US08536771B2

A spark plug comprised of an insulator having a stepped portion on an outer circumferential portion thereof, the stepped portion tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, an annular sheet packing and a metallic shell having a taper portion provided on an inner circumferential portion thereof and tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, the metallic shell holding the insulator through a rear end portion thereof being crimped, the stepped portion being seated on the taper portion via the sheet packing, and the taper portion having a groove therein.
US08536764B2

In an arrangement of at least one piezoacoustic resonator on a substrate surface, the resonator has an piezoelectric layer, an electrode and a further electrode arranged such that activation of the electrodes leads to a resonance oscillation, the substrate surface is formed by an acoustic mirror integrated in the substrate for acoustically insulating substrate and resonator, and with a resonance frequency evaluation device being connected to the electrodes by tracks being routed through a mirror opening. The acoustic mirror has a Bragg reflector having λ/4-thick layers of different acoustic impedance. The topmost layer is made of silicon dioxide acting as an insulation layer in the mirror opening for electrically insulating the conductor track and the electrically conductive Bragg reflector layers. The arrangement is used as a physical transducer of a device for detecting a substance of a fluid, in particular of a fluid in the form of a liquid (biosensor).
US08536763B2

An ultrasonic transducer includes: a support member having an opening section; a diaphragm adapted to cover the opening section; and a piezoelectric member provided to the diaphragm and at least one of expanding and contracting in an in-plane direction in response to application of a voltage, wherein the diaphragm has a concave groove section formed to have a concave shape on a surface on an opposite side to one side exposed to the opening section, and the piezoelectric member is fixed to the diaphragm in an area outside the concave groove section, and disposed to cover the concave groove section so as to be opposed to a bottom of the concave groove section via a space.
US08536760B1

A ball-electric power generator is provided, in which triboelectric power can be generated by friction when balls made of one of triboelectric series having different shapes of spheres, sheets, rods, wires and the like move and hit layers or substrates made of one of the triboelectric series in a chamber defined by the layers or substrates and a spacer connecting the layers.
US08536759B2

AC generators are disclosed. Example generators may include a tubular air core, with high magnetic permeability and with a first and second end, the air core having a plurality of eddy current reducing slits passing from a radially outer surface of the air core to a radially inner surface of the air core; and a continuous coil made of conducting wire having a plurality of loops wrapped around the air core, the coil positioned between the first end and the second end of the air core.
US08536743B2

A rotating electrical machine configured with a rotor and stator. The rotor is rotatably supported radially inside of a stator that has coil end portions on both sides in an axial direction, and which is structured so that oil is supplied from an axial first direction side to the coil end portions on the both sides in the axial direction. A communication oil passage provided in at least one of the rotor and the rotor support member, is configured to communicate with a first opening and a second opening from an oil collecting portion. The first opening opens radially inside the coil end portion on the axial first direction side, and the second opening opens radially inside the coil end portion on an axial second direction side, which is the other side in the axial direction of the rotor.
US08536734B2

An apparatus for inverting DC voltage to AC voltage by stacking of DC voltage sources from a series of DC voltage sources comprises a plurality of circuits. Each circuit includes a first power switch, a second power switch, and a third power switch. The first power switch allows selective connection of adjacent DC voltage sources in the series to provide stacking of DC voltage sources. The second power switch allows selective connection of a first bus to a corresponding location between adjacent DC voltage sources. The third power switch allows selective connection of a second bus to a corresponding location between adjacent DC voltage sources. Controlling the plurality of power switches produces an AC voltage output by coordinating stacking of DC voltage sources and associated connections to the first bus and the second bus.
US08536728B2

Disclosed is a mainframe for receiving a rotor-generator assembly of a gearless wind turbine, wherein the mainframe connects the rotor-generator assembly to the tower of the wind turbine; is rotatably mounted on the tower; and comprises pipe sections arranged at an angle to each other, one of which can be connected to the rotor-generator assembly and the other of which can be connected to the tower. The pipe section that can be connected to the rotor-generator assembly is connected to the lateral surface of the other pipe section by way of an end edge surface facing away from the rotor-generator assembly, and the lateral surface of the other pipe section extends into the region surrounded by the connection.
US08536726B2

Electrical machines, wind turbines, and methods of operating an electrical machine. The electrical machine includes first and second rotatable members that are configured to convert mechanical energy received from the wind turbine rotor into electrical energy. The first rotatable member is coupled with the wind turbine rotor and the second rotatable member is coupled by a gear train with the wind turbine rotor. The gear train, which is driven by rotation of the wind turbine rotor, rotates the second rotatable member relative to the first rotatable member in a direction counter to a direction of rotation of the first rotatable member. The electrical machine may be a generator of the wind turbine.
US08536712B2

A memory device has a laminated chip package and a controller plate. In the laminated chip package, a plurality of memory chips are laminated. An interposed chip is laminated between the laminated chip package and the controller plate. A plurality of opposing wiring electrodes are formed at an opposing surface of the controller plate. A plurality of outside wiring electrodes are formed on the rear side of the opposing surface. Connection electrodes connecting the opposing wiring electrodes and the outside wiring electrodes are formed on the side surface of the controller plate. The interposed chip has a plurality of interposed wiring electrodes. The plurality of interposed wiring electrodes are formed with a common arrangement pattern common with an arrangement pattern of the plurality of opposing wiring electrodes. The controller plate is laid on the interposed chip.
US08536710B2

A semiconductor device includes: an insulating layer formed on a substrate; a plurality of interlayer insulating films which are formed on the insulating layer and comprise an opening window; a multilayer wiring which is formed with a plurality of wiring layers and a plurality of vias formed in the plurality of interlayer insulating films; a metal pad connected with the multilayer wiring, an upper surface part of the metal pad being a bottom part of the opening window, the metal pad formed closer to the substrate than a wiring layer of a lowermost layer of the plurality of wiring layers and is; and a pad ring provided on the metal pad, the pad ring penetrating the plurality of interlayer insulating films and the pad ring surrounding the opening window.
US08536709B1

A wafer with a eutectic bonding carrier and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed, wherein the wafer comprises a thinned wafer, a eutectic bonding layer formed on the backside of said thinned wafer, a eutectic bonding carrier attached on said eutectic bonding layer, and a plurality of openings formed at the active side of said thinned wafer and exposing said eutectic bonding layer on the backside of said thinned wafer.
US08536704B2

An interlayer insulating film containing oxygen and carbon is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A groove is formed in the interlayer insulating film. An auxiliary film containing predetermined first and second metallic elements is formed on a bottom surface and a sidewall of the formed groove. Then, an interconnect body layer containing copper is formed to fill the groove. By performing a thermal treatment, a first barrier film containing a compound of the first metallic element and an oxygen element of the interlayer insulating film, and a second barrier film containing a compound of the second metallic element and carbon element of the interlayer insulating film are formed on the interlayer insulating film on the bottom surface and the sidewall of the groove.
US08536701B2

An electronic device packaging structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base, an emitter, a collector, and a gate. The emitter and the gate are disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor base. The collector is disposed on a second surface of the semiconductor base. A first passivation layer is located on the first surface of the semiconductor base surrounding the gate. A first conductive pad is disposed on the first passivation layer. A second conductive pad is disposed on the collector on the second surface. At least one conductive through via structure penetrates the first passivation layer, the first and second surfaces of the semiconductor base, and the collector to electrically connect the first and second conductive pads.
US08536695B2

The various embodiments of the present invention provide a novel chip-last embedded structure, wherein an IC is embedded within a one to two metal layer substrate. The various embodiments of the present invention are comparable to other two-dimensional and three-dimensional WLFO packages of the prior art as the embodiments have similar package thicknesses and X-Y form factors, short interconnect lengths, fine-pitch interconnects to chip I/Os, a reduced layer count for re-distribution of chip I/O pads to ball grid arrays (BGA) or land grid arrays (LGA), and improved thermal management options.
US08536687B2

A technology with which the reliability of a package making up a semiconductor device can be enhanced is provided. A feature of the technical idea of the invention is that: a heat sink unit and an outer lead unit are separated from each other: and the outer lead unit is provided with chip placement portions and each of the chip placement portions and each heat sink are joined together. As a result, when a sealing body is formed at a resin sealing step, tying portions function as a stopper for preventing resin leakage and the formation of resin burr in a package product can be thereby prevented. In addition, camber does not occur in the heat sink unit and cracking in a sealing body caused by winding (camber) can be suppressed.
US08536684B2

A method of assembling an integrated circuit (IC) device includes the steps of providing a lead frame or substrate panel, attaching a semiconductor die to the lead frame or substrate panel and electrically coupling the die to the lead frame or substrate panel. The method further includes encapsulating the die with a first encapsulant, and the encapsulating the first encapsulant with a second encapsulant where the second encapsulant includes a material that provides electromagnetic shielding.
US08536682B2

A vertical bidirectional protection diode including, on a heavily-doped substrate of a first conductivity type, first, second, and third regions of the first, second, and first conductivity types, these regions all having a doping level greater than from 2 to 5×1019 atoms/cm3 and being laterally delimited by an insulated trench, each of these regions having a thickness smaller than 4 μm.
US08536679B2

In the case of adjacent high voltage nodes in which one node is protected by a lateral BJT clamp, the irreversible burnout due to transient latch-up between the two adjacent high voltage pins of the structure is avoided by increasing the base contact region by including a sinker connected to the base.
US08536677B2

One or more embodiments relate to a capacitor structure comprising a first and second capacitor electrode. The first electrode may include a conductive strip having at least one wider portion and at least one narrower portion. The second electrode may include a conductive strip having at least one wider portion and at least one narrower portion.
US08536661B1

Receptors are selectively attached by introducing blocking materials in the areas outside the active sensor surface area, and/or selectively attaching the bio receptors to one or more active sensor surface areas. Methods for selective attachment include the use of optical attachment using a patterned exposure to assist in the creation of receptor bonding to pre-selected regions of the one or more chips. Blocking agents are attached to regions where blocking the receptor attachment is beneficial. Biased conducting regions may also affect selective attachment. Such controlled blocking may be accomplished using optical patterning exposure with optical assisted bonding of the blocking molecule or lift off processes. Patterned exposure for either attachment assists or liftoff processes employs photo masks. Conducting regions outside of the active sensor gate region are biased, affecting biochemical binding or non binding, and shielding of the semiconductor region outside of the active biosensor region.
US08536658B2

The embodiments of methods and structures are for doping fin structures by plasma doping processes to enable formation of shallow lightly doped source and drain (LDD) regions. The methods involve a two-step plasma doping process. The first step plasma process uses a heavy carrier gas, such as a carrier gas with an atomic weight equal to or greater than about 20 amu, to make the surfaces of fin structures amorphous and to reduce the dependence of doping rate on crystalline orientation. The second step plasma process uses a lighter carrier gas, which is lighter than the carrier gas for the first step plasma process, to drive the dopants deeper into the fin structures. The two-step plasma doping process produces uniform dopant profile beneath the outer surfaces of the fin structures.
US08536651B2

A multi-gate transistor having a plurality of sidewall contacts and a fabrication method that includes forming a semiconductor fin on a semiconductor substrate and etching a trench within the semiconductor fin, depositing an oxide material within the etched trench, and etching the oxide material to form a dummy oxide layer along exposed walls within the etched trench; and forming a spacer dielectric layer along vertical sidewalls of the dummy oxide layer. The method further includes removing exposed dummy oxide layer in a channel region in the semiconductor fin and beneath the spacer dielectric layer, forming a high-k material liner along sidewalls of the channel region in the semiconductor fin, forming a metal gate stack within the etched trench, and forming a plurality of sidewall contacts within the semiconductor fin along adjacent sidewalls of the dummy oxide layer.
US08536650B2

A semiconductor structure is described. The structure includes a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer; a channel associated with the transistor and formed on a first portion of the SOI layer; and a source/drain region associated with the transistor and formed in a second portion of the SOI layer and in a recess at each end of the channel, where the second portion of the SOI layer is substantially thicker than the first portion of the SOI layer. A method of fabricating the semiconductor structure is also described. The method includes forming a dummy gate in a semiconductor substrate; performing a SIMOX process to form a SOI layer such that a first portion of the SOI layer under the dummy gate is substantially thinner than a second portion of the SOI layer; forming a source/drain extension in the SOI layer; and recessing the source/drain extension for forming a source/drain region; epitaxially growing the second portion of the SOI layer; forming an insulating layer over the epitaxial growth; removing the dummy gate for forming a gate opening; and filling the gate opening with a gate dielectric material and a gate conductor material.
US08536623B2

A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a substrate, an HEMT stack spaced apart from the substrate, and a pseudo-insulation layer (PIL) disposed between the substrate and the HEMT stack. The PIL layer includes at least two materials having different phases. The PIL layer defines an empty space that is wider at an intermediate portion than at an entrance of the empty space.
US08536622B2

A semiconductor device includes a first transistor including a GaN-based semiconductor stacked structure formed over a substrate, a first gate electrode having a plurality of first fingers over the semiconductor stacked structure, a plurality of first drain electrodes provided along the first fingers, and a plurality of first source electrodes provided along the first fingers; a second transistor including the semiconductor stacked structure, a second gate electrode having a plurality of second fingers over the semiconductor stacked structure, the second drain electrodes provided along the second fingers, and a plurality of second source electrodes provided along the second fingers; a drain pad provided over or under the first drain electrodes, and coupled to the first drain electrodes; a source pad provided over or under the second source electrodes, and coupled to the second source electrodes; and a common pad coupled to the first source electrodes and the second drain electrodes.
US08536619B2

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; and a stressor in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate stack. The stressor comprises at least a first portion with a first top surface lower than the top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08536618B2

A method of fabricating a Light Emitting Diode with improved light extraction efficiency, comprising depositing a plurality of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods on one or more surfaces of a III-Nitride based LED, by growing the ZnO nanorods from an aqueous solution, wherein the surfaces are different from c-plane surfaces of III-Nitride and transmit light generated by the LED.
US08536606B2

Disclosed is a light emitting device including a light emitting structure comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, a first electrode disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second electrode disposed on the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and a low temperature oxide film disposed on the light emitting structure, with an irregular thickness.
US08536603B2

An optoelectronic semiconductor chip having a semiconductor layer sequence with a plurality of layers arranged over one another includes an active layer with an active region which emits electromagnetic radiation in an emission direction when in operation, a first grating layer on the active layer which, in an emission direction, has a plurality of stripes in the form of grating lines extending perpendicularly to the emission direction with spaces arranged therebetween, and a second grating layer on the first grating layer which covers the stripes of the first grating layer and the spaces and which comprises a transparent material applied by non-epitaxial application.
US08536600B2

A semiconductor light emitting diode (1, LED), comprising a first and a second electrode (40, 11) for applying a voltage across an active region (4) for generation of light, a light emitting surface (6), and a plurality of photonic crystals (101, 102). Further, at least two photonic crystals (101, 102) of a first and a second type are adapted to extract light from the active region (4) and differ from each other with respect to at least one lattice parameter. Each of said at least two photonic crystals (101, 102) are associated with a respective far field pattern, wherein an arrangement of said plurality of photonic crystals (101, 102) is provided to arrange said at least two photonic crystals (101, 102). In this manner, a far field pattern is created by combining the respective far field patterns associated with each of said at least two photonic crystals (101, 102).
US08536591B2

A light emitting device may be provided that includes a conductive support member; a first conductive layer disposed on the conductive support member; a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer; a light emitting structure including a second semiconductor layer formed on the second conductive layer, an active layer formed on the second semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor layer formed on the active layer and an insulation layer. The first conductive layer includes at least one via penetrating the second conductive layer, the second semiconductor layer and the active layer and projecting into a certain area of the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer includes an ohmic contact layer formed on or above the conductive via. The insulation layer is formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and is formed on the side wall of the via.
US08536590B2

A light emitting element package includes a substrate, at least two light emitting element modules and an encapsulation member. The substrate includes a circuit layer. The circuit layer includes a plurality of solder pads. The at least two light emitting element modules are mounted on the substrate. Each of the at least two light emitting element modules includes a plurality of light emitting elements. Each light emitting element of the at least two light emitting element modules is electrically coupled to neighboring light emitting element in serial through the solder pads. The at least two light emitting element modules are reversely arranged. The encapsulation member is configured to encapsulate the at least two light emitting element modules on the substrate.
US08536588B2

A display device and a method of manufacturing the same, the display includes: an electrode plate operable to have a radio-frequency wave to pass therethrough; a light-emitting portion disposed in a direction of one surface of the electrode plate, the light-emitting portion including the electrode plate serving as a back electrode; and an antenna disposed in a direction of another surface of the electrode plate, the antenna having a stripline structure or a microstrip line structure and using a potential of the electrode plate as a reference potential.
US08536585B2

A semi-conductor light emitting device 10 in the present invention comprises an n-type ZnO substrate 3, an emission layer 2, anode 5, and cathode 4. The n-type ZnO substrate 3 has a mounting surface 31 on one of its surfaces. The emission layer 2 is composed of a p-type GaN film 24 and an n-type GaN film 22, and superimposed on the n-type ZnO substrate 3 with the p-type GaN film 24 directly disposed on the mounting surface 31 of the n-type ZnO substrate 3. The anode 5 is disposed directly on the mounting surface 31 of the n-type GaN substrate 3 in an ohmic contact therewith and in a spaced relation from the emission layer. The cathode 4 is disposed on the n-type GaN film 22 in an ohmic contact therewith. The cathode 4 and anode 5 are of the same structure solely composed of a metallic material. The semi-conductor light emitting device in the present invention assures good ohmic contact of both the cathode 4 and the anode 5, and minimizes consumption of metallic materials.
US08536584B2

An LED chip and method of fabricating the same is disclosed that comprises a plurality of sub-LEDs, said sub-LEDs interconnected such that the voltage necessary to drive said sub-LEDs is dependent on the number of said interconnected sub-LEDs and the junction voltage of said sub-LEDs. Each of said interconnected sub-LEDs comprising an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and an active or quantum well region interposed between the n-type and p-type layers. The monolithic LED chip further comprising a p-electrode having a lead that is accessible from a point on a surface opposite of a primary emission surface of the monolithic LED chip, the p-electrode electrically connected to the p-type layer, and an n-electrode having a lead that is accessible from a point on the surface opposite of the primary emission surface, the n-electrode electrically connected to the n-type layer. These sub-LEDs interconnected by at least a metallization layer on the n-type and p-type layers, which is insulated so that it does not short the sub-LEDs. Further, the LED chip is capable of being electrically coupled for operation without wire bonds.
US08536581B2

In a semiconductor device, gate signal lines are spaced apart from each other above a crystalline semiconductor film. Therefore a first protective circuit is not electrically connected when contact holes are opened in an interlayer insulating film. The static electricity generated during dry etching for opening the contact holes moves from the gate signal line, damages a gate insulating film, passes the crystalline semiconductor film, and again damages the gate insulating film before it reaches the gate signal line. As the static electricity generated during the dry etching damages the first protective circuit, the energy of the static electricity is reduced until it loses the capacity of damaging a driving circuit TFT. The driving circuit TFT is thus prevented from suffering electrostatic discharge damage.
US08536574B2

In an exemplary embodiment, a thin film transistor array panel includes: a substrate; a gate line on the substrate; a gate driver on a peripheral area of the substrate; a gate pad formed on the substrate and connecting the gate line and the gate driver; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line and the gate pad; a data line formed on the gate insulating layer and including a source electrode and a facing drain electrode; a height controlling member corresponding to the gate pad and formed on the gate insulating layer; a passivation layer on the gate insulating layer, the data line, the drain electrode, the gate pad, and the height controlling member; an insulating layer on the passivation layer; a pixel electrode formed on the insulating layer and connected to the drain electrode; and contact assistants connected to the gate pad and the height controlling member.
US08536559B2

A phase change memory (PCM) is provided which includes a substrate, a plurality of bottom electrodes, a plurality of top electrodes, a plurality of phase change materials, and a plurality of thermal disturbance-preventing parts. The bottom electrodes are disposed in the substrate, and the top electrodes are disposed on the substrate. The phase change (PC) materials are disposed between the top and bottom electrodes, and each of the PC materials is conducted with one of the top electrodes and one of the bottom electrodes. The thermal disturbance-preventing parts are utilized to reduce the effect of thermal disturbance upon the PCM.
US08536554B2

Provided are a 3-terminal MIT switch which can easily control a discontinuous MIT jump and does not need a conventional gate insulating layer, a switching system including the 3-terminal MIT switch, and a method of controlling an MIT of the 3-terminal MIT switch. The 3-terminal MIT switch includes a 2-terminal MIT device, which generates discontinuous MIT in a transition voltage, an inlet electrode and an outlet electrode, which are respectively connected to each terminal of the 2-terminal MIT device, and a control electrode, which is connected to the inlet electrode and includes an external terminal separated from an external terminal of the inlet electrode, wherein an MIT of the 2-terminal MIT device is controlled according to a voltage or a current applied to the control electrode. The switching system includes the 3-terminal MIT switch, a voltage source connected to the inlet electrode, and a control source connected to the control electrode.
US08536550B2

A method for cleaning collector mirrors in an EUV light generator in which a target is made into a plasma state and EUV light generated is collected by a collector mirror, the method being adopted to the EUV light generator for cleaning contaminants adhering thereto, the method comprising: preparing at least two collector mirrors; locating one of the mirrors at an EUV light condensing position while locating the other mirror at a cleaning position; determining whether the mirror at the cleaning position is cleaned while determining whether the mirror at the light condensing position requires cleaning; and once determined that the mirror at the cleaning position is cleaned and the mirror at the light condensing position requires cleaning, conveying the mirror at the light condensing position and requiring cleaning to the cleaning position while conveying the mirror at the cleaning position and having been cleaned to the light condensing position.
US08536548B2

A particle beam therapy system that prevents dispersion of a charged particle beam, reduction of the energy thereof, and upsizing of the system and can accurately monitor the opening shape of a multileaf collimator so as to perform high-accuracy particle beam therapy. An image-capturing unit that takes an image of an outer end of a respective downstream side face of a leaf plate is provided for each row of leaves in such a way as to be situated at a position that is at an outer side of an irradiation field; and adjusted in such a way that a foot of a perpendicular line from a viewpoint, of the image capturing unit, to the downstream side face of a leaf plate, is situated at a position that is at an inner side of the position of the outer end when the leaf plate is maximally driven in the departing direction.
US08536546B2

An electron gun, an electron source for an electron gun, an extractor for an electron gun, and a respective method for producing the electron gun, the electron source and the extractor are disclosed. Embodiments provide an electron source utilizing a carbon nanotube (CNT) bonded to a substrate for increased stability, reliability, and durability. An extractor with an aperture in a conductive material is used to extract electrons from the electron source, where the aperture may substantially align with the CNT of the electron source when the extractor and electron source are mated to form the electron gun. The electron source and extractor may have alignment features for aligning the electron source and the extractor, thereby bringing the aperture and CNT into substantial alignment when assembled. The alignment features may provide and maintain this alignment during operation to improve the field emission characteristics and overall system stability of the electron gun.
US08536545B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a delayed emission detection device comprising a time-gated illumination source configured to provide excitation light to fluorophore during an excitation period and a light detector configured to receive emissions released from the fluorophore during a collection period after the excitation period.
US08536532B1

An upconverting device for a scintillation detection system is provided. The detection system comprises a scintillator material, a sensor, a light transmission path between the scintillator material and the sensor, and a plurality of upconverting nanoparticles particles positioned in the light transmission path.
US08536530B2

A terahertz wave transceiver configured to generate and detect terahertz waves based on time-domain spectroscopy includes a photoconductive device having a photoconductive film, a first electrode, and a second electrode. An excitation light illumination region is formed between the first and second electrodes. A bias applying unit applies a bias between the first electrode and the second electrode to generate the terahertz wave in the excitation light illumination region. A current detection unit detects a terahertz-wave current that is a component of a current generated in the excitation light illumination region and that is generated by an electric field of a received terahertz wave arriving from the outside. A current drawing unit draws a current originating from the bias applied by the bias applying unit. An adjustment unit determines the amount of the current drawn, based on the amount of the bias applied by the bias applying unit.
US08536521B2

Described herein are methods that may be used related to mass spectrometry, such as mass spectrometry analysis, mass spectrometry calibration, identification of proteins/peptides by mass spectrometry and/or mass spectrometry data collection strategies. In one embodiment, the subject matter discloses a phase-modeling analysis method for identification of proteins or peptides by mass spectrometry.
US08536515B2

A method for determining a radiation dose emitted by a source of fissile material in an installation comprising a set of walls perpendicular to a horizontal plane, characterized in that it comprises the determination from descriptive geometrical data of the installation, of intersection points between a calculation line and characteristic lines formed from a set of characteristic planes perpendicular to the horizontal plane and each containing a point source representative of the source and at least one junction edge between two walls perpendicular to the source plane.
US08536513B2

A space-saving scanner assembly and method are disclosed. The scanner assembly can be manufactured with optical scanning components typical of flatbed scanners. The scanner may be enclosed within a housing a substantially vertical source-contact surface with a channel and a flap coupled to the source-contact surface. The flap having a source-backing surface substantially parallel to the source-contact surface of the housing and arranged such that the source-contact surface, the source-backing surface, and the channel form an opening for receiving an edge of a source document to be scanned. The housing and the flap are configured with a number of features, which permit an operator to easily place a source over a platen forming a portion of the source-contact surface. A method for operating a space-saving scanner is also presented. The method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a scanner with a housing with a substantially vertical source-contact surface and a channel extending therefrom, the vertical source-contact surface including a transparent platen portion, the channel adjacent to a lower edge of the transparent platen; and providing a flap coupled to the source-contact surface, the flap having a source-backing surface substantially parallel to the source-contact surface of the housing, wherein the source-contact surface, the source-backing surface, and the channel form an opening for receiving an edge of a source to be scanned.
US08536512B2

There is provided an opto-electronic circuit board that includes a first board, a second board coupled with the first board via solder, where the second board is mounted with an electronic circuit and a photoelectrical conversion device, and a wall disposed between an optical coupling portion and the solder. The optical coupling portion is for optically coupling an optical waveguide with the photoelectric conversion device, where the optical waveguide is formed in the first board.
US08536510B2

A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is provided having a casing that forms an outer shape of each of a projector and an optical receiver. The casing includes a frame body having a front face and two ends opened, a pair of caps to cover both ends of the frame body, and a light transmissive plate to cover the opened front face of the frame body 3. In the inner surfaces of both side plates of the frame body, supports are formed extending along the corresponding side edges of the opening of the front face. Both side edges of the light transmissive plate 6 are supported by the supports, and both ends thereof are supported by the caps. Portions of the caps that support the light transmissive plate 6 include communication portions to communicate with the supports of the frame body 3, and a string-like elastic member is disposed around a closed loop formed by each support and each communication portion. The light transmissive plate 6 is held between the string-like elastic member and at least one fixing member disposed for the frame body and the caps. This configuration facilitates fixing of the light transmissive plate and changing of a size of the frame body.
US08536492B2

A method and apparatus for rapid thermal annealing comprising a plurality of lamps affixed to a lid of the chamber that provide at least one wavelength of light, a laser source extending into the chamber, a substrate support positioned within a base of the chamber, an edge ring affixed to the substrate support, and a gas distribution assembly in communication with the lid and the base of the chamber. A method and apparatus for rapid thermal annealing comprising a plurality of lamps comprising regional control of the lamps and a cooling gas distribution system affixed to a lid of the chamber, a heated substrate support with magnetic levitation extending through a base of the chamber, an edge ring affixed to the substrate support, and a gas distribution assembly in communication with the lid and the base of the chamber.
US08536488B2

A cable management system for a welding-type system includes a support column extending in a first direction from a first end supported by a welding-type device to a second end arranged above the welding-type device. The cable management system also includes a cable support arranged on the second end of the support column that extends in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction. Accordingly, a portion of the cable support extends away from the welding-type device to allow a cable supported thereon to extend below the cable support and proximate to the welding-type device.
US08536487B2

A consumable electrode type arc welding method for generating arc between a plate-shaped work and a welding wire by a mixed shield gas including argon gas to weld the plate-shaped work, includes: making a state of reverse polarity in which the polarity of the welding wire is positive at the welding start time, and switching at least once to a state of positive polarity in which the polarity of the welding wire is negative.
US08536479B2

A first tubular, inner radial annular seam is produced to weld together two hollow cylinders by narrow-gap tungsten inert gas arc welding. Narrow-gap metal gas-shielded arc welding is used to create another tubular, outer radial annular seam to further weld together both hollow cylinders. In this manner, the rotational axis of the rotor shaft remains vertically aligned throughout the entire production method of welding together the shaft parts. In this manner, the required production time can be advantageously reduced and the use of welding filler can be effectively decreased.
US08536476B2

An illuminated keyboard includes plural keys, a membrane switch circuit member and an illumination module. The illumination module is used for emitting plural light beams. When the membrane switch circuit member is triggered by depressing a key, the membrane switch circuit member issues a corresponding key signal. The membrane switch circuit member includes plural light-guiding zones. Each of the light-guiding zones is filled with the corresponding light-guiding layer, so that no vacant space is formed in the light-guiding zone. As a consequence, the light-guiding layer is structurally rigid, and the possibility of abrading the light-guiding layer is minimized.
US08536468B2

An electrical feedthrough, in particular for use in an electro-medical implant, having a flange enclosing at least one feedthrough bushing and at least one terminal pin enclosed by the at least one feedthrough bushing, the terminal pin having at least one section which can be joined at a lower energy in the interior of the implant.
US08536460B2

A double-sided copper foil substrate, which comprises: a polymer layer; a first copper foil; an adhesive layer formed on the polymer layer such that the polymer layer is sandwiched between the adhesive layer and the first copper layer; and a second copper foil causing the adhesive layer to be sandwiched between the second copper foil and the polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer and the adhesive layer have a total thickness of from 12 to 25 μm. The present invention further provides a flexible printed circuit board structure utilizing the composite double-sided copper foil substrate of the present invention, wherein the second double-sided copper foil substrate has a trench for exposing a portion of the adhesive layer. The double-sided copper foil substrate of the present invention are lower in rebound and satisfying the demand for the greater number of bending and sliding cycles under a lower R angle, and particularly is suitable for thin and flexible electronic products.
US08536459B2

A substrate for use in a PCB or PWB board having a coreless buildup layer and at least one metal and at least one dielectric layer. The coreless buildup dielectric layers can consist of at least partially cured thermoset resin and thermoplastic resin. The substrate may also contain land grid array (LGA) packaging.
US08536457B2

A wiring board including a main substrate having a base material and a conductive pattern formed on the base material, and a flex-rigid printed wiring board provided to the main substrate and having a rigid substrate and a flexible substrate connected to each other. The flex-rigid printed wiring board has a conductive pattern formed on the rigid substrate and/or the flexible substrate. The conductive pattern of the main substrate is electrically connected to the conductive pattern of the flex-rigid printed wiring board.
US08536446B2

Multijunction solar cells that may include a first solar subcell with a first band gap, and a second solar subcell disposed over the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap. The solar cells may also include a grading interlayer disposed over the second solar subcell that may include a third band gap greater than the second band gap. The grading interlayer may not include phosphorus. The solar cells may also include a third solar subcell disposed over the interlayer that is lattice mismatched with respect to the second solar subcell. The third solar subcell may have a fourth band gap smaller than the third band gap.
US08536444B2

Extremely high efficiency solar cells are described. Novel alternating bias schemes enhance the photovoltaic power extraction capability above the cell band-gap by enabling the extraction of hot carriers. In conventional solar cells, this alternating bias scheme has the potential of more than doubling their yielded net efficiency. In solar cells incorporating quantum wells (QWs) or quantum dots (QDs), the alternating bias scheme has the potential of extending such solar cell power extraction coverage, possibly across the entire solar spectrum, thus enabling unprecedented solar power extraction efficiency. Within such cells, a novel alternating bias scheme extends the cell energy conversion capability above the cell material band-gap while the quantum confinement structures are used to extend the cell energy conversion capability below the cell band-gap. Light confinement cavities are incorporated into the cell structure to allow the absorption of the cell internal photo emission, thus further enhancing the cell efficiency.
US08536439B2

A thermoelectric device including a first insulating substrate (A) and a second insulating substrate (B) stacked on each other. Including a first electrode (2b) formed on the upper surface of the first insulating substrate (A), a pair of second electrodes (3c, 4c) individually formed on opposite surfaces thereof and connected to each other via a through-hole (7), and a thermoelectric material (5b) provided in the form of a thin film so as to contact the first electrode (2b) and the second electrode (3c). Furthermore, including a pair of third electrodes (8b, 9b) formed on opposite surfaces of the second insulating substrate (B) and connected to each other via a through-hole (10) while one of the third electrodes (8b, 9b) is connected to the first electrode (2b).
US08536437B2

The musical score playing device includes a display unit 3 made up of a touch panel, a musical score image source selecting unit 10, a musical symbol detecting unit 14 detecting at least a note position and pitch information from a musical score image source, a display device 17 displaying the selected musical score image and a playing pointer 5 on the display unit 3, a touch position detecting unit 23 detecting a touch operation position on the display unit 3, a moving means moving a position of the playing pointer 5 in correspondence to the touch operation position, and a musical sound preparing unit 31 emitting a musical sound of a pitch of a note corresponding to the playing pointer position at a timing that is in accordance with the movement of the playing pointer.
US08536428B1

A novel maize variety designated X08A163 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A163 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A163 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A163, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A163. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A163.
US08536427B1

A novel maize variety designated X90A810 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X90A810 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X90A810 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X90A810, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X90A810. This invention further relates to is methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X90A810.
US08536421B1

A novel maize variety designated PH1CDJ and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1CDJ with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1CDJ through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1CDJ or a locus conversion of PH1CDJ with another maize variety.
US08536419B2

Hybrid pepper cultivar designated E420088 which is a bell pepper type and suitable for covered cultivation, is disclosed. The invention provides green bell pepper fruit which has a sweet taste comparable to that of ripe bell peppers due to increased glucose and fructose contents. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid pepper cultivar E420088 and to the plants of hybrid pepper cultivar E420088. The invention also relates to methods for producing a pepper plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid cultivar E420088 with itself or another pepper cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing other pepper cultivars derived from the hybrid E420088.
US08536418B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety SJ0912733 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety SJ0912733 and its progeny, and methods of making SJ0912733.
US08536413B2

A novel soybean variety, designated XB06M11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB06M11, cells from soybean variety XB06M11, plants of soybean XB06M11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB06M11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB06M11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB06M11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB06M11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB06M11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB06M11 are further provided.
US08536412B1

According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB50F08. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB50F08, to the plants of soybean XB50F08 to plant parts of soybean variety XB50F08 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB50F08 with another soybean plant, using XB50F08 as either the male or the female parent.
US08536409B2

The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam seed which has a solid main vein and narrow base leaves, dark green outer leaves, short core, absence of fringe burn, and absence of tipburn. A specific embodiment is designated 41-69 RZ, referred to as Actarus. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa L . var. longifolia Lam plant produced by growing the “41-69 RZ” (“Actarus”) seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-69 RZ.
US08536408B2

The present invention relates to a novel expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an EPSPS. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel expression cassette comprising, in the direction of transcription, functionally linked to one another, a promoter regulatory sequence which is functional in plant cells or plants, a nucleic acid sequence encoding an EPSPS and a terminator sequence which is functional in plant cells or plants, characterized in that the promoter regulatory sequence is a nucleic acid sequence chosen from the promoter regulatory sequences of the CsVMV (Cassava Vein Mosaic Virus) plant virus.
US08536407B2

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing plants or plant tissue with increased resistance to heat conditions and/or increased starch biosynthesis. Increased resistance of a plant or plant tissue to heat conditions provides for decreased yield losses as compared to the yield losses generally observed at elevated temperatures. One aspect of the invention concerns polynucleotides that encode a mutant plant small subunit of AGPase. The subject invention also comprises a mutant plant small subunit of AGPase encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention. The subject invention also concerns plants comprising a polynucleotide of the invention and method for making the plants.
US08536403B2

The present invention provides a transgenic wheat cell or wheat plant, the wheat cell or wheat plant comprising a chimeric DNA molecule which encodes a dsRNA molecule which is capable of inhibiting wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) replication, wherein the wheat cell or plant is immune to WSMV. The present invention also provides a chimeric DNA, the chimeric DNA comprising (i) a wheat expressible promoter; (ii) a region which encodes a dsRNA which is capable of inhibiting WSMV replication; and (iii) a transcription termination and polyadenylation signal. Finally, the present invention provides a process for producing the aforementioned transgenic wheat cell or plant, comprising (i) introducing a chimeric DNA molecule comprising (a) a wheat expressible promoter; (b) a region which encodes a dsRNA which is capable of inhibiting WSMV replication; and (c) a transcription termination and polyadenylation signal into a parental wheat cell; and optionally (ii) regenerating a wheat plant from the wheat cell comprising the chimeric DNA molecule; and (iii) identifying and/or selecting a plant which is immune to WSMV.
US08536381B2

Process for purifying hydrogen chloride, comprising at least one step of bringing said hydrogen chloride into contact with a scrubbing agent containing at least one chlorohydrin.
US08536376B2

A method for depleting halide ions from liquid ammonia, which comprises bringing the liquid ammonia into contact with a strongly basic ion exchanger, where the basic structure of the strongly basic ion exchanger is a covalently crosslinked polymer matrix and the content of ammonia in the liquid ammonia is more than 98% by weight.
US08536375B2

The present invention provides novel and more efficient synthesis's for obtaining an intermediate in the synthesis of obtaining a protecting group aminoxy PEG linker.
US08536373B2

Improved method of production of 9-(Z)-retinoic acid, in which a) a β-formyl-crotonic acid C1-C10 alkyl or phenyl ester is reacted with an isolated 9-(Z)—C15-triarylphosphonium salt by the Wittig reaction in the presence of a base to the corresponding 9-(Z)-retinoic acid ester; which b) is then saponified with a base to the corresponding 9-(Z)-retinoic acid carboxylate and then, following protonation with an acid, the desired 9-(Z)-retinoic acid is obtained, and improved method for the enrichment and isolation of the 9-(Z)—C15-triarylphosphonium salt.
US08536368B2

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent composition under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The alkylenating agent composition comprises at least 1 wt % of a ring-structured compound comprising at least two oxygen atoms and at least one carbon atom, e.g., trioxane and/or tetraoxane. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.
US08536366B2

A process for the continuous production of a compound of Formula (II), HO—R1—ONO2 (II) wherein R1 is a straight chain alkyl radical having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, in a two-phase solvent system, comprising contacting a compound of Formula (I), HO—R1—OH (I) wherein R1 is as defined above, with nitric acid in the presence of a first solvent, wherein the compound of Formula (II) is continuously extracted into a second solvent, and the reaction is carried out in a mixing microreactor which provides a power loss of at least 1.3 times the power loss provided under identical conditions by a circular cross-section straight-channel microreactor having an internal diameter equal to the average hydraulic diameter of the mixing microreactor and a length equal to the length of the mixing microreactor.
US08536364B2

The present invention provides a method for producing sulfur-containing carboxylic acid esters that are useful for aromatizing and flavoring purpose and can cater to the needs for diversified aromatized and/or flavored products, and to further provide a fragrance and/or flavor composition comprising the ester producible by the method and an aromatized and/or flavored product comprising the same.The sulfur-containing carboxylic acid ester is represented by the following formula (3): wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an optionally substituted phenyl group (wherein the substituent thereof is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms), R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 together form an alkylene group, and R4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US08536359B2

Disclosed are alkoxysilane compounds having two fluoroalkyl groups and represented by the following general formula (1): wherein Rf and Rf′ are each a fluoroalkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R1 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are each methyl group or ethyl group, X and Y are each an ether linkage or an ester linkage, a and b are each 0 or 1, m, n and p are each an integer of 0 to 6, q is an integer of 1 to 6, and r is an integer of 0 to 2. By treating an inorganic material with the alkoxysilane compound having ether linkage and two fluoroalkyl groups, high water and oil repellency and high sliding properties can be imparted to the inorganic material. The alkoxysilane compounds can be easily purified, owing to enhancement of volatility by the branched structure.
US08536351B2

Cyclohexanedione compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1 is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, cyclopropyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, halogen, vinyl, ethynyl, methoxy, ethoxy, halomethoxy or haloethoxy, R2 and R3 are, independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6haloalkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C1-C6haloalkoxy, C2-C6alkenyl, C2-C6haloalkenyl, C2-C6alkynyl, C3-C6alkenyloxy, C3-C6haloalkenyloxy, C3-C6alkynyloxy, C3-C6cycloalkyl, C1-C6alkylthio, C1-C6alkylsulfinyl, C1-C6alkylsulfonyl, C1-C6alkylsulfonyloxy, C1-C6haloalkylsulfonyloxy, cyano, nitro, phenyl, phenyl substituted by C1-C4alkyl, C1-C3Cahaloalkyl, C1-C3alkoxy, C1-C3haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, halogen, C1-C3alkylthio, C1-C3alkylsulfinyl or C1-C3alkylsulfonyl, or heteroaryl or heteroaryl substituted by C1-C3Calkyl, d.Cahaloalkyl, C1-C3alkoxy, C1-C3haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, halogen, C1-C3alkylthio, C1-C3alkylsulfinyl or C1-C3alkylsulfonyl, R4 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, halogen, vinyl, ethynyl, methoxy, ethoxy, halomethoxy or haloethoxy, X is O, S, S(O) or S(O)2, R5 is hydrogen or methyl, R6 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, or forms a double bond, which links the carbon atom, to which R6 is attached, with the adjacent carbon atom of R7 or R8, R7 and R8 are independently of each other C1-C5alkylene, which is unsubstituted or substituted by methyl or ethyl, or C2-C5alkenylene, which is unsubstituted or substituted by methyl or ethyl, and G is hydrogen, an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, sulfoniυm, ammonium or a latentiating group, are suitable for use as herbicides.
US08536335B2

The invention provides a crystalline sulfate salt of 3-endo-(8-{2-[cyclohexylmethyl-((S)-2,3-dihydroxy-propionyl)amino]ethyl}-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl)benzamide or a solvate thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such crystalline salt forms, methods of using such crystalline salt forms to treat diseases associated with mu opioid receptor activity, and processes useful for preparing such crystalline salt forms.
US08536331B2

N-Alkoxyamides of 4-aminopicolinic acids and 6-amino-4-pyrimidinecarboxylates are selective herbicides for corn, canola and sugar beet.
US08536327B2

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula where the variables are as defined in the disclosure.
US08536325B2

The present invention relates to processes for purifying guar comprising combining borate and guar in an aqueous solution and treating the aqueous solution with an organic solvent to induce precipitation of purified guar. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to ophthalmic formulations comprising purified guar produced by the processes described.
US08536317B2

A process for producing a polysaccharide sponge comprises the steps of (A) freezing a photoreactive polysaccharide solution, and (B) irradiating the frozen photoreactive polysaccharide solution with light to crosslink the photoreactive polysaccharide, thereby obtaining the polysaccharide sponge. The process includes simplified steps requiring no removal of solvent, and has such an advantage that impurities are easily removed therefrom.
US08536312B2

The present invention concerns a monoclonal antibody and corresponding hybridoma cells and antigens suitable for isolating fetal cells from maternal blood. The inventive monoclonal antibody reacts with a surface antigen present on fetal red blood cells including their nucleated precursor cells, but not with surface antigens on adult erythroid cell.
US08536301B2

Engineered peptides that bind with high affinity (low equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd)) to the cell surface receptors of fibronectin (α5β1) or vitronectin (αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins) are disclosed. These peptides are based on a molecular scaffold into which a subsequence containing the RGD integrin-binding motif has been inserted. The subsequence (RGD mimic) comprises about 9-13 amino acids, and the RGD contained within the subsequence can be flanked by a variety of amino acids, the sequence of which was determined by sequential rounds of selection (in vitro evolution). The molecular scaffold is preferably based on a knottin, e.g., EETI (Trypsin inhibitor 2 (Trypsin inhibitor II) (EETI-II) [Ecballium elaterium (Jumping cucumber)], AgRP (Agouti-related protein), and Agatoxin IVB, which peptides have a rigidly defined three-dimensional conformation. It is demonstrated that EETI tolerates mutations in other loops and that the present peptides may be used as imaging agents.
US08536299B2

Rigid-rod copolymer compositions incorporating PBO (poly(p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole)), DiOH-PBO (poly(2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-phenylenebenzobisoxazole), DiOH-PBI (poly(2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-phenylenebenzobisimidazole)), DiOH-PyBI (poly(2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-phenylenepyridobisimidazole), PBZT (poly(p-phenylenebenzobisthiazole)) and its corresponding dihydroxy analogues attached to a flexibilizing hexafluoroisopropylidene linkage are described. Also described are their fabrication into fibers by a dry jet wet spinning technique and the measured fiber mechanical properties. The copolymer compositions are highly flame-resistant and have potential utility for fire-protective clothing.
US08536297B2

The present invention relates to a coating composition. More particularly the present invention relates to a coating composition comprising an amine curative composition comprising a bis-aromatic secondary diamine, a bis-aromatic primary diamine and optionally a mono-aromatic primary diamine.
US08536295B2

The disclosure provides methods and materials for imparting corrosion resistance to a substrate, as well as the corrosion-resistant substrates prepared accordingly. Compositions and methods include nonpyrolyzed, silicon-based polymer coatings prepared on substrates. The prepared coatings are highly stable and resistant to corrosion. The invention finds utility, for example, in the fields of surface and coating chemistry.The composition contains silicon-containing polymers having units of the following formulae: [R1Si(OH)O]k  (III) [R1Si(OR10)O]m  (IV) [R1SiO1.5]n  (V) [R1Si(H)O]p  (VI) [R2R3SiO]q  (VII).
US08536292B2

The invention concerns a process to manufacture a thermoplastic resin charged with mineral or carbonated matter, and possibly containing an organic impact modifier, through the introduction into the said resin of a comb polymer with at least one ethylenic unsaturation monomer, to which is grafted at least one polyalkylene oxide function. The resins then obtained which also form the subject of the invention have an improved impact resistance without their rigidity being degraded.
US08536289B2

A process for the production of a corona-treated polyolefin film comprising the gas-phase polymerization of one or more α-olefins in the presence of a polymerization catalyst and an antistatic agent having a molecular weight higher than 500, said antistatic agent being fed at any stage of the polymerization process in an amount from 30 to 500 ppm weight based on the weight of the produced polyolefin.
US08536285B2

A process for the preparation of a copolymer in semicontinuous operation in a polymerization apparatus including a polymerization reactor connected to a metering device, acid monomer being initially taken in the metering device and polyether macromonomer and water in the polymerization reactor, acid monomer being metered from the metering device via an acid monomer metering line into the polymerization reactor, a portion of the copolymer-containing aqueous medium being passed continuously during the free radical polymerization from the polymerization reactor via a reaction mixture line which is connected via a mixing device to the acid monomer metering line, the discharged copolymer-containing aqueous medium being mixed with the acid monomer in the mixing device during the metering of the acid monomer and being recycled to the polymerization reactor after the mixing via the acid monomer metering line.
US08536282B2

A polycarbonate polymer or copolymer comprising pendant silylated dihydroxy aromatic compound of the formula (1a); wherein Ga and Gb are each independently C1-12 alkyl, —OSi(C1-12 alkyl)3, C1-12 arylalkyl, or —OSi(C1-12 arylalkyl)3; Za and Zb are each independently a straight or branched C2-18 is alkylene, a C8-18 arylalkylene, or a C8-18 alkylarylene, Xa is a direct bond, a heteroatom-containing group, or a C1-18 organic group, and r and s are each independently 1 or 2 is disclosed.
US08536280B2

[PROBLEM] To provide a novel star polymer useful as resist materials with high sensitivity and high resolution, and a novel coupling agent for anionic polymerization for synthesizing the polymer.[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM] A star polymer comprising: a core part derived from a coupling agent for anionic polymerization composed of an acid-degradable compound having an organic group derived from a halide; and an arm part that is attached to the core part and composed of an acid-degradable polymer chain obtained by anionic polymerization; and the coupling agent for anionic polymerization.
US08536278B2

A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein the water-absorbing polymer particles are surface postcrosslinked with unsaturated fatty acids or derivatives thereof.
US08536269B2

The present invention provides peroxidic fluoropolyether and a fluorine-containing dispersion obtained from polymerization of fluorine-containing monomers in the presence of peroxidic fluoropolyether as a surfactant. The peroxidic fluoropolyether can be used as surfactant for producing aqueous dispersion of fluorine-containing monomer in place of PFOA or the salts thereof. Thus the amount of PFOA or the salts thereof is reduced and the natural environment is protected. In addition, applying peroxidic fluoropolyether as surfactant and combining it with adjuvants, such as initiator, can induce the reaction moderate and can be beneficial to the polymerization control, thus reducing the amount of initiator or shortening the reaction time.
US08536267B2

Methods of surface modification of polymer particle are useful in the development of marking fluids. The surface modification includes saponifying one or more acrylic ester groups on a surface of the polymer particle.
US08536265B2

A polyaryletherketone polymeric material, for example polyetheretherketone and composite materials comprising said polymeric material are described. The polymeric material has a melt viscosity (MV) in the range 0.05 to 0.12 kNsm−2, preferably in the range 0.085 to 0.095 kNsm−2.
US08536262B2

The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a cap/base configuration comprised of an outer tread cap rubber layer, with a tread running surface, and an underlying tread base rubber layer, where the base rubber layer contains syndiotactic polybutadiene with a diverse blend of carbon blacks.
US08536257B2

A defoaming coalescent for a water-based composition including a coalescent carrier; and one or more defoamer-active components is provided. A method for making a defoaming coalescent including the steps of: providing a coalescent carrier and one or more defoamer-active components; and combining the carrier and defoamer-active components is also provided. A water-based composition including a polymer latex or a polymer dispersion; and a defoaming coalescent is also provided.
US08536252B2

A process for the preparation of a copolymer in semicontinuous operation in a polymerization apparatus, comprising a polymerization reactor connected to a metering device, acid monomer being initially taken in the metering device and polyether macromonomer, acid monomer and water in the polymerization reactor, acid monomer being metered from the metering device into the polymerization reactor, the metering of the acid monomer being effected with the proviso that at least 70 mol % of the acid monomer metered in altogether are metered in the course of 5 to 19 minutes at a metering rate that is constant or varies to a limited extent.
US08536250B2

A simultaneous interpenetrating polymer network—geopolymer epoxy composition includes a first component comprised of a waterborne epoxy curing agent, an aluminosilicate source, and an amorphous silica, and a second component comprised of an epoxy resin and an alkaline silicate solution. The two components are mixed to produce a SIN-GE composition that cures at ambient temperatures. The SIN-GE composition may be a low-viscosity, sprayable composition, or may be a higher-viscosity composition. The compositions may be used as coatings, adhesives, mortars, casting materials, and the like.
US08536242B2

The present invention provides a photocurable composition which contains a photobase generator capable of generating a satisfactory amount of a base in a high quantum yield when irradiated even with a small quantity of light for a short time, and contains a curable compound that is rapidly cured by the generated base such that the composition is cured into a cured product. The photocurable composition comprises: a photobase generator (A) which is a salt of a carboxylic acid (a1-1) represented by the following formula (1-1) with a basic compound (a2), and a curable compound (B) which has, in one molecule thereof, at least two functional groups selected from among epoxy group, (meth)acryloyl group, isocyanato group, acid anhydride group, and alkoxysilyl group, where R1 to R7 in the above formula (1-1) each are hydrogen or an organic group, R1 to R7 may be the same or different, and two of R1 to R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure.
US08536239B1

Partial oxidation of crumb rubber derived from environmental hazardous waste tires yields surface treated crumb rubber which are used as blending stocks for making rubberized concrete with substantially improved mechanical strength as compared to the conventional rubberized concrete. The chemically more active rubber surface becomes hydrophilic, so it interacts with the hydrophilic surface of surrounding cement matrix much stronger. The mechanically improved rubberized concrete is more versatile than conventional rubberized concrete.
US08536238B2

A process for the preparation of thermal insulation sheets fashioned from certain unseparated mixtures of post-consumer plastic articles is disclosed. The mixtures of such articles contain polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) and optionally also articles made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). An unseparated mixture of such articles is provided. This mixture is crushed and shredded to form plastic flakes, and these plastic flakes are then homogenized. Homogenization of the flakes can be carried out either by melt-blending them or by further comminution to produce very fine particles of the mixed plastics. The resulting homogenized mixture of plastic types is then compression molded into sheets.
US08536233B2

Process for producing liquid hydrocarbons from a heavy feedstock such as biomass, carbon, lignite, or heavy petroleum residue comprising:A partial oxidation b) of the heavy feedstock, producing a synthesis gas SG1, with an H2/CO ratio<1; A steam reforming c) of a light feedstock that comprises hydrocarbons having at most 4 carbon atoms, for the production of a synthesis gas SG2 with an H2/CO ratio>3; A Fischer-Tropsch conversion into liquid hydrocarbons of a synthesis gas SG, mixture of at least a portion of SG1 and at least a portion of SG2, in proportions such that SG has an H2/CO ratio of between 1.2 and 2.5. The light feedstock comprises hydrocarbons having less than 10 carbon atoms C1-C10 are obtained from a pretreatment of the heavy feedstock and/or are produced in the Fischer-Tropsch stage and/or during a downstream hydrocracking stage.
US08536230B2

The present invention provides a method for preparing chitosan solutions to allow regulating the conditions in which the chitosan solution will gel. The present invention also provides methods for using chitosan solutions as compositions and for using chitosan solutions in vitro and in vivo.
US08536225B2

Isolated polynucleotide molecules and peptides encoded by these molecules are used in the analysis of human carbamyl phosphate synthetase I phenotypes, as well as in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, relating to a human carbamyl phosphate synthetase I polymorphism. By analyzing genomic DNA or amplified genomic DNA, or amplified cDNA derived from mRNA, it is possible to type a human carbamyl phosphate synthetase I with regard to the human carbamyl phosphate synthetase I polymorphism, for example, in the context of diagnosing and treating hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) associated with bone marrow transplants.
US08536220B2

The present invention relates to a dietary supplement composition made of: linolinic expeller pressed soybean oil in the range of 65%-85%, Omega 3 (18/12) fish oil 15%-35%, and 1%-20% alpha-tocopherol and a method to use this composition to supplement the diet of a domestic animal, such as a canine or an equine.
US08536210B2

The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (i) having an oxime moiety or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or solvate thereof and its use for inhibiting semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), also known as vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1), a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof as an active ingredient, a method for the prevention or the treatment of a SSAO/VAP-1 related disease, said diseases including acute or chronic inflammatory diseases, diseases related to carbohydrate metabolism, diabetes-associated complications, diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema, diseases related to adipocyte or smooth muscle dysfunctions, neurodegenerative diseases and vascular diseases.
US08536207B2

A method for treating a keratoconjunctival disorder, wherein the keratoconjunctival disorder comprises at least one disorder selected from the group consisting of a superficial punctate keratopathy, a corneal epithelial defect, corneal erosion, a corneal ulcer, a conjunctival epithelial defect, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, filamentary keratoconjunctivitis, keratitis and conjunctivitis, and wherein the method comprises orally administering from 3 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg per day of 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one or a salt thereof to a patient in need thereof.
US08536200B2

The invention is directed to pyridinone compounds useful for modulating Met kinase, having the following structure: and is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound; and methods for treating proliferative diseases, such as cancer by the administration of this compound.
US08536199B2

This invention provides compositions for treating and preventing nausea and other disorders, the compositions comprising vitamins as active ingredients, including vitamin B6, vitamin K, and vitamin C, and a method for treating nausea or morning sickness with the oral compositions.
US08536194B2

New compounds of formula (I) and the salts thereof, wherein the meanings for the various substituents are as disclosed in the description, are useful as p38 kinase inhibitors.
US08536191B2

The present invention is directed to novel crystalline and amorphous forms of nalbuphine hydrochloride.
US08536185B2

Multiheteroaryl compounds, their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and their pharmaceutical use in the prevention and treatment of prostaglandin D2 mediated diseases and conditions that may be modulated by the inhibition of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS).
US08536183B2

The present invention relates to novel piperazine derivatives; to processes for their preparation; to pharmaceutical compositions containing the derivatives; and to the use of the derivatives in therapy to treat diseases for which blocking the Cav2.2 calcium channels is beneficial.
US08536182B2

The present invention relates to novel benzylpiperazine derivatives such as compounds of formula (I), which have activity as agonists of the GPR38 receptor and the use of such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions thereof in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
US08536177B2

A compound of formula: wherein Ar1, A, R3, x, and m are as disclosed herein and Ar2 is a benzothiazolyl, benzooxazolyl, or benzoimidazolyl group or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (a “Benzoazolylpiperazine Compound”), compositions comprising a Benzoazolylpiperazine Compound, and methods for treating or preventing pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD, IBS, an addictive disorder, Parkinson's disease, parkinsonism, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, a seizure, a pruritic condition, psychosis, a cognitive disorder, a memory deficit, restricted brain function, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, retinopathy, a muscle spasm, a migraine, vomiting, dyskinesia, or depression in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Benzoazolylpiperazine Compound are disclosed.
US08536169B2

The invention is directed to certain novel compounds directed to compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of PI3-kinase activity.
US08536168B2

The present disclosure relates to compounds relating to the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies relating to the Hedgehog pathway, including but not limited to tumor formation, cancer, neoplasia, and non-malignant hyperproliferative disorders; specifically relating to compounds of formula I:
US08536164B2

Compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds are disclosed, wherein the compounds have the structure of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X, Y, A, R4, n, and R7 are as defined in the specification. Corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, methods of synthesis, and intermediates are also disclosed.
US08536155B2

The present invention provides a process for preparing a highly pure form of malathion having a reduced level of toxic impurities. In addition, the malathion prepared by the process of this invention is storage stable. The level of toxic impurities in the malathion, e.g., isomalathion, O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (MeOOSPS), O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate (MeOOSPO), O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (MeOSSPO), malaoxon, isomalathion, diethyl fumarate, methyl malathion, dimethyl malathion, O,O-methyl,ethyl-S-(1,2-dicarboethoxy)ethyl-phosphorodithioate are lower than that of any other commercial preparation of malathion that may be used for pharmaceutical purposes.
US08536152B2

The present invention provides methods of treating type II diabetes using combinations of diacerein or its derivatives with other antidiabetic agents. The methods may also allow improving glycemic control of type II diabetes patients and/or reducing side effects and/or cardiovascular risks of antidiabetic agents.
US08536143B2

Compositions comprising at least one bactericidal antibiotic from the group of macrolides and a non-steroid anti-inflammatory with selective inhibiting activity for cycloxygenase 2 (COX-2). The present invention also refers to a dosage form of said compositions, as well as a method to treat pet animals, particularly dogs and cats. Compositions of the present invention are particularly useful for administration to provide animals with dosages of about 1.0 to 50 mg of compound A/kg of body weight of the animal and about 0.05 to 5.0 mg of compound B/kg of body weight of the animal, being compound A preferably azithromycin and compound B, meloxicam.
US08536142B2

A spinosyn or a physiologically acceptable derivative or salt thereof for promoting or accelerating wound healing in humans.
US08536121B2

The present invention provides the use of βarrestin2 protein or its up-regulators for manufacturing a composition for the prevention or treatment of insulin resistance or related disease in mammals. The reagents and the kits for the specific identification of βarrestin2 protein or its coding gene or transcript are also provided which can be used in diagnosis of insulin resistance or related diseases.
US08536117B2

A method for the treatment of cardiovascular disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising the steps of administering an ApoA1 mimetic that is capable of promoting cholesterol efflux from lipid loaded cells in the subject, wherein the ApoA1 mimetic has an amino acid sequence that includes at least a portion of the amino acid sequence of ApoA1 or a mimetic of ApoA1 that contains at least one tryptophan, at least one tryptophan from the ApoA1 or mimetic of the ApoA1 being substituted with an oxidant resistant amino acid in the amino acid sequence of the ApoA1 mimetic.
US08536114B2

Disclosed herein are compounds of general formula (I): wherein A, B, R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification, and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US08536112B2

Liquid cleaning compositions are described that comprise sulfo-estolide (SE) salts, particular sodium, lithium or ammonium salts of sulfo-estolides, and alkyl ester sulfonates. The liquid cleaning compositions are clear, stable and substantially free of precipitates due to the use of sodium, lithium or ammonium salts of sulfo-estolide rather than a potassium sulfo-estolide salt in the composition. The liquid cleaning compositions also have a total combined amount of saturated C16 and C18 fatty acids of less than about 5% by weight to prevent the formation of precipitates in the composition.
US08536107B2

Article for use in a dishwashing machine, which comprises a water-soluble glass or ceramic composition effective to reduce corrosion of glassware and at least one surfactant containing composition, wherein the amount of the glass or ceramic composition is within the range of 5 to 95 wt. % and the amount of the surfactant is in the range of 5 to 95 wt. %, both percentages based on the weight of the article.
US08536100B2

The invention relates to a method for analysing interactions of a nucleic acid with at least one polypeptide, comprising (a) providing a reaction vessel with a composition comprising cross-linked complexes comprising at least one nucleic acid and at least one polypeptide; (b) immobilizing at least part of the cross-linked complexes to the reaction vessel; (c) at least partially reversing said cross-links in said immobilized complexes by performing a heat incubation step thereby at least partially releasing the nucleic acids from the complexes; (d) analyzing the released nucleic acid. wherein steps (a) to (d) are performed in one reaction vessel. Also provided are specific reaction vessels and kits.
US08536099B2

According to various embodiments, a method is provided that comprises washing an array of DNA-coated beads on a substrate, with a wash solution to remove stacked beads from the substrate. The wash solution can include inert solid beads in a carrier. The DNA-coated beads can have an average diameter and the solid beads in the wash solution can have an average diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the DNA-coated beads. The washing can form dislodged DNA-coated beads and a monolayer of DNA-coated beads. In some embodiments, first beads for forming an array are contacted with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solution comprising a PEG having a molecular weight of about 350 Da or less. In some embodiments, slides for forming bead arrays are provided as are systems for imaging the same.
US08536092B2

The present invention relates to new insecticides of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, A, Q and n can have the definitions stated in the description, to a number of processes for preparing them and to their use as active compounds, more particularly to their use as pest control compositions.
US08536091B2

System, including methods compositions, and kits, for controlling the growth of fungi and other pathogens in plants using at least one alkamide, which may function by increasing or eliciting natural defense mechanisms of the plants against such pathogens.
US08536074B2

Disclosed are cleaning sheets having substantial macroscopic three-dimensionality. Optionally, the macroscopically three-dimensional cleaning sheets can comprise a contractable material (e.g., a scrim material), which when heated and then cooled contracts so as to provide a macroscopic, three-dimensional structure. Macroscopic three-dimensionality is described in terms of “average peak-to-peak distance” and “surface topography index”, as well in terms of “average height differential”. Also disclosed are cleaning implements comprising a handle and the described cleaning sheets. Processes for the sheets, benefits of the processes, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
US08536070B2

This invention relates to materials and processes for thin film deposition on solid substrates. Silica/alumina nanolaminates were deposited on heated substrates by the reaction of an aluminum-containing compound with a silanol. The nanolaminates have very uniform thickness and excellent step coverage in holes with aspect ratios over 40:1. The films are transparent and good electrical insulators. This invention also relates to materials and processes for producing improved porous dielectric materials used in the insulation of electrical conductors in microelectronic devices, particularly through materials and processes for producing semi-porous dielectric materials wherein surface porosity is significantly reduced or removed while internal porosity is preserved to maintain a desired low-k value for the overall dielectric material. The invention can also be used to selectively fill narrow trenches with low-k dielectric material while at the same time avoiding deposition of any dielectric on the surface area outside of the trenches.
US08536066B2

Methods of forming an oxide layer on silicon carbide include thermally growing an oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide, and annealing the oxide layer in an environment containing NO at a temperature greater than 1175° C. The oxide layer may be annealed in NO in a silicon carbide tube that may be coated with silicon carbide. To form the oxide layer, a preliminary oxide layer may be thermally grown on a silicon carbide layer in dry O2, and the preliminary oxide layer may be re-oxidized in wet O2.
US08536053B2

A method for restricting lateral encroachment of the metal silicide into the channel region, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack being formed on the semiconductor substrate, a source region being formed in the semiconductor on one side of the gate stack, and a drain region being formed in the semiconductor substrate on the other side of the gate stack; forming a sacrificial spacer around the gate stack and on the semiconductor substrate; depositing a metal layer for covering the semiconductor substrate, the gate stack and the sacrificial spacer; performing a thermal treatment on the semiconductor substrate, thereby causing the metal layer to react with the sacrificial spacer and the semiconductor substrate in the source region and the drain region; removing the sacrificial spacer, reaction products of the sacrificial spacer and the metal layer, and a part of the metal layer which does not react with the sacrificial spacer.
US08536047B2

A device and a method for realizing reliable electrical contacts at low temperature and low pressure between conducting materials on, for example, different substrates are disclosed. In one aspect, a rough and brittle intermetallic layer is formed on a conducting material on a first substrate. A soft solder material layer on the other substrate is used for contacting the brittle and rough intermetallic layer that will break. As the solder material is relatively soft, contact between the broken intermetallic layer and the solder material can be realized over a large portion of the surface area. At that stage, a second intermetallic layer is formed between the solder material and the first intermetallic layer realizing electrical contact.
US08536042B2

A process for forming a vertically conducting semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a topside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor substrate serves as a terminal of the vertically conducting device for biasing the vertically conducting device during operation. The process also includes forming an epitaxial layer extending over the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a recessed region along a periphery of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming an interconnect layer extending into the recessed region but terminating prior to reaching an edge of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect layer electrically contacts the topside surface of the semiconductor substrate in the recessed region to thereby provide a topside contact to the semiconductor substrate.
US08536028B1

The present invention relates to a self alignment and assembly fabrication method for stacking multiple material layers, wherein a variety of homogeneous/heterogeneous materials can be stacked on a substrate by this self alignment and assembly fabrication method, without using any epitaxial buffer layers or gradient buffer layers; Moreover, these stacked materials can be single crystal, polycrystalline or non-crystalline phase materials. So that, by applying this self alignment and assembly fabrication method to fabricate a multi-layer device, not only the material cost can be effectively reduced, but the wafer alignment problem existing in the conventional wafer bonding process can also be solved. In addition, in the present invention, rapid melting growth (RMG) is used for growing the multiple crystallized materials laterally and rapidly from the substrate surface by liquid phase epitaxy, therefore the thermal budget can be largely reduced when fabricating the multi-layer device.
US08536018B1

A low power maskless inter-well deep trench isolation structure and methods of manufacture such structure are provided. A method includes depositing a plurality of layers over a substrate, and forming a layer over the plurality of layers. The method also includes forming well structures in the substrate, and forming sidewall spacers at opposing sides of the layer. The method further includes forming a self-aligned deep trench in the substrate to below the well structures, by removing the sidewall spacers and portions of the substrate aligned with an opening formed by the removal of the sidewall spacers. The method also includes forming a shallow trench in alignment with the deep trench. The method further includes forming shallow trench isolation structures and deep trench isolation structures by filling the shallow trench and the deep trench with insulator material.
US08536016B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: providing a substrate including front-end-of-line circuitry; forming a first group of metal layers including a first finger and a second finger over the substrate utilizing a first design rule, the first group of metal layers being formed without a finger via; forming a second group of metal layers including a first finger, a second finger, and a finger via over the first group of metal layers utilizing a second design rule that is larger than the first design rule; and interconnecting the first group of metal layers, including interconnecting a first cluster adjacent to a second cluster, to form a capacitor.
US08536013B2

Small phase change memory cells may be formed by forming a segmented heater over a substrate. A stop layer may be formed over the heater layer and segmented with the heater layer. Then, sidewall spacers may be formed over the segmented heater to define an aperture between the sidewall spacers that may act as a mask for etching the stop layer over the segmented heater. As a result of the etching using the sidewall spacers as a mask, sublithographic pore may be formed over the heater. Phase change material may be formed within the pore.
US08536004B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor power device includes the following steps. First, a substrate having at least a semiconductor layer and a pad layer thereon is provided. At least a trench is etched into the pad layer and the semiconductor layer. Then, a dopant source layer is deposited in the trench and on the pad layer followed by thermally driving in dopants of the dopant source layer into the semiconductor layer. A polishing process is performed to remove the dopant source layer from a surface of the pad layer and a thermal oxidation process is performed to eliminate micro-scratches formed during the polishing process. Finally, the pad layer is removed to expose the semiconductor layer.
US08536000B2

First and second gate insulating films are formed so as to cover at least the upper corner of first and second fin-shaped semiconductor regions. The radius of curvature r1′ of the upper corner of the first fin-shaped semiconductor region located outside the first gate insulating film is greater than the radius of curvature r1 of the upper corner of the first fin-shaped semiconductor region located under the first gate insulating film and is less than or equal to 2×r1. The radius of curvature r2′ of the upper corner of the second fin-shaped semiconductor region located outside the second gate insulating film is greater than the radius of curvature r2 of the upper corner of the second fin-shaped semiconductor region located under the second gate insulating film and is less than or equal to 2×r2.
US08535987B2

A manufacturing method of a substrate for a semiconductor element, wherein a first step includes: forming a first and second photosensitive resin layer on a first and second surface of a metal plate, respectively; forming a first and second resist pattern on the first and second surface, for forming a connection post and a wiring pattern, respectively. A second step includes: forming the connection post and wiring pattern; filling in a premold liquid resin to the first surface which was etched; forming a premold resin layer by hardening the premold liquid resin; performing a grinding operation on the first surface, and exposing an upper bottom surface of the connection post from the premold resin layer. A groove structure is formed by the first and second steps, wherein a depth of the groove is up to an intermediate part in a thickness direction of the metal plate.
US08535982B1

A mechanism is provided by which optically-inspectable features formed during surface mount bonding of no-leads packages are enhanced. Embodiments of the present invention use a lead frame having features that will lie upon the edges of the finished semiconductor device package, where molding material is prevented from lying in those features through the use of a preplaced film on the lead frame or film-assisted molding in conjunction with a mold chase that conforms to the features provided on the lead frame. Embodiments use a lead frame that has a pre-plated solderable surface, such that the exposed features enhance formation of the optically-inspectable features during solder reflow operations of PCB mounting.
US08535974B2

A composition comprising: at least one compound comprising a hole transporting core, wherein the core is covalently bonded to a first arylamine group and also covalently bonded to a second arylamine group different from the first, and wherein the compound is covalently bonded to at least one intractability group, wherein the intractability group is covalently bonded to the hole transporting core, the first arylamine group, the second arylamine group, or a combination thereof, and wherein the compound has a molecular weight of about 5,000 g/mole or less. Blended mixtures of arylamine compounds, including fluorene core compounds, can provide good film formation and stability when coated onto hole injection layers. Solution processing of OLEDs is a particularly important application.
US08535965B2

The present invention provides a method for forming by plasma CVD a silicon nitride film that can be formed over heat-sensitive elements as well as an electroluminescent element and that has favorable barrier characteristics. Further, the present invention also provides a semiconductor device, a display device and a light-emitting display device formed by using the silicon nitride film. In the method for forming a silicon nitride film by plasma CVD, silane (SiH4), nitrogen (N2) and a rare gas are introduced into a deposition chamber in depositing, and the reaction pressure is within the range from 0.01 Torr to 0.1 Torr.
US08535964B2

A frame assembly to stretch a donor film used in laser induced thermal imaging (LITI), a method of manufacturing the donor film, and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting device. The frame assembly to stretch a donor film includes: a main body including a center opening; a first support portion including a film mounting guide portion on which the donor film is mounted; a second support portion that including a film pressing portion that presses a donor film in a direction perpendicular to a coupling direction of the frame main body and the first support portion; and an elastic member disposed between the first support portion and the main body, wherein the first support portion is coupled to an inner portion of the main body by a first coupling member, and wherein the second support portion is coupled to an inner portion of the first support portion in a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction of the main body and the first support portion by a second coupling member.
US08535963B2

A method for manufacturing an electronic device comprises a step for forming a coating film (100) on a surface of a conductor portion-containing body (500), a step for forming a photosensitive film (110) on the conductor (500) on which the coating film (100) has been formed, a step for exposing the photosensitive film (110) to a pattern corresponding to a patterned recessed or protruded portion, a step for developing the exposed photosensitive film (110), and a step for baking the developed photosensitive film (110). With this method, an excessive removal of a metal film can be prevented or suppressed.
US08535954B2

A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) element includes a bottom electrode embedded in a first insulating layer; an annular reference layer in a first via hole of a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer, the annular reference layer being situated above the bottom electrode; a first gap fill material layer filling the first via hole; a barrier layer covering the annular reference layer, the second insulating layer and the first gap fill material layer; an annular free layer in a second via hole of a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer, the annular free layer being situated above the annular reference layer; and a top electrode stacked on the annular free layer.
US08535941B2

Compositions useful for detecting Clostridial toxin activity comprising a cell that comprises a membrane-associated Clostridial toxin substrate comprising a first member of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer pair; and a Clostridial toxin recognition sequence including a cleavage site; and a membrane-associated second member of the FRET pair and methods useful for determining Clostridial toxin activity using such Clostridial toxin substrates.
US08535935B2

A cell culture measuring system and to a method for comparative investigations on cell cultures. In a cell culture measuring system, cell cultures are cultivated on a cell culture carrier within a flow passage. An inflow and an outflow for a liquid culture medium and at least two sensors are present. At least one further inflow for a test liquid is arranged in the flow direction of the culture medium between the inflow for the culture medium and the outflow of the flow passage so that the test liquid flowing through the flow passage by displacement of the culture medium only flows around and/or over some of the cells present on the cell culture carrier. At least one sensor is arranged in the region of the cells not influenced by test liquid and at least one sensor is arranged in the region of cells influenced by test liquid.
US08535933B2

A method and process is provided to help increase flow within the piping of a clinical vacuum system under low flow inlet conditions and to re-establish flow under zero flow inlet conditions, among other things. The method and process broadly uses the steps of isolating and accessing the piping of the clinical vacuum system, introducing an enzymatic solution to the piping, and then extracting the solution following exposure of the solution to the piping to remove complex organic materials from the piping. A portable collection canister can be used to measure the amount of enzymatic solution that is put into the piping and removed from the piping to ensure that the system is dry. The collection canister can be connected via hose to a zone valve box of the system or to a service valve of the system.
US08535932B2

A microbial pesticide which is safe for the environment, fast-acting and excellent in an insecticidal effect in case of spray treatment for eggs and larvae of a pest is required. The invention provides a method for controlling at least one pest selected from the group consisting of whiteflies, aphid, spider mites, thrips, rust mites, leaf miners, pyralidae, cabbage moths and longhorn beetles, with Lecanicillium muscarium strain V-5 (deposition number: FERM BP-11135); and a microbial pesticide comprising the strain.
US08535917B2

The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desatorase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
US08535913B2

The present invention is directed to a method of producing compositions including embryonic proteins. The method includes culturing cells under hypoxic conditions on a biocompatible three-dimensional surface in vitro. The culturing method produces both soluble and non-soluble fractions, which may be used separately or in combination to obtain physiologically acceptable compositions useful in a variety of medical and therapeutic applications.
US08535912B2

The present invention is directed to novel chimeric fibroblast growth factor (FGF) polypeptides, novel DNA encoding chimeric FGF polypeptides, and to the recombinant production of chimeric FGF polypeptides, and to methods, compositions and assays utilizing chimeric FGF polypeptides for the therapeutic treatment of metabolic-related disorders and other conditions, and for producing pharmaceutically active compositions including chimeric FGF polypeptides, the compositions having therapeutic and pharmacologic properties including those associated with the treatment of metabolic-related disorders and other conditions.
US08535910B2

The present invention relates to novel halohydrin dehalogenase polypeptides and the polynucleotides that encode them. These polypeptides are useful in the production of 4-substituted-3-butyric acid derivatives and vicinal cyano, hydroxyl substituted carboxylic acid esters. The invention also provides related vectors, host cells and methods.
US08535909B2

The present invention relates to a novel non-pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) B BL21 strain comprising a deletion of group II capsular gene cluster, and the use thereof for the production of peptides.
US08535902B2

The present invention relates to the use of a compound of the following formula (I) for detecting a peptidase activity and/or a variation in pH: according to which: Y1 is a peptide, H or an alkyl; W1, W2, W3 and W4 are independently H, Br, Cl, F, I, alkyl, alkoxy, thiomethyl, perfluoroalkyl, nitro, cyano, carboxyl (including the esters or amides thereof) or any combination thereof; n=0, 1 or 2; X is NR, CZ5Z6, S or O, R being H, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkanoyl or alkylsulfonyl, Z5 and Z6 being an alkyl; Y is N or N+R, R being alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkanoyl or alkylsulfonyl; Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 being independently H, Br, Cl, F, I, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, perfluoroalkyl, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, sulfonyl, including the carboxyl or sulfonyl esters or amides, and salts thereof.
US08535895B2

The invention provides methods, compositions, kits, and systems for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin. Such methods, compositions, kits, and systems are useful in diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of methods of treatment in conditions that involve release of cardiac troponin.
US08535892B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel binding molecules for factor VIII and factor VIII-like proteins. Preferred binding molecules of the present invention exhibit not only distinct characteristics for binding of the target factor VIII polypeptides but also specific and desirable characteristics for release (elution) of the target polypeptides. Especially preferred binding molecules according to the invention are short polypeptide sequences, characterized by a stable loop structure.
US08535888B2

The present invention relates to methods of detecting the presence or absence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in a sample, the method comprising performing an amplifying step, a hybridizing step and a detecting step. Furthermore, the present invention relates to primers, probes and kits for the detection of MRSA.
US08535884B2

Disclosed herein are point mutations in the LMNA gene that cause HGPS. These mutations activate a cryptic splice site within the LMNA gene, which leads to deletion of part of exon 11 and generation of a mutant Lamin A protein product that is 50 amino acids shorter than the normal protein. In addition to the novel Lamin A variant protein and nucleic acids encoding this variant, methods of using these molecules in detecting biological conditions associated with a LMNA mutation in a subject (e.g., HGPS, arteriosclerosis, and other age-related diseases), are also described. Oligonucleotides and other compounds for use in examples of the described methods are also provided, as are protein-specific binding agents, such as antibodies, that bind specifically to at least one epitope of a Lamin A variant protein preferentially compared to wildtype Lamin A, and methods of using such antibodies in diagnosis, treatment, and screening.
US08535883B2

Methods of detecting a source of a microbial contamination in a suspect sample include detecting at least one member selected from the group consisting of a microbial geosmin synthase, a microbial 2-methylisoborneol synthase and a microbial 2-methylgeranyl diphosphate synthase in the suspect sample. The method can include conducting a nucleic acid amplification assay in the presence of at least one member selected from the group consisting of at least one microbial geosmin primer and at least one microbial 2-methylisoborneol synthase primer on a sample obtained from a suspect source of the microbial contamination.
US08535881B2

A method and device is disclosed for sequencing of nucleic acid molecules. A nucleic acid molecule is exposed to a polymerase in the presence of nucleotides. The polymerase carries a donor fluorophore, and each type of nucleotide carries a distinguishable acceptor fluorophore characteristic of the particular type of nucleotide. As the polymerase incorporates individual nucleic acid molecules into a complementary strand, a laser continuously irradiates the donor fluorophore, at a wavelength that causes it to emit an emission signal. The emission signal from the polymerase can stimulate any of the donor fluorophores (but not acceptor fluorophores), so that as a nucleotide is added, the acceptor fluorophore emits a signal associated with the type of nucleotide added to the complementary strand. The series of emission signals from the acceptor fluorophores is detected, and correlated with a sequence of nucleotides that correspond to the sequence of emission signals.
US08535877B2

A method for reducing resources for selecting seed to be produced in commercial quantities or for research is disclosed. Samples of seed which are candidates for selection are collected and given an identifier. Specific tissue or structure from candidate seed is removed. A test or analysis is performed on the candidate seed or the removed tissue or structure. Results of the test or analysis are recorded and correlated to the seed's identifier. The results are evaluated and a decision is made whether to select a candidate seed for commercial production or for research. Time, space, and labor associated with growing plants in an experimental plot or greenhouse and taking tissue samples from growing plants is saved.
US08535875B2

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of applying patterned metallization to a ceramic block comprising applying a photodefinable ink to said ceramic block; drying said ink; exposing said photodefinable ink to UV radiation through a predefined mask according to the thickness of the film to form a pattern; developing said pattern in a developer solution thereby forming a patterned ceramic block; and rinsing, drying and firing said patterned ceramic block.
US08535868B2

A positive resist composition including a resin component (A1) having a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester which may have an atom other than hydrogen or a group bonded to the carbon atom on the α position and containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, and a structural unit (a0) containing an —SO2— containing cyclic group; a compound (C1) represented by general formula (c1) shown below; and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; Y1 represents a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, an alkyl group or a fluorinated alkyl group; p represents an integer of 1 to 10; and A+ represents an organic cation.
US08535866B2

A yellow toner includes binder resin particles that do not contain a coloring agent or a release agent and have a shape factor SF1 of about 110 or less, the number of the binder resin particles being about 50 or less per 5,000 electrostatic developing toner particles; inorganic particles that have a median diameter of about 5 nm to about 70 nm in an amount of about 0.01 mass % to about 0.4 mass % based on the mass of the yellow toner; and a yellow coloring agent that has an azo group.
US08535865B2

An emissive toner composition for producing an emissive image component of an image indicia on a substrate. The emissive toner composition includes a photoluminescent agent, a charge control agent, and one or more additives, each selected and present in an amount such that when the toner composition is printed to produce an image component on a substrate, the toner composition has stable spectral characteristics. In one embodiment, the emission spectra of the image component printed on the substrate, for irradiation with an excitation energy includes only dominant emission peaks corresponding to one or more emission peaks of the photoluminescent agent. In another embodiment, the image component has a photoluminescent toner stability factor of about greater than or equal to 25.
US08535864B2

A magenta toner including toner particles containing a colorant and a binder resin is provided. The colorant contains C.I. Pigment Red 122 and C.I. Pigment Yellow 180 and a mass ratio of the C.I. Pigment Red 122 and the C.I. Pigment Yellow 180 is in the range of 99:1 to 10000:1. The binder resin contains a polyester resin and a polyester resin having a repeating unit obtained from a Bisphenol A alkylene oxide adduct expressed by the following chemical formula is used as the polyester resin: wherein m and n independently represent an integer of 2 to 4, and x and y independently represent a positive number.
US08535861B2

There is provided an image forming apparatus including electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging unit, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, and a residual toner removing unit, the surface protective layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor having a surface free energy of about 10 mN/m to about 30 mN/m, the toner in the developing unit includes silica, and the residual toner removing unit including a blade member including a base layer and an edge layer having a type A durometer hardness of from about HsA 75 to about HsA 90 at 23° C., the hardness of the edge layer being higher than the hardness of the base layer.
US08535854B2

According to one embodiment, a reflective exposure mask comprises a first layer formed on a substrate and including a first light absorbing part which absorbs exposure light and a light reflecting part which reflects the exposure light, and a second layer formed on the light reflecting part and including a second light absorbing part which absorbs the exposure light.
US08535853B2

A sensor device comprising a holographic element comprises a grating or hologram recorded in a holographic recording medium wherein at least one physical and/or chemical and/or optical characteristic of the holographic element or the image produced by it varies as a result of variation in relative humidity or moisture content in the air surrounding the element. Also provided is an acrylamide-based photopolymer and an acrylamide-based reflection hologram.
US08535849B2

An electrochemical cell includes an electrolyte membrane containing an ionic conductor. The ionic conductor includes: (a) a cation expressed by one of Formulae (1) and (2): R1R2R3HX+  (1) where, in Formula (1), X indicates any one of N and P, and R1, R2 and R3 each indicate any one of alkyl groups C1 to C18 except a structure in which R1=R2=R3, R1R2HS+  (2) where, in Formula (2), R1 and R2 each indicate any one of alkyl groups C1 to C18 except a structure in which R1=R2; and (b) an anion expressed by Formula (3): R4YOm(OH)n−1O−  (3) where, in Formula (3), Y indicates any one of S, C, N and P, R4 indicates any one of an alkyl group and a fluoroalkyl group, and m and n each indicate any one of 1 and 2.
US08535848B2

The structured body intended for use for an anode (1) in fuel cells, includes a structure formed by macro-pores and an electrode material. The macro-pores form communicating spaces which are produced by using pore forming materials. The electrode material includes skeleton-like or net-like connected structures of particles which are connected by sintering and which form two reticular systems which interengage: a first reticular system made of ceramic material and a second reticular system which contains metals to effect an electrical conductivity. The electrode material has the properties so that, with a multiple change between oxidizing and reducing conditions, substantially no major property changes occur in the ceramic reticular system, and an oxidization or reduction of the metals occurs in the second reticular system.
US08535846B2

A fuel cell includes a stack structure composed of fuel cell units with current collectors between the fuel cell units, a casing housing the stack structure, and a gas flow-regulating member provided in a gap between the casing and the stack structure. The fuel cell unit includes: a cell plate which holds at least one cell and has a gas introduction hole for one of fuel gas and air; and a separator plate which has a gas introduction hole for the one of the fuel gas and the air. The casing introduces the other of the fuel gas and the air via a gas introduction portion and flows the other gas to a gas discharge portion. The gas flow-regulating member guides the other gas to the gas discharge portion through the current collectors.
US08535844B2

A fuel cell module structure including a heat exchanger capable of preventing leakage of oxygen containing gas in a flow path and reducing the cost. The module including a power-generating chamber that receives fuel cells and a casing having a generally rectangular shape enclosing the power-generating chamber. Additionally, the right and left side walls and an upper wall of the casing are hollow walls constituted of an outer shell member and an inner shell member disposed parallel to each other with a distance therebetween forming a reaction gas circulation space, the outer and inner shell members are each formed in a U-like cross-sectional shape, and a reaction gas introduction member extends vertically downward from the inner shell member of the upper wall into the power-generating chamber and being communicated with the reaction gas circulation space to introduce a reaction gas into the power-generating chamber.
US08535842B2

Combustion heaters having internal combustion chambers are located adjacent the end cells of a stack of fuel cells to directly, conductively heat the end cells during cold start-up of the stack. Similar heater(s) may also be located within the stack when cold starting under extremely cold conditions. A method of combustion thawing a fuel cell stack is described.
US08535838B2

A power supply device is provided. The power supply device includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen generator, a check valve and an exhaust valve. The fuel cell has a hydrogen inlet and a hydrogen outlet. The hydrogen generator is connected to the hydrogen inlet and used for generating hydrogen. The check valve is disposed in the hydrogen inlet and used for preventing the hydrogen within the fuel cell from flowing to the hydrogen generator, and preventing exterior air from entering the fuel cell. The exhaust valve is disposed in the hydrogen outlet for exhausting the hydrogen within the fuel cell.
US08535835B2

A fuel cell module that can accommodate a single fuel cell stack efficiently and that can enhance power generation efficiency, and a fuel cell device comprising the fuel cell module.
US08535833B2

A non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery comprises a lithium salt and an organic solvent. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution further comprises a specific siloxane compound and a sulfonate compound. This non-aqueous electrolyte solution solves the capacity degradation phenomenon, which appears in a lithium secondary battery using a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing only a specific siloxane compound when the lithium secondary battery is used for a long time, so this non-aqueous electrolyte solution is especially useful for high-capacity batteries.
US08535829B2

There is provided a powder of a lithium transition-metal compound for a positive-electrode material in a lithium secondary battery, in which the use of the powder as that of a positive-electrode material in a lithium secondary battery achieves a good balance among improvement in battery performance, cost reduction, resistance to a higher voltage, and a higher level of safety. The powder of the lithium transition-metal compound for a positive-electrode material in a lithium secondary battery is characterized in that in a mercury intrusion curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry, the amount of mercury intruded is in the range of 0.8 cm3/g to 3 cm3/g when the pressure is increased from 3.86 kPa to 413 MPa.
US08535828B2

A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a case housing the electrode group; a cap-up electrically connected with the electrode group and combined with the case; a vent plate installed below the cap-up and having a notch; and a heterogeneous metallic member installed between the cap-up and the vent plate and made of a clad metal, whereby the stability and outputting of the rechargeable battery can be improved.
US08535827B2

The invention relates to a method for converting a separator processing machine for processing separators for a lead accumulator, comprising the steps of ending a supply of a first separator having a first separator width to the separator processing machine and supplying a second separator having a second separator width that differs from the first separator width to the separator processing machine. According to the invention, the separators comprise a base film body extending along a center line and a plurality of primary ribs, which are raised above the base film body along the center line by a primary rib height and are disposed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the center line, wherein the primary ribs of the second separator with respect to the center line are disposed in the same locations as the primary ribs of the first separator.
US08535822B2

A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, an open-topped can accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly sealing the can. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode plate having a positive electrode coated portion and positive electrode non-coating portions, a negative electrode plate having a negative electrode coated portion and negative electrode non-coating portions, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrode plates and wound with the electrode plates. The positive electrode non-coating portion has a region where the height of the positive electrode non-coating potion is lower than that of the positive electrode coating portions.
US08535817B2

An aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a nonmagnetic layer containing a nonmagnetic powder and a binder and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein the magnetic layer comprises a nonmagnetic powder of which coefficient of variation CV of a particle size distribution as denoted by the following formula (1): CV(%)=σ/φ×100  (1) is less than 20 percent, and the magnetic layer has a thickness being equal to or less than 0.1 μm and falling within a range of 1.1≦φ/t≦8.0, wherein σ denotes a standard deviation of a particle diameter, φ denotes an average particle diameter of the nonmagnetic powder comprised in the magnetic layer being expressed in μm, and t denotes a thickness of the magnetic layer being expressed in μm.
US08535815B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a compound represented by Formula (1): where Cu represents a copper, PR1R2R3 is a phosphine compound coordinating with Cu, where R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 may be the same or different, and represent a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms or an aromatic cyclic group which may have a substituent, R6, R7, R8 and R9 each independently represents a halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms or H, and X is F, Cl, Br or I.
US08535814B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to heterocyclic compound and an organic light-emitting device including the heterocyclic compound. The heterocyclic compound is represented by Formula 1.Formula 1
US08535813B2

A use of a coilable multi-layer metallic composite material produced by means of roll-cladding in a vehicle structure, in particular a body structure, provides an alternative to monolithic materials. The composite material used in a vehicle structure is a lightweight composite material and comprises three layers of a steel alloy, wherein at least one of the layers is formed from a high-strength or very high-strength steel alloy.
US08535801B2

A fiber includes a base having a surface to be impacted by a fluid wave for propelling the fiber forward and a body having a trailing end connected to the base, a leading free end, and a spiral shape causing the fluid wave to rotate the fiber. A locking system causes the fiber to engage and hold at least one other fiber being propelled and rotated by the fluid wave.
US08535800B2

A ballistic-resistant molded article having a compressed stack of sheets including reinforcing elongate bodies, where at least some of the elongate bodies are polyethylene elongate bodies that have a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 gram/mole. Methods for manufacturing ballistic-resistant molded articles are also provided.
US08535799B2

A process for the preparation of a particulate material by a controlled agglomeration method, i.e. a method that enables a controlled growth in particle size. The method is especially suitable for use in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions containing a therapeutically and/or prophylactically active substance which has a relatively low aqueous solubility and/or which is subject to chemical decomposition. The process comprising i) spraying a first composition comprising a carrier, which has a melting point of about 5° C. or more which is present in the first composition in liquid form, on a second composition comprising a material in solid form, the second composition having a temperature of at the most a temperature corresponding to the melting point of the carrier and/or the carrier composition and ii) mixing or others means of mechanical working the second composition onto which the first composition is sprayed to obtain the particulate material.
US08535796B2

A polymerizable composite composition comprising a) a hydrolysate and/or condensate of at least one hydrolysable alkylsilane having at least one alkyl group, at least one hydrolysable arylsilane having at least one aryl group or at least one hydrolysable alkylarylsilane having at least one alkylaryl group, and at least one hydrolysable silane containing an epoxy group, b) at least one organic compound having at least 2 epoxy groups, and c) a cationic initiator, is suitable to provide, upon curing, substrates with a patterned coating or patterned molded articles. The patterned coatings and molded articles obtained show high relaxation ability, high chemical resistance and mechanical stability. Micropatterns can be obtained with high stability of shape.
US08535794B2

Device, especially a piece of sporting equipment for use in surfing or similar activities, includes a base made of foamed plastic, which has at least one laminate coating made of a fabric laminate and an underlay compound. The device includes an intermediate layer between the base and the laminate coating. Likewise provided are a number of processes for producing fiber composites in connection with foamed plastics.
US08535793B2

Thermosetting compositions comprising (a) at least a first thermosetting resin, and (b) at least one silicone polyether, methods of making such thermosetting compositions, and thermoset products made from the compositions.
US08535792B2

Compositions and methods for producing compositions comprising a monoamine-endcapped polyimide component. Based on a gas chromatography mass spectroscopy analysis of a surface rinse of the composition performed at room temperature, the composition can have at least one surface with less than or equal to 5 ppb releasable phosphorous residuals, and less than or equal to 5 ppb releasable volatile organic compound residuals. The composition can also comprise less than or equal to 10 ppb combined releasable residuals. Because of the very low levels of residual contamination, the compositions can be used to produce a variety of articles, including a disk drive.
US08535784B2

One embodiment of a composite part comprises a curved elongated section comprising a plurality of stacked reinforcement layers. The stacked reinforcement layers in the curved elongated section comprise at least one of non-continuous woven fabric and non-continuous reinforcement.
US08535772B2

A transparent article includes a continuous polyester matrix having at least one incompatible filler dispersed therein. The incompatible filler provides domains in the polyester matrix, each domain having a particular dimension, thus providing a range of dimensions for the domains in the article. To create haze, the dimensions are within the range of from about 380 nm to about 720 nm. Once the range of dimensions is determined, a light absorbent composition can be found which absorbs light at a range of wavelengths that at least substantially covers the range of dimensions of the domains. In doing so, it has been found that the haze of the article can be substantially masked. Method for producing the article and for masking the haze are also provided.
US08535769B2

Since a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by the general formula (1) produces polymers exhibiting high optical anisotropy and high chemical resistance, and the optical anisotropy thereof exhibits low wavelength dependence, polymers obtained from a polymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising said polymerizable liquid crystal compound are useable as an optically anisotropic film for polarizers, wave plates, and the like, and are particularly best used in pattern formation that uses photolithography in air. (n represents an integer in the range of 3 to 10, m represents an integer in the range of 0 to 5, and q represents an integer in the range of 1 to 2.)
US08535764B2

The present invention relates to a component of a concrete delivery system comprising a substrate made of relatively thin gauge carbon steel or aluminum, and a protective coating of amorphous, nano or near-nanoscale steel, or mixtures thereof, overlying the substrate, wherein the coating may be formed by thermal deposition process from multi-component glass forming steel alloys. The protective coating may also be heat treated to increase wear life.
US08535755B2

A method for making a riser tensioner component is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) applying a cold spray composition to a metal substrate to achieve a first coating on the metal substrate, wherein the cold spray composition comprises a metal alloy, and wherein the first coating has a thickness in a range from about 5 to about 50 mils; and (b) rough finishing the first coating to achieve a second coating having an average roughness, Ra of less than about 32 micro-inches. A riser tensioner component is also provided, wherein the riser tensioner component comprises a cold spray applied coating on a metal substrate, wherein the coating comprises a metal alloy, and wherein the coating has a thickness in a range from about 5 to about 50 mils; and an average roughness, Ra of less than about 32 micro-inches.
US08535744B1

A device and method for creating fruit juice utilizing a flexible bag having an upper fruit receiving portion for receiving a piece of fruit therein and a lower juice receiving portion, such portions separated by a mesh screen. There is a resealable closure member at the top of the fruit receiving portion. The flexible bag with fruit therein is then frozen and later thawed. The fruit receiving portion with fruit therein is squeezed to release juice from the fruit which passes through the mesh screen into the juice receiving portion which is accessible through a channel defined in the fruit receiving portion and mesh screen through which a straw can be passed into the juice receiving portion for drinking the juice.
US08535743B2

A capsule, system and method are usable for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage using an extractable product. The system includes a capsule comprising a cup having a circumferential wall, a bottom at a first end, and a flange-like rim at a second end. The capsule further includes a lid, in use, connected to the flange-like rim. The wall, bottom and lid, in use, enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. The cup further includes a plurality of substantially concentric circumferential ridges extending outwardly of the cup, wherein the ridges are made of the same material as the cup. The system further includes a beverage brewing device comprising an enclosing member for enclosing the capsule. In use, at least one of the ridges abuts against at least a portion of the enclosing member, such that a sealing engagement between the capsule and the enclosing member is formed.
US08535730B1

An oral dentifrice composition such as a toothpaste, dental gel, toothpowder, dental tablet or lozenge containing as anticalculus agent about 4.3% to about 7% of alkali metal pyrophosphates comprising at least 4.3% of tetrapotassium pyrophosphate alone or admixed with up to 2.7% of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and as inhibitors against enzymatic hydrolysis of such agent in saliva, a fluoride and preferably up to about 3% of a synthetic anionic polymeric polycarboxylate, and use of such composition in a program of oral hygiene and/or for inhibiting dental calculus.
US08535716B2

A pharmaceutical composition is provided that includes an active ingredient in the form of a powder or granule, a water soluble high molecular weight excipient and a water insoluble hydrophilic amphiphilic excipient. These ingredients are solution mixed and dried to form a modified pharmaceutical ingredient in simultaneous contact with both the water soluble high molecular weight excipient and the water insoluble hydrophilic amphiphilic excipient. Adjuvants are compacted about the modified pharmaceutical ingredient as well as a release control agent. The release control agent being present at levels from 1 to 40 total weight percent of the pharmaceutical composition.
US08535712B2

The present invention relates to a radiation sensitive liposome, and the use of this liposome as carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic agent(s). In particular, the invention encompasses a liposomal delivery system, comprising a stable liposome-forming lipid and a polymerizable colipid, a fraction of which polymerizable colipid polymerizes upon exposure to ionizing radiation, thereby destabilizing the liposomal membrane. Destabilization of liposomes allows for leakage of liposomal contents. The present invention further contemplates methods of diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases that are responsive to liposome-encapsulated or associated agents.
US08535708B2

A method for inhibiting a decline in learning and/or memory in an animal comprising maintaining the animal on an antioxidant-fortified diet for a period of at least about 3 years. The diet comprises at least one antioxidant in a total antioxidant amount effective to achieve such inhibition. Suitable antioxidants include vitamin E, vitamin C, α-lipoic acid and antioxidant-containing plant meals. The methods are particularly useful for young adult canines such as dogs.
US08535702B2

The present invention relates to phase separated polymeric regions and to their use in conjunction with implantable or insertable medical devices. In some aspects of the invention, phase separated polymeric regions are provided that include (a) at least one biostable polymeric phase and (b) at least one biodisintegrable polymeric phase, which is of nanoscale dimensions and which undergoes biodisintegration such that the phase separated polymeric region becomes a nanoporous polymeric region in vivo. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods of making implantable or insertable medical devices having at least one nanoporous polymeric region. These methods include (a) providing a phase separated polymeric region comprising a stable polymeric phase and a disintegrable polymeric phase of nanoscale dimensions, (b) selectively removing the disintegrable polymeric phase thereby producing the nanoporous polymeric region. In still other aspects, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided which have phase separated polymeric regions that include (a) at least one block copolymer having at least one biostable polymer block and at least one biodisintegrable polymer block and (b) at least one therapeutic agent which is released in vivo upon implantation or insertion of the medical device.
US08535688B2

The invention relates to a vaccine for the treatment of disease caused by Neisseria, the vaccine including one or more immunogenic components for Neisseria serogroups, as well as antibodies to the immunogenic components and methods of preventing and treating Neisseria infections. The immunogens are based on elements of the inner core lipopolysaccharide.
US08535677B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of and for screening, diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer, for monitoring the effectiveness of colorectal cancer treatment, and for drug development.
US08535676B2

The present invention provides a composition comprising naked humanized, chimeric, and human anti-CEA antibodies and a therapeutic agent, which is useful for treatment of CEA expressing cancers and other diseases, and methods of use in treatment using this composition.
US08535669B2

The present disclosure provides a method for treating lupus, Sjörgen's syndrome or scleroderma, the method comprising administering to the mammal an immunoglobulin which binds an interleukin 3 receptor α (IL-3Rα) chain and which depletes or at least partly eliminates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (p DCs) and basophils to which it binds.
US08535665B2

The present invention discloses a process for simple and rapid detection and identification of molecular mimicry or mimic antigens or molecules existing in/on humans, animals and plants. The molecular mimicry can be related to infections, autoimmune diseases, cancers, obesity and other disorders. Therefore, novel methods for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of infections, autoimmune diseases, cancers, obesity and other disorders obtainable based on these mimic antigens or molecules can be developed. Furthermore, the present invention also reveals a new functional mechanism of vaccine and passive immunity and novel vaccines obtainable based on the new mechanism.
US08535664B2

The application relates to a pharmaceutical agent comprising homeopathically activated form of antibodies to a pharmaceutically active small molecule, which activated form is obtained by repeated consecutive dilutions; and to a method of treating a disease or condition by administering to a subject in need thereof, a homeopathically activated form of an antibody to a pharmaceutically active small molecule.
US08535658B2

The invention relates to methods and compositions for causing the selective targeting and killing of tumor cells. Through ex vivo gene therapy protocols tumor cells are engineered to express an α (1,3) galactosyl epitope. The cells are then irradiated or otherwise killed and administered to a patient. The α galactosyl epitope causes opsonization of the tumor cell enhancing uptake of the opsonized tumor cell by antigen presenting cells which results in enhanced tumor specific antigen presentation. The animal's immune system thus is stimulated to produce tumor specific cytotoxic cells and antibodies which will attack and kill tumor cells present in the animal.
US08535654B2

Porous, permeable particles of meta-aramid can be chlorinated or brominated to produce antimicrobial and detoxifying particles for use in applications such as, but not limited to, nonwoven webs, paper, textiles, absorbent articles, healthcare products, paints, filter materials, powder coatings, clear coatings, molded plastic articles, binders for fibrous materials, and the like. The particles can be charged with halogen before or after incorporation into the application medium. The particles can contain blends of meta-aramid with other polymers such as, but not limited to, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyurethane, and the like. The particles will be effective at inactivation of pathogenic and odor-causing microorganisms and toxic chemical agents. The particles, which contain N-halamine units, have unexpected resistance to ultraviolet light degradation.
US08535652B2

One subject of the invention is a soap-free, self-foaming gel comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium: a) at least one aqueous phase; b) at least one N-acylsarcosine where the acyl radical is a C10-C20 radical in an amount less than 4 wt % relative to the total weight of the composition; c) at least one mineral or organic base in an amount sufficient to dissolve the N-acylsarcosine and produce a pH of 4 to 8; d) at least one amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant; e) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and f) at least one self-foaming agent. The present invention also relates to a shaving method consisting in applying a self-foaming gel as defined above to the surface of the skin to be shaved, then in shaving the hairs using a razor.The present invention also relates to a method for cleansing the skin and more particularly the face, consisting in applying a self-foaming gel as defined above to the surface, followed by rinsing with water.
US08535638B2

The present invention provides a process for recovering hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a process stream of a process unit wherein the process stream contains at least carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane.
US08535637B2

Disclosed is a new thermoelectric conversion material represented by the chemical formula 1: Bi1-xCu1-yO1-zTe, where 0≦x<1, 0≦y<1, 0≦z<1 and x+y+z>0. A thermoelectric conversion device using said thermoelectric conversion material has good energy conversion efficiency.
US08535636B1

Disclosed herein is a method of separating group II nuclides from a radioactive waste lithium chloride salt and recovering renewable lithium chloride, comprising the steps of: injecting lithium oxide into a lithium chloride salt containing group II nuclides to convert the group II nuclides into thermally-stable oxide or oxychloride; and vaporizing and condensing the lithium chloride salt under a reduced pressure condition to separate the group II nuclides and recover recyclable lithium chloride. The method is advantageous in that group II nuclides existing in the form of chloride, which is not highly thermally-stable in a lithium chloride (LiCl) to salt and is not easily solidified, can be converted into oxides or oxychlorides, which is highly thermally-stable in the lithium chloride (LiCl) salt and is easily solidified, without producing impurities.
US08535630B2

The present invention relates to a method for combined SO2 and CO2 removal from flue gas, which includes removing both CO2 and SO2 in a primary fractionation column and two polishing columns, the method comprising: a) hot flue as pretreatment, including flue gas SO3 removal by dry sorbent injection; b) compressing the treated hot flue gas by a multi-stage compressor; c) separation of CO2, SO2 and non-condensable gases; d) subjecting the CO2 and SO2 to separate polishing columns; and e) combining streams from the primary fractionation column and the two polishing columns for power recovery.
US08535622B2

The present invention provides a naturally based Sperm Separation System (SSS) for separation of at least a portion of sperm cell populations (SCP) within an original semen sample, such that an enriched SCP sample is obtained, comprising a a sperm separation device, comprising ι) a first chamber adapted to contain at least a portion of said original semen sample, said first chamber is characterized by predetermined 3D shape and volume, V, said first chamber is bounded by a rim such that said orginal sample is kept below said rim, n) a second chamber in physical communication with said first chamber and said nm, said second chamber is characterized by predetermined 3D shape and volume, V1, said second chamber is adapted to reside said enriched SCP sample, b incubation means, adapted to socket at least one of said cell separation device and to homogeneously thermoregulate the temperature within the same.
US08535621B2

A cap having a plurality of rib structures situated on an inner wall of the cap to facilitate the formation of air passageways as the cap is penetrated by a pipette tip. The air passageways aid in venting air from a fluid-holding vessel closed with the cap.
US08535598B2

A method for producing a hollow foam molding having a thin and uniform wall thickness, including extruding a foamable melt containing a polypropylene resin having an equilibrium compliance Jeo of 0.5×10−3 to 1.8×10−3 Pa−1 and a swell ratio Sw of 2.5 or less and a physical blowing agent through a die to obtain a parison having a softened polypropylene resin foam layer, placing the parison in a mold, and blowing a gas into the parison to obtain a hollow foam molding having a hardened polypropylene resin foam layer with an apparent density of 0.35 to 0.65 g/cm3.
US08535587B2

A method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb structure includes: a step of forming a columnar honeycomb formed body, and a plugging step of forming plugging portions in each of cells of the honeycomb formed body; wherein the plugging step has a plugging slurry injection operation where plugging slurry is injected into the cells by inserting the honeycomb formed body into a bottomed cylindrical inside container containing the plugging slurry and having a Young's modulus of 5 to 550 MPa and a tensile stress of 0.5 to 11 MPa and being disposed in a bottomed cylindrical outside container and by pressing one end portion against the bottom face of the inside container, and then the honeycomb formed body is pulled out from the inside container. There is provided a method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb structure, the method being capable of inhibiting depression and protrusion of plugging portions.
US08535585B2

A process for the continuous production of granules based on thermoplastic polymers includes at least one expandable agent and, optionally, other polymers or additives, among which inorganic pigments insoluble in the polymeric matrix, wherein a first main stream is prepared, in the molten state, and a second stream in the molten state, which englobes the additives and which is added to the first stream. The mixture is extruded through a die which is cooled by means of water jets from nozzles positioned behind the cutting blades.
US08535579B2

A method for the production of spherical combustible or fertile material particles from an oxide of the group of the heavy metals uranium, plutonium, or mixtures thereof. For this purpose, the process steps of producing a base solution of the nitrates of the heavy metal(s), adding at least one first reagent in order to adjust the viscosity of the solution, dropping the solution to form microspheres, at least superficially solidifying the microspheres in an atmosphere containing ammonia, collecting the microspheres in a solution containing ammonia, and subsequent washing, drying and thermal treatment are carried out, where at least one of urea, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium cyanate, and biuret are added to the base solution before adding the first reagent. The solution thus prepared is heated to a temperature T where 80° C.≦T
US08535576B2

Inorganic nanoparticles having a refractive index of at least 1.60 wherein the nanoparticles are surface modified with a surface treatment comprising a compound comprising a carboxylic acid end group and a C3-C8 ester repeat unit.
US08535575B2

A current-voltage non-linear resistor (10) comprises a sintered body (20) of a mixture whose chief constituent is zinc oxide and including as auxiliary constituents at least bismuth (Bi), antimony (Sb), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni). Also, the average grain size of the mixture is no more than 0.4 μm; and the average grain size of the zinc oxide grains in the sintered body (20) is no more than 7.5 μm and the standard deviation based on the grain size distribution of zinc oxide grains in the sintered body (20) is no more than 15% of the average grain size of the zinc oxide grains.
US08535571B2

Water-soluble electrically conductive polymers and a composition comprising such polymers are provided. Also, an electrically conductive layer or film formed from the composition, and articles comprising the electrically conductive layer or film are provided. The electrically conductive polymers according to the present disclosure have one or more hydrophilic side chains. Hydrophilic side chains are covalently bonded to the conductive polymers, which allow the polymer to be stable at high temperature. Thus, the stability of electrical conductivity is prolonged. Depending on the concentration of hydrophilic side chains, the conductivity may be changed. The hydrophilic side chains provide a successful way to fabricate a ductile film exhibiting tunable conductivity. Furthermore, high levels of surface-resistance uniformity can be achieved in the field of coating technology that uses eco-friendly water-based solvents to uniformly and quickly coat the conductive polymer on to plastic film surfaces.
US08535568B2

A composition with one or more tetrahydrobenzotriazoles and one or more one or more tetrahydrobenzotriazole activating solvents, wherein the tetrahydrobenzotriazoles are solubilized in the activating solvents in an amount effective to inhibit corrosion of a metal or metal alloy which is corrodible in the presence of copper or copper corroding agents. Also, a method of using this composition to inhibit corrosion of a metal component which has a metal or metal alloy which is corrodible in the presence of copper or copper corroding agents.
US08535560B2

The invention is directed to an ionic liquid comprising (i) a cationic portion containing a complex of a silver (I) ion and one or more neutral ligands selected from organoamides, organoamines, olefins, and organonitriles, and (ii) an anionic portion having the chemical formula wherein m and n are independently 0 or an integer of 1 or above, and p is 0 or 1, provided that when p is 0, the group —N—SO2—(CF2)nCF3 subtended by p is replaced with an oxide atom connected to the shown sulfur atom. The invention is also directed to a method for separating an olefin from an olefin-paraffin mixture by passing the mixture through a layer of the ionic liquid described above.
US08535556B2

The present invention relates to compositions comprising iodotrifluoromethane and an effective amount of at least one stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, thiophosphates, butylated triphenylphosphorothionates, organo phosphates, phosphites, aryl alkyl ethers, terpenes, terpenoids, epoxides, fluorinated epoxides, oxetanes, ascorbic acid, thiols, lactones, thioethers, amines, nitromethane, alkylsilanes, benzophenone derivatives, aryl sulfides, divinyl terephalic acid, diphenyl terephalic acid, ionic liquids, and mixtures thereof. These stabilized iodotrifluoromethane compositions may be useful as working fluids in multiple applications including cooling apparatus, such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, chillers, and heat pumps.
US08535552B2

A method for evaluating center segregation of a continuous cast slab is provided. The method of the present invention includes (A) creating a center segregation image of a slab using an etching solution comprising a picric acid (C6H3N3O7), a cupric chloride (CuCl2), sodium laurylbenzenesulfonate (C18H29SO3Na) and the remainder of distilled water; and (B) evaluating the center segregation of a slab by scanning the image and applying the following Formula. The method creates an image of center segregation even for low-carbon steel having carbon (C) in an amount of 0.04 wt % or less as well as ultra low-sulfur steel having sulfur (S) in an amount of 50 ppm or less.
US08535549B2

A method for forming a stair-step structure in a substrate is provided. An organic mask is formed over the substrate. A hardmask with a top layer and sidewall layer is formed over the organic mask. The sidewall layer of the hard mask is removed while leaving the top layer of the hardmask. The organic mask is trimmed. The hardmask is removed. The substrate is etched. The forming the hardmask, removing the sidewall layer, trimming the organic mask, and etching the substrate are repeated a plurality of times.
US08535545B2

A method for fabricating a pellicle of an EUV mask is provided. An insulation layer is formed over a silicon substrate, and a mesh is formed over the insulation layer. A frame exposing a rear surface of the insulation layer is formed by selectively removing a center portion of a rear surface of the silicon substrate. A membrane layer is deposited over the mesh and an exposed top surface of the insulation layer which is adjacent to the mesh. A rear surface of the membrane layer is exposed by selectively removing the portion of the insulation layer which is exposed by the frame.
US08535540B2

A water treatment system is provided that includes a brine tank and a resin tank and a control valve in operative connection with the tanks. The control valve includes a piston that is operative by a first motor to move between different positions to change the flow of water through orifices in the control valve, and a brine valve that is operative by a second motor to open and close the passage between the brine tank and resin tank. The second motor operates the brine valve independently of the operation of the piston by the first motor.
US08535538B1

Embodiments provided herein include methods and apparatuses for purification and recycling of hydrofracture water used in natural gas drilling and production. Embodiments include removal of dissolved solids by precipitation with sodium sulfate and by evaporation using, for example, a multiple effect evaporator.
US08535533B2

The invention provides a bioretention system comprising one or more chambers and a high flow bypass system with top and bottom weirs for water filtration and storm water flow management. The invention also provides methods that are useful for managing storm water flow and inhibiting the flow of pollutants, debris, and other contaminants into drainage systems.
US08535532B2

A method of wastewater treatment is described. The method includes: (i) receiving wastewater produced after anaerobic digestion; (ii) performing a first type of treatment on wastewater to produce wastewater having a first property which is capable of changing; (iii) preventing the first property from changing; (iv) performing a second type of treatment on wastewater; and wherein the first property includes at least one property selected from a group consisting of biochemical oxygen demand (“BOD”) level, dissolved oxygen level, solid content and nutrient level.
US08535529B2

A filter assembly with a replaceable filter element and a reusable filter housing, which incorporates a locking mechanism to ensure that the filter system will not be operated without a filter element installed.
US08535528B1

Oxine ligands placed on styrene base ion exchange resins selectively remove iron and gallium from acidic solutions. After loading, the oxine resin is stripped of the loaded metals and used again for further metal removal. The resins can be used for process streams, acid rock drainages, or any other iron or gallium containing solution.
US08535525B2

A machine is provided with a slot to releasably receive and retain a cartridge in which dialysis is effected. The machine is configured for supplying to the cartridge, at a controlled temperature and rate, sterile water for use in haemodialysis and is operable to maintain, in a sterile condition, residual water contained therein after completion of a haemodialysis treatment.
US08535521B2

A hemofiltration system or method removes unwanted molecules from a flow of blood using cascaded first and second hemofilters. Filtration of the blood in first hemofilter raises hemoconcentration of unwanted protein-bound molecules. Combination of a substitution fluid with outflow from the first hemofilter creates a concentration differential between bound and unbound molecules that frees unwanted molecules from protein bonds. Filtration of the combined fluids in a second hemofilter removes the unwanted free molecules. A second substitution fluid may be added to the twice filtered blood fluid for return to a patient. Removal of inflammatory mediators, apoptotic mediators, and certain electrolytes may be effected, and the removal may be optimized by controlling fluid flows and transmembrane pressures.
US08535502B2

A system and method for recovery of CO2 includes an aqueous capture device having a capture solution. The aqueous capture device is arranged to receive gas and to capture components from the gas including at least CO2. An electrodialysis unit in operative connection with the capture device performs an electrodialysis operation on the capture solution including at least the CO2, wherein a CO2 rich process stream and a regenerated capture solution are generated from the capture solution including at least the CO2. The CO2 rich process stream is a pressurized process stream at a pressure which maintains the CO2 substantially within the CO2 rich process stream, while in the electrodialysis unit. In another alternative, at least the pH of the capture stream is controlled.
US08535501B2

A protective coating is applied to the electrically conductive surface of a reflective coating of a solar mirror by biasing a conductive member having a layer of a malleable electrically conductive material, e.g. a paste, against a portion of the conductive surface while moving an electrodepositable coating composition over the conductive surface. The moving of the electrodepositable coating composition over the conductive surface includes moving the solar mirror through a flow curtain of the electrodepositable coating composition and submerging the solar mirror in a pool of the electrodepositable coating composition. The use of the layer of a malleable electrically conductive material between the conductive member and the conductive surface compensates for irregularities in the conductive surface being contacted during the coating process thereby reducing the current density at the electrical contact area.
US08535497B2

The present invention provides a method of measuring a component in blood, by which an amount of the component can be corrected accurately by measuring a hematocrit (Hct) value of the blood with high accuracy and high reliability and also provides a sensor used in the method. The sensor for measuring a component in blood has a first analysis portion and a second analysis portion. The first analysis portion has a first electrode system (11,12) and a reagent layer (14), and the reagent layer (14) has an oxidoreductase that acts on the component and a mediator. In the first analysis portion, the component in the blood is measured by causing a redox reaction of the component with the oxidoreductase in the presence of the mediator and detecting a redox current caused when a voltage is applied by the first electrode (11,12). The second analysis portion has a working electrode and a counter electrode, and a mediator is provided on the counter electrode but not on the working electrode. In the second analysis portion, a Hct value of the blood is measured by supplying the blood to the electrode system, applying a voltage to cause a current to flow, and detecting a value of the current. Using this Hct value, the amount of the component is corrected.
US08535494B2

Provided is a rotary magnet sputtering apparatus which includes a plasma shielding member and an outer wall connected to the ground and which has a series resonant circuit and a parallel resonant circuit between the plasma shielding member and the outer wall. The series resonant circuit has a very low impedance only at its resonant frequency while the parallel resonant circuit has a very high impedance only at its resonant frequency. With this configuration, the impedance between substrate RF power and the plasma shielding member becomes very high so that it is possible to suppress the generation of plasma between a substrate 10 to be processed and the plasma shielding member. Further, since a series resonant circuit is provided between a target and the ground, the RF power is efficiently supplied only to a region where the substrate passes under the target, so that a self-bias voltage is generated.
US08535491B2

An electrode for an electrochemical machining process is provided. The electrode comprises a curved, electrically conductive member, and an insulating coating covering at least a portion of a side surface of the curved, electrically conductive member. An electrochemical machining assembly is also provided for machining curved holes in a workpiece. The assembly includes at least one curved electrode and a power supply operatively connected to provide a pulsed voltage to the at least one curved electrode and to the workpiece. The assembly further includes a rotational driver operatively connected to move the at least one curved electrode along a curved path within the workpiece. The assembly is configured to remove material from the workpiece upon application of the pulsed voltage to the at least one curved electrode and to the workpiece. An electrochemical machining method is also provided for forming one or more curved holes in an electrically conductive workpiece.
US08535490B2

A new and useful rotatable sputter magnetron assembly is provided, that addresses the issue of uneven wear of the target electrode tube. According to the principles of the present invention, a rotatable sputter magnetron assembly for use in magnetron sputtering target material onto a substrate comprises a. a longitudinally extending tubular shaped target electrode tube having a longitudinal central axis, b. the target electrode tube extending about a magnet bar that is configured to generate a plasma confining magnetic field adjacent the target electrode tube, c. the magnet bar being held substantially stationary within the target electrode tube, and d. the target electrode tube supported for rotation about its longitudinal central axis and for axial movement along its longitudinal central axis, so that wear of the target electrode tube can be controlled by moving the target electrode tube axially during magnetron sputtering of the target material.
US08535489B2

A method for manufacturing ozone ice that is improved for its storage stability is provided. In the method, ice 11 including oxygen gas g2 as gas bubbles b is produced and the produced ice 11 is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation, then the oxygen gas g2 in the ice 11 is ozonized to manufacture ozone ice 1.
US08535482B2

A process is provided for making a fluff pulp sheet, comprising forming a web comprising fluff pulp fibers; and applying at least one debonder surfactant to the web, to make the fluff pulp sheet. A fluff pulp sheet is also provided, comprising a web comprising fluff pulp fibers; at least one debonder surfactant; and a fiberization energy of <145 kJ/kg. Products and uses of the fluff pulp sheet are also provided.
US08535481B2

An embossing system for embossing at least a portion of a web is provided comprising a first embossing roll having male embossing elements, a second embossing roll having male embossing elements, wherein the first and second embossing rolls define a first nip for receiving the web, and a third embossing roll having male embossing elements, wherein the second and third embossing rolls define a second nip for receiving the web, and wherein at least a substantial portion of the embossing elements of at least one of the first, second, and third embossing rolls are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.
US08535480B2

A method for pulp processing includes a cold caustic extraction stage in which the spent cold caustic solution and the spent liquid used to wash the extracted pulp are concentrated by an evaporation system. The concentrated liquid can be used as part of the neutralization and cooking liquor in the pulp process, leading to increased efficiency without significant reduction in pulp quality. Highly concentrated filtrate from the cold caustic extraction stage may help reduce hemicellulose deposition on wood fiber during the cooking step.
US08535473B2

A thermosettable pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprising at least first and second adhesive layers bonded together. Each of the adhesive layers comprises a thermosettable pressure sensitive adhesive, which is the photo-polymerization reaction product of starting materials. The starting materials for each adhesive layer comprises at least a photo-polymerizable acrylic component and a thermosettable epoxy component. The thermosettable pressure sensitive adhesive, used for either of the two adhesive layers, is not black when fully cured without the presence of a black coloring pigment. The first adhesive layer is made from a layer of starting materials that is thin enough to allow substantial photo-polymerization of the starting materials, even with the starting materials containing a sufficient amount of a black coloring pigment to cause the first adhesive to have a black color after the first adhesive is substantially cured. The second adhesive layer is made from a layer of starting materials which has a thickness that would be sufficiently thick to prevent substantial photo-polymerization (e.g., with UV light) of the starting materials, if the starting materials contained enough of a black coloring pigment to cause the second adhesive to have a black color after the second adhesive is cured.
US08535471B2

The present invention relates to a door skin comprising an exterior surface having outer portions lying on a first plane, spaced grooves recessed from the plane of the outer portions, and tonal portions having a planar area and a plurality of spaced depressions recessed from the plane of said planar area. The present invention is also directed to a method of etching a plate, for use with a molded die set, for embossing a wood grain pattern in the door skin, and the etched plate formed therefrom.
US08535463B2

An uncured acoustic absorbing member (1, 31) for cavity sealing comprises a thermally inert carrier (8, 38) and a thermally expandable material (6, 40) applied to the carrier. The carrier (8, 38) contains openings (3, 33) which become covered when the thermally expandable material is expanded to seal the cavity. The acoustic absorbing members (1, 31) are particularly useful for sealing automotive cavities to provide acoustical abatement and to prevent the entry of fluids into the cavity.
US08535458B2

A steel sheet contains, on a mass percent basis, 0.03%-0.12% C, 0.5% or less Si, 0.8%-1.8% Mn, 0.030% or less P, 0.01% or less S, 0.005%-0.1% Al, 0.01% or less N, 0.035%-0.100% Ti, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities and has microstructures with a fraction of polygonal ferrite of 80% or more, the polygonal ferrite having an average grain size of 5 to 10 μm. The amount of Ti present in a precipitate having a size of less than 20 nm is 70% or more of the value of Ti* calculated using expression (1): Ti*=[Ti]−48×[N]/14  (1) where [Ti] and [N] represent a Ti content (percent by mass) and a N content percent by mass), respectively, of the steel sheet.
US08535455B2

A treatment solution for an insulation coating for a grain oriented electrical steel sheet includes at least one member selected from phosphates of Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn, Al, and Mn, and colloidal silica in a proportion of 0.5 to 10 mol in terms of SiO2 and at least one member selected from permanganates of Mg, Sr, Zn, Ba, and Ca in a proportion of 0.02 to 2.5 mol in terms of metal elements in the permanganates, relative to PO4:1 mol in the phosphates.
US08535450B2

Formulations comprising (A) at least one compound selected from aminocarboxylates and polyaminocarboxylates, and salts and derivatives thereof, (B) at least one salt of bismuth, and (C) at least one homopolymer or copolymer of ethyleneimine.
US08535448B2

A method of removing a metal protective layer from a surface of a reactor component comprising treating the metal protective layer with one or more chemical removal agents to remove at least a portion of the metal protective layer from the reactor component. A method of removing a metal protective layer from a surface of a reactor component comprising treating the metal protective layer to remove the metal protective layer from the reactor component, and determining a thickness of the reactor component following treatment.
US08535445B2

A wafer carrier used in wafer treatments such as chemical vapor deposition has pockets for holding the wafers and support surfaces for supporting the wafers above the floors of the pockets. The carrier is provided with locks for restraining wafers against upward movement away from the support surfaces. Constraining the wafers against upward movement limits the effect of wafer distortion on the spacing between the wafer and the floor surfaces, and thus limits the effects of wafer distortion on heat transfer. The carrier may include a main portion and minor portions having higher thermal conductivity than the main portion, the minor portions being disposed below the pockets.
US08535442B2

This invention includes a system and a method for growing crystals including a batch auto-feeding mechanism. The proposed system and method provide a minimization of compositional segregation effect during crystal growth by controlling growth rate involving a high-temperature flow control system operable in an open and a closed loop crystal growth process. The ability to control the growth rate without corresponding loss of volatilize-able elements enables significantly improvement in compositional homogeneity and a consequent increase in crystal yield. This growth system and method can be operated in production scale, simultaneously for a plurality of growth crucibles to further the reduction of manufacturing costs, particularly for the crystal materials of binary or ternary systems with volatile components, such as Lead (Pb) and Indium (In).
US08535429B2

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the treat en of process gas from an anaerobic digestion system or a landfill gas system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a caustic scrubber including a vertical column having a top and a bottom and including a counter current flow system, wherein a process gas stream flows up vertically through the column in counter current flow to a caustic liquid solution that flows downward through the column. The caustic liquid solution removes at least one acid from the process gas stream, wherein treated gas that is substantially free of acids bubbles out through an opening at the top of the vertical column.
US08535427B2

A CO2 recovery system includes an absorption tower and a regeneration tower. CO2 rich solution is produced in the absorption tower by absorbing CO2 from CO2-containing gas. The CO2 rich solution is conveyed to the regeneration tower where lean solution is produced from the rich solution by removing CO2. A regeneration heater heats lean solution that accumulates near a bottom portion of the regeneration tower with saturated steam thereby producing steam condensate from the saturated steam. A steam-condensate heat exchanger heats the rich solution conveyed from the absorption tower to the regeneration tower with the steam condensate.
US08535415B2

A process and system for recovering valuable by-products (e.g., hydrogen) from refinery gas streams. For hydrogen-only recovery, the invention comprises a partial condensation step to upgrade the refinery fuel gas to a minimum of 60% hydrogen, which is further purified in a pressure swing adsorption process. When configured to recover hydrogen, methane-rich gas and raw LPG (methane depleted gas containing C2 hydrocarbons and heavier), the invention comprises two partial condensation steps where the feed is cooled in the first step to allow separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons, and the resulting vapor is cooled to a lower temperature in a second step for hydrogen recovery.
US08535414B2

The present invention discloses the improvements to a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process used for Xe recovery. By only collecting the recovered gas mixture after the initial evacuation of N2 from the adsorbent vessel and void space, the recovered Xe is not diluted by N2 contained in the adsorbent vessel and void space. The concentration of the recovered Xe can by increased (high purity), simultaneously little Xenon is lost. During the initial evacuation of N2, the vessel has been evacuated to a pressure less than 1 atmospheric pressure, for example, from 100 to 1 torr.
US08535412B2

The present system is an adsorption system for separating air into a concentrated gas component, which has an air supply, a compressor for receiving and compressing the air supply, providing a compressed air supply, and molecular sieve material for separating the compressed air supply into a concentrated gas component. The adsorption system delivers at least 5 liters per minute (LPM) of concentrated gas component from the molecular sieve material in which the system has a specific total weight per LPM <9 lbs/LPM. Additionally, an output quantity of the concentrated gas is delivered by the adsorption system and a purging quantity of the concentrated gas is dispensed into a sieve chamber of the adsorption system undergoing a purge cycle. The purging quantity has a value equal to or less than the difference between the maximum quantity and the output quantity, and the purging quantity is controlled based on the output quantity.
US08535392B2

This invention relates to solid forms of polymeric colorants and the methods and processes for manufacturing the solid colorants. These solid polymeric colorants may be provided in the form of a free-flowing powder and may be useful for coloring solid pucks, tablets, powder detergents, soaps, fertilizers, personal care products, adhesives, sealants, thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, and the like.
US08535387B2

A method for preparing a femoral neck for receiving a neck implant includes obtaining image data of a proximal femoral bone and femoral neck of a patient by a medical imaging method and constructing a three-dimensional image model of the proximal femoral bone and neck of the patient using the image data. The method further includes identifying a three-dimensional cortical boundary surface at an interface between cortical and cancellous bone of the patient using the image model. A patient-specific broach having a three-dimensional cutting surface closely matching and complementary to the cortical boundary surface of the patient using the image model is designed and manufactured.
US08535385B2

A prosthetic system that includes a prosthetic implant and a support structure secured to an inner surface of the cavity in the end of the bone is disclosed. The support structure defines a channel that extends through the length of the support structure. The prosthetic implant is received in the channel, and a portion of the prosthetic implant is secured to an inner surface of the channel by an adhesive. The stem of the prosthesis beyond the channel may be cemented or uncemented. The support structure may have an approximately funnel shape. The support structure may be a hollow porous cylindrical sleeve. The support structure may comprise a pair of partially hemispherical components arranged in spaced apart relationship thereby defining a channel between the pair of components. The support structure may comprise a plurality of pedestals secured to the inner surface of the cavity of the bone.
US08535384B2

An acetabular shell can include a substrate and a screw hole cover. The substrate can define a screw hole configured to receive a screw to fix the substrate to bone. The screw hole cover is formed separate from the substrate and attached to the substrate to cover the screw hole, and configured to be ruptured.
US08535383B2

A kit for a prosthesis system includes a plurality of first components, each of the plurality of first components for replacing one of a plurality of first surface portions of a bone, a second component for replacing a second surface portion of the bone and a resilient connector for connecting at least one of the plurality of first components to the second component. In accordance with one method, components from a prosthesis system kit used to replace adjacent portions of a bone surface are assembled ex vivo.
US08535379B2

An artificial replacement disc includes a pair of substantially parallel plates formed to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of the plates including a plurality of spikes on a first surface and a concave trough formed on a second surface opposite of the first surface. A mobile core includes a core rim with opposing convex surfaces extending from opposite sides of the core rim, the mobile core being capable of being disposed between the pair of plates to permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. The spikes on each of the plates extend substantially away from the mobile core and the convex surfaces are formed to integrally fit within the concave trough of at least one of the plates. The core rim limits lateral movement of the mobile core relative to the parallel plates. One or more insertion tools for inserting and implanting the replacement disc are also described.
US08535378B2

A spinal fusion interbody spacer device has a solid central core positioned between laterally opening opposed concave side surfaces. The device includes spaced apart superior and inferior abutment surfaces which are convexly arced. The spacer device is implanted between a pair of adjacent vertebrae by insertion in a tipped-over orientation and then reoriented to an upright orientation for engagement of the abutment surfaces by facing surfaces of the vertebrae.
US08535372B1

Stents and methods of fabricating stents with prohealing layers and drug-polymer layers are disclosed.
US08535369B2

A prosthesis delivery and deployment device includes an elongate and flexible outer catheter. The outer catheter has a tubular wall of layered construction, including translucent layers, opaque layers, and a braid composed of helically wound metal filaments. The outer catheter has a translucent distal adapted to constrain a radially self-expanding prosthesis in a radially reduced, axially elongated state. Because the stent constraining region is translucent, an endoscope can be used to visually monitor the stent when so constrained. Radiopaque markers can be mounted to the outer catheter and to an inner catheter used to deploy the prosthesis, to afford a combined visual and fluoroscopic monitoring for enhanced accuracy in positioning the prosthesis, both before and during its deployment.
US08535366B2

The present invention, in an exemplary embodiment, provides a delivery system and novel handle configuration for the delivery system that facilitates repeatable placement of implantable devices. In particular, in optical embodiments, the handle allows for the reversible coupling of scopes directly to the handle to enhance physician control during placement. The delivery system also allows for one-handed manipulation as finger action can be used to engage and disengage the scope as well as actuate the extent of implantable device deployment. Exemplary delivery systems are flexible, durable and/or assure proper installation of one or more implantable devices in a single procedure. Moreover, the preferred embodiments of the delivery system provides for the reloading of the delivery device with additional implantable devices for additional interventional procedures, resulting in a substantially reusable delivery device.
US08535360B2

Systems and methods treat superficial venous malformations, such as spider veins. The systems and methods distribute a light-reactive agent, e.g., verteporfin, at or near an inner wall of a vein. The systems and methods activate the light-reactive agent by applying non-thermal light energy at a wavelength that activates the light-reactive agent to cause localize injury to the inner wall of the vein.
US08535352B2

A spinal alignment system for interconnecting vertebral bodies is disclosed. The system includes a bone screw polyaxially connected to a seat. The seat includes a top opening, a first rod receiving portion and a second rod receiving portion, a first rod channel and a second rod channel. The system is implanted into a first vertebral body. A first rod is introduced to the seat through the top opening in a first orientation and connected to the first rod receiving portion. A second rod is introduced to the seat through the top opening in a first orientation and connected to the second rod receiving portion. The first and second rods are each moved into a second orientation such that the rods project through the first and second rod channels, respectively. The rods are capable of polyaxial movement with respect to the seat for landing the opposite ends of the rods in adjacent seats of screw systems implanted in other vertebral bodies. A closure mechanism that is configured to lock the polyaxial motion of the rods with respect to the seat and to lock the polyaxial motion of the bone screw with respect to the seat simultaneously or independently is provided. The seat is connectable to a cannula for delivering the first and second rods into the first seat in a percutaneous, minimally invasive procedure.
US08535350B2

A suture anchor comprises a shell and an anchor member. The shell comprises a body having a distal end, a proximal end and sidewalls therebetween defining an axial cannulation therethrough. The anchor member comprises a body having a distal end and a proximal end which is sized to fit within the cannulation. The sidewalls define a lateral cut-out such that with the anchor member received within the cannulation a first lateral portion of the anchor member is exposed laterally and a second, laterally opposite, lateral portion of the anchor member is enclosed by the sidewalls. A friction enhancement on the first lateral portion frictionally engages a bone surface when the suture anchor is disposed within a bone tunnel defined by the bone surface. Suture is trapped between the shell and the anchor and also between the anchor and the bone surface.
US08535349B2

This invention provides, in certain aspects, unique devices and methods for treating fistulae. In one embodiment, an inventive device includes an elongate graft body having a proximal end and a distal end. The graft body is configurable to a first condition and a second condition, the second condition including the distal end deflected laterally relative to its position in the first condition of the body. The device also includes a tether, which is connected to the graft body, and is configured to traverse proximally along the body. The tether is manipulable to convert the graft body from the first condition to the second condition. Such a device may also include one or more additional tethers connected to the graft body. For instance, a second tether can be configured to extend distally from the distal end of the graft body, and may be effective in pulling the graft body along a fistula tract.
US08535340B2

An ultrasonic surgical instrument is presented including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes an end effector assembly located at the distal end of the transmission member. The end effector assembly includes a sensing mechanism for sensing load variations on tissue based on mechanical vibrations detected on one or more portions of the surgical instrument, the mechanical vibrations sensed by a laser interferometer.
US08535336B2

The present disclosure provides for systems and methods for Nested Cannula configuration. Nested Cannula systems include a plurality of telescoping, pre-shaped tubes configured and dimensioned to reach target locations within a particular anatomical region. A three dimensional image is read for the particular anatomical region and structure in question. A series of arcs are generated between a point of the anatomical region and a target location, ensuring collision-free motion for each of the tubes at each specific diameter. The target location is determined based upon the medical procedure being performed and the location and orientation in six degrees of freedom of the anatomical structure in question. The series of arcs are used to configure and dimension the plurality of tubes. The Nested Cannula system is adapted to reach relatively small and complex target locations, such as to deliver photodynamic therapy, balloon angioplasty or BronchoAlveolar Lavage.
US08535323B2

A hand held instrument is provided in one embodiment in a kit for use in positioning a constraining ring of an acetabular liner system and includes a shaft including a first coupling member, and a plurality of heads, each of the plurality of heads including (i) a base configured to couple with the first coupling member and (ii) a pair of resilient gripper arms, each of the pair of resilient gripper arms defining a constraining ring reception area having a size different from the constraining ring reception area defined by the pair of gripper arms of each of the other of the plurality of heads.
US08535316B2

A reamer for medical applications includes an elongated shaft portion and a disposable hollow cutter assembly. The shaft portion's distal end has a coupling portion appointed for attachment to a drilling device, and the proximal end has a threaded portion. The cutter assembly includes a disposable hollow cutter sleeve and a pilot tip. The cutter sleeve has an outer surface and a hollow construction, and is preferably appointed for a single use. In addition, the disposable cutter sleeve portion has a plurality of cutting teeth and a plurality of apertures on the outer surface. The pilot tip has a threaded inner surface and is attached to the disposable cutter sleeve. The cutter assembly is adapted to slide over the proximal end of the shaft portion, thereby enabling the pilot tip to be threaded with the threaded portion of the proximal end of the shaft portion.
US08535310B2

A medical sphincterotome and a method of its use are described. The sphincterotome has structural elements that are capable of directing a wire guide through a selected body passageway. One structural element includes a distal port and deflection member that can deflect the wire guide into the desired passageway. Another structural element includes an offset nose-shaped end that can bend towards a passageway desired to be blocked. The wire guide is prevented from entering the blocked passageway, thereby enabling the wire guide to cannulate the desired passageway. The sphincterotome also includes a cutting wire to access a patient's sphincter and perform various other medical procedures.
US08535305B2

Apparatus and methods for insulating tissue during therapeutic procedures.
US08535302B2

An tissue interface module has an applicator chamber on a proximal side of the tissue interface module and a tissue acquisition chamber on a distal side of the tissue interface module. The applicator chamber may include: an opening adapted to receive the applicator; an attachment mechanism positioned in the applicator chamber and adapted to attach the tissue interface module to the applicator; a sealing member positioned at a proximal side of the applicator chamber; and a vacuum interface positioned at a proximal side of the applicator chamber and adapted to receive a vacuum inlet positioned on a distal end of the applicator. The invention also includes corresponding methods.
US08535301B2

The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.
US08535290B2

Clot disruption and dissolution are achieved using a catheter having the ability to infuse a thrombolytic agent, aspirate clot and fluid, and allow passage of a guidewire. Optionally, the catheter may also include a mechanical agitator for further disrupt clot in the presence of the thrombolytic agent. A flow resistor in the catheter provides for infusion and/or aspiration to be concentrated primarily at a clot treatment area in a blood vessel while also providing optional infusion and/or aspiration distal to the treatment area. In some embodiments, infusion, aspiration and guidewire passage occur through a common lumen. The thrombolytic agent, such as tPA, streptokinase, or urokinase, is directly released into the clot at the point where the agitator is engaging the clot. In this way, the thrombolytic activity of the agent is enhanced and the dissolution of the clot is improved.
US08535289B1

Vial attachment pliers that include a handle; a static arm that includes a recessed vial adapter slot and extends from the handle such that the longitudinal axis of the static arm is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle; a guide rod that extends from the static arm such that the longitudinal axis of the guide rod is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the static arm; a dynamic arm having a vial slot that is slidably attached to the guide rod; a lever pivotably attached to the handle; and a connector bar connecting the lever to the dynamic arm, such that as the lever pivots relative to the handle, the dynamic arm is urged to slide along the guide rod.
US08535284B2

The drainage pump unit according to the invention for aspirating body fluids by means of a suction pump comprises a drainage pump device with a pump housing (4) for receiving the suction pump, and a fluid collection container (5) that can be secured releasably on the pump housing (4). The drainage pump unit also comprises a pump-side attachment part (2) which has a connection element for connection to a patient-side drainage tube (10). The attachment part (2) is held releasably on the pump housing (4), and it has a connector piece (20) onto which an attachment opening (54) of the fluid collection container (5) can be fitted. Alternatively, the attachment part (2) can have an attachment opening into which a connector piece of the fluid collection container (5) can be inserted. The connection element and the connector piece (20) or attachment opening are connected to each other via a drainage channel (24) extending through the attachment part (2). This drainage pump unit allows the fluid collection container to be replaced without removing the drainage tube and, therefore, without disturbing the patient.
US08535279B2

A Huber needle assembly includes a needle, a safety tube substantially around at least a portion of the needle, and a skin plate at one end of the safety tube. The safety tube is adapted to irretractably extend over the needle.
US08535272B2

A catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, a tubular member, and an inner member extending through the tubular member. The inner member is movable axially relative to the tubular member. The catheter also includes a seal member including a first portion and a second portion. The seal member extends between the tubular member and the inner member. The first portion of the seal member remains stationary relative to the tubular member, and the second portion of the seal member remains stationary relative to the inner member during relative axial movement between the tubular member and the inner member.
US08535271B2

The present disclosure is directed to a catheter insertion device, which has a catheter hub at the proximal end of a catheter, a tubular needle hub, at which a hollow needle is fixed and extends through the catheter hub and the catheter in a ready position such that the needle tip projects over the distal end of the catheter, a protective barrel which is received in the tubular needle hub in the ready position and is releasably connected to the catheter hub, and a pressure spring arranged between the needle hub and the protective barrel and which displaces the needle hub and the protective barrel apart from each other in an axial direction, wherein a manually operable holding member is provided between the needle hub and the protective barrel, and holds the needle hub in the ready position at the protective barrel against the bias of the pressure spring, so that after the holding member is released, the pressure spring moves the needle hub into a protective position in relation to the protective barrel, in which position the needle is positioned in the protective barrel.
US08535268B2

Devices, systems, and associated methods that facilitate the injection and/or aspiration of precisely controlled volumes of fluids at precisely controlled rates are provided. In some implementations, an apparatus may include a syringe and a lead screw connected to a plunger of the syringe. A ratchet gear may be connected to the lead screw. A mechanism may also be included to oscillate a frame in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lead screw such that one or more pawls of the frame engage the teeth of the ratchet gear in a manner that results in rotation of the ratchet gear in a single direction for controlled linear displacement of the plunger.
US08535267B2

A retractable needle syringe having a segmented retaining ledge at the distal end of the syringe barrel. The retaining ledge has uniformly spaced members configured to enable the retaining ring to break from the needle stem with a reduced plunger engagement force, which provides an improved tactile feeling of the syringe plunger and comfort of use. The segmented retaining ledge also makes it easier to install the needle stem and retaining ring in the barrel distal end, such that it snaps into place therepast with less axial force.
US08535261B2

A system for administering a therapeutic agent to a subject; for administering a first pharmaceutically-acceptable taggant to the subject at least substantially concurrent with the therapeutic agent, the first pharmaceutically-acceptable taggant having a pharmacokinetic profile; and for administering a second pharmaceutically-acceptable taggant to the subject with the first pharmaceutically-acceptable taggant, the second pharmaceutically-acceptable taggant having a pharmacokinetic profile different from the pharmacokinetic profile of the first pharmaceutically-acceptable taggant.
US08535259B2

Methods are provided for biliary diversion. In one embodiment, a tubular member can be implanted within a patient by positioning a proximal end of the tubular member in the patient's gall bladder, positioning a distal end of the tubular member in the patient's intestine, and positioning a length of the tubular member extending between the proximal and ends thereof within the patient's stomach. Bile can therefore be allowed to pass from the gall bladder into the tubular member's proximal end, flow through the tubular member, and exit through the tubular member's distal end to enter the patient's gastrointestinal tract at the intestine.
US08535255B2

A device for stabilizing a limb, typically when the limb is in a therapeutic boot. A wedge-shaped stabilization block includes an outwardly-extending tether. A fastener in the form of spaced fastener elements is located on the tether for securing the stabilization block in place.
US08535250B2

During shock wave therapy, a determination is made that a kidney stone has begun to fracture, and then a progress of its fragmentation is assessed. This determination can reduce the number of shock waves used to disintegrate kidney stones, and thereby reduce dose-dependent tissue damage. The identification of fracture is possible through the detection and analysis of resonant acoustic scattering, which is the radiation caused by reverberations within a stone particle that is struck by a shock wave. The scattering frequency can provide both an indication that the kidney stone has fragmented, and an indication of the relative sizes of the fragments. Related concepts employ displacement measurements of kidney stones/fragments to provide both an indication that the kidney stone has fragmented, and an indication of the relative sizes of the fragments. Such techniques can be combined with vibro-acoustography based gating that better targets the stone.
US08535247B2

According to some exemplary embodiments, a method or system can involve associating a plurality of biokinetographic comparison results with a first specific dysfunction from a group of specific dysfunctions, each of the biokinetographic comparison results obtained from a comparison of a biokinetographic value to a standard for a corresponding biokinetographic variable.
US08535243B2

Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example medical device may include a metallic tubular member including a tube wall defining an inner diameter and having a wall thickness. The tubular member may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The tubular member may also include first portion having a first length. The tube wall may have a substantially constant wall thickness across the first length. The tubular member may also include a second portion having a second length. The tube wall may thin so that the inner diameter increases across the second length.
US08535240B2

A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08535237B2

Described herein are devices, systems, kits and methods for continuously measuring intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) from a patient catheterized with a urinary catheter system Devices may include a lumen configured to connect to a pressure transducer, and a compensation chamber in fluid communication with the lumen and a urinary catheter.
US08535236B2

An apparatus for analyzing a sound signal is based on an ear model for deriving, for a number of inner hair cells, an estimate for a time-varying concentration of transmitter substance inside a cleft between an inner hair cell and an associated auditory nerve from the sound signal so that an estimated inner hair cell cleft contents map over time is obtained. This map is analyzed by means of a pitch analyzer to obtain a pitch line over time, the pitch line indicating a pitch of the sound signal for respective time instants. A rhythm analyzer is operative for analyzing envelopes of estimates for selected inner hair cells, the inner hair cells being selected in accordance with the pitch line, so that segmentation instants are obtained, wherein a segmentation instant indicates an end of the preceding note or a start of a succeeding note. Thus, a human-related and reliable sound signal analysis can be obtained.
US08535234B2

An apparatus for measuring a blood volume, includes: a first calculator which calculates a first blood volume by using information on a cardiac output of a subject; and a second calculator which calculates a second blood volume by using information on oxygen metabolism of the subject.
US08535233B2

Adaptive attachments used in combination with a blood pressure cuff enable various blood pressure measurements to be taken in a hospital or other setting having various single and/or dual lumen manual or electronic blood pressure measuring equipment with a single, patient-worn cuff.
US08535230B2

An ultrasound device is provided. The ultrasound device includes an ultrasound transducer to be moved along an object to be examined and a control device that communicates with the ultrasound device, controls the transmit and receive mode of the ultrasound transducer and processes the ultrasound signals received. The ultrasound transducer is arranged on a robotic arm that can be freely moved in space and controlled in terms of its movement.
US08535226B2

The present invention relates a method for assessing in vivo hematotoxicity. The method utilizes differential staining of nucleated and non-nucleated blood cells, and also differential labeling of cells with functional versus dysfunctional mitochondrial membrane potential. Quantitative analyses can be conducted on stained whole blood specimens, and is based on blood cells' fluorescent emission and light scatter properties following exposure to an excitatory light source. The ratio of certain cell populations can be readily measured. Furthermore, it is also possible to express cell population values in terms of number per unit volume. This invention can be used to evaluate the hematotoxicity of drugs, chemicals, radiation, and other exogenous agents, or the effects that a suspected protective agent may have on induced hematotoxicity. Furthermore, the matrix of measurements provided by this invention is useful in estimating radiation dose, i.e., retrospectively. Kits for practicing the invention are also disclosed.
US08535224B2

An electro diagnostic functional assessment unit (EFA-2) that diagnoses age of and treats soft tissue injuries. The EFA-2 utilizes sensor(s) including EMG, Range of Motion, FCE, pinch and grip, and allows for monitoring of muscles and muscle groups to ascertain compliance, pain and function. The EFA-2 also monitors disc pathology and determines whether a person requires surgery or conservative care and, the age of the disc. Additionally, the EFA-2 monitors EEK activity and NCV, as well as invasive EMG that monitors nerve damage. Previously, with NCV the temperature and the position of electrodes would effect readings and produce false positive or false negative readings. The EFA-2 eliminates these problems by incorporating temperature sensor(s) and electrode placement sensor(s). The EFA-2 also provides direct treatment by means of ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Thus, the EFA-2 allows diagnosis any treatment by means of a single unit.
US08535222B2

Devices and methods for sleep detection involve the use of an adjustable threshold for detecting sleep onset and termination. A method for detecting sleep includes adjusting a sleep threshold associated with a first sleep-related signal using a second sleep-related signal. The first sleep-related signal is compared to the adjusted threshold and sleep is detected based on the comparison. The sleep-related signals may be derived from implantable or external sensors. Additional sleep-related signals may be used to confirm the sleep condition. A sleep detector device implementing a sleep detection method may be a component of an implantable pulse generator such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.
US08535220B2

A laparoscope lens cleaning system includes a housing that is configured to be connected to existing laparoscopes. The housing forms a lumen which carries a tube for dispensing cleaning solution. An extension system enables the tubing to be extended beyond the end of the laparoscope such that a hole or a plurality of holes in the extended tube end enables the dispensing of cleaning solution on the lens without requiring removal of the laparoscope from the patient. A pumping system is connected to the other end of the tubing and provides a cleaning solution reservoir and means for selectively dispensing the cleaning solution when required by the surgeon.
US08535219B2

A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.
US08535216B2

Systems, method, and devices related to surgically implantable supportive slings are presented herein. More specifically, in various embodiments, the systems, devices and methods relate to a surgically implantable supportive sling adapted to anchor in patient tissue.
US08535215B2

In an implantable heart monitoring device and method, particularly for monitoring diastolic dysfunction, a control circuit (a) detects the heart rate, (b) derives information correlated to the stroke volume of the heart at the detected heart rate, and (c) stores the detected heart rate and the derived information correlated to the stroke volume in a memory. The control circuit automatically implements (a), (b) and (c) at a number of different occasions for a number of different, naturally varying heart rates, so that the memory contains information indicating the stroke volume as a function of the heart rate.
US08535214B2

Provided is a modular infant care system having a warming therapy device and a peripheral device. The warming therapy device includes a plurality of wheels and a patient support surface having an adjustable height. The peripheral device has at least one wheel and is adapted for releasably engaging the warming therapy device proximate the patient support surface. When the warming therapy device and the peripheral device are engaged to each other, the infant care system is movable as a combined unit. Also provided is a method for transporting a patient using the apparatus.
US08535211B2

A blood pump includes an impeller having a plurality of foldable blades and a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller can reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula has a collapsed condition for percutaneous delivery to a desired location within the body, and an expanded condition in which the impeller can rotate to pump blood. A flexible drive shaft can extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.
US08535209B2

A method and apparatus for making a stepped end on a tube of flexible material includes a tube slitting station having a slitting tool with double edge slitting blades penetrating through the tube to provide respective slits beside a first panel and beside a second panel, respectively; a first trimming station trimming a first panel of the tube to a first shortened length, a second trimming station trimming the side gussets to a second length, wherein the second length is longer than the first shortened length of the first panel; and an adhesive applying station applying adhesive on the tube above and below a fold line across the tube, wherein the tube is adapted to be folded along the fold line, and the adhesive material is adapted to form an adhesive to adhesive seal above and below the fold line while the tube is folded to provide a closed stepped end for a bag.
US08535208B2

Tool rack for tools of a coordinate measuring machine, wherein the guiding and retaining surfaces of the tool rack are arranged on two planes offset vertically so as to cause the tool to tilt when it is unhooked. The inventive arrangement allows the mechanical efforts during uncoupling to be reduced appreciably. This reduction is due to the tool tilting and to the residual magnetic force being divided between three retaining point, with a positive effect on the coupling precision and on the tool positioning in the tool rack.
US08535207B2

A bi-directional tensioning apparatus including one or more elongate resilient members, one or more support members, one or more first guide members, and one or more optional second guide members is provided. A method of using the bi-directional tensioning apparatus is also provided.
US08535200B2

A vehicle propulsion system includes an electric machine (EM) configured to generate an unconditioned output. The vehicle propulsion system also includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having an input side and an output side, the input side mechanically coupled to the EM and configured to receive the unconditioned output from the EM and produce a conditioned output on the output side. A fixed-ratio transmission is mechanically coupled to the output side of the CVT and configured to receive the conditioned output from the CVT and produce a reconditioned output.
US08535194B2

A coupling assembly for optionally connecting a driving axle in a motor vehicle having multiple driving axles is disclosed. The coupling assembly comprises an externally controllable friction coupling with a coupling input part and an output part. The input part is rotatingly drivable around an axis of rotation A. A differential drive with an input element and two output elements which are drivingly connected to the input element, are also included. The input element of the differential drive is arranged coaxially relative to the coupling output part and drivably connected to the coupling output part for the purpose of transmitting torque. A driveline assembly having such a coupling assembly is also disclosed.
US08535193B2

A shroud assembly and method for assembling such shroud assembly for a vehicle are disclosed. The shroud may comprise a collar joined to a nose cap. The shroud assembly may comprise the collar, the nose cap, and meshed ring and pinion gears. The collar may define at least one port and the nose cap may define an aperture. These allow lubricating fluid to escape outside of the shroud and thus be removed from the immediate vicinity of the rotating ring and pinion gears.
US08535180B1

Analysis of pitches to determine both their velocity and the location at which they arrive at the batter. The speed of the pitch is adjusted according to an adjustment value whose magnitude is a function of the location of the pitch relative to the batter. For example, high outside pitches would have a different adjustment value than low inside pitches. These adjustment values are calculated to take into account the fact that hitters must swing at different pitches at different times. That is, they must swing at some pitches earlier than others, depending on the location of the pitch. The adjusted speed, or “effective velocity,” of the pitch is thus a function of both the pitch's velocity and its location relative to the batter, making it a more useful metric than velocity or location alone.
US08535177B1

A cavity back iron type club head includes a striking plate having a substantially planar striking surface and a rear surface defining a thickness therebetween. The rear surface defines a striking plate rear cavity region. A perimeter support is coupled to a peripheral portion of the striking plate. The surface area of the striking surface is related to the club head loft angle by the equation SSA≧14.4(L)+2875, where SSA is the surface area of the striking surface in units of square-millimeters and L is the club head loft angle in units of degrees.
US08535171B2

A golf club head consisting of a striking face, a soleplate, a crown, and a skirt connecting the face, the soleplate and the crown. A flange is placed at a selected location on the periphery of the skirt. Incorporated into the flange is a hosel, positioned to be displaced from the club head, for receiving the shaft of the golf club. The area of the skirt covered by the flange has a length versus height ratio.
US08535170B2

Golf club telemetry equipment sends signals to a receiver in a golf round data system. The signals uniquely identify the particular club a player has selected for a stroke and the fact that a stroke has been taken. The club identification can occur either before or during a stroke. Automatic detection of clubs and strokes simplifies round data collection for the player. Club identification before a stroke permits a forecast of the result of the stroke to be presented to then player prior to the stroke. The signals can be either acoustic or electromagnetic.
US08535167B2

A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of axially-extending guide grooves; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions positioned in the guide grooves of the hollow housing; and a roller assembly including an inner roller having a spherical inner face and an outer roller mounted on an outer face of each inner roller, the roller assembly for transmitting a load between the first and second rotating shafts. A cross sectional shape of the trunnion, taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion, has a thickness at one or both lateral sides of the trunnion the same as or slightly less than a maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion, the maximum non-interfering thickness measured with the inner roller inclined by a predetermined degree relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion to assemble the trunnion into the inner roller.
US08535166B1

A stylized support and accessory holder for an electronic game console, having an overall shape of an insect or other animal. The support base raises an electronic game console above the floor to minimize intake of dust and other debris often circulating near the floor of a room. In addition, the base may include one or more fans to improve air circulation within the game console. Recharge stations are provided for controllers. An internal circuit breaker is used to protect multiple accessory outlets on the body of the support base. The support base is designed to be decorative and whimsical, but practical. The base supplies electrical power, cooling air, and recharging power for controllers or accessories, as well as electrical power for accessories. All supplied power is protected by a built-in circuit breaker.
US08535158B2

A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.
US08535143B2

A gaming machine has a wager-input device for receiving a first wager from a player to play a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game. A display displays a plurality of symbols located thereon during the basic game. The symbols indicate a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes includes a bonus-triggering outcome. A set of available game-enhancement parameters is displayed and the player is provided an option of submitting a second wager to purchase at least one of the set of available game-enhancement parameters. The set of available game-enhancement parameters provides an enhancement selected from the group consisting of: additional bonus-triggering outcomes providing a higher probability of triggering the bonus game, and enhanced awards during the bonus game.
US08535137B2

A method for providing a payout based on a scattered combination of game cards is described. A plurality of hands of cards is displayed, including at least a first hand of cards and a second hand of cards. Each hand of cards includes one or more card positions. In each hand of cards, a card is placed in each of the one or more card positions. Characteristics associated with each card in the each displayed hand of cards are analyzed. A first card in a first card position in the first hand of cards is combined with a second card in the second hand of cards. A determination is made whether a winning combination of cards is formed by at least the first and second cards in the first and second hands of cards. A payout award is provided based on the winning combination of cards.
US08535130B2

A method of providing entertainment including providing a game cell bounded by walls comprising, a first video game console system, a screen that interacts with the video game console system and displays images generated by the video game console system, wherein an inside face of at least one wall is decorated with a theme that corresponds to a game playable on the video game console system, checking for the availability of the cell for use by a player, upon availability of the cell, accepting payment from the player for rental of the cell for a period of time, and providing at least one controller to the player for use in the cell, the controller interacting with the video game console system.
US08535129B2

A straw walker for a combine harvester includes a straw walker grate provided with through-openings for grain to be separated and with driving profiles arranged along the straw walker grate at a mutual distance from one another. The driving profiles extend transversely to the conveying direction and include a first respective profile limb upwardly protruding from the straw walker grate. In order to provide advantageous conveying conditions, the driving profiles also include a second respective profile limb descends in the conveying direction towards the straw walkers grate. The second respective profile limb is provided between the first respective profile limb and the straw walker grate on the breast side of the driving profiles. The breast side of the driving profiles is at the rear of the driving profiles in the conveying direction.
US08535125B2

A feed unit for filling a coin module with coins improved in such a way that a plurality of coin modules can be filled or loaded with just one feed unit. The coin feed unit is a coin drum which is rotatable inside a shell. A coin stock compartment is provided into which coins can be filled via a charge aperture. A dispensing compartment is provided inside the coin drum from which coins can be taken out via the discharge aperture. A passage is arranged in such a way that coins get from the stock compartment into the dispensing compartment as the coin drum rotates around a pivot pin.
US08535114B2

A method for manufacturing an externally circular precursor lens that is processed into a rim-shaped lens includes inputting processing data to specify the shape of the rim-shaped lens, and processing a material block based on the processing data so as to manufacture a precursor lens. An elliptical virtual rim surrounding the precursor lens manufactured at that time is imaginarily set, and is processed based on the processing data up to that range, and, outside the virtual rim, an amount of sag is changed to secure the edge thickness of the precursor lens. This method for manufacturing a precursor lens for a rim-shaped lens reduces an excessive load imposed on a processing tool during processing, allows the precursor lens to be processed into a rim-shaped lens while satisfactorily maintaining its edge thickness without the lack of the edge of the precursor lens, and results in a thin lens.
US08535103B2

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a longitudinal base with a first side and a second side. Extending from the base at the first side is a tongue portion having a first tongue section and a second tongue section, both sections having a first face and a second face. A plurality of passageways are defined on the first faces of both sections. Each of the passageways has a recess located at one end and a plurality of conductive contacts are received in the passageways. Each contact comprises a mating section, a mounting section and a retainer section bridging the mating section to the mounting section whereby the mating section of the contact is free to flex into the recess. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector having a socket extending from the base at the second side.
US08535100B2

An electrical connector (100) to be mounted on an exterior PCB (126) is disclosed. The electrical connector includes an insulating housing (120) having a front face defining a mating port (122) to receive a plug therein; a number of mating contacts (142) received in said insulating housing and extending into said mating port for mating with a plug inserted therein; a first internal PCB (144) having a front face on which said mating contacts are mounted; a second internal PCB (145) with a ferromagnetic core embedded therein and forming an inductance; a number of terminals (149) extending out to be mounted to said exterior PCB. A number of signal channels are formed between the mating contacts (142) and the terminals (149) with the inductance electrically connected therein.
US08535096B1

A cage is provided for a receptacle assembly that includes a receptacle connector. The cage includes a die cast body having side walls that are spaced apart to define an internal compartment of the die cast body therebetween. The die cast body has a front end that is open to the internal compartment of the die cast body. The internal compartment is configured to receive the receptacle connector therein. The internal compartment is configured to receive a pluggable module therein through the front end. An alignment plate is mounted to the die cast body. The alignment plate includes an alignment segment that extends between the side walls to form a bottom wall of the cage. The alignment segment includes an alignment surface that defines a bottom boundary of the internal compartment of the die cast body.
US08535091B2

A fixing apparatus for a connector includes a fixing plate and a fastener. The connector includes a main body, a block protruding from the main body, a connecting portion protruding from the block, and two protrusions respectively extending from opposite sides of the block. The fixing plate defines an opening, two notches communicating with the opening, and a positioning hole. The fastener is mounted to the main body of the connector and includes a slidable shaft. When the connecting portion and the block are extended through the opening, the protrusions are respectively extended through the notches, and the main body engages with a rear surface of the fixing plate. The connector is capable of sliding along the opening, to allow the protrusions to engage with a front surface of the fixing plate, and to allow the shaft to engage in the positioning hole.
US08535081B2

With the solar cell panel connector, first relay connector 5 possesses male type mating component 51 that is mountable-removable to female type mating component 45 of main connector 4 and possesses female type mating component 53 established at the opposite side, and second relay connector 6 possesses male type mating component 61 that is mountable-removable to female type mating component 46 of main connector 4 and possesses male type mating component 63 established at the opposite side. Female type mating component 53 of first relay connector 5 possesses a shape that is mountable-removable to male type mating component 63 of second relay connector 6, and male type mating component 63 of second relay connector 6 possesses as shape that is mountable-removable to female type mating component 53 of first relay connector 5.
US08535077B2

A card edge connector for mating with a corresponding daughter card 200 with a locking notch 201 at a side thereof, comprises: an insulative housing 1, a plurality of contacts 2 assembled to the insulative housing 1 and an ejector 3 and a locking member 4 set on two longitudinal ends of the insulative housing 1. The insulative housing defines a central slot 14 along the longitudinal direction. The locking member 4 is formed with a retention portion 41 and a pair of elastic arms 42 extending upwardly from the retention portion 41 and symmetrically located on two opposite sides of the central slot along a transverse direction perpendicular to longitudinal direction, each elastic arm 42 having a locking portion 321 protruding toward each other for locking with the locking notch 201 of the daughter card 200.
US08535060B2

A system and method is disclosed which detects a specific cognitive-emotional mental state (e.g., passion) in a subject. The system and method utilizes different Internal Personalized Explorer (IPE) stimuli subliminally exposed to the subject on a visual display. Following exposure, the subject performs a target-specific cognitive task and a related behavior (e.g., deciding whether a briefly displayed string of letters is a word or not, and pressing a button to indicate the decision). The decision reaction lime for the behavior is recorded in a computer database. The reaction times are interpreted quantitatively to detect the relative intensity of the specific cognitive-emotional mental state in the subject. A reaction time for a specific individual IPE that is shorter than the mean reaction time for an IPE that does not evoke the emotional state indicates that the specific individual IPE did evoke the emotional state in the subject.
US08535058B1

An oil-free aqueous lecithin composition is suitable as a release agent and lubricant for dental procedures. Layered between a first entity and a second entity during a dental procedure, the composition promotes ready separation of the first entity from the second entity as needed in the procedure.
US08535057B2

A disposable dental filing tool having a handle easy to hold between fingers which arches over and secures at both ends of a thin filing strip. The filing strip can be coated with superfine abrasive material. The filing strip can also be a sharp cutting system along the edge or lateral surface. The strip is fastened between each end of the handle with sufficient tension in the strip to create a rigid filing and grinding surface. The handle is made from formable materials into which a filing strip is inserted. On the outside edge of each vertical arm of the handle is a smooth flattened surface to place fingers to hold the handle.
US08535051B2

A four-way valve for use in a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) assembly for alternating between a first cycle with a gas flowing in a first direction and a second cycle with a gas flowing in a second direction. A partition divides the interior of the housing of the valve into an input zone and an output zone. A pivot shaft rotatable about an axis is disposed in the interior of the housing, and a pair of opposing dampers extend radially outwardly on opposite sides of the pivot shaft. A plurality of ducts are disposed in the housing. Each duct engages one of the input and output apertures and extends into one of the input and output zones for engaging the dampers to restrict the flow of gas during the first and second cycles.
US08535040B2

A plastic film (2) is drawn in a different manner. A plurality of rollers (15a, 15b, 15c) are opposed to a base (14). The rollers are operated by a first drive mechanism (22), and the rollers are moved in the lateral direction of the plastic film. Second drive mechanisms (17a, 17b, 17c) act on the rollers, respectively. On the base, at least one roller is pressed against the plastic film, and at least one roller rolls along the plastic film. The plastic film is drawn by that roller.
US08535037B2

A blow molding machine for producing plastic bottles, particularly PET bottles, including a plurality of blow molding stations, which have assigned thereto valve blocks with control valves and blowing nozzles for introducing or discharging blowing air; and a cleaning-in-place (CIP) system for cleaning the blow molding machine. Since the valve blocks are configured such that they can be included in the CIP process, the system components, such as the blowing nozzle, which are particularly important for the production of PET bottles in terms of hygiene, can be cleaned and sterilized without disassembly.
US08535028B2

A downhole positive displacement motor converts hydraulic fluid pressure into rotational torque. The motor includes a non-helical rotor and stator, and upper and lower valve assemblies each comprising cylindrical rotating and stationary elements which define longitudinal passages. The timing of alignment of the passages creates pressure in power pockets in the stator, rotating the rotor. The rotational torque can be used in any application that may require mechanical force to operate or drive a mechanism created for oil, gas, or water production in a down hole application.
US08535027B2

A hydraulic pump has a rotor and a hollow housing with a main interior chamber. The rotor is rotatably mounted in the main interior chamber. A smaller interior chamber is separated from the main interior chamber such that the smaller interior chamber retains gas therein when the main interior chamber is filled with a liquid.
US08535014B2

A System and Method for Explosion-Proof Pump is provided that includes a component being mated to and sealed against an adjacent component. An embodiment provides that the component is a switch housing having a cavity formed therein. A switch is secured in the cavity and the adjacent component is selected from the group access plate and motor housing.
US08535007B2

A hydraulic lock system includes a spring pack defined between a female spring support and a male spring support, the spring pack includes a multiple of serrated washers, each of which defines an inner diameter which is greater than a diameter of the actuator rod and an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the cylinder.
US08535002B2

An automotive HVAC diffuser connects to a blower and a variable blower control (VBC) module having a plurality of cooling fins. An inlet receives air flow from the blower. An outlet is downstream from the inlet. An enclosed passageway is provided between the inlet and the outlet for forming a diffused air stream at the outlet. The enclosed passageway has a plurality of peripheral walls for guiding the air stream between the inlet and the outlet, including a curved outer peripheral wall corresponding to a region with a tendency for a high flow as a result of centrifugal effects. One of the peripheral walls includes a VBC receptacle formed as a depression into the peripheral wall having a substantially flat mounting surface and a first sloped side at an upstream end of the VBC receptacle to shape a portion of the diffused air stream. The flat mounting surface includes a plurality of cooling fin receiving slots arranged to receive the cooling fins, whereby the cooling fins extend into an interior of the diffused air stream.
US08534998B2

An exemplary centrifugal fan includes a casing defining an air outlet, and an impeller in the casing. An air channel is defined in the casing between a sidewall of the casing and outermost free ends of the impeller. The sidewall includes a first curved section adjoining a second curved section. The first curved section is located at a more upstream portion of the sidewall than the second curved section along a rotation direction of the impeller. The first curved section extends along a part of an Archimedes spiral or a part of a logarithmic spiral. The second curved section is located farther away from the impeller than an imaginary extension line of the first curved section along the Archimedes spiral or the logarithmic spiral. An air guide plate is formed in the casing and extends from the air outlet to an inner region of the air channel.
US08534996B1

A compressor stator vane and rotor blade tip clearance control assembly in which a plurality of stator vane segments each with vanes extending inward are connected to an annular sync ring through eccentric cranks so that circumferential movement of the sync ring will produce radial displacement of the vane segments and control the clearance between the blade tips. An actuator piston is rigidly fixed to the sync ring and forms an actuator chamber with stationary actuator housing. Bleed off pressure from one of the compressor stages is used to move the actuator piston, which moves the sync ring to radially displace the vane segments.
US08534994B2

A turbocharger includes a turbine wheel mounted within a turbine housing and connected to a compressor wheel by a shaft. The turbine housing defines an exhaust gas inlet connected to a divided volute that surrounds the turbine wheel, and an axial bore through which exhaust gas that has passed through the turbine wheel is discharged from the turbine housing. The turbine housing further defines a pair of concentric annular bypass passages surrounding the bore and arranged to allow exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel as two separate bypass streams. An annular bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage. The bypass valve comprises a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member.
US08534993B2

Gas turbine engines and related systems involving blade outer air seals are provided. In this regard, a representative blade outer air seal segment for a set of rotatable blades includes: a blade arrival end; and a blade departure end; each of the blade arrival end and the blade departure end being angularly offset with respect to a longitudinal axis about which the blades rotate.
US08534985B2

A feeding device includes a support mechanism, a movable platform, a driving mechanism, a clutching mechanism, and two or more holding mechanisms. The movable platform is movably connected to the support mechanism, and loads feed trays stacked together. The driving mechanism drives the movable platform to move relative to the support mechanism. The holding mechanisms are fixed on the support mechanism, and switch from a first position to a second position. When the holding mechanisms are positioned in the first position, the holding mechanisms grasp one feed tray adjacent to a feed tray at a top of the feed trays, and the clutching mechanism clutches the feed tray at the top of the feed trays. When the holding mechanisms are positioned in the second position, the holding mechanisms separate from the feed trays.
US08534984B2

A pressware stacking assembly and method for using the same are provided. The stacking assembly may include a stacking surface for supporting a plurality of pressware products and at least one shaped wheel at least partially disposed through the stacking surface. The shaped wheel may include a body having at least three sides disposed about a perimeter thereof and at least one transition section disposed between adjoining sides, wherein each transition section is adapted to lift at least a portion of the pressware products off the stacking surface.
US08534980B2

Disclosed is system configured to place a load in a motor vehicle. The system includes a beam defining a first end configured to receive the load, and a second end configured to receive a counter force to the load; and a base defining a fulcrum for the beam, such that the second end of the beam receives a constraining force from a ceiling of the vehicle, the constraining force thereby acting as the counter force.
US08534978B2

A simplified apparatus is provided to exploit certain unique characteristics of DC winches, whereby two winches may be cooperatively joined to load and unload a light-duty truck. Since the speed and torque are linearly related in a DC motor, it possible to manipulate certain parameters, such as the resistance of the armature and the mechanical leverage applied to the load, to result in a stable dynamic between two oppositely-directed DC-motor winches. The novel concept avoids the need for controls to coordinate the winches, and no installation is required that would otherwise limit the use of the truck for other purposes.
US08534971B2

A plurality of pin legs descends from a pin flange, pin leg through holes and pin acceptance cavities are formed in a bushing flange and bushing leg, leg spreaders are formed in the tip ends of the bushing leg, first locks are formed in the tip ends of the pin legs, for latching on permanent fastening projections of the leg spreaders so as to maintain the pin legs that have been diametrically spread by the leg spreaders in a permanently coupled condition, and second locks are formed at positions different from those of the first locks, for latching on temporary fastening projections in the bushing leg, whereupon the pin leg through holes restrain the diametrical spreading of the pin legs in the radial direction so that the tip ends of the pin legs can be inserted into the attachment holes of the members being attached to.
US08534969B2

A load equalizing pallet apparatus for transporting a concentrated load and for use with load binders comprises a load equalizing base and a plurality of shoes. The base is constructed substantially of wood, has a periphery and, in use, receives said load. The shoes are metal and, in use, are arranged about the periphery of the base and rigidly engaged thereto. Each shoe has a plurality of lugs, the lugs, in use, being engaged by said load binders to couple said load to said pallet.
US08534965B2

A tool is provided for use in at least one of drilling, tapping, back spot facing and counter-boring at least one hole. The tool includes a servo motor cutting device and a gearbox. The servo motor cutting device and gearbox rotate a cutting tool to create the hole. A drill unit skid is adapted to engage a hook fit slot in the case of the dynamoelectric machine and supports the servo motor drill and gearbox.
US08534962B2

Tool for chip removing machining, including a primary tool part and a secondary tool part. The primary tool part includes a primary connecting surface, an opposite surface, a recess that extends from the primary connecting surface toward the opposite surface, and a wall section between a bottom surface of the recess and the opposite surface. The secondary tool part includes a secondary connecting surface, a protuberance that extends from the secondary connecting surface and, in a mounted state, into the recess, the protuberance having an end surface that, in the mounted state, faces the bottom surface of the recess. A fastening element, which, by a contractive force in the mounted state, connects the wall section with the protuberance. The wall section is elastically flexible and, in the mounted state, bent toward the end surface of the protuberance by the contractive force of the fastening element.
US08534961B1

A material blower for blowing materials that includes a base; a material container to hold the materials mounted to the base that is sealed to be pressurized; at least one loading opening in the top of the material container the includes a door to cover and seal the at least one loading opening; a material output chute as part of the bottom of the material container to receive material for distribution; a material exit at one end of the material output chute, the material exit including a distribution hose opening and an air blower connection; at least one anti-clumping bars that rotate inside the material container; an auger within and along the material output chute an air blower connected to the material container, the air blower connected to the material exit; a distribution hose; a power unit connected to the auger, the anti-clumping bars and the air blower.
US08534957B2

A method and system for repairing, replacing or installing an underground pipeline using an appropriate tool head. A coolant, preferably a cryogenic liquid, is injected in front of the tool head to embrittle or otherwise reduce the toughness of the material ahead of the tool head. The method and system of this invention are particularly suitable for use in connection with pipe splitting and pipe bursting, where a pig disposed within the underground pipeline is connected with the appropriate tool head forming a space between the pig and the tool head into which the coolant is introduced. The pipe between the pig and the tool head is embrittled by the coolant, reducing the resistance of a pipe to splitting or bursting which, in turn, reduces the force required for the pig to pull the tool head as the pig is motivated through the pipe.
US08534956B2

A system for use in providing moisture for plants including;a corn based polymer jell in a pressurized container pressurized to a first pressure above atmospheric pressure. A flexible hose connected to the pressurized container and to a manually operated pump, the manually operated pump supplying polymer jell pressurized at a second pressure higher than the first pressure through a rigid tube and out a tip on the tube and into soil.
US08534935B2

A device for synchronizing shutter blades, which are each fastened to a swivel arm which is mounted rotatably on a swivel pin on a circular-ring-shaped blade carrier, is distinguished in that a synchronizing ring disc (1) is arranged concentrically with respect to the blade carrier within a circle connecting the swivel pins (5) and is coupled in a form-fitting manner to each of the swivel arms (3).
US08534929B2

An optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber cable including two optical fibers; and a connector plug connected to opposite ends of the optical fiber cable for electrical connection to an electronic device. The connector plug includes a shell, a photodiode, a laser diode; and an electrical connector for electrical connection to an electronic device. The photodiode, the laser diode and the electrical connector are housed in the metallic shell, the photodiode is optically coupled to a distal end of one corresponding optical fiber and electrically coupled to the electrical connector, the laser diode optically is coupled to a distal end of the other optical fiber and electrically coupled to the electrical connector.
US08534923B2

In a rolling bearing device for a road-wheel including an inner shaft 1 that is provided with, on its outer-side end 10, a flange 4 on which a road-wheel member mounted, and an outer ring 2 disposed around the inner shaft 1, the inner shaft has, on its outer side, a hair-line pattern portion 5 that is formed by turning and that permits the manufacturing attribute of the bearing device to be identified based on the difference in the form of hair lines so formed. This permits the manufacturing attribute of the bearing device to be identified after the bearing device is assembled in a vehicle body. Furthermore, the representation of the manufacturing attribute can be readily implemented during a manufacturing step.
US08534919B2

A system, method and means is provided for withstanding mechanical shock for use with fluid dynamic bearings. A sealing system is provided that withstands 1000 G shock events. In an aspect, a grooved pumping seal employed between a thrust plate and a shield, a thrust plate having spiral grooves, a fluid recirculation passageway, and a reservoir creates an asymmetric pressure gradient. In an aspect, fluid is retained and air is purged utilizing an enlarged fluid reservoir, axial channels and an angled fill hole. In an aspect, a shaft is attached to a top cover supplying radial stiffness, and an enlarged single-sided thrust plate improves dynamic parallelism.
US08534915B2

An imaging apparatus comprising a ring-shaped gantry is provided. The gantry has a rotor arrangement rotating therein and a radiation source as well as at least one radiation detector. The gantry has at least one gantry segment which can be detached from the ring shape to allow the gantry to be opened laterally. The gantry is arranged on a supporting structure so as to be movable in space. The supporting structure is a floor, wall or ceiling mounted articulated-arm robot having at least four, preferably six, degrees of freedom of movement. The gantry has at least two radiation sources disposed offset by an angle on the rotor arrangement and associated with each of which is at least one radiation detector.
US08534912B2

An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one measured variable. The apparatus includes: at least one measuring unit; and at least one securement unit for holding the measuring unit in contact with an object. The securement unit is embodied in such a manner, that the securement unit has at least two stable shape states, wherein, for transition between the at least two states, application of a mechanical force to the securement unit is required.
US08534907B2

A device for accelerating mixing and dissolving processes of liquid water and powder. The device includes a main body formed in a bottle cap shape including a top surface and a side periphery surface, and a shaft disposed at a center of an upper portion of the main body in such a manner as to be inserted into a shaft insertion groove formed at a center of an impeller. The top surface of the main body has two or more introducing portions to introduce the liquid water and the powder into the device, and the side periphery surface of the main body has two or more discharging portions to discharge the liquid water and the powder introduced into the device through the two or more introducing portions to the outside of the device.
US08534900B2

A light guide plate for a backlight comprises a light transmissive medium. The light transmissive medium preferably has two pairs of opposing sides and a top surface. Also provided is a plurality of interleaved regions of elongated light extraction features on the top surface of the light transmissive medium. Each light extraction figure is configured to extract light injected into the light guide plate and into a direction away from the top surface of the light guide plate. Each elongated light extraction feature has a long dimension and a short dimension. The light extraction features in a first set of the regions are arranged with their long dimension orthogonal to the long dimension of the light extraction features in a second set of the regions.
US08534899B2

The present invention discloses a backlight module and its light guide plate module. The light guide plate module comprises a plurality of adjacently arranged light guide plates, each of the light guide plates includes a light emitting surface and at least one light entrance surface, and the light emitting surfaces of the light guide plates are on a same plane. The present invention employs the arrangement of a plurality of modular light guide plates to achieve a large light emitting area. Each of the light guide plates corresponds to an independently controlled light emitting module, respectively, so that the side-light type backlight module can realize local dimming function.
US08534898B2

An electronic device includes a chassis, a circuit board, and a light guide. The chassis includes a rear panel defining an opening. The circuit board is installed in the chassis. A connector is mounted to a rear end of the circuit board aligning with the opening. Two spaced light emitting diodes are mounted at a rear end of the connector. The light guide includes a connecting plate mounted to an outer side of the rear panel, and two light guiding posts extending from a bottom of the connecting plate. Front ends of the light guiding posts extend through the opening of the rear panel and align with the light emitting diodes of the connector, to transmit light generated by the light emitting diodes rearwards and upwards.
US08534887B2

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having an electrochromic reflective mirror element. A mirror mount is configured for attaching the interior rearview mirror assembly at an attachment element at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a portion that does not adjust when the driver of the vehicle pivotally adjusts the mirror head to set the rearward field of view of the reflective mirror element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes circuitry, with at least a part of the circuitry accommodated within the mirror head. At least two electrical accessories of the interior rearview mirror assembly share at least one component of the circuitry. The portion includes a CMOS-based camera that, with the interior rearview mirror assembly normally mounted in the vehicle, has a field of view through a windshield of the vehicle.
US08534883B2

The invention relates to a lamp, essentially containing a lamp head, an upright tube, and a stand. These three elements can be connected to each other in a releasable and latchable manner based upon an operable construction. In the assembled state, the three elements form a table lamp or a floor lamp based on dimensions. The lamp head can be removed and thus can be used as a mobile hand lamp. After disassembly, all parts can be accommodated in the stand, which forms a transport case.
US08534878B2

The present invention relates to lighting assemblies and more particularly to light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs comprising a support for one or more LED lenses, which can be used to position and support the lenses within the lamp housing and which facilitate assembly of the light bulbs during manufacturing.
US08534875B1

A solid state lighting device (100) including a heat sink (108) stamped from a single sheet (200). The heat sink (108) features a base portion (111) including a central light module receiving region (114) configured to receive a light module (102), a first set of arms (116) extending generally radially outwardly from a perimeter (P) of the base (111), a first set of transverse members (118) intersecting with the first set of arms (116), a first set of air flow apertures (120) defined by the base portion (111), the arms (116), and the transverse members (118), and a first set of radiating plates (122) having adjacent radiating plates separated by gaps. Each one of the radiating plates (122) is bent outwardly and extends transversely from a front face of a first arm (116) or first transverse member (118).
US08534873B1

A light fixture assembly including an illumination assembly in the form of one or more light emitting diodes is interconnected to an electrical energy source by a conductor assembly and control circuitry. A mounting assembly supports the illumination assembly and a cover structure is disposed in heat transferring relation to the mounting assembly, wherein both the mounting assembly and the cover structure are formed of heat conductive material, thereby effectively dissipating the heat generated by the LED illumination assembly. The conductor assembly, comprising at least one electrically conductive material connector, mechanically interconnects components, including the illumination source and the mounting assembly, into an assembled orientation. A non-conductive insulation assembly or a predetermined air space isolates the at least one conductive connector from the mounting assembly to avoid electrical contact there between.
US08534868B2

The invention relates to an array of light generators where each light generator comprises reflecting collimation optics in the form of curved mirrors for collimating light emitted by light sources such as surface mounted Light Emitting Diodes. The collimation optics is formed to collimate light in a direction parallel with a plane, e.g. a printed circuit board, onto which the light sources are mounted. The light sources may emit light parallel with the direction of collimation or non-parallel, e.g. perpendicular, with the direction of collimation in which case the collimation optics redirects the light rays from the light source. The array of light generators can be used in combination with a television display for creating a pixelated image appearing to the viewer as an image peripherally surrounding the display.
US08534867B1

A light module for use in a lighting fixture includes a printed circuit board with one or more LED elements and one or more LED drivers. An electrical connector extends from the lower surface of the printed circuit board for attachment to an electrical socket within the fixture. A thermal conductor is attached on the lower surface of the printed circuit board. A reflector array comprises one or more individual parabolic reflectors, where each individual reflector is disposed at a position corresponding to a position of an LED element. Fastening means releasably attach each of the printed circuit board, the thermal conductor and the reflector array to a support surface within the interior cavity of the base. At least one optical element is releasably mounted on top of the reflector array.
US08534836B2

When pattern recognition of a fundus image is started in step S1, output from a fundus image sensing unit is compared with a regional pattern of stored fundus image specific regions in step S2, and it is decided whether to proceed to pattern recognition. If pattern recognition is possible, based on an AF evaluation value, the lens is driven, with which automatic focusing is completed.
US08534829B1

A combination of reading lenses placed onto a medium on which advertisements can be placed. The device can be given away free to advertisers who can advertise their products to individuals while they are visiting an eating and/or drinking establishment so the individual will be interested in purchasing the advertiser's products in addition to being able to read the menu through the lenses. The invention can also be used to advertise an advertiser's product to be inserted in other printed mediums.
US08534823B2

A recording apparatus includes a transport unit that intermittently transports an elongated recording medium from an upstream side to a downstream side as the lengthwise direction of the recording medium moves along a transport path. A recording unit adheres a recording material to the recording medium when the recording medium is stopped in a midstream position of the transport path. A drying unit downstream from the recording unit heats and dries the recording material. A contact member has a contact surface continuous contact with the surface of the recording medium opposite the surface thereof to which the recording material is adhered, from the time when the recording medium enters into the drying unit to the time when the recording medium is discharged from the drying unit. The contact member forms the transport path with the contact surface having at least one bent section in the drying unit.
US08534809B2

An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink passage member capable of supplying ink from an ink storage unit to a carriage, a passage connecting member capable of connecting the ink passage member to a recording head, an operating member capable of switching the passage connecting member between a connection state where the ink passage member is connected to the recording head and a disconnection state where the ink passage member is disconnected from the recording head, and an operating-member regulating member regulating the operating member. The operating-member regulating member is capable of switching the operating member between a state where switching to the disconnection state by the operating member is permitted and a state where this switching is prevented.
US08534807B2

A system for ejecting droplets of a fluid is described. The system includes a substrate having a flow path body that includes a fluid pumping chamber, a descender fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, and a nozzle fluidically connected to the descender. The nozzle is arranged to eject droplets of fluid through an outlet formed in an outer substrate surface. The flow path body also includes a recirculation passage fluidically connected to the descender. The system for ejecting droplets of a fluid also includes a fluid supply tank fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, a fluid return tank fluidically connected to the recirculation passage, and a pump fluidically connecting the fluid return tank and the fluid supply tank. In some implementations, a flow of fluid through the flow path body is at a flow rate sufficient to force air bubbles or contaminants through the flow path body.
US08534802B2

A liquid ejecting head including a fluid channel forming substrate including a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening that ejects a liquid droplet and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element has a first electrode, a piezoelectric material layer that is provided on the first electrode and has a perovskite monoclinic structure, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric material layer opposite to the first electrode. An angle formed between a direction of an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes and an orientation of a polarization moment of the piezoelectric material layer is greater than an angle formed between the direction of the electric field at a time when the piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material layer reaches a maximum level and the orientation of the polarization moment.
US08534801B2

A liquid ejecting system includes: a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid; a container holder to which a liquid accommodating container main body is detachably attached; a circuit substrate which is movably provided in a side face along an attachment direction of the liquid accommodating container main body; a connector terminal which is attached to a side face of the container holder, which is in parallel with an attachment direction; and a movement member which is provided in the container holder and moves the circuit substrate from a position at which the circuit substrate is separated from the connector terminal to a position at which the circuit substrate makes contact with the connector terminal when the liquid accommodating container main body is attached to the container holder.
US08534794B1

An ink recirculation assembly for an inkjet printer recovers purged ink for recycling. The ink recirculation assembly includes a porous pad configured to absorb ink from a printhead face by capillary action. The porous pad is operatively connected to an actuator, which is configured to move the porous pad to contact the printhead face to absorb ink from the printhead face. The actuator is further configured to move the porous pad to contact a heated member, which releases ink from the porous pad and enables the ink to flow into an ink receptacle for recycle or disposal.
US08534791B2

A liquid droplet jetting apparatus comprises a liquid droplet jetting head which jets liquid droplets, a storage tank which stores a liquid to be jetted by the liquid droplet-jetting head, a tube which connects the liquid droplet jetting head and the storage tank, and a liquid-state detecting mechanism which detects a state of the liquid contained in the tube at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the tube.
US08534787B2

A method, a printing system and a printing bridge. The printing bridge is configured to accommodate in a precise manner a jet print head. The jet print head includes first jet nozzles for injecting a first type jettable substance to form a first pattern onto the surface of a object, and a second jet nozzles for injecting a second type of jettable substance to form a first pattern onto the surface of a object. The first type jettable substance is utilized for printing a solder mask pattern and the second type jettable substance is utilized for printing a legend pattern.
US08534785B2

An inkjet printer includes an ink circulation path, a first tank, a second tank, and a pump, first and second liquid surface detectors which respectively detect ink liquid surfaces in the first and second tanks, an ink supply unit, a supplementary feed valve a control unit, a storage unit, and a determination unit. During ink circulation, the storage unit accumulatively stores a detection result of the second detector. Based on the result, the determination unit determines occurrence of an abnormality in the second liquid surface detector. The storage unit thereafter accumulatively stores the detection result. Based on the result, the determination unit determines occurrence of the first liquid surface detector.
US08534776B2

A bezel assembly includes a bezel, at least one base member secured to the bezel, and at least one engaging member slidably attached to the at least one base member. The at least one base member includes a side flange substantially perpendicular to the bezel. At least one opening is defined in the side flange. The at least one engaging member includes at least one engaging protrusion. The at least one engaging member is slidable between an original position, wherein the at least one engaging protrusion engages into the at least one opening and protrudes out from an exterior surface of the side flange, and a release position, wherein the at least one engaging protrusion is disengaged from the at least one opening and retracts to an inner side of the side flange.
US08534769B2

The tips of pointed bristles are mechanically processed in order to remove any corroded threads or residual threads from the tip. Mechanically processed pointed bristles are fed to a receptacle recess of a tool in bundles, and aligned by means of a pin guided in the receptacle recess. The pointed bristles are pushed through the passage of the bristle carrier plate, and the end section are subsequently melted by means of a heating die in order to attach the pointed bristles to the bristle carrier plate. The mechanical processing of the tips of the bristles enables an error-free further processing of the pointed bristles utilizing the bristling method, particularly the AFT method.
US08534767B2

In one aspect of the present invention, a tool assembly comprises a rotary portion and a stationary portion. The rotary portion comprises a bolster bonded to a diamond symmetric, substantially conically shaped tip. The stationary portion comprises a block mounted to a driving mechanism. A compressible element is disposed intermediate and in mechanical contact with both the rotary and stationary portions. The compressible element is compressed sufficiently to restrict free rotation during a degradation operation.
US08534760B2

A motor-vehicle headrest has a head part and a base part, the latter being surrounded by and shiftable on the head part in a predetermined direction. A pair of inner racks on the base part are directed oppositely outward toward the head part and each have an array extending in the direction of gear teeth. Similarly, a pair of outer racks on the base part are directed toward each other inward, confront the inner racks, and are formed with respective arrays extending in the direction of gear teeth. Respective gears each mesh with a respective one of the outer racks and the respective inner rack so that on movement between the inner and outer positions the gears roll between the respective racks. A play compensator between one of the racks and the respective part biases the racks and gears into tight engagement with one another.
US08534756B2

A child car seat includes a seat body, a headrest connected to the seat body, a seat belt disposed on the seat body, and a shoulder pad unit. The shoulder pad unit includes a shoulder pad connected to the seat belt, and a connecting strap interconnecting the shoulder pad and the headrest.
US08534750B2

A stowable vehicle seat includes a seat support portion that supports a seat cushion rotatably in the front-and-rear direction, a seat back provided with reclining elements that can be folded onto the seat cushion, a stowage recess portion disposed on the vehicle body floor side, a front-side leg portion disposed on the front side of the seat cushion, leg-portion locking elements that lock and unlock the front-side leg portion to and from the vehicle body floor side, a link mechanism connected to the reclining elements and the leg-portion locking elements, and a strap for operating the reclining mechanism and the leg-portion locking elements through the link mechanism, in which the seat back is locked in the folded state in a stowing operation by a pulling operation of the strap.
US08534746B1

An aerodynamic nose cone front trailer that uses a topographical view for reference extending the trailer front all the way to the hitch. The trailer design reduces wind resistance while improving the fuel economy and improving the handling.
US08534740B2

A motorcycle of a type having its front region covered with a fairing has an outer side surface of the fairing formed with a guide groove extending from a location in the vicinity of a front end of the fairing to a location downwardly of a grip of a handlebar then held at the zero steering angle. The guide groove guides the incoming air towards a position forwardly of and in the vicinity of the grip and then deflects the incoming air at the position forwardly of and in the vicinity of the grip so that the incoming air can be guided outside the motorcycle body.
US08534734B2

An animal barrier for use in a vehicle is formed by a frame having an opening therein, and partition members mounted to the frame. First and second partition members are spaced apart to define the opening therebetween and are moveable relative to the frame so as to vary the width of the barrier and the width of the opening. A third partition member is slidably mounted to the frame so as to be moveable between a closed position in which it overlies the opening so as to substantially close the opening, and an open position in which is removed from the opening. In the open position, the third partition member may be located to one side of the opening, overlapping one of the first and second partition members or may be located above or below the opening, away from the first and second partition members.
US08534728B1

A method for grasping an object includes moving a first and second gripping pad (116) respectively to first and second locations in which a first face (117) of the first gripping pad is opposed from a second face (117) of the second gripping pad and spaced apart a distance. Two or more of pins (118) included in each gripping pad are extended from at least the first face in a direction toward the second face. Thereafter, an extension distance for each of the pins is independently determined responsive to a resistance encountered by each of the pins as a result of the extending. As a result of the independently determining step, an object-defined gripping contour is provided as formed by distal ends of the pins.
US08534725B1

A wearable animal waste collection device comprising a wearable structure configured to be worn by a user, a first securing portion attached to the wearable structure, the first securing portion structured to removably accommodate a top cover portion, and a second securing portion attached to the wearable structure, the second securing portion structured to removably accommodate a direct collection device, wherein the direct collection device directly collects an animal waste before the animal waste reaches a ground surface is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US08534723B2

A lever latch lock assembly including: a. a lock housing mounted in the door including a lock bolt movable along a first axis, a spindle extending along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, the spindle extending outward at each of the interior and exterior sides of the housing and terminating in opposite ends, and a transmission which converts rotation of the spindle to axial motion the lock bolt, b. a lever assembly attached to each of the spindle's ends and adapted to rotate the spindle, the lever assembly, including: (1) an escutcheon formed as a truncated generally conical cylinder having (i) a base of first diameter adapted to be situated closely adjacent one of the interior and exterior sides of the door and coaxial with the second axis, (ii) a top end having a top edge opposite the base, the top end having a smaller diameter than the first diameter, and (iii) a bore through which extends the spindle, and (2) a lever including (i) a hub part and (ii) an elongated handle part extending from one side of the escutcheon in a direction transverse of the second axis, the handle having a top part that extends as a smooth contiguous uninterrupted surface from the top of the hub.
US08534717B2

An interconnect assembly (100) includes a spring member (200) integrally formed of a first portion (202) having two prongs (208) and a slot (210), the first portion being coupled to a second deflected portion (204) formed of a cantilevered beam (212) with interference fit tabs (214) extending from either side. A latch (400) includes hooks (406) and foot members (408). A housing (600), such as a battery pack housing, includes a side surface (606) having protrusion (602) and pockets (604) formed therein along with vertical side channels (610). The spring, latch and housing (200, 400, 600) are coupled such that the vertical channels (610) capture and guide the interference fit tabs (214) down the side of the housing (600) as the foot members (408) of the latch (400) are inserted into the pockets (604) of the housing (600). As the spring member (200) is pushed downward, the protrusion (602) of the housing (600) captures the slot (210), and the hooks (406) of the latch (400) capture the interference fit tabs (214) of the spring member thereby providing a locked latch-spring assembly (1000).
US08534715B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus which forms a sealed joint between two pipes, particularly but not limited to roofing drain pipes. This apparatus includes a cylindrical body made of rubber or similar material that grips and seals two pipes when it is axially compressed by two halves of an articulated housing as they move towards each other. The two half bodies of the articulated housing are threaded to each other such that when one body is rotated in one direction, the bodies move towards each other, thereby reducing the overall length of the housing, and compressing/deforming the rubber seal.
US08534714B2

A coupling device for connection and disconnection of bottomhole equipment includes a male part having a stinger with locking grooves and a female part includes a receptacle and a housing. The female part further includes a hold open sleeve below the receptacle, locking dogs arrange between the housing and the hold open sleeve, a locking sleeve arranged below the locking dogs, and a verifying bolt. By joining the male and female parts, the coupling device will lock automatically, as the hold open sleeve is pushed into the locking sleeve by the stinger, after which the locking dogs are pushed into the grooves of the stinger, after which the locking sleeve is pushed up over the locking dogs locking the locking dogs, after which the verifying bolt once the locking sleeve is in locking position will be pushed into an adapted opening in the locking sleeve, thereby verifying correct locking.
US08534707B2

An information page (1) of a security document, includes: an information part (3), on the upper or lower surface of which part of the information recorded on the information page (1) can be seen; and a flexible connecting part (2) with good bending strength for attaching the information page (1) to a security document. To ensure that detaching the information part and the connecting part from each other leaves visible marks, the connecting part (2) has a netlike structure, and the connecting part (2) is arranged to penetrate into the information part (3) in the immediate vicinity of the upper or lower surface of the information part.
US08534704B2

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprising a panel (114) that at least partially defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent (100) includes a sidewall that extends through the panel (114) and defines a passage (134) for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). The vent (100) includes a first portion (102) extendable inside the inflatable volume (54) and an opposite second portion (104) extendable outside the inflatable volume. The vent (100) has an open condition in which the first portion (102) is maintained inside the inflatable volume (54) and thereby permits venting of inflation fluid through the passage (134), and a closed condition in which the first portion (102) is inverted and positioned in the second portion (104) thereby blocking inflation fluid from venting through the passage (134).
US08534696B2

A carrier device for mounting at a rear side of a body of a vehicle, said carrier device comprising, a receiving element, adapted to be fixed to the body of said vehicle, said receiving element comprising a receiving channel with an insert opening, a carrier element, adapted to be releaseably received in said receiving element in a mounted position, said carrier element being insertable into said receiving channel to arrive at its mounted position by movement through said insert opening in direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of said receiving channel, a locking unit for locking said carrier element in said mounted position in said receiving element, a key unit comprising a first key element arranged on said receiving element and a second key element arranged on said carrier element said first and second key elements cooperating in a keying position of said carrier element in order to only allow said carrier element provided with said second key element to arrive at the mounted position when inserted into said receiving channel.
US08534691B2

Derailleur mounts for use in bicycles. The derailleur mount comprises an elastic element having a functional state and a collapsed state. The elastic element is configured for reducing at least some of an impact force of at least 300 Newton (N) applied on the bicycle by switching from the functional state to the collapsed state. The elastic element is configured for reverting from the collapsed state to the functional state after the impact force is removed.
US08534689B2

A child vehicle includes a front frame having a handlebar and at least one front wheel, and a rear frame movably coupled thereto and having at least one rear wheel. At least one graphical interface is coupled to the vehicle and includes a placard having a frame secured to the vehicle and a working surface disposed generally within the frame. The working surface is configured to be marked thereon by the child using a marking utensil so as to create an artistic expression for customizing the vehicle. A tool-less coupling between the front and rear frames and an associated method of a tool-less assembly of a child vehicle are also disclosed.
US08534687B2

A hydraulic strut system that damps vehicle vibration and includes a compressible fluid, a strut, and a valve plate. The strut includes three concentric tubes defining an inner cavity, an intermediary cavity, and an outer reservoir cavity, the inner cavity and intermediary cavity being fluidly coupled, wherein the inner cavity receives a piston that divides the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, the piston having an aperture that allows one way flow from the first volume to the second volume. The valve plate is removably coupled to the strut, and includes a first fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity, the first fluid path including a damping valve that damps fluid flowing therethorugh; and a second fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity, the second fluid path further including a replenishment valve.
US08534685B1

Described is a mechanism for traveling over carpet and other uneven or resistant surfaces and objects. The mechanism may be used in connection with office chairs, desk chairs, school chairs, dinner table chairs, lounge chairs, shopping carts, and the like. A base assembly includes relatively large spheres of a rigid or pliant material. The spheres operate in any direction with the assistance of a set of bearings. The spheres allow improved operation over surfaces compared to castors and other known mechanisms. The spheres substantial reduce floor wear and provide improved stability.
US08534678B2

The invention relates to a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, which has a tie rod (1) formed from two rod parts (2, 3). In order to achieve speed-dependent adaptation of the compliance of the tie rod, the proposal is that the first rod part (2) have a compensating space (4) filled with a compensating medium, in which the other, second rod part (3) is arranged by means of the engagement end (7) thereof, the compensating space (4) being connected to a, preferably pressurized, medium reservoir (18) via a switching element (17) arranged at a connecting element (19).
US08534660B2

Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus that forms folding lines at a predetermined position of a sheet after image formation and outputs the sheet. The apparatus includes a contact unit with which a tip end or a rear end of the conveyed sheet comes into contact and by which a deflection is formed at a middle part of the sheet; folding units that form the folding lines by conveying the middle part of the sheet, at which the deflection is formed by the contact unit, between the folding units; and a deflection controlling unit that controls the deflection at the middle part of the sheet formed by the contact unit.
US08534654B2

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and products are disclosed for welding ground wires to a grounding rod. A jig retains the ground wires to the grounding rod. The jig has a first horseshoe oriented to a second horseshoe to form a crucifix. Each horseshoe has a pair of legs supporting the jig from earth and providing electrical ground to the earth. A central passage bisects each horseshoe through which the grounding rod inserts. Means are included for clamping a ground wire to at least one of the legs, such that the ground wire is retained for welding to the grounding rod.
US08534649B2

A mount structure for a vehicle damper, configured in such a manner that an end of the piston rod (33) of the damper (17) is supported by a vehicle-side member (51). A nut (57) engaged with the male thread section (42) formed on a reduced diameter section (41) of the piston rod (33) collectively fastens upper and lower gripping members (55, 56), a collar member (54), and upper and lower elastic sections (52, 53) to the reduced diameter section (41). An input from the damper body (38) side is transmitted to the vehicle body-side member (51) through a transmission member (58).
US08534646B2

The invention relates to a seat suspension device for a vehicle seat, in particular a commercial vehicle seat, comprising at least one air spring, said air spring being disposed between an upper seat portion of the vehicle seat and a lower seat portion of the vehicle seat, and at least one hose-like member connected to the air spring via a first connection line for an extension volume of the air spring is provided, said hose-like member being arranged along at least one fold of a bellows-like facing extending between an upper seat portion and a lower seat portion of a vehicle seat.
US08534634B2

A support mechanism for supporting an electronic device is disclosed. The support mechanism comprises two support assemblies detachably assembled together, each support assembly comprising an adjustable member defining a latching groove; and a support member rotatably connected to the adjusting member, the support member of one of the two support assemblies being capable of being partially received in the latching groove of the adjustable member of another one of the two support assemblies.
US08534632B1

A bucket stabilizing system having a base with a top surface, a side wall, a bottom surface, and an inner cavity which can be used for storage, the top surface has a diameter smaller than that of the bottom surface, a lip extends outwardly from the bottom surface past the side wall; an inner channel for accepting a bucket in a center of the base extending from the top surface toward the bottom surface; at least one access hole in the side wall for providing access to the inner cavity; a first and second rope guide notch opposite from each other at an intersection of the top surface which allow passage of rope into the inner cavity; and a first and a second tie-off hole opposite from each other at an intersection of the top surface and the side wall which allow passage of rope out of the inner cavity.
US08534631B2

The trailer jack support block includes a solid rectangular parallelepiped member having surfaces for supporting the lower end of a trailer jack thereon. Attachment chains are provided for securing the support block to the trailer hitch. Grooves are provided on at least two surfaces for retaining the chains therein, if desired.
US08534624B2

The present invention relates to a device for supporting systems, for example an electric cable or a fluid-carrying pipe, on a structure of an aircraft or space craft, and to an aircraft or space craft with such a device. The device has a basic bracket arrangement which can be fastened to at least one predetermined fastening section of the structure, and also has at least one system bracket for supporting the systems. The at least one system bracket can be fastened to the basic bracket arrangement locationally variable with respect to the fastening section. The advantage of the invention consists in the fact that a route of a system can be flexibly varied even during the equipment assembly, i.e. the structure is no longer modifiable or is only modifiable at considerable expense.
US08534616B2

An integrated infusion management system provides for stable support of components attached to the system, even when the system is mobile. The system is optionally a mobility assist or walker for a patient who is attached to any number of medical components. A central trunk connects to a two-sided base that does not interfere with patient motion. The trunk may be angled with respect to vertical and oriented to support medical components in a configuration that is tip-resistant. The system is optionally deployable to facilitate conversion between a compact storage configuration and a stable deployed configuration. In an embodiment, additional deployable features include holding arms for holding various medical components, wheels, mobility arms and handles. Also provided is a novel wheel system with deployable wheels and methods associated with providing compact storage of any one or more of the systems presented herein.
US08534615B2

A screen supporting apparatus includes a supporting member and a movable assembly. The supporting member includes a base and an upright supporting rod disposed fixedly on and above the base. The movable assembly includes a mounting member disposed on the supporting rod and including a slideway unit. The sliding member has two spaced-apart engaging portions slidable within the slideway unit of the mounting member to adjust the inclination angle of the sliding member relative to the mounting member.
US08534608B1

An airborne tree trimming system is described that includes a helicopter having a chassis and a frame extending beneath the helicopter chassis; a trimming apparatus including a boom with an upper end and a plurality of rotatable cutting blades mounted on the boom; and a release mechanism attaching the trimming apparatus to the helicopter, the release mechanism including a connector having an upper end with a first hook attachment point, a lower end with a boom attachment point, and a second hook attachment point intermediate the upper and lower end; a first release hook mounted on the helicopter chassis and releasably attachable to the first hook attachment point; and a second release lock mounted on the frame and releasably attachable to the second hook attachment point.
US08534606B2

An aircraft wing comprising first and second fuel pipe segments which are coupled together with a pipe coupling device comprising a corrugated tube formed from an elastomer filled with conductive material. The pipe coupling device is particularly useful for connecting together fuel pipe segments in an aircraft wing as it removes the need to attach bonding leads between fuel pipe segments to dissipate lightning currents and static.
US08534604B2

A lounge assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The lounge assembly includes a first seat shell configured to at least partially surround a passenger seat, and an overhead storage bin assembly. The overhead storage bin assembly includes first and second posts configured to be secured to a floor of the aircraft, and an overhead bin housing supported by the first and second posts. The overhead bin housing includes at least a first overhead storage bin that is positioned generally above the first seat shell.
US08534598B2

A vehicle and method for enabling propulsive flight from suborbital altitudes and velocities directly to far space, or beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), preferably without requiring injection into or refueling in LEO. The vehicle is preferably reusable and can withstand re-entry speeds and temperatures higher than those that are typical for LEO vehicles. The vehicle preferably lands horizontally, for example on a runway. The vehicle forms the upper stage of a booster vehicle system which can be launched either from the ground or from a subsonic air platform. The vehicle may optionally be used for LEO missions.
US08534596B2

A de-rotation system includes a planetary gear set, and a fairing support structure mounted for rotation with a first ring gear.
US08534593B2

A paperboard handling machine includes an alignment mechanism for aligning rolls of paperboard supported by the machine whereby the rolls are aligned with one another.
US08534589B2

The present invention is to suppress a generation of a noise due to repeatedly hitting a clutch plate against a clutch cover and a clutch guide. A webbing take-up device is provided with a clutch cover fixed to a sub-torsion shaft so as to be rotatable integrally therewith; a clutch guide arranged so as to face the clutch cover, and supported capable of relatively rotating to the sub-torsion shaft; a lock ring formed around the clutch cover and the clutch guide; and a clutch plates turned to a lock ring side while being guided by the clutch guide in accordance with relative rotation of the clutch guide to the clutch cover into one rotational direction, and engaged with the lock ring. L-shaped springs which urge the clutch plates to a clutch cover side are formed integrally with the clutch guide.
US08534588B2

There is provided a webbing take-up device including: a seating portion formed to a cylinder shaped body and facing towards a cylinder shaped body axial direction second side; a bar shaped body housed at the inside of the cylinder shaped body and comprising a protrusion portion protruding out from the bar shaped body towards the cylinder shaped body axial direction second side; a push nut attached by fitting over the protrusion portion; and a washer through which the protrusion portion is inserted, the washer being seated against the seating portion with a face of the washer on the side of the washer away from the seating portion in contact with the push nut, and the rigidity to bending of the washer set higher than the rigidity to bending of the push nut.
US08534586B2

The present invention provides a recording tape cartridge in which an ability to assemble a security tag into a case is excellent. A recording tape cartridge has: a case that accommodates a reel on which a recording tape is wound; a security tag having a substantially pillar shape, that is provided within the case, and that is adapted to transmit to and receive from an exterior; a holding member that is provided within the case, and that holds the security tag at a first end side of the holding member; and a portion to be fit that is formed within the case, and which is held by being fitted with a second end side of the holding member.
US08534575B2

A spraying device having a spray head for spraying at least one component comprises at least one substance component duct (6, 6′; 20), the component outlet (8, 8′; 23, 23′) of which leads out of a spray head tip (7). An annular duct (12) for a pressurized gas surrounds the at least one component duct (6, 6′; 20) at least partially in the longitudinal direction and leads out of the spray head (5) at the spray head tip (7). A pressurized gas supply duct (13) is provided for introducing pressurized gas at the annular duct (12). The annular duct (12) has a plurality of ribs (16, 16′), which divide the annular duct (12) at least in the region of the spray head tip (7) into pressurized gas outlet ducts (17, 17′) that are separated from each other.
US08534570B2

Adaptive structures, systems incorporating such adaptive structures and related methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an adaptive structure is provided that includes a first structure and at least one microstructure associated with the first structure. The at least one microstructure may include a microscale beam configured to be displaced relative to the first structure upon the adaptive structure being exposed to a specified temperature. The beam may be formed, for example, of a metallic material, of multiple different metallic materials, or of a shape memory alloy. In one embodiment, a plurality of the adaptive structures may be associated with micropores of a skin panel. The adaptive structures may be utilized to control the flow rate of a coolant or other fluid through the micropores responsive to a sensed environmental parameter such as, for example, temperature.
US08534569B2

In a cooling device for a vehicle having a main passage through which coolant water is circulated between the interior of an engine and a radiator 13, a heater passage through which the coolant water is circulated between the interior of the engine and a heater core 15, and a thermostat 18 that operates in response to the temperature of the coolant water and selectively permits and stops circulation of the coolant water in the main passage, the heater passage is used as a heater/bypass passage, which functions also as a bypass passage, through which the coolant medium is circulated without passing through the radiator 13 when the engine warms up. This makes it unnecessary to form a separate bypass passage, thus simplifying the passage configuration.
US08534568B2

A sanitary fitting includes a cold water connection; a hot water connection; a mixed water outlet; a valve device for setting a mixed water temperature and a mixed water throughflow rate, wherein the valve device is connected to the cold water connection and the hot water connection at one end and is connected to the mixed water outlet at the other end; an electrical controller for actuating a valve; and a control signal transmitter for generating an input signal to the controller, wherein the valve is an integral constituent part of the valve device, and the controller actuates the valve device as a function of the input signal of the control signal transmitter such that a mixed water temperature and a mixed water throughflow rate are set.
US08534566B2

A product has a surface and a plurality of marks detectable on the surface, wherein each mark is arranged at a predetermined displacement value relative to a raster location, wherein each mark has associated with the mark a displacement value corresponding to each mark's displacement relative to the raster location, and wherein a plurality of displacement values collectively encode a position on the surface.
US08534558B2

In an optical information reader, an entire size is reduced while a space for accommodating an imaging unit, a space for accommodating a cable of an external interface, and a space for accommodating plural boards in which circuits of a signal processing unit are accommodated are secured. An entire size of a housing is determined based on sizes of a main board and an imaging unit to realize an optical information reader having a minimum shape. The main board has the largest area as a board, and a CPU and a memory are mounted thereon. The imaging unit includes a camera module, a lighting LED unit, and a marker. The main board is disposed near an internal wall of a housing. Other functions are functionally divided into sub-boards and disposed around a frame body, and a connection portion to the cable is accommodated in the frame body to achieve miniaturization.
US08534552B2

A system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption provides customers making online purchases to automatically retrieve and redeem all applicable rebates and coupons during an online purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system makes purchases from merchants or manufacturers using all applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system automatically retrieves coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site and to retrieve manufacturer's and merchant's coupons prior to an online purchasing activity for subsequent submission to an online merchant during a subsequent purchasing activity.
US08534548B1

An automated banking machine is operable to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The machine is operative responsive to read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can also provide machine users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The machine includes a cash dispenser that can dispense cash to users, and cause the value of dispensed cash to be assessed to accounts corresponding to the read card data. The machine also includes a sheet accepting device that can receive currency notes and/or checks from users. An account that corresponds to the read card data can be credited for the value of received notes and/or checks.
US08534532B2

To improve reliability of a semiconductor device, in a flip-chip bonding step, a solder material that is attached to a tip end surface of a projecting electrode in advance and a solder material that is applied in advance over a terminal (bonding lead) are heated and thereby integrated and electrically connected to each other. The terminal includes a wide part (a first portion) with a first width W1 and a narrow part (a second portion) with a second width W2. When the solder material is heated, the thickness of the solder material arranged over the narrow part becomes smaller than the thickness of the solder material arranged in the wide part. Then, in the flip-chip bonding step, a projecting electrode is arranged over the narrow part and bonded onto the narrow part. Thus, the amount of protrusion of the solder material can be reduced.
US08534530B2

Inflatable rings for supporting friction welding workpieces, and associated systems and methods. A support assembly for joining multiple workpieces in a representative embodiment includes a carriage and a generally ring-shaped support member that in turn includes a body and at least one inflatable member carried by the body and positioned to expand from a first configuration to a second configuration.
US08534529B2

A friction stir tool has an axis of rotation and a welding tip that is made of powdered metal material.
US08534524B2

The present invention provides an independently operable and serviceable ticket burster machine that properly handles perforated tickets of all shapes, sizes and thicknesses. The present invention includes a ticket burster element, an exit sensor with a mechanical flag switch, an inventory flag spanning the entire width of the ticket input slot and having an optical slot switch, a slidable ticket guide, one or more leaf spring arrangements and versatile and durable rollers.
US08534519B2

A holding unit for articles to be carried on an all terrain vehicle, or the like, comprising a mounting base adapted to be secured to various surfaces and components of the vehicle and extending downwardly from a support arm adjustably positioned and securely fixed and at least one article holder having stacked cradles to receive articles to be held in a stacked arrangement.
US08534514B2

A holder for holding an electronic device on a wrist includes a band which can be connected around the wrist and a case connected to the band for holding the electronic device securely. The case includes a first receptacle and at least one second receptacle. The first receptacle is used for securing the electronic device to the holder. The at least one second receptacle receives at least one accessory of the electronic device.
US08534509B2

Fluid dispenser head for mounting on a variable-volume fluid reservoir that has a movable wall. The head has a dispenser orifice, a sealing closure pin that closes the dispenser orifice, a resilient mechanism for urging the pin against the orifice, and a fluid inlet in communication with the reservoir. The head further includes a flexible differential membrane respectively defining bottom and top surface areas that are subjected to opposite pressure forces that are exerted by the fluid under pressure, the bottom surface area being substantially smaller than the top surface area, the closure member being formed by the flexible membrane.
US08534496B2

A novel sheet material dispenser package includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a collapsible top wall, a collapsible bottom wall, a first hinge feature, and a second hinge feature. A first side region of the first sidewall is coupled to a first region of the second sidewall via the first hinge feature and a second side region of the first sidewall is coupled to a second side region of the second sidewall via the second hinge feature. The top wall includes a first region coupled to the first sidewall and a second region coupled to the second sidewall. The bottom wall includes a first region coupled to the first sidewall and a second region coupled to the second sidewall. In a particular embodiment, the sheet material dispenser is a collapsible tissue dispenser adapted to sit in a cup holder when in a non-collapsed state and in a pocket when in a collapsed state.
US08534491B1

A support base fabricated of a rigid material has cylindrical holes oriented at an angle with respect to a central axis. Cylindrical rods are fabricated of a rigid material. Each rod is retained within an associated hole. Each rod has an upper end located above the top surface of the support base.
US08534481B2

An arrangement for transporting uranium hexafluoride, including an inner tank and an outer tank which holds the inner tank and which includes first and second shells. A valve extends from an end face of the inner tank, and is surrounded by the outer tank at a distance and is covered on the outside by at least one shock-absorbing element. In order to ensure a defined positioning of the valve extending from the inner tank and thus of the inner tank to the outer tank surrounding the inner tank, it is proposed that the shock-absorbing protective element extend in a pivoting manner from one of the shells of the outer tank, such that if the inner tank is properly positioned, the protective element can be pivoted into a position covering the valve, and such that if the outer tank holding the inner tank is closed, the protective element is covered on the outside by at least one of the shells.
US08534477B2

A closure system for containers used for storing or administering substances in the form of liquids, pastes or powders that allows the container to be securely closed permanently and in a virus-proof, bacteria-proof and spore-proof manner. The container having an opening that is to be closed, a cap provided with a through-hole, the cap including a substantially cylindrical securing area, and a closure element for sealing the opening. The container includes an end face which surrounds the opening and on which the closure element bears. The closure element comprises a virus-proof, bacteria-proof and spore-proof film, and the cap comprises at least one closed, elastic sealing lip bearing resiliently in a direction towards the closure element in the operative position.
US08534474B2

A crane column segment connection system includes first and second column segments with a connector on the second end of the first segment mating with a connector on the first end of the second segment. The connectors each include at least one extension having a through-hole. The through-holes have an axis and are positioned in the extensions such that all through-holes of mating connectors are aligned when the column segments are aligned. In one aspect, the connectors include alignment surfaces cooperating such that when the first and second connectors are being brought together during column assembly, the alignment surfaces guide the column segments in two dimensions within a plane transverse to the axis of the through-holes into a relative position such that the through-holes through the extensions in the connectors are aligned.
US08534471B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for adjusting a height of a rack within a dishwasher. The system includes a rack plate assembly and a wheel plate assembly. The rack plate assembly is configured to be secured to the rack. The rack plate assembly includes a rack plate and a handle pivotally secured to the rack plate. The wheel plate assembly is adjustably secured with respect to the rack plate. The wheel plate assembly includes a wheel plate having at least one adjustment slot. A portion of the handle securely engages the wheel plate through the at least one adjustment slot. The portion of the handle is configured to disengage from the at least one adjustment slot in order to adjust the rack plate with respect to the wheel plate.
US08534470B1

A disassemblable hanging cart for folding chair includes a chassis, two standing poles, two reinforcement sets, and multiple hanging racks, bolts and pad sets. The chassis includes a plurality of caster sets. The two standing poles are vertically and symmetrically erected on opposite positions of the chassis. Each reinforcement set is provided between one of the two standing poles and the chassis for reinforcing the connection strength therebetween. Each hanging rack includes a cross beam, and a plurality of hanging bars for hanging folding chairs. The bolts connect the cross beams with the hanging bars. The pad sets are mounted to the hanging bars to prevent the folding chairs from falling off from the hanging cart. The hanging cart can be easily assembled, and when the hanging cart is not in use, it can be disassembled and packed in a minimum size.
US08534462B1

Film bags are dispensed from a container having an opening. Each of the film bags has a dispensed portion and a remaining portion and includes front and rear walls joined at their first and second side edges. The walls are sealed at the bottom edges and have a top edge. An upper portion of the bags is penetrated by two openings. The openings surround a center portion that extends upwardly toward to join the remaining portion formed by the openings and the top edges. The remaining portion has at least one frangible attachment to the dispensed portion. An optional bag stack insert has a notch at a first end that aligns with the opening. Each bag stack is secured to an insert with a lower end of the stack folded under the first end and the stack inserted into the container with the folded stack portion located adjacent the opening.
US08534453B2

The device for transporting upright containers in a straight line includes a rake conveyor comprising multiple receiving sections for the containers and an opposing support element for the containers carried in the receiving sections. The rake conveyor is connected to two drives by at least two pivot systems, each with two arms, in such a way that the rake conveyor can be pushed back and forth both in the transport direction of the containers and also in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the containers.
US08534452B2

Fixed amount discharging equipment for simultaneously discharging a particulate body from a plurality of containers containing the particulate body, comprising a casing to the interior of which is provided a belt conveyor and having a particulate body discharge hole below the carrying direction end of the belt conveyor, and a plurality of supply arranged in the carrying direction of the belt conveyor and passing through the casing, lower ends thereof penetrating into the casing and being arranged above the belt of the belt conveyor, the lower ends of the supply pipes being such that the downstream sides thereof in the belt carrying direction have notches of a predetermined length from the end faces upward.
US08534443B2

A mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus includes a moveable bridge, a moveable hopper and a moveable tripper. The moveable bridge has a first end, a second end, and at least one intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The moveable hopper is connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable hopper is moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper is also connected to the moveable bridge. The moveable tripper being moveable relative to the moveable bridge along at least a portion of the moveable bridge. A system is also disclosed that includes at least one mobile stacking and reclaiming apparatus adjacent to at least one stacking overland conveyor configured to convey material for stacking material and at least one reclaiming overland conveyor configured to convey material for reclaiming material. A method of providing such systems is also disclosed.
US08534432B2

A resistive grid enclosure for a vehicle having a dynamic braking capability, the grid enclosure defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow path through the enclosure from the air inlet to the air outlet. A resistive grid disposed within the enclosure is cooled by air flowing through the airflow path from the air inlet to the air outlet. The airflow path is configured so that an inlet airflow is heated by absorbing heat from the resistive grid and directed toward the air outlet forming a heated outlet airflow. The airflow path is further configured to direct at least a portion of the heated outlet airflow into the air inlet to reduce blockage of the air inlet by ice or snow.
US08534429B2

A piezo-actuated braking system for a stepper motor. The braking system has a disk fixed to the output shaft of the stepper motor. Further, the braking system includes a piezo-actuated brake having a clamping structure, including two brake elements positioned in alignment on either side of the disk. The piezo-actuated brake includes a piezoelectric element connected to the clamping structure to move the brake elements together, thus applying a braking force to the disk. Various embodiments of the braking system along with related methods are also described.
US08534421B2

The present invention relates to a device for enabling access to a structure above ground level by lowering and/or lifting the device in relation to the structure, the device comprising a first endless frame structure defining an opening, wherein at least part of the first endless frame structure forms a track portion, the track portion being adapted to guide an, in relation to the track portion, movable object, such as a gondola, along the track portion. The device may further comprise a second endless frame structure defining an opening, the second endless frame structure being aligned with the first endless frame structure.
US08534420B1

An apparatus is disclosed for safely lowering a user from a structure. The apparatus includes a ring structure configured to coaxially surround a pole structure including a spiraling inclined surface, wherein the ring structure includes a circular track; a brake mechanism having a first portion configured to travel along the spiraling inclined surface and a second portion configured to travel along the circular track when the apparatus is descending; and a user support assembly for supporting a user when the apparatus is descending, wherein the user support assembly is securely attached to the ring structure. The user support assembly includes a seat or net securely coupled to a vertically-adjustable member which is, in turn, coupled to a fixed member by way of a ratchet interface. The apparatus also includes a torque limiting mechanism configured to prevent or reduce axial rotation of the ring structure when the apparatus is descending.
US08534419B2

A sound absorbing material comprising a nonwoven fibrous acoustic insulation material and a flow resistive non-woven facing, wherein the flow resistive nonwoven facing is bonded to the insulation material and has an air flow resistance of from about 600 to about 1800 Rayls and a surface mass of from about 20 to about 150 g/m2.
US08534416B2

The invention concerns a hydraulic steering (1) with a steering unit (2) with feedback behavior, a steering motor (8) connected to the steering unit (2) via working pipes (L, R), a steering member (6) and a feedback suppression device (9), which is located in at least one working pipe (L, R). It is endeavored to change the feedback behavior of such a steering in a simple manner. For this purpose, the feedback suppression device (9) has a valve arrangement (10) with hydraulic control inlet (C).
US08534407B2

Disclosed is a seat rail (30) of a motorcycle having a pair of left and right rail sections (45L, 45R) which do not have a tendency to store water and which have a sufficient rigidity. Each rail section comprises a first groove section (64) and a second groove section (65). A drain hole (71) for draining the water stored at the bottom (69) of the second groove section downward is formed in each rail.
US08534405B2

A cargo scooter is described having at least one front riding wheel, at least one rear riding wheel, a deck, and a cargo box. The cargo box has a floor that is located between the steering column and the at least one riding wheel. All of the riding wheels are aligned with each other.
US08534402B2

A motor-vehicle is provided with an auxiliary cooling system, having a low temperature cooling liquid, entirely independent from the cooling circuit of the engine and including a radiator located at the front part of the motor-vehicle facing the radiator of the cooling circuit of the engine. The auxiliary cooling circuit comprises one or more auxiliary radiators which are connected parallel to the radiator of the auxiliary circuit and which are constituted by motor-vehicle body components.
US08534401B2

The utility model relates to hybrid drive for vehicles that significantly decreases the consumption of fuel because it uses a turbine motor (7), which is turned on solely when the charge of the accumulator batteries (3) drops and always works at best rpm. The device increases the distance covered by the vehicle without need for frequent recharge of the batteries from the power supply network. Furthermore, the turbine motor is lighter than the petrol piston engine and in the same time more efficient. The device includes installed accumulator batteries (3) that supply power to at least one electric motor coupled via transmission to the drive wheels of the vehicle, and fuel tank (4) supplying fuel to turbine motor (7) coupled via reducer (11) to generator (6) that is connected to the accumulator batteries. Control unit (9) monitors the charge of the accumulator batteries (3) and turns on and off the turbine motor (7). All six embodiments comprise a device (10) to recharge the accumulator batteries from the power supply network when the driver of the vehicle has access to it.
US08534395B2

The mobile climbing robot (15) according to the invention comprises a central joint (3), by which a first leg (1) is connected to a second leg (2). In addition, the robot comprises a first foot (8) which is connected to the first leg (1) by way of a first foot joint for rotation (5) and a first foot joint for tilting (4). A second foot (9) is connected to the second leg (2) by way of a second foot joint for rotation (7) and a second foot joint for tilting (6). A mounting (11) for attaching an implement (10; 12) is disposed on the first foot (8).
US08534390B2

A rotary cone drill bit includes: a body, a leg depending from the body, a bearing shaft extending from the leg and a cone mounted to the bearing shaft. The leg includes a surface location that is subject to wear during operation of the bit. A bottom surface of a hard material plate is attached to a substantially conforming surface of the leg at the location subject to wear. The attachment of the conforming surfaces is made using a flowable material such as a brazing material.
US08534388B2

A dual pipe drill string system having increased fluid flow. The dual pipe system comprises a plurality of pipe sections, each pipe section having an inner rod and an outer pipe. The inner rod and the outer pipe of each pipe section may be coupled to the inner rod and outer pipe of an adjacent pipe section. An annulus between the inner rod and the outer pipe defines a fluid flow path through the dual pipe system. The outer pipe defines a shoulder at each end of an individual pipe section. The inner rod defines at least one stop for maintaining the inner rod within the outer pipe. A spacing assembly disposed around the circumference of the inner rod defines paths for fluid flow and maintains a minimum distance between the stop and the shoulder at one end of outer pipe of the pipe section.
US08534386B2

An articulated apparatus for handling a drilling to has a base, a first set of arms pivotally connected at one end to the base and extending outwardly therefrom, a joint member pivotally connected to an opposite end of the first set of arms, a second set of arms pivotally connected at one end of to the joint member and extending outwardly therefrom, and a carrier assembly pivotally connected to an opposite end of the second set of arms. The carrier assembly is suitable for carrying the drilling tool so as to allow the drilling tool to move upwardly and downwardly. A drive system is cooperative with the first and second sets of arms so as to move the drilling tool between a stowed position and a deployed position.
US08534374B2

A tillage implement has gang assemblies of rotatable tillage tools that can be angle-adjusted from the seat of the towing tractor using hydraulic actuators. The tillage tools may comprise generally flat, wavy coulter blades or the like so that the machine may be set up for vertical tillage with the coulters aligned at a zero degree angle with the path of travel of the implement or for residue management operations with the coulters maintained at an oblique angle of up to ten degrees relative to the path of travel. A six degree angle is preferred for the residue management position. A master-slave hydraulic flow arrangement for the actuators assures simultaneous actuation, while mechanical synchronizing apparatus between the two front gang assemblies on the center frame section of the machine assures synchronized movement of those assemblies. Mechanical motion-transmitting mechanism transmits the hydraulically powered adjusting movement of the front gang assemblies to the rear gang assemblies.
US08534363B1

Methods and devices for restoring control of at an offshore oil well following an uncontrolled fluid release after an explosion include lowering through a riser of successive flow restricting inserts into the oil well to gradually reduce the uncontrolled fluid release. Flow restricting inserts may be inserted in parallel or in series with each other. Following attachment of the riser to the oil well, provisions are made to restore oil production from the well. Flow restricting inserts may further be used to adjust flow resistance from the well in order to optimize oil production. Passages between the riser and the flow restricting inserts may also be used to form a gas lift in order to maximize production of oil from the well.
US08534355B2

A valve (30) for a production liner (12) in connection with the extraction of oil and gas, arranged to automatically shut of the flow of fluid into the production liner (12) in the event of a gas break-through, whereby the valve (30) comprises a valve seating (32) containing at least one central inflow channel (34) and one or more outflow channels (36, 38) from the valve (30). The valve (30) is constructed with a curved design equal to the shape of the outer diameter of the production liner (12), and is placed on the outside of the production liner (12), and in that a rectangular shut off disk (40) with the same curving is arranged in the valve (30), in the flowing path of the liquid flow, to cause a high velocity flow over the shut off disk's surface (40a) against the valve seat (32), wherein the shut off disk (40) is adapted to seal against said valve seat (32) dependant on the differential pressure being produced by the viscosity of the passing flow. The invention also comprises a production liner containing a valve.
US08534348B2

A thin and flat type heat pipe with enhanced conductivity. Between an upper member 22 having a rectangular area 24b on a lower surface and a lower member 20 having a rectangular area 24a on an upper area are provided intermediate plate members 32, 30. The members 32, 30 are each formed with slits 8, constructing a vapor path extending a planar direction, communicating with the rectangular areas 24a, 24b of the members 22, 20, respectively. Thus, a sealed space is defined by the slits 8 and the rectangular areas 24a, 24b so that a refrigerant is enclosed in the sealed space. Capillary holes 10 are formed through non-slitted portions of the intermediate plate members 32, 30 so that each capillary hole 10 serves as a capillary path of flow extending vertically to communicate with the rectangular areas 24a, 24b of the members 22, 20.
US08534346B1

A modular, water-to-air heat exchanger with flexible tubes is adjustable in length to conform to different size cooling coils and thus provides an inexpensive, retro-fittable run-around heat recovery for pre-existing air handling systems. The heat exchanger comprises multiple heat exchange tubes formed of flexible material in a shape that permits them to be lengthened or shortened by simply moving the headers toward or away from each other. Preferably, the tubes are formed of a flexible, non-resilient material such as copper, and are shaped in a serpentine or helical manner. In this way, the tubes can be drawn out to elongate the heat exchanger or compressed to shorten it, depending on the dimension of the cooling coil in the air handler. One convenient way to control the length of the flexible tubes is to support the headers on one or more adjustment bars, each having a threaded adjustment mechanism.
US08534344B2

System and method of producing multi-layered aluminum alloy products are disclosed. A multi-layered aluminum alloy product may be formed by first heating a first aluminum alloy to a first temperature where the first temperature is at least about 5° C. lower than the eutectic temperature of the first aluminum alloy, second heating a second aluminum alloy to a second temperature where the second temperature is at least about 5° C. higher than the liquidus temperature of the second aluminum alloy, and coupling the second aluminum alloy to the first aluminum alloy to produce a multi-layered aluminum alloy product.
US08534341B2

Movable partition systems include a drive mechanism including a motor positioned at least partially on a side of a track opposite a movable partition. Automatically movable partition systems include a movable partition movable along a track and a motor configured to move the movable partition, the motor positioned on a side of the track opposite the movable partition. Methods of installing a movable partition system include coupling a movable partition to a track, positioning a drive mechanism at least partially on a side of the track opposite the movable partition, and coupling an elongated drive member to the movable partition. Methods of moving a movable partition along a track include actuating a drive mechanism positioned at least substantially in a header recess. Drive modules for a movable partition system and other methods of installing a movable partition system including attaching a motor to a section of track are also disclosed.
US08534334B2

A pneumatic tire (10) is provided with air chambers which have recessed portions (221), and also with constriction grooves which communicate with the air chambers and a circumferential groove (21), and the air chambers and the constriction grooves are formed in a rib-shaped land portion of the tire. The depth (DP1) of a recessed portion (221) measured from a land portion (211) making contact with the road surface is deeper at one end of the air chamber in the tire circumference direction than the other end of the air chamber. The height of the recessed portion (221) from the bottom surface (222) thereof to the ground contact surface varies in the circumferential direction of the tire. The volume of the space formed by a constriction groove and the road surface is less than the volume of the space of the air chamber formed by the recessed portion (221) and the road surface. The air chamber has a tapered shape in which the width of the air chamber in the tread width direction is reduced from the other end of the air chamber toward said end of the air chamber.
US08534331B2

The present invention relates to a tire containing a layered composite of sealant and air permeation resistant film, particularly a non-elastomeric film.
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