. The insulative material is configured to change shape in response to temperature and thus, for example, the insulative material may become more insulative as the temperature decreases. For example, the insulative material may include a plurality of fibers that change shape, such as by curling, in response to decreases in temperature, thereby correspondingly changing the insulative properties.
US08349432B2
A honeycomb structure includes a ceramic block formed by combining a plurality of honeycomb fired bodies together with an adhesive layer interposed between the plurality of honeycomb fired bodies. The plurality of honeycomb fired bodies each has cell walls extending along a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb fired bodies to define cells. The honeycomb fired bodies adjacent to each other via said adhesive layer each have at least one projected portion on the opposing side faces. The projected portions formed on the honeycomb fired bodies overlap each other when seen from an end face of the honeycomb structure and the projected portions formed on the adjacent honeycomb fired bodies abut each other.
US08349431B2
A composite material comprises: an open grid comprising at least two sets of strands. Each set of strands has openings between adjacent strands. The sets are oriented at a substantial angle to one another. A tack film is laminated to the open grid. The tack film has first and second major surfaces, such that a material of the tack film at its first and second major surfaces includes about 50% or more of resinous non-asphaltic component and about 50% or less of asphaltic component.
US08349425B2
A biaxially stretched polyester bottle of which a central part of a bottle body portion satisfies at least either (1) that an elongation in the circumferential direction is larger than an elongation in the longitudinal direction in the tensile test at room temperature or (2) that an orientation parameter in the circumferential direction is smaller than an orientation parameter in the longitudinal direction in the Raman spectrometry. Despite the body portion having an average thickness as small as 250 μm or less, the bottle has a drop impact resistance while exhibiting excellent appearance.
US08349424B2
The present invention relates to a coextruded, if appropriate biaxially stretched seamless multilayer tubular casing, and also to use thereof for encasing pasty or liquid goods, such as, for example, producing sausage in molds.
US08349421B2
Exemplary embodiments provide precision resistive composite members and methods for manufacturing and using them. The resistive composite member can have controllable dimensions, geometric shapes, mechanical properties and resistance values. The resistive composite member can be used for high-performance sensors or instrument probes that require, for example, high contact pressure, ultra-high frequency, and/or enable state-of-the-art digital signal transmission, characterization, or measurement. The resistive composite member can include one or more “twisted-fiber-tow” or one or more arrays of “twisted-fiber-tow” contained in a suitable non-metallic or essentially non-metallic binder material. The “twisted-fiber-tow” can further include a number of fibers that are twisted individually and/or in bundles in order to control the mechanical properties and fine-tune the resistance of the resistive composite member and thus to customize the high-performance instrument probes.
US08349418B2
It is intended to provide a natural biodegradable material having both properties of biodegradability and mechanical strength; a biodegradable film or container produced from the natural biodegradable material; a binder for producing the biodegradable material; and a method for producing these. A natural polymeric substance which has a cellulose-like property of having hydroxy group which is not present in a petroleum-derived polymeric compound, and which moreover has a polypropylene-like structure is obtained by the steps of using a cereal starch such as Kaoliang starch as a culture raw material, adding a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus to the raw material to conduct a culture, and recovering a viscous polymeric substance. A biodegradable material having biodegradability comparable to that of cellulose and also having a mechanical strength property of polypropylene can be obtained by using the natural polymeric substance as a binder and mixing starch and/or shell powder thereto. A film or container produced by using this biodegradable material has superior properties in both biodegradability and mechanical strength.
US08349416B2
A donor film and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting device using the donor film. The donor film having a stack structure includes: a first layer comprising first transfer portions comprising a light emitting material of a first color, and first opening portions; a second layer that is formed on the first layer and comprising second transfer portions corresponding to the first opening portion and further comprising a light emitting material of a second color, and second opening portions; and a third layer that is formed on the second layer and comprising third transfer portions corresponding to the first and second opening portions and further comprising a light emitting material of a third color, and third opening portions.
US08349413B2
A liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a polymer stabilized alignment layer is provided. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The polymer stabilized alignment layer is disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and an average surface roughness of the polymer stabilized alignment layer is greater than or equal to 10 nm.
US08349402B2
A method of applying an aluminide coating to an internal cavity of a metal part, such as an airfoil. The method includes inserting a perforated sealed container containing a source of aluminide into the internal cavity and vaporizing the aluminide source to form an aluminide coating on the wall surface of the cavity.
US08349399B2
The method produces powder particles that are uniformly coated with functional groups. It includes homogenizing, in an agitator mill, a suspension of glass, quartz, glass ceramic, and/or ceramic particles in a suspending agent together with a coating agent, so that the particles in the suspension react with the coating agent in the agitator mill to form the uniformly coated powder particles with functional groups. Preferably a weight ratio of the suspending agent to the particles is from 0.5:1 to 5:1. The suspending agent is preferably an aqueous solvent and the coating agent is preferably a silane. The uniformly coated powder particles have a particle size (d50) of less than 2 μm, have a specific surface of 5 to 40 m2/g, and are free of agglomerates.
US08349391B2
The present invention refers to a method for producing a radium target for the production of radionuclides by means of accelerated protons, whereby at least one radium containing material out of an aqueous-organic solution or suspension of such a material is applied by means of a dispersing device on a surface in such a way that the dispersing device and the surface are moving relatively towards each other and that the solvent is removed substantially spontaneously. Further, the invention refers to a radium target that is created in such a way that it may exhibit an activity of up to 1.5 curie. The radium targets according to the present invention serve for the production of the radionuclide 225Ac, which may be used in nuclear medicine in the treatment of cancer, particularly in form of its daughter nuclide 213Bi.
US08349389B2
A stent fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided.
US08349385B2
The invention relates to a sweet that has a long shelf life and is provided in the form of a soft, creamy, shape-retaining, and foamed mass comprising milk components, edible fats, sugar and/or sugar substitutes, and water. At least one portion of the edible fat is provided in a crystallized form at ambient temperature. The inventive sweet does not contain any lactose crystals that can be perceived by the consumer. The milk protein content amounts to 5.5 to 20% by weight while the fat-free dry milk content ranges between 14 and 55% by weight and the degree of denaturation of the whey protein amounts to ≦10%. The inventive sweet is characterized by the fact that the crystallized and non-crystallized edible fat agglomerates have a volume-related particle size D50.3 of 3.5 to 18 μm.
US08349379B2
The invention relates to a cream cheese product obtainable by a process comprising the steps of: (a) acidifying a whey protein concentrate with a food grade acidulant or with starter bacteria to reduce the pH to more than 4.5 to about 5.2, (b) heating the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) slowly to a temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. and maintaining it for at least about 30 min to produce a 1.5 functional whey protein concentrate, (c) optionally blending the whey protein concentrate of step (b) with milk fat in a weight ratio of about 60:40 to about 100:0 wherein step (c) may be carried out before step (b), (d) homogenizing the blend obtained in step (b) or (c) in a 2-stage high-pressure homogenizer at pressures of about 300-400/50-80 bar and a temperature of about 5° to about 75° C. to produce an emulsified functional whey protein concentrate, (e) blending the product of step (d) with curd the fat content of which is adjusted in accordance with the milk fat portion added in step (c) and with the desired product, and adding salt and optional stabilizers, and (f) homogenizing the product of step (e) in a 2-stage high pressure homogenizer at pressures of about 300-400/508-80 bar and at a temperature of about 68° to about 90° C.
US08349374B2
Noni juice and a protein-free, alcohol precipitate of Noni juice inhibited angiogenesis in in vitro human angiogenesis models. When growth medium contained Noni juice at least over the range from about 2.5% to about 33% (by volume), angiogenesis was blocked. Moreover, Noni juice and an ethanol precipitate were able to destroy a pre-existing angiogenic response as well as prevent the development of new vessels. Noni juice was effective in inhibiting the growth of angiogenic vessels from breast cancer explants. It will also be effective in treating cancers and non-cancerous diseases whose response includes an increase in angiogenesis, e.g., retinopathy of prematurity, neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and psoriasis. In an initial experiment, Noni juice was effective in treating lesions associated with psoriasis. The primary antiangiogenic component is believed to be a carbohydrate with a molecular weight less than about 6000 Daltons. In an initial experiment, oral administration of Noni juice appeared to adversely affect the antiangiogenic component(s) in the juice.
US08349372B1
A skin blemish and acne treatment composition is manufacturing by mixing together a predetermined volume of dishwashing soap having natural ingredient, a predetermined volume of tea tree oil, and a predetermined volume of witch hazel. The composition is utilized as a body wash for the treatment and prevention of blemished skin, acne and oily skin. The dishwashing soap can be manufactured using any of a variety of natural ingredients.
US08349360B2
The present invention relates to the use of copper ions to achieve enhanced retention of a therapeutic agent within a liposome. The invention may be employed to more effectively deliver a liposomally encapsulated therapeutic agent to a target site in vitro and in vivo for anti-cancer or other therapy. The liposome may comprise an interior buffer solution containing the therapeutic agent, the solution having a pH less than 6.5 and most preferably approximating pH 3.5. At least some of the copper ions are retained within the interior solution. In a particular embodiment the therapeutic agent may be a chemotherapeutic drug, such as irinotecan. The invention may also comprise an ionophore to facilitate loading of drug into the liposome. In one particular embodiment the combination of the ionophore A23187 and encapsulated divalent copper (Cu2+) resulted in an irinotecan formulation that exhibited surprisingly improved drug retention attributes.
US08349355B2
The present invention relates to novel formulations comprising lipoic acid and hyaluronic acid and/or the derivatives thereof for use in the repair of chronic ulcers, the regeneration of damaged skin, the prevention of skin aging and, when administered by the systemic route, to treat peripheral neuropathies and intoxications by chemical and/or biological agents.
US08349354B2
The present invention is directed to a hemostatic composite structure having a bioabsorbable fabric or non-woven substrate having at least two major oppositely facing surface areas and a continuous non-porous polymer-based film that is laminated on one major surface of said substrate. The bioabsorbable fabric substrate can be an oxidized polysaccharide and/or the non-woven substrate can be made from bioabsorbable, non-cellulosic derived polymers. The continuous non-porous polymer based film can be a bioabsorbable polymer. The present invention also relates to a method for providing hemostasis by applying a composite structure described herein onto a wound site in need of a hemostatic device wherein a major surface of the substrate without the film layer is applied onto the wound site.
US08349339B2
Segregation of antiperspirant actives suspended in anhydrous compositions employing ester oils or non-volatile silicone oils having a refractive index of at least 1.5, preferably together with an alcohol oil, gelled with a fibre-forming amide gellant can be inhibited by including a segregation inhibitor, especially an arylene-alkylene block copolymer, such as a tri-block copolymer e.g. a styrene/ethylenebutylene/styrene copolymer or a styrene/butylene copolymer.
US08349334B2
We describe an Fve polypeptide being a fragment, homologue, variant or derivative of Fve protein, which comprises at least one biological activity of Fve protein. uses of such a polypeptide, etc, and nucleic acids encoding these, in the treatment and prevention of allergy and cancer are also disclosed.
US08349331B2
The present invention relates generally to the generation and characterization of neutralizing anti-IFN-α monoclonal antibodies with broad reactivity against various IFN-α subtypes. The invention further relates to the use of such anti-IFN-α antibodies in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders associated with increased expression of IFN-α, in particular, autoimmune disorders such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
US08349324B2
The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that strategic modifications of non-human donor antibody CDR residue(s) can be used to humanize antibodies. Such modifications modulate the 3D structural fit between donor antibody CDRs and human acceptor antibody framework regions that comprise the variable domains of a CDR-grafted antibody. Whereas prior art methods of humanization have relied on making framework substitutions (in which selected human framework residues are backmutated to the corresponding amino acid residue present in the non-human donor antibody), the instant invention is based, at least in part, on a method of humanizing antibodies in which selected CDR residues, and optionally adjacent FR residues, are changed in order to accommodate differences in FR amino acid sequences between donor and acceptor antibodies.
US08349318B2
The invention provides methods for enhancing efficiency of prodrugs by specifically engineered enzymes with altered or enhanced activity and broader substrate specificity towards nucleoside analogs used in cancer chemotherapy, and delivering the enzymes to specific target cells in a patient. The invention also provides modified deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) mutants with such enhanced activities. Furthermore, the invention provides antibody-conjugated enzymes, pharmaceutical composition and kit containing the same, that can be specifically delivered to tumor cells.
US08349308B2
Modified polymers for delivery of polynucleotides, method of manufacture, and methods of use thereof
A polynucleotide delivery vehicle comprising a modified polymer is provided herein, the modified polymer having the following formula: in which W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z9, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, n1, n2, n3, n4, n5, and n6 are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of delivering a polynucleotide to the cytoplasm of a selected tissue type or cell type and methods of reducing expression of a gene in a cell or a subject in need thereof with the modified polymer.
US08349307B2
The invention provides polymer conjugates of opioid antagonists comprising a polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol), covalently attached to an opioid antagonist. The linkage between the polymer and the opioid antagonist is preferably hydrolytically stable. The invention also includes a method of treating one or more side effects associated with the use of opioid analgesics, such as constipation, nausea, or pruritus, by administering a polymer conjugate of the invention.
US08349303B1
A topical pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical active and a polymer of general formula I or general formula II wherein Ck is a saturated or unsaturated, five, six or seven-membered ring; R is a C1-C3alkyl; n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and m provides a number average molecular weight of the polymer of from 2000 to 80,000.
US08349296B2
The present invention relates to aerosol foam composition for styling and conditioning keratin fibres especially human hair. The composition improves hair styling with excellent hold and especially conditions hair with excellent shine, combability, volume and body and also excellent elasticity. The inventors of the present invention have found out surprisingly that an aqueous composition based on at least one hair styling polymer selected from anionic, non-ionic, cationic and/or amphoteric or zwitterionic ones which additionally comprises at least one oil or oily compound, at least one fatty acid soap, at least one emulsifier and at least one propellant shows excellent styling and conditioning benefits and has an appearance like a whipped cream which has not been known in the cosmetic market prior to the present invention.
US08349288B2
A process for enhancing the operability of hot gas cleanup for the production of synthesis gas in which a stream of methane rich gas is autothermally reformed at a temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a stream of synthesis gas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the synthesis gas is subjected to condensation and removing the resultant water, and sulfur impurities are removed from the resultant synthesis gas stream.
US08349286B2
A lithium-transition metal complex compound has an nth order hierarchical structure in which n type structures represented by at least one unit of ath order units in a range of 1×10−(a+5) m to 10×10−(a+5) m exist in a complex form, wherein n is a natural number that is 2 or greater, and a is a natural number in a range of 1 to 5. The lithium-transition metal complex may be prepared by heat-treating a mixture including a lithium source, a transition metal source, and solvent in contact with a natural material having a hierarchical structure. A lithium battery includes an electrode including the lithium-transition metal complex compound having the nth order hierarchical structure. The lithium battery can have improved rapid charging characteristics, high power characteristics, and cycle characteristics.
US08349281B2
A process for sequestrating carbon emitted into the atmosphere in the form of CO2 comprises: a) a step for concentrating CO2 in the liquid phase; b) a step for electro-reduction in an aprotic medium to a compound in which the carbon changes to oxidation number +3 in the form of oxalic acid or formic acid; c) if appropriate, a step for re-extracting oxalic or formic acid in the aqueous phase; and d) a step for mineralization by reaction with a compound of an element M, resulting in a stable compound in which the atomic ratio C/M is about 2/1.
US08349278B2
Apparatus (1) for withdrawing respective liquid samples from vials (2) which are closed by closure caps (4) includes a plurality of racks (7) for accommodating the vials (2). A device (10) including a housing (25) is slideably carried on a gantry (9) which in turn is slideably carried on guide tracks (12) to provide two degrees of movement of the device (10) for selective alignment of the device (10) with the vials (2). An abutment member (43) is driven vertically by a second gearwheel (51) by a drive shaft (27) through a first gearwheel (40) and a dog clutch (52). A cannula which is secured within a first gear rack (33) is driven vertically by the first gearwheel (40). On engagement of the abutment member (43) with the closure cap (4) of the selected vial (2), the clutch (52) decouples the second gearwheel (51) from the first gearwheel (40) so that the cannula (28) is urgeable through the closure cap (4) into the vial (2).
US08349274B2
A microfluidic device includes chambers for performing chemical, biochemical, or physical processes and a flow path connecting the chambers. A magnetic particle is moved through the chambers which are separated by a valve-like structure that enables passing-through of the magnetic particle from one chamber to another. At least one delaying structure delays movement of the magnetic particle along the flow path.
US08349271B2
A container system for medical instruments comprising a molded plastic reticulated tray composed of a continuous rib that forms a tray rim and a plurality of intersecting ribs defining large openings therebetween. The intersecting ribs are dished and have opposite ends connected to the continuous ribs at spaced apart locations therealong. The plurality of intersecting ribs also have rounded surfaces so that a washing or cleaning fluid directed at the plurality of intersecting ribs from the outside, upon flowing through said openings will follow and intimately contact those rounded surfaces so that those surfaces are cleaned thoroughly. A preferred embodiment of the system also includes a reticulated cover releasably connected to the tray and various brackets for fixating instruments in the tray.
US08349261B2
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, an acoustic control signal may be used.
US08349258B2
Disclosed is a sensor for measuring the amount of an analyte to be detected in human interstitial fluid, comprising a micro-cantilever sensing unit which includes: a first substrate; a micro-cantilever which is substantially in parallel with the first substrate and one end of which is supported onto the first substrate; a gold film formed onto at least one side of the micro-cantilever; a protein layer formed on the gold film, the protein layer being used to adsorb, at a surface thereof, the analyte to be detected in human interstitial fluid; a driving electrode provided on the first substrate; a micro-cantilever electrode which is provided on the first substrate at a position where the micro-cantilever is supported, and which is cooperated with the driving electrode so as to drive the micro-cantilever to produce resonance in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate; and a detecting electrode which is provided on the first substrate and which is cooperated with the micro-cantilever electrode so as to detect resonance frequency of the micro-cantilever. The present invention also relates to a fluid channel unit, a sensor system, and a method for measuring the amount of an analyte to be detected in human interstitial fluid.
US08349257B2
A detecting apparatus with photonic crystal structure comprises several empty spaces arranged orderly and a molecularly imprinted polymer containing an inorganic material. The molecularly imprinted polymer has several imprinted sites for specifically binding with a target compound. The empty spaces are orderly arranged in the inner of the molecularly imprinted polymer. The empty spaces and the molecularly imprinted polymer form a photonic crystal structure.
US08349251B2
Systems, devices, methods, and compositions that improve the scent perception for a user. Improved scent perception is achieved by presenting alternating scents and by varying levels of output of scents, as well as by minimizing device clogging, thereby improving evaporation profiles.
US08349249B2
The present invention relates to a medical device or implant made at least in part of a high strength, low modulus metal alloy comprising Niobium, Tantalum, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zirconium, Tungsten and Molybdenum. The medical devices according to the present invention provide superior characteristics with regard to biocompatibility, radio-opacity and MRI compatibility.
US08349248B2
A metallic material is made from at least one refractory metal or an alloy based on at least one refractory metal. The metallic material has an oxygen content of about 1,000 to about 30,000 μg/g and the oxygen is interstitial.
US08349239B2
A three-dimensional model built with an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, and having a perimeter based on a contour tool path that defines an interior region of a layer of the three-dimensional model, where at least one of a start point and a stop point of the contour tool path is located within the interior region of the layer.
US08349237B2
Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices are prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlayer balloon, encasing the web with a matrix material to form an assembly, and inserting the assembly into a preformed outer layer balloon to form the composite balloon.
US08349236B2
Disclosed are a polyethylene microporous film and a method of preparing the same. The polyethylene microporous film, which has a laminated structure comprising B layer/A layer/B layer, prepared by melt-mixing a polyethylene and an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent together at controlled mixing ratios to separately form an A layer and a B layer having different porosities, and then coextruding the A and B layers, thus exhibiting excellent mechanical properties, such as strength and elongation, and high-temperature stability. Therefore, the polyethylene microporous film is suitable for use in a rechargeable battery separator.
US08349233B2
The instant invention relates to a method for changing characteristics of a plastic component, wherein a medium is introduced into the plastic component, which encompasses a porosity and wherein the medium forms a homogenous compound with the plastic component by at least partially dissolving the plastic component.
US08349232B2
The invention provides methods for the preparation of nonwoven spunbonded fabrics and various materials prepared using such spunbonded fabrics. The method generally comprises extruding multicomponent fibers having an islands in the sea configuration such that upon removal of the sea component, the island components remain as micro- and nanofibers. The method further comprises mechanically entangling the multicomponent fibers to provide a nonwoven spunbonded fabric exhibiting superior strength and durability without the need for thermal bonding.
US08349231B2
This invention relates to a process for the production of a shaped composite material and the material obtained through that process. In particular it relates to a process for obtaining a disk of composite ceramic material for disc brakes in which the friction coefficient is varied by varying the composition of the surface layer.
US08349227B2
A motheye mold fabrication method of at least one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) preparing an Al base in which an Al content is less than 99.99 mass %; (b) partially anodizing the Al base to form a porous alumina layer which has a plurality of very small recessed portions; (c) after step (b), allowing the porous alumina layer to be in contact with an etchant which contains an anodic inhibitor, thereby enlarging the plurality of very small recessed portions of the porous alumina layer; and (d) after step (c), further anodizing the Al base to grow the plurality of very small recessed portions.
US08349220B2
An oxide sintered body substantially containing zinc, tin and oxygen; containing tin at an atomic number ratio, Sn/(Zn+Sn), of 0.23 to 0.50, and being composed mainly of a zinc oxide phase and at least one kind of zinc stannate compound phase, or being composed of at least one kind of zinc stannate compound phase; provided by a method for manufacturing the oxide sintered body by formulating an aqueous solvent to raw material powder containing powder of a zinc stannate compound, or mixed powder of tin oxide powder and zinc oxide powder, and after mixing the resulting slurry for equal to longer than 15 hours, by subjecting the slurry to solid-liquid separation, drying and granulation, and subsequently compacting by charging the granule into a mold, followed by sintering the resultant compact under sintering atmosphere at 1300 to 1500° C. for equal to or longer than 15 hours.
US08349199B2
An ink feedhole of an inkjet printhead and a method of forming the same includes an ink feedhole that penetrates a substrate and has a width that narrows in an upper direction of the substrate, wherein at least one internal wall of the ink feedhole has a plurality of steps and inclines with respect to a surface of the substrate.
US08349197B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a write pole and a trailing wrap around magnetic shield, and having a non-magnetic step layer and a non-magnetic bump to provide additional spacing between the write pole and the trailing wrap around shield at a location removed from the air bearing surface. A magnetic write pole material is deposited on a substrate and a non-magnetic step layer is deposited over the write pole. A reactive ion milling can he used to pattern the non-magnetic step layer to have a front edge that is located a desired distance from an air hearing surface. A patterning and ion milling process is then performed to define a write pole, and then a layer of alumina is deposited and ion milled to from a tapered, non-magnetic bump at the front the non-magnetic step layer.
US08349194B2
A method for manufacturing a flexible electrophoretic display device, including: providing a metal mother substrate having a first thickness, including a unit display panel region and a non-display region adjacent the unit display panel region; forming a display element in the unit display panel region; forming a groove in the non-display region of the mother substrate; cutting the mother substrate along the groove to separate the unit display panel region from the mother substrate; thinning the substrate of the separated unit display panel region; and forming an electrophoretic ink film on the unit display panel region.
US08349184B2
Sewage sludge is dewatered to a cake-like state. The viscosity of the sludge is lowered by admixing a quantity of urea, urea-ammonium-nitrate, or other nitrogen-containing material, in with the dewatered sludge. The treatment also removes pathogens, and renders the product suitable for use as a fertilizer.
US08349181B2
A filter cartridge, which is suitable in particular for purifying dental waste waters, has a housing with three different spatial regions which receive three different filter materials having different filter properties. The first filter material is preceded by a sedimentation space.
US08349178B2
The invention is a process that utilizes a device or processor that includes an elongated housing comprising a core enclosed by a magnetic component in combination with an electrical return path, which affects the electrons within fluids, thereby separating, for example, metals and organic or inorganic materials from fluids, in order to achieve desired fluid composition and properties.
US08349171B2
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating and removal of hydrocarbons and subsequent thereto a positive pressure can be maintained within the encapsulated volume by means of a non-oxidizing gas to expedite flushing of hydrocarbonaceous material, inhibit unwanted entry of oxygen into the encapsulated volume and remove recoverable hydrocarbons following the heating process.
US08349170B2
The present invention is an improved design and operation of a short contact time Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Reactor wherein the upper internal riser and a lower internal riser are in fluid connection with one another and provide an improved disengaging zone for entraining the vapors from the dilute phase area of the FCC reactor. Detailed preferred embodiments include improvements over the prior art to the internal central riser, riser termination apparatus, cyclone separators, and a coke mitigation baffle system, as well as associated improved fluid catalytic cracking processes utilizing the novel reactor design.
US08349163B2
According to one embodiment, an electroforming master comprises a patterns of protrusions and recesses formed on one major surface of an Si substrate having two major surfaces, corresponding to information for positioning of a read/write head (a preamble, address, and burst), recording tracks or recording bits. Impurity ions are doped in the surface of this patterns of protrusions and recesses. The impurity ion concentration distribution in the film thickness direction of the Si substrate has a peak in a portion from the patterns of protrusions and recesses surface to a depth of 40 nm in the film thickness direction. The impurity concentration of this peak is 1×1020 to 2×1021 ions/cm3.
US08349162B2
The present invention relates to An electronic osmotic dehydrator of electrophoresis style with a phase control using three-phase current, and more specifically, to An electronic osmotic dehydrator of electrophoresis style with a phase control using three-phase current, which can minimize an unnecessary loss of power consumed in the rotating drum itself by emboding the applying structure of the DC power supplied to the dehydrating domain of the electro-osmotic dehydrator so that a strength of the electric field generated between the rotating drum and the caterpillar may be variably controlled depending upon a sludge volume, and improving a structure of the rotating drum to which the DC power is applied, when forming an electronic osmotic dehydrator comprising a rotating drum in the cylindrical form, a caterpillar running on an endless track at a certain space from the rotating drum and two filter cloth belts for transferring and dehydrating the sludge as wound between the drum and the caterpillar, which is a continued invention of ‘an electro-osmotic dehydrator (K.R. Patent Application No. 10-2004-007759)’, ‘an electro-dehydrator of a phase control type (K.R. Patent Application No. 10-2005-009928)’, and ‘an electro-osmotic dehydrator (K.R. Patent Application No. 10-2007-046494)’ which were already filed by the applicant of the present invention.
US08349158B2
A method for pumping through an orifice of a first substrate, a first volume of liquid in contact with a first hydrophobic surface of said substrate, wherein a pressure variation between the first volume of liquid and a second volume of liquid, located in contact with said orifice and a second hydrophobic surface of said substrate, is achieved by electrowetting.
US08349152B2
The invention relates to a structure of a cathodic finger for diaphragm electrolysis cells consisting of an external mesh and an internal reinforcing and current-distributing structure provided with protrusions suitable for maximizing the contact points with the external mesh.
US08349148B2
An electrolytic mortar for fabricating galvanic anode panels is strengthened with fibers to improve green strength and resistance to cracking. Elongated reinforcing fibers are introduced into a flowing stream of mortar and deposited in multiple layers upon a platen or mold. A sacrificial zinc anode of open construction is embedded between the multiple layers to allow for electrolytic conduction between the layers and over all surfaces of the zinc anode.
US08349144B2
A sputtering cathode is generally provided. The sputtering cathode can include a semiconducting target (e.g., a cadmium sulfide target, a cadmium tin oxide target, etc.) defining a sputtering surface and a back surface opposite to the sputtering surface. A backing plate can be positioned facing the back surface of the target and non-bonded to the back surface of the target. A non-bonding attachment mechanism can removably hold the target within the sputtering cathode such that the back surface is facing the backing plate during sputtering.
US08349135B2
To effectively impart sizing performance to paper, while reducing the amounts of an internal sizing agent and aluminum sulfate, a papermaking additive comprises a mixture of an amphoteric copolymer having a hydrophobic group whose quaternization ratio is 40% by mole or more, and in which the ratio of the anion equivalent to the cation equivalent is 0.1 to 90%, and a calcium carbonate filler. The filler is one in which suitable water repellency is imparted to the filler. Hence, by adding this to pulp slurry, followed by a wet papermaking, the filler is efficiently adsorbed onto pulp fibers having anionic property, so that effective sizing performance can be imparted to the paper by using a smaller amount thereof than the internal sizing agent, while reducing the amounts of the internal sizing agent and the aluminum sulfate.
US08349129B2
The present invention provides a debonding apparatus, a system comprising such apparatus, and methods for using such apparatus or system for the removal of flexible substrates (14) post-processing without damage to fabricated devices.
US08349128B2
A method and apparatus for etching a substrate using a spatially modified plasma is provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a process chamber having a plasma stabilizer disposed above a substrate support pedestal. A substrate is placed upon the pedestal. A process gas is introduced into the process chamber and a plasma is formed from the process gas. The substrate is etched with a plasma having an ion density to radical density ratio defined by the plasma stabilizer.
US08349127B2
A wafer stage includes a first evaporator where a refrigerant circulates. The first evaporator makes up a cooling cycle with a compressor, first condenser, expansion valve, second evaporator, refrigerant thermometer, and refrigerant flowmeter. The first condenser is supplied with a heat exchange medium. The temperature of a coolant supplied to the second evaporator is measured by an inlet refrigerant thermometer and outlet refrigerant thermometer, while the flow rate of the coolant is monitored and adjusted by a flow-rate adjuster. The temperature difference in the coolant between being at the inlet and at the outlet and flow rate can be measured. Upon complete evaporation of the refrigerant in the second evaporator, the dryness of the refrigerant discharged from the wafer stage is calculated from the amount of heat absorbed from (exchanged with) the coolant, the circulation amount of the refrigerant and the refrigerant temperature to control the rotational speed of the compressor.
US08349126B2
An apparatus for etching an edge of a wafer includes a chamber, a chuck disposed inside the chamber upon which the wafer is disposed, a plate spaced apart from the wafer and disposed above the wafer, and an edge ring formed along the edge of the wafer and combined with an outer periphery of the plate, wherein the edge ring comprises a ring base spaced a distance apart from the wafer to form a parallel plane with respect to the wafer, and a first ring protrusion protruding from the ring base to insulate the edge of the wafer from a central region of the wafer.
US08349124B2
A sealing material for a honeycomb structure includes inorganic fibers, oxide sol, and inorganic particles. The inorganic fibers include at least one of an alkali metal compound, an alkaline earth metal compound and a boron compound. The sealing material has a pH of at least about 4 and at most about 6.
US08349123B2
The invention provides adhesive and sealant compositions prepared from urethane prepolymers. The urethane prepolymers are obtained by reacting the novel urethane diols, polyester polyols and polyether polyols with an excess of diisocyanate. The urethane diols are prepared by reacting excess low molecular weight diols and diisocyanates. The invention is particularly useful in end use applications such as panel lamination.
US08349122B2
A fitting for use in fusion welding mating thermoplastic components includes a weld bead chamber to capture and conceal a bead formed as a result of the fusion weld. The weld bead chamber integrates the bead into the fitting so that the joined parts have a finished look without mechanical polishing or grinding of the completed piece. A stop ledge included in the weld bead chamber prevents over insertion of a pipe or other component into the fitting. A view window in the fitting permits inspection of the finished bead.
US08349115B2
Disclosed is a method for fabrication of a patterned micro-architectural array by directional photo-fluidization of a polymer, which includes a process for formation of a micro-architectural array, the method comprising preparing a micro-fluidic device by bonding a rubber mold having a micro-pattern to a substrate, introducing a polymer solution to the micro-fluidic device, drying the polymer to form a polymer line array corresponding to a pattern of a micro-fluidic tube, inducing directional photo-fluidization by light radiation to control shape and size of the micro-architectural array, and applying metal to the polymer array having controlled structure by directional photo-fluidization then selectively removing the polymer, in order to transfer the shape of the polymer onto the micro-architectural array. Precisely controlled and various micro-architectures having different sizes as well as regular alignment shapes may be fabricated in large scale and parallel mode by transferring the foregoing controlled template onto the architecture.
US08349110B1
Defects in walls need to be repaired and need to be repaired so that the wall does not appear to have had a defect in the wall. This is particularly difficult when texture is on the wall. This method will permit texture that appears on the wall to be transferred to the area being repaired with no distinction between the originally damaged area and the original texture of the wall.
US08349109B2
Method for applying a reinforced composite material, such as a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) laminate or a steel reinforced polymer (SRP) laminate or a steel reinforced grout (SRG) composite, to a structural member. The method comprises the steps of: applying a curable adhesive to a surface of the structural member and/or a surface of the reinforced composite material, and bringing said surfaces into contact. A pre-stressing force, Pmax, is directly or indirectly applied to the reinforced composite material. The pre-stressing force, Pmax, to which a treatment length, LT, of the reinforced composite material is subjected is then decreased so that the reinforced composite material along the treatment length, LT, will be less pre-stressed than the reinforced composite material adjacent to the treatment length, LT, when the adhesive has cured.
US08349104B2
A method includes positioning a layer of adhesive between a first structural component and a second structural component, positioning a first evaluation film between the first structural component and the layer of adhesive, curing the adhesive at least partially, separating the first structural component and the first evaluation film by a relative movement therebetween, and inspecting bond line quality of the adhesive.
US08349102B2
A guide carriage for a linear roller bearing is supportable in a longitudinally displaceable manner via at least one row of rollers on a guide rail which extends in a longitudinal direction, a separate rolling surface part which includes a rolling surface for the rollers is assigned to each row of rollers, and the rolling surface part is connected via an adhesive layer to a carrier body. The adhesive layer is designed essentially planar on the back side of the rolling surface part which faces away from the rolling surface, the rolling surface part being accommodated in a recess—which has an L-shaped cross section—of the carrier body.
US08349094B2
The invention relates to dining and/or serving cutlery made of a steel material which is formed from a ferritic core with an essentially martensitic boundary layer. In the dining and/or serving cutlery of the invention, the surface hardness of the boundary layer, determined according to the hardness test according to Vickers HV 3, is thereby greater by 30 to 300% than the lowest hardness of the core, likewise measured according to Vickers HV 3.
US08349090B2
A process for removing carbonaceous deposits on surfaces of catalysts and plant parts by treating the deposits with a superheated stream of steam admixed at least temporarily with an oxygenous gas is provided, which involves, in each case monitoring the offgas CO2 content after condensation of the steam, at a temperature of at least 300° C.: (a) treating the carbonaceous deposits with superheated steam at a temperature of at least 300° C. until the CO2 content of the offgas has exceeded a maximum; (b) then, with further supply of superheated steam, commencing oxygen supply, the amount of oxygen supplied being adjusted such that the CO2 content in the offgas decreases further until it has fallen to a value of <1% by volume; and then (c) ending the supply of superheated steam and passing an oxygenous gas over remaining amounts of carbonaceous deposits until the deposits have been virtually removed.
US08349087B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes loading plural dry-etched wafers one by one in a container having a side door so as to be disposed substantially horizontally and in layers vertically therein; and blowing out a purge gas horizontally to those wafers loaded in the container for 30 sec or more after all the subject wafers are loaded in the container while the side door is open.
US08349085B2
A substarate processing apparatus capable of reducing the capacity of a space in an internal chamber. The internal chamber is housed in a space in an external chamber. A gas supply unit supplies a process gas into the space in the internal chamber. The space in the external chamber is under a reduced pressure or filled with an inert gas. An enclosure being movable and included in the internal chamber defines the space in the internal chamber with a stage heater included in the internal chamber. When a wafer is transferred in and out by a transfer arm used to transfer the wafer, the enclosure exits out of a motion range within which the transfer arm can move.
US08349084B2
An apparatus for sequential deposition of an intermixed thin film layer and a sublimated source material on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is provided, along with associated processes. The process can include introducing a substrate into a deposition chamber, wherein a window layer (e.g., a cadmium sulfide layer) is on a surface of the substrate. A sulfur-containing gas can be supplied to the deposition chamber. In addition, a source vapor can be supplied to the deposition chamber, wherein the source material comprises cadmium telluride. The sulfur-containing gas and the source vapor can be present within the deposition chamber to form an intermixed layer on the window layer. In one particular embodiment, for example, the intermixed layer generally can have an increasing tellurium concentration and decreasing sulfur concentration extending away from the window layer.
US08349082B2
Disclosed herein is a vacuum processing apparatus for performing a desired process for a substrate after establishing a vacuum atmosphere therein. More particularly, the vacuum processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, which is divided into a chamber body and an upper cover. The upper cover is configured to be easily opened away from and closed to the chamber body.
US08349081B2
A gas distributor for a CVD or OVPD reactor comprises two or more gas volumes (1, 2) into each of which opens a feed pipe (3, 4) for a process gas, each gas volume (1, 2) being connected to a plurality of corresponding process gas outlets (6, 7) which open into the bottom (5) of the gas distributor. In order to increase the homogeneity of the gas composition, the two gas volumes (1, 2) comprise pre-chambers (10, 10′, 11) located in a first common plane (8) and a plurality of gas distribution chambers (12, 13) each associated with a gas volume are provided in a second plane (9′) adjacent to the bottom of the gas distributor. The pre-chambers (10, 10′, 11) and gas distribution chambers (12, 13) associated with each gas volume (1, 2) are connected with connection channels (14, 15).
US08349076B2
A method of fabricating a freestanding gallium nitride (GaN) substrate includes: preparing a GaN substrate within a reactor; supplying HCl and NH3 gases into the reactor to treat the surface of the GaN substrate and forming a porous GaN layer; forming a GaN crystal growth layer on the porous GaN layer; and cooling the GaN substrate on which the GaN crystal growth layer has been formed and separating the GaN crystal growth layer from the substrate. According to the fabrication method, the entire process including forming a porous GaN layer and a thick GaN layer is performed in-situ within a single reactor. The method is significantly simplified compared to a conventional fabrication method. The fabrication method enables the entire process to be performed in one chamber while allowing GaN surface treatment and growth to be performed using HVPE process gases, thus resulting in a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. The fabrication method also allows self-separation of thick GaN without cracking, thus achieving a short process time and a high manufacturing yield.
US08349065B2
The present invention is related to asphalt and asphalt-mineral compositions including at least one cationic organosilicon compound selected from a group consisting of: Y3-aSi(R1a)R2N+R3R4R5X−, Y3-aSi(R1a)R2P+R3R4R5X−, Y3-aSi(R1a)R2ZX−; or mixtures thereof, wherein in each formula Y is independently selected from a group consisting of OR, O(CH2CH2O)nH, (CH3OCH2CH2O), and (CH3CH2OCH2CH2O); a has a value selected from 0, 1 or 2; n is a value from 1 to 10; R is C1-C4 alkyl; R1 is either methyl or ethyl; R2 is C1-C4 alkylene group; R3, R4 and R5 are each independently selected from a group consisting of C1-C22 alkyl wherein at least one such group has more than 8 C-atoms, —CH2C6H5, —CH2CH2OH, —CH2OH and —(CH2)yNHC(O)R6 wherein y has a value of from 2 to 10 and R6 is a C1-C12 perfluoroalkyl radical; X is chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, acetate or tosylate; and Z is pyridinium ring of formula C5H5N+.
US08349059B2
A number of pocketed apparatus for separating various materials are described. A pocketed cyclonic separator that includes a cyclone chamber, which includes interior chamber walls, an inlet connected to the cyclone chamber, and one or more pocket separators, located on the interior chamber walls, is described. A substance may be introduced through the inlet into the cyclone chamber so as to create a rotational force sufficient to generate a cyclone in the cyclone chamber. Forces generated by the cyclone will cause heavier material in the substance to move towards the interior chamber walls when in use. The one or more pocket separators define one or more pockets that trap heavier material in the substance when in use.
US08349055B2
A method of scrubbing flue gases of two or more diesel engines and a scrubber for scrubbing flue gases of two or more diesel engines. The scrubber (1) comprises scrubbing means (3) for scrubbing the flue gases, and conduits (4) for conveying the flue gases to said scrubbing means (3) to be scrubbed in the same scrubbing process. The different flue gas flows are arranged to be conveyed in separate conduits (4) all the way to the scrubbing means (3).
US08349043B2
The present application provides a turbine inlet air system. The turbine inlet air system may include a small droplet coalescer, a moisture eliminator positioned about the small droplet coalescer, and a filter downstream of the small droplet coalescer and the moisture eliminator.
US08349042B2
The present invention relates to a polishing slurry including: a colloidal silica having an average particle size of 40 nm or more; water; and a ζ potential adjusting component, in which the ζ potential adjusting component includes at least one water-soluble organic polymer selected from a water-soluble polyether polyamine and a water-soluble polyalkylene polyamine and at least one acid selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, nitrous acid and amidosulfuric acid, and the ζ potential adjusting component contains the acid at a ratio of from 0.6 to 1.4 to the water-soluble organic polymer in terms of molar ratio, and the polishing slurry has a pH of 8 or more.
US08349036B2
A system for heating and drying a quantity of coal feedstock being channeled to a gasifier includes a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the gasifier for transferring heat from an input stream to an output stream of heat transfer fluid, and a second heat exchanger positioned downstream from the first heat exchanger for receiving the output stream of heat transfer fluid from the first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger transfers heat from the output stream of heat transfer fluid to a stream of heating gas.
US08349027B2
A process which enables a plastic lenses having a refractive index of 1.7 or greater and, in particular, plastic lenses having a refractive index of 1.7 to 1.8 to be dyed uniformly to a great density without unevenness, which is, specifically, a process for producing a dyed plastic lens which comprises conducting following steps (1), (2) and (3) in this order: Step (1): a step comprising coating a substrate at 60° C. or lower with an ink comprising a sublimation dye; Step (2): a step comprising decreasing content of water in the ink comprising sublimation dye coating the substrate to 50% by mass or less of the entire ink; and Step (3): a step comprising, after placing a plastic lens in a manner such that a face for dying of the lens and a face of the substrate coated with the ink comprising a sublimation dye face each other, sublimating the sublimation dye in the ink comprising a sublimation dye coating the substrate by heating the substrate obtained after Step (2) under a degree of vacuum of about 1×104 Pa or smaller to dye the plastic lens.
US08349024B2
Provided is a hair treatment composition capable of imparting good manageability and excellent hair feel to the hair upon finishing permanent wave or hair dye treatment. The hair treatment composition has the following components (A) and (B): (A) a compound represented by the following formula (1): R1O—(PO)n(EO)m—R2 (1) wherein R1 represents a linear or branched C8-12 alkyl or alkenyl group, PO represents a propyleneoxy group, EO represents an ethyleneoxy group, n represents an average addition mole number and is from 1.5 to 5.0, m represents an average addition mole number and is from 0 to 1.0, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and (B) at least one selected from keratin reducing agents, oxidizing agents, alkaline agents, and dyes for hair dye, wherein a content of an R1OH wherein R1 represents a linear or branched C8-12 alkyl or alkenyl group is 300 ppm or less.
US08349023B2
Cosmetic hair post-treatment agent for improving washing fastness of coloring processes produced on hair and for color fixing, the post-treatment agent containing, in a cosmetic carrier, at least one acetylpyridinium derivative of formula (I) wherein R1 is a C1 to C6 alkyl group, a C2 to C6 alkenyl group, a C2 to C6 hydroxyalkyl group, a C1 to C6 alkoxy-C2 to C6 alkyl group, a carboxy-C2 to C6 alkyl group, an aryl-C1 to C6 alkyl group, a heteroaryl-C1 to C6 alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heteroaryl group, and X− is a physiologically acceptable anion.
US08349022B2
A two-part hair dye composed of a first part containing an alkali agent, a second part containing hydrogen peroxide, and a non-aerosol foamer container for discharging a liquid mixture of the first part and the second part in the form of a foam, the liquid mixture containing the following components (A) and (B): (A) a polymer or copolymer containing 70% or more mole fraction of diallyldimethyl quaternary ammonium salt monomer, and (B) an N-acylamino acid salt, an N-acyl-N-alkylamino acid salt, or an ether carboxylic acid salt, wherein, an equivalent ratio of the anion site of the component (B) to the cation site of the component (A) (anion/cation) is more than 1, and a viscosity of the liquid mixture at 25° C. is 1 to 300 mPa·s.
US08349018B2
A socket insert of a hip joint prosthesis having a spherical-indentation-shaped recess in which a spherical head of a femur is mounted. The spherical indentation has a run-in zone which ends on one side with a circular arc tangentially in an end face of the socket insert and extends on another side as far as the run-in edge. Between a start of the circular arc with a radius of the length (RE) and the run-in edge of the spherical indentation with the radius of the length (RK) the run-in zone forms a curve, the function of which is continuously differentiated twice at every point.
US08349017B2
Instruments and methods for inserting an intervertebral implant. Insertion of the implant is accomplished by grasping the implant between the arms of an insertion instrument having arms which separate from each other and close against each other onto the implant, such that the ends of the arms of the insertion instrument engage recesses of the implant. A spacer may be provided between the arms of the insertion instrument to help position the implant while held by the arms.
US08349015B2
A system for spinal surgery includes a prosthesis comprising a plurality of bone anchors which engage an intervertebral construct for fusion or motion preservation. The fusion construct comprises a spacer optionally encircled by a jacket. The motion preservation construct may comprise an articulating disc assembly or an elastomeric disc assembly. Any of the constructs may occupy the intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae after removal of an intervertebral disc. The anchors slidingly engage the construct to securely fix the prosthesis to the vertebrae. The anchors and jacket of the fusion construct provide a continuous load path across opposite sides of the prosthesis so as to resist antagonistic motions of the spine.
US08349009B2
An implant that includes titanium and has one or more surfaces which can be applied in or on a bone growth area. One or more of the surfaces are arranged with a depot for bone-growth-initiating or bone-growth-stimulating substance, in which the depot is formed by a pore arrangement in a relatively thick oxide layer on the titanium. The substance is acted on, for a considerable period of time, by one or more release functions for the substance which permit a controlled or optimized release of substance to the surrounding tissue or bone growth area.
US08349007B2
A breast implant includes an implant shell having an outer surface and defining a first fluid reservoir, and a porous membrane overlying the outer surface of the implant shell and defining a second fluid reservoir. The breast implant includes a filling tube having a first conduit in communication with the first reservoir and a second conduit in communication with the second reservoir. The breast implant includes an injection dome coupled with the filling tube and having a first fluid chamber in communication with the first conduit and a second fluid chamber in communication with the second conduit. The injection dome includes an upper end having an injection cover, a lower end including a support base, the first fluid chamber located adjacent the injection cover, the second fluid chamber located adjacent the support base, and a diaphragm dividing the first and second fluid chambers from one another.
US08349003B2
A suture locking assembly for use with a heart valve repair device. The suture locking assembly including a rim and a suture band. The rim defines a first flange and a second flange spaced from the first flange. The rim is configured to extend at least partially around a periphery of the heart valve repair device. The suture band is maintained between the first flange and the second flange. The suture locking assembly is configured to securely maintain a suture segment that is pulled from a first position to a second position relative the suture locking assembly, the second position being at least partially defined near an outer periphery of the rim.
US08349000B2
Expandable prosthetic heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, an expandable prosthetic heart valve includes a support stent comprising an expandable tubular base along an inflow end and three upstanding commissure posts along an outflow end. The three commissure posts are spaced at 120 degree intervals with gaps therebetween. The prosthetic heart valve further includes a tubular flexible member having a prosthetic section and a fabric section. The prosthetic section is connected to the three commissure posts and defines three leaflets, preferably formed of pericardial tissue. The fabric section is sutured to the expandable tubular base. The tubular base may be formed with a shape memory material and is sized for deployment with an annulus of a native aortic valve. After deployment, the three commissure posts support the leaflets above the tubular base for replacing the function of the native aortic valve. In one variation, flanges may be provided on the support stent for improving attachment of the support stent to the host tissue.
US08348988B2
An endoluminal prosthetic device for placement in a body lumen is formed by stitching stents to a graft. A first or anchoring stent is used for securing a graft made of biocompatible material that forms at least one lumen. There is also a second stent. The first and second stents each include a plurality of struts and apices between the struts. At least two of the apices in each of the first and second stents are secured to the graft by stitches. A running suture links at least one stitch of the first stent and one stitch of the second stent. The running suture linking the first stent and the second stent adds strength to the stitches and better secures the first stent to the device. The endoluminal prosthetic device may be used in an aortic vessel to treat stenoses or aneurysms.
US08348983B2
A surgical bone screw includes an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, a threaded portion on the circumference of the body, and a passage extending between the proximal and the distal ends of the body. An electrical conductor is disposed in the passage between the proximal and the distal ends of the screw body. The conductor has a first terminal at the proximal end and a second terminal at the distal end. The conductor and both of the terminals are electrically insulated from surrounding portions of the screw body. When the screw is driven into bone tissue and a stimulating current is applied to the first terminal, the current is directed substantially through the conductor to flow into tissue adjacent to the second terminal at the distal end, without shunting by other tissue that surrounds the screw body.
US08348982B2
A bone plate for use in anterior lumbar spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The exposed surface of the plate is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by locking screws threadably engaged with tubular bone anchors. The bone anchors include helical members are threaded through the bone plate and inserted into holes within the bone. The plate has a countersunk cavity including portions overlapping the locking screws. A locking cap fits in the cavity to secure the other end of the locking screws from backing-out of the plate. The locking cap includes at least two chamfered portions that cooperate with mating recesses in the countersunk cavity of the bone plate.
US08348981B2
A bone plate for securing a spinal fixation element to bone includes a base portion having a top face, a rod receiving portion and a bone anchor receiving portion. The bone anchor receiving portion includes a plurality of angled holes for receiving bone screws. At least one of the screw holes is oriented at an acute angle relative to the top face of the plate.
US08348966B2
Disclosed herein is a system for releasing a ligament. In one embodiment, the system includes a proximal handle, a tubular body, and a flexible body. The tubular body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The handle is coupled to the proximal end. The flexible body extends through the tubular body and includes a tissue cutting portion. The flexible body is longitudinally displaceable relative to the tubular body to move the tissue cutting portion between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.
US08348961B2
A surgical introducer for an implant, such as a gastric band. The introducer has a shaft portion with a longitudinal axis extending through proximal and distal sides. A guide bore extends longitudinally through the shaft portion to extend the shaft to slide over an elongated guide member. A band-pulling member is disposed on the distal side and is configured to retain the implant in a loaded position on the shaft and to pull the implant in this position across an incision, such as across an abdominal wall, through an implantation site.
US08348960B2
A technique for joint repair employing a suture/button construct and an applicator designed to securely engage a button of the suture/button construct. The button of the suture/button construct securely engages the shaft of the applicator. The suture from the button may be wrapped around a securing device (for example, a rod or bolt) located on or within the handle. The applicator with the secured button is introduced into the tissue (for example, soft tissue or a bone tunnel) and the button is passed through the tissue.
US08348950B2
An undercutting system for preparing a region between ilium and sacrum for sacroiliac fusion. The undercutting system includes an insertion apparatus and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly is operably attached to the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is movable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration.
US08348939B2
An electrosurgical device having a distal tip for creating a lesion on tissue includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are parallel for the delivery of RF energy to tissue. A sensor electrode is provided parallel to and spaced away from the first electrode a different distance than the second electrode. When the sensor electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes are in contact with tissue. The electrosurgical device can perform at least one of the following: ablating tissue, and sensing at least one selected from the group of voltage, tissue impedance, electrical conduction, conduction time, conduction velocity, and signal phase angle.
US08348929B2
An endoscopically-guided power-assisted tissue aspiration method of and system for safely removing fat tissue from the mesenteric region of a patient. The endoscopically-guided power-assisted tissue aspiration system includes: an endoscopy system having a video probe, one or more video monitors, and digital recording equipment; and a power-assisted tissue aspiration system including a powered hand-supportable instrument including a hand-supportable housing and being provided with a twin-cannula assembly including an inner cannula mounted for reciprocating movement within an outer cannula; a source of power operably connected to the powered hand-supportable instrument, for supplying power to drive the inner cannula to reciprocate said inner cannula within the outer cannula during tissue aspiration operations; and a vacuum pump operably connected to the inner cannula, for aspirating visceral fat tissue from the mesenteric region of the patient, through outer and inner aspiration apertures of the twin-cannula assembly, while the video probe is capturing digital images of fat tissue within the FOV, the video monitor is displaying the captured digital images of fat tissue being removed from the mesenteric region of the patient, and the digital recording equipment is recording the same.
US08348916B2
An individual package is provided to allow a tampon with an applicator to be handled easily. An individual package includes: a tampon including an applicator having an external cylinder and an internal cylinder, and an absorbent body housed so as to be pushed out from the applicator; and a flat bag formed by a predetermined sheet member in a elongated shape. The flat bag includes an unsealable portion formed on one side of the flat bag so as to enable the tampon to be removed therefrom; and a lid portion which is openable and closable in a longitudinal direction of the flat bag. The lid portion is disposed so as to cover the unsealable portion.
US08348902B2
An injection device adapted to the luer lock system and a syringe holder for making it is disclosed. The syringe holder for holding an inserted syringe, with a cap attached to the male luer at the tip, comprises a cylindrical barrel portion having an open distal end and an open proximal end, and a finger rest around the outer surface of the barrel portion at a position relatively closer to the proximal end, wherein a stopper means is provided at the inner surface of the barrel portion at the distal end thereof, the stopper means being designed to abut on the outer edge of the distal end of the syringe, and wherein a female-threaded sleeve extends forwardly from the distal end of the barrel portion, which is designed to surround the tip of the syringe and the cap, and wherein a proximal end cap is provided, at the proximal end of the barrel portion, which is designed to abut on the outer edge of the proximal end of the syringe, and has a bore to pass the piston rod through.
US08348895B1
The tamper evident cap assembly is structured for protective connection to a syringe of the type having a nozzle and a discharge port, wherein the cap assembly includes a body configured to receive and access to the nozzle. A flow restricting member is connected to the body to at least initially define a one piece construction. The flow restricting member is disposed in flow restricting relation to the discharge port of the nozzle. An attachment assembly interconnects the body and the flow restricting member and is structured, such as by being frangible to facilitate detachment of the body from the flow restricting member upon the body being removed from the syringe. A connecting assembly is structured for a snap-fit connection to the nozzle and retains the flow restricting member thereon upon removal of the body from the syringe.
US08348888B2
The present invention provides a bi-directional catheter with nearly double the throw in its catheter tip deflection. In particular, the travel path of each the puller wire includes a U-turn or doubling-back around a pulley which minimizes the offset angle between the puller wire and the longitudinal axis of the control handle while maximizing the travel distance of that puller wire for any given distance traveled by the pulley drawing the puller wire. In one embodiment, the catheter has an elongated catheter body, a catheter tip section with first and second diametrically-opposed off-axis lumens, and a control handle which includes a steering assembly having a lever structure carrying a pair of pulleys for simultaneously drawing and releasing corresponding puller wires to deflect the tip section of the catheter.
US08348882B2
An instrument with a covered bore for subcutaneous implantation is provided. An incising body defines a non-circular coaxial bore and includes a sharpened cutting edge that extends from a bottom distal end beyond the opening of the coaxial bore and an attachment point at a top distal end. A plunger is non-fixedly contained within the coaxial bore and slides longitudinally therein. A cover is pivotally attached at the attachment point and extends down to the bottom distal end and, when closed, the cover encloses the opening proximal to the cutting edge.
US08348877B2
Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are provided. One method involves introducing an implant into an anterior chamber of an eye such that at least a distal end of the implant is temporarily in the anterior chamber. The implant is implanted into eye tissue adjacent the anterior chamber. A therapeutic agent is eluted from the implant into at least one of the anterior chamber, a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye, and a space adjacent a choroid of the eye. The therapeutic agent can be an antiproliferative agent, an anti-inflammatory drug, or a compound for treating glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The therapeutic agent can be contained within the implant or coated on the implant.
US08348860B2
A method of making a guide wire involves butting a connection end face at a proximal end of a first wire against a connection end face at a distal end of a second wire while applying voltage and a pressing force to weld together the first and second wires at a welded portion. The welded portion forms a projection that projects outwardly in an outer peripheral direction relative to portions of the first and second wire adjacent the projection. The outer dimension of the projection at the welded portion is adjusted so that upon completing adjusting the outer dimension of the projection the projection still projects outwardly in the outer peripheral direction relative to the portions of the first and second wire adjacent the projection.
US08348858B2
A guide wire for magnetically navigating a medical device through in a subject's body comprising an elongate wire having a proximal and distal end, a portion adjacent the distal end that is more flexible than the more proximal portions of the elongate wire, and a first magnetically responsive element on the distal end of the elongate wire. The guide wire further comprises one or more magnetically responsive elements spaced apart from the first magnetically responsive element and disposed on the more flexible portion of the elongate wire. The guide wire provides for bending or deflecting the distal end of the stent, to provide easier navigation of the distal end of the guide wire and the stent through the vasculature of a subject body.
US08348852B2
A method for acquiring, externally or internally, for utility purposes a subject's anatomical heart-sound information including (a) for a selected time period, applying continuous, near-sensor-mechanical-resonance, vibratory stimulation to an acoustic sensor placed on or within the subject's anatomy, and (b) during that time period, detecting, as direct indications of heart sounds, changes in the sensor's physical resonance properties produced by heart sounds arriving at the sensor.
US08348841B2
A wireless system for neurological and physiological monitoring of a patient. The system includes a patient monitoring unit having a headcap and a belt. The headcap includes a wireless communication module, an antenna, and an amplifier. The headcap further includes at least one of a biopotential electrode, a temperature sensor, a rotation sensor, an accelerometer, and an airflow sensor. The belt includes a respiration sensor comprising a carbon nanotube-based strain sensor. The system also includes a base receiver-server unit including a wireless receiving unit, a data storage unit, and a network communications unit. The system also includes a client monitoring unit which includes a processor, a network communications unit operably coupled to the processor, and a storage medium operably coupled to the processor, wherein the storage medium includes program instructions executable by the processor for receiving and processing data from the patient monitoring unit.
US08348839B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of monitoring an environment comprising: monitoring at least one data stream wherein the data stream is a data stream in the environment; detecting a specified event from the data stream; and triggering a response to the specified event. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for monitoring an environment comprising: a receiver adapted to receive at least one input data stream wherein the input data stream is a data stream in the environment; an active listener/observer system adapted to monitor the data stream; and an interface adapted to express at least one output stream. Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-readable medium having instructions comprising: an active listener/observer routine configured to monitor at least one data stream; a detection routine configured to find specified events in the data stream; and an output routine configured to express a response event.
US08348834B2
Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device configured to be introduced into a body. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided including a cannulated elongate shaft having a distal working end with a flexible steering platform. The flexible steering platform can includes a plurality of axially aligned links and a plurality of flexible connector elements. Adjacent links can be connected using at least two of the connector elements such that flexing one or more connector elements can bend the steering platform in one or more directions. The surgical device's shaft can be configured to receive a flexible surgical instrument therein such that a working end of the surgical instrument can be received within the steering platform, thereby allowing movement of the surgical instrument's working end to be controlled through movement of the steering platform.
US08348833B2
In a method to control the movement of an endoscopy capsule in a hollow organ of a patient using a magnet system, a movement signal of the endoscopy capsule in the hollow organ is detected, that represents the time curve of the spatial position. The movement signal is evaluated to identify a periodic signal component thereof, and the frequency of this periodic signal component is identified. The magnet system is operated to exert a force on the endoscopy capsule in the hollow organ that is periodic with the frequency of the periodic signal component, and that is directed opposite to the movement signal.
US08348830B2
An in-vivo sensing device for capturing sensed data of the gastrointestinal tract, or other body lumens or cavities of a patient, and for transmitting the sensed data to a data recorder external to the patient. The in-vivo sensing device has an identifier code associated with it. The sensed data may be transmitted to the data recorder together with the identifier code so that the received sensed data can be correlated with the in-vivo sensing device.
US08348828B2
A medical apparatus which is introduced into a body includes an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the interior of the body, a communication cable that sends/receives a signal to/from an external device, an electric terminal section disposed at an end section of the communication cable, a drip-proof cap attached so as to cover the electric terminal section, a locking section provided at the drip-proof cap that locks a puncture needle for pulling the communication cable introduced into the body out of the body, and a dissection section provided at the drip-proof cap that dissects a body wall tissue when the cable wire is pulled out.
US08348826B2
A surgical implant includes an inflatable element that is inflatable responsive to fluid pressure; a tank for fluid under pressure in communication with the inflatable element to regulate the pressure of the element; a manually controlled pump in communication firstly with the inflatable element via a one-way check valve, and secondly with the tank via a one-way check valve; and a control unit incorporating the tank and the manual pump. The control unit presents a through opening for the fluid, the opening being in communication firstly on the inside of the control unit with the tank and the manual pump, and secondly on the outside of the control unit solely with the inflatable elements via a catheter mounted between the inflatable element and the control unit. The tank is formed by a leaktight chamber of fluid under pressure defined by a movable piston elastically biased by a spring.
US08348825B2
A brachytherapy apparatus includes a distal support member and a proximal support member movable relative to the distal support member. The apparatus includes a plurality of elongate treatment members having distal first locations coupled to the distal support member, proximal second locations coupled to the proximal support member, and pathways between the proximal second locations and the distal first locations adapted to receive one or more radiation sources. Each of the treatment members is movable between a generally straight configuration and a curvilinear configuration. An expandable member encloses and provides a spatial volume for the plurality of the treatment members and is adjustable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration.
US08348822B1
A packing structure, which consists of pliant border having a length, and strips of pliant material attached to the border along the length thereof. The border is attached to itself at a plurality of spaced-apart points forming a lattice, which constitutes a supporting base for the strips of pliant material.
US08348812B2
An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise is disclosed having a platform and a plurality of support elements. The support elements include a downwardly arcuate notch or channel for receiving a sidewall or endwall of the platform, allowing the platform to be arranged in multiple angled orientations.
US08348810B2
A movement device for flexing and/or straightening a joint of a user includes a first anchor element adapted to be positioned adjacent a jointed appendage of a user at a first position. A second anchor element is adapted to be positioned about the jointed appendage at a second position, wherein the jointed appendage is located between the first anchor element and the second anchor element. A spring member is positioned between the first and second anchor elements wherein the spring member is fixedly secured to the second anchor element and moveable through the first anchor element to thereby allow the spring member to bend about a joint of the appendage when said appendage is flexed. The spring member is configured to exert bending forces in opposition to working muscles of the user to straighten or flex the joint of the appendage. To minimize discomfort, an intermediary support device is disposed between the first anchor element and the second anchor element which prevents the spring member from contacting the joint of the user.
US08348804B2
A power train is provided having a power source for generating a power output. The power train also has a power storage device for storing and distributing power. The power train further has a controller configured to cause the distribution of power from the power storage device for assisting the power source when the rate of fuel entering the power source is above a threshold fuel rate. The threshold fuel rate is a fuel rate at which, assisting the power source increases the efficiency of the power train.
US08348803B2
A planetary reduction gear apparatus has a sun gear having external teeth; planetary gears, each having external teeth and configured to be meshed with the sun gear; planetary shafts, each being a rotation shaft of the planetary gear; a ring gear having internal teeth and configured to be meshed with the planetary gears; and a planetary carrier including an annular base plate and an annular back plate. The planetary carrier supports the planetary shafts between the annular base plate and the annular back plate and determines a relative position between planetary gears. The annular base plate is integrally formed with one end of the planetary shaft to support the one end. The annular back plate supports the other end of the planetary shaft. At least one of the planetary shaft and the planetary carrier has lower stiffness in its part adjacent to the one end of the planetary shaft than stiffness of its part adjacent to the other end thereof.
US08348802B2
The present disclosure relates to a piston-actuated clutch assembly for a transmission. Interconnecting members are integrated into a pressure plate of the clutch assembly. The interlocking members are configured to selectively interlock the piston and the pressure plate. The location of the interlocking members reduces wear on the piston and other transmission components.
US08348801B2
An electronic differential lock assembly includes a shift collar that is movable in response to an electronic signal from an unlocked position where axle shaft speed differentiation under predetermined conditions is permitted to a locked position where a pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together. Speed differentiation is provided by a differential that includes a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case. A coil surrounds the shift collar and is selectively energized to move the shift collar from the unlocked position to the locked position. The shift collar is splined to one of the axle shafts and is selectively splined to the differential case to lock the axle shafts together. The electronic differential lock assembly includes a return spring that automatically disengages the shift collar from the differential case once the coil is no longer energized.
US08348793B2
This invention describes a compact, light weight, durable, quiet in operation, economical, chain tensioning device with means for controlling chain slack between two drive sprockets, found in all terrain vehicles or the like. The assembly comprises a chain tensioning device which is spaced between the two drive sprockets. The chain tensioning device is easy to assemble, install and adjust. The device exerts a modest pre-load tension pressure, requires infrequent adjustment and is suitable for reversed loads.
US08348788B2
In one example, a basketball system includes a basketball goal, a support structure, a connecting structure connecting the basketball goal and the support structure, and a height adjustment mechanism connected to the support structure and the connecting structure. The height adjustment mechanism includes: a biasing mechanism connected at least indirectly to the connecting structure and including a locking pin movable between a first position where the biasing mechanism is locked and a second position where the biasing mechanism is unlocked; and, a handle including an outer surface configured such that rotation of the handle results in a corresponding linear movement of the locking pin as the outer surface slidingly engages the locking pin. The height adjustment mechanism is configured such that a single movement of the handle is sufficient to effect both unlocking of the biasing mechanism and adjustment of a height of the basketball goal.
US08348786B2
An iron-type golf club head is assembled from a front component (4) made of a metal material having a specific gravity ρ1, a rear component (5) made of a fiber reinforced resin having a specific gravity ρ2 lower than the specific gravity ρ1, a toe-side component (6) made of a metal material having a specific gravity ρ3 higher than the specific gravity ρ1, and a heel-side component (7) made of a metal material having a specific gravity ρ4 higher than the specific gravity ρ1.
US08348778B2
The present invention relates to a feed unit 10 mounted at one side of an interior of a body 1 so as to feed a golf ball 40 and an adjustment unit 20 mounted at an other side of the interior of the body 1 so as to adjust a height of a golf tee 30, wherein the feed unit 10 includes: a main body 11, a pulley 14, movable plates 15, and a feed motor 18. The adjustment unit 20includes: an upper plate 21, a lower plate 22, a support rod 23, guide rods 24, an elevating board 25, golf tee 30, gears 26a, 26b, a stepping motor 27, a power gear 28, and a timing belt 29whereby the golf ball 40 dispensed through the outlet port 13 of the feed unit 10 is teed up on the golf tee 30 of the adjustment unit 20.
US08348775B1
An amusement apparatus includes an elongate member having an upper extremity formed with a leveraging arm and an opposed lower extremity formed with a pivot point. A seat to receive a child in a sitting position is mounted to the elongate member for rotation thereabout between the opposed upper and lower extremities, and a handlebar available to be taken up by hand by a child seated on the seat is mounted to the elongate member for rotation thereabout between the seat and the upper extremity. The leveraging arm extends outwardly from the upper extremity to a handled end positioned above the seat. The elongate leveraging arm is available to be taken up at the handled end to reciprocally pivot the elongate member at the pivot point of the lower extremity of the elongate member to impart rotation to the seat about the elongate member.
US08348769B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a printed circuit board that is part of a wagering game machine. The printed circuit board includes a processor operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game. The printed circuit board also includes a hard drive mount that includes an alignment guide and a blind mate connector for electrically coupling a hard drive to a surface mount connection on the printed circuit board. The hard drive is to store wagering game data for the wagering game.
US08348752B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may operate, for example, according to a method for receiving a request to coordinate execution of a gaming application between a communication device and at least one device remotely located from the communication device, selecting a game rendering server from a plurality of game rendering servers according to a determination of at least one characteristic of the communication device, and instructing the game rendering server to transmit a stream associated with the gaming application responsive to determining that the communication device is unable to execute in whole or in part the gaming application from local computing resources of the communication device. The method can further include coordinating an exchange of first control information and second control information between the communication device and the at least one device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08348751B2
A bill acceptor 24.2 for a gaming machine includes a receiving zone for receiving a tendered bill. A sensing device 48 is arranged at an input region of the receiving zone for sensing at least one characteristic of the bill A controller 52 is in communication with the sensing device 48 for receiving an output signal from the sensing device 48. An annunciator 58 is controlled by the controller 52 to be activated when a bill acceptance rate of the controller 52 drops below a predetermined threshold.
US08348749B1
A device that incorporates a random number generator that is to industry standards and can be configured and used for card games or electronic slot devices adding extra bonus betting that is electronically set to accept a wager on any hand of Poker, Blackjack, Pontoon, Craps, Roulette, Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, Stud Poker, Pai Gow, Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Draw Poker, Community Card Poker. This device is an extra-added bonus payout system coupled to any casino game existing on any casino floor. This device is also used for accumulated giveaways hooked to electronic displays and sports betting by accumulating a percent of the amount wagered and allowing the player's who are in on the jackpot to share in the jackpot with other players. This device is also used for separate betting functions by players to win a major jackpot individually and separately from existing bonus payout games on a casino gaming floor.
US08348748B2
Users of a betting exchange system are permitted to bet on poker and other games in which the game has a number of rounds. For a Texas Holdem poker game, each round allows users to submit bets backing and laying one or more hands of cards during a betting window between game transitions, which result in the display to the plurality of users of selected hole or community cards, depending on the round. After each transition, the hands are evaluated to determine if there are any winners or losers and further betting on selected hands may be permitted, or the game may proceed to settlement.
US08348747B2
A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface.
US08348729B2
A method for processing a carcass part of slaughtered poultry includes performing a process on the carcass part using a processing device, in which the carcass part has a predefined position and orientation in relation to the processing device, during the processing at least a harvestable part of the carcass part is separated from the rest of the carcass part, conveying the harvestable part to a tray using a feed device, where the orientation of the harvestable part relative to the feed device is known beforehand based on the orientation of the harvestable part relative to the processing device, and depositing the harvestable part of the carcass part in the tray in a predefined position and in a predefined orientation.
US08348722B2
A mower blade sharpening device comprising a guide body having a sharpening rod guide, a sharpening rod having a sharpener end, and an operator end. The sharpening rod is disposed in the sharpening rod guide. A sharpener is disposed on the sharpener end of the sharpening rod. Also disclosed is a method for sharpening a mower blade using the sharpening device.
US08348719B2
Embodiments of a polisher for chemical mechanical planarization. The polisher includes a polishing pad structure containing a first reactant therein, and a second reactant in a polishing environment over the polishing pad structure. The first reactant and the second reactant react endothermically upon contact when polishing a wafer surface between the polishing pad structure and the polishing environment.
US08348715B2
A transformable toy which is transformed without any direct touching by a user, displays visual information that is invisible before the form of the toy is changed, and has a game element in addition to the form change is provided. A transformable toy reversibly transformed between a first form and a second form includes a toy main body which changes its form to form the first form and the second form, a restricting mechanism which restricts the form change of the toy main body, and a transformation activating body for detecting physical stimulation from outside and releasing the restriction by the restricting mechanism. The toy main body includes a display body having visual information thereon, and the display body is disposed at such a position that the visual information of the display body is invisible to a user in the first form while the visual information of the display body is visible to the user in the second form.
US08348712B2
A toy vehicle is disclosed. It has a main vehicle body portion and a display device rotatably mounted to the main body portion, the display device being configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect. A mechanism is also present for rotating said display device. An actuator is included and is attached to a sensor for determining when the actuator is depressed. A microcontroller is in operable communication with the sensor and the display device; the microcontroller changing the appearance of at least one of the plurality of images when the sensor determines the actuator has been depressed.
US08348706B2
A power contact includes a base, a mating conductor including a mating portion electrically mating with a mating power contact and an opposite mounting portion, and a fixing member for fixing the mating conductor and the base together. The base defines a mounting hole extending along a first direction and a fixing hole in communication with the mounting hole and extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The mounting portion is inserted into the mounting hole, and defines an opening hole extending along the second direction. The fixing member is inserted into the opening hole and the fixing hole to fix the mating conductor and the base together.
US08348703B2
The present invention pertains to a connector, having a rear side and a mating side and including a housing having at least one contact receiving space and at least one non-contact receiving space, the spaces extending in a direction from the mating side towards the rear side. The non-contact receiving space is adapted for receiving a portion of a mating connector housing and has a substantially rounded cross sectional shape substantially perpendicular to the direction from the mating side towards the rear side.
US08348698B2
Male terminals are respectively provided in terminal attachment portions formed on a flange unit. Female terminals and grommets are provided for a harness. A seal lip portion to be fitted into each of the terminal attachment portions is formed on each of the grommets. In the cylindrical terminal attachment portions the male terminals are individually accommodated while being electrically insulated from each other. The terminal attachment portions are arranged alternately in two rows so that a line segment obtained by connecting the respective centers of openings of the terminal attachment portions is a polygonal line. The openings are arranged to form the Olympic symbol. At a fore-end of each of the terminal attachment portions, slits are provided. Owing to the slits, the opening is likely to be enlarged when the rubber grommet is inserted therethrough. As a result, the placement of the rubber grommet is facilitated.
US08348687B2
The present disclosure relates to a portable storage device that can communicate with different types of host devices. In some embodiments, the portable storage device receives digital media content via a multi-mode device port and exports a derivative of the digital media content (for example, a media stream) via the same multi-mode device port. In some embodiments, the device port has at least one selectively active pin which is active when receiving digital media content and is dormant when exporting a derivative of the digital media content. Alternatively or additionally, the device port includes at least one selectively active pin which is dormant when receiving digital media content and is active when exporting a derivative of the digital media content. In some embodiments, the portable storage device selects a device mode and/or communications protocol in accordance with at least one detected feature of a complementary port and/or a host. Methods for operating the presently disclosed portable external storage device are disclosed herein.
US08348686B1
A plug security structure includes a plug, a cable, a jacket, a movable cap and a key. By means of a middle block, the movable cap is slidably insertable into sliding grooves in between two upright sidewalls of a front bracket of the jacket to stop the front stop block and to have outer ribs of the elastic retaining members of the movable cap be stopped at rear end edges of the sliding grooves in the upright sidewalls of the front bracket, preventing the latch from downward displacement to unlock the plug from the mating jack and assuring a high level of network data transmission safeness. The cap has a raised portion for friction engagement with the bottom surface of the stop wall of the front bracket of the jacket, preventing vibration or displacement of the movable cap and assuring positive operation of the latch of the plug.
US08348675B2
An instructional information delivery system and method based on the storing and retrieving information via an eye-ear-body system optimizes learning. Courses are prepared and presented with help from multimedia tools that present different aspects of the instructional materials. The system and the method complement instructor-led lessons by emphasis on information delivery according to the process of attention to and retention of information by the brain. The information delivery system and method provides for multiple display screens and speakers receiving instructional information based on data that is manipulated according to a set of rules in a multimedia environment. The system allows real time feedback by instructor's input, control and override so that the lesson is flexible and responsive to the classroom if changes in the learning environment occur.
US08348666B2
A water spray intensity system for providing water to a dental workpiece based on dynamic conditions experienced by the handpiece. The dental workpiece is a dental structure, typically in the mouth of a patient. A periodic function of the handpiece may include a motion such as a periodic motion of a tool of the handpiece, the speed of the rotating tip or some measurable parameter such as the torque experienced by a rotating tip assembled to the handpiece. Instead of providing water at a constant flow rate, the periodic function of the handpiece, such as torque or tip speed, is made by measuring a parameter associated with the handpiece. The water spray intensity system then automatically adjusts the flow of water from the handpiece based on the sensed parameter or periodic function to improve cutting efficiency.
US08348665B2
An activatable dental appliance. A concave trough conforms to a plurality of teeth when placed over the plurality of teeth. A first force applying region is configured to apply a first force to at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth for repositioning the tooth. A second force applying region is configured to be selectively activated, wherein when selectively activated the second force applying region applies a force to at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth.
US08348660B2
A tooling for manufacturing by stamping parts made of thermoplastic material from a blank of the material. A hollow die is delimited by a bottom, side walls and an opening opposite the bottom, and a raised punch designed to cooperate with the die via the opening. The tooling includes at least one mobile element to cooperate with at least one recess placed in the bottom and/or side walls of the die, the recess allowing the passage of one part of the blank that is to be bent using the mobile element.
US08348651B2
A facility that is especially suited for the freezing of juices and similar products, which includes a cooling tank that supplies the product by means of an impelling pump to a freezing chamber that receives a supply of a liquefied gas at a temperature of around −140° C., preferably nitrogen, and pressurized air through an electro-valve to transform the juice into micro-drops or pellets and to freeze the droplets or the pellets inside the freezing chamber, which then exit the chamber through one or more dispensing valves, said freezing not affecting the original characteristics of the juice, in terms of its vitamin, protein and enzyme content.
US08348647B2
A scroll type compressor includes a fixed scroll having a suction opening, a movable scroll, a hermetically sealed container having an upper cap, and a suction pipe that penetrates through the upper cap and is engagedly fitted through an O ring in the suction opening of the fixed scroll at a lower portion thereof. The upper cap includes a pipe stand formed of iron at a suction-pipe penetrating portion thereof. The suction pipe comprises an iron lower suction member that is engagedly fitted in the suction opening of the fixed scroll and an O-ring groove in which the O ring is fitted, and a copper upper suction member that is joined to the lower suction member by brazing and engagedly fitted in the pipe stand. The upper suction member and the pipe stand are joined to each other by brazing.
US08348637B2
A gear pump capable of alternately distributing a fluid in two distinct utilization circuits without the need for a switch. The gear pump (1) comprises two fluid outlet ports (5, 6) connected to two fluid utilization circuits and linked to the discharge chamber (C) of the pump via an integrated commutation (7). These commutation (7) comprise two distribution circuits (50, 60), located in a fixed support plate (70), and two buffer channels (30, 40), located in the rotary toothed wheels (3), arranged so as to alternately open and close the distribution circuits according to a commutation cycle that approximately corresponds to the rotation of the toothed wheels over half a revolution.
US08348629B2
A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base housing a device for creating an air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow from the base and a mouth through which the air flow is emitted. The nozzle extends about an axis to define an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle includes a surface over which the mouth is arranged to direct the air flow. The surface has a diffuser portion tapering away from the axis, and a guide portion downstream from the diffuser portion and angled thereto.
US08348627B2
The present invention provides a hydraulic pump for use in driving a load with a control modulation system which modulates a primary control signal in order to accommodate variations in secondary changeable parameters which require control at a higher frequency or have a lower latency.
US08348622B2
The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising at least two wind turbine blade sections that include one or more strengthening structures, the ends of the strengthening structures being connected in a connection joint. The ends include corresponding connection surfaces, the one or more relevant dimensions of the surfaces being larger than the dimensions of the transverse surfaces of the strengthening structures at the ends. The one or more relevant dimensions of the connection joint are larger than that of the adjacent strengthening structure. The invention also relates to a wind turbine blade in which the at least two wind turbine blade sections include a number of substantially oblong carbon fiber strips and strips of one or further materials such as wood or glass fiber. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade section, an assembly plant for assembling wind turbine blade sections and to a method and use of such wind turbine blades.
US08348620B2
A device for axially retaining blades mounted on a turbomachine rotor disk is disclosed. The device includes a rotor disk having a plurality of slots and a flange extending radially outwards, cooperating with a bearing face of the disk to define a groove that is open radially outwards. The device also includes a plurality of blades, each having a root mounted in a slot of the disk, each blade root having a respective radial bearing face that corresponds to the bearing face of the disk and that has at least one nib extending radially inwards thereover to define a notch that is open radially inwards, and a retaining ring that is mounted against the bearing faces of the disk and of the blade roots. The retaining ring is housed in the groove of the disk, is held outwardly in the notches of the blade roots, and is constituted by a plurality of angular segments placed end to end.
US08348610B1
A ceiling fan blade covering system includes a ceiling fan that includes a plurality of fan blades. A plurality of coverings is provided. Each of the blades has one of the coverings positioned thereon. The coverings include a sleeve that has an open end, a closed end and a perimeter wall. An associated one of the blades is extended into the open end. The sleeve is comprised of a cloth material that is statically charged.
US08348609B2
A method for de-icing a blade of a wind turbine after the wind turbine has been idle for a period of time. The method includes the steps of creating a controlled acceleration condition of the blade, and subsequently creating a controlled deceleration condition of the blade, whereby ice is shaken off the blade. A wind turbine including a rotor including at least one blade, and deicing means for de-icing the blade wherein the de-icing means includes actuating means of the wind turbine and wherein the de-icing means further includes control means for performing a method for de-icing a blade. Furthermore, the invention relates to use of a wind turbine.
US08348608B2
A rotor of a turbomachine includes a rotor drum located at a central axis and a plurality of buckets secured to the rotor drum. A rotor shell extends between axially adjacent buckets of the plurality of buckets and is secured to and supported by the plurality of buckets defining a cooling passage between the rotor drum and the rotor shell. A low pressure sink is located at an upstream end of the rotor receptive of a coolant flow through the cooling passage. A method of cooling a rotor of a steam turbine includes locating a rotor shell radially outboard of a rotor drum defining a cooling passage therebetween. A flow of steam is urged from a downstream portion of the steam turbine through the cooling passage toward a low pressure sink located at an upstream end of the steam turbine thereby cooling the rotor.
US08348601B2
When changing a nozzle blade angle by rotating a drive ring, a contact load generated between an inner circumferential surface of the drive ring and an outer circumferential surface of a mount can be reduced, allowing the drive ring to rotate smoothly and reducing the amount of wear and a driving force. It is also possible to reduce an impact force, such as engine vibrations, generated at the drive ring when an external force acts, reducing the risk of damage. A plurality of notches (19) are provided at an inner rim of the drive ring (14), and, among inner circumferential surfaces (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, and 14h) located between the notches (19), when a driving force for rotating the drive ring (14) is applied, the inner diameters of the inner circumferential surfaces (14e, 14f, 14g, and 14h) where the contact load with the outer circumferential surface of a mount becomes large are made larger than the outer diameter of the outer circumferential surface.
US08348600B2
An inlet guide vane assembly includes an active control feedback system and a plurality of inlet guide vanes. The inlet guide vanes are variable between a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of inlet guide vanes is positioned in response to an output of the activate control feedback system.
US08348591B2
A device for forming stacks of piece goods batches, includes a movable transport device for transporting the piece goods batch. A feed device feeds the piece goods batch to the transport device. The transport device includes a support device which at least intermittently supports the piece goods batch and relative to which the piece goods batch can move and which can be removed essentially completely from a region located below the piece goods batch. The transport device includes at least one controllable fixing device for temporarily fixing an intermediate layer, wherein the fixing device for fixing the intermediate layer moves below the piece goods batch.
US08348589B2
A Universal Folding Boom Trailer for transporting multiple vehicles provides a safe and legal manner for towing. The trailer includes a winch for loading and unloading the towed vehicles and can act alone as a crane if desired. Further, this trailer arrangement backs up like a conventional trailer. The Universal Folding Boom Trailer provides a means for a driver to haul multiple vehicles in both directions. The driver is able to attach the trailer to a personal fifth wheel and tow any type of unit: a fifth wheel trailer, a ball hitch trailer, or a gooseneck, among others—instead of dead-heading.
US08348586B2
A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels, and below the top of the chassis frame. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height substantially lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle, an increase in payload height, and enhanced dynamic road stability.
US08348584B2
An OHT conveyer vehicle places a FOUP on first and second on platforms. A third platform can move to a position overlapping with the first and second platform by a moving device, and then to a position at which an upper surface of the third platform is above upper surfaces of the first and second platforms by an elevation device. Therefore, the FOUP is placed on the third platform. Subsequently, the third platform can move to a position overlapping with fourth and fifth platforms by the moving device, and then to a position at which the third platform is lower than the fourth and fifth platforms by the elevation device. Therefore, the FOUP is placed on the fourth and fifth platforms.
US08348582B2
A clip for a pin that extends from an outer surface of a member, the clip comprising a pin retaining portion and a clamp portion that surrounds the member outer surface, the clamp portion having a pin receiving opening therein adapted to receive the exposed end of the pin, and a pin retaining portion adjacent the pin receiving opening to retain the pin in the member.
US08348581B2
A carrier for engaging a panel and a method of making a carrier for engaging a panel are disclosed. The carrier generally includes a base portion, an attachment member disposed on the base portion which is operable to engage a panel, and a springbar disposed on the base portion. The method generally includes forming a base portion, forming an attachment member, and forming a springbar on the base portion. The attachment member cooperates with the base portion to define a maximum panel thickness, and the springbar engages panels having a thickness less than or equal to the maximum panel thickness to provide tension between the base portion and a panel.
US08348577B2
A fastener includes a threaded surface having an effective diameter. The effective diameter of the threaded surface changes along a first segment of the threaded surface. In addition, the effective diameter of the threaded surface changes along a second segment opposed to the first segment, and the change in the effective diameter of the threaded surface along the first segment is greater than the change in the effective diameter of the threaded surface along the second segment.
US08348575B2
A self-countersinking screw (10) is capable of full penetration into wood, plastic veneered wood, and cementaceous products. An alternating sequence of peripheral cutters (A, B) extend from the periphery of the underside of the screw head (11), acting in conjunction with countersink cutting edges (24) and debris receiving recesses (20). Cutter (A) has an arcuate notch (30) in the cutting face (28), cutter (B) has a rectangular notch (31) in the trailing edge. Full countersinking without tearing, cracking or dimpling of the surface is achieved.
US08348574B2
A fabricating method for the self-drilling screw has acts of forming a main section and a secondary section by punching, forming a flat drilling blade with a tapered end at a bottom end of the small diameter portion by punching, and forming a thread portion on an outer surface of the main section and a chip removal thread portion with a spiral chip removal groove on an outer surface of the secondary section by rolling. The self-drilling screw utilizes the flat drilling blade with the tapered end and the chip removal section having chip removal function to reduce the size of the drilling blade. Therefore, the self-drilling screw reduces the size of the punching die, lowers the punching force, lowers both the load of the punching die and the load of the punching machine, and lowers both the die cost and the manufacturing cost.
US08348570B2
A fastening assembly includes a connecting member, a mounting member mounted to the connecting member, and a sliding member. The mounting member includes a first fixing portion. The sliding member is slidably received in the mounting member and the connecting member. The sliding member includes a first end exposed out of the first fixing portion, and a second end slidably received in the connecting member. The second end of the sliding member is operable to be extended out of or substantially coplanar with an end of the connecting member. The fastening assembly can be utilized to mount a heat sink to a board.
US08348569B2
The one-piece cage for fixing device to an object by screwing blind to a plate or the like perforated by a square mounting hole, of the kind including that cage and, therein, a threaded part adapted to cooperate screw-fashion with a complementary threaded part to assure the required fixing, and comprising four identical radial lugs extending in two orthogonal diametral directions and whose profile is such that the resulting cross-shape can be inserted with a small clearance into the square hole, which cage is adapted to be inserted with a small clearance into the mounting hole and to bear on the edges of that hole at the end of the introduction of the cage therein, and is characterized in that it takes the general form of an elastically deformable U-shape having four lugs angularly offset at 90° to each other and adapted to receive contiguously between them the four lugs of the threaded part, the lugs being connected in pairs by two symmetrical bridges adapted to bear on the edges of the hole.
US08348568B2
A fastening structure includes first and second board-like members to be fastened, a stopping and anchoring part for latching these board-like members to be fastened, and a stopping and anchoring part holding board-like member between the first and second board-like members to be fastened. For a hole of a first inner diameter formed in the first board-like member to be fastened, and a hole of a second inner diameter formed in the second board-like member to be fastened, a smaller hole of a third inner diameter is formed in the stopping and anchoring part holding board-like member, and the impact of gap of the member in production tolerance is avoided thus enhancing the fastening function.
US08348566B2
Disclosed is a blind fastener that includes a body, a bolt and a sleeve that has an internal recess that contains an insert. The body includes a tapered ramp that the sleeve is enlarged over. Compression of the sleeve against the work piece causes the sleeve to fold at the internal recess to form an enlarged blind side head that bears against the work piece.
US08348565B2
The invention relates to a rivet (2) for connecting workpieces (11, 12), in particular a blind rivet, having a sleeve (1) with a shank (5) and a widened preformed head (13) adjoining thereto, and optionally a rivet mandrel (8) with a head (9), wherein an end of the shank (5) lying opposite the preformed head (13) if necessary can be deformed to form a driven head by drawing the rivet mandrel (8) into the sleeve (1). In order that during the placement of a rivet (2) a gap (10) between the rivet (2) and workpieces (11, 12) to be connected can be closed and a highly loadable connection can be achieved, at least one indentation (3) running axially and/or at least one slot running axially are provided in the shank (5), which indentation (3) or which slot (4) during the placement of the rivet (2) causes a radial expansion of the shank (5) of the sleeve (1) towards the workpieces (11, 12).
US08348563B2
Disclosed are embodiments for a system for securing a load to a platform such as a coil to a transport system. The system includes a frame adapted for placement on a platform. The frame includes a cradle structure for engaging the load. An inflatable bladder is placed over the load and connected to the frame. When tensioned and inflated with gas, the bladder applies force to the load to secure the load to the frame and prevent movement of the coil during transport.
US08348557B2
A milling head for a milling machine for producing synthetic spectacle lenses, comprising a rotational axis, a coupling part for tensioning into a milling spindle chuck, a shoulder which connects to the coupling part with a contact surface for the milling spindle chuck, a shaft which is connected to the shoulder and a blade collar with an outer diameter D which is connected to the shaft and which comprises several cutting plates with a radius R, wherein between the blade collar at the height of the outer diameter D and the contact surface, a free length L is provided. The measurement of the free length L in relation to the measurement of the outer diameter D and the measurement of the radius R fulfills the following condition: lLl=0.18 (lDl−2lRl)+54±a, with a maximum deviation a of 3.
US08348554B2
A dock structure, dock assembly and dock constructing method use one or more dock elements that are attachable to vertical pilings. Each dock element is a pan-like structure having a first end and a second end, a opposing side walls and opposing end walls, with one end wall disposed at each end of the element, and a floor. The side walls, the end walls and the floor form a pan-like cavity. Two cylindrical rims are disposed at the first end of the dock element, each rim forming a vertically-disposed cylindrical opening in the floor of the element and each opening being functionally adapted to receive a piling through it. Each dock element is attachable to pilings and a pair of overlapping members formed at the second end of each dock element allows adjacent elements to be attached one to another. Following attachment, each dock element is filled with concrete.
US08348553B2
Disclosed is a manufactured three-dimensional convex-concave fairing with attached vortex generators, for hydraulic structures such as bridge piers and abutments, whose shape prevents the local scour problem around such hydraulic structures. The device is a conventionally made concrete or fiber-reinforced composite, or combination of both, vortex generator equipped hydrodynamic fairing that is fit or cast over an existing or new hydraulic structure around the base of the structure and above the footing. The vortex generators are positioned so as to energize decelerating near wall flow with higher-momentum outer layer flow. The result is a more steady, compact separation and wake and substantially mitigated scour inducing vortical flow.
US08348551B2
Provided is a method for treating contaminated soil. The method includes providing contaminated soil in a soil chamber that has at least one wall, and at least one floor, at least one heater coupled to or inside of at least one of the walls and at least one substantially elongated floor heater coupled to or in the floor. At least one of the walls at least partially includes a thermally conductive material configured to transfer heat from at least one of the heaters to an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of the walls at least partially encloses an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of the walls can move between a closed position during heating of the soil chamber, and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to and from the soil chamber unencumbered by piping located within the soil volume. The method also includes heating the contaminated soil within the soil chamber to substantially reduce the level of contaminants in the contaminated soil.
US08348550B2
A system is described generally for a water capture structure that is configured to capture wave water lapping over at least one wall of the water capture structure. The at least one wall extends at least above a nominal surface water level and at least one conduit extends downward from the water capture structure. The at least one conduit has a length extending to a depth at which at least one property of water at the depth differs substantially from that of water at the surface. The at least one conduit is configured to provide thermal energy to water outside of the at least one conduit. The at least one conduit has at least one conduit wall.
US08348543B2
A connection system for connecting external devices to specified locations on a marine seismic streamer. Inner collars having raised bosses are clamped to the cable at specified locations along its length. Each inner collar forms a circular race encircling the cable. An external device is attached to a pair of cuffs in the form of C-shaped cylindrical rings each with a circular inner surface. A gap in the ring interrupts the inner surface. The width of the gap is greater than the diameter of the bosses so that the cuffs may be slid onto the collars when the gaps are aligned with the bosses. The bosses are circumferentially offset when the cable is in its normal operating state to lock the cuff and the external device to the collars. The cuffs and the external device can be installed on or removed from the cable by twisting the cable to align the bosses and sliding the cuffs onto or off of the collars. When installed, the cuffs ride on the races to allow the cable to rotate inside the cuffs.
US08348539B2
A writing pen, including a writing pen portion; a ferro rod positionable to extend from the writing pen portion; and a striker portion positionable to extend from the writing pen portion to substantially conceal the ferro rod, The striker portion has one or more striker members which may be struck against the ferro rod for generating sparks.
US08348536B2
A rotary-type retractable writing implement with an anti-drying device is provided. An upper shaft and a lower shaft are coupled together such that the two shafts are rotatable in opposite directions, and a cartridge accommodated in an intermediate connection member is movable, and an open/shut module for covering a nib opens/shuts by the movement of the cartridge so as to provide a nib-advancing path.
US08348529B2
An ink ribbon cassette includes first and second rotatable bodies that rotate with an ink ribbon held between the rotatable bodies in sandwiched relation. The second rotatable body includes a hole through which a shaft extends such that the second rotatable body is rotatably supported on the shaft. The shaft may have a circumferential surface conical toward the free end, and the hole may be a conical hole into which the conical shaft extends. The shaft may include a plurality of cylindrical shaft portions that are in line with one another and that have different diameters. The second rotatable body is formed with a plurality of cylindrical hole portions having different diameters corresponding to the cylindrical shaft portions such that the second rotatable body is rotatably supported on the shaft.
US08348528B2
A blade drive device includes: a blade; a drive source that drives the blade; and a chassis that has an opening opened and closed by a driving of the blade, and that houses the blade and the drive source. The drive source includes: a rotor that is rotatably supported; and a stator around which a coil for excitation is wound and which applies a rotational force to the rotor. The stator is formed along an inner side surface of the chassis and has a rectangular shape.
US08348526B2
A focal plane shutter device includes a shutter base plate having an opening part, a front curtain, a first elastic member, a rear curtain, a second elastic member, and a drive unit. The front curtain is movable between a first and second position to cover and uncover the opening. The first urging member is configured to move the front curtain between the first and second positions. The rear curtain is movable between a first and second position to cover and uncover the opening. The second urging member is configured to move the rear curtain between the first and second positions. The drive unit is configured to resist the first and second urging members. The drive unit is also configured to hold the front curtain at the second position when resisting the first urging member and hold the rear curtain at the first position when resisting the second urging member.
US08348520B2
An optical connector structure (C) includes: an optical fiber (100) having a laser beam entrance end to which a quartz chip (120) is integrally connected; a ferrule (200) into which a portion of the optical fiber (100) including the quartz chip (120) is inserted and which holds the portion of the optical fiber; and a receptacle (21) surrounding the ferrule (200), and including a large-diameter hole (21b) formed toward an opening and a small-diameter hole formed toward a back of the receptacle so as to be connected to the large-diameter hole. A front end portion (210) of the ferrule (200) is inserted into the small-diameter hole (21a) of the receptacle (21), and a back body portion (211) of the ferrule (200) is inserted into the large-diameter hole (21b) of the receptacle (21).
US08348517B2
A fiber optic component includes a body having at least one receptacle configured to receive a fiber optic connector, a shutter base mounted to the body at a mounting location adjacent to the at least one receptacle, and a first shutter connected to the shutter base by a first hinge. The first shutter, first hinge and shutter base are unitarily formed, and the first shutter is shiftable from a first position biased against the body and covering the at least one receptacle to a second position biased to an angularly spaced position relative to the first position.
US08348512B2
A clutch release bearing device having an interior and an exterior raceway. The exterior raceway is equipped with a ring wall being retracted underneath the path radius of an inner roller body raceway. An interior sealing device is provided, including a ring element axially supported on an inner radial wall section of the retracted ring wall.
US08348505B2
The present invention relates to a calibration circuit, computer program product, and method of calibrating a junction temperature measurement of a semiconductor element, wherein respective forward voltages at junctions of the semiconductor element and a reference temperature sensor are measured, and an absolute ambient temperature is determined by using the reference temperature sensor, and the junction temperature of the semiconductor element is predicted based on the absolute ambient temperature and the measured forward voltages.
US08348480B2
An adjustable structure for lamp stand, in which a swivel mount is fitted to the upper portion of a base, thereby enabling ends of a first bar support and a telescopic link to be pin connected to the swivel mount, while the other ends are pin connected to a second bar support. A lamp swivel component is disposed on the end of the second bar support. Accordingly, relative positions between the first bar support, the second bar support and the telescopic link can be freely adjusted, while still providing stable support to the structure.
US08348474B1
A light emitting diode light source and reflective elements are directly attached or surface mounted to a foldable connector which, when folded, forms both a light recycling cavity and an optical taper at the end of the light recycling cavity.
US08348473B2
An illumination optical system includes a prism disposed on an incident optical axis and a lens that is disposed between the light source and an incident surface of the prism or between an emitting surface of the prism and an illuminated object, at least one of the reflection surfaces being a transmission/reflection surface. Additionally, an illumination optical system includes a prism having a surface that is disposed so as to obliquely intersect with an incident optical system, that transmits a part of the entering light to be emitted therefrom, and that deflects at least part of the rest of the light in a direction that intersects with the incident optical axis to be emitted therefrom. Furthermore, an illumination optical system has a rod lens that is disposed so that a longitudinal direction thereof is inclined with respect to an incident optical axis is provided.
US08348469B2
A string light engine includes a flexible power cord, a heat sink, an IDC terminal, a PCB, and an LED. The flexible power cord includes an electrical wire and an insulating material for the wire. The heat sink attaches to the power cord. The IDC terminal is inserted through the insulating material and electrically communicates with the wire. The PCB is at least partially received in the heat sink. The PCB includes a first surface having circuitry and a second surface opposite the first surface. The circuitry is in electrical communication with the IDC terminal. The second surface is abutted against a surface of the heat sink so that heat is transferred from the LED into the heat sink. The LED mounts to the first surface of the PCB and is in electrical communication with the circuitry.
US08348468B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a light emitting device in which a semiconductor laser diode is used as a light source to emit visible light in a wide range. The light emitting device includes a semiconductor laser diode that emits a laser beam; and a luminescent component that is provided while separated from the semiconductor laser diode and absorbs the laser beam to emit the visible light. In the light emitting device, the luminescent component includes an optical path through which the laser beam is incident to a center portion of the luminescent component.
US08348456B2
An illuminating device has a solid light-emitting element module and a phosphor module joined to the solid light-emitting element module. The solid light-emitting element module has a plurality of the solid light-emitting elements. The phosphor module has a plurality of phosphor-containing parts corresponding to the individual solid light-emitting elements. Thus, a light-emitting part is provided, which has more than one kind of luminescence sources having the solid light-emitting element and the phosphor-containing part. An illumination intensity of a composite light is 150 lux or more at a distance of 30 cm perpendicularly from the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting part.
US08348454B2
A flashlight having a handle with a clamp integrated therein, so that the flashlight can be used in either hands-free or in a portable mode. The handle of the flashlight can comprise clamp arms that are biased in a closed position, and can form a clamp, which can be affixed to an object. A battery housing can be disposed between the clamp arms, or one or both of the clamp arms.
US08348453B2
A light assembly comprising a globe, an electric grid powered lighting element disposed within the globe, a solar powered lighting element disposed within the globe, a solar panel coupled to the solar powered lighting element for collecting light and generating power for the solar powered lighting element, a rechargeable power source coupled to the solar panel and the solar powered lighting element for storing the power generated by the solar panel and powering the solar powered lighting element, a first sensor for detecting an ambient light level and activating the solar powered lighting element when the ambient light level is below a desired ambient light level, and, a second sensor for detecting output levels of the solar powered lighting element and activating the electric grid powered lighting element when the output level of the solar powered lighting element is below a desired output level.
US08348450B2
A dedicated electronic book (“eBook”) reader device and a reading light are described. The reading light may be embedded in a cover for the eBook reader device. The cover may draw power from the eBook reader device and provide that power to the reading light. The reading light may be attached to the cover by a flexible connector that, when withdrawn from the cover, automatically positions the reading light to illuminate an electronic display of the eBook reader device. In one implementation, the flexible connector is made of shape-memory alloy. The reading light may be oriented within the cover such that the reading light extends from a corner of the cover at an approximately 45 degree angle from a spine of the cover.
US08348449B2
A flashlight mounting system for a helmet of the type used by firefighters. The system has a light holder which is engageable with an adaptor on or secured to a helmet. A coupling is adjustable relative to the holder at engaging teeth and grooves to adjust the light and the path of the light beam. The adaptor and holder may be manually disengaged to change the orientation of the light or to allow the user to manually use the light and reattach the light in the original position without removing the helmet in dangerous environments and other environments.Inserts may be provided to adopt the light-receiving section to various styles, types and shapes of flashlights. The system allows the user to quickly adjust the flashlight and also allows the use of the light and holder with different helmets.
US08348439B2
An enclosure of a dichroic mirror system that synthesizes a plurality of monochromatic laser beams emitted from a laser light source to output synthesized light is a structure having a dichroic mirror system lower enclosure and a dichroic mirror system upper enclosure joined to each other, and includes a light-leakage protecting structure that is formed by a convex portion formed at an end of the dichroic mirror system lower enclosure and a concave portion formed at an end of the dichroic mirror system upper enclosure engaged with each other at a joint therebetween.
US08348436B2
A light source device includes: a light source; a driving signal generating unit that supplies a driving signal to the light source; a light amount measuring unit that measures the amount of light of the light source; and a light amount correcting unit that calculates as a light amount error a difference between a target light amount corresponding to a gray-scale value indicated by gray-scale data input from the outside and the amount of light measured by the light amount measuring unit, corrects a differential efficiency by an integrated value of a product of the light amount error and the gray-scale value, corrects a threshold value of the driving signal, and outputs to the driving signal generating unit a command signal for generating a driving signal having a differential efficiency and a threshold value after the correction.
US08348424B2
This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a variable optic insert into an ophthalmic lens. An energy source is capable of powering the variable optic insert included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast molded from a silicone hydrogel.
US08348419B2
A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes a first printer to print a first type of data to a medium and to print a barcode on the medium including variable data to be printed on the medium and a second printer to print the variable data to the medium based on the barcode. The second printer includes a barcode reader, transfer location and a medium path having a fixed distance between the barcode reader and the transfer location.
US08348418B2
There is provided a transporting apparatus which includes a pair of transporting rollers including drive and driven rollers; a transporting path including a curved portion which changes a transporting direction of the transporting medium; a movable member which is changeable to a first attitude forming an outer side of the curved portion to guide the transporting medium, and a second attitude opening the curved portion not to form the outer side of the curved portion. The movable member has a guiding portion which guides the transporting medium between the pair of transporting rollers, in the first attitude, and a positioning portion which positions the guiding portion with respect to a shaft of the drive roller in the first attitude, and which is separated from the shaft of the drive roller in the second attitude.
US08348409B2
An ink including (a) a carrier and (b) a colorant comprising nanodiamond black.
US08348406B2
A fluid ink delivery system includes a receptacle positioned proximate to a plurality of inkjet ejectors, and an ink supply in fluid communication with the receptacle. Ink held in the receptacle may be withdrawn under negative pressure by a pump in the ink supply. A flow restrictor in fluid communication with the pump limits the negative pressure level applied by the pump to be less than a pressure that draws air across a porous member in the receptacle.
US08348390B2
Various embodiments provide a device having a multi-scale superoleophobic surface and methods for forming and using the device, wherein a particulate composite layer including metal-containing particulates is formed on a textured micron-/sub-micron surface of a semiconductor layer to provide device with multi-scale rough surface.
US08348380B2
A printhead cartridge for an inkjet printer is removably receivable in the printer. The cartridge comprises: a pagewidth printhead, an ink delivery system and a maintenance station. The maintenance station comprises: a chassis reciprocally moveable between a first position and a second position, and a printhead maintenance system mounted on the chassis. The printhead maintenance system is moveable by the chassis between the first position in which the printhead is maintained by the maintenance system and the second position in which the maintenance system is disengaged from the printhead. The chassis comprises an engagement formation for complementary engagement with an engagement arm of an engagement mechanism in the printer. The chassis is moveable by means of the engagement mechanism.
US08348376B2
A printer includes first and second ejecting sections of which positions of nozzles are different from each other in a sub scanning direction, and an ejecting section group. The ejecting section group includes first and second individual ejecting sections of which the positions of the nozzles are same in the sub scanning direction. When a frequency of ejecting the liquid using the first and second ejecting sections and the first and second individual ejecting sections are Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd, the first mode in which Ra:Rb:Rc:Rd is 1:1:1:0, a second mode in which Ra:Rb:Rc:Rd is 1:1:0:1 and a third mode in which Ra:Rb:Rc:Rd is 1:1:0.5:0.5 are selected on the basis of the residual amounts of the ink.
US08348373B2
A method for forwarding a firing signal within a nozzle group of a fluid ejection device includes receiving warm data and fire data. A firing signal having a firing pulse preceded by a warming pulse is received. The firing signal is conditionally modified according to of the fire data. The conditionally modified firing signal is forwarded to a particular nozzle circuit of the nozzle group.
US08348368B2
A method for arraying head assemblies of an inkjet printer and an apparatus used for the method that can reduce a period of time taken to array the head assemblies after the head assemblies are mounted in the inkjet printer by adjusting height and rotation center of each of the head assemblies before the head assemblies are mounted in the inkjet printer, and can improve array precision of the head assemblies by adjusting a position in the X direction and a rotation angle of each of the head assemblies having already adjusted height and rotation center after the head assemblies are mounted in the inkjet printer, by adjusting a position in the Y direction of each of the head assemblies and can control an ink spray time. The method includes setting a reference height and a reference rotation center; adjusting a height and a rotation center of a head coupled to a head assembly using the reference height and the reference rotation center; mounting the head assembly in the inkjet printer; and adjusting a position of the head assembly and a rotation angle of the head assembly.
US08348361B2
An additive dispenser drawer includes roller assemblies located on opposite sides near a rear portion of the dispenser drawer. Each roller assembly moves within a guide rail attached to a side of a housing. Bearing fixtures are attached to the housing near the front and act upon surfaces of the dispenser drawer.
US08348347B2
A vehicle head restraint assembly is provided with a cross member. A head restraint is supported by the cross member. A fixed locking member is mounted within the head restraint. A latch is moveably mounted on the cross member at a first latch position and at a second latch position. An actuator is mounted within the head restraint to move the latch between the first latch position and the second latch position. The head restraint is pivotable when the latch is in the second latch position. Another vehicle head restraint assembly is provided with a lateral support rod and a head restraint pivotally mounted thereon. A locking member is pivotally mounted within the head restraint. A latch is mounted on the support rod. An actuator disengages the locking member from the latch. A biasing member pivots the head restraint upon disengagement of the latch and the locking member.
US08348322B2
A utility bed includes a bed frame, bed floor, pair of carrier arms, end wall, seat bottom, and seat back. The bed floor includes first and second floor portions. The first floor portion is movably coupled with the bed frame and is movable between cargo support and seating positions. Each carrier arm includes first and second ends. The first end is pivotally coupled with the bed frame such that the carrier arms are pivotable about an axis. The end wall is coupled with the second end of each carrier arm. The seat bottom and seat back are respectively coupled with the first floor portion and the end wall. The carrier arms facilitate movement of the end wall between cargo hauling and seating positions. When the first floor portion and the end wall are in their respective seating positions, the seat back and the seat bottom cooperate to provide a rear seat.
US08348306B2
An automotive passenger restraint system of the lapbelt/diagonal shoulder belt type wherein a sensor and lookup table are used to detect the onset of a collision and provide a programmed (a) relocation of the inboard seatbelt anchor point to increase pelvic area restraint and (b) asymmetric airbag deployment.
US08348304B2
An airbag jacket activating system includes radio communications transceivers configured to make RF communications and LF communications, respectively. An acceleration sensor configured to detect acceleration of a motorcycle. An update unit configured to update an LF communications ID, to code the updated LF communications ID together with an RF communications ID, and to transmit the coded updated LF communications ID and the coded RF communications ID to an airbag jacket through RF communications. An update unit configured to store the updated LF communications ID in a case where the LF communications ID is received together with the RF communication ID. A control unit configured to cause the coded RF communications ID and an ignition signal to be transmitted through the RF communications, and to cause the LF communications ID and the ignition signal to be transmitted through the LF communications when the acceleration exceeds a predetermined value.
US08348302B2
Disclosed is an airbag module for an automobile. The airbag module includes: an airbag cushion inflated and developed by an inflow gas; an airbag housing having a cushion inlet through which the airbag cushion is inserted, accommodating the airbag cushion inserted through the cushion inlet, and made of a flexible material; and a cushion cover combined with the airbag housing to cover the cushion inlet and made of a flexible material. The airbag module also includes a reinforcing member attached around the airbag housing such that the airbag housing withstands the inflation pressure of the airbag cushion. The airbag module further includes a mounting member, made of a flexible material, combined with the airbag housing to be mounted in a vehicle and restraining movement of the airbag housing due to development pressure of the airbag cushion.
US08348286B2
A carrier for carrying a power tool may include a tool bit holder supporting at least one tool bit and a tool bit restraint device that is capable of preventing the at least one tool bit from being dropped out of the tool bit holder. The tool bit restraint device includes a tool bit restraint member. The tool bit restraint member is arranged and constructed so as to substantially uniformly press the at least one tool bit, thereby restraining the at least one tool bit.
US08348275B2
A sorting system for sorting flat objects, particularly mail items, and a method for sorting such objects. The sorting system has a discharge device and an arrangement having at least two output devices. The output devices are arranged one behind the other as viewed in a longitudinal axis. The discharge device is designed to discharge each flat object to be sorted into one of the output devices in each case in such a way that the objects discharged into the same output device form a stack. Each output device has a bottom. The bottom of each output device rises with respect to the horizontal as viewed in a rising direction. An edge appears between the bottoms of two adjacent output devices. The edge slopes downward vertically or aslant as viewed in the rising direction.
US08348266B2
The skew-feeding correcting apparatus of the present invention includes an abutment portion which is disposed to a conveying path to convey a sheet and to which a top end of the sheet is abutted to correct skew feeding of the sheet, a movement portion which moves the abutment portion in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller which controls driving of the movement portion to move the abutment portion to a position where a corner part of the sheet is not to be abutted to the abutment portion before the top end of the sheet is abutted to the abutment portion.
US08348265B2
An image forming unit may include a capability of determining whether paper conveyed through the unit is bending. In some embodiments, an amount of bending of the conveyed paper may be determined. An embodiment of an image forming apparatus may include a paper feeding unit, an image forming unit, a skew correcting roller pair, a rotary member pair, sensors, signal processing units, and a control unit. A rotary member pair may convey a sheet to the skew correcting roller pair. Sensors may be disposed at various positions along the conveying path. In some embodiments, the sensors may include transmitting units and/or receiving units. These units may be positioned such that a conveyed sheet passes through therebetween. Signal processing units and control units may allow for the determination of the bending of conveyed sheets.
US08348262B2
A document feeding device for feeding documents comprises a document input tray on which documents to be fed are placed, a document output tray to which the documents are ejected, and a feeding mechanism which is provided for a feeding path connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position and feeds each document from the document input tray to the scanning position and from the scanning position to the document output tray. The document output tray includes a tray part which holds the ejected documents, a projecting part which pushes up a part of the ejected documents on the upstream side in a feeding direction and thereby lifts an upstream end of the ejected documents, and a pressing member which makes contact with the ejected documents from above at a position on the downstream side of the projecting part's apex in the feeding direction.
US08348257B2
A retard roller of an automatic document feeder provides a frictional force to separate plural documents from each other. The retard roller can provide a first damping torque and a second damping torque with different directions. The second damping torque is smaller than the first damping torque. As such, the frictional force exerted on the document is reduced for returning the document out of the automatic document feeder. A retard roller module having such a retard roller is also provided.
US08348255B2
A disc holding apparatus including a plurality of movable holding claws, which have a holding section abutting to the outer circumference of a wafer having a notch and are arranged in the circumference direction of the wafer. The wafer is held by having each holding section on the inner edge side of each movable holding claw abut to the outer circumference of the wafer, thereby, at the time of detecting the notch by a sensor including a light source and a light receiving section, even when one of the holding sections abuts to the outer circumference of the wafer at a part where the notch exists, light from the light source is permitted to enter the light receiving section through the notch without being blocked by the holding section. Even when the wafer is held at the part where the notch exists, the wafer is not required to be correctly held again and throughput is improved with a shortened process time.
US08348254B2
This invention concerns a carpet stand for lifting carpet, containing a rigid lift tip body along its long axis, further containing a support rod and a lifting tip. The lifting tip itself lies tangent to the exterior of the rigid lift tip's body, and perpendicular to its long axis, and is shaped such that it may grip or hold onto, into the backing of a carpet. The support rod itself is sized so that it may pass through the backing of a carpet. The support rod is then inserted down through the carpet such that the lift tip will grip and raise the carpet a distance sufficient to separate a carpet from its supporting surface.
US08348238B2
A support unit for moving an object may include an elongated member, at least one suction device coupled to the elongated member for attaching to an object, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the elongated member and an attached object, and a rotating member for moving the support unit and the attached object from a departure location to a destination location.
US08348236B2
A valve is disclosed and can include a valve body having a central bore for passage of fluid there through and a longitudinal axis. The valve can also include a seal installed within the valve body along the central bore. The seal can include a first seal member having an annular ring portion and a hub portion extending from the annular ring portion. The seal can also include a second seal member including an annular ring configured to engage a distal end of the hub portion and create a sealing engagement between the hub portion and the annular ring when a compressive force is applied to the first and the second seal members.
US08348232B2
A hydraulic device includes a housing and a solenoid valve to be mounted to the housing. The solenoid valve includes a plunger and a plunger-mounting sleeve in which the plunger is mounted. The plunger-mounting sleeve includes a sleeve member and a sleeve flange having a flange portion and a cylindrical portion provided at the radially outer edge of the flange portion. The plunger-mounting sleeve is fixed to the housing by seating a flange portion of the sleeve flange on a shoulder formed on a mounting hole formed in the housing, press-fitting a mounting ring loosely fitted around the sleeve member into the cylindrical portion of the sleeve flange, thereby pressing the flange portion against a seating surface of the shoulder, and further wedging the cylindrical portion into the inner periphery of the mounting hole.
US08348230B2
The invention relates to a solenoid valve having a valve cartridge, which includes a pole core, a valve insert connected to the pole core, an armature that is axially movably guided inside the valve insert and is coupled to a main closing element, and a valve body connected to the valve insert. The valve body forms a main valve with the main closing element and is disposed between at least one first flow opening and a second flow opening. The axial motion of the armature and of the main closing element opens the main valve against the force of a restoring spring, and the force of the restoring spring closes the main valve. According to the invention, the main closing element is designed as a sliding element axially movably guided inside an inner bore of the valve body. The sliding element and the armature are connected to each other and are pressure-compensated by a compensating port. The sliding element is moveable into an open position by a linear axial opening motion of the armature, and is moveable into a closed position by the restoring spring via the at mature by a linear motion.
US08348226B2
A bracket assembly is disclosed for facilitating the installation of a concrete wall on a concrete footing, as well as a method of forming the concrete wall. The bracket assembly includes a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, and first and second upwardly extending flanges. A first aperture is formed through the base member and a sealant is positioned in the cavity. A retainer and shock absorber assembly is secured to the upper surface and an aperture is formed therethrough which is coaxially aligned with the first aperture. A fastener having a shank with a pointed end is inserted through the aperture such that the pointed end is initially encased in the sealant. The fastener is inseparable from the bracket assembly and is capable of being driven into the concrete footing.
US08348225B2
A brace for concrete forms employing first and second form elements includes at least one attachment member adapted and constructed to secure the brace to at least one of the form elements. A span member is connected to the at least one attachment member, and has a length sufficient to hold the first and second form elements apart. At least one article securing mechanism secures the article associated with the concrete form to the brace.
US08348215B1
A system for raising and lowering a ceiling fixture featuring a reel box with a cable reel and cable, and a motor connected to the cable reel. The cable extends out of the reel box and attaches to a ceiling fixture. The motor rotates the cable reel to wind and unwind the cable. A hollow female cone is connected below the reel box. The cable passes through the female cone. A male cone is attached to the cable below the female cone. The male cone has is adapted to fit inside the female cone. Electrical contact rings are disposed on the inner surface of the female cone for house wiring and the outer surface of the male cone for fixture wiring. When the male cone is in the female cone, the electrical contact rings operatively connect.
US08348200B2
Systems and methods for controlling fluid flow utilizing a synthetic jet actuator, are provided. An example of a synthetic jet actuator system includes a synthetic jet actuator including a dual bimorph subsystem to provide low, medium, and high synthetic jet velocities and/or fine flow control response, and an arc-forming subsystem to provide enhanced pressure, velocity, and mass flow performance, enhanced flow control response, and/or heating of the fluid within the bimorph chamber to extend the performance or operating margin of the dual bimorph subsystem of the synthetic jet actuator. The arc-forming subsystem includes a pair of electrodes interfaced with inner surface walls of the dual bimorph subsystem. Various configurations of power supplies can be utilized to provide simultaneous function to both the subsystem and the arc-forming subsystem to allow selective activation.
US08348199B2
A boundary layer energizer (20) for energizing a boundary layer flow (33) over a surface (22), the boundary layer energizer (20) comprising one or more passages (24) terminating in one or more respective holes (26) provided on the surface (22), wherein the one or more passages (24) comprises at least one fin (25) configured so as to generate a vortex flow in the one or more passages (24) such that, when in use, a fluid emanating from the one or more passages (24) flows in a vortex.
US08348195B2
The sleeper seats are shown in sleeping mode. Each comprises a head rest, a back rest, a seat pan or seat cushion and a leg rest, all of which move in a conventional manner when the seat is moved from sleeping mode to sitting mode. The seats also include ottomans. Further they have inter-seat dividers between the individual seats within the their column. The six seats are arranged in a chevron formation or array and two columns. All the seats in each column are parallel with each other and have central axes A set at a “herringbone” angle α to the column direction and in particular to a longitudinal axis 10 of the array.
US08348189B2
The present invention provides a device for shredding sheet material, comprising shredding means—(2) for shredding the sheet material and a feed conveyor system for feeding sheet material. The feed conveyor system comprises a suction duct (12) having an inlet (19) and an outlet (20), and suction means for sucking sheet material to be shredded from the feed location to the shredding means via the suction duct and for sucking sheet material shredded by the shredding means to the collecting location. The shredding means comprise at least one stationary shear blade (4) and at least one rotary shear blade (3), as well as drive means. The device further comprises detection means for detecting an increased risk of jamming of the shredding means during operation of the device, as well as blocking means (31) which operate in dependence on the detections made by the detection means for partially blocking the suction duct in a blocking position or releasing the suction duct in a free position.
US08348187B2
Various embodiments of a system and process for reducing the size of solid particles are disclosed. In one embodiment the system includes a cavitation processor and a comminution processor in physical communication with one another to reduce the size of solid particles. In another embodiment, a process for reducing the size of solid particles includes passing the solid particles sequentially through a cavitation processor and a comminution processor which are in physical communication with one another. Examples of solid particles which may be used in the system and process herein, include pharmaceuticals, foods, inks and paints.
US08348185B2
A shredder feeder has a first receiving post configured to receive a roll of first material, second and third receiving posts respectively configured to receive first and second rolls of second material, and a pair of guideposts that form an outlet of the shredder feeder therebetween. The respective guideposts are positioned to respectively direct the second material from the first and second rolls toward the first material from the roll of first material so that the first material is interposed between the second material from the first roll of second material and the second material from the second roll of second material when the first material and the second materials from the first and second rolls of second material pass concurrently through the outlet.
US08348183B2
The invention relates, for example, to methods for preparing a plant or animal sample for processing, i.e. for example for the isolation of nucleic acids or proteins from the sample, as well as to a pulverizer.
US08348181B2
A shower assembly having a plurality of spray modes for expelling water includes a housing having a water inflow and a water outflow. The shower assembly provides a manifold defining a cavity having a sidewall. One or more mode apertures formed in the sidewall of the cavity are in fluid communication with the water outflow. A radial mode changer provided in the shower assembly defines a hollow passageway in fluid communication with the water inflow, and further defines a plurality of recessed ports in fluid communication with the hollow passageway. The radial mode changer is rotatably received in the cavity of the manifold and may be rotated relative to the manifold to align at least one of the recessed ports with at least one of the mode apertures for providing flow from the water inflow into the water outflow via the radial mode changer.
US08348172B1
A card exhibiting enhanced detection is provided. A plurality of detector shapes that may be associated with a detection system increases detection effectiveness, while reducing adverse effects of detection systems that may be operating within a electromagnetic field environment.
US08348169B2
The invention features an image reader and a corresponding method for capturing a sharp distortion free image of a target, such as a one or two-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the image reader comprises a two-dimensional CMOS based image sensor array, a timing module, an illumination module, and a control module. The time during which the target is illuminated is referred to as the illumination period. The capture of the image by the image sensor array is driven by the timing module that, in one embodiment, is able to simultaneously expose substantially all of the pixels in the array. The time during which the pixels are collectively activated to photo-convert incident light into charge defines the exposure period for the sensor array. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exposure period occurs during the illumination period.
US08348160B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a discovery service that provides a mapping from an electronic product code to electronic product code information services that include information about an item represented by an electronic product code. The discovery service includes a database containing a list of custodians for the item and a service interface through which electronic product code information services and applications can access the entries in the list. The list includes an entry for each custodian. Each entry includes the electronic product code number, a pointer to an electronic product code information service associated with the custodian, and a trip identifier for the item. The service interface includes several services enabling traceability of the item represented by the electronic product code. Methods and apparatus, including computer program products for using a trip identifier in a discovery service are also described.
US08348157B2
Disclosed are systems and methods of dynamic remote peripheral binding. In one embodiment, such a system includes a local system (102) configured to bind a smart card reader (110) to the local system (102). The smart card reader (110) is configured to extract data from a smart card (112). The system includes a local authentication engine (120) that prompts the user for user authentication information associated with the smart card (112). The local authentication engine (120) authenticates that the user is associated with the smart card (112), is authorized to access the user credentials and extracts them from the smart card (112). A remote access client (116) module establishes a remote session (121) from the local system (102) to a remote system (104). The local system (102) unbinds the smart card reader (110) from the local system (102) and binds the smart card reader (110) to the remote system (104).
US08348156B2
A light guiding device can be used for a reader/writer device (1) for a noncontact communication medium. The light guiding device includes a light guide plate (10) which includes: a transparent main body part (17) which can transmit light inputted from an LED (9); and a protruding part (18) which is provided so as to protrude from a part of an end surface of the transparent main body part (17). A diffusely reflecting part (19) is provided on a lower surface side of the transparent main body part (17), and a first light emitting part (7) is provided on an upper surface side of the transparent main body part (17). Reflecting parts (21) are provided on an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the protruding part (18), and a second light emitting part (8) is provided at a leading end of the protruding part (18). In the case where the first light emitting part (7) is covered by the noncontact communication medium, the second light emitting part (8) makes it possible to check a light emitting state. Accordingly, the light guiding device is provided, in which the light emitting state of the light emitting part can be easily checked.
US08348154B2
Automobile, Reader and Method facilitating mobile commerce by a user of an automobile is disclosed, the automobile being equipped with a reader to be placed inside of the automobile, the reader being able to read purchasing instrument data of at least one of a contactless credit card or smart card-type credit card or NFC-enabled handset, and the reader being further connected to a wireless communication interface of the automobile, the wireless communication interface being able to transmit the purchasing instrument data to a point of sale.
US08348152B2
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records, such as user cards, to cause machine user authorization and financial transfers. Account data read from a user card is associated in a data store with instructions for displaying a customer interface uniquely associated with the particular bank where the user holds the account. The customer interface includes user-selectable financial transaction options. The arrangement enables the customer interface of the user's home bank, with which the user is familiar, to also be automatically displayed when the user operates automated banking machines of other banks.
US08348138B2
A reflow oven chamber assembly includes a housing disposed within a reflow oven chamber, heating elements disposed in the housing, and compression box assemblies disposed in the housing. The compression box assembly includes a compression box housing having an intake port located adjacent the heating element, an intake duct disposed in the compression box, and a diffuser plate disposed above the intake duct. The intake duct has an inlet opening in fluid communication with the intake port of the compression box housing and an outlet opening. The compression box assembly draws heated air into the compression box housing from the reflow oven chamber through the intake port and into the inlet opening of the intake duct and exhaust air out of the outlet opening of the intake duct to the diffuser plate. A method of distributing heated air within a reflow soldering oven is further disclosed.
US08348133B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle floor production system, in which a carrier is moved through a loop formed by a return line provided at the top of the system and a welding line provided at the bottom, and the carrier is horizontally moved by the frictional force of a horizontal movement driving means. Preferred systems can reduce the manufacturing cost and required installation area.
US08348124B2
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector and a drive assembly. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The drive assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector and includes an input portion, an output portion and a gear system disposed therebetween.
US08348117B2
A stapler selectively uses enhanced leverage to break a glue bond of a staple to separate the staple from a rack of staples in the stapler. The staple does not press a working surface during this operating stage. The extra leverage stage occurs through a minority of total handle travel, preferably via a pivoting lever linked to the striker at one end and the opposite end traversing between inner spaced apart ribs underneath the handle. A remaining non-leveraged handle travel stage ejects a staple out from the stapler body against a working surface. A track supports staples from an underside of the top of the staples. The track includes an outward extending bottom support for at least one staple on the track to prevent rotation of a short rack of staples.
US08348115B2
A vertical crack is generated at a desired position on a brittle material substrate S by making a wheel tip 5a of a glass cutter 5 move while being in contact with the substrate surface by a load which does not allow the wheel tip 5a to damage the surface, using an armature 6 applying an abrupt impact force for generating the vertical crack having a predetermined depth, to the glass cutter 5 moving on the substrate. A scribe line is formed as the vertical crack is urged to extend along a planned scribe line, due to a stress gradient exerted onto the vertical crack and occurring between a compressive stress in an irradiation area on the substrate at which a laser beam is irradiated from a laser beam oscillator 8 and a tensile stress in a cooling area made by a cooling medium released from a cooling nozzle 7.
US08348112B2
A mounting system for mounting an electronic device on a vehicle is disclosed herein. The mounting system includes a mounting bracket that can be attached to a vehicle. The mounting bracket has a first member defining an engaging member and a second member defining a keeper. The mounting system also includes a retainer attached to the electronic device and capable of engaging and rotating around the engaging member. Additionally, the mounting system includes a latch associated with the electronic device. The latch comprises a rotor capable of engaging the keeper and securing the electronic device to the mounting bracket after the retainer has engaged the engaging member.
US08348099B2
A powder allotting device comprises a supporting device, a coupling device, and a separating device. The supporting device is a base of the powder allotting device, and the supporting device is coupled to the separating device by the coupling device. The a separating device further comprises a rotary plate with a curved grooved structure, a plurality of movable valves, a scraper, and a cylinder with a plurality of T-shape grooves, and a plurality of slices. The plurality of slices are inserted into the T-shape grooves and enter the curved grooved structure, moving up and down the T-shape grooves.
US08348090B2
A bulk storage container includes a tank with a “full drain” outlet, and a coupler attached to the outlet, in which the full drain outlet and coupler utilize a metal-on-metal threaded connection to create a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The polymer coupler includes a metal insert with internal threads, and the tank includes a metal insert with external threads corresponding to the internal threads of the coupler insert. The metal inserts are integrally molded within the walls of the tank and coupler, respectively. Advantageously, the threaded metal inserts provide a rigid structural connection between the tank and coupler that is highly durable and leak resistant. In addition to the threaded fluid-tight seal, a shoulder of the coupler abuts a corresponding face formed on the tank, with a gasket between the shoulder and face to provide a secondary seal.
US08348087B2
A cold box is provided. The cold box includes an outer bag which is rectangular and has an upper opening, a lid which closes the upper opening of the outer bag, and a thermal insulator which is foldable and is detachably housed inside the outer bag. The thermal insulator is formed from a pouch-covered thermal insulation material. The thermal insulator includes a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls. Each of the side walls has a fixed part disposed adjacent to the rear wall and a turning part disposed adjacent to the front wall. The fixed parts are fixed to side faces of the rear wall, respectively, and the turning parts are rotatably coupled to front faces of the fixed parts, respectively. When the thermal insulator is folded, the front faces of the turning parts face each other.
US08348085B2
A pressure tank includes a metallic vessel, a plastic liner received in the metallic vessel, a flexible diaphragm, two connectors and a nozzle coupled to the nipples respectively. The metallic vessel includes upper and lower shells. The upper shell defines a first planar area on a side thereof and a second planar area on a top thereof. The lower shell defines a third planar area therebottom. The flexible diaphragm divides the metallic vessel into a storage space and a pneumatic room. Each of the connectors includes a nipple and an anti-leak assembly. The nipples of the connectors are mounted on the side and top of the upper shell respectively and are in communication with the storage space. The two anti-leak assemblies provide leakproof connection between the nipples and the plastic liner. Additionally, the nozzle is mounted on the third planar area to be in communication with the pneumatic room.
US08348082B2
A pull-tab sealing member includes a bottom laminate sheet, a top laminate sheet, and a tube portion. The bottom laminate sheet includes a support layer having a bottom surface facing the container and a top surface on the opposite side thereof, a lower polymer layer disposed on the bottom surface of the support layer, and an adhesive coating formed on a bottom surface of the lower polymer layer for securing the bottom laminate sheet to the container. The top laminate sheet includes a polymer support having a bottom surface and a top surface and an adhesive layer disposed on the bottom surface of the polymer support layer. The tube portion includes a polymer tubed layer secured to a portion of the top surface of the support layer of the bottom laminate sheet and a tubed tab portion formed integrally with the polymer tubed layer and secured to a portion of the adhesive layer of the top laminate sheet. The support layer of the bottom laminate sheet is secured to the adhesive layer of the top laminate sheet by a remaining portion of the adhesive layer and the polymer support layer, the tubed tab portion, and the portion of the adhesive layer therebetween form a tab portion.
US08348081B2
A retractable cover is provided. The retractable cover may include a leading cover member; and a plurality of following cover members, each of the plurality of following cover members may be hingedly coupled to at least one of the leading cover member and one adjacent following cover member.
US08348080B2
Apparatus for enclosing and containing its contents. Apparatus may include a container having wheels and a handle. Apparatus may include a top portion with a retractable cover capable of protecting the contents of the container from weather and other harmful elements.
US08348077B2
The invention relates to bodies that have a structuring with connecting elements formed around the entire girth of the body. Furthermore, the invention relates to packages including an arrangement of at least two bodies according to the invention, with the connecting elements of a first body cooperating with the corresponding connecting elements of a second body in a form-locking manner. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for producing packages from bodies. The device has an alignment unit and at least one sliding device for form-lockingly connecting the aligned bodies, with at least two bodies at a time being rotated about their longitudinal axes in order to align corresponding connecting elements of the two bodies so that they can cooperate. The invention moreover relates to a method for producing packages from bodies, whereby at least two bodies are aligned first and subsequently assembled to form a first package, with the oppositely arranged connecting elements form-lockingly interlocking.
US08348072B2
A tension-mounted pole caddy for mounting between two substantially parallel surfaces is disclosed. The pole device generally includes a first tubular body, a second tubular body, a toothed rack, a locking pawl, and a base-mounted lever for operation of the locking pawl. Preferably, the first tubular body includes a base end for contacting a surface and a telescoping end, while the second tubular body has a base end for contacting a second surface and a telescoping end coupled with the telescoping end of the first body. The toothed rack is affixed within the first body portion proximate the telescoping end, with the locking pawl within the second body and capable of movement to engage and disengage the toothed rack. The lever is coupled to the locking pawl via linkage, such that operation of the lever between a first and second position actuates the locking pawl to engage and disengage, respectively, from the toothed rack, wherein the lever is positioned at the base end of the second tubular body.
US08348066B2
A floating separating element for use in centrifugal separation of components of a physiological fluid comprises a positioning part and a separating part, where the positioning part is designed to automatically assume a position in a supernatant and a separating part is positioned at a desired location with respect to the interface between the supernatant and heavier components. In preferred embodiments the physiological fluids are blood or bone marrow aspirate, and the heavier components comprise red blood cells. The positioning part comprises the majority of the mass of the separating element and is thin so that differences in the position of the separating element with respect to the interface are small compared to differences in the densities of the separated compoments, particularly the component comprising red blood cells. A method allows red blood cells to move the separating element during decanting to ensure complete decant of the supernatant.
US08348061B2
A cosmetic container (X) has a cap (11) that is fit externally onto a container body (1), in which a cosmetic is stored, to fully cover a to-be-covered portion of the container body (1). First and second magnets (15 and 17) are disposed respectively in the cap (11) and the container body (1) so as to oppose each other in the completely covered condition and so that the cap (11) fully covers the container body (1) by the mutual magnetic attachment of the magnets (15, 17). Each magnet (15, 17) is formed into a ring in a circumferential direction and having a plurality of magnetic poles disposed alternately in the circumferential direction.
US08348059B2
The present invention is directed generally to container for reconfigurable products and, in particular, to a display package operable to display a product in multiple configurations. The display package may include product housing portions adapted to slide from a first, adjacent position, where one product portion is positioned adjacent to another product portion, to a second, separated position, where one product portion is spaced from the other product portion. The display package may include a plurality of product housings adapted to rotate with respect to each other along a common axis such that product portions within the product housings may be selectively aligned to form desired configurations of a completed, displayed product. The display package may include a stationary housing section and a movable housing section adapted to rotate with respect to the stationary housing section such that the product portions within the movable housing section may be selectively aligned with the product portions of the stationary housing section.
US08348058B2
In order to improve a hood or cover, in particular for closing storage or transporting containers for accommodation corrosion-sensitive load or freight, such that it allows quick and easy identification of the freight located in the container, it is proposed that the hood or the cover comprises an electronic memory element.
US08348045B2
The device for transporting flat objects from an output unit to an input unit has a conveyor belt with several pairs of flaps to transport flat objects in suspended fashion. A feed unit serves to convey the flat objects into the flaps from below. Each flap has a first side piece and a second side piece, which define an intermediate space for holding an edge section of the flat object. The first side pieces and the second side pieces of the flaps of each pair of flaps face each other. Each flap can be pivoted between an open position for picking up and releasing the flat object and a closed position for transporting the flat objects.
US08348043B2
An apparatus having a bill validator. The apparatus having a storage area within a housing. The bill validator operable to input bills into the storage area. The bill validator being removable secured within the housing. The removable bill validator permitting the bill validator to be removed from the housing for servicing without comprising security of the storage area.
US08348033B2
The impact absorbers having different lengths are formed by providing notches in one of opposed surfaces on front end side in a collision direction of a square pipe having a square in cross section. The three impact absorbers are disposed in a width direction while two impact absorbers are disposed in a height direction such that directions of the notches differ from each other, and the impact absorbers are disposed in integrally welded to form the impact-absorbing member.
US08348031B2
Impact attenuating/spring systems may include first and second body portions and at least one spring member at least partially included between the body portions. The spring member(s) may substantially enclose and/or be pivotally engaged with the body portion(s). The components of the impact attenuating and spring element may be arranged such that when a force is applied to the body portion(s), the spring member(s) will exert a counter force to urge the impact attenuating and spring element back toward its original orientation. The spring members may include one or more polymeric element that stretches under a tensile force. The impact attenuating and spring elements may be included in a piece of footwear or other device in a manner such that a user or a retailer (or others) can select an appropriate spring member (or portion thereof), e.g., depending on characteristics of the user or the intended use.
US08348028B2
In a pneumatic damper for slowing down movable furniture parts, comprising a cylinder and a piston movably disposed in the cylinder so as to form a displacement chamber at one side and a vacuum chamber at the other side of the piston, the piston includes a seal element which, in one end position thereof, is in close contact with the wall of the cylinder whose cross-section increases toward the opposite end of the cylinder so that the sealing effect collapses when the piston approaches its other end position and the piston includes a piston rod, which has a diameter of less than 35% of the piston diameter and sealingly extends through a cylinder end wall.
US08348026B2
A brake cylinder is provided for vehicle brakes, in particular for commercial vehicles brakes, that is equipped with a brake cylinder housing, in which a spring-loaded piston, a service brake piston, a spring-loaded spring and a piston return spring are arranged. The brake cylinder is simple to construct and extremely compact. The spring-loaded piston is in a primary chamber of the brake cylinder and is arranged between the service brake piston and a front side of the brake cylinder housing having the compressed air connections.
US08348023B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk brake having excellent responsiveness. A rotation preventing mechanism 34A prevents a rotation of a carrier 41 (one output member) in a direction causing a piston 12 to return. An internal gear 46 (the other output member) rotates by a predetermined degree to act on the rotation preventing mechanism 34A. When the motor 38 causes a sun gear (input member) to rotate such that the piston 12 moves in a return direction, a rotation of the internal gear 46 according to the rotation of the sun gear 44 releases rotation prevention of the rotation preventing mechanism 34A to the carrier 41. It is possible to release the parking brake without use of a worm gear which is used in the conventional arts for holding a thrust force (self-holding). As a result, it is possible to quickly release the parking brake, and therefore a driver can start to run without delay after parking brake release, whereby the responsiveness is improved.
US08348009B2
A steering device, in particular an electric power-steering device for a motor vehicle, comprising an axially parallel drive which has a steering gearbox housing, a steering axle, a steering element, and at least one axle steering mechanism connected to the steering element, having a motor unit disposed on the steering gearbox housing, having a servo gearbox disposed in a gearbox cover and having a control unit for the motor unit, which is disposed in a control device housing. The control device housing of the control unit is disposed on one axially parallel side of the servo gearbox, and a motor housing of the motor unit is disposed on the other axially parallel side of the servo gearbox.
US08348001B2
An agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester, has a body which includes frame parts and parts of the outer shell, a chassis having at least two drive axles which form the ground drive, and various working units and drive units, and the harvesting machine is separatable into at least one front module and one rear module which are displaceable relative to one another.
US08348000B2
Snowmobile suspension components for use in a snowmobile having a snowmobile suspension, the suspension components include at least two torlateral link arms connected rigidly at one end to a pivot shaft and at the other ends slideably received within slide bushings. The pivot shaft is connected pivotally to a frame member of a snowmobile and the slide bushings connected to a slide rail of the snowmobile suspension. Preferably the pivot shaft further including shock flanges rigidly connected thereto for receiving one end of a shock, wherein the other end of the shock connected to the slide rail.
US08347991B2
The present invention provides track assemblies and a method that allow bringing the contact patch towards the inside (the outside) of the suspension arm, by providing a asymmetric track assembly, either by lowering at least one inside (outside) support wheel relative to the remaining support wheels, or by using a belt that comprises, transversally, at least one first profile on the outer (inner) side thereof lower than a second profile on an inner side thereof.
US08347987B1
An apparatus and method for forming a borehole in an earthen formation includes a side cutting device comprised of a laterally extendable side cutting element that can be actuated from a retracted position to an extended position in which the side cutting element is selectively employed to create a larger borehole diameter in a down hole location than the remaining portion of the borehole that is closer to the borehole opening.
US08347986B2
Roller cone drill bits may be provided with pressure relief mechanisms operable to control lubricant pressure within respective lubricant systems. Each lubricant system may be enclosed and isolated from downhole well fluids. Portions of each pressure relief mechanism may be completely surrounded by lubricant to increase downhole life of associated operating mechanisms and to produced more repeatable and more reliable opening and closing of the pressure relief mechanism. The downhole drilling life of bearing surfaces, fluid seals and other supporting structures associated with roller cones mounted on support arms of such roller cone drill bits may be substantially increased. Each pressure relief mechanism may be locked in a closed position to assist with filling the respective lubricant system with lubricant.
US08347981B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a power tool with a rational placement of a dynamic vibration reducer within a tool body. A representative hammer drill embodied as a power tool according to this invention has a dynamic vibration reducer 151 which is placed within an internal space 110 located to a motion converting section 113 side of a driving motor 111 within a body 103. An inner edge of the internal space is defined by an outer edge of the motion converting section 113, and an outer edge of the internal space is defined by an outer periphery of the driving motor 111.
US08347978B2
A driving tool having a driver, a power source, a sensor and a controller. The power source selectively provides an input to the driver to cause the driver to translate along an axis. The sensor senses a condition in the power source that is indicative of a level of kinetic energy of an element in the power source and generates a sensor signal in response thereto. The controller is coupled to the power source and the sensor and is responsive to the sensor signal for deactivating the power source to inhibit the power source from providing the input to the driver when the level of kinetic energy of the element in the power source is below a predetermined threshold. A method for operating a driving tool is also provided.
US08347971B2
A method and apparatus are provided for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The pipe-holding spider that is normally mounted on the rig floor is adapted for easy disassembly and reassembly when the pipe slips within the spider are not engaged with the outer surface of the pipe string so that upon disassembly, a control line guide becomes vertically movable. The control line guide is adapted for being controllably elevated to a distance above the rig floor, thereby providing personnel access to a portion of the length of the pipe string below the elevated control line guide and above the rig floor for securing control line to the pipe string using a fastener.
US08347958B2
Acoustic monitoring is carried out using a fiber optic cable. Coherent Rayleigh noise generated by the transmission of a coherent beam of radiation through the fiber optic cable is detected, a phase of the coherent Rayleigh noise is measured and the measured phase is processed to identify an acoustic occurrence along the fiber optic cable. In certain aspects, an optical fiber serves as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor a conduit, wellbore or reservoir. The distributed interferometric monitoring provides for accurate detection of acoustic occurrences along the fiber optic cable and these acoustic occurrences may include fluid flow in a pipeline or wellbore, processes taking place in a wellbore or pipeline, fracturing, gravel packing, or production logging.
US08347956B2
Apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons comprising a joint assembly comprising a main body portion having primary and secondary fluid flow paths, wherein the main body portion is attached to a load sleeve assembly at one end and a torque sleeve assembly at the opposite end. The load sleeve may include at least one transport conduit and at least one packing conduit. The main body portion may include a sand control device, a packer, or other well tool for use in a downhole environment. Included is a coupling assembly having a manifold region in fluid flow communication with the second fluid flow path of the main body portion and facilitating the make-up of first and second joint assemblies with a single connection.
US08347948B2
Apparatus for preparing alloy sheet, comprising a container for melted alloy liquid positioned in an inductive heating coil; a liquid flow stabilization outfit comprising a barrel container with open bottom and a base board arranged below the open bottom, and the barrel container's upper part being positioned below the mouth of the container for melted alloy liquid; a quenching wheel positioned below the melted alloy liquid flown from the liquid flow stabilization outfit's base board, which carries the melted alloy liquid and spins it into strips, to make the strips become alloy sheets after collision; a transferring outfit positioned below the wheel for further cooling and transferring of the alloy sheets, wherein the quenching wheel is equipped with a means for differentiating cooling rate for various alloy sheets. The magnetic material made of these alloy sheets is good in orientation, easy for post-sinter processing, and suitable for mass production.
US08347916B2
A chemical injection line connector includes first and second couplings configured to automatically seal shut when the members are disengaged. A method for blocking contamination or pressure transfer of chemical injection lines includes securing first and second couplings to corresponding ends of a chemical injection line and automatically sealing the couplings shut when the couplings are disengaged.
US08347911B2
A vacuum relief valve is provided. The vacuum relief valve includes a body having a side wall, and a stem that is movable with respect to the body between an open position and a closed position. The stem is biased in the closed position. The vacuum relief valve further includes a first sight glass coupled to the body and configured to enable visual inspection of a sealing area of the vacuum relief valve. The sealing area includes at least a portion of said stem.
US08347906B1
A floor drain installation system includes an adaptor attached to a drain pipe projecting from the ground, a coring sleeve having a bowl-shaped upper end attached to or integral with the adaptor, and a coring plug received within the bowl of the receiver to close off the drain pipe during pouring of a concrete floor and to create a space for subsequent reception of a drain head and grate.
US08347896B2
An artificial eyelash structure includes a mounting member having a bonding portion for adhering to an eyelid and a bendable portion for enabling the bonding portion to be curved into a smoothly arched shape when bending the bonding portion upwards or downwards, and multiple eyelashes connected with the mounting member. The artificial eyelash structure is prepared by: forming a mounting member from a thin film, and then processing the thin film of the mounting member into a bonding portion and a bendable portion such that the bendable portion enables the bonding portion to be bent upwards or downwards, and then connecting eyelashes with the mounting member. A method of using an artificial eyelash structure includes the step of preparing an artificial eyelash structure having a mounting member and eyelashes connected with the mounting member, the step of bending the mounting member along the connection between the mounting member and the eyelashes to form a bonding portion; and the step of curving the bonding portion into a smoothly arched shape and then using a glue or double-sided adhesive to adhere the bonding portion to an eyelid.
US08347895B2
A massage comb is disclosed for applying ointments directly to the scalp of a person. The comb consists of an upper and a lower section with the lower section having hollow teeth with openings at the bottom of each of the teeth. The comb may be constructed of bamboo so that the ointment may penetrate through the bamboo material and apply the ointment to the strands of the hair. The upper and lower section are fastened to each other by way of dove tail system to allow easy access for the ointment to be filled into the lower section.
US08347882B2
A diving snorkel-mounted water stopper includes a sleeve unit defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced receiving chambers and a plurality of separated air valve openings corresponding to the tops of the receiving chambers; a ring-shaped housing externally located around the sleeve unit and having a plurality of air intakes formed at positions separately corresponding to the receiving chambers and the air valve openings; a plurality of float units separately disposed in the receiving chambers to normally locate below the air valve openings, and a cap closed onto a top of the ring-shaped housing. The separated air valve openings are independently controllable to open or close by the float units arranged in one-to-one correspondence thereto. When one of the air valve openings is closed, other air valve openings are not affected and air from above water surface can still be supplied via the remaining open air valve openings to a diver.
US08347876B2
A soft, flexible, floating temperature regulating and evaporation reducing cover for a pool generally comprises an independently inflatable outer ring and central portion. Holes through the central portion permit egress of air from under the central portion when the cover is placed on water. Valves for chamber and cavity are located near one edge such that the cover may be deflated by rolling from an edge opposite the valves. Top and bottom films are adapted to absorb or reflect solar radiation to heat or cool the pool as desired. Magnets on the ring condition water and attach to similar floating covers to form rafts. For holding the cover in a pool during winds, the ring can be inflated with water or in an alternate embodiment, water anchors fill with water.
US08347874B2
The inventions disclosed herein relate to frame assemblies for gas barbecue grills which incorporate structures for preventing a consumer from storing replacement fuel tanks on the grill, in order to minimize fire and tipping hazards. Because it is known that many consumers never install or even remove prior art tank blockers, the tank blocker of the present invention is adapted to serve as a function of the grill (in addition to the function of blocking a tank) or to support a component of the grill. The preferred embodiment of the tank blocker described herein is adapted to support a component of the grease management system, namely the grease drip pan. Consequently, it is believed that consumers will be forced to install or will be prevented from removing the tank blocker, lest the grease management system become inoperable (or function improperly), causing grease to spill onto the cart.
US08347861B2
In a gas engine system, air fed through a turbocharger is mixed with fuel gas flowing through a fuel gas supply line and supply into a combustion chamber is controlled. In case that the fuel gas has a low calorie or the engine output power is high, a portion of the fuel gas is diverged from the fuel gas supply line, and the flow rate thereof is set to a constant rate less than that of the diverged side fuel gas. The diverging fuel gas is fed into the combustion chamber through a divergence control valve while the remainder of the fuel gas is fed into the fuel flow control valve. In case that the fuel gas has a high calorie or the engine output power is low, the divergence control valve is closed so as to feed the fuel gas only into the gas supply main pipe.
US08347859B2
A method of calibrating throttle controls in an electronic shift and throttle system includes opening the throttle and then moving the throttle back towards a hard stop in increments. The voltage level of an electrical signal sent by a throttle position sensor is measured and recorded at each increment. An idle position is established as being where the lowest voltage level was measured when the throttle is at least 0.75° away from the hard stop.
US08347851B2
When a control valve allows communication through a fuel drain channel, fuel flows into an inner control chamber from an outer control chamber through a communication channel and flows out to a fuel tank. The fuel flow through the communication channel generates a differential pressure between inner control pressure and outer control pressure. Thus, an outer differential pressure immediately after an outer valve opening time can be set small, restraining an increase in the unburnt HC content of exhaust gas at low load, which could otherwise result from a high rising speed of an outer needle valve immediately after the outer valve opening time. An inner differential pressure immediately after an inner valve opening time can be set large, restraining an increase in the smoke content of exhaust gas, which could result from a low rising speed of an inner needle valve immediately after the inner valve opening time.
US08347846B2
A vehicle control system 10 includes a water pump 23 with an electromagnetic clutch, an oil relief device 25, an OCV 26, a water temperature sensor 31, and an ECU 11. The ECU 11 causes the electromagnetic clutch of the water pump 23 to be disengaged on the basis of the detection result detected by the water temperature sensor 31, and stops the coolant circulation. The ECU 11 instructs the OCV 26 to adjust the lubricant pressure to low by an oil relief device 25. The ECU 11 determines whether or not the adjustment of the lubricant pressure to low by the oil relief device 25 is stopped on the basis of the detection result detected by the water temperature sensor 31 when the engagement of the electromagnetic clutch of the water pump 23 continues for a given period.
US08347841B1
An internal combustion engine includes a rotary valve such that said rotary valve serves as an output shaft for said engine.
US08347836B2
A method to start an internal combustion engine having a variable event valvetrain is provided. The method includes increasing the speed of said internal combustion engine during a start from a stopped position after a request to start said internal combustion engine. The method may further include increasing an intake valve lift amount, of at least a cylinder during said start while said internal combustion engine speed is increasing. The method may further include only enabling fuel flow to said cylinder when said intake valve lift amount reaches a predetermined level.
US08347824B2
A retractable leash assembly that may be selectively carried by a user while attached to the collar or other wearable item on a companion pet and carried by the pet while not in use. The leash assembly may be connected to more than one location along the collar or other wearable item for securing the leash assembly to the companion pet. The leash assembly comprises a braking mechanism for stopping the movement of the leash in a preferred embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the retractable leash assembly provides a full-length leash and weighs less than about 85 g.
US08347822B2
An apparatus for demonstrating animal agility. The weave apparatus includes a rail with a set of members positioned on alternating sides of the rail. Each member includes a slider with a weave pole. Each slider is movable along a longitudinal axis of a corresponding one of the members with the weave pole positioned over the rail in one position. In various embodiments, the weave apparatus includes a set of releasably removable members, indicia indicating the distance the slider is from the rail, a tilting mechanism between the weave pole and the slider, and/or a set of gates.
US08347816B2
The invention relates to a feed dispenser for birds with a wear-resistant pecking area. This feed dispenser comprises a dispensing pan with a raised mid-section, that is surrounded entirely by a base plate. This base plate is built up of a plastic base material and a substantially impenetrable contiguous layer of material that is more wear-resistant than the plastic base material, for example a more wear-resistant plastic or metal. This achieves the advantage that the base plate is protected from perforation by the birds' beaks.
US08347813B2
A thin film deposition apparatus including a substrate mounting error detector, a chamber and a substrate support positioned in the chamber. The substrate support is configured to support a substrate. The substrate mounting error detector includes: a light source configured to provide a light beam to the substrate, such that the substrate reflects the light beam; a collimator configured to selectively pass at least a portion of the light beam reflected by the substrate; and an optical sensor configured to detect the at least a portion of the reflected light beam passed by the collimator. The detector is positioned and oriented to detect substrate position on a lowered support prior to raising the support into contact with an upper cover of a clamshell reactor arrangement. This configuration allows a thin film deposition process only if the substrate is correctly mounted on the substrate support. Thus, abnormal deposition due to a substrate mounting error is prevented in advance.
US08347810B2
A protective member (14) and a nozzle assembly (11) incorporating the protective member (14) are provided. The protective member (14) is for use with a nozzle (12) having a strand guide passageway (18) for receiving a strand (16) of material. Protective member (14) comprises a body (60) configured to be received in the strand guide passageway (18) of the nozzle (12). The body (60) of the protective member (14) has a passageway (63) for the strand (16) and is disposed between the strand guide passageway (18) and the moving strand (16). The body (60) of the protective member (14) is composed, at least in part, of a material having a wear resistance sufficient to resist wear caused by the strand (16) being guided thereby. Alternatively, a portion of the body (60) may be coated with a material having a wear resistance sufficient to resist wear caused by the strand (16).
US08347808B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for applying solid edible particulates to an exposed surface of an edible substrate. The apparatus includes a particulate supply, a metered dosing system, a conduit through which the measured particulates are to the edible substrate, an applicator nozzle to direct the measured particulates from the conduit onto the exposed surface of the substrate, and a vacuum system that supplies a directed stream of air to transfer the particulates from the dosing system through the conduit and the nozzle. The particulates are ejected at a velocity sufficient to cut through air currents between the nozzle and substrate, but insufficient to fully penetrate the exposed surface of the substrate, to deposit and adhere a substantial amount of the particulates in a desired pattern onto the exposed surface of the substrate.
US08347801B2
A floating support for off-shore oil production in an arctic or antarctic zone, the support being fitted under its hull with a disconnectable turret from which there extend anchor lines connected to the sea bottom and bottom-to-surface connection pipes. The hull including lateral sides extending in its longitudinal direction. The longitudinal lateral sides of the support carry respective pluralities of devices for localized destruction of pack ice, each device having a destruction tool having at least one pointed portion suitable for breaking pack ice by repeated actuation in vertical pivoting and/or translation of the tool relative to the side, the point, on moving downwards, thus bearing in localized manner against the surface of the pack ice with a force that is preferably at least 10,000 kN. The tool being actuated in pivoting and/or translation with the help of a pivoting and/or translation guide structure applied against the side of the support.
US08347799B2
A sewing machine operating device includes a plurality of operating members configured to be operated by a user with his/her foot, the operating members having respective detectors which each detect an action of the foot in a contact or non-contact manner and include at least two detectors mounted so as to be opposed to each other while the foot placed on the base is interposed between the detectors from sides of the foot, a signal output unit configured to generate an operation signal according to operation of each operating member and deliver the operation signal via a connecting mechanism to the sewing machine body, and a position adjusting mechanism configured to change a position of at least one of the operating members mounted on the base, the position adjusting mechanism including a distance adjusting mechanism adjusting a distance between the at least two detectors in an increasing or decreasing direction.
US08347790B1
A multi-purpose table including aperture disposed in a top surface and removable cups therein for playing a bean bag game and for holding items therein, respectively; a pair of compartments underneath the table surface for holding bean bags; and a plurality of spaced apart drawers having holes in which to hold cups and slots for holding poker chips.
US08347785B2
A web offset press includes several printing units through which a web passes essentially in a horizontal direction. The printed web then passes to at least one first folding unit. Each of the printing units has at least one plate cylinder and one transfer cylinder which interacts with the web being printed. An effective plate width of the plate cylinder corresponds to the print image of at least eight upright or prone printed pages in a BIN 4A format. The printed web is slit longitudinally into a plurality of web strands: A first number of these web strands are supplied to the first folding apparatus. At the same time, a second number of web strands, produced by the slitting of the same web, are supplied to a second folding apparatus for further processing.
US08347775B2
An energy dissipation assembly is provided for mounting between a fixed support and moveable support. The assembly includes a sacrificial deformation tube, a hardened cutter/deflector assembly and, optionally, a connecting cable to maintain the cutter/deflector assembly in juxtaposed coaxial alignment with an end deformation tube. The cutter/deflector assembly has a generally flattened disc shaped profile and includes a central hub, a circular support ring and one or more cutting blades. The support ring is concentrically about the hub and has an inner diameter greater than the outer tube diameter. On the occurrence of a shock force, the cutter/deflector assembly moves axial to cut/deform the deformation tube to dissipate force energy.
US08347761B2
A drive tool that includes a drive socket. The drive socket includes alternating flutes and lobes and has a conical portion. The lobes, rather than being tapered in the conical portion of the socket, are each uniform in width as they progress to an end of the socket. The fact that the lobes are uniform in width in the conical portion of the drive socket provides for better engagement with the flutes of a conical section of a fastener.
US08347758B2
A clamping device for the positional fixing of a vehicle steering column which can be adjusted in its length and/or inclination has a clamping disc and a plurality of rolling bodies, with clamping ramps for the rolling bodies being formed on the surface of the clamping disc, wherein the rolling bodies each make contact with one of a plurality of separate contact elements arranged in a common plane.
US08347750B2
A transmission generally includes a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves. A first gear assembly has a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear. A second gear assembly has a second clutch spring that holds a second set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a second output gear. The first gear assembly and the second gear assembly are configured to move longitudinally along the shaft member to a position where at least one of the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly is engaged for rotation with the shaft member when a value of torque at the shaft member is below a torque threshold value.
US08347744B2
Because a sample holder 100 is composed of a plurality of convex parts 1 provided on a top face of a base substance 2, and the plurality of convex parts 1 are spherical surfaces 1a formed of a single crystal or amorphous material, frictional wear of the sample at contact parts between a sample 4 and the convex parts 1 is reduced, thereby making it possible to inhibit particle generation. Further, because a joining layer 3 is formed of a single crystal or amorphous material, there is no defect that particles scattered on the sample holder 100 fill up it, which makes it possible to easily keep it in a clean state by cleaning, and it is possible to effectively reduce reattachment of particles to the sample 4.
US08347729B2
An apparatus is provided and includes compressed conductive elements that each have independently adjustable dimensions sufficient to provide substantially enhanced piezoresistance to a current flowing across each conductive element with each of the conductive elements subjected to compressive strain, the conductive elements being oscillated in a direction parallel to that of the compressive strain at a defined frequency such that a resistance of the conductive elements to the current is thereby substantially reduced.
US08347723B2
Disclosed herein is a sonic resonator system for use in testing the adhesive bond strength of composite materials. Also disclosed herein are a method of calibrating the sonic resonator system to work with a particular composite bond joint, and a method of non-destructive testing the “pass-fail” of the bonded composite bond strength, based on a required bond strength.
US08347722B2
Sensors affixed to various such structures, where the sensors can withstand, remain affixed, and operate while undergoing both cryogenic temperatures and high vibrations. In particular, piezoelectric single crystal transducers are utilized, and these sensors are coupled to the structure via a low temperature, heat cured epoxy. This allows the transducers to monitor the structure while the engine is operating, even despite the harsh operating conditions. Aspects of the invention thus allow for real time monitoring and analysis of structures that operate in conditions that previously did not permit such analysis. A further aspect of the invention relates to use of piezoelectric single crystal transducers. In particular, use of such transducers allows the same elements to be used as both sensors and actuators.
US08347717B2
An angular velocity sensor including a drive extension mode. In one aspect, an angular rate sensor includes a base and at least three masses disposed substantially in a plane parallel to the base, the masses having a center of mass. At least one actuator drives the masses in an extension mode, such that in the extension mode the masses move in the plane simultaneously away or simultaneously towards the center of mass. At least one transducer senses at least one Coriolis force resulting from motion of the masses and angular velocity about at least one input axis of the sensor. Additional embodiments can include a linkage that constrains the masses to move in the extension mode.
US08347714B2
The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels includes a base frame for supporting a balancing shaft, which receives the vehicle wheel. A plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring around the balancing shaft, and a plurality of pattern generators projects images onto the side of the wheel to form reference points. The light sources are split into sectors, and at least one pattern generator is arranged between two sectors of the light sources. Laser pointers may be used as pattern generators.
US08347710B2
This invention relates to a robotic exoskeleton comprising mechanical linkages that couple to one or more selected joints of a limb of a subject. The robotic exoskeleton may be provided with means for obtaining data respecting angular position, torque, and/or acceleration of at least one of the joints or the links of the mechanical linkages, and may be used for assessing, studying, diagnosing a deficit, and/or treating an impairment in sensorimotor function of a limb of a subject.
US08347707B2
Provided is a flow rate measuring apparatus which suppresses deformation of a base main body due to vibration of a pipe so as to be able to reduce occurrence of disconnection of wires due to the vibration of the pipe. The flow rate measuring apparatus includes a bonding portion (16) corresponding to a deformation suppression portion provided between an inner wall surface (17a) of a flange (17) of a base (11) and an outer circumferential wall surface (6a) of a cover (6) covering a circuit board (5), which is opposed to the inner wall surface (17a), for connecting the flange (17) and the cover (6) to suppress the deformation of a base main body (32) of the base (11) due to vibration of an intake pipe (50).
US08347699B2
At a procedure for determining at least one misfiring cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4) of a combustion engine (12) with an even number n of at least four cylinders (1, 2, 3, 4), whereby at least each cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4) is assigned to its own angle segment of a work cycle of the combustion engine (12) and whereby uneven running values (luts) are determined for each cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4), the uneven running values (luts) are evaluated with regard to the fulfillment of a condition (1., 2., 3., 4.), which is set depending on the length of the angle segment or a part or a multiple of it and which corresponds with a default misfiring pattern of the combustion engine (12).
US08347692B2
Method for rheological characterization of a viscoelastic medium, with the following steps: (a) an excitation step during which a vibratory excitation is generated in the viscoelastic medium leading to a deformation of the medium, (b) a deformation measurement step during which the deformation of the medium caused by the excitation is observed, (c) and a characterization step during which at least one non-zero power parameter y is determined such that a rheological parameter of the medium x is equal to x(f)=a+b·fy, where f is the frequency, a is a real number and b a non-zero scale parameter. It is thus possible to obtain mapping of the power parameter y.
US08347691B2
An apparatus for checking leakage from a fuel vapor processing apparatus includes an interrupting device capable of interrupting communication between a canister and a fuel tank when a pressure within the canister is negative and a pressure within the fuel tank is positive. A first pressure detecting device can detect the pressure within the canister or its equivalent. A second pressure detecting device can detect the pressure within the fuel tank or its equivalent.
US08347686B2
The present invention relates to a method of automatically calibrating a valve in a fluid flow path of a blown-film extrusion apparatus. The calibration process detects and measures a first and second pressure drop in the flow characteristic, as well as the valve position and time. The process further detects time required to achieve a steady-state in the flow characteristics. These measurements are recorded and used in calculating appropriate valve positions.
US08347683B2
Surface texturing is employed to modify the topography of one or more surfaces (radial or cylindrical) of the sealing system for a roller cone rock bit. The surface texturing results in a dimpled surface which retains additional lubricant helpful in reducing friction in the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes. Shot peening is disclosed as one method for texturing the desired surface.
US08347664B2
An adjustable archery bow lock for an archery bow with bow strings, or a limb with a cam or a pulley, includes a locking first frame with first and second rod receiving apertures there through. A lock mechanism is on the first frame with a moveable and securable locking index pin. A parallel second frame has first and second rods that are adapted to capture and immobilize the bow strings, or the cam or pulley with the limb. The rods pass through the receiving apertures. One of the rods has a series of aligned indentations, teeth or serrations. The rods are secured to the first frame with the locking index pin secured into one of the indentations or between the teeth or serrations to prevent drawing or firing of the bow.
US08347659B2
A lock mechanism for locking at least one door of a container in a closed position includes a housing, at least one lock member at least partially enclosed within the housing, the at least one lock member comprising a first lock member configured to engage a first portion of a container to lock at least one container door in a closed position, and a latching mechanism coupled to the at least one lock member. The latching mechanism includes a fluid chamber configured to hold a fluid, a piston slidably housed within the fluid chamber, and a valve coupled to the fluid chamber and configured to be in one of two states, the two states including an open state where fluid can flow through the valve in two directions to allow the piston to be moved in two directions, and a closed state where fluid is inhibited from flowing through the valve in at least one direction to prevent the piston from moving in at least one direction. The lock mechanism further includes a lock circuit at least partially enclosed within the housing, the lock circuit including memory, and a lock controller coupled to the memory and the latching mechanism and configured to receive commands related to the operation of the lock mechanism, wherein the lock controller is configured to cause the latching mechanism to be in one of the two states in response to the received commands.
US08347646B1
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a device for chilling and dispensing a beverage from a bottle is provided. The device comprises mounting rail configured to attach to a bar top structure and having a top rail plate and a rail freezing and chilling mechanism under the top rail plate. The device also includes a dome configured to attach to the top rail plate and having a dome plate, interior storage tank and a dome freezing and chilling mechanism between the dome plate and the interior storage tank. The rail freezing and chilling mechanism and the dome freezing and chilling mechanism are configured to build a layer of frost on top of the top rail plate and along the dome plate from humidity of ambient air. The dome is configured to seat the bottle in an inverted position and chill and dispense the beverage from the interior storage tank.
US08347641B2
A system for cooling a medium includes a line having coolant flowing therein, and a sub-cooling unit in fluid communication with the line. The sub-cooling unit receives a portion of the coolant diverted from the line to cool coolant flowing in the line. A method of cooling a medium is further disclosed.
US08347640B2
A dehumidifier includes an air flow path with first, second and third segments in series from upstream to downstream and passing ambient air respectively to an evaporator coil then to a condenser coil and then discharging same. The air flow path has a fourth segment passing ambient air to the condenser coil in parallel with the noted second air flow path segment. A bypass door is configured to selectively block air flow along the fourth segment and allow air flow along the fourth segment.
US08347635B2
A gas turbine engine mid turbine frame apparatus includes a an inner case supporting a bearing, an outer case to which the inner case is mounted, and an apparatus for radially positioning one relative to the other, the apparatus including a plurality of radial locators extending outwardly of the outer case and an associated locking apparatus. The locking apparatus is mounted adjacent to but independent of the locators and provides for anti-rotation of the radial locators once installed.
US08347634B1
A combined cycle power plant with a gas turbine engine integrated with a dirty fuel combustor in the turbine exhaust and the hot gas stream from the dirty combustor is mixed together and then passed through a heat recovery steam generator to produce steam, the steam being passed through a steam turbine to drive a second electric generator. Some of the turbine exhaust is passed directly into the HRSG while the remaining turbine exhaust is passed into the combustor and burned with the dirty fuel.
US08347630B2
An air-blast fuel nozzle assembly includes a housing having an inner surface defining an interior chamber around a central axis. The inner surface terminates in an exit aperture. An air swirler pneumatically communicates with the interior chamber and has vanes operative to impart a swirling motion to air passing across the vanes and into the interior chamber. A fuel injection assembly includes a nozzle portion extending along the central axis and having a plurality of outlets circumferentially-arranged around the central axis that are directed into the interior chamber toward the inner surface of the housing. A shield extends radially outwardly from the nozzle portion upstream of the plurality of outlets. The shield extends between a base at the nozzle section and a free tip end such that the shield extends partially across the interior chamber toward the inner surface.
US08347605B2
A dosing valve assembly is disclosed for administering a reducing agent into an exhaust stream from an internal combustion engine upstream of a catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter. The dosing valve assembly includes a control valve coupled to a source of reducing agent, a delivery valve constructed and arranged for coupling to the exhaust stream to enable a quantity of reducing agent to be administered into the exhaust stream, and an elongated conduit connecting the control valve and delivery valve for fluidly communicating reducing agent from the control valve to the fuel delivery valve. The disclosed arrangement enables the control valve to be displaced from the delivery valve and thus away from the high temperature environment proximal to the exhaust stream.
US08347599B2
A fuel control arrangement includes an injector control valve, a fuel supply structure including a primary supply path, a secondary supply path, and a splitter valve configured to split fuel flow between the primary supply path and the secondary supply path to thereby regulate fuel supply. The fuel control arrangement also includes a fuel injector directly connected to the injector control valve. The splitter valve is configured to split fuel flow between the secondary path and the injector control valve in response to a fuel pressure indicative of fuel demand. Further, the splitter is provided distal to the fuel injector and the injector control valve, to operate under different environmental conditions from the injector and the injector control valve. The injector control valve is actuated by a fluid pressure system controlled by a solenoid.
US08347590B2
A cutter includes a male blade, a female blade, an advancement and retraction controller and a suction device. The male blade includes: a linear cutting portion linearly shaped with a predetermined thickness in a center part; a rounded cutting portion where a radius having a substantially arc shape in planar view is continuously formed from the linear cutting portion; and an end provided adjacent to the rounded cutting portion. The female blade has a fitting portion that is a hole conforming to the profile of the male blade in planar view and to which the male blade is fitted. On a lateral side of the female blade, an elongated hole for inserting a base film from one lateral side to the other lateral side is formed as an insertion portion.
US08347588B2
A mattress frame that occupies a small volume and can be used by a recipient without having to assemble the frame. The frame has four connected sides and is made of foam. The frame is rectangular in shape and has two longer sides and two shorter sides. The two shorter sides are folded in a U shape so that a bow-tie-shaped frame results. The bow-tie-shaped frame is rolled and packaged in a container. The frame can be rolled to form a spiral or an M-shape. A recipient of the rolled frame removes the frame from its packaging and the frame expands to its intended shape.
US08347587B2
A roofing system includes at least one row of tiles extending across a surface in a row direction, a first tile of the at least one row of tiles including a rain lock adapted to interlock with a second tile adjacent to and within the same row as the first tile, wherein the rain lock has a lower end, an upper end, and a weakened portion proximate the lower end to allow for removal of a predetermined portion of the rain lock. The second tile of the roofing system includes a corner at the upper end of the rain lock of the first tile, the corner including a notch and a second weakened portion to allow for lengthening of the notch.
US08347575B2
An acoustical flooring underlayment for placement between a subfloor and a finished floor, includes a mat having an upper surface, an opposite lower surface and including a plurality of corrugations creating a plurality of depressions in the upper surface. A layer of foam is applied to the upper surface and constructed and arranged to fill the depressions for creating a generally planar top surface configured for accommodating the finished floor.
US08347573B2
A board comprised of a wood structure having a first surface, a second surface, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and opposing ends. Sound attenuating elements embedded within the wood structure and stiffening elements positioned within the wood structure to coincide with the location of floor joist to which the board will be secured. The boards further forming a ceiling/floor structure by laying a single set of the boards adjacent to each other and securing them to the floor joists.
US08347561B2
A domed structure (500) comprises a plurality of struts (505) of equal or a reduced number of differing lengths. The struts are held in place by hubs (510, 515, 1400). In one aspect, a first hub secures the ends of inserted struts at a constant distance from its center, while other hubs secure the ends of inserted struts at predetermined distances from their centers. The differences between the various predetermined distances is the difference in strut lengths required by the design of the structure. Thus all struts are of equal length and identical, or a reduced number of lengths, resulting in an economy of scale and ease of construction. A cover can be added after the structure is built. Alternatively, the hubs can be sewn into a fabric or plastic cover for further ease of construction. The struts can be glued in place, or removed from the hubs to disassemble the structure.
US08347560B2
A modular assembly capable of converting from a shipping container configuration into a building unit, and from a building unit into a shipping container configuration. From the shipping container configuration, a plurality of frame panels and unit panels moveably connected to a frame of the modular assembly are selectively positioned to form the floors, walls, and ceilings of the building unit configuration thereby forming a living and/or commercial structure complete with electrical, water and sewage connections. The assembly may include an automated erection system, which may include a system of electric motors, gears, pulleys, cables, automated mechanical arms and electronic controls, located within the container structure of the modular assembly, and which interact with a plurality of frame panels and unit panels to deploy and retract the plurality of frame panels and unit panels for constructing the shipping container configuration and building unit configuration.
US08347551B2
Method of protecting a germinating seed treated with a pesticide comprising placing one or more pesticide-containing particles next to a pesticide-treated seed, wherein the amount of pesticide is such that the pesticide-treated seed and the pesticide-containing particles together contain an Effective Dose of the pesticide and the pesticide dose contained in the pesticide-treated seed is less than or equal to the Maximal Non-Phytotoxic Dose of the pesticide.
US08347538B2
A firearm apparatus to be worn on the user's forearm generally having a firearm body that includes a magazine pack and a power source box that extend on opposite sides of the firearm body for supporting the firearm on the wearer's forearm. The combination of a base surface of the gun body with the magazine pack and the power source box further defines an open sleeve that conforms to the wearer's forearm with first and second fastener material straps for securing the user's forearm for operation of the firearm apparatus. The gun body has an electrical wire that is electrically connected to the firearm's internal triggering assembly and the firearm's external triggering means. The electrical wire includes a first connect and a second connect such that the firearm apparatus is operable by touching the first connect with the second connect in order to complete the electrical circuit.
US08347537B2
A label tag cord made of plastic material is used as a connector between the label tag and the product, or as an independent identifier. The label tag cord includes a linearly extending and pliable cord body. First and second positioning parts are configured at opposite ends of the cord body. The preset area between the first and second positioning part form an extended block area having width and thickness larger than the cord diameter. The extended block area correspondingly defines a first surface or second surface, at least one of which forms an identifying surface. The extended surface can provide text and image layout. A display unit has a surface containing protruding or concaving parts or paste area. The text and image display unit can be a trademark, pattern, or image. The label tag cord can help to produce brand value, increase advertising effect, and enhance product value.
US08347532B1
A removable collar of flexible, absorbent material fits over the neck of a bottle. The collar absorbs liquids that drip from the bottle. The material is initially shaped as an isosceles trapezoid. The collar is formed into a truncated, generally conical shape by overlapping two opposing vertices at each end of the shorter parallel edge of the trapezoid to form a point at a lower end of the collar to produce the appearance of a “cravat.” A vertex at the longer edge of the trapezoid overlaps a portion of the shorter edge of the trapezoid and is secured to the overlapped portion at a single point. The generally conical collar has an upper opening that expands to allow the collar to pass around the enlarged flange near the top of the bottle. The upper opening snaps back to an original size to fit against the neck of the bottle.
US08347528B1
The surface rake apparatus provides for use either in forward or rearward motion, by virtue of the first member's forward wings and the second member's rearward wings. Debris such as snow, leaves, and limbs, for example, can thereby be easily channeled toward a desired destination. Snow, for example, can be pushed or pulled off of a roof or other surface. An important feature of the rearward wings of the second member is the upward slant of each. Another important feature is the inclusion of wheels on the first member. The wheels ensure against scraping by elevating the lower edges of the first and second members slightly above the surface to be rid of debris. The telescopic handle provides benefit of length adjustment so that the apparatus may be most conveniently used in reaching distant surfaces and also in reduced length for those areas more proximal to the user.
US08347525B2
The invention relates to a spray drying system and a method for its operation that provides a composition of dry. or essentially solvent free, particles from a solution of an agent. The system comprises a generally vertical tube reactor arranged for counter-current removal of solvent from a process flow fed with aerosol droplets of solution descending from the top said reactor with an ascending gas flow. The reactor includes a perforated process tube for transportation of the process flow from the outlet of an aerosol generating device to a dry particle collecting device. A membrane sleeve essentially surrounds the peripheral area of said process tube and separates the descending process stream from the ascending gas stream. Vaporized solvent is transported from the process stream to the ascending gas stream. A reactor housing is sealingly covering said process tube and membrane sleeve and is provided with means for introducing and/or removing the process fluids.
US08347508B2
An electric shaver includes a rod-shaped body part, a head part, and a link mechanism. The head part projects from one end portion, in a longitudinal direction, of the body part and is swingably attached to the body part with a support base between the body part and the head part. The head part includes a shaving portion and a drive mechanism. The shaving portion is formed to be elongated in a direction orthogonal to a projecting direction of the head part and has paired blades configured to operate relative to each other. The drive mechanism is configured to drive at least one of the paired blades. The link mechanism includes two link arms each connected to the support base and the head part respectively at connecting axes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the shaving portion. The link mechanism is configured to support the head part on the support base swingably. The two link arms are disposed asymmetrically with respect to a straight line passing on a center of gravity of the head part and extending parallel with the projecting direction of the head part, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaving portion.
US08347502B2
The present disclosure is related to a heatsink and a method for forming a heatsink. In one embodiment, a method for forming the heatsink includes forming at least one thermo pyrolytic graphite element. The at least one TPG element includes a first side having a wedge-shaped surface and a second side having a flat surface. The method further includes layering a metal material over the at least one TPG element, the metal configured to be complementary to the first side of the at least one TPG element, and applying pressure to fasten the metal material to the at least one TPG element.
US08347496B2
Methods are provided for automatically crimping terminals or connectors to wires wherein the terminals or connectors are provided in strip form and may be of varying sizes, shapes, and pitches. A method according to the present invention includes providing a plurality of terminal connectors, the connectors being secured to a terminal strip in side-by-side relationship with their axes extending laterally from the strip; moving a crimping die on a ram through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil to crimp an individual terminal connector located therebetween onto a wire during each working stroke of the ram; and indexing the strip between successive crimping operations thereby to locate a next leading connector on the strip between the die and anvil, wherein the strip is indexed by a drive mechanism contacting the strip through pressure-engagement.
US08347494B2
A mounting method for mounting an electronic component on a printed circuit board, the mounting method includes fixing a lower surface of a magnet panel to a magnetic body included in the electronic component by a magnetic force, seizing the electronic component by attracting a part of an upper surface of the magnet panel to an attaching unit, determining a position of the attracting unit to place the electronic component at a predetermined position with respect to the printed circuit board and releasing the attracting unit from the upper surface of the magnet panel.
US08347482B2
A method for manufacturing a ferrite magnet device including a ferrite body and first and second center electrodes arranged so as to intersect and be electrically insulated from each other and a permanent magnet arranged to apply a direct current magnetic field to the ferrite body and a method for manufacturing an isolator or a composite electronic component, which include the ferrite magnet device. A magnetic force of the permanent magnet is adjusted using a measurement jig and a magnetic force adjusting apparatus while the permanent magnet is fixed to a principal surface of the ferrite body.
US08347479B2
A first material with a known maximum temperature of operation is coated with a second material on at least one surface of the first material. The coating has a melting temperature that is greater than the maximum temperature of operation of the first material. The coating is heated to its melting temperature until the coating flows into any cracks in the first material's surface.
US08347478B2
The present invention relates to a method of refurbishing a microplate reader such as a FLIPR type microplate reader by the replacement of the water cooled laser with an LED source which provides a relatively homogeneous light and operating performance comparable to the laser light source.
US08347463B2
A limiting structure is used for a foldable electronic device including a cover and a body. The limiting structure includes a receiving portion formed in the cover, a latching element, a support element and an elastic element. The receiving portion defines a notch and a holding portion. The latching element is fixed to the body. The support element defines a cutout. The cutout is aligned with the notch. The latching element is received in the cutout and the notch. The elastic element surrounds the support element. The cover is opened relative to the body, and the latching element is latched with the holding portion.
US08347461B2
Used in an electronic device comprising a cover panel and a base member, a slide cover mounting structure includes two hinges bilaterally mounted on the top wall of the base member, two sliding rail holders respectively connected to the pivot shafts of the hinges, two sliding rails bilaterally mounted on the bottom surface of the cover panel and respectively slidably coupled to a sliding groove on each of the sliding rail holder, two gears pivotally connected between fixed rails on the sliding rail holders, and two gear racks respectively mounted on the cover panel and meshed with the gears. Thus, the cover panel is prohibited from biasing during sliding movement, and turnable about the pivot shafts of the hinges from a horizontal position to a tilted position relative to the base member.
US08347459B2
A hinge (1) has a carcass-side hinge portion (4) which can be pre-mounted on a furniture carcass (2) and a hinge portion (6) which can he pre-mounted on a door wing (3), the hinge portions (4, 6) being joined together in an articulated manner and at least one of the hinge portions (4, 6) having height adjustment means (10) and/or a lateral adjustment means (5). The hinge portion (6) mounted on the door has a hinge cup (8) in which the height adjustment means (10) are arranged, and at least one locking element (17) for immobilising the door wing (3) in relation to the furniture carcass (2) at the set vertical position of the door wing (3).
US08347443B1
A window cleaning assembly includes an elongated pole that has a first end and a second end. An axle is rotatably coupled to the pole adjacent to the first end. A brush head is mounted on the axle and is rotated when the axle rotates. The brush head includes a plurality of bristles that are positionable against a windshield of a vehicle. A motor is mounted on the pole and is mechanically coupled to the axle. The motor rotates the axle when the motor is turned on. A reservoir is in fluid communication with the brush head and is mounted on the pole. A pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The pump draws fluid from the reservoir and injects the fluid into the brush head so that the brush head can eject the fluid through apertures in the brush head.
US08347426B2
A shower device level with a surrounding floor includes a surface for recovering waste water combined with an element for draining the water. The recovery surface includes a tub embedded in the floor, whose peripheral edge, over all or part of its periphery, is essentially flush with the floor, and a detachable support element, forming the shower floor, essentially at a level with the surrounding floor, in an operative position, so as to form a surface continuity between the latter and the detachable support element. The peripheral edge of the tub includes a preferably flat seat surface, and the tub is supported in a recess of the floor at least by the seat surface that rests on a belt of the recess at a level below that of the surrounding floor, and the seat surface extends by a raised surface whose upper edge is essentially flush with the surrounding floor.
US08347417B1
Various embodiments provide a pocket handkerchief support device. An example embodiment includes: a main support having a plurality of elastic straps attached thereto for holding a handkerchief firmly against a front surface of the main support, the main support including nubs at a lower end, the nubs creating a void in a recessed lower edge of the main support; and an extender attachment including an adhesive area on an upper portion of the extender attachment for removably attaching the extender attachment to the main support, the extender attachment including nubs at a lower end, the nubs creating a void in a recessed lower edge of the main support.
US08347416B1
A method and apparatus for modifying an article of clothing employs a button or disk and an oval shaped or elongated receiver or collar. A shirt, blouse, dress or other article of clothing can be modified at any selected location(s) by placing the disk or button behind a portion of the fabric of the article of clothing, encapsulating or twisting the button or disk so that it is covered with the fabric, then pushing the fabric covered button or disk through a second layer or section of the article of clothing. The disk or button with both sections of fabric are then passed through a central elongated opening of the collar or receiver. The collar or receiver then retains the button and the portions of the article of clothing in a position that produces a gathering of fabric, thus modifying the design or look of the garment.
US08347412B2
A pair of athletic pants comprises a hip portion, and two leg portions extending from the hip portion. Each leg portion includes a knee portion configured to be worn over the knee of a human, the knee portion comprised of a first material. A slit is formed in each knee portion and a second material provided in each slit, wherein the second material has greater elasticity than the first material in at least two different directions. In at least one embodiment, each slit in the knee portion is in the shape of a lens. In at least one other embodiment, each slit in the knee portion is in the shape of a symmetric lens. In at least one embodiment, the athletic pants are baseball pants.
US08353061B2
To date, the probes of scanning near-field optical microscopes were aimed at creating electromagnetic field characteristics that are maximally localized near a nano-sized point (miniature apertures and tips, fluorescent nano-particles and molecules, dielectric and metal corners). Alternatively, the probe field, which is distributed within a larger area, can ensure the super-resolution as well. For this purpose, the field spectrum should be enriched with high spatial frequencies corresponding to small sample dimensions. As examples of such near-field probes, we propose and theoretically study the models of optical fibers with end-faces containing sharp linear edges and randomly distributed nanoparticles. These probes are more robust than the conventional probes and their fabrication is not concerned with nanoscale precision. The probes enable waveguiding of light to and from the sample with marginal losses distributing and utilizing the incident light more completely. Numerical modeling shows that, even with substantial measurement noise, the suggested probes can resolve objects that are significantly smaller than the probe size and, in certain cases, can perform better than miniature nanoprobes.
US08353053B1
A data loss prevention system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining whether a device is protected with an encryption mechanism before storing data thereon. In operation, data to be stored on a device is identified. Additionally, it is determined whether the device is protected with an encryption mechanism. Furthermore, there is conditional reaction, based on the determination.
US08353049B2
In accordance with one or more aspects of the separating keys and policy for consuming content, content has a corresponding leaf license, and the leaf license has one or more associated root policy addenda. Each root policy addenda includes policy identifying when it is permissible to decrypt and consume the content, but excludes a content key to decrypt the content. The content can be decrypted and consumed only if the policy identifies that it is permissible to decrypt and consume the content.
US08353045B2
In one aspect, a method to assess information security vulnerability of an enterprise includes storing enterprise objectives in a computer system, storing enterprise resources determined using a value criterion, a rareness criterion, an inimitability criterion and a non-substitutability criterion in the computer system and storing enterprise information assets in the computer system. The method also includes mapping the enterprise objectives with the enterprise resources and mapping the enterprise information assets with the enterprise resources. The method further includes determining a threat analysis using an attack tree using the enterprise resources and the information assets and determining a risk value using the attack tree.
US08353043B2
Provided is a web firewall for automatically checking for vulnerabilities, including: an administrating server scheduling part for ordering the examination of an administrating web server according to a predetermined examination schedule; a vulnerability search database calling part for calling a vulnerability search database previously stored according to the order of the administrating server scheduling part; a vulnerability searching part for searching for potential vulnerabilities of the administrating web server corresponding to data included in the called vulnerability search database; a vulnerability information deducing part for optimizing the results searched in the vulnerability searching part to deduce vulnerability information; a vulnerability checking part for checking the vulnerabilities of the administrating web server based on the results deduced from the vulnerability information deducing part; and a detailed vulnerability information reporting part for reporting detailed information on the checked vulnerabilities.
US08353035B1
A computer-implemented method for creating text signatures for identifying spam messages may include: 1) identifying a spam message, 2) tokenizing the text of the spam message, 3) identifying at least one incorrectly punctuated token within the tokenized text of the spam message, 4) identifying, within the tokenized text of the spam message, at least one token that is adjacent to the incorrectly punctuated token, and then 5) creating a candidate signature for identifying future instances and/or variations of the spam message that includes both the incorrectly punctuated token and the token that is adjacent to the incorrectly punctuated token. Corresponding systems and configured computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08353032B1
A method and system for detecting an anomaly relating to resource access comprising logging in to a website using identity information, storing a current login time in an access time database, accessing a last local login time for the resource from the access time database, determining a last resource login time from the resource and comparing the last local login time to the last resource login time, wherein a result of the comparison indicates resource access anomaly.
US08353023B2
Systems and methods for managing email are provided. Some of the email may be encrypted using identity-based-encryption (IBE) techniques. When an incoming IBE-encrypted message for a recipient in an organization is received by a gateway at the organization, the gateway may request an IBE private key from an IBE private key generator. The IBE private key generator may generate the requested IBE private key for the gateway. The gateway may use an IBE decryption engine to decrypt the incoming message. The decrypted message can be scanned for viruses and spam and delivered to the recipient. Outgoing email messages can also be processed. If indicated by message attributes or information provided by a message sender, an outgoing message can be encrypted using an IBE encryption engine and the IBE public key of a desired recipient.
US08353017B2
A system and method are disclosed for protecting a password assigned to a user, the method comprising: providing a password entry screen having a virtual keyboard, the virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys arranged in a non-QWERTY format; authenticating the user if a password submitted by the user accessing the password entry screen matches a user password retrieved from a password database; and denying access to the user if the submitted password does not match the retrieved user password. The system comprises a storage module and a computer program for performing the method.
US08353014B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to application data logging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for capturing and logging application data. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for capturing and logging application data can include consulting both administrative permissions for capturing and logging application data, and also user permissions for capturing and logging application data. Subsequently, application data can be captured and logged only if permitted by the administrative permissions and the user permissions. In this regard, it can be determined from either or both of the permissions whether capturing and logging of application data is permitted generally, and also a type or portion of the application data that is permitted to be captured and logged.
US08353013B2
Disclosed are systems and methods to provide a persistent authorized server address space (ASAS). The ASAS can host components from product suites that are not able to execute in an authorized state. To host other product's components, the ASAS receives “messages” from the unauthorized product components in the form of a generic eXtensible Markup Language (XML) protocol. These messages may request product initialization/administration or performance of a function by the ASAS on behalf of the requesting product. Security constraints are also provided to ensure system and data integrity. Further, the ASAS is not tightly coupled to any requesting product so that flexibility of product update or update to the ASAS itself may not be unnecessarily constrained.
US08353011B2
In one exemplary and non-limiting aspect thereof a method is provided that includes sending a wireless network (WN) a first message that includes a list of authentication mechanisms supported by a node and, in association with each authentication mechanism, a corresponding identity; determining in the WN an authentication mechanism to be used for bootstrapping, based at least on the list received from the node; and including information in a second message that is sent to the node, the information including the determined authentication mechanism in conjunction with a corresponding identity. The method further includes protecting at least the list of authentication mechanisms supported by the node and the corresponding identities and sending a second message to the network, the second message including at least the list of authentication mechanisms and the corresponding identities. The method further includes receiving a second response message from the network that is at least partially integrity protected, where the second response message includes an indication of the selected authentication mechanism and the corresponding identity.
US08353005B2
Defining a unified access management policy expression that unifies access control policy with events or workflows. Unified management policy information is stored. The unified management policy information defines permissions for access to resources together with events or workflows. A request is received to execute the one or more operations on one or more objects. The requested operation is verified against the unified management rules. Verifying includes performing a single retrieval, retrieving both the access control information and the events or workflows and calculating the applicability of the rule to the conditions represented by the request. Matching rules are applied, access control decisions performed and associated workflows are executed.
US08353003B2
A system and method for controlling a flow of data from a network interface controller (NIC) to a host processor coupled to the NIC. Data such as IP packets are received by the NIC and may be transmitted to the host processor for further processing such as firewall processing. The NIC is in communication with the host processor using, for example, a software driver running on the host processor. The NIC may monitor the processing load on the host processor as it handles packet data received from the NIC. As the processing load increases, the NIC may begin to throttle the quantity of packets being sent to the host processor in order to avoid overloading the host processor. The throttling may be governed by a heuristic throttling function.
US08352996B2
A method for video playback switching in response to changing network conditions. The method includes accessing a server to retrieve respective index files for a low bit rate version and a high bit rate version of the video file, and instantiating a low bit rate media player and a high bit rate media. Playback of the video file is begun by the high bit rate media player streaming the high bit rate version from the server. Upon an indication of impeded network conditions, a transition point is selected, wherein the transition point indicates where downloading of the high bit rate version stops and where downloading of the low bit rate version begins. The low bit rate media player is then positioned to begin playback at the transition point. Playback of the video file is then switched to the low bit rate player upon encountering the transition point.
US08352994B2
A method and system for test monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to test monitor MCDN performance by acquiring a baseband video signal and performing a test operation. The test operation may involve determining if a video freeze event and/or an audio freeze event has occurred with respect to the baseband video signal. In one example, detection of both an audio and a video freeze event may determine a freeze event for an MHD. After a freeze event is detected, the MHD may be restarted. The freeze event may be logged as a result of the test operation. A predetermined network address may be sent a notification of the freeze alert.
US08352989B2
A content reproduction device includes: a plurality of communication units (a cellular phone and a wireless LAN communication unit), each receiving a content transmitted in segments from a content transmission device over a communication path; a content reconstruction unit that has a buffer in which each segmented data of the content received by each of the communication units is temporarily accumulated, and that reconstructs each segmented data accumulated in the buffer into the content; a reproduction unit that reproduces, at a predetermined bit rate, the content reconstructed by the content reconstruction unit; and a communication control unit that: calculates, for every predetermined time, target transmission speeds to be assigned for content reception performed by the respective communication units, based on free space in the buffer and the bit rate; and transmits a first request signal indicating the calculated target transmission speeds to the content transmission device via one of the communication units.
US08352985B2
Provided are method of storing broadcast contents, a method of displaying stored broadcast contents and an apparatus therefor. In method of storing the broadcast contents by analyzing the received broadcast contents, grouping the contents that are similar to each other, and arranging the contents sequentially in time, the method includes classifying a broadcasting signal received from an external broadcast contents provider into an unit segment of a first item, determining at least one keyword representing the first item that is classified into the unit segment, storing the first item as a sub-ordinate item of a first sub contents group according to the determined keywords, and arranging the first sub contents group including the stored first item sequentially in time, so that the progress of specific broadcast contents can be easily identified by each time slot.
US08352984B2
Television program availability and recordings are personalized by learning the program preferences of the TV and PDR user. This is effected over a period of time by observing, recording and processing user activity. A viewing record module agent (VRM) and a program information viewing history agent (CDM) are software agents that, according to built-in algorithms, operate on user activity and other events to ultimately produce preference profile information in special purpose relational databases (CDB, viewing history database).
US08352980B2
A method is disclosed for sending targeted advertising data, the method including monitoring in a plurality of data communications networks, single sign on (SSO) subscriber event data from a first SSO subscriber end user device and a second SSO subscriber end user device, calculating product interest correlation scores in a plurality of advertising categories for an SSO subscriber advertising profile based on the monitoring SSO subscriber event data, selecting advertising data in at least one of the advertising categories from an advertiser database based on the SSO subscriber advertising profile, selecting a format to deliver the selected advertising data to a third SSO subscriber end user device and sending the targeted advertising data to the third SSO subscriber end user device. A system and a computer program are disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for providing an interrelationship between a processor and data structure data.
US08352977B2
The characteristic playback domain of an AV stream is to be reproduced simply and reliably without complicating the management. As marks representing characteristic points of an AV stream, a mark of the type indicating a point and a mark of the type indicating a section (duration) are provided. The mark of the type indicating a point designates a point with a time stamp corresponding to a preset playback timing of the AV stream. The mark of the type indicating a section specifies the domain based on the time stamp of the playback start point of the preset playback domain of the AV stream and on the duration as from the playback start point until the playback end point.
US08352969B2
Disclosed in one example is a method for interfacing with multiple social networks. The method includes receiving a call from a social networking service agnostic social networking application for one of a plurality of social networking functions in a first format, translating the call in the first format to a call in a second format, the second format being one of a plurality of heterogeneous social networking service application programming interface formats, and passing the call in the second format to a first social networking service by utilizing a first social networking service application programming interface.
US08352968B2
A server system facilitates an exchange of messages with a remote client application. The server system includes a plurality of application servers hosting a plurality of applications. A plurality of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) provides programmatic access to the plurality of applications, each of the APIs being configured to receive request messages compiled by the remote client application. First and second request messages, respectively addressed to first and second APIs of the plurality of APIs by a remote client application, each comprise at least one common data component. Further, the first request message includes a first payload specific to the first API, and the second request message includes a payload specific to the second API.
US08352959B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for the non-intrusive monitoring of business events on a middleware server. The steps to non-intrusively monitor business events on a middleware server include: monitoring business event traffic on a middleware server based on at least one business process probe that specifies an event and at least one business object attribute to be monitored; extracting data values associated with the specified attributes from the specified business event; storing the data values in a persistent data store; and present the data to the user. The monitoring does not alter the flow of existing business processes associated with the specified business event.
