US08558679B2
A method of analyzing the surroundings of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: gathering data regarding objects in the vicinity of the vehicle; analyzing the data to determine regions of empty space around the vehicle; creating one or more signatures representing at least some of the regions of empty space; and storing the signatures for later retrieval.
US08558676B2
A method for configuring a controlling device to command functional operations of at least one controllable appliance. The method includes the steps of receiving at the controlling device from the at least one controllable appliance, via a first communication channel, data indicative of an identity of the at least one controllable appliance and using the data indicative of the identity of the at least one controllable appliance to configure the controlling device whereby, in response to activation of one or more command keys of the controlling device, the controlling device will be caused to transmit to the at least one controlling device, via a second communication channel, those commands selected from a library of commands that are appropriate for commanding functional operations of the at least one controllable device.
US08558669B2
A RFID reader includes a radio frequency (RF) multiplexer having a plurality of antenna ports for connecting with a plurality of antennas respectively, a reader module having a first internal port and second internal port and being configured for communicating with a tag proximate to the RFID reader through one of the first and the second internal ports, a network module for connecting the RFID reader to a network, and a micro-controller module being connected to the RF multiplexer, the reader module and the network module. The micro-controller module is configured for controlling the reader module to communicate with the tag through a selected antenna port of the RF multiplexer or an external antenna device and for controlling the network module to communicate with the network. The first internal port of the reader module is connected to the RF multiplexer for the reader module to utilize the antennas connected to the antenna ports of the RF multiplexer. The second internal port of the reader module is configured for connecting to the external antenna device so that the reader module can utilize an external antenna connected to a selected antenna port of the external antenna device.
US08558659B2
A medical supply station is disclosed. The medical supply station includes a securable compartment configured to hold medical supplies, and a controller. The controller is responsive to access information and is configured to selectively permit access to the securable compartment when the access information indicates the securable compartment is authorized for access, and restrict access to the securable compartment when the access information indicates the securable compartment is not authorized for access. The medical supply station also includes a critical access module configured to, upon actuation, bypass the access information required by the controller and permit substantially immediate access to the securable compartment. The medical supply station further includes an image capturing device, coupled to the critical access module, configured to capture at least one image of an area proximal to the medical supply station in response to actuation of the critical access module.
US08558658B2
A method and apparatus is provided for configuring a security system. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of configuration files on a computer readable medium where each configuration file defines an access control system or integrated security system and each configuration file is different than any other configuration file of the plurality of configuration files, presenting the plurality of configuration files to a person on a display, a configuration processor receiving a selection of a configuration file of the plurality of configuration files from the person and the processor automatically configuring an access control system or integrated security system in accordance with the selected configuration file.
US08558656B2
An over-current protection device comprises a resistance material with positive or negative temperature coefficient and an upper surface and a lower surface; a first electrode layer having a first groove, disposed on the upper surface; a first surface mount pad disposed on the upper surface; a second electrode layer disposed on the lower surface, electrically connecting to the first surface mount pad; a second surface mount pad disposed on the lower surface, electrically connecting to the first electrode layer; a second groove electrically separating the first surface mount pad from the first electrode layer; and a third groove electrically separating the second electrode layer from the second surface mount pad. The first groove divides the first electrode layer into two connected regions. The first and second surface mount pads are separated from each other and one end of the first groove connects to the second groove.
US08558644B2
Provided is a resonator for a wireless power transmission, the resonator including a transmission line unit including a plurality of transmission line sheets arranged in parallel, and a capacitor provided at a predetermined position of the transmission line unit.
US08558641B2
In a high-frequency module, a duplexer element and a matching element are mounted on a surface of a multilayer substrate. On a layer close to the surface, an individual-terminal-side wiring electrode connected to an individual terminal of the duplexer element is provided. On two layers below the layer close to the surface, first and second ground electrodes are respectively provided. On a layer below the layers on which the first and second ground electrodes are provided, a common-terminal-side wiring electrode connected to the common terminal of the duplexer element and one end of the matching element is provided. On a layer close to a bottom surface of the multilayer substrate, a third ground electrode connected to the other end of the matching element is provided.
US08558637B2
A circuit device includes a multilayer circuit carrier, a first signal transmission line, a second signal transmission line, a signal line transition element, a first impedance transformer, and a second impedance transformer. The multilayer circuit carrier includes a first layer and a second layer. The first signal transmission line is on the surface of the first layer. The second signal transmission line is on the surface of the second layer. The signal line transition element passes through the first layer and the second layer, and has a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal. The first impedance transformer is on the surface of the first layer and electrically connected between the first signal transmission line and the first signal terminal. The second impedance transformer is on the surface of the second layer and electrically connected between the second signal transmission line and the second signal terminal.
US08558629B2
A temperature-controlled crystal oscillating unit and oscillator are provided, which can stabilize an output frequency thereof, have firmness against shock of falling etc., and are suitable for miniaturization and mass production. A crystal blank for the temperature-controlled crystal oscillating unit is formed by an inner region which is an oscillating plate; an outer region which surrounds the periphery of the inner region; and a connection portion which connects the inner region with the outer region. Electrodes are formed on two surfaces of the inner region, and a heater and a temperature sensor are disposed to surround the periphery of the electrode on one surface of the inner region where the electrode is formed thereon. The electrodes, the heater and the temperature sensor are respectively connected with terminals on the outer region by leads. A contact area between the temperature sensor and a crystal is increased.
US08558626B2
An integrated circuit comprising oscillator circuitry is arranged to generate a clock signal for functional logic module of the integrated circuit. The oscillator circuitry comprises a plurality of propagation paths, and is arranged to apply a transition signal to inputs of the plurality of propagation paths, and to cause the output clock signal to transition based on a propagation of the transition signal through a determined set of the propagation paths.
US08558616B2
An amplifying apparatus includes a first amplifier that amplifies an input signal on the basis of a value of a drain voltage and outputs a transmission signal, a distortion compensator that corrects a power amplitude of the input signal on the basis of a difference in power amplitude between the input signal and the transmission signal outputted from the first amplifier, a drain voltage controller that generates the drain voltage on the basis of the power amplitude of the input signal to be corrected, and a drain voltage corrector that corrects the drain voltage on the basis of the difference.
US08558599B1
A clock network includes a first plurality of shield wires associated with a first plurality of clock lines and a second plurality of shield wires associated with a second plurality of clock lines. The clock network also includes a first plurality of clock activity program circuits associated with the first plurality of clock lines and a second plurality of clock activity program circuits associated with the second plurality of clock lines, wherein the first and second plurality of shield wires and the first and second plurality clock activity program circuits are configured to reduce power spikes.
US08558594B2
Circuits and methods for full rate data reception and transmission using half-frequency clock signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, a flop circuit includes a data input, a data output, and a clock input. The clock signal has a first frequency, while the flop circuit is configured to output data at a rate corresponding to a second frequency. In one embodiment, the second frequency is twice the first frequency. The flop circuit is configured to transmit a first data bit responsive to a first edge (e.g., a rising edge) of the clock signal and a second data bit responsive to a second edge (e.g., a falling edge) of the clock signal that is the next edge following the first edge. Accordingly, the flop circuit may effectively operate at the second frequency utilizing the clock signal at the first lower frequency.
US08558593B2
A frequency multiplier circuit comprising a delay line receiving at one end thereof a reference clock for generating clock tap outputs from respective ones of a plurality of period matched delay elements; a clock combining circuit responsive to pairs of tap outputs for generating a rising and falling edge of an output clock pulse from respective ones of the pairs whereby the output clock period is less than the input clock period.
US08558586B1
A circuit arrangement includes a half-bridge with a high-side switch and a low-side switch, each switch including a control terminal and a load path. The load paths of the high-side switch and the low-side switch are coupled in series between a terminal for a supply potential and a terminal for a reference potential a high-side driver operable to provide a high-side drive signal received at the control terminal of the high-side switch. The high-side driver includes supply terminals a charge storage device coupled between the supply terminals of the high-side driver. A control circuit includes a charging circuit, a switching element and a drive circuit operable to switch on the switching element dependent on at least one operation parameter of the circuit arrangement.
US08558579B2
A digital glitch filter for filtering glitches in an input signal includes first and second flip-flops and a synchronizer. The synchronizer includes third and fourth flip-flops. A glitch prone input signal is provided to the first and second flip-flops. Additionally, an input clock signal is provided to the first and second flip-flops and the synchronizer. A glitch occurring in the input signal toggles the first and second flip-flops between transmitting and non-transmitting states and first and second intermediate signals are generated. The synchronizer synchronizes the first and second intermediate signals with the input clock signal to generate a filtered output signal.
US08558573B2
A communication system having first and second states for use with a shared transmission line composed of at least two conductors and composed of first and second transmission line segments connected to each other at a single connection point. In the first state, a termination is coupled to the single connection point and is operative to at least attenuate a signal propagated between the first and second segments. In the second state, a driver is coupled to the connection point and is operative to conduct a signal over the first and second segments.
US08558571B2
Illustrative embodiments of all-spin logic devices, circuits, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an all-spin logic device may include a first nanomagnet, a second nanomagnet, and a spin-coherent channel extending between the first and second nanomagnets. The spin-coherent channel may be configured to conduct a spin current from the first nanomagnet to the second nanomagnet to determine a state of the second nanomagnet in response to a state of the first nanomagnet.
US08558570B2
A component transport apparatus includes: a transport hand including a plurality of index units each one of which is capable of holding a component; a movable body that moves the transport hand; and a plurality of functional stations on which the components are mounted. The index units function to mount the components on the functional stations. The functional stations are spaced apart at intervals along a movement direction of the transport hand. The index units are spaced apart at intervals equal to the intervals at which the functional stations are spaced apart along the movement direction of the transport hand.
US08558567B2
Identifying a signal on a printed circuit board (‘PCB’) under test, including a test probe with a radio transmitter and transmitter antenna, the test probe positioned with the transmitter antenna at a test point on the PCB, the test probe transmitting a radio signal; at least two radio receivers, each receiver having a receiver antenna, each receiver antenna positioned at predetermined, separate physical locations with respect to the PCB, the receivers coupled to at least one signal strength meter, each receiver receiving the transmitted radio signal; and a signal-identifying controller connected to the signal strength meter, the signal-identifying controller reading, from the signal strength meter, signal strengths of the transmitted radio signal as received at the radio receivers; determining, in dependence upon the read signal strengths, a test signal identifier; and displaying the test signal identifier.
US08558560B2
Provided is a test apparatus that measures a peak in a current supplied to a device under test via a transmission path which transmits power from a power supply to a device under test, the peak including a frequency component higher than a frequency corresponding to a product of an inductance component from the power supply to the device under test and a capacitance component between the transmission path and a ground potential, and judges acceptability of the device under test based on the peak measured by the current measuring section.
US08558556B2
A co-axial microwave bolometer architecture is disclosed that uses thick-film processes to construct very small thermistors on a substrate that is selected for low heat transfer. Thermal isolation is further enhanced by making the planar electrodes from a metal with lower heat transfer than typical electrical metals. Furthermore, a resistor with very strong temperature coefficient (thermistor), is arranged such that connecting metal paths are arranged axially, and as generally flat, thin, planar conductors. Additionally, the substrate of the thermistor is selected to have very low conductivity of heat, so the thermistor element itself is well isolated thermally from its surroundings.
US08558552B2
A method of characterizing a wiring network is implemented in a system which includes a test controller and at least two probes. On commands from the test controller, at least one of the probes changes its impedance between the nominal impedance of the wiring network and a mismatch impedance. Reflectometry measurements are performed before and after of switching the impedance of the second probe. At the first probe, an RF signal is generated and a reflected signal is measured. Then, the impedance of the second probe is changed, and again an RF signal is generated and a reflected signal is measured at the first probe. Additionally, a frequency response may be measured at the second probe. The results of the measurements are used for characterization of a transmission line between the first and second probes.
US08558548B2
The present disclosure relates to a method to determine the vertical resistivity of a subsurface formation. A downhole logging tool having a plurality of spaced antennas, at least one of which is a transverse antenna, at least two of which are tilted antennas, and at least two of which are axial antennas is provided. Measurements involving the transverse and/or the tilted antennas of the downhole logging tool are obtained. Voltage ratios are formed using the measurements, and conditioning factors are formed by raising the determined voltage ratios not involving the transverse antenna to some arbitrary power. The sum of the exponents of the conditioning factors preferably equals one. A voltage ratio involving the transverse antenna is multiplied by the conditioning factors, and the vertical resistivity of the subsurface formation is determined using the resulting ratio.
US08558547B2
A system and method for radio-frequency (RF) field mapping are provided. One method includes encoding a B1 phase in at least one magnetic resonance (MR) excitation pulse as an encoded B1 phase MR excitation pulse for at least a subset of a plurality of transmit channels within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method also includes encoding a B1 magnitude in at least one off-resonance MR pulse as an encoded B1 magnitude off-resonance MR pulse for at least a subset of the plurality of transmit channels within the MRI system. The method further includes determining one or more composite B1 fields resulting from a transmission of the at least one encoded B1 phase MR excitation pulse and the at least one encoded B1 magnitude off-resonance MR pulse.
US08558546B2
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with multi-scale orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxometry are described. One example method includes controlling a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus to cause selected nuclei in an item to resonate by applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the item and then acquiring multiple series of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the item, the series of MR images having different scales. The example method includes controlling the NMR apparatus to produce a combined signal evolution from a first signal evolution associated with a first series of MR images and a second signal evolution associated with a second series of MR images and to characterize relaxation of the selected nuclei in the item as a function of an OMP that compares the combined signal evolution to a set of combined comparative signal evolutions.
US08558541B2
A monitoring system including rubber magnets 41 to 44 provided inside of a belt 1, and magnetic sensors 51 and 52 provided outside of the belt 1, and magnetic forces generated by the rubber magnets 41 to 44 are detected by the magnetic sensors 51 and 52, thereby detecting a condition of the belt 1, wherein the magnetic sensors 51 and 52 are configured using MI sensors.
US08558535B2
A method and a system are provided for fixing a Faraday optical current sensor in a suitable measurement position for measuring the current in a 3-phase cable that includes 3 individual section-shaped phase conductors insulated in relation to one another and encapsulated inside an insulator. The method includes providing a Faraday optical current sensor arrangement having 3 Faraday optical current sensors, each of which is fixed in a specific position outside the insulator; and providing a processing unit for calculating a current value from a magnetic field value. The method is performed by measuring 3 magnetic field values using each of the 3 sensors and calculating the current in each of the section-shaped phase conductors using the processing unit and the 3 magnetic field values.
US08558531B2
A method and system for determining a health of a metering system are provided. The metering system includes a meter base including a meter bus couplable between an electrical source and an electrical load, a plurality of sensors configured to determine electrical characteristics of electrical power in the meter bus, and a processor configured to execute at least one code segment. The code segments instruct the processor to determine revenue parameters for the metering system, determine at least one fault of a plurality of possible faults associated with the operation of the metering system using outputs from the plurality of sensors, the determination of the revenue parameters, and a processing fault generated by the processor, determine a severity level of each of the at least one faults, and determine a single value for a health of the metering system using the determined at least one fault.
US08558526B2
A DC-DC converter includes a bootstrap circuit including a capacitor which is configured to be charged when a low-side switch is an on-state, and being configured to pull up an on-drive voltage of the high-side switch by a charged voltage of the capacitor, a control circuit configured to perform switching control of the high-side switch and the low-side switch, and a predetermined-time trigger circuit configured to cause an output to be active for a predetermined time, when a break signal for instructing switching control of the high-side switch and the low-side switch to be halted is inactive. The control circuit performs switching control to turn the high-side switch off and the low-side switch on, when the output of the predetermined-time trigger circuit is active.
US08558521B2
A multi-phase buck converter has a digital compensator to select a set of compensation coefficients depending on the operating phase number of the multi-phase buck converter, or including different compensators for each operation phase number to improve the loop gain bandwidth, transient response and stability of the multi-phase buck converter. The multi-phase buck converter operates with more phase circuits for higher loading and operates with fewer phase circuits for lower loading. The compensation varies with the number of the operated phase circuits so to be adaptive to the operation condition with an optimized control-to-output voltage transfer function.
US08558519B2
An apparatus and method for measuring the source-side line voltage from a source potential transformer (PT) of a regulator during reverse power flow. A reverse power regulation algorithm is employed during reverse power operation of the tapchanger to energize a contact relay which switches the analog voltage input from the load side to the source side of the regulator. Voltage regulation then operates based on the measured source side voltage instead of the traditional calculation of the source side voltage based upon the load-side voltage and regulator type.
US08558515B2
A protection circuit that is used with a power supply that produces charging power, and a storage battery for which normal operation is conditional upon a terminal voltage being less than or equal to a maximum voltage, including: a first switch disposed to a first path that electrically connects the storage battery and the power supply; a second path that electrically connects the storage battery and a load; a voltage detection circuit that detects a terminal voltage of the storage battery; an over-charge detection circuit that monitors the storage battery terminal voltage and controls the first switch to turn off when the terminal voltage is detected to exceed the maximum voltage; and a control circuit that controls the monitoring operation interval of the over-charge detection circuit according to the terminal voltage of the storage battery detected by the voltage detection circuit.
US08558510B2
Provided are a power storage apparatus and a method of controlling the power storage apparatus. The power storage apparatus stores power supplied from a power generation system or a power grid. The power storage apparatus supplies stored power to a load during an electric failure, and supplies stored power to the power grid. The power storage apparatus includes at least one battery cell, a battery management unit coupled to the battery cell, a bi-directional converter coupled to the battery management unit, a bi-directional inverter coupled between the bi-directional converter and the power grid, and a central controller controlling the operations of the bi-directional converter, the bi-directional inverter, and the battery management unit. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) function may be performed to stabilize the power storage system including the power storage apparatus.
US08558509B2
The present invention teaches methods and systems for detecting internal battery abnormalities during charging and discharging states. The embodiments of the invention includes a circuit for determining charging and/or discharging state of the battery, a circuit for sampling the battery voltage at sequential time points, a circuit for measuring the decline of the voltage, a counter for counting Tdec the time while the voltage is in decline, a circuit for measuring the rate of the decrease of the voltage, a circuit for producing an indicator for internal abnormality if one or more of the following conditions is met: (a) the battery is in the charging state and Tdec exceeds a predetermined time; (b) the battery is in the charging state and the decrease of the voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage; and (c) the battery is in the discharging state and the rate of the decrease of the voltage exceeds a predetermined decline rate.
US08558508B2
A system and method for monitoring the status of a system of battery strings is described. The system includes a current sensor for each of the battery strings, and a controller configured to compute the average current from the measured currents. The state of the battery system is determined as being fully charged, discharging or charging, and the individual battery string currents are compared with the average measured current to determine if the currents are within a threshold value. An alarm indication is provided when one or more of the currents exceeds a threshold difference. The system may provide a local indication of status and may also interface with a communications network to provide for remote monitoring.
US08558503B2
A charging cradle for mounting a portable terminal or a battery pack for the portable terminal, a multi-plug adapted to be mounted by being inserted into the charging cradle, hook holes formed in the charging cradle, and hooks adapted to be engaged with the hook holes, wherein the direction for inserting the multi-plug into the charging cradle and the direction for connecting the multi-plug to an external receptacle are perpendicular to each other, is provided, so that charging cradles adapted to be commonly used worldwide, and by localizing multi-plugs by countries or cities, i.e., by providing each country or city with multi-plugs adapted to be suitably used in such a country or a city, enable a user to use his or her charging device by only buying a multi-plug available in a country or a city where the user stays if it is desired.
US08558501B2
The command signal processing unit outputs, when a first PWM frequency command signal is received, a high-PWM frequency command signal such that an asynchronous PWM control is performed at a PWM frequency of a predetermined constant frequency. The command signal processing unit outputs, when a second PWM frequency command signal is received, a low-PWM frequency command signal such that an asynchronous or synchronous PWM control is performed at a frequency lower than the above-described frequency. The PWM frequency control unit controls the PWM frequency such that an asynchronous PWM control is performed if a motor has a rotational speed less than a predetermined rotational speed and that a synchronous PWM control is performed if the motor has a rotational speed greater than or equal to the predetermined rotational speed, when a low-PWM frequency command signal is input.
US08558498B2
According to one embodiment, a drive device comprises a first generating unit which moves in straightly movable manner or rotatable manner and generates precharge pressure, a sliding guide unit which has a sliding guide surface that comes into contact with a sliding surface of the first generating unit and to which the precharge pressure is given, a vibration unit which gives vibration to the first generating unit, and a second generating unit. When the vibration is given to the first generating unit, the second generating unit generates driving force for driving the first generating unit in a predetermined direction so that the driving force is more than frictional force between the sliding surface and the sliding guide surface. When the vibration is not given to the first generating unit, the second generating unit generates the driving force so that the driving force is less than the frictional force.
US08558492B2
An apparatus for driving a motor of an electric vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a capacitor supplied with power by a battery; an inverter configured to include a plurality of switching elements, convert direct current (DC) power stored in the capacitor into alternating current (AC) power in accordance with the switching of the switching elements and drive a motor with the AC power; and a capacitor protector provided between the battery and the capacitor and configured to consume initial power supplied by the battery at an early stage of the supply of power by the battery, the capacitor protector including a common resistor that consumes the DC power stored in the capacitor when the capacitor is discharged. Therefore, it is possible to guarantee the reliability of the apparatus.
US08558490B2
It is presented a control device for driving an electric motor, wherein a drive control signal for the electric motor is arranged to be determined using a calculated rotor flux. A direct quadrature, dq, coordinate system relating to a rotor of the electric motor is used. The control device comprises a flux estimator arranged to determine the calculated rotor flux using a quadrature axis voltage, a measured direct axis current, a measured quadrature axis current, an angular velocity, stator resistance and a direct axis inductance and an actual torque calculator arranged to obtain an actual torque estimation using the calculated rotor flux, the measured direct axis current and the measured quadrature axis current. A corresponding method is also presented.
US08558487B2
A remote controlled circuit breaker for battery powered riding toys and method of using is disclosed. The circuit breaker is capable of being installed into standard electrical systems of battery powered riding toys via complementary connectors. If the child encounters danger while riding, the handler of the remote control can push the “Stop” button to switch the circuit breaker, thus preventing electric current flow through the toy. Once danger is averted, the handler of the remote control can push the “Go” button, which switches the circuit breaker to allow current flow from the battery to the motor, and thus allowing movement of the vehicle.
US08558480B2
A driving method for a light source apparatus for a projector using a single plate, comprises a step of supplying lamp current at a predetermined frequency to an extra-high pressure mercury lamp, a step of reversing a polarity of the lamp current to be supplied to the extra-high pressure mercury lamp, when one of boundaries between color areas of the color wheel is located at a light condensing area, and a step of supplying a low frequency current to the extra-high pressure mercury lamp at predetermined intervals, wherein the low frequency current starts to be supplied when a boundary from which a color area is changed to a predetermined color area is located at the light condensing area, and wherein the low frequency current continues to be supplied for a duration corresponding to the integer number of color areas of the color wheel.
US08558478B2
A hybrid lamp apparatus is presented having a primary lamp circuit with a CFL and an electronic ballast, as well as a Halogen or incandescent secondary lamp circuit with a control circuit that shuts off the secondary lamp a time period after powerup, where the secondary lamp time period varies according to the amount of time the apparatus was previously unpowered.
US08558476B2
The present invention relates to a backlight unit that includes at least one first light emitting diode (LED) package and at least one second LED package, wherein the first LED package includes a blue LED chip, a green LED chip, and a first phosphor, the first phosphor being excited by blue light and to emit light to be mixed with blue light and green light respectively emitted from the blue LED chip and the green LED chip, the first LED package to thereby emit white light. The second LED package includes a blue LED chip, a red LED chip, and a second phosphor, the second phosphor being excited by blue light and to emit light to be mixed with blue light and red light respectively emitted from the blue LED chip and the red LED chip, the second LED package to thereby emit white light.
US08558473B2
A light emitting device has: a dispersion light source wherein a plurality of semiconductor laser bars are arranged; and a drive circuit which makes the dispersion light source output at least one pulsed beam by supplying at least one drive pulse to the dispersion light source. In the dispersion light source, a plurality of semiconductor laser bars are arranged on a base, and furthermore, heat dissipating plates are arranged between the semiconductor laser bars. The pulse width of the pulsed beam outputted from the dispersion light source is longer than 1 femtosecond but shorter than 0.25 second, and the energy of the single pulsed beam is less than 66.8 μ[J].
US08558472B2
A system and apparatus to reduce current peaking in notification appliances are described. The apparatus may include a current peaking compensation circuit comprising two or more transistors and one or more capacitors configured to reduce a start-up frequency of a pulse-width modulated signal during a first time period and to add a time constant decaying voltage across a resistor divider network to increase a reference voltage during the first time period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08558464B2
An arrangement of an outdoor light enabling ambient light detection comprises an ambient light detector coupled to the outdoor light; and a user interface accessible by a user separate from the outdoor light; wherein the user interface enables controlling the operation of the ambient light detector.
US08558457B2
A lamp (14) has an inner tube (32) pinch sealed at one end to form a pinch seal (82), to which a base (36) is attached. The base (36) has a pair of base pins (102, 104) provided in parallel to the axis of the inner tube (32). A pair of connection wires (98, 100) that extend out from the pinch seal (82) are inserted into the respective base pins (102, 104) and are fixed by concavities located in a portion of the base pins (102, 104). Each of the concavities is concave in a direction orthogonal to the base pins (102, 104) and parallel to an imaginary plane that traverses central axes of the base pins (102, 104).
US08558453B2
A manufacturing method of an active matrix light emitting device in which the active matrix light emitting device can be manufactured in a shorter time with high yield at low cost compared with conventional ones will be provided. It is a feature of the present invention that a layered structure is employed for a metal electrode which is formed in contact with or is electrically connected to a semiconductor layer of each TFT arranged in a pixel area of an active matrix light emitting device. Further, the metal electrode is partially etched and used as a first electrode of a light emitting element. A buffer layer, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode layer are stacked over the first electrode.
US08558452B2
An organic electroluminescent device provided with a lower electrode formed on a substrate, a light emitting unit having at least an organic light emitting layer and formed on the lower electrode, and a light transmissive upper electrode formed on the light emitting unit, wherein a connection layer for supplying a charge into the light emitting unit and a charge transport layer having charge transporting properties of a reverse conducting type against a charge to be injected from the upper electrode are stacked in this order from a side of the light emitting unit between the light emitting unit and the upper electrode.
US08558451B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes an anode electrode layer; a cathode electrode layer opposed to the anode electrode layer; a hole injection layer provided adjacent to the anode electrode layer an organic structure including at least one light-emissive layer or at least one light-emissive unit having at least one light-emissive layer; between the anode electrode layer and the cathode electrode layer. At least one of the anode electrode layer and the cathode electrode layer is transparent. The hole injection layer includes a mixed layer of a metal oxide and an organic compound. The mixed layer is formed upon co-deposition of the metal oxide and the organic compound.
US08558446B2
The light emitting device comprises a substrate (2), a positive electrode (6) and a negative electrode (4) formed on the substrate (2), a light emitting diode (8) connected to the positive electrode (6) and the negative electrode (4), the transparent resin (12 and 14) that covers the light emitting diode (8), a fluorescent material (16) that absorbs at least part of light emitted by the light emitting diode (8) and converts it to light of longer wavelength, and the lens that changes the direction of light emission from the light emitting diode (8) and/or the fluorescent material (16). The resin (12 and 14) includes the fluorescent material (16) and is formed so as to constitute the lens of substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the fluorescent material (16) included in the resin (12 and 14) is distributed with a higher concentration in a region near the surface of the light emitting diode (8) than in a region near the surface of the portion that constitutes the lens.
US08558435B2
A piezoelectric device has a piezoelectric vibration element mounted in a package wherein the piezoelectric vibration element comprises two stick-like vibration legs; a central leg provided between the two vibration legs; a coupling portion that couples one end of each of the two vibration legs and one end of the central leg; and a protrusion portion that is coupled to another end of the central leg, has a predetermined angle, neither 0 nor 180 degrees, to the length direction of the central leg, and extends into a direction not interfering with the driving legs. In making the piezoelectric device smaller and thinner, this configuration avoids interference between a support point on the central leg, provided for supporting the vibration element, and conductive electrodes, improves insulation between the conductive electrodes, and reduces the generation of short-circuits between the conductive electrodes.
US08558429B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus associated for lifting brushes and shorting slip rings are provided. One embodiment may include an actuating mechanism in operable communication with multiple brushes and a plurality of electrical contacts. Each of the brushes may be adapted for selective contact with a respective slip ring of an induction motor. The electrical contacts may be in electrical communication with respective terminals of rotor windings of the induction motor. When the actuating mechanism is actuated, at least a portion of the electrical contacts create electrical shorts between at least a portion of the slip rings and the rotor windings of the induction motor. When the actuating mechanism is actuated, at least a portion of the brushes are lifted from contacting the plurality of slip rings.
US08558427B2
An insulation assembly is provided that includes a generally annularly-shaped main body and at least two spaced-apart fingers extending radially inwards from the main body. The spaced-apart fingers define a gap between the fingers. A slot liner may be inserted within the gap. The main body may include a plurality of circumferentially distributed segments. Each one of the plurality of segments may be operatively connected to another of the plurality of segments to form the continuous main body. The slot liner may be formed as a single extruded piece defining a plurality of cavities. A plurality of conductors (extendable from the stator assembly) may be axially inserted within a respective one of the plurality of cavities. The insulation assembly electrically isolates the conductors in the electric motor from the stator stack and from other conductors.
US08558425B2
An electric motor features liquid cooling capability. A rotor and a secondary rotor are coupled to a shaft for rotation therewith. The rotor comprises a first annular member and magnets secured to the first annular member. The secondary rotor comprises a second annular member and secondary magnets secured to the second annular member. A stator is spaced axially apart from the rotor and the secondary rotor. The stator comprises a plurality of generally planar windings secured to a magnetic core and a secondary planar windings secured to a secondary magnetic core. The magnetic core has at least one cooling channel.
US08558424B2
Apparatuses employing suspended rotors are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing forming an internal cavity and a rotor disposed in the internal cavity of the housing. The rotor has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first end ring coupled to the first end of the rotor and a second end ring coupled to the second end of the rotor. The first end ring and the second end ring are each magnetically repulsed from the housing to cause the rotor to be suspended relative to the housing.
US08558408B2
A system for providing power to a device includes a first power supply unit having a first power module that provides A.C. power and is selectively connectable to input lines and a first communication module. The system also includes a second power supply unit having a second power module selectively connectable to the input lines and that provides A.C. power and a second communication module coupled to the first communication module. Only one of the first or second power supply units is coupled to the input lines at a given time.
US08558407B2
An elevator emergency LED lighting power supply assembly including an inverter that receives DC power from a battery and outputs backup power to LED lamps of an elevator lighting system. An LED driver is connected to the inverter, is connectable to an LED lamp of the elevator lighting system, receives AC power from the inverter, and outputs DC power sufficient to power an LED lamp. A relay is connected between the inverter and the LED driver, is connectable to a primary elevator electrical power supply, and allows AC power to flow from a primary elevator electrical power supply to elevator lighting system LEDs through the LED driver as long as AC power is available from a primary elevator electrical power supply. Upon loss of power from the primary elevator power supply the relay switches contacts and provides to the LED driver AC power received from the inverter.
US08558402B2
A floatable or moveable and/or fixed frame for insertion of power generating modules to generate power from impounded water through the frame in lock and dam and other settings presenting head potential and moving water. The frame is prefabricated and moved onto site as a module or modules, or as a ballastable marine hulled device with positions in the frame for insertion of modular elements including a generator, a turbine and a spacer for configuring a generating cell in different positions within the frame. A gantry positioned on the frame permits easy movement of individual modules into position.
US08558398B1
A lead frame assembly for an integrated circuit package includes a lead frame, a die, first and second information signal-carrying bond wires, first and second ground bond wires, and first and second ground down bond wires. Each ground bond wire shares a die pad with one of the ground down bond wires.
US08558391B2
A semiconductor device having redistribution interconnects in the WPP technology and improved reliability, wherein the redistribution interconnects have first patterns and second patterns which are electrically separated from each other within the plane of the semiconductor substrate, the first patterns electrically coupled to the multi-layer interconnects and the floating second patterns are coexistent within the plane of the semiconductor substrate, and the occupation ratio of the total of the first patterns and the second patterns within the plane of the semiconductor substrate, that is, the occupation ratio of the redistribution interconnects is 35 to 60%.
US08558387B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, a wiring layer formed above the semiconductor substrate, a through-hole electrode extending from the bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate to the wiring layer, a bottom surface wiring provided at the bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate such that the bottom surface wiring is connected to the through-hole electrode, and an external terminal connected to the bottom surface wiring. The bottom surface wiring has a greater film thickness than a film thickness of the through-hole electrode at least a portion of the bottom surface wiring including a connection part between the bottom surface wiring and the external terminal.
US08558382B2
A novel interconnection structure which is excellent in adhesion and is capable of realizing low resistance and low contact resistance is provided. An interconnection structure including an interconnection film and a semiconductor layer of a thin film transistor above a substrate in this order from the side of a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer is composed of an oxide semiconductor, is provided.
US08558381B2
The present teachings provides a semiconductor device which has a semiconductor substrate, and a lower electrode including a first layer in contact with a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second layer in contact with a lower surface of the first layer, and a third layer stacked at a position farther from the semiconductor substrate than the second layer, wherein the first layer is an aluminum layer containing silicon, the second layer is a layer including silicon as a primary component, and the third layer is a solder joint layer.
US08558370B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which is not easily damaged by external local pressure. The present invention further provides a manufacturing method of a highly-reliable semiconductor device, which is not destroyed by external local pressure, with a high yield. A structure body, in which high-strength fiber of an organic compound or an inorganic compound is impregnated with an organic resin, is provided over an element substrate having a semiconductor element formed using a single crystal semiconductor region, and heating and pressure bonding are performed, whereby a semiconductor device is manufactured, to which the element substrate and the structure body in which the high-strength fiber of an organic compound or an inorganic compound is impregnated with the organic resin are fixed together.
US08558366B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an integrated circuit; mounting a routing structure having a functional side above the integrated circuit; mounting a vertical interconnect to the functional side of the routing structure and the vertical interconnect extending vertically away from the routing structure; forming an encapsulation covering the integrated circuit, the routing structure, and sides of the vertical interconnect above the routing structure, and leaves a surface of the routing structure exposed from the encapsulation, and a portion of the vertical interconnect exposed from the encapsulation above the surface of the routing structure; mounting a first-external-package-component to the routing structure; and forming a first-external-package-encapsulation covering the first-external-package-component.
US08558354B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of silicon films. The plurality of silicon films are disposed on one plane and are made of polysilicon containing an impurity. A crystal orientation of each of the silicon films is a (311) orientation.
US08558344B2
An integrated circuit has a semiconductor die provided in a first IC layer and an inductor fabricated on a second IC layer. The inductor may have a winding and a magnetic core, which are oriented to conduct magnetic flux in a direction parallel to a surface of a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die may have active circuit components fabricated in a first layer of the die, provided under the inductor layer. The integrated circuit may include a flux conductor provided on a side of the die opposite the first layer. PCB connections to active elements on the semiconductor die may progress through the inductor layer as necessary.
US08558343B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device realizing reliable cutting of a fuse without enlarging layout area of a fuse element and the reduced number of wiring layers of a preventing wall that prevents diffusion of fuse copper atoms. A fuse is formed by using a wire in a metal wiring layer as an upper layer in a plurality of metal wiring layers. Wires are disposed just above and just below a fuse each with a gap of at least two wiring layers. In an upper layer, a power wire that transmits power supply voltage is used as a part covering a preventing wall structure just above the fuse.
US08558341B2
An object is to provide a photoelectric conversion element with high conversion efficiency. In a photoelectric conversion element with a fine periodic structure on a light-receiving surface side, focus is given to the traveling direction of light that is reflected off another surface. The photoelectric conversion element may be given a structure in which a textured structure that reflects light to the other surface is provided, and light that travels from the light-receiving surface side to the other surface side is reflected so that a component that travels along the photoelectric conversion layer increases. By the distance traveled by the reflected light inside the photoelectric conversion layer increasing, the light that enters the photoelectric conversion element is more easily absorbed by the photoelectric conversion layer and less easily released from the light-receiving surface side, and a photoelectric conversion element with high conversion efficiency can be provided.
US08558335B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit that is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a reading unit that reads signal charges of the photoelectric conversion unit, a gate insulating film and an electrode disposed thereon that constitute the reading unit, a light shielding film that covers the electrode, and an antireflection film that is formed on the photoelectric conversion unit and is constituted by films of four or more layers. The film of the lower layer of the antireflection film is also used as a stopper film during patterning, and a gap between the end of the light shielding film and the semiconductor substrate which is defined by interposing a plurality of films of the lower layer of the antireflection film is set so as to be smaller than the thickness of the gate insulating film.
US08558331B2
A system and method of manufacturing and using a magnetic tunnel junction device is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a magnetic tunnel junction device includes a first free layer and second free layer. The magnetic tunnel junction also includes a spin torque enhancement layer. The magnetic tunnel junction device further includes a spacer layer between the first and second free layers that includes a material and has a thickness that substantially inhibits exchange coupling between the first and second free layers. The first and second free layers are magneto-statically coupled.
US08558321B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first MIS transistor of a first conductivity type having a first active region as a region of a semiconductor substrate surrounded by an element isolation region formed in an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate, a first gate insulating film having a first high dielectric film formed on the first active region, and a first gate electrode formed on the first gate insulating film; and a resistance element having a second high dielectric film formed on the element isolation region and a resistance layer made of silicon formed on the second high dielectric film. The first high dielectric film and the second high dielectric film include the same high dielectric material, and the first high dielectric film includes a first adjustment metal, but the second high dielectric film does not include the first adjustment metal.
US08558314B2
A semiconductor device includes a signal input pad, a protection object circuit, a first connection node connected with the protection object circuit, a first resistance element connected between the signal input pad and the first connection node, a first protection circuit section arranged between a power supply line or a ground line and a second connection node between the signal input pad and the first resistance element, and a second protection circuit section. The second protection circuit section includes at least one of a first PMOS transistor having a source connected with the first connection node, a drain connected with the ground line and a gate and a back gate connected with the power supply line, and a first NMOS transistor having a source connected with said first connection node, a drain connected with the power supply line and a gate and a back gate connected with the ground line.
US08558310B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) having at least one PMOS transistor includes performing PLDD implantation including co-implanting indium, carbon and a halogen, and a boron specie to establish source/drain extension regions in a substrate having a semiconductor surface on either side of a gate structure including a gate electrode on a gate dielectric formed on the semiconductor surface. Source and drain implantation is performed to establish source/drain regions, wherein the source/drain regions are distanced from the gate structure further than the source/drain extension regions. Source/drain annealing is performed after the source and drain implantation. The co-implants can be selectively provided to only core PMOS transistors, and the method can include a ultra high temperature anneal such as a laser anneal after the PLDD implantation.
US08558307B2
It is desirable to reduce chip area, lower on resistance and improve electric current driving capacity of a DMOS transistor in a semiconductor device with a DMOS transistor. On the surface of an N type epitaxial layer, a P+W layer of the opposite conductivity type (P type) is disposed and a DMOS transistor is formed in the P+W layer. The epitaxial layer and a drain region are insulated by the P+W layer. Therefore, it is possible to form both the DMOS transistor and other device element in a single confined region surrounded by an isolation layer. An N type FN layer is disposed on the surface region of the P+W layer beneath the gate electrode. An N+D layer, which is adjacent to the edge of the gate electrode of the drain layer side, is also formed. P type impurity layers (a P+D layer and a FP layer), which are located below the drain layer, are disposed beneath the contact region of the drain layer.
US08558306B2
A technology is a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, capable of reducing capacitance with a storage node contact plug while maintaining a height and resistance of a bit line, by thickly forming a spacer between a bit line and the storage node contact plug. A semiconductor device includes a device isolation layer defining a plurality of active regions formed in a semiconductor substrate, a storage node contact hole exposing two neighboring active regions, a storage node contact plug material provided in the storage node contact hole, a bit line region that divides the storage node contact plug material into two parts and that has a convex portion at a lower portion of a sidewall, a spacer formed over a sidewall of the bit line region including the convex portion and a bit line formed in the bit line region.
US08558304B2
Methods for forming or patterning nanostructure arrays are provided. The methods involve formation of arrays on coatings comprising nanostructure association groups, formation of arrays in spin-on-dielectrics, solvent annealing after nanostructure deposition, patterning using resist, and/or use of devices that facilitate array formation. Related devices for forming nanostructure arrays are also provided, as are devices including nanostructure arrays (e.g., memory devices). Methods for protecting nanostructures from fusion during high temperature processing are also provided.
US08558302B2
Provided is an electrically erasable and programmable nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a small hole in a second conductivity-type drain region, a tunnel insulating film formed on the surface of the hole, and a protrusion extended from the floating gate electrode and arranged to fill the hole. Further a tunneling restriction region which is an electrically floating first conductivity type region arranged in a vicinity of the surface of the drain region around the hole to define the size of the tunnel region through which the tunnel current flows.
US08558297B2
Disclosed herein is an improved memory device, and related methods of manufacturing, wherein the area occupied by a conventional landing pad is significantly reduced to around 50% to 10% of the area occupied by conventional landing pads. This is accomplished by removing the landing pad from the cell structure, and instead forming a conductive via structure that provides the electrical connection from the memory stack or device in the structure to an under-metal layer. By forming only this via structure, rather than separate vias formed on either side of a landing pad, the overall width occupied by the connective via structure from the memory stack to an under-metal layer is substantially reduced, and thus the via structure and under-metal layer may be formed closer to the memory stack (or conductors associated with the stack) so as to reduce the overall width of the cell structure.
US08558295B2
Provided are a nonvolatile memory cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The nonvolatile memory cell includes a memory transistor and a driver transistor. The memory transistor includes a semiconductor layer, a buffer layer, an organic ferroelectric layer, and a gate electrode, which are disposed on a substrate. The driver transistor includes the semiconductor layer, the buffer layer, a gate insulating layer, and the gate electrode, which are disposed on the substrate. The memory transistor and the driver transistor are disposed on the same substrate. The nonvolatile memory cell is transparent in a visible light region.
US08558294B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate formed with an active element, an oxidation resistant film formed over the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the active element, a ferroelectric capacitor formed over the oxidation resistance film, the ferroelectric capacitor having a construction of consecutively stacking a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film and an upper electrode, and an interlayer insulation film formed over the oxidation resistance film so as to cover the ferroelectric capacitor, wherein there are formed, in the interlayer insulation film, a first via-plug in a first contact hole exposing the first electrode and a second via-plug in a second contact hole exposing the lower electrode, and wherein there is formed another conductive plug in the interlayer insulation film in an opening exposing the oxidation resistant film.
US08558292B2
A vertically-integrated active pixel sensor includes a sensor wafer connected to a support circuit wafer. Inter-wafer connectors or connector wires transfer signals between the sensor wafer and the support circuit wafer. The active pixel sensor can be fabricated by attaching the sensor wafer to a handle wafer using a removable interface layer. Once the sensor wafer is attached to the handle wafer, the sensor wafer is backside thinned to a given thickness. The support circuit wafer is then attached to the sensor wafer and the handle wafer separated from the sensor wafer.
US08558285B2
A method for fabricating an electronic device, comprising wafer bonding a first semiconductor material to a III-nitride semiconductor, at a temperature below 550° C., to form a device quality heterojunction between the first semiconductor material and the III-nitride semiconductor, wherein the first semiconductor material is different from the III-nitride semiconductor and is selected for superior properties, or preferred integration or fabrication characteristics in the injector region as compared to the III-nitride semiconductor.
US08558276B2
A low voltage transient voltage suppressing (TVS) device supported on a semiconductor substrate supporting an epitaxial layer thereon. The TVS device further includes a bottom-source metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (BS-MOSFET) comprises a trench gate surrounded by a drain region encompassed in a body region disposed near a top surface of the semiconductor substrate wherein the drain region interfaces with the body region constituting a junction diode and the drain region encompassed in the body region on top of the epitaxial layer constituting a bipolar transistor with a top electrode disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor functioning as a drain/collector terminal and a bottom electrode disposed on a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate functioning as a source/emitter electrode. The body regions further comprises a surface body contact region electrically connected to a body-to-source short-connection thus connecting the body region to the bottom electrode functioning as the source/emitter terminal. The gate may be shorted to the drain for configuring the BS-MOSFET transistor into a two terminal device with a gate-to-source voltage equal to a drain-to-source voltage. The drain/collector/cathode terminal disposed on top of the trench gate turns on the BS-MOSFET upon application of a threshold voltage of the BS-MOSFET thus triggering the bipolar transistor for clamping and suppressing a transient voltage substantially near a threshold voltage of the BS-MOSFET.
US08558269B2
A light-emitting diode has a metal mesh pattern formed on an active layer without a transparent oxide conductive layer formed in between is disclosed. The mesh pattern is formed by using ion bombardment a metal layer so that myriad pits formed into the exposed portion of the active layer served as light emitting centers.
US08558264B2
A light-emitting device includes a first layer, a second layer, and a semiconductor body interposed between the first and second layers, wherein the semiconductor body has a first fine-wall-shape member, a second fine-wall-shape member, and a semiconductor member interposed between the first and second fine-wall-shape members, the first and second fine-wall-shape members have a third layer, a fourth layer, and a fifth layer interposed between the third and fourth layers, the fifth layer is a layer that generates light and guides the light, the third and fourth layers are layers that guide the light generated in the fifth layer, the first and second layers are layers that suppress leakage of the light generated in the fifth layer, and the propagating direction of the light generated in the fifth layer intersects with the first and second fine-wall-shape members.
US08558257B2
Implementations and techniques for coupled asymmetric quantum confinement structures are generally disclosed.
US08558248B2
A1 alloy film, electronic device, and active matrix substrate for use in electrooptic display device
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an Al alloy film contains a first additive element composed of Ni, and at least one type of second additive element selected from the group consisting of Group 2A alkaline earth metals and Groups 3B and 4B metalloids in Period 2 or 3 of the periodic table of the elements. Furthermore, the composition ratio of the first additive element is 0.5-5 at %, and the composition ratio of the second additive element is 0.1-3 at %.
US08558239B2
An organic light emitting display having an active layer of a thin film transistor formed on a substrate, a first conductive layer formed at an edge of the active layer, a first insulation layer formed on the substrate and the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer corresponding to a central area of the active layer formed on the first insulation layer, a fanout lower electrode separated a predetermined distance from the second conductive layer, a pixel electrode, a third conductive layer formed on the second conductive layer, a fanout upper electrode formed on the fanout lower electrode, a second insulation layer formed on the third conductive layer, the fanout upper electrode, and the pixel electrode, and source and drain electrodes contacting the pixel electrode and formed on the second insulation layer.
US08558237B2
A display panel includes a substrate having a display area and a blank area. The blank area includes at least one of a non-metal line region and a metal-line region. The non-metal line region includes a plurality of insulating patterns and a first conductive pattern layer formed on the substrate. The insulating patterns are isolated from each other by the first conductive pattern layer. The metal-line region includes an insulating multilayer formed on the substrate and a conductive pattern layer formed on the insulating multilayer. Several isolated zones are formed by the conductive pattern layer on the surface of the insulating multilayer.
US08558236B2
An object is to reduce off-current of a thin film transistor. Another object is to improve electric characteristics of a thin film transistor. Further, it is still another object to improve image quality of a display device using the thin film transistor. An aspect of the present invention is a thin film transistor including a semiconductor film formed over a gate electrode and in an inner region of the gate electrode which does not reach an end portion of the gate electrode, with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a film covering at least a side surface of the semiconductor film, and a pair of wirings over the film covering the side surface of the semiconductor film; in which an impurity element serving as a donor is added to the semiconductor film.
US08558230B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The thin film transistor substrate may have low resistance characteristics and may have reduced mutual diffusion and contact resistance between an active layer pattern and data wiring. The thin film transistor substrate may include gate wiring formed on an insulating substrate. Oxide active layer patterns may be formed on the gate wiring and may include a first substance. Data wiring may be formed on the oxide active layer patterns to cross the gate wiring and may include a second substance. Barrier layer patterns may be disposed between the oxide active layer patterns and the data wiring and may include a third substance.
US08558226B2
Provided is a thin film transistor having a semiconductor film disposed in a plurality of portions on a substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode which are disposed, on a semiconductor film, in contact with the semiconductor film while being spaced from each other, and a gate electrode which is disposed across the source electrode and the drain electrode via a gate insulating film; an auxiliary capacitance electrode which is disposed on the semiconductor film while in contact with the semiconductor film; a source line which has the semiconductor film in a lower layer, extends from the source electrode; a gate line which extends from the gate electrode; a pixel electrode which is electrically connected to the drain electrode; and an auxiliary capacitance electrode connecting line which electrically connects the auxiliary capacitance electrodes to each other in the adjacent pixels.
US08558217B2
A light emitting diode includes a substrate, a carbon nanotube layer, a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second semiconductor layer are stacked on one side of the substrate in that order. The first semiconductor layer is adjacent to the substrate. The carbon nanotube layer is located between the first semiconductor layer and the substrate. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer. The second electrode is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer.
US08558210B2
A resistive non-volatile memory cell with a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) access device formed in conjunction with the entire memory cell. The memory cell includes a substrate acting as a collector, a semiconductor base layer acting as a base, and a semiconductor emitter layer acting as an emitter. Additionally, metal plugs and the phase change memory element are formed above the BJT access device while the emitter, metal plugs, and phase change memory element are contained within an insulating region. In one embodiment of the invention, a spacer layer is formed and the emitter layer is contained within the protective spacer layer. The spacer layer is contained within the insulating region.
US08558209B1
Some embodiments include a memory cell having a data storage region between a pair of conductive structures. The data storage region is configured to support a transitory structure which alters resistance through the memory cell. The data storage region includes two or more portions, with one of the portions supporting a higher resistance segment of the transitory structure than another of the portions. Some embodiments include a method of forming a memory cell. First oxide and second oxide regions are formed between a pair of conductive structures. The oxide regions are configured to support a transitory structure which alters resistance through the memory cell. The oxide regions are different from one another so that one of the oxide regions supports a higher resistance segment of the transitory structure than the other.
US08558205B2
Presented is a light detection device including a first detecting portion detecting fluorescence from a first detection position on a conveyor path, a second detecting portion detecting afterglow from a second detection position on the conveyor path, a lighting portion applying excitation light over a range including the first detection position but not the second detection position, a first reference member including fluorescent material emitting fluorescence and emitting reference light toward the first detecting portion, a second reference member emitting reference light toward the second detecting portion, the reference light not influencing a result of detection by the second detecting portion, and a correction controller correcting a detection result by the first detecting portion based on the reference light detected by the first detecting portion and correcting a detection result by the second detecting portion based on the reference light detected by the second detecting portion.
US08558198B2
A beam line system includes a hollow tube and a plurality of protruding structures. The hollow tube has an inlet and an outlet. An ion beam emitted by the ion implanter is introduced into the hollow tube through the inlet and exited from the hollow tube through the outlet. The protruding structures are formed on an inner wall of the hollow tube. Each of the protruding structures has a reflective surface for reflecting a portion of the ion beam.
US08558194B2
The present invention provides in-situ health monitoring and non-destructive evaluation and early detection of corrosion, damage, failure, flaws, defects, and subsurface inspection by the generation of electromagnetic responsive surfaces, coatings and coating systems.
US08558193B2
The present invention provides a charged particle beam device in which the change of expansion/contraction of a specimen which is an observing object is restricted thereby eliminating position deviation of the observing object and significantly increasing its throughput. The present invention includes specimen holding means for holding a specimen, temperature regulation means which can regulate the temperature of the specimen, and temperature regulation means control means which can control the temperature regulation means based on various conditions.
US08558170B1
In various embodiments of the invention, a device permits more efficient collection and transmission of ions produced by the action of a carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species into a mass spectrometer. In one embodiment of the invention, the device incorporates the source for ionization in combination with a jet separator to efficiently remove excess carrier gas while permitting ions to be more efficiently transferred into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In an embodiment of the invention, improved collection of ions produced by the carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species at greater distances from between the position of the analyte and the position of the mass spectrometer are enabled.
US08558168B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for ionizing a neutral MALDI desorption plume, and in particular, for efficiently measuring the ionized MALDI desorption plume when post-ionization techniques are combined with a medium pressure MALDI-IM-oTOFMS instrument. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus that simultaneously separates tissue-sample MALDI ions by IM-oTOFMS according to their chemical family. After separation, the MALDI ions are directly compared to the ions created by post-ionizing the co-desorbed neutral molecules with a second laser wherein the second laser is delayed by a few hundred microseconds. The present disclosure further provides novel approaches that enhance the analysis of ions, including the use of giant fullerene internal standards to enhance mass accuracy, and ultraviolet (UV) declustering lasers to generate intact peptides and proteins, either of which may be followed by VUV post-ionization which generates identifiable structural fragments.
US08558165B2
A nuclear measurement tool for determining properties of a formation penetrated by a borehole fluid. The tool comprising: a nuclear source for irradiating the formation and a a plurality of nuclear sensors each operating with a different depth of investigation into the formation. The tool further comprising processing means for receiving the data from the nuclear sensors and based thereon determining the properties of the formation by taking into account the penetration of the borehole fluid.
US08558163B2
An optical navigation system and method are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes: (i) a coherent light source to emit light to illuminate a portion of a finger; and (ii) a detector to receive light reflected from the portion of the finger, the detector including a speckle-based sensor configured to sense movement of the finger relative to the detector based on changes in a complex interference pattern created by the light reflected from the portion of the finger. Other embodiments are also described.
US08558159B2
The present invention provides a radiation detection element that may suppress variation in wiring load, and that may increase the arrangement pitch of connecting portions connected to external circuits. Namely, plural pixels are disposed in an inclined matrix within a detection region, and a signal line is disposed for every two pixel lines in a vertical direction.
US08558157B2
An apparatus for applying agrochemicals within a geographical area includes a dispensing system configured for dispensing the agrochemicals and a variable rate controller operatively connected to the dispensing system and configured to control dispensement of agrochemicals from the dispensing system. The variable rate controller is programmed with an algorithm which uses a plant growth stage appropriate plug value for an initial calibration. A method for applying agrochemicals within a geographical area includes acquiring a growth stage appropriate plug value for an initial calibration, using the growth state appropriate plug value in the initial calibration, and applying agrochemicals to the geographical area according to the initial calibration.
US08558151B2
A method for correcting a trajectory of a projectile is provided, in that a laser beam is guide or rotated around a center of the instantaneous target course of a projectile in such a way that the projectile itself detects a divergence thereof and subsequently carries our a selfcorrection. A first laser beam is emitted over a certain region around the target course of the projectile that can at about the same time initiate a start of a timing process. A further rotating laser beam having a fixed rotational frequency Ω can be simultaneously positioned around the region. Via the second laser beam, the projectile recognizes a divergence thereof from the target course and initiates a correction based on the determined divergence, whereby a magnitude thereof is then used to effect the timed initiation of the correction. Thus, delays in the release are implemented in the projectile.
US08558149B2
A utensil for containing foodstuffs, applicable to cooking in a microwave oven, including a receptacle made of an elastomer material with an access opening and a cover for covering the access opening. The receptacle is formed by one or more walls including a bottom wall in elongated channel shape and opening edges defining the access opening at a height greater than the bottom. The bottom wall includes reinforcing ribs projecting outwardly from an outer surface thereof and providing supports leaving most of the outer surface of the bottom wall exposed to the surrounding atmosphere when the receptacle is on a support surface. The bottom wall is connected at its ends to end walls determining respective end opening edges configured to support lids.
US08558147B2
A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.
US08558146B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to establishing a desired position control over a workpiece by compensating for thermal cycling affecting a member supporting the workpiece during processing.
US08558144B2
A device for warming canned food, particularly pet food, includes a container, a resistive heating element, and a control device. The container has an inner wall and an outer wall; the inner wall is of a thermally conductive material at least at the bottom of the container. The heating element is located between the inner wall and outer wall at the bottom of the container. The control device, connected to the heating element, includes a thermostat effective to control a temperature at the interior floor of the container to approximately 102° F., a temperature suitable for pet food. The control device may also be variable so that the thermostat is effective to control the temperature to approximately 98° F., a temperature suitable for food intended for human consumption.
US08558143B2
A group of domestic appliances mounted next to each other and substantially similarly oriented, each domestic appliance including a plurality of operator control elements, the group of domestic appliances comprising at least two domestic appliances and wherein the plurality of operator control elements is duplicated in the at least two of domestic appliances.
US08558142B2
A universal food holding cabinet for keeping precooked food warm. The food holding cabinet includes a plurality of row assemblies that each includes first and second spaced apart heater plates to form a food holding cavity. A bezel extends across an edge of the upper heating plate of a row assembly and an edge of the lower heating plate of an adjacent row assembly. The bezel includes an air duct for cooling components associated with displays carried by the bezel. The bezel is fastened to the upper heater plate and the lower heating plate with an interlock that helps to mitigate oil migration among the row assemblies.
US08558136B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a swaging in a workpiece, wherein a laser beam is guided through a beam guide over the surface of the workpiece in order to produce said swaging. The focal position of the laser beam is controlled in such a way that it can be varied at least temporarily in depth direction of the swaging. A device for the production of a swaging (6) in a workpiece (5) has a laser light source (1) for producing a laser beam for removing material, a focus adjustment device (3) for adjusting the focal position of the laser beam, a beam guide (4) for guiding the laser beam (20) over the surface of the workpiece and a control device (7) for controlling the focus adjustment device (3) and the beam guide (4). The control device is designed to control the focal position of the laser beam by means of the focus adjustment device (3) at least temporarily to variable values in depth direction of the swaging.
US08558134B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a local plasma generator, provided to face a mounting table for mounting thereon a substrate to be processed in an airtight processing chamber, for allowing a plasma to locally react on the substrate to be processed; and a moving unit for moving the local plasma generator. The local plasma generator has an offset gas discharge mechanism for discharging an offset gas which offsets reaction of a plasma of a gas discharged from an inside of the local plasma generator.
US08558133B2
A method for setting the operating frequency of a forge welding machine for a preferred width of the of the heat affected zone during a forge weld. A computer program executes a self-tuning routine to determine the operating frequency in response to an inputted value of a preferred width of the heat affected zone. The operating power setting for the forge welding machine may also be determined in combination with the operating frequency in response to an inputted value of weld temperature.
US08558132B2
A machine and method to sort documents in a plurality of pockets includes a stacker having a tier of the plurality of pockets and two magazines positioned at the same end of the stacker. A first transport and a second transport are operably associated with the first magazine and the second magazine, respectively, and are adapted to carry the documents through the stacker. The method includes separating the documents into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being carried by a first transport through a first end of a stacker, the second portion being carried by a second transport and through a second end of the stacker, and merging the second portion with the first portion.
US08558127B2
Disclosed is a pressure switch that utilizes a dome switch having a flange surrounding the dome. The flange is anchored to a substrate such that the dome portion is in contact with a contact pad on the substrate. A pressure medium applied through passageways in the substrate flexes the dome in an elastic manner so that the dome does not contact the contact pad. When the pressure medium falls below a predetermined threshold level, the dome expands and contacts the contact pad to complete a circuit that indicates that the pressure of the pressure medium has fallen below the threshold level.
US08558123B2
An electronic component device having a first sealing frame formed on a main substrate and a second sealing frame formed on a cover substrate, the first and second sealing frames being composed of a Ni film. A bonding section constituted by a Ni—Bi alloy is formed between the first and second sealing frames. For example, a Bi layer is formed on the first sealing frame, and then the first sealing frame and the second sealing frame are heated at a temperature of 300° C. for at least 10 seconds while applying pressure in the direction in which the first sealing frame and the second sealing frame are in close contact with each other, and thus the bonding section, which bonds the first sealing frame to the second sealing frame, is formed.
US08558117B2
An electroconductive ink made with metallic nanoparticles is disclosed. The ink contains an organophosphorus acid that increases adhesion between the deposited metallic layer and the substrate to which the metallic layer is applied.
US08558112B2
A cable bus system for the mounting and positioning of high amperature, from low to high voltage electrical power cables transmitting polyphase electrical current. The cable bus system included a ventilated enclosure used to protect electrical cables mounted therein. The enclosure is provided with multiple modular cable trays which are bolted together in a stacked arrangement to form a single multi-level cable raceway. The enclosure is further provide with ventilated top and bottom covers which are secured respectively to the top and bottom of the uppermost and bottommost calve trays to define the enclosed metal circuit. The cable bus system is capable of transmitting the same highest allowable “free air” cable amperature in both above and underground installations, effectively improving the transmission of electrical power from one end to the other end in installations where a transition of electrical power from on the ground is either necessary or economically preferable. For the underground portion, the cable bus is installed in the encasement that is uniquely offset vented or power cooled to meet the cable high amperage requirements. This cable bus system is also suitable for high vertical rise installations when utilizing anti cable slip mechanism or technique.
US08558106B2
A solar cell device is provided, including a transparent substrate, a transparent conductive layer disposed over the transparent substrate, a photovoltaic element formed over the composite transparent conductive layer, and an electrode layer disposed over the photovoltaic element. In one embodiment, the transparent conductive layer includes lithium and fluorine-co-doped tin oxides, and the lithium and fluorine-co-doped tin oxides have a lithium doping concentration of about 0.2˜2.3% and a fluorine doping concentration of about 0.1˜2.5%.
US08558094B1
The present invention relates to an inbred sunflower line, designated OID687R. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred sunflower line OID687R, to the plants of inbred sunflower line OID687R and to the methods for producing a sunflower plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line OID687R with itself or another sunflower line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a sunflower plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred sunflower lines derived from the inbred OID687R.
US08558088B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV851732. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV851732, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV851732 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV851732 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV851732.
US08558085B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV877220. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV877220, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV877220 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV877220 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV877220.
US08558082B1
A novel maize variety designated PH18TN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18TN with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18TN 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 PH18TN or a locus conversion of PH18TN with another maize variety.
US08558080B1
A novel maize variety designated X13B597 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 X13B597 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13B597 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13B597, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13B597. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13B597.
US08558062B2
A sunflower seed having imidazolinone resistance and an oleic acid content of greater than 85 percent is provided. Sunflower cultivars designated E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, and OI1601B and having high oleic acid and imidazolinone resistance, plants and seeds of the E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, and OI1601B sunflower cultivars, methods for producing a sunflower plant produced by crossing the E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, or OI1601B cultivar with itself or with another sunflower plant, and hybrid sunflower seeds and plants produced by crossing the E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, or OI1601B cultivar with another sunflower line or plant are also provided.
US08558059B2
The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs and orthologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference or wild-type plant. These properties include increased tolerance to environmental stresses, including salt stress, drought, osmotic stress, water deficit, cold and heat.
US08558058B2
Expression of recombinant polysaccharide degrading enzymes in plants is described. In one embodiment, expression of the enzyme is preferentially directed to the seed of the plant. Expression may also be preferentially targeted to specific locations within the plant cell. Expression of cellulases in corn is shown. The result is the capacity to produce polysaccharide degrading enzymes in plants at commercially acceptable levels in a reliable manner. Methods of using same in production of ethanol is also described, including use of the plant-produced enzymes in the ethanol production process.
US08558050B2
A wound shield including a conformable frame to circumscribe a wound and warm water circulating system to maintain a warm environment. Any suitable dressing may be secured over the conformable frame providing separation between the wound and the dressing. The wound frame may provide pressure relief around a wound or pressure sore to permit healing. A conformable frame may be composed of one or more layers of any suitable material and may include adhesive on one or more surfaces to secure the frame to the wound site and or to secure the dressing to the conformable frame.
US08558049B2
A process for separating para-xylene from aromatic compounds is presented. The process introduces throughout a first step-time interval a first mixed xylene stream into a first feed input on a first adsorptive separation unit comprising multiple bed lines. The process further introduces throughout the first step-time interval a second mixed xylene stream into a second feed input on the first adsorptive separation unit. During a first portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a feed stream used during the first step-time interval into a bed line not used to deliver a stream into, or withdraw a stream from, the first adsorptive separation unit during the first step time interval. During a second portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a purification zone into the feed stream used during the first step-time interval.
US08558044B2
A biochar generator to be carried by a vehicle may comprise a pyrolysis chamber, an auger, a heater, and a vapor condenser each connected to the pyrolysis chamber. The biochar generator may also include a synthesis gas collection chamber to collect synthesis gas, and a bio oil collection chamber to collect bio oil, each in communication with the vapor condenser. A biochar collection chamber may be included to collect biochar dispensed from the pyrolysis chamber.
US08558043B2
A modular biomass treatment unit includes a first module having a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source. The pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical. The first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. The modular biomass treatment unit can also include additional modules each comprising a reactor, a separator, and a frame for transportation to and operation at a site such as the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source.
US08558042B2
The present invention generally relates to a method for producing a naphtha product from a renewable feedstock. The method includes hydrotreating the renewable feedstock to produce a hydrotreating unit heavy fraction that includes n-paraffins, and hydrocracking the hydrotreating unit heavy fraction to produce a hydrocracking unit product that includes the naphtha product. The method also includes separating the naphtha fraction and optionally recycling the hydrocracking unit heavy fraction through the hydrocracking unit. The present invention also relates to a biorenewable naphtha product suitable for use as feed stock for steam crackers and catalytic reforming units, and for use as fuel, or fuel blend stock.
US08558039B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for synthesizing nitroalkanes by reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with aqueous nitric acid. The apparatus may be designed such that it can synthesize more than one nitroalkane using the same equipment.
US08558033B2
The problem to be resolved by the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently synthesizing optically active lower aliphatic alcohols that have difficulty in separation from organic solvents, without using a special reactor.The present invention relates to a method for producing an optically active aliphatic alcohol having a fluorine atom at α position, wherein an optically active alcohol is produced by reacting an aliphatic ketone having a fluorine atom at α position in water using a formate, under the presence of an asymmetric catalyst represented by general formula (1) and an acid.
US08558024B2
To provide a fluorinated compound having an RF group with at most 6 carbon atoms, whereby a fluorinated polymer having a highly durable water/oil repellency can be produced, and an environmental load is little, and a fluorinated polymer having a highly durable water/oil repellency and presenting little environmental load, obtainable by polymerizing such a fluorinated compound. A fluorinated compound represented by the following formula (I) and its polymer: CH2═C(M)COO(CH2)nPhXPhZCrF2r+1 (I) (in the formula (I), M is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a halogen atom, n is an integer of from 0 to 2, Ph is a phenylene group, X is CH2O or OCH2, Z is a single bond, a C1-4 alkylene group containing an etheric oxygen atom, or COO(CH2)m (wherein m is an integer of from 1 to 4), and r is an integer of from 1 to 6).
US08558022B2
A process results in oligomerized ester alkoxylate compositions having substantially no unsaturation, which may be useful as lubricants, heat transfer fluids, plasticizers, thickening agents, surfactants, or power transmission fluids. The steps include, in either order, oligomerization of a hydroxylated fatty acid or fatty ester and quantitative reaction of unreacted carboxylic acid or ester groups with an alcohol, with the product of either reaction then being alkoxylated in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst. These oligomerized ester alkoxylates may be derived from vegetable oils to ensure high levels of renewable carbons. The compositions may exhibit desirably high viscosity index, low pour point, and high levels of renewable carbons.
US08558019B2
Thioloated taxane derivatives are linked to colloidal metal particles such as gold nanoparticles for use as antitumor agents. The antitumor agents may be targeted to tumors.
US08558016B2
A novel substance exhibiting physiologically active effects is produced from a tea leaf. A novel polyphenol derivative is produced, for example, by subjecting a microbially fermented tea leaf obtained by culturing Aspergillus sp. (PK-1) with a tea leaf, to an extraction treatment.
US08557999B2
Anatabine citrate and formulations containing anatabine citrate are useful for promoting health and well-being.
US08557995B2
A solid dispersion comprises, in essentially non-crystalline form, a kinase inhibitory compound, e.g., N-(4-{4-amino-7-[1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]thieno[3,2-c]pyridin-3-yl}phenyl)-N′-(3-fluorophenyl)urea, dispersed in a solid matrix that comprises (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymeric carrier and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant. A process for preparing such a solid dispersion comprises dissolving the compound, the polymeric carrier and the surfactant in a suitable solvent, and removing the solvent to provide a solid matrix comprising the polymeric carrier and the surfactant and having the compound dispersed in essentially non-crystalline form therein. The solid dispersion is suitable for oral administration to a subject in need thereof for treatment of a cancer.
US08557989B2
The present invention provides novel osmium-based electrochemical species for the detection of wide variety of analytes using immunological techniques. The present invention also provides diagnostic kits and test sensors supporting electrode structures that can be used with the osmium-based electrochemical species. The test sensor can be fabricated to support interdigitated arrays of electrodes that have been designed to provide amplification of the electrical signal amplification desired to analyze analytes that may be present at low concentrations.
US08557986B2
A polysaccharide derivative having a high solubility in an aqueous solvent is produced. The production method of the present invention uses a compound shown by the general formula (1) as a condensing agent and allows a polysaccharide having a carboxyl group to react with an an organic compound having a functional group capable of condensing with the carboxyl group to prepare the polysaccharide derivative: R1 and R2 independently represent a substituent selected among alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and aryl groups of 6 to 8 carbon atoms; Z−represents a counter anion; and E+represents an organic group shown as: R3, R4, and R5 independently represent an organic group having at least one carbon atom directly bound to a quaternary nitrogen atom and any two or all of R3, R4, and R5 may link together to form a cyclic structure.
US08557965B2
The present invention relates to amino acid sequences (also referred to herein as “single variable domain(s) of the invention”. “Nanobody™ of the invention” or “Nanobodies™ of the invention”, ilpolypeptide(s) of the invention”) that are directed against (as defined herein) members of the Notch signalling pathway such as the four mammalian members of the Notch Receptors (Notch-1, Notch-2, Notch-3, Notch-4, hereinafter also “Notch Receptors”) and the five mammalian members of the Notch Ligands (the Delta-like family with “DLL1”, “DLL3”, “DLL4” wherein “DLL” stands for Delta-like ligand; the Jagged family with “Jagged-1”, “Jagged-2”, hereinafter also “Notch Ligands”), as well as to constructs that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such single variable domain(s) (also referred to herein as “construct of the invention” and “constructs of the invention”, “Nanobody™ of the invention” or “Nanobodies™ of the invention”, respectively). In particular, this invention relates to Notch pathway interfering single variable domains down- or up-regulating Notch signaling (also referred to herein “Notch-antagonists” or “Notch-agonists”).
US08557938B2
The invention relates to the preparation of branched fluoropolymers having long chain branches and little or no gels, by a process involving polymerization at high temperatures using persulfates and optionally multifunctional initiators. The invention also relates to gel-free, branched polymers with strain hardening produced by the process.
US08557934B2
Disclosed is a copolymer latex obtained by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture containing (a) 30-70% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer, (b) 0.1-15% by mass of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and (c) 15-69.9% by mass of one or more other copolymerizable monomers. The copolymer latex is characterized in that the toluene in-soluble content in the dried product obtained by drying the copolymer latex is 95-100% by mass; the mass ratio of the toluene-swollen toluene insoluble content to the dried toluene insoluble content (the toluene swelling degree) is 3.0-6.5; the number average particle diameter of the copolymer latex is 180-400 nm; and the glass transition starting temperature of the dried copolymer latex is within the range from −70° C. to −20° C. and the glass transition ending temperature thereof is within the range from 10° C. to 100° C. in differential scanning calorimetry.
US08557922B2
A diamine compound of formula (I) is proposed as well as polymers, copolymers, polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters, or polyimides based on such compound.
US08557921B2
Meta-block copolymers and a process for preparing a product mixture comprising meta-block copolymers by contacting a metathesis catalyst under metathesis conditions with a composition comprising two or more ethylenically unsaturated polymers, said unsaturation defining one or more polymer segments in each ethylenically unsaturated polymer, at least one polymer segment in at least one ethylenically unsaturated polymer being chemically distinguishable from at least one polymer segment in at least one other ethylenically unsaturated polymer, characterized in that each meta-block copolymer in the product mixture comprises a random distribution of said chemically distinguishable polymer blocks.
US08557920B2
The present invention relates to a polymer composition, comprising (i) a polypropylene homopolymer, (ii) a polypropylene random copolymer, prepared by copolymerization of propylene with an olefin comonomer and having an amount of olefin comonomer units of 0.2 to 5 wt %, and (iii) an elastomeric copolymer of propylene and at least one olefin comonomer, the polymer composition having a tensile modulus, determined according to ISO 527-2/1 B at 1 mm/min. and 230 C, of at least 1200 MPa.
US08557918B2
Compositions comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a host polymer, and A block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block, wherein no block is compatible with the host polymer. In one aspect, the block copolymer is amphiphilic. In another aspect, the block copolymer may comprise a first block and a second block, wherein at least one of the first and second blocks comprises repeating units derived from a monomer having the general formula: (R)2C═C(R)(Rf) wherein Rf is selected from fluorine, a C1 to C10 fluorinated or perfluorinated alkyl group, and a C1 to C10 fluorinated or perfluorinated alkoxy group; each R is independently selected from F, H, Cl, Rf, a C1 to C10 alkyl group, and R2A, wherein R2 is a C1 to C10 alkylene group and A is selected from CO2M and SO3M, wherein M is selected from H, an ammonium and organo onium group.
US08557904B2
The invention provides a sealing device in which adhesion of an elastic member used for the sealing device is controlled, and a coefficient of friction against a member sliding against the sealing device is reduced.A sealing device includes a first member 1, a second member 2 moving relative to the first member, and an elastic member 3 fixed to the first member 1 and sliding against the second member 2, and is characterized in that: the elastic member 3 is made of a rubber composition containing a metal soap, an organic acid amide and an oil-containing particle.
US08557894B2
An ink formulation that includes a reversible color-developing complex formed from a dye precursor molecule having a triarylmethane derivative structure modified with a leaving-group (L) that disassociates from said dye precursor when subjected to environmental conditions of either a neutral or acidic pH value is described. Also the invention pertains to diagnostic indicators or absorbent personal care products that have the ink formulation applied to at least a part of the product.
US08557883B2
A functional TFE copolymer fine powder is described, wherein the TFE copolymer is a polymer of TFE and at least one functional comonomer, and wherein the TFE copolymer has functional groups that are pendant to the polymer chain. The functional TFE copolymer fine powder resin is paste extrudable and expandable. Methods for making the functional TFE copolymer are also described. The expanded functional TFE copolymer material may be post-reacted after expansion.
US08557866B2
The present invention relates to an isomeric composition comprising isomers of dinitro-octylphenyl esters, wherein the 2,6-dinitro-4-(1-propylpentyl)phenyl ester isomer is present in an amount of less than 0.1 weight percent, based on the total weight of the isomeric composition and to synergistic fungicidal mixtures therefrom.
US08557865B2
A method and composition for treating osteoarthritis with ion-channel regulators is disclosed. The ion-channel regulators are used alone or in combination with other osteoarthritis treatment agents, including but not limited to injectable agents such as viscosupplements and steroids. A composition comprising one or more ion-channel regulator(s) and one or more osteoarthritis treatment agent(s) is also disclosed.
US08557858B2
A salt of (E)-N-{2-amino-phenyl)-3-{1-[4-(1-methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)-beπzenesulfonyl]-1 H-pyrrol-3-yl)-acrylamide selected from the group consisting of the hydrobromide, methansulfonate, hemi ethane-1,2-disulfonate, benzenesulfonate, toiuenesulfonate and 2-naphthalenesulfonate.
US08557855B2
The present invention provides a method of providing neuroprotection to a mammal comprising administering to said mammal suffering from or at risk of suffering a noxious action on its nerve cells an effective amount of a ryanodine antagonist, e.g. dantrolene, to inhibit or prevent nerve cell injury or death.
US08557844B2
The present invention provides a compound which is an inhibitor of sphingolipid biosynthesis for use in the treatment of a disease which has a secondary Niemann-Pick type C disease like cellular phenotype.
US08557838B2
Pharmaceutical formulations and methods including an immune response modifier (IRM) compound and an oleic acid component are provided where stability is improved by using oleic acid have low polar impurities such as peroxides.
US08557834B2
The invention described herein relates to certain pyrimidinetrione N-substituted glycine derivatives of formula (I) which are antagonists of HIF prolyl hydroxylases and are useful for treating diseases benefiting from the inhibition of this enzyme, anemia being one example.
US08557829B2
Use of allopurinol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the treatment or prevention of palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia induced by chemotherapy. The allopurinol or its salt is administered topically to the affected areas, palms and soles, preferably in the form of a cream.
US08557828B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, and R3, are defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating DGAT-1 related diseases or conditions are also disclosed.
US08557817B2
In methods, compounds, and topical formulations for treatment of inflammatory skin disorders incorporating compounds represented by the formulas below: wherein each of R1, R2, and R3 is independently hydrogen, hologen, alkyl, or alkoxy; each of R4 and R5 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy; and each of R6 and R7 is independently hydrogen, nitro, alkyl, or alkoxy; wherein each of A1, A3, and A4 is independently hydrogen or alkyl; and A2 is independently hydrogen or hydroxy; and wherein each of B1, B2, and B3 is independently hydrogen, hydroxy, or alkoxy; and each of B4 and B5 is independently hydrogen or alkyl, applying such compounds topically as sprays, mists, aerosols, solutions, lotions, gels, creams, ointments, pastes, unguents, emulsions, and suspensions to treat inflammatory skin disorders and the symptoms associated therewith.
US08557816B2
The present invention relates to chemical compounds having a general formula I wherein A1-8, D′, L1, L2, R1, R6-8 and n are defined herein, and synthetic intermediates, which are capable of modulating various protein kinase receptor enzymes and, thereby, influencing various disease states and conditions related to the activities of such kinases. For example, the compounds are capable of modulating Aurora kinase thereby influencing the process of cell cycle and cell proliferation to treat cancer and cancer-related diseases. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions, including the compounds, and methods of treating disease states related to the activity of Aurora kinase.
US08557813B2
Compounds of the formula I in which R1, R2, R3, R4′ have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumors.
US08557804B2
Nicotine receptor agonists or analogs or derivatives thereof for treating inflammatory pulmonary diseases, and pharmaceutical compositions including nicotine receptor agonists or analogs or derivatives thereof. Compounds of formula wherein R1, R2, Xa and Ya are as defined herein are also provided.
US08557792B2
A novel method and composition for treating vitamin B12 deficiency mammals that fail to respond to oral vitamin B12 therapy.
US08557788B2
Provided herein are compositions for preventing, ameliorating, and/or reducing tissue ischemia and/or tissue damage due to ischemia, increasing blood vessel diameter, blood flow and tissue perfusion in the presence of vascular disease including peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and influencing other conditions, by suppressing CD47 and/or blocking TSP1 and/or CD47 activity or interaction. Influencing the interaction of CD47-TSP1 in blood vessels allows for control of blood vessel diameter and blood flow, and permits modification of blood pressure and cardiac function. Under conditions of decreased blood flow, for instance through injury or atherosclerosis, blocking TSP1-CD47 interaction allows blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow, tissue perfusion and tissue survival.
US08557784B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutically acceptable compound, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above-mentioned pharmaceutically acceptable compound. The pharmaceutically acceptable compound provided by the present invention is a salt of a basic group-containing morphinan derivative and a carboxyl group-containing glycyrrhizinic acid and has the ability to be used to manufacture medicaments for treating and/or preventing cough, ameliorating pains, treating respiratory system diseases, treating cardiovascular diseases and treating liver diseases.
US08557780B2
Auristatin peptides, including MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Norephedrine (MMAE) and MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Phe (MMAF), were prepared and attached to Ligands through various linkers, including maleimidocaproyl-val-cit-PAB. The resulting ligand drug conjugates were active in vitro and in vivo.
US08557772B2
Compositions and methods that are useful for modulating blood vessel formation, as well as methods that provide for the systematic and efficient identification of angiogenesis modulators are described. As discussed in more detail below, a systematic computational methodology based on bioinformatics was used to identify novel peptide modulators of angiogenesis that have been characterized in vitro and/or in vivo.
US08557771B2
Provided is a homodimer of insulinotropic peptide analogues and method for preparation thereof and use thereof, wherein the insulinotropic peptide analogue comprises GLP-1 and Exendin-4. The homodimer of insulinotropic peptide analogues of the invention is made by conjugating two identical insulinotropic peptide analogue molecules at the C-terminal Cys residues via disulfide bond or PEG molecule. The homodimer of insulinotropic peptide analogues of the invention has superior stability and biological activity in vivo, and prolonged half-life in the circulation, and can be used for the preparation of hypoglycemic drugs.
US08557769B2
The present invention provides methods of lowering body weight by administering an FGF-21 compound in combination with a GLP-1 compound. In addition, the present invention also provides methods to treat obesity by administering an FGF-21 compound in combination with a GLP-1 compound. The present invention also discloses combinations useful in the methods of the present invention.
US08557748B2
An immobilization method for immobilizing a physiologically active substance on a solid phase carrier, the method including: bringing the solid phase carrier into contact with an acid anhydride functional group-containing silane coupling agent represented by the following Formula (I); and carrying out a process of binding of the physiologically active substance to the acid anhydride functional group while maintaining the solid phase carrier after the contact at a temperature within the range of 0° C. to 60° C.; a physiologically active substance-immobilized carrier, and a carrier for immobilization are provided. Further, a carrier including a porous material treated with an acid anhydride functional group-containing silane coupling agent represented by the following Formula (I), a blocking agent that is immobilized to the porous material; and a method for producing it is provided.
US08557745B2
A method for assessment of the suitability of and/or effectiveness of a target therapy for a gastrointestinal-related disorder, such as Crohn's disease, in a subject evaluates the presence, absence, and/or magnitude of expression of one or more genes in a 10-member gene panel in a sample. The method enables identification of the effectiveness of target therapies prior to or after starting a patient on such therapies.
US08557737B2
The present invention relates to the use of sulfonylurea compounds to alter physical and/or growth characteristics of poppy plants.
US08557736B2
The present invention is directed to the treatment of a plant at the flowering or fruiting stage to reduce the number of fruits that the plant sets and grows to maturity with an effective amount of abscisic acid or its salts, derivatives or analogs.
US08557732B2
A coating material capable of making a coating surface smoother, improving glossiness and being suitably used especially as a thermosensitive recording material, is provided, along with a method for producing the same. As a means for realizing the foregoing, there is provided a coating material produced by a multilayer simultaneous coating process, including: an outermost coating surface having moisture evaporation pores, wherein the moisture evaporation pores are 1.5 μm or less in average diameter. And there is a method for producing the coating material, including: simultaneously depositing two or more types of coating solutions over a continuously running web, and drying the coating solutions, wherein a coating solution which constitutes a coating other than an outermost coating surface is formed of a dispersion solution, and dispersed particles contained in the dispersion solution are 1 μm or less in average diameter.
US08557731B2
The present invention relates in general to a method for obtaining particulate calcium carbonate and activated carbon particles and methods for using same, and more particularly, to a method for obtaining activated carbon particles having an average particle size less than about 12 microns from a pulp mill.
US08557727B2
A method of forming a catalyst, comprising: providing a plurality of support particles and a plurality of mobility-inhibiting particles, wherein each support particle in the plurality of support particles is bonded with its own catalytic particle; and bonding the plurality of mobility-inhibiting particles to the plurality of support particles, wherein each support particle is separated from every other support particle in the plurality of support particles by at least one of the mobility-inhibiting particles, and wherein the mobility-inhibiting particles are configured to prevent the catalytic particles from moving from one support particle to another support particle.
US08557724B2
A semiconductor porcelain composition is prepared by separately preparing a composition of (BaR)TiO3 (R is La, Dy, Eu, Gd or Y) and a composition of (BiNa)TiO3, and calcining the composition of (BaR)TiO3 at a temperature of 900° C. through 1300° C. and calcining the composition of (BiNa)TiO3 at a temperature of 700° C. through 950° C., and then mixing, forming and sintering the calcined powders. Similarly, a semiconductor porcelain composition is prepared by separately preparing a composition of (BaM)TiO3 (M is Nb, Ta or Sb) and a composition of (BiNa)TiO3, and calcining the composition of (BaM)TiO3 at a temperature of 900° C. through 1300° C. and calcining the composition of (BiNa)TiO3 at a temperature of 700° C. through 950° C., and then mixing, forming and sintering the calcined powders.
US08557720B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to process a substrate having a front surface including a dielectric, a substrate support member provided within the processing chamber to support the substrate, a microwave supplying unit configured to supply a microwave to a front surface side of the substrate supported on the substrate support member; and a conductive substrate cooling unit which is provided at a rear surface side of the substrate supported on the substrate support member and has an opposing surface facing the rear surface of the substrate. A distance between the top of the substrate support member and the opposing surface of the substrate cooling unit corresponds to an odd multiple of ¼ wavelength of the microwave supplied when the substrate is processed.
US08557706B2
A substrate processing method that forms an opening, which has a size that fills the need for downsizing a semiconductor device and is to be transferred to an amorphous carbon film, in a photoresist film of a substrate to be processed. Deposit is accumulated on a side wall surface of the opening in the photoresist film using plasma produced from a deposition gas having a gas attachment coefficient S of 0.1 to 1.0 so as to reduce the opening width of the opening.
US08557705B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which an insulating film is filled between patterns etched into a workpiece structure is disclosed. The method includes cleaning etch residues residing between the etched patterns by a first chemical liquid; rinsing the workpiece structure cleaned by the first chemical liquid by a rinse liquid; and coating the workpiece structure rinsed by the rinse liquid with a coating liquid for formation of the insulating film. The cleaning to the coating are carried out within the same processing chamber such that a liquid constantly exists between the patterns of the workpiece structure.
US08557699B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device where, even in a case of stacking a plurality of semiconductor elements provided over a substrate, the stacked semiconductor elements can be electrically connected through the substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. According to one feature of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of selectively forming a depression in an upper surface of a substrate or forming an opening which penetrates the upper surface through a back surface; forming an element group having a transistor so as to cover the upper surface of the substrate and the depression, or the opening; and exposing the element group formed in the depression or the opening by thinning the substrate from the back surface. A means for thinning the substrate can be performed by partially removing the substrate by performing grinding treatment, polishing treatment, etching by chemical treatment, or the like from the back surface of the substrate.
US08557698B2
A method for producing a micromechanical and/or nanomechanical device includes partial etching of at least one sacrificial layer arranged between a first layer and a substrate, forming at least one cavity in which is arranged at least one portion of the sacrificial layer in contact with the first layer and/or the substrate. The method also includes chemical transformation of at least one wall of the first layer and/or the substrate in the cavity, delimiting at least one stop in the first layer and/or the substrate at the level of the portion of the sacrificial layer. The portion of the sacrificial layer and the chemically transformed wall of the first layer and/or the substrate is also eliminated.
US08557696B2
A method for forming a split gate flash cell device provides for forming floating gate transistors. Each floating gate transistor is formed by providing a floating gate transistor substructure including an oxide disposed over a polysilicon gate disposed over a gate oxide disposed on a portion of a common source. Nitride spacers are formed along sidewalls of the floating gate transistor substructure and cover portions of the gate oxide that terminate at the sidewalls. An isotropic oxide etch is performed with the nitride spacers intact. The isotropic etch laterally recedes opposed edges of the oxide inwardly such that a width of the oxide is less than a width of the polysilicon gate. An inter-gate dielectric is formed over the floating gate transistor substructure and control gates are formed over the inter-gate dielectric to form the floating gate transistors.
US08557692B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor wafer; and forming a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) including implanting the semiconductor wafer using a hot-implantation to form an implanted region in the FinFET. The implanted region comprises a region selected from the group consisting essentially of a lightly doped source and drain region, a pocket region, and a deep source drain region.
US08557686B1
Embodiments relate to a method of forming a graphene-based memory device. The method includes forming a forming a first graphene layer on an first insulator layer, and forming a second insulation layer on the first graphene layer. The method further includes forming a second graphene layer on the second insulation layer and forming an opening in the second insulation layer to expose a portion of the first graphene layer and a portion of the second graphene layer and to suspend the exposed portion of the second graphene layer in the opening.
US08557678B2
The invention belongs to the technical field of high-voltage, large-power devices and in particular relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate of a large-power device. According to the method, the ion implantation is carried out on the front face of a floating zone silicon wafer first, then a high-temperature resistant metal is used as a medium to bond the back-off floating zone silicon wafer, and a heavily CZ-doped silicon wafer forms the semiconductor substrate. After bonding, the floating zone silicon wafer is used to prepare an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and the heavily CZ-doped silicon wafer is used as the low-resistance back contact, so the required amount of the floating zone silicon wafers used is reduced, and production cost is lowered. Meanwhile, the back metallization process is not required after bonding, so the processing procedures are simplified, and the production yield is enhanced.
US08557675B2
Disclosed herein are methods of patterning features in a structure, such as a layer of material used in forming integrated circuit devices or in a semiconducting substrate, using a multiple sidewall image transfer technique. In one example, the method includes forming a first mandrel above a structure, forming a plurality of first spacers adjacent the first mandrel, forming a plurality of second mandrels adjacent one of the first spacers, and forming a plurality of second spacers adjacent one of the second mandrels. The method also includes performing at least one etching process to selectively remove the first mandrel and the second mandrels relative to the first spacers and the second spacers and thereby define an etch mask comprised of the first spacers and the second spacer and performing at least one etching process through the etch mask on the structure to define a plurality of features in the structure.
US08557666B2
Methods are provided for fabricating integrated circuits. One method includes etching a plurality of trenches into a silicon substrate and filling the trenches with an insulating material to delineate a plurality of spaced apart silicon fins. A layer of undoped silicon is epitaxially grown to form an upper, undoped region of the fins. Dummy gate structures are formed overlying and transverse to the plurality of fins and a back fill material fills between the dummy gate structures. The dummy gate structures are removed to expose a portion of the fins and a high-k dielectric material and a work function determining gate electrode material are deposited overlying the portion of the fins. The back fill material is removed to expose a second portion and metal silicide contacts are formed on the second portion. Conductive contacts are then formed to the work function determining material and to the metal silicide.
US08557665B2
A lateral double-gate FET structure with sub-lithographic source and drain regions is disclosed. The sub-lithographic source and drain regions are defined by a sacrificial spacer. Self-aligned metal-semiconductor alloy and metal contacts are made to the sub-lithographic source and drain using conventional silicon processing.
US08557656B2
A non-planar transistor having floating body structures and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the transistor includes a fin having upper and lower doped regions. The upper doped regions may form a source and drain separated by a shallow trench formed in the fin. During formation of the fin, a hollow region may be formed underneath the shallow trench, isolating the source and drain. An oxide may be formed in the hollow region to form a floating body structure, wherein the source and drain are isolated from each other and the substrate formed below the fin. In some embodiments, independently bias gates may be formed adjacent to walls of the fin. In other embodiments, electrically coupled gates may be formed adjacent to the walls of the fin.
US08557641B2
An object is to provide a high reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor having stable electric characteristics. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region, heat treatment (which is for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed so as to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor film and reduce impurities such as moisture. Besides impurities such as moisture existing in the oxide semiconductor film, heat treatment causes reduction of impurities such as moisture existing in the gate insulating layer and those in interfaces between the oxide semiconductor film and films which are provided over and below the oxide semiconductor film and are in contact with the oxide semiconductor film.
US08557633B2
A technique that makes it possible to enhance the reliability of a module using PCB as its module substrate is provided. Solder connection of a single-chip component 43, an integrated chip component 44, and a semiconductor chip IC2 by Pb-free solder is carried out by heat treatment at a temperature below 280° C. using a heat block. Solder connection of a semiconductor chip IC1 by high-melting point solder is carried out by heat treatment at a temperature of 280° C. or higher using a hot jet. Thus, the semiconductor chip IC1 can be solder connected to PCB 38 using high-melting point solder without the following troubles: damage to the PCB 38 due to heat, for example, burning of solder resist; and peeling of prepreg from a core material. Therefore, the semiconductor chip IC1 can be mounted over the PCB 38 with high connection strength.
US08557632B1
A method to process an Integrated Circuit device including processing a first layer of first transistors, then processing a first metal layer overlaying the first transistors and providing at least one connection to the first transistors, then processing a second metal layer overlaying the first metal layer, then processing a second layer of second transistors overlaying the second metal layer, wherein the second metal layer is connected to provide power to at least one of the second transistors.
US08557631B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for fast and precise alignment and mounting of a top die onto an interposer wafer. The method is performed by applying a hydrophobic self assembled monolayer to a carrier wafer in a pattern defining a top die placement region correlating to an arrangement of a top die on an interposer wafer. A liquid is provided into the top die placement region and a top die is placed into contact with the liquid. The surface tension of the liquid automatically aligns the top die by generating a force causing the top die to overlap with the top die placement region. The liquid is then eliminated and the top die is affixed to the carrier wafer. The carrier wafer is bonded to the interposer wafer, bringing the top die into contact with an interposer.
US08557629B1
Disclosed is a semiconductor device having overlapped via apertures formed in an encapsulant to outwardly expose solder balls. When different types of semiconductor devices are electrically connected to the solder balls through the overlapped via apertures, flux or solder paste is unlikely to contact sidewall portions of the overlapped via apertures. Therefore, different types of semiconductor devices can be mounted with improved efficiency.
US08557628B2
The disclosed subject matter includes a method of producing zinc oxide (ZnO) single crystals in an enclosure. The ZnO single crystals have a low concentration of lithium and hydrogen impurities.
US08557626B2
Disclosed is a method for forming an image sensor device. First, a lens is provided, and a first sacrificial element is then formed on the lens. Subsequently, an electromagnetic interference layer is formed on the lens and the first sacrificial element, and the first sacrificial element and the electromagnetic interference layer thereon are removed to form an electromagnetic interference pattern having an opening exposing a selected portion of the lens. A second sacrificial element is formed in the opening to cover a center region of the selected portion of the lens, while a peripheral region of the selected portion of the lens remains exposed. Next, a light-shielding layer is formed on the electromagnetic interference pattern, the second sacrificial element, and the peripheral region of the selected portion of the lens. Thereafter, the second sacrificial element and the light-shielding pattern thereon are removed to expose the center region of the selected portion of the lens as a light transmitting region.
US08557625B1
A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a substrate comprising an absorber layer and an overlying window layer. The substrate is loaded into a chamber and subjected to a vacuum environment. The vacuum environment is at a pressure ranging from 0.1 Torr to about 0.02 Torr. In a specific embodiment, a mixture of reactant species derived from diethylzinc species, water species and a carrier gas is introduced into the chamber. The method further introduces a diborane species using a selected flow rate into the mixture of reactant species. A zinc oxide film is formed overlying the window layer to define a transparent conductive oxide using the selected flow rate to provide a resistivity of about 2.5 milliohm-cm and less and an average grain size of about 3000 to 5000 Angstroms.
US08557619B2
A method of manufacturing LED display is provided. The method provides a sacrificial substrate on which RGB LED device layers are formed, respectively. The method etches and patterns the LED device layer to manufacture RGB LED devices, respectively. The method removes the sacrificial substrate in a lower side of the LED device. The method contacts a stamping processor to the RGB LED devices to separate the RGB LED devices from the sacrificial substrate. The method transfers the LED device, which is attached to the stamping processor, to a receiving substrate.
US08557610B2
Methods and apparatus for shielding a shielding a non-volatile memory, such as shielding a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device from a magnetic flux are provided. In an example, a shielding layer is formed adjacent to an electrode of an MTJ device, such that the shielding layer substantially surrounds a surface of the electrode, and a metal line is coupled to the shielding layer. The metal line can be coupled to the shielding layer by a via.
US08557602B2
Disclosed are a method for early, sensitively and reliably detecting and distinguishing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a malignant tumor occurring primarily in the liver in a simple way, and a kit thereof. In the method, a glycan biomarker consisting of a lectin WFA (Wisteria floribunda Agglutinin)-binding glycoprotein derived from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is used as a cancer marker to detect intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by detecting the cancer marker in a test specimen. The method for detecting intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma can clearly differentiate intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma and enables early detection and determination with a performance clinically acceptable in terms of applicability, sensitivity and precision.
US08557597B2
A total organic carbon measuring instrument including a measuring unit composed of, integrated together, organic substance oxidation part and carbon dioxide separation part and conductivity measuring part, control unit and data processing unit. In order to enhance the accuracy of conductivity measurement, the control unit is constructed so as to stop feeding of a sample water at the time of oxidation of organic substance and carry out feeding of the sample water at the time of sample water moving to the organic substance oxidation decomposition part and carbon dioxide separation part. The data processing unit is constructed so as to measure the total organic carbon concentration on the basis of conductivity at the time of arriving of sample water irradiated with ultraviolet rays of which relative intensity is a given value or higher at the carbon dioxide separation part.
US08557594B2
A method for determining chromium content in a tungsten matrix with singly or simultaneously added chromium and vanadium, characterized in that a test sample is subjected to melting with sodium peroxide and hot water leaching; meanwhile said sodium peroxide is also used as an oxidizing agent to oxidize all the chromium to high valences; the main body of tungsten is coordinated by ammonium hydrogen fluoride to prevent tungstic acid from precipitating; precipitation and turbidity are avoided throughout the analysis, titration can be carried out in a quite clear condition with accurate and reliable results. In this invention, the clearness of the solution when titrating is very important for the accuracy of titrimetric analysis; the solution is always clear throughout the determination, ensuring that the interference with determination of chromium from vanadium is accurately and quantitatively eliminated; the interference from vanadium is eliminated by subtraction method, by means of titrating with ferrous ammonium sulfate standard solution after oxidation with potassium permanganate. In this invention, the determination method allows the determination to be carried out in the quite clear condition, and eliminates the interference from vanadium completely and quantitatively, thus the accuracy and speed of the determination of chromium content in a tungsten matrix with singly or simultaneously added chromium and vanadium are improved.
US08557589B2
A new method to determine by quantitative analysis the amount of dye present in dyed engine oils is provided. The method uses imaging techniques, such as spectrophotometry, and a combination of dilution and standard addition techniques to quantitatively determine the concentration of dye in the engine oil to ascertain whether dye concentrations in engine oil have decreased as compared with original specifications, and to quantify the amount of dye to be added to the dyed engine oil to bring dye concentrations to original concentrations.
US08557587B2
Disclosed is a self-tuning flow cytometer that uses a mathematical model to perform sort decisions that is based upon the biological response of the particular types of cells that are being sorted. In one embodiment, statistical calculations of the likelihood of an event belonging to a certain population are used to make the sort decisions. Automated self-tuning processes are used to optimize the operating parameters of the flow cytometer to achieve a selected purity with higher yield at optimal sorting speeds. The fully automated processes minimize user input and allows the user to select a desired purity while maximizing yield.
US08557586B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a cellulose degradable yeast, comprising the step of co-introducing genes coding for at least two cellulose-degrading enzymes into a yeast host via integration with a yeast δ sequence. According to the invention, a yeast having an improved cellulose degradation ability are provided.
US08557584B2
The stem cell (1) includes a cellular DNA (2) comprising a plurality of sequences coding different genes and promoters allowing DNA-protein-interactions, at least one protein molecule (3) generated by means of a specific stimulus (12) and at least one DNA-molecule (6) artificially introduced into the stem cell (1).The artificially introduced DNA-molecule (6) comprises at least one binding site sequence (30) being apt to interact with the protein molecule (3), at least one DNA-sequence (40) coding an indicator molecule (5) and at least one minimal promoter sequence (50), allowing the gene expression of said indicator molecule (5), whereby the stem cell further includes at least one indicator molecule (5) having properties allowing its identification and is produced by synthesis of the DNA-sequence (40) coding an indicator molecule (5) of the artificially introduced DNA-molecule (6).
US08557583B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture support making the detachment of a cell sheet easy as well as enabling the formation of a uniform cell sheet. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cell culture support having a temperature responsive polymer immobilized onto the surface thereof via covalent bonding, the method including a coating step in which a composition including a monomer that can form the polymer by polymerization by radiation irradiation, an organic solvent and, in some cases, a prepolymer formed by polymerization of the monomer is coated onto the substrate having a surface containing a material which can be covalently bonded to the temperature responsive polymer by radiation irradiation to form a film on the surface of the substrate, a radiation irradiation step in which a polymerization reaction and a binding reaction between the substrate surface and the temperature responsive polymer are allowed to proceed by irradiating radiation to the film, and a drying step to dry the film.
US08557576B2
The present disclosure provides ex vivo-derived mineralized three-dimensional bone constructs. The bone constructs are obtained by culturing osteoblasts and osteoclast precursors under randomized gravity vector conditions. Preferably, the randomized gravity vector conditions are obtained using a low shear stress rotating bioreactor, such as a High Aspect Ratio Vessel (HARV) culture system. The bone constructs of the disclosure have utility in physiological studies of bone formation and bone function, in drug discovery, and in orthopedics.
US08557574B2
A very safe and useful agent for inhibiting fungal growth and the like are provided by the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides (1) an agent for inhibiting fungal growth comprising hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof excluding a heavy metal salt as the active ingredient, and a method for inhibiting fungal growth, which comprises at least a step of allowing hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof excluding a heavy metal salt to contact with a fungus, (2) an agent for reinforcing activity of inhibiting fungal growth possessed by a cell, which comprises a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase as the active ingredient, (3) a method for reinforcing activity of inhibiting fungal growth of a cell, which comprises at least a step of transfecting a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase into the cell, and (4) a method for inhibiting fungal growth, which comprises at least a step of allowing a cell transfected with a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase to contact with a fungus.
US08557573B2
The present invention relates to a vector particle for transferring biological material into cells, wherein said vector particle comprises at least: —a first protein which comprises the transmembrane and extracellular domains of the feline endogenous RD114 virus envelope glycoprotein, and —a second protein which comprises a ligand of the c-Kit receptor.
US08557572B2
A culture apparatus comprising: a fan configured to circulate air inside a culture chamber in a predetermined direction in the culture chamber; a duct configured to guide air circulating inside the culture chamber along a wall face inside the culture chamber from an upper part to a lower part of the culture chamber; and a gas generator detachable from a predetermined position at a lower part of the duct, the gas generator being configured to take in air discharged from a lower part of the duct and discharge together with the air taken in a hydrogen peroxide gas to sterilize the inside of the culture chamber generated from a hydrogen peroxide solution into the culture chamber.
US08557563B2
Disclosed are drying methods for preserving cultures of methanogens and dried cultures obtained by the disclosed drying methods. The dried cultures of methanogens may be reconstituted and utilized to bioaugment anaerobic digester systems.
US08557559B2
Provided is Sphingomonas paucimobilis (SEQ ID NO. 1) having base sequences of which a sequence number is 1, being deposited with a deposition number KCTC 11771BP, and being used for specifically measuring aromatic hydrocarbons as a contaminant in a sample.
US08557558B2
The present specification disclose polynucleotide molecules encoding an enterokinase, yeast expression constructs including a yeast expression vector and a polynucleotide molecules encoding an enterokinase, yeast cells comprising such a yeast expression construct, methods of producing enterokinase using such yeast cells, and method of cleaving or preparing a recombinant polypeptide using an enterokinase produced by such methods.
US08557551B2
The invention provides novel methods for making or modifying oils, e.g., plant, animal or microbial oils, such as vegetable oils or related compounds, that are low in a particular fatty acid(s), for example, low linoleic oils, low linolenic oils, low palmitic oils, low stearic oils or oils low in a combination thereof.
US08557533B2
The present invention relates specific activation of a regulatory T cell via a specific CD4 epitope and uses thereof, e.g. for the treatment of an autoimmune disease or an allergy or asthma or graft rejection or tolerance induction.
US08557532B2
Disclosed herein are diagnostic and prognostic methods for determining drug sensitivity and resistance in Ewing's sarcoma patients. Treatments for drug-resistant Ewing's sarcoma are also disclosed. The assays involve the detection of GSTM4 gene expression alone or in combination with other clinical factors. The tests are suitable for diagnosing and monitoring treatment of patients having or suspected of having Ewing's sarcoma. The disclosure also relates to inhibitors of GSTM4 for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma, including drug-resistant forms thereof.
US08557528B2
The present invention relates to the detection of tumor stem cells and tumor cells in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and uses of such methods.According to the present invention said method comprises a selecting step for selection or enrichment of said predetermined cells from the sample wherein the sample is contacted with the solid surface for preferential binding of said predetermined cells to the solid surface and then the sample is removed from the solid surface in a washing step. The inventive method is characterized in that the sample contains a polyol at least during one of contacting the sample with the solid surface and the washing step and in a detection step detecting in said cells, preferentially selected or enriched by said selecting step, the presence or absence of expression of at least one marker associated with at least one of the group comprising tumor stem cells and tumor cells in epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
US08557512B2
This invention is directed to a general method for the chronic treatment, potential cure, or prevention of various metabolic and related diseases in people, including diabetes, by modulating IRS2 activity in cells and tissues in the body. IRS1 and IRS2 are part of the insulin or insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway. By upregulating the levels or functional activity of IRS2, insulin is used more efficiently by the body to control nutrient levels. By upregulating IRS2 levels or functional activity in pancreatic β-cells, glucose sensing and insulin secretion are enhanced.
US08557511B2
A method and an apparatus are described for infiltrating tissue samples with carrier material, preferably paraffin. A supply of carrier material is kept ready for use in a supply station. From there, the carrier material can be delivered into at least a first and a second container. In these first and second containers carrier materials of differing degrees of purity are kept ready for use, respectively, for performing various infiltration steps on tissue samples. By means of the described method and apparatus the tissue processor can be operated with as little interruptions as possible and an ease in operation is achieved.
US08557506B2
The invention concerns a method of fabricating a metallic microstructure, characterized in that it includes the steps consisting in forming a photosensitive resin mold by a LIGA-UV type process, and in the uniform, galvanic deposition of a layer of a first metal and then a layer of a second metal form a block, which approximately reaches the top surface of the photosensitive resin.
US08557498B2
A photosensitive resin composition is used that comprises a photosensitive silicone having a styryl group as a photosensitive group, and a photopolymerization initiator having a specific structure. As a result, a photosensitive resin composition capable of being cured in air by photopolymerization that is preferable for use as a buffer coat material or rewiring layer of an LSI chip, a method for forming a cured relief pattern using this photosensitive resin composition, and a semiconductor device comprising the cured relief pattern are provided.
US08557493B2
Environmentally friendly toner particles are provided which may include a bio-based amorphous polyester resin, optionally in combination with another amorphous resin and/or a crystalline resin. Methods for providing these toners are also provided. In embodiments, the bio-based amorphous polyester resin is modified with a multi-functional bio-based acid, thereby providing acid-functionalized polyesters, which can be readily emulsified in emulsion aggregation processes for toner fabrication.
US08557491B2
A toner according to the present invention contains at least a polyester resin as a binder resin, a colorant, a releasing agent, a fixing-assisting component, and a fatty acid, wherein the fixing-assisting component has a melting point of 60° C. to 120° C. and contains at least one of an esterified compound obtained by esterification of the fatty acid and an amide compound obtained by amidation of the fatty acid.
US08557488B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a surface layer that contains a polymer produced by the polymerization of a compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group. The compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group is a compound represented by the following formula (1).
US08557482B2
According to embodiments of the invention, a fuel cell fluid flow field plate is provided. The fuel cell fluid flow field plate includes a flexible substrate including a fluid distribution zone having at least one flow channel, a manifold penetrating the flexible substrate and next to the fluid distribution zone, an upward extending portion extending upward at a position near an interface between the manifold and the fluid distribution zone, wherein a bend angle is between the upward extending portion and the fluid distribution zone, and the upward extending portion has at least one through-hole penetrating through the flexible substrate to expose the manifold, and a cover extending portion linking with the upward extending portion and covering a portion of the fluid distribution zone.
US08557479B2
A power generator including one or more fuel cells, a fuel chamber enclosing a hydrogen generating fuel, and one or more slideable cylindrical valves in contact with the fuel chamber. The one or more valves include an inner cylindrical component with first perforations, and a slideable cylindrical component with second perforations and having a plurality of separated flexible sections. The valves are useful in controlling the flow of hydrogen into the anode portion of the fuel cell.
US08557477B2
A fuel cell stack including a first end plate, a second end plate, at least a fuel cell, a first current collector and a second current collector is provided. The first end plate includes a first end plate structure component, which is combined with a first end plate manifold component. The second end plate includes a second end plate structure component, which is combined with a second end plate manifold component. The first and the second end plate manifold components are placed between the first and the second end plate structure components, while the fuel cell is disposed between the first and the second end plate manifold components. The first current collector is disposed between the first end plate manifold component and the fuel cell. The second current collector is disposed between the second end plate manifold component and the fuel cell.
US08557473B2
Crosslinked sulfonated triblock copolymers exhibit lower methanol permeability and good physical strength relative to the perfluorinated proton conductive membranes typically used in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells. Examples of triblock copolymers that can be used as fuel cell membranes include SEBS, SIBS, and SEPS. The chemically cross-linked and sulfonated SIBS, SEBS, and SEPS exhibit lower swelling and tolerate higher sulfonation levels than the un-cross-linked counterparts. These copolymers are easily sulfonated using known procedures and can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost of the typical perfluorinated proton conductive membranes.
US08557469B2
A direct oxidation fuel cell including at least one cell, the cell being a stacked body including: a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; an anode-side separator having a fuel flow channel for supplying a liquid fuel to the anode; and a cathode-side separator having an oxidant flow channel for supplying an oxidant to the cathode, in which the anode-side separator includes a first region including an upstream half of the fuel flow channel and a second region including a downstream half of the fuel flow channel, the anode includes an anode catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane and an anode diffusion layer in contact with the anode-side separator, the anode catalyst layer includes an anode catalyst and a polymer electrolyte, the anode catalyst layer includes an upstream-side region facing the first region and a downstream-side region facing the second region, and the content of the polymer electrolyte in the anode catalyst layer is higher at the upstream-side region than at the downstream-side region.
US08557466B2
A fuel cell having a capability of making uniform a water distribution in an in-plane direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane and supplying a reactive gas to an air electrode catalyst layer efficiently is provided. The fuel cell of the present invention has a polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst electrodes, and a pair of metal separators. An air electrode separator has an oxidizing gas flow channel used to supply an oxidizing gas to the catalyst electrodes. The oxidizing gas flow channel is formed in such a manner that a flow channel near an oxidizing gas supply manifold and a flow channel near an oxidizing gas exhaust manifold are adjacent to each other in the same plane, and is formed in an S-shaped or spiral pattern.
US08557455B2
A method for controlling the anode pressure of a fuel cell is disclosed, with hydrogen fed to the anode via a feed-pressure control unit, and a gas/condensate mixture periodically discharged from the anode via a discharge-pressure control unit into a reservoir, with the gas portion fed back to the anode. To effect feedback of hydrogen the pressure in the reservoir is adapted to that in the hydrogen feed means during discharge, whereupon the discharge-pressure control unit is closed and the feed-pressure control unit and a feedback-pressure control unit are controlled such that the pressure in the reservoir changes due to consumption at the anode until a desired pressure in the reservoir is reached and/or a preset pressure in the anode is reached, whereupon the feedback-pressure control unit and the feed-pressure control unit are controlled such that the pressure in the anode adapts to a preset desired value.
US08557441B2
A method for forming a nanocomposite material, the nanocomposite material formed thereby, and a battery made using the nanocomposite material. Metal oxide and graphene are placed in a solvent to form a suspension. The suspension is then applied to a current collector. The solvent is then evaporated to form a nanocomposite material. The nanocomposite material is then electrochemically cycled to form a nanocomposite material of at least one metal oxide in electrical communication with at least one graphene layer.
US08557437B2
An electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery having a collector, an active-material layer formed on the collector and a protecting layer formed on the active-material layer, in which the protecting layer contains an organic particle formed of poly(methyl methacrylate) having a crosslinked structure, and the organic particle has an average particle size (D50) of 0.5 to 4.0 μm.
US08557425B2
A battery pack apparatus has a plurality of battery cell units that are stacked together in generally parallel relation. The battery cell units are configured to define converging air flow spaces therebetween. An air inlet header provides a converging air inlet plenum that is situated adjacent one side of the battery cell units and an air outlet header provides a diverging air outlet plenum that is situated adjacent an opposite side of the battery cell units. A blower or fan forces air into the air inlet plenum. The air flows through the air flow spaces between the battery cell units to cool the battery cell units. The speed of the air increases as it advances through the air inlet plenum and the plurality of air flow spaces.
US08557422B2
Disclosed herein is a secondary battery including two or more stacking-folding type cells (‘unit cells’) manufactured by winding small-sized electrode assemblies (‘bicells’) constructed in a stacking type structure in which electrodes having the same polarity are located at opposite sides of each electrode assembly and small-sized electrode assemblies (‘full cells’) constructed in a stacking type structure in which electrodes having different polarities are located at opposite sides of each electrode assembly using a long separator sheet, wherein the unit cells are mounted in a battery case, each unit cell has one or more electrode terminals protruding from each end of each unit cell, and the unit cells are mounted in a receiving part of the battery case such that the unit cells are arranged in a stacking arrangement structure or a plane arrangement structure while the electrode terminals of the unit cells are connected with each other. According to the present invention, the electrical and physical coupling force between the unit cells is increased. Consequently, the high-capacity secondary battery according to the present invention exhibits an improved structural stability. In addition, it is possible to greatly increase the capacity of the secondary battery according to the present invention through a simple assembly process.
US08557420B2
Provided is a secondary battery, comprising an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator; and a case having a receiving portion for receiving the electrode assembly and an electrolyte therein, the secondary battery comprising: a blowing agent applied onto at least one of a first tab and a second tab in a width direction of the tab, the first and second tabs being, respectively, connected to the first and second electrode plates and connected to leads which extend through the case.
US08557419B2
An electrochemical cell battery is disclosed having current collecting terminals acting as security device. The battery includes a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series or parallel. Each electrochemical cell has a current collecting terminal connecting the positive current collectors together and a current collecting terminal connecting the negative current collectors together. The current collecting terminals each have a folded extension arm for electrically connecting two adjacent electrochemical cells together. The folded extension arms have a shape memory characteristic and are electrically connected together via a welding metal having a fusion temperature Tf of less than 180° C. whereby if a temperature of an electrochemical cells rises above the fusion temperature Tf of the welding metal, the welded connection melts and the folded extension arms of the current collecting terminals spring back to their initial shape thereby severing the electrical connection between the electrochemical cells.
US08557417B2
A secondary battery includes a case comprising a body having a cavity and a cover sealed to the body; and an electrode assembly in the cavity, the electrode assembly including a first electrode plate having a coated portion coated with a first active material and an uncoated portion not coated with the first active material; a second electrode plate having a coated portion coated with a second active material; and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, wherein the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate and the separator are stacked together, and wherein the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate have substantially the same surface area.
US08557414B2
A system and method for maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration while charging a metal-air battery pack is provided, the system utilizing an on-board means for collecting and storing the oxygen-rich effluent generated during the charge cycle.
US08557413B2
A method of charging and discharging a lithium secondary battery in which a negative electrode comprises an active material including silicon provided on a current collector which is a metal which does not form an alloy with lithium. The method is characterized in that the lithium secondary battery is charged and discharged within a range of state of charge (SOC) at which no peak corresponding to a compound of lithium and silicon is observed in an X-ray diffraction pattern during charging using CuKα-radiation as the X-ray source.
US08557410B2
An electrode group E in which a positive electrode 1 and a negative electrode 2 are spirally-rolled interposing a separator 3 is contained in a bottomed cylindrical can 4. A metal exposure portion 1a provided on an end surface of the positive electrode 1 of the electrode group E or a metal-made current collecting plate 9 electrically connected to the metal exposure portion 1a (called a current collecting portion of a positive electrode) and a cover body 8 also functioning as a positive electrode terminal are electrically connected by a metal lead plate 5. One or more electrolyte resistant metal pressers 10 are arranged and electrically connected between the current collecting portion of the positive electrode and the cover body 8. The electrode group E is applied pressure by the cover body 8 and the bottom portion 4a of the bottomed cylindrical can 4.
US08557409B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed that enables a high track density while maintaining good OW characteristics, SNR, and thermal stability. The medium includes a magnetic recording layer on a non-magnetic base, wherein the magnetic recording layer includes a first magnetic layer, a first exchange coupling control layer, a second magnetic layer, a third magnetic layer, and a fourth magnetic layer, in that order. It is preferable that when the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constants of the first magnetic layer, second magnetic layer, third magnetic layer, and fourth magnetic layer are Ku1, Ku2, Ku3, and Ku4 respectively, relationships of Ku4>Ku3>Ku2 and Ku1>Ku3>Ku2 are satisfied.
US08557408B2
A recording medium having a substrate, a first soft magnetic underlayer, a second soft magnetic underlayer and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer without a spacer layer between the first and second soft magnetic underlayers is disclosed.
US08557406B2
A coated polycrystalline cubic boron nitride cutting insert useful in a cutting tool for removing material from a workpiece, and a method for making the same. The cutting insert including a polycrystalline cubic boron nitride substrate with a rake surface and at least one flank surface, and a cutting edge formed at the juncture between the rake surface and the flank surface. A wear-resistant coating scheme is on the polycrystalline cubic boron nitride substrate. The wear-resistant coating scheme includes the following coating layers. An inner coating layer region is on at least some of the rake surface and at least some of the flank surface of the polycrystalline cubic boron nitride substrate. An alumina-containing coating layer region, which has at least one exposed alumina coating layer, is on the inner coating layer region. The exposed alumina coating layer exhibiting a post-blasted stress condition with stress ranging between about 50 MPa (tensile stress) and about −2 GPa (compressive stress) as measured by XRD using the Psi tilt method and the (024) reflection of alumina. The exposed coating layer is the result of wet blasting an outer titanium-containing coating layer from the surface of the alumina-containing coating layer region.
US08557404B2
A transparent conductive film for lamination on a substrate and comprising an ITO film and an FTO film, wherein a part or all of the crystal structure of a surface of the FTO film is orthorhombic, and a transparent conductive film for lamination on a substrate and comprising an ITO film and an FTO film, wherein the thickness of the FTO film is within a range from 5 nm to 20 nm and the FTO film is a continuous film. A method of producing the transparent conductive films includes depositing the ITO film on a substrate using a pyrosol process, and subsequently depositing the FTO film continuously on top of the ITO film.
US08557397B2
A steel form having a stainless steel exterior; the steel form includes a core region that comprises at least 55 wt. % iron which is metallurgically bonded to a stainless steel coating that consists of a stainless steel region and a bonding region. The stainless steel region can have a thickness of about 1 μm to about 250 μm, and a stainless steel composition that is approximately consistent across the thickness of the stainless steel region. The stainless steel composition includes an admixture of iron and about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % chromium. The bonding region is positioned between the stainless steel region and the core region, has a thickness that is greater than 1 μm and less than the thickness of the stainless steel region, and has a bonding composition. The bonding composition includes an admixture of iron and chromium, with a chromium concentration proximal to the stainless steel region that is approximately equal to the chromium concentration of the stainless steel region and has a chromium concentration proximal to the core region that has less than about 5 wt. % chromium.
US08557388B2
A polyurethane or polyurea coating for use in protecting a leading edge substrate on an airfoil against liquid or solid particle erosion, the composition made from an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer and curing agents, such as polyaspartic esters, aldimines and ketimines with optional flatting agent for matte coatings.
US08557385B2
An electrically conductive, thermosetting elastomeric composition is provided. The composition may comprise: an initially substantially non-electrically conductive, thermosetting base polymer; a particulate filler comprising electrically conductive particles; and an electrically conductive polymer additive. The non-electrically conductive, thermosetting base polymer, the particulate filler and the electrically conductive polymer additive are mixed substantially macroscopically homogeneously.
US08557381B2
Resol beads are disclosed that are prepared in high yield by reaction of a phenol with an aldehyde, with a base as catalyst, a colloidal stabilizer, and optionally a surfactant. The resol beads have a variety of uses, and may be thermally treated and carbonized to obtain activated carbon beads.
US08557371B2
A primer-less coating composition for facestock comprises: a binder being a water-dispersible polymer; an ethylenically unsaturated compound which is aqueous-dispersible and miscible with or bonded to said water-dispersible polymer, wherein said ethylenically unsaturated compound is able to form a covalent bond with an ink; and a crosslinker, wherein said crosslinker is suitable for binding the coating to the facestock. The coating composition may be applied to a substrate to form a printable film. A printed film in accordance with the invention may be used in a label, for example for use on a container such as a bottle.
US08557369B2
A highly refractive embossing lacquer for producing micro-optic arrangements which contains at least one binding agent which has at least one radiation-curing compound system having one or more organic compounds. The highly refractive embossing lacquer has at least a portion of the organic compounds of the radiation-curing compound system having molecules with at least one polarizable element, so that a polymeric material with a refractive index of greater than 1.5 is formed upon radiation curing. A security element which is produced with at least one micro-optic authenticity feature is also provided. The micro-optic authenticity features permit the production of security elements that are so thin that they can be easily incorporated into value documents.
US08557368B2
A document comprising a substrate with a surface having cellulose hydroxy groups, an adhesion promoter present on at least a first portion of the substrate surface, and a magnetic ink image formed over the first portion of the substrate surface. The adhesion promoter comprises a silane component including at least one amino functional group and at least one of a second type of functional group that is configured to bond with cellulose hydroxyl groups in the substrate. The magnetic ink image has a magnetic signal strength of at least 80%. A corresponding printing system and a method of printing also are disclosed.
US08557361B2
An optical disc is described that bears, on one surface, a plurality of color-forming layers that can form a multicolored image when heated in contact with a thermal print head. The color-forming composition comprises color-forming layers and thermally-insulating spacers and is designed such that warping of the optical disc in conditions of changing temperature and humidity is minimized. The compliance of the color-forming composition is such that intimate contact between the thermal print head and the printable surface of the disc can be maintained as one is translated relative to the other. Methods for assembling such an optical disc are provided.
US08557357B2
A packaging material for forming at least a part of a package for a product releasing gasses comprises a one-way pressure relief valve (18) including a first inner film (10), being provided with at least one inlet opening (13, 14) therethrough, and a second outer film (11) covering the at least one inlet opening (13, 14) and being bonded to the first inner film (10) to form a channel portion (12) between the inner and the outer film. The channel portion (12) communicates with the surroundings of the package through at least one outlet opening (15) spaced apart from the at least one inlet opening (13, 14). The pressure relief valve (18) further comprises a liquid (19) provided in the channel portion (12) and solid spacer means (17) provided in the channel portion (12) proximate to the at least one inlet opening (13, 14). The outer film (11) is a soft film having such a flexibility or elasticity that in a tensile test a force of less than 5 N is needed for elongating a test piece thereof having a width of 15 mm by 5%.
US08557356B2
A translucent insulated glass panel includes first and second glass plates separated from one another by a spacer. Together with the spacer, the first and second glass plates form a closed cavity. The closed cavity is filled with a translucent insulating material, preferably an aerogel material. The latter is in a compressed state, so that it will not settle over the course of time to produce an empty space or gap at the top of the panel.
US08557354B2
Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods are disclosed. Such films exhibit improved ink-drying and smudging performance. These films exhibit high maximum optical densities and have low haze values. These films are useful for medical imaging.
US08557351B2
The present invention provides a method adhering a layer to a substrate that features defining first and second interfaces by having a composition present between the layer and the substrate that forms covalent bonds to the layer and adheres to the substrate employing one or more of covalent bonds, ionic bonds and Van der Waals forces. In this manner, the strength of the adhering force of the layer to the composition is assured to be stronger than the adhering force of the layer to the composition formed from a predetermined adhering mechanism, i.e., an adhering mechanism that does not include covalent bonding.
US08557348B2
A method of manufacturing a synthetic leather formed with a pattern includes a mixing step (A) in which at least a first material and a second material are properly mixed in proportion into a mixture; a first coating step (B) in which the mixture is coated on a substrate to form a blocking layer; a printing step (C) in which a determined pattern is printed on the surface of blocking layer to form a pattern layer; and a second coating step (D) in which at least the mixture is coated on the pattern layer to form a surface layer, thereby a product being finished. Thus, the pattern layer may be sandwiched between the blocking layer and the surface layer, which prevents the pattern layer contacting the substrate or outside from fading in color and shedding off and prevents the child from eating, by accident, the fall-off pattern layer.
US08557345B2
Exemplary embodiments provide nanotube-containing coating compositions and methods for making and using the coating compositions. In an exemplary embodiment, the coating composition can include a plurality of nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) dispersed stably and uniformly in a polymer matrix containing fluoropolymers. The coating composition can further include stabilizers to allow a stable and/or uniform dispersion of the plurality of nanotubes in the fluoropolymers. The nanotube coating composition can be coated on an article surface to improve mechanical robustness, and electrical and thermal conductivity of the coated article. The coated article can be used as a fuser member, a fixing member, a pressure roller, or a release agent donor member in an electrostatographic printing machine or process.
US08557341B2
Aspects of the present invention describe soft imprint lithography methods capable of preparing structural features on surfaces. Disclosed methods include surmounting a deformable substrate, having an original form, with a composition, wherein the deformable substrate is capable of achieving at least one predetermined deformed state; predictably deforming said deformable substrate from its original form to the at least one predetermined deformed state; and transferring at least a portion of the composition surmounting the deformed substrate to a receiving substrate.
US08557335B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a hydrophobic surface on to a material. The invention involves directing at a surface to be structured a particle spray structuring the surface so as to structure the surface, and coating the structured surface with a hydrophobic material. According to the invention, particles larger than a determined size d2 are separated from the particle spray by at least one impaction nozzle, which particles are directed at the surface to be structured such that they collide with the surface to be structured, producing a structure thereon. Next, the structured surface is coated by a gas deposition method in which the structured surface is subjected to alternate surface reactions of starting materials.
US08557330B2
A manufacturing method of a soft magnetic material has a step of preparing a metal magnetic particle containing iron as the main component, and a step of forming an insulating film surrounding the surface of the metal magnetic particle. The step of forming the insulating film includes a step of mixing and stirring the metal magnetic particle, aluminum alkoxide, silicon alkoxide, and phosphoric acid.
US08557328B2
A coating apparatus includes non-orthogonal coater geometry to improve coatings on a glass ribbon, and to improve yields of such coatings. The apparatus includes a first arrangement to move the ribbon along a first imaginary straight line through a coating zone provided in a glass forming chamber. The coater has a coating nozzle and an exhaust slot, each have a longitudinal axis. The coating nozzle directs coating vapors toward the coating zone, and the exhaust slot removes vapors from the coating zone. A second arrangement mounts the coater in spaced relation to the path with the coating nozzle and the exhaust slot facing the coating zone. A second imaginary straight line is normal to the longitudinal axis of the coating nozzle, and the first imaginary line and the second imaginary line subtend an angle in the range of greater than zero degrees to 90 degrees.
US08557322B2
A canola protein isolate useful in aquaculture is formed by a procedure in which canola oil seed meal is extracted to cause solubilization of protein in the canola oil seed meal to form an aqueous protein solution having a protein content of about 5 to about 40 g/L and a pH of about 5 to about 6.8. After separation of the aqueous protein solution from the residual canola oil seed meal, the protein concentration is increased to at least about 50 g/L while maintaining the ionic strength substantially constant by using a selective membrane technique. The concentrated protein solution is dried to provide a canola protein isolate having a protein content of at least about 90 wt % (N×6.25) d.b.
US08557320B2
The present invention is directed to a novel method for increasing the production of acetate, decreasing the production of butyrate, increasing the population and species of beneficial bacteria and slowing the rate of fermentation of prebiotics within the gut of a formula-fed infant. The method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of PDX to the infant.
US08557318B2
Generally, a method of pressure regulated supercritical fluid fractionation of oil seed extraction materials which can be utilized to refine oil seed extraction material established in an amount of supercritical fluid. Specifically, a method of pressure regulated supercritical fluid fractionation of corn germ extraction material to produce a refined corn oil extraction material.
US08557314B2
Capsule for the preparation of a beverage in beverage preparation device comprising: a cup-shaped body (12) comprising a cavity containing a beverage ingredient and a flange-like rim extending outwardly from the base of said body, a delivery wall (13) connected to the flange-like rim, characterized in that the flange-like rim is formed of is a polymer material chosen in grade having a Vicat softening point (ISO 10350) between about 30 and 100° C., preferably between 40 and 90° C. or apolymer chosen in grade comprising a glass transition temperature (Tg) between 30 and 80° C., preferably between 40 and 60° C.
US08557312B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for enhancing the yield of coagulated milk products including cheese and other fermented milk products. Admixture of structurally expanded cellulose into milk allows substantial incorporation of additional whey solids and fluids into the caseinate matrix. The resulting interactive particle network comprising the cellulosic microfibril substructure and caseinate curd is readily manipulated by standard methods employed in the dairy industry to produce a variety of natural and processed dairy products with increased yield.
US08557307B2
According to this invention, plants of the genus Triodia are harvested for use as a renewable energy source or as a means of carbon sequestration. Triodia is a hummock-forming grass endemic to Australia, commonly known as spinifex. It is an abundant perennial plant which grows in semi-arid and arid regions. The novel use of Triodia as a biofuel feedstock has many advantages over the prior art. Being perennial, there is no need to plant and fertilise crops. The plants can be continuously harvested without damaging the soil. Triodia grows well with even small amounts of natural rainfall.
US08557304B2
The present invention relates to a method of isolating phenolic secondary plant constituents from plant material using a microporous membrane which displays affinity ligands for the phenolic secondary plant constituents.
US08557300B2
Methods for treating bacterial respiratory tract infections in an individual using acidified nitrite
Methods for treating bacterial respiratory tract infections in an individual comprise administering a therapeutic amount of nitrite composition having a pH of less than 7, and in specific embodiments, a pH of about 5.5-6.5, to the individual. The individual may be a pulmonary disease diagnosed individual and/or the infection may be at least in part caused by mucoid mucA mutant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
US08557296B2
The present invention is a new method and composition that enhance bone repair, formation, maintenance and slowing of bone resorption. The present invention relates to methods and compositions that enhance collagen formation, tendon health and tendon injury healing, bone maintenance and bone injury healing, and the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases. The present invention is a part of the therapy to maintain bone health among patients with diabetic bone resorption and others with metabolic disorders. In one embodiment, the composition is a composite of hydroxyapatite and an organic matrix composed of milk pH-dependent serum proteins, i.e., bone morphogenic proteins (BMP), milk serum-derived specific proteins (MSSP), and milk serum derived proteins.
US08557285B2
The present invention is directed to drug dosage forms that release an agent that raises the pH of a patient's gastrointestinal tract, followed by a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The dosage form is designed so that the NSAID is not released until the intragastric pH has been raised to a safe level. The invention also encompasses methods of treating patients by administering this coordinated release, gastroprotective, antiarthritic/analgesic combination unit dosage form to achieve pain and symptom relief with a reduced risk of developing gastrointestinal damage such as ulcers, erosions and hemorrhages.
US08557283B2
The current invention provides a controlled release oral solid formulation of levodopa comprising levodopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor, and a carboxylic acid. Also provided by this invention is multiparticulate, controlled release oral solid formulations of levodopa comprising: i) a controlled release component comprising a mixture of levodopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor and a rate controlling excipient; ii) a carboxylic acid component; and iii) an immediate release component comprising a mixture of levodopa and a decarboxylase inhibitor.
US08557278B2
An apparatus for promoting the clotting of blood and controlling bleeding comprises a receptacle for retaining blood clotting material in particulate form therein. A pad for controlling bleeding comprises a mesh structure and a support attached to the mesh structure to facilitate the application of pressure to the pad and the wound. A bandage applicable to a bleeding wound comprises a mesh structure and a flexible substrate attached to the mesh structure, the substrate being a cloth or plastic member that may be adhesively attachable to cover a wound. In any embodiment, at least a portion of the receptacle or mesh structure is defined by a mesh having openings therein, and at least a portion of the particulate blood clotting material is in direct contact with blood. The mesh may include a zeolite powder impregnated or otherwise incorporated therein.
US08557270B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of an interconnected porous non-biodegradable polymer implant suitable for implantation into a mammal for the treatment, repair or replacement of defects or injury in musculoskeletal tissue, wherein the mechanical properties of the implant can be controlled by varying the concentration of the non-biodegradable polymer and/or varying the duration and number of freeze-thaw cycles and the interconnected porous non-biodegradable polymer implant has sufficient percent porosity and pore diameter to facilitate integration of cells and attachment within the mammal via ingrowth of surrounding tissue. The present invention also relates to an implant manufactured by the method.
US08557259B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid preparation which excels in stability with no occurrence of precipitates and lees even after long storage. The liquid preparation contains a lipophilic material, a sucrose fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, a polyglycerin fatty acid ester, a polyol and water. Also provided are a pharmaceutical preparation, cosmetic preparation, food and drink which contain the liquid preparation.
US08557258B2
Vaccination with the combination of Ag85B-TB10.4 and IC31® adjuvant generated a high amount of polyfunctional CD4+T cells expressing high levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2. This in turn led to significant protection against infection with M. tuberculosis in the mouse aerosol challenge model of tuberculosis. Both the immunogenicity of the vaccine and its ability to protect against TB infection was highly dependent on the antigen dose. Thus, whereas the standard antigen dose of 5 μg, as well as 15 μg, did not induce significant protection against M. tuberculosis, reducing the dose to 0.5 μg increased both the immunogenicity of the vaccine as well as its protective efficacy to a level comparable to that observed in BCG vaccinated mice. Thus, the IC31® adjuvant, with the specified antigen dose, can induce a strong protective Th1 response against M. tuberculosis.
US08557257B2
Methods of Mycobacterial immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer are described. In certain cases, these methods concern administration of attenuated Mycobacteria by intradermal injection into non tumor tissues. Methods of the invention, provide safe and effective treatments for malignant tumors and the compositions for use in such treatments. Methods for determine the effectiveness of such immunotherapies are also described.
US08557256B2
A method and composition for treating a patient suffering from a disease, disorder or condition and associated pain include the administration to the patient of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of Botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
US08557251B2
The invention relates to the use of a trivalent, non-live influenza antigen preparation, particularly a split influenza preparation, in the manufacture of a one-dose influenza vaccine for intradermal delivery. In particular, the invention relates to the use of split influenza preparations wherein the vaccine comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of the octyl-or nonylphenoxy polyoxyethanols (for example the commercially available Triton™ series), polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters (Tween™ series) and polyoxyethylene ethers or esters of general formula (I): HO(CH2CH2O)n-A-R, wherein n is 1-50, A is a bond or —C(O)—, R is C1-50 alkyl or phenyl C1-50 alkyl; and combinations of two or more of these.
US08557247B2
The present invention provides lyophilised compositions comprising an antigen and a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 agonist. Such compositions may be reconstituted into immunogenic compositions for use in vaccination with a carrier selected from the group of particulate carriers consisting of liposomes, mineral salts, emulsions, polymers and ISCOMs. Methods of making immunogenic compositions from the lyophilised compositions of the invention and use of the same in immunisation are also herein provided.
US08557241B2
Compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of pox virus infections are disclosed.
US08557240B2
A method for the treatment of inflammatory disorders is disclosed, particularly the treatment of arthritis. The method comprises the administration of a function blocking antibody which is capable of binding an epitope of VLA-1.
US08557237B2
A crème for use in connection with the treatment and prevention of ingrown hair. The crème basically comprises a carrier, preferably water and an active amount of encapsulated bromelain, the encapsulated bromelain preferably comprising an inert silicone, preferably cyclomethicone. Other components can be added to the composition, for example, beeswax, sunflower seed oil, shea butter and/or Tea Tree oil. The crème can be used to treat acne, as well.
US08557228B2
An aqueous antiperspirant/deodorant composition comprising: (a) at least one active chosen from an antiperspirant active and a deodorant active, (b) a mixture comprising at least one basic compound chosen from a basic amide and a basic amine and a counterpart material for the basic amide and/or basic amine, and (c) at least 10 weight % water. Also, a method of manufacturing the composition.
US08557220B2
The invention concerns a process for preparing an EU-1 zeolite having a XO2/Y2O3 ratio in the range 10 to 100, comprising the following steps: a) mixing, in an aqueous medium, at least one source of at least one oxide XO2, X being selected from silicon and/or germanium, at least one source of at least one oxide Y2O3, Y being selected from aluminium, iron, gallium and boron, and at least one organic template Q; b) drying the reaction mixture derived from step a) at a temperature of less than 200° C.; c) hydrothermal treatment of the dried reaction mixture derived from step b) in an autoclave, said dried reaction mixture not being in contact with a liquid phase at the bottom of the autoclave.
US08557216B2
To provide an aluminum magnesium titanate crystal structure which can be used stably in variable high temperatures, because of its excellent heat resistance, thermal shock resistance, high thermal decomposition resistance and high mechanical property, and a process for its production. An aluminum magnesium titanate crystal structure, which is a solid solution wherein at least some of Al atoms in the surface layer of aluminum magnesium titanate crystal represented by the empirical formula MgxAl2(1−x)Ti(1+x)O5 (wherein 0.1≦x<1) are substituted with Si atoms, and which has a thermal expansion coefficient of from −6×10−6(1/K) to 6×10−6(1/K) in a range of from 50 to 800° C. at a temperature raising rate of 20° C./min, and a remaining ratio of aluminum magnesium titanate of at least 50%, when held in an atmosphere of 1,100° C. for 300 hours.
US08557207B2
A method and apparatus for reducing the quantity of pollutant in waste gases, in particular for reducing the quantity of nitrogen oxide in the flue gas of a coal-fired power plant is provided. The process includes the steps of, introducing the waste gas into a catalyzer, to which a quantity of catalytic reduction agent is supplied, measuring the quantity of pollutant at the outlet of the catalyzer, and setting the quantity of pollutant to a setpoint value smaller than a limit value to be complied with, by varying the quantity of reduction agent supplied, wherein the setting of the quantity of pollutant is dynamically regulated as a function of mean values over time, for example half-hour or quarter-hour mean values, of the measured quantity of pollutant determined regularly beforehand.
US08557205B2
Method and device for separating of carbon dioxide from an exhaust gas of a fossil-fired power plant
A method and corresponding apparatus for separation of carbon dioxide from an exhaust gas of a fossil-fired power are provided. In an absorption process, the exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide is brought into contact with an absorption medium so that the absorption medium is laden with carbon dioxide. In a desorption process, vapor from a water/steam circuit of the fossil-fired power plant is heated, wherein a laden absorption medium is regenerated. In a subsequent expansion process, the regenerated absorption medium is expanded so that a vapor and an expanded absorption medium are formed, wherein the vapor is recirculated into the desorption process. The laden absorption medium is divided into a first part stream and a second part stream. Only the second part stream is brought into heat-exchanging contact with the expanded absorption medium. The first and second part streams are supplied to the desorption process at different process stages.
US08557197B2
The invention relates to a radial sliding seal component (10), particularly for use in metering devices, such as syringes, pipetting piston-cylinder arrangements, and the like, comprising a sealing component (12) working together with at least one pretensioning component (14), wherein the sealing component (12) comprises a sealing segment (16) extending in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction, preferably running in the circumferential direction, on which a sealing surface (18) facing in a first radial direction for sealing and sliding contact in at least the axial direction is formed on a working surface extending in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction, preferably running in the circumferential direction, and on which a pretensioning surface (20) extending in a second radial direction opposite to the first is formed for engaging with the pretensioning component (14) for transferring the radial pretensioning force, wherein the pretensioning component (14) comprises a spring carrier (26) and a plurality of separately formed radial spring segments (22) compliantly supported at least in the radial direction on the spring carrier (26).
US08557194B2
A carrier comprises a base plate, a polymeric film, which has been bound on a surface of the base plate, and a ligand, which has been bound with the polymeric film. The ligand has been bound with the polymeric film at a density falling within the range of 1.0×1016 pieces/mm3 to 3.3×1018 pieces/mm3. The carrier is produced with a process, comprising the steps of: causing the polymeric film to bind on the base plate, and causing the ligand to bind with the polymeric film, the step of causing the ligand to bind with the polymeric film being performed in an organic solvent.
US08557191B2
According to one embodiment, a nanocarbon producing apparatus includes a heating vessel which provides a reducing atmosphere therein, a heating source disposed on an outer circumference of the heating vessel, a hydrocarbon injection nozzle disposed on an upstream side of the heating vessel for spraying hydrocarbon into the heating vessel, and a nanocarbon product discharge nozzle disposed on a downstream side of the heating vessel, wherein a metallic substrate is disposed on an inside surface of the heating vessel and the hydrocarbon is continuously sprayed from the hydrocarbon injection nozzle, effecting a reaction to grow nanocarbon on the metallic substrate, and the grown nanocarbon product is peeled off from the metallic substrate and discharged through the discharge nozzle.
US08557189B2
The present invention provides a system for the gasification of a liquid fuel and includes providing a supply of a liquid fuel and an oxidant, atomizing the liquid fuel and mixing it with the oxidant, catalytically reacting the fuel oxidant mixture, providing an ignition source for initiating the catalytic reaction, positioning a heat exchanger in proximity with the catalytic bed, and producing steam which can be fed back into the system thereby eliminating the need for a vaporizer. A hydrocarbon fuel can be mixed with oxygen, as a constituent of air, preferably forming a fuel rich fuel air mixture that passes through a catalytic reactor having an ultra-short channel length metal monolith substrate.
US08557187B2
A method and a series of devices for dry cleaning, activating, modifying, coating, and biologically decontaminating (degerming, disinfecting, sterilizing) surfaces by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma generated using a surface barrier discharge are provided. The invention is used for dry cleaning, activating, coating, modifying, and biologically contaminating surfaces by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma generated in a defined, flowing gas atmosphere by a surface barrier discharge, comprising a high-voltage electrode that is covered with a dielectric or ferroelectric material, an electrically conducting grounded contact electrode, a high-voltage supply, a gas supply, and a gas nozzle (encompassing a gas outlet); said gas nozzle is located in the direct vicinity of the grounded contact electrode, is integrated into the contact electrode, or acts as the grounded contact electrode.
US08557186B2
Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Superior results were achieved for combustion chambers which contained a gap for free flow through the chamber. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results.
US08557181B2
A reaction solution is mixed in a short period of time with excellent stirring efficiency. During the stirring of the reaction solution, a rotation motor drives a stirring rod and a vertical motor moves the stirring rod in a vertically reciprocating manner in the reaction solution.
US08557174B2
The invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of non-ferrous metals from zinc-bearing residues, in particular from residues produced by the zinc manufacturing industry. The process comprises the steps of:—subjecting the residue to a flash or agitated bath fuming step, thereby producing an Fe bearing slag and Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes; and—extracting the Zn- and Pb-bearing fumes and valorizing Zn and Pb; characterized in that CaO, SiO2 and MgO are added as a flux before or during the fuming step so as to obtain a final slag composition with: formula (I) all concentrations being expressed in wt %. The invention also relates to a single-chamber reactor for Zn-fuming equipped with one or more submerged plasma torches as heat and gas sources. [ Fe ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] + [ Mg O ] 3 > 3.5 ; 0.1 < [ CaO ] [ SiO 2 ] < 1.3 ; and 6 < [ SiO 2 ] < 22 ( I )
US08557161B2
An in-mold label container with ribs enabling an increase in heat insulation property against a temperature on the inside of the container and an increase in heat absorbing property against a temperature on the outside of the container and a method of manufacturing the container. In the in-mold label container (1) with the ribs, a resin container body (1a) having the plurality of ribs (5) on the side face (2) outer periphery thereof is formed integrally with a label (6) disposed on the side face (2) outer periphery of the container body (1a). The label (6) is holdingly installed between a resin portion on the container body (1a) side and a resin portion on the rib (5) side. Normally, the label (6) is formed of a material higher in heat insulation property or heat absorbing property than the resin of the container body (1a).
US08557133B2
Slurry compositions and chemically activated CMP methods for polishing a substrate having a silicon carbide surface using such slurries. In such methods, the silicon carbide surface is contacted with a CMP slurry composition that comprises i) a liquid carrier and ii) a plurality of particles having at least a soft surface portion, wherein the soft surface portion includes a transition metal compound that provides a Mohs hardness ≦6, and optionally iii) an oxidizing agent. The oxidizing agent can include a transition metal. The slurry is moved relative to the silicon carbide comprising surface, wherein at least a portion of the silicon carbide surface is removed.
US08557132B2
A system of cleaning a CMP pad used for removing copper from a substrate, the system comprising an abrasive cleaning pad, a cleaning solution delivery system that delivers a cleaning solution, an analyzing system that monitors the characteristics of the cleaning solution optically and chemically, and a carriage that allows the analyzing system to monitor the cleaning solution at a plurality of locations on the CMP pad. The use of the abrasive cleaning pad and the cleaning solution removes contaminants from the CMP pad, and the contaminants are dissolved in the cleaning solution. By measuring the concentration of contaminants in the cleaning solution, the condition of the CMP pad can be monitored. To measure the concentration of the contaminants, changes in the refractive index and absorption of light in the cleaning solution are measured, wherein the refractive index and absorption depend on the concentration of the contaminants. The concentration of the contaminants in the cleaning solution is also measured chemically. Knowing the actual condition of the CMP pad during the cleaning process allows for improved condition of the CMP pad.
US08557129B2
Methods of manufacturing optical devices are disclosed. The method includes providing a structure-forming fiber bonded to at least one other optical component, the structure-forming fiber having a preferentially-etchable portion including at least one radial etching boundary and at least one axial etching boundary, and etching the preferentially-etchable portion to the radial and axial etching boundaries to produce a precise optical structure. The preferentially-etchable portion may be removed through one or more radial openings in the structure-forming fiber. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08557122B2
The present invention provides ballast water treatment equipment which can decompose fungicide included in ballast water and reduce the amount of use of fungicide adsorbing material by passing through the ballast water.The ballast water treatment equipment for supplying ballast water to a ballast tank through a fungicide adding device, comprises: a shear flow generator put in an intake pipe from an intake opening to the ballast tank, and receiving ballast water from a high pressure pump; and a swirl flow generator connected to downstream of the swirl flow generator with a connecting pipe; wherein the shear flow generator has one or more venturi tubes with recesses arranged in parallel; each the venturi tube with recess comprises an inlet side cross-sectional area reducing part gradually decreasing sectional area along a flow direction; an outlet side cross-sectional area enlarging part put in downstream of the inlet side cross-sectional area reducing part, and increasing cross-sectional area along the flow direction; a throat put between the inlet side cross-sectional area reducing part and the outlet side cross-sectional area enlarging part; and a shear flow generating recess opening to the throat; wherein the swirl flow generator has a cylinder being aslant connected the connecting pipe of the shear flow generator to its outer lateral surface; and a diffuser pipe having an inner circumference surface increasing cross-sectional area along the flow direction and connected to the fungicide adding device through an intake pipe.
US08557119B1
A novel method for improving water recovery from desalination systems by the removal of cations and/or anions using ion exchange (IX) technology. The system described herein is particularly useful for water recovery in brackish ecosystems and is unique in that important features include recycling, regeneration, and recovery of key components, thereby reducing costs and waste products.
US08557113B2
The cart comprises a lateral face by which it is adapted to be juxtaposed against another cart. It further comprises a first pump, a second pump disposed below said first pump and laterally offset relative thereto, and a tank adapted to receive a feed container provided to contain said biological liquid, said tank being disposed above said first pump and offset laterally relative thereto. The installation comprises one said cart, a filter and a second cart, juxtaposed against said first cart and of which the upper face supports said filter such that an outlet point of said first pump is situated substantially facing an inlet/outlet aperture of said filter.
US08557106B2
This invention relates to a process involving hydrocracking of a feedstream in which a converted fraction can exhibit relatively high distillate product yields and maintained or improved distillate fuel properties, while an unconverted fraction can exhibit improved properties particularly useful in the lubricant area. In this hydrocracking process, it can be advantageous for the yield of converted/unconverted product for gasoline fuel application to be reduced or minimized, relative to converted distillate fuel and unconverted lubricant. Catalysts and conditions can be chosen to assist in attaining, or to optimize, desirable product yields and/or properties.
US08557099B2
An electrically conductive protective coating or film is provided over the surface of a reflective coating of a solar mirror by flowing or directing a cation containing liquid and an anion containing liquid onto the conductive surface. The cation and the anion containing liquids are spaced from, and preferably out of contact with one another on the surface of the reflective coating as an electric current is moved through the anion containing liquid, the conductive surface between the liquids and the cation containing liquid to coat the conductive surface with the electrically conductive coating.
US08557095B2
A pushpen electrode is provided for electrophysiology measurements. The pushpen operation is used to impale a cell membrane in cell-attached configuration to go whole-cell without disruption of the gigaseal. The pushpen electrode has advantages over the conventional patch clamp electrode in reducing tip series resistance, increasing signal bandwidth, permitting longer-term recordings and reducing diffusion between the cytosol and the electrode solution.
US08557094B2
A plasma sputter chamber and process for sputtering ruthenium and tantalum at low pressure or with self-sustained sputtering (SSS). The source magnetron is strongly unbalanced and of sufficient size to project the unbalanced magnetic field toward the wafer to increase the ionization probability. Sputter etch uniformity is increased by the use of an auxiliary magnet system rotating with the source magnetron but placed towards the center of rotation. It may be a larger, nearly balanced auxiliary magnetron with an outer polarity matching that of the source magnetron or an array of magnets of that polarity. An integrated process includes a directional deposition of the refractory metal and its nitride, a sputter etch, and a flash deposition.
US08557070B2
A system and method to attach an object to a support structure. The system includes an object attached to an elastic membrane. The elastic membrane includes a lower surface having a first and a second surface area. The first surface area extends peripherally along at least a portion of the lower surface and the second surface area is at least partially enclosed within the first surface area and separable from the support structure. The system further includes an absorbent material attached to the first surface area and an adhesive applied to a top surface of the support structure. The absorbent material being adapted to bond with at least a portion of the adhesive.
US08557065B2
A high-strength, high-workability steel sheet for cans contains 0.070% to less than 0.080% C, 0.003% to 0.10% Si, 0.51% to 0.60% Mn, and the like on a mass basis and has a tensile strength of 500 MPa or more and a yield elongation of 10% or more. The average size and elongation rate of crystal grains are 5 μm or more and 2.0 or less, respectively, in cross section in the rolling direction thereof. The hardness difference obtained by subtracting the average Vickers hardness of a cross section ranging from a surface to a depth equal to one-eighth of the thickness of the sheet from the average Vickers hardness of a cross section ranging from a depth equal to three-eighths of the sheet thickness to a depth equal to four-eighths of the sheet thickness is 10 points or more and/or the maximum Vickers hardness difference is 20 points or more.
US08557057B2
A rare earth permanent magnet is prepared by disposing a powdered metal alloy containing at least 70 vol % of an intermetallic compound phase on a sintered body of R—Fe—B system, and heating the sintered body having the powder disposed on its surface below the sintering temperature of the sintered body in vacuum or in an inert gas for diffusion treatment. The advantages include efficient productivity, excellent magnetic performance, a minimal or zero amount of Tb or Dy used, an increased coercive force, and a minimized decline of remanence.
US08557055B2
The aim of the invention is to provide a fluxing agent for soldering components, which creates one or more specific surface characteristics during the soldering process itself, thus obviating the need for the surface treatment process that is conventionally carried out after the soldering process. To achieve this, nanoparticles are added to a base substance.
US08557047B2
Device and method for preventing foreign matters from adhering in a dishwasher, the device including a circulating pump including a washing motor for providing a driving source to pump up washing water from a sump, an impeller designed to receive driving force from the washing motor and rotate for pumping the washing water from the sump to spray nozzles, and a disposer designed to receive driving force from the washing motor and rotate, for removing foreign matters introduced together with the washing water, sensing means for sensing a rotation speed of the washing motor, and a system control unit for controlling a rotation direction and/or speed of the washing motor according to the rotation speed sensed at the sensing means, thereby preventing the washing motor from being restricted by food remnants to improve product reliability by providing means for effective removal of the food remnants adhered to the washing motor.
US08557039B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sulfoaluminous or belitic sulfoaluminous clinker from a raw mix formed from a mixture including minerals containing calcium, aluminum, silica, iron, and sulfur, preferably in sulfate form, and is characterized in that the method comprises the steps including: at least partially dehydrating and decarbonating the mixture through placement in a vertical kiln (1) comprising a substantially vertical chamber (2) wherein the mixture is heated, the chamber (2) of the vertical kiln (1) being supplied with hot gases the temperature of which is between 900 and 1150° C.; extracting the dehydrated and decarbonated mixture from the vertical kiln (1) and conveying the same in a continuous kiln (4) comprising a furnace (5) and a transporting means (6) for transporting the mixture across the furnace (5); heating the mixture from the vertical kiln (1) by passing the mixture through the furnace (5) via the transporting means (6) such that a clinkerization of the mixture is obtained, the average passage time in the furnace being greater than 15 minutes.
US08557032B2
The object of the invention is to provide an inkjet recording oil green ink composition that excels more in terms of all the quality of prints, stability on printing, the ability of prints to be dried, and ink storage stability, and is capable of making wider a color reproduction area expressed by yellow and cyan. The inkjet recording oil green ink composition contains as an organic green pigment coloring agent C. I. Pigment Green 58 comprising a (poly) halogenated zinc phthalocyanine. The invention also provides an ink set comprises the inventive oil green ink composition and further includes at least an oil yellow ink composition and an oil cyan ink composition.
US08557029B2
Methods and systems for regenerating a purification bed take advantage of inert gas pressure, such as, for example, supplied by a pipeline. The inert gas (102) is provided at a first pressure and combined with a recycle composition (116) from the vessel (110, 110a) containing the material being regenerated. These streams form a regeneration fluid composition (114) at a second pressure less than the inert gas pressure, which is then routed to the vessel to regenerate the purification bed. A jet compressor (108) may be used for the combining of the inert gas and recycle streams. The recycled composition allows reduction in inert gas usage, while a portion is flared or otherwise disposed of.
US08557016B2
A reducing dross method of lead-free solder includes the steps of: producing master alloy of reducing dross which comprises Sn and 0.1 to 0.8 wt % P; analyzing the percentage of P of the lead-free solder to be modified, in order to reach 0.008 to 0.015 wt % P in the lead-free solder, adding the master alloy into the lead-free solder with the percentage of P less than 0.008 wt % or no P; then sampling the lead-free solder at regular intervals to determine the percentage and the percentage loss of P, if the percentage of P being less than a given value from 0.008 to 0.015 wt %, adding the master alloy to keep the percentage of P as 0.008 to 0.015 wt %.
US08557008B2
Vacuum cleaner filters, in particular replaceable vacuum cleaner filters suitable for both dry and wet/dry type vacuum cleaners are disclosed, as well as systems incorporating the use of such filters and methods for their use. The filters include a plurality of adjacently positioned pleats arranged in a closed circumferential, cylindrically-shaped path, a top end cap having a central orifice capable of constricting a post on a vacuum filter cage, and optionally a molded end ring oppositely-spaced from the top end cap for engagement with the motor housing of a vacuum cleaner.
US08556999B2
The present invention provides non-petroleum high-octane fuel derived from biomass sources, and a method of producing same. The method of production involves reducing the biomass feedstocks to sugars, fermenting the sugars using microorganisms or mutagens thereof to produce ethanol or acetic acid, converting the acetic acid or ethanol to acetone, and converting the acetone to mesitylene and isopentane, the major components of the renewable engine fuel. Trimerization of acetone can be carried out in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of niobium, iron and manganese. The ethanol can be converted to mesitylene in a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst of zinc oxide/calcium oxide, and unreacted ethanol and water separated from mesitylene by distillation. These ethanol-based, biomass-derived fuels are fully renewable, may be formulated to have a wide range of octane values and energy, and may effectively be used to replace 100 LL aviation fuel (known as AvGas), as well as high-octane, rocket, diesel, turbine engine fuels, as well as two-cycle, spark-ignited engine fuels.
US08556998B2
A method for dewatering a water-containing combustible solid excluding coal, comprising heating, in a sealed vessel, the water-containing combustible solid at a temperature of 100° C. to 300° C. under a pressure not less than a saturated steam pressure at said heating temperature, while applying a shearing force of 0.01 MPa to 20 MPa to said water-containing combustible solid. The method allows the production of a slurry in water which contains the water separated from the water-containing combustible solid and a combustible solid from which the water is removed, has a suitable viscosity and water content, and can be subjected to spray combustion, at low costs.
US08556997B2
Various aspects of the present invention generally relate to the field of rheologically modified fuels, including hydrocarbon, hydrophobic, and/or liquid fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil and biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of medium to long chain (C8-C18) fatty acids, that have been thickened or gelled, e.g., by precipitation of fatty acid monoglycerides such as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate. A thickened fire lighting fuel composition is described in some embodiments which includes a hydrocarbon- or alkyl ester-based hydrophobic liquid fuel, and an effective amount of at least one saturated fatty acid monoglyceride. The monoglyceride may be thermo-precipitated in certain instances in the fuel composition causing a substantial increase in the viscosity of the fuel composition.
US08556996B2
Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.
US08556995B2
A composition comprising (a) a betaine of formula wherein R1 is a monovalent radical of an aliphatic C4-C30-hydrocarbon, R2 and R3 independently of one another represent C1-C12alkyl and X and Y independently of one another denote a bivalent radical of an aliphatic C1-C12-hydrocarbon, (b) a quaternary ammonium salt of formula (2) wherein R4 is a monovalent radical of an aliphatic C4-C30-hydrocarbon, R5, R6 and R7 independently of one another represent C1-C12alkyl, C5-C24aryl or C6-C30aralkyl, A− is halogenide, nitrate, hydrogensulfate or sulfonate, and (c) an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, is suitable as shade enhancer for the EL portion in PA/EL blends in the dyeing process using dark shade dyes.
US08556991B2
Techniques for protecting resources of a client from theft or unauthorized access. A BIOS agent stores policy data within a BIOS of the client. The BIOS agent is one or more software modules operating in the BIOS of the client. The policy data describes one or more security policies which the client is to follow. In response to the client following at least one of the one or more security policies, a persistent storage medium of the client is locked by instructing a controller of the persistent storage medium to deny, to any entity, access to data stored on the persistent storage medium unless the entity supplies, to the controller, a recognized authentication credential. In this way, a malicious user without access to the recognized authentication credential cannot access the data stored on the persistent storage medium, even if the persistent storage medium is removed from the client.
US08556986B2
An acetabular prosthetic device comprising at least one acetabular augment coupled to an acetabular cup by an augment coupling element to secure the acetabular prosthetic device in place wherein the acetabular cup comprises a shell having at least one groove formed on the outer surface thereof to slidably receive the augment coupling element therein and the acetabular augment comprises an augment body configured to engage the shell and the ilia bone such that the augment coupling element is moved along the groove to position the acetabular body to engage both the shell and ilia bone to secure the acetabular prosthetic device in place.
US08556980B2
A augmented glenoid implant assembly for use in performing shoulder arthroplasty is provided. The augmented glenoid implant assembly is used for cooperation with the glenoid fossa of a scapula. The implant assembly includes a first component for attachment to the scapula. The first component defines a support surface for cooperation with the glenoid fossa, a second surface positioned adjacent a buttress formed in the glenoid fossa and an assembly surface. The implant assembly also includes a second component removably secured to the first component. The second component includes an assembly face of the second component. The assembly surface of the second component is in close approximation to the assembly surface of the first component. The second component further includes an articulating surface opposed to the assembly surface.
US08556974B2
A prosthetic device can be used as a prosthesis following a discectomy or a corpectomy. The prosthetic device includes two endplates with staggered motion limiting members. The device can be configured to allow six degrees of motion when comparing one endplate relative to the other. The endplates can be configured to fix the joint by changing the body held within the device and by adding a locking plate and fasteners. A method teaches how to insert a device to an intervertebral space via an anterior incision.
US08556972B2
A monolithic material including a first region having a first variability of strength and a second region joined to the first region, the second region having a second variability of strength, wherein the monolithic material has a variability of strength less than the first variability of strength of the first region and less than the second variability of strength of the second region.
US08556969B2
We describe herein biocompatible single crystal Cu-based shape memory alloys (SMAs). In particular, we show biocompatibility based on MEM elution cell cytotoxicity, ISO intramuscular implant, and hemo-compatibility tests producing negative cytotoxic results. This biocompatibility may be attributed to the formation of a durable oxide surface layer analogous to the titanium oxide layer that inhibits body fluid reaction to titanium nickel alloys, and/or the non-existence of crystal domain boundaries may inhibit corrosive chemical attack. Methods for controlling the formation of the protective aluminum oxide layer are also described, as are devices including such biocompatible single crystal copper-based SMAs.
US08556962B2
A coated implantable medical device 10 includes a structure 12 adapted for introduction into the vascular system, esophagus, trachea, colon, biliary tract, or urinary tract; at least one coating layer 16 posited on one surface of the structure; and at least one layer 18 of a bioactive material posited on at least a portion of the coating layer 16, wherein the coating layer 16 provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material from the coating layer. In addition, at least one porous layer 20 can be posited over the bioactive material layer 18, wherein the porous layer includes a polymer and provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material therethrough. Preferably, the structure 12 is a coronary stent. The porous layer 20 includes a polymer applied preferably by vapor or plasma deposition and provides for a controlled release of the bioactive material. It is particularly preferred that the polymer is a polyamide, parylene or a parylene derivative, which is deposited without solvents, heat or catalysts, and merely by condensation of a monomer vapor.
US08556957B2
A system for treating a vascular condition includes a stent including hydroxyapatite fibers interwoven to define a stent lumen. Another aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a stent by forming hydroxyapatite fibers and biodegradable polymeric fibers, and interweaving the fibers to form a stent wall. The hydroxyapatite fibers can be formed by a sol-gel process, followed by spinning of the gel to form the hydroxyapatite fibers.
US08556946B2
The invention relates to a plate fixed between two bone parts by way of screws engaged in holes formed in the thickness of the plate. The plate comprises an angled member or rib which is inclined according to an angle of between about 30° and 60° in relation to the plane defined by the plate. The angled member or rib has a hole for engaging a screw and is located in the central part of the width, over a determined part of the length of the plate, so that the screw brings the two bone parts into a compressive position.
US08556942B2
An implantable orthopedic assembly comprises an occipital plate and one or more repositionable clamping assemblies for securing a stabilizing rod to the plate. When unlocked, the clamping assembly may be laterally and rotationally repositioned along a supporting rail. Locking occurs when a stabilizing rod is secured in the clamping assembly. The rod exerts a force upon a locking component, causing the locking component to exert a force upon the supporting rail. This force pulls a surface of the clamping assembly base into contact with the rail, effectively locking the clamping assembly base at a fixed position. The clamping assembly may further comprise a loading component to exert a stabilizing force on the locking component, keeping the clamping assembly positionally stable while adjustments are made prior to locking.
US08556941B2
A method of treating a spinal column shape deformation includes fixing at least two fixation screw assemblies to respective vertebrae, sliding a rod between the arm extensions on each of the fixation screw assemblies, swinging the channels of the screw assemblies relative to the fixation screws so that the channels become less inclined to the axes of the fixation screws, and so that the rod is located generally posteriorly of the spinal column, locking the channel against swinging relative to the screw, rotating the rod about its axis relative to at least one of the channels, and locking the rod against movement relative to the channel.
US08556940B2
An improved system and method for positioning screws and rods to immobilize bones is provided. Specifically, the system and method is optimal for performing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and other interbody fusions in the spine. The system involves pedicle screws detachably connected to wires that guide rods down to the screws. The wires are strong, narrow, flexible, adjustable in tension, and easily disconnected from the screws after rod placement via a process such as cutting, radiating, burning, dissolving, etc. The use of wires to place the rods avoids the conventional bulky tower apparatuses of the prior art while at the same time enhancing the accuracy of placement. One of the preferred methods involves relying upon the natural lordotic curvature of the spine and the narrow diameter of the wires to insert many elements through a single minimally invasive incision.
US08556928B2
A styptic device (10) for substantially hemostatically sealing a percutaneous puncture (12) in a blood vessel (14) of a patient (11), the styptic device (10) comprising: a base (16); a main compression element (18) extending from the base (16), the main compression element (18) defining a main compression surface (24) compressible against the patient (11); and an auxiliary compression element (20) removably attachable to the base (16), the auxiliary compression element (20) defining an auxiliary compression surface (26) compressible against the patient (11). When compressed on the patient (11) substantially in register with the percutaneous puncture (12), the styptic device (10) exerts a first pressure distribution profile on the patient (11) substantially adjacent to the percutaneous puncture (12) when the auxiliary compression element (20) is attached to the base (16) and the styptic device (10) exerts a second pressure distribution profile on the patient (11) substantially adjacent to the percutaneous puncture (12) when the auxiliary compression element (20) is detached from the base (16), the first and second pressure distribution profiles being different from each other.
US08556926B2
A guidewire having a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.
US08556907B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08556906B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08556896B2
A distal tip wire relief section may be applied to any cannulated instrument or implant requiring the use of a guidewire with an enlarged head, such as a ball tip guidewire used in conjunction with an intramedullary nail. The implant incorporates an enlarged opening at the leading or distal portion of the cannula. The enlarged opening is selectively placed about the periphery of the distal portion to allow opening relief in areas where guidewire removal will be facilitated. Thus, a surgeon can reliably and repeatedly remove the guidewire after implantation of the implant by pulling the enlarged head of the guidewire proximally into and through the cannula.
US08556891B2
A medical system is provided, including an ablation system having at least one ablation element and a sensor, a generator operable to deliver radiofrequency ablation energy to the ablation element. A power supply defines a duty cycle and provides a voltage to the generator, and the power supply has a duty cycle modulator and an amplitude modulator. A processor is connected to the power supply, the generator, and the sensor. The processor obtains a feedback signal from the sensor, and adjusts the duty cycle modulator and the amplitude modulator according to the feedback signal.
US08556887B2
A device for dermatological treatment, includes an energy source, the energy source generating a quasi-Gaussian laser beam, characterized in that it includes an element for shaping the beam between the energy source and a source to be treated, the shaping element being adapted for converting the beam into a beam having a power distributed homogenously on a given surface, and in that the device further includes a removable and replaceable optical unit.
US08556886B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for providing data for vision correction utilizing a volumetric ablation and an intrastromal manipulation. The provided data may be used by a laser ablating the surface of the cornea in combination with a laser which operates intrastromal to optimize a corneal re-shaping procedure. One aspects of the invention relates to the minimization of the amount of corneal tissue to be removed.
US08556885B2
A system and method are provided in which an iris or eye image is taken during a refractive diagnostic analysis. The image is employed for aligning data from the analysis with data from other refractive analysis instruments, as well as aligning a refractive surgical tool, such as a laser, with the eye for treatment. Further, the stored iris image is compared with the patient's iris before treatment, verifying that the correct eye is to be treated with a developed treatment pattern. A variety of refractive instruments can be used, such as corneal topography systems and wavefront aberration systems.
US08556879B2
A connector (1) that can be connected to a first container and a second container (20) to transfer a liquid between the first container and the second container (20) includes a first connecting portion (3) that is engageable with the first container and a second connecting portion (4) that is engageable with the second container (20). The second connecting portion (4) is integrally provided with an engagement portion that is engageable with the second container (20) and a needle-like portion (7) for piercing into the second container (20). Thus, it is possible to prevent a container from falling off during liquid transfer. Also, since the needle-like portion (7) is integral with the second connecting portion (4), connection to the second container (20) is facilitated.
US08556878B2
A disposable absorbent incontinence diaper (2) has a main part (4), with a front area (6), a rear area (8) and a crotch area (10) as well as rear side sections (20) joined on both sides to the rear area (8) and front side sections (22) joined on both sides to the front area (6) and extending in a transverse direction (30) past lateral front and rear longitudinal edges (42, 41) of the main part (4) to connect the front area (6) and the rear area (8) when the disposable incontinence diaper has been applied. The article is shaped by one single respective separating process and holding forces between closing elements (32) and the outer side of the first front side sections (22) are larger than holding forces between the closing elements and the outer side of the main part (4).
US08556866B2
Various embodiments of a “smart” drug delivery system are provided which includes an add-on module and a reusable or disposable drug pen. Upon attachment to the pen, the add-on module may: determine dosage selected, injection of selected dosage, duration of injection, time of injection, whether the pen has been primed or shaken to thoroughly mix up insulin mixtures, transmit information relating to insulin dosage and injection to a data management unit, provide reminders, error warning or messages on improper usage or reusage of needles, track amount of drug remaining on board the pen or duration of usage of pen with respect to expiry of the drug on board, or provide an audible alarm for locating misplaced pen and module.
US08556850B2
An elongate medical device with independently-deflectable segments and a handle for manually deflecting those segments can include a shaft having a distal segment and proximal segment, at least one proximal segment deflection wire adapted to deflect the proximal segment, at least one distal segment deflection wire adapted to deflect the distal segment independent of the proximal segment, and a handle portion. The handle portion may comprise a first manual actuation mechanism coupled to the at least one distal segment deflection wire and a second manual actuation mechanism coupled to the at least one proximal segment deflection wire. Actuation of the first manual actuation mechanism may impart a tensile force on the distal segment deflection wire to cause the distal segment to deflect, and actuation of the second manual actuation mechanism may impart a tensile force on the proximal segment to cause the proximal segment to deflect.
US08556847B2
An injection device including at least one sensor for detecting an operating process of the injection device, an electronic circuit connected to the sensor for establishing the beginning and elapsed time of a service life, based on one or more sensor signals, and an output device connected to the circuit for providing a signal indicating the end of the service life. The invention encompasses a method for determining a service life of an injection device, wherein the beginning of the service life is established by one or more sensors for detecting an operating process of the device, a signal is generated which signals the end of the service life, and at least one of an optical, acoustic or tactile output device is associated with the injection device for providing a signal which indicates the end of the service life.
US08556839B2
A walking device for remedying or alleviating symptoms of drop foot, the device wearable with an article of footwear, the device including a backing plate, wherein the backing plate includes an upper portion hingedly secured to a lower portion, a strap secured to the upper portion of the backing plate and extending outwardly therefrom for operatively securing to itself about a leg of a person, a spring including a first end secured to the strap, and a clip secured to a second end of the spring, wherein the clip is operatively arranged to engage with a pair of eyelets for laces of the footwear.
US08556834B2
In some examples, nerves surrounding arteries or leading to organs are targeted with energy sources to correct or modulate physiologic processes. In some examples, different types of energy sources are utilized singly or combined with one another. In some examples, bioactive agents or devices activated by the energy sources are delivered to the region of interest and the energy is enhanced by such agents or the agents are enhanced by the energy sources.
US08556820B2
A multifunctional invasive cardiovascular diagnostic measurement host is disclosed that interfaces a variety of sensor devices, such as guide wire-mounted pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, etc, and provides a multi-mode graphical user interface providing a plurality of displays in accordance with the various types of sensors and measurements rendered by the sensors.
US08556819B2
The therapy device stores the time profiles of the blood pressure and of other influencing variables during preceding therapy procedures. The time profile of the blood pressure and of other influencing variables during the actual therapy is also recorded. An analytical comparison is then made between the time profiles of the blood pressure and of other influencing variables during the actual measurement procedure and those during preceding therapy procedures. Depending on the comparison, a prospective blood pressure control is carried out in order to prevent drops in blood pressure in a subsequent time period.
US08556817B2
Non-invasive methods for determining the cardiovascular status of an individual comprising measuring the thickness of the artery intima layer and/or the artery media layer and determining the cardiovascular status of the individual based on the thickness of the intima layer and/or the intima to media (I/M) thickness ratio are provided.
US08556813B2
A shock wave applicator includes a shock wave generator and an asymmetrical reflector portion in a housing. Asymmetry of the reflector portion is combined with one or more wave generators to produce a variety of focal volumes and wave fronts for medical treatment.
US08556809B2
A surgical tissue retractor for use in aortic or pulmonary valve surgery coupled to a sternal retractor or similar base comprising a retractor assembly including a retractor support to operatively support a plurality of radially adjustable retractor blades to engage and retain a heart valve open during a surgical procedure, a retractor coupling assembly including a retractor connecting member coupled to the retractor support frame by a support frame mount and adjustably coupled to the sternum by a sternal retractor mount to operatively position and maintain the radially adjustable retractor blades in place during the surgical procedure.
US08556803B2
A medical apparatus system includes: an image generating section that generates an image in an observation field of view obtained from an observing section including an objective lens; an information collecting section that collects information of a treatment instrument; a distortion setting section that sets virtual distortion on the outside of the observation field of view from a characteristic of distortion of the objective lens; a distorted image generating section that generates a distorted image on the outside of the observation field of view with respect to the treatment instrument; and an image combining section that generates a combined image such that an image of the treatment instrument on the inside of the observation field of view and a distorted image of the treatment instrument coincide with each other in a boundary of the observation field of view.
US08556794B2
Centrifuges are useful to, among other things, remove red blood cells from whole blood and retain platelets and other factors in a reduced volume of plasma. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and or platelet poor plasma (PPP) can be obtained rapidly and is ready for immediate injection into the host. Embodiments may include valves, operated manually or automatically, to open ports that discharge the excess red blood cells and the excess plasma into separate receivers while retaining the platelets and other factors in the centrifuge chamber. High speeds used allow simple and small embodiments to be used at the patient's side during surgical procedures. The embodiments can also be used for the separation of liquids or slurries in other fields such as, for example, the separation of pigments or lubricants.
US08556791B2
A folder includes a cylinder having a first gripping device receiving a folded edge of a signature and rotating the signature at a first surface speed. A conveyor presses the signature against the outer surface and the conveyor contacts the signatures at a second surface speed slower than the first surface speed. The present invention also provides a method for removing signatures from a cylinder.
US08556790B2
A flap folding system for a disposable article, includes: main pads each for receiving a main body on a main holding surface thereof provided along a conveyance circle about a main rotation shaft and moving along the conveyance circle following rotation of the main rotation shaft while holding the main body on the main holding surface; a pair of side pads provided for each main pad adjacent to the conveyance circle of the main pad each for receiving an end portion of the flap in a girth direction on a sub-holding surface thereof provided along the conveyance circle and holding the end portion of the flap on the sub-holding surface; and a folding mechanism for rotating the side pads with respect to the main pad so that the sub-holding surfaces of the side pads oppose the main holding surface of the main pad, thereby folding the flap.
US08556781B1
A barbell characterized by a longitudinal bar with two hand gripping portions, with sufficient spacing between gripping portions to provide clearance for the torso, head or neck, where the gripping portions are characterized by first and second diamond-like shaped exterior portions enclosing gripping windows, where the windows each contain at least one gripping bar, non-parallel to the longitudinal bar, where the first and second diamond-like portions have a first and second interior end portions which, with the intermediate region, define a cambered gripping portion wherein the gripping bars and the exterior portion of the gripping windows are designed to provide a plurality of gripping positions and angles for the user.
US08556777B2
The Individual Workout System allows an user to perform a complete workout regiment to build muscles without the use of weights, while achieving a cardiovascular workout at the same time. The system could be worn by an individual during aerobics, walking, jogging or doing menial tasks. The Individual Workout System is uniquely design to use resistance to build muscle without restricting an individual to weights or equipment. By placing a thin devise used to create resistance in the place of the bodies joints and flex points, such as the shoulders, elbows, knees and waist, causes resistance for the muscles in that region of the body.
US08556775B2
A system and method for regulating torque transmitted via a torque converter can include providing a lock up clutch between a crankshaft and transmission of a vehicle. A position sensor can output data indicative of at least one of an engaged position of the lock-up clutch, a transitional position of the lock-up clutch, and a disengaged position of the lock-up clutch. An engine speed sensor can output data indicative of rotational speed of the crankshaft. A controller can be placed in electrical communication with the engine speed sensor and the position sensor and configured to determine when actuation of the lock-up clutch is desired. The controller can be configured to determine a torque reduction target based on certain variables, for example, engine acceleration. The controller can then signal the engine to output torque substantially equal to the torque reduction target when conditions exist that warrant torque reduction.
US08556773B2
Providing a control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, which permits economical and easy reduction of generation of an abnormal sound upon starting of an engine in a running state of a vehicle. The control apparatus includes on-engine-starting differential limiting means for commanding a differential limiting clutch to limit differential rotary motion between front and rear drive wheels, in advance of automatic starting of an engine under the control of automatic engine starting control means. Accordingly, the limitation of the differential rotary motion between the front and the rear drive wheels by the differential limiting clutch ensures the starting of the engine without backlash which exists in the power transmitting path between the engine and the front and rear drive wheels, thereby permitting economical and easy reduction of generation of the abnormal sound upon starting of the engine in a running state of the vehicle.
US08556762B2
A power seat height adjuster mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a motor having an output shaft, a speed reduction mechanism cooperating with the output shaft of the motor to reduce an output speed of the motor, a nut drive mechanism cooperating with the speed reduction mechanism and having a translatable output member to rotate an adjustment component of the seat to adjust a height of the seat, and a locking mechanism cooperating with the speed reduction mechanism to allow the height of the seat to be adjusted and to prevent the height of the seat from moving once the height has been adjusted.
US08556761B1
Lubricating oil is forced and pumped into and through the first passageway through the floating ring gear and into the annulus between the gearbox housing and the floating ring gear. Lubricating oil from the annulus is pumped into and through the second passageway and through the joint between the second and third passageway, and through the third passageway into the void in the cover. Thereafter the oil passes through the fourth passageway between the void in the cover and the circumferential recess in the cover and lubricating the bearing mounted adjacent the recess in the cover/housing.
US08556760B2
An electric drive module for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a first input member, a first output member and a two-speed module selectively drivingly interconnecting the first input member and the first output member at one of two different drive ratios. A reduction unit includes a second input member being driven by the first output member and has a second output member being driven at a reduced speed relative to the second input member. A differential assembly has an input driven by said second output member. A first differential output drives a first output shaft, and a second differential output drives a second output shaft.
US08556754B2
A leg strap with preferably horizontal handles attached at each end of each handle, is used to aid in lifting a jumping player, especially for lineouts in Rugby Union. The handles are preferably made of elastic bands with contract to provide a tight fit on the leg of the jumper and when jumping allow for secure grasp by lifters. The simple, reusable, easy to use leg straps provide a level of effectiveness, comfort, convenience, and safety not provided by conventional methods. To use, leg straps are applied to one or more legs of a jumper. When the jumper jumps, one or more lifters grip the leg device. The lifters lift the jumper higher, support the jumper in the jump while the jumper attempts to intercept a ball, and safely lower the jumper.
US08556751B2
A golf ball includes a projection that is positioned on a land adjacent two or more abutting dimples. The projection is located in a center or at a vertex of a shaped region defined by a pattern of dimples. A method for selecting a position for a projection and desirable configurations of the projection are also disclosed.
US08556750B2
Generally disclosed is a golf ball having a core and a cover layer. The cover layer includes areas that are hard corresponding to the dimples, and areas that are soft corresponding to the land between the dimples. The cover layer may be selectively treated, such as by heating, to achieve a difference in hardness using a single cover layer material. Alternatively, the cover layer may be selectively coated with a coating material having a different hardness. As a result of the arrangement of the hard dimples and the soft land, the golf ball achieves reduced spin, and greater distances, when struck with a larger force (such as during a dive) while also achieving increased spin, and better control, when struck with a smaller force (such as during a chip).
US08556748B2
A golf ball comprising: an inner core having a compression of less than about 60; at least one outer core layer (surrounding the inner core or an optional intermediate layer) having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D and a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of the inner core; and a cover surrounding the outer core layer; at least one of the inner core, intermediate layer and outer core layer comprising a partially or fully neutralized ionomer; and the inner core having a hardness less than a hardness of the at least one outer core layer. Additionally, either the cover has a Shore D hardness of at least 60 and a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the at least one outer core layer, or the inner core comprises a partially or fully neutralized ionomer and a specific gravity less than 1.0.
US08556734B2
A flexible wire assembly of a compact structure that can transmit the torque for a high speed rotation even in a bent condition is provided. The flexible wire assembly includes a flexible outer tube, in which a flexible inner wire having its opposite ends defining rotation input and output ends, respectively, is rotatably supported by means of a plurality of rolling bearings. Spring elements are employed for applying preloads to those rolling bearings. The use is also made of a speed reducing mechanism for reducing in speed and outputting rotation of the inner wire. The spring elements include inner ring spring elements and outer ring spring elements that are alternately arranged over the length of the inner wire.
US08556731B2
A doorframe is provided that uses angled display areas in a single frame to allow more than one display means to be mounted or placed behind the door with the viewing area facing outward. This allows a player to more comfortably view a multiple-display gaming machine from a single location while at the same time, allows attendants or engineers working on a gaming machine to more readily access the internal workings of the gaming machine by having to only open a single door.
US08556726B2
There is provided a game system which is capable of differentiating depending on the payment method of a play fee. The game system where it is possible to pay a game play fee by selecting one payment method from a plurality of payment methods, determines the payment method which the play fee has been paid by (S1), and controls the game in such a way that modification is generated depending on the payment method, on the basis of the determination result (S2-S13).
US08556725B2
Disclosed herein is a scenario-based load testing apparatus and method. The scenario-based load testing apparatus includes a packet analysis unit, a scenario creation unit, and a load generation unit. The packet analysis unit creates a virtual map and game grammar by capturing and analyzing packets sent between a server and a client. The scenario creation unit creates a scenario of a virtual user on the virtual map. The load generation unit generates a load by creating packet data corresponding to the virtual user in compliance with the game grammar and the scenario.
US08556723B2
A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world experiences including activities, settings, events, purchases, sales and diverse transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world participation. In some circumstances, multiple persons can participate as a group or participate as individuals in the virtual world environment. Some embodiments provide an oversight procedure that enables a supervisory entity to exercise direct or indirect control over certain virtual world aspects of a participant or player. In some implementations the oversight procedure is at least partially based on an attribute related to the participant or player.
US08556720B2
An interactive computerized game system including a visual display, one or more user input devices, and a processor executing software that interacts with the display and input device(s) is disclosed. The software displays images of avatars. At least one of the user input devices is a touchscreen. During gameplay, the gameplayer may touch the touchscreen to provide input. An animation is displayed in response to user input matching a predefined input.
US08556718B2
In a game where a character is moved at a high speed to a goal along a path that is set in a virtual three-dimensional space, an operation mistake is better prevented in a movement operation of the character. A plurality of paths where the character moves are set in parallel in the virtual three-dimensional space. Game control means includes path information storing means for storing a coordinate position and a directional vector that are given to each point of a sequence of points arranged in each of the paths. Additionally, the position coordinate of the character moving in one of the paths is calculated based on the information stored in the path information storing means. A game machine includes a special movement process means for moving, when a special movement input signal is input from a controller pad operated by a player, the character from the path where the character is currently moving to a position coordinate in the virtual three-dimensional space of an adjacent path, by referring to position coordinates of the sequence of points stored in the path information storing means.
US08556710B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards, wherein at least one gaming machine may be provided a plurality of bonus awards.
US08556694B2
A terminal apparatus is connected to a server apparatus via a network. Active character information capable of specifying an active character is transmitted to the server apparatus. A movement instruction used to move the active character in a virtual space is inputted. Movement information is transmitted to the server apparatus in accordance with the movement instruction. Visible range information capable of specifying all of the player characters each existing in a visible range is received. A display device displays the visible range in which all of the player characters specified by the visible range information are arranged so that the player character that one player of the terminal apparatus causes to participate in the network game can be distinguished from other player character that another player causes to participate in the network game and so that the player can distinguish the active character from non-active characters.
US08556692B2
To provide a game device that allows a user to grasp a positional situation of a user character relatively easily in a game device for executing a game based on a position of the user character that moves in a game space according to an operation of the user. Position storage means (70a) stores the position of the user character that moves in the game space according to the operation of the user. Determination means (74) determines whether or not the position of the user character satisfies a positional condition regarding the position of the user character. Display control means (76) controls, based on a determination result obtained by the determination means (74), display-output related to a game character that is not being operated by the user.
US08556689B2
A system for heating and cooling a main floor of a building, including: a building having an attic, a main floor and a crawl space; an attic air blower system for moving attic air into the main floor; and a crawl space air blower system for moving crawl space air to the main floor, wherein (i) the attic air blower moves air from the attic into the main floor when the crawl space air blower moves air from the main floor through the crawl space to the exterior of the building; and, (ii) the attic air blower moves air from the main floor through the attic to the exterior of the building when the crawl space air blower moves air from the crawl space into the main floor.
US08556688B2
Integrated aerator for storage and drying silos installed directly over the silo's grains unloading tunnel (1), which is used for the air captation and using the same for drying and conservation of agricultural products stored in the mentioned silo, this aerator being made-up by a modular structure (2) provided of an inferior opening for air captation (3), over which is positioned a rotor (4) associated to a rotation shaft (5) with rotation bearings (6), a set that is driven by a motor (7), in a form to capture air through the opening (3), and blowing the same through a perimeter structure of shutters (8) and exits (9), which direct the blown air directly inside the silo.
US08556686B2
A sharpening device with an abrasive material, a polishing coat encapsulating the abrasive material and an instruction card coupled to the polishing coat. The abrasive material having a property of conforming to the shape of a pointed article penetrating the abrasive material and a property of applying resistance pressure to the pointed article. The sharpening pad may be used in the sharpening and polishing of conically and other shaped points as found on various articles such as machine and hand sewing needles, quilting needles, pins, darts, miscellaneous tools, barb-less fishhooks and the like, including various fine pointed articles.
US08556681B2
A method is provided to remove a thickness of a sputter target surface deformation layer to thereby achieve a reduced burn-in time during sputtering operations. The method comprises extrusion hone polishing of the target surface with a visco-elastic abrasive medium.
US08556680B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the automatic edge grinding of glass sheets under clean room conditions, comprising the following: a) a multi-axis robot at a gripper arm thereof carries a suction frame having a plurality of suction units for receiving a glass sheet, b) a grinding unit having at least one rotatable grinding wheel that is supported in a stationary manner is installed in the usable pivot range of the gripper arm of the robot, c) the ground product occurring during operation of the grinding unit is extracted by an extraction system, d) the degree of wear and the state of the grinding wheel are monitored by a calibration device in conjunction with a detection device, and a computer program for carrying out the method.
US08556670B2
A sliding fin for a surfboard includes a base having a planar tab with an upper flange, a large fin piece having a first indentation, and a small fin piece for mating face-to-face with the large fin piece. The second fin piece has a second indentation that forms a channel that has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the planar tab and upper flange, the channel being longer than the width of the planar tab, the small fin piece being translucent to enable the planar tab in the channel to be seen, the large and small fin pieces being slidable relative to the base on the planar tab.
US08556639B2
An electric contact which can improve the connection stability without increasing the sliding resistance even when the amount of reduction in the lengths of the electric contact is little. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first plunger which has conductivity and has an external cylinder portion; a second plunger which has internal contact portion to be inserted into the external cylinder portion, is interlinked with the first plunger in an extensible manner and has conductivity; and a coil spring which urges the first and second plungers toward a direction to separate them. The internal contact portion has a taper shape which expands towards the lower end from the upper end, and is formed so as to contact with the internal surface of the external cylinder portion and conduct to the external cylinder portion.
US08556633B2
A method for teaching an adult or child how to breathe through an air regulator is provided. The method includes providing an air regulator and a first air pump positioned at a location proximate a residential pool and outside of the residential pool, wherein the air regulator and the air pump are operatively connected with one another via a hose that allows air to flow from the air pump and be supplied to the air regulator in an amount sufficient for a human child or adult that is able to swim to breathe. The method further includes supplying the adult or child air from the air pump via the hose and through the air regulator to allow the adult or child to breathe underwater in the residential pool.
US08556619B2
A composite fabrication apparatus which may include a first tooling die and a second tooling die movable with respect to each other; a thermal control system having induction coils disposed in thermal contact with the first tooling die and the second tooling die; a first die susceptor provided on the first tooling die and a second die susceptor provided on the second tooling die and connected to the induction coils; and a cooling system disposed in thermal contact with the first tooling die and the second tooling die. A composite fabrication method is also disclosed.
US08556613B2
An injection mold includes a mold base defined with a sliding slot, a mold core detachably mounted in the mold base, and a plurality of securing devices. The mold base includes an upper mold base and a lower mold base. The mold core includes an upper mold core and a lower mold core detachably connected with the upper mold core. The mold core defines a slider. The slider slides in the sliding slot of the mold base to move the mold core in or out of the mold base. The upper mold core defines a first securing groove, and the lower mold core defines a second securing groove. The securing devices are mounted in the upper mold base and the lower mold base. The securing devices secure the first and the second securing grooves, allowing the mold core to attach to the mold base.
US08556610B2
The invention relates to a method and device for the direct production of polyester granulate from a highly viscous polyester melt with a polymerization degree of 132 to 165, as well as the granulates formed thereform. In the method, the highly viscous polyester melt is subjected to a pre-drying and drying/degassing after a hot cutting method. Hot cutting is implemented at water temperatures of 70° C. to 95° C. and with a liquid to solid ratio of 8 to 12:1.
US08556607B2
A screw rotor is for use in a screw pump that pumps fluid by rotation of a pair of screw rotors engaged with each other in a rotor housing. The screw rotor includes a multiple-thread portion for pump suction side and a single-thread portion for pump discharge side. The screw rotor is formed so that the tooth profile of the multiple-thread portion is connected to the tooth profile of the single-thread portion through a boundary plane that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the screw rotor. The first curved portion coincides with the third curved portion in the boundary plane.
US08556600B2
This invention relates to a pump system, especially for boosting the flow rate of a fluid through a pipe (1, 2, 6), comprising a pump positioned in a pump chamber (10) for pumping at a chosen rate, and a motor driving said pump, the motor being positioned in a chamber (9) being provided with a pressurized fluid, the pressure of which being higher than the pressure in the pump chamber, the motor and the pump chambers being separated by a seal (8), the seal allowing a leakage of said pressurized fluid between them, wherein the pressurized fluid is acceptable to the pump environment and the system comprises a discharge branch line (3) coupled to the pipe(6) and positioned downstream from said pump, the discharge branch line having an outlet into the environment.
US08556599B2
A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a cylinder having a refrigerant compression space inside; a piston, linearly reciprocating inside the cylinder to compress a refrigerant; a frame having the cylinder affixed at one end and a mounting groove at a lower portion; an oil feed assembly positioned in the mounting groove to supply oil; an oil supply path in a linear shape, positioned at a lower portion inside the frame to communicate with the mounting groove and with a bottom of the cylinder and which supplies oil between the cylinder and the piston; and an oil recovery path in a linear shape positioned at an upper portion inside the frame to communicate with an upper side of the frame and with a top of the cylinder and which recovers the oil between the cylinder and the piston. The oil feed assembly is in kit form.
US08556598B2
A sealed compressor has an outer housing and a separator plate received within the outer housing. The separator plate defines a suction chamber and a discharge pressure chamber within the outer housing. A locating plate is positioned within the suction pressure chamber. The locating plate has a plurality of positioning locations for receiving separate compressor housings. The separator plate has a plurality of positioning openings for receiving the separate compressors. A plurality of compressors are each received within their own housing, and include compressor pump units. The plurality of compressors extend between the openings in the locating plate and through the openings in the separator plate. The separate compressors deliver compressed refrigerant into the discharge pressure chamber.
US08556597B2
A highly precise and extremely compact metering unit for fluid media has a pump, two valves, and a fluid communication base with two ports, pump and valve channels, and a pump chamber. The pump is mounted on the pump chamber. The pump channels communicate with the pump chamber and the valves. The valve channels communicate with the valves and the ports. The pump and the two valves are arranged one beside the other on the same side of the fluid communication base.
US08556591B2
A method of assembling a rotor lock assembly for use in a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a rotor rotatably coupled to a generator by the rotor shaft. The generator and the rotor shaft are supported from a bedplate frame. The rotor shaft includes a rotor lock disk. The method includes coupling a support frame to the bedplate frame. The support frame is positioned adjacent to the rotor lock disk. A plurality of lock pin housings are coupled to the support frame. Each lock pin housing of the plurality of lock pin housings is positioned with respect to the rotor lock disk. A plurality of lock pins is provided. Each lock pin of the plurality of lock pins is configured to engage the rotor lock disk. Each lock pin is coupled between a corresponding lock pin housing of the plurality of lock pin housings and the rotor lock disk to facilitate limiting a rotation of the rotor shaft.
US08556590B2
A wind-turbine rotor blade has an outer skin member formed of fiber-reinforced plastic, shear webs, and trailing-edge sandwich members disposed closer to a trailing edge than the shear webs are. The outer skin member at the dorsal side located closer to the trailing edge than a trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the dorsal side or a vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the dorsal side is coupled, via a reinforcing member, with the outer skin member at the ventral side located closer to the trailing edge than the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the ventral side or a vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the ventral side.
US08556587B2
Provided is a propeller fan that can prevent deformation of the propeller fan while maintaining the basic performance thereof, such as the air blowing performance, efficiency, and noise performance. In a plastic propeller fan including a hub and a plurality of blades integrally molded in a radial pattern on the outer circumference of the hub, assuming that the radial size of each blade from the base to the outer peripheral edge is 100, a ring member that joins the plurality of blades together is provided at a dimension position of 5 to 45 from the outer peripheral edge.
US08556585B2
A cooling fan for cooling a mechanical section of a driving device attached to a rotary shaft including a plurality of blades configured to generate an airflow toward an outside of the rotary shaft in directions along radius directions of the rotary shaft with rotation of the rotary shaft, and a plurality of ribs that have widths in directions crossing the blades, extend toward outsides along the radius directions with respect to a center axis of the rotary shaft, reinforce the corresponding plurality of blades, and are directed on a side of the mechanical section at tips of the plurality of ribs, wherein at least parts of the blades exist inside the ribs along the radius directions of the ribs.
US08556571B2
A wind-powered turbine has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. Located in the housing is a cylindrical stator array having a plurality of spaced-apart stators located in it. An annular cylindrical rotor array having a plurality of cups rotates about a central axis, fits inside of the stator array. The stators are positioned to cause air which flows around the outer periphery of the stator array to impinge on the rotors and an air handling system causes air entering the housing to be distributed substantially around the periphery of the stator array.
US08556569B2
A method and control system can implement a transient exhaust pressure protection logic to avoid a turbine exhaust vacuum trip due to a short duration turbine exhaust pressure transient that may be caused by a large reduction in turbine flow coupled with a transient increase in exhaust pressure, which specifically occurs during full load rejections. When full load rejection conditions are sensed by power load unbalance and confirmed by secondary indications, normal alarm settings and trip settings for turbine exhaust pressure are blocked for a delay period while transient operating limits are in place.
US08556567B2
An order-picking system and method that includes a high-bay warehouse, at least one tray warehouse, at least one packing station, at least one shipping station and a conveyor technique to bring the tray loaded with the pallet layer into the tray warehouse. The conveyor technique may be a conveyor, a storage machine and/or a lift.
US08556565B2
A ball retrieval device that picks up tennis balls from the ground and vertically elevates them into a cart. The ball retrieval device includes an L-shaped frame including a first section and a second section. A feeder system is located on the horizontal section of the L-shaped frame and a paddle wheel system is connected to the feeder system. A lift system is located on the vertical section of the L-shaped frame.
US08556564B2
A mobile, thermally insulated storage and retrieval unit for housing tube racks on shelves and having an elevator and conveyor for moving racks between shelves and an exterior loading tray.
US08556558B1
An apparatus and method for fastening cementitious components together or for fastening a cementitious component to a non-cementitious component to form a structure. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a screw having a hollow shaft from which threads protrude and a tip comprising a plurality of drilling teeth or a plurality of thread members that surround said central space, each of said thread members forming a two-dimensional spiral. In use, the invention is operated by screwing it into the cementitious components and then injecting an adhesive into the void created by the screwing step.
US08556555B2
A theft resistant strap and buckle assembly for securing cargo on a vehicle rack includes a strap and a buckle. The strap is reinforced to resist cutting. The buckle has a lock and cam device that operates to prevent loosening of the strap when the buckle is locked.
US08556549B2
In a head member (30) for this cutting tool with detachable insert (70), a slit (38) is provided so as to further extend towards a rear end side from a rear end for an insert attachment seat formed by a pressing surface of an upper jaw portion of a head member body (31) and a pedestal surface of a lower jaw portion (33). Also, a clamp screw engaged with the upper jaw portion is screwed while inclining in a direction separated as it moves towards the lower jaw portion (33), with respect to an imaginary plane (P) which extends along an extension direction of the slit (38) and in a direction in which the pressing surface and the pedestal surface face each other, whereby the upper jaw portion is enabled to elastically deform by using as a fulcrum a connecting portion 39 between a rear wall surface (38B) of the slit (38), and a rear end surface (31F) of the head member body (31). Moreover, the connecting portion (39) is formed such that the width thereof in the extension direction becomes gradually greater as the clamp screw moves in a separating direction from the imaginary plane (P). According to the head member (30), a cutting insert (50) can be stably clamped by elastically deforming the jaw portion formed with the pressing surface straight with respect to the pedestal surface while operating a large clamping force.
US08556543B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sheet pile wall component such as a sheet pile, a connection profile or a carrier that exhibits at least one interlock with a uniform cross-section extending across the entire length of the sheet pile wall component for engaging the interlock of an additional sheet pile wall component. According to the invention, a preliminary product is produced by forming using this method, and the interlock when viewed in its cross-section is manufactured at least in sections by shape-cutting at the section of the preliminary product that is to be provided with the interlock, whereby the cross-section of the section is dimensioned sufficiently such that the dimensional deviations caused by forming at the preliminary product are taken into account for the shape-cutting of the interlock.
US08556532B2
A joining component, for axial joining to a workpiece, comprises a base body composed of thermoplastic material and including a holding section and a flange section, with a joining surface including both a portion of the flange section and a metal section which can be heated inductively. The metal section is in this case integrated in the flange section.
US08556529B2
An applicator includes an applicator body, an applicator pad attached at a front part of the applicator body, and a pre-loaded container of liquid received in \ the applicator body. The applicator body defines a flow path from the container to the applicator pad. The container includes a front closure portion which is openable to allow liquid to flow from the container into the flow path. The applicator body has a structure which interacts with the front of the container when the container is moved to an opening position relative to the applicator body to open the openable front closure portion. Wherein the container defines a front chamber and a rear chamber with a liquid-impermeable intermediate barrier therebetween. Wherein the container includes a longitudinal pusher element extending relatively movably between the ends of the front chamber.
US08556526B2
A printer that includes a cassette mounting portion into which a tape cassette is mounted and from which is removed a tape cassette in an up-down direction, a printing head that performs printing on the tape, a platen roller that faces the printing head, a roller holder that rotatably supports the platen roller, a sensor that detects the type of the tape, a sensor holder that holds the sensor, and a protective portion that is provided on the roller holder and is provided above the sensor.
US08556515B2
A split-type sliding bearing for a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine incorporated in a split-type bearing housing. The sliding bearing consists of a pair of semi-cylindrical bearing bodies combined with each other to form a cylindrical body. The bearing housing has a cylindrical bearing retaining bore and consists of a pair of housing halves. One of the housing halves has a relatively lower stiffness, and the other has a relatively higher stiffness. One of the bearing bodies is held by the housing half having a relatively lower stiffness. The other bearing body is held by the housing half having a relatively higher stiffness. The bearing bodies have an equal outer diameter to each other, and both of the circumferential end parts of one bearing body have a larger thickness than those of the other bearing body prior to incorporation into the housing halves.
US08556509B2
An active/self-sensing compensating hydrostatic bearing is disposed between first and second structures to allow relative movement between the first and second structures. The hydrostatic bearing includes a body and a compensator. The body, fixed to the first structure and separated from the second structure by a first gap, has a chamber and an input passage and an output passage both communicating with the chamber. The compensator is disposed in the chamber. A compensating passage, communicating with the input passage and the output passage, is formed between the body and the compensator. A pressurized fluid flows from the input passage to the output passage through the compensating passage, and the pressurized fluid in the output passage flows to the first gap to maintain the stability and the rigidity for the relative movement between the first and second structures. A hydrostatic bearing module using the hydrostatic bearing is also disclosed.
US08556501B2
A method for on-orbit calibration of the temperature sensors of a blackbody is disclosed. The method may include selecting a blackbody traveling in a micro-gravity environment and comprising a sensor, a container positioned proximate the sensor and containing a material, and a heat transfer device positioned proximate the at least one container. The heat transfer device may transition the material through a phase change. The temperature sensor may monitor the temperature of the material during the phase change. Additionally, the state of the material may be measured by displacement of the container to improve the accuracy of the plateau temperature measurement. A correction may be calculated to correct any disparity between the temperature reported by the temperature sensor during the phase change and the known plateau temperature, measured at a threshold state of the material, corresponding to that phase change. The correction may be applied to subsequent temperature readings obtained using the temperature sensor.
US08556495B2
An injector device is disclosed, the injector device comprising an elongated mixing container extending along a first axis, and a piston member slidably positioned in the mixing container. The injector device comprises a mixing device comprising a mixing member, an elongated member parallel to the first axis and a handle member. The piston member comprises a piston head and a first locking arm flexibly connected to the piston head, such that the first locking arm in a first position extends substantially parallel to the elongated member and engages with the mixing device in such a way that the piston member moves in a first direction along the first axis with the mixing device. In a second position, the first locking arm may allow the mixing device to move relative to the mixing container independently of the piston member.
US08556492B2
Provided are a backlight unit and a display apparatus including the backlight unit. The backlight unit includes light sources, light guide plates, and a bottom cover. The light sources emit light in a first direction. The light guide plates have first sides spaced a predetermined distance in the first direction from each other and facing each other. The light guide plates at least partially overlap each other. The light emitted from the light source is incident in the first direction to the first side and emitted in a second direction crossing the first direction. The bottom cover receives the light source and the light guide plate and includes a side border facing a second side of the light guide plate spaced apart from the first side of the light guide plate by an extension length of the light guide plate in the first direction.
US08556487B2
An exemplary illuminating apparatus includes a light guiding plate, a light source facing a light input surface of the light guiding plate, and a complementary color element adjacent to the light source. The light source comprises a number of LEDs which emit light with at least two wavelengths. The at least two wavelengths light mix with each other to gain a white light. The complementary color element is configured for receiving light emitted from adjacent, outmost LED and converting the light into white light. The white light is reflected by the complementary color element and emits from the light guiding plate through the light output surface. The complementary color element includes a plurality of first and second complementary color zones arranged alternatively and in a line.
US08556484B2
A freely plastically flexible light-emitting strip structure, which is a hollow light guide strip body made of transparent material. The light guide strip body is formed with at least one axial internal chamber. A plastically flexible strip body is implanted in the internal chamber. Recessed/raised sections are formed on a wall of the internal chamber for changing light path. When a light source projects light into the internal chamber, the recessed/raised sections deflect or reflect the projected light, whereby the light guide strip body can emit light outward. The plastically flexible strip body makes the light guide strip body plastically flexible and self-patternable. Accordingly, the configuration of the light guide strip body is freely adjustable in accordance with the requirements of use sites so as to enlarge application range and provide enhanced decorative or warning effect.
US08556477B2
A light fixture mounting post includes an upper threaded portion for attaching the post to a light shade and a lower portion having a multiplicity of sequential taper threaded segments for attaching light fixtures to the post. The upper threaded portion has left handed threads, and an O-ring and a shaped rubber washer residing between a post nut and the shade. A post flange limits the insertion depth of the upper threaded portion through the shade. The taper threaded segments include right handed pipe threads for tightly engaging the light fixtures and reduced thickness spaces separating the taper threaded segments allowing easy shortening of the lower portion. An unthreaded shoulder adjacent to one of the reduced thickness spaces lengthens the separation of the taper threaded segments below the unthreaded shoulder from the taper threaded segments above the unthreaded shoulder which facilitates the attachment of known light fixtures.
US08556466B2
The present disclosure provides a lighting apparatus using a light-emitting diode (LED), which includes: LEDs; a power transfer substrate with the LEDs thereon; a radiating member radiating heat generated in the LEDs; a driver electrically connected to the power transfer substrate and integrally coupled to the power transfer substrate and the radiating member; and a heat insulation layer reducing the amount of heat transferred from the radiating member to the driver. In addition, the present disclosure provides a lighting apparatus using an LED, which further includes a cradle fixed to a given object and detachably fixing a lighting body in which a power transfer substrate with LEDs thereon, a radiating member and a driver have been integrally coupled.
US08556463B2
A simple detachable illumination lamp tube includes a tube unit, a heat-dissipating unit, a light-emitting unit, a support unit and a lateral cover unit. The tube unit has a light-permitting hollow tube. The heat-dissipating unit has a heat-dissipating substrate received in the light-permitting hollow tube. The heat-dissipating substrate has two opposite lateral sides contacting the inner surface of the light-permitting hollow tube. The light-emitting unit has a plurality of strip light-emitting modules received in the light-permitting hollow tube. The strip light-emitting modules are disposed on the heat-dissipating substrate and electrically connected in sequence. The support unit has a plurality of support elements received in the light-permitting hollow tube and disposed between a bottom side of the heat-dissipating substrate and the inner surface of the light-permitting hollow tube. The lateral cover unit has two lateral covers installed on two ends of the light-permitting hollow tube.
US08556460B2
A lighting apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted thereto. The substrate includes a surface on which a plurality of light-emitting elements are mounted and stress absorbing elements arranged on imaginary straight lines connecting portions for mounting the substrate with each other. The lighting apparatus includes a main body in contact with and fixed to a back surface of the substrate. The lighting apparatus also includes a light directing member in contact with a front surface of the substrate, a plurality of openings into which the plurality of light-emitting elements of the substrate are inserted, and a plurality of reflective surfaces.
US08556457B2
A display device for increasing brightness of an image generation, including a color cluster system, is provided. The system includes a first color LED cluster having at least a first LED of a first wavelength within a first color range and a second LED of a second different wavelength within the first color range. The light from the first LED may be combined at least partially with light from the second LED The system further comprises a second color LED cluster having at least a first LED of a first wavelength within a second color range and a second LED of a second different wavelength within the second color range. In the second color LED cluster, the light from the first LED may be combined at least partially with light from the second LED.
US08556454B2
A light tube including a heat sink, a light transmissive cover disposed on the heat sink, and at least one light source module is provided. A containing space is formed between the heat sink and the light transmissive cover. The light source module includes a carrier, a plurality of first light-emitting devices, a plurality of second light-emitting devices, and a plurality of non-light-emitting passive devices. The carrier is disposed on the heat sink. The first light-emitting devices are arranged on the carrier along a first straight reference line to form a first line of light-emitting devices. The second emitting devices are arranged on the carrier along a second straight reference line to form a second line of light-emitting devices. The non-light-emitting passive devices are disposed on the carrier and between the first and second lines of light-emitting devices and electrically connected to the first and the second light-emitting devices.
US08556447B2
A mountable, adjustable, and removable personal mirror system, which allows the user to obtain close-in or far-away panoramic views. The user can adjust the position (how close together), the angle, and the orientation (e.g., side-to-side or top-and-bottom) of the mirrors. By so adjusting the mirrors, the user will see a much wider variety of visual information than with currently existing personal mirrors.
US08556439B2
A household appliance including an information light device that allows a user of the household appliance to determine when the household device is in operation, and a method thereof. The information light device may include a light guide structured to indicate an operating status of the household appliance. The light guide may be disposed at a lower portion of the household appliance, and embodied as a wave guide where at least part of the light that exits the light guide is guided in a direction that is perpendicular to the light guide and onto a floor where the household appliance is disposed.
US08556434B2
An image projection apparatus 500 includes an optical modulation element 206R, 206G, 206B, a projection lens 100 configured to project light modulated by the optical modulation element onto a projection surface, an optical unit 201 configured to guide light from a light source 209 to the optical modulation element and to guide the light from the optical modulation element to the projection lens, a shutter mechanism 300 disposed between the optical unit and the projection lens and configured to operate so as to be in an open state and a closed state, and a focus corrector 501 configured to correct a focus variation generated by temperature changes of the optical unit and the projection lens by operating the projection lens based on a focus correction function. The focus corrector changes the focus correction function in accordance with information relating to an operation of the shutter mechanism.
US08556425B2
An alignment device including means for releasably attaching a suction ring and means for applying a pattern of light to an eye of a patient. The alignment device further including means for detecting light reflected from the eye and determining whether the suction ring is aligned relative to the eye based on the detected light.
US08556417B2
In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic lens comprises an optic. The optic has an optical axis and surfaces comprising an anterior surface and a posterior surface. At least one of the surfaces has an inner refractive region and a refractive-diffractive structure disposed outwardly from the inner refractive region in a direction away from the optical axis. The inner refractive region is adapted to contribute refractively to a distance focus optical power. The refractive-diffractive structure comprises one or more diffractive regions and one or more refractive regions. A diffractive region is adapted to contribute diffractively to a multi-zone optical power, and a refractive region is adapted to contribute refractively to the distance focus optical power.
US08556412B2
A handheld printer and a printing method thereof are provided. The handheld printer receives distance information from at least one sensor positioned outside the handheld printer, determines its position based on the distance information, and determines data to be printed in the determined position.
US08556409B2
Printers and duplexers are described herein. An example duplexer for a printer includes a print substrate path to guide a print substrate and a chamber to collect a fluid.
US08556407B2
There is provided a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus includes: a support member which supports a recording medium; a recording head which applies a recording material to one surface of the recording medium supported on the support member; and a fixing unit which fixes the recording material adhered to the one surface of the recording medium transported from the support member, wherein the support member and the fixing unit are arranged to be partly overlapped with each other in an up and down direction.
US08556400B2
The present invention aims to provide an ink for ink jet recording that is excellent in storage stability and discharge stability and attains high coloration on regular paper or gloss paper and high glossiness on gloss paper. The ink for ink jet recording of the invention includes: water; and a pigment dispersed by using a polymer which is obtained by polymerizing at least 50% by weight or more of benzylacrylate and 15% by weight or less of (meth)acrylic acid as components of the polymer and has an acid value of no less than 50 mgKOH/g and no more than 120 mgKOH/g and a weight average molecular weight of no less than 10000 and no more than 120000.
US08556386B2
A printhead is provided having an elongate support having a plurality of internal webs protruding from a base section to define a plurality of parallel fluid supply channels, a shim supported by the support and defining a plurality of rows of openings through which fluid from respective supply channels is supplied, and a plurality of elongate printhead modules supported serially on the shim. Each module defines a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid passes to fluid ejection nozzles from respective rows of the openings. Either end of each module defines complementary formations such that adjacent modules nest together.
US08556385B2
A replacement imaging chip includes a single row of contact pads adapted for engagement with an imaging device having rows and columns of contacts, the single row of contact pads disposed to contact the rows and columns of contacts when the replacement imaging chip is installed in the imaging device.
US08556384B2
A droplet ejection head includes head members, dummy members, a sealant, and elastic members. Each of the head members has a nozzle face where a plurality of nozzles for ejecting droplets are formed and an attaching face which is a back side face with respect to the nozzle face. Each of the dummy members has a dummy nozzle face and an attaching face which is a back side face with respect to the dummy nozzle face. The dummy members are placed at both end sides of the elongated substrate in the longitudinal direction so that second gaps between the outmost head members and the dummy members are formed. The sealant is filled in each of first gaps between the head members and the second gaps, bonds the head members and the dummy members with the outmost head members, and seals the first gaps and the second gaps.
US08556378B2
A maintenance station for servicing a printhead mounted on a carrier includes mechanisms that separate a wiping function from a capping function. The maintenance station includes a housing mounting a maintenance sled that is movable between a wiping position and a capping position. The capping position follows the wiping position along a direction of travel by the carrier when it enters the maintenance station. As the carrier enters the maintenance station, a latch pivotably mounted to the maintenance sled selectively locks the maintenance sled in the wiping position without engaging the capping position based on a stop position of the carrier upon initial entrance into the maintenance area.
US08556376B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.
US08556372B2
The Niyama number of a flow path for phase change ink is the ratio of cooling rate of the ink to the thermal gradient of the ink along the ink flow path. Print head assemblies can be designed and configured to achieve ink flow paths having Niyama numbers that are greater than a critical Niyama value. These designs reduce entrapment of air in the ink as the ink is changing phase and provide optimal bubble and void mitigation for phase change ink. The thermal gradient of the ink flow path can be achieved using passive and/or active thermal elements disposed along the ink flow path.
US08556368B2
A printing system that has a media transport system configured to transport media of differing dimensions along a media path, a printhead assembly for printing media transported along the media path, the media path having differing widths depending on the dimensions of the media and, a plurality of service modules for the printhead assembly. Each of the service modules is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes. During use, the media path extends between the printhead assembly and at least some of the service modules configured to operate in one of the modes while any of the service modules beyond the media path operate in another of the modes.
US08556352B2
A brake fluid pressure control device has a base unit. The base unit includes an inlet valve mounting hole, an outlet valve mounting hole, a reservoir hole, a cylinder hole, an inflow hole, a suction hole, and a discharge hole. A plunger is inserted into the cylinder hole. The inflow hole connects the outlet valve mounting hole and the reservoir hole. The suction hole connects the reservoir hole and the cylinder hole. The discharge hole connects the cylinder hole and the inlet valve mounting hole. The suction hole is inserted with a suction valve that allows only an inflow of the brake fluid into the cylinder hole. The discharge hole is inserted with a discharge valve that allows only a discharge of the brake fluid from the cylinder hole. The inflow hole and the suction hole are arranged to be substantially in parallel with each other.
US08556346B2
A vehicle seat is movable in a rocking or rotating fashion about a center-of-rotation located above a seat bottom. The seat bottom has forward and rear edges and a mounting structure for securing the seat bottom to a vehicle interior engaging the seat bottom to permit movement of the forward edge along a first arcuate path and movement of the rear edge along a second arcuate path. The two arcuate paths having a common center-of-curvature located above the seat bottom, the center-of-curvature defining the center-of-rotation of the seat. A seat back attached to the seat bottom is independently adjustable in recline angle relative to the seat bottom. The arcuate paths may be defined by forward and rear guide tracks formed in one or more seat mounting brackets. A rack-and-pinion drive mechanism is provided to allow manual or powered adjustment of the seat along the guide tracks.
US08556345B2
A chair includes a chair body, a connecting member, a back portion, and a restoring device. The chair body includes a base having a receiving chamber. The restoring device includes a threaded adjusting sleeve rotatably mounted in the receiving chamber, a threaded rod screwed into the adjusting sleeve, a pull cord having a first end mounted on the connecting member and a second end mounted on the threaded rod, and an elastic member biased between the base and the adjusting sleeve. Thus, when the back portion is pressed, the connecting member is driven to pivot about the chair body so that the back portion is moved to adjust its inclined angle. In addition, the elastic member provides a damping force to damp a further movement of the back portion to limit the inclined angle of the back portion.
US08556339B2
A latch lock out assembly for use with an armrest of a vehicle is disclosed. The latch lock out assembly comprises a flexible body secured to the armrest on an end of the body. The latch lock out assembly also comprises a generally cylindrically shaped blocking member arranged on an end of the body. The blocking member will be used to block the disengagement of a latch from a locking surface when the armrest is in a generally vertical or seat back position but flex or bend to a secondary or disengaged position when the armrest is in a generally horizontal position within the vehicle.
US08556335B2
A vehicle bottom structure is provided which, in the case where a vehicle is involved in an accident such as a rear-end collision, can prevent an exhaust system component reaching a high temperature from being brought into contact with a fuel tank without causing any trouble. A vehicle bottom structure according to the present invention includes a suspension member installed between a fuel tank and a muffler silencer and extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and a stopping member suspended from the bottom of the vehicle between the suspension member and the muffler silencer, the vertical position of the sopping member overlapping the vertical position of the muffler silencer. The suspension member is on a trajectory obtained by rotating the stopping member to the front side of the vehicle around the point at which the stopping member is suspended from the bottom of the vehicle.
US08556331B2
A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body; a seat provided on the vehicle body; a pair of right and left entrances through which a user to be seated on the seat gets into and out of the vehicle, the entrances being provided at both sides of the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction; and a pair of right and left doors for opening and closing the pair of right and left entrances, respectively; each of the pair of right and left doors including a door body closing at least a portion of a corresponding entrance and a hinge for coupling the door body to the vehicle body such that the door body is rotatable around the hinge; and the door body including a door component which is substantially symmetric in shape in a rightward and leftward direction.
US08556328B1
The present invention provides for a frame on the vehicle, the frame operable to accept the window. The frame having a first edge and an opposed spaced apart second edge. A shade having a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end mounted to the first edge of the frame. The assembly further including at least one magnet wherein the at least one magnet is connected to the free end of the shade. The shade is operable to extend away from the first edge of the frame and connect to the second edge of the frame. The magnet attached to the free end of the shade connects to a ferrous material provided on the second edge of the frame. The magnet attachment allows for a user to blindly extend the shade assembly to an extended position.
US08556320B2
A console box placed in a vehicle passenger compartment includes a console body for storing articles, a lid located on a top surface of the body, and a storage portion formed on a back surface of the lid for storing a small item. The storage portion is opened in response to opening of the lid, and is closed in response to closing of the lid. The lid has one end attached to the body through support shafts such that the lid pivots between open and closed positions. The storage portion has one end attached to the lid through support shafts such that the storage portion pivots between open and closed positions. The lid has a free end opposite the one end thereof and the storage portion has a free end opposite the one end thereof. The free ends face in the same direction.
US08556315B2
According to one aspect herein, there is provided a vacuum gripper assembly for gripping an object, the vacuum gripper assembly including: a gripper finger comprising a flat plate; a vacuum pad; a supporting system for supporting the vacuum pad in relation to the gripper finger; and a stabilization structure adapted to stabilize the at least one vacuum pad in a generally flat orientation in relation to the flat plate of the gripper finger when the vacuum gripper assembly is not gripping the object.
US08556304B2
A multi point door lock device featuring a casing adapted to operatively engage the communicating components of the door lock. A removably engageable latch module slidably engages with the casing. A latch is reversibly engaged into the latch module with an allen screw and allows for user reversal to accommodate different door installations. The latch module also provides a switch for changing between first and second modes of operation to provide an external day latch function. The switching lever protrudes through the face plate on the side of the door.
US08556301B2
A telescoping containment cleanout device for attachment to a cleanout pipe comprising: an inner riser portion and an outer housing, where the inner riser portion and outer housing create a channel; a telescoping portion, where the telescoping portion extends vertically through the channel; a cap at the top of the device, where the cap includes a removable sealing portion for access and cleaning of the sewer line; and stops within the channel and along the telescoping portion, where the stops provide a means to lock the telescoping portion in a vertically elevated position. The telescoping containment cleanout device may further include a plurality of o-rings within the channel, where the o-rings assist in guiding the telescoping portion through the channel. The telescoping containment cleanout device may further include a twisting sealing portion that seals the telescoping portion in a closed position.
US08556300B2
The present invention relates to a preassembled media line with a line connector, composed of a connector body with a connecting portion to which a media line is connected, and with a coupling portion for sealed connection to a mating coupling part. In this arrangement, the media line is provided with a heating wire and said heating wire is continued from the connector body and the media line, when connected, in such a manner that it is arranged at least partially on the coupling portion. The connector body and the media line are surrounded at the end by a housing formed, in particular, from housing shells, the sealing function and a retaining function being divided between the housing and the connector body.
US08556287B1
An adaptor for securing a fifth wheel hitch to the bed of a towing vehicle is described. The fifth wheel hitch is typically part of a larger assembly having attachment lugs configured to be removably secured to receptacles in mounting rails permanently attached to the bed of the towing vehicle. Newer towing vehicles are provided with recessed sockets in the vehicle bed, rather than permanently mounted rails, to eliminate obstructions to placement of cargo in the bed. The present invention is, therefore, an adaptor for securing existing fifth wheel assemblies to these newer towing vehicles.
US08556286B2
A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on a towing vehicle, such that the hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from the hitch component. A pair of tethers are positioned on opposite sides of the hitch component and are moveable relative to one or more retraction mechanisms connected to the crash cushion.
US08556285B2
A bellows provides a transition for two vehicles of an articulated vehicle, which are articulately connected to each other. The bellows has at least one substantially U-shaped circumferential frame, the substantially U-shaped circumferential frame includes at least one coupling arrangement for attaching a cover shaped as an expansion or concertina bellows, and the at least one coupling arrangement is connected with the substantially U-shaped circumferential frame by way of at least one articulation.
US08556283B2
Boarding and deboarding apparatus for a vehicle, including a step that can be moved back and forth between a retracted and extended position, which at least in a partially extended position defines a first area that can be stepped upon, lateral guides of the step for attachment to a vehicle, a folding step which is mounted on the step so as to be pivotable between a folded-in and folded-out position and which in a folded-out position defines a second area that can be stepped upon which is parallel to the first area, and blocking means which prevent the folding step from pivoting between the retracted position and an intermediate position of the step, and which release the pivoting of the folding step, at the latest, when the extended position of the step has been reached.
US08556282B2
An axle for a motor vehicle comprises at least a transverse leaf spring (1) attached directly, or via an auxiliary support frame, to a body (9) of the motor vehicle by two first mountings (4), two control arms (2) and two wheel carriers (3). In each case, an end of the transverse leaf spring (1) facing toward a respective wheel (10) of the motor vehicle is rigidly connected to one of the two control arms (2), and both of the two control arms (2) are each orientated substantially in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. Each of the control arms (2) is connected by a second mounting (7) directly, or via an auxiliary support frame, to the body (9) and also connected, by at least one third mounting (5, 6), to one of the wheel carriers (3).
US08556274B2
A friction brake may be designed to work with either inline or quad skates. The friction brake is adjustable and/or can be made specifically to fit virtually any skate of a skater. The friction brake is preferably comprised of a cuff, one or more compression members, brake frame, brake pad, primary tension member, second tension member, and third tension member. Although the friction brake does not have to include all of the tension members, the friction brake works best when all of the tension members are present.
US08556272B2
A multilayer metal static cylinder head gasket for establishing a gas/fluid-tight seal between a cylinder head and an engine block includes a pair of functional layers having openings configured to register with a combustion chamber and annular seal beads configured to form a seal about the openings. The gasket further includes a primary compression limiter formed of a separate piece of material from the functional layers. The primary compression limiter extends at least partially about the openings to facilitate inhibiting the seal beads from being fully flattened between the cylinder head and the engine block. The pair of functional layers have nested protrusions forming a secondary compression limiter spaced radially outwardly from the primary compression limiter to further inhibit the seal beads from being fully flattened between the cylinder head and the engine block.
US08556271B2
A multilayer metal gasket includes at least two metal gasket layers formed with an aligned opening and aligned opposing sealing beads surrounding the opening. A partial stopper layer is interposed between the gasket layers and is of lesser area than either of the gasket layers. The partial stopper layer extends from the opening outwardly beyond the sealing beads and is fixed to one of the layers on only one side of the sealing beads and is free on the opposite side.
US08556269B2
A reactive target for firearms is disclosed. The target may include a center, four legs, and four heads. Each of the four legs may comprise an exterior end and radially extending from proximate the center to the exterior end. Each of the four heads may connect to the exterior end of a different leg of the four legs. Each of the four heads may also provide at least one target surface withstanding, without degradation, multiple impacts from firearm-fired projectiles. When an appropriate head is hit by a projectile, the target may roll a discrete, incremental distance on a supporting surface.
US08556268B2
A “indicating” projectile impact target, or group of such, that can be affixed to the front of an existing thin walled projectile impact target, where the indicating target(s) “actuate”, upon being struck by a projectile at one of the indicating target's bullseye locations, to leave a custom silhouette in the indicating target and the existing target, in order to indicate the bulls eye strike to the shooter.
US08556265B2
A combination game table having a plurality of games therein includes a mechanism for scrolling a sheet having different game surfaces thereon. The combination game table includes a table frame assembly having side members and a bottom surface, and a cavity located in the table frame assembly. The mechanism is positioned in the cavity and in contact with the sheet to translate the sheet from one position to a next position. In this regard, an operator is able to view a desired game surface by translating the sheet via the mechanism.
US08556260B2
A method for stacking objects in a container including the step of measuring a thickness value of each object at a plurality of predetermined locations along a face surface of the respective object. A cumulative thickness profile is developed indicative of a plurality of stacked objects, i.e., juxtaposed along each face surface. The cumulative thickness profile is, furthermore, calculated by summing each of the measured thickness dimensions at each of the predetermined locations. Next, a maximum thickness value is determined as each of the objects is measured and compared to a maximum fill value for each container to determine an overfill condition/number. The overfill condition corresponds to the number of objects which additively cause the maximum thickness value to exceed the maximum fill value. The objects may then be stacked based upon the overfill condition such that the total number of objects is less than the number corresponding to the overfill condition. The method facilitates optimum stacking of objects wherein at least one object has an irregular shape or non-uniform thickness profile.
US08556254B2
According to one embodiment, a paper sheet handling apparatus includes a supply unit including a support surface which tilts from a vertical direction, and a mounting surface substantially perpendicular to the support surface, and configured to receive a plurality of paper sheets which tilt along the support surface and are stacked on the mounting surface, a pick up mechanism configured to pick up the paper sheets from a mounting surface side of the supply unit, a conveyance path configured to convey the picked up paper sheet, an inspection device configured to inspect the conveyed paper sheet, and an accumulation unit configured to accumulate the inspected paper sheets.
US08556250B2
A sheet feeding device includes a sheet placement portion, a regulating portion, and an output portion. The regulating portion includes a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion. At least one of the first regulating portion and the second regulating portion can move in the width direction. The output portion includes a first output portion that extends from the first regulating portion toward the second regulating portion, and a second output portion that extends from the second regulating portion toward the first regulating portion. The first output portion includes a first end portion. The second output portion includes a second end portion. In a proximity state, the first end portion is located closer to the second regulating portion than the second end portion. The proximity state is a state in which a distance between the first regulating portion and the second regulating portion is at a minimum.
US08556248B2
Lens holders are disclosed that clasp the lens using rubberized paddles to reduce scratching and which include legs that are shaped to enable visual inspection of a lens without removal of the lens from the lens holder. One embodiment includes a lens holder body including a clip and a leg, and a spring fixed to the lens holder body. In addition, the leg includes a ledge, the spring includes two flexible arms terminating in paddles, the paddles are configured to clasp a lens resting on the ledge, at least the portion of each of the paddles that contact a lens clasped by the paddles is constructed from a resilient non-abrasive material, and the leg is formed so that a lens clasped by the springs and resting on the leg can be visually inspected without removing the lens from the lens holder.
US08556246B2
An X-Y table includes a platform and a frame which has an X and Y-truck trough. An X-plane truck is slideably held in the X-truck trough. A Y-plane truck is slideably held in the Y-truck trough. As the motor/actuator with drive mechanisms moves the frame in an X-direction the Y-truck moves through the Y-trough and as the motor/actuator with drive mechanisms moves the frame in a Y-direction the X-truck moves through the X-trough, thereby moving the frame in both the X-direction and the Y-direction.
US08556241B2
A damper is shown for damping the movements of a valve spring in an engine. The valve spring can be housed within the damper or the damper may be located inside of the valve spring. The damper is made from a suitable polymer and has one or more slots located radially to a central axis and one or more rings or bands. The rings or bands are located on the outer surface of the damper where the valve spring is located within the damper. The rings or bands are located on the inner surface of the damper where the valve spring surrounds the damper. The cross section, number and location of the slots, rings or bands can be adjusted depending on the particular application of the damper and the amount of damping that is desired for the particular application.
US08556237B2
A reduced water mist generating device (1) is provided with a water acquiring section (3) that acquires water for generating reduced water, a reduced water generating unit (U) that generates the reduced water from the acquired water, a reduced water atomizing section (6) that atomizes the generated reduced water, and a spraying section (7) that sprays the atomized water. With such a configuration, the reduced water can be generated from water, drifted in the form of a mist in a space, and caused to arrive at an object.
US08556228B2
A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve assembly includes a valve member movable with respect to a valve seat providing a sealing action based on applied pressure on the valve assembly. The bathroom flusher also includes an external cover designed for enclosing an electronic control module comprising a battery, a sensor, and an actuator for controlling operation of the flush valve, wherein the external cover includes at least two cover parts separately removable, and wherein the external cover is attachable with respect to the valve body in a manner also allowing removable attachment of the control module.
US08556226B2
There is a closure member for rotating or reciprocating movement between upstream and downstream passageways of a valve. A device, which consists of two or more elongated tubes whose cross sections form up into one or more files in moving direction of the closure member to divide the upstream passageway into many channels capable of leading the fluid to flow through, is disposed in the upstream passageway of the valve upstream of the closure member, consequently the upstream surface of the closure member can respectively open or close each channel in sequence while the closure member is rotating or reciprocating in the valve.
US08556225B2
The present invention involves, in some embodiments, pump chambers are configured to prevent contact of at least a portion of a membrane movable within the pump chamber to effect pumping from contacting an inner wall of the pump chamber, which can, in some embodiments, be useful to prevent any gas in the pump chamber from being pumped from the pump chamber during pumping. The pump chambers and pumping cartridges may form part of a pumping system further comprising valve(s) and a controller configured to detect and purge gas from the pump chamber.
US08556212B2
A device for delimiting a crew rest area in an aircraft passenger cabin includes a curtain which is adapted to separate at least one seat disposed in the aircraft passenger cabin from a region of the aircraft passenger cabin surrounding the seat. In addition, the device includes a fastening device for fastening the curtain in the aircraft passenger cabin. At least a first part of the fastening device is fixed to a grip rail intended for installation in the aircraft passenger cabin or formed integral with the grip rail intended for installation in the aircraft passenger cabin.
US08556198B2
A glass powder is provided that includes, as the main component, powder particulates of glass having a mean particulate size of less than or equal to 1.5 μm, and which is free of particles having a particle size of greater than 10 μm. A process for the production of such a glass power is also provided. The glass powder is particularly suitable as a filler of plastic dental compositions, in particular dental composites.
US08556197B2
The invention provides a process for producing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, the process having: a raw material composition preparation step for preparing a raw material composition containing at least sulfur (S), an adhesion inhibitor addition step for adding to the raw material composition an adhesion inhibitor that inhibits formation of adhered substances including the unreacted raw material composition, on the inner surface of a milling pot during mechanical milling, and a vitrification step for synthesizing sulfide-based glass by carrying out mechanical milling on the raw material composition to which the adhesion inhibitor has been added.
US08556196B2
An irrigation sprinkler apparatus has a rapid change nozzle which allows the changing of a nozzle without the use of tools or any disassemble of the sprinkler head. The rapid change nozzle slides into a window in the side of the sprinkler head and latches into place.
US08556190B2
An apparatus for pixelating falling water droplets to create a graphical image comprising one or more elevated water display heads having a plurality of spaced apart nozzles in one or more rows, each of said nozzles has a water inlet and a water outlet. A high speed solenoid is provided for each nozzle for opening and closing of the water outlet for each nozzle to control the speed at which water exits the nozzles. A water reservoir is provided above the water inlets for the solenoids and nozzles so that water pressure to the nozzles is maintained by gravity.
US08556183B2
Systems and methods involving transferrable identification tags are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a delivery device, a container, and a tag coupled to the container and configured to store information related to contents of the container. The delivery device is engageable with the tag and at least a portion of the contents of the container are transferrable from the container to the delivery device following its engagement with the tag. The tag is removable from the container in engagement with the delivery device such that the delivery device carries the tag following its removal. In one form, a frangible member is coupled to and extends between the tag and the container, and the tag is removable from the container by the delivery device upon breakage of the frangible member. Other embodiments include unique methods, systems, kits, assemblies, equipment, and/or apparatus which involve transferrable identification tags.
US08556181B2
A device for registering goods in a self-service cash register system is proposed, comprising a conveying device (2) for conveying goods in a predefined conveying direction (3), with at least one conveying means (4, 5, 10) of the conveying device onto which the goods can be placed for conveying, with at least one scanning device (1) arranged in a locally fixed manner at the conveying device (2) for registering machine-readable codes with which the goods are equipped, with at least one source for emitting optical radiation in the direction of the conveying device and at least one detector for receiving the radiation reflected by the goods lying on the conveying device and for generating a signal that corresponds to the intensity of the reflected radiation, wherein the conveying means (10) is pervious to the optical radiation from the source at least in some sections.
US08556167B1
A method for predicting future cash supply chain status includes tracking a plurality of monetary packages as they move along a cash supply chain. An quantity of monetary items that is estimated to arrive at a point along the cash supply chain on a future day, can be determined, based on tracking the monetary packages. Actions can then be taken based on the estimated quantity of monetary items. The calculation may be further based on expected positions of additional future monetary packages that are scheduled or predicted, based on history, to be received into the cash supply chain.
US08556162B2
A method and apparatus for managing a programmable component may be present. A location on an object may be identified using a programming unit based on a position of the programming unit with respect to the object. Programming information for the programmable component may be identified based on the location on the object. The programmable component may be programmed using the programming information for the programmable component.
US08556157B2
A method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus including a first and a second components, includes: forming a first solder bump on one of the first component and the second component; forming a second solder bump on the other one of the first component and the second component; bringing the first solder bump into contact with the second solder bump at a temperature higher than the liquidus temperature of any of the first and the second solder bumps such that the first and the second solder bumps are fused together to form a solder joint of an alloy having a lower liquidus temperature than any of the first and the second solder bumps; and solidifying the solder joint between the first and the second component.
US08556156B1
A method for friction stir welding is provided. The method may include beginning a friction stir welding operation by directing a rotating friction stir welding tool along a joint between two parts. A temperature of the resulting weld may be measured. Thereby, a controller may adjust process parameters associated with the friction stir welding process to decrease a difference between desired and measured temperatures of the weld. The desired temperature may correspond to a temperature at which the parts are plasticized. The process parameters may include rotational speed of the friction stir welding tool, feed rate, axial force along the length of the friction stir welding tool, and tilt angle of the friction stir welding tool.
US08556151B2
A surgical apparatus is disclosed. An actuation mechanism is operable from a proximal portion of the surgical apparatus and a tool assembly is pivotally positioned on a distal portion of the surgical apparatus. The tool assembly is movable between a first position in which the tool assembly is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the surgical apparatus, and a second position in which the tool assembly is pivoted away from the longitudinal axis of the surgical apparatus. An articulation mechanism is positionable to move the tool assembly between the first and second positions. A drive mechanism includes a first shaft operably engaged with a second shaft at an articulation joint. The drive mechanism is configured to transfer rotational motion from the first shaft to the second shaft.
