US08355352B2
A technique for controlling the amount of power consumed by access points (APs) of a wireless network involves implementing power-saving APs (PSAPs). It would be desirable for the PSAPs to be in sleep mode during periods of low activity, and at full power during periods of high activity. To that end, a PSAP agitation (PSAPA) engine can be implemented to agitate PSAPs in response to increases in wireless activity, and put PSAPs to sleep in response to decreases in wireless activity.
US08355351B2
A method, an apparatus, and a system for forming Time Division Duplex (TDD) Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) downlink beams are disclosed herein. The method includes: generating a transmitting beam of a first data stream according to a Maximum Rate Transmission (MRT) criterion; and generating transmitting beams of other data streams except the first data stream, wherein the transmitting beams of other data streams are confined in a null space of the transmitting beam of the first data stream. Through the embodiments of the present invention, the Base Station obtains precise Partial Channel State Information by using only reciprocity without requiring feedback information, and thus the calculation is simplified and the rate of data streams is improved.
US08355345B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for establishing a point-to-point connection using Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The point-to-point connection is established as part of the FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP). A first computing device sends a FIP discovery solicitation to a predefined address such as ALL-FCF-MACs. The first computing device also listens to the local ALL-FCF-MACs address and determines whether or not there are any switches in the fabric connecting the first computing device and the second computing device. If there are no switches, the first computing device sends a second FIP discovery solicitation with a point-to-point indicator. If the first computing device receives a similar FIP discovery solicitation from the second computing device, it sends a FIP discovery advertisement with the point-to-point indicator. The first computing device and second computing device then perform fabric login and establish a point to point connection.
US08355340B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a method and base station for obtaining Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information. One embodiment of the method includes: receiving, by a base station, quantized channel information, quantization error, Inter-Cell Interference (ICI) power and noise power fed back by each User Equipment (UE) after channel estimation; and estimating, by the base station, a CQI corresponding to each UE to obtain an estimated CQI value corresponding to each UE according to the quantized channel information, the quantization error, the ICI power and the noise power which are fed back by the UE as well as an instantaneous precoding vector or matrix of each UE. Through the embodiments, the base station can obtain more precise CQI information of each UE so as to select a precise modulation and coding scheme and to increase system throughput.
US08355329B2
The packet relay device includes a clock generation portion adapted to generate a clock signal of prescribed frequency as a standard for operation of the packet relay device; a timer portion adapted to count up a timer value over a first number of clock cycles on the basis of the clock signal; a relay control portion adapted relay received packets while limiting to a prescribed amount of packets the amount of packets forwardable per a predetermined increment of the timer value; and a power control portion adapted to reduce the frequency of the clock signal to 1/n in order to reduce power consumption by the packet relay device. If the frequency of the clock signal has been reduced to 1/n by the power control portion, the timer portion counts up the timer value over a number of clock cycles equivalent to 1/n the aforementioned number of clock cycles.
US08355328B2
Methods and apparatus for dynamic load balancing are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a network device, a data packet to be sent via an aggregation group, where the aggregation group comprising a plurality of aggregate members. The example method further includes determining, based on the data packet, a flow identifier of a flow to which the data packet belongs and determining a state of the flow. The example method also includes determining, based on the flow identifier and the state of the flow, an assigned member of the plurality of aggregate members for the flow and communicating the packet via the assigned member.
US08355324B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for filtering received data packets. A hierarchical tree is maintained. The tree includes nodes organized in a plurality of levels. Each level above a root node of the tree has one or more of the nodes, with each of the one or more of the nodes corresponding to a particular value of a segment of an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The segment is the same for each node of a particular level of the tree. Each node at a particular level of the tree stores a number representative of the number of received packets having the same value for the segment of the IP address associated with the particular level. Some of the received data packets are filtered out based on the hierarchical tree.
US08355321B2
At least one timer is used to prevent a stall condition. If a timer is not active, the timer is started for a data block that is correctly received. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. When the timer is stopped or expires, all correctly received data blocks among data blocks up to and including a data block having a sequence number that is immediately before the sequence number of the data block for which the timer was started is delivered to a higher layer. Further, all correctly received data blocks up to a first missing data block, including the data block for which the timer was started, is delivered to the higher layer.
US08355313B2
A MIMO system supports multiple spatial multiplexing modes for improved performance and greater flexibility. These modes may include (1) a single-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams on orthogonal spatial channels to a single receiver, (2) a single-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas to a single receiver without spatial processing at a transmitter, (3) a multi-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams simultaneously to multiple receivers with spatial processing at a transmitter, and (4) a multi-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas (co-located or non co-located) without spatial processing at the transmitter(s) to receiver(s) having multiple antennas. For each set of user terminal(s) selected for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink, a spatial multiplexing mode is selected for the user terminal set from among the multiple spatial multiplexing modes supported by the system.
US08355300B2
A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) bit-patterned-media (BPM) magnetic recording disk drive uses optical detection of synchronization fields for write synchronization and optical detection of servo sectors for read/write head positioning. The synchronization fields and servo sectors extend generally radially across the data tracks and are patterned into discrete nondata blocks separated by gaps in the along-the-track direction. A near-field transducer (NFT) directs laser radiation to the disk and generates a power absorption profile on the disk that has a characteristic along-the-track spot size less than the along-the-track length of the gaps between the nondata blocks in the synchronization fields and servo sectors. A sensor provides an output signal in response to radiation from the nondata blocks and gaps in the synchronization fields and servo sectors as the disk rotates to control the timing of the magnetic write field applied to the data islands and to control the positioning of the read/write head on the data tracks.
US08355298B2
A magnetic disk drive, comprising: a slider, which is provided at a position facing to a disk surface; an arm, which is configured to conduct rocking motion around a pivot; a base, which is configured to support a motor thereon, which rotates the disk; a semiconductor laser module, which is configured to be fixed on the arm and stores a semiconductor laser element therein; a light irradiation portion upon the disk surface; and a wave guide, which is configured to build up an optical path between the light irradiation portion and the semiconductor laser module, wherein the semiconductor laser module and a portion of the base are connected therebetween by a flexible heat-conductive member having a predetermined curvature.
US08355297B2
A watch for providing a digital time display comprises a movement mechanism disposed in a case that includes a number of continuous belts. The belts each have a numerical indicia consistent with hours, minutes and optionally second. The belts mounted over opposed drums, and the drums are rotated through gear engagement motors to move the belts. The arrangement of belts and drums are mounted on a frame separate from the case. The motors are operated to move the belts to cause the numerical indicia of the combined belts to register with one or more windows visible through a transparent cover to provide a time display. The belts may be oriented to overlap one another. The watch includes a microcontroller for controlling the operation of the motors, an optical sensor to determining the position of the belts, and a wirelessly rechargeable battery pack for powering the motors.
US08355296B2
An apparatus for relating time to activity is disclosed. The apparatus discloses an analog clock and a display board having one or more activities where a chosen activity begins at a time indicated by an hour indicator and a minute indicator.
US08355294B2
A synchronous data processing system includes a memory module to store data and a memory controller coupled to the memory module. The memory controller includes a clock inverter to receive an input clock signal and to transmit an inverted clock signal to the memory module. The inverted clock signal incurs a first propagation delay prior to reaching the memory module as a memory clock signal. A write data buffer is coupled to the memory module. The write data buffer transmits data to the memory module in response to the input clock signal. An asynchronous first-in-first-out (ASYNC FIFO) buffer is coupled to the memory module. The ASYNC FIFO buffer reads data from the memory module in response to a feedback signal generated by feeding back the memory clock signal to the ASYNC FIFO buffer.
US08355286B2
A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device includes determining whether a program operation is performed on even memory cells coupled to even bit lines of a selected page, setting a coupling resistance value between odd bit lines of the selected page and page buffers depending on whether the program operation for the even memory cells is performed, performing a program operation on the odd memory cells coupled to the odd bit lines, and coupling the odd bit line to the page buffer based on the set coupling resistance value and performing an verification operation for verifying whether threshold voltages of the odd memory cells on which the program operation is performed are a target voltage or more.
US08355283B2
An analog voltage NAND architecture non-volatile memory data read/verify process and circuits is described that senses analog voltages in non-volatile cells utilizing source follower voltage sensing. In a source follower sensing or read operation the programmed threshold voltage of a cell in a NAND string of a NAND architecture Flash memory array is read by applying an elevated voltage to the source line, an elevated pass voltage (Vpass) is placed on the gates of the unselected cells of the string to place them in a pass through mode of operation, and a read gate voltage (Vg) is applied to the gate of the selected cell. The selected memory cell operates as a source follower to set a voltage on the coupled bit line at the read gate voltage minus the threshold voltage of the cell (Vg−Vt), allowing the voltage of the cell to be directly sensed or sampled.
US08355269B1
A memory bit cell suitable for use in semiconductor integrated circuits that utilizes pushed design rules and layout geometries optimized by a semiconductor foundry for standard memory bit cells and edge-cell structures that provides a different functionality from that provided by the foundry standard bit cell. This different functionality is achieved by interconnecting the elements of one or a plurality of standard foundry bit cells and edge cells to implement a different circuit with different operation from the original bit cells and edge cells. The positioning and interconnection of the standard bit cells and edge cells are implemented in a manner so as to maintain the same periodic geometric proximity effects to the maximum degree possible. A preferred embodiment of this invention is to interconnect two standard foundry six-transistor SRAM bit cells and two edge cells to create a Ternary Content Addressable Memory bit cell with mask and compare functionality in addition to bit storage functionality.
US08355268B2
The present invention relates to an electronic driver circuit and a corresponding method for supplying an electronic load (LED1, LED2, . . . , LEDn) with a DC current or voltage (Vload). To achieve a high efficiency and a low thermal stress on the electronic load, the proposed driver circuit comprises: —an AC input (L, N) for receiving an AC input voltage (Vmains), two buck-boost converters (10, 20) for alternately operating as rectifier for rectifying said AC input voltage (Vmains) and as DC/DC converter for DC conversion of said rectified AC input voltage, a control unit (11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23; 40) for monitoring the zero crossing of the AC input voltage (Vmains) and for controlling said two buck-boost converters (10, 20) to change their modes of operation upon detection of a zero crossing, such that during all periods one buck-boost converter operates as rectifier and the other buck-boost converter operates as DC/DC converter.
US08355265B2
Systems and methods for managing interaction between inverter-based DC and other power systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a 3-phase isolation transformer is fluxed to create a 3-phase rotating field from the output of a source inverter. An inductive filter turns that output into three sine waves. A secondary inverter regenerates the system, sometimes after the isolation transformer is fluxed, and by advancing or retarding the secondary inverter's phase, current (and, thus, the DC voltage and power direction) is controlled. In another embodiment, an inverter is supplied by a DC source. The inverter is controlled to match its output voltage, current, and phase to a live AC grid, then the two are connected. The inverter frequency is then driven to advance the phase of the inverter in relation to the grid. Alternatively, the inverter voltage is then driven at a level greater than that of the grid.
US08355263B2
An electromagnetic interference shield system, is provided. Each EMI shield may include a frame providing the structure around the electronic device components to be shielded, and a cover operative to be placed over the frame to prevent electromagnetic radiation from passing over the frame. Each frame may be coupled to a circuit board, and enclose electronic components in need of shielding. Each cover may be coupled to its corresponding frame using at least one snap that extends from the periphery of the cover towards the frame and circuit board. To minimize the space taken by the EMI shields, the snaps of adjacent covers may be offset or staggered so that opposing snaps engage voids left between snaps of the opposing cover, thus reducing the space needed between adjacent EMI shields by up to the width of a snap.
US08355258B2
An orthogonal array is formed by performing electromagnetic field analysis only once and determining a range by using the mount position and type of a capacitor and the number of capacitors as parameters to perform circuit analysis a small number of times. An estimation equation is formed by using as an index a result of the absolute value of the calculated power source impedance, and a capacitor is disposed to reduce noises by using the estimation equation.
US08355253B2
An exemplary electronic apparatus includes a casing, and an electronic component and a heat dissipation device received in the casing. The casing includes a bottom plate and an opposite top plate. The heat dissipation device includes a centrifugal fan defining an air outlet for airflow out, a heat sink arranged at the air outlet, and a heat pipe. A height of the heat sink along a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the centrifugal fan is less than that of the air outlet. The heat pipe includes an evaporation section thermally attached to the electronic component and a condensation section thermally attached to the heat sink.
US08355249B2
A protective cover mechanism includes a housing, a protective cover and a latching pole. The housing includes an opening defined therethrough. The protective cover is configured for covering the opening of the housing and includes a latching slot defined therethrough. The latching slot includes a first latching end and an opposite second latching end. The latching pole is integrally formed on the housing adjacent to the opening and is penetrated through the latching slot of the protective cover for slidably or rotatably assembling the protective cover to the housing. The latching pole is latchable to the first latching end or the second latching end of the latching slot to expose or cover the opening of the housing.
US08355248B2
Embodiments of an apparatus and system are described for a thermally radiating mobile computing device and case. An apparatus may comprise, for example, a thermally radiating case for a mobile computing device having a first portion arranged to receive the mobile computing device, a thermally conductive coupling arranged to removably couple the case to one or more internal heat generating components of the mobile computing device, and a second portion thermally coupled to the first portion and the thermally conductive coupling, the second portion comprising one or more thermally conductive materials arranged to radiate thermal energy away from the one or more heat generating components. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08355244B2
An electric power converter has a semiconductor module having a semiconductor element integrally and at least a pair of semiconductor terminals, a capacitor electrically connected to the semiconductor module, and a cooler that thermally contacts to at least one of a plurality of capacitor terminals provided in the capacitor. The capacitor terminals that thermally contact the cooler are arranged between the cooler and the capacitor.
US08355232B2
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a solar module with a bimetal breaker, which comprises a solar module with terminal ribbons deposited on both sides of the solar module and inter-connecting ribbons extended and connected to the terminal ribbons, and a bimetal breaker being deposited on a joint of the terminal ribbon and the inter-connecting ribbon of the solar module. The bimetal breaker comprises a bimetal unit that is composed of two metal layers, and when the bimetal unit is heated, the bimetal unit will bend because of different thermal expansion coefficients and push the conducting terminals to separate from each other, so as to prevent the solar module from being damaged due to high temperature.
US08355226B2
A ground fault sensing device for a drive system that converts direct current electrical power from a direct current power supply into alternating current electrical power and drives an electric motor with that alternating current electrical power, comprises: an extraction circuit that is connected to a power supply line of the direct current power supply via a coupling capacitor, that detects an amplitude wave that is generated when an alternating current side including the electric motor is suffering a ground fault, and that extracts the envelope of the amplitude wave; a measurement circuit that measures the voltage level of the envelope; and a determination circuit that makes a decision as to whether or not a ground fault has occurred on the alternating current side by comparing together the voltage level measured by the measurement circuit and a ground fault decision value.
US08355225B2
Disclosed herein is an overvoltage protection apparatus and method of a high voltage inverter adapted to protect a load without any adverse effect from an overvoltage aroused by voltage fluctuation attributable to an impedance difference among an inverter, a load and a cable connected between the inverter and the load, wherein the apparatus and method converts a voltage command signal given as a digital signal into an analog reference signal by a main control unit, compares the analog reference voltage with a sawtooth wave having a predetermined voltage level and frequency in order to generate a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal, determines the pulse width of the PWM signal, and converts the pulse width of the PWM signal to have a predetermined time interval in a case the pulse width of the PWM signal is less than a predetermined time interval.
US08355220B2
Approaches for a single part that comprises an upstream spoiler and a crash stop for use within a hard-disk drive (HDD). The integrated upstream spoiler and crash stop has one or more wings which diverts and reduces the flow of air, resulting from the rotation of the magnetic-recording disks within the HDD, from a magnetic-recording head of the HDD. The integrated upstream spoiler and crash stop has a structure that also prevents the actuator from moving beyond a particular location. After the integrated upstream spoiler and crash stop has been affixed within the HDD, the one or more wings may be rotated between the one or more magnetic-recording disks into a desired position.
US08355200B2
PROBLEMSTo enable a single optical amplifier to function as a boost amplifier and a preamplifier.MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMSBy using a wavelength routing, a single optical amplifier can have the function of a boost amplifier and the function of a preamplifier. Moreover, by attenuating a transmission signal in advance, it is possible to adjust a gain difference required in the boost amplifier and the preamplifier.
US08355198B2
Methods and systems are provided for generation and detection of rogue waves, including hydrodynamic rogue waves and optical rogue waves. A method for generating an optical rogue wave comprises the steps of generating an input pulse into a nonlinear optical medium, and perturbing the input pulse by directing a narrow-band seed radiation into the input pulse. The seed radiation has a frequency and timing to generate broadband radiation within the nonlinear optical medium.
US08355196B2
An electrophoretic display device includes a common electrode, an electrophoresis layer, and pixel electrodes. The electrophoretic layer includes cavities, with each cavity arranged between one of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, and comprises suspension fluid, first type charged particles, and second type charged particles. The first type charged particles and the second type charged particles are dispersed in the suspension fluid. Three cavities constitute a pixel unit. The first type charged particles and the second type charged particles in each of the three cavities constituting the pixel unit are one of red, green, and blue particles, and one of yellow, magenta, and cyan particles, respectively.
US08355191B2
An actuator includes a mass section; a support section; a coupling section for coupling the mass section rotatably to the support section so as to support the mass section with cantilever structure; and a pair of driving sources including a piezoelectric element for rotating the mass section, wherein the pair of driving sources are provided separately from each other with respect to a central axis of rotation of the mass section, each of the driving sources is provided slidably with respect to the coupling section or the support section, and the actuator is structured such that it causes the pair of piezoelectric elements to expand and contract in phases opposite to each other, so as to rotate at least a part of the coupling section while torsionally deforming the mass section.
US08355189B2
A set of screens is provided for use in printing respective color separations in a halftone color printing process. This set of screens comprises at least two clustered-dot screens and the frequency and angle parameter values of the screens is such that the lowest frequency moiré produced by any combination of at least two frequency components, taken from the group comprising the first and second screen harmonics, for which the sum of the harmonic orders of the frequency components in the combination is less than a predetermined value, is of a sufficiently high frequency as to be substantially unperceivable to the human visual system; other moirés are also substantially unperceivable to the human visual system. The lowest frequency moiré serves to reduce the visibility of color changes caused by color plane registration variations. A printing system and method employing the screen set are also provided.
US08355186B2
A semi-automatic system for scanning a document includes an image capture device, such as a digital or video camera, which records a sequence of images while a user waves a document in front of the device. The user can present multiple pages of a document to the image capture device, after which the total sequence of images are processed to identify a clear image of each page from the sequence of images. The system further includes image processing techniques to correct for motion blurring, acceleration and perspective errors. The system is capable of processing any size or shape of document without destroying the organization or format of the original.
US08355178B2
An object of the present invention is to reduce influences of showthrough where a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is visualized after printing. In order to attain the above object, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with determination means for determining whether a setting for printing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in which a character portion is rendered to a minor dot portion on both sides of a sheet is made and control means for controlling so that a warning screen is displayed where the determination means determines that the above setting has been made.
US08355176B2
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including: a screen processor for determining each pixel value of a screen processing application unit region composed of a plurality of pixels to which a threshold matrix is applied, in an inputted image; and for carrying out a screen processing by applying one threshold matrix among a plurality of threshold matrices in which applied positions of the threshold values are different from each other, to the plurality of pixels in the screen processing application unit region based on each determined pixel value.
US08355172B2
A color printer system includes plural data transmitting units that transmits image data of each color to an engine, and a printing control unit that controls the plural data transmitting units. The printing control unit and an image data generating apparatus are connected by a first transmission path, and the plural data transmitting units and the image data generating apparatus are connected by plural of second transmission paths allocated to each color. The image data generating apparatus includes: an image data generating unit that performs bitmap expansion on a print job for each color to generate image data; and a communication unit that sequentially allocates the image data of colors other than a color not used for the superimposed printing to the second transmission path, which is allocated to transmit the image data of the not used color, and transmits the image data in units of transmission.
US08355170B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for scanning devices to exchange scan messages with external devices, where the scan messages comprise WS-Scan protocol message and DSM protocol messages. A determination is made if a scan message comprises a WS-Scan protocol message or a DSM protocol message. A response is made to the WS-Scan protocol message if the scan message is a WS-Scan protocol message. Further, a response is made to the DSM protocol message if the scan message is a DSM protocol message. A user interface of the scanning device hides the distinctions between WS-Scan and DSM to permit a user to seamlessly select scanning to either or both WS-Scan and DSM destinations.
US08355167B2
A method for creating a pattern color space for use during print job processing may include: a) defining a variable portion of the pattern color space, b) defining a fixed portion of the pattern color space, c) defining a bounding shape for the pattern color space, d) defining a procedure for painting the variable and fixed portions within the bounding shape, and e) at least temporarily, saving the pattern color space to a storage device. The variable portion of the pattern color space may be based on variable data associated with the print job and an object within the print job may identify the pattern color space for a color parameter. A system using this method may include a storage device, a digital front end, a print controller, and a print engine. Various methods for using the pattern color space during print job processing are also provided.
US08355166B2
An image-printing device includes a reading unit, a sample characteristic amount extracting unit, an original characteristic amount extracting unit, an image converting unit, and a printing unit. The reading unit reads a sample image and an original image. The sample image has a sample characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the sample image. The original image has an original characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the original image. The sample characteristic amount extracting unit extracts the sample characteristic amount from the sample image. The original characteristic amount extracting unit extracts the original characteristic amount from the original image. The image converting unit converts the original image based on both the sample characteristic amount and the original characteristic amount. The printing unit prints the converted original image.
US08355159B2
A method of synchronizing the timing of a plurality of physically coupled print engines wherein the receiving sheet is inverted between a first and a second print engine including determining any change in the speed of the master print engine relative to the speed at original set up and adjusting the timing parameters within the slave print engines based on the speed of the master engine.
US08355149B2
Pieces of device information of a plurality of printing apparatuses, including about paper feed stages provided in the printing apparatuses, are acquired. On the basis of the acquired device information and print data to be processed which includes pages to be printed on different types of paper sheets, a printing apparatus capable of printing the print data without paper exchange during printing is selected.
US08355136B2
Wearable or implantable devices combining microfluidic control of sample and reagent flow and micro-cavity surface plasmon resonance sensors functionalized with surface treatments or coatings capable of specifically binding to target analytes, ligands, or molecules in a bodily fluid are provided. The devices can be used to determine the presence and concentration of target analytes in the bodily fluids and thereby help diagnose, monitor or detect changes in disease conditions.
US08355118B2
A laser scanner measuring system is disclosed, which has a laser scanner and a calibration target. The laser scanner comprises a light emitting element for emitting a pulsed laser beam, a rotary projecting unit for projecting the pulsed laser beam, a distance measuring unit, and a control unit for driving and controlling the light emitting element and the distance measuring unit. The calibration target has a reflection sector with a known shape and with high reflectance and is installed at a known position. In use, there is a step for judging a reflected pulsed laser beam from the reflection sector by detecting a level of light quantity, a step for determining a center position of the reflection sector based on the result of the judgment, and a step for calibrating the laser scanner measuring system based on the determined center position and on the known position.
US08355116B2
Positional information of each of wafer stages during exposure and during alignment is measured directly under a projection optical system and directly under a primary alignment system, respectively, by a plurality of encoder heads, Z heads and the like, which a measurement bar placed below surface plates has, using gratings placed on the lower surfaces of fine movement stages. Consequently, high-precision measurement of the positional information of the wafer stages can be performed.
US08355114B2
When a liquid immersion area (liquid) formed on a wafer stage is moved onto another wafer stage, a fine movement stage position measuring system measures positional information of the wafer stage, interferometers of a coarse movement stage position measuring system measure positional information of the another wafer stage, and different interferometers measure positional information of the wafer stage. Based on these measurement results, the wafer stage and the another wafer stage are made to be in proximity to each other and are driven while the scrum state is maintained, and thereby the liquid immersion area (liquid) formed on the wafer stage can be moved onto the another wafer stage.
US08355101B2
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, an aligning film which is disposed on a liquid crystal layer side surface of the second substrate and on which a rubbing processing is performed, a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in planar regions of the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed on a liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate and which generate an electric field therebetween, in which the second electrode includes a plurality of electrode line-shaped portions arranged in parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other, each sub-pixel includes a reflective display region in which a light reflective film is disposed and a transmissive display region in which a light reflective film is not disposed.
US08355097B2
A liquid crystal display includes: a pair of liquid crystal shutter glasses; a liquid crystal panel which alternately displays a left image and a right image formed in a predetermined scanning direction according to a predetermined scanning cycle; a glasses controller which outputs a control signal to open and close a left glass and a right glass of the liquid crystal shutter glasses synchronizing with the scanning cycle; a light source unit which supplies light to the liquid crystal panel; and a light source driver which supplies driving power to the light source unit to emit light to the liquid crystal panel in the scanning direction posterior to the left and right images.
US08355093B2
A light generating device which may be used as a backlight unit and a display device including the light generating device are discussed. According to an embodiment, the light generating device can include a first layer; a plurality of light source devices disposed on the first layer and configured to emit light, each at least one of the light source devices including a light emitting unit diode for generating the light; a second layer covering the light source devices; and first and second light shielding layers disposed on the second layer and configure to selectively control transmit a propagation of the light emitted from the light source devices, the first and second light shielding layers being composed of a same material or different materials, the first and second light shielding layers being disposed to correspond with the light source devices.
US08355090B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD), according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a first pixel formed between the first and second gate lines, the first and the second data lines, a first subpixel configured to have applied thereto a first data voltage and a second subpixel configured to have applied thereto a second data voltage lower than the first data voltage, a second pixel formed between the second and third gate lines, the first and second data lines, and having a third subpixel configured to have applied thereto a third data voltage and a fourth subpixel configured to have applied thereto a fourth data voltage lower than the third data voltage. The first subpixel and the third subpixel are connected to a first thin film transistor and a third thin film transistor respectively, the first thin film transistor and the third thin film transistor have source electrodes connected to the first data line and the second data line respectively, and each of the source electrodes has an open portion surrounding a portion of a drain electrode, and wherein an open direction of the source electrode of the first thin film transistor is opposite to an open direction of the source electrode of the third thin film transistor.
US08355085B2
A television includes a remote control, at least two inputs and at least one device, each device connected to one of the inputs. Upon a system event such as changing from one input to another input, the television signals the remote control to change operation of at least one function key.
US08355070B2
There is provided a development processing device that develops undeveloped image data. The development processing device includes a change screen displaying unit displays a first number line corresponding to a first initial parameter, a second number line corresponding to a second initial parameter, a reference line that intersects the first number line in a position corresponding to the first initial parameter and intersects the second number line in a position corresponding to the second initial parameter, a first marker that represents a position corresponding to the first user parameter on the first number line, and a second marker that represents a position corresponding to the second user parameter on the second number line on the parameter changing screen, and the development processing unit performs the development process based on at least the first user parameter and the second user parameter.
US08355068B2
A solid-state image sensing device includes: a pixel array unit including pixels arranged in a matrix and a vertical signal line wired with respect to each pixel column; an analog-digital conversion circuit provided with respect to each pixel column and having a comparator using an analog signal as a comparison target input and a counter measuring a time from start to completion of the comparison of the comparator; a reference signal generating unit that generates reference signals with ramp waveforms; a first switch that, in a thinning readout mode, shorts the vertical signal line belonging to one pixel column of a specific group of pixel columns and the vertical signal line belonging to another group of pixel columns from which no signals are readout; and a second switch that, in the thinning readout mode, provides the reference signals to the comparator belonging to the one pixel column and the comparator belonging to the another group, respectively.
US08355065B2
To provide a semiconductor device and a driving method of the same that is capable of enlarging a signal amplitude value as well as increasing a range in which a linear input/output relationship operates while preventing a signal writing-in time from becoming long. The semiconductor device having an amplifying transistor and a biasing transistor and the driving method thereof, wherein an electric discharging transistor is provided and pre-discharge is performed.
US08355062B2
A method for processing an image includes: obtaining depth values of an image including a target region and a non-target region; obtaining a scaling ratio of the target region; obtaining a scaling ratio of the non-target region according to the depth values of the image and the scaling ratio of the target region; scaling respectively the target region and the non-target region according to the scaling ratio of the target region and the scaling ratio of the non-target region, and obtaining a scaled image.
US08355060B2
An apparatus capable of managing image data includes a display unit configured to display image data whose predetermined date is known among image data stored in a storage unit, and a setting unit configured to set a date to another image data using the image data displayed on the display unit.
US08355058B2
An image pickup apparatus capable of forming a corrected image which does not give a feeling of wrongness to a user. In the apparatus, an image pickup element photoelectrically converts an optical image to output the same as image data. A target correction value is calculated for correcting image quality degradation due to a lens unit, based on lens characteristic information and a status of the lens unit. A system controller sets a rate of change to stepwise make the current correction value closer to the target correction value, and repeatedly calculates the correction value according to the target correction value and the rate of change. The image data is corrected based on the repeatedly calculated correction value. The rate of change is changed depending on the relationship between a preceding value of the correction value calculated in the past and the target correction value.
US08355054B2
An arrangement for, and a method of, acquiring a monochrome image of a target, employ a solid-state imager for capturing return light from the target over a field of view, and for generating an output image data stream having image components arranged in a serial format at a clock frequency, a preprogrammed microprocessor operatively connected to the imager for serially receiving, sampling and processing the image components at a sampling frequency to generate the monochrome image of the target, and a clock frequency adjustment circuit operatively connected to the imager and the microprocessor for adjusting the clock frequency to enable the microprocessor to receive, sample and process the image components and generate the monochrome image.
US08355049B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section formed on a substrate and having an effective pixel area that converts incident light into an electric signal, and an optical black area placed around the effective pixel area; an optical communication section placed near a predetermined optical black area of the optical black area, and converts a signal read from the pixel section into an optical signal for output; a dark current level supplying section that generates an estimated dark current level varying with a pixel position from which a signal is read, on the basis of a dark current level acquired from the predetermined optical black area, and outputs the estimated dark current level in synchronization with a signal read timing from the effective pixel area; and a noise compensation section that subtracts the estimated dark current level from a signal read from the effective pixel area.
US08355043B2
A medical apparatus includes: a first image pickup section that is fixed to a body wall and picks up an image of an inside of a body cavity; a recording section that records in advance, in preparation for a case in which a predetermined image change occurs in a first image picked up by the first image pickup section, a predetermined image area in the first image or a coordinate for specifying the predetermined image area; and a display section that displays, when the predetermined image change occurs in the first image, the image area or the coordinate recorded in the recording section to be superimposed on the first image picked up by the first image pickup section.
US08355040B2
A method of conducting an audio-visual conference among a number of conference rooms comprising storing predetermined conference configuration data in a computer system for a plurality of room types and a plurality of combinations of configuration factors, receiving conference variable data, generating a room list of included conference rooms, generating interconnection data for each included conference room according selected by said a computer system performing a recursive process until a feasible set of configuration data is found which permits interconnection to every other included conference room, and if no applicable set of configuration data is feasible, the distribution process returns to a next higher room in said room list.
US08355036B2
A signal generating unit of a formatter inputs a misalignment amount δ unique to an individual recording apparatus and record data into a record signal compensation unit, and in accordance with these the record signal compensation unit generates a compensated beam deflection signal and substrate velocity signal to a beam unit and rotation and movement drive unit. With this arrangement, it is possible to perform compensation which matches errors in individual unit, in response to the errors (mechanical errors) in assembly dimension precision of parts and control precision of control devices which can vary among individual unit of the recording apparatus.
US08355035B2
A printing sub-system including same including a pixilated photoconductive member (such as a photobelt) is disclosed. Electrically isolated cells hold surface application material above the photoconductor. The surface application material is first charged. Charge on the surface application material in an individual cell may then be discharged by exposure of a region of the photoconductor proximate that cell to light from an optical addressing system. The surface application material is brought into proximity of an image receiving member such as paper, which is either charged or proximate a charge source. Charged surface application material in a cell may then be electrostatically transferred from the cell onto the image receiving member, while discharged surface application material remains in the cell. The subsystem may form a part of a complete printing system using many existing components. Among other advantages, viscous liquid surface application material may thereby be printed.
US08355032B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel; and a display panel driver configured to drive signal lines of the display panel. The display panel driver includes: a color reducing circuit configured to be possible to generate a first color reduction image data from a first input image data by executing an error diffusion process by using a first error value, and to generate a second color reduction image data from the first input image data by executing the error diffusion process by using a second error value which is different from the first error value; and a driving section configured to drive a first pixel positioned on a horizontal line of the display panel in response to the first color reduction image data, and drive a second pixel positioned on the horizontal line and adjacent to a the first pixel in a horizontal direction, in response to the second color reduction image data.
US08355030B2
Display methods and interfaces for high dynamic range images. High dynamic range images and corresponding histograms are displayed on a display device. The histogram panel displays low dynamic range and high dynamic range data of the images simultaneously. The low dynamic range and high dynamic range data is brightness level of the image pixels.
US08355018B2
A system and a method are disclosed for updating an image on a bi-stable display includes a module for determining a final optical state, estimating a current optical state and determining a sequence of control signals to produce a visual transition effect while driving the display from the current optical state toward a final optical state. The system also includes a control module for generating a control signal for driving the bi-stable display from the current optical state to the final optical state.
US08355015B2
When writing a signal current from a current source to a current source circuit, noise occurs in some cases in a wiring through which a current flows, which may cause a potential of the wiring to be outside the normal range. As the potential does not turn back within the normal range easily at this time, writing to the current source circuit is delayed. According to the invention, when the potential becomes outside the normal range due to noise occurring in a wiring through which a current flows when writing a signal current from a current source to a current source circuit, a current is supplied from other than the current source, thereby the potential of the wiring can turn back within the normal range rapidly.
US08355011B2
Disclosed herein is a resistive touch screen, including: a transparent film 100 that has a first transparent electrode 110 and is bent when the transparent film 100 is pressed; a dot spacer 200 that is formed on one surface of the first transparent electrode 110 and is configured to include a plurality of projection members 210; a transparent substrate 300 that has a second transparent electrode 310; and an adhesive layer 400 that adheres the edge of the transparent film 100 to the edge of the transparent substrate 300, wherein the side surfaces of the plurality of projection members 210 are closely adhered to each other but when the transparent film 100 is bent, the side surfaces of the plurality of projection members 210 are spaced from each other.
US08355007B2
Methods for use with multi-touch displays for determining when a touch is processed as a mouse event
A multi-touch driver handling user inputs or touches on a multi-touch input device. The method includes receiving touch data associated with a touch detected by the multi-touch input device. The multi-touch driver determines a target user interface (UI) component for the touch by processing the touch data and then determines whether the target handles touch events. If so, the driver sends the touch data to the target for handling as a touch event, thereby saving a touch-to-mouse conversion for later touches. The touch may be a first touch received in a particular input region of a GUI displayed on a touch surface. The driver receives touch data for a second touch input later than the first touch but while the first touch is still active. The driver determines a target UI component for the second touch and passes the second touch data to the second target as a mouse event.
US08355001B1
A computer has a display, keyboard and two main component parts. The components each have an L-shape and are linked together to enable sliding movement in substantially one plane in a first direction. The linkage also enables movement orthogonally with respect to the first direction in another plane, such that the components transition from a closed position of the computer in which the components interfit together to form a first right rectangular prism and in which the display is exposed, to an open position having a second right rectangular prism shape in which the keyboard is exposed adjacent to and in the same plane as the display.
US08355000B2
A tumbler mouse includes a housing including a swaying portion and a balancing weight secured in the housing. When the tumbler mouse is stood vertically on a support surface, it can sway as a tumbler.
US08354996B2
An electronic reading apparatus comprises an input unit receiving input operations, a detect unit detecting and capturing images reflected by the input unit and a processing unit configured to receive the images to generate interruption signals; determine whether the number of the interruption signals reaches a pre-determined value in a pre-determined time; calculate a movement direction and a distance of the object on the input unit if the number of the interruption signals reaches the pre-determined value in the pre-determined time; determine a cursor displacement on the display unit and display a movement track of the cursor on a display unit. An input method for previewing files is also provided.
US08354993B2
A display apparatus includes a display device and a backlight for indicating a sign, which represents that the display apparatus has no image signal in case the display apparatus is not receiving image signal inputted from outside. The display apparatus has a controller, which indicates the sign intermittently on the display device while the display apparatus has no signal and the controller turns off power of the backlight while there is no sign on the display device.
US08354992B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel having an active image display region, a non-image display region surrounding the active image display region, and a border area disposed between the active image display region and the non-image display region, and a backlight device adjacent to the display panel and having a plurality of light producing elements corresponding to the active image display region, wherein the border area is disposed between the active image display region and the non-image display region to diffuse light produced by the light producing elements transmitted through the display panel within the border area.
US08354986B2
A displaying method for trans-flective type display device is provided. The pixel array of the display device has a selected pixel unit formed by three sub-pixels selected from three basic-color sub-pixels and one enhancement sub-pixel, wherein there is a reflective area within the enhancement sub-pixel. The displaying method includes the following steps. Firstly, an original image having an image data is provided to the display device. Next, when the backlight is turned off, the resolution of the original image is scaled down for obtaining an adjusted image data. Then, another pixel unit consisting of the three basic-color sub-pixels and the enhancement sub-pixel is re-selected, and the driving value of the enhancement sub-pixel is calculated according to the adjusted image data for driving the enhancement sub-pixel.
US08354976B2
An image display device (1) including an image input means (10) to which image signals (S1 and S2) are input, an image display means (30) for forming an optical image based on the image signals (S1 and S2), and a device adjusting means (40) for adjusting internal conditions of the device is provided with an adjusting operation support means (61) for supporting an operation of the device adjusting means (40). Because the adjusting operation support means (61) is provided, a user may easily adjust the image display device (1) while confirming adjusting operation support information displayed by the adjusting operation support means (61).
US08354970B2
Described and shown is a dielectric antenna (1) having a dielectric feeding section (2), a first transition section (3) comprising a dielectric rod, a dielectric emitting section (5) and, a further, second transition section (4) forming a dielectric horn, wherein the feeding section (2) can be struck with electromagnetic radiation (6), electromagnetic radiation (6) can be guided with the first transition section (3) and the second transition section (4) and the electromagnetic radiation can be emitted from the emitting section (5) as airborne waves.The object of the present invention is to provide a dielectric antenna, which is adaptable as low-loss as possible to different mounting situations, which additionally is as low-reflection as possible and, at the same time is highly bundling.The object of the above-mentioned dielectric antenna is met in that the emitting section (5) is designed as dielectric tube connecting to the second transition section (4).
US08354966B2
A computer peripheral telecommunications device having an electronic interface for connection to a computer and being configured for adding wireless telecommunication functionality to the computer, the device comprising a movable cover portion for covering the electronic interface while not in use and an antenna integrated in the movable cover portion.
US08354964B2
A low-height PIFA-fed antenna system having high gain, wide bandwidth and wide beamwidth for applications on wireless communications devices. The antenna is suitable for internal installation within a handset, such as a cellphone. The antenna includes a ground plane conductor, such as the ground plane of a wireless device, and a resonator element having a top portion with a split free end defining an open space. The antenna is well adapted for high volume manufacturing processes using conventional fabrication techniques such as metal stamping or selectively plated plastic.
US08354961B2
Disclosed herein is a direction finding system including: a transmitter configured to generate a single carrier; a plurality of receivers, each of which has a receiving antenna; a phase comparison section configured to compare phases of signals received by the receivers to determine a phase difference between the received signals; and an information processing section configured to perform a computation process for direction finding based on the phase difference.
US08354956B2
A antenna system for generating and distributing power among a plurality of non-focused beams is provided The system comprises a reflector having a focal plane and a non-parabolic curvature configured to form the defocused beams. The curvature is configured to create a symmetrical quadratic phase-front in an aperture plane of the reflector. The system further comprises a plurality of feed antennas disposed in the focal plane of the reflector and configured to illuminate the reflector. Each feed antenna is configured to contribute power toward each of the defocused beams. The system further comprises a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one of which corresponds to each feed antenna.
US08354951B2
A method for determining position and orientation of a rotating wing aircraft (e.g. helicopter) with respect to a ground station includes transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the aircraft. The signal includes a plurality of electromagnetic signals, each signal having a different selected frequency. The signal is detected at an array of sensors disposed on the ground surface in a selected pattern. The array includes at least one reference sensor and at least three spaced apart time difference determination sensors. A difference in arrival time of the signals between the reference sensor and each of the time difference determination sensors is determined and a spatial position of the aircraft is determined from the time differences.
US08354943B2
The general field of the invention is, within the framework of the terrain anti-collision systems for aircraft, the presentation on the displays for aiding the piloting and the navigation of a simplified symbology suited to these critical situations. More precisely, the symbols comprise guidance indications in the depictions representing the horizontal and vertical situation indicators as well as speed instructions and altitude instructions, indications relating to the propulsion of the jets as well as guidance messages.
US08354940B2
An automated remote water quality monitoring system with wireless communication capability and the method thereof is provided. A water quality monitoring system is provided, including: a plurality of monitoring apparatuses, each of which has a radio communication module transmitting at least one environmental parameter; a server receiving the at least one environmental parameter via a base station; and a gateway being one selected from a group consisting of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses, being geographically the closest one to the base station, receiving the at least one environmental parameter and transmitting the at least one environmental parameter to the base station.
US08354933B2
An automated trigger device and a corresponding method for dynamic triggering of developing and/or imminent tropical storms for integrated monitoring devices and/or control devices and/or early warning systems. The trigger device includes a trigger module, and measurement devices arranged in cellular, geographically and/or topologically definable units or zones. Geophysical measurement parameters can be transmitted from the measurement devices to the trigger module. By a Monte Carlo module—and based on the measurement parameters—data records can be dynamically generated for definable future time intervals. By an extrapolation module track distribution parameters of a track distribution integrable over the plurality of data records are generated for each of the definable future time intervals. By an activating device—and based on the generated track distribution parameters and/or the trigger parameters—a corresponding control signal is transmitted to the monitoring device.
US08354926B2
The present invention is a method to ensure business processes are followed, comprising the steps of capturing sensory data from one or more sensors; storing the sensory data from the one or more sensors in a data storage device; processing the sensory data from the sensors to detect primitive events in the sensory data using a computer processor; correlating two or more primitive events, weighted by attribute data representing information about the sensors used to sense the primitive events, to determine one or more correlated events using the computer processor; and performing one or more actions to ensure business processes are followed based on the correlation performed in the correlating step.
US08354925B1
Systems and methods for detecting change in an environment are provided. In one aspect, a system for detecting change in an environment includes an RF noise source configured to transmit an RF noise signal into the environment and to vary a parameter of the RF noise signal, and an interrogator configured to communicate with a plurality of communication devices distributed in the environment over a plurality of communication channels. The system also includes a detection system configured to receive information related to performances of the plurality of communication channels from the interrogator, to generate a fingerprint of the environment for each of the plurality of communication channels based on the performance of the communication channel at different values of the parameter of the RF noise signal, and to detect a change in the environment when one or more of the fingerprints deviates from a respective baseline fingerprint by a certain amount.
US08354910B2
A coil block and an electronic device using the same are provided. The coil block includes a first coil, a second coil, a core having an intermediate layer for separating the first coil and the second coil from each other, and a shield for shielding the first coil, the second coil, and the intermediate layer, wherein the first coil and the second coil have the same winding direction. According to the coil block and the electronic device, the filtering can be performed without any inductance offset even if the PWM signal having the inversed phase or the same phase is inputted. Also, since two windings can be wound on to one core using a common coil, the cost and the size of the coil block can be reduced.
US08354909B2
A magnetic attachment system for attaching a first object to a second object. A first magnet structure is attached to the first object and a second magnet structure is attached to the second object. The first and second objects are attached by virtue of the magnetic attraction between the first magnet structure and second magnet structure. The magnet structures comprise magnetic elements arranged in accordance with patterns based on various codes. In one embodiment, the code has certain autocorrelation properties. In further embodiments the specific type of code is specified. In a further embodiment, an attachment and a release configuration may be achieved by a simple movement of the magnet structures. In a further embodiment, the magnetic pattern may include a non-magnetic region.
US08354907B2
Superconducting coil assemblies (100) in which a plurality of coil units (110) composed of superconducting material are arranged coaxial to the same direction, and including magnetic field adjusting members (121) composed of ferrite, powder metallurgical core, or permendur powder, which have higher magnetic permeability than said superconducting material and are provided in the vicinities of said coil units.
US08354905B2
A noise decreasing type electromagnetic switch includes a buffer disposed between an end of a stationary core and an end of a movable core facing the end of the stationary core so as to allow the movable core 150 to be elastically supported with respect to the stationary core. Accordingly, when the movable core contacts the stationary core, the buffer can be pressed and transformed to decrease impact and noise. Also, when the final operation is completed, the stationary core and the movable core are closely adhered, a performance of an actuator can be maintained.
US08354904B2
A mechanical override device which is suitable for an undervoltage coil of a switching unit, is comprised of a first portion suitable for urging a plunger of the undervoltage coil in a first position which is taken by the plunger when the undervoltage coil is energized, and a second portion suitable for receiving an external movement command for imposing an operating movement to the first portion. The override device further comprises movement control means for controlling one or more cinematic parameters of the first portion so as to make the operating movement independent from the external movement command.
US08354900B2
An embodiment of a microelectromechanical device having a first structural element, a second structural element, which is mobile with respect to the first structural element, and an elastic supporting structure, which extends between the first and second structural elements to enable a relative movement between the first and second structural elements. The microelectromechanical device moreover possesses an anti-stiction structure, which includes at least one flexible element, which is fixed only with respect to the first structural element and, in a condition of rest, is set at a first distance from the second structural element. The anti-stiction structure is designed to generate a repulsive force between the first and second structural elements in the case of relative movement by an amount greater than the first distance.
US08354896B2
An acoustic wave device includes a plurality of acoustic wave devices each including a substrate made of a piezoelectric material, a pair of interdigital electrodes formed on the substrate, each of the interdigital electrodes including a plurality of electrode fingers, and an adjustment medium. The adjustment medium includes at least a single layer and is formed on at least a part of the pair of the interdigital electrodes. The adjustment medium further includes at least one thick portion and a thin portion, the thin portion being null or thinner than the thick portion, a total area of the at least one thick portion in a region covering the pair of interdigital electrodes being determined according to a predetermined characteristic value, wherein the plurality of acoustic wave devices include at least two acoustic wave devices that differ from each other with respect to the size of the total area of the at least one thick portion of the adjustment medium.
US08354892B2
Provided is a marchand balun device. The marchand balun device includes: a first line connected between a balanced terminal and a ground terminal; a second line disposed horizontally parallel to the first line and forming a parallel capacitance jointly with the first line; and a coupled line disposed vertically parallel to the first and second lines and forming a vertical capacitance jointly with one of the first and second lines.
US08354889B2
An amplifier for amplifying a radio signal to a defined power output level is presented, wherein the amplifier comprises an amplifier input port, an amplifier output port, a first transistor for amplifying the radio signal received at a first transistor control input, wherein a first transistor output of the first transistor is supplied by a first power source; a at least second transistor for supplying the first transistor from a at least second power supply source. The at least second power supply source is added by the at least second transistor as a function of the power output level of the amplifier.
US08354888B2
A power amplifier includes an input matching circuit, an amplifier transistor for amplifying an input signal received through the input matching circuit, an element for varying the collector voltage of the amplifier transistor, a bias circuit for varying the idle current in the amplifier transistor, and a compensation circuit for varying capacitance of the input matching circuit to maintain the phase shift and the input reflection in the power amplifier constant when the collector voltage and the idle current are varied, to prevent a decrease in the efficiency of the power amplifier due to changes in the output power of the amplifier transistor.
US08354887B1
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for charge compensation. A system may include an operational transconductance amplifier including an input terminal and an output terminal, a transistor network, and a capacitive circuit. The transistor network may be coupled in a feedback loop between the input terminal and the output terminal. The capacitive circuit may be configured to compensate a charge built on a parasitic capacitance of the transistor network during operation.
US08354885B2
An operational amplifier may include a transimpedance input stage. The operational amplifier is capable of self-biasing its input voltage(s) including a first stage, an input source connected to the first stage, an output stage connected to the first stage via feedback resistors, and feedback current sources connected to the first stage, wherein the feedback current sources are set to generate feedback currents flowing from the output stage back to the input stage via the feedback resistors, so as to self-bias the input voltage(s) at the input stage. A method for allowing for an op-amp to self-bias its input voltage(s), including generating feedback currents flowing from the output stage back to the input stage via feedback resistors, so as to self-bias the input voltage(s) at the input stage.
US08354877B2
A current limit circuit comprising: a current limit element for limiting an output current level to within a predetermined range of a limiting current and including a first PMOS transistor having a source to which a predetermined voltage is applied and a drain through which the output current is supplied; and a gate voltage generating circuit for generating a gate voltage by a feedback control such that a difference between the predetermined voltage and a gate voltage of the first PMOS transistor coincides with a threshold voltage of a second PMOS transistor having approximately the same characteristic as that of the first PMOS transistor in a state in which a predetermined current is flowing through the second PMOS transistor.
US08354872B2
A switch circuit is disclosed. The switch circuit may include one or more arrangements of transistors coupled in a cascode configuration. The transistors used to implement the switch circuit may be configured for operation within a first range of voltages. The application in which the switch circuit may be implemented may require conveying signals within a second range of voltages that is greater than the first range of voltages. Thus, the switch circuit may include one or more additional transistors to ensure that a voltage drop between any two terminals of the transistors used in the switch circuit is within the first range of voltages.
US08354870B2
A clock-switching circuit having at least two inputs for receiving at least two different clock sources, an output for providing a selected one of the clock sources, and a switch for selecting the one of the inputs to provide on the output, the switch including elements that, prevent the providing of a truncated version of any of the clock sources on the output, always provide a clock signal on the output, and always maintain phase alignment and pulse ratio of the clock sources on the output.
US08354868B2
A mobile communication device includes an analog clock and a digital clock circuit. The analog clock circuit is configured to generate an oscillating output. The digital clock circuit is configured to generate a digital clock output having a frequency that is substantially equal to the frequency of the oscillating output.
US08354864B2
A memory system includes a sense amplifier for detecting content of data memory cells by comparison with a voltage stored in a reference cell. The sense amplifier may comprise a comparator, first and second load circuits, and a low impedance circuit. A first input of the comparator is coupled to the low impedance circuit and a reference voltage node. A second input of the comparator is coupled to a data voltage node. The first load circuit loads a reference cell coupled to the reference voltage node. The second load circuit loads a data cell coupled to the data voltage node.
US08354861B2
A logic gate has a magnetoresistive element, a magnetization state control unit and an output unit. The magnetoresistive element has a laminated structure having N (N is an integer not smaller than 3) magnetic layers and N−1 nonmagnetic layers that are alternately laminated. A resistance value of the magnetoresistive element varies depending on magnetization states of the N magnetic layers. The magnetization state control unit sets the respective magnetization states of the N magnetic layers depending on N input data. The output unit outputs output data that varies depending on the resistance value of the magnetoresistive element.
US08354860B1
A power gating circuit responds to a power enable signal to apply and withhold power to a MMIC. The gating circuit includes an OR gate and an AND gate, each coupled to the gate of a FET for controlling its conduction. One of the two FETs sources current to a load, and the other discharges the load. The gates are coupled so that the sourcing and discharge FETS are never turned ON simultaneously.
US08354857B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide a speed monitor circuit. The speed monitor circuit monitors a circuit speed in a momentary manner. In addition, the speed monitor circuit consumes a relatively small silicon area. The speed monitor circuit includes a ring oscillator module, an edge capture module, and a controller module. The ring oscillator module has a plurality of stages, and is configured to start oscillating in response to an enable signal. The edge capture module is configured to capture a target edge of a signal propagating in the ring oscillator module at a stage of the ring oscillator module. The controller module is configured to receive a first edge and a second edge of a clock signal, provide the enable signal to the ring oscillator module based on the first edge to enable oscillating, and compare timings of the second edge and the captured target edge to detect the circuit speed.
US08354856B2
A probe apparatus for probing a device on a semiconductor wafer to be tested by a testing equipment is provided. The probe apparatus includes a replaceable probe tile removably mounted in a probing location on a base plate. The probe tile is configured into a self-contained assembly which includes a chassis body containing a plurality of probes for probing devices on a wafer, a dielectric block for supporting the probes, and a wireguide for guiding a plurality of cables from the testing equipment into the chassis body. A wafer station having replaceable base plates and replaceable probe tiles are also provided.
US08354854B2
In a first slot of a plurality of adjacent slots in alignment with traces on a load board of a tester, first and second conductor layers, each to make electrical contact with both a load board trace and a DUT lead. Each of the first and second contacts receives force from a resilient element extending across the slots and that urges a contact point on the contact against at least one trace and a DUT lead. Insulation between said first and second contacts in the first slot electrically insulates the first and second contacts from each other within the first slot.
US08354836B2
A device for detecting electrically conductive particles in a liquid flowing in a pipe section, with a transmitter coil surrounding the pipe section for inducing eddy currents in the particles, at least one first inductive receiver coil surrounding the pipe section and a second inductive receiver coil which is spaced axially to the first receiver coil and which surrounds the pipe section, the first and the second receiver coils being located in the region of the transmitter coil and being subtractively connected, in order to output a difference signal according to the eddy currents induced by the transmitter coil, and the transmitter coil forming the primary side and the receiver coils forming the secondary side of a transformer arrangement. An evaluation unit evaluates the difference signal in order to detect passage of electrically conductive particles in the pipe section.
US08354832B2
A method for reducing noise in an output of a voltage regulator at frequencies above a closed loop bandwidth, by providing a noise injection path for injecting external noise into the voltage regulator, where the noise injection path becomes active at the frequencies above the closed loop bandwidth, where the noise injection path reduces the noise in the output of the voltage regulator.
US08354831B2
A reverse current comparator for use in switching regulators includes a differential stage configured to encode the difference in voltage between an N and a P input. The differential stage feeds one or more gain stages. At least one of the gain stages includes one or more hysteresis devices. When the voltage of the N input exceeds the voltage of the P input by a predetermined margin, the hysteresis device causes the regulator to enter a triggered state in which it outputs a non-zero output voltage. Subsequent changes to the N and P inputs do not change the regulator output until a RESET input is asserted and which point the regulator enters a reset state and is ready to be triggered.
US08354815B2
An encoder includes: a main scale having two or more band-shaped tracks in each of which an optical main grating is formed so that longitudinal direction of the main scale corresponds to a measurement axis direction; and an index scale opposed to the main scale so as to form a diffraction interference optical system in cooperation with the main grating, disposed so as to be movable relative to the main scale in the measurement axis direction, and in which two or more optical index gratings are formed. A plurality of slits included in the main grating in at least one track are formed so as to be inclined at a predetermined inclination angle from a direction perpendicular to the measurement axis direction so that pitch of the slits in the track becomes equal to the pitch of the slits in the at least one other track.
US08354809B2
A pump system. The pump system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, a sensor coupled to a power source, and a controller. The motor operates the pump. The sensor detects an electrical characteristic of the power source. The controller executes a fault check, controls the motor, detects a change in the electrical characteristic, and suspends the execution of the fault check for a predetermined period of time when the detected change in the electrical characteristic is outside of a valid characteristic range.
US08354797B2
In various embodiments, a circuit arrangement for operating a series circuit of a first and a second low-pressure gas-discharge lamp is provided, which may include an input with a first and a second input connection for application of a supply voltage; an output with a first arrangement, which has a first and a second connection pair for connection of the first lamp, and a second arrangement, which has a first and a second connection pair for connection of the second lamp, wherein a first connection of the second pair of the first arrangement is coupled to a first connection of the first pair of the second arrangement; a resonant circuit; and a capacitive voltage divider, which has a first capacitor, which is coupled in parallel with the first arrangement, and a second capacitor, which is coupled in parallel with the second arrangement.
US08354795B1
A program start ballast powers multiple lamps coupled in parallel. A first inverter and a primary winding of a first transformer form a main circuit. A second inverter and a primary winding of a second transformer form a preheat circuit. One or more lamps are coupled in parallel across a secondary winding of the first transformer, and secondary windings of the second transformer are coupled across filaments at either end of the one or more lamps. The main circuit is configured to disable power across the first transformer during a preheat mode of operation and to provide power across the first transformer during a steady-state mode of operation. The preheat circuit is configured to provide power across the second transformer during the preheat mode of operation and to disable power across the second transformer during the steady-state mode of operation.
US08354791B2
The photomultiplier tube 1 is provided with an upper frame 2 and a lower frame 4 which are arranged so as to oppose each other, with the respective opposing surfaces 20a, 40a made with an insulating material, a side wall part 3 which constitutes a casing together with the frames 2, 4, a plurality of stages of electron multiplying parts 33 which are arrayed so as to be spaced away sequentially from a first end side to a second end side on the opposing surface 40a of the lower frame 4, a photocathode 41 which is installed on the first end side so as to be spaced away from the electron multiplying parts 33, converting incident light from outside to photoelectrons, an anode part 34 which is installed on the second end side so as to be spaced away from the electron multiplying parts 33 to take out electrons multiplied by the electron multiplying parts 33 as a signal, and a wall-like electrode 32 which is arranged so as to enclose the photocathode 41 when viewed from a direction directly opposite to an opposing surface 401 and having a notched part 35 at a site opposing the electron multiplying parts 33 on the second end side.
US08354788B2
An organic light emitting device having long continuous driving lifetime is provided. The organic light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and an emission layer formed of an organic compound arranged between the anode and the cathode, in which the emission layer includes a light emitting material and a material having a smallest ionization potential, and an absorption spectrum in a radical cation state of the material having the smallest ionization potential in the emission layer does not have its absorption peak in an emission wavelength region of the light emitting material.
US08354781B2
An LED lamp assembly with a central light guide supplying light to a primary reflector where the reflective surface has a circular cross section in the horizontal medial plane and has a parabolic cross section in the vertical plane medial plane and regular combinations of the two planar sections in rotating round the axis from the vertical to the horizontal.
US08354777B2
A piezoelectric film of a perovskite oxide represented by a general expression (P) below and has a pyrochlore free single phase perovskite structure with a/b≦1.06. Pba(Zrx,Tiy,Mb-x-y)bOc (P) (where, M represents one or more types of metal elements, 0
US08354772B1
An electrostrictive composite includes a flexible polymer matrix, a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a plurality of reinforcing particles dispersed in the flexible polymer matrix. The carbon nanotubes cooperatively form an electrically conductive network in the flexible polymer matrix.
US08354760B2
Power supply equipment includes low power assemblies and high power assemblies, each of which is detachably mateable to either one of two power ports. To simultaneously power two low power devices, low power assemblies are respectively mated to each of the power ports. To simultaneously power one low power and one high power device, a low power assembly is mated to one of the power ports and a high power assembly is mated to the other power port. The low power assemblies transfer a low DC voltage, but not a high DC voltage, to low power devices. The high power assemblies transfer a high DC voltage, but not a low DC voltage, to high power devices. If a high power assembly is mated to each of the power ports, power flow is interrupted without putting the power supply in an overvoltage or overcurrent condition.
US08354753B2
The present application discloses a 3D integrated circuit structure and a method for detecting whether there is misalignment between chip structures. The circuit structure comprises a first chip structure which comprises a first semiconductor substrate, a first insulating layer, and a first detection structure; the first detection structure comprises detection bodies positioned on two sides of the first insulating layer, the detection body comprising a first conductor, at least two second conductors, and at least one third conductors; wherein the first conductor is located on a side of the first insulating layer and connected with ends of the second conductors; the third conductors are formed between the second conductors and insulated from the second conductors, and the first ends of the third conductors away from the first conductor are step-wise; wherein vertical distances between the third conductors and the second conductors are equal, and in the direction of the length of the third conductors, the distances between the projections of the ends of the third conductors away from the first conductor which are corresponding to each other and located on the detection bodies on the two sides are substantially the same. The present invention is suitable for optimizing the alignment between the chip structures in manufacture of integrated circuits.
US08354751B2
An interconnect structure having enhanced electromigration resistance is provided in which a lower portion of a via opening includes a multi-layered liner. The multi-layered liner includes, from a patterned surface of a dielectric material outwards, a diffusion barrier, a multi-material layer and a metal-containing hard mask. The multi-material layer includes a first material layer comprised of residue from an underlying dielectric capping layer, and a second material layer comprised of residue from an underlying metallic capping layer. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such an interconnect structure which includes the multi-layered liner within a lower portion of a via opening formed within a dielectric material.
US08354746B2
A semiconductor package is made using a prefabricated post carrier including a base plate and plurality of conductive posts. A film encapsulant is disposed over the base plate of the post carrier and around the conductive posts. A semiconductor die is mounted to a temporary carrier. The post carrier and temporary carrier are pressed together to embed the semiconductor die in the film encapsulant. The semiconductor die is disposed between the conductive posts in the film encapsulant. The temporary carrier and base plate of the post carrier are removed. A first circuit build-up layer is formed over a first side of the film encapsulant. The first circuit build-up layer is electrically connected to the conductive posts. A second circuit build-up layer is formed over a second side of the film encapsulant opposite the first side. The second circuit build-up layer is electrically connected to the conductive posts.
US08354737B2
A semiconductor structure includes: at least one silicon surface wherein the surface can be a substrate, wafer or other device. The structure further includes at least one electronic circuit formed on each side of the at least one surface; and at least one conductive high aspect ratio through silicon via running through the at least one surface. Each through silicon via is fabricated from at least one etch step and includes: at least one thermal oxide dielectric for coating at least some of a sidewall of the through silicon via for a later etch stop in fabrication of the through silicon via.
US08354719B2
A semiconductor device and related fabrication methods are provided. One exemplary fabrication method forms a fin arrangement overlying an oxide layer, where the fin arrangement includes one or more semiconductor fin structures. The method continues by nitriding exposed portions of the oxide layer without nitriding the one or more semiconductor fin structures, resulting in nitrided portions of the oxide layer. Thereafter, a gate structure is formed transversely overlying the fin arrangement, and overlying the exposed portions of the oxide layer. The nitrided portions of the oxide layer substantially inhibit diffusion of oxygen from the oxide layer into the gate structure.
US08354703B2
A semiconductor capacitor and its method of fabrication are disclosed. A non-linear nitride layer is used to increase the surface area of a capacitor plate, resulting in increased capacitance without increase in chip area used for the capacitor.
US08354700B2
An image sensor and a method for manufacturing an image sensor are described in which the image sensor includes at least one substrate having a plurality of light-sensitive elements forming a sensor field and first microfilter elements for wavelength-selective filtering of incident light. The first microfilter elements are attached to a transparent carrier made of glass or a transparent film, for example. A first microfilter element is situated in front of a portion of the light-sensitive elements for wavelength-selective filtering of light striking the light-sensitive element. No microfilter element is situated in front of a further portion of the light-sensitive elements.
US08354697B2
To provide a circuit layout design method that can prevent degradation of the circuit reliability even in highly miniaturized circuit cells.In order to prevent noise from a power supply potential or a reference potential with a large potential difference from affecting a gate electrode and causing a malfunction, a first plug connected to the gate electrode and a second plug to which the power supply potential or the reference potential is supplied are required to be spaced from each other by a distance sufficient for the noise from the power supply potential or the reference potential not to affect the first plug. To this end, among the second plugs placed at equal intervals under the wiring, only the second plug placed at a layout position that is not sufficiently spaced from the first plug is deleted at the time of planar layout design.
US08354696B2
A semiconductor device may include a plurality of logic circuits connected to each other through input and output terminals thereof. The plurality of logic circuits comprising a first sub-plurality of logic circuits coupled to a first one of different power systems. The first sub-plurality of logic circuits is laid out and adjacent to each other in a first direction. The first sub-plurality of logic circuits includes a first logic circuit and a second logic circuit. The second logic circuit is adjacent to the first logic circuit. The first logic circuit includes a first element comprising a first diffusion layer. The second logic circuit includes a second element comprising the first diffusion layer.
US08354695B2
A semiconductor device and the methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a low energy band-gap layer comprising a semiconductor material; a gate dielectric on the low energy band-gap layer; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; a first source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric, wherein the first source/drain region is of a first conductivity type; and a second source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric. The second source/drain region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The low energy band-gap layer is located between the first and the second source/drain regions.
US08354693B2
A solid state imaging device includes a pixel having a photoelectric conversion element formed on a semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion element includes: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed on the first semiconductor layer and forming a junction therebetween; a third semiconductor layer formed on the second semiconductor layer and having a smaller band gap energy than the second semiconductor layer, the third semiconductor layer being made of a single-crystal semiconductor and containing an impurity; and a fourth semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type covering a side surface and an upper surface of the third semiconductor layer. Provision of the fourth semiconductor layer can reduce a current flowing in dark conditions.
US08354692B2
A vertical semiconductor power switch has a semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface. At least one anode and one control electrode are positioned on the first surface and at least one cathode is positioned on the second surface. The cathode comprises a multi-layer contact structure which comprises an inner contact layer positioned directly on the second surface of the semiconductor body, and an outermost layer consisting essentially of a Ni-alloy.
US08354680B2
The present invention discloses an alternating current (AC) light emitting diode (LED) having half-wave light emitting cells and full-wave light emitting cells. The AC LED has a plurality of light emitting cells electrically connected between bonding pads on a single substrate. The AC LED includes a first row of half-wave light emitting cells each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, a second row of full-wave light emitting cells each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, and a third row of half-wave light emitting cells each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal. In the AC LED, the second row is arranged between the first row and the third row, and the third row includes a pair of light emitting cells that share a cathode terminal with each other. The cathode terminal shared by the pair of light emitting cells in the third row is electrically connected to the anode terminal of a corresponding light emitting cell of the half-wave light emitting cells in the first row through a conductor that is electrically insulated from the full-wave light emitting cells in the second row.
US08354663B2
An ultra-violet light-emitting diode (LED) array, 12, and method for fabricating same with an AlInGaN multiple-quantum-well active region, 500, exhibiting stable cw-powers. The LED includes a template, 10, with an ultraviolet light-emitting array structure on it. The template includes a first buffer layer, 321, then a second buffer layer, 421, on the first preferably with a strain-relieving layer in both buffer layers. Next there is a semiconductor layer having a first type of conductivity, 500, followed by a layer providing a quantum-well region, 600, with an emission spectrum ranging from 190 nm to 369 nm. Another semiconductor layer having a second type of conductivity is applied next, 800. A first metal contact, 980, is a charge spreading layer in electrical contact with the first layer and between the array of LED's. A second contact, 990, is applied to the semiconductor layer having the second type of conductivity, to complete the LED.
US08354659B2
Techniques for forming a phase change memory cell. An example apparatus includes a substrate and a bottom electrode carried by the substrate. The bottom electrode is a thermal conductor. A phase change layer, including phase change material, is disposed over the bottom electrode. A thermal insulating layer is disposed above the phase change layer. A heater is configured to temporarily melt the phase change material such that the phase change material crystallizes without voids within a switching region after melting.
US08354651B2
An imaging system and method of imaging are disclosed. The imaging system can include an external radiation source producing pairs of substantially simultaneous radiation emissions of a picturization emission and a verification emissions at an emission angle. The imaging system can also include a plurality of picturization sensors and at least one verification sensor for detecting the picturization and verification emissions, respectively. The imaging system also includes an object stage is arranged such that a picturization emission can pass through an object supported on said object stage before being detected by one of said plurality of picturization sensors. A coincidence system and a reconstruction system can also be included. The coincidence can receive information from the picturization and verification sensors and determine whether a detected picturization emission is direct radiation or scattered radiation. The reconstruction system can produce a multi-dimensional representation of an object imaged with the imaging system.
US08354650B2
A radiation detection and counting system (2) includes a radiation detector element (5) for outputting a signal related to an energy of a radiation event received thereby and an amplifier (8) for amplifying the signal output by the detector element (5). A gain equalization circuit (10) adjusts the gain of the amplified output signal and a plurality of comparators (12) compare the gain adjusted amplified output signal to a like plurality of different valued threshold signals that are independently adjustable of each other A plurality of counters (20) is operative whereupon only the counter associated with the one comparator (12) that changes state in response to the peak of the gain adjusted amplified output signal exceeding the value of the trigger threshold signal thereof is incremented. A storage (24) stores the incremented value of each counter (20) accumulated over a sample time interval and data output logic circuit (26) transfers the stored accumulated counts out of the storage.
US08354634B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed wherein an ion signal is split into a first and second signal. The first and second signals are multiplied by different gains and are digitised. Arrival time and intensity pairs are calculated for both digitised signals and the resulting time and intensity pairs are combined to form a high dynamic range spectrum. The spectrum is then combined with other corresponding spectra to form a summed spectrum.
US08354622B2
The invention relates to an electric hot wedge (1) for a welding device for the seam-like connecting of plastic webs, having a welding wedge (2) and a welding wedge attachment (3) made of metal, wherein the welding wedge (2) comprises at least one electric heating resistor (13) having a heating conductor (16), which is bonded to a ceramic carrier (15) as a conductive layer (12) and is preferably protected by a ceramic cover layer. According to the invention, the welding wedge attachment (2) has a support structure (28) made of metal on the side thereof, which substantially extends across the entire length and/or width of the electric heating resistor (16) and which mechanically stabilizes the carrier (15) of the heating resistor (16).
US08354612B2
A laser processing apparatus for cutting substrates comprises a laser head for generating a laser beam and first and second work holders on which substrates are mountable. A diverter positioned along a path of the laser beam is operative to selectively direct the laser beam towards a first substrate mounted on the first work holder to cut the first substrate, or towards a second substrate mounted on the second work holder to cut the second substrate, so that contemporaneous operations may be conducted on one substrate while the other substrate is being cut.
US08354609B2
A method and apparatus for a plasma torch system having a plasma torch tip configuration that includes a nozzle, an electrode, and a control unit for controlling a composition of the shield gas flow, such that while cutting the contour the shield gas flow comprises a first shield gas composition and while cutting the hole the shield gas flow comprises a second shield gas composition.
US08354598B2
A method for fabricating a packaging substrate includes: stacking two metal layers; encapsulating the two metal layers with assistant dielectric layers; forming built-up structures on the assistant dielectric layers, respectively; and separating the built-up structures along the interface between the two metal layers so as to form two packaging substrates. Owing to the adhesive characteristic of the assistant dielectric layers, the two metal layers are unlikely to separate from each other during formation of the built-up structures. But after portions of the dielectric layer around the periphery of the metal layers are cut and removed, the two metal layers can be readily separated from each other. The two metal layers can be patterned to form wiring layers, metal bumps, or supporting structures to avoid waste of materials. A packaging substrate and a fabrication method thereof are provided.
US08354595B2
A method for interconnecting a first flex printed circuit board (PCB) with a second flex PCB. The method includes: providing the first flex PCB with holes at contact locations to be electrically coupled to the second flex PCB; providing the second flex PCB with electrical pads corresponding to the holes at the contact locations; applying a non-conductive material between the first PCB and the and second PCB with clearances for each of the electrical pads; aligning the first PCB with the second PCB so that the holes in the first PCB are in line with the corresponding electrical pads on the second PCB; bonding a portion of flat areas on the first and second PCBs together; dispensing a conductive adhesive into the holes to fill the space created by the holes, corresponding clearances of the non-conductive material, and the corresponding electrical pads; and curing the conductive adhesive.
US08354589B2
A power cable is configured for connecting at least one electrical device to a power source. The power cable includes an input terminal, at least one output terminal, a power transmitting wire, a switch, a voltage setting device, a voltage sampling device, a voltage comparing device and a power supply. The power transmitting wire connects the input terminal and the output terminal via the switch. The voltage sampling device is configured for sensing a voltage of the output terminal. The voltage comparing device is configured for comparing a preset voltage stored in the voltage setting device and the sampled voltage sensed by the voltage sampling device to turn on or turn off the switch according to the compared result. The power supply is configured for reducing the voltage of the power source to the rated voltage of the voltage comparing device to power the voltage comparing device.
US08354588B2
A covering for a plug and socket connection mounted in a housing is provided with a cover that covers the plug and socket connection in closed position and which is pivotable from the closed position into an open position in which it releases the plug and socket connection. The cover is mounted pivotable at a guide component. The guide component is mounted displaceable in a receptacle of the housing. In its open position, the cover is aligned with the guide component and can be inserted together with it into the receptacle.
US08354580B2
A split keyboard with an optional middle section of keys for controlling regular PC input to a host, two play music, and to input and play music with a multiple octave keyboard that when the middle section of keys are removed can be portable to travel.And when working on just the split keyboard inputting data to a host the operator arms are not abducted do to the perpendicular advantage or slide apart keyboard where an operators arms are perpendicular to the keyboard keys.
US08354579B2
A music linked photocasting service system and method are provided. The music linked photocasting service method includes reproducing music at the request of a user, analyzing a mood of the reproduced music at prescribed times, until music reproduction is completed, searching photographs suitable for a analyzed mood of the music, and displaying the searched photographs.
US08354572B2
A potato cultivar designated ‘Madingley’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar ‘Madingley’, to the seeds of potato cultivar ‘Madingley’, to the plants of potato ‘Madingley’, to the plant parts of potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety ‘Madingley’, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ with another potato cultivar.
US08354563B2
This invention provides a method for producing ethanol and 2-propanol from syngas, the method comprising: (a) converting syngas into methanol using a methanol-synthesis catalyst; (b) converting methanol into ethylene and propylene using a methanol-to-olefins catalyst; and (c) hydrating ethylene into ethanol and propylene into 2-propanol. As taught herein, the combined yield of the ethanol and the 2-propanol from biomass can be at least 100 gallons per dry ton biomass. In certain embodiments, the yield of ethanol is at least 100 gallons per dry ton biomass. In some embodiments, the yield of 2-propanol is at least 50 gallons per dry ton biomass.
US08354560B2
Nitroaldol (“Henry”) reactions between nitroalkanes and aldehydes in the presence of a catalyst and a two-phase reaction medium produce nitroalcohols at increased reaction rates compared to single-phase organic solvent systems, and do not require use of surfactants as is typical of single-phase aqueous solvent systems and solventless systems. The reaction medium comprises an organic solvent phase and an aqueous solvent phase. The aqueous solvent may be 100% water.
US08354550B2
The present invention relates to novel carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, skin treatment compositions containing these carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, methods of treating skin changes by topical application of these carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives, and their methods of synthesis. The carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives of the present invention are unexpectedly effective in treating skin, particularly with respect to skin tolerance. When included in a topical composition, the carboxylic acid-substituted idebenone derivatives of the present invention have an antioxidant effect that is useful in treating a skin change.
US08354546B2
There is provided a process for manufacture of optically-active, 2-(acyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolanes of Formula I comprising a preparation of a racemic compound and an enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution of the enantiomers. The invention may further provide for the esterification and racemization of the by-product of the enzymatic reaction. In this manner, 2(R)-(benzoyloxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolane is prepared as a useful intermediate for manufacture of the anti-HIV drug Apricitabine.
US08354544B2
The present invention relates to the process for the preparation of 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-1H-indazole according ing to formula (II), to be used in a subsequent process for the preparation of 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-1H-indazole according to formula (I).
US08354542B2
Objects of the present invention are to provide the following: a novel heterocyclic compound which can be used as a material in which a light-emitting substance of a light-emitting layer in a light-emitting element is dispersed; a novel heterocyclic compound having a high electron-transport property; a light-emitting element having high current efficiency; and a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device each having reduced power consumption. Provided are a heterocyclic compound represented by General Formula (G1-1) or (G1-2) below, and a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device each including the heterocyclic compound. Such use of the heterocyclic compound represented by General Formula (G1-1) or (G1-2) makes it possible to provide a light-emitting element having high current efficiency, and a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device each having reduced power consumption.
US08354539B2
The invention is directed to a certain novel compound which is an inhibitor of kinase activity, in particular IKK2 activity.
US08354533B2
Example embodiments provide a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ligand-transition metal complex, a buffer layer including the complex, which may improve the injection and transport of electrical charges, an organic thin film transistor and an electronic device including the buffer layer, in which the injection of electrons or holes and the transport of charges between layers are accelerated, thereby improving the efficiency thereof, and methods of manufacturing the same.
US08354522B2
The invention provides immunostimulatory compositions and use of those compounds in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of disease as well as in vitro uses. In particular, the compositions of the invention include immunostimulatory oligoribonucleotides that incorporate a sequence-dependent immunostimulatory sequence motif. Specific modifications involving phosphate linkages, nucleotide analogs, adducts, and combinations thereof are provided. Compositions of the invention, which optionally can include an antigen, can be used alone or together with other treatments to stimulate or enhance an immune response. Also provided are compositions and methods useful for treating a subject having an infection, a cancer, an allergic condition, asthma, airway remodeling, or immunodeficiency. Immunostimulatory oligoribonucleotides of the invention are believed to stimulate Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8).
US08354520B2
The invention provides a method for determining if a subject has atherosclerosis, including: determining an endogenous microRNA-195 expression level of a subject suspected of having atherosclerosis; and comparing the endogenous microRNA-195 expression level of the subject with an endogenous microRNA-195 expression level of a normal group, wherein an increase in the endogenous microRNA-195 expression level of the subject as compared to the endogenous microRNA-195 expression level of the normal group indicates that the subject has atherosclerosis.
US08354518B2
The present invention features methods for enhancing the ability of a genotype 2b NS5B sequence to function in a replicon, for producing replicons containing a functional genotype 2b NS5B, and for using replicons to measure the ability of a compound to affect HCV replication that is sustained with the genotype 2b polymerase. Also featured is a genotype 1b NS4B adaptive mutation. The ability to produce replicons containing a functional genotype 2b NS5B is illustrated by the production of chimeric replicons based on HCV genotype 1b where substantially all the NS5B sequence is replaced with a genotype 2b NS5B.
US08354503B2
Process for extracting hydrophobin from a solution wherein carrageenan is added to the solution and the pH of the solution is brought below 3.5, and the ionic strength of the solution is below 0.5.
US08354490B2
A method is provided for functionalizing nanoscale fibers including reacting a plurality of nanoscale fibers with at least one epoxide monomer to chemically bond the at least one epoxide monomer to surfaces of the nanoscale fibers to form functionalized nanoscale fibers. Functionalized nanoscale fibers and nanoscale fiber films are also provided.
US08354487B2
Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.
US08354486B2
Solid polymerizable diacetylenic monomer compositions, including compositions co-crystallized from a diversity of solvent systems under diverse cooling conditions, can exhibit diffraction patterns associated with the color development reactivities of the compositions. High reactivity compositions are disclosed and high reactivity and low reactivity phases can be identified. A low angle powder X-ray diffraction peak can indicate the presence of one or more crystal phases in a composition. A fingerprint region can exhibit fingerprint patterns of diffraction peaks associated with different reactivities. Information about polymerization of the diacetylenic monomers is disclosed using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) characterization. Diacetylenic monomer compositions useful in ambient condition indicators, for example time-temperature indicators are disclosed.
US08354484B2
A catalyst composition comprising one or more metal complexes of a multifunctional Lewis base ligand comprising a bulky, planar, aromatic- or substituted aromatic-group and polymerization processes employing the same, especially continuous, solution polymerization of one or more α-olefins at high catalyst efficiencies are disclosed.
US08354474B2
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed generally to a composition that forms a cross-linked protective outer coating or layer able to withstand high temperatures and which maintains integrity in such conditions. The protective coating may be used in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrostatographic, including digital, apparatuses. Particular embodiments pertain to a fuser component having an outer coating comprised of a cross-linking composition that improves resistance to thermal degradation and extends the service life of the fuser component.
US08354464B2
A mixture of brominated diphenylethanes is prepared by brominating diphenylethanes, comprises hexabromodiphenylethane, heptabromodiphenylethane and octabromodiphenylethane, comprises about 55 to about 85% by weight hexabromodiphenylethane, and comprises about 0.01 to about 30% by weight diphenylethanes substituted with an odd number of bromines. The mixture of brominated diphenylethanes can provide improved compatibility with polymer resins, as well as impart excellent flame retardancy and improved weatherability and thermal stability.
US08354463B2
A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is disclosed which is flame retardant and essentially halogen-free. An embodiment also includes expandable graphite filler to further provide fire protection.
US08354462B2
Particulate solid heat stabilizer compositions for vinyl halide polymers are provided having about 30% to 90% by weight hydrotalcite particles represented by a sigmoidal curve on a cartesian coordinate plot of zeta potential (mV) versus pH. The curve has negative zeta potential values balanced against positive zeta potential values over a pH range and an inflection point between a pH of about 3 about 6 representing the isoelectric point (IEP) between said negative and positive zeta potential values. The stabilizer compositions are essentially free flowing, storage stable, and processable upon mixing components of the composition for blending with a vinyl halide polymer in effective amounts to confer heat stabilizing effectiveness upon said polymer.
US08354459B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a block copolymer solid in which microphase-separated structures are formed with good productivity. The present invention provides a method for producing a block copolymer solid in which a microphase-separated structure is formed, or an alloy, blend or composite solid containing a block copolymer in which a microphase-separated structure is formed, which comprises the following steps (1) to (3): (1) immersing a block copolymer solid or an alloy, blend or composite solid containing a block copolymer in a solvent in which each component is insoluble; (2) putting the solid obtained in (1) above in a pressure-resistant container; and (3) irradiating the solid or the solvent in (2) above with microwave.
US08354458B2
A UV curable intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes for example, a first supporting substrate, such as a polyimide substrate layer, and a second surface layer of a mixture of a dendritic, crosslinked, or branched polyester polyol acrylate, an acrylate, an optional vinyl monomer, and a photoinitiator component.
US08354457B2
A process (200) to synthesise hydrocarbons includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feed material at a temperature sufficiently high to produce at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42) at a temperature of at least 900° C. and comprising at least CO and H2. In a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22), synthesis gas is converted to hydrocarbons, providing a tail gas stream (40) containing methane. The tail gas stream (40) is subjected to steam reforming (30) thereby converting the methane to CO and H2 producing a reformed gas stream which is recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22). The steam reforming (30) takes place at an elevated temperature of at least 700° C. and heat for the steam reforming is provided by indirect heat exchange with the at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42).
US08354454B2
The compounds of Formula I are pro-drugs of CETP inhibitors having a central oxazolidinone ring. The compounds cyclize by the elimination of HX to form an oxazolidinone ring after administration to a patient.
US08354445B2
The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions. One aspect of the invention provides compounds of formula (1): in which T, A and X are as described herein.
US08354440B2
Compositions and methods for inhibiting translation using 3-(5-tert-Butyl-2-Hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are provided. Compositions, methods and kits for treating (1) cellular proliferative disorders, (2) non-proliferative, degenerative disorders, (3) viral infections, and/or (4) disorders associated with viral infections, using 3-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are described.
US08354429B2
Compounds of formula I: wherein R4, R6 and R7 are defined herein, are useful as inhibitors of HIV replication.
US08354427B2
The present invention relates to modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using such modulators.
US08354419B2
Compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein A, B, B′, X, Y, R1, R1′, R2, R2′, R3, R3′, R5, R5′, R6, m, n, or p are as defined herein, are useful for treating flaviviridae viral infections.
US08354411B2
The present invention provides a compound which has the effect of PDE inhibition, and which is useful as a medicament for preventing or treating schizophrenia or so on. A compound of formula (I0), wherein R1 represents a substituent; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent; Ring A represents an aromatic ring which can be substituted, and Ring B represents a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring which can be substituted, or a salt thereof.
US08354398B2
Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Q is R1 is alkyl or aryl, said aryl optionally substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C4 haloalkyl, —OR4, and/or halogen; and R2, R3, R4, and n are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds as selective agonists for G protein-coupled receptor S1P1, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. These compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as autoimmune diseases and vascular disease.
US08354397B2
The present invention makes available methods and reagents for inhibiting aberrant growth states resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function, ptc loss-of-function or smoothened gain-of-function comprising contacting the cell with a hedgehog antagonist, such as a small molecule, in a sufficient amount to aberrant growth, e.g., to agonize a normal ptc pathway or antagonize smoothened or hedgehog activity.
US08354391B2
An anti-WSSV and/or TSV nucleic acid drug, the active ingredients of which are five nucleic acids whose nucleotide sequences are sequence 1, sequence 2, sequence 3, sequence 4 and sequence 5 in the sequence list, respectively. The nucleic acid drug of the present invention has no toxic or side effect or drug tolerance, and can directly kill WSSV and/or TSV with fine antiviral effect and no drug residues.
US08354389B2
Targeting constructs and methods of using them are provided for differentiation-dependent modification of nucleic acid sequences in cells and in non-human animals. Targeting constructs comprising a promoter operably linked to a recombinase are provided, wherein the promoter drives transcription of the recombinase in an differentiated cell but not an undifferentiated cell. Promoters include Blimp1, Prm1, Gata6, Gata4, Igf2, Lhx2, Lhx5, and Pax3. Targeting constructs with a cassette flanked on both sides by recombinase sites can be removed using a recombinase gene operably linked to a 3′-UTR that comprises a recognition site for an miRNA that is transcribed in undifferentiated cells but not in differentiated cells. The constructs may be included in targeting vectors, and can be used to automatically modify or excise a selection cassette from an ES cell, a non-human embryo, or a non-human animal.
US08354370B2
The present invention relates to methods and uses of cells for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases and disorders and the repair and regeneration of tissues and organs using low passage and extensively passaged in vitro cultured, self-renewing, colony forming somatic cells (CF-SC). For example, adult bone marrow-derived somatic cells (ABM-SC), or compositions produced by such cells, are useful alone or in combination with other components for treating, for example, cardiovascular, neurological, integumentary, dermatological, periodontal, and immune mediated diseases, disorders, pathologies, and injuries.
US08354367B2
Aqueous laundry detergent compositions useful for providing fabric cleaning and softness, in the form of a liquid or gel, having a pH of from about 6 to about 11 in a 1% solution, containing a non-soap anionic surfactant; optional soap; nonionic surfactant; optional hydrotrope; fabric softening cationic cosurfactant having a molecular weight of less than about 1000; fabric softening quaternized polymer having a molecular weight of at least 200,000; a perfume deposition polyamine wherein the perfume deposition polyamine has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 50,000; a non-quaternized, non polyamine thickener; and perfume. Methods of using such compositions and use of such compositions.
US08354366B2
A cleaning product in the form of a single or multi-compartment water-soluble pack comprising a cleaning composition and enveloping material, wherein at least one compartment contains an aqueous cleaning composition or an aqueous auxiliary composition enveloped by a warm water soluble material and wherein the aqueous cleaning or auxiliary composition comprises more than 15% by weight of the aqueous composition of free water.
US08354352B2
Provided is a low-dispersion optical glass that is formed of a fluorophosphate glass in which the molar ratio of the content of O2− to the content of P5+, O2−/P5+, is 3.5 or more and that has an Abbe's number (νd) of over 70 or has an F− content of 65 anionic % or more, and the optical glass enables the suppression of the volatilization of a glass component when an optical glass formed of a fluorophosphate glass is produced or when an obtained glass in a molten state is caused to flow out to shape it into a glass shaped material, so that the variation of properties such as a refractive index, etc., involved in the fluctuations of a glass composition and the variation of quality such as the occurrence of striae can be suppressed.
US08354350B2
A reactive cyclodextrin derivative or a reactive glucose derivative is used as a template derivative for forming an ultra-low dielectric layer. A layer is formed of the reactive cyclodextrin derivative or the reactive glucose derivative capped with Si—H and then cured in an atmosphere of hydrogen peroxide to form the ultra-low dielectric layer.
US08354348B2
An object is to provide a method suitable for reprocessing a semiconductor substrate which is reused to manufacture an SOI substrate. A semiconductor substrate is reprocessed in the following manner: etching treatment is performed on a semiconductor substrate in which a projection including a damaged semiconductor region and an insulating layer exists in a peripheral portion, whereby the insulating layer is removed; and etching treatment is performed on the semiconductor substrate with the use of a mixed solution including a substance that oxidizes a semiconductor material included in the semiconductor substrate, a substance that dissolves the oxidized semiconductor material, and a substance that controls oxidation speed of the semiconductor material and dissolution speed of the oxidized semiconductor material, whereby the damaged semiconductor region is selectively removed with a non-damaged semiconductor region left.
US08354344B2
The present invention is related to the field of semiconductor processing and, more particularly, to the formation of low resistance layers on germanium substrates. One aspect of the present invention is a method comprising: providing a substrate on which at least one area of a germanium layer is exposed; depositing over the substrate and said germanium area a metal, e.g., Co or Ni; forming over said metal, a capping layer consisting of a silicon oxide containing layer, of a silicon nitride layer, or of a tungsten layer, preferably of a SiO2 layer; then annealing for metal-germanide formation; then removing selectively said capping layer and any unreacted metal, wherein the temperature used for forming said capping layer formation is lower than the annealing temperature.
US08354336B2
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of forming an electrode having reduced corrosion and water decomposition on a surface thereof. A substrate which has a conductive layer disposed thereon is provided and the conductive layer has an oxide layer with an exposed surface. The exposed surface of the oxide layer contacts a solution of an organic surface active compound in an organic solvent to form a protective layer of the organic surface active compound over the oxide layer. The protective layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 nm to about 5 nm and ranges therebetween depending on a chemical structure of the surface active compound.
US08354335B2
A method for fabricating a floating gate memory device comprises using a buried diffusion oxide that is below the floating gate thereby producing an increased step height between the floating gate and the buried diffusion oxide. The increased step height can produce a higher GCR, while still allowing decreased cell size using a virtual ground array design.
US08354325B1
A toroidal inductor formed in a semiconductor substrate. Through-silicon vias are used to connect metal layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, the vias are elongated and laid out in two concentric circles, an inner circle enclosed by an outer circle. The vias of the outer concentric circle are longer than the vias of the inner circle so that spaces between vias are the same for both circles. In another embodiment, each elongated via may include a plurality of circular vias formed in a line. Metals layers on the top and bottom of the semiconductor substrate are patterned to form wedge shaped connectors between the inner and outer vias to form the spirals of the toroidal inductor. The wedge shaped connectors with elongated vias allow spacing between spirals to be constant.
US08354322B2
Techniques are disclosed herein for applying different process steps to single-level cell (SLC) blocks in a memory array than to multi-level cell (MLC) blocks such that the SLC blocks will have high endurance and the MLC blocks will have high reliability. In some aspects, different doping is used in the MLC blocks than the SLC blocks. In some aspects, different isolation is used in the MLC blocks than the SLC blocks. Techniques are disclosed that apply different read parameters depending on how many times a block has been programmed/erased. Therefore, blocks that have been cycled many times are read using different parameters than blocks that have been cycled fewer times.
US08354321B2
A transistor which includes halo regions disposed in a substrate adjacent to opposing sides of the gate. The halo regions have upper and lower regions. The upper region is a crystalline region with excess vacancies and the lower region is an amorphous region. Source/drain diffusion regions are disposed in the halo regions. The source/drain diffusion regions overlap the upper and lower halo regions. This architecture offers the minimal extension resistance as well as minimum lateral diffusion for better CMOS device scaling.
US08354320B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes a forming plurality of trenches in a substrate to thereby define a fin structure for a FinFET device, forming a first region of a first insulating material within each of the trenches, wherein the as-deposited surface of the first insulating material is positioned below an upper surface of the fin, forming a layer of a second material that contacts the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material and overfills the trenches, performing at least one process operation to remove at least a portion of the layer of the second material from above the fin structure, and, after performing the at least one process operation, performing a second process operation to selectively remove the second material from above the first region of the first insulating material and thereby expose the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material.
US08354316B2
A semiconductor power device supported on a semiconductor substrate includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit disposed on a first portion of patterned ESD polysilicon layer on top of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor power device further includes a second portion of the patterned ESD polysilicon layer constituting a body implant ion block layer for blocking implanting body ions to enter into the semiconductor substrate below the body implant ion block layer. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) polysilicon layer on top of the semiconductor substrate further covering a scribe line on an edge of the semiconductor device whereby a passivation layer is no longer required manufacturing the semiconductor device for reducing a mask required for patterning the passivation layer.
US08354314B2
Epitaxial deposition of silicon germanium in a semiconductor device is achieved without using masks. Nucleation delays induced by interactions with dopants present before deposition of the silicon germanium are used to determine a period over which an exposed substrate surface may be subjected to epitaxial deposition to form a layer of SiGe on desired parts with substantially no deposition on other parts. Dopant concentration may be changed to achieve desired thicknesses within preferred deposition times. Resulting deposited SiGe is substantially devoid of growth edge effects.
US08354305B2
A TFT LCD array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method includes the steps of: forming a thin film transistor on a substrate to form a gate line and a gate electrode connected with the gate line on the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer and a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode; forming an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer; forming a transparent pixel electrode layer and a source/drain electrode metal layer in sequence on the resultant substrate, wherein the transparent pixel electrode layer is electrically insulated from the gate line and the gate electrode, and the transparent pixel electrode layer forms an ohmic contact with two sides of the semiconductor layer via the ohmic contact layer; and performing masking and etching with a gray tone mask with respect to the resultant substrate to form a transparent pixel electrode, a source/drain electrode and a data line simultaneously.
US08354295B2
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for reducing dark current in a backside illuminated semiconductor device. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a frontside surface and a backside surface, and forming a plurality of sensor elements in the substrate, each of the plurality of sensor elements configured to receive light directed towards the backside surface. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer on the backside surface of the substrate, wherein the dielectric layer is formed to have a compressive stress to induce a tensile stress in the substrate. A backside illuminated semiconductor device fabricated by such a method is also disclosed.
US08354289B2
A method for manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN) wafer is provided. In the method for manufacturing the GaN wafer according to an embodiment, an etch stop layer is formed on a substrate, and a first GaN layer is formed on the etch stop layer. A portion of the first GaN layer is etched with a silane gas, and a second GaN layer is formed on the etched first GaN layer. A third GaN layer is formed on the second GaN layer.
US08354274B2
Synthetic surfaces capable of supporting culture of eukaryotic cells including stem cells and undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells in a chemically defined medium include a swellable (meth)acrylate layer and a polypeptide conjugated to the swellable (meth)acrylate layer. The swellable (meth)acrylate layer may be formed by polymerizing monomers in a composition that includes a carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer, a cross-linking (di- or higher-functional) (meth)acrylate monomer, and a hydrophilic monomer capable of polymerizing with the carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate monomer and the cross-linking (meth)acrylate monomer. The swellable (meth)acrylate layer has an equilibrium water content in water of between about 5% and about 70%. The conjugated peptide may include an RGD amino acid sequence.
US08354259B2
A system and method capable of hydrolyzing lactose, where the system includes a support formed from a functionalized hydrophobic polymer that is covalently linked to a hydrophilic molecule covalently that is, in turn, covalently linked to an enzyme such as lactose. The method includes the steps of functionalizing a hydrophobic polymer support, covalently linking a hydrophilic molecule to said functionalized polymer support, and covalently linking an enzyme such as lactase to said hydrophilic molecule. The system and method generally relate to the field of food science and engineering and, more particularly to dairy-based food products and their production including solutions to problems associated with lactose intolerance such as product processing methods and products produced by these methods.
US08354257B2
A process for producing alcohol from syngas integrates the alcohol recovery with the removal of CO2 from syngas. A syngas feed containing CO, H2, and CO2 contacts an aqueous alcohol stream to remove CO2 from the syngas that then passes to bioreactor containing microorganisms for conversion to alcohol and other liquid products. Flashing of the scrubbing liquid releases the CO2 and simultaneously concentrates alcohol in the overhead flash vapor. Condensation of the flash vapor provides an enriched alcohol stream for enhanced recovery of the ethanol product in a product separation zone. The remainder of the scrubbing liquid along with make-up alcohol and water from the process gets returned for continued contact with the syngas feed.
US08354256B2
Described are compositions and methods relating to the use of a glucoamylase in combination with a phytase in starch processing to reduce the levels of phytic acid in end-products.
US08354254B2
An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium containing a processed product of a microalga which promotes production and accumulation of the L-amino acid by the bacterium. The process product is produced by disrupting the culture of the microalga, and/or extracting the culture of the microalga, or fractionating the culture of the microalga or the disrupted culture. The processed product contains a mixture of organic substances produced by the microalga, a hydrolysate of the disrupted microalga culture, and/or an extract or fractionation product of the microalga culture. The processed product can also contain a saccarification product of starch or a hydrolysate of fats and oils. The bacterium is cultured to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in culture, and the L-amino acid is collected from the culture.
US08354251B2
The present invention is directed generally to compositions and methods for expressing recombinant proteins in a mammalian host cell using a co-expressed transcriptional activator. In particular, the invention provides vectors, host cells, and methods of expressing at least one desired polypeptide by transfecting a mammalian host cell with cistrons encoding a transactivator, a desired polypeptide, and an apoptosis-protective protein.
US08354250B2
Neurotransmitter biosensors are disclosed, including YbeJ-based glutamate binding biosensors, comprising a neurotransmitter binding domain conjugated to donor and fluorescent moieties that permit detection and measurement of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer upon binding neurotransmitter. Such biosensors are useful for the detection of neurotransmitter concentrations in vivo and in culture.
US08354238B2
A method of assaying a sample with the use of the aggregation reaction of immunological microparticles and an assay kit. The assay is conducted by using microparticles wherein the same or an analog of the analyte and a substance that specifically binds to a substance that can specifically bind to the analyte are both bound to an insoluble carrier. Thus, it becomes possible to conveniently carry out the assay even in the case where the analyte has only a small number of specific binding sites, without especially adding a competitive substance carrying hapten bonded thereto to the reaction system so as to induce simultaneous competition of the target substance and the competitive substance.
US08354234B2
The present invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for mass spectrometric analysis of magnetic nanoparticles displaying ligands on their surface. For example, the present invention provides methods of screening a sample for the presence of at least one analyte using ligand conjugated magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic separation, and mass spectrometric analysis. The present invention also relates to MALDI matrix compositions comprising ligand conjugated magnetic nanoparticles.
US08354232B2
The present invention relates to systems, methods and kits for low-level detection of nucleic acids, detecting at least two different viral sequences in a single reaction vessel, and increasing the dynamic range of detection of a viral target nucleic acid in a sample. The present invention also relates to T-structure invasive cleavage assays, as well as T-structure related target dependent non-target amplification methods and compositions. The present invention further relates to methods, compositions, devices and systems for consistent nucleic acid dispensing onto surfaces.
US08354221B2
Disclosed are methods for the preservation and storage of living biological tissues, organs, and populations of isolated cells. Also disclosed are compositions and methods to permit biological samples (including e.g., cells, cell cultures, tissues, and organs) to be harvested from suitable donor animals, stored for prolonged periods under refrigerated, cryogenic, or near-freezing, and then transported and implanted into a site within the body of a selected recipient animal, all without significant loss of cellular viability, tissue integrity, and/or biochemical function of the stored biological sample.
US08354216B2
Negative-working imageable elements such as lithographic printing plate precursors, include a free-radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition that is capable of generating free radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization of the free-radically polymerizable component upon exposure to imaging radiation in the presence of a radiation absorbing compound, a radiation absorbing compound, an aerobic free radical inhibitor, optionally a polymeric binder that is not a free radically polymerizable component, and an anaerobic free radical inhibitor. The molar ratio of the anaerobic free radical inhibitor to the aerobic free radical inhibitor is at least 1:1. This combination of inhibitors provides increased shelf life and good latent image stability particularly when the element includes a polymeric topcoat layer that functions as an oxygen barrier.
US08354214B2
The present disclosure provides carriers for use with toner compositions. In embodiments, a carrier may include a core, having a dry powder polymer coating. In embodiments, the coating may also include a colorant, such as carbon black. Processes for coating such carriers with the dry powder polymer coatings are also provided.
US08354210B2
An electrophotographic photoconductor that stabilizes electrical performances and prevents generation of image faults such as memories, irrespective of types of organic materials of resin binder and charge transport material, and variation of temperature and humidity of the operation environment. An electrophotographic photoconductor includes at least a photosensitive layer formed over a conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a cyclohexane dimethanol-diaryl ester compound represented by the formula (I): in formula (I), each of R1 through R10 represents independently, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of carbon number of from 1 to 5, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group of carbon number of from 1 to 5.
US08354206B2
A method of generating photomask data for fabricating a microlens array, the photomask having a microlens pattern including light-shielding portions and non-light-shielding portions, a rectangular region including a surrounding region having four sides of the rectangular region as outer edges and a primary region having boundaries that are inner edges of the surrounding region, the surrounding region being configured by four strip regions each including one of the four sides as its part, and a width between each outer edge and each corresponding inner edge being not more than 1/2 of a wavelength of exposure light. The method includes determining a layout of light-shielding portions and non-light-shielding portions in the surrounding region so that a density of light-shielding portions is set to fall within a range from 0% to 15%.
US08354193B2
An electrochemical device, having an anode containing magnesium; a cathode stable to a voltage of at least 3.2 V relative to a magnesium reference; and an electrolyte obtained by admixture of a magnesium salt of a non-nucleophilic base comprising nitrogen and aluminum trichloride in an ether solvent is provided. As sulfur is stable to a voltage of at least 3.2 V relative to a magnesium reference, a magnesium-sulfur electrochemical device is specifically provided.
US08354190B2
An electrode and an electrode material for lithium electrochemical cells are disclosed. The electrode material is in powder form and has a particle size distribution wherein the measured particle size distribution of the electrode material has a median size D50 ranging from 1.5 μm and 3 μm, a D10≧0.5 μm, a D90≦10.0 μm, and a calculated ratio (D90/D10)/D50≧3.0 which is indicative of a peak of the measured particle size distribution on the left of the median D50 which improves the loading and energy density of the electrode produced with this electrode material powder.
US08354189B2
Provided are electrode compositions for lithium-ion electrochemical cells that include novel binders. The novel binders include lithium polysalts of carboxylic and sulfonic acids, lithium salts of copolymers of acids, lithium polysulfonate fluoropolymers, a cured phenolic resin, cured glucose, and combinations thereof.
US08354183B2
An adapter includes an insertion part that is inserted into a body of a power tool and has terminals for electrically connecting with the power tool; a pair of rails for guiding insertion of a battery pack in a direction substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the insertion part; an operating part constituting tool-latching device for attaching to and detaching from the body of the power tool; and a receiving part constituting battery-latching device for attaching to and detaching from the battery pack. The operating part of the tool-latching device and the receiving-side of the battery-latching device are disposed in different positions when viewing the adapter in the insertion direction of the insertion part.
US08354174B2
A card, such as a gift card, a security card, a ticket, and/or a pass, includes a machine readable component. The card is formed of a paper or paper/film laminate material that is compostable, thereby forming a degradable product.
US08354170B1
An engineered microstructure composite having an elastic or elastomeric matrix with distributed rigid reinforcements. One embodiment of the invention provides an elastomeric composite including an elastomeric matrix, a plurality of rigid reinforcements embedded within the elastomeric matrix, and a plurality of attachments (or ligaments) connected to the reinforcements to interconnect the rigid reinforcements to each other. Here, in this embodiment, the elastomeric composite has a composite reversible strain limit greater than 3 percent (%) (or, in one embodiment, greater than 5%) due to kinematics of the rigid reinforcements interconnected by the attachments and embedded within the elastomeric matrix.
US08354165B2
The present invention relates to a coating material containing (a) first oxidic particles formed by hydrolytic condensation, in a size range of 5-20 nm, (b) second particles with a diameter in the size range of 80-300 nm, (c) a first aqueous solvent in which the source material for the oxidic particles formed by hydrolytic condensation can be dissolved and which allows or promotes the hydrolysis and condensation thereof, and (d) at least one second solvent, selected among specifically defined alcohols, ethers, organic acids, esters, ketones, amines and amic acids and mixtures thereof. The invention relates in addition to a substrate supplied with a coating, particularly a glass suitable for the photovoltaic and warm water collector domain, wherein the coating is composed of at least two particle fractions, wherein the particles of the first fraction have a diameter in the size range of 5-20 nm, and the particles of the second fraction have a diameter in the size range of 80-300 nm, wherein the particles of the second fraction have an average distance from each other, measured from cone to cone of these particles, of on average 20-200 nm, and wherein the particles of the first particle fraction have pores with a pore radius distribution of which the maximum is between 1 and 6 nm. The coating of the substrate can be achieved by means of the named coating material.
US08354159B2
The present invention provides a polyamide based mixed resin laminated film roll formed by winding up a polyamide based mixed resin laminated film comprising a plurality of polyamide mixed resin sheets stacked on top of each other. A first sample cutout portion is provided within 2 m from the winding end of film, and a final sample cutout portion is provided within 2 m from the winding start of film. The roll is regulated so that, when sample cutout portions are provided at intervals of about 100 m from the first sample cutout portion, for all samples cutout from the cutout portions, the elastomer content, tensile modulus of elasticity, thickness unevenness in the longitudinal direction and other properties fall within a predetermined variation range.
US08354158B2
A microfibrous article includes a substrate and a plurality of magnetic fibers disposed on the substrate. Each of the plurality of magnetic fibers is individually sheathed with a polymer and includes a plurality of magnetic particles. Further, each of the plurality of magnetic fibers is aligned along a magnetic field and not connected by the polymer to any adjacent magnetic fiber. A method of forming the microfibrous article is also disclosed.
US08354157B2
This invention provides a support plate which makes it possible to stably perform a step for separating from a support plate a wafer which has been processed while preventing delay in time taken for this step. The support plate of this invention is a support plate for supporting a substrate via an adhesive, including: a plate-shaped part having a surface which is in contact with the adhesive; and at least one spacer provided on the surface which is in contact with the adhesive.
US08354156B2
A prepreg base material includes reinforcing fibers arranged substantially in one direction and a matrix resin between the reinforcing fibers, wherein the prepreg base material has substantially throughout its entire surface incisions, each incision extending in a direction substantially crossing the reinforcing fibers, wherein substantially all of the reinforcing fibers are divided by the incisions, a length (L) of each of reinforcing fiber segments formed by the incisions is in the range of 10 to 100 mm, a thickness H of the prepreg base material is in the range of 30 to 300 μm, and a fiber volume content by Vf of the reinforcing fibers is in the range of 45 to 65%.
US08354153B2
Provided is a release-lined pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet comprising a release liner 10 and a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 20. The release liner 10 has an average linear expansion coefficient of at most 7×10−5/° C. between 25° C. and 40° C. A layer 12 to constitute a surface 10A on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer side of the release liner 10 is formed of a polyolefin-based resin composition containing none or at most 0.01 mass % of a phosphorous-based antioxidant. The surface 10A is divided into a plurality of sections 124 by a plurality of ridges 2A and 2B with each ridge having a height of 5 μm to 50 μm. At least one of the sections 124 inscribes a circle of a diameter greater than 500 μm.
US08354152B2
An adhesive tape for flying splice, having a left and right boundary edge, at least one main carrier and a first layer of self-adhesive on the obverse of the main carrier, the reverse of the main carrier bearing a parting system suitable for effecting an adhesive bond to a substrate that can be parted again in such a way that sticky residues are left neither on the reverse of the main carrier nor on the substrate in the region of the parted bond, the parting system being constructed in the form of a multiply interrupted stripe having a plurality of segments that extends in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape, the individual segments having less of an extent in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape than the adhesive tape itself, and the parting system being suitable for effecting the parting process without the main carrier being damaged.
US08354149B2
The compositions and methods of the present application can provide transparent ink-jet recording films that may be used by printers relying on optical detection of fed media. Such films can be useful for medical image reproduction.
US08354148B2
An optical compensation polarizing plate comprising: a first transparent protective film; a polarizer; a second transparent protective film; and an optical compensation layer in this order, wherein at least one of the first and second transparent protective films is a cellulose acylate film having a retardation value in plane Re (nm) and a retardation value in film thickness direction Rth (nm) which fulfill the following formulae (I) and (II), and Nz and Re1 defined by the following formulae (III) and (IV), of the optical compensation layer fulfill the following formulae (V) and (VI):(I) |Re|≦10, (II) |Rth|≦25, (III) Nz=(nx1−nz1)/(nx1−ny1), (IV) Re1=(nx1−ny1)×d1, (V) 0.4≦Nz≦0.6 (VI) 100≦Re1≦350, wherein Re1 is a retardation value in plane (nm) at a wavelength of 590 nm; Nz is an Nz factor at a wavelength of 590 nm; nx1 is a refractive index along a slow axis in a film plane; ny1 is a refractive index along a direction perpendicular to the slow axis in a film plane; nz1 is a refractive index along a thickness direction of the film; and d1 is a thickness of the film (nm).
US08354136B2
A method for producing a thick film includes disposing a precursor solution onto a substrate to form a precursor film. The precursor solution contains precursor components to a rare-earth/alkaline-earth-metal/transition-metal oxide including a salt of a rare earth element, a salt of an alkaline earth metal, and a salt of a transition metal in one or more solvents, wherein at least one of the salts is a fluoride-containing salt, and wherein the ratio of the transition metal to the alkaline earth metal is greater than 1.5. The precursor solution is treated to form a rare earth-alkaline earth-metal transition metal oxide superconductor film having a thickness greater than 0.8 μm. precursor solution.
US08354130B2
A system for facilitating a user's intake of edible substances. The system may include a first portion, a second portion, and a partition unit disposed between the first portion and the second portion. A first space may be located between the first portion and the partition unit for containing a first edible substance. A second space may be located between the second portion and the partition unit for containing a second edible substance. The system may also include a tube for causing a change at the partition unit to open an opening between the first space and the second space, and for transmitting a portion of an edible mixture to the mouth of the user. The edible mixture may include part of the first edible substance provided from the first space and part of the second edible substance provided from the second space.
US08354128B2
The present invention concerns the field of plant extracts and their uses, in particular for cosmetic, oral hygiene and pharmaceutical purposes. In particular the invention concerns blackberry leaf extracts and preparations and medicaments containing them, as well as their use to inhibit irritating and inflammatory skin conditions.
US08354127B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed relating to use of fractions, polysaccharides, and oligosaccharides of Dendrobium huoshanense. The fractions, polysaccharides, and oligosaccharides are able to effect an increase in beneficial cytokines and chemokines.
US08354123B2
The present invention is a substantially non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrix. The matrix is both non-adhesive to wounds, tissues and organs and is also elastic such that it is flexible. The matrix is a lyophilized mixture of protein(s), polymer(s), cross-linking agent(s) and optional plasticizer(s). The invention also provides methods for making the non-adhesive elastic gelatin matrix.
US08354122B2
Provided are a granule or a tablet of a solid dispersion that allows a drug in a preparation to be rapidly dissolved without impairing the dissolution of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided are a granule of a solid dispersion comprising a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer, an excipient and a disintegrator, wherein a content of the water-soluble polymer is 1 to 10% by weight and a content of the disintegrator is 15 to 50% by weight; a tablet of a solid dispersion comprising a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer, an excipient and a disintegrator, wherein a content of the water-soluble polymer is 1 to 5% by weight and a content of the disintegrator is 15 to 50% by weight; and a method for producing a granule or tablet of a solid dispersion comprising spraying a water-soluble polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a mixed powder of an excipient and a disintegrator, and granulating and drying a resultant.
US08354121B2
It is intended to provide a preparation for percutaneous administration of 2-(4-ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine (Compound A), which inhibits the generation of a metabolite and is capable of continuously maintaining a blood drug level. Specifically, a tape preparation comprising an adhesive layer formed on one surface of a support, characterized in that the adhesive layer contains (1) Compound A or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, and (2) an acrylic adhesive, or (1) Compound A or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, (2) an acrylic adhesive, and (3) a permeation enhancer is provided.
US08354114B2
Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics.
US08354107B2
Previously, it was difficult to obtain high-affinity antibodies that specifically bind to HMGB-1 but not to HMGB-2. Under this circumstance, the present inventors successfully obtained antibodies that are more reactive to HMGB-1 than to HMGB-2 by using specific peptides as an antigen. The present inventors also demonstrated that the antibodies had a HMGB-1-neutralizing activity. The present inventors administered the antibodies to amyloidosis model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that the antibodies produced a significant therapeutic effect.
US08354106B2
In various embodiments, the present invention is drawn to antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that bind to particular fragments of HMGB1, methods of treating a condition in a subject characterized by activation of an inflammatory cytokine cascade, methods of detecting and/or identifying an agent that binds to an HMGB1 polypeptide or fragment thereof, and methods of detecting HMGB1 in a sample.
US08354104B2
The present invention provides antibodies useful as therapeutics for treating and/or preventing diseases associated with cells expressing GT468, including tumor-related diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, and hepatocellular cancer.
US08354103B2
A fully human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of a human antibody that specifically binds and inhibits human angiopoietin-like protein 4 (hANGPTL4) is provided. The human anti-hANGPTL4 antibodies are useful in treating diseases or disorders associated with ANGPTL4, such as hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and dyslipidemia, including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, chylomicronemia, and so forth. Furthermore, the anti-hANGPTL4 antibodies can be administered to a subject in need thereof to prevent or treat diseases or disorders, for which abnormal lipid metabolism is a risk factor. Such diseases or disorders include cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases; acute pancreatitis; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); diabetes; obesity; and the like.
US08354096B2
An antiperspirant composition for personal hygiene is formulated as a suspension which can be sprayed with or without a propellant, and contains at least one antiperspirant substance, 0-5 wt. % free water, based on the weight of the propellant-free composition, and triethylcitrate and at least one additional cosmetic oil, which is liquid under normal conditions, as a carrier. The weight fraction of the triethylcitrate with respect to the total amount of oils is between 13-50 wt. % based on the total weight of the propellant-free composition. The composition also includes and 0 to less than 1 wt. % cyclomethicone, based on the weight of the propellant-free composition.
US08354091B2
Herein disclosed is alumina powder incorporated into a composition which should have excellent heat conduction and used as a heat-radiating member and for sealing a semiconductor. The spherical α-alumina powder has an average sphericity of not less than 0.93 and a content of α-crystalline form is not less than 95% and the spherical α-alumina powder is prepared according to the method, which comprises the steps of: (1) softening metallic aluminum powder or alumina powder through the treatment with a flame; (2) solidifying the softened powder by passing the same through a zone maintained at a temperature ranging from 800 to 500° C.; (3) increasing the content of α-phase by passing the solidified powder through a zone maintained at a temperature ranging from 950 to 1,500° C.; and (4) collecting the resulting powdery product while cooling the same.
US08354077B2
An integrated capillary electrophoresis system comprising a universal interface is disclosed. The universal interface includes one or more of the following structural elements: a chip assembly that receives a capillary electrophoresis CE chip; a fluidic interface for coupling fluids between the chip assembly and external sources or destinations; a first electrical interface for coupling power from an external source to the chip assembly; a second electrical interface for coupling electrical signals from the chip assembly to external analysis electronics; an optical interface for coupling optical signals between the chip assembly and external sources or destinations; and a docking station for uniting and spatially locating the various other structural elements.
US08354072B2
The present invention generally relates to corrosion management systems designed to deliver corrosion protection and/or the management of corrosion to a top portion of an enclosure (e.g., storage tanks, cisterns, containers, etc.). In one embodiment, the present invention relates to corrosion management systems designed to deliver corrosion protection and/or the management of corrosion to a top portion, or roof portion, of an enclosure where such a system includes one or more dispensers designed to deliver at least one corrosion inhibitor to a system designed to protect a top portion of an enclosure (e.g., storage tanks, cisterns, containers, etc.).
US08354066B2
Antibodies are provided. For as example, an antibody capable of binding an artificial receptor which comprises a hydroquinone monolayer and is incapable of binding the artificial receptor when comprising a benzoquinone monolayer. Also provided are methods and systems using same for control delivery of a molecule-of-interest into a tissue.
US08354059B2
Not only a downsized cartridge but also an aperture constituted simply and at low cost using a downsized configuration of the cartridge is provided. A measurement channel includes a front-surface-side channel unit provided on a front surface of a cartridge main body; a rear-surface-side channel unit provided on a rear surface of the cartridge main body; and a connection channel unit connecting the front-surface-side channel unit to the rear-surface-side channel unit. An aperture is formed in the connection channel unit, a fluid contact unit of one electrode is arranged in the front-surface-side channel unit, and a fluid contact unit of the other electrode is arranged in the rear-surface-side channel unit.
US08354052B1
A microconduit network structure and methods for making the same. One aspect of the invention relates to a microconduit network structure, including: a solid or semi-solid matrix having at least one interconnected web of filaments formed within the matrix; and wherein at least one interconnected web of filaments having diameters of about 10 nm to about 1 mm.
US08354049B2
An antibacterial measure using titanium oxide includes mixing titanium oxide in a resin to form a coating resin, and then coating a key surface with the coating resin. This method requires formation of a coating layer on a resin molding and thus increases the number of the production steps and cost. Furthermore, in the method, a coating film containing an antibacterial agent is scraped off light by little at each time of keying, and thus the film is finally completely removed to lose its antibacterial function. A conceivable measure against this includes directly mixing a resin and an antibacterial agent. However, titanium oxide used as an antibacterial agent degrades a raw material resin. It has recently be thought that photocatalytic apatite as a substitute for titanium oxide also causes chalking, and an antibacterial coating layer has been formed on a surface of a resin molding. However, the inventor of the present invention found that photocatalytic apatite does not cause chalking, thereby achieving a resin containing the photocatalytic apatite.
US08354047B2
A method for press molding a lens array is provided. First, a mold core is provided. The mold core has a first surface having a first alignment formed thereon using a lithography method, and a lens molding surface array and a second alignment formed thereon using an ultra-precision machining method. Then, a substrate is provided. The substrate has a second surface having a third alignment mark formed thereon using the lithography method. The substrate is first aligned with the mold core by aligning the third alignment mark with the first alignment mark, then is further aligned by offsetting the substrate the spacing between the first and second alignment marks to align the center of the substrate with the center of the lens molding surface array. Finally, a molding material is applied on the substrate, then the mold core is applied on the molding material to press mold the lens array.
US08354042B2
A method of raising the flash point of a green solvent includes adding from about 0.05 to 5.0 wt. % of at least one terpene alcohol, based on the weight of the at least one terpene alcohol and the green solvent. Green solvents are derived from organic matter, such as plants. They are not the product of petroleum feed stocks. Preferably, two terpene alcohols are added to the green solvent. Further, the addition of at least one terpene alcohol improves both the freeze resistance and the shelf life of the final green solvent solution.
US08354038B2
A piezoelectric solid solution composition containing, as a main component, a composition represented by the following general formula: {Mx(NayLizK1-y-z)1-x}1-m{(Ti1-u-vZruHfv)x(Nb1-wTaw)1-x}O3 is disclosed. In the formula, M represents a combination of at least one member selected from the group consisting of (Bi0.5K0.5), (Bi0.5Na0.5) and (Bi0.5Li0.5) and at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca and Mg; and in the formula, x, y, z, u, v, w and m are in the following ranges: 0.06
US08354027B2
A reactor for biological purification of waste water includes a reactor vessel having a substantially flat or a round bottom, at least one supply pipe arranged in a lower region of the reactor vessel for feeding the waste water to be purified into the reactor, at least one fluid discharge pipe for discharging purified waste water from the reactor, at least one solid matter discharge pipe arranged in the lower region of the reactor vessel for discharging solid matter from the reactor and at least one diverting means including at least one diagonally extending section. The at least one diverting means is designed and/or arranged so that solids sinking to the bottom of the reactor from the upper region of the reactor are deflected so that the solids settle in a region of the at least one solid matter discharge pipe and are discharged from the reactor through the at least one solid matter discharge pipe.
US08354025B2
A self-regulating FO system is disclosed comprising a container containing a source water supply, a forward osmosis membrane element located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, an osmotic pump element also located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, and an osmotic agent tank located above the container. The osmotic agent tank comprises a feed tube connected to an outlet located on the bottom of the osmotic agent tank. The feed tube communicates with the osmotic agent inlet of the forward osmosis membrane unit and the osmotic agent inlet of the osmotic pump element. A return tube communicates with the drink outlet of the osmotic pump element and a port near the top of the osmotic agent tank.
US08354020B2
The disclosure relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. In particular, the disclosure teaches processes and systems for recovering heavy crude oil while avoiding fouling of equipment by recycling at least a portion of a product bitumen from a solvent recovery unit for mixing with an overhead bitumen stream that may be a diluted bitumen stream containing solvent and bitumen. The overhead bitumen stream is a near-incompatible stream and the stream of mixed overhead bitumen stream and the treated bitumen stream is a compatible stream that will not foul equipment upon heating.
US08354007B2
The invention relates to a process for purifying trifluoromethanesulfinic acid by azeotropic distillation with an aromatic solvent, to processes for preparing purified trifluoromethanesulfinic acid and to the use of the purified trifluoronnethanesulfinic acid for preparing trifluoromethylsulfinylated pyrazole derivatives, especially fipronil.
US08354003B2
The present invention relates to a porous fiber product, which contains chemical pulp or wood fibers, between which structural filler particles are attached, as well as to a method of manufacturing this product, wherein filler drops are produced in a spray dryer from the aqueous solution of the filler, the drops forming filler particles when the water evaporates, the particles being attached to the chemical pulp or wood fibers.
US08353995B2
Automobile panel repair laminates include a pressure sensitive adhesive bonded to a support backing. The support backing may be constructed of various materials such as plastically deformable polymeric materials including thermoplastic or thermoset materials and may have various thicknesses depending upon the desired conformability and rigidity necessary for the repair. The support backing may be bonded to the pressure sensitive adhesive by applying adhesion promoters such as solvents. The repair laminate is applied to a back or non-aesthetic side of the automobile panel, and the front side is repaired using standard techniques for filling and finishing.
US08353992B2
Steel sheet having a composition of ingredients containing substantially, by mass %, C: 0.005 to 0.200%, Si: 2.50% or less, Mn: 0.10 to 3.00%, N: 0.0100% or less, Nb: 0.005 to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.002 to 0.150% and satisfying the relationship of Ti−48/14×N≧0.0005, having a sum of the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {100}<001> orientation and the {110}<001> orientation of a ⅙ sheet thickness part of 5 or less, having a sum of the maximum value of the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {110}<111> to {110}<112> orientation group and the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {211}<111> orientation of 5 or more, and having a high rolling direction Young's modulus measured by the static tension method and a method of production of the same are provided.
US08353991B2
A dishwashing machine is provided having a washing compartment, a drying unit that includes an absorption column with a reversibly dehydratable drying agent, and having an air circulation loop through the washing compartment and the drying unit. A temperature sensor is arranged in front of the drying unit and to the rear of the washing compartment with respect to the direction of the flow of air circulating in the air circulation loop.
US08353983B2
To provide shrinkage reducing agents which render excellent shrinkage reducing effect and frost-thaw resistance to cement compositions such as mortar and concrete without entraining excessive air, and exhibit excellent solution stability.The shrinkage reducing agent comprises a (poly)alkylene compound having an unsaturated bond represented by the formula (1): R2O—R1—O-(A1O)n—R3 (1) -(A2O)m—R4 (2) (wherein R1 is a C2-10 hydrocarbon group having an unsaturated bond; R2 is hydrogen or the formula (2); R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen or a C1-8 alkyl group; A1O and A2O are one or more kinds of C2-4 oxyalkylene groups; and n and m are mean addition numbers of moles of A1O and A2O, respectively, and 1 to 20).
US08353970B2
A method of assembling a battery assembly includes forming battery packs, each pack including battery cells and cooling passages extending along a length of the pack, connecting terminals of each pack to a dc source and charging each pack to a desired state of charge, installing battery packs on a tray located on an automatically guided cart, using the cart to carry the battery assembly to locations where method steps are performed including performing testing for fluid leaks in a cooling circuit comprising interconnected passages of each pack on the tray and installing electric circuits in the assembly.
US08353959B2
An apparatus including an interbody spinal fusion implant having a leading end, a trailing end, and a length therebetween, and opposed upper and lower portions adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies. Each of the upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one each of the adjacent vertebral bodies and to communicate with one another to permit for the growth of bone from vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through the implant. Each of the upper and lower portions has at least one screw hole passing therethrough proximate the trailing end. The apparatus further includes bone screws adapted for placement through the screw holes of the upper and lower portions and into each of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused and into which the implant is adapted to be positioned.
US08353953B2
A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes a distal valve holder portion and a shaft extending towards the valve holder portion. The shaft is selectively bendable to a curved shape to vary the spatial orientation of the valve holder portion with respect to the desired implantation site.
US08353952B2
A stent includes a wave form that includes a cable including a plurality of strands. The wave form has a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns, with each crown connecting two adjacent struts. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent includes a filler located within the cable. The filler includes a therapeutic substance.
US08353951B2
Radio-opaque endoprosthesis An endoprosthesis furnished with an armature made of metal wires visible in X-ray medical imaging in which the armature is formed of at least two layers of wires, the wires forming the armature comprising a core made of a radio-opaque material, the interaction between the cores of the wires of the various layers improving the visibility of the said endoprosthesis in X-ray medical imaging.
US08353950B2
A helical stent includes at least one helical winding. Each helical winding includes a plurality of alternating long struts and short struts, ends of at least some of the long struts being joined to an end of an adjacent short strut by a flexible hinge arrangement, the struts being substantially rigid. The stent also includes at least one interconnection member connecting a hinge arrangement on one turn of the at least one winding with a hinge arrangement on an adjacent turn of the at least one winding. Fewer than all hinge arrangements on the at least one helical winding are connected to other hinge arrangements by an interconnection member.
US08353948B2
Vascular prostheses and methods of use are provided, wherein the vascular prosthesis includes a plurality of bistable unit cells configured to form a helical structure. A visualization catheter also is provided for use ensuring accurate measurement of a lesion and ensuring delivery and placement of the vascular prosthesis.
US08353937B2
A spinal stabilization system, apparatus, and method are disclosed which include an interconnection mechanism for engaging stabilization members to one another. In one embodiment, the interconnection mechanism comprises a locking member having first and second threaded segments. An anchor member is provided having an upper segment and a lower segment, wherein the lower segment is structurally configured for engagement with a respective bone segment. A first stabilization member is connected to the upper segment of the anchor member. A locking member is engaged with the anchor member such that the first stabilization member is fixedly secured to the anchor member by a lower portion of the locking member having a first threaded segment. A second stabilization member is connected to an upper portion of the locking member by a cap that is threaded onto a second threaded segment of the locking member.
US08353935B2
The invention relates to a flexible spine stabilization and/or vertebral replacement system and having one or more flexible segments within a spinal element. The flexibility is created through the use of at least one circumferential slot formed in the spinal element. One or more fasteners are connected to the distal and proximal attachments and secured to the vertebra. The spinal element can have an elastomeric material in any or all of the following combinations: filling at least one of the at least one slot; at least a portion of the inside core; encompass at least a portion of the exterior diameter. Vertebral replacement is achieved by securing the spinal element to healthy inferior and superior vertebra through use of securing members.
US08353930B2
The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments, structures and methods for enhancing the properties of tissue to be repaired or joined. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical stapling apparatus is provided including a wound treatment material dispersion system for delivering wound treatment material to a target surgical site. The dispersion system includes an aperture formed in the anvil assembly oriented to dispense wound treatment material in an outward direction; and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with the aperture of the anvil assembly.
US08353929B2
Wound closure apparatus is provided including a body having an elongated, lowermost force-transmitting surface operable to be placed in a proximal, external, wound-closing position on a patient, together with a force-exerting assembly coupled with the body and operable to exert a downwardly directed force serving to generate wound-closing pressure against the patient's tissue. The force-transmitting surface is preferably three-dimensionally asymmetric so that forces of different magnitude are exerted at different locations along the length of the surface. The apparatus is especially designed for the closure of wounds attendant to endovascular interventions, e.g., a femoral artery puncture wound incident to percutaneous cardiac intervention (PCI), and is capable of quickly effecting wound closure with a time-to-ambulation (TTA) of approximately 60 minutes, and with a very low complication rate.
US08353921B2
Tissue connector assemblies having at least two piercing members, each releaseably coupled to a surgical fastener such as a surgical clip. A flexible member such as a suture may be used to couple one or both piercing members to respective ends of the fastener.
US08353911B2
Provided is a minimally invasive cavity formation instrument for forming tissue cavities. The instrument includes an end effector having an aperture through which a cutting element is laterally extended and retracted. The cutting element may be retracted for minimally invasive insertion into a tissue region and extended to form a tissue cavity. The end effector of the instrument may be articulated or rotated to facilitate cavity formation.
US08353904B2
A system and method for transmitting electrosurgical energy from a generator to an electrosurgical instrument are provided. The electrosurgical system includes a generator adapted to generate electro surgical energy for treating tissue. The generator includes one or more active output terminals which supply energy to the tissue. The active output terminals are operatively connected to one or more supply lines. The generator also includes one or more return output terminal which returns energy from the tissue. The return output terminals are operatively connected to at least one return line. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument operatively connected to the one or more supply lines and one or more return electrodes operatively connected to one or more return lines. The system further includes an electrosurgical cable including one or more supply lines and one or more return lines. The one or more supply lines and one or more return lines are wound in a double helix fashion such that the electrical field along the cable is mitigated along the length thereof.
US08353902B2
An ablation device including a handle portion, a shaft and at least one cable. The shaft extends distally from the handle portion and includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the inner conductor. The cable extends from the handle portion along at least a portion of the shaft. The distal tip of the inner conductor is positionable distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor. In response to movement of the at least one cable relative to the handle portion, the distal tip of the outer conductor is movable form a first position where the distal tip is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the outer conductor to at least a second position where the distal tip is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
US08353886B2
A hygienic article for personal wear by a male includes an elongate fabric sleeve having a first end, a longitudinally opposite second end, and a central passage extending longitudinally between the first and second ends of the sleeve. The first end of the sleeve is open to the central passage to permit the wearer's penis to extend through the open first end into the central passage of the sleeve with the first end of the sleeve nearer to the base of the wearer's penis than the second end of the sleeve. The second end of the sleeve is also open to the central passage to permit the wearer to urinate through the open second end. A dispenser is adapted for holding a plurality of such hygienic articles and facilitating sequential dispensing of the hygienic articles, one at a time, from the dispenser.
US08353885B2
A method and apparatus for technique and cycling (Techni-cycling as herein defined) such that converting delivery supply containers (supplies) into waste and disposal receptacles is disclosed. More particularly, a container transformation comprising deriving a supply container from a health care delivery sequence and converting the container into a waste receptacle by connection to a vacuum/suction source and collection system reduces the amount of waste contributed to the waste stream.
US08353883B2
Elastomeric articles, such as gloves are disclosed. The gloves include a primary matrix made from one or more elastomeric materials and a foam donning layer. In one embodiment, for instance, the donning layer can be formed from a polyurethane foam. The polyurethane foam can be created from the reaction product of a polyurethane prepolymer and a solution containing water. The resulting foam can be hydrophilic and can absorb moisture for preventing moisture from being trapped between the primary matrix and a user's skin.
US08353879B2
A medical fluid injector, replaceable syringe, and coupling mechanism to engage the syringe plunger to the plunger drive ram of the injector are provided wherein coupling involves a cam cleat-like mechanism, thereby allowing for cooperative movement between the plunger drive ram and syringe plunger. The coupling mechanism of the plunger drive ram is provided with first and second movable members, each having toothed, arcuate surfaces, while the coupling mechanism of the syringe plunger is provided with a knurled cavity. Disengagement of the coupling mechanism is facilitated by translational movement of a face plate located on the forward end of the injector housing.
US08353873B2
Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. A surgical access port is provided that has an adjustable longitudinal length, such as by being formed from multiple segments configured to move relative to one another. An anchor can be coupled to a distal end of the surgical access port to help secure the surgical access port within a tissue opening by engaging a distal side of the tissue. Optionally, the anchor can be removably coupled to the distal end of the surgical access port, thereby allowing any one of a plurality of anchors to be selectively coupled thereto.
US08353868B2
A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing the internal pressure within the balloon. The balloon comprises a balloon layer having an outer surface, the balloon layer including a base layer, a first reinforcing layer and a second reinforcing layer. The base layer is formed of a polymer material. The first reinforcing layer is one of either a plurality of discrete inelastic fibers oriented substantially parallel to the long axis of the balloon and a first layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric. The second reinforcing layer is one of either at least one inelastic fiber wrapped around the circumference of the balloon substantially transverse to the long axis of the balloon and a second layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric. At least one of the first and second reinforcing layers is a layer of textile fabric material. At least one strengthening rod is connected to the outer surface of the balloon layer.
US08353860B2
In one aspect, the present invention is a system for preparing a patient for an endoscopy procedure, such as a colonoscopy. The endoscopic preparation and examination system includes an endoscope, a source of irrigation and aspiration, and a control unit. The endoscope includes an elongated flexible shaft with a distal tip and a proximal end, at least one aspiration lumen and at least one irrigation lumen. A plurality of irrigation ports are functionally connected to the at least one irrigation lumen and a plurality of aspiration ports are functionally connected to the at least one aspiration lumen. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of clearing an obstructed view in a patient prior to, or during an endoscopic examination.
US08353854B2
Portable devices and methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by assuring that the ankle is flexed and extended sufficiently to promote blood flow in the lower leg are disclosed. The device includes an actuator with a free movement mode that allows a patient to move freely between activations or to initiate movement to delay a next automatic activation.
US08353853B1
Apparatus for encephalic insonication, comprising a transducer array configured to safely insonicate a field in a human body of a size comparable to the spatial extent of the array itself. The array comprises a plurality of acoustic transducers arranged in a polygonal configuration and energized in subsets at frequencies between 200 and 400 kHz. A relatively uniform insonication of a field comparable in size to that of significant anatomical regions of the brain is obtained by driving the transducers in each subset in opposed phase relationship during at least part of the interval during which they are active. A pulsed driving scheme enables minimization of heating effects while providing significant therapeutic treatment. The apparatus is useful both with and without additional lytic agents.
US08353851B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for automatic replacement of instruments during minimally invasive procedures, comprising a housing, an outlet element for an instrument, a selection unit and a guide element.
US08353850B2
A steerable guide wire includes a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end. A braided filament is affixed to the distal end of the core wire. An outer coil surrounds at least a portion of the core wire and the braided filament. A proximal end of the braided filament is secured to a distal end of the coil. By locating the braided filament in the distal tip portion of the guide wire, a guide wire is provided that is highly flexible, has a high degree of tensile integrity, and is highly steerable, even in tortuous vasculature. Filter and balloon catheters having braided filaments at the distal end are also described.
US08353841B2
An implant assembly is implanted in vivo within a vascular system in the implant assembly has a diameter greater than a vessel and compliance characteristics such that, upon release, the implant assembly forms an interference fit is between the anchor structure and the vessel wall, thereby preventing further distal movement.
US08353839B2
An ultrasound probe has a transducer array which is moved to scan a patient with ultrasonic energy. The array is located in a fluid chamber (42) which is enclosed by an acoustic window end cap (34). The acoustic window cap is coated with a thin conductive layer (38) which shields the transducer and its motive mechanism from EFI/RFI emissions. The conductive layer is coupled to a reference potential.
US08353834B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding. Heat dissipation due to the blood flow is reduced by tracking and continuously heating the same bolus of blood as it flows, or by heating a significant length of the blood vessel instead of a fixed spot in the vessel.
US08353829B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08353828B2
A remote sleep quality detecting system and its method provide a portable detecting device for detecting an examinee's physical activity while the examinee is sleeping, analyzing a detected activity signal by a signal processing module to generate a statistical value, and comparing a result of the computed statistical value with a sleep state index to obtain sleep quality information, and then storing the activity signal and the sleep quality information in a storage unit. The system and method also provide a remote monitoring device including a sleep information reading module for providing a user interface, connecting the portable detecting device via the Internet and receiving the sleep quality information produced by the portable detecting device after a command from the portable detecting device is received, such that the examinee's sleep quality information can be examined from a remote location for a long term without disturbing the examinee's sleep.
US08353827B2
A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual's response to the questions.
US08353825B2
A surgical access portal includes a seal housing and a sleeve mounted to the sleeve housing having an internal longitudinal passage adapted to provide access to underlying tissue. A seal is in mechanical cooperation with an inner wall of the seal housing and has an opening for reception and passage of a surgical instrument in a substantially sealed relation. A sponge is disposed distally of the seal and absorbs fluids that enter the seal housing.
US08353824B2
Various devices and methods are provided with respect to inserting multiple surgical instruments through a single surgical access device. A medical device including a flexible tissue retractor and a releasable insert having multiple instrument openings is disclosed. The insert can be in the form of an insert assembly including multiple components. A method of using the insert is also described, and includes releasably positioning an insert having multiple instrument openings into the tissue retractor.
US08353817B2
A self propelled, endoscopic apparatus formed of a flexible, fluid-filled toroid and a motorized or powerable frame. The apparatus may be used to advance a variety of accessory devices into generally tubular spaces and environments for medical and non-medical applications. The apparatus when inserted into a tubular space or environment, such as the colon of a patient undergoing a colonoscopy, is advanced by the motion of the toroid. The toroid's surface circulates around itself in a continuous motion from inside its central cavity along its central axis to the outside where its surface travels in the opposite direction until it again rotates into its central cavity. As the device advances within the varying sizes, shapes and contours of body lumens, the toroid compresses and expands to accommodate and navigate the environment. The motion of the toroid can be powered or unpowered and the direction and speed may be controlled. The apparatus may be used to transport a variety of accessory devices to desired locations within tubular spaces and environments where medical and non-medical procedures may be performed.
US08353811B2
A large variety of electroprocessed capsules can be produced to encapsulate a variety of additives within the subcompartments or substructures of the manufactured capsule. Furthermore, the manufactured capsules can be arranged within a filter of a smoking article during the manufacturing process. By modifying the various parameters that control the electrospraying or electrospinning processes, capsules can be manufactured that vary in composition, in substructural organization, and in dimension. A capsule produced by electrospraying comprises at least one polymeric material that encapsulates or supports the retention of at least one flavorant and/or non-flavorant within the capsule. A polymeric material provides a supporting structure for encapsulating at least one flavorant and/or non-flavorant additive. The capsules that can be produced by various electrospraying processes described below include microcapsules in a micro-scaled range, nanocapsules in a nano-scaled range, and various mixtures of microcapsules and nanocapsules.
US08353806B2
An independent electric power type speed race apparatus is disclosed. The independent electric power type speed race apparatus comprises a first health cycle comprising a first pedal, a first cycle rotary body rotating by handling of the first pedal, and a first cycle load driving part working as a load checking the rotation of the first cycle rotary body; a first cycle speed sensor sensing a rotation speed of the first cycle rotary body; a second health cycle comprising a second pedal, a second cycle rotary body rotating by handling of the second pedal, and a second cycle load driving part working as a load checking the rotation of the second cycle rotary body; a second cycle speed sensor sensing a rotation speed of the second cycle rotary body; a display plate installed at the front of the first health cycle and the second health cycle.
US08353803B2
An automatic transmission excelling in transmission efficiency than the prior art is provided. The automatic transmission is equipped with an input shaft 2 and an output shaft 3 and a plurality of planetary gear mechanisms 5, 6. Any one element Sa of a plurality of the planetary gear mechanisms 5, 6 is coupled to the input shaft 2. One element Ca is coupled to the output shaft 3 via the first gear row G1. One element Rb is connected to the output shaft 3 via a second gear row G2 having a gear ratio different from that of the first gear row G1. Five or more engagement mechanisms C1 through C3, B1, B2 for coupling each element Ra and Cb, each element Sb, Cb with the input shaft 2, and each element Sb, Cb with the transmission case 1 releasably.
US08353799B2
A control device for a vehicle continuously variable transmission 4 comprises: inertia phase processing completing means for completing an instruction relating to inertia phase processing before an input rotation speed of the subtransmission mechanism 30 actually reaches an input rotation speed of the second gear position; and torque phase processing starting means for starting an instruction relating to torque phase processing, in which reception of an input torque of the subtransmission mechanism 30 is shifted from a disengagement side frictional engagement element to an engagement side frictional engagement element before the input rotation speed of the subtransmission mechanism 30 actually reaches the input rotation speed of the second gear position, after completing the instruction relating to the inertia phase processing.
US08353796B2
The present invention relates to a sprocket (1) with a circular gear ring (3) comprising a plurality of alternating teeth (4) and tooth spaces (5) with different pitch spacings (T) distributed around the periphery of the gear ring (3), a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) increasing continuously over a first region of the gear ring (3), and a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) decreasing continuously in a subsequent region. The invention additionally relates to a chain drive (20), in particular a timing chain drive, comprising a driving chain (14) and at least one sprocket (1) of the type in question.
US08353795B2
Described herein is a tensioner for a belt of a drive of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two idle pulleys designed to co-operate with respective belt runs of the belt; two arms bearing the pulleys; and elastic means acting at least indirectly on the arms for tensioning the belt, in which the arms are constrained to one another, and at least one of the arms is hinged to a first mobile axis.
US08353793B2
A soft seamless acrylonitrile bladder having excellent air permeability combined with good bounce characteristics for inflatable balls obtained by latex dipping process. The said process involves dipping hot molds in a coagulant bath of calcium nitrate and water and later dipping the dried, coagulant coated formers in a compounded latex bath of carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene latex, the dip being single or multiple depending upon the desired wall thickness. The said latex dipping process allows low manufacturing cost, high productivity and low rejection rate bladders having uniform weight varying from 500 mg/inch.sup.2 to 1.5 g/inch.sup.2, modulus varying from 17 to 20 Kg/Cm.sup.2, tensile strength of 150-180 Kg/Cm2 and elongation at break 650-750%.
US08353788B2
The present invention is directed to a golf ball that contains an interpenetrating polymer network, or IPN, including at least two polymeric components. These IPNs may be present in any golf ball layer, although in an intermediate or cover layer in one preferred embodiment. The present invention is also directed to methods of forming a golf ball containing an IPN in one or more of the layers.
US08353786B2
A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Some embodiments of the club head have a high moment of inertia and variable thickness face.
US08353781B2
The subject golf clubs have a shaft and clubhead. The shaft has a tip-end coupled to the clubhead, a butt-end, a reduced-EI portion located adjacent the tip-end, and a remaining portion extending between the butt-end and the reduced-EI portion. The portions are coupled together at an interface. The remaining portion exhibits a respective rate of stiffness reduction as a function of distance from the butt-end. The reduced-EI portion is typically shorter than and has less stiffness than the remaining portion. A stiffener insert is inserted into the shaft, such as in the reduced-EI portion, to add stiffness locally. The reduced-EI portion exhibits a respective rate (which can be zero) of stiffness reduction as a function of distance toward the tip-end. These rates can be similar or different. The interface can exhibit a greater rate in stiffness reduction than the other portions. The stiffeners can be user-selectable, from a kit supplied with the club, for example. The clubhead can be removable from the shaft to facilitate stiffener exchange.
US08353777B2
A tripot universal joint includes a first rotatable shaft member having a longitudinal axis and three longitudinal guide channels, each having two opposing concave side surfaces and a back surface. The joint also includes a rotatable second shaft member having a longitudinal axis and comprising a spider having three radially extending trunnions equally, each of the trunnions having a convex outer surface disposed within an associated longitudinal guide channel. The joint further includes three rotatable ball assemblies, each disposed on a convex outer surface of a trunnion, each ball assembly having an outer ball with a convex outer surface that is disposed within the concave side surfaces of the longitudinal guide channel with which it is associated for moveable engagement within the channel and an inner ball with an inner surface that is rotatably disposed on the convex surface of the trunnion with a detachably reattachable coupling.
US08353770B2
A mobile fitness device and method of use are presented. The mobile fitness device includes a controller having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium in communication with the processor, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has instructions encoded thereon to record performance data that is based upon a performance of a physical activity by a user of the mobile fitness device and to transmit a communication, including the performance data, to a social network or to others for fitness, socialization, and potential game playing.
US08353769B2
The game apparatus obtains angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with at least an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and determines whether or not a ball has been thrown in accordance with the angular velocity data. When it is determined that ball-throwing is fulfilled, the game apparatus calculates the intensity of swinging the input device and a curve amount. The game apparatus applies a force and a curve to a ball in accordance with the calculated intensity of swinging and the curve amount, and performs a process of causing the ball to move and curve in a predetermined direction.
US08353767B1
A virtual presentation for entertaining a user, and includes generating a virtual environment that includes at least one virtual object, and displaying a virtual character in the virtual environment. The virtual character is to be controlled in the virtual environment to interact with the virtual object responsive to commands input by the user via a user computer. The method further includes evaluating a parameter associated with at least one of the virtual object and the virtual character and, responsive to the evaluating, preparing a communication from the virtual character to be transmitted to the user. The communication includes content related to the parameter evaluated and is transmitted from the virtual character to the user with the user computer.
US08353766B2
During a slot machine game, game effects are also displayed on a liquid crystal panel 39d provided in a reel display window unit 39, and thus the liquid crystal panel 39d serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Therefore, new effects for the game can be performed on the liquid crystal panel 39d, which facilitates maintaining the novelty of game effects. Furthermore, the diffusion sheet 39f and the light guiding plate 39g are formed with openings 5a, 6a and 7a and openings 5b, 6b and 7b respectively for allowing the symbols variably displayed on the reels to be observed. As a result, there are decreased obstacles, interposed, in such a way as to prevent the light from passing through, between the transparent acryl plate 39a and the reels 2-4 on which the light is variably displayed. Therefore, the visibility of the symbols variably displayed on the reels 2-4 is increased.
US08353765B2
A gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines (EGMs) and a secondary game control section. The secondary game control section is provided with a plurality of data sets having different target investment amount between two triggerings of the secondary game. The secondary game control section is adapted to receive a bet contribution from each of the EGMs and calculate an average bet amount from the received bet contributions. The secondary game control section selects one of the data sets depending on the calculated average bet amount, and determines whether the secondary game is triggered for each bet contribution from the EGMs using the target investment amount associated with the selected one of the data sets and a random number, and if it is determined that the secondary game is triggered, pays out a secondary game award to an EGM of which bet contribution triggered the secondary game.
US08353756B2
The present invention allows gaming devices to set or modify game parameters through the use of random events such as spinning slot machine reels or random number generators. In some embodiments, game parameters may be established with various initial values, and then, by spinning the gaming devices' reels, for example, random reel values lining up on the payline may be used as new game parameter values. Parameter values may be used to control or initialize almost any aspect of the gaming device play experience, ranging from the types of symbols seen on the reels, to the appearance or behavior of game characters, to the rate at which “complementary” points are awarded.
US08353752B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed that documents and authenticates cap removal data. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus measures a parameter indicative of the number of times that a cap has been removed by a user. The apparatus also encodes at least the parameter indicative of the cap removal data, thereby deriving encoded cap removal data. The apparatus outputs the encoded cap removal data to a user. According to a second aspect of the present invention, another apparatus receives the encoded cap removal data and decodes it to authenticate the cap removal data. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a medicine container is operable to output a result of a game based on cap removal data associated with the medicine container.
US08353750B2
Novel response games provide participants with opportunities to receive response points and subsequent prizes, awards, fortune, and fame. Correct responses are generally determined by a television producer's and sponsor's targeted viewers (e.g. a designated response game point controller). Players receiving a highest response point total for a plurality of response sessions are identified as highly in-sync with a response point controller and qualify to be selected to star on television as viewer/controller representatives. Viewer/controller representatives are presented with various producer's and sponsor's business element options associated with a future television promotion, production, and program provided. The representatives are shown evaluating each business element and selecting a number of most suitable elements to become future response game elements. The producer's and sponsor's elements selected by the viewer/controller representatives are determined by the representatives to be the most suitable elements for viewers to respond to during a future response game.
US08353731B1
A plug connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of first terminals which are adapted to connect with a mating receptacle connector and include a first ground terminal, a first power terminal for connecting with an external power supply and at least two first signal terminals, a plurality of second terminals which include second power terminals adapted to transmit different voltage values, second ground terminals and a backup terminal, and a support body mounted to a rear side of the insulating housing. The first and second terminals are inserted forward in the insulating housing and each has a soldering arm penetrating rearward through the support body to be exposed outside and supported by the support body. A shielding shell encloses the insulating housing and the support body with the first and second terminals.
US08353727B2
A connector which makes it less difficult to insert two types of card-type electronic components, even when it is used over a long term. A first recess in which a first memory card is inserted has a bottom surface formed with a second recess in which a second memory card is inserted, whereby guiding surfaces are formed for guiding a second memory card in a card-inserting direction.
US08353721B2
The invention relates to a cable connection device for connecting a cable to a housing that is to be electromagnetically shielded, comprising a sheath, which serves to surround the cable in the region of a cable feedthrough opening in the housing and is designed to be electrically conductive at least at its surface. In order to achieve a cable connection device with a simple design which can be used for different cables and has improved shielding, the invention proposes that the sheath completely covers a cable feedthrough opening, which is associated with the housing, when viewed in a direction axial to the cable feedthrough opening, the sheath being provided with shielding structures for damping electromagnetic radiation on an inner surface, which points towards the cable to be accommodated.
US08353714B2
A coaxial switching jack with a pair of coaxial assemblies mounted within a housing having a pair of front cable connection locations is disclosed. The coaxial assemblies each include a center conductor and an outer shield conductor. The center conductors are connected by a first spring and the shell conductors are connected by a second spring. Insertion of a coaxial cable connector within one of the front cable connection locations deflects the springs from the corresponding coaxial assembly and disconnects the center and shell conductors of the two assemblies. The jack may also be configured to provide an electrical connection between the center and shell conductors of the second coaxial assembly if a coaxial cable connector is inserted within the first coaxial assembly. The connection between the center and shell conductors of the second coaxial assembly may be through a resistor assembly allowing for selection of a desired electrical impedance.
US08353711B2
An electrical connector includes a metal shell, an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals retained in the insulative housing and a shutter. The metal shell defines a receiving space with a mating port. The insulative housing defines a mating portion extending forwardly and received in the receiving space. The mating portion defines two rows of passageways exposed on opposite surfaces thereof. The terminals include contact portions retained in the corresponding passageways of the mating portion. The shutter is located in the mating port of metal shell. The shutter is made of metal sheet and pivotally mounted to the shell. The shutter includes a main portion and a pair of shafts extending outwardly form two sides of one end of the main portion.
US08353709B2
A retractable memory drive in accordance with the present invention comprises a top casing, a middle carrier, an electronic device such as a USB thumb drive, and a bottom casing. There are guide rails that allow the middle carrier to remain in an appropriate position. There is also a metal spring clip coupled to the middle carrier for contacting a connector of a device coupled to the drive to provide for improved EMI and ESD protection.
US08353705B2
An automated attendance monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes (i) identification tags, with wireless communication capabilities, for each potential attendee, (ii) scanners for detecting the attendees' tags as they enter a given room, (iii) at least one server in communication with the scanners, (iv) handheld computing devices for use by attendance trackers, such as teachers, to verify a provisional attendance report generated by the scanners and server, and (v) software running on the server for receiving and managing the attendance data received from the scanners, and for generating attendance reports. Although particularly well-suited for tracking attendance in schools, the present invention can also be used in a variety of other settings where there is a need to track the whereabouts of a number of individuals.
US08353702B1
A dental implant system is described which includes a root form for attaching to a patient's jaw bone and an abutment. The root form has a cavity. Furthermore, the abutment has an attachment portion, an insertion portion and an aperture. The insertion portion may be receivable within the cavity and form a taper lock therein. Finally, the aperture may pass through the abutment from the attachment portion to the insertion portion. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture is configured to receive a predetermined amount of hydraulic pressure to eject the abutment from the cavity, whereby the predetermined amount of hydraulic pressure overcomes the taper lock between the insertion portion of the abutment and the cavity.
US08353697B2
An actuator is disposed between a back plate and a manifold and is connected to a valve pin. A nozzle flange, locating ring, or pressure disc can transmit a first load between the manifold and a mold plate. A pressure disc can be disposed between the actuator and the back plate. The pressure disc transmits a second load between the back plate and the manifold through the actuator.
US08353696B2
The present invention relates to a manufacturing tool (13, 14) and method for use in forming polymer matrix composite products such as carbon fiber composite products. The tool comprising a first and a second portion defining a cavity (15) therebetween in which the product is built before curing. The rigidity of the second portion (13) of the tool is selected based on the required deflection of the second portion of the tool under the curing conditions, in order to maintain pressure on the laminate during the entire cure. The second upper portion (13) is shown haring varying thicknesses (16A, 16B and 16C) which results in different rigidity of these regions.
US08353694B1
A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member; a second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap formed between the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member; and a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap within a very tight die cavity gap tolerance.
US08353693B2
A fluid machine includes an inflow passageway arranged and configured to introduce fluid from outside into inner and outer fluid chambers of a first eccentric rotation mechanism, a communication passageway arranged and configured to introduce fluid discharged from the inner and outer fluid chambers of the first eccentric rotation mechanism into inner and outer fluid chambers of a second eccentric rotation mechanism, and an outflow passageway arranged and configured to allow fluid discharged from the inner and outer fluid chambers of the second eccentric rotation mechanism to flow to outside. Each of the first and second eccentric rotation mechanisms preferably includes a cylinder, a piston, and a blade. A drive shaft has a main shaft portion and first and second eccentric portions arranged to engage the first and second eccentric rotation mechanisms.
US08353691B2
A piston pump for the hydraulic energy supply in a motor vehicle, comprising a piston that is movably arranged in a stepped bore of an accommodating member that is provided with a closure, the piston carries a seat for an elastic sealing element which accommodates the sealing element with axial play, and with radial elastic preload for the purpose of sealing between piston and cylinder. The seat for the sealing element has a structure which generates forces pointing radially towards a piston axis and expanding the sealing element in a radial direction, and that the structure produces an elastic deformation of the sealing element for an increased and dosed sealing contact pressure between piston and cylinder.
US08353687B2
A rotary pump (1), which can be operated by an electronically commutated DC motor (56) with an axial gap, with a dry space (54), in which a wound stator (55) is accommodated, and a fluid-fillable pump space (13), in which a permanent magnetic pump impeller (5) is accommodated to rotate, the pump impeller (5) being separated by a split plate (18) from stator (55), which is connected to a return ring (27), to which several poles (15) are connected, and a circuit board (17), and is in heat-conducting contact with it, and includes a heat conducting element (10) from a good heat conducting light metal. The heat conducting element (10) consists essentially of a disk (40) aligned at right angles to the motor shaft or an annular disk with a coaxial tube (39) extending in the direction of the pump impeller in one piece with it, open or closed toward the motor shaft, and that the circuit board (17) is connected to the heat-conducting element (15) on the side facing away from the pump impeller (5).
US08353683B2
A micropump of peristaltic drive system of pressing a tube having elasticity to transport a fluid is disclosed. The micropump includes: a pump module including the tube, a cam that presses the tube, and a cam shaft on which the cam is pivotally mounted; a drive module including a drive force transmission mechanism that transmits a drive force from a motor to the cam shaft; a coupling member that detachably couples the pump module and the drive module; and a linkage mechanism provided between the motor and the cam shaft to link the drive force.
US08353676B2
A method for determining faults during the operation of a pump unit. At least two electric variables that determine the electric output of the motor and at least one fluctuating hydraulic variable of the pump are detected. The detected values or values formed from the variables by use of algorithms are automatically compared to predefined stored values using electronic data processing and the results of the comparison are used to determine whether or not faults have occurred.
US08353670B2
A balancing weight clip for balancing a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine which includes a weight portion, and a first flange engaging portion and a second flange engaging portion extending from the weight portion. The weight portion and the first and second flange engaging portions define a flange receiving opening for receiving a flange of a disc of the rotor assembly. The first flange engaging portion is provided with a detent facing the second flange engaging portion and engageable with a mating groove provided on a face of the flange. At least one of the first and second flange engaging portions is elastically deformable so that the first and second flange engaging portions are elastically moveable away from one another to removably receive the flange in the flange receiving opening and engage the detent with the mating groove.
US08353667B2
A method and an apparatus for adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and a hub are provided. The method is adapted for adjusting the yaw angle from an actual yaw angle to a desired yaw angle and comprises the steps of measuring a wind direction at the location of the wind turbine, measuring the yaw angle of the wind turbine and/or determining a wind direction relative to the nacelle orientation, calculating a pitch angle of at least one rotor blade as a function of the measured wind direction and the measured yaw angle and/or the wind direction relative to the nacelle orientation, and adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blades according to the calculated pitch angle such that a yaw momentum is generated for changing the yaw angle from the actual yaw angle to the desired yaw angle.
US08353658B2
A fastener assembly is for use in an associated fastener driving tool. The assembly includes a row of fasteners arranged substantially parallel to each other. Each fastener has a shank and defines an axis. A collation system is formed from a plastic material that is molded onto and adhered to the fasteners. The plastic material defines a collar portion at least substantially encircling the fastener shank and a connecting portion extending between and connecting adjacent collar portions. The connecting portion includes a bridge and a rib. The bridge is a relatively thin, elongate element spanning adjacent collar portions and the rib is a relatively thick, short element that is disposed at about an upper portion of the bridge. When the fastener is driven from the driving tool, the collar portion remains adhered to the fastener such that the collar portion penetrates the substrate with the fastener. The connecting portion can include a weakened region for separating the connecting portion from the collar.
US08353655B2
The invention relates to a floor anchor (10) made of steel pipe. The floor anchor comprises a hollow shaft segment (14) having an external thread (16) at least in segments, and a head segment adjacent to the shaft segment (14) and facing downward in the anchored state in the floor. The head segment (12) is designed as a drill head and comprises elements for removing earth.
US08353649B2
A nut plate assembly and a method for securing a nut plate assembly may include a support for a fastener element wherein the support has a base to be supported and/or fixed on a support surface and the base has another surface against which the fastener element bears. The base also supports a structure for supporting the fastener element where the structure is at least partly non-symmetrical about a plane other than a horizontal plane parallel to the base. One side of the base may be secured to the support surface and the other side of the base may have the fastener element bearing against it when a complementary fastener element is secured to the first fastener element.
US08353644B2
A method and system are disclosed for moving and placing in hard to reach locations granular and other particulate material such as sand, gravel, earth and similar materials. The system includes an improved auger for moving the material and an improved rotary airlock mechanism designed to withstand the abrasive action of the particulate material and at the same time move the material several hundred feet through a flexible conduit for placement in a pre-designated location. A system and apparatus is also disclosed for transporting on one vehicle all of the devices needed at a remote site for operation the particulate placement system, including a front loader.
US08353636B2
This device comprises a covering (12) which defines an internal cavity (22) and a body (14) which can be moved in a first direction relative to the covering (12) between a storage position and a position in which the body (14) is removed from the covering.The device comprises a pushing member (54) which is mounted so as to be able to move relative to the covering (12) in the first direction between an idle position and a configuration for moving the body towards the removal position thereof.The device comprises a releasable assembly (80; 64) for retaining the body in the storage position thereof, and a member (56) for resiliently urging the pushing member (54) towards the idle position thereof.
US08353630B2
A device for providing an air-gap associated with a portion of a fluid dynamic bearing, a sleeve is provided and surrounds a portion of a shaft. The sleeve and the shaft are configured for establishing the air-gap proximal to a portion of the fluid dynamic bearing. In addition, a cap is also provided and coupled to the sleeve. The cap has an outer end proximal to a portion of the fluid dynamic bearing such that the air-gap is provided between the outer end of the cap and the portion of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the air-gap forms a labyrinth seal.
US08353624B2
Test device capable of checking the quality of the sterilizing steam in a pre-vacuum apparatus intended for sterilization, including a receptacle forming an elongate chamber closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, in which the chamber contains a filling load, and at least one undesirable gas presence indicator arranged toward the distal closed end of the chamber. According to the invention; the undesirable gas presence indicator is an electronic temperature sensor, and the filling load comprises at least, in the operating position, one path enabling a flow by gravity of the water condensed in the chamber from the steam primarily forming the atmosphere of same, to the opening of the proximal end.
US08353618B1
A vibratory grout consolidator for eliminating gaps and voids in grout by attaching to reinforcing bars extending within masonry block walls and encapsulated within the grout. The device includes a clamp including a bar sleeve having a first part attached to a first arm and a second part attached to a second arm. The bar sleeve has a pair of open ends that allow a reinforcing bar to extending fully through the bar sleeve. A vibration source is attached to the clamp so that when the bar sleeve is engaged with the reinforcing bar, vibration is transmitted to the reinforcing bar and encapsulating grout.
US08353606B2
A streetlight installed on a street or a sidewalk in order to radiate light includes a base plate detachably fixed to a streetlight body using a clamp and a reflector fixed to one side of the base plate. The reflector has a first slope having a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon, and a second slope having a reflective film mounted thereon, the reflective film arranged opposite the LEDs. The reflector provides illumination by reflecting light, emitted from the LEDs, to the outside. A heat dissipation pad is disposed between the base plate and the reflector. The heat dissipation pad insulates the LEDs from external high-voltage EMS. A cover made of a translucent material has a recess in the central portion thereof to house the reflector therein, and fixes both the reflector and the heat dissipation pad to the base plate. Heat dissipation fins are fixed to the base plate.
US08353590B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that ejects liquid to be cured by receiving irradiation of an electromagnetic wave onto a medium; a provisional-curing irradiation section that emits a first electromagnetic wave to a dot formed on the medium by the liquid; and a main-curing irradiation section that emits a second electromagnetic wave, which has irradiation intensity higher than that of the first electromagnetic wave, to the dot to which the first electromagnetic wave is emitted. When the main-curing irradiation section emits the second electromagnetic wave, a dot forming surface of the medium faces the lower side in the direction of gravity.
US08353585B2
A waste liquid collector is detachably mounted on a device including a discharge unit discharging a waste liquid and stores the waste liquid discharged from the discharge unit when the waste liquid collector is mounted on the device. The waste liquid collector includes: an opening through which the discharge unit is inserted or extracted at the time of mounting or detaching the waste liquid collector on or from the device; a collector-side connection terminal which comes in contact with a device-side connection terminal included in the device when the discharge unit of the device is inserted into the opening; and a positioning unit which positions the collector-side connection terminal to come in contact with the device-side connection terminal when the waste liquid collector is mounted on the device.
US08353583B2
A liquid container comprises a liquid container pouch of flexible sheets and a liquid outlet between the pair of flexible sheets to permit extraction of a liquid in the pouch. The pouch includes a pair of side portions and a lower gusseted portion defining a basal gusset and including bilateral edge portions overlapping individual lower border zones on the side constituting the lower borders of the pair of side portions during extraction of liquid. The individual lower border zones and the individual bilateral side edge portions overlap to define sealed portions; the lower gusseted portion has a fold line parallel to the lower border between the bilateral edge portions and is oriented in a folding direction to define a chevron shape pointing inwardly into the pouch; and the two sealed portions having regulators to restrain outward expansion by a greater extent than other faces on the pair of side portions.
US08353580B2
A liquid ejection head including: a channel unit having pressure chambers, ejection openings, and liquid channels; and an actuator unit including a piezoelectric layer and individual electrodes formed on a face of the piezoelectric layer, the actuator unit being configured to apply a drive voltage to the individual electrodes, wherein each of the individual electrodes includes: a land to which the drive voltage is applied; a main portion disposed such that an entire area thereof is opposite to a corresponding one of the pressure chambers in a direction perpendicular to the face of the piezoelectric layer; an extended portion extending, in an extending direction in which the extended portion extends, from the main portion toward the land along the face so as to connect the main portion and the land; and a dummy extended portion extending from the main portion along the face in an opposite direction opposite to the extending direction.
US08353578B2
A piezoelectric actuator disposed on a surface of a flow-path forming member may comprise a first piezoelectric layer disposed farthest from the surface of the flow-path forming member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a surface electrode disposed on one surface of the first piezoelectric layer opposite the surface of the flow-path forming member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a land bonded to a terminal of a power supply member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a continuous detection electrode including an outer peripheral portion extending along the outline of an area that opposes the land to surround the area and being disposed on one of the other surface of the first piezoelectric layer and a surface of a second piezoelectric layer.
US08353576B2
A liquid discharge head includes a recording element substrate having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid, and a plurality of recording elements for generating energy to discharge liquid, and an electric wiring substrate electrically connecting the recording element substrate and a driving circuit substrate having a circuit for driving the plurality of recording elements, the electric wiring substrate having a plurality of first electrical contact groups including a plurality of electrical contacts, for electrically connecting with the driving circuit substrate, provided along a disposed direction in which the plurality of discharge ports are disposed. The plurality of first electrical contact groups are detachably attached to a plurality of second electrical contact groups electrically connected with the driving circuit substrate, such that adjacent first electrical contact groups do not overlap each other in the disposed direction and in a direction orthogonal to the disposed direction.
US08353570B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle. A head movement section moves the liquid ejecting head in a movement direction. A controller controls a movement ejection operation that ejects the liquid from the nozzle while moving the liquid ejecting head in the movement direction. If there is satisfied a decision condition that indicates that the ejection rate is excessive, the controller causes the number movement ejection operations related to a certain range to be larger than if the decision condition were not satisfied. With respect to second liquid being higher in viscosity than first liquid, the controller determines the number movement ejection operations related to the above-mentioned certain range by the above-mentioned decision condition determined as excess of the above-mentioned ejection rate at an ejection rate being smaller than that of the first liquid.
US08353569B2
In an inkjet printing method of performing printing on a printing medium by ejecting inks from a printing head configured to eject chromatic inks and an achromatic ink while moving the printing head, high-quality printing with few boundary stripes produced when the amount of inks is large is realized without complicated control being performed. To this end, print data in a boundary and the vicinity thereof is divided into unit regions, and for each unit region, performed are (A) a first reduction processing which determines a hue of the unit region based on amounts of the chromatic inks, and reduces the amount of chromatic inks applied to the unit region according to the determined hue; and (B) a second reduction processing which reduces an amount of achromatic ink based on the amount of achromatic ink applied to the unit region.
US08353568B2
Disclosed herein is an inkjet head driving apparatus. The inkjet head driving apparatus includes a multi pulse generator that receives a trigger signal, and converts and outputs the trigger signal into a multi pulse signal; an amplifier that amplifies the multi pulse signal output from the multi pulse generator; and a controller that controls the number of pulses of the multi pulse signal generated from the multi pulse generator.
US08353547B2
An equipment (1) for the simultaneous handling of several components having a plurality of gripping heads (2) which are movable between a close position and at least one spaced position in which they are at a preset distance from each other, and vice versa, including a first rod-shaped element (3) to which the gripping heads (2) are slidingly combined, a second rod-shaped element (4) parallel to the first rod-shaped element (3), provided with a longitudinal guide (5), movable between a first position and at least a second position, a plurality of rods (6) hinged in a zigzag forming a broken line (7) having a median fulcrum (8) at which it becomes integral with the second rod-shaped element (4), and a plurality of lateral fulcrums (9) free to slide in the guide (5) of the second rod-shaped element (4).
US08353546B1
A device for assisting a disabled person to open and close and to lock or unlock doors. The device includes a coated metal hook equipped with a silicon strip attached to a rod with a lock opener attached to the opposite end from the hook. The person using the device can open doors by placing the hook over the door knob and rotating the rod and pulls or pushes to open the door from a preferred distance.
US08353544B2
A locking magnet closure consists of a first closure module and a second closure module and comprises a magnet-keeper construction with at least one magnet in the first closure module and a keeper or second magnet in the second closure module, wherein on closing the magnet-keeper construction pulls the first closure module and the second closure module together in a closing direction. The closure further comprises a locking device for positively locking the closure modules between the first closure module and the second closure module. The locking device comprises at least one spring locking element, consisting of an engaging protrusion and a spring, wherein the spring locking element is arranged in the first closure module, and a locking piece which is arranged in the second closure module.
US08353533B2
A steering apparatus having a stationary bracket fixed to a vehicle body including a pair of first side plates; a receiving portion provided on the steering column for receiving one end of a conductive member; a pair of second side plates; a conductive cylindrical shaft secured between the pair of first side plates and inserted through the pair of the second side plates; and a plate-shaped conductive member interposed between the receiving portion and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shaft. The conductive member includes first and second bow springs that fit the cylindrical shaft resiliently. The first bow spring is interposed between the second bow spring and the receiving portion, a first contact portion of the second bow spring is pressed to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shaft, and a second contact portion of the first bow spring is pressed to the receiving portion.
US08353529B2
The airbag apparatus includes a folded airbag, an inflator and an airbag storage that stores therein the airbag and the inflator. The airbag is inflated by the gas introduced from the inflator in a region between the left seat and the right seat to abut both to a vehicle interior ceiling above the airbag storage and to interior parts of a vehicle interior below the airbag storage. The airbag prevents an occupant sitting in a seat at a side opposite to collision from moving to the collision side.
US08353524B2
A wheeled cart capable of rolling along a first environmental surface, which may carry a plurality of storage receptacles in gimballing fashion thereon, and which enables the wheeled cart to be slid onto an elevated second environmental surface. The wheeled cart comprises a base supporting wheels and two upright support posts. A subframe supporting the storage receptacles is pivotally and slidably mounted to the upright support posts. The subframe may be inclined from its usual vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation and slid onto the second environmental surface. The base and support posts may be inclined from their usual vertical orientation to reassume longitudinal alignment with the subframe. Contents of the storage receptacles are thus moved en masse onto the second environmental surface without requiring removal from the wheeled cart, while constantly assuming their orientation relative to a vertical direction because of gimballing action of the storage receptacles.
US08353523B2
A telescopic vehicle for road transport of at least one long object, comprising: a rear vehicle portion being supported by at least one pair of wheels, the rear vehicle portion having a rear support structure for supporting the long object; and a front vehicle portion being telescopically connected to the rear vehicle portion to enable adjustment of a total length of the vehicle, the front vehicle portion having a front support structure for supporting the long object. At least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to allow relative movement between the long object and the respective vehicle portion, when the total length of the vehicle is adjusted.
US08353522B2
The present invention relates to a towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road.
US08353520B2
A joint structure having an anti-pinch safety feature comprises a first support element and a second support element, and a joint structure including a coupling socket and an anti-pinch element. The coupling socket is respectively connected with the first and second support element. The anti-pinch element is interposed between the second support element and the coupling socket. The second support element when rotating about a pivot axis relative to the coupling socket forms a pinch region between an edge of the coupling socket and the second support element, and the anti-pinch element can continuously occlude the pinch region when the second support element is rotating. The joint structure can be suitable for use in a support frame of an infant carrier apparatus.
US08353518B1
A game machine includes a main frame standing on a supporting surface, a 3D catcher mounted in a top portion of the main frame, an operational unit mounted onto the main frame for controlling the 3D catcher and a gate assembly mounted in a lower portion of the main frame, through the gate assembly, the operator can take the falling prize.
US08353514B2
A spherical puzzle for learning knowledge about geography is disclosed. The spherical puzzle comprises a plastic sphere and a plurality of plastic puzzle pieces. The plastic puzzle pieces are arranged on the plastic sphere by a user and are held to the sphere by magnetism. The puzzle pieces are formed in the shape of specific land masses. Metal mesh is provided on either the plastic puzzle pieces or the plastic sphere to attract magnets on the puzzle pieces or the plastic sphere. A base is provided for holding the sphere and allows the sphere to be rotated or turned.
US08353513B2
A card-feeding device for feeding cards into a card-handling device is disclosed. Examples of card-handling devices include shufflers, card sorters, card delivery devices and card verification devices. The device includes a card infeed area that supports a stack of cards. The card infeed area has a card support surface. Included in the device is a card-removing system that removes cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm presses against a card at the top of the stack. At least one sensor is provided that detects at least one of a position of the arm and a presence of a card in the card infeed area. A method of shuffling cards is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing cards to be shuffled into a card infeed area as a stack with a top and bottom and removing cards one at a time from the bottom of the stack and moving the removed cards to a shuffling zone. Cards are then shuffled. The stack of cards is stabilized by a pivoting arm capable of pressing against the top of the stack in an engaged position. The pivot arm may be automatically rotated from a first card-engaging position to a second recessed position.
US08353506B2
The present utility model relates to an equipment for making an album core automatically, which comprises automatic feeding mechanisms for feeding an album paper and an interlayer, a creasing mechanism for creasing the middle of the album paper to form a crease, a folding mechanism for folding the album paper along the crease and a pasting mechanism for pasting the album or the interlayer by coating glue, wherein the automatic feeding mechanisms include an album paper feeding mechanism, an interlayer feeding mechanism and a control mechanism connected to the two feeding mechanisms. The equipment in the utility model has higher automaticity and can select the kinds of album papers freely.
US08353504B2
A sheet folding apparatus includes a blade member having an edge configured to push a surface of a sheet so as to push the sheet into a sheet folding unit configured to fold the sheet, a pair of nipping members that is included in the sheet folding unit and nips the sheet pushed into the sheet folding unit by the blade member, a blade member moving unit that moves the blade member and a nipping member moving unit that moves the pair of nipping members. The blade member moving unit and the nipping member moving unit are driven by the same driving unit.
US08353499B2
A roadway guardrail system including a rail, a plurality of support posts, and a plurality of fasteners assembly to redirect an impacting vehicle and dissipate a portion of the impacting vehicle's energy. A plurality of support posts each includes a slot extending along its length aligning with apertures in the rail and engaging with the rail through the apertures with fasteners including reinforcing members slidable along the slots in the posts. Alternatively, the rail has a plurality of laterally extending slots aligning with apertures in support posts and engaging with the support posts through the apertures with fasteners including reinforcing members slidable along the slots.
US08353497B2
A packing unit to seal a wellbore, the packing unit including at least one rotatable cam having a cam axis disposed about an axis of the wellbore, wherein the at least one rotatable cam is rotatable about the cam axis, the at least one rotatable cam comprising a seal recess formed in an outer periphery of the at least one rotatable cam, wherein the packing unit sealingly engages a tool in the wellbore by rotation of the at least one rotatable cam, bringing the seal recess into sealing contact with the tool.
US08353485B2
The invention relates to a system for holding elongated objects, which system comprises holder modules (1), each of which being provided with at least one seat (3) with an arched shape intended to receive an elongated object. The holder modules are provided with mutually co-operating coupling members (5a, 5b) for coupling together two holder modules with each other. A first coupling member comprises an elongated projection, which is tapered in its longitudinal direction and which has a dovetail shaped cross-sectional shape. A second coupling member comprises a groove (7) with a dovetail-shaped cross-sectional shape, which groove fits to the projection and is tapered in its longitudinal direction. The projection is insertable into the groove and displaceable to a locking engagement in the groove under gradual reduction of the play between the two holder modules when the projection is displaced into the groove.
US08353481B2
The invention provides a novel, low-cost, spin-stabilized lander architecture capable (with appropriate system scaling tailored to the attributes of the target) of performing a soft-landing on a solar-system body such as Earth's Moon, Mars, Venus, the moons of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, selected near-Earth and main-belt asteroids, comets and Kuiper belt objects and even large human-made objects, and also moving about on the surface of the target solar-system body after the initial landing in movement akin to hopping.
US08353480B2
A concentric peripheral canopy parachute having a canopy system including a number of peripheral, stacked, concentric, canopies, each superior canopy centered and spaced above the inferior canopy and having its skirt connected to the vent of the inferior canopy for generating an increased low pressure disturbance behind the canopy system for producing higher fluid drag.
US08353464B2
A Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) for reducing vibration and noise radiation from rails incorporates a series of oscillation mass (8) of different sizes held in position by layers of resilient material (9) and attached to the rail via several steel mounting plates (4). Each mounting plate (4) is fixed to the rail by two magnets (5). A bolt (10) is inserted through the mounting plates (4), resilient layers (9) and oscillation masses (8) alternatively. The bolt (10) is fixed to a middle mounting plate (4) such that different compressive forces can be provided on the two sides by tightening nuts (11) to different pre-set torques. When the resonance frequency of the oscillation masses (8) is tuned to that of rail, most of the rail vibration energy at resonance frequency is transferred to the oscillation masses (8) and eventually dissipated in the resilient layers (9).
US08353458B2
A network system is provided with a cable set having a nonvolatile memory module mounted thereon, and a printer connected by the cable set. The printer is provided with a set information read means for reading set information for performing initial setting of itself from a nonvolatile memory module of the connected cable set, and an initial setting means for performing initial setting based on the read set information.
US08353457B2
Various improved imager-based optical code readers and associated methods are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an imager-based method reads an optical code (which may be, for example, a linear optical code such as a bar code) on an object in a viewing volume. The method comprises dividing an image plane into a plurality of strip-shaped sections, viewing the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of perspectives, forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of perspectives, respectively, thereby creating a composite image containing data from a plurality of perspectives, and processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain the information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. Certain embodiments can mimic the performance of a laser-based scanner without a laser or moving parts but instead utilizing an electronic imaging device such as an imager.
US08353453B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for electronic voting performed in response to insertion of an electronic ballot by a voter into an electronic voting machine. The method includes storing candidate information in a candidate database, issuing an electronic ballot by a ballot dispenser in response to a ballot issuance request of a voter, displaying by the electronic voting machine a list of candidates from the candidate database when the electronic ballot is inserted into the electronic voting machine, and printing by a printer vote data related to a selected candidate on the electronic ballot, followed by dispensing the printed electronic ballot when the voter selects the candidate whom the voter wishes to vote from among the list of candidates. The electronic ballot is printed with a barcode corresponding to vote information containing at least one of data for authentication, precinct ID and polling place ID.
US08353449B1
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data bearing records to cause financial transfers. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to data card read from user cards. The machine is operative to cause financial transfers responding at least in part to a determination that the read card data corresponds to at least one of an authorized user or an authorized financial account. The automated banking machine includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transfers carried out with the machine. The automated banking machine includes a housing including a chest. The chest is supported on a safe. The safe includes a depository head that extends upward on the safe and in front of the chest.
US08353446B2
A resilient device for absorbing at least one of shock and vibration includes a first portion, and a second portion which extends outwardly from the first portion and curves in a first direction away from the first portion and then recurves in a second direction towards the first portion. The method includes the step of securing the first portion to one of a first member and a second member disposed in spaced relationship to the first member and the step of abuttingly engaging the second portion to an opposed one of the first member and the second member wherein the second member is capable of withstanding application of at least one of shock and vibration and the resilient member temporarily changes its original shape for absorbing such at least one of shock and vibration.
US08353445B2
Provided is a stackable storage and transport container for storing and for single-use or multiple-use transport of goods, especially small parts. The container is assembled from a foldable container blank having a bottom, two side walls foldable about a fold, two end walls foldable about a fold, and four corner flaps foldable inward against the side walls or end walls about a fold. Tabs are formed on the side walls and end walls such that they can fold laterally against the intermediate pieces. A stackable profile having a hook edge is placed about the upper edge to provide for the stacking of a number of containers. The container blank preferably is made of a plastic hollow sheet.
US08353442B2
The purpose of this invention is to provide a support device for a resonator that can support the resonator at an optional location, can let the resonator vibrate with a specified vibration consistently, and can apply an ultrasonic vibration to objects efficiently. By inserting first clamping means and second clamping means, which comprise supporting member at least at each contacting portion, into first portion-to-be-supported and second portion-to-be-supported of resonator, the resonator is supported. As substances of the supporting member, substances that have a logarithmic decrement higher than 0.01 and lower than 1.0 and/or a sound propagation speed of more than 5900 m/s are suitable.
US08353441B2
A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion. The end effector includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member defines a first axis, which is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first jaw member is pivotable about the first axis. At least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart and an approximated position.
US08353430B2
An improved container and closure. Some embodiments are directed toward a pressurized container adapted to be utilized in any orientation. In one particular embodiment, a bladder separates a dispensable fluid in the container from a pressurizing fluid. Movement of the bladder via force from the pressuring fluid keeping the dispensable fluid in fluid communication with an outlet of the container regardless of orientation of the container. Some embodiments provide an improved sealing arrangement for a pressurized container and closure, wherein a bladder is utilized as a seal between the container and the closure.
US08353415B2
A biaxially stretched, blow molded synthetic resin bottle with a bottom comprising a sunken bottom portion, which is formed by contouring and concaving the bottom plate upward in a direction of bottle inside, starting from an inner edge of a ground contact portion disposed along the peripheral foot, the sunken bottom portion being capable of drawing upward in a reversible manner, when internal pressure goes down.
US08353413B2
A tamper-evident closure and container combination identifies a compromised seal when a severable ring has been detached from a closure upon a first opening of the container. Successful detachment of the severable ring is improved whereby a lower neck portion of a container is angled or arced downwardly and outwardly from a point immediately adjacent an annular ring.
US08353411B2
The present invention relates to a separating cyclone for separating a mixture of liquids into a heavy fraction, the cyclone comprising:—a cyclone tube (2) in which a flow space is defined, wherein the cyclone tube is provided with an inlet for infeed of a mixture of at least two different liquids, a heavy fraction outlet for discharging the heavy fraction separated from the mixture and a light fraction outlet for discharging the light fraction separated from the mixture;—a rotation generating unit (8) for setting into rotation the mixture fed in via the inlet;—a flow body (6) arranged substantially concentrically in the cyclone tube, in which body is provided a light fraction discharge channel (12) connected to the light fraction discharge, wherein the discharge channel has in flow direction a cross-section substantially decreasing along at least a portion of the length thereof.
US08353401B2
Disclosed is a fastening system that is adapted for securing a sheathing board to an associated framing member. The system includes a feedband for retaining a series of fasteners and a powered drill for sequentially driving the fasteners. The feedband is made from a membrane of a polymeric compound. As the fastener is driven into the sheathing board, a portion of the membrane tears away from the surrounding feedband and becomes seated beneath the fastener. This acts to seal the penetration point and prevent water intrusion and otherwise prevents deterioration of the sheathing board.
US08353399B2
Disclosed is a preparation-at-use device comprising: (1) a pre-formed hydrogel component packaged in a first compartment; the pre-formed hydrogel component comprising a gelling agent and a solvent; and (2) a benefit component packaged in a second compartment; the benefit component comprising at least one compound that is unstable when contacted with the pre-formed hydrogel component; wherein the first and second compartments are separately packaged prior to use, and wherein the device comprises means for contacting the pre-formed hydrogel component and benefit component upon use.
US08353398B2
A package for holding a plurality of articles. The package has panels that cooperate to at least partially form an interior of the package. The panels comprise a top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the top panel. At least one opening is in the top panel for at least partially receiving at least a portion of one of the articles. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to the top panel adjacent the at least one opening. The at least one retention flap has a free edge for engaging at least one article of the plurality of articles. The at least one retention flap is at least partially defined by at least one J-shaped cut.
US08353395B2
A conical-shaped plug member integrally comprising soft, porous foam material and having a helical profile for plugging the gap space in between the flights of an auger when an auger is not in use. Helical auger plug systems may comprise a removably attachable flag to indicate when the plug member is in use (inserted). The plug member of the present invention is designed to reduce the loss of heat (or cooling air) within/from a grain bin during the heating and drying process while preventing rodents and other animals from entering the grain storage bin through the auger flightings and infesting the grain.
US08353393B2
A vehicle operator input device for controlling the vehicle with the operator input device including an operator interface lever moveable by a vehicle operator in first and second directions about an axis. The operator input device includes a sensor system with a sensor target. The sensor system senses the moveable operator interface lever and provides an operator interface lever position signal as a function of a position of the operator interface lever. The operator input device includes an interface lever controllable brake coupled to the operator interface lever, and a brake controller coupled to the sensor system for receiving the operator interface mechanism position signal and with the brake controller coupled to the brake for responsively transmitting a plurality of brake signals to the brake with the operator interface lever controllable brake responsively providing resistive braking forces to the operator interface lever for opposing a force applied to the operator interface lever by the operator, the operator interface lever controllable brake providing the resistive braking forces in response to controller brake signals, with the brake controller providing a first background force signal followed with a second below background force drop signal followed with a third above background stop force signal wherein the operator is provided with a mechanical detent sensation at a target lever location.
US08353387B2
A safety accessory for use with a ladder to slow the speed of an accidental fall of a worker, who works in an elevated position. The accessory has a C-shaped track member and a slide body that moves inside the track member. The worker's harness is secured to the slide body. Contact surfaces of the track member and the slide member are serrated to slow the speed of an accidental fall. A plurality of locking wedge members is positioned in the channel formed by the track member to further decrease the speed of an accidental fall.
US08353385B1
An exhaust pipe end-cap that includes an annulus having an annular leading edge and an annular trailing edge, an annular interior surface having a frusto-conical shape for mating with an exterior frusto-conical shape of an exterior surface of an exhaust system, an outer surface on said annulus for carrying a decorative design thereon, and a fastener located on the annular interior surface for securing the exhaust end-cap to the exterior surface of the exhaust system.
US08353383B2
A seismic energy source includes an inlet aperture and an inlet pipe in fluid communication with an outlet of the inlet aperture at an inlet end of the inlet pipe. The inlet pipe is in fluid communication with an accumulator at an outlet end of the inlet pipe. An outlet pipe is in fluid communication with the accumulator at an inlet end of the outlet pipe and is connected to an outlet valve at an outlet end of the outlet pipe. The outlet valve is actuated by fluid pressure in the outlet pipe. An actuation pressure of the valve, and diameter, length and material properties of the outlet pipe are selected to cause a reflected water pressure wave resulting from closure of the valve to travel within the outlet pipe at a selected velocity. Motion of the seismic source through the water provides water pressure to operate the source.
US08353380B2
Deflecting device for an offset frontal collision for motor vehicles, the front end of which motor vehicles has a left and a right longitudinal member (2, 3), and the deflecting device being arranged in front of a front wheel (6) and protecting the front wheel in the event of a collision. In order to reliably bring about an engagement embracing the front wheel (6) with minimal structural expenditure, the deflecting device is composed of a jib (12), which is fastened to the front end of the vehicle, and a shield (13) which is moveable on said jib (12) outward transversely with respect to the direction of travel, with the jib (12) extending in front of the wheel (6) substantially transversely with respect to the direction of travel and having a guide (14) for the shield (13) and a force source (15) for moving the shield (13).
US08353373B2
A mobile robot includes a robot chassis having a forward end, a rearward end and a center of gravity. The robot includes a driven support surface to propel the robot and first articulated arm rotatable about an axis located rearward of the center of gravity of the robot chassis. The arm is pivotable to trail the robot, rotate in a first direction to raise the rearward end of the robot chassis while the driven support surface propels the chassis forward in surmounting an obstacle, and to rotate in a second opposite direction to extend forward beyond the center of gravity of the robot chassis to raise the forward end of the robot chassis and invert the robot endwise.
US08353362B2
A hand-held power tool has a device housing and at least one grip disposed on the device housing. An electric drive motor is arranged in the device housing for operating a working tool. A battery pack provides electric energy for operating the electric drive motor. An electronic control unit is connected to the electric drive motor and the battery pack. An operating element disposed on the grip controls the electric drive motor. An electric actuator is acted upon by the operating element and the output signal of the electric actuator is supplied to the electronic control unit. Electric energy is applied to the electric drive motor by the electronic control unit as a function of a position of the operating element, wherein in a first dead travel range of the operating element that adjoins an inoperative position of the operating element the supplied electric energy is zero.
US08353346B2
Actuation and control of the deployment of a polymeric memory-shape material on a wellbore device on a downhole tool may be accomplished by treating a compacted or compressed polymeric memory-shape material with a deployment fluid to lower its Tg and/or decrease its rigidity, thereby softening the polymeric shape-memory material at a given temperature and triggering its expansion or recovery at a lower temperature. Alternatively, the deployment of the compacted or compressed polymeric memory-shape material may be prevented or inhibited by shielding the material with an environment of a fluid that does not substantially lower its Tg, decrease its rigidity or both, and then subsequently contacting the material with a deployment fluid.
US08353345B2
A method of selectively blocking fractures in a subterranean formation by injecting a diversion agent into the well is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method comprises injecting a diversion agent into a subterranean formation to form an alkaline-earth carbonate precipitate from decomposition of a carbonyl compound, wherein the diversion agent includes the carbonyl compound and an alkaline-earth halide salt.
US08353336B2
A power transmission system for use with downhole equipment in a borehole includes a power source that is positioned at the surface providing a DC power supply, a downhole DC/DC converter and a two-conductor cable connecting the power source and the downhole DC/DC converter. The power transmission system receives the DC voltage supply as an input and provides an output DC supply at a different voltage to the DC power supply for provision to the downhole equipment.
US08353335B2
Flat heat exchanger tubes having two narrow and two broad sides are shown and described, wherein the flat tubes can be manufactured from two continuous strips having a relatively large curve on one longitudinal edge of the strips and having a relatively small curve on the other longitudinal edge of the strips. The two strips can be arranged laterally transposed with respect to one another to form the wall of the flat tubes, so that the relatively large curve of the longitudinal edge of one strip holds in itself the relatively small curve of the longitudinal edge of the other strip to form the narrow sides of the flat tubes. The strips can be formed with at least one further contoured portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the flat tubes and which improves cohesion of the flat tube.
US08353334B2
A lattice wick system that has a plurality of nano tube wicking walls configured to transport liquid through capillary action in a first direction, each set of the plurality of granular wicking walls forming respective vapor vents between them to transport vapor. A plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks embedded between respective pairs of the plurality of nano tube wicking walls transport liquid through capillary action in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The nano tube interconnect wicks have substantially the same height as the nano tube wicking walls so that the plurality of nano tube wicking walls and the plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks enable transport of liquid through capillary action in two directions and the plurality of vapor vents transport vapor in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.
US08353309B1
A hydrant locking device inhibiting unauthorized operation of a fire hydrant and includes a flip-top lid positioning between an open configuration and a closed configuration relative to a base. The flip-top lid is hingedly connected to the base of the locking device. The base may be releasably secured to an operating nut of the fire hydrant or more specifically an operating nut extension that engages the operating nut of the fire hydrant. The flip-top lid may also include a sealed cavity that may include electronics. These electronics may be in electrical communication with a wireless mesh network.
US08353308B2
An inflatable conduit plug is used to seal a conduit such as a floor drain or an air vent. The conduit plug includes a shroud that is removably sealed within the conduit so that fluids pass through the shroud opening. Axially disposed within the shroud is an inflatable bladder adapted for closing the shroud opening. The inflatable bladder is inflated by an inflation signal generated by a controller upon receipt of a contamination signal received from a remote contamination detector. The plug operates in a wireless environment and can be controlled remotely. The plug can also be adapted for diverting contamination away from sensitive lands and storm drains.
US08353305B1
A denture treating apparatus employs a receptacle base with a chamber closed by a rotatable cover. A denture and an effervescing denture treating composition, such as a denture cleaning tablet is place in water in the chamber. When the chamber is closed, the pressure created by the effervescing tablet causes the active ingredients to penetrate small spaces in the denture. A seal is compressed between relative thick peripheral lips on the cover and receptacle base. Thinner sections of the receptacle base can bow under pressure to show that pressure is building up. A shiftable handle on the cover makes it easier for a user to close the cover and compress the seal.
US08353301B2
The present invention is directed to smoking articles having reduced carbon monoxide delivery are described. A carbon monoxide reducing agent is incorporated into the smoking article in order to reduce carbon monoxide levels in mainstream smoke. The carbon monoxide reducing agent may be, for instance, in metal oxide or in metal carbonate. The carbon monoxide reducing agent may be incorporated into a wrapper and/or into a column of smokable filler that are used to construct the smoking article.
US08353296B1
A nasal cannula fitting, comprising in combination, a rigid plastic tubular first duct configured to directly endwise connect with apparatus assisting respiratory air, a relatively flexible plastic second duct fitting onto an end portion of the first duct, relatively flexible third plastic ducts integral with the second duct and diverging endwise therefrom to receive flow of the assistance air, and nasal cannula plastic tubing connected in series with the respective third ducts. Nasal prongs on the cannula tubing may carry pressure sealing toggling skirts.
US08353265B2
Methods for achieving efficient vehicle component heating are provided. One example method for controlling the warming of powertrain lubricants during engine warm-up from a cold start, the engine having an output crankshaft, includes selectively driving a lubricant heating device with the crankshaft during the cold start based on lubricant temperature. The method further includes directing the powertrain lubricants to the lubricant heating device.
US08353258B2
A roll support apparatus suitable for use in a roll coating machine is described. The roll support apparatus includes a roll support frame for rotatably supporting a roll coating head roll associated with the roll support frame, the roll support frame adapted for pivoting movement relative to a roll support frame mounting base. Furthermore, a roll carriage suitable for use in a roll coating machine is described. The roll carriage includes a roll support frame for rotatably supporting a respective roll and further includes a roll support frame mounting for movably mounting the roll support frame so that it moves between a coating position and an idle position, wherein the roll support frame mounting in use is mounted substantially above the respective roll to inhibit contamination of the roll support frame mounting.
US08353255B2
By means of the device for coating a substrate (2; 102) according to the present invention, a homogeneous coating of the substrate (2; 102) can be achieved. The device comprises a holding and rotating means for holding and rotating the substrate (2; 102) about an axis (A). A disk (3) is provided below the substrate (2; 102). Said disk (3) is arranged coaxially with respect to the substrate (2; 102), has at least the same diameter as the substrate (2; 102) and is able to rotate synchronously with the substrate (2; 102). By means of the disk (3), air swirls at the edge of and below the substrate (2; 102) are avoided during coating of the substrate (2; 102). Thus, it is possible to obtain a homogeneous coating. For being able to load and unload a substrate (2; 102) into and out of the device by means of a conventional gripper system (6), the distance between substrate (2; 102) and disk (3) is increased during loading and unloading.
US08353240B1
A kinetic energy and blast energy absorbing material includes: a micro-truss structure including: a plurality of first struts extending along a first direction; a plurality of second struts extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third struts extending along a third direction; and a compressible fluid comprising a liquid or gel and a nanoporous material, wherein the micro-truss structure contains the compressible fluid.
US08353235B2
A counter-die includes a tubular body, divided into several parts (1-1′-1″) and joined to each other by tongue and groove joints using twisted edges (2) at the ends, preferentially three parts, these having an inner sector (3) which is the largest, of injected plastic, very resistant and light, over the exterior surface of which there is a coating (4) of polyurethane. The parts are joined to each other by orifices (7) and grooves (8) in their ends, more specifically in the area made of injected plastic, through which respective rods or pins (11) pass.
US08353234B2
A food dough cutting method and cutting device thereof capable of forming conveyed food dough strips that have nearly identical weight per unit time when dividing band shaped food dough into multiple food dough strips in the conveyance direction, and is further capable of performing the same number of cuts for each food dough strip when cutting each food dough strip along the width direction into food dough pieces having a specified weight are provided. The conveyed food dough is aligned to a position that is displaced by just an alignment displacement amount with respect to a reference position that is based on the installation position of cutting members. The alignment displacement amount is calculated based on the ratio of the width dimension of the food dough and the lengths of food dough pieces that are cut from food dough strips on both sides.
US08353233B1
A cutting assembly for cutting a meat or food product passing along a path of travel and comprising a blade assembly including a cutting roller having a plurality of cutting blades radially mounted thereon and movable relative to the path of travel. A mating assembly interacts with the plurality of cutting blades to accomplish a multipoint cutting procedure which is facilitated by the concurrent rotation of the cutting roller and cutting blades as well as a linear reciprocal travel thereof transverse to the path of travel. A stabilizing assembly is provided to restrict the dimensional variance of the spacing between the cutting roller and mate roller through which the meat product travels and an ejecting assembly to remove cut portions from between the cutting blades and back onto the path of travel. The cutting assembly preferably includes a modular construction disposal within and removal from an operative position along a processing line associated with the path of travel.
US08353231B2
A feed rod vibration prevention support of a material feeder includes a guide device for guiding a feed rod moving to feed a material to a working machine, and a vibration attenuation mechanism for preventing the feed rod from being vibrated. The guide device further includes a guide and a bush supported by the guide having a feed rod placed thereon. The vibration attenuation mechanism includes a first elastic material located between the bush and the guide. The bush is provided with a flanged portion.
US08353227B2
A structure for sufficiently spacing a steering handle from a top bridge, thereby greatly improving design flexibility. A relief portion for allowing the deformation of a washer is formed to overlap a second contact surface and adjacent to a first contact surface as viewed in the axial direction of each bolt member. The first contact surface is located so as not to overlap the second contact surface as viewed in the axial direction of each bolt member. Therefore, a bending force acts on the washer to allow the deformation of the washer. That is, the washer can exhibit a spring function to relax the effect of the bending force. As a result, the steering handle can be sufficiently spaced from the top bridge to thereby greatly improve design flexibility.
US08353222B2
A testing apparatus and related methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the testing apparatus may include a platform, a first plurality of cables, a second plurality of cables and a third plurality of cables, with each of the cables coupled to a respective load cell. The first plurality of cables may suspend the platform and be substantially parallel to each other. The second plurality of cables may be coupled to the platform, may be substantially parallel to each other cable of the second plurality of cables, and substantially perpendicular to each cable of the first plurality of cables. The third plurality of cables may be coupled to the platform, and each cable of the third plurality of cables may be substantially parallel to each other cable of the third plurality of cables, and substantially perpendicular to each cable of the first plurality of cables and the second plurality of cables.
US08353218B2
A magneto-strictive scanning unit is formed through an actuation pushrod disposed and guided on an outside of a tight housing of a position sensor, in which the delicate sensor is tightly encapsulated, and components of an actuation unit can be disassembled and repaired without opening the sensor housing.
US08353215B2
A fluid pressure differential measuring instrument comprises a diaphragm that is displaced by a pressure differential between two environmental pressure zones. Diaphragm displacement induced by the pressure differential between the two zones is converted to a torsional strain upon a cylindrical element in a third environmental zone. The torsional strain is measured by calibrated electrical sensing means positioned physically in the third environmental zone.
US08353214B2
A pressure sensor for side-impact sensing and a method for forming a surface of a protective material for a pressure sensor are provided. In this context, at least one integrated circuit is completely surrounded in a protective material, and the protective material has a cavity into which at least one pressure sensor element is installed, a surface of the protective material being formed such that a pressure-entry channel is formed by the interaction of the surface with at least one housing part. The pressure-entry channel allows for a lateral access to the at least one pressure sensor element.
US08353213B2
A sensor element is provided for sensing accelerations in three spatial directions, which furnishes reliable measurement results and moreover can be implemented economically and with a small configuration. The sensor element encompasses at least one seismic mass deflectable in three spatial directions, a diaphragm structure that functions as a suspension mount for the seismic mass, and at least one stationary counterelectrode for capacitive sensing of the deflections of the diaphragm structure. According to the exemplary embodiments and/or exemplary methods of the present invention, the diaphragm structure encompasses at least four electrode regions, electrically separated from one another, that are mechanically coupled via the seismic mass.
US08353212B2
A micromechanical rate-of-rotation sensor for detecting a rate of rotation about a sense axis includes a substrate, a detection unit, means for generating a rotational oscillation of the detection unit about a drive axis which is orthogonal to the sense axis, and a central suspension means rotatably coupling the detection unit to the substrate in a fulcrum of the detection unit. The central suspension means is configured to permit the detection unit to perform a detection movement about a detection axis orthogonal to the sense axis in the form of a rotational oscillation about the central suspension means. The sensor also includes at least two second suspension means coupling the detection unit and the substrate for providing a response behavior specific to rotation about at least one of the drive axis and the detection axis.
US08353208B2
Plastic housings that are subjected to internal pressure and comprise a housing upper part, a housing lower part and a closure which connects both parts to one another. At the connecting point, the housing upper and lower part have a plurality of comb-like retaining columns shaped in a complementary manner with respect to one another such that the housing parts can be plugged together. The retaining columns are oriented in a direction in which tensile force between the housing upper part and the housing lower part is oriented when the housing is subjected to internal pressure. Retaining grooves which are oriented transversely to the effective direction of the tensile force are formed in two opposite surfaces of the retaining columns in each case. Retaining bodies which at least partially touch the areas formed by the retaining grooves and thus establish the connection can be introduced into the retaining grooves.
US08353202B2
A diagnostic control module includes a temperature gradient module. The temperature gradient module determines a temperature gradient across a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst of an exhaust system of an engine based on a plurality of temperature signals. A calibration module determines a weighted average based on the plurality of temperature signals. A SCR efficiency control module disables conversion efficiency monitoring based on the temperature gradient and the weighted average.
US08353201B2
A method of determining whether a fault condition of an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor of an engine is present includes estimating a first manifold absolute pressure (MAP) based on a previously estimated first MAP and an estimated first mass air flow (MAF) as a function of the previously estimated first MAP and estimating a second MAP based on a previously estimated second MAP and a currently measured MAF. An IAT difference is determined based on the first MAP and the second MAP. Whether the fault condition of the IAT sensor is present is determined based on the IAT difference.
US08353198B2
An internal combustion engine has an intake system (1) and an exhaust gas system (4). An exhaust turbocharger of the internal combustion engine has a compressor (42) arranged in the intake system (1) and a turbine (48) arranged in the exhaust gas system (4) of the internal combustion engine for driving the compressor (42). In order to diagnose the intake system (1), a charge pressure (PHS_AIC_DOWN) of the compressor (42) is determined in a predetermined operating state of the internal combustion engine. A leakage of the intake system (1) downstream of the compressor (42) is recognized if the determined charge pressure (PHS_AIC_DOWN) is lower than the predetermined base charge pressure (PUT_BAS) in the predetermined operating state.
US08353197B2
A differential comparative pressure monitoring system (10) for monitoring the structural integrity of a structure (30) has a pressure source (12); a first fluidic circuit (14), and a reference fluidic circuit (16) which are connected in parallel to the pressure source (12); and a monitoring device (18). The first and reference fluidic circuits (14) and (16) have substantially matched characteristics. The first circuit (14) has a sensor element (20) which is sealed to a surface (28) on the structure (30). The reference circuit (16) is in fluidic isolation from the surface (28) of the structure (30). The monitoring device (18) takes simultaneous measurements of a common fluidic characteristic of the circuits (14) and (16), and produces a signal indicative the integrity of the structure based on a difference between the simultaneously measured common characteristic.
US08353195B2
The invention relates to a miniaturized gas chromatography module, comprising: a gas injector unit having a gas injector sample inlet and outlet, the gas injector inlet being connectable with a source of a substance to be analyzed, a separation column having a separation column inlet and outlet, the separation column inlet being in fluid communication with the gas injector sample outlet, a thermal conductivity sensor having a sensor inlet and outlet, the sensor inlet being in fluid communication with the separation column outlet. The invention addresses the problem to broaden the field of application of such gas chromatography module. This is achieved by providing a pre-stage injector having a pre-stage injector sample inlet and outlet, the pre-stage injector sample inlet being connectable with the source of the substance to be analyzed, a pre-stage module having a module inlet and outlet, the module inlet being in fluid communication with the pre-stage injector sample. outlet and the module outlet being in fluid communication with the gas injector inlet, wherein the pre-stage module is adapted to transfer heat to a substance flowing from the module inlet to the module outlet.
US08353192B2
A linear bearing plate, or liner, for use within a rolling mill stand, said liner including lubrication ports in fluid communication with a lubrication source. A centralized lubrication source can provide a predetermined lubrication to a plurality of mill stands in response to a signal, such as from a rolling facility operator. Lubrication ports provide areas of active lubrication which are surrounded by areas of passive lubrication so as to provide adequate lubrication during a rolling campaign.
US08353191B2
A cooling device and cooling method for a hot-rolled strip in which the strip can be uniformly cooled from a leading edge to a trailing edge with coolant by properly realizing a great cooling ability and a stable cooling zone.
US08353183B1
A pivot lock for use in a handcuff of the type having a body containing a primary locking system and having parallel strands extending laterally therefrom terminating at a pivoting end, which supports a pivoting locking arm with a plurality of ratcheted teeth for engaging the primary lock. The pivot lock positioned at the pivoting end includes a pivot gear affixed to the locking arm at a pivoting juncture of the strands and the locking arm. The pivot gear has a plurality of teeth about its periphery. A locking pawl has at least one detent and a projection therefrom and is supported by one of the parallel strands. The locking pawl is selectively rotatable between a locked position wherein the projection is in engagement with the plurality of teeth of the pivot gear and an open position wherein the projection is disengaged from the plurality of teeth. A plunger engages the at least one detent for maintaining the locking pawl in a selected rotated position.
US08353176B2
In some embodiments, a cooling device may be mounted to a portion of a chassis of an electronic system, wherein the cooling device may be releasably and pivotably attached to the chassis in at least an open position to permit access to components within the electronic system and a closed position to permit installation of a cover on the chassis. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08353169B2
A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use of a condenser. The compression system utilizes a compression wave. An evaporator of the compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.
US08353156B2
A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
US08353154B2
An exhaust system for an engine comprises a cylinder head having an integral exhaust manifold to collect exhaust gas exiting the engine combustion chambers. An exhaust gas conduit in fluid communication with the exhaust manifold comprises an inlet end connected to the cylinder head, a portion that extends towards an upper end of the internal combustion engine and an outlet end configured to define an inlet end of a multistage catalytic converter. The catalytic converter comprises a canister having an inlet end located adjacent the top of the engine and includes first and second catalyst substrates and a collector closing an outlet end of the canister. The outlet end of the canister is located adjacent to the bottom of the engine, and the first and the second catalyst substrates receive and convert constituents of exhaust gas passing from the inlet end of the canister to the outlet end.
US08353152B2
An exhaust emission control device, which can absorb thermal expansion difference between a particulate filter and a selective reduction catalyst without causing urea deposition, has the filter and the catalyst arranged in parallel with each other with their entry ends facing the same direction. An S-shaped communication passage is provided to introduce the exhaust gas from a discharge end of the filter into an entry end of the catalyst through turndown, urea water being added upstream of the communication passage. A mixing pipe providing a straight section of the communication passage at an intermediate portion thereof, with a double-pipe portion constituted by overlapped stretchable/retractable inner and outer pipes, the outer pipe having a terminal end secured to an outer periphery of the inner pipe and being provided with an axially expansible and contractible bellows, a sealing ring fitted over an outer periphery of a terminal end of the inner pipe.
US08353143B2
A sway brace fitting clamp is used for lateral bracing of sprinkler or other types of pipe (designated the service pipe) to a structure, to prevent movement of the service pipe perpendicular to the axis of the pipe relative to the structure to which it is attached. The sway brace fitting clamp includes a U-bolt which fits around the service pipe, and a pair of hooks that are coupled to straight ends of the U-bolt, for hooking the sway brace pipe. A pair of nuts engages threaded portions of the U-bolt ends. The nuts may be tightened to pull the sway brace pipe into contact with the service pipe, firmly clamping the sway brace pipe and the service pipe together.
US08353142B2
Disclosed is a system and method for sealing containment sumps used in connection with underground storage tanks. A sump cover sealing system includes an expansion ring assembly adapted to affix to the interior of the sump, and to fastenably attach with the sump cover to removably seal the sump cover to the sump. A contraction band assembly is also provided to affix to the exterior of the sump opposite the expansion ring assembly. Methods of using the system are described. A sump cover with an observation portal is provided.
US08353138B2
One embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus for a window frame. The apparatus includes a window frame having a lower frame portion; a window glazing supported by the lower frame portion; a glazing bead; and at least two connectors operatively connecting the glazing bead to the lower frame. The connectors are spaced apart defining a fluid pathway allowing fluid to escape from the lower frame.
US08353134B2
The present invention discloses a grouted tubular energy-dissipation unit comprising an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is coaxially inserted into the outer tube defining a gap within a lapping portion of the tubes for receiving expansive cement grout. After solidified, the expansive cement grout forms an expansive ring. A prestress produced by the expansive cement grout increases the friction between the expansive ring and the tubes. In service, the present invention can transfer the axial force via the friction between the tubes and the expansive cement grout. In case of earthquake, the sliding friction between the tubes and the expansive cement grout can absorb energy. The present invention does not require high precise in manufacturing and constructing, saves steel and has low cost. It is only need to replace the grouted tubular energy-dissipation unit when the present invention is damaged in earthquake, which is very convenient.
US08353132B1
A method and an apparatus for a sectional mast assembly for erection and disassembly of a rig. The sectional mast assembly includes a bottom section having at least a back and a pair of opposed sides with each of the opposed sides having at least one pivoting ratchet support. A scoping dog assembly is moveable on a track on the bottom section. The scoping clog assembly includes wheels which engage the track and a pivoting ratchet support. A cylinder extends between the bottom section and the scoping dog assembly to move the scoping dog assembly on the track. The pivoting ratchet support of the scoping dog assembly engages each of the mast sections in sequence to raise the entire mast assembly.
US08353131B2
Loq·kit is a mass-produced system of interchangeable building components for assembling single or multi-family houses. The building components are of three varieties: structural frame, in-fill, or snap-cladding components. Except for bolted structural frame connections, all connections between parts are snap-lock, and may be released. With snap-lock interfaces and a modular dimensional relationship between components, they can be reconfigured in near endless variety. The components all share a common dimensionality that is derived from a regulating grid. The grid utilizes an alternating sequence of two modules—a module A, and a smaller module B. The A,B,A,B rhythm of gridlines is used to regulate component connection locations in three dimensions. The alternating-sequence grid works by establishing a standard connection width, module B, for making connections between components. Each possible connection width is spaced from another by a common module A. This A,B,A,B grid sequence is used to determine connection locations along the length, width, and height of a building. Because the grid establishes a standard connection size and spacing, modular system dimensions result as a function of connection width and spacing. These modular system dimensions inform the size of structural frame members, and dictate directly the length and width, or length and height, of in-fill and snap-cladding components. The modular sizes and snap-lock interfaces result in a system of components that can be interchanged with each other, reconfigured, and reused.
US08353125B2
A mounting apparatus and method for adjustably mounting, for example, an optical device to a rail interface of a firearm. The apparatus includes a base, a ring assembly configured to surround and grip the device, and at least two spacer members configured to be disposed and secured between the base and ring assembly. The ring assembly includes ring segments, a mechanism for securing the ring assembly to the base, and a mechanism for securing the ring segments together to grip the device therebetween. One of the ring segments has a support surface having a shape complementary to a support surface of the base. The spacer members are configured to be secured between the base and ring assemblies, and each spacer member has oppositely-disposed support surfaces configured to complementarily engage the support surface of either the base or ring assembly.
US08353120B2
An optionally extending or retracting display panel assembly, comprising a horizontally elongated support bracket configured for support at an upper portion of a relatively large first container, or the like, primary magnetic apparatus carried to magnetically attract the bracket toward the container, for removable bracket attachment to the container, and the display panel assembly and associated connections configured for horizontal displacement guiding by the bracket during panel extension and retraction relative to the container, while the panel remains generally vertically proximate a vertical side of the container. A counter-weight system assists panel leveling as well as extension and retraction.
US08353114B2
An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement in turn including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected. A drum is provided to receive clothes to be dried. An auxiliary heater is included, as is a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the condenser and the heater, and through the drum. A sensor is located to sense high side temperature and/or high side pressure of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the auxiliary heater, and is operative to: activate the auxiliary heater during a startup transient of the mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement; monitor the high side temperature and/or high side pressure, during the startup transient; and de-activate the auxiliary heater in response to the high side temperature and/or high side pressure reaching a first predetermined value.
US08353110B2
A motorized saw has a guide rail which is arranged on at least one clamping stud and can be clamped in place between two bearing surfaces by clamping means. A clamping element is provided which is arranged on the clamping stud and in a locating opening of the guide rail and which fixes the guide rail in at least one radial direction of the clamping stud in the clamped state. A clamping element has at least one clamping surface which is formed at an end face of the clamping element and which encloses an angle of less than 90° with the longitudinal center axis of an opening of the clamping element.
US08353108B2
A utensil has first and second arm members of substantially the same size and shape. Each arm member has a head section and a handle section. The head sections are concave or scoop-like in configuration and are connected by a rotatable hinge which permits rotation of the arm members in relation to each other. The head section of the first arm members has elongated openings through which spreadable food can be expelled. The head section of the second arm member is solid. With the first arm member nested within the second arm member, spreadable food is scooped onto the utensil, specifically on the top surface of the first arm member. Rotation of the second arm member around the first arm member such that the second arm member is now nested within the first arm member, causes the food to be expelled from the openings in the first arm member, where the food can be easily spread on bread and or food items.
US08353106B2
A device and method for fixing or repairing a wheel or rim of an automobile, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle is provided. The device has an adjustable shaft having a first side and a second side. The first side may act as a brace secured against the interior of a rim of, for example, an automobile. The second side may be the work end of the device which may be formed to fit the interior wall(s) of the rim. When the rim is heated and the shaft is extended, the device may allow a user to fix a dented rim. A bracing bar may be extended perpendicularly from the shaft and may act to secure the device in place while the work is performed.
US08353099B2
An insertion arrangement (20) is provided to make it easier for an operator to insert several needles (41, 44) clamped in a multiple clamping chuck (40), even in the case of certain positional deviations, simultaneously in the associate bores (11) of a needle board (10). The insertion arrangement (20) comprises a guide section (32) with many parallel grooves (51) that are arranged at the distance of the bores (11), and that, respectively, can accommodate the tip (45) of a needle (41, 44) and can guide said tip to the associate bore (11). In so doing, the grooves (51) help align the individual needles (41, 44) with respect to the bores (11) in that the grooves correct potential positional deviations by slightly bending the needles (41, 44). The insertion arrangement (20) is mounted to an automatic loading machine (1) and can be adjusted and locked relative to a needle board (10) accommodated in the automatic loading machine.
US08353098B2
A method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head capable of easily and accurately forming a main magnetic-pole layer having a shape suitable for concentrating a magnetic flux is provided. A nonmagnetic layer having a recessed section (a first recessed section and a second recessed section) is formed, and then an additional nonmagnetic layer is formed on an inner surface of the recessed section. Then, a magnetic layer is formed in the recessed section formed with the additional nonmagnetic layer, and then the magnetic layer is cut to form an air bearing surface, so as to form the main magnetic-pole layer.
US08353095B2
The present invention provides a self feeding drill press lathe attachment designed for rotating a workpiece along a horizontal axis to remove material from the workpiece to form it into a desired shape. The drill press lathe attachment comprises a base and a power transfer box along with components commonly found on a lathe, but without a motor. The drill press lathe attachment, or “motorless” lathe, may be mounted directly to the bed of an existing drill press thereby providing an alternative means of achieving turning operations without needing a traditional motor driven lathe.
US08353094B2
A method of forming a sheet metal casket comprises providing a sheet metal casket shell having at least a portion of an end wall and at least a portion of a side wall and a round corner between the portion of the end wall and the portion of the side wall, and forming a generally planar corner oriented at about a 45° angle relative to the portion of the end wall and the portion of the side wall.
US08353087B2
A closure device includes a knob. A ratchet member is mounted on a bottom of the knob. An engaging member is movably received in a cavity of the ratchet member. A spool is mounted on a bottom of the engaging member. A stopper is mounted around the spool. A base is proved for receiving the stopper, the spool, the engaging member, and the ratchet member.
US08353084B2
The invention relates to a connector device for a retainer device (2) on a cover of an openable vehicle roof on an operating mechanism, in particular, on an operating lever (3) with a bearing pin (4), comprising a mid axis (104), about which the operating lever (3) is mounted to pivot relative to the cover, characterized in that the bearing pin (4) is mounted to rotate relative to the operating lever (3) and has a housing device (10, 13) for the retainer device (2) in a region facing the a vehicle inner side (111), wherein the retainer device (2) is connected with fixing means (22) to the housing device (10, 13) in an axially and rotationally fixed manner relative to the bearing pin (4).
US08353079B2
Elevator hoistway door closer device that increases the closing force on the door as the door approaches the door closed position. A elevator hoistway door closer includes a reel having a groove in its side that terminates in a flat edge beyond a breakover angle. The groove may have a first portion of essentially constant diameter and a second portion having a conical helix shape. The third portion includes the breakover angle and may terminate in a flat edge. There may be an elongate tensile element received by the first and second portions and the third portion defined by the breakover angle flat edge, and that has a free end for attachment to a fixed point. There may be a spring for rotating the reel and attracting the elongate tensile element by wrapping the elongate tensile element around the first and second portions of the channel and over the breakover angle and flat edge of the third portion.
US08353078B2
An anchor for a carpet tile includes a cross-shaped base having four arms extending from a vertex. The arms form a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface. A vertical blade centered on the base rises to engage the backing of a carpet tile when a corner of the carpet tile is placed near the vertex. The blade is preferably made of bendable and resilient material. Preferably, the anchor is used with a pedestal head of a raised-flooring system and has a nub extending from the bottom surface of each of the arms of the base to fit within holes in the pedestal head and thereby secure the anchor to the pedestal head. An alternative anchor includes a plate for the base and the blade in the shape of a cross rises from the plate. The plate may have a hole in each quadrant defined by the blade.
US08353074B2
A surface cleaning apparatus, and in particular a steam mop, comprises a steam delivery system for generating and distributing steam onto a surface to be cleaned. The steam mop further comprises a handle assembly mounted to a foot assembly that has a shuttling plate slidably mounted beneath the foot assembly, wherein the shuttle plate is configured to selectively divert steam through one of a pair of steam distributors positioned at a forward and rearward portion of the foot assembly dependent on the cleaning stroke direction of the steam mop. In one embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a vacuum source mounted thereto and at least one suction nozzle connected to the vacuum source and adapted to contact the surface to be cleaned and to draw moisture and debris from the surface.
US08353072B2
A mattress is disclosed that includes a sleeping side, a cushioning layer, an inner support compartment, and a fire-containing compartment disposed between the sleeping side and the inner support compartment and including first and second layers of fire-resistant material. The cushioning layer is disposed between the first and second layers of fire-resistant material.
US08353070B1
A collapsible rail system for attachment to a variety of surfaces such as a fluoroscopy or radiographic table and easily extended into a raised position or retracted into a lowered position which is flush with the surface. The collapsible rail system generally includes an upper rail, a lower rail and a plurality of post members, wherein each of the post members is pivotally connected to both the upper rail and the lower rail so as to allow the upper rail to collapse onto the lower rail. The lock plate is positioned within a lower channel of the lower rail for locking the rail assembly in an upright position. One or more brackets are provided for removably attaching the rail assembly to a table such as a fluoroscopy or radiographic table.
US08353069B1
A device for heating, cooling and emitting fragrance into bedding on a mattress of a bed which comprises a vented bladder placed upon the mattress under the bedding of the bed. A mechanism is for producing forced air being hot/cool and scented. A flexible air hose extends between the vented bladder and the forced air producing mechanism, to carry the hot/cool and scented air from the forced air producing mechanism to the vented bladder and into the bedding.
US08353068B1
The present invention provides an adjustable hand rail including a wall-mounted base member that includes a circular plate with an inward facing side and an outward facing side. The circular plate includes a circular track. The circular track has a bottom, an inside rail member extending from the bottom and an outside rail member extending from the bottom. The two rail members define a C-shaped channel. The bottom of the track member also includes a plurality of lock apertures. A rotatable insert is rotatably disposed within the circular track. The insert has a first insert opening and a diametrically opposed second insert opening. First and second shoulder members are disposed within the insert openings. The first shoulder member has a first locking pin biased to extend into one of the lock apertures. A bar having a first end and a second end is provided attached to the shoulder members.
US08353064B2
The present invention is an adjustable magnetic channel closure for a salon cape. The channel closure has a reinforced tab located at or near each of the ends of the channel. Each reinforced tab has a pair of magnetic components that grip the channel when the reinforced tab is bent. The channel closure is tightened by pulling a gripping component located at each end of the channel closure. A cord located at the top of the channel prevents the reinforced tabs and magnetic components from sliding off the channel when the gripping components are pulled.
US08356361B2
An architecture is presented that facilitates integrated security capabilities. A memory module is provided that comprises non-volatile memory that stores security software and a security processor that accesses the security software from the nonvolatile memory and performs security functions based on the security software stored. Further, a host processor located outside of the memory module arbitrates with the security processor for access to the non-volatile memory. The memory module in communication with the host processor establishes a heightened level of security that can be utilized in authentication services and secure channel communications.
US08356358B2
Mechanisms are provided to prevent information leakage between components implemented on a programmable chip such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). An automated routing algorithm is effective at enforcing security restrictions with minimal input form the user while providing efficient utilization of the device. Compatible sets of signals are identified and locked, and reservations of routing resources are generated. Remaining signals are rerouted until all signal constraints are met. Specified security constraints with one or more security levels and one or more secure regions may be applied through iterations of the automated routing mechanism.
US08356356B2
An anti-debugger comprises spatially and temporally separate detection and response portions. In an example configuration, the anti-debugger is implemented into a game system for detecting and responding to a debugger attached to a game application. The detection portion is implemented on one thread of the system and the response portion is implemented on another thread of the system. When a debugger is detected, a message indicative of the detection is provided to a thread interface. The thread interface provides the message to the response portion. After a period of time has elapsed, the response portion disables the functionality of the game application, such as by halting the game execution and/or obfuscating game performance.
US08356351B2
A method for pre-verification of a code module when the code module is installed or updated in a virtual machine, comprising: loading codes in the installed or updated code module; performing code verification on the codes in the code module; if the code verification is passed, generating a certificate of the code module; and storing the code module passing the code verification and its certificate. The present invention also discloses a method for verification of a code module at runtime of the code module in a virtual machine, comprising loading codes in the code module; generating a certificate of the code module based on the loaded codes; if the generated certificate of the code module and a pre-stored certificate of the code module are identical, verifying the code module to be valid; otherwise performing a pre-verification on the code module.
US08356347B2
A migration scheme for virtualized Trusted Platform Modules is presented. The procedure is capable of securely migrating an instance of a virtual Trusted Platform Module from one physical platform to another. A virtual Trusted Platform Module instance's state is downloaded from a source virtual Trusted Platform Module and all its state information is encrypted using a hybrid of public and symmetric key cryptography. The encrypted state is transferred to the target physical platform, decrypted and the state of the virtual Trusted Platform Module instance is rebuilt.
US08356340B2
A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for a secure subscriber identity module service. Communication via a mobile network is activated in response to receiving a request to activate communication service for the system by a secure partition of the system. In response to receiving the request, a key is retrieved for a permit service from storage accessible only by the secure partition. The key is included in a permit requesting to activate the communication service, and the permit is sent to a service provider for the communication service. The service provider communicates with the permit service to obtain a digital signature for the permit. The secure partition receives a signed permit from the service provider, confirms that the signed permit contains the digital signature by the permit service, and activates the communication service for the system in response to confirming that the signed permit contains the digital signature.
US08356337B2
An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer's request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program.
US08356335B2
Techniques for authenticating network connections are provided. A client makes a request to connect to a server via a client service. The server delays the request to acquire a signature for the client service from the requesting client's environment. The signature is compared against a known and previously verified signature. When the two signatures match, the server permits the connection between the client and the service via the client service. When the two signatures do not match, the server denies the connection between the client and the server and does not permit the client service to process a request to make that connection.
US08356327B2
A transmission system suitable for video where a sender encodes video for transmission to a receiver at an adjustable date rate. The data rate may be adjusted using a delay constraint that constrains the expected delay of transmitted packets. The expected delay may be measured from a time that a transmitter encodes a packet to a time that a receiver decodes a packet.
US08356322B2
A cable television (CATV) entry adapter interfaces to a CATV network and serves as a hub in an in-home network for passively communicating multimedia content or information from the CATV network and between subscriber devices connected to the ports of the CATV entry adapter, using CATV signals in a CATV frequency band and network signals in a different in-home network band.
US08356321B2
A system and method for controlling receiving circuit module includes a remote facility, an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network. The local collection facility includes a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules having a first encoder. The local collection facility generates a receiving circuit module monitoring signal. The local collection facility communicates the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network. The monitoring system generates a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal communicates the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network.
US08356318B2
A terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to receive broadcast guide information, and a control unit configured to determine whether or not broadcast information included in the received broadcast guide information corresponds to an actual broadcast operation for a corresponding broadcast program, and to update the broadcast guide information when the broadcast information included in the received broadcast guide information does not correspond to the actual broadcast operation for the corresponding broadcast program.
US08356310B2
A server platform exposes server-hosted application services to client applications. Calls to the server-hosted application services may be executed along with custom business logic extensions. A client platform is also provided that exposes client-hosted application services to a client application. The same business logic extensions that execute on the server platform can be utilized by the client platform. When a client application is online and connected to the server platform, the client application utilizes the server-hosted application services in the manner described above. When the client application is offline, the client application utilizes the client-hosted application services. The server platform synchronizes the business logic extensions to the client platform.
US08356302B1
Systems, methods and consumer-readable media for self-monitoring of resource consumption are provided. A system according to the invention may include a computer, a resource-consuming output device—e.g., a printer—coupled to the computer, and a goal storage device that stores a pre-set resource consumption goal. The computer may be configured to receive a print command, estimate resource consumption associated with the print command, and tally a total user resource consumption amount. The total user resource consumption amount may include the estimated resource consumption for the print command. The computer may also be configured to compare the total user resource consumption amount with the pre-set goal and to display a visual indication of the comparison of the total user resource consumption with the pre-set goal.
US08356300B2
Tools and techniques are described for multi-threaded processing for opening and saving documents. These tools may provide load processes for reading documents from storage devices, and for loading the documents into applications. These tools may spawn a load process thread for executing a given load process on a first processing unit, and an application thread may execute a given application on a second processing unit. A first pipeline may be created for executing the load process thread, with the first pipeline performing tasks associated with loading the document into the application. A second pipeline may be created for executing the application process thread, with the second pipeline performing tasks associated with operating on the documents. The tasks in the first pipeline are configured to pass tokens as input to the tasks in the second pipeline.
US08356295B2
A technique for making post-signing modifications to a digitally-signed software application without invalidating the signature can be used to enhance a user experience when downloading the software application. An extension module extends the length of a signature section at the end of an executable file for the digitally-signed software application to form a storage section. A header adjustment module adjusts the header to indicate size of the storage section appended at the end of the executable file. A data insertion module inserts post-signing data into the storage section, and the validity of the digital signature is maintained without requiring the file to be re-signed after insertion of the post-signing data. Thus, a software vendor can add into the software user-specific data after the file has been signed, while still maintaining the signature's validity, so the software can be downloaded with minimal interruption to the user.
US08356291B2
There is provided an autonomic software system and method for normalizing a profile collected for an executing application to account for one or more actions applied to the executing application after the profile was collected, comprising: predicting an impact of applying the one or more actions to the executing application by utilizing the profile and the one or more actions; and adjusting the profile to form a normalized profile according to the predicted impact. A plurality of different a profile consumers, such as, a phase shift detector, an action evaluator as well as a normalizing controller, may utilize the normalized profile to improve the behavior of the executing application. In addition, online visualization tools may be implemented to graphically depict the normalized profiles, as well as differences between the collected profiles and the normalized profiles.
US08356288B2
A monitoring method and apparatus monitors a runtime application to collect and display static and dynamic data concerning software entities and database operations in a runtime environment. In one embodiment, monitoring classes are used to collect monitoring data from at least one PersistenceUnit (PU) and at least one PersistenceContext (PC) associated with the PU of an application the uses an in implementation of a Java Persistence Application Programming Interface (JPA). A Java Management Extension (JMX) MBean communicates with the monitoring classes to expose monitoring data outside the runtime environment.
US08356287B2
Device, system, and method of debugging computer programs. For example, a method for debugging computer programs includes: locating a bug in a computer program based on a first score corresponding to a first instrumentation location of the computer program and a second score corresponding to a second instrumentation location of the computer program.
US08356286B2
Method and system for providing on-demand profiling infrastructure for profiling at virtual machines
A system and method are provided to employ a profiling infrastructure to perform profiling. In one embodiment, a communication between a first virtual machine at a server and a second virtual machine at a client is established, wherein the communication is established via a profiling infrastructure. An application at the first virtual machine is profiled via the profiling infrastructure. Results of the profiling are communicated from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine, wherein the results are communicated via the profiling infrastructure.
US08356281B2
An architecture that allows target service interactions to be realistically simulated in a development environment. The architecture includes a proxy service, an interaction recorder, an interaction store and an emulator service. The proxy service delegates service requests received from a client component to a target service. If it is in “record” mode, the proxy service routes any interaction data corresponding to the interaction (between the target service and the client component) to the interaction recorder. Upon receipt, the interaction recorder records the interaction data in the interaction store. Later, the proxy service can be placed in “replay” mode so that a subsequent service request for the target service is delegated to the emulator service. Upon receipt, the emulator service retrieves the corresponding interaction data from the data store and replays the same to emulate/simulate the target service.
US08356272B2
A apparatus and a system and method to operate the above provide a reconfigurable platform for emulating and debugging a user design which exceeds the capacity of a single field programmable logic device (FPGA). The method and system facilitates design and emulation of a system-on-a-chip type user design. The netlist of a user design may be included with logic value tunneling circuits in an emulation using a platform including a number of field programmable devices. A verification module apparatus provides a hyper prototype for debugging an electronic design that exceeds the capacity of a single FPGA. A verification module provides access to a plurality of attached FPGAs by means of Logic Value Tunneling Transmitters and Receivers which deliver many signals over few pins.
US08356268B2
An integrated circuit device includes a dynamic array section that includes a gate electrode level region that has linear conductive features defined in accordance with a gate level virtual grate. Each of at least three consecutively positioned virtual lines of the gate level virtual grate has at least one linear conductive feature defined thereon. A first virtual line of the at least three virtual lines has two linear conductive segments defined thereon and separated by a first end-to-end spacing. A second virtual line of the at least three virtual lines has another two linear conductive segments defined thereon and separated by a second end-to-end spacing. A size of the first end-to-end spacing as measured along the first virtual line is substantially equal to a size of the second end-to-end spacing as measured along the second virtual line.
US08356260B2
A method is provided for estimating a cross-sectional shape or for monitoring manufacturing process parameters of a semiconductor device pattern to be measured. In this method, in order to enable SEM-based management of the cross-sectional shape or manufacturing process parameters of the pattern to be measured, the association between the cross-sectional shape or process parameters of the pattern and SEM image characteristic quantities effective for estimating the cross-sectional shape or process parameters of the pattern, is saved as learning data, and then the image characteristic quantities that have been calculated from a SEM image of the pattern are collated with the learning data to estimate the cross-sectional shape or to monitor process parameters of the pattern. Estimation with high accuracy and reliability is achievable by calculating all or part of three kinds of reliability (reliability of the image characteristic quantities, reliability of estimation engines, and reliability of estimating results) based on the distribution of the image characteristic quantities and judging from the calculated reliability whether additional learning of the learning data is necessary, or selecting and adjusting image characteristic quantities and estimation engine based on the reliability.
US08356259B2
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of improving the operability of an installation screen. The information processing apparatus of the present invention starts up an application on an operating system to perform information processing. This information processing apparatus includes: installation means for installing the application; display means for displaying, when the application is installed, an installation screen on which a plurality of buttons, each associated with each of a plurality of setting items and operated by a user, are arranged; detection means for detecting a use environment of the information processing apparatus; and display control means for allowing, among the buttons arranged on the installation screen, the button relevant to the use environment detected by the detection means to be displayed on the display means so as to be relatively increased in display level with respect to the other buttons.
US08356258B2
Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and user interfaces (UIs) for manipulating display areas on a GUI workspace by transitioning the display areas from an original state to one of a set of enhanced window states are provided. Initially, an indication to resize a display area is received at an operating system, which consequently invokes an appropriate window state. The indication may include capturing an edge of the display area and vertically dragging the edge to a dock-target region, thereby invoking a vertically-maximized state. Accordingly, configuration settings of the vertically-maximized state are applied such that the display area is stretched to approximately the screen height. In another instance, the indication may include capturing the display area and dragging a display area into a dock-target region, thereby invoking a semi-maximized state. Configuration settings of the semi-maximized state are applied, thus, extending the display area to approximately cover a predefined GUI workspace region.
US08356252B2
A system and method are disclosed that may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) within a web page on a display device forming part of a computer system, that may include defining attributes of user interface fields for use within the graphical user interface for display on the display device with program code; searching at least one image file for image data fields corresponding to one or more of the user interface fields; recording layout data of selected ones of the image data fields within the image file; and generating the GUI using information from the user interface field attributes and the recorded data.
US08356243B2
A system for creating a structured report using a template having at least one predetermined heading and formatting data associated with each heading. The steps include recording a voice file, creating a speech recognized text file corresponding to the voice file, identifying the location of each heading in the text file, and the text corresponding thereto, populating the template with the identified text corresponding to each heading, and formatting the populated template to create the structured report.
US08356236B2
A digital broadcasting system and a method of processing data is disclosed. A receiving system of the digital broadcasting system may include receiving system may include a signal receiving unit, a demodulating unit, a deinterleaver, and a decoder. The signal receiving unit receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data. The mobile service data may construct a code block, the code block including at least one data packet for the mobile service data, an RS parity generated based on the at least one data packet, and a CRC checksum generated based on the at least one data packet and the RS parity. The demodulating unit performs demodulation on the received mobile service data. The deinterleaver deinterleaves the demodulated mobile service data. The decoder corrects error generated from the mobile service data by performing CRC decoding and RS decoding on the code block of the deinterleaved mobile service data.
US08356227B2
A method of encoding data using a parity check matrix, a method of decoding encoded data, and a data retransmission method using the same are disclosed. A data retransmission method in a communication system includes transmitting a codeword encoded by a first parity check matrix corresponding to a first coding rate, among at least two parity check matrixes corresponding to different coding rates, receiving NACK from the receiver in response to the codeword, and transmitting parity bits encoded by some of the second parity check matrix corresponding to a second coding rate, among the at least two parity check matrixes, to the receiver.
US08356223B1
A system including a frame capture module, a serializer, and a deserializer. The frame capture module is configured to receive, from a device under test, data corresponding to test results, and package the data into first data frames. The serializer is configured serialize the first data frames to form serial messages that include serialized data. The serializer includes i) a first serial link configured to output the serial messages according to a first clock domain, and ii) a second serial link configured to output the serial messages according to a second clock domain. The deserializer is configured to deserialize the serial messages received on the first serial link and the second serial link to form second data frames.
US08356219B2
An integrated circuit can have plural core circuits, each having a test access port that is defined in IEEE standard 1149.1. Access to and control of these ports is though a test linking module. The test access ports on an integrated circuit can be arranged in a hierarchy with one test linking module controlling access to plural secondary test linking modules and test access ports. Each secondary test linking module in turn can also control access to tertiary test linking modules and test access ports. The test linking modules can also be used for emulation.
US08356217B2
A storage circuit, an integrated circuit and a scanning method are provided. The storage circuit includes a first storage element, and a second storage element connected to an output of the first storage element. The storage circuit includes a first setting circuit that is configured to set data of a first logic value to the first storage element when a clear signal is applied, and a second setting circuit that is configured to set data of a second logic value to the second storage element and transmit the second logic value data to a different storage circuit when a second clock signal is in an off state and the clear signal is applied.
US08356212B2
A memory chip having a memory with a plurality of non-redundant memory lines and a plurality of redundant memory lines, and a controller configured to allocate dynamically a redundant memory line to a failed memory line during runtime.
US08356202B2
A device and method for reducing the power consumption of an electronic device using register file with bypass mechanism. The width of a pulse controlling the word write operation may be extended twice as long so that the extended portion substantially overlaps a following word read pulse. The extension of the pulse width of the read operation may enable lowering the Vcc Min value for the electronic device and thus may lower the power consumption of the device.
US08356192B2
Method and device for power management and control of Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture system
An Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture system and a method for power management and control of the system are disclosed. The system includes a Front Board (FRB) and a Rear Transition Module (RTM)/Front Transition Module (FTM). The FRB includes a first power conversion/control module that supplies power to the FRB and RTM/FTM. The system further includes a control circuit that outputs control signal, and a second power conversion/control module that supplies power to the RTM/FTM according to the control signal.
US08356189B2
The invention describes a method for hardening a security mechanism against physical intrusion and substitution attacks. A user establishes a connection between a network peripheral device and a network via a security mechanism. The security mechanism includes read only memory (ROM) that contains code that initiates operation of the mechanism and performs authentication functions. A persistent memory contains configuration information. A volatile memory stores user and device identification information that remains valid only for a given session and is erased thereafter to prevent a future security breach. A tamper-evident enclosure surrounds the memory elements, which if breached, becomes readily apparent to the user.
