US08405779B2
A video decoder block provides a common pathway for processing video signals encoded using different video formats. The video decoder block passes the video signals through the same processing components in order convert the signals to a common format for display or storage. Each processing component can be disabled or by-passed to enable or disable the function performed by the component. This reduces the number of components and signal processors required in devices that need to accommodate signals of different formats.
US08405778B2
An information display apparatus having a display unit that displays first information based on a signal corresponding to one channel in a broadcast wave received by a receiving unit, further includes a detecting unit that detects a reception state of the signal while the first information is displayed on the display unit; a judging unit that judges whether information displayed on the display unit has been changed from the first information to second information, if the reception state of the signal has deteriorated; a monitoring unit that monitors whether the reception state has returned to a favorable state, if the displayed information has been judged to have been changed to the second information; and a display control unit that continues display of the second information and redisplays the first information on a portion of the display unit, if the reception state of the signal has returned to a favorable state.
US08405769B2
Systems and methods for choosing whether to select either a spatial interpolation value or a motion compensation interpolation value for deinterlacing an interlaced frame. A minimal sum of absolute differences (SAD) may be determined for a current pixel. Depending on the magnitude of the minimal SAD relative to two threshold values, different checks may be applied. The outcome of the checks may determine whether the spatial interpolation value or the motion compensation interpolation value may be used in deinterlacing. Generally, the magnitude of the minimal SAD may determine the reliability of the SAD and the consequent trustworthiness of the associated motion vector (MV). Greater reliability of the minimal SAD may suggest that the motion compensation interpolation value may be used for purposes of deinterlacing. Less reliability in the minimal SAD may motivate additional checks to further evaluate whether the motion compensation interpolation value should be used. A less reliable minimal SAD and/or failure of some of the checks may suggest that the motion compensation interpolation value should not be used.
US08405763B2
A camera for acquiring a sequence of frames of a scene as a video includes a sensor with an array of sensor pixels. Individual sensor pixels are modulated by corresponding modulation functions while acquiring each frame of the video. The modulation can be performed by a transmissive or reflective masked arranged in an optical path between the scene and the senor. The frames can be reconstructed to have a frame rate and spatial resolution substantially higher than a natural frame rate and a spatial resolution of the camera.
US08405760B2
An image sensing apparatus including: an image sensor including a plurality of focus detection pixel pairs that perform photoelectric conversion on each pair of light beams that have passed through different regions of a photographing lens and output an image signal pair; a flash memory that stores shift information on relative shift between an optical axis of the photographing lens and a central axis of the focus detection pixel pairs; a correction unit that corrects a signal level of the image signal pair based on the shift information and exit pupil information of the photographing lens so as to compensate for an unbalanced amount of light that enters each of the focus detection pixel pairs; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus of the photographing lens using the image signal pair corrected by the correction unit.
US08405756B2
An optical element according to the present invention includes: an optical surface at a center portion thereof; a spacer section having a predetermined thickness on an outer circumference side of the optical surface; a support plate including one or a plurality of through holes penetrating a portion corresponding to the optical surface, provided inside a transparent resin material, wherein the support plate has light shielding characteristics, an outer circumference portion side of the through hole of the support plate is provided inside the spacer section, and the outer circumference portion side of the through hole is configured to be thicker than a further outer circumference portion side thereof.
US08405755B2
A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, and a fourth lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface with both surfaces thereof being aspheric.
US08405753B2
An electronic device includes: a display element that displays a numeral; an auxiliary display element that displays an expression other than a numeral; an arithmetic operation device that executes an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer; and a display control device that implements control so as to display the integer obtained through the arithmetic operation executed by the arithmetic operation device by using the display element and the auxiliary display element.
US08405750B2
High dynamic range image sensors and image reconstruction methods for capturing high dynamic range images. An image sensor that captures high dynamic range images may include an array of pixels having two sets of pixels, each of which is used to capture an image of a scene. The two sets of pixels may be interleaved together. As an example, the first and second sets of pixels may be formed in odd-row pairs and even-row pairs of the array, respectively. The first set of pixels may use a longer exposure time than the second set of pixels. The exposures of the two sets of pixels may at least partially overlap in time. Image processing circuitry in the image sensors or an associated electronic device may de-interlace the two images and may combine the de-interlaced images to form a high dynamic range image.
US08405749B2
To make it possible to appropriately set a capturing timing for a pixel value.For this, the present invention includes a pixel array unit 2 composed of pixels 21 arranged in a row direction and a column direction in a matrix manner and a latch unit 62 provided for each column constituting the pixel array unit 2 and configured to convert a pixel value of the pixel 21 into a digital pixel value to hold the pixel value. Also, the present invention includes a column scanning unit 4 for selecting the latch unit 62, a capturing unit 9 for sequentially capturing the pixel value held by the latch unit selected by the column scanning unit 4 in synchronism with a predetermined clock, and a delay unit 10 for delaying a clock for driving the capturing unit 9 in a plurality of stages. With the configuration described above, first dummy data is set in the latch unit 62-m at the near end, and second dummy data is set in the latch unit 62-0 at the far end. Then, a delay amount in the delay unit 10 is set as a delay amount at which both the first dummy data and the second dummy data can be captured by the capturing unit 9.
US08405732B2
A system for automatically expanding the zoom capability of a wide-angle video camera using images from multiple camera locations. One preferred embodiment achieves this using images from the wide-angle video camera that are analyzed to identify regions of interest (RoI). Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) controls are then sent to aim slave cameras toward the RoI. Processing circuitry is then used to replace the RoI from the wide-angle images with the higher-resolution images from one of the slave cameras. In addition, motion-detecting software can be utilized to automatically detect, track, and/or zoom in on moving objects.
US08405724B2
The present invention relates to a camera module and a method to indicate a moving guide line using the same. The camera module includes a memory for storing guide line images for vehicle traveling traces divided according to a steering angle of the vehicle's handle; an image sensor for photographing a front image or a rear image, and generating an image signal for an image obtained by overlapping the guide line image stored in the memory with the photographed image; a controller (CAN MCU) for receiving steering angle information of the vehicle's handle, extracting a guide line image corresponding to the steering angle from the guide line images, and controlling the image sensor to perform image overlapping; and an image output amp for converting a signal of the image overlapped in the image sensor into an output signal, and transmitting the converted signal to an image display unit through a serial bus network.
US08405717B2
An apparatus for calibrating images between cameras, includes: a detector for detecting dynamic markers from images taken by a motion capture camera and a video camera; a 3D position recovery unit for recovering 3D position data of the dynamic markers obtained by the motion capture camera; a 2D position tracking unit for tracking 2D position data of the dynamic markers obtained by the video camera; a matching unit for matching the 3D position data and the 2D position data of the dynamic markers; and a calibrating unit for converting the 3D position of the dynamic markers on a spatial coordinate system into image coordinates on an image coordinate system of the video camera to calculate intrinsic parameters and extrinsic parameters of the video camera to minimize a difference between coordinates of the 2D position data and the image coordinates.
US08405716B2
A folding optical path transfer videometrics method for measuring the three-dimensional position and attitude of non-intervisible objects is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes the following: constructing a folding optic path between an invisible target and a reference, disposing transfer station comprising a camera, a cooperating mark and a laser range finder on each break point in the folding optic path. The method may further include processing an image shot by each camera, accounting for the distance measured by the laser range finder, obtaining a position and posture information corresponding to each adjacent transfer station, summing the values from the reference to the invisible target, and achieving three-dimensional position and posture of the invisible target relating to the reference.
US08405715B2
Aims to provide an inspection apparatus and an inspection method for detecting an amount of misalignment of a component mounted on a panel through an ACF. The inspection apparatus detects an amount of misalignment, from a predetermined mounting position, of a component mounted on a panel's top surface through an AFC, and includes: a visible light illuminator (304) which illuminates with visible light a panel recognition mark formed on the panel's top surface; an infrared light illuminator which is provided on a side of the component's bottom surface not adhered to the panel and illuminates with infrared light a component recognition mark formed on the component's top surface; a visible light camera (306) which is provided on a bottom surface side of the panel which is opposite to a side of the panel on which the component is mounted, and which captures an image of the panel recognition mark illuminated with the visible light; an infrared camera (307) which is provided on a side of a bottom surface of the component not adhered to the panel, and which captures an image of the component recognition mark illuminated with the infrared light; and an amount-of-misalignment calculation unit which calculates an amount of misalignment from a predetermined positional relationship between the panel recognition mark and the component recognition mark based on the captured images of the panel recognition mark and the component recognition mark.
US08405713B2
In an image pickup apparatus, an original image selecting unit selects an original image from picked-up images acquired by an image pickup unit; a process image selecting unit selects a process image from the picked-up images; and an image combining instructing unit issues an instruction to combine the process image with the original image; an eye detecting unit detects an eye area. Further, a combining position setting unit sets a combining position in the original image based on a position of the eye area; an image processing unit processes the process image; an image combining unit combines the processed process image with the original image in the combining position, and generates a composite image; and a composite image display control unit performs control such that the composite image is displayed on a display unit.
US08405706B2
A videoconferencing conferee may be provided with feedback on his or her location relative a local video camera by altering how remote videoconference video is displayed on a local videoconference display viewed by the conferee. The conferee's location may be tracked and the displayed remote video may be altered in accordance to the changing location of the conferee. The remote video may appear to move in directions mirroring movement of the conferee. This effect may be achieved by modeling the remote video as offset and behind a virtual portal corresponding to the display. The remote video may be displayed according to a view of the remote video through the virtual portal. As the conferee's position changes, the view through the portal changes, and the remote video changes accordingly.
US08405697B2
According to one embodiment, a printer includes a thermal head, a platen roller, and an urging mechanism configured to urge the thermal head against the platen roller. The printer further includes a first separation mechanism configured to move the thermal head from a proximal position where the thermal head is placed adjacent to the platen roller, to a first separation position where the thermal head is placed farther away from the platen roller than the proximal position, and a second separation mechanism configured to move the thermal head from the proximal position to a second separation position where the thermal head is placed farther away from the platen roller than the proximal position and placed closer to the platen roller than the first separation position. The printer further includes an electric-powered actuator having a movable member configured to reciprocate along a lengthwise direction of the printing medium.
US08405691B2
The optical performance is enhanced of display systems that use field sequential color and pulse width modulation to generate color and color gray scale values. Such enhancement may be achieved by various data encoding methods disclosed herein that may include temporal redistribution of bit values to mitigate color motional artifacts associated with field sequential color-based display systems, selective combination of intensity modulation, pulse width modulation, and/or the noncontiguous sequencing of primary colors. There is further an intelligent real-time dynamic manipulation of gray scale values in portions of an image that are computationally determined to be images of objects moving against a global background, so as to temporally front load or concentrate the bits comprising such moving objects and thereby further mitigate said motional artifacts using both actual and virtual aggregate pulse truncation across all primary colors being modulated.
US08405680B1
Various apparatus and methods are described for a simulation and/or user interface environment. Image data and actual measured depth data of a real object from a real-world scene is acquired via one or more sensors. There is matching of the resolution of the image data and actual measured depth data as well as a linking formed between the image data and actual measured depth data for each pixel representing the real-world object in the scene. The actual measured depth data of the real-world object is processed to extract normal vector data to the surface of the real-world object. occlusion, lighting, and any physics-based interaction effects are based on at least the image data and actual measured depth data.
US08405678B2
A display controller for displaying multiple windows and associated memory access method are provided. The display controller receives a first video source and a second video source for displaying multiple windows, and includes a line buffer, a deinterlacer, a scaler, and a memory interface unit. The line buffer buffers pixel data of a non-overlapped area of a main image associated with the first video source, and pixel data of a sub image associated with the second video source. The deinterlacer is coupled to the line buffer for selectively deinterlacing data in the line buffer. The scaler is coupled to the deinterlacer for selectively scaling data outputted from the deinterlacer. The memory interface unit is coupled to the line buffer for accessing an external memory.
US08405672B2
In an image update, a display apparatus receives only a new portion (1110) of an image for display but does not receive the remaining, unchanged portion of the image. The display apparatus performs a subpixel rendering (SPR) operation (454) for the new portion but does not redo the SPR for the whole image. Efficient techniques are provided to achieve good appearance at the edges between the new portion and the rest of the image. Other features are also provided.
US08405666B2
A system and method are disclosed for recreating graphics processing unit (GPU) state information associated with a migrated virtual machine (VM). A VM running on a first VM host coupled to a first graphics device, comprising a first GPU, is migrated to a second VM host coupled to a second graphics device, in turn comprising a second GPU. A context module coupled to the first GPU reads its GPU state information in its native GPU state representation format and then converts the GPU state information into an intermediary GPU state representation format. The GPU state information is conveyed in the intermediary GPU state representation format to the second VM host, where it is received by a context module coupled to the second GPU. The context module converts the GPU state information related to the first GPU from the intermediary GPU state representation format to the native GPU state representation format of the second GPU. Once converted, the GPU state information of the first GPU is restored to the second GPU in its native GPU state representation format.
US08405660B2
A method for streaming a vector image to a client computer, including: accessing a pre-processed vector image that was generated from a vector image, the pre-processed vector image including a plurality of local rectangular regions and a plurality of local vector objects, each local vector object being associated with one of the local rectangular regions; receiving a request from a user of a client computer for a desired portion of the vector image, for display at a desired pixel display resolution; identifying at least one local rectangular region from among the plurality of local rectangular regions of the pre-processed vector image, which is appropriate for generating the desired portion of the vector image at the desired display resolution; and transmitting the local vector objects associated with the at least one local rectangular region to the client computer.
US08405650B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device consuming lower amounts of power. The display device determines whether or not video signals corresponding to all of pixels in one row of a plurality of pixels are equal to one another. In a case where the video signals corresponding to at least two pixels among the video signals corresponding to all of the pixels in one row of the plurality of pixels, are different from each other, video signals input to an image signal input line are sequentially output to a plurality of source signal lines in synchronization with a sampling pulse output from a shift register. On the other hand, when the video signals corresponding to all of the pixels in one row of the plurality of pixels are equal to one another, input of a start pulse to the source driver is stopped, and the video signals input to the image signal input line are simultaneously output to the plurality of source signal line.
US08405644B2
An electro-optical device includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of pixels respectively provided at intersections between the plurality of scan lines and the plurality of data lines, and a scan line drive circuit that applies a selection voltage to the scan lines in a predetermined sequence. The scan line drive circuit is composed of a first scan line drive circuit disposed at one side of the scan line and a second scan line drive circuit disposed at the other side of the scan line. The first scan line drive circuit applies the selection voltage to some of the scan lines, and the second scan line drive circuit applies the selection voltage to the remaining scan lines.
US08405638B2
Provided is an optical touch sensor including an optical path through which light propagates, a metal layer disposed on the optical path, a flexible touch key configured to contact the metal layer when being bent, an incident light reflecting surface configured to make the light that propagates through the optical path be incident on the metal layer at an angle at which surface plasmon resonance occurs when the metal layer and the touch key are separated from each other, and a detector configured to detect reflected light from the metal layer and determine that the touch key is pressed in the case where an intensity of the reflected light increases.
US08405636B2
An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an imaging window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window, so that the radiation path is optically separated from the view path of the optical sensor.
US08405633B2
A matrix touch panel having upper and lower electrodes, the upper electrodes being composite electrodes made of a plurality of spaced micro-wires, and allowing, for example, an electric field from lower electrodes to pass between the micro-wires and thereby capacitively couple with a touching object, such as a finger.
US08405630B1
A touch-sensitive display of a computing device may concurrently output a first virtual keyboard at a first region and a second virtual keyboard at a second region. The first region may be different from the second region, and the first and second virtual keyboards may display a substantially identical set of virtual keys. The touch-sensitive display may detect a first contact at a first location corresponding to a first character within the first region, and the touch-sensitive display may output the first character. After detecting the first contact, the touch-sensitive display may detect a second contact at a second location corresponding to a second character within the second region, and the touch-sensitive display may output the second character. The touch-sensitive display may output a terminator character in response to determining an absence of any contact within the first and second regions.
US08405628B2
Methods (1000), apparatuses (100), and computer readable storage mediums for interfacing with a multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) are disclosed. A visual object is displayed (1010) on a multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304). The position of a first input contacting the multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) is detected (1020). At least the displayed visual object is selected (1030) based on the position of the first input. The position of a second input contacting the multi-point input display device (181, 204, 304) is detected (1040) contemporaneously with the first input. A separation line across the visual object is determined (1050) so as to define a first portion and a second portion of the visual object. A change in the position of the second input is identified (1060). A change in a display characteristic of the first portion relative to the second portion is controlled (1070) in accordance with the identified change in the position of the second input.
US08405614B2
A computer mouse includes a housing; a sliding plate is slidably connected to the housing; a first sub-switch and a second sub-switch arranged within the housing; a first operating portion mounted on one end of the computer mouse; a second operating portion mounted on an opposite end of the computer mouse; an image sensor configured for capturing images; a processing unit arranged within the housing; wherein, the first operating portion and the processing unit are connected to the first sub-switch, the second operating portion and the processing unit are connected to the second sub-switch, when the sliding plate sliding to one of two ends of the housing, actuating the one of the two sub-switches respectively.
US08405613B2
A method for measuring relative motion between an illuminated portion of a surface and an optical sensing device comprising a coherent light source and a photodetector device comprising an array of pixels and comparators for extracting motion features. The method includes the steps (a)-(d). Step (a) includes illuminating with the coherent light source the surface portion at a determined flash rate. Step (b) includes detecting, using the array of pixels a speckled light intensity pattern of the illuminated portion of the surface for each flash. Step (c) includes extracting edge direction data of two different types from the detected speckled light intensity patterns. Step (d) includes measuring relative motion between the optical sensing device and the illuminated portion of the surface based on extracted edge direction data. The step of extracting edge direction data further includes a preliminary step of introducing a selecting factor, which promotes detection of one type of edge direction data rather than another type.
US08405592B2
A driving apparatus, a system and a method thereof is provided by the present invention. The driving apparatus has at least an output terminal and includes a driving circuit and a control switch. The control switch is electrically coupled with the driving circuit. The driving circuit receives an input signal and converts the input signal into an analog driving signal. The control switch is controlled by a control signal. When the control switch is turned on, the analog driving signal is able to be sent to the output terminal of the driving apparatus. The control signal further controls the spike current generated as turning on the control switch so as to reduce the spike current. The driving apparatus can be applied to an LCD system, so that the panel and the chips of the LCD system have longer life time, lower electricity consumption and better heat dissipation performance.
US08405591B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a liquid crystal display, comprising a matrix of pixels arranged in crossed lines and columns and in which a switch in the state of the liquid crystal molecules, controlled by application of an electric control signal between two electrodes (50, 52) enclosing each pixel, which brings about a flow in a given direction (18), the pixel addressing being carried out by a line by line addressing either in a single step or in two steps, the first step comprising a collective addressing of at least a part of the screen in a given single texture, followed by a second step of line by line addressing, characterized in comprising, for controlling the switching of at least some of the pixels (P), a step for application to at least one adjacent pixel (58) of auxiliary electric signals wherein, depending on the direction of flow of the pixel (P) the switching of which is to be controlled, the rising or falling fronts of the auxiliary signals are temporally advanced in relation to or simultaneous with the active falling front of the electric control signal with a time offset of between 0 and several tens of microseconds at ambient temperature, such as to promote the switching of said pixel (P) for control, said auxiliary electric signals being applied in the second step when the addressing is in two steps. The invention further relates to a display.
US08405588B2
The present invention provides a data accessing system and a data accessing method. The method comprises: separately storing a (N×M)-bit digital data in L banks of a data storage module; utilizing a register module of a data accessing interface module to transmit data of a bank for L times in sequence, and to receive and latch the digital data included by a bank from the data storage module when transmitting data each time, until the (N×M)-bit digital data is totally latched in the register module; and utilizing a multiplex output module of the data accessing interface module to continuously select a M-bit digital data from the (N×M)-bit digital data registered in the register module, and input the M-bit digital data to a data retrieving device via M data transmission lines.
US08405576B2
A sustain pulse generation circuit of a plasma display device generates and switches a first sustain pulse for causing light emission having double peaks, a second sustain pulse having a falling edge steeper than that of the first sustain pulse, and a third sustain pulse having a rising edge and a falling edge steeper than those of the first sustain pulse and causing light emission having a single peak. The second sustain pulse or the third sustain pulse is generated immediately before the third sustain pulse. The first sustain pulse is generated immediately before the second sustain pulse. Provided between the second sustain pulse and the third sustain pulse and between the third sustain pulses is a first overlap period in which a time period for causing the corresponding sustain pulse to rise is overlapped with a time period for causing the corresponding sustain pulse to fall.
US08405571B2
A mobile terminal and a method for displaying menus in the mobile terminal are disclosed herein. The mobile terminal includes a main body having a main display, a first sliding assembly including a first sub-display, and a second sliding assembly including a second sub-display slidably positioned on the main body. Various menus may be displayed on the main display, the first sub-display and the second sub-display based on the position of the first and second sliding assemblies and the orientation of the mobile terminal.
US08405570B2
An antenna reflector includes a central segment with a peripheral coupling portion and a plurality of peripheral segments, each provided with a reflector portion and a shield portion. A proximal portion of each shield portion is dimensioned to couple with the peripheral coupling portion, a reflector portion edge of each peripheral segment is dimensioned to couple with adjacent reflector portion edges and a shield portion edge of each peripheral segment is dimensioned to couple with adjacent shield portion edges. The central segment and the reflector portion of the peripheral segments together form a reflector dish. The shield portions together provide a circumferential shield extending from a periphery of the reflector dish along an antenna boresight of the reflector dish.
US08405567B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for controlling a radiation direction of a small sector antenna, used for a small wireless transmission device having limited power and calculation capabilities, capable of operating at a low power consumption with the necessity of simple calculation capabilities or without the necessity of even a few calculation capabilities. The apparatus for controlling a radiation direction of a small sector antenna includes a plurality of capacitance blocks including a plurality of capacitors each having one end commonly connected to corresponding parasitic elements and having a different capacitance. Capacitors having a capacitance corresponding to a radiation direction are selectively connected to corresponding parasitic elements through a plurality of switching units and a controller, thereby simplifying controlling and reducing power consumption for controlling the radiation direction.
US08405565B2
An antenna coil includes a magnetic layer such as a flat magnetic sheet, a transmission coil portion defined by a coiled conductor, a reception coil portion defined by a coiled conductor, a transmission coil connection defined by the conductor and defining a portion of the transmission coil portion, and a reception coil connection defined by the conductor and defining a portion of the reception coil portion. The transmission coil portion and the reception coil portion are at least partly formed side by side on the magnetic layer and are arranged to be connected to a wiring pattern on an external circuit.
US08405558B2
A wireless device having two appropriately placed antennas can reduce deterioration in properties of an antenna included in a casing. The wireless device includes upper and lower casings, a hinge part, and at least one transmission element. The upper casing houses a casing antenna resonating with a first frequency. The lower casing houses a matching circuit of the casing antenna and houses a radio unit circuit for processing a signal having a second frequency. The hinge part joins the upper casing with the lower casing, includes a built-in antenna resonating with the second frequency, and includes feeding sections for electrically coupling the matching circuit to the casing antenna. The transmission element is disposed on a signal path connecting the built-in antenna and the radio unit circuit, and (i) gives passage to the signal having the second frequency and (ii) blocks a signal having the first frequency.
US08405556B2
A built-in antenna apparatus for a Global Positioning System (GPS) of a portable terminal is provided. The apparatus includes a case frame for forming an exterior of the terminal, a main board fastened by the case frame and having a feeding portion and a ground portion of an antenna radiator, and an antenna radiator having a feeding point and ground point to be electrically connected to the feeding portion and ground portion of the main board, and is curved in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the terminal about a center of one upper-side corner of the terminal.
US08405542B2
The transmission power of a fill level radar is varied in that the transmission power is switched, by a signal switch, from a first transmission power to a second transmission power. This switching takes place, for example, by bypassing the high-frequency amplifier or by switching off a drain voltage.
US08405539B2
In a synthetic aperture radar system monitoring an area containing at least one moving target for identification, the target is equipped with an identification device, which receives the radar signal transmitted by the radar system, and transmits a processed radar signal obtained by modulating the incoming radar signal with a modulating signal containing target information, such as identification and status information, and by amplifying the modulated radar signal; the radar echo signal reflected by the monitored area and containing the processed radar signal is received and processed by a control station of the radar system to locate the target on a map of the monitored area, and to extract the target information to identify the target.
US08405538B2
A control circuit connects a capacitor to an input terminal and an output terminal of an operational amplifier and applies a signal charge to charge the capacitor with a switch being turned off. Thus, a conversion voltage corresponding to the signal charge is outputted from the operational amplifier. The control circuit then sets charges, which correspond to the conversion voltage, in capacitors and reallocates the charges among the capacitors by connecting non-common electrodes of the capacitors to either one of a plurality of reference voltage lines in accordance with a conversion result of an A/D conversion circuit with the capacitor being connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier. The control circuit thereafter performs, a number of times, charge setting, initialization and subsequent charge reallocation in accordance with a residual voltage outputted from the operational amplifier.
US08405536B2
A communication system includes a time-to-digital converter, a digital low-pass filter, and a digital signal processor. The time-to-digital converter receives an in-phase signal of a frequency-shift keying signal and to generate a digital signal according to the in-phase signal. The digital low-pass filter receives the digital signal and to generate a filtered signal including N continuous words according to the digital signal. The digital signal processor divides up the N continuous words into N/2 word sets in order, wherein each of the N/2 word sets includes a first word and a second word, and if a difference between the first word and the second word meets a predetermined condition, the digital signal processor generates an output data and an output clock according to all the first words and the second words that have difference which meets the predetermined condition.
US08405531B2
A compressed state sequence s is determined directly from the input sequence of data x. A deterministic function ƒ(x) only tracks unique state transitions, and not the dwell times in each state. A polynomial time compressed state sequence inference method outperforms conventional compressed state sequence inference techniques.
US08405530B2
A method for encoding data to be placed into a weight constrained memory array includes designating a set of crosspoints within a crossbar memory array as indicator crosspoints and a set of crosspoints within the memory array as data crosspoints, the set of indicator crosspoints selected so that a net number of times that each data crosspoint has been flipped can be determined from a subset of the set of indicator crosspoints, placing an input stream of data into a matrix corresponding to crosspoints within the memory array, bits of the input stream being placed into matrix elements that correspond to data crosspoints of the memory array, setting each matrix element corresponding to indicator crosspoints to a value corresponding to a fixed resistive state, and flipping each bit corresponding to a conductor of the memory array until no conductors within the memory array violate a weight constraint.
US08405529B2
A method includes receiving a first plurality of parallel data; generating a first plurality of encoded data, with each of the first plurality of encoded data same as a respective one of the first plurality of parallel data; and transmitting the first plurality of encoded data simultaneously to a plurality of parallel bus lines, with each of the first plurality of encoded data transmitted by a respective one of the plurality of parallel bus lines. The method further includes receiving a second plurality of parallel data; generating a second plurality of encoded data, with each of the second plurality of encoded data inverted from a respective one of the second plurality of parallel data; and transmitting the second plurality of encoded data simultaneously to the plurality of parallel bus lines, with each of the second plurality of encoded data transmitted by a respective one of the plurality of parallel bus lines.
US08405528B2
A gesture based headphone for controlling a media player device and method for using thereof. The headphone comprises a cord with a gesture sensitive region in the cord, and an interface for connecting to the media player device. A user gesture interacts with the gesture sensitive region and generates a control input for controlling the media player device, wherein the user gesture includes at least one gesture generating a control input.
US08405521B2
A statistic DB creation processing section creates a statistic traffic DB, based on past actual traffic data (probe DB or VICS DB), and stores it in a statistic DB storage section. A reference-link-candidate extraction processing section extracts a complement target link (temporal missing link) from the statistic traffic DB, and further extracts complementary-reference-link-candidates for the complement target link, according to plural extraction rules to extract complementary-reference-link-candidates. A complement-evaluation application processing section calculates correlation coefficients of the statistic traffic data of the complementary-reference-link-candidates to the statistic traffic data of the complement target link for the respective extraction rules, assigns a priority order to the extraction rules in the order of higher correlation coefficient, and complements the missing data of the statistic traffic data of the complement target link by the use of the statistic traffic data of the complementary reference link extracted by the extraction rule of the highest priority.
US08405520B2
A method and system for displaying an in-car view of current traffic conditions is disclosed. A user can select an “In Car View” as a display option. A display shows traffic conditions from a driver's eye view. A forward view depicts a vehicle dashboard, which may include a steering wheel, a central column, gauges, a rear view mirror, and a windshield. Graphics representing traffic conditions are visible through the windshield of the forward view. A side view allows a user to see traffic conditions on the opposite side of the road. The in-car view moves at a rate associated with the pace of the current traffic conditions.
US08405519B2
A control device (1) and a triggering device (2) are coupled to one another for data processing. The control device and the triggering device (2) are electronic devices. The control device (1) determines a respective desired position value (p*) for at least one shaft with an interpolation cycle (T) and transmits a time delay (t) to the triggering device (2). The triggering device (2) monitors when the time delay (t) expires from transmission of the time delay (t) and then outputs a trigger pulse (I).
US08405515B2
A control device has a first sensor set with a first detection region, a second sensor set with a second detection region, and a control unit for controlling a predetermined operation based on a detection result by the first sensor and a detection result by the second sensor.
US08405509B2
Systems and methods to selectively attach and control antennas via diodes and current sources. In one embodiment, a system includes: an RFID reader having a plurality of reader antennas of different polarizations to transmit radio frequency signals; and at least one RFID tag. The RFID tag includes: a plurality of tag antennas of different polarizations; a plurality of diodes coupled to the plurality of tag antennas respectively; a receiver coupled to the plurality of diodes to receive the radio frequency signals from the tag antennas when the diodes are forward biased; and a set of one or more current controllers coupled to the plurality of diodes. In a receiving mode the controllers selectively forward bias the diodes to receive the signals from the RFID reader. In a transmitting mode the controllers selectively change the state of the tag antennas to transmit data via backscattering the radio frequency signals.
US08405507B2
A system and method for displaying merchandise item is presented. A merchandise display system includes a display cabinet, an alarm unit and a key extension device. The display cabinet can display several different kinds of merchandise items. The alarm unit generates an alarm when one of the merchandise items is removed from a predetermined distance from the display cabinet. The key extension device can be mounted on the display cabinet away from the alarm unit to allow an electronic key to be inserted into the key extension devise to control the alarm unit.
US08405503B2
A contact or proximity network map defines who and what objects have come in contact of each other including location and time. This map selects the list people who have come in contact with known infected people based on contagious disease epidemiology criteria for the purpose of control its spread, or to prevent radiation poisoning, limit bio-chemicals exposure, etc. This selected list of people then undergoes testing and quarantine procedures. It can monitor hygiene practices and reduce nosocomial infections in hospitals and mitigate the pandemic flu threat by controlling spread and control contamination. It controls people interaction, information flow in a high security environment, control crime or gang activities. Each person or object has a proximity-sensing device with unique ID, which is recorded by the encountered units during contact. This information is stored with time stamp in a relational database. It generates contact maps with real time replication of its database via a central web database for retrieval and analysis at any site.
US08405496B2
Disclosed is a vehicle driver safety device that serves the purpose of helping and encouraging drivers to drive attentively and with alertness with a degree of vehicle control that adapts to driver experience, vehicle speed and road conditions. Should the unsafe habits persist the system warns nearby cars and officials and records the incidents for review by a parent or mentor to serve as a deterrent. The new and unique wheel watcher utilizes a steering wheel with sensor arrays that determine the number and position of the drivers hands on the wheel, a vehicle speed and road condition sensor to judge the degree of control that is appropriate, a clock/timer to determine the length a unsafe practice persists and a driver identification device that affects the degree of safety practices that are encouraged by the system. An internal alarm is provided to alert the driver to an unsafe condition and indicators such as lights grouped with the sensors alert the driver to the safe positions for their hands that will satisfy the system that the vehicle is under adequate control.
US08405495B2
A method and device for locating n wheels of a vehicle each equipped with an electronic module designed to emit, to a central unit, electromagnetic signals representative of operating parameters of each wheel and an identification code of the latter. There is, in a fixed position on the vehicle, in the vicinity of at least (n-1) wheels, a radio-tag in which is stored a location code, able to be identified by the central unit and enable the latter to locate the position of the radio-tag on the vehicle. In order to locate the wheels, an activation of each radio-tag is controlled so as to deliver to the central unit a signal incorporating the location code of this radio-tag associated with the identification code of the wheel located in the vicinity of the latter. The electromagnetic signals incorporate a final portion consisting of a pure wave, and the activation of the radio-tags is done so as to insert the location codes into the electromagnetic signals by modulating the absorption/reflection of the pure waves.
US08405488B1
A system and method is provided for encoding and decoding control signals to an electronic ballast. An encoding circuit is effective to transmit encoded control signals across an AC power line comprising patterns of energy bursts at zero crossings of an AC signal. Eight zero crossings define a set, five specific patterns of energy bursts within a set define distinct symbols, each defined symbol selected such that a Hamming distance between each symbol is greater than three. Four symbols correspond to a first logic condition and one symbol corresponds to a second logic condition. Each received symbol is sequentially associated with a distinct control channel having one or more control parameters. A receiving circuit in the ballast is effective to decode symbols with single-bit error correction by comparing received symbols to defined symbols and determining which symbol is a smallest Hamming distance from a received symbol.
US08405486B2
In wireless electric power transmission and reception, the efficiency of transmission and reception is improved and a device to which electric power can be supplied is specified to improve security.Two antennas with different resonance frequencies are provided, and the resonance frequencies of a reception loop and a reception coil of a receiver are corrected in accordance with a reception status of a carrier transmitted from a transmitter to improve the efficiency of transmission and reception. Further, data transmitted from the transmitter are demodulated on the basis of the reception levels of two antennas with different resonance frequencies, and the data are transmitted to the transmitter using a reflective wave to perform data transmission and reception. By using this, device authentication is performed, and security is improved.
US08405479B1
A magnet structure is provided that includes a first layer of magnets including a first pole magnet and a plurality of first magnets that are positioned about the first pole magnet. The plurality of first magnets are oriented to have respective magnetic fields directed inward relative to the first pole magnet. The magnet structure may also include a second layer of magnets including a second pole magnet and a plurality of second magnets positioned about the second pole magnet and oriented such that the plurality of second magnets have respective magnetic fields directed outward relative to the second pole magnet. The magnet structure may also include a planar magnet positioned between the first and second layers of magnets and oriented such that the planar magnet repels each of the first and second layers of magnets. A magnet assembly and an associated method are also provided.
US08405478B1
A magnetic core including (i) a first magnetic material having a first magnetic permeability to substantially provide a core body of the magnetic core, and (ii) a second magnetic material having a substantially triangular structure positioned in a corner region of the core body. The corner region is defined by a region of the core body where a first portion of the core body coincides with a second portion of the core body in a manner that is substantially perpendicular. The second magnetic material is used to substantially evenly distribute magnetic flux in the magnetic core, and the second magnetic material has a second magnetic permeability that is lower than the first magnetic permeability.
US08405476B2
A relay with multiple contacts includes a coil assembly and a contact assembly. The contact assembly includes at least one base having at least two slots defined therein and at least two bridge members respectively received in the at least two slots. Each bridge member has at least two terminal portions respectively formed thereon. Each terminal portion has a movable contact mounted thereon. At least one connector has at least two fixed contacts mounted thereon. Each fixed contact selectively connects with the corresponding movable contact. A first conducting member and a second conducting member are located between the coil assembly and the contact assembly. The first conducting member has at least one first fixed contact for selectively connecting with the corresponding movable contact. The second conducting member has at least one second fixed contact for selectively connecting with the corresponding movable contact.
US08405471B2
In the present invention, a novel multi-port microwave circuit, also known as a multiple bi-directional circulator, is designed based upon the basis of the EBG characteristic of the meta-materials. Firstly, the concept of the traditional single-layered mushroom structure is extended with the suspending microstrip line to the multi-layered structure. In this way, the multi-layered structure can reveal multi-band EBG characteristic and achieve miniaturization. Moreover, we use three sets of proposed dual-band EBG circuit to be series-connected in a ring-type structure. By using proper impedance matching, the design of the multiple bi-directional circulator is accomplished. It combines the capabilities of the diplexer, the duplexer and the circulator. The triplex bi-directional circulator can integrate three kinds of communication systems with each other, which operates at frequencies comprising GSM 1800 MHz, WiFi 2.45 GHz, and WiMAX 3.5 GHz, respectively. It is suitable for the information integration of multi-band and multi-system communication applications.
US08405470B2
A diplexing apparatus and method which utilizes composite right/left-handed (CRLH) phase-advance/delay lines combined with a coupler. By engineering CRLH-based transmission lines with desired phase responses at two arbitrary frequencies of interest, the connected CRLH delay line and/or CRLH coupler are excited in a manner such that signals at designated frequencies are separated to the corresponding output ports of the hybrid coupler. Benefits of the apparatus include elimination of design complexities such as optimization of the interconnection junctions and the harmonic spurious suppression involved in conventional filter-based diplexers. In addition, channel isolation is beneficially achieved from the isolation property of directional couplers. Measured insertion loss on the implementations was found to be less than 1 dB, with isolation greater than 20 dB in the dual bands. A high level of agreement was observed between simulated and measured results.
US08405466B2
Compact electro-mechanical impedance tuners for frequencies as low as 1 MHz use the concept of a cylindrical transmission line with the signal conductor being a spiral wire wound around a metallic cylinder and separated from it by a layer of dielectric material. A conductive wheel is running over the spiral wire and, as the cylinder rotates, the transmission phase between one terminal of the spiral wire and the wheel changes. By connecting a rotating parallel plate variable capacitor to the wheel creates an impedance tuner, capable of generating high reflection factors at very low frequencies at any area of the Smith chart. By cascading two or more such tuners allows tuning at harmonic frequencies at the rate of one frequency per tuner section. The reduction in size comparing with traditional transmission line tuners is of the order of 150:1.
US08405460B2
Integrated circuits with amplification circuitry are provided. The amplification circuitry may have an input terminal, an output terminal, a positive power supply terminal, and a ground terminal. The amplification circuitry may include first, second, and third stages. The first stage may provide biasing for the second stage. The second stage may provide biasing for the third stage. The second stage may provide paths for conveying an input signal from the input terminal to the third stage. The second stage may bias the amplifier to have low quiescent current and low shoot-through current. The second stage may prevent PVT variations such as supply voltage variations from affecting the quiescent current and shoot-through current of the amplifier. To increase the high-frequency response of the amplifier, capacitors may be added to the paths for conveying the input signal from the input terminal to the third stage.
US08405455B2
An amplifier circuit and method are described for linearizing the gain of a voltage or current feedback amplifier that is non-linear.
US08405450B2
A charge pump including first and a second charge-pump stages electrically coupled, four pump capacitors connected between two enable terminals and four internal nodes, two pump transistors connected to the pump capacitors and to the internal nodes, and having respective control terminals, two biasing capacitors, connected between the control terminals and the enable terminals, and an equalization circuit connected between the control terminals and structured to limit the voltage between the control terminals within a first range of values.
US08405443B2
A pass transistor circuit according to an embodiment includes: a first input/output terminal connected to a first signal line; a second input/output terminal connected to a second signal line; a first device having a first terminal connected to a first power supply and a second terminal; a second device having a third terminal connected to the second terminal and a fourth terminal connected to a second power supply; a first transistor having one of source/drain connected to the second terminal, a gate receiving a first control signal; and a second transistor having a gate connected to the other one of source/drain of the first transistor, one of source/drain connected to the first input/output terminal, and the other one of source/drain connected to the second input/output terminal. One of the first and second devices is a nonvolatile memory device, the other one of the first and second devices is a MOSFET.
US08405426B2
A method and apparatus to serialize parallel data input values is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of serializing parallel data input values includes receiving multiple data input values in parallel at an input tier of a selection circuit, where the input tier includes multiple combinatorial gate multiplexers. The method further includes selecting an output value at an output tier of the selection circuit, where the output tier includes at least one combinatorial gate multiplexer.
US08405425B2
Low-power routing multiplexers that reduce static and dynamic power consumption are provided. A variety of different techniques are used to reduce power consumption of the routing multiplexers without significantly increasing their size. For example, power consumption of the routing multiplexers may be reduced by reducing short-circuit currents, reducing leakage currents, limiting voltage swing, and recycling charge within the multiplexer. Multiple power reduction techniques may be combined into a single routing multiplexer design. Low-power routing multiplexers may also be designed to operate in selectable modes, such as, a high-speed, high-power mode and a low-speed, low-power mode.
US08405416B2
A probe includes a wire and a bump, wherein the wire is formed on a substrate; and the bump is formed upon the wire. In addition, a probe block includes a plurality of probes disposed on a substrate, so that the probe block is composed of a plurality of wires and bumps. The wires are disposed on the substrate and each bump is disposed accurately upon an end of each wire. The bump and the wire of the probe in accordance with the present invention are formed jointlessly. A method of fabricating the probe is characterized in that a grayscale mask is utilized to form the wire on the substrate and form the bump upon the wire by using a single masking process.
US08405414B2
A wafer testing system and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the wafer testing system includes an assembly for releaseably attaching a wafer to a wafer translator and the wafer translator to an interposer by means of separately operable vacuums, or pressure differentials. The assembly includes a wafer translator support ring coupled to the wafer translator, wherein a first flexible material extends from the wafer translator support ring so as to enclose the space between the wafer translator and the interposer so that the space may be evacuated by a first vacuum through one or more first evacuation paths. The assembly can further include a wafer support ring coupled to the wafer and the chuck, wherein a second flexible material extends from wafer support ring so as to enclose the space between the wafer and the wafer translator so that the space may be evacuated by a second vacuum through one or more second evacuation pathways.
US08405411B2
A method for controlling an induction apparatus having an induction coil. In one implementation the induction apparatus includes a capacitor that is connected in parallel with the induction coil to form a parallel resonant circuit, and also includes a switch connected in series with the parallel resonant circuit, between the parallel resonant circuit and a reference voltage. According to one method, a digital test signal dependent on the voltage in a node disposed between the switch and the parallel resonant circuit is generated, the switch is closed for a predetermined closure time and then reopened at the end of the closure time. With the switch reopened, the test signal is evaluated for a predetermined waiting time in order to determine the presence or absence of a vessel on the induction coil.
US08405404B2
An assembly (1) for detecting an electric discontinuity that includes an exciter (6) connected, via at least one capacitor, to two contacts (2, 3) normally connected between them by an electrically conducting member (4). The circuit outside the exciter defines a resonating circuit having an impedance that changes upon the opening of one of the contacts. The frequency of the detection circuit, which varies between two values corresponding to the two open or closed states of the contacts, is used by an electronic processing module (8) that generates a dysfunctional signal upon opening of one of the contacts. The invention can be used in numerous fields, such as transport, handling, storage, etc.
US08405400B2
A device for detecting interruptions in a ring bus has a first interface configured so that it permits connection of a first free end of a line of the ring bus so that the device transmits data to bus elements of the ring bus via the first interface, a second interface configured so that it permits connection of the second free end of the line of the ring bus, and the device detects a creeping interruption of the line of the ring bus.
US08405399B2
A system for estimating parameters of a fuel cell stack. The system includes a stack health monitor for monitoring minimum cell voltage, stack voltage and current density of the fuel cell stack. The stack health monitor also indicates when a predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold level has been achieved. The system further includes a controller configured to control the fuel cell stack, where the controller determines and records the average fuel cell voltage. The controller generates and stores artificial data points proximate to the one or more predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold levels each time the minimum cell voltage drops below the one or more predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold levels so as to provide an estimation of the fuel cell stack parameters including a minimum cell voltage trend and a minimum cell voltage polarization curve.
US08405397B2
An apparatus and method for reducing an electric current leakage in a logging tool, particularly relating to reducing electric current leakage by altering a phase difference between a biasing element and an electric current produced by a first power source. The apparatus may include one or more measure electrodes for imparting electric current into a formation, a current meter, at least one current return electrode, a controller, and a biasing element. The method includes adjusting a phase angle difference between the current leaving the measure electrode and a biasing signal applied to the biasing element from a second power source to reduce the current leakage of the apparatus.
US08405395B2
A method for multi-slice magnetic resonance imaging, in which image data is acquired simultaneously from multiple slice locations using a radio frequency coil array, is provided. By way of example, a modified EPI pulse sequence is provided, and includes a series of magnetic gradient field “blips” that are applied along a slice-encoding direction contemporaneously with phase-encoding blips common to EPI sequences. The slice-encoding blips are designed such that phase accruals along the phase-encoding direction are substantially mitigated, while providing that signal information for each sequentially adjacent slice location is cumulatively shifted by a percentage of the imaging FOV. This percentage FOV shift in the image domain provides for more reliable separation of the aliased signal information using parallel image reconstruction methods such as SENSE. In addition, the mitigation of phase accruals in the phase-encoding direction provides for the substantial suppression of pixel tilt and blurring in the reconstructed images.
US08405384B1
A non-contact tachometer and sensor system comprises a signal processor module, a sensor module communicably coupled to the signal processor module via a first coaxial cable over which the sensor module sends signals to the signal processing module, and a second coaxial cable communicably coupled to the signal processor module which sends a timed pulse train in which each pulse corresponds to at least one of: a revolutions per minute of an engine, and a valid ignition/injector pulse.
US08405371B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes a driving mechanism coupled to an output node (VREG), wherein the driving mechanism is configured to provide current to the output node to sustain a predetermined voltage on the output node. In addition, the voltage regulator includes a boost circuit coupled to the output node, wherein the boost circuit is configured to drive an additional current onto the output node to reduce fluctuations in the output node voltage when a load coupled to the output node requires a transient switching current that is faster than the loop response time of the driving mechanism. Furthermore, the boost circuit is biased using a self-tracking mechanism to provide accurate duration and level of the current to the output node in a transient switching event.
US08405369B1
A voltage regulator is operated by determining whether a desired output current is below a threshold, and when the desired output current is below the threshold, generating a sequence of current pulses in a discontinuous current mode. A maximum current of the pulses is a function of the desired output current.
US08405353B2
A controller 10 suitable for controlling a bath lift. The controller 10 includes a rechargeable unit 12 and a first protection unit 14 which measures the voltage and current provided by the rechargeable unit 12. The first protection unit 14 prevents connection to the bath lift when the voltage of the rechargeable unit falls below a lower predetermined limit. A second protection unit 20 is also provided which measures the voltage from the rechargeable unit 12 and detects whether the voltage has fallen below an upper predetermined voltage, and if the voltage has dropped below this level downward movement of the bath lift is not permitted.
US08405348B2
A charging circuit includes a battery pack provided with one or more secondary batteries and a battery charger for charging the secondary batteries, the battery pack being detachably attachable to the battery charger. The charging circuit further includes a control unit for performing a charging control, a monitoring unit for detecting charged voltage of the secondary batteries to determine completion of charging, a storage unit storing charging data for use in the charging control of the control unit and determination of the charging completion of the monitoring unit and a changing unit for changing the charging data. The monitoring unit and the storage unit are arranged in the battery pack, and the changing unit and the control unit are arranged in the battery charger.
US08405339B2
A system and method for detecting a rotor fault condition in an AC induction machine is disclosed. The system includes a processor programmed to receive voltage and current data from an AC induction machine, generate a current frequency spectrum from the current data, and identify rotor-fault related harmonics in the current frequency spectrum. The processor is also programmed to calculate a fault severity indicator using the voltage and current data, identified rotor-fault related harmonics, and motor specifications, analyze the fault severity indicator to determine a possibility of rotor fault. The processor generates an alert based on the possibility of rotor fault.
US08405338B2
The invention discloses a method for controlling an electric drive that drives reels of a slitter in the paper machine. In the method at least speed and acceleration/deceleration of a slitter is controlled. According to the invention a limit value of the electric drive is defined in the method, values of at least two or more parameters effecting to the electric drive is monitored, a reference value of the acceleration/deceleration is defined on the basis of at least two parameters, and the electric drive is controlled so that the acceleration/deceleration corresponds to the highest possible reference value, by which the reference value of the acceleration/deceleration defined on the basis of any parameter is not exceeded, and that the limit value of the electric drive is not exceeded.
US08405337B2
A door position control including an electric door actuator having a motor and a motor controller in communication with a system controller. A motor actuation operation is selected from a plurality of predetermined motor actuation operations to provide control signals to the motor controller for controlling actuation of the motor for control of door movement. Control of door movement is effected with reference to parameters specific to an installation location including an angular sweep of the door between open and closed positions and with reference to an available bus voltage for supplying power to the motor.
US08405336B2
A wiper is pivotably supported and is swung by a drive force of an electric motor. When a command, which commands execution of one of high and low speed modes, is entered through a wiper switch in the middle of operation of the wiper in another one of the high and low speed modes, a control unit controls an electric motor such that a moving speed of the wiper, which is preset for the another one of the high and low speed modes, is changed to the moving speed of the wiper, which is preset for the one of the high and low speed modes, during a time period of executing a predetermined number of swings of the wiper between an upper return position and a lower return position upon entering of the command through the wiper switch means.
US08405334B2
A motor driving circuit is applied to a motor unit, a pushrod unit, and a load unit. The motor unit is driven by the motor driving circuit. The pushrod unit is driven by the motor unit to lengthen or shorten. The load unit is pushed by the pushrod unit. A relay unit of the motor driving circuit is provided to brake the motor unit, thus raising the self-locking force of the motor unit when the pushrod unit lengthens to the maximum length or shortens to the minimum length, or the power supply is cut off.
US08405320B2
The present invention provides a transistor switch on a light emitting device channel, the transistor switch receiving a control voltage VG. A current source circuit controls the current on the light emitting device channel, the current source circuit requiring a minimum voltage VR for normal operation. The present invention further provides a dynamic headroom controller circuit which compares a voltage VS at a current outflow end of the transistor switch with the voltage VR to determine the relationship between the voltage VS and the voltage VR when the control voltage VG is higher than a reference voltage VH, and adjusts the voltage difference between the voltage VS and the voltage VR accordingly.
US08405319B2
Various embodiments of a universal dimmer are disclosed. In one embodiment of a universal dimmer, a power limiting switch is connected to an input voltage. An output driver in the universal dimmer includes a power input and a load path, with the power input being connected to the input voltage. A variable pulse generator includes a control input and a pulse output, with the control input connected to a control input of the power limiting switch. The pulse output is connected to a control input of the power limiting switch. The variable pulse generator is adapted to effectively vary a duty cycle at the pulse output. The universal dimmer also includes a load current detector having an input and an output. The load current detector input is connected to the output driver load path. The load current detector output is connected to the variable pulse generator control input. The variable pulse generator and the load current detector are adapted to limit the effective duty cycle when a load current reaches a maximum current limit to substantially prevent the load current from exceeding the maximum current limit.
US08405317B2
The present invention primarily relates to a method for initiating and controlling a lighting equipment by detecting and determining through an algorithm whether a flicker of light may occur during the period of initiating or dimming the lighting equipment. The method further calculates to obtain a current compensation ratio that the current level need be elevated to prevent the occurrence of flicker and performs a real-time compensation for the electrical current, when necessary. The method according to the invention will initiate the lighting equipment at an electrical current level used during a previous stable operation of the lighting equipment, so as to further prevent the occurrence of flicker of light during the initiation of the lighting equipment and achieve the energy saving purpose.
US08405304B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a light emitting diode disposed on a substrate to emit light of a first wavelength. A transparent molding part encloses the LED, a lower wavelength conversion material layer is disposed on the transparent molding part, and an upper wavelength conversion material layer is disposed on the lower wavelength conversion material layer. The lower wavelength conversion material layer contains a phosphor converting the light of the first wavelength into light of a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, and the upper wavelength conversion material layer contains a phosphor converting the light of the first wavelength into light of a third wavelength, which is longer than the first wavelength but shorter than the second wavelength. Light produced via wavelength conversion is prevented from being lost by the phosphor. Light emitting devices including a multilayer reflection mirror are also disclosed.
US08405302B2
A light emitting apparatus includes a transparent substrate made of glass material, for example, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate, a light emitting functional layer including organic material formed on the first electrode layer, a back surface electrode made of metallic material, for example, as a second electrode layer formed on the light emitting functional layer, and dot-shaped conductors arranged on the first electrode layer. The dot-shaped conductors made of low electric resistivity material are arranged at the first electrode layer. The combined resistance value of the transparent electrode and the plurality of dot-shaped conductors becomes lower than the resistance value of the transparent electrode alone. Therefore, voltage drop occurred at the transparent electrode can be effectively suppressed.
US08405298B2
Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed.
US08405297B2
An illumination device and a manufacture method thereof are provided. The illumination device includes a base, an illumination chip, and a sealant. The illumination chip is disposed on the base while the sealant covers the illumination chip. The sealant has an outer surface which includes an inner circular convex and an outer circular convex surrounding the inner circular convex. The inner circular convex encloses a space with a narrow bottom and a wide opening. The illumination chip is disposed within a projective area of the inner circular convex. A part of the light emitted from the illumination chip is directly reflected from the inner circular convex to the outer circular convex and directly leaves the sealant from the outer circular convex.
US08405267B2
An apparatus to operate with a rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnetic components and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. The permanent magnetic components are arranged to surround the rotor. The hydraulic cylinders are coupled to permanent magnetic components and are connected via at least one hydraulic tube.
US08405248B2
This invention is generally concerned with power supply circuits, and more particularly, with circuits to supply power to a mains supply, such as domestic grid mains, from a photovoltaic device. A photovoltaic power conditioning circuit for providing power from a photovoltaic device to an alternating current mains power supply line, the circuit comprising: a DC input to receive DC power from said photovoltaic device; an AC output configured for direct connection to said AC mains power supply line; a DC-to-AC converter coupled to said DC input and to said AC output to convert DC power from said photovoltaic device to AC power for output onto said power supply line; and an electronic controller directly coupled to said power supply line to measure a voltage of said power supply line and a current in said supply line and to control said DC-to-AC converter responsive to said measuring.
US08405247B2
A method of assembling a motor stall correction system includes coupling an inverter-based electric power generation device to an electric power inverter assembly. The method also includes coupling the electric power inverter assembly to at least one induction motor. The method further includes operatively coupling at least one controller to the electric power inverter assembly. The controller is programmed to transmit electric current from the inverter-based electric power generation device to the electric power inverter assembly. The controller is also programmed to transmit real current and reactive current from the electric power inverter assembly to the induction motor. The controller is further programmed to modulate the real current and the reactive current as a function of at least one of an electric power grid frequency and an electric power grid voltage.
US08405236B2
This Generator utilizes waters motion rotating NdFeB rotorblades within aluminum trapezoidal bars to generate electricity. The generator includes a moving magnetic field, wherein magnetic neodymium-iron-boron's embedded in turbine blades uniformly, with alternating polarity, circumferentially distributed about central axis drive shaft. The generator includes rotational speed controlled by secondary internally sourced electricity created by additional coils forming an internal generator fixed to the driveshaft independent of the turbine blades. Stationary Aluminum bars are induced to electrical conducting by internal movement of the magnetic field on the center axis and through aluminum bars, whereby the magnetic field cuts across the electrical conducting means in a uniform direction when the magnetic field is rotated, inducing a unidirectional electric signal in the Aluminum conductor bars thus completing the field. Electrical current is transferred from the exterior shell by means of electrical wire connected to the circuit path of the bars.
US08405233B2
A flexible barrier film has a thickness of from greater than zero to less than 5,000 nanometers and a water vapor transmission rate of no more than 1×10−2 g/m2/day at 22° C. and 47% relative humidity. The flexible barrier film is formed from a composition, which comprises a multi-functional acrylate. The composition further comprises the reaction product of an alkoxy-functional organometallic compound and an alkoxy-functional organosilicon compound. A method of forming the flexible barrier film includes the steps of disposing the composition on a substrate and curing the composition to form the flexible barrier film. The flexible barrier film may be utilized in organic electronic devices.
US08405231B2
Semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof, and manufacturing method of semiconductor module
An improvement is achieved in the mounting reliability of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor chip is mounted over an upper surface of a wiring substrate. A plurality of solder balls are disposed individually over a plurality of lands formed on a lower surface of the wiring substrate. The plural lands include a first land group arranged in a plurality of rows and arranged along a peripheral edge portion of the lower surface of the wiring substrate, and a second land group arranged inside the first land group in the lower surface of the wiring substrate. The lands in the first land group are arranged with a first pitch, and the lands in the second land group are arranged with a second pitch higher than the first pitch.
US08405230B2
A flip chip lead frame package includes a die and a lead frame having a die paddle and leads, and has a spacer to maintain a separation between the die and the die paddle. Also, methods for making the package are disclosed.
US08405226B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including forming a micro-chip comprising a thinned-wafer having one or more components fabricated thereon disposed between a carrier and a semiconductor chip, the micro-chip being electrically connected to the semiconductor chip under a higher consumption macro of the semiconductor chip and including a thickness which is less than a thickness of the semiconductor chip, forming an interconnect between the semiconductor chip and the carrier, forming an interconnect between the micro-chip and the semiconductor chip, and forming an interconnect between the micro-chip and the carrier. The micro-chip includes a thinned micro-chip having a thickness of less than 20 microns and the semiconductor chip includes plural semiconductor chips formed as a chip stack. The micro-chip includes a plurality of micro-chips formed on the plural semiconductor chips, such that the semiconductor device is a three-dimensional integrated circuit.
US08405221B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including: an input terminal receiving, if a preceding-stage semiconductor device is layered on a predetermined one of an upper layer and a lower layer, a bit train outputted from the preceding-stage semiconductor device; a semiconductor device identifier hold block holding a semiconductor device identifier for uniquely identifying the semiconductor device; a semiconductor device identifier computation block executing computation by using the semiconductor device identifier to update the semiconductor device identifier held in the semiconductor device identifier hold block according to a result of the computation; a control block once holding data of a bit train entered from the input terminal to control updating of the semiconductor device identifier executed by the semiconductor device identifier computation block based on the held data; and an output terminal outputting the bit train held in the control block to a succeeding-stage semiconductor device layered on another layer.
US08405219B2
A semiconductor device, includes a substrate, a multi-layer wiring layer formed on the substrate, and including a signal line and ground lines extending above the signal line, one of the ground lines extending toward a direction in a predetermined layer and another one of the ground lines extending from the one of the ground lines toward another direction in the predetermined layer, a first pad on the multi-layer wiring layer, a redistribution layer formed on the multi-layer wiring layer, including a second pad, a redistribution line coupling the first and second pads, and an insulation film covering the redistribution line, the redistribution line extending above the ground lines along the one of the ground lines and not extending along the another one of the ground lines. The insulation film includes a hole exposing the second pad above an end portion of the one of the ground lines.
US08405217B2
The present invention concerns a methods and compositions for preparing a multi layer composite device, such as a semiconductor device.Said method comprises (A) forming a dielectric layer on the surface of a composite material by bringing said surface into contact: a) either with a solution, comprising the diazonium salt of aniline, a diazonium salt bearing at least one functional group or an amine compound of formula H2N-A-X—Z as defined in claim 1: b) or with a first solution containing an aryl diazonium salt and successively a second solution containing a compound bearing at least one functional group and bearing at least one functional group capable of reacting with the aryl radical grafted on the surface of the composite material thanks to the aryl diazonium salt; (B) forming an overlayer on said surface of said composite material obtained in step (A), said overlayer consisting of a Si-containing dielectric Cu-Etch Stop Layer and/or copper diffusion barrier.
US08405208B2
The semiconductor device has the CSP structure, and includes: a plurality of electrode pads formed on a semiconductor integrated circuit in order to input/output signals from/to exterior; solder bumps for making external lead electrodes; and rewiring. The solder bumps are arranged in two rows along the periphery of the semiconductor device. The electrode pads are arranged inside the outermost solder bumps so as to be interposed between the two rows of solder bumps. Each trace of the rewiring is extended from an electrode pad, and is connected to any one of the outermost solder bumps or any one of the inner solder bumps.
US08405206B1
A semiconductor module includes a module housing, at least one substrate, a number N of at least two controllable power semiconductor chips arranged inside the module housing and one after another in a lateral direction, a single main load terminal arranged outside the module housing and electrically connected to the first main electrodes, and an auxiliary terminal arranged outside the module housing and electrically connected to the first main electrodes via an auxiliary terminal connecting conductor.
US08405200B2
An electronic-component-housing package comprises a container including a rectangular mount on which an electronic component is to be mounted and a sidewall surrounding the mount. The electronic-component-housing package comprises a lead terminal extending from an inside of a space enclosed by the sidewall to an outside of the space. A tip part of the lead terminal is extending along one side of the mount.
US08405197B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a first stack layer including a first device over a first substrate, the first device including a through silicon via; configuring a second stack layer over the first stack layer, the second stack layer including an analog device; configuring a third stack layer over the second stack layer; and encapsulating the integrated circuit packaging system.
US08405195B2
An arrangement comprising: at least one power semiconductor module and a transport packaging. The power semiconductor module has a base element, a housing and connection elements. The transport packaging has a cover layer, an interlayer with a respective cutout assigned to the power semiconductor module, and a cover film. The cover layer is generally planar, and has a first main surface facing the power semiconductor module. The interlayer is arranged on the first main surface of the cover layer. The power semiconductor module is arranged in the cutout, on the first main surface of the cover layer, wherein the base element of the power semiconductor module is disposed on the first main surface of the cover layer. The cover film bears on and covers substantial parts of the housing of the power semiconductor module. The cover film is connected to the first main surface of the interlayer.
US08405188B2
An upper electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor has a first layer formed of a first oxide expressed by a chemical formula AOx1 (A: metal, O: oxygen) using a stoichiometric composition parameter x1, and expressed by a chemical formula AOx2 using a actual composition parameter x2, and a second layer formed of a second oxide, formed on the first layer, expressed by a chemical formula BOy1 (B: metal) using a stoichiometric composition parameter y1 and expressed by a chemical formula BOy2 using a actual composition parameter y2, which includes at least one of stone-wall crystal and column crystal.
US08405184B2
A trench Schottky diode and its manufacturing method are provided. The trench Schottky diode includes a semiconductor substrate having therein a plurality of trenches, a gate oxide layer, a polysilicon structure, a guard ring and an electrode. At first, the trenches are formed in the semiconductor substrate by an etching step. Then, the gate oxide layer and the polysilicon structure are formed in the trenches and protrude above a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The guard ring is formed to cover a portion of the resultant structure. At last, the electrode is formed above the guard ring and the other portion not covered by the guard ring. The protruding gate oxide layer and the protruding polysilicon structure can avoid cracks occurring in the trench structure.
US08405183B2
An electronic structure includes a first area having silicon grains having a size smaller than 100 micrometers and a second area superposed to the first area and having silicon grains having a size greater than or equal to 100 micrometers. The first and second areas form a support. At least one layer of an epitaxial semiconductor material is disposed on the second area.
US08405176B2
Disclosed is a phosphorus paste for diffusion that is used in continuous printing of a phosphorus paste for diffusion on a substrate by screen printing. The phosphorus paste for diffusion does not undergo a significant influence of ambient humidity on viscosity and has no possibility of thickening even after a large number of times of continuous printing. The phosphorus paste for diffusion is coated on a substrate by screen printing for diffusion layer formation on the substrate. The phosphorus paste for diffusion includes a doping agent containing phosphorus as a dopant for the diffusion layer, a thixotropic agent containing an organic binder and a solid matter, and an organic solvent. The doping agent is an organic phosphorus compound.
US08405172B2
A semiconductor device excellent in the magnetic shielding effect of blocking off external magnetic fields is provided. The semiconductor device includes: an interlayer insulating film so formed as to cover a switching element formed over a main surface of a semiconductor substrate; a flat plate-like lead wiring; a coupling wiring coupling the lead wiring and the switching element with each other; and a magnetoresistive element including a magnetization free layer the orientation of magnetization of which is variable and formed over the lead wiring. The semiconductor device has a wiring and another wiring through which the magnetization state of the magnetization free layer can be varied. In a memory cell area where multiple magnetoresistive elements are arranged, a first high permeability film arranged above the magnetoresistive elements is extended from the memory cell area up to a peripheral area that is an area other than the memory cell area.
US08405164B2
A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor body having a top surface and laterally opposite sidewalls is formed on an insulating substrate. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the top surface of the semiconductor body and on the laterally opposite sidewalls of the semiconductor body. A gate electrode is formed on the gate dielectric on the top surface of the semiconductor body and is formed adjacent to the gate dielectric on the laterally opposite sidewalls of the semiconductor body. A thin film is then formed adjacent to the semiconductor body wherein the thin film produces a stress in the semiconductor body.
US08405161B2
Driving device for unit pixel of organic light emitting display and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a driving device for a unit pixel of an organic light emitting display having an improved structure and a method of manufacturing the same.
US08405158B2
A semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same, the device including string structures, the string structures including two or more adjacent string selection transistors connected in series to each other in a first direction and being spaced apart from one another in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the two or more string selection transistors having different threshold voltages; string selection lines, the string selection lines connecting the adjacent string selection transistors of the string structures in the second direction; and a bit line electrically connecting two or more adjacent string structures, wherein a device isolation layer between the adjacent string selection transistors in the second direction has recessed regions, and profiles of the recessed regions on respective sides of the string selection transistors are different from each other.
US08405153B2
A semiconductor device includes an active region formed in a substrate; an isolation structure formed to surround the active region; and one or more dummy regions formed between the active region and the isolation structure to extend integrally from the active region.
US08405145B2
A gate trench 13 is formed in a semiconductor substrate 10. The gate trench 13 is provided with a gate electrode 16 formed over a gate insulating film 14. A portion of the gate electrode 16 protrudes from the semiconductor substrate 10, and a sidewall 24 is formed over a side wall portion of the protruding portion. A body trench 25 is formed in alignment with an adjacent gate electrode 16. A cobalt silicide film 28 is formed over a surface of the gate electrode 16 and over a surface of the body trench 25. A plug 34 is formed using an SAC technique.
US08405144B2
A semiconductor device with vertical current flow includes a body having a substrate made of semiconductor material. At least one electrical contact on a first face of the body. A metallization structure is formed on a second face of the body, opposite to the first face. The metallization structure is provided with metal vias, which project from the second face within the substrate so as to form a high-conductivity path in parallel with portions of said substrate.
US08405143B2
A semiconductor device including a substrate, a gate structure, a spacer and source/drain regions is provided. The gate structure is on the substrate, wherein the gate structure includes, from bottom to top, a high-k layer, a work function metal layer, a wetting layer and a metal layer. The spacer is on a sidewall of the gate structure. The source/drain regions are in the substrate beside the gate structure.
US08405139B2
Disclosure is semiconductor device of a selective gate region, comprising a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a first electrode layer formed on the first insulating layer, an element isolating region comprising an element isolating insulating film formed to extend through the first electrode layer and the first insulating film to reach an inner region of the semiconductor layer, the element isolating region isolating a element region and being self-aligned with the first electrode layer, a second insulating film formed on the first electrode layer and the element isolating region, an open portion exposing a surface of the first electrode layer being formed in the second insulating film, and a second electrode layer formed on the second insulating film and the exposed surface of the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer being electronically connected to the first electrode layer via the open portion.
US08405135B2
The present invention provides a 3D via capacitor and a method for forming the same. The capacitor includes an insulating layer on a substrate. The insulating layer has a via having sidewalls and a bottom. A first electrode overlies the sidewalls and at least a portion of the bottom of the via. A first high-k dielectric material layer overlies the first electrode. A first conductive plate is over the first high-k dielectric material layer. A second high-k dielectric material layer overlies the first conductive plate and leaves a remaining portion of the via unfilled. A second electrode is formed in the remaining portion of the via. The first conductive plate is substantially parallel to the first electrode and is not in contact with the first and second electrodes. An array of such 3D via capacitors is also provided.
US08405134B2
The output voltage of an MRAM is increased by means of an Fe(001)/MgO(001)/Fe(001) MTJ device, which is formed by microfabrication of a sample prepared as follows: A single-crystalline MgO (001) substrate is prepared. An epitaxial Fe(001) lower electrode (a first electrode) is grown on a MgO(001) seed layer at room temperature, followed by annealing under ultrahigh vacuum. A MgO(001) barrier layer is epitaxially formed on the Fe(001) lower electrode (the first electrode) at room temperature, using a MgO electron-beam evaporation. A Fe(001) upper electrode (a second electrode) is then formed on the MgO(001) barrier layer at room temperature. This is successively followed by the deposition of a Co layer on the Fe(001) upper electrode (the second electrode). The Co layer is provided so as to increase the coercive force of the upper electrode in order to realize an antiparallel magnetization alignment.
US08405122B2
An insulated gate semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, channel regions, floating regions, an emitter region, a body region, a hole stopper layer, and an emitter electrode. The channel regions and the floating regions are repeatedly arranged such that at least one floating region is located between adjacent channel regions. The emitter region and the body region are located in a surface portion of each channel region. The body region is deeper than the emitter region. The hole stopper layer is located in each floating region to divide the floating region into a first region and a second region. The emitter electrode is electrically connected to the emitter region and the first region.
US08405115B2
The present invention provides systems, devices and methods for fabricating miniature low-power light sensors. With the present invention, a light sensitive component, such as a diode, is fabricated on the front side of a silicon wafer. Connectivity from the front side of the wafer to the back side of the wafer is provided by a through silicon via. Solder bumps are then placed on the back side of the wafer to provide coupling to a printed circuit board. The techniques described in the present invention may also be applied to other types of semiconductor devices, such as light-emitting diodes, image sensors, pressure sensors, and flow sensors.
US08405110B2
A light emitting device package is provided which may prevent a Zener element mounted on an electrode from being positioned on an inclined plane of a cavity. The light emitting device package may include a light emitting device mounted on a first electrode, a Zener element mounted on a second electrode, and a body having cavity inclined planes that form a cavity on the first and second electrodes. The cavity inclined planes may include a first cavity inclined plane adjacent to the Zener element. The first cavity inclined plane may include an inclined plane forming a first inclination angle with respect to the second electrode and an interfacing plane forming a second inclination angle with respect to the second electrode, the second inclination angle being different from the first inclination angle.
US08405105B2
A light emitting device includes a carrier, a light emitting element disposed and electrically connected to the carrier, and a transparent plate disposed on the carrier and including a flat-portion and a lens-portion. The lens-portion covers the light emitting element and has a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The light emitting element is adapted to emit a beam. A first partial beam of the beam passes through the light incident surface and emerges from the light emitting surface. A second partial beam of the beam passes through the light incident surface and is transmitted to the first side surface or the second side surface, and the first side surface or the second side surface reflects at least a part of the second partial beam of the beam which then emerges from the light emitting surface.
US08405103B2
There is provided a photonic crystal light emitting device including: a light emitting structure including first and second conductivity type semiconductor layers and an active layer interposed therebetween; a transparent electrode layer formed on the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, the transparent electrode layer having a plurality of holes arranged with a predetermined size and period so as to form a photonic band gap for light emitted from the active layer, whereby the transparent electrode layer includes a photonic crystal structure; and first and second electrode electrically connected to the first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the transparent electrode layer, respectively. The photonic crystal light emitting device has a transparent electrode layer formed of a photonic crystal structure defined by minute holes, thereby improved in light extraction efficiency.
US08405102B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a support member and a light emitting structure on the support member and including a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer and an active layer interposed between the first and second conductive semiconductor layers, and the active layer includes at least one quantum well layer and at least one barrier layer, at least one potential barrier layer located between the first conductive semiconductor layer and a first quantum well layer, closest to the first conductive semiconductor layer, out of the at least one quantum well layer, and an undoped barrier layer formed between the at least one potential barrier layer and the first quantum well layer and having a thickness different from that of the at least one barrier layer. Thereby, brightness of the light emitting device is improved through effective diffusion of current.
US08405101B2
Provided are a semiconductor light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer divided in plurality on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer divided in plurality on the active layer.
US08405094B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and method of fabrication that includes a substrate having a device region, an outer dam region and an encapsulation region. The encapsulation region includes an inner dam region, an outer dam region and an encapsulation region that correspond to the device region. An encapsulation agent is formed in the encapsulation region of the encapsulation substrate, and filling dams are formed of the same material in the outer dam region and the inner dam region of the encapsulation substrate.
US08405092B2
A semiconductor device including a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode formed apart from each other over an insulating surface, an oxide semiconductor film including a region overlapping with the first gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a region overlapping with the second gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween, and a region overlapping with neither the first gate electrode nor the second gate electrode, and an insulating film covering the gate insulating film, the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, and the oxide semiconductor film, and being in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor film is provided.
US08405088B2
A thin film transistor includes a substrate, a buffer layer on the substrate, a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer, source and drain electrodes directly on the semiconductor layer, each of the source and drain electrodes including at least one hole therethrough, a gate insulating layer on the substrate, and a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer and corresponding to the semiconductor layer.
US08405084B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate main body, a polysilicon semiconductor layer on the substrate main body, a gate insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode and a pixel electrode on the gate insulating layer, the gate electrode and the pixel electrode each including a transparent conductive layer portion with a gate metal layer portion on the transparent conductive layer portion, and the pixel electrode including a light emitting area having the transparent conductive layer portion and a non-light emitting area having both the transparent conductive layer portion and the gate metal layer portion.
US08405077B2
Provided is a magnetic memory device and a method of forming the same. A first magnetic conductive layer is disposed on a substrate. A first tunnel barrier layer including a first metallic element and a first non-metallic element is disposed on the first magnetic conductive layer. A second magnetic conductive layer is disposed on the first tunnel barrier layer. A content of an isotope of the first metallic element having a non-zero nuclear spin quantum number is lower than a natural state.
US08405075B2
A method of forming an organic layer by using a liquid composition comprising a small molecule organic semiconductor material mixed in a ketone solvent. The liquid composition is deposited on a surface to form the organic layer. The ketone solvent may be an aromatic ketone solvent, such as a tetralone solvent. The organic semiconductor material may be cross-linkable to provide a cross-linked organic layer. The method can be used to make organic electronic devices, such as organic light emitting devices. In another aspect, the liquid composition comprises a small molecule organic semiconductor material mixed in an aromatic ether solvent. Also, provided are liquid compositions which can be used to make organic layers.
US08405072B2
An organic electro-luminescent display and a method of fabricating the same include an organic light emitting diode, a driving transistor which drives the organic light emitting diode, and a switching transistor which controls an operation of the driving transistor, wherein active layers of the switching and driving transistors are crystallized using silicides having different densities such that the active layer of the driving transistor has a larger grain size than the active layer of the switching layer.
US08405071B2
An organic semiconductor polymer and transistor are provided, the organic semiconductor polymer is represented by the following Chemical Formula (1)
US08405070B2
An object is to provide a light emitting element with low drive voltage which contains an organic compound and an inorganic compound. One feature of a light emitting element of the present invention is to include a layer containing a light emitting material between a pair of electrodes, in which the layer containing a light emitting material has a layer containing a carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1) and an inorganic compound which exhibits an electron accepting property to the carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1). With such a structure, the inorganic compound accepts electrons from the carbazole derivative, carriers are generated internally, and a drive voltage of the light emitting element can be reduced.
US08405061B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive line, a second conductive line, a cell unit, a silicon nitride film and a double-sidewall film. The first conductive line extends in a first direction. The second conductive line extends in a second direction crossing the first direction. The cell unit includes a phase-change film and a rectifier element connected in series with each other between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The silicon nitride film is formed on a side surface of the phase-change film. The double-sidewall film includes a silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film formed on a side surface of the rectifier element.
US08405059B2
Embodiments of the invention allow the operation of confocal microscopes with relatively open pinholes (e.g. 1 Airy unit) whilst still giving a significant XY resolution improvement. In addition axial (Z) discrimination or resolution may also be improved. This is achieved by splitting the emitted light path in an interferometric fashion. One of the split beams is then directed to an image transformation system, which may perform an image inversion which inverts at least one coordinate in image space. The transformed beam and the non-transformed beam are then recombined in an interferometric fashion (i.e. coherently added), which provides an interference effect resulting in increased resolution of the image. Where the embodiments are being used in a confocal application, the resulting combined beam can then be subject to a spatially discriminating means, such as a pinhole, or the like.
US08405058B2
Attenuating, while in a given situation, a person's emanated electromagnetic field and the person's scent or odor, by the person wearing article(s) of apparel that include an electromagnetically shielding fabric. The shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with a non-conductive fabric. The conductive fibers attenuate both the emanated electromagnetic field and the emanated scent or odor. The given situation comprises hunting, animal handling, being in or on a body of water, or a human adversarial situation. Attenuating the person's emanated electromagnetic field decreases the likelihood of that emanated field affecting progress or an outcome of the given situation. Attenuating the person's emanated scent or odor decreases the likelihood of that emanated scent or odor affecting progress or the outcome of the given situation.
US08405057B1
A cryogenically cooled radiation shield device as well as an associated method are provided in order to shield an area, such as a space vehicle capsule, from radiation. The radiation shield device may have embedded cryogen storage. The radiation shield device may include inner and outer coil shells that extend about the area to be shielded. Each coil shell includes coils formed of a superconductive material and disposed within respective first conduits. The radiation shield device may also include a first storage tank configured to store a first cryogen liquid and disposed in fluid communication with the first conduits. The first storage tank is disposed between the inner and outer coil shells. The radiation shield device may further include a second conduit at least partially surrounding the inner and outer coil shells that is at least partially filled with a second cryogen liquid, different than the first cryogen liquid.
US08405052B2
An ion implanter has a beam deflector having a pair of magnetic poles facing each other in a z direction, insulating members provided on the respective magnetic poles, at least one pair of electrodes provided on the insulating members so as to face each other across a space through which the ion beam passes in the z direction, and at least one power source configured to apply a voltage to the pair of electrodes. The beam deflector is configured to deflect, by a magnetic field, an overall shape of the ion beam so as to be substantially parallel to the x direction. The pair of electrodes have a dimension longer than the dimension of the ion beam in the y direction, and constitute an asymmetrical einzel lens in the direction of travel of the central orbit of the ion beam.
US08405046B2
The output wavelengths of an electrodeless lamp are controlled by passing a fluid over the surface of the lamp to control its temperature. The stabilized temperature prevents thermal runaway of the lamp and stabilizes the output wavelengths of the lamp. When the fluid passing over the lamp is water, the lamp can be used for sanitary treatment of the water. Lamp radiation can be enhanced by shaping the electrodeless lamp to provide maximally effective photonic output.
US08405043B2
The present invention provides a method for extracting a charged particle beam from a charged particle source. A set of electrodes is provided at the output of the source. The potentials applied to the electrodes produce a low-emittance growth beam with substantially zero electric field at the output of the electrodes.
US08405041B2
An electrode for an ionization chamber and an ionization chamber including an electrode are provided wherein the electrode comprises a substrate comprising a first material, and a plurality of nanowires extending from the substrate and manufactured by processing the first material of the substrate.
US08405038B2
Systems and methods for providing a shared charge in pixelated image detectors are provided. One method includes providing a plurality of pixels for a pixelated solid state photon detector in a configuration such that a charge distribution is detected by at least two pixels and obtaining charge information from the at least two pixels. The method further includes determining a position of an interaction of the charge distribution with the plurality of pixels based on the obtained charge information.
US08405029B2
There is disclosed an imaging system comprising: a first integrated circuit including a photodiode array comprising a plurality of integrating photodiode elements formed in an array of rows and columns, the integrated circuit providing a plurality of output signals corresponding to an output of each photodiode; and a second integrated circuit for receiving as inputs the plurality of output signals from the first integrated circuit and including a plurality of multiplexers corresponding to the number of columns in the array, the outputs signals from a respective column forming inputs to a respective multiplexer, each multiplexer for selectively connecting one of the output signals to a multiplexer output, wherein each multiplexer is selectively switched between the plurality of output signals by a plurality of control lines, the number of control lines corresponding to the number of rows in the array.
US08405024B2
Disclosed is an ion mobility spectrometer. The ion mobility spectrometer comprises a sample injector (14), a semipermeable membrane (15), an ionization region (16), a terminal electrode (18), an ion storage region, a drift region and a Faraday plate (22), which are arranged along a drift tube in turn, wherein one or more air inlets (29) connected with a needle valve (30) and a first filtering device (31) are arranged in one side near the semipermeable membrane (15) of the ionization region (16), there is at least one opening in the terminal electrode (18), whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the air inlets (29), an air outlet (28) connected with an air extracting pump (27) is arranged near the terminal electrode (18) in the ionization region (16), the drift region is separated from the ionization region (16) by a micropore structure of the ion storage region, another air outlet (25) connected with another air extracting pump (26) is arranged at one side near the Faraday plate (22) of the terminal electrode (18).
US08405021B2
Cold-atom systems and methods of handling cold atoms are disclosed. A cold-atom system has multiple chambers and a fluidic connection between two of the chambers. One of these two chambers includes an atom source and the other includes an atom chip.
US08405020B2
A detector comprising a photodetector including a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), wherein the SPAD comprises a wide band-gap semiconductor material, and a quenching circuit electrically coupled to the photodetector comprising a first device, wherein the first device comprises a wide band-gap semiconductor material having a band-gap of at least about 1.7 eV at about 26° C.
US08405019B2
Provided is a photon detector that enables an APD response by a sinusoidal wave-shaped gate signal and is operable at an arbitrary drive frequency without requiring a special band removing filter. The photon detector of the present invention includes: a sinusoidal wave generator (3) that generates a sinusoidal wave-shaped gate signal; a beam splitter (7) that splits the gate signal; a bias circuit (5) that supplies a signal resulting from superimposing the gate signal which has passed through the beam splitter (7) on a predetermined DC voltage to an avalanche photodiode; a dummy circuit (6) which inputs the gate signal which has passed through the beam splitter (7), and outputs a response signal simulating the avalanche photodiode; a differential amplifier (10) that amplifies a differential input between a response signal from the avalanche photodiode and the response signal from the dummy circuit (6); and a comparator (11) that outputs a photon detection signal when an output from the differential amplifier (10) is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold voltage.
US08405012B1
A MEMS type actuator includes a substrate defining a plane; a micro bellows disposed on the substrate and operable to expand in a direction out of a substrate plane, the substrate having an opening therein for fluid flow to the micro bellows; and a ramp disposed above the micro bellows. In a collapsed position of the micro bellows, the ramp is substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate and, in expanded positions of the micro bellows, the micro bellows applies a force to the ramp thereby causing rotation of the ramp in a direction out of the substrate plane.
US08405003B2
An oven has a plurality of walls defining an oven cavity, a light source disposed outside of a wall of the oven cavity, and an optical light pipe in optical communication with the light source. The light pipe has a central body portion disposed within the oven cavity, and an end portion extending from the central body portion, the end portion extending outside of the oven cavity and being in optical communication with the light source. The central body distributes light from the light source within the oven cavity.
US08404993B2
The invention relates to a device for machining, particularly for cutting, of electrically conductive workpieces using a machining tool (10), which can be displaced back and forth toward and away from a workpiece by means of a drive unit and which comprises an electrically insulated, metallic tool head (12) forming a first capacitance (C1) with the workpiece, and comprising an analysis unit (14) for analyzing a characteristic value dependent on the first capacitance (C1). The invention provides that a metallic connecting element (18) is attached to the tool head (12), the element being connected to the analysis unit (14) and forming a second capacitance (C2) with the tool head (12).
US08404988B2
A control assembly is assembled between a housing and a printed circuit board of an electronic device. The housing defines a mounting hole. The control assembly includes a force member assembled in the mounting hole, a switch electrically fixed on the printed circuit board under the force member, and a resilient member abutted between the force member and the printed circuit board. The resilient member is compressed to allow the force member to contact the switch when external force applied to the force member.
US08404979B2
Electronic components on a printed wiring board can be protected from the impact force of a fall, whereby the electrical and mechanical reliability of the electronic apparatus components can be greatly improved, and moreover, smaller size, lighter weight, higher functionality, and greater multifunctionality can be achieved. The composite multilayer wiring board of the present invention includes a plurality of intermediate layers each interposed between a plurality of printed wiring boards, at least one of the plurality of intermediate layers being composed of a resin material having a dilatancy characteristic.
US08404973B1
A cable entry device for routing both power cables and low voltage cables through an electrical box. The cable entry device includes an elongated base with a front side, a rear side, two ends and a plurality of apertures in each end. The front side of the elongated base includes a base extension extending there from and a cable shield extending from the base extension. The cable shield includes a top and a bottom surface that are each at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the base. The top surface is closed and the bottom surface includes a circular opening that is sized to accommodate a conventional electrical fitting therein. A raised peripheral wall extends from the rear side of the elongated base.
US08404970B2
A simplified manufacturing process and the resultant bifacial solar cell (BSC) are provided, the simplified manufacturing process reducing manufacturing costs. The BSC includes an active region located on the front surface of the substrate, formed for example by a phosphorous diffusion step. The back surface includes a doped region, the doped region having the same conductivity as the substrate but with a higher doping level. Contact grids are formed, for example by screen printing. Front junction isolation is accomplished using a laser scribe.
US08404958B2
An advanced MIDI/audio processing system with virtual key-switches. The virtual key-switches are mapped to different musical concepts. As a user presses a key-switch in real time with the playing of musical notes, the musical concept mapped to the key-switch that was pressed is applied. The instrument then switches to a new playing state based on the particular musical concept that was applied. Furthermore, the system is configured to provide a smooth transition between dynamic levels when applying crescendo or diminuendo effects via a modulation wheel. The system also configured to provide enhanced cycling of alternate samples by providing an individual alternate cycle for each note of each articulation in each dynamic level. Furthermore, the system is configured to allow a user to store and recall specific cycle positions, and override an existing cycle to choose a specific alternate sample for a specific note.
US08404957B2
An acoustic-drum tuning assembly includes a single adjustment feature to vary the drumhead tension uniformly around the drumhead's periphery. The tuning mechanism includes multiple rings located between the end of the drum shell (or support ring) and the “underside” of the drumhead, which is otherwise restrained with respect to the drum shell by a hoop or rim fixed in place by threaded tension rods and lugs or other hoop-fixing mechanism. The single adjustment feature varies the circumference of a wedging ring, which generates an axial force “expanding” or “retracting” the tuning assembly along the central axis of the drum. When the tuning assembly axially “expands”, it pushes increasingly “upward” against the drumhead, variably increasing its tension and the musical pitch of the drum. When the tuning assembly axially “retracts”, it decreases the “upward” push, variably decreasing the drumhead tension and lowering the musical pitch of the drum.
US08404942B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023673. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023673. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023673 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023673 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08404941B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023667. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023667. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023667 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023667 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08404935B2
A lettuce cultivar, designated Tiburon, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Tiburon, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Tiburon and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Tiburon with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Tiburon, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Tiburon and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Tiburon with another lettuce cultivar.
US08404929B2
Compositions and methods for modulating expression of gene products are provided. Compositions comprise suppression cassettes that comprise a convergent promoter pair operably linked to a silencing element that, upon expression, is capable of decreasing the expression of one or more target polynucleotides of interest. Compositions of the invention also include transformed plants, plant cells, plant tissues, and plant seeds. Methods of transformation and regeneration of plants comprising the novel constructs are provided. The methods find use in regulating gene expression, particularly genes associated with agronomic traits of interest. Further provided are promoter sequences, cells, plants, and vectors comprising these promoter sequences and methods of their use.
US08404928B2
This invention discloses recombinant DNA constructs encoding phased small RNAs useful in regulating expression of one or more genes of interest. Also disclosed by this invention are transgenic plant cells, plants, and seeds containing a recombinant DNA construct of this invention.
US08404927B2
This invention discloses recombinant DNA constructs that transcribe to RNA having improved resistance to a plant RNase III enzyme, and methods for their use in making transgenic plant cells, plants, seeds, and products derived therefrom. Also provided are compositions and methods for imparting to a plant resistance to a pest or pathogen of the plant.
US08404926B2
A recombinant DNA construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding an ODP1 polypeptide operably linked to a sucrose synthase 2 promoter where this construct can be used to increase oil content in the seeds of a cruciferous oilseed plant while maintaining normal germination is disclosed. A method for increasing oil content in the seeds of a cruciferous oilseed plant while maintaining normal germination using this construct is also disclosed.
US08404925B1
An inbred corn line, designated D054026, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line D054026, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line D054026 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line D054026 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line D054026, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line D054026 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US08404920B2
Disclosed are methods for treating hazardous materials, such as those which result from an unwanted spill or leak, which comprise one or more of the steps or effects of: neutralizing the dispersed material; solidifying the dispersed material; immobilizing the material; and/or reducing the evolution of harmful or unwanted gaseous forms from the spillage, preferably using a binding agent which comprises a polyacrylate-polyacrylamide cross-linked copolymer.
US08404917B2
A mixed matrix adsorbent is found for use in the removal of light alkanes from a gasoline stream. The mixed matrix comprises two adsorbents with one adsorbent having an LTA type structure and the other adsorbent having an MFI structure.
US08404916B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide, for an adsorption separation system for separating normal paraffins from a hydrocarbon feed stream, a process for switching the adsorption separation from a triple split desorbent system to a dual split desorbent system, and vice versa. Switching occurs by separating and/or introducing a second flush material in the adsorption separation system. This switching can occur during normal operations.
US08404899B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an aliphatic amine alkylene oxide adduct which has a satisfactory color when used as a detergent, has a sufficiently sharp molecular weight distribution, and is highly pure and less odorous. The present invention is an aliphatic amine alkylene oxide adduct formed by adding m pieces of (A1O) and n pieces of (A2O) [wherein A1O and A2O each independently represent an oxyethylene group and/or an oxypropylene group] to an ethylene oxide 2-mole adduct of a primary amine having a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 4 to 24 carbon atoms, the aliphatic amine alkylene oxide adduct having a color which, as expressed by the Gardner color scale, satisfies the following expression (1) or (2): In the case where 1≦m+n≦15 Gardner color scale≦0.5×(m+n+2)−1.5 (1) In the case where 15
US08404894B2
There is provided a triarylmethane compound which can provide a colored product that has light resistance equivalent to heretofore available light resistance and that undergoes only a small change in hue over a long period of time even when having a high-temperature heat history. For example, when a blue pixel portion of a color filter is formed, there is provided a triarylmethane compound which can provide a liquid crystal display apparatus or the like that has light resistance equivalent to heretofore available light resistance and that can perform high-brightness liquid crystal display for a long time even at high temperature. There is also provided a color filter containing the triarylmethane compound in the blue pixel portion. In the triarylmethane compound, the counter-anion of a basic triarylmethane dye cation is a heteropolyoxometalate anion represented by (SiMoW11O40)4−/4. The color filter contains the triarylmethane compound in a blue pixel portion.
US08404879B2
There are provided a ruthenium-diamine complex, and methods for selectively producing an optically active alcohol and an optically active amine, which are important as precursors for the synthesis of medicinal drugs and functional materials, using the ruthenium-diamine complex as a catalyst. The invention provides a ruthenium-diamine complex prepared by introducing a trisubstituted silyl group into an aromatic compound (arene) moiety that is coordinated with a ruthenium complex having an optically active diamine as a ligand, a catalyst for asymmetric reduction formed from the ruthenium-diamine complex, and a method for producing an optically active alcohol or an optically active amine using the catalyst.
US08404872B2
Vinyl oxiranes are rearranged to 2,5-dihydrofuran using catalyst (III) or (IV). The 2,5-dihydrofuran can be reduced to tetrahydrofuran. 3,4-Epoxy-1-butene substrate is converted to 2,5-dihydrofuran which in turn is converted to tetrahydrofuran. Substrate for making 3-methyltetrahydrofuran is prepared from isoprene. Substrate for making 2-methyltetrahydrofuran is prepared from piperylene. Reactions analogous to that with vinyl oxiranes are carried out with vinyl thiiranes and vinyl aziridines.
US08404871B2
A process is provided for the synthesis of furan and related compounds by vapor phase decarbonylation of furfural and derivatives, using a palladium/alumina catalyst that has been promoted with an alkali carbonate. Catalyst lifetime is improved. The catalyst can be regenerated in situ by feeding a mixture of air and steam, with a composition of between about 2% and about 40% air, to the catalyst bed at a temperature between about 300° C. and about 500° C.
US08404864B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and their use as organic semiconductor in organic devices, like diodes, organic field effect transistors and/or a solar cells. The compounds of the formula I have excellent solubility in organic solvents. High efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when said compounds are used in semiconductor devices or organic photovoltaic (PV) devices (solar cells).
US08404862B2
This invention relates composition and methods for making and using chemically modified oligonucleotides agents for inhibiting gene expression.
US08404861B2
The substituted pyrazolecarboxanilide derivatives represented by of the formula (I) wherein R1 is H, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkenylcarbonyl, cycloalkyl, phenylalkyl, phenylcarbonyl and the like; R2 is H, halogen, alkyl, CN, OH, alkoxy, phenoxy, phenylthio, phenylsulfonyl and the like; G is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkenyl and the like; Z is O or S; X is H, halogen, CN, NO2, alkyl and the like; Y1 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, alkoxyalkyl and the like; Y2 is H, halogen, CN, NO2, OH, mercapto, amino, carboxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, heterocycle and the like, m is 1 or 2; and n is 1-3, and salts thereof exhibit a superior effect as agrohorticultural insecticides or acaricides.
US08404857B2
The present invention relates to a new crystalline form of carbabenzpyride of formula (I) and the process for its preparation. Further, the invention relates to the use of this new crystalline form of carbabenzpyride in the treatment and prevention of viral infections.
US08404855B2
The present invention relates to novel substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds, to processes for their preparation and to their use for controlling animal pests, especially arthropods, in particular insects.
US08404851B2
The present invention relates to 2-[3-(2,2-Difluoro-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylamino)-5-(2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-N-ethyl-acetamide and analogues or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. The invention particularly relates to a potent positive allosteric modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which have the capability of increasing the efficacy of nicotinic receptor agonists.
US08404849B2
The present invention relates to the process for producing modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR).
US08404834B2
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a hydroxyalkyl starch derivative which comprises reacting hydroxyalkyl starch (HAS) via the optionally oxidized reducing end of the HAS with the amino group M of a crosslinking compound which, apart from the amino group, comprises a specifically protected carbonyl group, namely an acetal group or a ketal group.
US08404832B2
Short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for oral administration, said siRNA comprising two separate RNA strands that are complementary to each other over at least 15 nucleotides, wherein each strand is 49 nucleotides or less, and wherein at least one of which strands contains at least one chemical modification.
US08404824B2
There is disclosed the cloning and identification of human IL-23R splice variants caused by alternative splicing of the IL-23R mRNA in human. Alternative mRNA forms occur through skipping one, multiple full exons or partial exons, within the IL-23R gene. A total of twenty-five (25) different IL-23R transcripts were identified. A novel exon deletion (exon 9) isoform in the interleukin 23 receptor is disclosed, denoted as Δ9. The present application also describes a quantitative assay to measure different IL-23R isoform. Detection of Δ9 isoform of IL-23R is predominantly present in colon and cervical tissues. A decrease in Δ9 is observed in inflamed colon tissues in Crohn's patients. There is disclosed a method of predicting Crohn's disease by measuring Δ9 isoform of IL-23R.
US08404823B2
The invention provides a gene encoding a protein selected from among the following proteins (a) to (c): (a) a protein having any of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, and 108; (b) a protein which has an amino acid sequence equivalent to any of the amino acid sequences of (a), except that one to several amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, or added, and which exhibits cytokine production regulatory activity; and (c) a protein which has an amino acid sequence having 90% or higher identity to any of the amino acid sequences of (a), and which exhibits cytokine production regulatory activity, as well as a gene useful for regulating cytokine production and use of the gene.
US08404816B2
The invention provides a method for identifying positions of an antibody that can be modified without significantly reducing the binding activity of the antibody. In many embodiments, the method involves identifying a substitutable position in a parent antibody by comparing its amino acid sequence to the amino acid sequences of a number of related antibodies that each bind to the same antigen as the parent antibody. The amino acid at the substitutable position may be substituted for a different amino acid without significantly affecting the activity of the antibody. The subject methods may be employed to change the amino acid sequence of a CDR without significantly reducing the affinity of the antibody of the antibody, in humanization methods, or in other antibody engineering methods. The invention finds use in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications.
US08404814B2
The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising an antibody, functional fragment or functional derivative thereof having specific binding affinity to either the extracellular domain of oncofetal fibronectin (ED-B) or at least one of the extracellular domains of oncofetal tenascin fused to a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-10, IL15, IL-24 and GM-CSF, functional fragments and functional derivatives thereof. The invention is also directed to the use of at least one of said fusion proteins for the manufacture of a medicament. In particular, the invention concerns the use of said medicament for the treatment of tumors or chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis and psoriasis.
US08404813B2
Engineered antibodies to human IL-23p19 are provided, as well as uses thereof, e.g. in treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, and proliferative disorders.
US08404811B2
The present invention concerns antibodies to EGFL7 and the uses of same.
US08404807B2
TSG101 is a tumor susceptibility gene whose homozygous functional knock out in fibroblasts leads to transformation and the ability of these cells to form metastatic tumors in nude mice. The cellular transformation that results from inactivation of TSG101 is reversible by restoration of TSG101 function. Decreased expression of TSG101 is associated with the occurrence of certain human cancers, including breast carcinomas. The TSG101 nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of cancer, identification of cell type based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for a genetic predisposition to cancer, and to identify specific cancers having mutations in this gene.
US08404793B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an allergen suppressor exerting an effect of suppressing an allergen under humidities normally used, and an allergen-suppression processed fiber, which can suppress an allergen adhering to fibers automatically without applying an allergen-suppression process and a method of producing the same.That is, the present invention is an allergen suppressor, which contains a hydrophilic polymer and a component suppressing an allergen.
US08404789B2
An olefin polymerization catalyst and preparation method and use thereof are provided. The catalyst component comprises (1) an active magnesium halide, (2) a titanium compound containing at least one Ti-halide bond supported thereon, and (3) an electron donor selected from the group consisting of one or more sulfonyl-containing compounds having the following formula. There are two methods for preparing such solid catalyst component: I) treating the active magnesium halide (1) particles with alkylaluminum, subsequently adding the electron donor (3), treating it with the solution of titanium compound (2) one or more times; II) adding spherical magnesium chloride alcoholate particles to the solution of titanium compound (2), subsequently adding the electron donor (3), treating it with the solution of titanium compound (2) one or more times. The catalyst system comprises such solid catalyst component, a co-catalyst (alkylaluminum compound) and an external electron donor.
US08404788B2
Embodiments of the polymerization process of the present invention are directed to polymerizing free radically polymerizable monomers in the presence of a polymerization medium initially comprising at least one transition metal catalyst and an atom transfer radical polymerization initiator. The polymerization medium may additionally comprise a reducing agent. The reducing agent may be added initially or during the polymerization process in a continuous or intermittent manner. The polymerization process may further comprises reacting the reducing agent with at least one of the transition metal catalyst in an oxidized state and a compound comprising a radically transferable atom or group to form a compound that does not participate significantly in control of the polymerization process. Embodiments of the present invention comprise reacting a reducing agent with at least one of catalyst in an oxidized state and a compound comprising a radically transferable atom or group to initiate and/or maintain catalytic activity throughout the polymerization process.
US08404783B2
The invention relates to novel crosslinkable copolymers which are obtainable by (a) copolymerizing at least two different hydrophilic monomers selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), acrylic acid (AA) and a C1-C4-alkoxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate having a weight average molecular weight of from 200 to 1500, and at least one crosslinker comprising two or more ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in the presence of a chain transfer agent having a functional group; and (b) reacting one or more functional groups of the resulting copolymer with an organic compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group.
US08404781B2
Butadiene is anionically polymerized (or block copolimerized with styrene) in a low-boiling non-polar solvent in presence of rganolithiura compounds. At the end of the polymerization, the non-polar solvent is switched with styrene and the new solution is stored in tanks in relation to the type of polybutadiene (or its block copolymer with styrene) obtained. The polybutadiene solution (and/or its block copolymer with styrene) with the desired set of properties is then fed to a production plant of high impact vinyl aromatic (co)polymers.
US08404775B2
A polymerizable ligand comprising, in one embodiment, a polyaromatic compound, with a terminal functional group, non-covalently bonded to the sidewalls of carbon nanotubes. This structure preserves the structural, mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical properties of the CNTs and ensures that an unhindered functional group is available to bond with an extended polymer matrix thereby resulting in an improved polymer-nanotube composite.
US08404770B2
Silicone elastomer base compositions containing a stabilizer are disclosed that provide cured silicone elastomers having improved high temperature performance. The stabilizer comprises carbon black, calcium carbonate, iron oxide, and optionally zinc oxide.
US08404764B1
A resin composition comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of cyanate ester resin; (B) 5 to 25 parts by weight of nitrogen and oxygen containing heterocyclic compound; (C) 5 to 75 parts by weight of polyphenylene oxide resin; and (D) 5 to 100 parts by weight of oligomer of phenylmethane maleimide. By using specific components at specific proportions, the resin composition of the invention offers the features of low dielectric constant and low dissipation factor and can be made into prepreg that may be used in printed circuit board.
US08404758B2
The invention provides methods for inducing reversible chain cleavage of polymer chains in a crosslinked polymeric material. Reversible cleavage of the polymer backbone is capable of relieving stress in the polymeric material as the bonds reform in a less stressed state. The invention also provides methods for making polymeric materials capable of reversible chain cleavage, materials made by the methods of the invention, and linear monomers containing reversible chain cleavage groups which are useful in the materials and methods of the invention.
US08404757B2
An photo-curable sealing agent composition comprising (A) an unsaturated group-containing urethane resin having a number average molecular weight of 1,000-100,000 and an unsaturation degree of 0.1-1 mol/kg, which is obtained by reaction of (a) a polycarbonate diol having a number average molecular weight of 500-3,000, (b) a bifunctional epoxy (meth)acrylate having two hydroxyl groups and two ethylenically unsaturated groups, and (c) a polyisocyanate; (B) a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, wherein an alcohol residue, ester-bonded with an (meth)acyloyl group, is a hydrocarbon group which may contain an oxygen atom, and has 1-20 carbon atoms and a molecular weight of not larger than 1,000; and (C) a photo-polymerization initiator. The sealing agent composition exhibits a high curability performance and gives a cured product having a low hardness and enhanced flexibility and elongation, and improved physical and mechanical strength and enhanced durability.
US08404745B2
The use of phonophoresis or iontophoresis to enhance transdermal delivery of medicinal Cetylated fatty esters when applied in cream or gel compositions is disclosed. These compositions provide hydrophilic salt forms and penetration-enhancing vehicles that work in conjunction with phonophoresis or iontophoresis to increase the efficacy of the medicinal actives.
US08404741B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to compounds that can inhibit DAGLα and/or β activity, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for inhibiting DAGLα and/or β activity.
US08404732B2
Methods of treating and managing ulcerative colitis, using imidazole-based compounds that inhibit S1P lyase, are disclosed.
US08404729B2
This invention concerns novel substituted heterocyclic tetracyclic tetrahydrofuran derivatives with binding affinities towards serotonin receptors, in particular 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, and towards dopamine receptors, in particular dopamine D2 receptors and with norepinephrine reuptake inhibition properties, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds according to the invention, the use thereof as a medicine, in particular for the prevention and/or treatment of a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, in particular certain psychotic, cardiovascular and gastrokinetic disorders for their production. The compounds according to the invention can be represented by general Formula (I) and comprise also the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the N-oxide form thereof and prodrugs thereof, wherein all substituents are defined as in Claim 1.
US08404724B2
Unit doses of factor Xa inhibitor compounds and methods of using these compounds for inhibiting blood coagulation in a human patient are taught herein. The unit dose of the factor Xa inhibitor compounds disclosed herein required to inhibit coagulation in a primate is lower than the unit dose required to obtain similar levels of coagulation inhibition in other animal models, such as rodents. Also taught are in vitro assays useful in predicting in vivo antithrombotic activity in humans.
US08404721B2
Disclosed are methods of treating a seizure disorder by administering to a patient in need of such treatment a compound having the following formula:
US08404718B2
The invention provides a combination comprising a cytotoxic compound, a signalling inhibitor, an ancillary agent, or two or more further anti-cancer agents, and a compound having the formula (Ib): or salts or tautomers or N-oxides or solvates thereof; wherein X is a group R1-A-NR4—; A is a bond, C═O, NRg(C═O) or O(C═O) wherein Rg is hydrogen or C1-4 hydrocarbyl optionally substituted by hydroxy or C1-4 alkoxy; Y is a bond or an alkylene chain of 1, 2 or 3 carbon atoms in length; R1 is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having from 3 to 12 ring members; or a C1-8 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from fluorine, hydroxy, C1-4 hydrocarbyloxy, amino, mono- or di-C1-4 hydrocarbylamino, and carbocyclic or heterocyclic groups having from 3 to 12 ring members, and wherein 1 or 2 of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may optionally be replaced by an atom or group selected from O, S, NH, SO, SO2; R2 is hydrogen; halogen; C1-4 alkoxy (e.g. methoxy); or a C1-4 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halogen (e.g. fluorine), hydroxyl or C1-4 alkoxy (e.g. methoxy); R3 is selected from carbocyclic and heterocyclic groups having from 3 to 12 ring members; and R4 is hydrogen or a C1-4 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halogen (e.g. fluorine), hydroxyl or C1-4 alkoxy (e.g. methoxy).
US08404716B2
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing myelodysplastic syndromes are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administrations of 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-piperidin-2,6-dione in combination with 5-azacytidine.
US08404711B2
The invention provides methods for the treatment of cognitive disorders utilizing specific 5-HT4 receptor agonist compounds, in particular, methods utilizing these compounds in combination with other agents, specifically acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders.
US08404709B2
The present application relates to novel substituted 4-aryl-1,4-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridines, a process for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and their use for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially cardiovascular disorders.
US08404707B2
The present invention relates to a series of novel imidazo[1,2-α]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines (or also named 6H-1,3a,6-Tri-aza-αy-indacenes) and derivatives thereof, according to formula: (I); The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of imidazo[1,2-α]pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridines, their use as. a, medicine, their use to treat or prevent viral infections and their use to manufacture a medicine to treat or prevent viral infections, particularly infections with viruses belonging to the family of the Flaviviridae and more preferably infections with Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus (BVDV).
US08404705B2
Disclosed are naphthalinamidinimide of formula wherein the substituents R1-R8 are defined herein.
US08404704B2
The present invention relates to Rifaximin polymorphic forms α, β and γ, to their use in medicinal preparations for the oral or topical route and to therapeutic methods using them.
US08404703B2
A combination of 2-acetoxy-5-(α-cyclopropylcarbonyl-2-fluorobenzyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and aspirin, which possess excellent inhibitory activity against platelet aggregation and thrombogenesis, and is useful for preventing or treating diseases caused by thrombus or embolus.
US08404684B2
Compounds of formula I in free or salt form, wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions that are mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and a process for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08404678B2
The invention relates to novel tomaymicine derivatives comprising a linker. It also relates to the conjugate molecules that comprise one or more of said tomaymicine derivatives covalently linked to a cell binding agent through a linking group that is present on the linker of the tomaymycin derivative. It also relates to the preparation of the tomaymicine derivatives and of the conjugate molecules.
US08404669B2
The invention relates to protein binding inhibitor compounds and methods of identifying and using them. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating a variety of diseases and disorders, including cell proliferative disorders, especially cancer.
US08404662B2
The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein.
US08404658B2
The present invention relates to targeted RNAi for the treatment of heart failure by modulating defective cardiac Ca2+ homeostasis via decreasing expression or activity of phospholamban (PLB) using adeno-associated virus (AAV) transfection of cardiomyocytes. Methods for decreasing ventricular arrhythmias, as well as methods for overall improvement of survival from heart failure in subjects are also disclosed. Further, the present invention provides methods which can be used to diagnose susceptibility to treatment by RNAi, and includes pharmaceutical compositions, kits and vectors including an RNAi sequence.
US08404655B2
The invention generally concerns inhibition of a molecule that has a role in post-translational modification of a receptor for antiproliferative factor (APF) of bladder epithelial cells, thereby modulating the APF. In particular, inhibition of DHHC2 activity and/or ZDHHC2 expression results in modulation of APF receptor activity, and in specific aspects such modulation is therapeutic and/or preventative for a bladder condition, such as interstitial cystitis. In addition, inhibition of CKAP4 palmitoylation in certain cases also decreases its activity as a tPA receptor on smooth muscle cells or surfactant A on type II pneumocytes, and/or generally inhibits its function as a cell membrane receptor, cell chaperone molecule, and/or membrane trafficking agent.
US08404652B2
The present invention provides a collagen accumulation inhibitor, a collagen accumulation-inhibiting method, a method for searching for a substance which regulates the type-I collagen gene transcription regulating ability and the like, said matters being useful in a medical field for a prophylaxis or the treatment of a disease caused by an excessive accumulation for a collagen (for example fibrosis).
US08404644B2
The invention relates to the use of angiogenic crystallin proteins to promote angiogenesis, wound healing and/or endothelial cell migration. Alpha A crystallin and βB2 crystallin have particular application in these methods. The crystallins will usually be in monomeric form. Typically, truncated form(s) of βB2 crystallin protein are utilized as can be prepared by partial hydrolysis of the protein by a protease enzyme such as elastase I. Methods for the purification of crystallin proteins from eye tissue are also described.
US08404643B2
The present invention provides stable metastin derivatives having excellent biological activities (a cancer metastasis suppressing activity, a cancer growth suppressing activity, a gonadotrophic hormone secretion stimulating activity, sex hormone secretion stimulating activity, etc.). By substituting the constituent amino acids of metastin with specific amino acids in the metastin derivative of the present invention, blood stability, solubility, etc. are more improved, gelation tendency is reduced, pharmacokinetics are also improved, and an excellent cancer metastasis suppressing activity or a cancer growth suppressing activity is exhibited. Furthermore, the metastin derivative of the present invention has the effects of suppressing gonadotropic hormone secretion, suppressing sex hormone secretion, etc.
US08404640B2
The invention provides a method of diagnosing carcinoma in a patient, the method comprising providing a sample of colorectal cells from a human patient and analyzing the sample for CXCL12 hypermethylation.
US08404635B2
This invention provides novel peptides that ameliorate one or more symptoms of atherosclerosis. The peptides are highly stable and readily administered via an oral route. The peptides are effective to stimulate the formation and cycling of pre-beta high density lipoprotein-like particles and/or to promote lipid transport and detoxification. This invention also provides a method of tracking a peptide in a mammal. In addition, the peptides inhibit osteoporosis. When administered with a statin, the peptides enhance the activity of the statin permitting the statin to be used at significantly lower dosages and/or cause the statins to be significantly more anti-inflammatory at any given dose.
US08404631B2
H-NOX proteins are mutated to exhibit improved or optimal kinetic and thermodynamic properties for blood gas O2 delivery. The engineered H-NOX proteins comprise mutations that impart altered O2 or NO ligand-binding relative to the corresponding wild-type H-NOX domain, and are operative as physiologically compatible mammalian blood O2 gas carriers. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and methods that use wild-type or mutant H-NOX proteins for the treatment of any condition for which delivery of O2 is beneficial.
US08404626B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a method of fabricating an integrated circuit. The method includes providing a substrate having a metal and dielectric damascene metallization layer and depositing substantially on the metal a cap. After deposition of the cap, the substrate is cleaned with a solution comprising an amine to provide a pH for the cleaning solution of 7 to about 13. Another embodiment of the presented invention is a method of cleaning substrates. Still another embodiment of the present invention is a formulation for a cleaning solution.
US08404620B2
The invention pertains to creating new extremely low resistance (“ELR”) materials, which may include high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) materials. In some implementations of the invention, an ELR material may be modified by depositing a layer of modifying material unto the ELR material to form a modified ELR material. The modified ELR material has improved operational characteristics over the ELR material alone. Such operational characteristics may include operating at increased temperatures or carrying additional electrical charge or other operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR material is a cuprate-perovskite, such as, but not limited to BSSCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.
US08404612B2
Catalyst compositions for the polymerization of olefins having improved flowability properties are provided.
US08404607B2
A laminated ceramic capacitor which provides favorable life characteristics, even when a high electric field strength is applied while dielectric ceramic layers are reduced in layer thickness to less than 1 μm, contains a dielectric ceramic a compound represented by: (Ba1-x/100Cax/100)mTiO3 (0≦x≦20) as its main constituent, and as its accessory constituent, aMg-bSi-cMn-dR (R is at least one of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y, and a, b, c, and d (part by mol) respectively satisfy the conditions of 0.1
US08404605B2
A method of loading at least one fused silica article with hydrogen. At least one fused silica article is first loaded with an amount of hydrogen so that the hydrogen concentration at the center of the article exceeds a minimum concentration upon completion of loading. An amount of hydrogen is the removed from the fused silica article so that the fused silica article has an average hydrogen concentration that is less than the maximum average concentration limit. The surface region of the fused silica article is then reloaded to ensure that the hydrogen concentration throughout the article is within a predetermined pressure range. A fused silica article comprising hydrogen is also described.
US08404599B2
The method for producing a photovoltaic cell includes applying, on a partial region of one surface side of a semiconductor substrate, a first n-type diffusion layer forming composition including an n-type impurity-containing glass powder and a dispersion medium; applying, on at least a region other than the partial region on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second n-type diffusion layer forming composition which includes an n-type impurity-containing glass powder and a dispersion medium and in which a concentration of the n-type impurity is lower than that of the first n-type diffusion layer forming composition, where the first n-type diffusion layer forming composition is applied; heat-treating the semiconductor substrate on which the first n-type diffusion layer forming composition and the second n-type diffusion layer forming composition are applied to form an n-type diffusion layer; and forming an electrode on the partial region.
US08404594B2
A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming first and second gate electrodes (151, 161) by forming the first gate electrode (151) over a first high-k gate dielectric (121) and forming the second gate electrode (161) over at least a second high-k gate dielectric (122) different from the first gate dielectric (121). Either or both of the high-k gate dielectric layers (121, 122) may be formed by depositing and selectively etching an initial layer of high-k dielectric material (e.g., 14). As deposited, the initial layer (14) has an exposed surface (18) and an initial predetermined crystalline structure. An exposed thin surface layer (20) of the initial layer (14) is prepared for etching by modifying the initial crystalline structure in the exposed thin surface layer. The modified crystalline structure in the exposed thin surface layer may be removed by applying a selective etch, such as HF or HCl.
US08404592B2
Methods for fabricating semiconductor structures, such as fin structures of FinFET transistors, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a plurality of mandrels overlying the semiconductor substrate. Each of the mandrels has sidewalls. L-shaped spacers are formed about the sidewalls of the mandrels. Each L-shaped spacer comprises a rectangular portion disposed at a base of a mandrel and an orthogonal portion extending from the rectangular portion. Each L-shaped spacer also has a spacer width. The orthogonal portions are removed from each of the L-shaped spacers leaving at least a portion of the rectangular portions. The semiconductor substrate is etched to form fin structures, each fin structure having a width substantially equal to the spacer width.
US08404588B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a via electrode by which productivity and production yield can be augmented or maximized. The method of the present invention includes: forming a via hole at a substrate; forming a catalyst layer at a sidewall and a bottom of the via hole; and forming a graphene layer in the via hole by exposing the catalyst layer to a solution mixed with graphene particles.
US08404576B2
A gate structure includes an insulation layer on a substrate, a first conductive layer pattern on the insulation layer, a metal ohmic layer pattern on the first conductive layer pattern, a diffusion reduction layer pattern on the metal ohmic layer pattern an amorphous layer pattern on the diffusion reduction layer pattern, and a second conductive layer pattern on the amorphous layer pattern. The gate structure may have a low sheet resistance and desired thermal stability.
US08404570B2
Graded core/shell semiconductor nanorods and shapped nanorods are disclosed comprising Group II-VI, Group III-V and Group IV semiconductors and methods of making the same. Also disclosed are nanorod barcodes using core/shell nanorods where the core is a semiconductor or metal material, and with or without a shell. Methods of labeling analytes using the nanorod barcodes are also disclosed.
US08404565B2
A manufacturing method and a structure of a surface-mounting type diode co-constructed from a silicon wafer and a base plate, in the method, a diffused wafer is stacked with a high temperature durable high strength base plate to have them sintered and molten together for connecting with each other to form a co-constructure; then the diffused wafer is processed by etching and ditching for filling with insulation material, electrodes of the diffused wafer are metalized and all on an identical plane, then production of all functional lines is completed; and then the co-constructure is cut to form a plurality of separated individuals which each forms a surface-mounting type diode to be applied straight. In comparison with the conventional techniques, manufacturing of the present invention is simplified and economic in reducing working hours, size and cost of production and the wafer is not subjected to breaking during manufacturing.
US08404563B2
The embrittlement layer and the semiconductor layer remaining on the periphery of the semiconductor substrate after separation are selectively removed using a mixed solution containing a substance functioning as an oxidizer for oxidizing a semiconductor, a substance dissolving an oxide of a semiconductor, and a substance functioning as a decelerator of oxidization of a semiconductor and dissolution of an oxide of a semiconductor. Note that the semiconductor film is separated from the semiconductor substrate along an embrittlement layer that is formed in the semiconductor substrate by implantation of an H+ ion generated from a hydrogen gas with use of an ion implantation apparatus.
US08404558B2
In a preferred method of formation embodiment, a metal foil or film is obtained or formed with micro-holes. The foil is anodized to form metal oxide. One or more self-patterned metal electrodes are automatically formed and buried in the metal oxide created by the anodization process. The electrodes form in a closed circumference around each microcavity in a plane(s) transverse to the microcavity axis, and can be electrically isolated or connected. Preferred embodiments provide inexpensive microplasma device electrode structures and a fabrication method for realizing microplasma arrays that are lightweight and scalable to large areas. Electrodes buried in metal oxide and complex patterns of electrodes can also be formed without reference to microplasma devices—that is, for general electrical circuitry.
US08404556B2
In forming a ferro-electric capacitor structure of an FeRAM, a lower electrode film is formed (step S1), a first ferro-electric film is formed (step S2), the first ferro-electric film is crystallized by a first heat treatment (step S3), a second ferro-electric film in an amorphous state is formed on the first ferro-electric film (step S4), an SRO film in an amorphous state is formed on the second ferro-electric film (step S5), a first upper electrode film is formed on the SRO film (step S6), and the second ferro-electric film and the SRO film are crystallized by a second heat treatment (step S7).
US08404545B2
A tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) is disclosed. In one aspect, the transistor comprises a gate that does not align with a drain, and only overlap with the source extending at least up to the interface of the source-channel region and optionally overlaps with part of the channel. Due to the shorter gate, the total gate capacitance is reduced, which is directly reflected in an improved switching speed of the device. In addition to the advantage of an improved switching speed, the transistor also has a processing advantage (no alignment of the gate with the drain is necessary), as well as a performance improvement (the ambipolar behavior of the TFET is reduced).
US08404533B2
A method for fabricating metal gate transistor is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a transistor region defined thereon; forming a gate insulating layer on the substrate; forming a stacked film on the gate insulating layer, wherein the stacked film comprises at least one etching stop layer, a polysilicon layer, and a hard mask; patterning the gate insulating layer and the stacked film for forming a dummy gate on the substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the dummy gate; performing a planarizing process for partially removing the dielectric layer until reaching the top of the dummy gate; removing the polysilicon layer of the dummy gate; removing the etching stop layer of the dummy gate for forming an opening; and forming a conductive layer in the opening for forming a gate.
US08404528B2
A fabricating method of a pixel structure is provided. A substrate has an array of pixel areas. The common electrode wire is positioned only in a portion of the pixel area. A first capacitance storage electrode is formed in each of the pixel areas and electrically connected between two adjacent common electrode wires. A gate insulation layer covers the scan line, the gate electrode, the common electrode wire and the first capacitance storage electrode. A semiconductor layer is formed on the gate insulation layer above the gate electrode. The source and the drain is formed on two sides of the semiconductor layer. A passivation layer is formed on the substrate to cover the data line, the source and the drain. A pixel electrode is formed in each of the pixel areas, and the pixel electrode is electrically connected with the drain through the contact window.
US08404527B2
Ribbons containing e.g. inorganic NMOS devices are assembled in electrical contact with ribbons containing e.g. PMOS devices (preferably organic) to enable flexible electronic textile circuits to be inexpensive and practical for a wide variety of functions. The use of ribbons provides flexibility, reduces costs, and allows testing during assembly and different processes to be efficiently used for different components. This is apparently the first time that ribbons (especially inorganic-device-containing ribbons) have been interconnected to form a flexible CMOS electronic textile.
US08404525B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which is formed at low cost and has a great versatility, a manufacturing method thereof, and further a semiconductor device with an improved yield, and a manufacturing method thereof. A structure, which has a base including a plurality of depressions having different shapes or sizes, and a plurality of IC chips which are disposed in the depressions and which fit the depressions, is formed. A semiconductor device which selectively includes a function in accordance with an application, by using the base including the plurality of depressions and the IC chips which fit the depressions, can be manufactured at low cost.
US08404496B2
A semiconductor device has an alignment mark which can be recognized by a conventional wafer prober. A redistribution layer connects electrodes of the semiconductor device to electrode pads located in predetermined positions of the redistribution layer. Metal posts configured to be provided with external connection electrodes are formed on the electrode pads of the redistribution layer. A mark member made of the same material as the metal posts is formed on the redistribution layer. The mark member serves as an alignment mark located in a predetermined positional relationship with the metal posts.
US08404492B2
In a machine for manipulating toxic substances, an anthropomorphic robot transfers a container, which has a mouth closed by a cap made of perforable material, from a magazine for containers to a dosage station, set in which is a syringe provided with a needle, axially aligns the mouth with the needle, correcting the position of the mouth according to the position of the tip of the needle obtained from processing a number of images of the needle acquired from at least two distinct observation points, and finally approaches the container to the syringe in such a way that the needle perforates the cap and penetrates into the container to be able to inject or extract a substance into or out of the container.
US08404489B2
A nucleic acid extraction kit, which enables the nucleic acid extraction operation to be accomplished safely without causing contamination, and in which the complex preparation of reagents and the disposal treatments that are performed before and after the nucleic acid extraction operation can be performed rapidly and simply, with the extraction performed in an automated manner. The nucleic acid extraction kit includes: a container including reagent wells that each store at least a reagent, a sample well into which a biological sample is introduced, a waste liquid well, and a collection well in which an extracted nucleic acid is collected, and an extraction filter cartridge equipped with an extraction filter for separating and extracting a nucleic acid from the biological sample, wherein the extraction filter cartridge is formed in a manner that enables the extraction filter cartridge to be supported on the waste liquid well and the collection well.
US08404485B2
A coated microcarrier for cell culture includes a microcarrier base and a polymeric coating grafted to the base via a polymerization initiator. A method for forming the coated microcarrier includes (i) conjugating a polymerization initiator to the microcarrier base to form an initiator-conjugated microcarrier base; (ii) contacting the initiator-conjugated microcarrier base with monomers; and (iii) activating the initiator to initiate polymerization and graft the polymer to the base.
US08404475B2
Embodiments relate to plant disease suppressive microorganisms and compositions including the same, methods for isolating disease suppressive microorganisms, and methods for controlling plant disease using disclosed compositions and methods.
US08404472B2
Yeast comprising at least one gene encoding vanillyl alcohol oxidase, the sequence of which is the sequence SEQ ID No. 1 or any sequence at least 70%, preferably 80%, very preferably 90% homologous to the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, and methods for producing coniferyl alcohol, ferulic acid and vanillin.
US08404471B2
Isolated glycyl-tRNA synthetase polypeptides and polynucleotides having non-canonical biological activities are provided, as well as compositions and methods related thereto.
US08404463B2
Encoded bead multiplex assays for chromosomal gains and losses are provided that provide the benefits of complex, large template DNA sources, such as BAC DNA, as the probe material without bead networking or other assay performance problems. Reagents for assaying DNA are described herein which include a plurality of encoded particles having attached amplicons amplified from a template DNA sequence. Each individual attached amplicon includes a nucleic acid sequence identical to a random portion of the template DNA sequence, wherein the amplicons together represent substantially the entire template DNA and wherein the nucleic acid sequence identical to a random portion of the template DNA sequence of each individual amplicon is shorter than the entire template DNA.
US08404458B2
The present invention relates to a method of modulating a chromatin binding protein or complex which binds to a functional group on an amino acid of a histone. This method involves phosphorylating or dephosphorylating a serine or threonine on the histone proximate to the amino acid under conditions effective to modulate the chromatin binding protein or complex. This method is particularly useful in treating or preventing cancer in a subject. In addition, the histone comprising a serine or threonine proximate to an amino acid capable of binding to a functional group can be used to screen for compounds which prevent or treat cancer. Also disclosed is an antibody or binding portion thereof raised against a binary switch on a histone comprising a phosphorylated serine or threonine proximate to an amino acid bound to a functional group and its use in detecting a condition mediated by that switch.
US08404457B2
Assays for detecting anti-streptococcal antibodies in biological samples using one or more streptococcal antigens are described herein. Various combinations of antigens may be used in the assays. For example, one or more of Ply, PhtD, PhtE, LytB and PcpA may be utilized. Additional streptococcal antigens may also be used. The assays may also be used in combination with assays that detect streptococcal nucleic acids.
US08404455B2
The invention relates to compounds that specifically bind a T1R1/T1R3 or T1R2/T1R3 receptor or fragments or sub-units thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of hetero-oligomeric and chimeric taste receptors comprising T1R1/T1R3 and T1R2/T1R3 in assays to identify compounds that respectively respond to umami taste stimuli and sweet taste stimuli. Further, the invention relates to the constitutive of cell lines that stably or transiently co-express a combination of T1R1 and T1R3; or T1R2 and T1R3; under constitutive or inducible conditions. The use of these cells lines in cell-based assays to identify umami and sweet taste modulatory compounds is also provided, particularly high throughput screening assays that detect receptor activity by use of fluorometric imaging.
US08404448B2
Disclosed are a DNA aptamer specifically binding to human cardiac troponin I, and a composition and a diagnostic kit for the diagnosis of acute cardiovascular diseases, comprising the same. Being superior in specificity and stability to antibodies which are conventionally used to diagnose acute cardiovascular diseases, the DNA aptamers specifically binding to human cardiac troponin I can be developed into biosensors which determine human cardiac troponin I levels with high sensitivity and accuracy, greatly contributing to the diagnosis in an early stage of acute cardiovascular diseases. It is expected to lots of help for increase of diagnostic accuracy.
US08404441B2
A DNA intercalator detection system can include a filtration unit a control sample conditioner operably coupled with the filtration unit and an analytic unit operably coupled with the filtration unit and control sample conditioner and having an electronic chemical array (ECA) reaction component. A data processing unit is operably coupled with the analytic unit and configured to compare and determine a difference between electronic data of a test sample and a conditioned control sample from the ECA reaction component. The difference provides an indication of whether or not a DNA intercalator is present in the test sample.
US08404431B1
A method for manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head includes processes of forming a polishing position sensor and a recording head portion alongside on one side of a wafer. The process of forming the recording head portion has a step of performing a photolithography process after applying an alkali soluble resin film and a photoresist film in the named order. The process of forming the polishing position sensor has a step of performing a photolithography process on the photoresist film while having only the photoresist film out of the alkali soluble resin film and the photoresist film.
US08404427B2
A photosensitive composition containing a compound having a specific structure, a pattern-forming method using the photosensitive composition, and a compound having a specific structure used in the photosensitive composition.
US08404426B2
A negative resist composition including an alkali-soluble resin component (A), an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, and a cross-linking component (C), the alkali-soluble resin component (A) including a polymeric compound (F) having a structural unit (f1) containing a base dissociable group and a structural unit (f2) containing a cross-linking group-containing group.
US08404406B2
The present invention provides a photomask blank in which a light-shielding film consisting of a plurality of layers is provided on a light transmissive substrate, wherein a layer that is provided to be closest to the front surface is made of CrO, CrON, CrN, CrOC or CrOCN, and wherein the atom number density of the front-surface portion of the light-shielding film is 9×1022 to 14×1022 atms/cm3.
US08404404B2
A character projection charged particle beam writer system is disclosed comprising a variable magnification reduction lens which will allow different shot magnifications on a shot by shot basis. A method for fracturing or mask data preparation or optical proximity correction is also disclosed comprising assigning a magnification to each calculated charged particle beam writer shot. A method for forming a pattern on a surface is also disclosed comprising using a charged particle beam writer system and varying the magnification from shot to shot. A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit using optical lithography is also disclosed, comprising using a charged particle beam writer system to form a pattern on a reticle, and varying the magnification of the charged particle beam writer system from shot to shot.
US08404394B2
A fuel cell system includes a first heating mechanism and a second heating mechanism. The first heating mechanism supplies a reformer with some of an exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack as a heat source for directly heating the reformer. The second heating mechanism supplies the remaining exhaust gas to the heat exchanger and utilizes the heat generated in the heat exchanger as a heat source for indirectly heating the reformer. Temperature sensors are attached to the reformer. An open/close valve is adjusted based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors to control the ratio between the amount of heat supplied from the first heating mechanism to the reformer and the amount of heat supplied from the second heating mechanism to the reformer.
US08404390B2
The present invention provides (1) a sulfone compounds having a propargyl group, (2) a nonaqueous electrolytic solution for lithium secondary batteries, which comprises an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent and contains a sulfone compound having a specific structure that has an SO2 group with a propargyl group or a vinyl group bonding thereto, in an amount of from 0.01 to 10% by weight of the nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and which can prevent gas generation and is excellent in battery characteristics such as cycle property and the like, and (3) a lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution of an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, wherein the nonaqueous electrolytic solution contains a sulfone compound having a specific structure, in an amount of from 0.01 to 10% by weight of the nonaqueous electrolytic solution.
US08404382B2
Positive active material pastes for flooded deep discharge lead-acid batteries, methods of making the same and lead-acid batteries including the same are provided. The positive active material paste includes lead oxide, a sulfate additive, and an aqueous acid. The positive active material paste contains from about 0.1 to about 1.0 wt % of the sulfate additive. Batteries using such positive active material pastes exhibit greatly improved performance over batteries with conventional positive active material pastes.
US08404373B2
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device includes a base body, a battery cover, a rotatable member. The base body forms two hooks. The battery cover forms two catches for latching with the hooks. The rotatable member is rotatably disposed between the base body and the battery cover. The rotatable member includes two resisting portions for abutting against the catches. When the rotatable member is rotated, the catches are forced to be separate from the hooks to allow the battery cover to releasably latch to the base body.
US08404370B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium 100 has, over a substrate, at least a magnetic recording layer 122 with a granular structure in which nonmagnetic grain boundaries are formed between magnetic grains continuously grown into a columnar shape. The magnetic grains of the magnetic recording layer 122 contain Co, Cr, and Pt. The magnetic recording layer 122 contains at least one oxide selected from a group A including SiO2, TiO2, and Cr2O3, at least one oxide selected from a group B consisting of oxides each having a larger Gibbs free energy ΔG than the group A, and a reducing agent adapted to reduce the oxides of the group B.
US08404367B2
A dual spin filter that minimizes spin-transfer magnetization switching current (Jc) while achieving a high dR/R in STT-RAM devices is disclosed. The bottom spin valve has a MgO tunnel barrier layer formed with a natural oxidation process to achieve low RA, a CoFe/Ru/CoFeB—CoFe pinned layer, and a CoFeB/FeSiO/CoFeB composite free layer with a middle nanocurrent channel (NCC) layer to minimize Jc0. The NCC layer may have be a composite wherein conductive M(Si) grains are magnetically coupled with adjacent ferromagnetic layers and are formed in an oxide, nitride, or oxynitride insulator matrix. The upper spin valve has a Cu spacer to lower the free layer damping constant. A high annealing temperature of 360° C. is used to increase the MR ratio above 100%. A Jc0 of less than 1×106 A/cm2 is expected based on quasistatic measurements of a MTJ with a similar MgO tunnel barrier and composite free layer.
US08404359B2
A solder layer and an electronic device bonding substrate using the layer are provided which avoid deteriorating qualities of the electronic device to be bonded. In a solder layer 14 free from lead and formed on a substrate 11 or an electronic device bonding substrate 10 having such a solder layer, the solder layer 14 has a specific resistance of not more than 0.4 Ω·μm. The electronic device bonding substrate 10 can have a thermal resistance of not more than 0.5 K/W and a thickness of not more than 10 μm. Then, voids contained in the solder layer 14 have a maximum diameter of not more than 0.5 μm and the substrate can be a submount substrate.
US08404353B2
Disclosed is a barrier laminate comprising at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer, wherein the organic layer is formed by vacuum vapor deposition of a composition containing a radical-polymerizing monomer and a polymerization initiator, followed by curing the composition, and the polymerization initiator is liquid at 30° C. under one atmosphere and/or has a melting point of not higher than 30° C.
US08404350B2
The transparent glass ceramic plate has a thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of −0.05 to −0.1×10−6/K at 30 to 700° C. and a composition, in wt. %, consisting of: Li2O, 3.0-4.5; Al2O3, 18.0-24.0; SiO2, 55.0-70.0; TiO2, 0.01-2.3; ZrO2, 0.01-2.0; Σ TiO2+ZrO2, 0.5-4.3; SnO2, 0-0.2; MgO, 0-0.8; BaO, 0-3; ZnO, 0-2.5; Na2O, 0-1.5; As2O3, 0.3-0.9; and Fe2O3, 0.004 to 0.02. A transparent plate laminate, which is used as armor or in a bullet-proof vest and which contains one or more of this glass ceramic plate together with optional glass and/or plastic plates, and a process for making the glass ceramic plate, are also described.
US08404349B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a laminate having excellent weatherability and abrasion resistance as well as adhesion.The present invention relates to a laminate comprising a base, a first layer formed by thermally curing an acrylic resin composition and a second layer formed by thermally curing an organosiloxane resin composition, all of which are formed in the mentioned order, wherein the acrylic resin composition comprises: (A) an acrylic copolymer which contains at least 70 mol % of a recurring unit represented by the following formula (A): wherein X is a hydrogen atom or methyl group, and Y is a methyl group, ethyl group, cycloalkyl group, hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms or triazine-based ultraviolet absorber residue; (B) a blocked polyisocyanate compound; (C) a curing catalyst; and (D) a triazine-based ultraviolet absorber, and the organosiloxane resin composition comprises: (E) colloidal silica and (F) a hydrolysis condensate of an alkoxysilane.
US08404346B2
Novel materials for chromatographic separations, processes for their preparation, and separation devices containing the chromatographic materials. In particular, the novel materials are porous inorganic/organic hybrid monolith materials, which desirably may be surface modified, and which offer more efficient chromatographic separations than that known in the art.
US08404345B2
Microcapsules for smart textile materials, containing an active product and with reactive groups, with the objective of chemically binding the microcapsules to the fibers. The microcapsules contain active products such as PCM (phase change materials), or can be of controlled release of products such as fragrances, essential oils, antibacterial and others with the objective to add specific functional properties to the textile materials. They can be applied by padding and spraying followed by thermofixation. In case of products such as knitwear the application process can also be by exhaustion process, given that the microcapsules acquire affinity towards the fibers and react with the fibers during the process. The chemical bond of the controlled release microcapsules with the fibers confers them a higher resistance to washing than the existing microcapsules glued to the fabric by printing or padding.
US08404339B2
Prepreg that contains epoxy resin compositions that include an epoxy resin component and a curative powder comprising particles of 4,4′-diaminobenzanilide (DABA) wherein the size of the DABA particles is less than 100 microns and wherein the median particle size is below 20 microns.
US08404330B2
A durable metallized moisture vapor permeable sheet is formed by coating a moisture vapor permeable sheet with at least one metal coating comprising a layer of a corrosion resistant metal or a plurality of metal layers having differing compositions. The metallized moisture vapor permeable sheet material is suitable for use as a building construction wrap such as roof lining and house wrap, and as EMF radiation shielding material.
US08404322B2
A method to create a hollow ornamental structure utilizing an inflatable balloon, the ornamental structure features an inner shell layer created by inflating the inflatable balloon to the predetermined size and shape with a filler material, allowing said filler material to harden and pouring out access filler material when a desirable thickness of hardened filler material is attained; and a textured and colored outer shell layer. The basic form of the hollow ornamental structure can be further modified to form a container such as a vase and other decorative pieces.
US08404315B2
A process for manufacturing a permeable dielectric film, includes the deposition on a substrate of a film constituted of a material comprising silicon, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and, possibly, nitrogen and/or fluorine, a majority of Si—C bonds and a proportion of Si—O bonds such that the oxygen present in said material represents less than 30 atom %; and the selective destruction with a chemical agent of the Si—O bonds present in the film. Applications include microelectronics and microtechnology, in any manufacturing process that involves the degradation of a sacrificial material by diffusion of a chemical agent through a film that is permeable to this agent, for the production of air gaps, in particular the manufacture of air-gap interconnects for integrated circuits.
US08404309B2
Blended fluoropolymer compositions that may be applied as a coating to a flexible substrate. The compositions include at least one high molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (HPTFE), at least one a low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (LPTFE) and at least one melt processible fluoropolymer (MPF). After being applied to the flexible substrate, optionally over a primer or basecoat and/or midcoat and then cured, the compositions form coatings that demonstrate improvement in one or more of abrasion resistance, release characteristics, translucency/transparency, and impermeability.
US08404308B2
An improved process for manufacture of polymer coated composite substrates is described. a coated composite substrate is prepared in the press by applying a layer of a primer coating composition to the surface of a compressible mat comprising fibers and/or particles and a resin binder. The primer coating composition is formulated preferably as a fast setting polymer latex capable of forming a chemically crosslinked polymer matrix when applied to the surface of a compressible mat. a thermosetting top coat composition can be applied directly over the wet primer coating composition before heat-processing the mat to improve surface quality and release characteristics. Compressing and heating the coated mat produces a primed composite substrate directly out of the press.
US08404307B2
The present invention provides a hydrophilic film, which displays excellent hydrophilicity, and also displays excellent durability with respect to acidic, neutral, and alkaline detergents and chemicals. A hydrophilic film of the present invention comprises a double oxide of silicon and zirconium, an alkali metal, and water. Furthermore, the film may also comprise aluminum or a bivalent metal, and may also contain at least one of a silane coupling agent and an acrylic resin.
US08404298B2
A grain product includes a first fraction including bran and a second fraction including germ. The first fraction is milled to a first particle size of less than 500 micrometers. The second fraction is milled to a second particle size of less than 500 micrometers. The grain product is at least one of: a food product, a nutritional supplement, a dietary supplement, a fiber supplement, a digestive supplement, a functional food, and a medical food.
US08404289B2
A composition comprises an ion-exchanged carrageenan. The carrageenan may be a traditionally extracted or neutrally extracted iota or kappa carrageenan. The ion-exchanged carrageenan has reduced gelling cation contents, reduced gelling temperature, and reduced melting temperature, as compared to its non-ion-exchanged counterpart. The ion-exchanged carrageenan may be mixed with another carrageenan to form a carrageenan product having a unique gelling temperature and melting temperature. Also disclosed is a process for making an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition.
US08404288B2
The present application discloses microbially-stable solutions of water-solubilized lipophilic vitamins, such as Vitamin E. These solutions contain from about 0.5% to about 30% of a salt selected from potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium phosphate, calcium phosphate, potassium sulfate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, potassium iodide, and mixtures of these salts. The method of providing microbially-stable solutions of such water-solubilized lipophilic vitamins, as well as food and beverage products containing those microbially-stabilized water-solubilized lipophilic vitamins, are also disclosed.
US08404286B2
The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a dry extract from the fruit of Piper cubeba L., which characterized in that, in a first step, the fruit of Piper cubeba L. either is subjected to a steam distillation for the removal of essential oils and the distillate is removed or extracted at least once with a lipophilic phase and the lipophilic extract or extracts are removed; in a second step, the fruit, so treated, is extracted at least once either with at least one alcohol or with a mixture of at least one alcohol and water; and, in a third step, the extracted fruit parts are removed and an auxiliary material is added to the extract so obtained, which is then concentrated to a thick extract with an alcohol concentration of 0.1 to 10% (w/w), then dried and recovered.
US08404284B2
The subject application provides compositions and methods for treating HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The compositions contain herbs or extracts of herbs found in Kenya, and naltrexone.
US08404267B2
Biocompatible intraocular implants include a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a biodegradable polymer that is effective to facilitate release of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor into an eye for an extended period of time. The therapeutic agents of the implants may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix that is substantially free of a polyvinyl alcohol. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat or reduce the occurrence of one or more ocular conditions.
US08404261B2
A description is given according to the invention of a composition on an aqueous basis which comprises a) 0.001 to 10% by weight bispyridinium alkane, b) 0.1 to 30% by weight nonionic surfactant, c) 0 to 40% by weight aromatic alcohol and d) 0.01 to 10% by weight polyol selected from alkanediols and alkanetriols. The compositions, as mouthwash solutions, are more active than current commercial products and are distinguished by a pleasant taste and low tendency to foaming.
US08404256B2
This invention relates to a process to facilitate osteochondral bone remodeling in a subject by inducing regeneration of this bone to a healthy, vascularized state capable of supporting the underlying hyaline cartilage of articular joints and spinal discs, both biomechanically and metabolically and to deliver a bioactive agent. This process involves the steps of: administering an effective amount of an injectable in situ curing biomaterial composite to a site. The biomaterial composite product is prepared by a process involving the steps: admixing an alginate solution with a nonporous aggregate of β-tricalcium phosphate, in a sufficient amount to initiate polymerization of the alginate solution, to form a hydrogel having from between 10 to 20 percent by volume of β-tricalcium phosphate.
US08404254B2
The invention relates to control of pathogen caused diseases on leaves, fruits and ears in plants, such as apple scab (Venturia inaequalis by treatment of plant with an isolate of Cladosporium cladosporioides. The treatment is effective in both prevention and treatment of the fungal infection.
US08404245B2
The present invention is concerned with an antigenic composition comprising at least one antigen that comprises at least one antigenic epitope or antigenic determinant derived from a protein present in one or both of S. equi subsp. Equi and subsp. Zooepidemicus and use thereof for immunization of non-human mammals against S. equi subsp. equi and/or subsp. Zooepidemicus. The present invention also discloses a vaccine composition comprising the aforesaid antigenic composition as immunizing component. The antigens used are EAG, FNZ, SFS, SEC and ScLC.
US08404240B2
The present invention relates to an isolated antibody or fragment thereof, which specifically binds to human FGFR-3(IIIb) and FGFR-3(IIIc), or mutant forms thereof. Further embodiments include pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibody and methods of using the antibody to treat cancer.
US08404235B2
The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to improve survivability or quality of life of a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level or a reduced serum albumin level prior to treatment. In another preferred embodiment, the patient's Glasgow Prognostic Score will be increased and survivability will preferably be improved.
US08404233B2
The present invention provides a binding protein capable of binding to delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) as well as methods and uses thereof in therapy, diagnosis or imaging. Also provided are fusion proteins and protein conjugates, nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding proteins and methods of preparing binding proteins capable of binding to DLL4.
US08404231B2
Described are methods of treating and preventing conditions associated with a loss of elastic fibers. Also provided herein are methods of screening for agents useful in treating such conditions, and animal models of conditions associated with a loss of elastic fibers.
US08404228B2
The invention features a food product containing a probiotic and β-glucan isolated from a natural source, methods of treating a disease or disorder by administering the food product, and a package containing separated components of the food product.
US08404227B2
A composition is provided that includes Bacillus subtilis 2084 (NRRL B-50013) or a strain having all of the identifying characteristics of the Bacillus subtilis 2084 (NRRL B-50013), B. subtilis 27 (NRRL B-50105) or a strain having all of the identifying characteristics of the B. subtilis 27 (NRRL B-50105), and B. licheniformis 21 (NRRL B-50134) or a strain having all of the identifying characteristics of the B. licheniformis 21 (NRRL B-50134). Animal bedding that includes the Bacillus strains is also provided, as well as a method of making the animal bedding. Also provided are methods of controlling odors from animal waste. A method of making a composition including the Bacillus strains is also provided.
US08404224B2
Cationic polymers hydrolyzable to zwitterionic polymers, monomers for making the cationic polymers, surfaces that include the polymers, therapeutic agent delivery systems that include the cationic polymers, methods for administering a therapeutic agent using the delivery systems, and methods for making and using the cationic polymers, monomers, surfaces, and therapeutic agent delivery systems.
US08404220B2
A method for producing an adapalene aqueous gel on an industrial scale including formulating a gelling medium A by mixing water and propylene glycol and adding a gelling agent thereto; formulating an adapalene medium B by dispersing adapalene in water, in the presence of a surfactant; next adding the adapalene medium B to the gelling medium A; and adjusting the pH to about 4.7-5.3.
US08404218B2
The present invention provides a gelled water-in-oil microemulsion for hair treatment comprising: (a) an oil phase comprising: (i) a first oily component which is one or more glyceride fatty esters, and (ii) a second oily component which is one or more hydrocarbon oils of average carbon chain length less than 20 carbon atoms; (b) a hydrophilic phase comprising: (i) water, (ii) a nonionic emulsifier which is an ethoxylated alcohol having an HLB of at least 6, and (iii) preferably, a hair styling agent or hair conditioning agent, and (c) a gelling agent.
US08404211B2
A method for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by General Formula (1): LixMyMe1−yO2+δ (1) where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co and Mn, Me represents a metal element that is different from M, 0.95≦x≦1.10 and 0.1≦y≦1. A lithium compound and a compound that contains M and Me are baked. The thus-obtained baked product is washed with a washing solution that contains one or more water-soluble polar aprotic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N′-dimethylimidazolidinone (DMI) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO).
US08404204B2
The present invention is directed to a granulate having photocatalytic activity, comprising particles of an inorganic particulate material coated with a photocatalytically active compound for introducing photocatalytic activity into or on building materials. The invention is further related to the manufacture of such a granulate and its use into or on building materials such as cement, concrete, gypsum and/or limestone and water-based coatings or paints for reducing an accumulation and growth of microorganisms and environmental polluting substances on these materials and thus reducing the tendency of fouling, while the brilliance of the color is maintained and the quality of the air is improved.
US08404200B2
A system to control the emissions of a fluid stream in a cyclical fashion utilizing an up-flow cycle and a down-flow cycle. The system may include a first inlet and a first outlet at a first end of the system and a second inlet and a second outlet at a second end of the system, a catalyst zone between the first end and second end, two heat transfer zones, at least one heat transfer zone positioned between the catalyst zone and the first end of the system and between the catalyst zone and the second end of the system, and two heating zones, at least one heating zone positioned between the catalyst zone and each of the at least one heat transfer zones. The symmetrical arrangement permits a bi-directional fluid cycle to recover a portion of the energy supplied to the system during each cycle.
US08404195B2
A receiving and transferring station (1) for coverslipped specimen slides (2, 2′, 2″) comprises at least one vertically upright magazine frame (5), open toward the receiving side, for at least one specimen slide magazine (4) having horizontally oriented compartments (6), and a rotation apparatus, connected to the magazine frame (5) and having a vertically upright rotation axis, for conveying the magazine frame (5) from a receiving position (3) into a transferring position (8).
US08404191B2
Biowaste sterilizers are described. In one implementation an exemplary system has waste transport vessels that can be intermittently heated and pressurized, for example, with steam, and are interconnected to provide multiple sterilization pathways for waste as the waste is transported. Selected sterilization pathways may depend on attributes of the waste. Sterilization factors, such as mechanical shredding, application of steam, application of pressure, maintenance of temperature, separation of liquid, etc., are integrated into the waste transport features of the system, which can be made compact to save space while processing relatively large bulk amounts of materials, such as medical wastes. The system maintains safe isolation of bio-hazardous components in the waste from the external environment. A system controller provides parameters management, smart sterilization cycle control, quality assurance, safety management, diagnostics, and reporting over a network.
US08404187B1
A support element is disposed between a housing and a fragile structure resiliently mounted within the housing. The support element includes an integral, substantially non-expanding ply or layer of melt-formed ceramic fibers containing at least alumina and silica. The fibers have an average diameter ranging from about 1 micron to about 14 microns and have been prepared by a process of heat treating under a time-temperature regimen of one of (i) heat treating said fibers at a temperature of 990° C. to at least 1050° C. for greater than 1 hour such that the treated fibers have about 5 to about 50 percent crystallinity as detected by x-ray diffraction, and a crystallite size of about 50 Å to about 500 Å, or (ii) heat treating said fibers at a temperature of greater than 1050° C. for an effective time such that the treated fibers have about 5 to about 50 percent crystallinity as detected by x-ray diffraction, and a crystallite size of about 50 Å to about 500 Å. The resultant support element provides a minimum residual pressure for holding the fragile structure within the housing of one of at least 4 psi after at least 200 cycles of testing at 900° C. or at least 10 psi after at least 1000 cycles of testing at 750° C. Such a support element may be used in devices for the treatment of exhaust gases such as catalytic converters, diesel particulate traps and the like. A method of mounting a fragile structure in such a device is also provided.
US08404178B2
The invention provides a high-strength pearlitic steel rail, which is inexpensive, and has a tensile strength of 1200 MPa or more, and is excellent in delayed fracture properties. Specifically, the rail contains, in mass percent, C of 0.6 to 1.0%, Si of 0.1 to 1.5%, Mn of 0.4 to 2.0%, P of 0.035% or less, S of 0.0005 to 0.010%, and the remainder is Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein tensile strength is 1200 MPa or more, and size of a long side of an A type inclusion is 250 mm or less in at least a cross-section in a longitudinal direction of a rail head, and the number of A type inclusions, each having a size of a long side of 1 mm to 250 mm, is less than 25 per observed area of 1 mm2 in the cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the rail head.
US08404169B2
An imprint apparatus for pressing resin and a mold to each other in a Z-axis direction to form a resin pattern on a shot region includes: a mold chuck; an X-Y stage; a reference mark formed on the stage; a first scope configured to measure a positional deviation in an x-y plane between a mold mark and the reference mark; a second scope configured to measure a position of a substrate mark in the plane not via the mold mark; and a dispenser configured to dispense resin. In the plane, the dispenser center is deviated in position from the mold chuck center by a first distance in a first direction, and the second scope center is deviated in position from the dispenser center by a distance smaller than twice the first distance in the first direction or a second direction opposite thereto.
US08404161B2
A hydroxyphenyl or alkoxyphenyl phosphine oxide composition comprising (i) a first mixture of mono-(hydroxyphenyl) or (alkoxyphenyl) phosphine oxide isomers, (ii) a second mixture of bis-(hydroxyphenyl) or (alkoxyphenyl) phosphine oxide isomers, (iii) a third mixture of tris-(hydroxyphenyl) or (alkoxyphenyl) phosphine oxide isomers, and optionally iv) a minority amount of non-hydroxy or non-alkoxy tris-phenyl phosphine oxides is provided. Also provided are epoxy resins compositions with excellent flame retardancy and physical properties, which resins comprise the phosphine oxide composition.
US08404159B2
A composition suitable for fabricating an electronic device such as an OLED using an ink-jet printing technique comprises a conducting or semi-conducting organic material and a solvent, the solvent having a boiling point of greater than 250° C. and a viscosity of less than 5 cPs. The composition preferably has a viscosity in the range between 0.1 and 20 cPs, and the solvent preferably has the formula: where R represents a C6 to C11 alkyl. The high boiling point of the solvent allows the “ink” to remain wet for a longer time after printing. This provides better process control during drying, resulting in more uniform films and greater control over the film profile. The low viscosity of the solvent enables jetting of the composition at high frequencies.
US08404151B2
The invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a large elastic constant, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced between at least two of the characteristics; and is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has a nematic phase and includes a specific three-ring compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature and a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and a specific compound having a small viscosity as a third component, and a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.
US08404149B2
The present disclosure relates to an absorbent structure for use in a diaper for babies and infants, a feminine hygiene article and/or an incontinence article, said absorbent structure comprising a water-absorbing material, the water-absorbing material being obtainable by a process comprising the steps of A) treating a particulate, non-surface-crosslinked, water-absorbing polymer with a mixture comprising an aqueous solvent and at least one salt of a transition metal and B) irradiating the polymer treated according to A) with UV radiation, and to a process for its production.
US08404148B2
The present invention relates to a polymer composition with an increased rate of oxygen-uptake by the presence of an oxidation catalyst. The invention further relates to a process to increase the rate of oxygen-uptake by a polymer composition. The invention also relates to a process to increase the oxo-biodegradability of a polymer composition and to the use of such a composition for the preparation of a product having a controlled lifetime. The invention further relates to a process to increase the rate of oxygen-scavenging in a composition containing a carbon-containing polymer, the composition obtained by this method and its use in the preparation of an oxygen-scavenging product. The present invention further relates to objects containing an oxygen scavenging layer containing such a composition.
US08404135B2
A method for cleaning and refurbishing a chamber component includes placing a chamber component having process deposits on an exterior surface in a plasma vapor deposition chamber. The chamber component is bombarded with a plasma comprising Argon for a period of time sufficient to remove the process deposits from the exterior surface of the chamber component.
US08404133B2
A method for manufacturing a planar optical waveguide device of which a core includes a plurality of alternatively arranged fin portions and valley portions to form a grating structure, in which the core widths of the valley portions vary along the longitudinal direction, the method including: a high refractive index material layer forming step of forming a high refractive index material layer; a photoresist layer forming step of forming a photoresist layer on the high refractive index material layer; a first exposure step of forming shaded portions on the photoresist layer using a phase-shifting photomask; a second exposure step of forming shaded portions on the photoresist layer using a binary photomask; a development step of developing the photoresist layer; and an etching step of etching the high refractive index material layer using the photoresist pattern resulted from the development step.
US08404125B2
In a metal processing method, a photoresist liquid is applied to both surfaces of a metal plate (210) to form photoresist films (220, 230), respectively (Step S102). Subsequently, the photoresist films (220, 230) are exposed and developed so that the photoresist films (220, 230) is removed while leaving the photoresist films (220, 230) corresponding to portions in which a hole is to be formed (Step S103). Next, metal thin films (240, 250) are formed on both the surfaces of the metal plate (210), respectively, on which the photoresist films (220, 230) are formed (Step S104). Subsequently, the photoresist films (220, 230) are removed, and metal thin films (245, 255) are also removed, which are formed on the photoresist films (220, 230), respectively (Step S105). Finally, the metal plate (210) is immersed in an etchant to be etched, to thereby form a high-precision hole in the metal plate (210) (Step S106).
US08404119B2
A method of membrane separation and membrane separation apparatus, with which not only a supply liquid can be evaluated but also the problems, such as scale, occurring on reverse osmosis membrane can be monitored in a highly straightforward fashion. There is provided a membrane separation apparatus equipped with reverse osmosis membrane module (3) so as to be adapted for feeding of a supply liquid and obtaining of a permeated liquid and a concentrated liquid, characterized by comprising a feeding-side membrane separation means (10) which includes a separation membrane (11) of which the membrane face (11a) can be monitored and guides the supply liquid so as to separate the membrane, and a concentrating-side membrane separation means (20) which includes a separation membrane (21) of which the membrane face (21a) can be monitored and guides the concentrated liquid so as to separate the membrane separation thereof.
US08404113B2
A transportable disaster-relief generating system is a power generated, multi-functional, and compact relief unit with means for providing area lighting via a power generator, purifying and storing potable water from a non-potable water source, and creating ice utilizing purified water. The disaster-relief unit of the present invention may further provide a portable ice storage bin in a knockdown configuration to hold a large quantity of ice. A bladder may be used to hold potable water produced. The equipment is physically protected by the structural framework and base. The device may comprise access doors and suitable paneling on the walls and roof of the device.
US08404104B2
A method for obtaining an olefin is disclosed, the method comprising subjecting a paraffin to dehydrogenation in the absence of oxygen and in the presence of a catalyst comprising a crystalline substrate, to obtain an olefin. The catalyst includes an inert stabilizing agent for maintaining the catalyst crystal structure. The catalyst may be regenerated by being subjected, in air, to a temperature between about 550° C. and about 750° C., for a period of time between about 15 minutes and about 4 hours.
US08404103B2
Methods are disclosed for the hydrotreating and hydrocracking of highly aromatic distillate feeds such as light cycle oil (LCO) to produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. Optimization of hydrotreater severity improves the octane quality of the gasoline or naphtha fraction. In particular, the operation of the hydrotreater at reduced severity to allow at least about 20 ppm by weight of organic nitrogen into the hydrocracker feed is shown to lead to these important benefits. Post-treating of the hydrocracker effluent over an additional hydrotreating catalyst bed may be desired to meet specifications for ultra low sulfur fuel components.
US08404102B2
Methods and apparatus for electrochemically determining an analyte concentration value in a physiological sample are disclosed. The methods include using a test strip in which two time-current transients are measured by a meter electrically connected to an electrochemical test strip. Integrative current values are derived from the time-current transients and used in the calculation of analyte concentration.
US08404101B2
A gas sensor control apparatus including internal resistance detection means for detecting an internal resistance value of one of cells of a gas sensor, concentration detection means for detecting a concentration value of a specific gas component in a gas to be measured and outputting the detected concentration value, heater current supply control means for controlling a current to be supplied to a heater of the gas sensor such that the detected internal resistance value becomes a target value, determination means for determining whether or not the detected internal resistance value is within a permissible range including the target value, and nullification setting means for setting the detected concentration value to a predetermined nullification concentration value to nullify the detected concentration value, when it is determined that the target value is out of the permissible range.
US08404099B2
A method for the electrolytic production of hydrogen where radiation excited water from a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant is delivered to one or more electrolysers where DC current is applied to pairs of electrodes in the electrolysers to form hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is collected. The collection of hydrogen can be carried out in a grid energy storage system to produce large quantities of hydrogen during low grid demand for electricity with little or no hydrogen during high grid electricity demand.
US08404081B2
An exemplary through-air-dried web substrate having a surface thereof is described. The surface has a surface area and an emboss pattern disposed thereon. The emboss pattern has a surface area defined by a perimeter circumscribing the emboss pattern. The surface area of the emboss pattern ranges from about 5 percent to about 40 percent of the surface area of the through-air-dried web substrate.
US08404079B1
The invention includes a hot melt adhesive composition that includes at least one of an isotactic copolymer of butene-1 and a metallocene catalyzed propylene homopolymer, a tackifying resin, and, optionally, a wax. The adhesive composition initially exhibits adhesion quality and subsequently non-adhesion quality. The invention also includes methods of using the adhesive composition for temporarily bonding substrates.
US08404076B2
A subassembly of a Coriolis flowmeter is fabricated from a single monolithic piece of elastic polymeric material. The subassembly includes two flow-sensitive members and a base integrally connected to the two flow-sensitive members. The two flow-sensitive members include straight sections, and are substantially similar and parallel to each other. Flow passages are drilled along the straight sections of the two flow-sensitive members, and drilled entrances are sealed using the elastic polymeric material. A temperature sensor is fixedly attached to a flow-sensitive member for measuring a temperature of the flow-sensitive member and communicating the temperature to a metering electronics. The metering electronics determines a calibrated flow rate of fluid flowing through the Coriolis flowmeter that accounts for the temperature.
US08404070B2
The present invention relates to a method for making a graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure. The method includes steps of: providing a carbon nanotube film structure and a dispersed solution, and the dispersed solution comprises a solvent and an amount of functionalized graphene sheets dispersed in the solvent; applying the dispersed solution on a surface of the carbon nanotube film structure; and removing the solvent and thereby locating the functionalized graphene sheets on the carbon nanotube film structure. The present invention also relates to a method for making a transmission electron microscope grid.
US08404068B2
A method of prefabricating and installing a synthetic turf field includes providing a controlled manufacturing facility with an open area that allows a plurality of turf strips to be laid out on a floor thereof. Visual markings are placed on the floor to allow the individual strips to be properly aligned on the floor. Once aligned, inlays can be placed into the proper strip and then secured. After the inlays have been secured, the strips can be rolled up and appropriately labeled for subsequent installation. After all the strips that will make up the field have been processed and rolled up, the rolls can be taken to the job site so the field can be installed.
US08404064B1
The present invention is a laminating process which is directed toward economical production methods for scalable amounts of production which develop properties suitable for a broad based product line. In particular, the product is capable of important key components of commercial properties such as adhesion, scratch resistance, chemical inertness, and bending without failure.
US08404053B2
A method for cleaning a computer or typewriter keyboard with a cleaning device, wherein the keyboard includes a pair of keys spaced apart a distance S1 from each other, and wherein the cleaning device includes a handle, a bristle retaining portion extending in a direction d1 away from the handle, wherein the bristle retaining portion has a first end connected with the handle and an engagement area located on the bristle retaining portion at a point on the bristle retaining portion which is furthest from the handle, and a plurality of bristles connected with and extending from the bristle retaining portion at the engagement area, the method comprising: inserting the engagement area in between the keys.
US08404021B2
Pulse jet air cleaner systems components and methods are described. The features relate to air cleaner housings that include a cartridge receiving section. Features described relate to a possible two-stage construction, a pulse jet accumulator section, pulse jet equipment for cleaning a filter cartridge positioned within the air cleaner; evacuation valve arrangements for projection of dust from the air cleaners; and other example features. Methods of assembly and use are also provided.
US08404016B2
A method for refining a metal such that, after a base material derived from the metal is melted by being irradiated with an electron beam, the base material is refined by solidifying the base material which was melted, the method including: a step melting all of the base material by irradiating the electron beam over an entire surface of the base material loaded inside a water-cooled crucible placed inside a high vacuum atmosphere; a step gradually solidifying the base material which was melted from a molten metal bottom part of the base material which was melted toward a molten metal surface part at a side being irradiated by the electron beam by gradually weakening an output of the electron beam while maintaining a condition in which the base material which was melted is irradiated with the electron beam; and a step removing a molten metal part which is not solidified, after the base material which was melted is solidified to a certain percentage.
US08404015B2
The invention relates to a filter arrangement (1) for filtering a fluid, e.g. combustion air for a combustion engine. Said filter arrangement has several tubular sections or segments (2, 3). At least part of a wall (4) of at least one tubular section (2) comprises a filter material (4B). At least one tubular section (3) is designed in a bendable manner like a folding joint (5A).
US08404014B2
An arrangement separating a hydrophobic liquid phase from gaseous stream, for crankcase ventilation arrangements as described. The arrangement includes a media stage including media formed from a vacuum forming process and including at least 50%, by weight, bi-component fiber therein. Useable media formulations and arrangements are described.
US08404006B2
A self-propelled harvesting vehicle includes a crop material pick-up device, a fragmentation unit for fragmentizing the crop material, and a mechanical dehydration device which is used to remove an aqueous portion of the crop material, and which is divided into a first dehydration unit that takes place upstream of the fragmentation unit, and a second dehydration unit that takes place downstream of the fragmentation unit; and a method of harvesting is performed by the thusly arranged units.
US08404004B2
A process for production of biofuels from algae can include cultivating an oil-producing algae, extracting the algal oil, and converting the algal oil to form biodiesel. Extracting the algal oil from the oil-producing algae can include biologically rupturing cell wall and oil vesicles of the oil-producing algae using at least one enzyme such as a cellulose or glycoproteinase, a structured enzyme system such as a cellulosome, a virus, or combination of these materials.
US08403996B2
An implantable device for facilitating the healing of voids in bone, cartilage and soft tissue is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a cartilage region comprising a polyelectrolytic complex joined with a subchondral bone region. The cartilage region, of this embodiment, enhances the environment for chondrocytes to grow articular cartilage; while the subchondral bone region enhances the environment for cells which migrate into that region's macrostructure and which differentiate into osteoblasts. A hydrophobic barrier exists between the regions, of this embodiment. In one embodiment, the polyelectrolytic complex transforms to hydrogel, following the implant procedure.
US08403994B2
Knee prosthesis includes a femoral component adapted to fit on a distal end of the femur and a tibial insert component. The femoral component includes a measured anterior/posterior dimension defined by the posterior condyle surface and the interior surface of the anterior flange and a distal peg provided on a distal bone facing surface of each of the lateral and medial condylar structures, wherein the distal pegs are positioned at a midpoint of the measured anterior/posterior dimension. The implant system provides two distinct sizing segments and the tibial insert has a medial tibial aspect ratio of 0.74 and a lateral tibial aspect ratio of 0.65 to 0.68 for all sizes.
US08403992B2
Knee prostheses featuring components that more faithfully replicate the structure and function of the human knee joint in order to provide, among other benefits: greater flexion of the knee in a more natural way by promoting or at least accommodating internal tibial rotation in a controlled way, replication of the natural screw home mechanism, and controlled articulation of the tibia and femur respective to each other in a more natural way. In a preferred embodiment, such prostheses include an insert component disposed between a femoral component and a tibial component, the insert component preferably featuring among other things a reversely contoured posterolateral bearing surface that helps impart internal rotation to the tibia as the knee flexes. Other surfaces can also be specially shaped to achieve similar results, preferably using iterative automated techniques that allow testing and iterative design taking into account a manageable set of major forces acting on the knee during normal functioning, together with information that is known about natural knee joint kinetics and kinematics.
US08403990B2
An expandable spinal implant comprising a cage body including at least two movable branches having first end portions that are interconnected to one another and second end portions that are movable relative to one another. The movable branches include a first shell portion having a first pair of longitudinal edges and defining a first hollow region therebetween, and a second shell portion having a second pair of longitudinal edges and defining a second hollow region therebetween, with the first and second hollow regions cooperating to define at least a portion of a hollow interior of the cage body. An expansion member co-acts with the first and second shell portions to transition the cage body to an expanded configuration as the expansion member is axially displaced along said first and second pairs of longitudinal edges. In one embodiment, at least one of the shell portions defines a plurality of retention elements positioned at select axial locations along a corresponding one of the longitudinal edges, with the expansion member engaged with one or more of the retention elements to retain the expansion member at a select axial position to maintain the implant in the expanded configuration.
US08403989B2
Disclosed is an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of a natural intervertebral disc within the lumbar and cervical spine, comprising of articulating sliding partners. The upper sliding partner has means for a firm assembly to an upper vertebral body and the lower sliding partner has means for a firm assembly to a lower vertebral body. At least one sliding surface is between two sliding partners. Two- and three-part functional designs are planned and both having in common, that, as a result of the shape of the articulating surface(s), the laterolateral and dorsoventral motion amplitudes differ. The resulting angles including the rotation around a fictitious vertical axis can be defined to a desired extent.
US08403974B2
A medical warming system includes a plurality of heating elements respectively adapted to be disposed closed to various parts of a plurality of patients' bodies, a first group of sensors disposed at the proximity of the heating elements and configured for measuring the temperatures of the heating elements, a second group of sensors adapted to be disposed at the various parts of the patients' bodies and configured for measuring the temperatures of the various parts of the patients' bodies, and a controller being in communication with the first group and the second group of sensors. The controller is configured for receiving temperature data from the sensors and controlling the temperature of each heating element accordingly. Each heating element includes a conductive layer made from a nano-thickness material.
US08403969B2
Provided is a novel system that includes a low profile anterior vertebral body plate and quick lock screws for the fixation and stabilization of the cervical spine, the quick lock screw having an integral novel screw locking mechanism of a locking thread disposed on at least a portion of the side of the screw head, which engages an inwardly directed screw hole flange and thus attaches to the plate so as to lock the screw into the plate Also provided is a method of stabilizing cervical vertebrae using the disclosed system.
US08403968B2
Bone plates and methods of using the bone plates for adjoining bone fragments are disclosed herein. A device for adjoining at least two bone fragments includes a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of at least one filling material and an inner lumen for passage of a light source; a conformable bone plate releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the conformable bone plate has a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, and a distal end and at least one aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface for receiving a fastener; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the light source and a delivery system housing the at least one filling material.
US08403965B2
A vertebral attachment method and system that minimizes or eliminates the risk of severing, compressing, impinging or otherwise injuring the vertebral artery vertebral vein, spinal nerve roots and/or spinal cord. The system includes at least one plate that may be anchored to a posterior region of a vertebra using at least one clamp and fastener. The system may be specifically designed to retain a portion of the posterior region of the vertebra.
US08403961B2
A system for restricting spinal flexion includes superior and inferior tether structures joined by a pair of compliance members. Compliance members comprise tension members which apply a relatively low elastic tension on the tether structures. By placing the tether structures on or over adjacent spinous processes, flexion of a spinal segment can be controlled in order to reduce pain.
US08403957B2
A system and associated method for arthroscopic repair is particularly adapted in reattaching a ligament and/or tendon to cortical bone of the shoulder. A suture anchor system includes a suture anchor, preferably, a screw anchor, and an installation tool for installing the suture anchor in tissue. The suture anchor defines a longitudinal axis and has a longitudinal cannulation for reception and passage of a guide wire. The suture anchor has trailing and leading ends, and an anchor head adjacent the trailing end thereof. The anchor head includes at least one eyelet for reception of a suture and an internal bore therein. The installation tool includes a main body and a driver head extending from the main body. The main body includes an outer surface having a longitudinal recess therein to accommodate the suture. The driver head is correspondingly dimensioned to be received within the internal bore of the anchor head of the suture anchor whereby movement of the installation tool about a longitudinal axis, e.g., rotational movement, thereof causes corresponding movement, e.g., rotational, of the suture anchor. The installation tool may also define a longitudinal cannulation for reception and passage of the guide wire.
US08403949B2
An ultrasonic assembly that is removably connectable to an ultrasonic waveguide of an ultrasonic surgical handle includes a cordless ultrasonic-movement-generation assembly having an ultrasonic generator and an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the generator and having an output couple, a shell housing therein the ultrasonic-movement-generation assembly and having a securing connection shaped to removably connect to the ultrasonic surgical handle. The output couple is operable to impart ultrasonic movement to the ultrasonic waveguide when the securing connection is connected to the ultrasonic surgical handle and the waveguide is connected to the output couple.
US08403947B2
The invention relates to a method of suturing. Briefly, a portion of a needle having a continuous suture thread running through the eye is advanced through a first location on a first side of a tissue. When the needle is withdrawn from said tissue a suture loop is retained on a second side of said tissue. This can be repeated to obtain as many suture loops as desired on additional locations of the tissue. When all the desired suture loops are formed the needle is advanced all the way through the tissue and a single strand of suture thread is passed through each suture loop on the second side of the said tissue. Thus, one continuous suture forms the suture loop(s) and engages the sutured loops. In a preferred embodiment the needle eye, through which the suture thread runs, is located in the tip portion of said needle. It is also preferred that the needle is curved. The tissue may be, for example, a tendon (e.g., patellar), a ligament, or a graft. In yet another embodiment the suturing method of the present invention involves passing a suture through a tendon to achieve maximum suture fixation strength, as well as a method of securing the tendon to bone that allows for accelerated tendon healing to bone. The invention also relates to a construct prepared by the suture methods of the present invention.
US08403946B2
An end effector is provided and includes a distal housing portion and a proximal housing portion interconnected to one another by a knuckle portion, wherein the knuckle portion permits rotation of the distal housing portion relative thereto and articulation of the distal housing portion relative to the proximal housing portion; a jaw assembly supported in the distal end of the distal housing portion, the jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw movable between a spaced apart and an approximated position; and a plurality of fasteners loaded within the distal housing portion, each of the plurality of fasteners defining a fastener axis extending in a direction substantially parallel to a pair of legs thereof, each of the plurality of fasteners being arranged within the base portion such that the fastener axis is disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the distal housing portion.
US08403942B2
A method for performing a surgical procedure is disclosed which uses an anvil delivery system including an anvil assembly, a flexible tube having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a fitting to deliver the anvil assembly to a desired site. The method includes the steps of cutting a second end portion of the flexible tube, attaching a fitting to the second end portion of the flexible tube which has been cut, inserting the insertion tip into tissue, advancing the insertion tip along with the flexible tube and anvil assembly to the desired site within a patient's body, and removing the flexible tube from the anvil assembly and from the desired site leaving the anvil assembly in a patient's body at the desired site.
US08403932B2
A surgical sagittal saw blade and a complementary cutting guide for use with the blade. The blade includes a bar shaped to be releasably secured in a static position to a complementary surgical sagittal saw. A blade head with teeth is mounted to the bar to pivot. One or more drive links connected to the saw extend to the blade head to pivot the blade head. The cutting guide and blade bar have complementary features for holding the blade bar to above a surface of the cutting guide. The features that hold the blade bar to the cutting guide allow the blade to move over the cutting guide surface while constrain the blade from moving out of the plane immediately above the cutting guide surface.
US08403930B2
A fixation device for the fixation of bone fragments, applicable to the mutual fastening of bone fragments temporarily separated during a surgical operation or as a result of a trauma. The device is also suitable for the fixation of a bone flap in the replacement thereof in a corresponding aperture made in the cranium or cranial bone mass. The device is made of biocompatible material and has a flexible strip and fastening mechanism, the strip having a length allowing the formation of a fastening loop tightly fastening the bone fragments to be joined together. The fastening mechanism is provided with at least one opening provided with an interlocking mechanism allowing the passage of a free end of the strip and preventing its extraction in the direction opposite to the insertion.
US08403928B2
An outrigger for connecting to an external bone fixation clamp comprises an elongated member having a length, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a threaded portion. The outrigger also comprises a connecting member operably associated with the elongated member, the connecting member having a tightening portion at a proximal end and a gripping portion at a distal end, the gripping portion having a greater diameter than the tightening portion. The outrigger also comprises a slide lock disposed about the threaded portion, the slide lock being longitudinally movable along the length of the threaded portion and having a non-smooth engagement surface configured to engage a non-smooth surface of the external bone fixation clamp in order to prevent rotation of the elongated member relative to the external bone fixation clamp.
US08403925B2
A method and system for assessing lesion formation in tissue is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is configured to acquire values for first and second components of a complex impedance between the electrode and the tissue, and to calculate an index responsive to the first and second values. The ECU is further configured to process the ECI to assess lesion formation in the tissue.
US08403922B2
A non-contact laser handpiece contains optical components modified to provide a high-density uniform laser beam at a distance from the handpiece that minimizes effects of back reflection.
US08403921B2
System and method for making incisions in eye tissue at different depths. The system and method focuses light, possibly in a pattern, at various focal points which are at various depths within the eye tissue. A segmented lens can be used to create multiple focal points simultaneously. Optimal incisions can be achieved by sequentially or simultaneously focusing lights at different depths, creating an expanded column of plasma, and creating a beam with an elongated waist.
US08403920B2
A method to perform high resolution tissue ablation including the steps of forming a beam to deliver optical energy and providing an energy dissipating material is provided. The steps of selecting an area of interest in a target tissue and placing the energy dissipating material adjacent to the area of interest may be included. The steps of directing the beam to the area of interest and scanning the beam across the area of interest to ablate the target tissue may be further included. Also provided is an apparatus and a system for high resolution tissue ablation including a beam to provide optical energy and an injector for placing an energy dissipating material adjacent to an area of interest. Further, the apparatus and system may include at least a mirror and a lens for directing the beam to the area of interest and scanning the beam to ablate target tissue.
US08403918B2
An economical computer-controlled non-invasive laser apparatus and method to perform anterior segment surgery in an eye are disclosed. The laser source may include a pumping laser, a Nd:YAG laser cavity gain media, a stimulated Raman converter crystal, intracavity beam diameter-reducing optics, and an intracavity Q-switching crystal. The laser pulses have a selected wavelength for anterior segment surgery. A laser pulse delivery and treatment control mechanism and method for the practicing surgeon are also provided. The laser pulses and delivery system may be used in anterior segment surgery for cataracts, where the laser pulses may be used to form the capsulotomy, to form the corneal incision or to disintegrate contents of the capsule before removal. The laser and delivery system may also the used to treat a capsule and lens for correcting or preventing presbyopia and to treat a cornea to correct visual deficiencies in an eye.
US08403914B2
According to one embodiment, a medical device may include an energy supply. The energy supply includes at least two battery stacks, a control unit and a reservoir. The at least two battery stacks include a backup energy source. The control unit may monitor and control the energy supply such that when the control unit detects a fault in the at least two battery stacks, the control unit disconnects a faulty battery stack. The reservoir may be carried by the energy supply.
US08403910B2
The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. The additive has a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part and the therapeutic agent is not enclosed in micelles or encapsulated in particles or controlled release carriers.
US08403908B2
A differential pressure based flow sensor assembly and method of using the same to determine the rate of fluid flow in a fluid system. The sensor assembly comprises a disposable portion, and a reusable portion. A flow restricting element is positioned along a fluid flow passage between an inlet and an outlet. The disposable portion further has an upstream fluid pressure membrane and a downstream fluid pressure membrane. The reusable portion has an upstream fluid pressure sensor and a downstream fluid pressure sensor. The upstream fluid pressure sensor senses the upstream fluid pressure at a location within the fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element. The downstream fluid pressure sensor senses the downstream fluid pressure at a location within the fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet. The process utilizes output of the sensors to calculate the flow rate of the fluid.
US08403906B2
A therapy module for providing a diagnostic or therapeutic substance combination, including at least two containers adapted to be interconnected for taking up at least one substance, and means or part of a means for supplying a quantity of the at least one substance from one of the containers into another container of the therapy module.
US08403900B2
Various embodiments of a fluid collection system having multiple storage chambers are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system may include a first chamber in fluid communication with a suction source and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. The second chamber may have a volume less than a volume of the first chamber. The second chamber may also comprise an inlet port for connecting to an external tube. The system may be configured to selectively drain liquid from the second chamber into the first chamber.
US08403898B2
A device used for applying an antiseptic preparation to a surgical site of a patient prior to surgery outside of an operating theater. A loose-fitting bag is provided which encloses the surgical site by securing the open end(s) to the patient by closing means. A method and apparatus are also provided for releasing antiseptic into the interior of the bag. The method provides that the surgical site can be scrubbed within the bag so as to properly prepare the skin for surgery. A temperature indicator for the antiseptic preparation is also provided.
US08403894B2
An improved luer lock receiving septum having a configuration which provides rapid and tight resealing and yet allows penetration of the septum by the luer tip with a low penetration force. The elongated septum includes an upper portion of enlarged diameter having a target surface, a central slit, and a central, lower septum extension projecting about the slit below the upper portion and into a housing so that following luer insertion there is provided sufficient room for both the laterally displaced extension of the septum, the luer taper, and the housing to be received into a conventional luer lock connector. The septum is further preferably configured to minimize or eliminate the negative pressure deflection normally associated with the withdrawal of the large diameter luer cannula from an enclosed fluid filled lumen or chamber, by substantially isolating the lumen or chamber from the septum material displacement resultant from luer insertion. In an exemplary embodiment, the luer receiving septum is provided at a port of a stop cock.
US08403886B2
A needle guard includes a clip with a canting wall to grip the needle shaft and a distal wall to block the tip thereof, wherein the canting and distal walls may be interconnected by an angled strut, a spring member, such as a leaf spring, may have a portion extending past an edge of the strut to bias the clip to grip the needle shaft, and the distal wall may be or include a stylus and have an L-shape to define a lip to help block the needle tip. The clip may have a depending heel to help pivot the clip about a ledge to grip the needle shaft. A needle support may be provided to limit flexure of the needle which might otherwise allow the needle to come loose from the clip. Arrangements for limiting rotation of the needle hub and needle guard housing are provided, as is a protective shroud to reduce the risk of inadvertent activation of the needle guard. Further, the needle guard may be used with a catheter assembly. Also provided is an improved duckbill release mechanism.
US08403881B2
Systems and methods are described for obtaining and acting upon information indicative of circulatory health and related phenomena in human beings or other subjects. Some involve implementing or deploying therapeutic administration systems, for example, for obtaining a flow-change-indicative measurement and signaling a decision whether to administer one or more clot-reducing agents at least partly based on the flow-change-indicative measurement.
US08403875B2
In a blood therapy apparatus having a load cell sensor and a coupler for securing a load, a bag thereon is characterized by a free hanging link hanging from the coupler, and a bag hanger comprising an elongated rod having a plurality of bag engaging hooks and upwardly extending hook secured at the weight center of the rod and freely hanging from the links.
US08403865B2
A method is provided for predicting an onset of an asthma attack. The method includes sensing at least one parameter of a subject without contacting or viewing the subject or clothes the subject is wearing, and predicting the onset of the asthma attack at least in part responsively to the sensed parameter. Also provided is a method for predicting an onset of an episode associated with congestive heart failure (CHF), including sensing at least one parameter of a subject without contacting or viewing the subject or clothes the subject is wearing, and predicting the onset of the episode at least in part responsively to the sensed parameter. Other embodiments are also described.
US08403855B2
The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit.
US08403852B2
A combined wave having a plurality of frequencies and phases is transmitted to each of a plurality of scan lines in at least three rates by alternately inverting a phase by 180°. An obtained echo signal is received for each rate. The echo signals are added by using arbitrary weighting coefficients so that 0 is obtained by using the polarity as the sign. Ultrasonic image data is generated by using a difference tone component contained in the added echo signal.
US08403850B2
An elastographic imaging system providing for axial, lateral and elevational strain measurements employs a series of one-dimensional axial measurements to deduce a coarse axial, lateral and/or elevational displacement that is used to guide one or more, two- or three-dimensional cross-correlations of smaller kernels providing improved image resolution.
US08403849B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: transmission and reception signal lines that send transmission and reception signals of ultrasound to a plurality of ultrasound transducers; signal determining portions near the ultrasound transducers and determine a selection signal for selecting an ultrasound transducer to be driven or a readout signal for reading out the selection signal, the selection signal being sent out in synchronization with a transmission signal for forming the transmission and reception signal, and couple the ultrasound transducer to be driven with the transmission and reception signal line according to a result of the determination; and direct current blocking/clipping circuits that block a direct current bias component superimposed on the transmission and reception signal and sent via the transmission and reception signal line, and clip a waveform with large amplitude. The transmission and reception signal line sends the transmission and reception signal with the selection signal or the readout signal.
US08403842B2
A transvaginal ultrasound probe speculum is designed for use with a generally cylindrical elongated ultrasound probe. The speculum has an elongated blade having a proximal end and a distal end, and a connector, such as a collar. The speculum has a lever that cooperates with the collar and the elongated blade for pivoting the blade relative to the ultrasound probe so that the blade and the ultrasound probe serve as the blades of the speculum.
US08403840B2
A medical instrument serves for creating an access for a minimally invasive intervention and has a body having a longitudinal axis. The body is assembled of at least two parts, each of said parts having edges extending along a direction of said axis. Each of said parts having edges extending along a direction of said axis. Each part has a distal section merging into a proximal section standing outwardly from said longitudinal axis. In a first position, the distal end section of the parts are joined along said edges to form a distal body with the proximal section standing away. In a second position, the proximal sections of said parts are joined along said edges to form a hollow proximal body with said distal end section spreaded outwardly. The edges are provided with interacting features which are designed to block a lateral sliding of said joined parts transversely to said edges.
US08403839B2
A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.
US08403823B2
A ventricular apex connector for quick connection and disconnection of an inflow tube of a ventricular assist device, comprising a sewing ring, a cylindrical ring, gripping pins, a spring ring and a sealing O-ring is provided. The cylindrical ring defines two openings, diametrically opposed to each other, in its walls. Gripping pins, comprising rods with gripping pads, are placed in the openings in the cylindrical ring so that the gripping pads are at rest within the inner circumference of the cylindrical ring. The spring ring is placed around the cylindrical ring and the rods of the gripping pads, which extend out of the outer wall of the cylindrical ring, are welded to the spring ring. The gripping pins are thus biased towards each other by the force of the spring ring. When the spring ring is squeezed, at points away from the gripping pin connection points, the deformation of the spring ring causes the gripping pads to be pulled out towards the inner wall of the cylindrical ring. An inflow tube of a heart pump may then be inserted into the ventricular apex connector, and upon the release of the spring ring, the inflow tube is sealedly held within the ventricle of the heart. In an embodiment an adapter sleeve may be attached to the inflow tube. In a further embodiment, the inflow tube may include an inner sleeve that is slidably and rotatably mounted therein. The inflow tube may have a bend at an end.
US08403821B2
A radiotherapy apparatus controller includes: an imperfect three-dimensional data calculating unit configured to calculate an imperfect three-dimensional data based on a plurality of imperfect transmission images which is respectively imaged from a plurality of imperfect directions except a predetermined direction among a plurality of directions different from each other; an imaging unit configured to image an additional transmission image from the predetermined direction by using an imager system; a perfect three-dimensional data calculating unit configured to calculate a perfect three-dimensional data based on the additional transmission image and the imperfect three-dimensional data; and a position calculating unit configured to calculate a position of a part of a subject inside based on the perfect three-dimensional data. The radiotherapy apparatus controller can faster calculate the position with higher precision.
US08403816B2
A treadmill includes a body having a belt for supporting an exerciser, an exerciser detecting portion installed in a predetermined area of the body to detect movement of the exerciser, a driving motor coupled to the body to drive the belt, a control portion for generating a first control signal for adjusting a rotation speed of the driving motor based on a signal received from the exerciser detecting portion, a motor driving portion for adjusting the rotation speed of the driving motor according to the first control signal received from the control portion, and an electrical braking portion for reducing the rotation speed of the driving motor. The treadmill quickly follows acceleration or deceleration of an exerciser; provides an experience as if the exerciser is exercising on the ground, thereby improve an exerciser's exercising experience; accepts various exercising patterns of an exerciser; resolves a problem in that a motor driving portion is tripped due to a load caused by quick deceleration; and preprocesses measured values of an exerciser's position to resolve a problem in that a speed of a belt cannot be controlled due to measurement errors contained in measured values.
US08403804B2
A front wheel drive transmission is provided having a transmission input member, a transmission output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake arranged within a transmission housing.
US08403803B2
A multi-stage transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples drive shaft (1). The carrier of gearset (P1) couples shaft (3) which can couple housing (G) via brake (03), shaft (1) via clutch (13), which couples the carrier of gearset (P4), and shaft (6), via clutch (36). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gears of gearsets (P3, P4). Shaft (7) couples the ring gear of gearset (P1) and the carrier of gearset (P2). The sun gear of set (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple housing (G) via brake (04). The ring gear of gearset (P3) couples shaft (5), which can couple housing (G) via brake (05) and output shaft (2) operatively couples the ring gear of gearset (P4), is connected to the carrier of gearset (P3).
US08403802B2
A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eleven forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08403794B2
An in-wheel motor drive unit (21) comprises a casing (22), a motor part (A), a deceleration part (B), a wheel hub (31), and a wheel hub bearing (33) rotatably supporting the wheel hub (31) with respect to the casing (22). The wheel hub bearing (33) includes first and second outer track surfaces (33a) and (33b) provided on the inner diameter surface of the casing (22), a first inner track surface (33c) provided on the outer diameter surface of a wheel-side rotation member (30) and opposed to the first outer track surface (33a), a second inner track surface (33d) provided on the outer diameter surface of the wheel hub (31) and opposed to the second outer track surface (33b), and a plurality of rolling elements (33e) arranged between the outer track surfaces (33a) and (33b) and the inner track surfaces (33c) and (33d).
US08403783B2
A hydraulic tensioner includes an inlet portion which defines a pressurized fluid inlet. The hydraulic tensioner also includes a housing defining a chamber which is coupled to the inlet portion. A band check valve separates the pressurized fluid inlet from the chamber, and a piston slideably engages the housing. A method of manufacturing the hydraulic tensioner is also disclosed.
US08403781B2
The present invention provides a tensioning device, in particular for a timing chain of an internal combustion engine, having a housing, a tensioning piston guided in a piston bore of the housing, and a locking means for limiting the retraction motion of the tensioning piston into the piston bore of the housing. The locking means comprises a locking ring arranged on the tensioning piston. Furthermore, the locking means comprises a separate locking sleeve that can be reversibly radially expanded and is arranged at one tensioning end of the housing to introduce the locking ring into the locking means in the retraction direction of the tensioning piston and to retain the locking ring in the locking means in the tensioning direction of the tensioning piston.
US08403778B2
A game ball as provided having a central passage capable of holding a beverage container and an elongated raised symbol gripping portion. The central passage is circular in shape and uniform in diameter and shares a longitudinal axis with the game ball. In one aspect of the invention, the game ball may be used as an insulated beverage container receptacle and is comprised of central fins that define the base for which the container may rest. The raised symbol gripping portion allows a user to impart rotational movement, or spiral action, when a ball is thrown.
US08403774B2
Golf club heads which include an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face, a rear surface opposite the ball striking face (e.g., including a perimeter weighting member) and an indicator which indicates the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.
US08403769B2
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures contacting an inner surface of the face, to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element includes a chamber adapted to contain a viscous substance. The viscous substance can be selected and inserted into the chamber to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.
US08403767B2
An infant swing apparatus comprises a support structure and at least one swing arm pivotally coupled with the support structure, a seat, including a backrest support tube, and a recline assembly connecting the seat with the swing arm. The recline assembly comprises a first coupling shell fixedly coupled with the backrest support tube, a second coupling shell fixedly coupled with the swing arm and pivotally assembled with the first coupling shell, a latch member assembled between the first and second coupling shell, wherein the latch member is movable along an axle of rotation between the first and second coupling shell, and an actuator mechanism operable to cause the latch member to move from a first position locking the first and second coupling shell with each other, to a second position unlocking the first coupling shell from the second coupling shell.
US08403760B2
A gaming where a hosts search for and select particular events they desire to manage; where players can wager on specific events with potentially no financial loss; and where vendors can engage in interactive advertising to increase sales. The host manages the game by setting up the odds and establishing other rules of play. Where hosts are also vendors, they may offer prizes in exchange for credits from the players. Players place their wagers on a particular outcome of the event. Both the host and the player may gain additional credits for clicking or viewing an advertisement displayed on the webpage. If the desire outcome occurs, the player's wager is accounted for by the host and the credits can be applied to the purchase of prizes offered by the host. Those who lose may receive communications from the vendor, with permission from the operator of the website, to offer its goods or services.
US08403753B2
First, based on the position of a target in a taken image included in imaging information, a pointing position which an operating device points to is calculated. Next, a change amount of the pointing position within a predetermined time is calculated. Then, whether or not the change amount of the pointing position satisfies a first condition is determined. As a result, when it is determined that the change amount of the pointing position satisfies the first condition, predetermined processing is executed in which the pointing position within the predetermined time or a position calculated based on pointing positions within the predetermined time is set as a start point.
US08403751B2
An audio scene is created for an avatar in a virtual environment of multiple avatars. A link structure is created between the avatars. An audio scene is created for each avatar, based on an avatar's associations with other linked avatars.
US08403739B2
A method of operating a gaming system including, receiving an initial wager of a quantity of credits from a player to play a quantity of at least two poker hands, for each of the quantity of poker hands, displaying face-up a partial poker hand, automatically applying a first amount from the initial wager to each of the partial poker hands, wherein the sum of the first amounts of credits is less than the quantity of the initial wager, after displaying the partial poker hands face-up, enabling the player to select one of the partial poker hands, automatically applying a second amount from the initial wager to the player selected partial poker hand, wherein the second amount is equal to the initial wager minus the sum of the first amounts, and for each poker hand, determine and display a result and provide any awards associated with said displayed results.
US08403735B2
An automotive air conditioner includes an air-conditioning case in which air passageways having a cold air path via an evaporator, a warm air path via a heater core, and a plurality of discharge path systems communicating with outlets, respectively, are formed. An air mix door distributes cold air and warm air by an opening degree to each of the discharge path systems via a junction region of the cold air and the warm air, and a rotary door having a cross wall is rotatably disposed in the junction region of the cold air and the warm air and blocks air flow from the junction region to the downstream side by the cross wall in an advanced position. The rotary door and the air mix door include an overlap layout which uses a door space inside the cross wall of the rotary door in the advanced position as an opening and closing operation space of the air mix door.
US08403731B2
The present invention facilitates with high accuracy the adjustment of a minute angle degree, and also is capable of sufficiently securing the rigidity of the whole device after the adjustment and provides good operability, accuracy, and rigidity. Provided are a workpiece attaching body having a workpiece attaching surface and a rotating body rotatably supporting the workpiece attaching body. The rotating body has an inclination angle adjusting surface inclined relative to an axis of the rotating body, the workpiece attaching body has opposite to the workpiece attaching surface an inclination angle adjusting surface which is inclined relative to the workpiece attaching surface and which comes in surface contact with the inclination angle adjusting surface of the rotating body, and spherical coupling means is arranged which is for rotatably adjustably coupling the workpiece attaching body and the rotating body about a spherical center on an axis of the rotating body along both inclination angle adjusting surfaces. Thereby, the rotating body and the workpiece attaching body are relatively rotated about the spherical center along both inclination angle adjusting surfaces so as to adjust the inclination angle of the workpiece attaching surface.
US08403711B2
A PV (photovoltaic) junction box comprises a case, a lid covering the case and a plurality of terminals received within the case. The case has a bottom wall and defines a positive input port and a negative output port, and each terminal having a planar main body retained to the main body. The terminals comprise a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal, and the main bodies of the terminals are different.
US08403704B2
A connection device includes a male connector furnished with several identical male contact pins and a female connector comprising a body in which reception sockets are formed designed to receive male contact pins. The body of the female connector is cased in an outer shielding element, and at least one of the identical male contact pins, called the ground pin, is arranged so as to be in contact with at least one flexible strip of the shielding element.
US08403699B1
A strain relief electrical cable connector for facilitating ready connection and disconnection of non-metallic, sheath cables and capable of withstanding a 60 pound pull force for 5 minutes without the assistance of terminals or additional hardware. The connector includes a pair of identical, interlocking connector portions, each having a cover and pivotally connected housing. Each cover including a pair of integrally formed, spaced apart projections having inwardly directed, angularly disposed strain relief fingers and further including inwardly directed, angularly disposed wire support standoffs which are provided with a serrated cam exterior portion. The covers also provide wire guide means and a guide post intermediate the guide means and the serrated cam portion. Each housing is provided with terminal retention channels and terminals received therein for connection at one end with the cable wiring and at the other end with associated terminals of the interlocking connector portion. The cover and housing are provided with locking latches and associated ribs for securely locking the cover to the housing once the wiring in properly positioned.
US08403684B2
A tin-plated surface 7 is formed by hot-dip coating a solder containing a lead-free tin as the main component on an electrode 6 of a board 4 with which a connector terminal 1 comes in contact.
US08403674B2
The illustrative embodiment is a simulation system for practicing vascular-access procedures without using human subjects. The simulator includes a data-processing system and a haptics interface device. The haptics device provides the physical interface at which a user interacts with various mechanisms that are intended to enable the user to simulate various aspects of a vascular-access procedure. The haptics device is designed so that its physical form and manner of use are not inconsistent with the experience of performing an actual vascular access procedure.
US08403668B2
Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.
US08403666B2
The combination rotating dental cleaning brush and paste device. The device includes a housing having a rotating shaft therethrough. A compressible tube has two opposed ends, a first end which is rotated by the shaft and a second end having an opening therethrough. A brush is integral with, connected to, and rotated by the second end of the tube. Compression of the compressible tube forces dental paste inside of the tube out of an opening in the second end of the tube and onto the brush.
US08403663B2
An orthodontic apparatus for direct placement of a ligature for tooth extruding. The apparatus has a body having a first end and a second end. The first end has a reservoir for receiving adhesive and a ligature having a first end and a second end. The first end is releasably embedded in the reservoir and the second end extends through the body.
US08403659B2
An electroformed tooling device is disclosed. The device includes an electroformed tool with electrodeposited metal which has been plated from a structured substrate on a molding side to function as a molding surface and an uneven contour on a non-molding side of the electroformed tool left as a by-product of electroforming. The device also includes a blank base comprising a top surface, a network of thermal management channels, and at least a first opening and a second opening communicating with the network of thermal management channels to allow fluid to flow into the first opening and flow through the network of thermal management channels and flow out the second opening. The top surface further includes an electro-discharge machined contoured surface to mate with the uneven contour on the non-molding side of the electroformed tool. Fluid flowing through the thermal management channels cools or alternately cools and heats the electroformed tool.
US08403645B2
An integrally bladed disk includes a rim and blades. The blades are circumferentially spaced and extend integrally outward from the rim to define a flow path therebetween. The periphery of the rim forms a flow surface and includes a trench that is disposed adjacent the blades.
US08403644B2
A power generating apparatus of renewable energy type in which a hydraulic pipe between a hydraulic pump installed inside a nacelle and a hydraulic motor installed near a bottom part of a tower can handle the turning motion of the nacelle. In the power generating apparatus of renewable energy type, a hydraulic pump inside the nacelle and a hydraulic motor near a base end part of a tower are connected by a first double pipe and a second double pipe. The first double pipe is rotatably connected to the second double pipe. The first double pipe includes a first inner pipe and a first outer pipe. The second double pipe includes a second inner pipe and a second outer pipe. The first and second inner pipes communicate with each other to form an inner passage. The first and second outer pipes communicate with each other to form an outer passage.
US08403633B2
A cooling fan includes a housing, a cover on the housing and an impeller received in a space between the housing and the cover. The housing includes a bottom wall and a sidewall projecting upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom wall. The sidewall defines an air outlet therein. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending radially out from the hub. A porous layer extends into the space between the housing and the cover from the sidewall at a location adjacent to the air outlet.
US08403624B2
Composite containment casings including a body having an interior and a fragment catcher integrally joined to the interior of the body of the containment casing.
US08403618B2
A fork positioner, usable alternatively either as an attachment to an existing load-lifting carriage with forks, or as part of the original equipment of a load-lifting carriage, has a pair of elongate hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies mountable in an interconnected parallel relationship between an upper transverse fork-supporting member and a lower transverse member of the carriage. Each of a pair of fork-positioning guide members has a fork-engagement surface movable by a respective piston and cylinder assembly and connectable thereto so that the fork-engaging surfaces face substantially perpendicularly away from an imaginary plane containing the respective longitudinal axes of the piston and cylinder assemblies. An exemplary carriage mounting the fork positioner is also disclosed, together with a wireless hydraulic function control system for use with the fork positioner or other multi-function load handlers.
US08403613B2
A bypass thermal adjuster, which may be placed between two robots, provides a chamber for isolation and thermal control of wafers while permitting other wafers to be passed through the adjuster by the robots.
US08403608B1
A cargo restraint system with enhanced filament characteristics wherein the restraint system includes laminated load restraining strips with a layer of reinforcement material comprising a plurality of substantially parallel bundles of filaments and wherein the layer of reinforcement contains approximately three hundred twenty four ends of reinforcing material and each end of reinforcement material comprises approximately three hundred and twenty one to four hundred and seventeen filaments of reinforcement material and each filament comprises one or more monofilament strands having a total break strength of approximately twenty four grams.
US08403606B2
An adjustment device aligns supporting parts that receive the guide rails of a freight loading system for structures having inherent dimensional tolerances, in particular for receiving structures in an aircraft fuselage. Each supporting part is designed as a bearing insert held with an adjustable movement in a bearing eye of a bearing block, and in that the bearing block has at least two tensioning elements that bear on the bearing insert.
US08403605B2
A plunge milling method includes: a) the area of material that is to be removed is enclosed by a plurality of milling paths, each milling path defining end positions of a milling head during the formation of plunge milling bores; b) to each milling path there is allocated a guide curve for the tool axis, each guide curve defining initial positions of the milling head during the formation of plunge milling bores; c) during the formation of plunge milling bores, the tool axis is oriented, as a function of a milling path and the respective guide curve, so that there is no danger of collision of the milling tool with a contour formed by plunge milling; d) for each milling path, bore axes for plunge milling bores are determined as a function of the respective guide curve, corresponding to a prespecified overlap of milling bores formed along the milling paths.
US08403594B2
An aggregate-spreading device is disclosed for widening roads, filling trenches, spreading any kind of road construction material, and creating shoulders on the side of roads at a controllable, quick, and steady pace. The aggregate-spreading device may be controlled by electronic motors and electronic actuators. The aggregate-spreading device is equipped with a skeletal frame, either a first and a second adjustable spreader assembly attached on opposing ends of the skeletal frame, or a single spreader assembly for allowing an operator precise control over placement of an aggregate. The aggregate may be supplied to the first or second adjustable spreader assemblies by adjusting the rotation of a reversible conveyor system. The skeletal frame simplifies manufacturing of the aggregate-spreading device and allows for easy repairs and maintenance. The electronic motors and electronic actuators eliminate the need for hydraulics, allowing an operator to control the device from a remote location with a controller.
US08403589B2
A paint gun assembly including a spray head and a connecting manifold. The spray head includes a bore terminating in a radially extending space of gradually increasing radius. The bore receives a shaft that has an axially extending bore which connects with radially extending bores in which balls are contained. The shaft also contains a plunger with a rounded end, engaging the balls. When forced into the axial bore, the plunger forces the balls into the radially extending bores and out into the tapered, radially extending space. The plunger engages a cam which is exposed at a surface of the manifold body and includes a hexagon drive to adjust the angular rotation of the cam using a suitable key. The manifold body provides a recess for receiving a retaining pin, whose end is received in the cam guide profile. Axial movement of the cam is resisted by a compression spring.
US08403584B2
A dispensing opening plate for applicators for cosmetic preparations. The plate comprises at least one dispensing opening that comprises one or more teeth or prongs which extend from an inner wall of the opening into a center of the opening.
US08403578B2
A portable dishwashing apparatus is easily transportable, requires a minimal amount of water, and allows for quick and easy cleansing of dishes and utensils. A base unit in communication with a water source encases both a water heater unit and a soap mixture tank. In one embodiment, the water source is a portable water holding tank. A hand unit in connection with the base unit includes a handle having a rinse extension bar and a cleaning head extension bar extending outwardly. A soap mixture exits the distal end of the cleaning head extension bar onto a cleaning head, which is used to scrub dishes. A trigger located on the hand unit controls the flow of water from the distal end of the rinse extension bar and the distal end of the cleaning head extension bar. A portable sink unit supports the base unit and water holding tank, and further includes a drain for transporting excess soap and water run-off to a used water holding tank.
US08403575B2
In an image recording apparatus, a record medium passage information generation unit detects a sheet passage state of a record medium after the continuous record media is cut. A control unit determines the state of a cutting device according to the passage time information between cut record media obtained from the sheet passage state of the cut record medium detected by the record medium passage information generation unit and predetermined time information.
US08403566B2
A rolling bearing includes rolling elements, an inner ring which includes a raceway surface on which the rolling elements roll on an outer circumference thereof, and an outer ring which includes a raceway surface on which the rolling elements roll and which receives a radial load and a load directed to one side of an axial direction from the rolling elements on an inner circumference thereof. A closure member for closing an inner circumferential side opening of the outer ring is formed integrally at an end portion of the outer ring which lies on the one side of the axial direction or the outer ring is fitted in a cylindrical portion of the closure member.
US08403552B2
An apparatus for providing a multicolored illuminator for displays is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first sheet comprising a plurality of columnar illuminators stacked side by side, and a plurality of colored light sources placed along an edge of the first sheet. The plurality of columnar illuminators diffuse light generated by the plurality of colored light sources. Each columnar illuminator has a light diffuser included within it at a concentration that is different at different locations.
US08403551B2
A lighting device includes: a light guide plate having a light incident part in an end face and a light radiation part in a flat plate surface; a light source part opposed to the light incident part; a light shield member with which an area near the light incident part on the flat plate surface of the light guide plate is covered; and a switch part including a switch main body, a switch knob and a pressing member connected to the switch knob to press the switch main body by pressing down the switch knob. An end part of the switch knob opposed to a center of the flat plate surface of the light guide plate is located on the light shield member, and the end face of the light guide plate is located between a first virtual line passing the end part of the switch knob and perpendicular to the flat plate surface of the light guide plate and a second virtual line passing the center of the switch main body and perpendicular to the flat plate surface of the light guide plate.
US08403544B1
A lamp includes a housing, a lamp cover with a hook, a light source, and a lamp cover latching structure. The light source is disposed between the housing and the lamp cover. The lamp cover latching structure includes a securing portion, a latching portion, and a pressing portion. The securing portion is fixed to the housing. The latching portion is capable of latching with the latching hook. The latching portion is capable of separating from the latching hook by pressing the pressing portion.
US08403543B2
A lighting module may be provided that includes a light emitting device module including at least one light emitting diode; and a heat sink radiating heat generated from the light emitting device module and including at least one partition wall formed on a base.
US08403535B1
A lighting system for hanging outdoor holiday lights from the eaves of a building is provided. The lighting system comprises a plurality of spaced mounting clips securable to the eaves of the building. At least one base mount is positionable within the mounting clips with the at least one base mount having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end. A plurality of spaced sockets are formed along the top surface of the at least one base mount with each spaced socket sized and shaped for receiving a holiday light. Electrical wiring is mounted along the bottom surface of the at least one base mount with the electrical wiring electrically connected to each of the sockets for illuminating the holiday light therein. A securing mechanism releasably securing adjacent base mounts together. A power connection is mounted between adjacent base mounts and electrically connecting adjacent base mounts together. Upon providing power to the electrical wiring, the lights in the base mounts illuminate.
US08403525B2
A lighting system for a vehicle maintenance platform includes a support frame structure, a plurality of light sources and a rechargeable power source. The plurality of light sources is disposed on or within the frame structure and is configured to illuminate a target region underneath a vehicle. The rechargeable power source is contained within the frame structure and is electrically connected to the plurality of light sources. The rechargeable power source provides electrical power to the plurality of light sources. A vehicle maintenance apparatus including the lighting system and the vehicle maintenance platform is also provided.
US08403517B1
A recharging apparatus for luminescent golf balls comprising an outer housing capable of containing and simultaneously recharging a plurality of luminescent golf balls is herein disclosed. The housing comprises an internal cavity, a lid, and a battery powered internal illumination source. The illumination source is provided in vertical rows disposed on inner surfaces of the inner cavity to provide a recharging light to the golf balls contained within. The illumination source preferably comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED's) positioned behind light-diffusing inner walls.
US08403512B2
[Object] To provide an illumination apparatus capable of reducing a view angle dependency of a chromaticity distribution in a light-emitting surface of a phosphor layer.[Solving Means] A light beam control device (11) that controls emitted light from light-emitting diodes (10) so that a view angle dependency of a chromaticity distribution in a light-emitting surface (22a) of a phosphor layer (22) is suppressed is interposed between the light-emitting diodes (10) and the phosphor layer (22). The light beam control device (11) causes the emitted light from the light-emitting diodes (10) to be bent in a vertical direction or an approximately-vertical direction with respect to the light-emitting surface (22a) of the phosphor layer (22) and thus causes the light to enter the phosphor layer (22). As a result, light that obliquely enters a surface of the phosphor layer (22) is lessened, and the view angle dependency of the chromaticity distribution in the light-emitting surface (22a) of the phosphor layer (22) is reduced.
US08403511B2
The present invention relates to an optical assembly, a backlight unit, and a display apparatus thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical assembly includes a first layer; a plurality of light sources disposed over the first layer; and a second layer that is disposed above the first layer and cover the plurality of light sources on the first layer, wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed as a first light source array and a second light source array, the first light source array including first lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the second light source array including second lines of light sources among the plurality of light sources, the first and second lines being alternatively disposed.
US08403508B2
The present disclosure relates to a keypad, wherein the keypad includes a light guide pad, a light source allowing light to be incident on the light guide pad, a sensor detecting quantity of light having passed the light guide pad, and a light quantity changer changing the quantity of light having passed the light guide pad.
US08403506B2
A method of probing a projector performed on a projector system including a plurality of projectors and a control device adapted to control at least one of the projectors, the method includes the steps of: wherein the projectors, storing information indicative of time when the projector is powered on; and transmitting the information indicative of the time to the control device; and wherein the control device, probing the projectors to obtain the information indicative of the time when the projector is powered on; identifying the projector with the latest time when the projector powered on among the plurality of projectors based on the information indicative of the time, and displaying the identification information of the projector identified.
US08403505B2
A projector includes a main body and an optical assembly. The main body forms an image and projects the image to a first screen through a lens of the main body. The optical assembly is detachable from the light path of the lens, and is used for reflecting light beams emitted from the lens to project an image on a second screen when the optical assembly is in the light path of the lens. When the optical assembly is detached from the light path of the lens, the optical assembly projects the image on the first screen. The first screen and the second screen are on two adjacent perpendicular surfaces, such as a wall and a ceiling.
US08403503B1
A freeform optical device is disclosed which has an at least partially curved surface with a surface geometry. Surface normals at multiple locations on the surface geometry can be computed to define the surface geometry with respect to multiple focal points corresponding to the surface normals at the locations in order to correct optical aberrations otherwise occurring at the focal points.
US08403482B2
[Task] To provide a fundus oculi observation device capable of effectively performing dispersion compensation.[Means for Resolution] A fundus oculi observation device 1 functions as an optical image measurement device that splits a broadband light into a signal light LS and a reference light LR, superimposes the signal light LS propagated through a fundus oculi Ef and the reference light LR propagated through a reference mirror 174 to generate an interference light LC and forms an image of the fundus oculi Ef. The device 1 corrects the influence of dispersion of the reference light LR based on ocular information 212a, generates the interference light LC after the correction, detects this interference light LC, and forms an OCT image.
US08403471B2
There is provided a defoaming mechanism that is used for eliminating air bubbles from a liquid flowing through the inside of a liquid supply path included in a liquid ejecting apparatus. The defoaming mechanism includes a defoaming chamber that has a side wall extending in the vertical direction and is used for capturing the air bubbles contained in the liquid and a communication portion that allows the defoaming chamber and the liquid supply path to be communicated with each other in the side wall.
US08403463B2
A continuous stream ink jet print head comprising: a droplet generator (1) for generating a continuous stream of ink droplets; a charging electrode (40) for selectively charging the ink droplets; deflection electrodes (4) for deflecting the charged ink droplets; and a catcher (7) for collecting uncharged ink droplets, wherein the deflection electrodes are contained within a surrounding structure (2) that both (i) provides surfaces (41) which are contoured to the shape of the main bodies of the deflection electrodes such that the main bodies may be mounted against the surfaces to correctly position the deflection electrodes within the print head, and (ii) serves as a manifold for fluid in operation of the print head, wherein the print head includes a cover (10) for the surrounding structure, the cover forming a wall of the space between the deflection electrodes, the wall extending along the stream of ink droplets.
US08403460B2
A printhead including a body; an actuator attached to the body, and an enclosed space between the actuator and the body forms a chamber; an opening defined by the body for releasing pressure in the chamber; and a seal attached to the opening to seal the chamber while permitting pressure to be released.
US08403458B2
A latching assembly for mounting a printhead to a plate assembly of a printing machine includes a first elongated actuator and a second elongated actuator defining a bore to slidably receive the first actuator. A first spring is disposed between the heads of the first and second actuators, while a second spring is disposed between the second actuator and the printhead to exert a clamping force. A cam mechanism is defined between the plate assembly and the ends of the actuators that is configured to draw the head of the first actuator toward the plate assembly upon rotation of the first actuator and to independently draw the head of the second actuator toward the plate assembly upon rotation of said second actuator. Movement of said first actuator exerts an initial clamping force while movement of the second actuator produces a final clamping force on the printhead.
US08403457B2
An ink reclamation receptacle receives ink purged from an inkjet printing apparatus. Ink in the reclamation receptacle wets a porous membrane positioned in the reclamation receptacle, and flows into a flow channel. Negative pressure applied to a port that is placed in fluid communication with the flow channel withdraws ink from the flow channel for use in the inkjet printing apparatus, while ink wetting the pores in the membrane resists a flow of air into the flow channel.
US08403455B2
A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head having nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzles, in which a fluid is ejected from the nozzle rows. The fluid ejecting apparatus includes an absorbing member which extends along the nozzle rows in a movable manner, a moving mechanism which moves the absorbing member in a direction intersecting the nozzle rows, and a running mechanism which runs the absorbing member. The moving mechanism includes a moving member movably provided, a positioning member movably provided on the moving member and having the absorbing member in a movable manner, and a first biasing member for biasing the positioning member in a predetermined direction. A tension applying mechanism apply a tension to the absorbing member is provided.
US08403446B2
A printing apparatus and control method thereof are provided that make it possible to recycle or replace an intermediate transfer member at optimal timing through early detection of changes in a surface characteristic of the intermediate transfer member, and make it possible to create high quality printed materials with good productivity. An application amount of reaction solution applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member is detected, and notification is given of a comparison result when that detected application amount of reaction solution is compared with a specified threshold value.
US08403437B2
A refrigerator includes a multiple slide crisper system. More specifically, a universal crisper pan and support frame for a refrigerator can be used with various, distinct glide arrangements, including friction, roller or ball bearing glides. For frictional sliding movement, crisper pan side walls slide directly upon molded inner rails on the frame. With the roller system, various rollers are fitted to a rear portion of the crisper pan through the use of pins, while commensurate rollers are mounted at front portions of the frame. When using ball bearing glides for a precision slide support, the glides are preferably mounted to the support frame at an acute angle to the axis of travel of the friction and roller glide systems.
US08403436B2
A slide rail assembly includes an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail, and a latch member pivotably mounted to the intermediate rail. The outer rail includes a support bar and a holding portion. The inner rail includes a stop portion. The latch member includes a first lock tongue and a second lock tongue. When the support bar supports the first lock tongue of the latch member to keep the latch member at a locking position, the second lock tongue of the latch member abuts against the stop portion, to enable the intermediate rail to slide in synchronization with the inner rail. When the latch member slides along the support bar to engage with the holding portion of the outer rail, the latch member is biased to pivot to an unlocking position, the second lock tongue of the latch member disengages from the stop portion.
US08403433B2
A slide assembly with quick-mount system includes an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail and a ball bearing retainer. The intermediate rail has a notch. The inner rail has a first slot and a second slot to accommodate first and second mounts of an installed member. The ball bearing retainer has an upper member and a bottom member. The upper and bottom members each have retaining sections. Each retaining section has a ball bearing. The distance between adjacent retaining sections is larger than the diameter of the first mount. When the inner rail is pulled out relative to the intermediate rail, the first slot is located corresponding to the notch and between any two of the retaining sections, the first mount extends through the notch and enters into the first slot to be positioned. The second mount is engaged with the second slot of the inner rail.
US08403432B2
A latch and release device for a slide assembly includes first and second rails slidably movable relative to each other. An engaging member includes a resilient arm and an engaging portion is connected to the resilient arm and faces the first rail. The engaging portion can be engaged with a latch which is fixed to the second rail to restrict the second rail to move relative to the first rail. An operation member includes a first end, a second end and a body which is pivotably connected to the second rail and the first end of the operation member contacts the resilient arm. When the second end of the operation member is shifted, the resilient arm is moved by the first end of the operation member to disengage from the latch.
US08403426B2
An automobile wheel includes: a wheel rim 2 including a circumferential positioning fitting groove 32 formed circumferentially around the center axis of the wheel rim 2 in the front surface of a circumferential bent portion 31 at which a front bead seat portion 13 and a front rim flange portion 11 are formed continuously with each other; and a wheel disc 3 including a circumferential insertion edge 36 formed circumferentially around the center axis of the wheel disc 3 on the back surface of an outer peripheral edge portion 24. The wheel rim 2 and the wheel disc 3 are welded to each other for integration with the circumferential insertion edge 36 fitted in the circumferential positioning fitting groove 32. The respective center axes of the wheel rim 2 and the wheel disc 3 are aligned with each other with high precision, achieving an advantageous effect that vibration that occurs while an automobile is running is suppressed to improve the operation stability and achieve high durability.
US08403422B2
A stool includes a polygonal fixing portion, a plurality of supporting portions, and a combining portion. The polygonal fixing portion includes a plurality of inserting slots, and each of the inserting slots is located between two adjacent sides. Each of the supporting portions includes a supporting sheet and two inserting flaps, and the inserting flaps extend from two sides of the supporting sheet and are inserted into the adjacent inserting slots to position the supporting portions at a side of the polygonal fixing portion. The combining portion includes a plurality of positioning slots. The positioning slots of the combining portion are fastened to the inserting flaps to combine the supporting portions to form a polygonal column.
US08403420B2
A reversible footrest includes an upper mounting device having attachment mechanisms mountable to either side of a wheelchair. An upper mounting device is connected to the lower mounting device which has a first support member that is capable of supporting a foot of a wheelchair user. A second mounting device having a support rod and supporting mechanism may be used to allow the reversible footrest to be raised or lowered. A second support member may also be used to support the lower leg of the wheelchair user. The attachment mechanisms and leg supporting components of the footrest are capable of being reversed to allow use on either side of the wheelchair.
US08403417B2
An armrest structure includes a cover and a controlling member which has a pressing portion and a rack portion respectively formed on two sides thereof. A sliding plate has a sliding protrusion and multiple teeth which are engaged with the rack portion. A fixing plate has a sliding groove and the sliding protrusion is slidably engaged with the sliding groove. A fixing device has a sliding area and two first rails. The sliding plate is engaged with the first rails. The fixing device has a recessed area in which the fixing plate is located. The fixing device has multiple engaging teeth engaged with the rack portion, and two guide grooves. A base is connected with the cover and has two second rails which are engaged with the two guide grooves. A height adjustment device is connected to a slot of the fixing device and fixed to the fixing plate.
US08403415B2
An adjustable passenger seat having a seat recline mechanism and including a seat base having first and second non-intersecting seat path guide slots for guiding the travel of a translation guide assembly interconnected to a linear translating seat pan drive rail through the seat pan such that translational movement of the drive rail with respect to the seat base causes movement of the seat pan and the seat back between upright and flat seating positions.
US08403411B2
A detachable seat mounted audio-visual entertainment system. The system has locally storable, selectable, and updatable content. The passenger in-flight entertainment device terminal has passenger selectable controls, a video display, an audio output, storage media such as a magnetic or “hard disc”, and a payment interface device such as a card swipe, all located in a seat which has been wired with power, local network, and audio wiring. A local, transport vehicle mounted local host computer provides supports the local network, and may be used to collect revenue slips resulting from passenger input to the payment interface device. Revenue slips may be posted to a remote server during a trip segment via satellite or direct radio frequency communication to receiving facilities providing connection to the internet, or alternately collected and posted batch wise.
US08403410B1
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom, seat back, and occupant pack support. The seat bottom is adapted for use in a substantially horizontal position. The seat back resides adjacent the seat bottom, and comprises a back support surface adapted for use in a substantially upright position. The occupant pack support resides adjacent the back support surface of the seat back, and defines a generally flat inwardly-projecting shelf for vertically supporting an equipment pack carried on a back of an occupant seated in the assembly.
US08403400B2
An apparatus for affecting airflow in a gap between a lead vehicle and a connected trailing vehicle, includes a guide vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a gap side surface, and an outward facing surface, and a support apparatus mountable on a vehicle for supporting the guide vane in a vertical orientation relative to the vehicle with a space between the vehicle and the guide vane gap side surface and with at least a portion of the vane extending beyond an end of the vehicle. The flow guide divides an air flow at the trailing edge of a vehicle to avoid the creation of turbulence in the air flow as it encounters the gap between the vehicle and the trailing vehicle.
US08403396B2
The invention relates to a roller carriage for a sliding bow roof for a truck or truck trailer. The roof encompasses guidance and runner rails, extending on the cargo surface of the truck along the longitudinal sides of the cargo surface. Roller carriages, which comprise rollers and on which retaining bows, embodied in gantry fashion and having a roof tarpaulin mounted thereon, are displaceably guided. At least one roller carriage is equipped with a securing device for preventing inadvertent shifting of the roller carriage along the rails. The securing device encompasses a wedge element associated with a roller, which element is shiftable between a release position and a secured position. In its release position it has no contact with the roller. In its secured position a portion of the wedge element is between the roller and the corresponding guidance and runner rail.
US08403390B2
A sound-damped vehicle panel assembly, such as a dash panel, is attached to a structural member with one or more weld joints. The vehicle panel assembly may include a main panel member, a sound-damping patch, and a sound-damping adhesive layer arranged therebetween, where the patch covers at least a portion of an acoustically active region of the main panel member. The weld joints that attach the vehicle panel assembly to the structural member are preferably located at weld openings formed in the sound-damping patch and/or the sound-damping adhesive layer so that the weld joint can be formed without melting and vaporizing the adhesive during the welding operation, as such an operation would likely require additional ventilation equipment and could impact the quality of the weld joint.
US08403387B2
A gripping apparatus includes a palm and a plurality of fingers having joints to grip a tool with the palm and the plurality of fingers. A palm side contact surface is provided on the palm and brought into contact with a tool side contact surface of the tool, and holes are provided in the palm side contact surface into which projections provided on the tool side contact surface of the tool can be inserted. Engagement of the projections in the holes determines a position of the tool in a tangential direction of the palm side contact surface and a position of the tool in a rotational direction around a normal line of the palm side contact surface which is a rotary shaft center.
US08403380B2
A cover closure for housings of laboratory devices and the like, in particular for centrifuge housings, in which a cover hook is engaged by a closure hook and brought into a closing position, and the closing and opening movement of the closure hook essentially being caused by an eccentric in connection with a crank guide and a guide path.
US08403377B2
A locking device includes a lock body that includes an engagement groove with or from which the closing-side and opening-side lock receivers are engaged or disengaged, the lock body being variable between a neutral posture in which the closing-side and opening-side lock receivers are allowed to be engaged with or disengaged from the engagement groove; a closing-side locking posture in which the closing-side lock receiver that is engaged with the engagement groove is regulated so as not to be disengaged from the engagement groove; or an opening-side locking posture in which the opening-side lock receiver that is engaged with the engagement groove is regulated so as not to be disengaged from the engagement groove; a holding member and a release operation lever.
US08403370B2
A pipe coupling device includes a body part, fastening parts, and pressurizing parts. The body part has a multi-stepped insertion hole penetrating the central portion thereof, a stepped latching portion formed on the inner circumference of the insertion hole, and first projections continuously formed on the upper surfaces of the externally threaded portions. Each of the fastening parts has an internally threaded portion formed on the inner circumference thereof and is screwed onto the externally threaded portion, a coupling hole penetrating the central portion thereof so as to be in communication with the insertion hole, a first inclined plane formed around the boundary between the internally threaded portion and the insertion hole. Each of the pressurizing parts has a stepped foot portion formed on the outer circumference of one side thereof.
US08403364B2
An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle has a support assembly intended to be fixed to a chassis of a vehicle, a tubular body slidably mounted in the support assembly, adjustment and locking devices able to switch from a state of a adjusting the position of the tubular body in the support assembly to a state of immobilizing the tubular body in a desired adjusted position within the support assembly, a plastically deformable energy-absorbing element collaborating with a deformation member secured to the tubular body so that it undergoes plastic deformation as the tubular body retracts inside the support assembly following an impact transmitted to the tubular body when the adjustment and locking devices are in the locked state and a ratchet mechanism for securing the plastically deformable element to the support assembly during plastic deformation of the plastically deformable element.
US08403361B2
Systems for indicating the status of a seatbelt buckle prior to a protective response are disclosed herein. An airbag activation system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a normally closed magnetically operated reed switch. The reed switch is attached to a connector carried on one portion of a seatbelt, and a magnet is attached to a buckle carried on another portion of the seatbelt. Coupling the connector to the buckle causes the magnetic field of the magnet to move the reed switch from the normally closed position to an open position, thereby enabling the activation system to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.
US08403357B2
The present disclosure provides a passenger air-bag door. The passenger air-bag door includes a chute frame located in an instrument panel, a door plate located in an opening of the chute frame, and a hinge part rotatably connecting the door plate to the chute frame and comprising a scrim.
US08403356B2
Provided is a clip structure which can prevent components from falling off an attaching body or an attached body with a simple structure. Further provided is a holding structure for an internal member of a vehicle which can prevent the components from falling off an exterior member or an interior member with a simple structure. A clip assembly (11) includes a first clip having a clip (34) attached to a bracket (25), and a joint (36) as a removable portion connected to the clip 34; and a pin (38) as a second clip connected to the joint (36) and sandwiching a roof head lining (14) between the pin (38) and the joint (36). A holding load (F5) for releasing connection between the clip (34) and the joint (36) is sufficiently small compared to a holding load (F6) for releasing connection between the joint (36) and the pin (38).
US08403354B2
The invention relates to an emergency release system for one or more pieces of winter sports equipment, such as skis, ski poles, snowboards, bindings and/or boots for skis or snowboards. It is equipped with a connection mechanism for detachably connecting at least two elements of one or more pieces of winter sports equipment, wherein the connection mechanism is supported substantially radially in or on one of the two elements, and a drive mechanism, which can be activated from outside and is suited for cancelling the radial support of the connection mechanism, accordingly causing the two elements to separate. The invention also relates to a release method and a manufacturing process for such an emergency release system.
US08403349B2
A hand/foot powered bicycle includes a pedal power mechanism as a power source for driving the bicycle. A user can pedal a first pedal and a second pedal with both feet to drive a front sprocket. Via a first chain, the front sprocket drives and rotates the rear wheel. The hand/foot powered bicycle further includes a handlebar power mechanism having a handlebar structure as a power source for driving the bicycle. The hand/foot powered bicycle further includes a power transmission assembly for transmitting power to the front sprocket of the bicycle to drive and rotate the front sprocket. By means of continuously rotating the handlebar structure, the power transmission assembly is driven to transmit power to the front sprocket to drive and rotate the rear wheel via the first chain. A user can drive and make the hand/foot powered bicycle advance with hands and/or feet.
US08403342B1
A bicycle ski attachment assembly provides a ski vehicle that positions a rider similar to being on a conventional bicycle including similar rider height and movable pedals. The assembly includes an elongated front ski and an elongated rear ski. A front ski support has a front hub. A front axle assembly is coupled to the front hub and is configured for coupling to front forks of a bicycle. A rear ski support has a rear hub. A rear axle assembly is coupled to the rear hub and is configured for coupling to rear dropouts of the bicycle. A chain pulley is coupled to the rear axle assembly. The chain pulley is configured for receiving a chain from the bicycle under tension whereby the chain pulley provides resistance to pedaling pedals on the bicycle.
US08403321B2
A paper-feeding apparatus for a printing apparatus includes a paper input port, a first paper holding tray and a second paper holding tray. The paper input port curves the sheets of paper fed into it so as to increase the rigidity of the stack and the friction between each sheet. The additional rigidity of the stack allows the use of a lightweight paper tray in holding the stack.
US08403315B2
A system for retaining a film on a single-piece frame includes a frame having a shape with a center open area larger than the film, the frame comprising a plurality of fingers on the frame extending into the open area, and a barb positioned on an end of each of the plurality of fingers, wherein the barbs retain the film. The system also includes an end effecter comprising a first and second plurality of vacuum line openings, wherein the end effecter holds onto the film with the first plurality of vacuum line openings and holds onto the frame with the second plurality of vacuum line openings, wherein the end effecter picks up the film with the first plurality of vacuum line openings and presses the film onto the frame, wherein pressing the film onto the frame will retain the film on the barbs.
US08403311B2
Devices that are useful for constructing fences. Such devices are comprised of a combination of a fence lifter and leveler and a holding apparatus so that only one person can construct the fence.
US08403308B2
A counterbalance for use in a motor vehicle that is connected to a tailgate to at least partially control the movement of the tailgate. The counterbalance is made of a spring that counters the load applied to the tailgate, a flexible material strap that provides a stop for the counterbalance, a protective housing that covers the spring, and a flexible material strap. The counterbalance has a fully extended length that is greater than twice the length of the counterbalance when non-extended.
US08403307B2
A flexible wall and end structure assembly includes a flexible wall and an end structure. The flexible wall is formed from an elastomeric material and a filament structure. A bead wire is formed into an open end of the flexible wall. The end structure is received along the open end of the flexible wall and forms a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith. A portion of the filament structure is compressed between the bead wire and the end structure and extends therefrom in radially-outwardly spaced relation to said end structure. A gas spring assembly including such a flexible wall and end structure assembly is included. A method of manufacture is also included.
US08403293B2
A ball valve (10) for sealing a conduit (12) is described. The ball valve includes a housing having a throughbore and a valve seat. An apertured ball element (18) is mounted within the housing and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (38) between a throughbore open and a throughbore closed position. The apertured ball element (18) has a first portion (20) and a second portion (22) coupled together which are rotatable and moveable relative to each other. The first portion has a sealing surface for engaging with the valve seat. In use, in the throughbore closed position, the second portion is moveable relative to the first portion to axially displace the first portion from the axis of rotation towards the valve seat such that the sealing surface on the first portion of the apertured ball forms a seal with valve seat.
US08403284B2
A pallet assembly and a method for disassembling a pallet assembly into smaller, easy-to-store pieces. In one example implementation, a pallet assembly may be disassembled and re-assembled as equipment having an alternative function. In an example implementation, a pallet assembly having a pallet support structure formed by beam members connected to transverse members and a plurality of pallet surface components attached to intersecting areas of the transverse members and the beam members is disassembled by detaching the pallet surface components from the intersecting areas. The extension members may be attached to conversion enabling structure on the pallet surface components to assemble a selected piece of equipment. The pieces of equipment may be any type of equipment including furniture (tables, chairs, shelving units, bar stools, etc.).
US08403280B2
A microphone is mounted to apparatus in order to receive sound from a sound source. The apparatus has a microphone clamp to secure different microphones to a variety of musical instruments and other sound sources and may be used to directly mount a microphone to a variety of clamping surfaces. The mounting apparatus incorporates a dual jaw design to allow for easy, fast, and secure mounting to the clamping surface. The apparatus supports a quick release mechanism for easy and fast engagement and disengagement of the dual jaws, consequently reducing time needed to securely clamp and remove the mounting apparatus with the clamping surface. The release mechanism may include a dowel release having a hole through which the jaw stud is situated. The hole has two curved surfaces so that one of jaws may be moved without turning the jaw stud when the dowel release is depressed.
US08403278B1
A magnetically mountable firearm or sporting instrument holding device of relatively small compass which is readily removable and portable, and can be utilized for providing a convenient place for hunters and sporting enthusiasts to rest their guns and sporting instruments upright on the outside of their car or other metal surface, and to protect that surface from scratches. The magnetic portable firearm or sporting instrument holding device generally includes a universal retaining member for supporting firearms and other sporting instruments having two opposite ends, the first end of which constitutes a recessed receiving end with inwardly tapered arms for guiding the instrument in place, and the second end comprising a common or multi-component magnetic mounting base. The mounting base may include a joining platform collar to orientate, mount, secure, and support the retaining member, and prevent twisting of the magnetic element of the mounting base. One or a plurality of such mounting bases, with or without platform collars, can be mounted to one or more retaining members.
US08403277B2
A bracket is disclosed for mounting an electrical box on a mounting bar. The bracket comprises a front jaw and a rear jaw. The jaws are movable toward an open position for allowing movement of the bracket relative to the mounting bar and toward a closed position for gripping the mounting bar at a selected position along the mounting bar. The jaws are biased toward the closed position. An electrical box is attached to the front jaw. In one embodiment, the front jaw, rear jaw and a spring for urging the jaws closed are integrally formed from a single piece of sheet metal.
US08403274B1
An electronic display and lighting arrangement for viewing by, and illumination for, a person in a resting position includes: an electronic display assembly including a first carriage movable along a translation axis, a first pivot arm coupled to the first carriage with the first pivot arm pivotable about a first pivot axis, and an electronic display coupled to the first pivot arm; and a lighting assembly including a second carriage movable in a direction parallel to the translation axis, and a light coupled to the second carriage and adjustably positionable by movement of the second carriage. The electronic display is adjustably positionable both along the translation axis by movement of the first carriage, and about the first pivot axis by movement of the first pivot arm about the first pivot axis.
US08403273B2
There is provided an L-character stand. The L-character stand is provided with columns supporting one electronic product; a base combined with the columns like an L-character; one fixture provided on the columns; and another fixture provided on the rear face of another electronic product, wherein the one fixture and the another one can be engaged with each other at a first position and at a second position, at assembly, another electronic product can be fixed to the column by engaging at the first position, and, at wiring between one electronic product and another one, the products can be fixed by engaging them at the second position in a state in which the rear face of the another electronic product is turned upward.
US08403271B2
A tapered micro-plow, or a series of tapered micro-plows, are submerged in a boundary layer just upstream of a reflection point of an oblique shock. Each micro-plow develops a beneficial pair of vortices which redistribute high energy flow within the boundary layer such that flow separation is prevented or delayed. The beneficial vortex pairs rotate about an axis that is parallel to the flow of fluid, and together rotate such that they induce a velocity on one another which tends to hold them near the surface and delay vortex lift-off.
US08403268B2
A pilot chute device is connected to a parachute canopy for deploying the parachute canopy out of a container adapted to be closed and opened and within which the parachute canopy is foldable. The pilot chute device includes an inflatable pilot chute adopted to assist the deployment of the parachute canopy, the inflatable pilot chute being foldable into the container, and a spring device adopted to push the inflatable pilot chute outside the container when the container is opened. The spring device is dispensed apart from the inflatable pilot chute, between the pilot chute and the parachute canopy.
US08403266B2
An attachment structure is provided by which interior equipment components of an aircraft passenger cabin can conveniently be affixed. The attachment structure includes, but is not limited to at least one system support that above the cabin floor extends at least along the spacing of two frame elements. The system support has a longitudinal extension along which it comprises a plurality of attachment means, evenly spaced apart from each other, for affixing interior equipment components, wherein the spacing of the attachment means is smaller than the spacing of the frame elements.
US08403263B2
The present invention provides a composite, in particular in the field of aviation and aerospace, comprising an omega-stringer that comprises a comb portion, and a connecting member that is connected at one end to the comb portion of the omega-stringer and can be connected at its other end to a standard coupling member. The idea underlying the present invention consists in forming omega-stringers with a connection zone that, on the one hand, is coupled to the comb portion of the omega-stringer and therefore makes it possible to transfer comparatively high loads and, on the other hand, can be connected to a standard coupling member so as to utilize the advantages of standard coupling members of this type when connecting omega-stringers to other stringers, for example T-stringers or other omega-stringers.
US08403260B2
Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An airship handling device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle. The device can also include a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis. The second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle. The device can further include a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member. The handling line is not coupled to a winch.
US08403255B2
A compound aircraft features variable incidence wings, a thruster, a rotor and a clutch connecting the engines to the rotor. Upon reaching a suitable forward speed, the control system of the compound aircraft unloads the rotor and disengages the clutch, disconnecting the rotor from the engines. The control system configures the cyclic and collective pitch effectors to cause the rotor to autorotate. The control system selects an autorotation rotational speed that is adequately rapid to prevent excessive deformation of the rotor blades due to aerodynamic forces acting on the blade and that is adequately slow to prevent excessive compressibility effects.
US08403251B2
A filament winding apparatus detects that a fiber bundle is likely to break and prevents generation of defective products. The filament winding apparatus applies a prescribed winding tension to the fiber bundle unwound from a fiber bundle feeding package and winds the tension-applied fiber bundle around a mandrel. A tension applying portion applies the winding tension to the fiber bundle at a position that is immediately before a side of the mandrel between the fiber bundle package and the mandrel. A tension sensor detects the tension of the fiber bundle between the fiber bundle feeding package and the tension applying portion. A determination means determines a tension abnormality of the fiber bundle by comparing pre-set reference information with the tension measured value measured by the tension sensor.
US08403248B2
Systems and methods of rolling and unrolling secondary flooring surfaces, such as tall pile turf, are provided. The system includes a core onto which the secondary flooring surface is rolled, the core being coupled on both ends to a frame that moves along a primary surface. The system includes a drive system that allows for the conversion of the primary surface into a secondary flooring surface in a relatively short period of time. The drive system includes core adjustable speed drive units for controlling the speed and torque of the motors that drive the core, as well as frame adjustable speed drive units for controlling the speed of the movement of the frames along the primary surface. The core adjustable speed drive units control the torque of the core motors during roll up and control the speed of the core motors during roll out.
US08403246B2
Provided is a paper shredder. The paper shredder includes a paper support part including a first paper support part having a first length, a second paper support part having a second length greater than the first length, and a paper feed slot between the first paper support part and the second paper support part, a first roller in which a portion thereof is exposed upward from the second paper support part through an opening defined in the second paper support part, a second roller in which a portion thereof is exposed upward from the first paper support part through an opening defined in the first paper support part, a cutter disposed below the paper feed slot to shred an introduced paper, and a motor operating the first roller, the second roller, and the cutter. The first paper support part and the second paper support part are reduced in height as being adjacent to the paper feed slot.
