US08570204B2
A folded reference voltage flash analog-to-digital (ADC) converter and a method thereof are provided. The flash ADC of the present invention determines the most significant bit (MSB) of an analog input signal, varies a reference voltage input to a plurality of comparators in accordance with the MSB determination result, and determines the remaining bits. Accordingly, input capacitance can be reduced while maintaining the size and power consumption of the ADC.
US08570201B2
A continuous-time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter includes a plurality of integrator stages, in which one of the integrator stages includes a current buffer that drives an integrating capacitor. The analog-to-digital converter includes an outer feedback digital-to-analog converter and an inner digital-to-analog converter. The inner digital-to-analog converter is a current-mode digital-to-analog converter that converts the digital output signal to an analog current feedback signal, which is provided to an output of the integrator stage that includes the current buffer. Both the analog current feedback signal and an input signal provided to the current buffer are integrated by the integrating capacitor.
US08570197B2
Serializer circuitry for high-speed serial data transmitter circuitry on a programmable logic device (“PLD”) or the like includes circuitry for converting parallel data having any of several data widths to serial data. The circuitry can also operate at any frequency in a wide range of frequencies, and can make use of reference clock signals having any of several relationships to the parallel data rate and/or the serial data rate. The circuitry is configurable/re-configurable in various respects, at least some of which configuration/re-configuration can be dynamically controlled (i.e., during user-mode operation of the PLD).
US08570194B2
Architecture for managing clutch height in an optical navigational device such as a computer mouse. In one embodiment for a mouse, a feature can be molded into the bottom case that limits the clutch height by occluding the reflected light to the image sensor when the device is lifted from the tracking surface. Tracking is disabled when the clutch height threshold is exceeded, and re-enabled when the device is brought under the distance clutch height threshold. The device includes firmware controlled algorithm adjustments to one or more correlation parameters. When employing a D-shaped aperture, a threshold can be placed on the z-axis height tracking distance using dimensional characteristics of the shaped aperture, such as a knife-edge (the straight portion of the “D” shaped aperture), to impose a shadow across the image sensor. The aperture can be custom designed to occlude a portion of the emitted light from an LED.
US08570192B2
A multi-product avionics control and display unit (CDU). In implementations, the CDU may include a display and a processor coupled with the display. The processor is configurable to operate in a first mode to cause the display to present standby primary flight information associated with the aircraft and a second mode to control and display operation of one or more aircraft systems associated with the aircraft.
US08570191B2
Systems and methods facilitate the monitoring of tire pressure, the detection/determination of wheel speed, or a combination thereof. A system is provided comprising a hub cap, a target coupled to the hub cap, and at least two displacement sensors configured to measure a displacement between each displacement sensor and the target. The target has a variable thickness, and the target comprises a hollow vessel in fluid communication with a tire.
US08570183B2
A method of detecting gross weight overload of a vehicle comprising the steps of positioning one or more ultrasonic sensors on the vehicle so that said sensors measure the distance to a ground surface, using the sensors to measure height above the ground surface of the vehicle in a non-overloaded condition, adding known weights to the vehicle until maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) is attained, ascertaining height above the ground surface at this gross vehicle weight (GVW), and continuously measuring height of the ground surface and collecting height above the ground surface data to establish when an overload condition occurs.
US08570181B2
An apparatus and method for a supervisory circuit for a ground fault detection device or ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) device is disclosed in which is a test stimulus signal for a self test of the GFCI device is generated on a second secondary winding on a toroid of a differential current transformer. The GFCI device includes line and neutral conductors configured to connect an AC power source and a load. A differential current transformer includes a toroid, through which the line and neutral conductors pass, a first secondary winding wound on the toroid to generate a current in response to an imbalance of magnetic flux in the toroid, and a second secondary winding wound on the toroid. A differential ground fault detector is electrically connected to the first secondary winding of the differential current transformer to compare current generated in the secondary winding to a trip threshold. A controller is configured to control a test stimulus signal to be generated in the second secondary winding wound on the toroid of the differential current transformer.
US08570174B2
An alarm tag comprising a first input unit for generating signals for setting (to ON) or resetting (to OFF) an alarm system of the alarm tag. The alarm tag further includes a second input unit for generating signals for arming the alarm tag and triggering an alarm, and an independent auxiliary input unit that generates independent signals that arm the alarm tag and trigger an alarm. When both the second and the auxiliary input units generate a first signal, the alarm system of the alarm tag is armed and set to ON, and when any of the second and third auxiliary input units generate a second signal while the alarm tag is armed and ON, the alarm system of the alarm tag triggers an alarm, thereby preventing tampering and bypassing of one of the second and auxiliary input units to disarm the alarm.
US08570173B2
A metal-resistant radio frequency tag that has a broader band pass band (frequency versus communication range) characteristic compared to conventional techniques is achieved. For this purpose, the radio frequency tag according to the present invention includes a first resonator pattern, the first resonator pattern including a chip connecting section to which a chip is to be connected, and an inductance section that is capable of adjusting an impedance matching with the chip; and a second resonator pattern that is fed through electromagnetic induction coupling via the inductance section.
US08570161B2
Systems and methods for haptic information preview are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment a method for haptic information preview includes: receiving a message including data; receiving a data quality metric associated with the data; determining a quality of the data based at least in part on the data quality metric; determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the data quality; and transmitting a signal corresponding to the haptic effect to a haptic effect generator configured to output the haptic effect. Another embodiment includes a computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable code for executing such a method.
US08570150B1
A sensing system includes integrated sensor locating capability. Sensors can transmit spread spectrum encoded data pulses which are received at mobile nodes. Based on time of arrival information and known locations of the mobile nodes, locations of the sensors can be determined.
US08570141B2
A method for monitoring and controlling a household appliance is provided. The method has the steps of: monitoring and sampling the power of the household appliance to obtain a first standby power range; monitoring and sampling the power of the household appliance to obtain a set of first real-time power data; calculating a first standby confidence level based on the number of times that the first real-time power data fall within the first standby power range; and determining that the household appliance is in a standby state if the first standby confidence level is greater than or equal to a standby confidence level threshold.
US08570138B2
Resistive switches and related methods are provided. Such a resistive switch includes an active material in contact with opposite end electrodes. The active material defines electron traps that capture or release charges in accordance with applied switching voltages. Resistive switches are characterized by ON state and OFF state resistance curves. Resistance ratios of ten times or more are exhibited. The state of a resistive switch is determined using sensing voltages lesser then the switching threshold.
US08570137B2
A transformer includes high and low voltage side parts. The high voltage side part includes a first base seat, a first isolator seat having a plurality of isolator grooves, and a plurality of coil sets. The first isolator seat has one end connect to the first base seat and another end with a positioning groove. The plurality of coil sets are wound around the first isolator seat, and are positioned in the plurality of isolator grooves. The low voltage side part includes a second base seat, a second isolator seat, and a plurality of sheet bodies. The second isolator seat has one end connected to the second base seat and another end defining a central column. The central column is positioned in the positioning groove. Each sheet body possesses an opening for containing the central column. The sheet bodies are mutually laminated and interlaced on the central column.
US08570134B2
There is provided a thin transformer capable of being used in a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a light emitting diode (LED) display device. The transformer includes: a bobbin part including a plurality of bobbins, each including a pipe shaped body part having a though-hole formed in an inner portion thereof, a flange part vertically protruding outwardly from both ends of the body part, and external connection terminals protruding from one side of a lower flange part formed at a lower end of the body part; a core inserted into the through-hole of the bobbin to thereby form a magnetic path; and a coil part including coils each wound around the plurality of bobbins, wherein the bobbin part includes an inner bobbin and an outer bobbin, and the inner bobbin is coupled to the outer bobbin such that the external connection terminals of the inner bobbin and the external connection terminals of the outer bobbin are opposed to each other.
US08570130B1
A multilevel magnetic system described herein includes first and second magnetic structures that produce a net force that transitions from an attract force to a repel force as a separation distance between the first and second magnetic structures increases. The multi-level magnetic system is configured to maintain a minimum separation distance between a transition distance where the net force is zero and a separation distance at which a peak repel force is produced.
US08570118B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a filter having at least one first filter, each first filter being a band-reject type filter having a first set of filter parameters that are a function of a first material used to fabricate the at least one first filter, and at least one second filter, each second filter having a second set of filter parameters that are a function of a second material used to fabricate the at least one second filter, each second filter being one of a band-reject type filter and a band pass type filter. The at least one first filter and the at least one second filter are then cascaded together to form the filter. The cascaded filter has a new third set of filter parameters that are a function of both the first material and the second material.
US08570116B2
A combiner/divider may comprise a circuit ground and five transmission lines. The first transmission line may include a first conductor having a first end forming a first unbalanced-signal port relative to the circuit ground, and a second conductor having a first end connected to the circuit ground. The second and third transmission lines may be connected in parallel and each may include a conductor connecting a second end of the first conductor to a first balanced-signal port. The fourth and fifth transmission lines may be connected in parallel and each may include a conductor connecting a second end of the second conductor to a second balanced-signal port. A ferrite sleeve may surround the second and third transmission lines and/or the fourth and fifth transmission lines. The second, third, fourth and fifth transmission lines may be coaxial transmission lines with connected outer conductors.
US08570100B2
A sampling circuit and a receiver, with relatively simple configurations, and clocks, exhibiting excellent frequency characteristics, are provided. In discrete time circuits, a charging switch is controlled on and off using one of four-phase control signals. A rotate capacitor shares electrical charge accumulated in an IQ generating circuit via the charging switch. A dump switch is controlled on and off using a different signal from the control signal used to control the charging switch on and off, among the four-phase control signals. A buffer capacitor shares electrical charge with the rotate capacitor via the dump switch to form an output value.
US08570095B1
In accordance with an embodiment, an offset-compensated active load includes a pair of transistors having control electrodes connected to their drain electrodes through coupling devices. The control electrodes of the transistors are connected to each other through a plurality of charge storage elements. In accordance with another embodiment, an offset current is generated in response to coupling input terminals of an input stage together. The offset current flows towards an active load which generates an offset voltage in response to the offset current. The offset voltage is stored in the plurality of charge storage devices of the offset-compensated active load.
US08570089B2
An embodiment of a circuit for driving an under-damped system comprises first and second signal generators. The first generator is operable to generate a first drive signal. And the second generator is operable to receive the first drive signal and a second drive signal, and to generate from the first and second drive signals a system drive signal having a first amplitude for a first duration and having a second amplitude after the first duration, the system drive signal operable to cause the under-damped system to operate in a substantially damped manner. Either or both of the first and second generators may be programmable such that one may adjust the response of any under-damped system by generating an appropriate drive signal instead of by physically modifying the system itself. In another embodiment, an under-damped system is caused to oscillate at a damped frequency having a first phase, and is also caused to oscillate at substantially the damped frequency having a second phase such that the oscillation at the first phase substantially cancels the oscillation at the second phase. Such embodiments may allow one to realize a faster settling time without slowing down the response time of an under-damped system.
US08570081B2
Systems and methods for synchronization of clock signals are disclosed. In a feedback system such as a delay-lock loop circuit, delays to be applied can be determined adaptively based on a phase difference between a reference signal and a clock signal being delayed. Such adaptive decisions can be made during each feedback cycle, thereby making it possible to achieve a phase lock faster and more efficiently. In some embodiments, such adaptive functionality can be incorporated into existing circuits with minimal impact.
US08570076B2
A parallel path frequency divider (PPFD) includes a low power frequency divider and a high speed latch. A first portion of an oscillating input signal present on an input node of the PPFD is communicated to the divider and a second portion is communicated to the latch. The divider generates a frequency divided enable signal that is communicated to the latch. The latch generates a divided down output signal based on the oscillating input signal and the enable signal. The output signal is insensitive to phase noise present on the enable signal as long as the phase noise on the enable signal is less than one-half of the period of oscillation of the oscillating input signal. Because the noise generated by the low power frequency divider is not propagated to the output signal generated by the PPFD, the PPFD generates low noise, frequency divided signals with relatively low power consumption.
US08570072B2
A comparator circuit for providing hysteresis comprises first and second differentially coupled transistors. The first of the differentially coupled transistors provides drain current to first and second load transistors. The second of the differentially coupled transistors provides drain current to third and fourth load transistors. In one example embodiment, the drain of the first of the differentially coupled transistors also drives the gate of the first and third load transistors, while the drain of the second of the differentially coupled transistors drives the gate of the second and fourth transistors.
US08570066B2
Disclosed are an inverter, a NAND gate, and a NOR gate. The inverter includes: a pull-up unit constituted by a second thin film transistor outputting a first power voltage to an output terminal according to a voltage applied to a gate; a pull-down unit constituted by a fifth thin film transistor outputting a ground voltage to the output terminal according to an input signal applied to a gate; and a pull-up driver applying a second power voltage or the ground voltage to the gate of the second thin film transistor according to the input signal.
US08570064B1
Methods, circuits, and systems for termination calibration are provided. Differential input buffer circuitry is used to compare a signal level at an input/output pad and a first reference signal level. Control circuitry is used to control a controllably variable impedance based on the output of the differential input buffer circuitry. Optionally, second differential input buffer circuitry is used to compare the signal level at the input/output pad to a second reference signal level. The control circuitry is used to control the controllably variable impedance based on the output of both the first and the second differential input buffer circuitry.
US08570062B2
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit including the same are provided. The EMI shielding circuit includes a data level comparison unit, a control signal generation unit, and a driver for EMI cancellation. The data level comparison unit generates a data comparison signal by comparing a number of high-level data transmitted through a plurality of data lines and a number of low-level data transmitted through the plurality of data lines. The control signal generation unit generates a driving control signal in response to the data comparison signal. The driver for EMI cancellation outputs an EMI cancellation signal in response to the driving control signal.
US08570059B2
A method and a device for carrying out the method are disclosed in order to aid in the search for faulty photovoltaic modules. In a photovoltaic system comprising multiple PV units electrically connected in parallel, each PV unit is assigned its own fixed current sensor. Furthermore, each PV unit can be removed from the parallel circuit by a switching device.
US08570029B2
A metering apparatus for liquids and a method for metering liquids which facilitate the operation of a further metering after detaching the pipette point or syringe.
US08570028B2
A transducer has a magnetic field concentrating member a first coil to couple with a first portion of the magnetic field concentrating member positioned adjacent the first coil and a second coil to couple with a second portion of the magnetic field concentrating member positioned adjacent the second coil, the second portion being spaced along the magnetic field concentrating member from the first portion. The transducer comprises a resonator having a coil wound around a portion of said magnetic field concentrating member which is located between said first and second portions. The transducer is arranged so that the electromagnetic coupling between the resonator and at least one of the first and second coils varies as a function of the relative position between the elongate field concentrating member and that coil. In this way, separate processing electronics can process the signals obtained from the transducer to determine the desired position information.
US08570013B2
A power regulator for converting an input voltage to an output voltage includes an error amplifier, a start-up circuit, and a pass device. The error amplifier is powered by the output voltage and provides a control current according to a difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage. The start-up circuit is powered by the input voltage and provides a start-up current. The pass device receives the input voltage, provides the output voltage at an output terminal of the power regulator, generates an output current flowing through the output terminal according to the start-up current during a start-up duration of the power regulator, and generates the output current through the output terminal according to the control current during a normal operation of the power regulator.
US08570010B2
A multiphase power supply device and a current adjusting method thereof are provided in the application. The multiphase power supply device outputs power sources and currents with different phases to a microprocessor, and a detection module detects present temperature values of each phase power source to adjust currents of each phase power source to achieve thermal balance. The multiphase power supply device further can automatically measure the power efficiency and display results including the detected temperature values of each phase power source and the power efficiency on a screen, and thus the user can know the operation efficiency of the power supply device conveniently.
US08569983B2
This invention provides a motor driving apparatus that made it possible to reduce torque ripples including those attributed to load variation of the motor and an associated method for control of motor revolution. An output stage to a multiphase DC motor is comprised of power elements to supply output voltages to multiphase coils and a predriver to supply drive voltages to the power elements. A resistor means detects a current flowing through the power elements. A supply current detector detects a voltage signal produced across the resistor means as a supply current, using a high-speed ADC and a moving average filter. An output controller generates a PWM signal with a frequency lower than the frequency of the high-speed ADC so that the current detected by the supply current detector conforms to a current signal indicating a motor revolving speed and transfers the PWM signal to the output stage.
US08569957B2
An organic EL display unit applying a bottom-emission structure which takes light emitted from organic EL devices from the reverse side of a substrate on which pixel circuits are formed, includes: a color filter formed on the pixel circuit; and a metal wiring formed so as to surround the periphery of the color filter, wherein the metal wiring is set to an anode potential of the organic EL device.
US08569954B2
A luminescence driving apparatus, a display apparatus, and a driving method thereof are provided. The luminescence driving apparatus drives a plurality of light-emitting units and includes: a voltage sensor which senses internal voltages of the plurality of light-emitting units; a current sensor which senses internal currents of the plurality of light-emitting units; a sensing signal generator which receives the internal voltages of the plurality of light-emitting units from the voltage sensor to generate an overvoltage sensing signal; a controller which, if it is determined that an overvoltage state has occurred, according to a level of the overvoltage sensing signal, searches for at least one of the plurality of light-emitting units in which the overvoltage state has occurred, according to levels of the internal currents sensed by the current sensor; and a protector which performs an overvoltage protection (OVP) operation with respect to the searched light-emitting unit.
US08569943B2
According to one embodiment, the luminescent material emits light having an luminescence peak within a wavelength range of 550 to 590 nm when excited with light having an emission peak in a wavelength range of 250 to 520 nm. The luminescent material has a composition represented by the following formula 1. (Sr1-xEux)aSibAlOcNd formula 1 wherein x, a, b, c and d satisfy following condition: 0
US08569941B2
Provided are electron emitters based upon diamondoid monolayers, preferably self-assembled higher diamondoid monolayers. High intensity electron emission has been demonstrated employing such diamondoid monolayers, particularly when the monolayers are comprised of higher diamondoids. The application of such diamondoid monolayers can alter the band structure of substrates, as well as emit monochromatic electrons, and the high intensity electron emissions can also greatly improve the efficiency of field-effect electron emitters as applied to industrial and commercial applications.
US08569939B2
The present invention relates to a luminous device with a heat pipe formed therein and a heat pipe lead for a luminous device. The present invention provides a luminous device including a heat pipe lead or electrode and a luminous chip mounted onto the heat pipe lead or electrode. The luminous device of the present invention further comprises a heat dissipation member, such as a heat radiating plate or thermoelectric device, installed at an end of the heat pipe lead or electrode. Therefore, through the heat pipe lead or electrode of the present invention, a higher heat dissipation effect greater can be obtained as compared with the conventional one. As a result, it is possible to reduce thermal stress on a luminous device and to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon in which external impurities penetrate into the luminous device. In addition, the cooling efficiency and the light-emitting efficiency of a luminous chip can be maximized by further disposing a heat dissipation member outside the heat pipe.
US08569937B1
In an embodiment, a piezoelectric resonator configured for parametric amplification is disclosed. The piezoelectric resonator may include or comprise a piezoelectric member, and first and second resonator electrodes associated with the piezoelectric member and positioned to enable a first electric field to be generated in a first direction. The piezoelectric resonator may also include or comprise a parametric drive electrode associated with the piezoelectric member and positioned to enable a second electric field to be generated in a second direction.
US08569933B2
A piezoelectric multilayer component includes a stack of sintered piezoelectric layers and inner electrodes that are arranged there between. A piezoelectric layer includes at least one piezoelectric film. At least one of the piezoelectric films is designed as a weakening film, wherein the thickness of the weakening film is substantially smaller than the thickness of at least one of the other piezoelectric films.
US08569931B2
A piezoelectric vibrator is used in an electronic device having a screen. The piezoelectric vibrator includes a diaphragm, at least one piezoelectric layer attached to the diaphragm, and a vibrating element extending from the diaphragm for being coupled to a surface of the screen.
US08569930B2
One object of the present invention is to an achieve increase of amplitude of vibrations and/or flattening of frequency dependence of the amplitude of a piezoelectric actuator. Piezoelectric actuator (100) has first piezoelectric vibrator (102), second piezoelectric vibrator (104), and vibrating membrane (106). First piezoelectric vibrator (102) includes first pedestal (116) and first piezoelectric element (112) connected to the first pedestal. Second piezoelectric vibrator (104) includes second pedestal (118) and second piezoelectric element (114) connected to the second pedestal. Vibrating membrane (106) has opening (108). First piezoelectric vibrator (102) is connected to one surface of vibrating membrane (106) straddling opening (108) of the vibrating membrane. Second piezoelectric vibrator (102) is connected to another surface of vibrating membrane (106) straddling opening (108) of the vibrating membrane.
US08569919B2
A generator motor includes a flange, stationary-side members, rotor-side members, and latching members. The flange is removably mounted on a first end side in an axial direction. The stationary-side members are fixed on a second end side that is on an opposite side from the first end side in the axial direction. The rotor-side members are configured to move toward the first end side in the axial direction with respect to the stationary-side members in a state in which the flange has been removed. The latching members are configured to restrict relative movement of the flange in the axial direction with respect to the rotor-side members.
US08569916B2
A mover includes a permanent magnet array including permanent magnets magnetized in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a motion direction of the mover such that magnetic poles having different polarities alternately appear on magnetic pole surfaces of the permanent magnets along the motion direction. A stator includes first and second magnetic pole portion assemblies disposed on both sides of the permanent magnet array in the perpendicular direction and each including magnetic pole portions facing the magnetic pole surfaces, and a single phase winding that excites the magnetic pole portions forming the first and second magnetic pole portion assemblies. The winding has a hollow structure formed by winding a winding conductor into a coil such that the magnetic pole portions included in the first magnetic pole portion assembly and the magnetic pole portions included in the second magnetic pole portion assembly are located in an internal space of the winding.
US08569913B2
A technique for preventing power interruptions and extending backup power life is provided. The technique automatically prevents power interruptions in a line between a power source and a load. The technique can also extend the operating life of the power source. In one embodiment, a circuit for preventing power interruptions is provided. The circuit may include at least one arrays of capacitors, with the capacitors being arranged in parallel within an array, at least one switching elements configured to couple the at least one array of capacitors to a load, and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one switching element. The controller is configured to selectively drive the at least one switching element based on predetermined criteria.
US08569906B2
An energy supply system for an aircraft comprises at least one fuel cell and at least one energy storage device, wherein the fuel cell, of which there is at least one, is coupled to the energy storage device, of which there is at least one, such that the energy storage device can be charged by means of the fuel cell.
US08569904B2
A method of controlling a temperature of a component of a wind turbine is disclosed. A set point temperature of the component is defined. The actual temperature of the component is determined and compared with the defined set point temperature. The actual temperature of the component is controlled by controlling the output power of the wind turbine based on the result of comparison.
US08569895B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die mounted over a surface of a substrate. A mold underfill dispensing needle has a width substantially equal to a width of the semiconductor die. The dispensing needle is placed in fluid communication with a side of the semiconductor die. A mold underfill is deposited from an outlet of the dispensing needle evenly across a width of the semiconductor die into an area between the semiconductor die and substrate without motion of the dispensing needle. The dispensing needle has a shank and the outlet in a T-configuration. The dispensing needle can have a plurality of pole portions between a shank and the outlet. The dispensing needle has a plate between a shank and the outlet. The outlet has an upper edge with a length substantially equal to or greater than a length of a lower edge of the outlet.
US08569883B2
A semiconductor device package is formed of DBC in which thinned MOSgated and/or diode die are soldered to the bottom of an etched depression in the upper conductive layer. A via in the insulation layer of the DBC is filled with a conductive material to form a resistive shunt. Plural packages may be formed in a DBC card and may be separated individually or in clusters. The individual packages are mounted in various arrays on a support DBC board and heat sink. Integrated circuits may be mounted on the assembly and connected to the die for control of the die conduction.
US08569867B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device that has a rectification element includes a semiconductor substrate, a first well region of a first conductivity type formed on the semiconductor substrate, a second well region of a second conductivity type formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of fins arranged over the first well region and the second well region at a first pitch in the same direction. In the semiconductor device, the rectification element includes a cathode region, an anode region, a well contact region, and a trigger region that are configured using fins. These regions are connected to each wiring portion to form a PNP-type bipolar transistor and an NPN-type bipolar transistor.
US08569866B2
A configuration of a lateral transistor suited for the hybrid-integration (BiCMOS) of a high-performance lateral transistor (HCBT) and a CMOS transistor, and a method for manufacturing the lateral transistor are provided. A semiconductor device includes a HCBT 100 and a CMOS transistor 200 hybrid-integrated therein. The HCBT 100 has an open region 21 opened by etching a device isolating oxide film 6 surrounding an n-hill layer 11, an emitter electrode 31A and a collector electrode 31B each of which is formed in the open region 21 and is composed of a polysilicon film having such a thickness as to expose the n-hill layer 11 exposed by etching the device isolating oxide film, and an ultrathin oxide film 24 covering at least a part of the n-hill layer 11. The ultrathin oxide film 24 functions as a protective film for protecting the n-hill layer 11 from being etched when the polysilicon film is etched to form the emitter electrode 31A and the collector electrode 31B.
US08569862B2
A fuse base insulating region, for example, an insulating interlayer or a compensation region disposed in an insulating interlayer, is formed on a substrate. An etch stop layer is formed on the fuse base insulating region and forming an insulating interlayer having a lower dielectric constant than the first fuse base insulating region on the etch stop layer. A trench extending through the insulating interlayer and the etch stop layer and at least partially into the fuse base insulating region is formed. A fuse is formed in the trench. The fuse base insulating region may have a greater mechanical strength and/or density than the second insulating interlayer.
US08569861B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated circuit system including a first active layer fabricated on a front side of a semiconductor die and a second pre-fabricated layer on a back side of the semiconductor die and having electrical components embodied therein, wherein the electrical components include at least one discrete passive component. The integrated circuit system also includes at least one electrical path coupling the first active layer and the second pre-fabricated layer.
US08569859B2
A display device including: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a second semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate and adjacent to the first semiconductor layer; a first insulation layer disposed on both the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, the first insulation layer including a first opening forming a space between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; and a second insulation layer disposed on the first insulation layer and that fills the first opening.
US08569857B2
A bolometer has a semiconductor membrane having a single-crystalline portion, and spacers so as to keep the semiconductor membrane at a predetermined distance from an underlying substrate. The complementarily doped regions of the single-crystalline portion form a diode and the predetermined distance corresponds to a fourth of an infrared wavelength.
US08569854B2
A semiconductor imaging instrument is disclosed, including a prescribed substrate, an imaging device array provided on the substrate and having plural semiconductor imaging devices and electrodes for outputting a signal charge upon photoelectric conversion of received light, and a color filter layer provided on the imaging device array, with an infrared light absorbing dye being contained in the color filter layer.
US08569844B2
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure including at least one nFET and at least one pFET located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided. In accordance with the present invention, the nFET and the pFET both include at least a single gate metal and the nFET gate stack is engineered to have a gate dielectric stack having no net negative charge and the pFET gate stack is engineered to have a gate dielectric stack having no net positive charge. In particularly, the present invention provides a CMOS structure in which the nFET gate stack is engineered to include a band edge workfunction and the pFET gate stack is engineered to have a ¼ gap workfunction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first gate dielectric stack includes a first high k dielectric and an alkaline earth metal-containing layer or a rare earth metal-containing layer, while the second high k gate dielectric stack comprises a second high k dielectric.
US08569842B2
A semiconductor device arrangement includes a first semiconductor device having a load path, and a number of second transistors, each having a load path between a first and a second load terminal and a control terminal. The second transistors have their load paths connected in series and connected in series to the load path of the first transistor. Each of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to the load terminal of one of the other second transistors. One of the second transistors has its control terminal connected to one of the load terminals of the first semiconductor device.
US08569831B2
Some embodiments include memory arrays. The memory arrays may have digit lines under vertically-oriented transistors, with the digit lines interconnecting transistors along columns of the array. Each individual transistor may be directly over only a single digit line, with the single digit line being entirely composed of one or more metal-containing materials. The digit lines can be over a deck, and electrically insulative regions can be directly between the digit lines and the deck. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. A plurality of linear segments of silicon-containing material may be formed to extend upwardly from a base of the silicon-containing material. The base may be etched to form silicon-containing footings under the linear segments, and the footings may be converted into metal silicide. The linear segments may be patterned into a plurality of vertically-oriented transistor pedestals that extend upwardly from the metal silicide footings.
US08569827B2
Three-dimensional (3D) nonvolatile memory devices include a substrate having a well region of second conductivity type (e.g., P-type) therein and a common source region of first conductivity type (e.g., N-type) on the well region. A recess is provided, which extends partially (or completely) through the common source region. A vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells are provided on the substrate. This vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells includes a vertical stack of spaced-apart gate electrodes and a vertical active region, which extends on sidewalls of the vertical stack of spaced-apart gate electrodes and on a sidewall of the recess. Gate dielectric layers are provided, which extend between respective ones of the vertical stack of spaced-apart gate electrodes and the vertical active region. The gate dielectric layers may include a composite of a tunnel insulating layer, a charge storage layer, a relatively high bandgap barrier dielectric layer and a blocking insulating layer having a relatively high dielectric strength.
US08569826B2
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a stacked structure, a select gate electrode, a semiconductor pillar, a memory layer, and a select gate insulating film. The stacked structure includes a plurality of electrode films stacked in a first direction and an interelectrode insulating film provided between the electrode films. The select gate electrode is stacked with the stacked structure along the first direction and includes a plurality of select gate conductive films stacked in the first direction and an inter-select gate conductive film insulating film provided between the select gate conductive films. The semiconductor pillar pierces the stacked structure and the select gate electrode in the first direction. The memory layer is provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar. The select gate insulating film is provided between the select gate conductive films and the semiconductor pillar.
US08569819B1
A metal oxide first electrode layer for a MIM DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the first and/or second electrode layers contain one or more dopants up to a total doping concentration that will not prevent the electrode layers from crystallizing during a subsequent anneal step. One or more of the dopants has a work function greater than about 5.0 eV. One or more of the dopants has a resistivity less than about 1000 μΩcm. Advantageously, the electrode layers are conductive molybdenum oxide.
US08569818B2
A method for forming a DRAM MIM capacitor stack having low leakage current involves the use of a first electrode that serves as a template for promoting the high k phase of a subsequently deposited dielectric layer. The high k dielectric layer comprises a doped material that can be crystallized after a subsequent annealing treatment. An amorphous blocking is formed on the dielectric layer. The thickness of the blocking layer is chosen such that the blocking layer remains amorphous after a subsequent annealing treatment. A second electrode layer compatible with the blocking layer is formed on the blocking layer.
US08569816B2
A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a shallow trench isolation capacitor structure that is integrated in an integrated circuit and includes a bottom capacitor plate that is formed in a substrate layer (10) below a trench opening, a capacitor dielectric layer (22) and a recessed top capacitor plate (28) that is covered by an STI region (30) and isolated from cross talk by a sidewall dielectric layer (23).
US08569806B2
A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector of the present invention configured to absorb light can include: a light-absorbing part configured to absorb light by being formed in a floated structure; an oxide film being in contact with one surface of the light-absorbing part; a source being in contact with one side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; a drain facing the source so as to be in contact with the other side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; and a channel interposed between the source and the drain and configured to form flow of an electric current between the source and the drain.
US08569802B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a thin, lightweight, high performance, and low in cost semiconductor device and a display device by reducing an arrangement area required for a power supply wiring and a ground wiring of a functional circuit and decreasing a drop in power supply voltage and a rise in ground voltage.In the functional circuit of the semiconductor device and the display device, a power supply wiring and a ground wiring are formed in a comb-like arrangement, and the tips thereof are electrically connected with a first wiring, a second wiring, and a contact between the first wiring and the second wiring, thereby forming in a grid-like arrangement. The drop in power supply voltage and the rise in ground voltage can be decreased and the arrangement area can be decreased in the grid-like arrangement.
US08569801B2
A three-dimensional CMOS circuit having at least a first N-conductivity field-effect transistor and a second P-conductivity field-effect transistor respectively formed on first and second crystalline substrates. The first field-effect transistor is oriented, in the first substrate, with a first secondary crystallographic orientation. The second field-effect transistor is oriented, in the second substrate, with a second secondary crystallographic orientation. The orientations of the first and second transistors form a different angle from the angle formed, in one of the substrates, by the first and second secondary crystallographic directions. The first and second substrates are assembled vertically.
US08569791B2
An LED (light emitting diode) includes a base, a pair of leads fixed on the base, a housing secured on the leads, a chip mounted on one lead and an encapsulant sealing the chip. The housing defines a cavity to receive the chip. The cavity includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber communicating with the upper chamber. The lower chamber is gradually expanded along a top-to-bottom direction of the LED, and the upper chamber is gradually expanded along a bottom-to-top direction of the LED. The encapsulant substantially fills the lower chamber and the upper chamber.
US08569783B2
An organic EL light-emitting device with excellent total luminous flux or with reduced emission unevenness and low power consumption is provided. Light from an organic EL layer in a region sandwiched between a light-transmitting conductive film of a lower electrode and a light-reflecting conductive film of an upper electrode is selectively emitted to the lower electrode side, and extracted outside by a first optical structure body. Light from the organic EL layer in a region sandwiched between a light-reflecting conductive film of the lower electrode and a light-transmitting conductive film of the upper electrode is selectively emitted to the upper electrode side, and extracted outside by a second optical structure body. The first optical structure body and the second optical structure body are formed on different planes and can overlap with each other; thus, light from the organic EL layer can be efficiently extracted outside.
US08569782B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a housing main body and at least one optoelectronic semiconductor chip mounted on the housing main body. In operation, the optoelectronic semiconductor chip emits primary radiation including an ultraviolet radiation fraction. The semiconductor component also includes a filter medium that absorbs the ultraviolet radiation fraction and is located at least in part between the semiconductor chip and the housing main body and/or between the semiconductor chip and an optical component.
US08569781B2
An LED package comprises a substrate, a reflector, a light-absorbing layer, an encapsulation layer and an LED chip. The light-absorbing layer is located around the reflector and is able to absorb any light which penetrates through the reflector. Therefore, any vignetting or halation of light from the LED package is prevented. Moreover, the LED package can be constructed on a very small scale with no reduction in its color rendering properties.
US08569779B2
An exemplary light emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate, an electrical member formed on the substrate, an LED chip mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the electrical member, and a heat-dissipating member formed on the electrical member. The heat-dissipating member helps the LED chip to dissipate heat generated thereby when the LED chip is in operation.
US08569777B2
A package structure is adapted for mounting at least one light emitting diode (LED) die. The package structure includes an insulating housing, and a lead frame unit including two spaced-apart conductive bodies. Each of the conductive bodies has opposite first and second conductive terminals spaced-apart from each other along an axial direction. The first conductive terminals extend into the insulating housing. The second conductive terminals are exposed outwardly of the insulating housing. Each of the conductive bodies further has two side edges spaced-apart from each other along a transverse direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a concave-convex structure disposed at the side edges and surrounded by the insulating housing.
US08569760B2
A thin film transistor TFT, including a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, an active layer on the gate insulating layer, the active layer corresponding to the gate electrode and including a channel region, source and drain electrodes contacting the active layer, the source and drain electrodes being separate from each other, and an ohmic contact layer between the active layer and at least one of the source and drain electrodes, the ohmic contact layer including an oxide semiconductor material.
US08569758B2
The present invention relates to a touching-type electronic paper and method for manufacturing the same. The touching-type electronic paper includes a TFT substrate and a transparent electrode substrate which are disposed as a cell. The transparent electrode substrate includes a common electrode, microcapsule electronic ink and light guiding poles as light transmitting passages, all of which are formed on a first substrate. The TFT substrate comprises displaying electrodes, first TFTs for driving the displaying electrodes, second TFTs for detecting lights transmitting through the light guiding poles and for producing level signals, and third TFTs for reading the level signals and sending the level signals to a back-end processing system, all of which are formed on a second substrate. The light guiding poles are opposite to the second TFTs respectively. The present invention makes the natural lights or other lights outside transmitted to the second TFTs through the light guiding poles by disposing the light guiding poles as light transmitting passages and disposing the second TFTs as light sensor units. The present invention has many advantages such as simple structure, simple manufacturing process and low cost, so as to have a wide application prospect.
US08569747B2
A red light emitting organic electroluminescence device (11) has a structure in which an organic layer (14) including a light emitting layer (14c) is sandwiched between an anode (13) and a cathode (15). In the organic electroluminescence device (11), the light emitting layer (14c) contains, as a host material, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound of which a parent skeleton is 4 to 7 rings, together with a red light emitting guest material. In addition, a photosensitizing layer (14d) containing a phosphorescent material having an organic material is provided adjacently to the light emitting layer (14c). Consequently, there are provided a red light organic electroluminescence device being sufficiently good in luminous efficiency and color purity and a display apparatus using the same.
US08569745B2
A semiconductor device includes an organic semiconductor layer, and a protective film. The protective film covers a side wall of the organic semiconductor layer. An insulating partition wall is disposed on the substrate. The partition wall includes an opening. The organic semiconductor layer includes a first portion that is disposed within the opening of the partition wall. The protective film fills the inside of the opening of the partition wall.
US08569741B2
Methods for fabricating passivated silicon nanowires and an electronic arrangement thus obtained are described. Such arrangements may comprise a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structure such that the arrangements may be utilized for MOS field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) or opto-electronic switches.
US08569738B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first layer, a second layer, and a light emitting portion. The first layer includes at least one of n-type GaN and n-type AlGaN. The second layer includes p-type AlGaN. The light emitting portion has a single quantum well structure. The single quantum well structure includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, and a well layer. The first barrier layer is provided between the first layer and the second layer and includes Alx1Ga1-x1-y1Iny1N (0
US08569731B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes: at least one first interconnection extending in a first direction; at least one second interconnection disposed above the first interconnection and extending in a second direction nonparallel to the first direction; a memory cell disposed between the first interconnection and the second interconnection at an intersection of the first interconnection and the second interconnection and including a memory element; and an element isolation layer disposed between the memory cells. At least one dielectric film with a higher density than the element isolation layer is disposed on a sidewall surface of the memory cell.
US08569727B2
The object of the invention included in the present application is to automatically prevent the deterioration of the image even when the image quality of the projected image is deteriorated due to the replacement of the light source or the like. The following light beam scanning image projection apparatus is one means for achieving the object. In the light beam scanning image projection apparatus including a plurality of light sources which emit the light beams of respectively different wavelengths, a driving section which modulates the intensity of each light beam in accordance with the image signal, the light axis alignment means which aligns the light axes of each light beam, and scanning means which scans the light beams, the light axis alignment means includes: a plurality of optical elements; and an adjusting section which adjusts at least one of a position and a gradient of at least one of the optical elements, and the light beam scanning image projection apparatus further includes: detecting means which detects a shift between a spot center of each light beam and a center reference point; and position correction means which controls the adjusting section based on a detection result in the detecting means to adjust at least one of the position and the gradient of at least one of the optical elements of the light axis alignment means, thereby aligning the light axes of each light beam.
US08569721B2
In an LPP type EUV light source apparatus, the intensity of radiated EUV light is stabilized by improving the positional stability of droplets. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target supply division including a target tank for storing a target material therein and an injection nozzle for injecting the target material in a jet form, for supplying the target material into the chamber; a charging electrode applied with a direct-current voltage between the target tank and itself, for charging droplets when the target material in the jet form injected from the injection nozzle is broken up into the droplets; a laser for applying a laser beam to the droplets of the target material to generate plasma; and a collector mirror for collecting extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light.
US08569707B2
A radiation detection apparatus includes a scintillator, a photoelectric conversion unit, and a grid for removing scattered radiation. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array on a substrate. Each pixel is configured to convert visible light output from the scintillator into an electric signal. The grid, the substrate, the photoelectric conversion unit, and the scintillator are disposed in this order from a radiation-incident side of the radiation detection apparatus to an opposite side thereof. In this radiation detection apparatus in which the scintillator is disposed on the side opposite to the radiation-incident side, scattered radiation is effectively removed.
US08569706B2
A method for generating an image is provided. The method comprises: acquiring a first set of image data using a first imaging modality; sorting the first set of image data into a plurality of gates to generate a plurality of gated data sets; reconstructing each gated data set to generate a respective gated image for each gated data set; registering the respective gated images to generate a plurality of registered images; and generating a median image from the plurality of registered images, wherein each voxel of the median image is a respective median value of the corresponding voxels of the plurality of registered images.
US08569695B2
A method of obtaining PINEM images includes providing femtosecond optical pulse, generating electron pulses, and directing the electron pulses towards a sample. The method also includes overlapping the femtosecond optical pulses and the electron pulses spatially and temporally at the sample and transferring energy from the femtosecond optical pulses to the electron pulses. The method further includes detecting electron pulses having an energy greater than a zero loss value, providing imaging in space and time.
US08569692B1
A method of operation of a measurement system includes: providing a specimen having a film; controlling a beam generator to direct a charged particle beam into the specimen; detecting a reference signal emitted from the specimen; normalizing the reference signal to create a film L-ratio; and determining a thickness of the film by correlating the film L-ratio to a calibration curve.
US08569687B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide.
US08569685B2
A portable analytical system for the rapid on-site analysis of fluids, and a method for using this system at the well-site for the analysis of samples extracted from drilling fluids is described. The portable analytical solution may be deployed at the well-site and used to perform detailed real-time analysis of formation fluids and extracts of rock cuttings. The method described could be used during hydrocarbon exploration and production to determine whether the drill stem has passed through a hydrocarbon-bearing region, or rocks that are capable of functioning as an oil reservoir or that may have been a source rock, or that may have come into contact with oil, or that may contain oil at present.
US08569684B2
A system and method for optimizing fixed and temporal noise in an infrared imaging system. The system may use correction tables with correction factors, each correction factor indexed to a plurality of system parameters.
US08569679B2
A system includes a plurality of photo detectors, which generate signals proportional to incident light. The system further includes an optical barrier adjacent to a surface and includes a control circuit. The optical barrier partially obstructs reflected light from reaching the plurality of photo detectors to produce a spatially dependent reflectance pattern that is dependent on a position of an object relative to a substrate. The control circuit determines a position of the object during a reflectance measurement cycle using each of the plurality of photo detectors by calibrating to ambient light conditions, measuring ambient plus reflected light, determining the reflected light and detecting the position of the object based on a ratio of the reflected light received by at least two of the plurality of photo detectors.
US08569665B2
An article of cookware in the form of a cooking vessel exposes only a portion of a copper inner layer on the upper portion of the exterior sidewall. The layer does not change color or tarnish as it sufficiently distal from the bottom of the cooking vessel that it is not subject to direct heat and oxidation during normal use. The unique bright color of the native copper is further protected from tarnish caused by fingerprint by a protective coating that can withstand moderate heating.
US08569664B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a hardening method and a hardening device capable of successfully hardening a shaft and an inner wall of a hole of a work in which the hole is formed close to the shaft on a flat plate. A hardening device for hardening a shaft and an inner wall of a hole, the shaft extending vertically from a flat plate and the hole being formed adjacent to the shaft, includes a first heating coil that is a conductive body facing the shaft and a second heating coil that is a helical conductive body having at least a portion inserted into the hole, so that the first heating coil and the second heating coil heat the shaft and the inner wall of the hole respectively and simultaneously.
US08569662B2
A continuous oil fryer used to fry food slices, such as potato chips, having an internal oil stripping capability. The fryer accumulates the steam produced by the frying process in a hood and utilizes such steam, after superheating the steam by passing it through a heat exchanger, to strip oil from product immediately upon removal from the hot oil bath by passing the superheated steam through a product bed while on an output conveyor. The superheated steam removes oil from the product on the output conveyor without increasing the moisture level of the product. The fryer therefore accomplishes the same function as a low-oil stripper without increasing the footprint of the frying unit and with less energy.
US08569659B2
A heater-integrated canister unit may include a canister, a temperature controller integrally coupled with the canister to indirectly heat a charcoal inside the canister by increasing a temperature of a space in the canister, and an electronic control unit controlling the current supplied to the temperature controller. The temperature controller may be disposed at the opposite side of the evaporation gas intake port in the canister and support the charcoal or may be coupled to the outside of the canister by a seating slot formed in the canister. The temperature controller may include a heater plate transmitting the current by forming a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a connector supplying the current to the heater plate and a heater generating heat on the heater plate.
US08569656B2
A heater system for an electrical storage device, such as a high voltage traction battery, is connectable to an external AC power source maintain a proper temperature of the battery as long as the system remains connected to the external power source. The battery temperature can be maintained at a level that ensures that the vehicle will start even in extremely cold climates. The heater system includes a heater disposed within the battery itself. Other system components, such as an AC/DC converter and a control module, may be connected to the battery heater system outside of the battery, allowing the battery heater system to act as a modular component that can be easily included in or excluded from a vehicle as an option, either alone or in a package with an engine block heater. The battery heater system is designed so that it can be connected along with the engine block heater to the AC power source using a single common connector.
US08569655B2
A welding helmet is capable of providing an image representative of information from an associated welding operation where the image appears in the same focal range as the welding work area.
US08569651B2
A first embodiment of the present application is directed to a method and system used to weld a cylindrical workpiece. A substantially cylindrical workpiece is loaded into a workpiece support, and a robotic welding arm is positioned located at a start position. A value representing a size of the cylindrical workpiece is input into a robot controller via a system interface. Inputting of the size value to the robotic interface obtains a control program. Operation of the obtained control program is initiated by an operator, causing the robot arm to move a preprogrammed distance toward a work surface of the workpiece. Then a welding process is performed by the welder carried on the robot arm in accordance with the control program. The process includes initiating operation of the welder, and moving the welder in a pattern appropriate for the welding operation. The workpiece and welder are moved relative to each other so as to perform the welding process as determined by the control program.
US08569640B2
A key switch structure is provided whose waterproofing property is improved without affecting a contact of a membrane sheet. The upper surfaces of the membrane sheet, the embossed part and the circumferential bend part of a back plate are formed on one and the same plane, and a thermal sheet is welded to those upper surfaces. The thermal sheet comprises a thermally meltable, adhesive sheet, which will be heated and pressed with heat rollers to be welded to the upper surfaces. The back plate has an air vent hole formed in its bottom portion.
US08569637B2
For a solid-insulated switchgear in which a main circuit switching mechanism and a ground circuit switching mechanism are provided laterally, and there is disclosed an interlock apparatus for the solid-insulated switchgear comprising a first interlock mechanism connected to a switching shaft of the ground circuit switching mechanism to press the on shaft of the main circuit switching mechanism to be at the locking position or release the on shaft of the main circuit switching mechanism; and a second interlock mechanism connected to the switching shaft of the main circuit switching mechanism in an interlocking manner to press the on shaft of the ground circuit switching mechanism to be at the locking position or release the on shaft of the ground circuit switching mechanism.
US08569623B2
Leading end sides of a plurality of wires to be electrically connected with each other are respectively inserted through a plurality of through holes formed in a waterproof rubber lid and the outer circumferential surfaces of insulating coatings of the respective wires are held in close contact with the inner circumferential surfaces of the respective through holes for sealing. The insulating coatings are peeled off at the passed-through ends of the wires to expose cores. The exposed cores are welded, fusion-bonded, soldered or fastened by a crimping terminal to form a terminal joint section. The terminal joint section is inserted into a protection cap made of a bottomed resin molding through an opening end. The waterproof rubber lid is fitted to an opening end of the protection cap to seal the interior of the protection cap accommodating the terminal joint section without injecting a waterproofing agent into the protection cap.
US08569620B1
An expandable while-in-use electrical outlet cover assembly comprising a lid operatively coupled to a base, the lid comprising flexible clips each comprising a first end, a mid-position and a second end. The collapsible lid may be held in an expanded position by the first end of the flexible clips and collapsed to a collapsed position by applying force to the lid such that a box-like cap slides with respect to a support ring such that the cap seats at the mid-portion of the flexible clip. Particularly useful for rigid lids, like metal lids, the collapsible cover protects the outlet beneath the cover while an electrical cord is plugged in, but still collapses to a smaller profile.
US08569617B2
An encapsulation housing reducing piece has a first flange and a second flange. The second flange has a reduced cross-section compared to the first flange. An encapsulation housing shell extends between the two flanges. The encapsulation housing shell has a plurality of even zones. Rotation symmetrical shell surface sections are arranged between the even zones.
US08569616B2
A method of concentrating solar energy includes receiving solar energy through a surface of an optically clear shell, guiding the solar energy through a liquid contained in the optically clear shell, folding the solar energy back through the liquid toward a solar receiver, and shifting the solar receiver within the optically clear shell to track the sun, wherein the solar energy collected by the solar receiver is converted into electrical energy.
US08569606B2
An apparatus for synchronizing light signals to a music input signal includes an analog to digital converter to generate a digital signal equivalent of the analog music input signal, an digital signal decoder to generate an output pulse width modulated signal that is representative of the tempo and the volume of the music input signal, a light driver unit that receives the output pulse width modulated signal to correspondingly light up a lighting unit, and a lighting unit that emits light. Thus, light brightness synchronizes with the music volume amplitude, and the light blinks on and off with the music tempo and beating.
US08569585B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB32J11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB32J11, cells from soybean variety XB32J11, plants of soybean XB32J11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB32J11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB32J11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB32J11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB32J11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB32J11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB32J11 are further provided.
US08569580B2
This invention provides a transformed plant or alga with increased chlorophyll, comprising an overexpressed foreign DNA which codes for a chloroplast protein BPG2 or a homologue thereof, and a method for producing the transformed plant or alga.
US08569574B2
Single nucleotide polymorphic sites at positions 3117, 12195, 13244, 13319, and 13516 of the bovine STAT5 gene are associated with improved fertilization rate and/or improved embryo survival rate. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules, kits, methods of genotyping and marker assisted bovine breeding methods.
US08569566B2
An apparatus for cleansing wounds, in which wound exudate is removed from a wound bed and selectively cleansed and returned to the wound. The cleansing means removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The associated wound dressing and cleansing means are conformable to the wound, and may have irrigant fluid circulated from a reservoir by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing.
US08569564B2
A process for separating a product from a multicomponent feedstream to an adsorption apparatus or system is described. The apparatus or system may comprise a moving-bed or a simulated moving-bed adsorption means. The product comprises at least one organic compound, such as an aryl compound with alkyl substitutes. In embodiments the conduits used to supply the feedstream to the apparatus or system are flushed with media of multiple grades. The improvement is more efficient use of the desorbent. In embodiments the process achieves improvements in one or more of efficiency of adsorption separation, capacity of adsorption apparatus systems, and purity of product attainable by adsorption process.
US08569556B2
A method for controlling 2-isomer content in linear alkylbenzene obtained by alkylating benzene with olefins and catalyst used in the method.
US08569555B2
A hydrocarbon aromatization process comprising adding a nitrogenate, an oxygenate, or both to a hydrocarbon stream to produce an enhanced hydrocarbon stream, and contacting the enhanced hydrocarbon stream with an aromatization catalyst, thereby producing an aromatization reactor effluent comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the catalyst comprises a non-acidic zeolite support, a group VIII metal, and one or more halides. Also disclosed is a hydrocarbon aromatization process comprising monitoring the presence of an oxygenate, a nitrogenate, or both in an aromatization reactor, monitoring at least one process parameter that indicates the activity of the aromatization catalyst, modifying the amount of the oxygenate, the nitrogenate, or both in the aromatization reactor, thereby affecting the parameter.
US08569552B2
A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is condensed to recover a mixed condensate. An entrainer is added to at least one appropriate process stream or vessel such that the mixed condensate comprises sufficient entrainer to provide phase separation of the organic and the aqueous phases to provide for recovery of the butanol.
US08569548B2
A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol, said process comprising contacting an alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide and water in the presence of a catalytic composition comprising an active anion, selected from the group consisting of metalates, carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide, immobilized on a first solid support having one or more electropositive sites and a halide immobilized on the first or a second solid support having one or more electropositive sites.
US08569545B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of (R)-1-aminoindan (2), rasagiline (1) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of rasagiline.
US08569528B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing substituted tetrazoles, compounds obtained according to this method, new reactants and new tetrazole derivatives.
US08569527B2
The present invention provides a reactor system comprising: —one or more purification zones comprising an absorbent which comprises silver, an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and a support material having a surface area of more than 20 m2/g, and —a reaction zone comprising a catalyst, which reaction zone is positioned downstream from the one or more purification zones; an absorbent; a process for reacting a feed comprising one or more feed components; and a process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether, a 1,2-carbonate, or an alkanolamine.
US08569521B2
Benzenesulfonyl-chromane, thiochromane, tetrahydronaphthalene and related gamma secretase inhibitors
This invention discloses novel gamma secretase inhibitors of the formula: R2 and R3, or R2 and R4, or R3 and R4, together with the atoms to which they are bound, can form a fused cycloalkyl or fused heterocycloalkyl ring. The cycloalkyl ring or the heterocycloalkyl ring can be optionally substituted with one or more substituents. One or more compounds of formula (I), or formulations comprising such compounds, may be useful, e.g. in treating Alzheimer's Disease.
US08569519B2
This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of a compound of Formula (I), salts of the free base cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3′-8′-[[[(2′-amino-2′-methyl propyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1′,2′,4′-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane wherein X can be an anion.
US08569508B2
A synthesis method for preparing Montelukast sodium intermediate 2-(2-(3-(2-(7-chloro-2-quinolyl)vinyl)phenyl-3-oxopropyl)phenyl) propanol is provided. In this method, the target compound is prepared by condensing the starting materials 7-chloroquinaldine and 3-cyanobenzaldehyde, and then reacting the resultant product with 2-(2-ortho-(2-haloethyl)-phenylpropyl)tetrahydropyrane ether. The present invention can easily obtain start materials and is applicable for mass production.
US08569502B2
Quaternary nitrogen heterocyclic boronic acid-containing compounds are described, which are sensitive to glucose and fructose, as well as a variety of other physiologically important analytes, such as aqueous chloride and iodide, and a method of using the compounds. Also disclosed is a contact lens doped with the quaternary nitrogen heterocyclic boronic acid-containing compound, and a method of using the doped contact lens to measure the concentration of analyte in tears under physiological conditions.
US08569501B2
Disclosed are new semiconductor materials prepared from dimeric perylene compounds. Such compounds can exhibit high n-type carrier mobility and/or good current modulation characteristics. In addition, the compounds of the present teachings can possess certain processing advantages such as solution-processability and/or good stability at ambient conditions.
US08569493B2
A method for preventing or treating a metabolic disorder, an inflammatory disease, an autoimmune disease, an allergic disease, a central nervous system disease, a cardiovascular disease, a homeostasis-related disease or glaucoma, involving administering a compound or a salt thereof, the compound having the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclic or aralkyl; R7 represents cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic; W represents oxygen or NR8, Y represents alkylene, Z represents oxygen, sulfur, OCO or NR9; R2, R3, R4, R6, R8 and R9 represent hydrogen or alkyl.
US08569490B2
The present invention relates to a novel, high-yield and low-cost method for preparing entecavir, [1-S-(1α,3α,4β)]-2-amino-1,9-dihydro-9-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylenecyclopentyl]-6H-purin-6-one, an antiviral agent, and novel intermediates used therein.
US08569487B2
A compound of formula (1) and its salts and solvates are provided for the treatment or prophylaxis of hepatitis C virus infections. Methods of making and formulating compound (1) are provided.
US08569483B2
A novel process is described for the preparation of pharmaceutically useful compounds such as 1-{4-[2-(azepan-1-yl)ethoxy]benzyl}-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indol-5-ol acetic acid commonly known as bazedoxifene acetate of the formula-1 using 2-(4-{[5-(benzyloxy)-2-[4-(benzyloxy)phenyl]-3-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl]methyl}phenoxy)ethyl-4-methylbenzenzene-1-sulfonate (formula 2a)
US08569476B2
A method for preparing oligonucleotide comprising reacting the compound of Formula (1) with the compound of Formula (2) in a liquid reaction medium under the condition of condensation reaction to obtain the compound of formula (3) is provided. 1-(2-mesitylenesulfonyl)-3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole (MSNT) is applied as condensing agent. Oligonucleotides synthesized in the liquid reaction medium could be obtained on a large scale.
US08569473B2
The application relates to a pestivirus, designated PMC virus, that is associated with porcine myocarditis syndrome, and the gene and protein sequences derived therefrom. The application further relates to detection methods, vaccine therapeutics, and diagnostic methods using the PMC virus or gene/protein sequences derived therefrom.
US08569471B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for selectively directing stem cells to a target tissue within a subject using a system that employs one or more vectors that contain a gene switch/biosensor, a tissue-specific promoter, a gene encoding a stem cell-attracting chemokine, and a gene amplification system. In one embodiment, a stem cell-attracting chemokine is expressed in damaged tissue using a stimulus-responsive vector system. The stimulus can be a physiological stimulus associated with cell injury, such as hypoxia or elevated glucose levels, for example. Expression of the chemokine increases the trafficking of stem cells to the damaged tissue.
US08569468B2
This invention provides a nanoplasmonic molecular ruler, which can perform label-free and real-time monitoring of nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) length changes and perform nucleic acid footprinting. In various embodiments the ruler comprises a nucleic acid attached to a nanoparticle, such that changes in the nucleic acid length are detectable using surface plasmon resonance. The nanoplasmonic ruler provides a fast and convenient platform for mapping nucleic acid-protein interactions, for nuclease activity monitoring, and for other footprinting related methods.
US08569464B2
The present invention relates to a selectively soluble polymer capable of binding to a desired molecules in an unclarified mixture containing various biological materials and the methods of using such a polymer to purify a molecule from such a mixture. The polymer is soluble in the mixture under a certain set of process conditions such as pH or temperature and/or salt concentration and is rendered insoluble and precipitates out of solution upon a change in the process conditions. The polymer is capable of binding to the desired molecule (protein, polypeptide, etc) and remains capable of binding to that molecule even after the polymer is precipitated out of solution. The precipitate can then be filtered out from the remainder of the stream and the desired biomolecule is recovered such as by elution and further processed.
US08569457B2
Cytotoxic variants of human ribonuclease 1 (RNase 1) identified through analysis of the interaction between RNase 1 and the human ribonuclease inhibitor (hRI) as defined by the three dimensional (3-D) atomic structure of the RNase1 hRI complex are disclosed. Also disclosed is the 3-D structure of the hRI·RNase 1 complex and methods for designing the RNase 1 variants.
US08569452B2
The present invention relates to novel phalloidin derivatives and their fluorescent dye conjugates. These new compounds may be used in studies of actin dynamics in living systems. The present invention also relates to methods for preparing such compounds. The synthesis routes combine solid-phase and solution phase peptide synthesis, and has great advantage for efficient preparation of a diverse library of the phalloidin derivatives, especially for the synthesis of phalloidin.
US08569450B2
The present invention relates to novel CD3 epsilon peptides, antibodies against the novel CD3 epsilon peptides. The invention also relates to methods of identifying an immunodeficiency (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) or a T cell immunodeficiency) in a patient, which may involve antibodies against CD3 epsilon peptides.
US08569447B2
The invention provides cell-permeable peptides that bind to JNK proteins and inhibit JNK-mediated effects in JNK-expressing cells.
US08569441B2
The present invention is directed to a process for the cleavage of one or more starting polymers having thiocarbonylthio groups of the formula (I) into derived polymers in which the —S—(C═S)— group is transformed. The process includes contacting the starting polymer containing groups Yb with one or more reagents containing groups Xa to produce the derived polymer and a byproduct containing the groups Yb, wherein the groups Xa is one or more reactive groups and the groups Yb is an extracting group and a byproduct, which is then separated from the derived polymer by conventional separation processes. The derived polymer is free from odor or color that is sometimes associated with the starting polymer and it can be used in making optical lenses, such as high refractive index spectacle lenses.
US08569435B2
Biocompatible polymers are manufactured to include an amino acid mimetic monomer and one or more hydrophobic acrylate monomers. The amino acid mimetic monomers are selected to mimic the side chain of the amino acids asparagine or glutamine. The amino acid mimetic monomer can be a methacryloyl or acryloyl derivative of 2-hydroxyacetamide, 3-hydroxypropionamide, alaninamide, lactamide, or glycinamide. These amide functional groups offer the advantage of moderate hydrophilicity with little chemical reactivity. The amino acid mimetic monomer can be copolymerized with one or more hydrophobic acrylate monomers to obtain desired coating properties.
US08569423B2
The present invention relates to triazine derivatives of the general formula (I), their use and production.
US08569421B2
A polymer composition comprising star macromolecules is provided. Each star macromolecule has a core and five or more arms, wherein the number of arms within a star macromolecule varies across the composition of star molecules. The arms on a star are covalently attached to the core of the star; each arm comprises one or more (co)polymer segments; and at least one arm and/or at least one segment exhibits a different solubility from at least one other arm or one other segment, respectively, in a reference liquid of interest.
US08569420B2
The present invention generally relates to singly-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB) compounds, and to a process for making such compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to singly-terminated polyisobutylene compounds that contain only one primary alcohol, amine, or methacrylate group as the single-terminating group. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to singly-terminated polyisobutylenes carrying exactly one terminal alcohol, amine, or methacrylate group, where such singly-terminated polyisobutylenes have a number average molecular weight of about 500 to about 5000 grams per mole. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to singly-terminated polyisobutylene compounds that can be used to synthesize polyurethanes, to polyurethane compounds made via the use of such polyisobutylene compounds, and to processes for making such compounds.
US08569415B2
There is provided a resin which, in spite of having excellent impact resistance because of containing a rubber ingredient, can be molded into a haze-free and beautiful state across the entire surface of molded products even if the molded products are large-sized injection molded products, and is suitable for molded products on which a vapor deposition layer is formed by the direct vapor deposition method, and is suitable for molded products which are joined by the hot plate welding method, particularly molded products such as housing members of automotive lamps, which require weatherability. Also provided is a graft copolymer (B) obtained by polymerizing a (meth)acrylate monomer (b1) a homopolymer of which has a glass transition temperature exceeding 0° C. in the presence of a composite rubber (A) containing a polyorganosiloxane (A1) and a poly(meth)acrylate (A2), and then polymerizing an aromatic vinyl monomer (b2) and a cyanided vinyl monomer (b3).
US08569412B2
Heterophasic polypropylene composition comprising (A) 45 to 70 wt % of a propylene homo- or copolymer matrix with an MFR2 in accordance with ISO 1133 (230° C., 2.16 kg load) of ≧80 g/10 min and (B) 25 to 40 wt % of an elastomeric propylene-ethylene copolymer, having an intrinsic viscosity IV (ISO 1628, with decalin as solvent) of ≧3.3 dl/g and an ethylene content of 20 to 50 wt %, (C) 0-15 wt % of an elastomeric ethylene/alpha-olefin random copolymer (D) 3-25 parts per weight of inorganic filler, the heterophasic polypropylene compositions having a total MFR2 (230° C./2.16 kg) in accordance with ISO 1133 of ≧5 g/10 min, a Charpy notched impact strength according to ISO 179/1eA at +23° C. of ≧15.0 kJ/m2, preferably ≧25.0 kJ/m2, a minimum value for the Charpy notched impact strength according to ISO 179/1eA at −200 C of ≧7.0 kJ/m2, preferably ≧10.0 kJ/m2 and a tensile modulus according to ISO 527-3 of ≧1200 MPa; their preparation and use for producing injection molded articles being free of flow marks.
US08569409B2
A vulcanized elastomeric composition includes (i) a polymer reaction product of an anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane-sulfide modifier and (ii) a second elastomeric polymer different from the polymer reaction product such that the polymer reaction product comprises at least 30 weight percent of a total amount of the polymer reaction product and the second elastomeric polymer. Methods are described for making the polymer reaction product, their use in preparing vulcanized elastomeric compositions, and articles made from such compositions, including pneumatic tires, tire treads, belts, and the like.
US08569406B2
To provide a polycarbonate resin composition having improved flame retardancy and moldability.A polycarbonate resin having a ratio of the melt viscosity η10 measured at 300° C. at a shear rate of 10 sec−1 to the melt viscosity η1000 measured at 300° C. at a shear rate of 1000 sec−1 (η10/η1000) of at least 3 and at most 8, a branch parameter G=[η]/[η]lin of at least 0.80 and at most 0.94, and a pencil hardness of at least HB.
US08569404B2
Disclose is a polyamide resin composition having excellent heat resistance, heat aging resistance and mechanical physical properties, which is produced by incorporating a specified aromatic secondary amine compound and a specified organic sulfur based compound into a polyamide composed of a diamine unit containing a paraxylylenediamine unit as a major component and a dicarboxylic acid unit containing a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms as a major component.
US08569403B2
Thermoplastic resin compositions for a light reflector contain 2 to 45 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin (A) of an inorganic filler (B1) treated with a fatty acid type surface treating agent and having an average particle diameter of not more than 3 μm, or 2 to 45 parts by mass of an inorganic filler (B2) having a refractive index α of 1.61≦α≦2.5 and having an average particle diameter of not more than 3 μm, 0.01 to 3 parts by mass of glycerol triester of a fatty acid and/or a glycerol diester of a fatty acid (C1), and 0.01 to 3 parts by mass of a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid (C2). A molded article for a light reflector and a light reflector in which a light reflecting metal layer is directly formed on at least a part of the surface of the molded article is produced from one of such thermoplastic resin compositions.
US08569401B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a water-moist cellulose ether composition, characterized in that water-soluble polymeric additives which contain anionic groups (WSAP), or corresponding additive mixtures, are added to the cellulose ether composition. The invention furthermore relates to water-moist cellulose ether compositions which can be prepared by such a process, and to corresponding milled and dried cellulose ether compositions. The invention also relates to the use of these WSAP or corresponding WSAP mixtures for improving the transportability of water-moist cellulose ether compositions in conveying units.
US08569396B1
Antimicrobial coatings with anti-staining properties that exhibit broad range adhesion characteristics are provided. The coating compositions comprise a mixture of water-borne resins that can be crosslinked through use of a suitable crosslinking agent. The coating compositions can be used on a variety of substrates and are highly flexible, thereby permitting their use on flexible and stretchable materials. Testing has shown the coatings to exhibit excellent antimicrobial characteristics against a broad class of particularly virulent pathogens.
US08569392B2
Disclosed is a method for making absorbent for metal. In the method, at first, solution of first monomer and solution of second monomer are provided. Then, the solution of the second monomer is introduced into the solution of the first monomer. Finally, a microwave reaction is executed to provide micro-alls of absorbent for metal.
US08569390B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an in-mold foamed article having good surface appearances and high rigidity produced by using a common molding machine that withstands a pressure of up to 0.4 MPa. The present invention provides polypropylene resin pre-expanded particles containing a base resin which is a resin having a melt flow rate of 5 g/10 min or more and 20 g/10 min or less and a melting point of 140° C. or higher and 155° C. or lower and satisfying the conditional formula below, and an in-mold foamed article produced from molding the pre-expanded particles: [Heat of crystal fusion (J/g)]≧1.2×[Melting point (° C.)]−96.
US08569384B2
Antimicrobial compositions are provided that include a hydroalcoholic solvent system comprising a lower C2-C5 alcohol and water; a cationic antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate; a fatty component containing at least one free hydroxyl group, such as a C12-C21 fatty alcohol, a C12-C21 fatty ester, a C12-C21 fatty ether, a C12-C21 fatty amide, and combinations thereof; and optionally an emollient ester such as diesters of bibasic acids and trimesters of citric acid. The compositions described herein display improved antimicrobial efficacy and improved cosmetic elegance. Methods of using the antimicrobial compositions are provided.
US08569379B2
Disclosed are methods of treating olfactory dysfunction by periodically administering a therapeutically effective amount of rasagiline or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of rasagiline to a subject.
US08569373B2
Germicidal compositions containing at least one carboxylic acid combined with at least one nonionic or anionic surfactant, and methods of using the compositions for treatment or prevention of infectious hoof diseases are disclosed. The germicidal compositions remain active in the presence of manure, which eliminates the need to pre-clean the hooves before use. The compositions have particular utility for treating or preventing papillomatous digital dermatitis, interdigital phlegmon, interdigital dermatitis, laminitis, white line disease, heel erosion and other hoof diseases.
US08569353B2
The present invention relates to a novel serotonin reuptake inhibitor which also exhibits 5-HT2C antagonistic action (antidepressive and anxiolytic effects), in particular, 5-HT2C inverse agonistic action comprising Compound (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl etc.; R5 is C4-7 alkyl or —(CR8R9)r-E; R6, R7, R8 and R9 are independently hydrogen, fluorine or C1-6 alkyl; A is C6-10 aryl or heteroaryl etc.; r is 1, 2, 3 or 4; E is C3-8 cycloalkyl or C6-10 aryl etc.; L is oxygen, sulfur or —NR10—; n is 1, 2 or 3; R10 is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl etc.; and X is hydrogen or halogen etc.
US08569352B2
Compounds of the invention, such as compounds of Formulae IIa, IIb, IIc or IId, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and prodrugs thereof, are useful as modulators of the activity of liver X receptors, where R1, R2, R21, R3 and G are defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of using the compounds are also disclosed.
US08569345B2
The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with the activity of liver X receptors (LXRs).
US08569344B2
Methods and compounds effective in ameliorating conditions characterized by unwanted calcium channel activity, particularly unwanted T-type calcium channel activity are disclosed. Specifically, a series of compounds containing N-piperidinyl acetamide derivatives as shown in formula (1).
US08569343B2
The invention provides compounds that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A compound of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from those of the compound not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.
US08569342B2
The present invention relates to essentially pure diastereomers of 4-aryloxy-3-hydroxypiperidines, including purified diastereomers of ifoxetine, methods of purifying said diastereomers, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said diastereomers and methods of treatment utilizing said pharmaceutical compositions.
US08569339B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, A and B are as defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.
US08569333B2
A prodrug compound of a rapamycin analog and methods for inhibiting, treating, and preventing mammalian diseases.
US08569332B2
The present invention relates to methods of alleviating and inhibiting a lymphoproliferative disorder in a mammal, the method comprising administering one or more rapamycin derivatives (including rapamycin) to the mammal. Further, the invention provides a method for identifying agents which are useful for alleviating and inhibiting a lymphoproliferative disorders, as well as a method for identifying agents which are capable of inhibiting metastasis of lymphatic tumors in a mammal.
US08569329B1
A drug substance with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of an opioid wherein said organic acid is selected from Structure A: wherein R1-R4 are independently selected from H, alkyl or substituted alkyl of 1-6 carbons, adjacent groups may be taken together to form a cyclic alkyl, cyclic alkyl-aryl, or cyclic aryl moiety; R5 is selected from H, or an alkali earth cation; R6 and R7 are independently selected from H, alkyl of 1-6 carbons, an alkali earth cation, and aryl of 6 to 12 carbons, in a number sufficient to complete the valence bonding of X, and wherein X is selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; and wherein the drug substance has a morphology selected from amorphous and crystalline.
US08569321B2
The disclosure describes methods of synthesis of phosphonate ester derivatives. Preferred methods according to the disclosure allow for large-scale preparation of phosphonate ester compounds having high purity. In some embodiments, preferred methods according to the disclosure also allow for the preparation of phosphonate ester derivatives without the use of chromatographic purification methods and in better yield than previously used methods for preparing such compounds. Also disclosed are morphic forms of phosphonate ester derivatives.
US08569318B2
The present invention relates to serotonin 5-HT6 receptor antagonists-novel substituted 3-sulfonyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrido[4,3-e]pyrimidines and substituted 3-sulfonyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidines, drug substances and pharmaceutical compositions comprising drug substances as the mentioned above compounds and to the method of prophylaxis and treatment of various conditions and diseases of central nervous system in humans and warm-blooded animals pathogenesis of which is associated with serotonin 5-HT6 receptors.In formulas 1 and 2 Ar is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heterocyclyl; R1 is hydrogen, optionally substituted lower C1-C3 alkyl, substituted hydroxyl group, substituted sulfanyl group; R2 is hydrogen or optionally substituted C1-C3 alkyl; R3 is hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C3 alkyl or tert.-butyloxycarbonyl.
US08569310B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides certain pentafluorosulfur imino heterocyclic compounds, including compounds Formula (a) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Compounds of Formula (a) have the general structure: (a) wherein each variable is selected independently and as defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds (alone and in combination with one or more other active agents), and methods for their preparation and use in treating pathologies associated with amyloid beta (Aβ) protein, including Alzheimers Disease, are also disclosed.
US08569303B2
This invention is directed to compounds of formula (I): where r, q, R, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R6a, R6b, R6c, R7, R8, and R9 are described herein, as single stereoisomers or as mixtures of stereoisomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, clathrates, polymorphs, ammonium ions, N-oxides or prodrugs thereof; which are leukotriene A4 hydrolase inhibitors and therefore useful in treating inflammatory disorders. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of preparing the compounds of the invention are also disclosed.
US08569302B2
Provided are compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are useful for the treatment of Flaviviridae virus infections, particularly hepatitis C infections.
US08569301B2
The present invention relates to 6,6-dioxo-6-thia-1,4-diaza-naphthalene derivatives of formula (I) where R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4 and R5 are as defined in claim 1; or a salt or N-oxide thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for making compounds of formula (I), to herbicidal compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and to methods of using compounds of formula (I) to control plant growth.
US08569300B2
The present invention relates to substituted tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazine compounds for Formula IX: as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which may be useful as inhibitors of H4R for the treatment or prevention of inflammatory, autoimmune, allergic, and ocular diseases.
US08569297B2
The present invention relates to novel 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethylindazole derivatives according to formula (I) described in the claims, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising them, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of novel 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethylindazole derivatives for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition that is active in the treatment of diseases based on the expression of MCP-1 and CX3CR1, and to their use in a method for treating or preventing diseases based on the expression of MCP-1 and CX3CR1.
US08569296B2
Novel PI3K, especially PI3K delta isoform, selective inhibitors are disclosed. The compounds are useful in treating disorders related to abnormal PI3K or PI3Kδ activities such as cancer, immune disorders, cardiovascular disease, viral infection, inflammation, metabolism/endocrine disorders and neurological disorders.
US08569294B2
A compound represented by the formula (I), an optically active isomer thereof, or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof: wherein R2 represents a hydrogen or the like; R3 represents methyl group or the like; R20 represents a halogen atom or the like; q represents an integer of 0 to 3; Z represent nitrogen atom, CH, or the like; R4 represents hydrogen or the like; R5 represents hydrogen or the like; R6 represents a substituted alkyloxy and the like; p represents an integer of 0 to 3; X represents bond, CH2, oxygen atom, NH, or the like; any one or more of R5 and R6, R5 and R4, R6 and R4, X and R5, X and R4, X and R6, and R6 and R6 may combine to each other to form a ring, which is used for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease caused by tau protein kinase 1 hyperactivity such as a neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer disease).
US08569284B2
Provided are compounds that are capable of modulating the activity of the influenza A virus via interaction with the M2 transmembrane protein. Also provided are methods for treating an influenza A-affected disease state or infection comprising administering a composition comprising one or more compounds that have been identified as being capable of interaction with the M2 protein.
US08569283B2
The invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful as protein kinase inhibitors, as well as methods for using such compounds to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for using such compounds to treat, ameliorate or prevent diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of c-kit or c-kit and PDGFR (PDGFRα, PDGFRβ) kinases.
US08569280B2
Methods for treating multiple myeloma with inhibitors of CXCR4, such as AMD3100 and anti-CXCR4 antibodies, are described. The decreased expression of CXCR4 on multiple myeloma cells according to the invention results in decreased homing of the cells to the bone marrow and a reduction in the development of the disease. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions incorporating such inhibitors for use in the therapeutic treatment of multiple myeloma. The treatment methods described herein can be used independently, or in conjunction with, other therapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
US08569277B2
Methods are provided for treating a subject for at least one condition that includes inflammation, a blood clotting condition and autonomic nervous system dysfunction such as adrenergia, e.g., simultaneously. Also provided are kits for use in practicing the subject methods.
US08569275B2
The invention relates to the use of compounds to ameliorate or treat an condition such as a cystic fibrosis, neutropenia or other exemplified conditions. Exemplary compounds that can be used include 3β-hydroxy-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 3β-hydroxy-16α-fluoro-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 3α-hydroxy-16α-fluoro-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 3β-hydroxy-16β-fluoro-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 1α,3β-dihydroxy-4α-fluoroandrost-5-ene-17-one, 1α,3β,17β-trihydroxy-4α-fluoroandrost-5-ene, 1β,3β-dihydroxy-6α-bromoandrost-5-ene, 1α-fluoro-3β,12α-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one, 1α-fluoro-3β,4α-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene and 4α-fluoro-3β,6α,17β-trihydroxyandrostane.
US08569274B2
Progesterone antagonists and SPRM are useful to prepare a medication for the treatment or the prophylaxis of excessive uterine bleeding in women with spontaneous or iatrogenic coagulation disorders such as thrombopenia, coagulation factor deficiency or anti-coagulant therapy. Treatment will last from 1 day to 180 days.
US08569272B2
Compositions, and methods of using such compositions, useful for injection into the posterior segments of human or animal eyes are provided. Such compositions include corticosteroid component-containing particles present in a therapeutically effective amount, a viscosity inducing component, and an aqueous carrier component. The compositions have viscosities of at least about 10 cps or about 100 cps at a shear rate of 0.1/second. In a preferred embodiment, the viscosity is in the range of from about 140,000 cps to about 300,000 cps. The compositions advantageously suspend the particles for prolonged periods of time.
US08569269B1
The present invention discloses a method of treating, reducing the occurrence of, or improving the symptoms associated with a skin condition by topical application of a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof, wherein said skin condition is selected from the group consisting of melanogenesis, oxidative damage, inflammation, skin irritation from inflammation, loss of cell adhesion, loss of desquamation, extra-cellular including connective tissue matrix breakdown and skin tone loss thereof, loss of keratinization, cellular senescence, skin aging from cellular senescence, loss of skin whiteness, loss of skin barrier function, loss of skin firmness, rosacea, skin wrinkles and fine lines from cellular senescence, cellular oxidation, loss of skin collagen, topical wounds, and combinations thereof.
US08569260B2
The present disclosure provides a process for the preparation of 2-adenosine N-pyrazole compounds exemplified by the structure shown below that are potent and selective agonists for A2A adenosine receptor, compositions comprising these compounds, and methods for using these compounds to stimulate mammalian coronary vasodilation for imaging the heart.
US08569258B2
The invention provides interfering RNA molecule-ligand conjugates useful as a delivery system for delivering interfering RNA molecules to a cell in vitro or in vivo. The conjugates comprise a ligand that can bind to a low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) or LDLR family member. Therapeutic uses for the conjugates are also provided.
US08569253B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for inactivating CCR-5 genes, using zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) comprising a zinc finger protein and a cleavage domain or cleavage half-domain. Polynucleotides encoding ZFNs, vectors comprising polynucleotides encoding ZFNs, such as adenovirus (Ad) vectors, and cells comprising polynucleotides encoding ZFNs and/or cells comprising ZFNs are also provided.
US08569250B2
A method of inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase-IV comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formulae (I A), (I B), (X A), (X B), (Y A) or (Y or B),wherein R′ represents and R″ represents hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C7alkoxy, C1-C8-alkanoyloxy, or R5R4N—CO—O—, where R4 and R5 independently are C1-C7alkyl or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by a substitutent selected from C1-C7alkyl, C1-C7alkoxy, halogen and trifluoromethyl and where R4 additionally is hydrogen; or R4 and R5 together represent C3-C6alkylene, in free form or in form of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt.
US08569241B2
Provided are a composition for improving the brain function, which can be orally taken at a low dose, and a method therefor. The composition for improving the brain function contains, as the active ingredient, X-Pro-Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu-Y (wherein X is nil or represents Ile or Asn-Ile; and Y is nil or represents Val-Met), X-Val-Val-Val-Pro-Pro-Phe-Leu-Gln-Pro-Glu-Y (wherein X is abscent or represents Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro, Pro-Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro, Leu-Thr-Gln-Thr-Pro or Pro; and Y is abscent or represents Val-Met), or a salt of the same. The method for improving the brain function comprises administering said peptide or a salt of the same.
US08569237B2
The present invention relates to a chimeric hirudin protein comprising a carrier attached to the N-terminus of hirudin, with an intervening plasmin cleavage site. The chimeric hirudin protein contains a relatively inactive form of hirudin. However, when such chimeric hirudin protein being cleaved by plasmin in the vicinity of a clot and, ultimately causing the release of active hirudin and the reduction of the size of the clot. The chimeric hirudin protein exhibited much slower clearance in mice than unfused wild-type hirudin.
US08569235B2
The invention relates to compositions comprising vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or fragments thereof, and the use of such compositions in the treatment of kidney disease, in particular kidney fibrosis, and other associated conditions.
US08569226B2
A dodecamer peptide, and its modified variant, having a repeating glycine-lysine sequence was created and found to bind with high affinity to oxide surfaces and certain activated polymeric surfaces. Reversible binding characteristics of the peptides were demonstrated. The peptides were integrated with proteins, cells and fusion proteins to provide attachment of the proteins, cells and fusion proteins to solid material structures. The peptides can be used to functionalize surfaces of components within mechanical, in mechanical, biomechanical, micro fluidic, electronic, bioelectronic, bio-optical, and biochemical devices. Experiments were carried out to assess functionalization and reusability of a suspended mass resonator's cantilever.
US08569219B2
A “high lower alcohol content” (>40% v/v of a C1-4 alcohol) liquid composition is able to be dispensed as a stable foam with the use of non-propellant foam dispensing devices from non-pressurized containers. The liquid compositions comprise an alcohol, C1-4 (>40% v/v), a fluorosurfactant of at least 0.001% by weight to prepare a foamable composition, 0-10% w/w of additional minor components added to obtain the desired performance (a foamable composition with a viscosity less than 4,000 cps), and the balance being purified water. The compositions may include emulsifier-emollients and moisturizers, secondary surfactants, foam stabilizers, fragrances, antimicrobial agents, other type of medicinal ingredients, and the like ingredients or additives or combinations thereof commonly added to alcohol gels or foams, aerosol compositions or to toiletries, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the like.
US08569212B2
Disclosed herein is a superconducting wire which is used in, for example, superconducting magnet energy storage systems. The superconducting wire includes: a wire comprising a metal substrate, a superconducting layer and a buffer interposed between the metal substrate and the superconducting layer; and a stabilizer layer plated on the wire, wherein an epoxy resin insulating layer coats the entire surface of the stabilizer layer. The superconducting wire makes it possible to reduce damage to an insulating material when forming the insulating material during the production of the superconducting wire, and it has a uniform surface and can be produced in a simple manner.
US08569209B2
The present invention relates to novel water-dispersed agrochemical formulations, for example water-based suspension concentrates, of active agrochemical ingredients, comprising a penetrant and a thickener from the class of the anionic polysaccharides which contains, as the repetitive base unit in the main chain, four sugar molecules (glucose, glucuronic acid, glucose, rhamnose), to a process for producing these formulations and to the use thereof for application of the active ingredients present.
US08569206B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a porous carbon material comprising: heating a cured phenolic resin complex lump, including 150 to 450 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide per 100 parts by weight of phenolic resin, at a temperature of 420 to 850° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to obtain carbonized material; and washing and removing sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide included in the carbonized material. According to the present invention, there can be provided a porous carbon material, including large volumes of subnano-pores having a diameter of in a range of 0.45 to 1.0 nm with a sharp distribution, which is particularly useful as a gaseous adsorbent.
US08569203B2
A process for producing a catalyst comprising the steps of contacting a support with a mixed metal precursor comprising tin oxalate, a second metal precursor, a solubilizing agent such as ammonium oxalate, and water to form an impregnated support and heating the impregnated support under conditions effective to remove at least a weight majority of the water and reduce the tin from the tin oxalate and the second metal from the second metal precursor and thereby form the catalyst.
US08569186B2
A plasma processing apparatus generates plasma by introducing microwaves into a processing chamber by using a planar antenna having a plurality of slots. By using the plasma processing apparatus, a nitrogen containing gas and a silicon containing gas introduced into the processing chamber are brought into the plasma state, and at the time of depositing by using the plasma a silicon nitride film on the surface of the a substrate to be processed, stress to the silicon nitride film to be formed is controlled by the combination of the type and the processing pressure of the nitrogen containing gas.
US08569184B2
A method for forming a single-phase multi-element film on a substrate in a reaction zone by PEALD repeating a single deposition cycle. The single deposition cycle includes: adsorbing a precursor on the substrate in the absence of reactant and plasma; decomposing the precursor adsorbed on the substrate by an inert gas plasma; and reacting the decomposed precursor with a reactant gas plasma in the presence of the inert gas plasma. The multi-element film contains silicon and at least two non-metal elements constituting a matrix of the film, the precursor contains silicon and optionally at least one non-metal element to be incorporated in the matrix, and the reactant gas contains at least one non-metal element to be incorporated in the matrix.
US08569182B2
A method of fabricating a three-dimensional semiconductor device includes forming a stacked structure, and the stacked structure includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer sequentially stacked on a substrate. The method also includes forming a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the stacked structure such that the sacrificial spacer exposes a sidewall of the third layer, and recessing the exposed sidewall of the third layer thereby forming a recess region between the second and fourth layers.
US08569181B2
A first conducting layer is formed on a side of a main surface on which an electrode terminal of a semiconductor device is provided in a semiconductor substrate. The first conducting layer is electrically connected to the electrode terminal of the semiconductor device. A mask layer that has an opening at a predetermined position is formed on the first conducting layer. A second conducting layer is formed inside the opening of the mask layer. The mask layer is removed. A relocation wiring that includes the first conducting layer and electrically draws out the electrode terminal is formed by performing anisotropic etching for the first conducting layer using the second conducting layer as a mask. Finally, a bump is formed on the relocation wiring by causing the second conducting layer to reflow.
US08569168B2
Method of forming a semiconductor structure which includes forming first conductive spacers on a semiconductor substrate; forming second conductive spacers with respect to the first conductive spacers, at least one of the second conductive spacers adjacent to and in contact with each of the first conductive spacers to form combined conductive spacers; recessing the second conductive spacers with respect to the first conductive spacers so that the first conductive spacers extend beyond the second conductive spacers; depositing an ILD to cover the first and second spacers except for an exposed edge of the first conductive spacers; patterning the exposed edges of the first conductive spacers to recess the edges of the first conductive spacers in predetermined locations to form recesses with respect to the ILD; and filling the recesses with an insulating material to leave unrecessed edges of the first conductive spacers as vias to subsequent wiring features.
US08569160B2
Device fabrication is disclosed, including forming a first part of a device at a first fabrication facility as part of a front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) process, the first part of the device comprising a base wafer formed by FEOL processing, and subsequently performing one or more back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) processes at a second fabrication facility to form an IC, the one or more BEOL processes comprising finishing the forming of the device (e.g., an IC including memory) by depositing one or more memory layers on the base wafer. FEOL processing can be used to form active circuitry die (e.g., CMOS circuitry on a Si wafer) and BEOL processing can be used to form on top of each active circuitry die, one or more layers of cross-point memory arrays formed by thin film processing technologies that may or may not be compatible with or identical to some or all of the FEOL processes.
US08569156B1
A method for fabricating field effect transistors using carbon doped silicon layers to substantially reduce the diffusion of a doped screen layer formed below a substantially undoped channel layer includes forming an in-situ epitaxial carbon doped silicon substrate that is doped to form the screen layer in the carbon doped silicon substrate and forming the substantially undoped silicon layer above the carbon doped silicon substrate. The method may include implanting carbon below the screen layer and forming a thin layer of in-situ epitaxial carbon doped silicon above the screen layer. The screen layer may be formed either in a silicon substrate layer or the carbon doped silicon substrate.
US08569142B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, a multi-level thin film capacitor on a ceramic substrate and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The multi-level thin film capacitor (MLC) may include at least one high permittivity dielectric layer between at least two electrode layers, the electrode layers being formed from a conductive thin film material. A buffer layer may be included between the ceramic substrate and the thin film MLC. The buffer layer may have a smooth surface with a surface roughness (Ra) less than or equal to 0.08 micrometers (um).
US08569138B2
A drain extended MOS (DEMOS) transistor including at least one of: (1) A p-type epitaxial layer grown over an n-type semiconductor substrate. (2) An n-type well formed in a portion of the epitaxial layer. (3) A p-type drift region formed in another portion of the epitaxial layer. (4) A p-type source region formed in the well. (5) A p-type drain region formed in the drift region and spaced apart from the source region inside the epitaxial layer. (6) An n-type channel region extending between the drift region and the source region. (7) A gate structure formed over the channel region. (8) An n-type buried layer having a contact surface with the well and the drift region and formed in the epitaxial layer. A region of the buried layer has surface contact with the drift region and has a relatively low dopant concentration compared to other regions.
US08569131B2
A structure and a method of making the structure. The structure includes first and second semiconductor regions in a semiconductor substrate and separated by a region of trench isolation in the semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode extending over the first semiconductor region; a second gate electrode extending over the second semiconductor region; a trench contained in the region of trench isolation and between and abutting the first and second semiconductor regions; and an electrically conductive strap in the trench, the strap electrically connecting the first and second semiconductor regions.
US08569130B2
Methods of forming air gaps in memory arrays and memory arrays with air gaps thus formed are disclosed. One such method may include forming an isolation region, having a first dielectric, through a charge-storage structure that is over a semiconductor, the isolation region extending into the semiconductor; forming a second dielectric over the isolation region and charge-storage structure; and forming an air gap in the isolation region so that the air gap passes through the charge-storage structure and so that a thickness of the first dielectric is between the air gap and the second dielectric.
US08569121B2
Transistor devices having a self-aligned gate structure on transparent substrates and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a transistor device includes the following steps. A channel material is formed on a transparent substrate. Source and drain electrodes are formed in contact with the channel material. A dielectric layer is deposited on the channel material. A photoresist is deposited on the dielectric layer and developed using UV light exposure through the transparent substrate. A gate metal(s) is deposited on the exposed portions of the dielectric layer and the undeveloped portions of the photoresist. The undeveloped portions of the photoresist are removed along with portions of the gate metal over the source and drain regions to form a gate of the device on the dielectric layer over the channel material which is self-aligned to the source and drain electrodes.
US08569118B2
A TFT LCD array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method includes the steps of: forming a thin film transistor on a substrate to form a gate line and a gate electrode connected with the gate line on the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer and a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode; forming an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer; forming a transparent pixel electrode layer and a source/drain electrode metal layer in sequence on the resultant substrate, wherein the transparent pixel electrode layer is electrically insulated from the gate line and the gate electrode, and the transparent pixel electrode layer forms an ohmic contact with two sides of the semiconductor layer via the ohmic contact layer; and performing masking and etching with a gray tone mask with respect to the resultant substrate to form a transparent pixel electrode, a source/drain electrode and a data line simultaneously.
US08569106B2
A film of an epitaxial layer that allows the reduction in both the height of a bunching step and crystal defects caused by a failure in migration of reactive species on a terrace is formed on a SiC semiconductor substrate having an off angle of 5 degrees or less. A film of a first-layer epitaxial layer is formed on and in contact with a surface of the SiC semiconductor substrate having an off angle of 5 degrees or less. Subsequently, the temperature in a reactor is lowered. A second-layer epitaxial layer is caused to epitaxially grow on and in contact with a surface of the first-layer epitaxial layer. In the above-described manner, the epitaxial layer is structured with two layers, and the growth temperature for the second epitaxial layer is set lower than the growth temperature for the first epitaxial layer.
US08569103B2
Method and systems provide growth of polymer structures at a high rate in a selective manner. In various embodiments, the method or system can expose the growth site to a polymer source and growing a polymer tube at a rate of at least 80 micrometer per hour at the growth site. The method or system can provide selectivity by providing a growth site on a substrate by patterning a metal, such as copper, that provides a seed site for the polymer. Non-selected sites can be coated with a polymer growth inhibitor, such as polyimide or silicon nitride.
US08569094B2
A method for manufacturing a thin film solar cell device including a CIGS based thin film solar cell module (17). Edge deletion by selective removal of a multilayer structure (13) that includes at least a front contact (15) and a CIGS layer (7) to expose the back contact (5) in at least a peripheral area (22) in the circumferential region (21) of the module (17) adjacent to a first longitudinal thin film solar cell segment (18) allows for contacting of the module (17) by attaching at least a first contacting element (27) to the back contact (5). Preferably a blasting operation using simultaneous supply of blasting agents and gathering of debris in a blasting chamber (32) arranged on the thin film solar cell module (17) is used for the selective removal.
US08569093B2
Microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes constructing a radiation sensitive component in and/or on a microelectronic device, placing a curable component in and/or on the microelectronic device, and forming a barrier in and/or on the microelectronic device to at least partially inhibit irradiation of the radiation sensitive component. The radiation sensitive component can be doped silicon, chalcogenide, polymeric random access memory, or any other component that is altered when irradiated with one or more specific frequencies of radiation. The curable component can be an adhesive, an underfill layer, an encapsulant, a stand-off, or any other feature constructed of a material that requires curing by irradiation.
US08569092B2
A method for fabricating a sensor is disclosed that in one embodiment bonds an etched semiconductor substrate wafer to an etched device wafer comprising a double silicon on insulator wafer to create a suspended structure, the flexure of which is sensed by an embedded piezoresistive sensor element. In one embodiment the sensor measures acceleration. In other embodiments the sensor measures pressure.
US08569086B2
A method and apparatus for separating a substrate into individual dies and the resulting structure is provided. A modification layer, such as an amorphous layer, is formed within the substrate. A laser focused within the substrate may be used to create the modification layer. The modification layer creates a relatively weaker region that is more prone to cracking than the surrounding substrate material. As a result, the substrate may be pulled apart into separate sections, causing cracks the substrate along the modification layers. Dice or other components may be attached to the substrate before or after separation.
US08569082B2
Various exemplary embodiments provide components, devices, and methods of semiconductor packaging. The disclosed packaging component can include a mold material disposed around a lead frame and at least an integrated circuit (IC), wherein the IC is electrically connected with one side of the lead frame. The opposite side of the lead frame including, for example, lead segments, can be exposed from the mold material. A variety of other components, devices, and packages can then be assembled, e.g., over the disclosed packaging component, through the exposed regions so as to improve packaging densities.
US08569081B2
A method of making a LED includes following steps. A substrate is provided, and the substrate includes an epitaxial growth surface. A buffer layer is grown on the epitaxial growth surface. A carbon nanotube layer is placed on the buffer layer. A first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer are grown in that order on the buffer layer. A reflector and a first electrode are deposited on the second semiconductor layer in that order. The substrate and the buffer layer are removed. A second electrode is deposited on the first semiconductor layer.
US08569074B2
A method of quantifying analyte secreted by a cell or released from a drug delivery vehicle, typically by ELISpot or fluorispot assay is described. Quantification is possible through the use of an analyte-releasing reagent that includes a bead and the analyte releasably bound to the bead, or a container pre-spotted with analyte released from the reagent. The reagent or pre-spotted containers can be used to provide a standard curve for release of the analyte. By detecting analyte secreted by one or more cells or drug released by a drug delivery vehicle, and comparing the detected analyte to the standard curve, it is possible to quantify the amount of analyte released by the one or more cells or drug released by the drug delivery vehicle. Kits and reagents for practicing the methods of the present invention are also disclosed.
US08569066B2
The present invention relates to a microorganism having L-tryptophan productivity and a method for producing L-tryptophan using the same. More precisely, the present invention relates to the recombinant E. coli strain CJ600 (KCCM 10812P) having tryptophan productivity produced from the mutant form (KFCC 10066) of E. coli having L-phenylalanine productivity, wherein tryptophan auxotrophy is released, L-phenylalanine biosynthesis is blocked but tryptophan productivity is enhanced by reinforcing the gene involved in tryptophan biosynthesis, and a method of producing L-tryptophan using the same.
US08569063B1
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a plurality of gold nanoparticles in a plant, the method comprising growing the plant hydroponically, contacting at least a first part of the plant with a substance comprising at least one gold salt, providing an average photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) to at least second part of the plant, waiting a period of time sufficient for formation of a plurality of gold nanoparticles in at least a portion of the plant, thereby manufacturing the plurality of gold nanoparticles in the plant. Disclosed also are, inter alia, a plurality of gold nanoparticles manufactured by such a method; an article of manufacture comprising a plurality of gold nanoparticles manufactured by such a method; and a plurality of triangular gold nanoparticles manufactured by such a method.
US08569058B2
A nerve regeneration which comprises a compound is represented by formula (I): (wherein all symbols are shown in the description), a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof. The compound of the present invention is suppresses nerve cell death as a substance for accelerating growth and/or differentiation of stem cells (nerve stem cells, embryonic stem cells, bone marrow cells, etc.), a substance for accelerating growth and/or differentiation of nerve precursor cells, a potentiator for neurotrophic factor activity, a neurotrophic factor-like substance or a neurodegenerative suppressor, and accelerates repair and regeneration of nerve tissues by neogenesis, regeneration and/or axon evolution. In addition, the compound of the present invention is useful for preparation from brain tissues, bone marrow and/or embryonic stem cells of cells for transplant (nerve stem cells, nerve precursor cells, nerve cells, etc.) and also accelerates grafting, growth, differentiation and/or function expression of cells for transplant whereupon it is useful for prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
US08569050B1
A bioreactor production system for growing commercial volumes of algae or other biomass in a uniquely configured, enclosed, biosecure, photo-type reactor vessel, having internal artificial growth light production as well as exterior solar energy capturing devices or the like designed to facilitate enhanced sunlight exposure for photosynthesis organism production. A unique electromagnetic field generation system is integrated with the bioreactor and its operation to substantially enhance growth rate and overall productivity.
US08569047B2
The sample container has a two-layer membrane filter comprising a first layer as an upper layer serving as a hydrophilic membrane filter and a hydrophobic membrane filter as an underlying second layer capable of filtering an aqueous solution without the use of a wetting agent and by means of a formed negative pressure. Using this sample container, a large amount of an aqueous sample solution is filtered by means of a negative pressure formed by a suction portion to capture microbes in the aqueous sample solution by the hydrophilic membrane filter. Then, the negative pressure is restored to normal pressure, and a microbial dissolution solution is then added to the membrane filter to retain the microbial dissolution solution for a given time on the hydrophobic membrane filter. Then, the microbial dissolution solution is dispensed to a reaction container containing a luminescent reagent, and luminescence is detected to detect the microbes.
US08569046B2
A microarray formed in a planar surface of a moldable slab, the microarray including a plurality of microwell sets comprising a plurality of microwells formed in the planar surface of the moldable slab, each microwell being sized to contain at least a single cell, and a plurality of microchannels formed in the planar surface of the moldable slab, the plurality of microchannels being configured to permit liquid from a first region of the microarray to transit to a second region of the microarray.
US08569043B2
A method for differentiating between a post-translationally modified peptide and a peptide contained in a sample, comprising: (a) contacting the sample with a peptide attachment surface to create a peptidized surface, wherein the sample includes at least one functional group; (b) contacting the peptidized surface with a recognition reagent that selectively binds or forms a complex with the post-translationally modified peptide in the sample to provide an incubated surface; and (c) contacting a liquid crystal with the incubated surface and detecting presence of post-translationally modified peptide in the sample with the liquid crystal.
US08569042B2
An apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of DNA oligomers in contact with a top surface of the substrate. The substrate is a polar ferroelectric or a polar compound semiconductor.
US08569033B2
A method for suppressing a reduction in an endoglucanase activity in the presence of a surfactant, characterized by modifying a protein having the endoglucanase activity in which the N-terminus is an amino acid other than pyroglutamic acid, to a protein having the N-terminus of pyroglutamic acid, is disclosed. Further, a modified protein having an endoglucanase activity wherein the N-terminal amino acid is converted into pyroglutamic acid by an amino acid modification, a polynucleotide encoding the protein, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide, a host cell transformed with the expression vector, and a process for producing the protein by cultivating the host cell, are disclosed.
US08569020B2
An automated method for performing multiple nucleic acid amplification procedures in multiple receptacles of a set of receptacles contained in an analyzer.
US08569019B2
An automated process for isolating and amplifying a target nucleic acid in a self-contained analyzer.
US08569008B2
The present disclosure relates to a multifunctional biomemory device in which a protein having a redox potential substituted with a metal ion is directly immobilized on a substrate. The present disclosure provides an operating method in which the redox state of the protein is controlled by applying three different potentials. The present disclosure provides a biomemory device in which the metal ion of a metalloprotein is substituted to allow for artificial control of the redox potential. The present disclosure provides a new-concept biomemory device as an information storage device based on the principle of electron transfer of a naturally occurring biomolecule.
US08568995B2
The present invention relates to the analysis of modified LDL in the context of immune complexes. In particular, ox-LDL and AGE-LDL are shown to predict the development of coronary artery disease and other micro- and macrovascular disorders, particularly in the context of diabetes.
US08568992B2
Methods for categorizing antibodies based on their epitope binding characteristics are described. Methods and systems for determining the epitope recognition properties of different antibodies are provided. Also provided are data analysis processes for clustering antibodies on the basis of their epitope recognition properties and for identifying antibodies having distinct epitope binding characteristics.
US08568987B2
A method is described for determining the chemotactic activity of leukocytes in a sample, in which method the expression of a cell adhesion molecule is determined.
US08568985B2
To gain a better understanding of breast tumor angiogenesis, breast endothelial cells (ECs) were isolated and evaluated for gene expression patterns. When transcripts from breast ECs derived from normal and malignant breast tissues were compared, genes that were specifically elevated in tumor-associated breast endothelium were revealed. These results confirm that neoplastic and normal endothelium in human breast are distinct at the molecular level, and have significant implications for the development of anti-angiogenic therapies in the future.
US08568976B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for identifying and utilizing proinflammatory nucleic acids. In particular, this invention relates to compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which exert their effect through triggering receptors expressed by myeloid cells (TREMs), specifically TREM 2.
US08568974B2
The present invention relates to the identification of genetic markers patients with high risk B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and associated methods and their relationship to therapeutic outcome. The present invention also relates to diagnostic, prognostic and related methods using these genetic markers, as well as kits which provide microchips and/or immunoreagents for performing analysis on leukemia patients.
US08568972B2
A DNA construct is described which contains a fusion gene under the control of a promoter. The fusion gene comprises at least one resistance gene and at least one reporter gene and is slightly toxic to a host cell transfected with that DNA construct. That DNA construct can be encoded on a plasmid or a virus. Further, a method is described for using the DNA construct to identify substances that may cause a differentiation in eukaryotic cells.
US08568970B2
Compositions containing bacteriophages and methods of using bacteriophages in microorganism detection assays and microbial growth and plating media are disclosed. The lytic ability of these phages to control the growth of non-target populations provides superior sensitivity and specificity to detection assays and reduces false negative and false positive results. The removal of contaminating bacteria reduces the microbial competition for nutrients in the growth media thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity of the culture. The phage treatment of the sample increases the proportion of target microorganisms in the sample over contaminating bacteria thereby requiring less time for enrichment to obtain a significant signal improving overall signal to noise ratio in assays and providing for higher yield of end product in microbiological production systems.
US08568968B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for identifying a gender-specific cancer patient suitable for treatment with various treatment regimens available to cancer patients. After determining if a patient is suitable for therapy, the invention also provides methods for treating these patients.
US08568965B2
An organic semiconducting material comprises a naphthalocyanine derivative represented by formula (1); wherein M represents Si, Ge or Sn, R1 to R3 represent substituents other than a hydrogen atom except that all of R1 to R3 are identical straight-chain alkyl groups, and R4 to R27 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
US08568956B2
A resist composition contains (A1) a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (I), (A2) a resin being insoluble or poorly soluble in alkali aqueous solution, but becoming soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid, (B) an acid generator, and (D) a compound represented by the formula (II), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; A1 represents a C1 to C6 alkanediyl group; R2 represents a C1 to C10 hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom; ring W1 represents a C2 to C36 substituted heterocyclic ring; R3 represents a C1 to C30 hydrocarbon group, and one or more —CH2— contained in the hydrocarbon group may be replaced by —O— or —CO—.
US08568953B2
To provide an apparatus for producing a toner, including: a droplet forming unit configured to periodically discharge a toner composition liquid, which includes at least a resin and a colorant, from a plurality of nozzles so as to form droplets; a gas flow forming unit configured to form a gas flow which passes through a narrowed portion that corresponds to a nozzle formation area and that is placed on a downstream side of the nozzles with respect to a droplet discharge direction, and which advances in the droplet discharge direction; and a particle forming unit configured to form toner particles by solidifying the droplets of the toner composition liquid passed through the narrowed portion and then discharged, wherein the opening area of an opening which forms the narrowed portion decreases from an inlet side of the narrowed portion toward an outlet side of the narrowed portion.
US08568944B2
A reflective EUV mask and a method of manufacturing the same, the reflective EUV mask including a mask substrate having an exposing region and a peripheral region, the mask substrate including a light scattering crystalline portion that scatters light incident to the peripheral region and that decreases reflectivity of the peripheral region; a reflective layer on an upper surface of the mask substrate, the reflective layer having a first opening that exposes the crystalline portion; and an absorbing layer pattern on an upper surface of the reflective layer, the absorbing layer pattern having a second opening in fluidic communication with the first opening.
US08568936B1
Systems and methods for electrochemical surface area retention of fuel cell catalyst using hydrogen crossover are disclosed. One fuel cell system embodiment comprises a fuel cell including an anode having a fuel gas supply and a cathode having an air supply and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a high voltage condition in the fuel cell and increase hydrogen partial pressure in the cathode when the high voltage condition is detected.
US08568935B2
A method for managing fuel cell power increases in a fuel cell system using an air flow feedback delay. The method comprises the steps of determining a required air mass flow rate at a predetermined point in the fuel cell system, determining an actual air mass flow at a predetermined point in the fuel cell system, calculating an air flow feedback delay as a function of the required air mass flow rate and the actual air mass flow, and delaying an external circuit from increasing current draw from the fuel cell stack by the magnitude of the air flow feedback delay.
US08568921B1
A regenerative ion exchange fuel cell having an anode, a metal ion conductor coupled to the anode, an aqueous electrolyte solution positioned adjacent the metal ion conductor, a proton conductor mounted adjacent the aqueous electrolyte solution opposite the metal ion conductor, a cathode positioned adjacent the proton conductor opposite the aqueous electrolyte solution, and a cathode current collector associated with the cathode.
US08568920B2
An organic electrolytic solution including a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and a linear or cyclic polymerizable monomer that is negatively charged due to localization of electrons on the monomer, and a lithium battery employing the same. Since the organic electrolytic solution prevents decomposition of an electrolyte and elution from or precipitation of metal ions, the lithium battery employing the organic electrolytic solution has excellent lifetime characteristics and cycle characteristics.
US08568915B2
A battery comprising a housing having a central longitudinal axis. A cover is coupled to the housing and a first flange is integrally formed with the cover and configured to act as a first terminal for the battery. At least a portion of the first flange extends away from the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Wherein the first flange is configured for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system. for electrical coupling with a terminal of an adjacent battery in a battery system.
US08568907B2
A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—C—N layer. Then, Nd ions are implanted in the Al—C—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and C in the Al—C—N gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—C—N gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—C—N gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.
US08568906B2
A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—C—N layer. Then, La ions is implanted in the Al—C—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and C in the Al—C—N gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—C—N gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—C—N gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.
US08568905B2
A housing is provided which includes an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, an aluminum layer and a corrosion resistant layer formed on the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in that order. The corrosion resistant layer is an Al—C—N layer. Then, Gd ions is implanted in the Al—C—N layer by ion implantation process. The atomic percentages of N and C in the Al—C—N gradient layer gradually increase from the side of Al—C—N gradient layer near the aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate to the other side of Al—C—N gradient layer, away from aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate. Therefore the housing has a high corrosion resistance. A method for making the housing is also provided.
US08568903B2
A phenanthrene derivative is represented by a formula (1) below. In the formula (1), Ar1 to Ar4 each represent an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms for forming the ring. The aromatic hydrocarbon ring group contains none of anthracene skeleton, pyrene skeleton, aceanthrylene skeleton and naphthacene skeleton. L represents a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted benzene skeleton, naphthalene skeleton, biphenylene skeleton, fluorene skeleton, phenanthrene skeleton, fluoranthene skeleton, triphenylene skeleton, chrysene skeleton, phenyl-naphthalene skeleton or binaphthalene skeleton. R1 and R2 each represent a substituent, the number of which may be 0, 1 or more. R1 and R2 may be bonded in any positions of the phenanthrene skeleton. m, n, l and p each represent 0 or 1 while satisfying m+n+l+p≧1 (m,n≧l,p). a and b each represent an integer of 0 to 8.
US08568901B2
An alloy for use as a welding overlay for boiler tubes in a low NOx coal-fired boiler comprising in % by weight: 36 to 43% Cr, 0.2 to 5.0% Fe, 0-2.0% Nb, 0-1% Mo, 0.3 to 1% Ti, 0.5 to 2% Al, 0.005 to 0.05% C, 0.005 to 0.020% (Mg+Ca), 0-1% Mn, 0-0.5% Si, less than 0.01% S, balance substantially Ni and trace additions and impurities. The alloy provides exceptional coal ash corrosion resistance in low partial pressures of oxygen. The alloy also increases in hardness and in thermal conductivity at service temperature over time. The increased hardness improves erosion resistance of the tubes while the increased thermal conductivity improves the thermal efficiency of the boiler and its power generation capabilities.
US08568898B2
The present invention is directed to a method of making metal oxide and mixed metal oxide particles. The method includes treating a mixture formed from a metal source, such as metal alkoxide, a surfactant, and a first alcohol in an aqueous media at a very high metal oxide yield. The mixture is reacted using a catalyst to form metal oxide particles having a desired particle size in said mixture. The method is particularly suitable for forming silica particles. The metal oxide particles can then be heat treated to form synthetic fused metal oxides such as, for example, synthetic fused silica.
US08568892B2
A coated article includes a substrate having on its surface a coating that includes a polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylcellulose, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and mixtures of these, a surfactant, colloidal silica, and a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of water-soluble titanium salts and water-soluble or water-dispersible organic crosslinkers. The coating may be formed by applying a dispersion of the coating composition in a diluent to the substrate and subsequently drying the coated substrate to evaporate the diluent.
US08568891B2
Provided is a thermosetting resin composition which can be used for the production of printed circuit boards, having good dielectric properties in high frequency bands so that transmission loss can be significantly lowered, having excellent heat resistance after moisture absorption and thermal expansion properties, and satisfying peeling strength between the resin composition and metal foil.The present invention relates to a thermosetting resin composition of a semi-IPN composite, comprising (A) a polyphenylene ether, and a prepolymer formed from (B) a chemically unmodified butadiene polymer containing 40% or more of a 1,2-butadiene unit having a 1,2-vinyl group in a side chain of a molecule and (C) a crosslinking agent, in a compatibilized and uncured state; and a resin varnish, a prepreg and a metal clad laminated board using the same.
US08568888B2
The invention herein relates to a surface protective dendritic polymer coating compositions and to the cross-linked surface protective coatings formed thereby.
US08568878B2
A Raman-active nanoparticle is provided that includes a dish-shape plasmonically active metal base, and a plasmonically active metal pillar disposed on the plasmonically active metal base, where the plasmonically active metal pillar is disposed within the dish-shape plasmonically active metal base and normal to a bottom of the dish-shape plasmonically active metal base, where a circular gap is disposed between the dish-shape plasmonically active metal pillar and inner walls of the dish-shape plasmonically active metal base. In one embodiment a Raman-active nanoparticle is provided that includes a dish-shape base having a dielectric material, an electrically conductive layer disposed on the inner surface of the dish-shape base, and an electrically conductive pillar disposed on the conductive layer, and within the dish-shape and perpendicular to a bottom of the dish-shape base, where a circular gap is disposed between the conductive pillar and inner walls of the dish-shape base.
US08568857B2
A grain oriented electrical steel sheet has grooves on one surface of the steel sheet formed for magnetic domain refining, the steel sheet including a forsterite film and a tension coating on front and back surfaces of the steel sheet, wherein the tension coating is applied on a surface with the grooves in a coating amount A (g/m2) and is applied on a surface with no grooves in a coating amount B (g/m2), the coating amounts A and B satisfying (1) and (2): 3≦A≦8 (1); and 1.0
US08568854B2
A composite article has an article surface and may comprise a plurality of fibers at least partially embedded in a matrix. Each fiber may have at least one base surface and a pair of side surfaces. The side surfaces may be oriented in non-perpendicular relation to the base surface. The fibers may be positioned in side-by-side relation to one another such that the side surfaces of each fiber are oriented substantially parallel to the side surfaces of the immediately adjacent fibers.
US08568853B2
A fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite having an improved combination of flexural, impact, and heat distortion characteristics. The composite comprises a fiber reinforced thermoplastic core containing fibers bonded together with a first thermoplastic resin in which the core has a first surface and a second surface and at least one first skin applied to the first surface. The first skin comprises one or more bi-directional continuous fiber tapes having a plurality of continuous fibers bonded together with one or more thermoplastic resins. The fibers in each first skin are arranged in a first and a second direction, with the fibers in each direction being unidirectionally oriented within the skin. Bi-directional orientation of the continuous fiber tapes is present in at least one of the tapes, or is achieved through the use of two or more tapes having unidirectional continuous fibers.
US08568848B2
Blended release materials including a blend of a fluoro-functional silicone release polymer and a fluoropolymer are described. Exemplary fluoropolymers include fluoroolefin-based polymers and linear fluoropolymers including linear fluoroacryaltes. Articles including such release materials such as release liners, and adhesive articles, including silicone adhesive articles, are also described.
US08568842B2
One embodiment of a wrapping film comprises a polymer film having, on at least one surface thereof, at least one sealing area comprising at least one varnished area; and a plurality of individual unvarnished areas; wherein, within the sealing area, the area ratio of the unvarnished areas to the varnished area (PV:V) is ≦1; and wherein, within the sealing area, the largest individual unvarnished area is ≦30 mm2. Other embodiments are described.
US08568840B2
An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of spaced apart, upwardly oriented projections that define channels suitable for water flow along the top side of the core when the underlayment layer is positioned beneath an overlying artificial turf assembly.
US08568839B2
The invention relates to a liquid crystal composition comprising two or more species of liquid crystal compounds respectively having a polymerizable group, at least one species of which being a compound represented by formula (I) below, having a content of the compound of from 20% to 80% relative to the total mass of said two or more species of liquid crystal compounds. In formula (I), P1 represents a polymerizable group; each of L1 and L2 represents a divalent spacer group; each of Z1 to Z4 represents a divalent linking group; each of A1 and A2 represents a divalent cyclic group; each of m and n represents an integer from 0 to 3; MA represents any one group of A-I to A-V below:
US08568834B2
A method is provided for preparing on the surface of a substrate a superhydrophilic layer containing at least one metal oxide which method comprises calcining at elevated temperatures a cross-linked precursor film in which film the metal oxide is evenly distributed and immobilized. The precursor film is prepared by sequentially applying to the surface of the substrate a polyamine or other cationic polymer, a suspension of metal oxide and then a suitable cross linking agent. The superhydrophilic layer can be applied as a coating to a variety of substrates including metal, glass and ceramic and provides excellent dirt resistance, scratch resistance and antifogging effect. Multi-layer systems are also available using the inventive process.
US08568833B2
There is provided a process for formation of a multi-layered coating film, which includes sequentially coating a first colored coating composition, a second colored coating composition and a clear coating composition (C), and simultaneously heating and curing the obtained first colored coating film, second colored coating film and clear coating film to form a multi-layered coating film, where the first colored coating composition contains (a1) a polyester resin containing a hydroxyl group, which contains 1.0-8.0 mol/kg (resin solid content) of a straight-chain alkylene group having a carbon number of 4 or more in the molecule, has a hydroxyl group value in a range of 30-160 mgKOH/g and has a number-average molecular weight in a range of 1,000-6,000, and (a2) a melamine resin; and the colored coating composition contains (b1) an acrylic resin containing a hydroxyl group, which has a hydroxyl group value in a range of 40-200 mgKOH/g and has a weight-average molecular weight in a range of 3,000-15,000, (b2) a melamine resin having a content rate of a mononuclear melamine of 40 mass % or more, and (b3) an acid catalyst.
US08568823B2
A method of forming a pattern and a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display includes forming the pattern with a thin thickness by coating a pattern material on a printing roll using a nozzle, removing a surplus portion of the pattern material from the printing roll by using a plate, and transferring the pattern material remaining on the printing roll to a substrate to form the pattern.
US08568822B2
An apparatus and method for incorporating discrete passive components into an integrated circuit package. A metal layer is formed over a surface of a substrate. A layer of photosensitive material is then formed over the metal layer. Using standard photolithographic processing, a pattern is formed with the photosensitive material to expose at least one region of the metal layer. The remaining photosensitive material protects the underlying metal during metal etching. The substrate is then subjected to a metal etching process to remove the metal that is not protected by the photosensitive material. The remaining photosensitive material is then removed from each remaining area of the metal layer. The discrete passive components can then be attached to the formed metal lands.
US08568820B2
The production of starch containing products such as rice for use in a low glycemic diet as a carbohydrate substitute in diet preparations is disclosed. The preparation may be readily adjusted in form and taste with respect to aroma, texture, consistency, and flavor for utilization in a number of food preparation techniques including baking and frying. The method provides digestible starches from native and commercial starches by controlled heating and/or enzymatic processing and filtration of carbohydrates.
US08568817B2
Cream substitutes are described comprising: a cheese curd, a water source, and a combination of gums that provide the cream substitute the texture of a thick cream, and/or stability against oil separation. The gums may be locust bean gum and xanthan gum. The amount of cheese curd in the composition is typically not more than about 55% by weight of the total ingredients. There is also provided a process for the manufacture of a cream substitute, comprising: combining a cheese curd, a water source, and hydrated gums, to form a mixture, in which the amount of cheese curd is not more than about 55% by weight of the total ingredients, homogenising the mixture, and heating the mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to pasteurise the mixture to form a cream substitute.
US08568805B2
This invention relates to compositions containing polyphenols, for example, cocoa polyphenols such as flavanols and their related oligomers, and methods for treating abnormalities in gap junctional communication of cells, such as cancer, heart arrhythmia, neuro-degenerative diseases and cognitive dysfunction.
US08568796B2
A pharmaceutical composition, particularly homeopathic medicines for weight reduction, including the following components: Adonis vernalis, Calcium carbonicum Hahnemann, Capsicum, Cascara, Fucus vesiculosus, Graphites and Kalium Carbonicum and Phytolacca, as well as a nutrition and a method for weight reduction.
US08568793B2
Provided herein are pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods for determining the total non-volatile organic carbon in a sodium nitrite-containing sample. Further provided herein are methods for producing pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite. Still further provided herein are methods of treatment comprising the administration of pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite.
US08568789B2
A dried product of an extract from inflammatory rabbit skin inoculated with vaccinia virus having an inhibitory activity for the production of a kallikrein-like substance is produced by admixing the extract with a saccharide, sugar alcohol or ascorbic acid before reaching dryness, and then drying the admixture to a solid form such as granules. The dried product may be employed to produce a solid preparation for oral administration, such as tablets, having an inhibitory activity for the production of a kallikrein-like substance.
US08568785B2
Provided is a process for producing spherical base granules comprising a easily water-soluble drug and suited for film coating by spraying a layering liquid over pharmaceutically inert spherical core particles, thereby coating the particles with a layer comprising the easily water-soluble drug, wherein (1) the spherical core particles have a microcrystalline cellulose content of 30 mass % or greater and a water absorbing capacity of 0.5 cm3/g or greater; and (2) the layering liquid is an aqueous solution comprising at least the easily water-soluble drug and a low water-soluble saccharide.
US08568780B2
Pharmaceutical formulation in the form of compacts comprising A) an agglomerated excipient content composed of a1) 60-97% by weight of sugar or sugar alcohols, a2) 1-25% by weight of a disintegrant, selected from the group consisting of crospovidone, croscarmellose, sodium carboxymethylstarch and L-hydroxypropylcellulose, a3) 1-15% by weight of water-insoluble, film-forming polymers a4) 0-15% by weight of water-soluble polymers and a5) 0-15% by weight of further pharmaceutically customary excipients, the total of the components a1) to a5) being 100% by weight, B) at least one active ingredient, C) 0 to 10% by weight, based on the total amount of A) to D), of a lubricant or mold release agent, and D), if appropriate, further pharmaceutical excipients.
US08568777B2
The present invention relates to packaged orally consumable film dosage units for delivery of actives into the oral cavity. In particular, the packaged pharmaceutical product contains a complexate including a complexing agent and an active, an orally consumable film for delivery of the complexate and a package for containing the orally consumable film. The package includes indicia associated therewith. The indicia identifies the complexate as the active ingredient contained in the film, which is as a regulatory approvable chemical entity. The present invention also relates to methods of labeling, pricing, marketing and satisfying governmental regulations for such packaged pharmaceutical products.
US08568776B2
Enteric coated multiparticulate formulations that use L-menthol as an active ingredient are disclosed. In one embodiment, the multiparticulate formulation comprises a plurality of particulates having a reduced release under gastric conditions and an elevated release at neutral pH. The particulates comprise a core comprising L-menthol as an active ingredient. The L-menthol is supplied to the core as an at least 80% pure L-menthol material. An enteric coating is over the core. The enteric coating is effective to release at least about 80% of the L-menthol within about two hours of being placed in a substantially neutral pH environment. Other aspects of the invention include methods of making and methods of using the multiparticulate formulations.
US08568774B2
A homogeneous gas-evolving composition is provided that includes an acid, a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent, and at least one of an inorganic carbonate, inorganic bicarbonate, alkaline peroxide, or alkaline azide. A water-soluble desiccant is homogeneously intermixed with the acid and the gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent. The desiccant is present in an amount able to absorb ambient moisture equivalent to at least 0.01 total weight percent of the composition before gas evolution of more than 50% of the theoretical gas evolution available from the composition. To confer storage stability, the acid, the gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent, and water-soluble desiccant cumulatively have a water content of less than 1 total weight percent water. Through appropriate selection of a desiccant or inclusion of a surfactant foaming agent, the composition foams upon drenching with water. The composition is particularly well suited for consistent usage of glyphosate herbicide. Plant growth inhibition is provided by wetting a plant with water and then applying the composition onto the plant. After allowing sufficient time, the composition absorbs the water and evolves gas, thereby spreading herbicide on the plant preferential to surrounding soil.
US08568771B2
The invention relates to the use of microvesicles (MVs) derived from stem cells for preparing a medicament for the endo/epithelial regeneration of damaged tissues or organs and/or for inhibiting the apoptosis induced by cytostatic agents. The stem cell from which the microvesicles are obtained is preferably selected from the group consisting of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), mesenchimal stem cells (MSCs), renal progenitors CD1 33+, adult human liver stem cells (HLSC) and any combination thereof. The microvesicles may be used in both in vitro and in vivo applications, such as for example the regeneration of damaged tissues or organs and the treatment of renal injury and hepatic injury, particularly acute renal failure (ARF) and acute hepatic failure (AHF).
US08568770B2
There is provided an adhesive preparation containing 5-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(1H)-pyridone. The adhesive preparation is a 5-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(1H)-pyridone-containing adhesive preparation including an active medicinal ingredient-containing layer, characterized in that the active medicinal ingredient-containing layer contains an lipophilic base, a dissolving agent (except glycerin and a medium-chain aliphatic acid triglyceride), and 5-methyl-1-phenyl-2-(1H)-pyridone or medically acceptable salts thereof.
US08568767B2
The present invention provides a chewable composition containing granules of water-soluble dietary fiber. The chewable composition has highly agreeable organolpetic properties and is consumable without the need of an ingestion aid.
US08568761B2
Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition may also include an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, and further include added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function. Methods for regenerating defective or absent myocardium apply a composition to a site of myocardium in need of regeneration using a delivery mode appropriate for the particular formulation.
US08568745B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a drug delivery carrier that is free from the drug leakage problem and has an easily controllable particle size, and that can be used to deliver water-soluble drugs such as genes and proteins in a wide range of applications, including delivery of water-soluble drugs that do not have high anionic properties, and also can be used as a non-viral gene vector. The invention also provides a process for production of such drug delivery carriers. The drug delivery carrier of the present invention includes a water-soluble drug double-coated with two types of inner and outer surfactants 1 and 2.
US08568744B2
The invention relates to the use of lactic acid-producing bacteria to boost the immune system.
US08568737B2
The present invention provides screening methods for GPCRs based on the discovery that the affinity of a receptor agonist for a GPCR (such as the parathyroid hormone receptor) when not bound to a G-protein is correlated with the length of time over which the agonist is effective, independently of its pharmacokinetic properties. The invention also provides PTH- and PTHrP-derived polypeptides.
US08568731B2
The invention relates to a method for the identification of antigenic polypeptides expressed by pathogenic microbes; vaccines comprising the polypeptides; recombinant methods to manufacture the polypeptides; and therapeutic antibodies directed to the polypeptides.
US08568730B2
The present invention provides compounds and methods for treating or preventing pulmonary diseases include COPD and asthma. In particular, the present invention provides for compounds comprising type V collagen, or tolerizing fragments thereof, for the treatment of COPD and asthma.
US08568727B2
Anti-FAP-antibodies and immunoconjugates, pharmaceutical compositions containing such conjugates, and their use in cancer therapy.
US08568725B2
A mutant of a potentially therapeutic anti-CD40 antibody is provided which mutant has reduced ADCC and CDC activities designed to be optimized as a pharmaceutical agent. A mutant of an agonistic anti-CD40 antibody, comprising mutation and/or substitution of at least one amino acid in the constant region to reduce the ADCC and/or CDC activities therein, and a mutant of an antagonistic anti-CD40 antibody, comprising at least one mutation or substitution in the constant region to reduce the ADCC and/or CDC activities therein, both mutants having at least a hinge region derived from a human IgG2.
US08568723B2
The present invention relates to methods of treating pruritic diseases, including but not limited to Contact dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis, Drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma, Bullous pemphigoid, Alopecia wereata, Vitiligo, Acne Rosacea, Prurigo nodularis, Scleroderma, Herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof by administering IL-31 monoclonal antibodies. The invention further provides the hybridomas that generate the monoclonal antibodies.
US08568717B2
Described are single domain antibodies with a specificity for BACE1. More specifically, described are single variable-domain antibodies derived from camelids that bind to BACE1 and are capable of inhibiting the activity of BACE1. The antibodies can be used for research and medical applications. Specific applications include the use of BACE1-specific antibodies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US08568715B2
A method for the augmentation of immune function is described. The invention comprises a combination of β-1,3 (4)-endoglucanohydrolase, β-1,3 (4)-glucan, diatomaceous earth, mineral clay and glucomannan, which is fed to or consumed by mammalian or avian species in amounts sufficient to augment immune function. The invention described may be admixed with feeds or foods, incorporated into pelleted feeds or foods or administered orally to mammalian and avian species.
US08568709B2
The application relates to a composition comprising: a stably integrating delivery vector; a modified mammalian thymidylate kinase (tmpk) wherein the modified mammalian tmpk increases phosphorylation of a prodrug relative to phosophorylation of the prodrug by wild-type human tmpk; and a detection cassette fused to tmpk. The application also relates to use of these compositions in methods of treatment of diseases such as graft versus host disease and cancer.
US08568702B2
The present invention relates to the use and application of a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer comprising: a) at least a monomer compound of general formula i: in which R1 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl or ethyl group; R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, which are identical or different, are linear or branched C1-C6, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl groups; m is an integer from 0 to 10; n is an integer from 1 to 6; Z represents a —C(O)O— or —C(O)NH— group or an oxygen atom; A represents a (CH2)p group, p being an integer from 1 to 6; B represents a linear or branched C2-C12, polymethylene chain optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms or heterogroups, and optionally substituted by one or more hydroxyl or amino groups; X, which are identical or different, represent counterions; and (b) at least one hydrophilic monomer carrying a functional acidic group which is copolymerizable with (a) and which is capable of being ionized in the application medium; (c) optionally at least one monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b), preferably a hydrophilic monomer compound with ethylenic unsaturation with a neutral charge, carrying one or more hydrophilic groups, which is copolymerizable with (a) and (b). Said polymer is a particularly good agglomerating agent and can preferentially be used in cleaning operations.
US08568698B2
This document provides methods and materials for providing teeth with a white appearance. For example, methods and materials for contacting teeth with one or more fluorescence emitting polypeptides (e.g., a blue fluorescent protein (BFP)) to provide the teeth with a whiter appearance are provided.
US08568690B2
The present invention provides an MRI contrast agent, comprising: MRI contrast agent particles, and oligonucleotides, attached to the particles.
US08568688B2
An aerosol for disinsectization comprising a mixture comprising a disinfestant component, a solvent, and a propellant, and a pressure-resistant container provided with an actuator, wherein the mixture is contained in the pressure-resistant container, and wherein the solvent is contained in the mixture in an amount of from 0 to 10% by volume, and the actuator has an orifice diameter of from 0.7 to 2 mm; and an aerosol for disinsectization comprising a mixture comprising a disinfestant component, a solvent, and a propellant, and a pressure-resistant container provided with an actuator, wherein the mixture is contained in the pressure-resistant container, and wherein the solvent is contained in the mixture in an amount of from 0 to 10% by volume, and the actuator has a long nozzle having an orifice diameter of from 0.4 to 2 mm.
US08568685B2
The present invention generally relates to the separation of one or more populations of nanostructures from one or more other populations of nanostructures based upon differences in density. An overall mixture of very similar or identical nanostructures may be exposed to a set of conditions under which one population of the nanostructures is affected differently than the other, allowing separating on the basis of differences in density.
US08568684B2
Methods are described that have the capability of producing submicron/nanoscale particles, in some embodiments dispersible, at high production rates. In some embodiments, the methods result in the production of particles with an average diameter less than about 75 nanometers that are produced at a rate of at least about 35 grams per hour. In other embodiments, the particles are highly uniform. These methods can be used to form particle collections and/or powder coatings. Powder coatings and corresponding methods are described based on the deposition of highly uniform submicron/nanoscale particles.
US08568683B2
A method for preparation of high purity silicon suitable for photovoltaic cells using reduction of silica, which is pre-purified in an aqueous solution, in presence of a reducing agent, preferably carbonaceous agent, where the pre-purified silica has a low amount of boron suitable for photovoltaic cells is described.
US08568679B2
Disclosed is a process for the removal of sulfur from a fuel gas stream that additionally contains carbon dioxide and a light olefin as well as an organic sulfur compound. The process includes hydrotreating the fuel gas stream followed by a catalytic reduction of the resulting hydrotreated fuel gas to remove the carbonyl sulfide contained therein that is yielded in the hydrotreating step as a result of the equilibrium reaction of hydrogen disulfide with carbon dioxide to yield carbonyl sulfide and water.
US08568677B2
The present invention relates to the use of a zeolite catalyst comprising at least one transition metal and in addition sulfur and/or phosphorus atoms for reducing the content of nitrogen oxides in a gas, and also to a process for reducing the content of nitrogen oxides in a gas by bringing this gas into contact with such a zeolite catalyst.
US08568673B2
A gas analysis device according to the present invention includes a flue-gas extraction pipe for extracting flue gas from a flue gas duct to which flue gas including both of NH4Cl and SO3 is fed, a collector that is provided in the flue-gas extraction pipe, for removing soot dust contained in the extracted flue gas, a roll filter that is provided in the flue-gas extraction pipe, for depositing both of NH4Cl and SO3 contained in the flue gas, and a measurement device for measuring both of NH4Cl and SO3 contained in the flue gas by irradiating a sample including both of NH4Cl and SO3 deposited by the roll filter with X-rays and detecting fluorescent X-rays generated from the sample.
US08568672B2
A detoxifying agent and a detoxifying method are provided which have a high detoxifying ability in a detoxifying treatment of a discharge gas containing a volatile inorganic hydride and generating in a semiconductor production step. A zeolite is added to a solid metal hydroxide, a solid metal carbonate, a solid basic metal carbonate, or a mixture of these compounds to thereby obtain the detoxifying agent which has the excellent ability to detoxify a discharge gas containing volatile inorganic hydride. The zeolite to be added is a synthetic zeolite selected from zeolite Y, MFI zeolite, mordenite zeolite, beta zeolite, zeolite A, zeolite X, and zeolite L or is a natural zeolite.
US08568666B2
Methods and apparatus for liquid, gas, and gas plasma sterilization of items. The apparatus includes two chambers and a holder to connectorlessly secure a lumened instrument such that a first portion of the lumened instrument lies in the first chamber and a second portion of the instrument lies in the second chamber, a liquid medium contained within the two chambers, and pumping means for simultaneously increasing fluid pressure within the first chamber of said container while decreasing fluid pressure within the second chamber of the container in a reciprocating fashion. The pumping means displaces at least a total internal volume of the liquid medium through the lumen for a given highest volume of a lumened instrument during a stroke.
US08568664B2
An ozone generation system includes a plurality of modular ozone generating devices, each having an upper and lower housing. The upper housing encloses electrical components for providing high energy power to ozone generator cells of each device to produce an ozone generation output. The lower housing is formed by a multiplicity of section layers enclosing the ozone generator cells and an internal liquid coolant system. Each ozone generator cell has two plasma generation pathways. An orifice is formed in on each one ozone generator cell for maintaining a known and controllable pressure drop across each ozone generator cell. A plurality of ports formed in a center body framing element of the lower housing provides porting for the water in and out, oxygen in and ozone out. The modular devices can be combined on racks having a common manifold system for forming a rack of ozone producing devices for outputting a high yield of ozone.
US08568663B2
The present invention provides a glow discharge cell comprising an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, and at least one inlet and one outlet; a hollow electrode aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extending at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel, wherein the hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet; a first insulator that seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode; a second insulator that seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains the substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode; a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode, and (b) prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during a electric glow discharge; and wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the glow discharge cell is connected to an electrical power source such that the cylindrical vessel is an anode and the hollow electrode is a cathode, and (b) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap.
US08568661B2
An exhaust gas treatment device (1) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, has a multipart housing (2), which contains an oxidation-type catalytic converter unit (5) and, downstream therefrom, a particle filter unit (6) one after another in an axial direction extending in parallel to a longitudinal direction (3) of the housing. The housing (2) contains an inlet housing part (7), which has an exhaust gas inlet (8) and the oxidation-type catalytic converter unit (5), and an outlet housing part (9), which has an exhaust gas outlet (10) and into which the particle filter unit (6) axially protrudes. The maintenance of the exhaust gas treatment device is simplified if at least two housing parts (7, 9, 12) axially adjoining each other are detachably connected to one another by means of a clamp connection (11) and if at least one bracket (13) is provided, which is axially rigid in relation to the particle filter unit (6) and which cooperates with at least one such clamp connection (11), such that the bracket (13) is axially fixed at least one housing part (7, 9, 12) by means of the respective clamp connection (11).
US08568659B2
The present invention is directed to a fiber optic device consisting of a fiber bundle having multiple legs of silica fibers, using a plurality of microspheres construct to attach target cells, for the assay of cytotoxic compounds. Each leg of silica fibers consists of twenty-five or more silica fibers treated with biotin and streptavidin treated microspheres which chemically bind the microspheres to the silica fibers. Further, the present invention is directed to the unique microspheres. The microspheres have a core, preferably alginate, with an outer surface of chitosan.The present invention is further directed to the use of the described fiber optic device to isolate, research and develop biological medicaments and diagnostic cytotoxic compounds. The fiber optic device utilizes thousands of fibers and the unique microspheres to provide a high-throughput screening device.
US08568653B2
A sealing valve arrangement for a shaft furnace charging installation includes a shutter-actuating device for moving a shutter between a closed position in sealing contact with a valve seat and an open position remote from the valve seat. The shutter-actuating device is of the dual-motion type and includes a primary tilting arm on a first tilting shaft defining the first axis and is equipped with bearings supporting the primary tilting arm. A secondary tilting arm carries the shutter is connected to a second tilting shaft that defines a second substantially parallel axis and has bearings that support the secondary tilting arm on the primary tilting arm. The shutter-actuating device has a mechanism configured to tilt the secondary tilting arm when the primary tilting arm is tilted.The first tilting shaft is configured as hollow sleeve shaft and the shutter-actuating device includes a reference rod extending through the first tilting shaft.
US08568651B2
A tip assembly for use in a gas cutting torch is provided that includes a tip and a mixer. The tip includes a tip central gas passageway and a distal orifice and the mixer includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion of the mixer is adapted for connection to the tip and the proximal end portion of the mixer defines a connecting member that removably connects the mixer to a torch head.
US08568650B2
Silicon carbide matrix composite material (1) comprises silicon carbide matrix (2) as a host The silicon carbide matrix (2) comprises first silicon carbide phase (3) of 0.1 to 10 μm average crystal grain diameter and second silicon carbide phase (4) of 0.01 to 2 μm average crystal grain diameter. In interstices of silicon carbide crystal grains constituting the silicon carbide matrix (2), liberated silicon phase (5) amounting to, for example, 5 to 50 mass % based on the composite material (1) is present continuously in network form. This fine structure enables realizing high strength and high toughness of the silicon carbide composite material (1).
US08568649B1
The present invention includes a method of preparing a ceramic precursor article, the ceramic precursor made thereby, a method of making a ceramic article and an article made by that method. It also includes a method of replicating a ceramic shape. Also included is a method of making a ceramic precursor, and the finished ceramic article therefrom, involving a compression step, and a compression-capable printer apparatus.
US08568647B2
A method of fabricating structural elements on the surface of a component is provided. The structural elements are configured to modify flow of a fluid passing over the surface. Conveniently, the fabrication is performed using a Direct Write technique. A three dimensional element is formed by depositing material on the surface, and subsequently curing the deposited material.
US08568646B2
There is provided methods and apparatus for compensation of intensity profiles of imagers used in three-dimensional modelers. The intensity profile of the actinic radiation projected from the imager is determined by a variety of techniques, including but not limited to manually operated sensors, exposed and scanned actinic radiation-sensitive paper, and intensity profilers. Once the intensity profile of the imager is determined, each layer of the solidifiable liquid material is cured by projecting a plurality of patterns (as opposed to a single pattern) defining the two-dimensional cross-section of the part being cured. The patterns vary in duration, number, and/or shape to correlate to the intensity profile so that a single layer of selectively cured solidifiable liquid material is cured with a substantially equivalent (or otherwise controlled) amount of actinic radiation per unit of surface area to provide generally controlled and consistent part quality.
US08568644B2
The invention offers a method for producing a soft magnetic material. The method effectively produces a soft magnetic material having soft magnetic metallic particles each coated with a plurality of insulating layers. A soft magnetic material to be used as the material for a dust core is produced through the following steps: a step of preparing a material powder having composite magnetic particles produced by forming an insulating film containing hydrated water on each of the surfaces of soft magnetic metallic particles, a step of preparing a resin material containing silicone that cures through a hydrolysis-polycondensation reaction, and a step of mixing the material powder and the resin material in a heated atmosphere at 80° C. to 150° C. to form a silicone film on the surface of the insulating film.
US08568638B2
A polymer-based sausage casing suitable for use with uncooked meats such as chorizo is disclosed. A polymer resin is blended with a silicon-based barrier control agent, preferably a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, to increase the permeability of the sausage casing. The resultant blend can be biaxially stretch-oriented to produce a single-layered polymer-based sausage casing suitable for use with uncooked sausage meats such as chorizo, and specifically suitable for the gas and moisture permeability needed during the curing process for uncooked sausage meats. Such polymer-based casings can also be employed for cooked sausages by choosing a silicon-based barrier control agent that increases gas and moisture barrier, thereby increasing shelf-life for unpeeled sausages. A method for improving the peelability of cooked sausage casings by injecting a thin coating of a releasing agent, without the addition of a surfactant, into the sausage casing during the shirring process is also disclosed. The releasing agent is a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution that creates a low viscosity releasing agent that effectively improves peelability from any type of sausage casing, but preferably for use with the polymer-based sausage casing of the present invention.
US08568636B2
The present invention relates to a multilayer film coextruded from an aliphatic polycarbonate and polylactic acid-based polymer and a method for producing the same. According to the present invention, a multilayer film having excellent adhesive property can be manufactured even without a separate adhesive layer.
US08568628B2
A method of preparing a toner, including periodically dripping and discharging droplets of a toner constituent liquid comprising a resin and a colorant with a dripper comprising a thin film comprising plural nozzles configured to discharge the droplets, and an electromechanical converter configured to oscillate the thin film; and solidifying the droplets to form toner particles, wherein the nozzle has an aperture discharging the droplet, having a circular or an ellipsoidal cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of another aperture contacting the toner constituent liquid.
US08568623B2
Disclose is a triphenylamine derivative with a low band gap. The triphenylamine derivative is represented by Formula (I): wherein R1 and Ar are as defined in the specification. Further disclosed is a high efficiency organic photovoltaic cell using the derivative.
US08568617B2
Provided is a method of producing an electrode material precursor having a core-shell structure in which the particle size is extremely small and the particle diameter is uniform, and a method of efficiently producing an electrode material using the obtained precursor. The method is for producing an electrode material precursor having a core-shell structure in which an active material core is coated with polyaniline, wherein an oxidizing agent is added to a solution containing aniline and an active raw material to generate fine active material particles, and aniline is polymerized at the surface of the fine particles. An electrode material having a core-shell structure in which an active material core is coated with carbon is produced by subjecting the electrode material precursor obtained in the foregoing production method to heat treatment in a reduction atmosphere at 300 to 900° C.
US08568616B2
There are provided electrically conducting polymer compositions comprising an electrectically conductive polymer or copolymer and an organic solvent wettable fluorinated acid polymer. Electrically conductive polymer materials are derived from thiophene, pyrrole, aniline and polycyclic heteroaromatic precursor monomers. Non-conductive polymers derived from alkenyl, alkynyl, arylene, and heteroarylene precursor monomers. The organic-solvent wettable fluorinated acid polymer is fluorinated or highly fluorinated and may be colloid-forming. Acidic groups include carboxylic acid groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfonimide groups, phosphoric acid groups, phosphonic acid groups, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be used in organic electronic devices.
US08568596B2
Provided are a membrane filtering device managing system by which the membrane filtering device can be managed with a better precision and membrane filtering device for use therein, as well as to a membrane filtering device managing method. At least two sensors of an electric conductivity sensor 11, a flow rate sensor 13, and a pressure sensor 15 are provided in at least two membrane elements 10 provided in a membrane filtering device 50. A managing device 200 obtains data from the at least two sensor, and compares the data with comparison data that represents a correlative relationship between a position along the axial line direction in the membrane filtering device 50 and a standard value obtained from the at least two sensor. Accordingly, it is possible to specify the cause of change occurring in the membrane filtering device 50 more definitely, and to carried out a suitable maintenance in accordance with the cause, so that the membrane filtering device 50 can be managed with a higher precision.
US08568592B2
A method for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system is provided consisting of one or more anaerobic zones followed by two or more activated sludge reactors operating in parallel each having independent aeration/mixing means, whereby the utilization of the influent organic carbon under anoxic conditions; and thereby, the selection of denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DNPAOs) over non-denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), is maximized in order to further maximize the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen in the wastewater treatment system.
US08568586B2
The present invention provides automated systems and methods for monitoring column performance in process chromatography, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, column performance is monitored by generating a plurality of process values such as, for example, conductivity values or pH values with a detector during a chromatography step transition between a first mobile phase liquid and a second mobile phase liquid. The process values are transformed to form transformed process values in which noise present in the process values is suppressed. Column performance parameters are calculated based on the transformed process values and displayed during movement of the second mobile phase liquid through the chromatography column. The displayed performance parameters enable an operator to make a determination, for example, regarding the quality of the chromatography column packing and whether to continue the chromatography process or stop the chromatography process until the chromatography column can be repacked or replaced.
US08568581B2
Methods and systems for heterocycle catalyzed carbonylation and hydroformylation with carbon dioxide are disclosed. A method may include, but is not limited to, steps (A) to (D). Step (A) may introduce water to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell. The first compartment may include an anode. Step (B) may introduce carbon dioxide to a second compartment of the electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a solution of an electrolyte, a heterocyclic catalyst, and a cathode. Step (C) may introduce a second reactant to the second compartment of the electrochemical cell. Step (D) may apply an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode in the electrochemical cell sufficient to induce liquid phase carbonylation or hydroformylation to form a product mixture.
US08568577B2
Provided is a magnetron sputtering apparatus that increases an instantaneous plasma density on a target to improve a film forming rate. The magnetron sputtering apparatus includes a substrate to be processed, a target installed to face the substrate and a rotary magnet installed at a side opposite to the substrate across the target. In the magnetron sputtering apparatus, plasma loops are formed on a target surface. The plasma loops are generated, move and disappear in an axis direction of the rotary magnet according to a rotation of the rotary magnet.
US08568575B2
An adjustable insertion assembly for an electrochemical sensor includes an electrode holder to receive the sensor, having a distal aperture to permit process fluid to contact the sensor. A receptacle slidably receives the holder, for a sliding range of motion extending from fully inserted to fully retracted positions. An open distal end portion of the receptacle extends through a wall of a process fluid vessel, so that the aperture is open to the process fluid when fully inserted, and closed when fully retracted. A leverage member is releasably movable relative to the receptacle, and moves with a captured extension. An abutment of the receptacle engages the extension so that movement of the leverage member in opposite directions alternately clamps and releases the electrode holder relative to the receptacle to substantially prevent and permit movement at substantially any point within the range of movement.
US08568559B2
A method of making a cellulosic absorbent sheet. A cellulosic web is prepared from an aqueous papermaking furnish. The web is fabric-creped. The fabric-creping step forms a creped web with a drawable reticulum having a plurality of interconnected regions of different local basis weights including at least: (i) a plurality of fiber-enriched regions of a relatively high local basis weight, interconnected by way of (ii) a plurality of lower local basis weight linking regions. The drawable reticulum includes a cohesive fiber matrix capable of increasing in void volume upon drawing. The creped web is dried, while substantially preserving the drawable reticulum, to form a dried web, and the dried web is drawn. The drawing step increases the void volume of the dried web.
US08568558B2
The delignification and bleaching of chemical pulp by a bleaching stage, in which the chemical pulp is reacted first with chlorine dioxide and, after reaction of the chlorine dioxide, is further reacted without intermediate washing with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a molybdate or tungstate, permits the production of chemical pulp having a whiteness of at least 89.5%, having improved stability to yellowing and reduced oxidative damage.
US08568554B2
In a gas introduction structure that is reciprocatingly movable in a predetermined direction, a processing gas introduction system is configured to introduce a processing gas into a processing chamber in which a substrate is subjected to a predetermined processing under a clean atmosphere; and a processing gas supply line is configured to be connected to the processing gas introduction system and an external processing gas supply source to supply the processing gas from the processing gas supply source to the processing gas introduction system, mutual relative positions of the processing gas supply source and the processing gas introduction system being changed. The processing gas supply line includes: a first bendable portion connected to the processing gas supply source; a second bendable portion connected to the processing gas introduction system; and a non-bendable pipe interposed between the first bendable portion and the second bendable portion.
US08568536B2
A tool for removing particulate matter from a diesel particulate filter (DPF) includes a container defining a chamber that has an open end, and a support associated with the open end that supports a first axial end of the DPF and forms a seal around an outside surface of the can of the DPF and the container. An air nozzle mounted proximate to a second axial end of the DPF directs a narrow flow of air through the DPF that passes through a portion of the DPF element bundle and exits through the first axial end into the container.
US08568530B2
Precursors suitable for chemical vapor deposition, especially ALD, of hafnium oxide or zirconium oxide, have the general formula: (R1Cp)2MR2 wherein Cp represents a cyclopentadienyl ligand, R1 is H or a substituting alkyl group, alkoxy group or amido group of the Cp ligand, R2 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or an amido group and M is hafnium or zirconium.
US08568528B2
The present invention relates to a novel iron-doped sulphoaluminate-belite clinker, a process for preparing this clinker, and also the use of the clinker for the preparation of hydraulic binder and, consequently, of grout, concrete or mortar.
US08568526B2
The present invention relates to a glass composition comprising crystalline phases, and to glass flakes produced therefrom. These glass flakes can be used as base substrate for effect pigments. The glass flakes can furthermore be used in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics and in cosmetic formulations. The glass flakes are converted into glass-ceramics, and are present in one of the following composition ranges I or II in % by weight: I: 40-50 SiO2, 10-20 B2O3, 10-20 Na2O, 15-30 TiO2; II: 10-60 SiO2, 5-30 B2O3, 5-40 TiO2, 2-20 Nb2O5, 2-20 Fe2O3, 5-40 Na2O+K2O+CaO+SrO+BaO.
US08568520B2
In an embodiment, a CO2 recovery system has an absorber, a regenerator, and a circulation device. An absorption liquid has an aqueous solution of amine having an alcohol group, and dimethyl silicone oil in which a part of methyl groups is substituted by at least one type selected from an aminoalkyl group, a carboxyl group, and a hydroxyl-containing alkyl group. The absorber contacts a combustion exhaust gas of a fossil fuel and the absorption liquid to absorb CO2, which is contained in the combustion exhaust gas, into the absorption liquid. The regenerator releases CO2 by applying thermal energy to the CO2-absorbed absorption liquid. A circulation device circulates the absorption liquid between the absorber and the regenerator.
US08568519B2
A portable oxygen concentrator designed for medical use with a novel housing and internal component design that reduces noise and vibration while increasing durability. The improved design of the portable oxygen concentrator further facilitates easy maintenance and repair over the life of the equipment.
US08568515B2
A water separation system and method for treating multiphase hydrocarbon production streams is disclosed. The system may be employed to separate gas from the production stream, and then separate the liquid stream into its oil component and water component. A gas/liquid separator may be employed to separate a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream. A liquid cyclone separator, positioned downstream from the gas/liquid separator, may be employed to divide the liquid stream into an oil dominated portion and a water dominated portion. The system may be used on land or on offshore platforms in locations where it is desirable to separate oil and water from hydrocarbon streams.
US08568514B1
Compositions, and processes utilizing such compositions, are provided for reducing mercury emissions from combustion gases. Such compositions comprise a sorbent and a brominated organic compound.
US08568512B2
The method and system for methane separation and purification from a biogas includes collecting a raw Biogas gas stream having methane, carbon dioxide, water, sulfur compounds and non-methane organic compound (NMOC) constituents. The Biogas stream is fed into the intake of a liquid sulfur scrubber or a sulfur adsorber unit where the Biogas is separated into a main gas stream routed downstream in the system and a sulfur compounds stream removed from the system. The main gas stream is then processed by an NMOC absorber and further downstream, by an NMOC adsorber. NMOC produced by both NMOC processes is liquefied, removed from the system and stored. Upstream from the NMOC processes, the main gas stream is processed by at least one CO2, N2, O2 gas separation unit that produces a usable product stream of enriched methane gas, and an off-gas stream, which a VPSAU processes for venting and recycling.
US08568510B2
A gas separation process for treating off-gas streams from reaction processes, and reaction processes including such gas separation. The invention involves flowing the off-gas across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, and passing the permeate/sweep gas mixture to the reaction. The process recovers unreacted feedstock that would otherwise be lost in the waste gases in an energy-efficient manner.
US08568509B2
A metal storage material, containing a perovskite-type composite oxide of formula (1), which is a material to stores a metal component of a metal-containing material: ABHaO3-b Formula (1) in which A is at least one selected from lanthanoid elements and Group 2 elements of the periodic table, and B is at least one selected from Groups 3, 4, and 13 elements, and transition metal elements of the fourth period of the periodic table; a and b are quantities of hydrogen and oxygen vacancies, within the range of: 0≦a≦1.0, 0≦b≦0.5, respectively; and a method of recovering a metal, containing the steps of: heating the metal-containing material, in the presence of the perovskite-type composite oxide; dissolving, in an acid, the composite oxide which stores a metal, to give an eluate of the metal; and recovering the metal, from the eluate.
US08568506B1
An agricultural fertigation method includes the in situ manufacture of one or more fertilizers within the irrigation upstream of the agricultural field being irrigated. Co-reactant raw materials, namely sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, potassium hydroxide, urea, ammonium hydroxide, ammonia, calcium nitrate and/or magnesium nitrate, are intermixed with each other and with the stream of the flowing irrigation water. The stream of flowing irrigation water dampens the resultant dissolution and reaction exotherms. A system wherein raw materials are efficiently fed to the irrigation system main line or a side-arm reactor efficiently implements the method.
US08568499B2
A vitrified grinding stone includes: abrasive grains; an inorganic binder that binds the abrasive grains; and air-communicating pores that are formed between the abrasive grains and the inorganic binder, micro-capsules that each encapsulate a lubricant and each have a diameter that is smaller than that of the air-communicating pore, being fixed on an inner wall surface of each of the air-communicating pores by an adhesive.
US08568498B2
Composition, apparatus, and methods of composition and apparatus manufacture, for sharpening a paper shredder blade. Composition includes grinding powder, thickening agent, and additive. The thickening agent may be a white oil, an animal oil, a vegetable oil, or a stearine wax. The additive may be an antirust powder, an antiwear powder, an antistatic powder, or an antioxidation powder. The grinding composition is dispensed into a polyethylene film, and sealed to form the grinding apparatus, as a grinding sheet or a grinding packet. A method for forming a grinding sheet includes selecting the constituent materials for a grinding composition; stirring the constituent grinding composition materials; heating the constituent materials to melting; mixing the constituent materials, while melting and intermixing; cooling and packaging the grinding composition to form a grinding sheet or packet.
US08568497B2
A method of forming aggregate abrasive grains for use in the production of abrading or cutting tools comprises providing abrasive core particles; coating these particles with adhesive, the adhesive comprising a binding agent and a solvent for the binding agent; separately dropping the adhesive-coated core particles onto a layer of abrasive peripheral particles and covering the dropped core particles with further peripheral particles, in such a way as to form aggregate particles, each of which comprises a core particle having peripheral particles attached to it; consolidating the aggregate particles by causing the solvent to evaporate, i.e. by letting the adhesive set.
US08568490B2
The invention provides a liquid detergent composition containing (a) a nonionic surfactant obtained by adding ethylene oxide and an alkylene oxide with from 3 to 5 carbon atoms to a compound represented by R—OH (wherein R represents an alkyl group or an alkenyl group with from 8 to 18 carbon atoms) under a specified condition, (b) an anionic surfactant and (c) a water-miscible organic solvent in specified ratios, respectively.
US08568488B2
A satiation device is described which includes a sheath or liner extending from the proximal or middle stomach to the distal antrum. Food ingested by the patient passes through the sheath or liner, thereby minimizing contact between the ingested food and the stomach. It is believed that over time, reduced contact between food and the stomach will result in decreased Ghrelin production by the patient and a consequent decrease in appetite. In some embodiments, the satiation device may also include a proximal pouch and/or a distal bypass tube.
US08568484B2
A spinal implant as provided having a porous body that includes a leading end, a convex trailing end and first and second sides extending between the leading and trailing ends. At least a portion of the leading end is generally straight. The body further includes a generally dome-shaped superior surface and a generally planar inferior surface. The superior surface is convex between the leading and trailing ends and is convex between the first and second sides.
US08568478B2
An intraocular lens for providing vision to a subject contains an optic, a support structure coupled to the optic. The intraocular lens also includes a textured surface and/or subsurface layer. The optic is disposed about an optical axis and comprises an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface, the surfaces being configured to focus light when implanted within an eye having a capsular bag. The textured surface is disposed over a surface portion of the intraocular lens and includes a plurality of periodically-spaced protrusions, each protrusion having a smooth distal face and a sharp corner edge configured to engage a wall of the capsular bag and/or at least one cell disposed along the wall. The subsurface layer is configured to scatter an amount of light that is at least twice the amount of light scattered by portions of the material adjacent the subsurface layer or at least twice the amount of light scattered by another intraocular lens that does not have the subsurface layer, but which is otherwise substantially equivalent.
US08568456B2
A transverse connector system having a first and a second locking element. The present invention also provides transverse rod having opposing first and second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking element and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking element. The first locking element is configured with a connector body for engaging and capturing an elongated rod and a transverse rod simultaneously.
US08568455B2
A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
US08568451B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08568436B2
A dilator (10) for creating tracheostomies in one pass. Dilator (10) includes a generally linear shaft (12) extending from a proximal end (14) and beginning at a distance therefrom, gradually and continuously through a curved distal portion (16) of continuously decreasing diameter (from about 38 french) to a distal tip portion (18) of small diameter of about 12 french at distal end (20). The outer surface of the insertable portion is treated or hydrophilically coated to minimize friction, and the gradual taper gradually widens the tracheal entrance opening (44) between tracheal rings (46,48) with minimal trauma. The wall thickness gradually decreases from the linear shaft (12) to the soft distal tip portion (18). The continuing curve of the distal portion (16) enables the increasingly longer inserted portion of the dilator to remain situated in the trachea (50) during insertion and for the distal tip portion to clear the posterior tracheal wall.
US08568423B2
A uterus manipulator includes a shank, in which a hollow probe is guided, whose distal end section is envisaged and designed for introduction into a uterus through the cervical canal. A handle is provided on the proximal side. A distally open bell and a vaginal seal, arranged proximally displaced thereto, as well as a suction channel which connects to at least one suction opening in the distal end section, are provided for receiving a cervix. The bell is designed as a suction bell, wherein at least one suction channel runs into the bell.
US08568420B2
Methods and apparatus for treating bones, including, in one or more embodiments, a device for delivering a bone filler material comprising: a housing having a throughbore; a plunger comprising a shaft having external threads, wherein the plunger is configured for advancement through the throughbore of the housing; and a threaded receiving member configured to releasably engage the plunger. Methods for removing an instrument from a vertebral body comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the instrument, wherein a distal end of the instrument is disposed in a cavity in the vertebral body, wherein the cavity contains a filler material; and removing the instrument from the vertebral body.
US08568419B2
A navigation system for placing an implant in orthopedic surgery is provided, comprising an orientation apparatus and a reference apparatus. The reference apparatus comprises an anchor for fixing the reference apparatus to a predetermined feature of the subjects body and an indicator for indicating at least one reference plane or axis. The orientation apparatus comprises a number of probes for contacting a number of predetermined features of a subjects body and defining a plane. The orientation apparatus and/or the reference apparatus comprises at least one connector for connecting the orientation apparatus and the anchor such that, when connected, relative translation of the connector and the anchor along a predetermined direction with respect to the plane defined by the probes is allowed and relative rotation of the connector and the anchor about that predetermined direction is prevented.
US08568415B2
A surgical cutting instrument including an outer tube having a bearing sleeve disposed within a lumen thereof, along with an inner wire assembly extending through the outer tube and the bearing sleeve. A cutting tip is connected to the inner wire assembly distal the outer tube. Conversely, a coupling chuck is connected to a proximal section of the inner wire assembly, with a housing maintaining the outer tube and the coupling chuck. When mounted to a motor, the inner wire assembly is rotated to effectuate a surgical cutting procedure at the cutting tip, with the bearing sleeve supporting the inner wire assembly relative to the outer tube during rotation.
US08568414B2
An intramedullary rod for use in the treatment of long bone fractures includes an elongated rod extending along a longitudinal axis and including a head and a stem, at least a first transverse hole extending through the rod and a plurality of external spiral flutes located along at least a portion of the stem, wherein the elongated rod includes at least two bends along the longitudinal axis in a first plane and at least one bend along the longitudinal axis in a second plane.
US08568409B2
Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and conductive fluid to tissue. The tip portion includes an electrode having a domed portion having a domed surface and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface. The domed portion is located distal to the cylindrical portion and occupies at least a portion of the distal end of the surgical device. The device includes a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening configured to provide the conductive fluid to a surface of the electrode proximal to the distal end surface of the surgical device.
US08568406B2
In some aspects, a method includes (i) securing multiple sets of current injecting electrodes to an organ in a patient's body, (ii) causing current to flow among the multiple sets of current injecting electrodes to generate a field in the organ, (iii) in response to current flow caused by the multiple sets of current injecting electrodes, measuring the field at each of one or more additional electrodes, (iv) determining expected signal measurements of the field inside the organ using a pre-determined model of the field, and (v) determining a position of each of the one or more additional electrodes in the organ based on the measurements made by the additional electrodes and the determined expected signal measurements of the field.
US08568391B2
A surgical apparatus for use by a surgeon can include a tray and a plurality of surgical instruments. The tray can have a plurality of structures located on an upper side of the tray for receiving the plurality of surgical instruments. The tray can receive a separate control unit. The tray can also have a fluid reservoir receiver for receiving a bottle or container of fluid, such as balanced salt solution. The fluid reservoir receiver can include one or more features, including, a spike, an air vent, and a light. A separate container can be used to place the bottle or container of fluid into the fluid reservoir receiver on the tray. This separate container can include a collapsible section.
US08568388B2
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.
US08568378B2
A method of individually packaging an absorbent article and attaching the absorbent article to an undergarment including the steps of providing a tri-folded absorbent article having two end portions and an intermediate portion, providing a pouch containing the tri-folded absorbent article, opening the pouch to thereby expose a garment-facing surface of the intermediate portion of the absorbent article prior to exposing a garment facing surface of either of the end portions of the absorbent article.
US08568377B2
An elastic composite is provided in a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper or training pants. The elastic composite has a base layer, a top layer, and an elastic construction disposed therebetween. The elastic construction includes a plurality of spaced apart (e.g. generally equally spaced apart) elastic elements (e.g. strands or threads) that are aligned in a generally cross machine direction and in generally parallel relation. Further, the top and base layers define a first longitudinally extending side edge and a second longitudinally extending side edge between which, the elastic construction is disposed. The elastic composite further includes an elasticized region, wherein the elastic construction is disposed, a first non-elasticized region disposed between the first side edge and the elasticized region, and a second non-elasticized region disposed between the second side edge and the elasticized region.
US08568375B2
A wound treatment arrangement for the debriding and cleansing of a patient's body portion comprising: a flexible elongated body portion enclosure bag; an elongated nozzle arrangement securable to the inner surface of the elongated enclosure bag; a pressurized fluid treatment supply gun; and a connectable and releasable coupler member arranged on the proximal end of the nozzle arrangement so as to sealably receive a corresponding coupler arrangement on the fluid treatment supply gun.
US08568369B2
An infusion catheter includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal body component and a distal body component. The distal body component includes a distal body outer surface and a distal body inner surface defining an infusion lumen. The distal body component further includes a skeleton, and a porous infusion control textile contacting the skeleton and extending circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the catheter and defining a fluid emission profile thereof. The porous infusion control textile further includes a fiber network having a higher density space filling configuration at a proximal textile end and a lower density space filling configuration at a distal textile end, and defining a pressure sensitive flow rate property and a pressure insensitive flow distribution property of the fluid emission profile.
US08568365B2
Methods and apparatus for a syringe adapter. In one embodiment, an adapter/cap assembly is threadably engaged to a syringe for enteral feeding applications. The adapter cannot be removed from the syringe to prevent the syringe from being used for IV applications.
US08568353B2
An agent delivery catheter and method configured to deliver an agent to an inner surface of a patient's body lumen wall by forming a funnel shaped agent containment chamber around at least one portion of the inner surface of the body lumen wall, while minimizing ischemic conditions during the procedure.
US08568341B2
In one embodiment, a method of rehabilitating a patient's cardiac/pulmonary activity and achieving increased fluid distribution, includes placing one inflatable/deflatable chest cuff over the patient's chest area and another inflatable/deflatable cuff over the patient's abdominal area, the chest cuff, when inflated, being arranged to depress the chest and force air out of the patient's lungs, the abdominal cuff being arranged, when inflated to apply pressure to the underlying vessels to direct blood into the patient's chest area; inflating and deflating the chest cuff and the abdominal cuff; connecting an intravenous (IV) line to one of the patient's blood vessels.In another embodiment, a patient interface kit for a system for providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or circulatory support to a patient.
US08568340B2
Provided is a walking motion assisting device capable of assisting a leg of an agent in walking motion to alleviate an assisting burden or eliminate an assisting necessity by a caregiver. According to the walking motion assisting device (1), the value of a persistent energy input term (ζ0) contained in a simultaneous differential equation denoting a second model configured to generate a second motion oscillator (φ1) is adjusted so as to limit a landing position (x) of a leg of the agent in a specified range [x1, x2]. Further, the motion state of the leg is recognized on the basis of a variation mode of a second oscillator (ξ2), and on the basis of the recognition result, the relative motion between the thigh and crus of the leg around the knee joint is assisted.
US08568338B2
The present invention described herein is a soft, pliable, cushioning device to be used in conjunction with ultrasound and toco transducers during external fetal monitoring. The device can be shaped to fit the transducers and can easily attach and detach with the transducers via an adhesive layer. The device provides comfort to the patient and improved continuity of the transducers' readings during external fetal monitoring. The device can be a single-use application or reusable.
US08568331B2
The present invention involves a system and methods for nerve testing during anterior surgery, including but not limited to anterior total disc replacement surgery, nucleus replacement, and interbody fusion.
US08568329B2
An embodiment of a baseline drift canceling method is provided. The method removes a baseline drift signal from a bioelectric signal, and includes the steps as follows: delaying the bioelectric signal by an analog time delay circuit to generate a first bioelectric signal; according to the bioelectric signal to generate a baseline drift signal; and acquiring a second bioelectric signal according to the first bioelectric signal and the baseline drift signal.
US08568316B2
Various embodiments of an tracheal tube having a sensor coupled to a selectively permeable membrane are provided. In some embodiments, the membrane may be permeable to one or more blood gases and/or blood analytes. Certain embodiments of the endotracheal tube may be capable of deploying the sensor during intubation to sense one or more indicators of blood flow characteristics, such as a level of blood gases and/or blood analytes, in the respiratory tract. Embodiments of the present invention may include positioning of the sensor in a variety of suitable positions with respect to the permeable membrane, such as mounting the sensor to the underside of an inflatable permeable membrane.
US08568315B2
The present invention pertains to a system and method for transdermal sampling, comprising: at least one sampler for retrieving and transferring at least one analyte obtained transdermally from the skin of a subject; at least one detector system for identifying and quantifying said at least one analyte; and at least one logic module for (i) receiving and storing input data from said at least one detector, (ii) relating the input data to other data obtained from the subject, (iii) displaying output information, (iv) transmitting the output information to another system, and (v) controlling the operation of said at least one sampler and at least one detector.
US08568314B2
A method for determining skin irritation is provided. The method uses a source of cross-polarized light to illuminate and area of skin. The cross-polarized light is used to detect subsurface indicators of skin irritation such as erythema, inflammation, dryness, or innervation. The subsurface indicator is then assigned a score.
US08568308B2
The present invention is directed to a device including an inner cannula having one or more wings or leaflets attached to one end thereof. The wings or leaflets can be cut to length or shaped to facilitate holding the operative field open for optimal visualization and the use of surgical instruments. A shorter, outer cannula is fitted over the inner cannula and a flange attached to the outer cannula is moved from a closed position in which the wings are covered by the inner surface of the cannula or to an open, deployed position in which the wings are opened. The outer cannula may be textured or shaped to aid in holding the desired position. The device also includes a dam or barrier at the end or other convenient location in the inner cannula to control the flow of air or fluids in the cannula as to make it useful in arthroscopic or endoscopic surgery of all types. The wings or leaflets can have mating tapered tips that joint into a single tip when closed or an optional trocar to ease insertion into the desired body cavity. The design allows for manufacture at almost any size to make the device useful in the widest of surgical applications and in all joint or body cavities large or small.
US08568299B2
The present invention relates, generally, to reporting the approximate three-dimensional orientation of the steerable distal portion of an endoscope to the user of the endoscope. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for providing the endoscope-user a display from which to more easily determine the approximate three-dimensional orientation of the steerable distal portion of the endoscope, thereby facilitating navigation of the endoscope. The present invention also relates to a system and method for limiting the amount the steerable distal portion can bend overall to reduce or eliminate the user's ability to over-retroflex the steerable distal portion of the endoscope.
US08568298B2
Propellable apparatus, assemblies and related methods including a self-enclosed member are disclosed. The self-enclosed member can include an inner surface at least partially defining an enclosed region, and an outer surface that turns outwardly to engage a cavity or lumen wall in addition to turning inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The apparatus can include an internal drive mechanism engageable with the outer surface of the self-enclosed member to provide relative movement between the self-enclosed member and the cavity or lumen wall. A tapered member, positioned on the apparatus adjacent an end of the self-enclosed member, can provide a size transition between an outer surface portion of the self-enclosed member and an outer surface of a payload insertable within the central region. In some examples, one or more reinforcing members can be integrated within the self-enclosed member for increased durability and rotational use.
US08568297B2
Propellable apparatus, assemblies and related methods including a self-enclosed member are disclosed. The self-enclosed member can include an inner surface at least partially defining an enclosed region, and an outer surface that turns outwardly to engage a cavity or lumen wall in addition to turning inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The apparatus can include an internal drive mechanism engageable with the outer surface of the self-enclosed member to provide relative movement between the self-enclosed member and the cavity or lumen wall. A tapered member, positioned on the apparatus adjacent an end of the self-enclosed member, can provide a size transition between an outer surface portion of the self-enclosed member and an outer surface of a payload insertable within the central region. In some examples, one or more reinforcing members can be integrated within the self-enclosed member for increased durability and rotational use.
US08568296B2
An in-vivo observing system for observing inside of a subject includes an illuminating unit configured to illuminate inside of the subject by illumination light; an imaging unit configured to sequentially capture in-vivo images of the subject illuminated by the illumination light; a direction change unit configured to change an image capturing direction of the imaging unit; and a control unit configured to control the direction change unit to set an angular difference in the imaging capturing direction less than an angle of view of the imaging unit when the imaging unit captures two continuous in-vivo images while causing the direction change unit to change the image capturing direction.
US08568275B2
A control device includes an input member drivingly coupled to at least one of an internal combustion engine and a rotating electrical machine as driving force sources of a vehicle. When downshifting or upshifting the control device controls the engagement pressure of a direct coupling clutch to a pressure lower than the direct coupling limit engagement pressure during downshifting, when downshifting in a state in which required input torque, which is torque that is required to be transferred to the input member, is set to a positive torque, and the control device controls the engagement pressure of the direct coupling clutch to a pressure equal to or higher than the direct coupling limit engagement pressure during downshifting or upshifting, when performing downshifting in a state in which the required input torque is set to a negative torque, or when performing upshifting regardless of the required input torque.
US08568274B2
In one embodiment, a hydraulic pressure control circuit (4) of an automatic transmission includes a mechanical oil pump (MOP) and an electrical oil pump (EOP). The discharge side of the electrical oil pump (EOP) is caused to be in communication with the direct upstream side of a hydraulic pressure servo of a first clutch (C1) via a shunt hydraulic pressure supply passage (430). At the time of idle reduction, a linear solenoid (411) on the upstream side of the first clutch (C1) is caused to enter a forced closure state, thus preventing oil from the electrical oil pump (EOP) from flowing to a manual shift valve (410) side.
US08568272B2
A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one example, the method adjusts a desired engine speed to at least two levels during engine speed run-up from cranking to engine idle speed. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.
US08568262B2
A hydraulic control system for controlling a transmission includes an accumulator, a plurality of control devices, and a plurality of valves. The accumulator provides pressurized hydraulic fluid to a pressure control subsystem during an engine restart. The plurality of control devices includes solenoids and one way ball check valves. The plurality of valves include compensator feed valves, relay valves, and mode valves.
US08568258B2
In a tensioner having a ratchet mechanism composed of annular teeth on a plunger and an expansible resilient ring disposed in a groove formed in the inner peripheral surface of a plunger-accommodating hole in a tensioner housing, the rear surfaces of the annular teeth have a steep slope, and the front surfaces of the annular teeth have a gradual slope with a convex curvature such that the rate of change of the slope decreases proceeding in the direction of retraction of the plunger.
US08568244B2
A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: a tripod housing coupled to the first rotating shaft and having a plurality of guide grooves therein, each guide groove extending in an axial direction of the tripod housing; a spider coupled to the second rotating shaft and having a plurality of trunnions, each trunnion positioned in a corresponding guide groove of the tripod housing; and a spherical roller disposed between the trunnion and the guide groove of the tripod housing, and a plurality of needle rollers disposed between the trunnion and spherical roller. Each spherical roller is in angular contact with the guide groove of the tripod housing with two contact points displaced relative to a pitch circle diameter line of the tripod housing. The ratio of the length (CL) between two contact points of tripod housing groove to the length (SL) between two edges of spherical roller is between 0.5 and 0.85, and the ratio of the radius (TGR2) of the guide groove of the tripod housing to the radius (SRR) of the spherical roller is between 1.1 and 1.4.
US08568241B2
An apparatus comprises a cover for top and side surfaces of an electronics device operable for playing games. The cover comprises an opening being configured for enabling access to a game slot of the electronic device. The cover further comprising a first part of a capturing mechanism disposed proximally about at least a portion of a perimeter of the opening. An opening cover is configured to at least cover the opening. The opening cover comprises a second part of the capturing mechanism being configured to be removably joined to the first part of the capturing mechanism to form a seal where the cover and the opening cover are operable for mitigating entry of liquids and particles in covered areas of the electronics device and for mitigating impact and abrasion damage to covered areas of the electronic device.
US08568239B2
A game apparatus 100 is configured to communicate with a server and at least one other game apparatus 100 via access points. The game apparatus 100 registers, as a communication partner, another specific game apparatus 100 among the at least one other game apparatus 100. The game apparatus 100 automatically and repeatedly searches for a connectable access point among the access points. When a connectable access point has been found, the game apparatus 100 automatically connects to the server via the connectable access point. When the game apparatus 100 has connected to the server by using server connection means, the game apparatus 100 automatically receives, from the server, management information which indicates a communication connection status of the other specific game apparatus 100 registered as the communication partner.
US08568238B2
A system for allowing a user to remotely access a game includes: a game console; a remote console client configured to receive a game control signal; and a remote console server. The remote console server includes an audio and video encoder configured to receive an audio output and a video output from the game console and to convert the audio output and the video output to a network packet. The remote console server also includes: a game controller emulation unit and a network interface configured to send and receive the network packet. The game controller emulation unit is configured to receive a game controller signal from the game console and to send the game controller signal to the remote console client and to receive a game controller input from the remote console client and send the game controller input to the game console.
US08568236B2
A fantasy sports alert agent provides notifications of relevant news articles and occurrences in a fantasy sports game, such as fantasy team roster changes or player trades, and also suggests changes to a fantasy team roster to improve the team's chances of winning. The notifications are based on items of data received from an item generator, which is typically a server process that communicates with the agent via a network. The alert agent may suggest alternative fantasy team roster lineups and, if the user accepts a suggestion, the agent may change the lineup. Each notification includes a call to action feature, such as a web link, which a user can select to perform an action, such as accepting a trade or changing the team's roster. The notifications may be displayed on a user's computer screen by the alert agent, or by an RSS reader or electronic mail reader.
US08568231B2
Visual feedback systems and methods implementing the system are disclosed that use computer generated images of lost limbs to display visual images of the limb being used in activities on a display unit providing visual feedback of the use of the missing limb to the brain to ameliorate, reduce, treat or eliminate phantom limb pain.
US08568229B2
In a network game, player characters manipulated by individual players of video game apparatuses belong to the same party to battle with an opponent character. When a player character making a special move is not present in the party, the display screen of each video game apparatus becomes a screen focusing on the player character of the player who uses this video game apparatus. When one of the player characters makes a special move, not only the display screen of the video game apparatus corresponding to this player, but also the display screens of the video game apparatuses corresponding to the other player characters in the party become screens focusing on the player character which makes the special move.
US08568223B2
A gaming environment is described. Each of values which betted by a player is compared. One of the players, who betted the largest accumulated value, can obtain a right of choice for a dealer image (or actual dealer). A game session is conducted by the selected dealer (or actual dealer).
US08568216B2
A pawn (10) for use on a board (21) is provided. The pawn (10) is arranged to provide a trigger signal upon a touch of a triggerable part of the pawn (10) by a user, and comprises communication means for communicating the trigger signal to a board (21). The pawn (10) comprises at least two separate triggerable sub-parts (11, 12) for, upon a touch of each respective one of the at least two separate triggerable sub-parts (11, 12) by a user, respectively providing a first and a second trigger signal. The first and the second trigger signal are mutually distinguishable. Such a pawn (10) can easily be used for activating a certain function of a set of functions. A function is selected by touching a corresponding triggerable sub-part (11, 12).
US08568213B2
An electronic game apparatus. The apparatus may include at least a first player input device and a second player input device. Each player input device may have a plurality of buttons adapted to be manipulated by a player, thereby producing player input signals for moving one or more characters within the game environment. The apparatus may also include a base unit coupled to the player input devices. The base unit may include a game processor adapted to receive the plurality of player input signals and to determine therefrom a game simulation. The game processor may transmit output signals representative of the game simulation to a monitor device. Optionally the game simulation may include movements of at least one of the first player and the second player character based upon input signals from the corresponding player input device. Each player character may be selectable from different groups of player characters.
US08568212B2
A system for granting and managing dynamic digital achievements can grant dynamic digital achievements in a controlled manner to encourage player participation in wagering game establishments. A dynamic digital achievement lives beyond an initial grant and can exhibit different behaviors over time and/or in combination with other digital achievements. The dynamic digital achievements can comprise an image, a sequence of images, video, executable code, audio, etc. The dynamic behavior of a digital achievement can increase interest in the digital achievement, thus increasing interest in the corresponding activity, whether wagering game activity or non-wagering game activity. Moreover, the system for granting and managing dynamic digital achievements is not limited to wagering game networks. The system can interface with other vendor systems and cause a dynamic digital achievement to exhibit behavior based on activity by a player in a non-gaming environment.
US08568211B2
The invention is a damper that closes off supply duct air when the unit is off to prevent air from exiting through the outlet, and opens when the unit is on to allow room air and/or supply duct air to exit through an outlet. The damper may be either motorized or mechanically biased.
US08568206B2
An abrasive article for use with a grinding wheel including an abrasive body having abrasive grains contained within a matrix of bond material, the abrasive body having a plurality of arm portions defining a twisted path having a plurality of linear portions joined by a plurality of turns.
US08568205B2
An abrasive article includes a carrier element, an abrasive component, and a bonding region between the abrasive component and the carrier element. The abrasive component includes abrasive particles bound in a metal matrix. The abrasive component further includes a network of interconnected pores substantially filled with an infiltrant. The infiltrant has an infiltrant composition containing at least one metal element. The bonding region includes a bonding metal having a bonding metal composition containing at least one metal element. The bonding region is a region distinct from the carrier element and is a separate phase from the carrier element. An elemental weight percent difference is the absolute value of the difference in weight content of each element contained in the bonding metal composition relative to the infiltrant composition. The elemental weight percent difference between the bonding metal composition and the infiltrant composition does not exceed 20 weight percent.
US08568204B2
A material removing tool, such as a cutting or grinding tool, adapted to be oscillated by the output shaft of a manually operable motor-driven apparatus, is provided with at least one elongated cutting edge defined by teeth or analogous cutting elements arranged in at least one at least substantially straight linear array.
US08568198B2
A system for machining a work-piece is described which includes a machine tool and coolant delivery unit, pressure and flow rate sensors, and a control unit. The control unit controls coolant delivery and is adapted to detect a first anomaly when either a measured flow rate or pressure deviates from target flow rates and pressures by a first predetermined amount, and to detect a second anomaly when the measured flow rate or pressure deviates from the target flow rates and pressures by a second predetermined amount greater than the first. An alarm signal is outputted when the first anomaly is detected, and the machine tool is stopped when the second anomaly is detected.
US08568194B2
A collapsible toy kitchen apparatus and method, an embodiment including a back support including a backsplash, a kitchen counter including a countertop and a range and being pivotably connected to the back support, a base pivotably connected to the back support, and two side walls that are each foldable. The pivotable connections and foldable side walls allow the toy kitchen to collapse, such as for storage.
US08568192B2
A learning plaything set to communicate with similar learning playthings during a game session. The learning plaything comprises a reader which reads a plurality of data marks indicative of a plurality of playing abilities, a memory for storing the plurality of playing abilities, a communication unit which establishes at least one wireless connection with another communication unit of at least one other learning plaything during a game session, a management module which uses the at least one wireless connection to coordinate an outcome to the game session with the at least one other learning plaything according to the stored plurality of playing abilities, and at least one presentation unit which presents at least one plaything action according to the outcome.
US08568191B2
A toy vehicle which may have the capability to raise and lower a spin mechanism within the vehicle to lift the vehicle up off of a surface and spin the vehicle in a top-like manner when the spin mechanism is charged. The vehicle may further include a chassis with a cavity to house the spin mechanism and a release mechanism to direct the spin mechanism to lower a spin shaft below wheels on the vehicle. Energy may be generated in a power drive system and transferred to the vehicle via a transfer gear in the spin mechanism. Another embodiment of the vehicle may also transforms between multiple configurations, including a spinning top, and utilizes a launch mechanism to spin the vehicle in a top-like manner. This embodiment may further include a sliding front segment, a sliding rear segment, two sliding side segments and a receiving cavity. When the sliding front segment and rear segment move toward one another, the two side segments are pushed outward and direct a spin shaft downward to extend below the vehicle. Energy generated and stored in the power drive system may be transferred to the vehicle via the rotation of the launch shaft to spin the vehicle on the spin shaft.
US08568189B2
An interactive toy for interacting with a user while a story is being read aloud from a book or played from a movie/video. The toy includes a speech recognition unit that receives and detects certain triggering phrases as they are read aloud or played from a companion literary work. The triggering phrase read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video may have independent significance or may only have significance when combined with other phrases read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video.
US08568185B2
A dual external electrode fluorescent lamp and manufacturing method thereof comprising a 1st glass tube with both ends open and an inner wall optionally coated with a fluorescent material, wherein the diameter of the opened ends is extended; connecting the 1st glass tube with two 2nd glass tubes by joining both opened ends of the 1st glass tube to the two both-end opened 2nd glass tubes that have a diameter larger than that of the 1st glass tube; joining a 1st multi-tube for the enlargement of an electrode area in the one 2nd glass tube or a ‘flare’ structure having one closed end to one end of 2nd glass tube through insertion after spreading one end widely, and enlarging an electrode area in the other 2nd tube and joining a 2nd multi-tube having an exhaust port to the other 2nd tube through insertion; cutting and sealing a portion of the exhaust port after vacuuming the inside of the glass tubes and injecting discharge gas inside the glass tubes through the connection of an exhaust system to the exhaust port.
US08568181B2
A spark plug for an internal combustion engine, the spark plug having: an elongated center electrode having a center electrode tip at one end and a terminal proximate the other end; an insulator substantially surrounding the center electrode, the insulator having a channel formed in an exterior surface of the insulator; and an outer shell surrounding the insulator, the outer shell having a jamb nut portion and a distal end extending from the jamb nut portion, the distal end of the outer shell is aligned with the channel such that the distal end of the outer shell is received in and engages the channel of the outer shell.
US08568176B2
A terminal module used in an RJ45 female connector in which the first transmission terminal includes a triangle support portion having a downward bent downwardly extended from the bonding portion and an upward bent connected with the lower end thereof to the downward bent and the upper end thereof to the contact portion. The eighth transmission terminal includes a support portion obliquely upwardly from the bonding portion and terminating in the contact portion. Further, the contained angle defined between the inner end of the bonding portion of the eighth transmission terminal and the support portion and the contained angle defined between the contact portion of the eighth transmission terminal and the support portion are arc guide angles. These terminal shapes are used to prevent terminal deformation upon insertion of a non-matching male connector.
US08568161B1
An electrical connector assembly includes first and second connectors and an adapter module having an assembler member for assembling the first and second connectors together. The first connector has a terminal confining plate for confining the terminals therethrough. Each terminal has a contact section, a distributing section and an intermediate section interconnecting the contact and distributing sections. The adapter module further includes a one-piece terminal fixing member disposed within the assembler member for coupling to the terminal confining plate. The terminal fixing member is formed with first and second rows of terminal holes spaced apart in parallel manner, wherein the intermediate sections of the terminals are embedded within the first and second rows of terminal holes via insert molding process such that the contact and distributing sections of the terminals extend outward from two opposite sides of the terminal fixing member.
US08568159B2
Areas at outer edge sides of a draw-out area for wires (13) out of a rear end surface (10R) of a housing (10) serve as operation surfaces (14) used to push the housing (10) forward. Areas of the outer periphery of a rear end portion of the housing (10) corresponding to and before the operation surfaces (14) are recessed to form outward forming grooves (15). The housing (10) is formed with bores (18) by further recessing parts of groove bottom surfaces (17) of the outward facing grooves (15). Inward facing projections (26) engageable with the outward facing grooves (15) are formed on the inner surface of a wire cover (20). Each locking projection (26) is formed with restricting projections (27) engageable with the bores (18).
US08568157B2
A single molding electrical insulation displacement connector assembly includes a cap body having a passage therethrough at a contact position for receipt of an insulated conductive core wire. A contact element is movably retained in the cap body with a first insulation displacement end defined by opposed blades and a second opposite end configured for electrical contact with a printed circuit board. The contact element is movable relative to the cap body from a first position wherein the opposed blades do not block insertion of the wire into the passage to a second position wherein the opposed blades engage the wire. The wire is initially inserted into the cap body through the passage with the contact element in the first position. The cap body is subsequently pressed towards the second end of the contact element causing the opposed blades to slide within the cap body and engage the wire.
US08568155B2
In an electrical connector for an electric vehicle, the spring latch is not sealed; instead, the connector body has holes allowing water entering the spring latch mechanism to drain harmlessly out of the connector. A forward-facing LED or other light source acts as a flashlight. Once the connector is connected, the forward-facing LED is switched off, and a rear-facing LED or other light source is switched on to confirm that the connector is connected and capable of charging the vehicle. The connector is produced by overmolding in a three-layer configuration, where each layer is formed of a material having advantageous materials for that layer's position in the connector.
US08568149B1
Connector block for connecting a panel mount coaxial connector to a circuit board. The connector block is electrically conductive, and includes one or more connector slots, each configured to receive a respective coaxial connector that includes an external connection for electrically connecting to a respective complementary coaxial connector of a coaxial cable, and an internal connection for electrically connecting to a trace on a circuit board. The connector block further includes one or more ground pads, each proximate to a respective connector slot. For each of the one or more ground pads, when the panel mount coaxial connector is inserted into the connector slot, the ground pad provides a ground connection to a panel mount coaxial connector, and when the connector block is installed on the circuit board, the ground pad connects to a respective specified ground point on the circuit board, thereby grounding the corresponding panel mount coaxial connector.
US08568140B2
A hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprises a housing and an array of solid state, light emitting junctions or dies for generating light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths (e.g. 400-500 nm). Preferably, a peak wavelength of 470 nm is generated. The device further comprises an optical fiber light pipe for capturing the light and transmitting a beam of the light to a work surface containing a light-curable compound. An optical lens or lenses may be used for focusing the light into the light pipe.
US08568137B2
A method for operating a continuous annealing or galvanizing line for a metal strip, uses a direct flame heating section with an upstream zone and a downstream zone. The direct flame heating section is followed by a radiant tube heating section. The metal strip is indirectly heated in the direct flame heating section. The heating of the metal strip is achieved in the upstream zone by combustion of a mixture of atmospheric air and fuel such that the temperature of the combustion gas is between 1250° C. and 1500° C., preferably close to 1350° C. and in the downstream zone, the heating of the metal strip is achieved by combustion of a superoxygenated substoichiometric mixture of air and fuel such that the temperature of the combustion gas achieved at the end of the upstream zone is maintained until the end of the downstream zone of the direct flame heating section.
US08568135B2
A device for lighting and extinguishing candles that includes a housing, an ignitor mechanism provided on the housing, an extinguisher mechanism provided on the housing and being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and a first actuator for the extinguisher mechanism. Activation of the first actuator prevents the ignitor mechanism from being operated.
US08568130B2
The invention relates to a casting machine (1) for casting a flowable mass (M), in particular a flowable mass with suspended solid particles. Said casting machine comprises a mass container (2) for receiving the flowable mass and at least one valve (32, 42; 50; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 120) that is fluidically connected to the inner area of the mass container. When the pressure changes in the direction of the valve along the valve passage, said valve is in the open state and in the absence of a pressure change in the direction of the valve passage, said valve is in the closed state. The casting machine also comprises pressure generating means (3, 4, 5, 6, 32, 42) for generating a change in the pressure in the direction of the valve passage. Said valve (50; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 120) comprises a valve body (51; 61; 71; 81; 91; 101; 111; 121) comprising a valve opening and at least one valve cover (53; 64; 76; 83; 94; 105; 115; 128) that is oriented towards the valve opening, articulated on the valve body and is subjected to an elastic prestressing that presses the valve cover against the valve opening and seals it. The invention also relates to a valve (50; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 120) and to pressure generating means (3, 4, 5, 6, 32, 42) that are suitable for the modular construction of the claimed casting machine (1).
US08568128B2
An apparatus for shaping packaging material, comprising a housing support including hopper, a packaging material reservoir, a discharge orifice, and a bearing structure therebetween defining a continuous feeding path for the packaging material. The feeding path includes an interior wall continuously extending around an axis of the material's feeding direction. The housing support further includes at least one concavity in the bearing structure extending laterally away from the feeding path, the concavity having a portion within the feeding path at a slit formed within the interior wall, the concavity holding a shaping device that is rotatably mounted on the bearing structure and partially projects from the slit into the feeding path, the shape of the slit being complementary to the shape of a section of the shaping device adjoining the slit such that a tolerance gap is formed allowing the shaping device to rotate relative to the bearing structure.
US08568119B2
A single-screw compressor includes a screw rotor including a spiral groove, a casing, and a gate rotor. The gate rotor includes a plurality of radial gates configured to mesh with the spiral groove. A clearance between one of the gates disposed in the spiral groove and a wall surface of a discharge side portion of the spiral groove is larger than a clearance between the gate disposed in the spiral groove and a wall surface of a suction side portion of the spiral groove. The wall surface of the discharge side portion of the spiral groove is a portion extending from a predetermined position of the spiral groove at a certain point in a compression phase to the terminal end of the spiral groove. The wall surface of the suction side portion of the spiral groove being a portion other than the discharge side portion.
US08568104B2
The proportioner (10) has a variable speed controlled DC motor (12) having a gearbox (14) and crankshaft (16) at either end which are connected to reciprocating piston pumps (18). The outputs (18a) of the two pumps (18) are fed to a manifold (22) where the pressure of each output is measured. The user sets a setpoint pressure (e.g. 1000 psi) and the controller (26) then compares the pressures of the two components and controls the higher of the two relative to the setpoint. Ratio assurance is monitored by continuing to look at both output pressures. If one side falls below a predetermined percentage of the setpoint (50% in the preferred embodiment), an alarm may be raised or operation stopped.
US08568095B2
An axial fan assembly including a casing wall with a forward facing step formed therein and a fan rotor with blade tips, each having an aft facing step which radially overlaps the casing step so as to reduce the clearance backflow loss in the assembly. A vane is attached to the suction side of each of the blade tips with the vane having an aft facing step which radially overlaps the casing forward facing step to promote further reduction of clearance backflow. Variations on the invention include the option of an additional inlet bellmouth piece that further restricts the clearance flow and wedges integral to the casing step to improved flow stability.
US08568079B2
A hydraulic rotating and braking system for a lift truck-mountable load handling assembly has a hydraulically-driven worm screw with a hydraulic motor located adjacent one end of the screw and a friction brake located adjacent the opposite end of the screw. The system includes a friction brake having a brake controller located at least partially within the worm screw. The friction brake is releasable by the exhaust of fluid without the need for a fluid exhaust line extending to the lift truck's reservoir tank.
US08568072B2
A screw hole seal structure seals a screw hole (13) in molding a fiber-reinforced resin member (1) in which an insert member (4) provided with the screw hole (13) is integrally incorporated. In the structure, a screw member (5) is tightened in the screw hole (13). In the structure, an elastic seal member (6) is compressed within the screw hole (13), in an axial direction of the screw member (5), and is therefore deformed radially outwards by compression force that is created by tightening of the screw member (5), and an air-tight state of the screw hole (13) is maintained by deformation of the elastic seal member (6).
US08568067B2
A gun drill guide is disclosed comprising a cylinder body member of a resilient polymer material having a central opening extending therethrough, a radially extending flange means at one end thereof to engage the end face of a bearing assembly and an annular groove near the opposite end thereof defined by second and third radially extending flanges for engaging the opposite end face of the bearing assembly. A locking member, a chip deflector assembly, a stabilizer assembly or other guide attachment are disclosed which may be attached to the drill guide.
US08568062B2
The present invention relates to a safety method in connection with SCUBA diving to control a diver's buoyancy, in which method the diver (11) is equipped with diving equipment comprising at least one air pressure tank (1), a valve device (2) connected to the pressure tank (1) and arranged to supply air from said pressure tank via first supply means (5) to a breathing regulator (4) and via second supply means (7, 9, 12) to an inflatable diving jacket (6) in order to control the diver's buoyancy, an actuator (8) being able to automatically initiate inflation of the diving jacket (6) when the diver has not affected the air flow through the breathing regulator (4) for a certain time period, said actuator (8) being controlled by an actuation mechanism (20) that automatically sets the actuator in active mode when the diver is within an actuation zone (A), wherein in order additionally to improve the diver's buoyancy the actuator (8) is also arranged to automatically initiate dumping of a weight (11) carried by the diver when the air flow through the breathing regulator (4) has ceased for a certain time period. The invention also comprises a safety device, an inflatable diving jacket and an inflator.
US08568061B2
The invention is directed to methods for supporting trench pipes with polyurethane foams which are flotation resistant with sufficient strength and density to provide stability and inhibit erosion at pipeline trench sites, and other uses, wherein at least 50% of the foam is open cell and has a density of approximately 1.3 lbs/ft3 to 3.5 lbs/ft3. The invention also provides methods for making compositions used to make polyurethane foams that exhibit such characteristics.
US08568060B2
A rehabilitating pipe segment for assembling a rehabilitating pipe inside an existing pipe. The rehabilitating pipe segment has first and second segment halves connectable together to provide for the rehabilitating pipe segment an internal surface plate and side and end plates surrounding peripheral edges of the internal surface plate. The first and second segment halves are configured to move relative to one another in a width direction of the rehabilitating pipe segment corresponding to a pipe length direction of the rehabilitating pipe so that the first and second pipe segment halves expand and contract to make the width of the rehabilitating pipe segment variable in the width direction of the rehabilitating pipe segment.
US08568057B2
A traffic barrier including a precast base having a wall port capable of receiving an existing earth wall therein, a first row of rebar coupled to the base and extending outwardly away therefrom, and a second row of rebar coupled to the base and extending outwardly away therefrom. A moment slab is connected to the first and second rows of rebar in such a manner that a proximal end of the moment slab directly abuts flush against an anterior side of the base. A connects adjacent ones of the bases at an end-to-end pattern.
US08568056B2
A system is provided for the force decay triggered release of a device, the system comprising: a base; a plurality of retention rods extending from the base; a rotationally movable actuator, to which a linear force is configured to be applied, converting the linear force to a rotational force; a plurality of retention pins, the retention pins being coupled to the actuator, and each the pin being removably disposed within a retention rod of the plurality of retention rods, such that a rotation of the actuator withdraw each the pin from respective the rod; a force triggered detent, the detent allowing the rotation of the actuator when the rotational force exceeds a threshold level.
US08568048B2
A bendable mascara brush which includes a container for storing mascara and a brush assembly plugging into the container. The brush assembly form a joint between a brush shaft and a main shaft. Then, a slant guiding surface is configured in front of the brush shaft and, as the brush shaft is pushed forward by the main shaft, a slant surface of the brush shaft engages the guiding surface, causing the brush shaft to tilt to a side at an angle and thereby avoiding the problem of blocking user view. Additionally, a notch is configured opposite to the guiding surface so that the tilted brush shaft is embedded into the notch and held reliably and steadily in its tilted configuration.
US08568046B2
There is disclosed a printer including a print head and a mounting assembly for a web roll having a core. The mounting assembly can center-justify the roll with respect to the print head. The roll can be loaded simply by pushing the roll slidably onto the mounting assembly and unloaded by pulling the roll or its core slidably off the mounting assembly using one hand. In some embodiments, there is no need separately to undo any latch or to free the roll or its core from any latch other than by pushing or pulling on the roll or the core. In another embodiment, one of the stops is pivoted either to trap the core between the one stop and another stop or to enable the core to be slid onto the support to a position between the stops or to be slid off the support.
US08568041B2
A support (1; 100) for videophotographic equipment (2; 200), comprises a plate (3; 3′) fixable by suitable fixing means (5; 5′) to an item of video-photographic equipment (2; 200) to be supported, support elements (7; 7′) hinged on said plate (3; 3′) by means of respective hinge means (8; 8′) so as to be moved between a closed position (Y) in which said support elements (7; 7′) are folded onto said plate (3; 3′) and at least one open position (Z) in which said support elements (7; 7′) are opened out from said plate (3; 3′) to support the latter, said hinge means (8; 8′) comprise a resilient element (20; 20′) that is housed in a receiving seat (22; 22′) defined in said plate (3; 3′) and exerts on hinge portions (14, 15; 14′, 15′) of said support elements (7; 7′) a thrust force which thrusts said hinge portions (14, 15; 14′, 15′) against walls (23; 23′) of said seat (22; 22′) to brake the rotation of said support elements (7; 7′) in relation to said plate (3; 3′), the resilient element comprises at least one spring (20; 20′) interposed between said hinge portions (14, 15; 14′, 15′).
US08568032B2
A linear guide including a rail and a carriage joined to an application platform by a plurality of screws, wherein at least one of the plurality of screws is a vacuum screw with an axial channel through which particles can be vacuumed out of an air gap between the rail and the carriage.
US08568027B2
The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of measuring pressure or temperature using a sensor including a sensor element composed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In one example, the resistance of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is measured in response to the application of temperature or pressure. The changes in resistance are then recorded and correlated to temperature or pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for independent measurement of pressure or temperature using the sensors disclosed herein.
US08568018B2
A fluid mixing apparatus and method include a first fluid assembly having at least one fluid nozzle for providing a first fluid; a second fluid assembly having at least one fluid mixing nozzle sized and shaped to be received by the at least one fluid nozzle for providing a second fluid into the first fluid; a mixing region disposed where the at least one fluid nozzle and the at least one fluid mixing nozzle coact in spaced relationship for providing turbulence to the first and second fluids, thereby providing a fluid mixture thereof; and a passageway in communication with the mixing region for expanding the fluid mixture into a different phase.
US08568015B2
A decorative light string including a first group of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, a second plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, and a third plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other. The first, second, and third groups of lights are electrically connected in series. A first wire stabilizer is located between the first group of lights and the second group of lights, and a second wire stabilizer is located between the second group of lights and the third group of lights. The first and second wire stabilizers secure wire ends forming first and second gaps in the wiring of the light string.
US08568012B2
Provided are a lighting unit and a display device including the same. The lighting unit includes a bottom cover having a plurality of sidewalls, light emitting modules each including a board disposed on the bottom cover and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the board, and a light-transmitting resin layer covering the bottom cover and the board.
US08568009B2
A compact high-brightness LED aquarium light fixture is described for use in illuminating aquarium tanks artificial light. (18) The LED aquarium light uses a densely-packed array of high-brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are not individually packaged, where the array behaves similarly to a point source of light. The LED chips are distributed laterally over an area, where the LED chips have light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area, wherein the dimensions of the area do not exceed 25 mm. Adjacent chips of the array are preferably separated by less than about 0.2 mm. The extended point source LED array, with its lens and associated reflector, result in a concentrated light source that attractively illuminates the contents of the aquarium, and creates a desirable shimmering effect within the aquarium. A clamp-on, flexible gooseneck mounting arrangement allows for use with aquarium tanks of various sizes.
US08567998B2
A lens for a light emitting diode is formed with a material having a refractive index of n, and the lens includes a base, a first curved circumferential surface extending from the base, a curved center-edge surface extending from the first curved circumferential surface, and a curved centermost surface extending from the curved center-edge surface. The base includes a groove for receiving a light emitting chip therein. In the lens, a distance from a center of the base to a point of the curved center-edge surface is always shorter than the radius of curvature for the point of the curved center-edge surface. The curved centermost surface has a concave shape with respect to the base. In addition, when an obtuse angle formed between a main axis of the lens and a tangent line of a point of the curved centermost surface is A1, and an acute angle formed between a straight line linking the center of the base to the point of the curved centermost surface and the main axis of the lens is A2, the lens satisfies the equation: A1+A2<90+sin−1(1/n).
US08567982B2
The present solution described herein provides systems and methods to coordinate and control the lighting of areas of a display unit in manner desired based on the type, brand and other characteristics of the product presented for display via the display unit. A lighting control system may control the characteristics of light emanating from one or more light sources to cause a reaction or visual effect from light reactive material of the product or display unit. In some cases, the lighting control system may control the characteristics of light emanating from one or more light sources based on signals from detectors, such as sensing any state or condition of the ambient environment.
US08567980B2
A long range, high intensity spotlight for human incapacitation and control that uses an incoherent collimated constant light source of sufficient intensity and focus to cause temporary incapacitation of a person for a period of time when illuminated by the beam without causing permanent physical harm. The high intensity spotlight comprises a head portion at one end having a window opening and a handle portion connected to the head portion and containing electronic circuitry and thermal air management for controlling operating temperature of the lamp. A paraboloid reflector is mounted in the head portion to face the window opening, and a high intensity electric arc Xenon lamp is adjustably mounted within the reflector so that the electrode gap is located as close as possible to the focus of the reflector. An adjustable mounting base allows the position of the reflector to be adjusted until the optimum focus is reached. A properly positioned cathode wire feed optimizes the lamp performance.
US08567970B2
Heliostat facet configured from a flat structure comprising a central section (1) and a peripheral section (2) comprising first (3) and second sides (4), being both sections linked together by a plurality of arms (5, 6), which starting from the central section (1) radially run towards the peripheral section (2) taking as reference the geometrical center (7) of the facet. In at least three of the arms (5, 6), there are support points (15) of the facet in the corresponding heliostat support (16). The arms (5,6) comprise first arms (5) which are arranged from the central section (1) to the peripheral section (2) running in a divergent manner and at least two couples of second arms (6) which starting from the central section (1) run to the peripheral section (2), the arms (6) of each couple radially running in a convergent manner.
US08567969B2
Optical systems configured to withstand operation in high acceleration and varying temperature environments, and methods of assembling the same. In one example, an imaging optical apparatus includes a primary minor made of an unreinforced polymer, a secondary mirror made of the unreinforced polymer and optically coupled to the primary minor, a field lens optically coupled to the secondary minor, and a strut having a plurality of cross-struts and mounting features configured to mount the primary minor, the secondary mirror and the field lens. In some examples, the imaging optical apparatus further includes an outer retainer disposed behind the primary minor and coupled to the strut, and an inner retainer disposed behind the field lens and coupled to the strut, the outer and inner retainers configured to structurally support the primary minor and the field lens and to accommodate deflections of the primary minor.
US08567968B2
An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided. The mount has a protruding member extending from a surface of the optical structure, a base element having a mounting structure for mounting the mount to another structure and an upper element extending from the base element having a first opening extending therethrough for receipt therein of at least a portion of the protruding member. The first opening defines first and second arms, each of the arms comprising a head portion and each of the head portions ending at an end. A second opening in the upper element extends through one of the head portions and the end thereof in a direction toward the other head portion, while a third opening exists in the upper element through the end of the other head portion in an orientation substantially opposite to and in communication with the second opening so that a tightening mechanism received through the second opening can be received into the third opening. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into the third opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the protruding member.
US08567956B2
A projector includes a liquid crystal light valve to which the image data is written in a line sequential manner, a polarization switching element for switching between the first and second polarization states throughout the switching areas in a line sequential manner, and a birefringent optical element for changing the light path of the incident light in accordance with the polarization state thereof. The boundary position between the switching areas of the first and second polarization states moves in sync with the boundary position between the first and second image data writing areas corresponding to the first and second sub-frame.
US08567953B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise electronic projection systems and methods. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of creating composite images with a projection system comprising a first projector and at least a second projector, comprising generating a correspondence map of pixels for images by determining offsets between pixels from at least a second image from the second projector and corresponding pixels from a first image from the first projector, receiving a source image, warping the source image based at least in part on the correspondence map to produce a warped image, and displaying the source image by the first projector and displaying the warped image by the second projector to create a composite image.
US08567942B2
A system for transporting media in a printer is provided having a media roller rotatably mounted to the printer housing, a motor, a drive belt looped about the motor drive shaft and the roller so as to impart the motor rotational driving force to the roller, a tensioning member pivotally mounted to the housing for contacting and thereby tensioning the drive belt about the motor drive shaft and roller, a brace member mounted to the housing about a slotted arm of the tensioning member, and a locking screw fixed to the housing through the brace member and slotted arm. The pivoted position of the tensioning member relative determines the tension imparted on the drive belt. The locking screw locks the pivoted position and the brace member is fixedly mounted so that rotation of the locking screw is not imparted to the slotted arm during fixing of the locking screw.
US08567926B2
A piezoelectric element comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer containing bismuth lanthanum iron and manganese formed above the first electrode, and a second electrode formed above the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer contains crystals preferentially oriented in a (111) plane.
US08567923B2
A method for depositing droplets onto a substrate employs an apparatus, such as an inkjet printhead, the apparatus having: an array of channels, acting as fluid chambers, separated by interspersed walls, with each channel communicating with an aperture or nozzle for the release of droplets of a fluid contained within the channel, such as ink. Each of the walls separates two neighboring channels and is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one channel and increase the volume of the other channel, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of the neighboring channels. The method includes the steps of: receiving input data, such as an array of image data pixels; selecting pairs of adjacent channels based on the input data; assigning the selected pairs of adjacent channels as firing channels and the remaining channels as non-firing channels. While the pairs of firing channels may generally have any spacing, one of the pairs of firing channels is spaced apart from another of the pairs of firing channels by an odd number of non-firing channels. Within each of these selected pairs, the separating wall of that pair is actuated so as to cause the release of at least one droplet from each of said firing channels. The actuations for all the pairs overlap in time so as to ensure a high level of throughput or printing speed.
US08567919B2
A piezoelectric element includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer facing the first conductive layer, and a piezoelectric layer between the first and second conductive layers, composed of a compound oxide containing at least lead, zirconium, titanium, and oxygen. The piezoelectric layer includes a first crystal layer on the first conductive layer side of the piezoelectric layer and a second crystal layer continued from the first crystal layer, nearer to the second conductive layer side than the first crystal layer. In the piezoelectric layer, the lead concentration in the first conductive layer side of the first crystal layer is lower than that in the second conductive layer side of the second crystal layer. In the piezoelectric layer, the oxygen concentration in the first conductive layer side of the first crystal layer is higher than that in the second conductive layer side of the second crystal layer.
US08567910B2
A method of forming a nozzle plate of a fluid ejection device includes etching a bore in the first side of the multi-layer substrate, depositing a liner in the bore, removing a layer from a second side of the multi-layer substrate, wherein the removing exposes a closed end of the liner, applying a non-wetting coating to the closed end of the liner and an area surrounding the closed end of the liner, and removing the closed end of the liner, wherein removing the closed end of the liner opens a nozzle.
US08567895B2
An abnormality judgment apparatus of a liquid supply system which supplies liquid from a liquid tank to a liquid ejection head via a liquid flow channel, includes: a pressure change application device which applies a pressure change to the liquid flow channel; first and second pressure measurement devices which measure a pressure in the liquid flow channel; and an abnormality judgment device which performs abnormality judgment and identification of an abnormal location in the liquid supply system, according to measurement values measured by the first and second pressure measurement devices before and after the pressure change is applied by the pressure change application device.
US08567893B2
An embodiment of a print signal generation system is provided. The system comprises a sensor, a divisor processing unit, a reference signal generator, and a print trigger signal generator. The sensor detects a first offset of a first location of a medium being printed. The divisor processing unit generates a first divisor according to the first offset and a predetermined divisor. The reference signal generator generates a reference signal. The print trigger signal generator generates a print trigger signal according to the first divisor and the reference signal.
US08567880B2
Systems and methods that process a plurality of surgical instruments for cleaning and/or packaging. A device identifies a robot-ready insert having a predetermined configuration for accepting at least one type of surgical instrument. The surgical instruments are identified and oriented according to type using an automated apparatus. Specialized tools are also provided for automatically opening and closing surgical instruments, flipping instruments and assisting in the processing and maintenance of surgical instruments. The automated apparatus then places each of the surgical instrument types in one or more predetermined areas of the insert, configured to accept a predetermined set of surgical instrument types.
US08567878B2
A toilet users rollable desk for a compact personal office desk for the commode user. A toilet users rollable desk generally includes a desk that provides the toilet user with a space between the knees and legs to read, write, use the computer and store personal items as well as a shelf to place coffee or nourishment. A toilet users rollable desk is also able to store toilet tissue, hold reading material and be conveniently moved in front of the commode user for all processes to be best utilized in the large, average or small toilet commode area.
US08567877B2
A rubber crawler which includes: a rubber crawler body having an endless belt shape and which has a left-right pair of rolling wheel passing surfaces on the inner circumferential surface thereof; a steel cord layer in which a plurality of steel cords extending in the crawler circumference direction are embedded in the rubber crawler body so as to be arranged in the crawler width direction, and a plurality of bias reinforcing layers that are disposed on the outer circumferential side of this steel cord layer in the rubber crawler body, in which the left-right pair of rolling wheel passing surfaces are disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the rubber crawler body at positions corresponding to the respective end portions in the crawler width direction of the steel cord layer and the plurality of bias reinforcing layers; the rubber crawler further includes: a rubber layer disposed between an innermost reinforcing layer that is positioned on the innermost side of the plurality of bias reinforcing layers and the steel cord layer, at least at positions corresponding to the end portions of the innermost reinforcing layer in the crawler width direction.
US08567868B2
In a vehicle seat, an ottoman portion that includes a shaft member that attaches to the sitting portion, a first frame member that rotates about the shaft member, and a second frame member that is fixed to a cushion. One side of the first frame member is attached to one side of the second frame member, and the other side of the first frame member is attached to the shaft member. From a position in which the other side of the second frame member that faces the cushion is close to the other side of the first frame member to a second position in which the ottoman portion is extended in front of the seat from the sitting portion so as to support a calf of the occupant, the other side of the second frame member and the other side of the first frame member spread apart.
US08567858B2
A sunshade for a vehicle includes a plastic panel configuring a part of a roof of the vehicle and including a translucent portion, a shading sheet for unshading and shading the translucent portion, a pair of guide rails, which are fixed to the panel to face each other and extend in an opening-and-closing direction of the sheet to hold the sheet in a manner permitting the sheet to be opened and closed, a roll-up member for rolling up the sheet, a frame, which extends in a facing direction of the rails, that links the rails and holds the roll-up member, an elongated hole, which is formed in end portions of the frame and extends in the facing direction, and an engaging member inserted into the hole. The engaging member engages with the rails and the frame to permit relative movement of the rails and the frame in the facing direction.
US08567857B2
A connection member which connects an outside portion of a cross member and an inside wall face portion of a side sill includes a cross-member-side connection portion connected to the cross member and a side-sill-side connection portion connected to the side sill, the side-sill-side connection portion is configured to have a lower rigidity than the cross-member-side connection portion, and an outside end portion of the cross member is located at a specified position which is located on the outside of the cross-member-side connection portion and on the inside away from the inside wall face portion of the side sill. Thereby, the impact load in the vehicle side collision can be effectively supported by the cross member with a simple structure.
US08567856B2
A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of curvilinear torque boxes, where one curvilinear torque box is mechanically attached to the upper and lower polygonal-shaped channels of each front rail, where each curvilinear torque box is mechanically coupled to a rocker panel, where the upper polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane located above the top surface of the corresponding rocker panel, and where the lower polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane that is aligned with the corresponding rocker panel.
US08567852B2
An arrangement of a water box and a drain is provided for draining off water from a region between a windshield and an engine hood in a motor vehicle. The water box can include a depression with an upwardly directed water-directing region. The drain can include a drain valve housing with a drain valve. The drain valve of the drain is arranged above the water-directing region.
US08567847B1
A vehicle includes a frame, a utility bed, and a flexible seal. The utility bed includes a left side, a right side, a bed frame, and a forward wall supported by the bed frame. The utility bed is pivotally coupled with the frame and pivotable between a hauling position and a dumping position. The flexible seal is attached to at least one of the bed frame and the forward wall of the utility bed. The flexible seal extends downwardly below the forward wall of the utility bed and laterally at least partially between the left side and the right side of the utility bed. When the utility bed is in the hauling position, the flexible seal contacts the frame.
US08567844B2
A car having: a frame provided with two external vertical posts, which are arranged facing each other on opposite sides of the car, and two internal vertical posts, which are arranged between the two external vertical posts and at a given distance from the external vertical posts; a passenger compartment; a sun roof, which is supported by the frame and can be set in an open position or a closed position with respect to the passenger compartment; a housing for containing the sun roof when the sun roof itself is set in the open position; a movable cover for closing the housing; and a rear window, which is mounted in a sliding manner so as to move between an extracted position, in which the rear window projects from the car body, and a withdrawn position, in which the rear window is housed inside the car body.
US08567838B2
A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch and an elongated molding member. The roof ditch is defined by a recessed support surface and first and second wall surfaces extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the recessed support surface. The molding member includes a plurality of roof attachment portions securing the molding member longitudinally along the roof ditch. The molding member includes a top portion, a first lateral side extending downward from the top portion along the first wall surface of the roof ditch and a second lateral side extending downward from the top portion along the second wall surface of the roof ditch. The first and second lateral sides include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart stabilizing projections extending downward from bottom edges of the first and second lateral sides into contact with the recessed support surface of the roof ditch.
US08567832B2
A hand grip for an electronic device is disclosed. An example hand grip may include a backing removably attachable to a back side of the electronic device by stretching over opposite edge portions of the electronic device. The hand grip may also include a handle member connecting with the backing. The handle member connects with one or more finger of a user to securely hold the handheld electronic device by the hand of the user.
US08567828B2
The present invention relates to a snap-type locking device for releasable and principally external keeping together of two parts and comprising at least one grip part at least one grip part, at least one movable arm and at least one spring, said at least one movable arm being turnably attached to said at least one grip part as well as, directly or indirectly, to a first part of said two parts. Said at least one spring abuts said at least one grip part in order to urge the same in a direction away from said two parts.
US08567822B2
The present invention relates to a luminous advertisement sheet. The luminous advertisement sheet includes a light-transmitting print sheet having an EL advertisement region formed in at least one area of the print sheet, and a general advertisement region formed in the other area thereof. The EL advertisement region has at least one of a fixed pattern portion in which a transparent electrode layer, an EL layer and a dielectric layer are sequentially laminated and a variable pattern portion in which a transparent electrode layer, an EL layer, a dielectric layer and a plurality of pixel electrode layers are sequentially laminated. The general advertisement region allows general dye printing to be performed therein. The luminous advertisement sheet further includes a pattern electrode layer laminated and printed with a conductive ink material to have a predetermined luminous pattern in at least one area of the dielectric layer laminated in the fixed pattern portion and/or the variable pattern portion. Accordingly, there are provided a luminous advertisement sheet that exhibits excellent advertisement effects and can be easily produced in a multi-line small-batch production manner and at remarkably reduced manufacturing costs, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US08567812B2
A configuration is provided for fastening a liquid container in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to a liquid container and a fastening holder, using which the liquid container is fastened on the vehicle body of the motor vehicle, the liquid container being situated so it is displaceable on the fastening holder.
US08567809B2
A collapsible shopping cart includes a collapsible support assembly having a support frame with a vertical frame member and a horizontal frame member. The vertical support member is pivotally secured to the horizontal support member allowing the support frame to be selectively folded. A plurality of wheels are coupled to the horizontal support member. The plurality of wheels are coupled to the horizontal support member for movement between a use orientation and a storage orientation, wherein when the plurality of wheels are in the use orientation they extend from the horizontal support manner in a manner permitting engagement with a horizontal support surface such that the support assembly may roll thereupon. First and second storage receptacles shaped and dimensioned for selective attachment to the support assembly are provided.
US08567805B2
For the bicycle with bidirectional input and one-way output transmission combined with crank hole thereof of the present invention, the input shaft used for bidirectionally drive of the transmission with bidirectional input and one-way output is installed through and combined with the pedal crank hole of the bicycle frame.
US08567791B2
The present invention relates to a multi-layer steel insert for a cylinder head gasket for an internal combustion engine comprising. The cylinder head gasket may be made from metal or a composite material, and is disposed between a cylinder head and a cylinder block. The MLS insert may be located around at least one fluid passage aperture. The MLS insert has a first outside layer and a second outside layer each comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, an outer perimeter, an inner closed perimeter defining a fluid aperture, and a bead. The beads may be half beads or whole beads. An intermediate layer is arranged between the outside layers and includes an upper surface and a lower surface, an outer perimeter and an inner closed perimeter defining a fluid aperture. The MLS insert may be attached to the cylinder head gasket by mechanical or chemical means.
US08567787B1
A word game system for playing multiple word games and its corresponding play methods are disclosed. The game system and the multiple word games are all based on the word scramble process—constantly and dynamically scrambling the playing pieces to form words by all the players all the time, hence extremely stimulating and entertaining. The game system and its specific set of playing pieces with proper ranking distribution, value point assignments, math function selections and incorporation of wild playing pieces support a host of brain stimulating games including Scramble Word, Scramble Poker and Scramble Ma-Jong. These word games are playable in English and other languages and playable as board, computer, broadcasting as well as board-less games.
US08567786B2
The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.
US08567776B2
A multifeed processing apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit and is connected to a multifeed detecting mechanism and an image reading mechanism. The control unit includes (i) a measuring unit that measures a multifeed detection pattern from any one or both of an output of the multifeed detecting mechanism and an image of a medium read by the image reading mechanism, (ii) a determining unit that determines whether the measured multifeed detection pattern is included in a multifeed disable pattern stored in the storage unit, (iii) a reading control unit that regards a multifeed detection performed by the multifeed detecting mechanism as invalid, and causes the image reading mechanism to continue a reading operation, and (iv) a storage control unit that stores the measured multifeed detection pattern as the multifeed disable pattern in the storage unit.
US08567771B2
A drive unit in a motor vehicle is mounted with two elastic motor mounts, of which each in each case couples an engine support, connected rigidly to the drive unit, elastically to a body structure of the motor vehicle, and with a torque support which is arranged above the two motor mounts transversely with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis and which is coupled at one end to the drive unit and is coupled at another end to the body structure and is configured such that the two ends are connected, damped elastically, to one another. There is also provided a damping support arranged at a lower level than the torque support transversely with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis and which is coupled at one end to the drive unit and is coupled at another end to the body structure. The damping support is configured such that transverse vibrations of the drive unit are damped.
US08567767B2
A method for the efficient solubilization of carbon dioxide in water through the use of high energy impacts is disclosed. The method can optionally includes mixing the carbon dioxide and water to form an annular dispersed flow, accelerating the carbon dioxide and water prior to the collision; providing a retention network to collect the carbonated water flow. Also disclosed are systems and apparatuses for practicing the disclosed methods.
US08567762B2
The invention relates to an electro-mechanical lifting device comprising a lifting head and a controlling and positioning carriage, said lifting head comprising a substantially vertical telescopic cylinder element, comprised of a plurality of outer telescopic jacket elements and a corresponding number of inner telescopic threaded elements, an element for coupling the member to be lifted being provided above the upper jacket element, the upper element of the lower inner threaded element being coupled with said lifting member coupling element, the intermediate threaded element(s) being provided with an outer and an inner threading, while the lower inner threaded element is threaded only on the outer surface, coupling between said jacket elements providing means preventing their rotation each other.
US08567759B2
A valve assembly for use in a wellhead assembly that includes a valve body, a cavity formed in the valve body, and a flow passage through the valve body that intersects the cavity. Also included is a gate slidable in the cavity between an open position and a closed position. A bore is formed through the gate. A fluidic passage is also formed through the gates that provides fluid communication between the bore and an upstream side of the valve member. The fluidic passage is formed so that when the gate is being moved into the closed position, fluid upstream of the gate enters the fluidic passage and exits into the bore to assist closing the valve.
US08567749B2
An elongated hollow mould for the integral formation of a raised sill or hob on the surface of a cast-in-situ concrete building slab, said mould comprising two generally parallel, continuous side panels joined in fixed spatial relationship at their upper and lower edges by spacer elements which permit the entry of concrete from above and the passage of concrete there through to formwork below upon which said slab is to be formed, thereby making the concrete within said filled mould contiguous with that of said concrete slab beneath; said mould being supported upon a plurality of discrete chairs, each said chair comprising two narrow, parallel, vertically oriented side panels joined at their lower ends by a transverse bottom part fixed to said formwork, said mould being supported in a said chair by a height-adjustable transverse bridge fixed to said chair side panels.
US08567744B1
A reusable device for detachably mounting an object to a platform includes a breakaway plate that is mounted to the object and a mounting bracket that is fixed to the platform. The breakaway plate is formed with a circumferential groove, and an o-ring is placed in the groove. A tooth ring having a slight gap is positioned over the o-ring. As a retaining ring is placed over the o-ring and tooth ring and fastened to the mounting bracket, the tooth ring compresses, which causes the o-ring to compress and engage the tooth ring at a breakaway force of the object. When an applied force that is greater than the breakaway force is applied to the object, the o-ring pops out to separate the object and platform. The o-ring durometer is chosen according to the magnitude of breakaway force that is desired by the user.
US08567743B2
A system for attaching a columnar building member to a structural support member, uses one or more connecting brackets comprising a flat base plate having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, with a plurality of apertures disposed along the base plate. A socket extends from the inner perimeter of the base plate, with the perimeter of the socket conforming to the inner perimeter of the base plate, and with a plurality of apertures disposed along the socket. The columnar building member is attached to the connecting bracket via a plurality of fastening means through the apertures disposed along the socket. The columnar building member and connecting bracket are attached to the structural support member(s) via a plurality of fastening means through the apertures disposed along the base plate.
US08567736B2
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis, a mounting tray accommodated in the chassis, and a securing member. The chassis includes a bottom plate and a rear plate connected to the bottom plate. The mounting tray is secured to the rear plate. The securing member is located between the bottom plate and the mounting tray. A through hole is defined in the securing member. The mounting tray is attached to a flange of a securing plate, and the through hole receives an insertion portion of the securing plate.
US08567735B2
A workstation comprises a support and a carriage mounted on the support and movable relative to the support. The carriage supports a work platform. A counter-balance supports the carriage and the work platform. A lock mechanism locks the carriage relative to the support in a desired position. The workstation may comprise a swing arm attached to the support at a vertical pivot such that the support may pivot relative to the swing arm. A method of operating the work station is also provided comprising moving an actuator to retract the pin from the rack. The weight of the support is supported by the counter-balance. The carriage is repositioned and the actuator is released to allow the pin to move to the extended position where it engages the rack.
US08567733B2
A support stand for display device includes a base seat, an elevating support, and a locking module detachably connected the elevating support to the base seat. The locking module includes a fixing member, a rotating member, an elastic member, and a latching member. The fixing member is fixed on one of the base seat and the elevating support, and the fixing member defines a gap and a latching groove. The rotating member is rotatably extended through the other one of the base seat and the elevating support, and the fixing member. The elastic member is sleeved on the rotating member, and abuts on the fixing member. The latching member is fixed on an end of the rotating member. The latching member is extended through the gap of the fixing member, and is engaged in the latching groove of the fixing member.
US08567727B2
A trailing edge flap arrangement for an aircraft wing, comprising an array of flap elements each discretely moveable between a retracted and an extended position by a respective actuator, wherein the flap elements are arranged to be deployed so as to open up a through slot between an adjacent pair of the flap elements only when the aerodynamic leading element of the pair has reached its extended position. Also, a method of operating the trailing edge flap arrangement.
US08567725B2
Fiber-based debris interceptors are used to intercept and/or contain space debris. The debris interceptors may be made up of fibers that are formed in space from a material supply on a space vehicle. The fibers for the debris interceptors may be formed by extrusion, with a heat source, such as a mirror to focus sunlight, used to heat the material of the material supply that is carried on the space vehicle. The debris interceptor may be separated from the space vehicle, and used to remove debris from an orbit, or otherwise prevent debris entering an orbit from damaging a satellite or other spacecraft that travels in that orbit. The debris interceptor may be deployed prior to later launch of a valuable spacecraft, in order to “cleanse” the intended orbit of debris. Debris objects may pass through the debris interceptor, but in so doing may lose energy so as to de-orbit.
US08567723B2
An aerial identification and fuel inventory control system is disclosed. An RFID transponder mounted on a refueling aircraft transmits an identifier identifying the refueling aircraft in proximity to a fuel delivery aircraft. Substantially just prior to a start of fueling the refueling aircraft, the identifier is automatically logged in the fuel inventory control system. Upon completion of the fueling, a quantity of off-loaded fuel associated with the identifier is automatically logged in the fuel inventory control system. A fueling report may be automatically generated.
US08567718B1
A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).
US08567714B2
Systems and techniques are described for actuating a control surface about a pivot point using variable moments. A bracket having a moment arm is coupled to the pivot point such that the bracket is rotatable about the pivot point to actuate the surface. A power actuator has a shaft coupled to the bracket at a coupling point on the moment arm such that actuation force applied to the shaft results in a moment produced about the pivot point. A linear actuator is configured to adjust the location of the coupling point with respect to the pivot point to thereby changing the moment arm and the moment produced about the pivot point as the bracket rotates. By adjusting the distance between the pivot point and the coupling point, the moments produced about the pivot point can be increased while conserving actuator power.
US08567711B1
Apparatus and methods provide for a swept-wing powered-lift aircraft. Aspects of the disclosure provide a powered-lift aircraft that utilizes the engine exhaust flow over upper surface blown flaps to increase lift during various flight operations. The powered-lift aircraft has wings with inboard portions and outboard portions. The adjacent inboard and outboard portions share a swept leading edge. The leading edge is swept to a degree that shifts the outboard portion rearward to a position in which the aircraft center of lift has little to no variance upon the activation or deactivation of a powered-lift system.
US08567708B2
Disclosed is a portable device for winding thread around a bobbin from a spool of thread. The device includes a height adjustable thread holder configured to receive the spool of thread, a thread guide bar pivotable between a stored position and an operative position, and an adjustable tension feed device for applying tension to the thread during winding. The device also includes a spindle slot configured to receive one of a plurality of rotatable spindles that are interchangeable within the spindle slot so that different corresponding spindles can be used with the device. Also, a speed control knob for adjusting a speed at which the spindle rotates and thus at which thread is wound around the bobbin from the spool of thread, a fill knob for adjusting the amount of thread to be wound on the bobbin, and an automatic shut off mechanism are disclosed.
US08567705B2
In a vertical mill, a pulverization table is supported with a vertical rotation axis core in a housing so as to be capable of being driven and rotated, and a pulverization roller rotatable in conjunction with rotation of the pulverization table is disposed above the pulverization table so as to be opposed to the pulverization table, and a cutter roller rotatable in conjunction with rotation of the pulverization table is disposed above the pulverization table so as to be opposed to the pulverization table. Accordingly, a solid matter such as biomass can be efficiently pulverized, thereby achieving improvement in pulverization efficiency.
US08567704B2
A rotary grater includes a main body having a portion of one side formed from a resilient material. An internal grating barrel includes a plurality of grating teeth and is configured to grate cheese or other food items. The barrel is positioned for rotation inside the main body, such that cheese within the main body can be urged against the barrel by pressure against the resilient material, which will collapse as the food item decreases in size.
US08567703B2
The present invention produces the hydraulic powder through grinding of the hydraulic compound in the presence of a compound (a) prepared by reacting (A) at least one compound selected from polyhydric alcohols and alkylene oxide adducts thereof with (B) a sulfating agent.
US08567702B2
A method for processing a supply of post consumer scrap linear low density or low density polyethylene film into near-virgin quality blown film product. The method includes tearing the supply of film in a shredder, wherein the surface area of the film is exposed, including delaminating the film. The torn supply of film is washed in a water bath including a surfactant. The film is agitated in the bath containing the surfactant wherein contaminants on the film are removed from the film. The washed film is ground into smaller pieces and additional washing of the ground film in a rotating friction washer occurs wherein additional contaminants are removed from the film. The ground film is then dried and compacted without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality blown film product.
US08567697B2
A flow regulator for use with a lawn sprinkler. The apparatus includes an impeller, a regulator portion and a nozzle regulator portion. The sprinkler is configured to regulate the delivery of water according to the shape of the area to be irrigated, so that water is not wasted on adjacent areas which do not require irrigation.
US08567691B2
A method of controlling rotation of a water distribution plate supported on a shaft and adapted to rotate about an axis defined by the shaft by reason of impingement of a stream emitted from a nozzle on grooves formed in the plate, the method includes: (a) slowing the rotation of the water distribution plate intermittently so as to create intervals of relatively slow and relatively fast rotation and thereby correspondingly increase and decrease, respectively, a radius of throw of the stream or improve the uniformity of water distribution; and (b) continually changing circumferential locations of the intervals about the axis.
US08567690B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a toy track set for at least one toy vehicle is provided, the toy track set having: a track path; and a surface rotatably mounted to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates and spins on the base to transfer the toy vehicle from a first portion of the track to a second portion of the track.
