US08619205B2
A three-dimensional video recognition system comprises a display device, a front plate, and AS glasses. Each of the AS glasses includes a first λ/4 plate, a first linear polarizing element, a liquid crystal cell, and a second linear polarizing element in this order from the outer surface side. The display device includes a third linear polarizing element on an observation surface side of the display device. The front plate has a second λ/4 plate. Specific angles formed between a transmission axis of polarizing elements and λ/4 plates are provided.
US08619189B2
An image processing apparatus, which converts a frame rate by dividing an input frame into sub-frames and outputting the sub-frames, includes a minimum value filter unit, a low-pass filter processing unit, a generation unit, and a switching unit. In an input frame, the minimum value filter unit selects a maximum value of minimum values from the minimum values of pixel values in each horizontal line in a predetermined area including peripheral pixels of a processing target pixel, and performs pre-processing to replace the processing target pixel with the maximum value. The low-pass filter processing unit performs low-pass filter processing on the pre-processed input frame and generates a first sub-frame. The generation unit generates a second sub-frame from the first sub-frame and the input frame. The switching unit switches the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame at predetermined timing and outputs a sub-frame.
US08619186B2
A camera body allows the mounting of a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject, and includes a body mount, an imaging element, a capacitor, and a housing member. The body mount allows a lens unit to be mounted. The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal. The capacitor is disposed in the depression formed near the outer peripheral portion of the imaging element, and stores electrical charges. The housing member accommodates the imaging element and the capacitor.
US08619185B2
An image sensor module and an imaging device. An image sensor package includes a plurality of image sensor chips for generating image signals and a lower transparent board over the image sensor chips. An upper transparent board is positioned over the lower transparent board and includes a lens for focusing an external light to the image sensor chips. An adhesion member is interposed between the upper transparent board and the lower transparent board, and thus the upper and lower transparent boards are adhered to each other by the adhesion member such that the lens and the image sensor chips are aligned with each other. A dehumidifying agent is arranged in the adhesion member to absorb moistures from an interior of the image sensor module. Accordingly, the moistures are prevented from being condensed onto the surface of the image sensor module.
US08619179B2
An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask to capture multi-spectral image data. Light-field optics are arranged to project light-field information of a scene onto the image sensor.
US08619152B2
A mobile terminal and an operating method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a camera module; a display module configured to display a preview image provided by the camera module; a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device; and a controller configured to obtain location information of the mobile terminal through wireless communication with the external device and obtain object information of a first object displayed in the preview image based on the location information, wherein, if there exists object information of a second object that is overlapped by the first object, the controller displays an notification indicator indicating the existence of the object information of the second object on the display module. Therefore, it is possible to provide information of a wider area than that displayed in a preview image.
US08619150B2
A method for ranking key video frames for a digital video having a time sequence of video frames, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of: analyzing the digital video to determine a camera fixation pattern; determining a set of key video frames for the digital video; and ranking the key video frames responsive to the camera fixation pattern.
US08619128B2
Systems and methods may employ separate image sensors for collecting different types of data. In one embodiment, separate luma, chroma and 3-D image sensors may be used. The systems and methods may involve generating an alignment transform for the image sensors, and using the 3-D data from the 3-D image sensor to process disparity compensation. The systems and methods may involve image sensing, capture, processing, rendering and/or generating images. For example, one embodiment may provide an imaging system, including: a first image sensor configured to obtain luminance data of a scene; a second image sensor configured to obtain chrominance data of the scene; a third image sensor configured to obtain three-dimensional data of the scene; and an image processor configured to receive the luminance, chrominance and three-dimensional data and to generate a composite image corresponding to the scene from that data.
US08619115B2
The present invention provides a video communication system including a kiosk for recording video messages created by a user and a database for storing and providing access to the video messages. The kiosk includes a user interface for receiving user information such as name, address, email, and other identifying information. The kiosk further includes a message-recording device for recording a user video message. The video message and user message data are uploaded to a database. The database reconnects with the user through the user information to allow the user to access the video message. In an embodiment, the database sends an email web link to the user. The user may view the video message by opening the email web link and viewing the video message on an internet website.
US08619114B2
A method and apparatus for taking images while making a video call on a mobile communication terminal having a video call feature are provided. A method for taking images on a mobile communication terminal including a camera sensor for photographing an image to output an image signal and a signal processor receiving the image signal from the camera sensor to convert the image signal to image data includes determining whether there is a request to take an image during a video call and extracting, if there is a request to take an image, the image signal output from the camera sensor, converting the image signal to image data for storage, and storing the image data while performing the video call. The method enables production and storage of image data using a controller instead of a signal processor functioning for performing a video call.
US08619108B2
An optical scanning apparatus includes a polygonal mirror configured to deflect a light beam emitted from a light source such that the laser beam scans a member to be scanned, a drive motor configured to rotate the polygonal mirror, aboard on which the polygonal mirror and the drive motor are mounted, an installation portion where the board is installed, a rubber member provided between the board and the installation portion, and an adjustment unit configured to position on the board with respect to the installation portion and to adjust inclination of the board with respect to the installation portion by deforming the rubber member.
US08619095B2
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to determining a first setting(s) for presentation of content on a display of a mobile device at a distance from a user. The first setting(s) are based on analysis of characteristics associated with the mobile device. The characteristics are related to a user, an environment external to the mobile device, and content presented via the mobile device. Some embodiments are further directed to detecting a change in one or more of the characteristics in response to presentation of the content on the mobile device. The change is an event that indicates that the first setting(s) are non-optimal for presentation of the content at the distance. Some embodiments are further directed to determining second settings for presentation of content at the distance from the user based on the change in the one or more characteristics.
US08619094B2
Morphological anti-aliasing (MLAA) of a re-projection of a two-dimensional image can be implemented in a way that produces a better result while using fewer processor resources. One or more discontinuities between each neighboring pixel of the two-dimensional image are determined. One or more pre-defined patterns formed by the one or more discontinuities are identified. A blend amount is calculated for each pixel neighboring the identified pre-defined patterns. A re-projection is applied to the two-dimensional image and to the blend amount for each pixel thereby generating re-projected blend amounts. The neighboring pixels of the re-projection are then blended according to the re-projected blend amounts.
US08619090B2
A device receives text that includes data values, and parses the text to identify data types associated with the data values. The device generates, based on the data values and the data types, a graphical representation of the text that includes data cells corresponding to the data values, and provides the graphical representation for display. The device receives one or more selections of one or more data cells in the graphical representation, stores the one or more selections as a selection history, and provides the selection history for display.
US08619088B2
Presenting a slide. Anticipating a slide to be selected for display. Receiving data of the anticipated slide in an unconstructed format. Constructing the anticipated slide from the received data. Caching the constructed slide. Pre-drawing the constructed slide in construction memory. Receiving instructions to display a slide. In the event that the instructed slide is the cached and pre-drawn slide, rendering the pre-drawn slide to display memory.
US08619086B2
Three dimensional scenes may be managed between a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit using shared and unified graphics processing unit memory. A shared bus memory may be synchronized between the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit. The shared bus memory may be used for more often updated components and other memory may be used for less often updated components. In some embodiments, if the graphics processor and the central processor use a common processor instruction set architecture, data can be sent from the central processor to the graphics processor without serializing the data.
US08619085B2
A graphics processing device may generate coordinates for vertices of graphics primitives in a view-space. Tiles are defined within the view-space and are associated with tile lists. Primitives and/or vertices which overlap a tile are determined. Tile lists comprise differentially encoded indices and/or spatial coordinates for overlapping primitives. The differential encoding may or may not be byte aligned. During tile mode graphics rendering, tile lists are utilized to reference vertex attributes and/or primitives. Graphics rendering comprises a tile binning phase and a tile rendering phase. The primitives may comprise a triangle and/or joined triangles that share one or more vertices. For multiple joined primitives, information about shared vertices may be encoded without repetition for each primitive. Coordinates and/or corresponding weights for new vertices are encoded in a tile list and utilized for interpolating properties of the new vertices based on attributes of the original vertices.
US08619083B2
Providing high frame rate image rendering using multiple image layers per frame. A plurality of image layers having different resolutions are arranged in order of increasing resolution. Beginning with the image layer having the lowest resolution, the image layer is upsampled to a resolution of a next image layer having a higher resolution. The upsampled image layer is blended with the next image layer. The upsampling and blending continues for each of the image layers to produce a blended image. The blended image is provided for display as a frame of video. Aspects of the invention produce a high-resolution composite image during animated navigation across zoom and pan states.
US08619081B2
A deformation information transformation OK/NG discrimination unit determines whether or not it is possible to achieve a transformation equivalent to three-dimensional deformation information by only two-dimensional affine transformation. If it is possible to achieve this transformation, a two-dimensional bitmap generation unit generates a processed two-dimensional graphics image by applying the two-dimensional affine transformation equivalent to the transformation indicated by the three-dimensional deformation information to a two-dimensional graphics image.
US08619075B2
A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set.
US08619074B2
As set forth herein, a computer-implemented method facilitates replacing text on cylindrical or curved surfaces in images. For instance, the user is first asked to perform a multi-click selection of a polygon to bound the text. A triangulation scheme is carried out to identify the pixels. Segmentation and erasing algorithms are then applied. The ellipses are estimated accurately through constrained least squares fitting. A 3D framework for rendering the text, including the central projection pinhole camera model and specification of the cylindrical object, is generated. These parameters are jointly estimated from the fitted ellipses as well as the two vertical edges of the cylinder. The personalized text is wrapped around the cylinder and subsequently rendered.
US08619071B2
A novel image view may be synthesized using a three-dimensional reference model. In an example embodiment, a device-implemented method for synthesizing a novel image view includes acts of registering, selecting, applying and synthesizing. An image is registered to at least one reference model. A source block of visual data from the image is selected with regard to a destination block of the reference model based on a source depth associated with the source block and a destination depth associated with the destination block. The destination position of the destination block of the reference model is not visible in the image. The source block of visual data from the image is applied to the destination block of the reference model to produce an image-augmented model. A novel image view is synthesized using the image-augmented model.
US08619069B2
A power-off discharge circuit comprises a power voltage detection unit that detects whether a first power voltage for driving a source driver circuit is blocked and generates a discharge control signal, and a discharge unit that discharges a load circuit in a display panel based on the discharge control signal.
US08619068B2
According to one embodiment, a control module executes, after the electronic apparatus is powered on, a process of powering on a display panel, a process of receiving a hot-plug detection signal from the display panel, a link training process, and a process of transmitting a video signal to the display panel in the video signal transmission mode determined by the link training process. The control module stops the transmission of the video signal to the display panel in a state in which the display panel is kept in a power-on state, when a display OFF request event occurs, and transmits the video signal to the display panel in the determined video signal transmission mode, when a display ON request event occurs in a state in which the display panel is in the power-on state and the transmission of the video signal to the display panel is stopped.
US08619067B2
A substrate (56) for a handset device defines at least a portion of an audio port (274) and may include a keypad contact array (108) on the substrate (56) and a display electrode pattern (604) on the substrate (56). A display (52) is coupled to the substrate and is configured to at least partially surround the audio port portion on the substrate. In addition, in one example, the substrate (56) for a handset device (10) may include a first surface and a second surface. A keypad contact array (108) and a display electrode pattern (604) may be included on the first surface (96) of the substrate (56). The display (52) may be operatively coupled to the display electrode pattern (604).
US08619055B2
An active matrix for a capacitive multiple touch sensing device is disclosed. One embodiment comprises one or more active matrix capacitive touch sensing pixels that each include a capacitor and a thin film transistor, wherein a voltage can be applied to the thin film transistor to address the capacitor. In this way, the thin film transistor can operate as a switch to apply an alternating current to the capacitor, and the capacitor's capacitance can be measured in relation to the alternating current and an externally applied electric field.
US08619051B2
A haptic feedback system that includes a controller, a memory coupled to the controller, an actuator drive circuit coupled to the controller, and an actuator coupled to the actuator drive circuit. The memory stores at least one haptic effect that is executed by the controller in order to create a haptic effect.
US08619038B2
A portable electronic device displays icons (e.g., graphical objects) in one or more regions of a user interface of a touch-sensitive display, and detects user input specifying an exchange of positions of icons in the user interface. In some aspects, the respective positions of two icons in a user interface can be selected to exchange positions in the one or more regions of the user interface, and one or both icons can change their visual appearance to indicate their selection status.
US08619035B2
A method for assisting user input to a device, comprising the steps of providing a user interface to retrieve a user input, providing a tactile interface layer that defines a surface and includes a volume of fluid and a displacement device that manipulates the volume of fluid to deform a plurality of particular regions of the surface into tactilely distinguishable formations that each represent a key of a key interface, allowing the user to provide input through the key interface, predicting a subsequent key input when a user provides an input through the key interface, and manipulating the volume of fluid to deform the plurality of particular regions into one of two types of tactilely distinguishable formations: a first type for tactilely distinguishable formations that represent a predicted key and a second type for tactilely distinguishable formations that represent an unpredicted key.
US08619029B2
A method for interpreting at least two consecutive gestures includes providing a sensing assembly having at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others, and controlling emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods. During each of the plurality of phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of time periods, a corresponding measured signal is generated which is indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by a photoreceiver. The measured signals are evaluated to identity a first gesture, and the electronic device is controlled in response to identification of the first gesture according to a first mode of operation. A parameter of a second gesture is also determined, and the electronic device is controlled in response to the determined parameter of the second gesture according to a second mode of operation.
US08619027B2
A tool tray for an interactive input system comprises a housing having an upper surface defining at least one receptacle sized to receive a tool for interacting with an interactive surface, a sensor configured to detect the presence of the tool within the receptacle and at least one display in communication with the sensor. The display is configured to present a pointer attribute selection screen upon removal of the tool from the receptacle.
US08619023B2
Provided is an input device for operating in a three-dimensional space and inputting user instructions. The input device includes a first operation unit that calculates a first rotation angle in a coordinate system independent of the attitude of the device based on the output value of a first sensor, a second operation unit that calculates a second rotation angle in the coordinate system based on the output value of a second sensor, an attitude angle measuring unit that calculates the attitude angle of the input device by combining the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle, and an intensity calculation unit that calculates force intensity in the coordinate system using acceleration of the input device and the attitude angle of the input device obtained in the attitude measuring unit.
US08619020B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a plurality of sensors, a read-out circuit, and a control circuit. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels receiving a data signal having a polarity reversed with respect to a common voltage to display an image. The sensors sense light to output sensing signals. The sensors may be integrated into the display panel. The read-out circuit is charged with the sensing signals generating charged signals in response to a sampling signal generated during a period in which the common voltage has a predetermined reference voltage level. The control circuit calculates a position on the display panel from the charged signals received signals from the read-out circuit.
US08619011B2
To provide a display device in which a viewing angle characteristic is improved by providing a plurality of sub-pixels to one pixel. Alternatively, to provide a display device in which an aperture ratio is suppressed even when a plurality of sub-pixels is provided. A pixel including first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel, a scanning line, a signal line, a first capacitor wiring, a second capacitor wiring and a third capacitor wiring are provided. Pixel electrodes each electrically connected to one electrode of the first to third capacitor elements, and the first to third capacitor wirings, respectively, are provided to the first to third sub-pixels electrodes, respectively. Potentials of the first capacitor wiring and the second capacitor wiring are changed and a potential of the third capacitor wiring is kept almost constant.
US08619010B2
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, display is performed with high color reproducibility by a display device that performs area active drive. An LED output value calculating unit obtains LED data representing the luminances upon light emission of LEDs provided for respective areas, based on an input image. A display luminance calculating unit calculates a luminance image including display luminances for the respective areas, based on the LED data and a luminance spread filter. An LCD data calculating unit determines temporary light transmittances of display elements of a liquid crystal panel based on an input image delayed by a frame memory and the luminance image, and obtains liquid crystal data representing light transmittances such that, when a highest value of temporary light transmittances for respective colors exceeds 1, values obtained by dividing each of the temporary light transmittances by the highest value are used as light transmittances, and when the highest value does not exceed 1, the temporary light transmittances are used as light transmittances. By this, even if there is a color with insufficient luminance, since the ratio between the colors does not change, color reproducibility increases.
US08619008B2
A display device includes a substrate, a plurality of pixels formed over the substrate, each pixel including two or more sub-pixels, the plurality of pixels defining a display area, and a plurality of chiplets located over the substrate in the display area, each chiplet controlling sub-pixels of at least two adjacent pixels.
US08619005B2
A method of operating a switchable head-mounted display apparatus includes the steps of providing a head-mounted display that includes a switchable viewing area that is switched between a transparent viewing state and an information viewing state, switching the viewing state to an intermediate state from the transparent viewing state or the information viewing state, and switching the intermediate state to the transparent viewing state or the information viewing state.
US08618996B2
A combination conductor-antenna apparatus is provided comprising a surface that defines a passage for use as a receptor for a second conductor and for use as a waveguide. The surface is at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material, thus allowing the apparatus to serve as a medium by which an electrical signal can be transferred from a second conductor. Disposed within the passage is a pickup element for sensing and/or injecting electromagnetic energy in the passage, thus allowing the apparatus to serve as a medium for wireless communications.
US08618995B2
A metal pipe includes a slot having a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the metal pipe and a wireless tag that is placed inside the metal pipe and includes a power feeding unit to feed electric power to the slot and an IC chip connected to the power feeding unit, thereby functioning as an antenna of the wireless tag. The metal pipe is thus managed by the wireless tag.
US08618986B2
An antenna designing method and a data single board of a wireless terminal are disclosed. The method provided by the embodiments of the present invention includes: dividing a semi-closed area without other metal wirings on a data card single board of the wireless terminal; and arranging an antenna wiring and a metal coupling piece in the semi-closed area, where the antenna wiring and the metal coupling piece are parallel and overlap one another, a gap exists between the metal coupling piece and the data card single board, and the metal coupling piece is coupled with the data card single board via the gap. An embodiment of the present invention also provides a data card single board of a wireless terminal. According to the embodiments of the present invention, a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value of the antenna is reduced, and a working bandwidth of a broadband is realized.
US08618985B2
A patch antenna for receiving high frequency wireless signal and a rectenna using the same, more particularly, an impedance-matched patch antenna adopting a slot capacitive coupling structure and a rectenna capable of generating electrical energy from the wireless signals having different frequency band. A rectenna for receiving an A.C. wireless signal carrying electrical energy and converting the wireless signal into a D.C. electrical energy, is comprised of: a patch antenna for receiving the wireless signal comprising an dielectric substrate, a patch that is formed at the upper area of the surface of the dielectric substrate and providing the first frequency response characteristics, a ground plane formed on the other surface of the dielectric substrate, and an impedance matching means providing the second frequency response characteristics; and a rectifying unit that converts the wireless signal, received via the patch antenna, into a D.C. electrical energy by rectifying the wireless signal.
US08618982B2
A communication device is described comprising an antenna arrangement, an orientation determining device configured to determine the orientation of the antenna arrangement, and a controller configured to control the directivity of the antenna arrangement based on the determined orientation of the antenna arrangement.
US08618978B2
Provided is a position information providing system which can reduce a time required for acquiring position information. An indoor transmitter is adapted to provide position information by using a second positioning signal compatible with a first positioning signal which is a spread spectrum signal from each of a plurality of satellites. The indoor transmitter includes an EEPROM which stores therein position data for identifying an installation location thereof, an FPGA operable to generate a second positioning signal including the position data as a spread spectrum signal, and a transmitting section operable to transmit the spread spectrum signal. The second positioning signal is generated to repeat the same content in a cycle shorter than that of the first positioning signal.
US08618973B2
The present invention is related to a pipelined analog-to-digital converter, ADC, for converting an analog input signal into a digital signal comprising—a plurality of comparing means having tuneable thresholds for comparing an input signal with; at least two of said given thresholds being different and—a plurality of amplifying circuits,—wherein said plurality of comparing means is configured to form a hierarchical tree structure, said hierarchical tree structure having a plurality of hierarchical levels, wherein at least one of said hierarchical levels is associated with at least one amplifying circuit of said plurality of amplifying circuits, said at least one amplifying circuit generating the input of at least one comparing means at the next hierarchical level and—wherein said plurality of hierarchical levels comprises means for setting said tuneable thresholds in accordance to the output of previous hierarchical level so that non-linear distortion of the preceding hierarchical level is removed.
US08618971B1
A dual resistor ladder DAC includes a coarse ladder including a plurality of coarse ladder resistors and a fine ladder including a plurality of MOS transistors coupled between first and second conductors. A first group of parallel-connected bit-shifting transistors is coupled between the first and third conductors. A second group of parallel-connected MOS bit-shifting transistors is coupled between the third and top conductors. A third group of parallel-connected bit-shifting transistors is coupled between bottom and fourth conductors. A fourth group of parallel-connected bit-shifting transistors is coupled between the second and fourth conductors. Parallel-connected bit-shifting transistors are turned either on or off in response to a plurality of bit-switching bits of a binary number to be converted. One of the bottom, first, second, third, and top conductors is coupled to a DAC output conductor in response to the plurality of bit-switching bits.
US08618967B2
Systems, methods, and circuits provide a time to digital converter comprising a sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta based time to digital converter may receive an analog signal representing a phase error between a reference clock signal and a feedback clock signal and generate a digital signal representing the phase error. The sigma-delta modulator may comprise a subtractor, an integrator, a feedback path, and a quantizer. The subtractor may receive the analog signal and subtract a feedback signal from the analog signal and the integrator may integrate the output of the subtractor. The sigma-delta modulator may accumulate a voltage or a charge over a capacitor as pulses are received from the analog signal and after a number of clock cycles, the capacitor may be discharged to generate a pulse in an output signal.
US08618961B1
Digital methods and systems for signal processing and filtering are provided. The methods and corresponding systems provide asynchronous conversion of sampling rate frequencies and utilize advanced multistage phasor filters for converting an input signal having a first sampling rate into an output signal sampled in an arbitrary sequence of sampling times. The conversion process provides a sequence of sets of complex numbers representing a filtered version of the input signal. More specifically, the conversion process includes the calculation of values of the output signal by multiplying (e.g., scaling) the sets of complex numbers by a corresponding set of complex phasors, the complex phasors corresponding to the timing of the arbitrary time sequence to obtain a corresponding set of real results with the value of the output signal being the sum of the real results.
US08618959B2
Switching circuitry comprising a bank of actuatable switches connected in parallel between a supply terminal and a decoding terminal, each switch being connected in series with a component which, when the switch is actuated, applies to the second terminal an analog signal having a value unique to that switch.
US08618956B2
The system allows a reliable and automatic detection of moving vehicles and advantageously also identification of the moving vehicles. A WPAN node device (advantageously a ZigBee node device) is installed on a vehicle to be detected when the vehicle is moving. Three WPAN node devices (advantageously three ZigBee node devices) are installed on the ground. One of the three WPAN node devices has a wide radio coverage area and acts as an “exciter” of the vehicle WPAN node device. Another one of the three WPAN node devices has a wide radio coverage area and acts as the “parent” of the vehicle WPAN node device. A further one of the three WPAN node devices has a narrow radio coverage area and acts as a “detector” of the vehicle WPAN node device. The three radio coverage areas are sized and located so that a moving vehicle to be detected enters the area of the “exciter” before entering the area of the “parent” and before entering the area of the “detector”. After detection, the system provides for sending information to a fourth WPAN node device present in a user mobile telephone terminal.
US08618955B2
A system and method of parking assist includes a detection device located in a rear portion of a vehicle. The detection device acquires data representative of a viewable area behind the vehicle. The detection device is in communication with a park assist controller. A first viewable area that includes an area where a tow device is located when attached to the rear portion of the vehicle is monitored, where the first viewable area is associated with a first field of view (FOV). If the tow device is detected within the first viewable area, the park assist controller switches between the first FOV to a second field of view (FOV) associated with a second viewable area, where the second viewable area does not include the area where the tow device is located. Feedback is provided to a display indicating if an obstacle is located within the second FOV.
US08618951B2
A database for storing intersection data efficiently is disclosed. The database stores two or more points for each approach to the intersection along with the intersection control type. A third point can be used to help define the geometry of each approach. The database can be used with a warning system or any other vehicle system. The system may use approach point and intersection control type information to provide warnings to drivers of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is approaching the intersection at such a speed that the motor vehicle cannot safely stop. Methods for distributing the database information are also disclosed. The methods include pre-installed databases, dealer installed databases and on-demand distribution of intersection information.
US08618950B2
An electronic apparatus including: a first device that includes a first display portion, the first display portion displaying information concerning the operation of the first device; and a second device that includes a second display portion, the second display portion displaying the information which the first display portion has displayed, depending on at least one of the second device having been attached to the first device, the first device having supplied an electric power to the second device, and the first device and the second device having communicated mutually.
US08618948B2
An automatically operating injection device with an occlusion alarm unit and a method for determining an injection occlusion are disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of evaluation forces based on a series of force measurements and based on an evaluation time period; determining whether an occlusion exists based on either an evaluation of the plurality of evaluation forces or whether one or more of the series of force measurements exceeds a force threshold; and providing an injection occlusion alarm if an occlusion is determined to exist.
US08618940B2
There is disclosed a flotation device such as a life vest or inflatable raft for keeping a user afloat when in water, the flotation device comprising a light source attached to the flotation device, a water activated switch, wherein the light source is illuminated when the water activated switch is submersed in the water, and a control panel mounted to an outer surface of the flotation device and comprised of at least one user activated switch, wherein the light source is extinguished when the user activated switch is depressed, the control panel having instructions printed thereon.
US08618925B2
A tire pressure monitoring using wireless network includes a remote command device and a valve-stem mountable tire pressure gauge. The tire pressure gauge includes a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of a fluid in a tire and providing an output signal indicative of the detected fluid pressure, and a first radio-frequency module for transmitting data indicative of the detected fluid pressure based on the output signal of the pressure sensor. The remote command device includes a second radio-frequency module for wirelessly receiving the data transmitted by the data transmitted by the first radio frequency module, a wireless communication module for communicating via a wireless network, information based at least one data received by the second radio frequency module, and a display for displaying at least the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor.
US08618921B2
A wet road surface detection system is provided for a vehicle driving on a road. The wet road surface detection system includes a sound sensing device coupled to the vehicle for capturing noise of the vehicle tires as the vehicle drives on a road surface. A processor processes sounds captured by the audible sensing device. The processor quantifies a variable sound level of the captured noise between a first frequency and a second frequency. The processor determines whether each quantified sound level between the first frequency and the second frequency is above a predetermined sound level threshold below the sound level at the first frequency. The processor determines that the vehicle is driving on a wet road surface in response to each quantified sound level between the first frequency and the second frequency being above a predetermined sound level threshold below the sound level at the first frequency.
US08618917B2
Device control systems and methods learn to control an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment has a base device and a learning remote control. The learning remote control receives a device command signal transmitted from a remote control that controls the controlled electronic device. The base device receives a first identifier associated with a first input interface of the learning remote control, a second identifier associated with a second input interface of the learning remote control, and device control information from the learning remote control, wherein the received device control information includes information corresponding to the device command signal. The base device determines device instruction code information enabling the learning remote control to generate and transmit an emulated device command signal that is substantially the same as the device command signal when the learning remote control receives signals generated by the first input interface and the second input interface.
US08618914B2
An apparatus provides environmental monitoring of an item and includes an RFID tag, and a passive switch for sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected, and coupled to the RFID tag so that a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter can be stored, the RFID tag for providing remote readout of the sensed environmental parameter. A method provides environmental monitoring of an item and includes the steps of sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected with activation of a passive switch, storing a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter upon the event of activation of the passive switch, and providing remote readout of the measurement of the sensed environmental parameter with an RFID tag.
US08618909B1
This apparatus uses queue control gates with passenger information scanners, zone indicators, and a controller to organize and sequence passengers prior to entry into an aircraft to reduce row and seat interference with other passengers. It allows airlines to decrease the gate time of their aircraft.
US08618893B2
A transmission medium includes inductive couplers, signal lines and conductors. Each of the signal lines is configured to receive a respective one of multiple input signals. Each of the signal lines extends through at least one of the inductive couplers and is configured to inductively transmit one of the input signals to the at least one of the inductive couplers. Each of the conductors is configured to extend through at least two of the inductive couplers. The conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor. The inductive couplers are configured to inductively transmit the input signals to the conductors to generate a first current and a second current. The first current flows in the first conductor and towards an output of the first conductor. The second current flows in the second conductor and towards an input of the second conductor.
US08618892B2
There is provided a communication system including a transmitter and a receiver, each including a communication circuit unit that processes a high-frequency signal for transmitting data, a band-pass filter, and a high frequency coupler, a distributed constant line connecting the high frequency coupler and the band-pass filter of the transmitter, and a distributed constant line connecting the high frequency coupler and the band-pass filter of the receiver, wherein an electrical length of the distributed constant line of the transmitter is different from an electrical length of the distributed constant line of the receiver.
US08618890B2
A driver circuit includes a comparator (drive signal generation section) that generates a drive signal based on a signal obtained by converting an oscillation current of a vibrator that has been input via a first signal line into a voltage using an I/V conversion circuit (current/voltage conversion section), and supplies the drive signal to the vibrator via a second signal line, an oscillation detection circuit (oscillation detection section) that detects whether or not the oscillation current has reached a predetermined value after the vibrator has started to oscillate, a startup oscillation circuit (startup oscillation section) that assists an oscillation operation of the vibrator until the oscillation current reaches the predetermined value, and a switch that separates a capacitor from the second signal line until the oscillation current reaches the predetermined value, and connects the capacitor to the second signal line when the oscillation current has reached the predetermined value.
US08618874B2
A signal processing apparatus is provided that comprises a signal path including first and second signal processing stages for processing a signal. A switch, in a first state couples and in a second state de-couples an output of the first signal processing stage to an input of the second signal processing stage. An auxiliary stage coupled to the output of the first signal processing stage generates a control signal dependent to a DC level at the output of the first signal processing stage, on a DC level in the auxiliary stage, and indicates a DC offset at an output of the second signal processing stage. A calibration circuit, responsive to the control signal, adjusts a DC level in the signal path preceding the output of the first signal processing stage when the switch is in the second state.
US08618871B2
A semiconductor device includes a first terminal for receiving a first signal; a second terminal for receiving a second signal having more restriction than the first signal with respect to a delay upon transmitting to an internal circuit; a first noise reduction circuit; and a second noise reduction circuit. The first noise reduction circuit includes a first Schmitt circuit for receiving the first signal from the first terminal; and an output signal adjusting unit for adjusting an output signal of the first Schmitt circuit when the output signal is maintained for a specific period of time after the output signal is varied. The second noise reduction circuit includes a second Schmitt circuit for receiving the second signal from the second terminal; and an input signal adjusting unit for adjusting the second signal input to the second Schmitt circuit according to a fluctuation of a power source voltage.
US08618865B1
An apparatus includes a sensor array with a plurality of active pixels. Each active pixel in the sensor array includes: a three transistor (3T) sensor with a source follower transistor, and a detection diode coupled in series to a parasitic capacitor at a sensing junction. A gate of the source follower transistor amplifier is coupled to the sensing junction. The apparatus includes an insulator layer over the sensor array. The insulator layer provides a variable capacitance to the sensing junctions of underlying active pixels in response to portions of an object being proximate to the insulator layer. The variable capacitance is used to detect an image of the object.
US08618864B2
The active rectifier circuit and related method of operation disclosed herein is self-powered and improves the efficiency and reliability of photovoltaic solar power systems by replacing the conventional bypass and blocking rectifiers used in such systems. The circuit includes a power MOSFET used as a switch between the anode and cathode terminals, and control circuitry that turns on the MOSFET when the anode voltage is greater than the cathode voltage. The method of operation utilizes resonance to produce a large periodic voltage waveform from the small anode-to-cathode dc voltage drop, and then converts the period voltage waveform to a dc voltage to drive the gate of the power MOSFET.
US08618861B2
A level shifter is disclosed and includes at least four Type 1 transistors and at least four Type 2 transistors. The sources of several Type 1 transistors are electrically connected to a first voltage terminal while the sources of several Type 2 transistors are connected to a second voltage terminal. The level shifter receive an input signal and outputs a logically equivalent output signal with higher voltage, wherein the voltage of the output signal is between the voltages of the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal.
US08618859B1
A method for generation of high frequency, non-overlapping clocks may include receiving input clock signals at a clock input node of a circuit. Multiple feedback signals may be received at a number of input feedback nodes of the circuit. At a startup node, a startup signal of the circuit may be received, and, in response to receiving the startup signal, an output clock may be generated at a predefined portion of at least one of the received input clock signals. A stable high frequency output clock may be generated at an output stage by utilizing the feedback signals received by the input feedback nodes.
US08618857B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a delay circuit. The delay circuit comprises an inverter, a load capacitor, and a first voltage clamping module, wherein the first voltage clamping module generates a voltage drop configured to prolong the propagation delay time of the delay circuit as the power supply voltage decreases. The power supply dependent delay circuit may have a much larger propagation delay time at low power supply voltage than it at high power supply voltage at the rising-edge or falling-edge of an input signal.
US08618854B2
A Phase-to-Digital Converter (PDC) within a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) includes a PDC portion and a PDC decoder portion. The PDC portion receives a reference signal FR and a feedback signal FV and generates therefrom a stream of multi-bit digital values. Each multi-bit value is indicative of a time difference between an edge of FR and a corresponding edge of FV. The PDC decoder portion includes sequential logic elements that are clocked to capture the multi-bit digital values. In order to prevent metastability, the timing of when the sequential logic elements are clocked to capture the multi-bit digital values is adjusted as a function of the phase difference between FR and FV. In one specific example, if the phase difference is small then the falling edge of FR is used to clock the sequential logic elements, whereas if the phase difference is large then the rising edge of FR is used.
US08618849B2
A digital power-on reset circuit for an electronic device includes at least one reset register and a comparator circuit. The power-on reset circuit is incorporated into the electronic device and the comparator circuit is configured to compare values in the at least one reset register with at least one predetermined value when a power-on reset state is determined and generate a reset signal when the values do not match the at least one predetermined value.
US08618846B2
Disclosed herein is a solidstate switch driving circuit for a vehicle. The solidstate switch driving circuit includes an oscillation circuit, a constant voltage circuit, a first Field Effect Transistor (FET), a second FET, a third FET configured, a first time constant circuit, a first time constant circuit, a reverse voltage protection diode, a solidstate power switch, and a second time constant circuit. The first time constant circuit is connected to the drain of the second FET and the drain of the third FET. The reverse voltage protection diode has an N pole and a P pole. The solidstate power switch selectively turns on and off power applied to the load. The second time constant circuit has one side connected to the first time constant circuit and the reverse voltage protection diode, and another side connected to a gate of the solidstate power switch.
US08618841B1
A method for reducing spurious for a clock distribution system, the method including a) providing a system controller, b) providing clock distribution system, c) inputting characteristics of the clock distribution system in advance of operation thereof, d) calculating an expected level of the integer boundary spurious as a function of a fractional offset value, e) selecting an integer boundary solution based on the fractional offset value being within a preferred predetermined region, and f) programming the master clock subsystem and the one or more fractional synthesizers with the integer boundary solution, and g) repeating steps d) through f) as needed.
US08618838B2
An integrated circuit includes a first plurality of transistors and a second plurality of transistors coupled together to form a standard cell that performs a logic function. Each of the first plurality of transistors is more critical to a speed of operation of the standard cell than any of the transistors of the second plurality of transistors. Each of the first plurality of transistors has a gate length longer than a gate length of any of the transistors of the second plurality of transistors.
US08618816B2
A measuring device has a micro-electromechanical capacitive sensor which has electrodes which move toward and away from each other for measurement of a mechanical deflection of a test mass. The measuring device has a charge integrator which has an operating amplifier which has at least one amplifier input connected to the sensor and an amplifier output which is fed back to the amplifier input via an integration capacitor. The amplifier input is connected via a high-resistance electrical resistor to a terminal for an electrical common-mode reference potential. In addition to the amplifier input, the operating amplifier has an auxiliary input. The amplifier output is connected to the auxiliary input via a deep pass.
US08618814B2
In an printed circuit board on which an integrated circuit die is mounted, an array of plated through holes (PTHs) are formed which include conductive power and ground PTH structures which are connected to provide power and ground reference voltages to the integrated circuit die, and isolated current sensing PTH structures which are formed within sensing proximity to the conductive power and ground PTH structures for sensing current switching activity in the conductive power and ground PTH structures by inductively converting dynamic current changes in the conductive power and ground PTH structures into a measurable voltage signal.
US08618810B2
A test system for testing a unit such as multiple solid oxide fuel cells. The test system includes a thermal test chamber in which a non-contact electrostatic voltage probe is mounted to scan the solid oxide fuel cells. The test system includes a detector coupled to the voltage probe to produce an output signal or display based on the measured voltages. The measured voltages are processed to compute a representative voltage for each fuel cell and to identify any defective fuel cells based on the measured voltages. The test system may be used during manufacture of solid oxide fuel cell stacks for cost effective testing to lower manufacturing costs.
US08618807B2
A method for detecting an in-situ fast transient event within a processing chamber during substrate processing is provided. The method includes a set of sensors comparing a data set to a set of criteria (in-situ fast transient events) to determine if the first data set includes a potential in-situ fast transient event. If the first data set includes the potential in-situ fast transient event, the method also includes saving an electrical signature that occurs in a time period during which the potential in-situ fast transient event occurs. The method further includes comparing the electrical signature against a set of stored arc signatures. If a match is determined, the method yet also includes classifying the electrical signature as a first in-situ fast transient event and determining a severity level for the first in-situ fast transient event based on a predefined set of threshold ranges.
US08618806B2
A circuit used for determining a cell number of several battery cells. The circuit includes a detection block and a controller, and operates in a first detection mode and a second detection mode. The detection block is coupled to each of the battery cells. In the first detection mode, the detection block provides a terminal voltage signal indicative of a terminal voltage of a battery cell. In the second detection mode, the detection block provides a cell voltage signal indicative of a cell voltage of the battery cell. The controller compares the terminal voltage signal with a first threshold in the first detection mode and compares the cell voltage signal with a second threshold in the second detection mode, and provides a cell count signal indicative of the cell number based on the terminal voltage signal and the cell voltage signal.
US08618805B2
A battery circuit includes a monitoring circuit, an integrator circuit, and a comparator. The monitoring circuit can be used to monitor a cell and generate a monitoring signal indicating a cell voltage of the cell. The integrator circuit accumulates a difference between the monitoring signal and a first predetermined threshold over a time period to generate an integrating output. The comparator compares the integrating output to a second predetermined threshold and generates a control signal.
US08618796B2
Closed-loop current sensor comprising a magnetic circuit, a magnetic field sensor, and a compensation circuit configured to generate a magnetic field opposing a magnetic field created by an electrical current to be measured flowing in one or more primary conductors (10) extending through a central opening (38) of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit comprises a magnetic core (4) made of at least two core parts (28a, 28b) assembled together to form a substantially closed magnetic circuit, wherein a second branch (32) of the magnetic circuit comprises inner (40a, 40b) and outer (42a, 42b) wall portions joined by one or more lateral wall portions (46a, 46b, 46a′, 46b′) at least partially surrounding a cavity portion (44) receiving the magnetic field sensor (8) therein, the lateral and outer wall portions extending from one or both lateral edges of the inner wall portion.
US08618784B2
A regulator control circuit includes a high side driver that is configured to receive a supply voltage. A capacitor is configured to store charges. A first transistor is coupled between the capacitor at a first node and a gate of a high side driver at a second node. The first node is capable of being boosted to a voltage to operate the first transistor at a saturation mode for a charge sharing between the first node and the second node so as to substantially turn on the high side driver.
US08618783B2
A DC-DC converter for generating an output voltage from input voltage, includes: an output stage for outputting the output voltage; an error amplifier having an input and a reference input for receiving a feedback voltage at the input in accordance with the output voltage and for receiving a reference voltage at the reference input, the error amplifier generating an amplified voltage for driving the output stage, the amplifier voltage corresponding to the difference between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage; a phase compensation unit for generating a phase compensation component to the feedback voltage; and a phase compensation controller for controlling the phase of the phase compensation unit; wherein the feedback voltage is determined by the output voltage plus said phase compensation component.
US08618782B2
The embodiments of the present invention illustrate a means for digitally controlling a converter system and associated method. Wherein the means for digitally controlling a converter system comprises a means for generating a digital error signal according to an output voltage of the converter system and a reference voltage, a means for generating a digital control signal according to a digital reference signal and the digital error signal, and a means for generating a PWM signal according to the digital control signal in order to control the converter system. The means for digitally controlling a converter system and associated method at least alleviate the problem of limit-cycle oscillation, and promote the performance of system transient response and accuracy.
US08618779B2
This document discusses, among other things, a regulator circuit. The regulator circuit can controllably connect a first voltage to an inductor using a first switch and can controllably connect a second voltage to the inductor using a second switch. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to a difference between the first voltage and a third voltage, divided by the first voltage. The first switch can be turned off and the second switch can be turned on for a duration proportional to the third voltage divided by the first voltage. One of the first or third voltages can correspond to a desired output voltage.
US08618778B2
A switching circuit (Q11, Q12, D11, D12, D13, L11, L12) is repetitively configured to charge an energy transfer capacitance (C11) from an electrical supply (V11) and then inject a discrete pulse of energy into a resonated load circuit by discharging the capacitance. The load circuit is formed by a resonating capacitance (C12) and an inductive load device (T11, R11), eg motor, or induction heating or power transfer device. Energy circulates in the load circuit at or near to its natural resonant frequency. There is no injection of energy into the load circuit while energy for charging the transfer capacitance is being delivered from the supply to the switching circuit. During injection, the two capacitances and the inductive load device may be connected together in parallel or in series, or the transfer capacitance may be connected in series with the inductive load device but not the resonating capacitor.
US08618756B2
A method for controlling a permanent magnet synchronous motor is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a feedback current from a motor; generating a digital current signal based on the feedback current, the digital current signal indicative of a value of the feedback current; generating a power signal and a first imaginary power signal based on the digital current signal and a three-phase voltage signal; receiving a speed signal indicative of an expected speed of the motor; generating a phase signal based on the speed signal and the power signal; generating a voltage signal based on the speed signal, the power signal, and the first imaginary power signal; and adjusting the three-phase voltage signal for driving the motor based on the voltage signal and the phase signal.
US08618749B2
A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.
US08618746B1
A device and method to interface with a Magnetic or Electronic Fluorescent Ballast; evaluate, process, and regulate the incoming power from the Ballast device and output a steady AC power that can be used by LED drivers, LED chips, or set of multiple LED chips in a Tube or Bulb application. This device and method will allow for a non-fluorescent replacement lighting device such as a LED Lighting Tube or Bulb to be used in a Fluorescent Light Luminaire (fixture) without any electrical wiring modification or removal of the Electronic or Magnetic Ballast.
US08618738B2
A light source system and a method for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided. The provided light source system includes: an LED module having a plurality of LED strings operated under a direct current (DC) output voltage; and a driving unit coupled to the LED module, and used for providing the DC output voltage by adopting a boost means and generating a plurality of pulsation current signals according to a setting signal so as to respectively drive the LED strings, in which the frequencies of the pulsation current signals are higher than a predetermined frequency.
US08618737B2
A plurality of LEDs arranged in groups, each group comprising at least one LED, a control circuit for driving the LEDs, the control circuit comprising a sensing device for sensing an operative parameter of the LEDs. The control circuit is arranged to: a) operate at least one group of the LEDs: b) sense by the sensing device a value of the operative parameter of the at least one group; c) repeat a) and b) for at least a different one of the groups; d) assign to each of the groups of LEDs a value of the operative parameter from the sensed operative parameter values; and e) control the driving of the groups of LEDs from the assigned operative parameter values.
US08618731B2
A light emitting assembly includes a backplane having a first surface area and an impermeable layer. At least first and second light emitting devices are received on the first surface of the backplane, each light emitting device having a surface area less than the first surface area and electrically connected to an associated external driver. The first and second light emitting devices are positioned on the backplane in contiguous relation without a hermetic edge seal therebetween to maximize the filling factor, and an encapsulating material is received over and seals the first and second light emitting devices.
US08618724B2
To provide a reflective frame for a light-emitting element, which can be preferably used for a light-emitting device having a metal member on which a light-emitting element is mounted, whereby the light extraction efficiency, the reliability and the productivity, etc. can be improved. A reflective frame for a light-emitting element, which is made of a sintered body comprising a glass material and a ceramic powder; and the sintered body is one fired at at most 900° C. and has a porosity of at most 15% and an average reflectance at a wave length of from 400 to 700 nm being at least 86% when the thickness is 1 mm.
US08618723B2
A luminaire according to embodiments includes a body portion, a light source provided at one end portion of the body portion and having a light-emitting element, a globe provided so as to cover the light source, and a thermal transfer portion thermally joined to at least either one of the globe or a thermal radiating surface of the body portion on the end portion side. Then, an end surface of the thermal transfer portion on the side of the globe is exposed from the globe.
US08618722B2
In a piezoelectric resonator plate, a substrate having a main face formed in a rectangular shape is provided with a vibration portion and a joining portion that are integrated with each other, the vibration portion including a vibration region configured by forming a pair of excitation electrodes, and the joining portion having formed therein a pair of terminal electrodes that is joined to an external portion. The terminal electrodes in the pair each have a conductive bump formed therein and are electrically connected respectively to the excitation electrodes in the pair. Also, the substrate includes a post portion formed convexly at a position where the pair of terminal electrodes is formed.
US08618718B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a transducer is provided. The transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode such that the first electrode and the second electrode form respective capacitive electrodes of a capacitor, the second electrode comprising a core portion and a peripheral portion, a third electrode disposed relative to the second electrode such that the third electrode overlaps with the peripheral portion of the second electrode, and a piezoelectric element disposed between the peripheral portion of the second electrode and the third electrode, so as to tune a tensional force provided by the piezoelectric element onto the second electrode by varying a piezoelectric voltage applied between the second electrode and the third electrode.
US08618712B2
Disclosed is a windshield wiper motor having a reduction mechanism unit and an electric motor. The electric motor of the windshield wiper motor includes a yoke formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape; permanent magnets arranged on an inner peripheral surface of the yoke; an armature including a rotary shaft journalled to the yoke, an armature core where a plurality of teeth are formed and fixed onto the rotary shaft, an armature coil wound around teeth of the armature core, a commutator having a plurality of segments and being fixed onto the rotary shaft, and a plurality of connecting wires connecting two segments arranged to face each other back to back around the rotary shaft, being surrounded by the permanent magnets and arranged within the yoke; and a first brush, a second brush, and a third brush coming into sliding contact with the segments of the commutator of the armature.
US08618710B2
A wedge for a stator of a generator with preformed coil windings includes a retaining portion for retaining coil windings. The retaining portion covers at least part of two neighbouring stator slots. A mounting projection at a bottom surface of the retaining portion for mounting the wedge to a top surface of a stator tooth is located between the two neighbouring stator slots.
US08618704B2
An electric motor is disclosed and which includes a braking element which is biasingly urged into a braking relationship relative to the electric motor, when the electric motor is deenergized, but which is further moved out of braking engagement when the electric motor is energized. The invention finds particular usefulness when used on hand tools, such as angle grinders.
US08618703B2
A motor-driven compressor includes a housing having at one end thereof an accommodation space, an electric motor, a motor driver circuit provided in the accommodation space and having a circuit board, a connector having a bus bar electrically connected to the circuit board, and a cylindrical portion located at the one end of the housing and extending toward the direction close to the electric motor. The housing has a mounting hole communicating with the accommodation space and the interior of the cylindrical portion. The bus bar has a bent shape having opposite ends extended toward the direction close to the electric motor. The connector is disposed in the mounting hole with one end of the bus bar inserted in the cylindrical portion and the other end of the bus bar inserted in the accommodation space. The mounting hole is closed up by a cover with a seal member provided therebetween.
US08618695B2
An electrical appliance comprising a connection to a power source and a principle electrical load, wherein the appliance additionally comprises at least one inductive power outlet, the inductive power outlet comprising: at least one driver, connectable to the power source, the driver for providing an oscillating voltage supply; and at least one primary inductive coil connected to the driver, the primary inductive coil for inductively coupling with an external secondary inductive coil wired to a second electrical load.
US08618694B2
System, method, and computer program product for dampening oscillations of the electrical power on a power grid. The system includes a wind park with multiple wind turbines. Each wind turbine includes a rotor, a generator operatively coupled with the rotor for generating electrical power, and an inverter coupling the generator with the power grid to output the electrical power to the power grid. A controller is configured to generate a first control signal to cause the inverter of the first wind turbine to modulate the electrical power output by the first wind turbine for dampening oscillations of one frequency in electrical power on the power grid and to generate a second control signal to cause the inverter of the second wind turbine to modulate the electrical power output by the second wind turbine for dampening oscillations of a different frequency in the electrical power on the power grid.
US08618693B2
In a solar panel array that includes a string of series-connected panels, the load current flowing through the string is measured. The peak current (Ipp) of a panel in the string is determined. A current equal to the difference of the load current and the peak current (Ipp) is generated in a current source connected across the output terminals of the panel. The panel is thereby operated at its maximum power point (MPP). To determine the peak current (Ipp) of the panel, the magnitude of current flowing through the panel is iteratively changed and the corresponding power generated by the panel is computed. The change in the current through the panel and the measurement of the corresponding power are repeated until a maximum power is determined as being generated by the panel. The maximum power corresponds to the maximum power point (MPP) and the peak current (Ipp) of the panel.
US08618687B2
A swimming pool water inlet generator operable to allow the generator to be attached to a swimming pool water inlet, a turbine assembly arranged and operable to generate electricity when water flows through the inlet and at least one electrically powered device operable to use the generated electricity in the operation thereof.
US08618682B2
Looped AirFoil Wind Turbine (LAWT) (10) is a novel wind turbine with a basic system of a triangular structure (14) utilizing both lift and drag aerodynamic forces produced by wind energy. The entire triangular structure (14) could either yaw to always face the wind direction (W) or stay in a fixed position. The LAWT system (10) uses airfoil blades (12) shaped like an airplane wing, traveling linearly on travel wheels (22) riding on travel tracks (50, 52, 54). While traveling up, the wings are powered by a positive lift force and drag force while using negative lift force and drag force when traveling downward. All wings (12) are connected by a segmented chain (16) which transfers the kinetic power of wheeled wing carriages (18) directly to multiple generators (26), requiring no gears.
US08618676B2
A method of assembly of a semiconductor package includes treating the electrical contacts thereof by the application on the electrical contacts of a chemical composition comprising at least one ionic polar surfactant. A semiconductor package has a coating on the electrical contacts thereof, the coating comprising at least one ionic polar surfactant. A device includes a semiconductor package with electrical contacts on a circuit board, the electrical contacts having a coating that includes an ionic surfactant.
US08618669B2
A combination substrate includes a first substrate having multiple wiring board mounting pads for installing a printed wiring board and multiple connection pads on the opposite side of the wiring board mounting pads, a second substrate having multiple package substrate mounting pads for loading one or more package substrates and multiple connection pads on the opposite side of the package substrate mounting pads, a resin component filling a space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and multiple component loading pads positioned to load an electronic component between the first substrate and the second substrate and formed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The connection pads of the second substrate are electrically connected to the connection pads of the first substrate.
US08618667B2
A bump electrode, a dummy bump, and a heat-resistant polymer film, whose upper-surface heights are uniformed, are formed on each of a first silicon substrate and a second silicon substrate, and then, the first silicon substrate and the second silicon substrate are bonded to each other so that the bump electrodes formed on the respective substrates are electrically connected to each other. At this time, the dummy bump is arranged so as to be bonded to the heat-resistant polymer film on the silicon substrate opposed thereto, so that a semiconductor device having both of good electrical connection between the bump electrodes and bump protection performance obtained by a polymer film with high heat resistance and without voids can be achieved.
US08618666B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, electrodes separated from each other and extending from a first main surface in the direction of depth of the semiconductor substrate, and an interconnect portion coupling the electrodes to each other and extending from the first main surface in the direction of depth of the semiconductor substrate without passing through the semiconductor substrate. One of the electrodes is a through electrode passing through the semiconductor substrate to reach a second main surface. For semiconductor devices having through electrodes and vertically stacked on each other, the interconnect portion serves to enhance the degree of design freedom.
US08618663B2
The present invention provides a method of fabricating an interconnect structure in which a patternable low-k material replaces the need for utilizing a separate photoresist and a dielectric material. Specifically, this invention relates to a simplified method of fabricating single-damascene and dual-damascene low-k interconnect structures with at least one patternable low-k dielectric and at least one inorganic antireflective coating. In general terms, a method is provided that includes providing at least one patternable low-k material on a surface of an inorganic antireflective coating that is located atop a substrate, said inorganic antireflective coating is vapor deposited and comprises atoms of M, C and H wherein M is at least one of Si, Ge, B, Sn, Fe, Ta, Ti, Ni, Hf and La; forming at least one interconnect pattern within the at least one patternable low-k material; and curing the at least one patternable low-k material. The inventive method can be used to form dual-damascene interconnect structures as well as single-damascene interconnect structures.
US08618659B2
A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface remote from the first surface. A microelectronic element overlies the first surface and first electrically conductive elements are exposed at one of the first surface and the second surface. Some of the first conductive elements are electrically connected to the microelectronic element. Wire bonds have bases joined to the conductive elements and end surfaces remote from the substrate and the bases, each wire bond defining an edge surface extending between the base and the end surface. An encapsulation layer extends from the first surface and fills spaces between the wire bonds such that the wire bonds are separated by the encapsulation layer. Unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds are defined by at least portions of the end surfaces of the wire bonds that are uncovered by the encapsulation layer.
US08618656B2
A flexible semiconductor package apparatus having a responsive bendable conductive wire member is presented. The apparatus includes a flexible substrate, semiconductor chips, and conductive wires. The semiconductor chips are disposed on the flexible substrate and spaced apart from each other on the flexible substrate. Each semiconductor chip has bonding pads. The conductive wires are electrically connected to the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip. Each conductive wire has at least one elastic portion. One preferred configuration is that part of the conductive wire is wound to form a coil spring shape so that the coil spring shape of the conductive wire aid in preventing the conductive wire from being separated from the corresponding bonding pad of the semiconductor chip when the flexible substrate on which the semiconductor chips are mounted are bent, expanded or twisted.
US08618655B2
A carrier-free semiconductor package includes a circuit structure having an insulating layer and a circuit layer embedded in the insulating layer and having a plurality of conductive traces and RF (radio frequency) traces, a chip disposed on a first surface of the insulating layer and electrically connected to the conductive traces, an encapsulant covering the chip and the circuit layer, a ground layer formed on a second surface of the insulating layer opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of solder balls disposed on the conductive traces or terminals on the conductive traces, wherein portions of the solder balls electrically connect the ground layer so as to allow the RF traces and the ground layer to form a microstrip line having an RF function, thus obtaining a single-layer carrier-free semiconductor package having low cost and simplified RF design.
US08618653B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a singulated, layered structure equivalent in size to an integrated circuit die and having an adhesive layer, an electrical insulator layer, and a heat slug; attaching the integrated circuit die to a base; attaching bond wires to a top of the base for electrical connection between the integrated circuit die and the base; attaching the singulated, layered structure to the integrated circuit die wherein the bond wires are surrounded by the adhesive layer; and encapsulating the integrated circuit die and a portion of the heat slug with a molding compound.
US08618652B2
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include attaching a die to a carrier material, wherein the carrier material comprises a top layer and a bottom layer separated by an etch stop layer; forming a dielectric material adjacent the die, forming a coreless substrate by building up layers on the dielectric material, and then removing the top layer carrier material and etch stop layer from the bottom layer carrier material.
US08618651B1
An interposer having decaps formed in blind-vias, a packaged semiconductor structure having decaps formed in blind-vias, and methods for forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, an interposer is provided that includes an interconnect layer disposed on a substrate. A plurality of through-vias are formed through the substrate in an isolated region of the substrate. At least one of the plurality of conductive vias are electrically coupled to at least one of a plurality of top wires formed in the interconnect layer. A plurality of blind-vias are formed through the substrate in a dense region of the substrate during a common etching step with the through-vias. At least one blind-via includes (a) a dielectric material lining the blind-vias, and (b) a conductive material filling the lined blind-vias and forming a decoupling capacitor.
US08618650B2
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a flange package comprises a flange and an interposer having two or more fingers disposed in an interposer trench. The flange has a mold lock formed about a periphery of the interposer trench. A dielectric ring comprising a dielectric material is formed in the interposer trench, and in and around the periphery of the mold lock. A semiconductor die is disposed within the dielectric ring having gate pads and source pads formed on a first side, and having drain pads disposed on a second side of the die. The gate pads are coupled to the interposer and the source pads are coupled to the flange. A gate lead is coupled to the interposer and a drain lead is coupled to the drain pads. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08618645B2
A package process is provided. An adhesive layer is disposed on a carrier board and then plural first semiconductor devices are disposed on the adhesive layer. A first molding compound formed on the carrier board covers the sidewalls of the first semiconductor devices and fills the gaps between the first semiconductor devices so as to form a chip array board constructed by the first semiconductor devices and the first molding compound. Next, plural second semiconductor devices are flip-chip bonded to the first semiconductor devices respectively. Then, a second molding compound formed on the chip array board at least covers the sidewalls of the second semiconductor devices and fills the gaps between the second semiconductor devices. Subsequently, the chip array board is separated from the adhesive layer. Then, the first and the second molding compound are cut along the gaps between the second semiconductor devices.
US08618638B2
A process to manufacture a semiconductor optical modulator is disclosed, in which the process easily forms a metal film including AuZn for the p-ohmic metal even a contact hole has an enhanced aspect ration. The process forms a mesa including semiconductor layers first, then, buries the mesa by a resin layer sandwiched by insulating films. The resin layer provides an opening reaching the top of the mesa, into which the p-ohmic metal is formed. Another metal film including Ti is formed on the upper insulating film along the opening.
US08618637B2
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip having a plurality of bonding pads. Through-electrodes are formed in the semiconductor chip and are electrically connected to the bonding pads. The through electrodes comprise a plurality of conductors and a plurality of voids that are defined by the conductors. Each conductor may include a plurality of nanowires grouped into a spherical shape having a plurality of voids, a plurality of nanowires grouped into a polygonal shape having a plurality of voids, or the conductors may include a plurality of micro solder balls. The voids of the through electrode absorb stress caused when head is generated during the driving of the semiconductor package.
US08618621B2
An apparatus comprises a device layer structure, a device integrated into the device layer structure, an insulating carrier substrate and an insulating layer being continuously positioned between the device layer structure and the insulating carrier substrate, the insulating layer having a thickness which is less than 1/10 of a thickness of the insulating carrier substrate. An apparatus further comprises a device integrated into a device layer structure disposed on an insulating layer, a housing layer disposed on the device layer structure and housing the device, a contact providing an electrical connection between the device and a surface of the housing layer opposed to the device layer structure and a molding material surrounding the housing layer and the insulating layer, the molding material directly abutting on a surface of the insulating layer being opposed to the device layer structure.
US08618620B2
Embodiments relate to integrated circuit (IC) sensors and sensing systems and methods. In an embodiment, an IC sensor device includes at least one sensing element; a framing element disposed around the at least one sensing element at a wafer-level; and a package having at least one port predefined at the wafer-level by the framing element, the at least one port configured to expose at least a portion of the at least one sensing element to an ambient environment.
US08618619B1
A top port MEMS package includes a substrate and an interposer mounted to the substrate. The interposer includes an interposer aperture and an interposer channel fluidly coupled to the interposer aperture. A MEMS electronic component is mounted to the interposer above the interposer aperture. A top port lid includes a top port and a chimney structure fluidly coupling to the top port to the interposer channel. A front volume including the top port, the flue, the interposer channel, and the interposer aperture is acoustically sealed from a relatively large back volume defined by a lid cavity of the top port lid. By acoustically sealing the front volume from the back volume and further by maximizing the back volume, the noise to signal ratio is minimized thus maximizing the sensitivity of top port MEMS microphone package as well as the range of applications.
US08618618B2
A seal ring structure is formed through a multilayer structure of a plurality of dielectric films in a peripheral part of a chip region to surround the chip region. A dual damascene interconnect in which an interconnect and a plug connected to the interconnect are integrated is formed in at least one of the dielectric films in the chip region. Part of the seal ring structure formed in the dielectric film in which the dual damascene interconnect is formed is continuous. A protection film formed on the multilayer structure has an opening on the seal ring. A cap layer connected to the seal ring is formed in the opening.
US08618612B2
Techniques, apparatus and systems are described for wafer-scale processing of aligned nanotube devices and integrated circuits. In one aspect, a method can include growing aligned nanotubes on at least one of a wafer-scale quartz substrate or a wafer-scale sapphire substrate. The method can include transferring the grown aligned nanotubes onto a target substrate. Also, the method can include fabricating at least one device based on the transferred nanotubes.
US08618608B2
A lateral silicon controlled rectifier structure includes a P-type substrate; an N-well region in the P-type substrate; a first P+ doped region in the N-well region and being connected to an anode; a P-well region in the P-type substrate and bordering upon the N-well region; a first N+ doped region formed in the P-well region and separated from the first P+ doped region by a spacing distance, the first N+ doped region being connected to a cathode; and a gate structure overlying a portion of the P-type substrate between the first P+ doped region and the first N+ doped region.
US08618602B2
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, a semiconductor substrate, a word line, and an isolation region. The semiconductor substrate has an active region and first and second grooves. Each of the first and second grooves extends across the active region. The first groove is wider in width than the second groove. The word line is disposed in the first groove. The isolation region is disposed in the second groove. The isolation region is narrower in width than the word line.
US08618601B2
A semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate having a substrate top surface, includes: a gate trench extending from the substrate top surface into the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode in the gate trench; a dielectric material disposed over the gate electrode; a body region adjacent to the gate trench; a source region embedded in the body region, at least a portion of the source region extending above the dielectric material; a contact trench that allows contact such as electrical contact between the source region and the body region; and a metal layer disposed over at least a portion of a gate trench opening, at least a portion of the source region, and at least a portion of the contact trench.
US08618598B2
A semiconductor device includes a source metallization, a source region of a first conductivity type in contact with the source metallization, a body region of a second conductivity type which is adjacent to the source region. The semiconductor device further includes a first field-effect structure including a first insulated gate electrode and a second field-effect structure including a second insulated gate electrode which is electrically connected to the source metallization. The capacitance per unit area between the second insulated gate electrode and the body region is larger than the capacitance per unit area between the first insulated gate electrode and the body region.
US08618596B2
The present invention discloses a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device including forming sequentially a gate insulating layer and a first conductive pattern on a semiconductor substrate; forming a protective layer on surfaces of the first conductive pattern and the gate insulating layer; performing an etching process to form a trench, the etching process being performed such that the protective layer remains on side walls of the first conductive pattern to form a protective pattern; forming an isolation layer in the trench; etching the isolation layer; removing the protective pattern above a surface of the isolation layer; and forming sequentially a dielectric layer and a second conductive layer on surfaces of the isolation layer, the protective pattern and the first conductive pattern.
US08618595B2
A method for the production of a robust, chemically stable, crystalline, passivated nanoparticle and composition containing the same, that emit light with high efficiencies and size-tunable and excitation energy tunable color. The methods include the thermal degradation of a precursor molecule in the presence of a capping agent at high temperature and elevated pressure. A particular composition prepared by the methods is a passivated silicon nanoparticle composition displaying discrete optical transitions.
US08618594B2
The present invention provides a technique capable of attaining an improvement in current detection accuracy in a trench gate type power MISFET equipped with a current detection circuit. Inactive cells are disposed so as to surround the periphery of a sense cell. That is, the inactive cell is provided between the sense cell and an active cell. All of the sense cell, active cell and inactive cells are respectively formed of a trench gate type power MISFET equipped with a dummy gate electrode. At this time, the depth of each trench extends through a channel forming region and is formed up to the deep inside (the neighborhood of a boundary with a semiconductor substrate) of an n-type epitaxial layer. Further, a p-type semiconductor region is provided at a lower portion of each trench. The p-type semiconductor region is formed so as to contact the semiconductor substrate.
US08618591B2
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate having a base and a pillar array including a plurality of pillars; a plurality of bit lines, each of which is disposed between two adjacent ones of the columns of the pillar array; a plurality of word lines, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the rows of the pillar array; and a contact array including a plurality of bit line contacts arranged in rows and columns. The bit line contacts of each column of the contact array are embedded in the base and are electrically connected to a respective one of the bit lines. Each bit line contact intersects the respective one of the bit lines and extends between and is electrically connected to two adjacent ones of the pillars.
US08618578B2
A field effect transistor includes a nitride-based semiconductor multi-layer structure, a source electrode (108), a drain electrode (109), a protective film (110), and a gate electrode (112) that is provided in a recess structure, which is formed by etching, directly or with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The nitride-based semiconductor multi-layer structure includes at least a base layer (103) made of AlXGa1-XN (0≦1), a channel layer (104) made of GaN or InGaN, a first electron supply layer (105), which is an undoped or n-type AlYGa1-YN layer, a threshold value control layer (106), which is an undoped AlZGa1-ZN layer, and a second electron supply layer (107), which is an undoped or n-type AlWGa1-WN layer, epitaxially grown in this order on a substrate (101) with a buffer layer (102) interposed therebetween. The Al composition of each layer in the nitride-based semiconductor multi-layer structure satisfies 0
US08618572B2
A light-emitting device is disclosed. The light-emitting device comprises a substrate, an ion implanted layer on the substrate, a light-emitting stack layer disposed on the ion implanted layer, and an adhesive layer connecting the substrate with the light-emitting stack layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a thin silicon film disposed between the ion implanted layer and the light-emitting layer. This invention also discloses a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device comprising the steps of forming a light-emitting stack layer, forming a thin silicon film on the light-emitting stack layer, providing a substrate, forming an ion implanted layer on the substrate, and providing an electrode potential difference to form an oxide layer between the thin silicon film and the ion implanted layer.
US08618568B2
In a method for manufacturing a light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, one surface of a first substrate including a reflective layer including an opening, a light absorption layer formed over the reflective layer to cover the opening in the reflective layer, a protective layer formed over the light absorption layer and including a groove at a position overlapped with the opening in the reflective layer, and a material layer formed over the protective layer and a deposition surface of a second substrate are disposed to face each other and light irradiation is performed from the other surface side of the first substrate, so that an EL layer is formed in a region on the deposition surface of the second substrate, which is overlapped with the opening in the reflective layer.
US08618566B2
Provided is a light emitting device. In one embodiment, a light emitting device includes: a substrate including β-Ga203; a light emitting structure on the substrate, the light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer; an electrode on the light emitting structure; and a porous layer at a lateral surface region of the substrate.
US08618563B2
A light emitting device including a light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer; a first photonic crystal structure on the light emitting structure; a lower encapsulant on the first photonic crystal structure; and a second photonic crystal structure on the lower encapsulant.
US08618552B2
A high quality single crystal wafer of SiC is disclosed having a diameter of at least about 100 mm and a micropipe density of less than about 25 cm−2.
US08618550B2
The invention relates to a large area organic light emitting diode display having a uniformed luminescence throughout the display area. The invention suggests an organic light emitting diode display comprising a thin film transistor substrate including a thin film transistor, a driving current line to supply an electric signal to the thin film transistor, a driving line contact hole to expose some portions of the driving current line, and an organic light emitting diode connected to the thin film transistor; a cap including a cap substrate and an auxiliary electrode disposed on a surface of the cap substrate with an area that is at least ⅓ of an area of the cap substrate; a conductive sealing material to electrically connect the auxiliary electrode and the driving current line through the driving line contact hole; and an organic adhesive joining the thin film transistor substrate and the cap.
US08618539B2
An interconnect sensor for detecting delamination due to coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch and/or mechanical stress. The sensor comprises a conductive path that includes a via disposed between two back end of line metal layers separated by a dielectric. The via is coupled between a first probe structure and a second probe structure and mechanically coupled to a stress inducing structure. The via is configured to alter the conductive path in response to mechanical stress caused by the stress inducing structure. The stress inducing structure can be a through silicon via or a solder ball. The dielectric material can be a low-k dielectric material. In another embodiment, a method of forming an interconnect sensor is provided for detecting delamination.
US08618533B2
The present invention relates to the use of siloles substituted by fused ring systems in organic electronics applications, and to specific siloles substituted by fused ring systems and to the use thereof in organic electronics applications.
US08618532B2
A bottom-contact type organic thin film transistor comprising at least a gate electrode, an insulator layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode and an organic semiconductor layer, on a substrate, wherein at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode has a multilayer structure formed by stacking an oxide layer and a metal layer, and the metal layer is surface-modified with an organic thin film layer.
US08618530B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a conjugated polymer which has a high hole transportability and is excellent in solubility and depositability. Another object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescence element which is capable of low voltage driving and has a high luminous efficiency and drive stability. The conjugated polymer of the present invention is a conjugated polymer containing a specific structure as the repeating unit, where the conjugated polymer contains an insolubilizing group as a substituent, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 20,000 or more and the dispersity (Mw/Mn) is 2.40 or less.
US08618527B2
There are provided a memory element and a memory device with a smaller range of element-to-element variation of electrical characteristics. The memory element includes a first electrode, a memory layer, and a second layer in this order. The memory layer includes a resistance change layer including a plurality of layers varying in diffusion coefficient of mobile atoms, and an ion source layer disposed between the resistance change layer and the second electrode.
US08618526B2
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device which can suppress non-uniformity in initial breakdown voltages among nonvolatile memory elements and prevent reduction of yield, and a manufacturing method thereof. The nonvolatile memory device includes a nonvolatile memory element (108) having a stacked-layer structure in which a resistance variable layer (106) is parallel to a main surface of a substrate (117) and is planarized, and a plug (103) electrically connected to either a first electrode (105) or a second electrode (107), and an area of an end surface of a plug (103) at which the plug (103) and the nonvolatile memory element (108) are connected together, the end surface being parallel to the main surface of the substrate (117), is greater than a cross-sectional area of a cross-section of a first transition metal oxide layer (115) which is an electrically-conductive region, the cross-section being parallel to the main surface of the substrate (117).
US08618525B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a resistive switching nonvolatile memory device having an interface layer structure disposed between at least one of the electrodes and a variable resistance layer formed in the nonvolatile memory device, and a method of forming the same. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players. In one configuration of the resistive switching nonvolatile memory device, the interface layer structure comprises a passivation region, an interface coupling region, and/or a variable resistance layer interface region that are configured to adjust the nonvolatile memory device's performance, such as lowering the formed device's switching currents and reducing the device's forming voltage, and reducing the performance variation from one formed device to another.
US08618519B2
An energy degrader includes: an attenuation member that attenuates energy of entering charged particles to a different amount of energy according to an incident position of the charged particles; an energy adjustment drive unit that drives the attenuation member in a first axial direction in order to change the incident position of the charged particles; and a beam diameter adjustment drive unit that drives the attenuation member in a second axial direction different from the first axial direction in order to adjust the beam diameter of the charged particles.
US08618510B2
Devices and methods for screening emissive properties of a cell, such as the resistance to photobleaching or other photophysical property. In one example, a device may include a microfluidic reservoir having at least an input channel for receiving the cell, a main channel fluidly coupled with the input channel, at least a first output channel and a second output channel, the first and second output channels fluidly coupled with the main channel; and a multibeam interrogation section generating a plurality of light beams impinging upon the main channel of the microfluidic reservoir. As a cell passes from the input channel through the main channel of the microfluidic reservoir, the cell is exposed to the plurality of light beams thereby generating emissions that are received by a signal processing section. A cell trapping section selectively diverts the cell to the second output channel if the cell contains desired emissive properties.
US08618508B2
A detection system combining an excitation radiation source providing excitation radiation to an analysis region of a sample within a substrate having a detection surface, a detector for detecting radiation collected from the analysis region comprising the detection surface of the sample resulting from the excitation, and a magnet arrangement beneath the analysis region of the sample, and stationary with respect to the excitation radiation source and light coupling arrangement, for attracting magnetic beads within the sample to the substrate surface. The detection radiation is collected from the detection surface of the substrate to give an enhanced surface specificity.
US08618505B2
The present invention relates to detection systems and methods that detect fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence or phosphorescence signatures in the form of an electrical signal conducted and emitted from metallic containing surfaces. Thus, the present invention provides for detecting fluorescence digitally and directly without the need for expensive detectors.
US08618491B2
A radiographic image imaging device is provided. The device includes: an acquisition component that acquires battery remaining power amount information representing an amount of power remaining in a battery, which is incorporated in a portable radiographic image imaging device and supplies power to the portable radiographic image imaging device, the portable radiographic image imaging device detecting radiation irradiated at a subject of imaging and generating a radiographic image; a calculation component that calculates a possible standby duration of the portable radiographic image imaging device on the basis of the battery remaining power amount information acquired by the acquisition component and a number of images of the portable radiographic image imaging device; and a display component that displays the number of images and the possible standby duration.
US08618490B2
A method is disclosed for determining radiation attenuation as a result of an object in a positron emission tomography scanner. In at least one embodiment, a phantom object is arranged in the positron emission tomography scanner during the method. First raw radiation data of the phantom object is acquired while the object is not arranged in the positron emission tomography scanner. A first image of the phantom object is calculated from the first raw radiation data. The object then is arranged in the positron emission tomography scanner (2) and preliminary radiation attenuation of the object is identified. Second raw radiation data of the phantom object is acquired while the object is arranged in the positron emission tomography scanner. A second image of the phantom object is calculated from the second raw radiation data taking into account the preliminary radiation attenuation. The radiation attenuation is determined on the basis of the first image and the second image.
US08618487B2
A system for imaging a distribution of an absorbent material within an absorbent article. The system includes a radiation source and a detector positioned such that the absorbent article is situated between the radiation source and the detector. The absorbent article includes an absorbent material having a spatial distribution within the absorbent article. Infrared radiation within a particular wavelength range (e.g., 3 μm to 3.2 μm) is more likely to be absorbed by the absorbent material than by other materials within the absorbent article. The radiation source is configured to generate infrared radiation incident on the absorbent article. The detector is configured to detect a quantity of the infrared radiation within the particular wavelength range that was transmitted through the absorbent article. The radiation source is further configured to generate data indicative of the spatial distribution of the absorbent material based on the detected quantity of the infrared radiation.
US08618467B2
An absolute encoder (100) includes a scale portion (41) movable along with the object and including first and second track (42, 43) having first and second slits (44, 45), a light source (1) that illuminates a light onto the first and second slits, a first detector (9) that detects a first signal obtained from a light from the first slit, a second detector (10) that detects a second signal obtained from a light from the second slit, and a calculator (25, 27) that calculates an absolute position of an object based on the first and second signals. The second slit is formed so that a reflected light intensity or a transmitted light intensity is different in accordance with a position in a moving direction of the scale portion. The calculator obtains an upper-level signal, a middle-level signal, and a lower-level signal to calculate the absolute position.
US08618465B2
A seed sensor system determines the position of the seed relative to the seed tube as the seed passes the sensor. The position of the seed as well as the speed of the planter and the position of the seed tube above the planting furrow are used to calculate trajectory of the seed into the furrow from which the seed spacing is predicated. By sensing the seed in both X and Y directions in the seed tube, the sensor is better able to determine multiple seeds as well providing more precision to the seed population.
US08618460B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: pixels each including a hybrid photoelectric conversion portion and pixel transistors, wherein the hybrid photoelectric conversion portion includes a semiconductor layer having a p-n junction, a plurality of columnar or cylindrical hollow-shaped organic material layers disposed in the semiconductor layer, and a pair of electrodes disposed above and below the semiconductor layer and the organic material layers, wherein charges generated in the organic material layers through photoelectric conversion move inside the semiconductor layer so as to be guided to a charge accumulation region, and wherein the solid-state imaging device is configured as a back-illuminated type in which light is incident from a surface opposite to the surface on which the pixel transistors are formed.
US08618457B2
A method of measuring an anode current in an electron-multiplier device having an anode, a cathode, dynodes and a voltage divider network for applying voltages to the dynodes, which method includes applying an HV positive voltage to the anode and intermediate voltages to the dynodes, the cathode being at or near circuit ground potential, conducting dynode currents through or in parallel to the voltage divider to a point substantially at cathode potential, and deriving from those currents a current representative of the anode current.
US08618456B2
Various methods and apparatus are described for a photovoltaic system. In an embodiment, pluralities of three-phase Alternating Current (AC) inverter circuits electrically connect into a common three phase AC output. Each of those inverters receives a bipolar DC voltage supplied from its own set of Concentrated PhotoVoltaic (CPV) modules.
US08618447B2
The fryer (1) for cooking a food product, comprises a main body (2) for housing a tilted container (3) adapted to receive the cooking oil, a tilted basket for containing the food product, positioned in an extractable manner in the container, first (30, 31) and second heating means (49), a selector for selecting a first cooking mode in a first volume of oil with the first heating means or a second cooking mode in a second volume of oil greater than the first volume of oil with the second heating means, and rotation means (17) adapted to operate in rotation the basket (11) or at least a mixing paddle (13) present or positionable inside the basket.
US08618432B2
A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to the fiber and plastic materials. The electrostatic charge causes at least some of the plastic materials to at least partially cling to the conveyor belt while being carried over an end of the conveyor so that the plastic materials do not drop out as far from the conveyor as the fiber materials.
US08618429B2
A keypad assembly includes a first keypad element including a first frame element, first elastic elements connecting with the first frame element, keycaps swingably connected to the first frame element via the first elastic elements, and pressing elements protruding downward from the keycaps, and a second keypad element including a second frame element, second elastic elements connecting with the second frame element, keycaps swingably connected to the second frame element via the second elastic elements, and pressing elements protruding downward from the keycaps.
US08618428B2
The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine object information for objects causing rigid motion on a capacitive sensor device. In one embodiment, the device and method is configured to determine an estimated rigid motion response associated with a substantially rigid motion of the at least one sensing electrode using a set of sensor values, where the substantially rigid motion was caused by one or more objects in contact with the input surface. The estimated rigid motion response at least partially accounts for effects of capacitive coupling with the object(s) in contact with the input surface. The device and method may determine object information using the estimated rigid motion response. Where the input device is used to direct an electronic system, the object information may be used to facilitate a variety of interface actions.
US08618423B2
A lead-attached electrical element and a mounting board to which the lead-attached electrical element is mounted both contribute to a reduction in the size of the mounting board as well as facilitate rework. The lead-attached electrical element is constituted from an electrical element and two leads. Each lead includes a main portion which is bonded to a respective electrode face of the electrical element, and a bent portion which is inclined with respect to the main portion. The mounting board is constituted from a PC (printed circuit) board and the lead-attached electrical element. Two conductive lands are provided on a surface of the PC board. The lead-attached electrical element has been inserted into an aperture in the PC board, and bent portions of the leads attached to the electrical element are bonded to the conductive lands so that the electrical element is suspended in the aperture by the leads.
US08618420B2
In some embodiments, a printed circuit board (PCB) comprises a substrate comprising an insulating material. The PCB further comprises a plurality of conductive tracks attached to at least one surface of the substrate. The PCB further comprises a multi-layer coating deposited on the at least one surface of the substrate. The multi-layer coating (i) covers at least a portion of the plurality of conductive tracks and (ii) comprises at least one layer formed of a halo-hydrocarbon polymer. The PCB further comprises at least one electrical component connected by a solder joint to at least one conductive track, wherein the solder joint is soldered through the multi-layer coating such that the solder joint abuts the multi-layer coating.
US08618415B2
A method of manufacturing a portion of a portable electronic device includes forming a glass fiber laminate sheet to provide a formed glass fiber laminate body, and overmolding a rim on the body. The rim includes a connector for coupling with a complementary part of the portable electronic device.
US08618412B2
A plastic shield for a cable and insulator is described having a center section for covering the insulator. The center section has an opening at both its ends for the cable. Proximate each opening is a pivotable flange, where the flange pivots at one end of the flange. An arm extends from each of the cable openings of the center section, and each arm covers the cable exiting the center section. Each arm is pivotally attached to the other end of the associated flange. The length of the flange will typically be about 2-3 inches. The flange allows its associated arm to be moved over a wide range of lateral angles (e.g., up to 45 degrees) and allows the arms to have a lateral offset relative to the center line of the center section and insulator to accommodate a cable that is offset from the center line.
US08618409B2
A photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell, a flexible glass layer formed over the at least one photovoltaic cell and a transparent and abrasion resistant film which includes an organic-inorganic hybrid material formed over the glass layer.
US08618405B2
The free-space gesture MIDI controller technique described herein marries the technologies embodied in a free-space gesture controller with MIDI controller technology, allowing a user to control an infinite variety of electronic musical instruments through body gesture and pose. One embodiment of the free-space gesture MIDI controller technique described herein uses a human body gesture recognition capability of a free-space gesture control system and translates human gestures into musical actions. Rather than directly connecting a specific musical instrument to the free-space gesture controller, the technique generalizes its capability and instead outputs standard MIDI signals, thereby allowing the free-space gesture control system to control any MIDI-capable instrument.
US08618403B2
When a signal representing a first set value or more is received from a detecting section, a determination is made whether a boost value is a predetermined value or more. When the boost value is the predetermined value or more, a currently set boost value is reduced by a predetermined step, so that a new boost value is set. Further, when the boost value is less than the predetermined value, a currently set volume level is reduced by a predetermined step, and a new volume level is set. Therefore, in a case when the set boost value is gradually reduced and the boost value is finally less than the predetermined value, the audio signal is still the first set value or more, the volume level is further reduced by each predetermined step. Therefore, an audio signal can be securely prevented from being clipped.
US08618401B2
An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a signal conversion unit for converting an audio signal to a pitch signal indicating a signal intensity of each pitch, a melody probability estimation unit for estimating for each frame a probability of each pitch being a melody note, based on the audio signal, and a melody line determination unit for detecting a maximum likelihood path from among paths of pitches from a start frame to an end frame of the audio signal, and for determining the maximum likelihood path as a melody line, based on the probability of each pitch being a melody note, the probability being estimated for each frame by the melody probability estimation unit.
US08618393B1
A strap assembly worn by a player in a sitting or standing position for supporting a guitar or similar instrument in a generally horizontal face-up position, stabilizes the instrument while it is being played without impeding freedom of movement of the player's hands. The strap assembly includes an elongate shoulder strap, a shoulder pad slidably mounted on the shoulder strap, an instrument headstock strap releasably connected to a first end of the shoulder strap having a looped end for attachment to the instrument headstock, an instrument body strap releasably connected to a second end of the shoulder strap for attachment to the body of the instrument, and a forearm loop mounted on the instrument body strap for receiving the forearm of the picking-hand of the instrument player.
US08618378B1
A novel maize variety designated X8M227 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8M227 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8M227 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8M227, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8M227. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8M227.
US08618365B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1025947. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1025947. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1025947 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1025947 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08618361B1
The present invention provides novel melon plants and plant parts, seed, fruit, and tissue culture therefrom. The invention also provides methods for producing a melon plant by crossing the melon plants of the invention with themselves or another melon plant. The invention also provides plants produced from such a crossing as well as plant parts, seed, fruit, and tissue culture therefrom.
US08618358B2
The invention provides transgenic maize event MON 87427 and plants, plant cells, seeds, plant parts, and commodity products derived from event MON 87427. The invention also provides nucleotides specific for transgenic maize event MON 87427 and plants, plant cells, seeds, plant parts, and commodity products comprising nucleotides specific for transgenic maize event MON 87427. The invention also provides methods related to transgenic maize event MON 87427 and to the Roundup® Hybridization System (RHS). The invention also provides a Relative Development Scale useful for monitoring and determining reproductive development in maize that reconciles developmental differences across various maize varieties. This is useful for determining the optimal timing of a treatment regimen in which tassel development stage is an important factor, including various methods in making hybrid seed.
US08618357B2
Disclosed herein are a sweetpotato SRD1 cDNA, a plant transformation vector carrying the same, and a transgenic plant comprising the vector. The thickening growth of storage roots of the transgenic sweetpotato prepared using the SRD1 cDNA is stimulated, increasing the number of storage roots by up to two times. Therefore, SRD1 according to the present subject matter is useful in the generation of transgenic root crops with high-numbered storage roots or early-maturing storage root plants.
US08618354B2
Methods and compositions for generating haploid organisms are described.
US08618347B2
A method of deactivating an explosive composition provided in an explosive cartridge, which method comprises exposing the explosive composition to a deactivating agent that renders the explosive composition insensitive to detonation, wherein the deactivating agent is a plant.
US08618343B1
A new family of coherently grown composites of TUN and IMF zeotypes has been synthesized and shown to be effective catalysts for aromatic transalkylation reactions. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula. NanMmk+TtAl1-xExSiyOz where M represents a metal or metals from zinc or Group 1 (IUPAC 1), Group 2 (IUPAC 2), Group 3 (IUPAC 3) or the lanthanide series of the periodic table, T is the organic directing agent derived from reactants R and Q where R is an A,Ω-dihalosubstituted alkane such as 1,4-dibromobutane and Q is at least one neutral amine having 6 or fewer carbon atoms such as 1-methylpyrrolidine. E is a framework element such as gallium. The process involves transalkylation of a feedstream comprising one or more of C7, C9, C10 and C11+ aromatics to obtain a transalkylation product stream having an increased concentration of C8 aromatics relative to that of the feedstream.
US08618342B2
A process for the production of a mixture of alkylbenzenes in the presence of an aromatic feedstock and an olefinic stream produced from an ethylene feedstock is described, with said process comprising at least: a) A first stage for oligomerization of said ethylene feedstock that consists of at least one hydrocarbon effluent that comprises a mixture of olefins having a number of carbon atoms that is for the most part between 4 and 30, whereby said mixture of olefins comprises a C10-C24 olefinic fraction that has a mean linearity that is greater than 60%, in the presence of a homogeneous catalytic system, b) A second stage for oligomerization of the effluent that is obtained from said stage a) that consists of at least one hydrocarbon effluent that comprises a mixture of olefins having a number of carbon atoms that is for the most part between 4 and 30, whereby said mixture of olefins comprises a C10-C24 olefinic fraction that has a mean linearity that is less than 50%, in the presence of a homogeneous catalytic system that is identical to or different from the one that is used in said stage a), c) A stage for fractionation of the effluent that is obtained from said oligomerization stage b) in such a way as to recover at least one olefin-enriched olefinic stream having a number of carbon atoms that is greater than or equal to 9, d) A stage for alkylation of said olefinic stream by an aromatic feedstock.
US08618338B2
In this invention we are disclosing a process for the synthesis of hydrocchlorofluoro olefins (HCFO) and/or hydrofluoroolefins (HFO). The process is based on the gas phase, noncatalytic fluorination of hydrochlorofluoropropenes to form hydrofluoropropenes.
US08618336B2
A process for long-term operation of a heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of propene to acrolein, in which the propene present in the reaction gas input mixture is partially oxidized as this gas mixture passes through the fixed catalyst bed which is accommodated in two spatially successive temperature zones A, B, and, in long-term operation, as a measure to counteract the reduction in the quality of the fixed catalyst bed, the temperature of at least one of the two temperature zones is increased such that the difference TB−TA becomes increasingly greater, where TB is the temperature of temperature zone B, and TA the temperature of temperature zone A.
US08618325B2
A modular system and method for producing urea from bio-mass includes cleaning a bio-mass feedstock to remove substantially all non-organic matter; blending the cleaned bio-mass to obtain a substantially homogeneous blend; pelletizing the blended bio-mass; and gasifying the pellets in a gasifier. The bio-mass feedstock may include bio-mass materials having different processing characteristics. The gasifying step preferably includes pulverizing the pellets to a fine particle size, injecting an organic oil into the input biomass mist when needed, and controlling the feed rate to maintain a substantially constant burn temperature. The resultant syngas stream is cleaned and compressed to a high pressure of about 6,000 to 7,000 psi. The resultant ammonia stream is processed in a bypass recycling loop system at 30% conversion rate at a high pressure of about 6,000 to 7,000 psi.
US08618315B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-substituted 4-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydropyranols by reacting 3-methylbut-3-en-1-ol (isoprenol) with the corresponding aldehydes in the presence of a strongly acidic cation exchanger. Specifically, the present invention relates to a corresponding process for the preparation of 2-isobutyl-4-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydropyran by reacting isoprenol with isovaleraldehyde.
US08618313B2
Intermediates and methods of their use in the synthesis of analogs of halichondrin B are provided.
US08618309B2
Process for the preparation of sunitinib malate form I via sunitinib acetate and polymorphs of said intermediate.
US08618308B2
The present invention discloses a process for obtaining 4-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2-propyl-imidazole-5-carboxylate by the reaction of 4,4-dimethyl-2-propyl-4,6-dihydrofuro[3,4-d]imidazole, or its hydrolysis product, or its ring-opening product, with alcohol under appropriate catalytic conditions. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a process for obtaining high purity 4,4-dimethyl-2-propyl-4,6-dihydrofuro[3,4-d]imidazole.
US08618307B2
Described herein are compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, which modulate the activity of store-operated calcium (SOC) channels. Also described herein are methods of using such SOC channel modulators, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating diseases or conditions that would benefit from inhibition of SOC channel activity.
US08618301B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I).
US08618298B2
The compounds of the present invention are represented by the following formula (I): wherein M is represented by the following formula: with R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R10, R11, X1, X2, X3, L, a, b, c, d, e, x, y, and z defined herein.
US08618297B2
Novel mono-azide substituted rylene-imide derivatives, their use in methods for the detection of analytes and reagents kits for the detection of analytes comprising said novel mono-azide substituted rylene-imide derivatives.
US08618283B2
The invention provides compounds of general formulae (I)-(IV) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: The invention also provides methods of preparing the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and use of the compounds for the preparation of medicaments intended to modulate the activity of one or more members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) class. Compounds of the invention may be used to create a compound library for use in screening for agents which modulate signalling through GPCRs.
US08618262B2
The invention provides isolated human DEC-205, its extracellular domain and functionally equivalent fragments thereof. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding same and vectors which include such polynucleotides. Further provided are methods of recombinantly producing human DEC-205, an extracellular domain thereof or a functionally equivalent fragment, and ligands that bind to human DEC-205 or a fragment thereof. Also provided are constructs for use in prophylaxis or therapy comprising such a ligand, human DEC-205 or an extracellular domain thereof coupled to a toxin or to an antigen capable of inducing a protective immune response in a patient.
US08618260B2
The invention discloses 155 novel phosphorylation sites identified in carcinoma and leukemia, peptides (including AQUA peptides) comprising a phosphorylation site of the invention, antibodies specifically bind to a novel phosphorylation site of the invention, and diagnostic and therapeutic uses of the above.
US08618259B2
Conjugates of a Factor VIII moiety and one or more water-soluble polymers are provided. Typically, the water-soluble polymer is poly(ethylene glycol) or a derivative thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of making the conjugates, and methods of administering compositions comprising the conjugates to a patient.
US08618256B2
The growth hormone supergene family comprises greater than 20 structurally related cytokines and growth factors. A general method is provided for creating site-specific, biologically active conjugates of these proteins. The method involves adding cysteine residues to non-essential regions of the proteins or substituting cysteine residues for non-essential amino acids in the proteins using site-directed mutagenesis and then covalently coupling a cysteine-reactive polymer or other type of cysteine-reactive moiety to the proteins via the added cysteine residue. Disclosed herein are preferred sites for adding cysteine residues or introducing cysteine substitutions into the proteins, and the proteins and protein derivatives produced thereby.
US08618254B2
Compositions and methods are provided for alleviating cancer in a mammal by administering a therapeutic dose of a pharmaceutical composition that inhibits activity of AXL protein activity, for example by competitive or non-competitive inhibition of the binding interaction between AXL and its ligand GAS6.
US08618253B2
A reversibly modified ‘hot start’ RNAse H enzyme composition is described for the improved CATACLEAVE™ probe detection of nucleic acid sequences in a test sample. A key feature of the enzyme composition is the ability to regulate the catalytic activity of the RNAse H during the course of a reverse transcription-PCR cycle. Thus, RNAse H activity can be initially suppressed to minimize degradation of RNA:DNA primer heteroduplexes prior to reverse transcription. After cDNA synthesis is complete, RNAse H activity is induced to promote the cleavage and fluorescent detection of CATACLEAVE™ probes that anneal to target DNA sequences within the reverse transcriptase-PCR products. The inducible RNAse H enzyme is amenable to high throughput applications requiring one step reverse transcriptase CATACLEAVE™ PCR in a single reaction mix.
US08618247B2
Provided is a peptide containing a variable region and improved in production efficiency.The peptide contains a variable region to which an antigen-binding site is to be formed and has an amino acid sequence expressing a specific adsorption function to a solid phase at a site closer to the C-terminal than a heavy-chain variable region or at a site closer to the C-terminal than a light-chain variable region.
US08618238B2
One embodiment includes compositions of shape memory epoxy polymers.
US08618235B2
The present invention relates to silicone compositions which comprise at least one ketoximosilane-terminated polydiorganosiloxane and also at least one alkoxysilane. These compositions are neutrally crosslinking and combine a low odor with high adhesion and good storage stability.
US08618217B2
A topcoat composition to be applied on a resist film is provided, the topcoat composition including: (A) an alkali-soluble resin; (B) a compound containing at least one of an Si atom and an F atom, and increasing a contact angle on a surface of the topcoat film; and (C) a solvent.
US08618215B2
A modified polypropylene-based polymer obtained by graft modification of a propylene/α-olefin copolymer with a xylene-soluble portion of at least 40 mass % and no greater than 85 mass %, a xylene-soluble portion (XS) intrinsic viscosity (XSIV) of at least 2.5 dl/g, and an MFR value of no greater than 3.0 g/10 min at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg, using an unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative, and a flame retardant polyolefin-based resin composition having prescribed contents of a polyolefin-based resin component comprising 60-95 mass % of a polyolefin-based resin and 40-5 mass % of a modified polypropylene-based polymer, and an inorganic flame retardant component comprising an inorganic filler.
US08618209B2
Disclosed are a polyamide resin composition that includes (A) a crystalline polyamide mixed resin including an aliphatic group and at least two different crystalline polyamide resins, (B) a non-crystalline polyamide resin including an aromatic group, and (C) a glass fiber, and a molded product manufacture using the same.
US08618206B2
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles with low caking tendency and high absorption under pressure, comprising polymerization of a monomer solution or suspension, drying of the resulting polymer gel, grinding, classifying, thermal surface postcrosslinking and coating with silicon dioxide, wherein the water-absorbing polymer particles have been coated, before, during or after the surface postcrosslinking with aluminum cations.
US08618204B2
A two-part epoxy-based structural adhesive composition comprising a curable epoxy resin, an amine curing agent, a toughening agent, and an oil-displacing agent. The structural adhesive may optionally include reactive liquid modifiers, fillers, secondary curatives, reactive diluents, surfactants, metal salts, pigments and combinations thereof. The structural adhesive may be used to form bonded joints between adherends having clean surfaces, as well as those having surfaces contaminated with hydrocarbon-containing materials, such as oils, processing aids and lubricating agents.
US08618203B2
The present invention relates to a heat-meltable fluoropolymer composite composition having excellent thermal conductivity, gas and chemical liquid barrier properties and dynamic properties such as storage modulus which comprises a heat-meltable fluoropolymer fine powder and a layered-compound organized by treatment with tetraphenyl phosphonium ions. The present invention also relates to a heat-meltable fluoropolymer composite composition having similar properties to those mentioned above which is obtained by a process (I) in which a heat-meltable fluoropolymer composite composition is obtained by grinding and mixing a heat-meltable fluoropolymer fine powder and a layered-compound and a process (II) in which such heat-meltable fluoropolymer composite composition thus obtained is melted and mixed under shear stress by means of a melt-mixing extruder.
US08618202B2
The present invention relates to the use of surface-modified nanoparticles to alter the morphology and microstructure of polymer blends. The addition of surface modified nanoparticles to polymer blends comprised of immiscible polymers facilitates the uniform distribution of the dispersed phase of the polymer blend. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a polymer blend comprising (1) a continuous phase comprising at least one polymer, monomer or oligomer, and a plurality of surface-modified nanoparticles, having a particle diameter of less than about 100 nanometers, distributed in the continuous polymer phase; and (2) a dispersed phase comprising at least one polymer, monomer or oligomer, wherein the continuous polymer phase and the dispersed polymer phase are immiscible.
US08618200B2
An insulating tube for an electrode lead for medical use, particularly a cardiac pacemaker electrode lead, defibrillator electrode lead, electrode lead for nerve stimulation or the like, including a base material made of at least one material of the group consisting of silicones, polyurethanes, polyimide, PTFE, ETFE, and copolymers made of silicones and polyurethanes. In order to improve the functionality of such an insulating tube during friction of the tube with friction partners, at least in one volume region, which preferably forms the lateral surface of the insulating tube, the tube, in addition to the base material, includes a fibrous and/or particulate filler material having a higher abrasion resistance than the respective base material. A corresponding electrode lead is also provided, and a simple and cost-effective method for producing such an insulating tube and such an electrode lead.
US08618177B2
A method of treating or inhibiting, in particular, pain caused by inflammation in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective inflammatory pain alleviating amount of a (1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)-phenol compound or a physiologally acceptable salt thereof, such as the hydrochloride or citrate salt.
US08618176B2
The present invention relates to the use of compositions comprising trans-clomiphene for treating men with hypogonadism. The invention is also directed to methods for treating males with hypogonadism.
US08618167B2
The present invention provides for methods of treating cognitive deficits resulting from interruption of blood supply and/or oxygen deficit by administering a therapeutically effective dose of a sulfonyl fluoride, such as methanesulfonyl fluoride and ethanesulfonyl fluoride. The underlying cause of the or oxygen deficit can be from stroke, trauma, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other poisonings. This method also includes co-administering with sulfonyl fluoride with a therapeutically effective dose of a second agent.
US08618161B2
Fluorescent polymeric materials are disclosed comprising a polymeric particle and one or more lipid soluble rhodamine dyes, comprising the following core structure: wherein R11 and R15 are each H or are each F or Cl; R12, R13, and R14 are each H or are each F or Cl; and wherein at least one of R3′, R3″, R6′ and R6′ is a (C4-C20) alkyl. The materials are especially useful in the preparation of multicolored microparticles, especially multicolored polystyrene microparticle, for use in the multiplexed analysis of a plurality of analytes in a single sample. When excited by a light source, the materials give off a unique emission based on the nature, concentration and ratio of the dyes therein. Methods of preparing and using said materials are also disclosed.
US08618153B2
This disclosure concerns novel compounds of Formula (I) or as defined in the specification and compositions comprising such novel compounds. These compounds are useful antiviral agents, especially in inhibiting the function of the NS5A protein encoded by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Thus, the disclosure also concerns a method of treating HCV related diseases or conditions by use of these novel compounds or a composition comprising such novel compounds.
US08618152B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or mixtures thereof, that inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus NS3-NS4A protease. As such, they act by interfering with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are useful as antiviral agents. The invention further relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds either for ex vivo use or for administration to a patient suffering from HCV infection and processes for preparing the compounds. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a patient by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of this invention.
US08618150B2
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula I as follows: wherein Y, R1, R2, and are defined herein.
US08618144B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and method of using the same in the treatment or prevention of diseases mediated by the activation of β3-adrenoceptor.
US08618131B2
This invention provides biphenyl derivatives of formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, W, a, b and c are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate or stereoisomer thereof. The biphenyl derivatives of this invention possess both β2 adrenergic receptor agonist and muscarinic receptor antagonist activity and therefore, such biphenyl derivatives are useful for treating pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthmas.
US08618130B2
Behavioral pharmacological data with the compound of formula (I), a novel and selective 5HT2A/2C receptor inverse agonist, demonstrate in vivo efficacy in models of psychosis and dyskinesias. This includes activity in reversing MK-801 induced locomotor behaviors, suggesting that this compound may be an efficacious anti-psychotic, and activity in an MPTP primate model of dyskinesias, suggesting efficacy as an anti-dyskinesia agent. These data support the hypothesis that 5HT2A/2C receptor inverse agonism may confer antipsychotic and anti-dyskinetic efficacy in humans, and indicate a use of the compound of formula (I) and related agents as novel therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease, related human neurodegenerative diseases, and psychosis.
US08618126B2
The present invention relates to novel dihydroazole of formula (I) and salts thereof: Wherein R1, A1, A2, G, X and Y are as defined in the description, compositions thereof, processes for their preparation and their uses to prevent or treat parasitic infections or infestations in animals and as pesticides.
US08618117B2
The invention provides PDE9-inhibiting compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, A, and n are as defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of Formula I, and uses thereof in treating neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, are also provided.
US08618116B2
The present invention is concerned with deuterium-enriched pyrimidine compounds of formula I, their derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and methods of use thereof for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, hypertension, ischemic stroke, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, arterial fibrillation, Alzheimer's disease, cognition impairment, memory decline, and schizophrenia, and depression.
US08618108B2
The present invention provides strategies for making cyclic triamines. Reactant media including certain precursors and/or certain types of catalysts can be converted into cyclic triamines with improved conversion and selectivity. The strategies can be incorporated into reactions that involve transamination schemes and/or reductive amination schemes. In the case of transamination, for instance, using transamination to cause ring closure of higher amines in the presence of a suitable catalyst leads to desired cyclic triamines with notable conversion and yield. In the case of reductive amination, reacting suitable polyfunctional precursors in the presence of a suitable catalyst also yields cyclic triamines via ring closure with notable selectivity and conversion. Both transamination and reductive amination methodologies can be practiced under much milder temperatures than are used when solely acid catalysts are used. Preferred embodiments can produce reaction mixtures that are generally free of salt by-products.
US08618107B2
Pyridone and aza-pyridone compounds of Formula I are provided, including stereoisomers, tautomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, useful for inhibiting Btk kinase, and for treating immune disorders such as inflammation mediated by Btk kinase. Methods of using compounds of Formula I for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, and treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.
US08618106B2
In one aspect, the invention provides compounds of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for treatment of diseases or disorders mediated by a protein kinase, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of this invention.
US08618104B2
The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of methyl (R)-7-[3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-butyryl]-3-trifluoromethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine-1-carboxylate, their preparation methods and their use for preparing anti-diabetic medicaments are disclosed.
US08618097B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I), including tautomers, resolved enantiomers, diastereomers, solvates, metabolites, salts and pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs thereof. Also provided are methods of using the compounds of this invention as AKT protein kinase inhibitors and for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer.
US08618079B2
Novel imidazo[1,2-α]pyridinyl bisphosphonate compounds are disclosed, as well as methods of preparing the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and administration of the compounds in methods of treating abnormal calcium and phosphate metabolism, including bone and joint diseases and other disorders.
US08618077B2
Compositions and methods of treatment or prophylaxis of fragile-X associated disorders are provided, as well as methods of screening compounds and kits to screen a library of compounds.
US08618059B2
The present invention relates to treating a tissue in a mammal from the effects of reperfusion using flagellin.
US08618057B2
The present invention relates to an anticoagulant and a composition for preventing thrombus formation, which contain poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) as an active ingredient. The inventive PGA is a water-soluble, anionic, biodegradable and edible amino acid polymer material, which has an anticoagulant effect of preventing thrombi from being accumulated in blood vessels, shows an excellent sustained-release effect and is harmless to the human body. Thus, it is useful as a high-value-added anticoagulant and a food or beverage composition for preventing thrombus formation.
US08618056B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a lipid component; an amphiphilic emulsifier; and a polar liquid carrier. The lipid component and the amphiphilic emulsifier form free-moving lipid-carrying micelles (LMs) in the polar liquid carrier. The pharmaceutical composition is free of hemoglobin and fluorocarbon and can be used for treating conditions related to lack of blood supply and to raise the blood pressure.
US08618055B2
Described herein are peptide compositions of a prominin-1, which have regenerative activity. As such the peptides are useful when regeneration is needed, for example, to enhance angiogenesis, increase VEGF binding to endothelial cells, promote vasodilation, enhance cell migration, enhance cell proliferation, stimulate neuronal growth, prevent neurodegeneration, and/or promote neuroregeneration.
US08618052B2
The present invention is directed to a method for treating a human patient for coronary artery disease, comprising administering into at least one coronary vessel of a human patient in need of treatment for coronary artery disease a safe and angiogenically effective dose of a recombinant FGF-5 of SEQ ID NO:9, or an angiogenically active fragment or mutein thereof. The invention is also directed to a method for inducing angiogenesis in the heart of a patient, comprising administering into at least one coronary vessel of a human patient in need of coronary angiogenesis a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant FGF-5 of SEQ ID NO:9, or an angiogenically active fragment or mutein thereof.
US08618049B2
Compositions and methods related to ester insulin or derivatives thereof are provided. The compositions include GluA4-ThrB30 ester insulin, in which side chains of GluA4 and ThrB30 of native human insulin or an insulin analogue such as insulin lispro are covalently linked via a single ester bond. The ester insulin is efficiently folded, forming the desired disulfides. The ThrB30-GluA4 ester bond can be cleaved in vitro or in vivo to give the desired folded insulin with full biological activity. The ester insulin is readily prepared by total chemical synthesis, and amendable to cost-effective, large scale manufacturing. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and kits for use in practicing the subject methods. Also provided are methods of using the subject compositions and kits in the treatment of a variety of different disease conditions, particularly glucose metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.
US08618048B2
New biosynthetic analogues of recombined human insulin of prolonged therapeutical activity, which can find place in prophylactic and treatment of diabetes.
US08618046B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating atherosclerosis and/or atherosclerosis sequelae with a compound that includes FX8(F)oPX9HX10X11X12DX2X3X4X5X6X7 where X8 is G, A, F, Y or K, X9 is E, Y, A, Q, K or S, X10 is H, V, L, F or I, X11 is L, W, S, I, F or Y, X12 is V, T, F or I, X5 is S or Y, X6 is L, A or I, X7 is S, N or T, and o is 0 or 1.
US08618040B2
Compositions and methods based on the use of fluoroalkene containing from 3 to 4 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond, such as HFO-1214, HFO-HFO-1233, or HFO-1354, having properties highly beneficial in foaming and blowing agent applications, articles and methods.
US08618037B2
The present invention relates to sulfuric/nitric blended acid cleaners which employ the use of ethoxylated amines and/or ethoxylated alcohols as a corrosion and stain inhibitor in the vapor phase for cleaning metal and other surfaces, particularly stainless steel. Method of use and manufacturing of the same are also disclosed.
US08618034B2
An aqueous composition comprising: (a) an acyl isethionate of formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having from (7) to (21) carbon atoms and M+ a cation; and (b) an amphoteric, betaine or sultaine surfactant; wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is more than 3:1. R1CO2CH2CH2SO3−M+ (I)
US08618031B2
The deposit formation resistance performance of turbine oils containing amine antioxidants and antiwear additives is enhanced beyond the level of that of turbine oils containing tricresyl phosphate antiwear additive by employing as the antiwear additive a 4,4′-(Isopropylidenediphenyl)bis(diphenyl phosphate).
US08618029B2
The present invention provides overbased detergents as lubricating oil additives effective for the lubrication of mechanical components in land and marine engines, such as, for example, hydraulic systems, transmissions, two-stroke and four-stroke vehicular engines, trunk piston and two-stroke crosshead marine engines. These overbased detergents lead to improved detergency and thermal stability performances versus high overbased sulfonates. Moreover, they are more compatible with commercial phenates than conventional sulfonates.
US08618028B2
Fire resistant lubricating grease compositions resistant to self ignition and/or capable of self extinguishment when contacted with surfaces having temperatures of up to 900° C. are disclosed. The invention provides for grease compositions comprising (1) base oil (which can be mineral, vegetable, synthetic or combinations thereof), (2) at least one grease thickener (selected from calcium sulfonates or lithium-based soaps), and (3) water as major components. The invention also provides a method for the preparation of the grease composition and a method for lubrication of bearings, gears, surfaces and other lubricated components comprising use of the grease composition of the present invention. The grease compositions of this invention display excellent fire resistance properties and still have outstanding physical and performance characteristics for applications where temperatures and loads are high, shock loading is significant and in the presence of significant amounts of water.
US08618010B2
The present invention relates to new processes for regenerating oxidized interstitial metal hydride containing catalysts prior to the use of such catalysts in a hydroprocessing process. Interstitial metal hydride containing catalysts are easily oxidized in the environment and once oxidized, the hydroprocessing activity of the interstitial metal hydrides is most often severely diminished and this lost activity due to oxidization of the iMeH is not susceptible to recovery under hydroprocessing conditions. As a result, these catalysts in the present art require considerable special handling in inert environments all through processes from fabrication, shipping, loading, use, and maintenance of the catalyst systems to protect the activity of the interstitial metal hydride components. The present invention embodies a process regenerating oxidized interstitial metal hydride containing catalysts prior to their use in a hydroprocessing environment, thereby eliminating the requirement for maintaining the interstitial metal hydride containing catalysts in an inert environment, and allowing the handling of such catalysts in an oxidized condition prior to use.
US08618006B2
A cement free refractory mixture contains aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, fumed silica, aluminum metal, an anti-oxidant, reactive alumina, and a carbon-bearing material. The mixture can be formed by conventional techniques to create refractory articles to contain or direct the flow of liquid metals. Refractory articles formed by the mixture do not require firing to achieve an initial cure.
US08617996B1
Methods for removal of fins from a semiconductor structure are provided. A fin liner is applied to the fins. The fin liner is then removed from the fins that are to be removed. The fin liner is of a material that is selective compared to the semiconductor fins. Hence, the fins can be removed without significant damage to the fin liner. The subsets of fins that are to be removed are then removed, while the fin liner protects the adjacent fins that are to be kept.
US08617991B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an interlayer dielectric film that has first and second trenches on first and second regions of a substrate, respectively, forming a first metal layer along a sidewall and a bottom surface of the first trench and along a top surface of the interlayer dielectric film in the first region, forming a second metal layer along a sidewall and a bottom surface of the second trench and along a top surface of the interlayer dielectric film in the second region, forming a first sacrificial layer pattern on the first metal layer such that the first sacrificial layer fills a portion of the first trench, forming a first electrode layer by etching the first metal layer and the second metal layer using the first sacrificial layer pattern, and removing the first sacrificial layer pattern.
US08617990B2
Embodiments are directed to semiconductor packaging having reduced sized plated through hole (PTH) pads by eliminating the margin of the pad-to-PTH alignment and enabling finer traces on the core of the substrate.
US08617988B2
A method of etching through-substrate vias comprising depositing a layer of embossable material on a first side and a second side of a thin-film stack, the thin-film stack including a base substrate, embossing the embossable material deposited on the first side and the second side of the thin-film stack with a pattern, hardening the embossable material, and etching the first and second sides of the thin-film stack, the etching of the second side of the thin-film stack forming vias through the base substrate.
US08617979B2
According to one embodiment, a method can include dry etching an interlayer insulating layer provided on a foundation layer by using a mask having a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings arranged more closely than the first openings to form simultaneously a first hole reaching the foundation layer under each of the first openings and a second hole reaching the foundation layer under the second openings. The first hole reaches the foundation layer without contacting any other first holes. After starting of the dry etching, a plurality of holes are formed under each of the plurality of second openings, and with the progress of the dry etching, the plurality of holes are connected with each other at least at their upper parts including their open ends to form the second hole having an opening area larger than an opening area of the first hole.
US08617972B2
A deposition process to form a conformal phase change material film on the surface of a substrate to produce a memory device wafer comprises providing a substrate to a chamber of a deposition system; providing an activation region; introducing one or more precursors into the chamber upstream of the substrate; optionally introducing one or more co-reactants upstream of the substrate; activating the one or more precursors; heating the substrate; and depositing the phase change material film on the substrate from the one or more precursors by chemical vapor deposition. The deposited phase change material film comprises GexSbyTezAm in which A is a dopant selected from the group of N, C, In, Sn, and Se. In one implementation, the process is carried out to form GST films doped with carbon and nitrogen, to impart beneficial film growth and performance properties to the film.
US08617969B2
A method for producing a semiconductor optical device includes the steps of growing a semiconductor stacked layer including an etch stop layer and a plurality of semiconductor layers on a major surface of a substrate; forming a mask layer on a top surface of the semiconductor stacked layer so that a tip portion of each of protrusions that protrude from the top surface among protrusions generated in the step of growing the semiconductor stacked layer is exposed; etching the protrusion by wet etching using the mask layer; after etching the protrusion by wet etching, removing the protrusion by dry etching; and removing the mask layer from the top surface, after removing the protrusion by dry etching.
US08617962B2
The invention relates to finishing a substrate of the semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) type comprising an insulator layer buried between two semiconducting material layers. The method successively comprises routing the annular periphery of the substrate so as to obtain a routed substrate, and encapsulating the routed substrate so as to cover the routed side edge of the buried insulator layer by means of a semiconducting material.
US08617960B2
A capacitive microphone transducer integrated into an integrated circuit includes a fixed plate and a membrane formed in or above an interconnect region of the integrated circuit. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a capacitive microphone transducer includes etching access trenches through the fixed plate to a region defined for the back cavity, filling the access trenches with a sacrificial material, and removing a portion of the sacrificial material from a back side of the integrated circuit.
US08617958B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming diodes. A stack may be formed over a first conductive material. The stack may include, in ascending order, a sacrificial material, at least one dielectric material, and a second conductive material. Spacers may be formed along opposing sidewalls of the stack, and then an entirety of the sacrificial material may be removed to leave a gap between the first conductive material and the at least one dielectric material. In some embodiments of forming diodes, a layer may be formed over a first conductive material, with the layer containing supports interspersed in sacrificial material. At least one dielectric material may be formed over the layer, and a second conductive material may be formed over the at least one dielectric material. An entirety of the sacrificial material may then be removed.
US08617952B2
A method includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of pillar structures extending orthogonally from the semiconductor wafer. Each pillar structure forms a vertical pillar transistor having a top surface and a side surface orthogonal to the top surface. Then a hardening species is implanted into the vertical pillar transistor top surface. Then the vertical pillar transistor side surface is oxidized to form a side surface oxide layer. The side surface oxide layer is removed to form vertical pillar transistor having rounded side surfaces.
US08617951B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device which includes forming a conductive layer for a floating gate above a semiconductor layer intervening a gate insulating film therebetween, then, forming, over the conductive layer, a first spacer comprising a first silicon oxide material and a second spacer adjacent with the first spacer and comprising a second silicon oxide material, the second silicon oxide material having an etching rate lower than that of the first silicon oxide material, selectively removing the conductive layer by using the first and the second spacers as a mask, and removing the first spacer to expose a portion of the conductive layer. Since the etching rate for the second spacer is lower compared with the etching rate for the first spacer, the etching amount of the second spacer caused upon removal of the first spacer can be suppressed and, as a result, the productivity and the reliability of the semiconductor memory device can be improved.
US08617950B2
A capacitor is fabricated by forming a mold layer of a silicon based material that is not an oxide of silicon, e.g., polysilicon or doped polysilicon, on a substrate, forming an opening through the mold layer, forming a barrier layer pattern along the sides of the opening, subsequently forming a lower electrode in the opening, then removing the mold layer and the barrier layer pattern, and finally sequentially forming dielectric layer and an upper electrode on the lower electrode.
US08617944B2
An etchant composition for etching a transparent electrode is provided, the etchant composition includes an inorganic acid, an ammonium (NH4+)-containing compound, a cyclic amine compound, and the remaining amount of water.
US08617932B2
A display device includes a display unit, a sealing substrate, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a conductive wire member. The display unit is formed over a substrate. A sealing substrate is secured to the substrate by a bonding layer, and comprising a composite member and an insulating member. A first metal layer is formed over the inner surface of the sealing substrate facing the substrate, and a second metal layer is formed over the outer surface of the sealing substrate. A conductive wire member successively passes through at least two points of each of the first metal layer, the insulating member, and the second metal layer, and is secured to the sealing substrate to provide conduction of the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
US08617922B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a plurality of first integrated circuits on the surface side of a first semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of second integrated circuits in a semiconductor layer that is formed on a release layer provided on a second semiconductor substrate; bonding the two semiconductor substrates so that electrically bonding portions are bonded to each other to form a bonded structure; separating the second semiconductor substrate from the bonded structure at the release layer to transfer, to the first semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor layer in which the plurality of second integrated circuits are formed; and dicing the first semiconductor substrate to obtain stacked chips each including the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit.
US08617921B2
Devices and methods for their formation, including electronic assemblies having a shape memory material structure, are described. In one embodiment, a device includes a package substrate and an electronic component coupled to the package substrate. The device also includes a shape memory material structure coupled to the package substrate. In one aspect of certain embodiments, the shape memory material structure is formed from a material selected to have a martensite to austenite transition temperature in the range of 50-300 degrees Celsius. In another aspect of certain embodiments, the shape memory material structure is positioned to extend around a periphery of the electronic component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08617920B2
It is an object to provide a semiconductor device having excellent electric characteristics or high reliability, or a manufacturing method thereof. A semiconductor device including a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, and a gate insulating layer provided between the gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor layer is provided. The oxide semiconductor layer is formed by a facing target sputtering method. The carrier concentration of the oxide semiconductor is less than 1×1012/cm3.
US08617918B2
A thermoelectric converter is made of a first thermoelectric conversion material in which at least one type of second thermoelectric conversion material particles having an average size of 1 to 100 nm is dispersed. At least a part of the second thermoelectric conversion material particles is dispersed at a distance not more than the mean free path of the phonons of the first thermoelectric conversion material.
US08617903B2
The present disclosure relates to methods that may be used for the detection of allergens.
US08617895B2
The present invention is directed to a pre-coated substrate, such as a slide, that is useful for immobilizing a sample. The invention is further provides methods of preparing such pre-coated substrates and methods of analyzing biological samples immobilized on such pre-coated substrate. The substrate is coated with a polycationic polymeric coating material specifically selected such that that coated substrate exhibits increased stability and prolonged shelf-life. Preferred polymeric coating materials include allylic or vinylic polymers having cationic groups thereon and having no more than a small percentage of peptidic monomeric linkages, particularly polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA).
US08617887B2
The present invention is generally in the field of neurological diseases and disorders, particular in the field of neurodegenerative diseases in which the myelin cover of nerves is lost. IL6R/IL6 chimera is used to promote the formation of oligodendrocytes from embryonic stem cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or posttraumatic nerve damage.
US08617882B2
The invention features methods of inducing hair follicle formation in a mammal by transplantation of skin-derived precursors (SKPs) and keratinocytes into the skin of the mammal. The invention also features compositions and kits including SKPs and keratinocytes. In other aspects, the invention features methods for producing dermal sheets from SKPs, methods for using such sheets and dermal sheets produced by SKPs.
US08617872B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for culturing spirochetes and treating spirochetal diseases. For example, the present invention provides serum-free media for culturing spirochete bacteria in vitro. The present invention further provides methods for identifying spirochete susceptibilities to antimicrobials and antimicrobial compositions and cocktails. The present invention also provides methods for treating subjects suspected of having a spirochete infection.
US08617866B2
Disclosed is an enzymatic process for the preparation of fatty acid alkyl esters, particularly fatty acids methyl esters (biodiesel) in a solvent-free microaqueous system, from a fatty acid source and an alcohol or alcohol donor, employing a robust lipase preparation that comprises at least two lipases separately or jointly immobilized on a suitable support, where one of the lipases has increased affinity to partial glycerides, another is sn-1,3 positional specific, and an optional third lipase has high selectivity towards sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone of the fatty acid source.
US08617858B2
The invention relates to a method for the enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of polyacrylic acid esters. According to the method, at least one polyacrylic acid ester is provided and incubated with at least one enzyme selected from enzymes (EC 3.1) acting on ester bindings, until the ester groups contained in the polyacrylic acid ester are partially or fully hydrolytically split, and optionally the modified polymer obtained thereby is isolated. The invention also relates to the enzymes used and mutants thereof, nucleic acids coding for the enzymes, vectors comprising the nucleic acids, micro-organisms comprising the vectors, and the use of the enzymes, the vectors or the micro-organisms for carrying out a method for the enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of polyacrylic acid esters. The present application also relates to polymer reaction products that can be obtained by the method, and methods for producing esterases.
US08617851B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for treating cellulose to make it more accessible for enzymatic or chemical modification. The invention includes treating cellulose with an alkali in an alcohol/water co-solvent system. The treatment decrystallizes or deaggregates the cellulosic material. The methods and systems increase the efficiency of enzymatic or chemical modifications of cellulose for use as biofuels or cellulose derivatives.
US08617847B2
The invention relates to antibody molecules having specificity for antigenic determinants of both IL-17A and IL-17F, therapeutic uses of the antibody molecules and methods for producing said antibody molecules.
US08617840B2
Lysis/resealing process for preparing erythrocytes which contain an active ingredient (e.g. aspariginase or inositol hexaphosphate), the process comprising the following steps: (1) placing a globular concentrate in suspension in an isotonic solution having a haematocrit level which is equal to or greater than 65%, with refrigeration at from +1 to +8° C., (2) measuring the osmotic fragility based on a sample of erythrocytes from that same globular concentrate, preferably on a sample of the suspension obtained in step (1), (3) lysis and internalization procedure of the active ingredient, inside the same chamber, at a temperature which is constantly maintained at from +1 to +8° C., comprising allowing the erythrocyte suspension having a haematocrit level which is equal to or greater than 65% and a hypotonic lysis solution which is refrigerated at from +1 to +8° C. to circulate in a dialysis cartridge; the lysis parameters being adjusted in accordance with the osmotic fragility previously measured; and (4) resealing procedure carried out in a second chamber at a temperature of from +30 to +40° C. by means of a hypertonic solution.
US08617837B2
The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits altered properties relative to the parent alpha-amylase.
US08617836B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining or predicting the response of a patient diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy. The present invention also aims to provide methods and devices for predicting the response of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer to specific medicaments, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. More specifically, the present invention provides methods which measure kinase activity by studying phosphorylation levels and profiles in samples of said patients.
US08617835B2
A reagent composition for a biosensor sensor strip is disclosed that provides for rapid rehydration after drying. The composition includes porous particles and is preferably formed as a colloidal suspension. The dried reagent composition including porous particles may provide analytically useful output from the sensor strip in a shorter time period than observed from dried reagent compositions using solid particles. The output signal from the porous particle compositions may be correlated to the analyte concentration of a sample within about two seconds. In this manner, an accurate concentration determination of an analyte concentration in a sample may be obtained in less time than from sensor strips including conventional compositions. The reagent composition including the porous particles also may allow for the redox reaction between the reagents and the analyte to reach a maximum kinetic performance in a shorter time period than observed from conventional sensor strips.
US08617830B2
In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: a) obtaining the antibody sequences from a population of B cells; b) grouping the antibody sequences to provide a plurality of groups of lineage-related antibodies; c) testing a single antibody from each of the groups in a bioassay and, after the first antibody has been identified, d) testing further antibodies that are in the same group as the first antibody in a second bioassay. In another embodiment, the method may comprise: a) testing a plurality of antibodies obtained from a first portion of an antibody producing organ of an animal; b) obtaining the sequence of a first identified antibody; c) obtaining from a second portion of said antibody producing organ the sequences of further antibodies that are related by lineage to said first antibody; and, c) testing the further antibodies in a second bioassay.
US08617825B2
Measurement of circulating ST2 and/or IL-33 concentrations is useful for the prognostic evaluation of subjects, in particular for the prediction of adverse clinical outcomes, e.g., mortality, and the detection of severe disease.
US08617823B2
The invention is directed to β1-6 glucans, compositions, diagnostic kits, and devices comprising the same, and methods of use thereof in modulating immune response and treating, delaying progression of, reducing the incidence or severity of cancer, infection, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. The β1-6 glucans of certain embodiments of the invention are enriched for O-acetylated groups and/or conjugated to a solid support or linked to a targeting moiety. The β1-6 glucans of certain embodiments of the invention recruit immunoglobulin G antibodies to mediate complement and neutrophil killing. The conjugated β1-6 glucans of certain embodiments of the invention are targeted to cells to stimulate the immune response at the target location by activating complement-mediated lysis and recruitment of neutrophils.
US08617815B2
This invention relates to methods to stabilize and/or improve the function of parenchymal cells. Also provided are systems of co-cultures of hepatocyte-stabilizing non-parenchymal cells used in bioreactor microenvironments to identify hepatic stabilizing factors by gene-expression profiling.
US08617814B2
Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture for assaying a sample for a target polynucleotide are provided. A sample suspected of containing the target polynucleotide is contacted with a polycationic multichromophore and a sensor polynucleotide complementary to the target polynucleotide. The sensor polynucleotide comprises a signaling chromophore to receive energy from the excited multichromophore and increase emission in the presence of the target polynucleotide. The methods can be used in multiplex form. Kits comprising reagents for performing such methods are also provided.
US08617802B2
A preservation solution for organs waiting to be transplanted is disclosed; the method of using the solution in a transplantation procedure is also disclosed. The preservation solutions comprise a balanced isotonic aqueous solution comprising sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate ions in a physiologically acceptable amount, together with an effective amount of a mutein of the C5a anaphylatoxin which is a C5a receptor antagonist wherein the amino acid residue naturally occurring at sequence position 69 is mutated.
US08617791B2
The present invention relates to a fluorine-free photoacid generator (PAG) and a photoresist composition containing the same. The PAG is characterized by the presence of an onium cationic component and a fluorine-free fused ring heteroaromatic sulfonate anionic component containing one or more electron withdrawing substituents. The onium cationic component of the PAG is preferably a sulfonium or an iodonium cation. The photoresist composition further contains an acid sensitive imaging polymer. The photoresist composition is especially useful for forming material patterns on a semiconductor substrate using 193 nm (ArF) lithography.
US08617790B2
A photoresist composition comprising (A) a resin which has an acid-labile group-containing structural unit and a lactone ring-containing structural unit, and (B) a salt represented by formula (I): wherein Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or a C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl group, n represents 0 or 1, L1 represents a single bond or a C1-C10 alkanediyl group in which a methylene group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group, provided that L1 is not a single bond when n is 0, R1 represents a hydroxy group or a hydroxy group protected by a protecting group, and Z+ represents an organic cation.
US08617789B2
A photoacid generator represented by the following formula (1), a method for producing the photoacid generator, and a resist composition containing the photoacid generator are provided. wherein in the formula (1), Y1, Y2, X, R1, R2, n1, n2 and A+ have the same meanings as defined in the detailed description of the invention. The photoacid generator can maintain an appropriate contact angle at the time of ArF liquid immersion lithography, can reduce defects occurring during liquid immersion lithography, and has excellent solubility in resist solvents and excellent compatibility with resins. Furthermore, the photoacid generator can be produced by an efficient and simple method using an epoxy compound that is industrially easily available.
US08617783B2
An ink contains dispersed particles, individually including at least one thermoplastic first resin exhibiting a MFI less than or equal to 100, at least one thermoplastic second resin exhibiting a MFI greater than 100, and a white pigment. A liquid toner producing method includes forming a paste containing the resins, combining the paste with a white pigment, and after combining the paste and pigment, applying a shear force, encapsulating the pigment, and dispersing the encapsulated pigment. A digital printing method includes providing a liquid marking agent containing charged particles dispersed in a carrier liquid, individual particles including at least one thermoplastic first resin and at least one thermoplastic second resin encapsulating a white pigment, and printing a hard image on a substrate. At least a portion of the image has a white color.
US08617776B2
A method and system for printing documents with one or more embedded security features is provided. Security features are embedded in the document by co-printing magnetic and non-magnetic toner on a receiver before fixation by a fixing station. The combination of magnetic and non-magnetic toners in the image results in image elements that easily show alteration or are undetectable by visual means.
US08617762B2
A method of processing a ceramic electrolyte suitable for use in a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises situating a ceramic electrolyte layer over an anode layer; and subjecting the ceramic electrolyte layer to a stress prior to operation of the fuel cell, by: exposing the top surface of the electrolyte layer to an oxidizing atmosphere and the bottom surface of the electrolyte layer to a reducing atmosphere; and heating the electrolyte layer. The stress causes a substantial increase in the number of microcracks, or in the average size of the microcracks, or in both the number of the microcracks and their average size. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer processed by the disclosed method is also provided.
US08617759B2
A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes an electrically conductive plate having a first surface defining a plurality of channels. An active area section and an inactive area section characterize the flow field channels. A hydrophobic layer is disposed over at least a portion of the inactive area section while a hydrophilic layer is disposed over at least a portion of the active area section.
US08617757B2
A fuel cell system includes a storage device, a fuel cell, a power circuit, a controller, and a memory. The memory stores a favorable combination range in which the combination of a water distribution condition of the fuel cell and the state of charge of the storage device is suitable for the required power of the vehicle, and the controller includes a water distribution condition estimating and acquiring unit that acquires the water distribution condition of the fuel cell, a state-of-charge acquiring unit that acquires the state of charge of the storage device, a combination status determining unit that determines whether the combination of the acquired water distribution condition and the acquired state of charge is within the favorable combination range, and a combination status improving unit that improves the water distribution condition of the fuel cell when the combination is not within the favorable combination range.
US08617754B2
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for independently controlling the operation of fuel cell stacks and to fuel cell systems incorporating the same. These systems and methods may include providing a fuel cell system including a plurality of fuel cell stacks and at least a first energy storage device and controlling the operation of the plurality of fuel cell stacks based at least in part on a variable associated with the fuel cell system and/or an energy consuming device. These systems and methods may further include beginning production of electrical output from the fuel cell system responsive to a start condition, initiating production of electrical output from the plurality of fuel cell stacks responsive to a plurality of stack start conditions, and ceasing the production of electrical output from the fuel cell stacks responsive to at least a first stack stop condition.
US08617746B2
An Si/C composite includes carbon (C) dispersed in porous silicon (Si) particles. The Si/C composite may be used to form an anode active material to provide a lithium battery having a high capacity and excellent capacity retention.
US08617743B2
A primary electrochemical cell having an anode comprising lithium and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and carbon particles. The cell is balanced so that the anode is in theoretical capacity excess (mAmp-hrs) compared to the theoretical capacity of the cathode. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in organic solvent.
US08617736B2
Flexible electrodes comprising: a fabric substrate; a conductive polymer, copolymer or mixture of conductive polymers comprising a first component which has high specific electrochemical capacitance, and a second component which has a lower electrochemical capacitance, lower molecular density, and greater electrical conductivity compared to the first component; and a counterion stable to lithium are described. The first component may be a polymer such as polyaniline or polypyrrole, and second component may be a polymer such as polythiophene or polyEDOT. Copolymers, and polymers formed from co-monomer of these monomer units are also described. The electrodes are used in flexible devices such as flexible energy storage devices.
US08617735B2
A battery module includes one or more cell assemblies with a plurality of unit cells, and a housing for mounting the cell assemblies therein and circulating a temperature control cooling medium through the cell assemblies. The cell assemblies are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing. A guidance unit is installed in a cooling medium passage formed in the longitudinal direction of the housing, and proceeds along the passage to guide cooling medium flow along the passage toward the cell assemblies.
US08617733B2
An electrochemical energy storage device includes at least one cell having at least one cathode, one anode, and one electrolyte which enables a current flow from the anode to the cathode. The electrochemical storage device is connected to a reservoir which contains a cover layer-forming additive.
US08617723B2
The present invention relates to metal complexes of the formula (1) and to the use thereof in organic electroluminescent devices, and to organic electroluminescent devices which comprise these metal complexes.
US08617716B2
The present invention relates to essentially transparent glazings comprising a system of films deposited under vacuum by magnetron, and having antisun and/or low-emission properties, comprising as protective surface layer a layer based on titanium oxide and on at least one other metal oxide of high hardness from the group comprising: ZrO2, SiO2, Cr2O3. The glazings according to the invention are of a nature to withstand a heat treatment at 550° C. for 5 minutes without giving rise to the presence of optical effects, especially of coloration or iridescence. These glazings are termed toughenable.
US08617709B2
Disclosed herein is a functionalized metal nanoparticle, a buffer layer including the functionalized metal nanoparticle, and an electronic device including the buffer layer. The buffer layer including the functionalized metal nanoparticle according to example embodiments may improve the injection of electrons or holes and the charge mobility between layers in the electronic device, may form ohmic contacts, and may improve the selectivity between electrodes and the buffer layer at the time of forming the buffer layer on the electrodes, thereby improving the efficiency of the electronic device.
US08617706B2
First pellets according to the present invention is characterized by satisfying all of the following requirements (Z), (1), (2), and (3): (Z) the pellet comprises a polymer (A) having an elastic modulus in tension of 100 MPa or less, (1) the pellets have an average weight per 30 pellets in the range of 0.80 to 2.00 g; (2) the pellets have a particle size distribution obtained by sieving in which pellets providing a maximum weight fraction account for 90 to 100% of the pellets; and (3) the pellets have a Lave/Dave value in the range of 1.00 to 1.70. Second pellets according to the present invention is characterized by satisfying the requirements of the (Z) and the following (4): (4) the pellets have a blocking force of 35 N or less that is measured after the pellets are left under a load at 35° C. for 24 hours and further at −10° C. for 7 days.
US08617704B2
A coated medical implant, such as a coated dental component, is provided, the coated medical implant including a substrate surface formed of a material comprising available hydroxyl groups and a silicon oxide coating layer chemisorbed on the substrate surface. A method for the preparation of such coated implants is also provided, the method involving application of the silicon oxide coating layer to the substrate surface by chemical vapor deposition. A dental structure is also provided, which includes a first dental component having a substrate surface formed of a material comprising available hydroxyl groups; a silicon oxide coating layer chemisorbed on the substrate surface; a silane coupling agent overlying and covalently attached to the silicon oxide layer; a dental cement overlying and coupled to the silane coupling agent; and a second dental component having a surface bonded to the dental cement.
US08617699B2
A method includes dispensing a first polymer or predominantly polymer material foam precursor and allowing the precursor to rise and at least partially set to form a foam core layer for an insulation board, the foam core layer having a first density. The method further comprises dispensing a second polymer or predominantly polymer material foam precursor and allowing the second precursor to rise and set to form a core layer for a cover board, the core layer for the cover board having a second density greater than the first density. The second foam precursor may include polyisocyanurate. The method may also include feeding facer materials over the precursors to form facers on the core layers. Such insulation boards and cover boards may be cut to length and installed on a roof.
US08617684B2
There are provided a vacuum thermal insulating material that is excellent in terms of a handling property, a thermal insulating property, creep resistance, and productivity; and a thermal insulating box including the vacuum thermal insulating material. A core material was enclosed and sealed in a wrapping material with a gas barrier property. The core material of the vacuum thermal insulating material in which the interior of the wrapping material is in a decompression state, is constituted by one organic fibrous assembly having continuous organic fibers formed sheet-shaped or a stack of the organic fibrous assemblies.
US08617681B2
A method and apparatus for producing labeled, plastic foam containers, such as a labeled EPS cup uses a heated pocket to thermally bond a label to a plastic cup. Also described is a labeled plastic foam container, such as a labeled EPS cup, having high quality printing capabilities, sufficient stiffness, acceptable insulation and barrier properties and reduced production cost.
US08617679B2
The invention relates to a large-volume packing container for bitumen, the container being made of flexible material and having approximately a truncated pyramid-like basic shape prior to filling, wherein the container is closed at the top by a cover wall (6) extending parallel to the bottom surface and having a preferably central filling opening (10). In order to achieve self-stabilization during filling, or stability during storage, in the temperature range from 100° to 110° C. the woven fabric forming the walls (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) has a stretching capacity of 10-25%, preferably 15-20%, in the direction of the warp and weft, wherein stabilizing means (14), such as pleats, seams, strips or the like are drawn or sewn into the lower region of the fabric panels forming the lateral walls (1, 2, 3, 4) in order to stabilize the woven fabric to forces occurring obliquely to the warp and weft.
US08617674B2
A multi-layer sheet designed for the sealing of a container (10) made of glass by heat sealing on the sealing ring (12) of the container treated by means of oxides and/or of metal salts comprises at least a support layer (21) and a lower layer (22) made of a polymeric heat-sealable material onto which is grafted an unsaturated carboxylic acid.
US08617667B2
Methods of leveling ink on substrates and apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the methods includes irradiating ink disposed on a surface of a porous substrate with radiation emitted by at least one radiant energy source. The radiation heats the ink to at least a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink to allow the ink to flow laterally on the surface to produce leveling of the ink. The ink is heated sufficiently rapidly that heat transfer from the ink to the substrate is sufficiently small during the leveling that ink at the substrate interface is cooled to a temperature below the viscosity threshold temperature thereby preventing any significant ink permeation into the substrate.
US08617659B2
Methods are provided for applying a layer to a honeycomb body. The methods include the steps of applying a cement mixture to a cylindrical surface of the honeycomb body and rotating the honeycomb body and a blade relative to one another about a longitudinal axis of the honeycomb body. The methods further include the steps of holding the blade at a first interior angle during a relative rotation of the honeycomb body and the blade about the longitudinal axis. The methods then include the step of moving the blade from the first interior angle to a second interior angle greater than the first interior angle. The methods still further include the step of rotating of the honeycomb body and the blade relative to one another about the longitudinal axis after the blade begins to move from the first interior angle toward the second interior angle.
US08617657B2
A method of making a block polyimide copolymer containing a first small block copolymer segment and a second larger block segment includes the steps of (a) reacting a first aromatic acid dianhydride with an aromatic diamine in a molar ratio from about 10:100 to about 50:100, respectively, to obtain the small block copolymer, (b) reacting the small block copolymer and excess amount of diamine with a second acid dianhydride in such a quantity that a total aromatic acid dianhydride and a total aromatic diamine are equimolar to obtain a precursor solution containing the first small block copolymer segment and the second larger block segment, (c) forming a film, laminate, or coating on a substrate, and (d) cyclodehydrating the film, laminate, or coating by chemical or thermal imidization.
US08617652B2
Embodiments relate to depositing on one or more layers of materials on a fiber or fiber containing material using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to provide or enhance functionalities of the fibers or fiber containing material. A layer of material is deposited coated on the fibers or fiber containing textile by causing the relative movement between a fiber or the fiber containing textile and a source injector. The surface of the material is oxidized, nitrified or carbonized to increase the volume of the deposited material. By increasing the volume of the material, the material is subject to compressive stress. The compressive stress renders the fibers or the fiber containing material more rigid, stronger and more resistant against bending force, impact or tensile force.
US08617650B2
Synthesis of aligned carbon nanotubes on double-sided metallic substrate by chemical vapor depositon
Aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes were grown on both sides of a metallic or metal-coated substrate by water vapor-assisted chemical vapor deposition. Aligned carbon nanotube films of thickness ranging from 1 μm to over 100 μm were obtained. By manipulating various operating factors—position of substrate in the reactor, amount of water vapor, amount of catalyst, reactor temperature, and growth time, the morphology and thickness of these carbon nanotube films could be adjusted.
US08617647B2
An adhesive composition is provided that is water-insoluble yet water-absorbent, i.e., capable of absorbing up to 15 wt. % water or more. The composition in composed of a film-forming hydrophilic polymer with at least one linear segment having a plurality of recurring polar groups along the polymer backbone, a complementary multifunctional polymer with a plurality of recurring functional groups that noncovalently bind to the polar groups on the film-forming polymer, and plasticizer. A method for manufacturing the adhesive composition is provided as well.
US08617640B2
Methods and devices are provided for forming thin-films from solid group IIIA-based particles. In one embodiment, a method is provided for creating solid alloy particles. The method may include providing a first material containing at least one alloy comprising of: a) a group IIIA element, b) at least one group IB, IIIA, and/or VIA element different from the group IIIA element of a), and c) a group IA-based material. The group IA-based material may be included in an amount sufficient so that no liquid phase of the alloy is present in a temperature range between room temperature and a deposition temperature higher than room temperature, wherein the group IIIA element is otherwise liquid in that temperature range. The method may involve formulating a precursor material comprising of: a) particles of the first material and b) particles containing at least one element from one of the following: a group IB element, a group IIIA element, a group VIA element, alloys containing any of the foregoing elements, or combinations thereof.
US08617639B2
A method of manufacturing golf balls having a highly transparent cover includes, prior to formation of the cover, a preformed body fabricating step wherein a fluorescent material that emits light when exposed to ultraviolet radiation is included in or coated onto the preformed body. In this way, a preformed body which matches a cover to be formed can be easily and reliably identified from among a plurality of types of preformed bodies stored at a temporary storage place. This manufacturing method enables golf balls of excellent visibility and stylishness to be efficiently produced.
US08617635B2
The invention relates to novel food, confectionery, and chocolate compositions and methods of producing them. In one embodiment, an amorphous sugar, such as a corn syrup solid, wholly or partially replaces crystalline sugar in the chocolate composition. In a second embodiment, an amorphous sugar is combined with cocoa solids, milk solids and/or fruit purees and incorporated into a chocolate product or composition. In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a chocolate composition comprising amorphous sugar and crystallized sugar wherein the ratio of amorphous sugar to crystallized sugar is such that the combination of amorphous sugar and crystallized sugar has a glass transition temperature of at least room temperature and amorphous sugar is detectable in the final product or composition.
US08617632B2
Coffee whiteners prepared by using, as the aqueous phase thereof, a casein-containing milk protein solution that has been deamidated with a protein deamidating enzyme, exhibit excellent storage stability and dispersibility in coffee without the use of synthetic emulsifiers.
US08617631B2
An oligosaccharide ingredient comprising glycosylated amino acids and peptides of the general formula RnSacm where R is an amino acid residue, Sac is a monosaccharide selected from the group comprising N-acetyl-neuraminic acid, N-acetyl galactosamine and galactose, n has a value between (1) and (10) with the proviso that if n has the value (1) R is a threonine residue or a serine residue and if n has a value between (2) and (10) the peptide contains at least one threonine or serine residue, m has a value between (2) and (4) and at least (20) mol % of the ingredient is N-acetyl-neuraminic acid.
US08617630B2
Embodiments relate to a fine particle applicator including a loading vessel, a metering roller positioned adjacent the loading vessel, a first stippling roller in contact with the metering roller, a high speed roller, positioned adjacent the metering roller such that bristles of the metering roller and bristles of the high speed roller overlap sufficient to form an interference zone, a second stippling roller, in contact with the high speed roller, a stippling shoe positioned adjacent at least the metering roller and high speed roller and a housing. At least a portion of a surface of the stippling shoe closest to at least the metering roller and high speed roller includes substantially the same curvature as the roller nearest the surface.
US08617623B2
A chewing gum comprises a primary chewing gum composition comprising gum base, a sweetener and a flavoring agent and a food acceptable delayed-release modification agent. The delayed-release modification agent reacts with the primary chewing gum composition after a chewed cud of the gum composition is formed, causing the primary gum to exhibit increased environmental acceptability after the chewed cud is discarded.
US08617622B2
This application discloses natural product extracts and compounds from an aerial root of a Ficus plant, such as Ficus benghalensis. The application also discloses the use of natural product extracts and compounds from Ficus plants for increasing hair growth and decreasing hair loss. Methods of producing the extracts and isolating the compounds are further disclosed.
US08617621B2
The present invention relates to a composition for enhancing immunity, comprising one or more of the following: a homogenous cell line, and a lysate, an extract and a culture medium thereof as an active ingredient. The homogenous cell line, the lysate, the extract and the culture thereof according to the present invention, which are derived from a natural product, minimize adverse side effects of prior immune enhancing agents and safe for the human body. Further, they effectively increase the activity of NK cells responsible for innate immunity, as well as increase the proliferation rate of lymph node cells when the cells were re-exposed to an antigen in a specific immune reaction to enhance acquired immunity, and thus are useful as an immune enhancing agent. In particular, the homogenous cell line, the lysate, the extract, and the culture thereof according to the present invention also effectively increase the number of hone marrow cells, thus are not only used as an adjuvant in an immune reaction, but also used in the prevention and treatment of anemia through hematopoiesis.
US08617616B2
Provided are electrokinetically-altered fluids (e.g., gas-enriched electrokinetic fluids) comprising an ionic aqueous solution of charge-stabilized oxygen-containing nanostructures in an amount sufficient to provide modulation of at least one of cellular membrane potential and cellular membrane conductivity, and therapeutic compositions and methods for use in treating a wound to a surface tissue or a symptom thereof. The electrokinetically-altered fluids or therapeutic compositions and methods include electrokinetically-altered ionic aqueous fluids optionally in combination with other therapeutic agents. Particular aspects provide for regulating or modulating intracellular signal transduction associated with said inflammatory responses by modulation of at least one of cellular membranes, membrane potential, membrane proteins such as membrane receptors, including but not limited to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR), and intercellular junctions (e.g., tight junctions, gap junctions, zona adherins and desmasomes). Other embodiments include particular routes of administration or formulations for the electrokinetically-altered fluids (e.g., electrokinetically-altered gas-enriched fluids and solutions) and therapeutic compositions.
US08617614B2
The present invention provides a microsphere with a slow-release period from about two weeks to about four weeks following administration, to enable a higher content of a drug to be included, to suppress an initial burst of the drug, and to maintain an optimal, effective blood concentration during the slow-release period. In a microsphere containing a drug and polylactic acid/glycolic acid (PLGA) copolymer, the amount of PLGA copolymer per part by weight of the drug is from about 3 to about 10 parts by weight; the average particle size of the microsphere is from about 20 to about 50 μm; and (3) the PLGA copolymer has a weight-average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 50,000 and a PLGA compositional ratio from about 75/25 to about 50/50. The microsphere promotes the production of various endogenous repair factors useful against various tissue disorders.
US08617605B2
A pharmaceutical composition for controlled release of an active substance, the composition being a matrix composition of: (a) a substantially water soluble or crystalline polymer, (b) an active substance, and optionally, (c) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients having a water solubility of at least 1 mg/ml at ambient temperature. The matrix composition does not contain a water dispersible or water soluble surface active agent that has at least one domain, which is compatible with the polymer in the matrix composition, and which substantially eliminates water diffusion between the interface between the polymer crystals.
US08617601B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide pharmaceutical drug compositions, methods of preparing oral drug compositions, such as extended release dosage compositions, and methods for treating antidepressant or smoking cessation. In one aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a core, including bupropion and its salt derivatives, and a coating. The coating may include from about 5% to about 99% by weight of the coating of a pharmaceutically acceptable pH-independent polymer. The coating may further include from about 0.001% to about 30% by weight of the coating of a surfactant. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for preparing and administering a pharmaceutical composition in oral dosage form, such as a tablet.
US08617586B2
Articles such as catheters or balloons that have an ester-linked poly(ester-block-amide) substrate have a lubricious hydrogel coating which suppresses particle development under accelerated aging conditions. A polymerizable coating composition is applied to the substrate without application of an intervening primer layer and cured. The coating composition comprises an uncrosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer that is free of attached photoinitiator groups and at least one polyfunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
US08617581B2
The present invention relates to compositions for controlling plant pests, which contain the compound of the formula (I) in a mixture with fungicidally active compounds, except for cyclopropylcarboxamide derivatives and azolylmethylcycloalkanes.
US08617578B2
Disclosed are cosmetic and dermatological compositions containing hydrocortisone or a derivative thereof, a glycol and a thickening or gelling agent, and methods of making and using them.
US08617575B2
Immunity against protozoan is conferred on an animal by a method comprising orally administering to an animal a transformed plant cell comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protective antigen against protozoiasis development, a transformed plant or its progeny or clone comprising the transformed cell, a propagation material of the plant or its progeny or clone, a processed material or extract of the above cell, plant, or its progeny or clone, or propagation material, or a protective antigen against protozoiasis development isolated from the transformed plant cell or the transformed plant or its progeny or clone.
US08617569B2
A method for treating a patient with migraine headache includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an invertebrate presynaptic neurotoxin in a pharmaceutically safe form. The administration includes extramuscular injection of the neurotoxin to emerging nerve points including foraminal sites for enabling neurotoxin access to concentrated nerve bundles at exit points of the foramina.
US08617564B2
Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2) infection is a major health concern. The present disclosure provides, inter alia, certain highly effective vaccines and immunogenic compositions against HSV-2. The antigens can be used therapeutically or prophylactically.
US08617558B2
The invention relates to therapeutic conjugates with improved ability to target various diseased cells containing a targeting moiety (such as an antibody or antibody fragment), a linker and a camptothecin as a therapeutic moiety, and further relates to processes for making and using the said conjugates.
US08617554B2
The present invention relates to humanized immunoglobulins, mouse monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antibodies that have binding specificity for human CD52. The present invention further relates to a humanized immunoglobulin light chain and a humanized immunoglobulin heavy chain. The invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids, recombinant vectors and host cells that comprise a sequence which encodes a humanized immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin light chain or heavy chain, and to a method of preparing a humanized immunoglobulin. The humanized immunoglobulins can be used in therapeutic applications to treat, for example, autoimmune disease, cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple sclerosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
US08617546B2
Provided is an anticancer agent which comprises an anti-PD-1 antibody or an anti-PD-L1 antibody as an active ingredient, functioning to reverse the unresponsiveness of iNKT cells in which anergy has been induced by administration with an iNKT cell ligand. The anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody blocks the PD-1/PD-L1-mediated signaling pathway not only to prevent the iNKT cell ligand-induced iNKT cell anergy, but also to reverse the unresponsiveness of already anergic iNKT cells to produce cytokines. In addition, the anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody ensures the potent anti-tumor activity of iNKT cells as demonstrated by a significant reduction in the number of metastatic nodules in B16F10 melanoma metastasis models in vivo. Collectively, the anticancer agent can be very useful in the treatment of cancer, particularly metastatic cancer.
US08617545B2
BAFF plays a central role in acquired immunity. The disclosure identifies BAFF-responsive genes that are substantially upregulated by administration of BAFF and substantially downregulated by treatment with a BAFF antagonist. Specific genes are: NF-κB2, CD23, H2-Mβ (the beta chain of H2-DM), Fig-1, and OBF-1. The disclosure provides methods and compositions for: monitoring the activity of a BAFF antagonist in a mammal; monitoring BAFF activity in a mammal; identifying a mammal to be treated with a BAFF antagonist; and related uses. Such methods include detecting one or more molecules selected from the group consisting of Fig-1 molecule, OBF-1 molecule, and H2-Mβ molecule in a biological sample of the mammal, and optionally further detecting NF-κB2 molecule and/or CD23 molecule in the biological sample.
US08617526B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition and to a pharmaceutical composition that comprise several agents of topical use and optionally sunscreens. This composition comprises an aqueous medium containing at least one highly polar substance without, however, having the inconveniences noticed in similar compositions of the prior art. These compositions combine the benefits from water-soluble active with the properties of softness and texture that are typical of products that comprise oily-alcoholic, oily or oily-waxy base. Further, the present invention relates to a process for preparing said cosmetic composition and pharmaceutical composition.
US08617525B2
In the prior cosmetics, the cosmetic product provided with sufficient storage stability together with excellent usability can not be realized, and it has been an actual state that a cosmetic product having sense of non-tackiness etc. and excellent usability has poor storage stability. The present invention provides a cosmetic for providing a cosmetic product having more excellent usability and storage stability as a cosmetic, and a method for making the same.The cosmetic of the present invention is characterized by comprising an amino acid oil gelling agent and a polyamide resin, thereby a cosmetic product having excellent usability and sufficient storage stability in combination can be realized.
US08617524B2
A cosmetic regime or regimen for depigmenting, lightening and/or bleaching keratin materials, especially the skin, entails topically applying thereon a cosmetic composition containing a dithiolane compound of formula (I): in which: Y is O, NR1 or S R1 is a hydrogen atom; a C1-C20 alkyl radical or an optionally substituted phenyl radical; R is a hydrogen atom; or a C1-C20 alkyl radical, or an optionally substituted phenyl radical, or a C1-C8 alkyl radical containing an optionally substituted phenyl substituent; n=0 or 1 or 2; and also the salts, chelates, solvates and optical isomers thereof.
US08617515B2
The present invention relates to methods for myelin basic protein detection comprises identifying a subject at risk of or diagnosed with a myelin-associated neuropathy, parenterally administering to the subject the agent, and determining myelination in the subject by detecting binding to myelin basic protein. Methods for the detection of myelin and a quantitative measurement of its local concentration in a sample using an agent with specific binding to myelin basic protein are also provided as is a kit containing the agent or its derivatives for use in detecting myelin basic protein.
US08617508B2
To provide a negative electrode carbon material capable of suppressing capacity degradation which will occur due to repetition of a charge/discharge cycle, storage under a charged state, float charging, or the like. An artificial graphite for a negative electrode of a lithium secondary battery having a c-axis crystallite size L (112) of from 2.0 to 4.2 nm as calculated from a (112) diffraction line obtained by X-ray wide-angle diffractometry and having a half-value width ΔνG of from 15 to 19 cm−1 for a peak appearing in a wavelength region of from 1580 cm−1±100 cm−1 in the Raman spectroscopy using an argon ion laser light having a wavelength of 5145 angstrom.
US08617506B2
To provide a method and facility for enabling CO2 gas generated in a cement manufacturing facility to be separated and recovered at a high concentration. To this end, according to the present invention, the calcination of a cement material and the recovery of CO2 gas generated in a calciner are performed by one of the following steps of: [1] superheating the cement material before calcination to at least the calcination temperature thereof in a superheating furnace and then mixing the superheated cement material with a new cement material before calcination in a mixer/calciner; [2] mixing, in the mixer/calciner, the cement material before calcination with a part of high-temperature cement clinker discharged from a cement kiln; and [3] using an externally heated calciner.
US08617505B2
A method of producing silicon carbide is provided. The method includes heating a cured product of a curable silicone composition in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature exceeding 1,500° C. but not more than 2,600° C. The method is capable of producing high-purity silicon carbide simply and at a high degree of productivity, and is capable of simply producing a silicon carbide molded item having a desired shape and dimensions.
US08617494B2
An apparatus and method to clean flue gases. As shown in FIG. 1, a condenser 10 is provided having two packed beds (20/26) and two condensate loops. The condensate loops are configured such that anti-corrosive agent (40/41) may injected. Corrosives are removed from flue gases as condensate containing anti-corrosive agents passes over the flue gases.
US08617489B2
The invention allows for the formation of robust, reproducible, non-permanent connections to microchips. The connections are formed using either indexing arms or multiple fitting holder heads which are capable of forming a compression seal to a port located at any position on the surface of the microchip. The sealing force is user-defined and can be tightly controlled with integrated force sensors. In addition, the sealing force is monitored with a force sensor and force compensation mechanism ensuring that the desired force is maintained. The device is compatible with all microchip architectures. Alterations to the microchip surface is avoided as connections are established using instrumentation rather than processing steps. Further, the process is automatable allowing for exchanging microchips and subsequently creating electrical and fluidic connections in an automated fashion. Optionally, the integration of leak sensors to monitor leaks are included.
US08617483B2
A gas-impervious container having a gas-permeable porous insert, wherein the insert contacts a flowable biomedical material, for improving access of the sterilant gas to the material.
US08617476B2
A honeycomb filter includes a honeycomb structure and a zeolite. The honeycomb structure includes cell walls having a porosity of about 55% to about 65% and extending along a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb structure to define cells between the cell walls. Each of the cells is sealed at either end of the cells. The zeolite is supported on the cell walls of the honeycomb structure. An amount of the zeolite supported on the cell walls is from about 80 g/L to about 150 g/L. A thermal conductivity of the cell walls supporting the zeolite is about 3 W/mK or more.
US08617472B2
An electrical device for performing a particular function includes a system circuit for performing the function, and a dedicated power supply for providing power to the circuit. Both the system circuit and the power supply are hermetically sealed within a housing. The device within the housing is intended to be sterilized using high temperature, reaching a sterilization temperature. According to the invention, the device includes a thermal switch which is electrically connected between the system circuit and the power supply. The thermal switch is switchable between an open position wherein the system circuit is electrically isolated from the power supply and receives no power therefrom and a closed position wherein the system circuit is electrically connected to the power supply and receives power therefrom. The thermal switch switches from its closed position to its open position in response to the temperature within the housing rising to a predetermined switch-open temperature value. The thermal switch thereafter switches from its open position to its closed position in response to the temperature within the housing cooling to a switch-closed temperature value. With the present invention, the electrical components of a device are automatically protected from thermal damage during sterilization.
US08617466B2
The present disclosure relates to the use of a split and single electrical cells in industrial applications, and particularly in aseptic packaging applications.
US08617465B2
A dialysis disposable sterilization method including: fitting a cap to a connector such that a cap/connector interface can hold a pressure; applying a sterilizing gas through an inside of the connector such that the gas flows through (i) the inside of the connector, (ii) around to the outside of the connector, (iii) past a stabilization rib, and (iv) into contact with one side of the cap/connector interface; and applying the sterilizing gas at an outside of the cap such that the sterilizing gas flows around a bottom of the cap and contacts an opposing side of the cap/connector interface.
US08617463B2
The invention relates to the use of a polyolefin composition comprising a propylene-ethylene random copolymer having an ethylene content of 0.5-10 wt % and a randomness R of the ethylene distribution in the polymer chain of ≧0.945 for the production of articles having high sterilization resistance.
US08617459B2
A method for manufacturing granular metallic iron by reducing a raw material mixture including an iron oxide-containing material and a carbonaceous reducing agent, comprises: a step of charging the raw material mixture onto a hearth of a moving hearth-type thermal reduction furnace; a step of reducing the iron oxide in the raw material mixture by the carbonaceous reducing agent through the application of heat, thereby forming metallic iron, subsequently melting the metallic iron, and coalescing the molten metallic iron to granular metallic iron while separating the molten metallic iron from subgenerated slag; and a step of cooling the metallic iron to solidify; wherein the heat-reducing step includes a step of controlling the flow velocity of atmospheric gas in a predetermined zone of the furnace within a predetermined range. This method makes it possible to manufacture the granular metallic iron of high quality.
US08617458B2
Embodiments of an aluminum dross cooling head are disclosed. The cooling cooperates with a material container encapsulate dross and reduce thermiting of the dross. In one embodiment, the cooling head also serves as a compression head when forced into the dross by a cooperating dross press assembly.
US08617451B2
A method of producing gypsum building board, in which there is added, to an aqueous gypsum slurry containing a water swellable clay, a basic water-soluble polymer having preferential affinity for clay. The slurry is allowed to set so as to form a board. The basic water-soluble polymer may be, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol or a polymer consisting essentially of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen and having amine groups (which may be primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary) in the polymer backbone and/or in side chains thereof.
US08617450B2
A vulcanisation apparatus and method for tires for vehicle wheels includes the steps of: placing a green tire, arranged on a toroidal support, inside a vulcanisation mold; connecting a supply device of at least one pressurised primary working fluid and a supply device of at least one pressurised secondary working fluid to the vulcanisation mold in a prevulcanisation and molding station; at least partially vulcanising a radially internal portion of the green tire on the toroidal support; transferring the mold to a vulcanisation station and completing the vulcanisation of the prevulcanised tire by supplying the at least one pressurised primary working fluid inside the toroidal support.
US08617448B2
A method of making an endovascular prosthesis comprises the steps of applying a first layer of polymer to a portion of a deformable matrix, contacting a stent with the polymer to deform the matrix, applying a second layer of polymer over at least a portion of the stent and first layer, solidifying the layers of polymer to form the endovascular prosthesis, and removing the matrix.
US08617442B2
A process for the bonding of a fiber-reinforced material to an injection-molding material and an article produced by the process. The process improves the bond between a fiber-reinforced starting material and a material applied by injection. A further plastics material is inserted under pressure into a fiber-reinforced plastics material. This results in interlock bonding between the further plastics material and the fibers of the fiber-reinforced plastics material. This type of bonding is substantially more stable than known bonding.
US08617438B1
A cementitious mixture for high-volume production of masonry products comprises a hydraulic binder accounting for 20 wt % or more of the cementitious mixture, the hydraulic binder comprising 75 to 100 wt % Class C fly ash with a CaO equivalent content of at least 15% by weight. The cementitious mixture also comprises one or more aggregates, and a set control system.
US08617437B2
The flame retardant of the present invention has a flame retardant (a) component, comprising 50 to 97% by mass of a metal hydrate (a-1) component and 3 to 50% by mass of a filler (a-2) component, wherein the filler (a-2) component contains SiO2, Al2O3 and M2/nO. Here, the total of the metal hydrate (a-1) component and the filler (a-2) component is 100% mass, M represents one or more metal elements selected from a group consisting of K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn, and n represents a valence of the metal element. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flame retardant capable of providing a molded article and an electric wire with a coating, which are excellent in flame retardancy, abrasion resistance and flexibility, and also have sufficient mechanical strength at low cost.
US08617427B2
Electrically conductive polymeric compositions adapted for use in forming electronic devices are disclosed. The compositions are thermally curable at temperatures less than about 250° C. Compositions are provided which may be solvent-free and so can be used in processing or manufacturing operations without solvent recovery concerns. The compositions utilize (i) fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate and/or methacrylate monomer(s) and/or oligomer(s), (ii) fatty acid modified polyester acrylate and/or methacrylate monomer(s) and/or oligomer(s), or combinations of (i) and (ii). Also described are electronic assemblies such as solar cells using the various compositions and related methods.
US08617422B2
Crystals with improved scintillation and optical properties are achieved by codoping with a trivalent dopant and a divalent and/or a monovalent dopant. Embodiments include codoping LSO, YSO, GSO crystals and LYSO, LGSO, and LYGSO crystals. Embodiments also include codoped crystals with a controlled monovalent or divalent:trivalent dopant ratio of from about 1:1 for increased light yield to about 4:1 for faster decay time.
US08617412B2
The disclosure relates generally to nano-filters and methods of forming same, and methods of filtration. The nano-filter includes a substrate and at least one nanowire structure located between an inlet and an outlet. The nanowire structure may include a plurality of vertically stacked horizontal nanowires.
US08617410B2
A method for inspecting semiconductor wafers patterned by a photomask includes loading a first wafer and scanning a first image of the first wafer, loading a second wafer and scanning a second image of the second wafer, comparing the first and second images, and classifying a difference detected between the first and second images as a potential defect on the photomask. The potential defect includes a haze defect on the photomask.
US08617405B2
A method of separating a multiphase fluid, the fluid including a relatively high density component and a relatively low density component, that includes introducing the fluid into a separation region; imparting a rotational movement into the multiphase fluid; forming an outer annular region of rotating fluid of predetermined thickness within the separation region; and forming and maintaining a core of fluid in an inner region. Fluid entering the separation vessel is directed into the outer annular region and the thickness of the outer annular region is such that the high density component is concentrated and substantially contained within this region, the low density component being concentrated in the rotating core. A separation system employing the method is also provided. The method and system are particularly suitable for the separation of solid debris from the fluids produced by a subterranean oil or gas well at wellhead flow pressure.
US08617402B2
The invention relates to a method of raising the pH of a body of water having a pH of less than 4.5 by introducing neutralizing agent, the raising of the pH taking place in at least two stages thus: at pH levels below 4.5, a first neutralizing agent having a final conductivity of not more than 100 μS/cm, and, after attainment of a pH of at least 4.5, a second neutralizing agent, having a final conductivity of more than 100 μS/cm, is introduced into the body of water, the final conductivity of the neutralizing agents being defined as the conductivity of an aqueous suspension or solution of neutralizing agent in solution equilibrium at 25° C., having a neutralizing agent content of 0.015% by weight.
US08617385B2
A quenching medium is delivered directly to selected regions or locations within a catalyst bed in a hydroprocessing reactor vessel in order to control the reactivity of a hydroprocess occurring in the selected regions or locations separately from other regions or locations. Temperature sensors for providing temperature indications and conduits for delivering the quench medium are distributed throughout the catalyst bed. One or more conduits can be selected for delivery of the quenching medium to selected regions or locations so that separate control of the level of reactivity in each of various regions or locations throughout the bed can be achieved.
US08617384B2
A process for maximizing p-xylene production begins by producing a naphtha fraction and a light cycle oil fraction from a fluid catalytic cracking zone. The gasoline and light cycle oil fractions are combined and hydrotreated to produce a hydrotreated product. Fractionation of the hydrotreated product in a fractionation zone makes a light ends cut, a naphtha cut, a hydrocracker feed and an unconverted oil fraction. The hydrocracker feed is sent to a hydrocracking zone to make a hydrocracker product, which is then recycled back to the fractionation zone, feeding the hydrocracker product above an outlet for the hydrocracker feed, but below an outlet for the naphtha cut. The naphtha cut goes to a dehydrogenation zone where hydrogen is removed to make aromatics from naphthenes to make a dehydrogenated naphtha. The dehydrogenated naphtha is fed to an aromatics recovery unit to recover p-xylene and other aromatics.
US08617375B2
The method for reducing carbon dioxide of the present invention includes a step (a) and a step (b) as follows. A step (a) of preparing an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell comprises a working electrode (21), a counter electrode (23) and a vessel (28). The vessel (28) stores an electrolytic solution (27). The working electrode (21) contains boron carbide. The electrolytic solution (27) contains carbon dioxide. The working electrode (21) and the counter electrode (23) are in contact with the electrolytic solution (27). A step (b) of applying a negative voltage and a positive voltage to the working electrode and the counter electrode, respectively, to reduce the carbon dioxide.
US08617374B2
A capillary tube having a hard, optically clear external coating or cladding. In one embodiment, the external clear coating comprises hard-fluoropolymer. The hard-fluoropolymer coating bonds to the fused silica glass, providing higher strength and superior static fatigue performance resulting in vastly improved bending flexibility. The thin hard-fluoropolymer coating of capillaries provides higher initial tensile strength, longer lifetime (resistance to stress corrosion or static fatigue) and superior ability to transmit excitation light and emitted light directly through the coating for fluorescence based detection.
US08617368B2
The present invention relates to an analytical tool (X) which includes a substrate (1), a flow path for moving a sample along the substrate (1), a reagent portion (14) provided in the flow path, and an insulating film (13) covering the substrate (1) and including an opening (15a) for defining a region for forming the reagent portion (14). The insulating film (13) further includes at least one additional opening (15b) positioned in a longitudinal direction (N1) relative to the opening (15a). For instance, the flow path is configured to move the sample by capillary force.
US08617359B2
A method for distilling a starting material that includes a liquid Fd to be distilled, uses a gas-tight container system that is resistant to excess and/or negative pressure. The container system includes a condenser for condensing the liquid Fd, which has turned to vapor and whose temperature can be adjusted, to give the condensation product, and a vapor chamber connecting the evaporator and the condenser. The pressure and temperature in the vapor chamber are monitored and controlled so that distillation is always carried out in a range close to the saturation vapor pressure of the liquid Fd to be distilled. If the pressure is too high, it is reduced so that especially foreign gas is removed. An installation includes a container for distillation according to method.
US08617350B2
The invention relates to a linear plasma system. The linear plasma system includes a number of troughs of an electrode alternating with a number of peaks of the electrode forming a sawtooth shape, a reactive gas feed, a precursor gas feed, and a power source. The reactive gas feed is disposed on the electrode and configured to continuously release a reactive gas into an array of holes located at the trough apex. The precursor gas feed is disposed on the electrode and configured to continuously release a precursor gas into an array of holes located at the peak apex. The power source is configured to apply radio frequency power to the electrode to simultaneously interact with the reactive gas mixed with the precursor gas to generate plasma, which is used to create a product that is deposited on a substrate.
US08617347B2
A method and apparatus for vacuum processing of a workpiece, the apparatus including a flow equalizer disposed in a vacuum processing chamber between a workpiece support pedestal and a pump port located in a wall of the vacuum processing chamber. In an embodiment, the flow equalizer has a first annular surface concentric about the workpiece support pedestal to provide conductance symmetry about the workpiece support even when the pump port is asymmetrically positioned within the vacuum processing chamber. In an embodiment, the flow equalizer has a second annular surface facing a lower surface of the workpiece support pedestal to restrict conductance as the flow equalizer is moved is response to a chamber pressure control signal. In an embodiment, the apparatus for vacuum processing of a workpiece includes tandem vacuum processing chambers sharing a vacuum pump with each tandem chamber including a flow equalizer to reduce cross-talk between the tandem chambers.
US08617345B2
Provided are a method of bonding resin materials for bonding a resin material (X) containing an oxymethylene-based polymer (A) and a resin material (Y), and a structure obtained by the bonding method. The method includes preparing as the resin material (Y) a low-melting-point oxymethylene-based polymer (B) having a melting point lower than that of the oxymethylene-based polymer (A) by 5 to 50° C., or preparing as the resin material (Y) the resin material (X) or another resin material, and providing the low-melting-point oxymethylene-based polymer (B) between the resin material (Y) and the resin material (X) and heating resin materials.
US08617342B1
A portable air clamp for use during lamination of substrates is provided. The clamp includes a top clamp plate, a bottom clamp plate and at least one flexible, expandable tube within a housing of the clamp. The top clamp plate is adjacent to a top housing and the bottom clamp plate is adjacent to a bottom housing. An expandable tube or bladder may be disposed in the top housing or the bottom housing. The clamp may also include alignment devices and mechanisms for ensuring proper alignment of the substrates during the laminating procedure. The clamp is adapted to provide uniform pressure along the surfaces of the substrates to be laminated.
US08617336B2
This invention provides a method for molding a continuous fiber prepreg part whereby a continuous fiber prepreg part comprising thermoplastic prepreg tape can be molded in a shape that allows the exhibition of desired physical properties without the sacrifice of productivity.Prepreg tape 11 is wound around a plurality of rods 21 so as to form a rolled continuous fiber prepreg part 12, slack is removed from the prepreg tape 11 by shifting the plurality of rods 21 in opposite directions so as to generate tension in the continuous fiber prepreg part 12, the continuous fiber prepreg part 12 is pressed with a press jig 41 so as to mold the prepreg part into the final shape, and the continuous fiber prepreg part 12 is cured by heating and cooling after heating.
US08617333B2
In one embodiment, a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer, before cure, includes an unvulcanized pneumatic tire assembly having an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. A precursor sealant layer is situated between the supporting carcass and an innermost rubber inner liner. The precursor sealant layer includes a non-flowing polyurethane composition that is neither gel-like nor tacky and is self-supporting. The precursor sealant layer, during curing of the unvulcanized pneumatic tire assembly, thermally degrades so as to provide a gel-like and tacky, self-healing polyurethane composition which defines the built-in sealant layer. The resulting tire, with its innermost polyurethane composition, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation by reducing or elimination the amount of gases typically given off by organoperoxide-butyl based sealant layers, such as when the tire is at its running temperature. Consequently, the thickness of the inner liner may be reduced.
US08617331B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to one or more embodiments of and methods to repair a flexible pipe. A method to repair damaged flexible fiber-reinforced pipe which includes a plurality of helically-wrapped stacks of laminated strips of material is disclosed. The method includes removing a portion of existing stacks from a damage location, applying an adhesive to a surface of replacement stacks, installing the replacement stacks to the damage location, binding the replacement stacks to remaining existing stacks with the applied adhesive, and installing a replacement jacket over the replacement stacks.
US08617326B1
Advanced bipropellant fuels with fast ignition upon mixing with storable oxidizer (N2O4, nitric acid) have been synthesized and demonstrated. The bipropellant fuels are based upon salts containing dicyanamide or tricyanomethanide anions and employ at least two hydrazine functionalities in the cations.
US08617325B2
A system and method for actively damping tension members modulates the natural frequency of shape memory alloys incorporated into tension members, such as suspension ropes or cables. The frequency of the tension member can be modulated by heating the shape memory alloy, such modulation preventing potentially destructive resonance with natural exciting forces.
US08617321B2
The present invention provides a surface treatment method for an aluminum alloy and a surface treatment method for a magnesium alloy, which enable providing the surface of an aluminum alloy containing magnesium or the surface of a magnesium alloy with sufficient corrosion resistance to corrosive gases, while preventing the surface from scattering magnesium therefrom even when used in a vacuum at a temperature of not less than 300° C. In this method, a carbon fluoride compound is applied over the surface of the aluminum alloy containing magnesium or the surface of the magnesium alloy, followed by heating in an oxygen atmosphere, thereby forming a fluoride passivation film.
US08617320B2
A wash system for cleaning the exposed surfaces of a contaminant collection device that includes a source of pressurized cleaning solution and a rinse appliance. The rinse appliance includes a first flow path that is adapted to direct the pressurized cleaning solution against a plurality of interior surfaces of a sampling head of the contaminant collection device and a vacuum tube that couples the sampling head to a collection chamber of the contaminant collection device. The rinse appliance may also include a second flow path that is adapted to direct the pressurized cleaning solution against a plurality of interior surfaces of the collection chamber and a separator filter installed therein. The rinse appliance further includes a dipping tank adapted to receive the cleaning solution after passing through one of the first and second flow paths.
US08617308B1
A cementitious mixture for high-volume production of masonry products comprises a hydraulic binder accounting for 20 wt % or more of the cementitious mixture, the hydraulic binder comprising 75 to 100 wt % Class C fly ash with a CaO equivalent content of at least 15% by weight. The cementitious mixture also comprises one or more aggregates, and a set control system.
US08617293B2
A porous membrane structure is disclosed, which includes a porous substrate, a mesoporous, aluminum oxide layer disposed on the substrate; and a relatively thin, continuous, microporous barrier layer disposed on the mesoporous aluminum oxide layer, also formed from aluminum oxide. The membrane is capable of improving hydrogen selectivity within a gas stream, e.g., a synthesis gas composition. Membrane supports containing these structures are also described, as well as gas separation modules, and related processes. Power plants which incorporate the gas separation modules are also disclosed herein.
US08617288B2
A sintered material for valve guides consists of, by mass %, 0.01 to 0.3% of P, 1.3 to 3% of C, 1 to 4% of Cu, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities. The sintered material exhibits a metallic structure made of pores and a matrix. The matrix is a mixed structure of a pearlite phase, a ferrite phase, an iron-phosphorus-carbon compound phase, and a copper phase, and a part of the pores including graphite that is dispersed therein. The iron-phosphorus-carbon compound phase is dispersed at 3 to 25% by area ratio, and the copper phase is dispersed at 0.5 to 3.5% by area ratio, with respect to a cross section of the metallic structure, respectively.
US08617285B2
A dry, flowable fertilizer is provided that includes multiple dry, flowable biosolids pellets. Each of the pellets has a pellet surface. Potassium salt grains are adhered to the pellet surfaces and a dust control agent coating is applied to retain the grains on the pellet surfaces. The resultant dry, flowable fertilizer has higher potassium loadings to the potassium salt grains than previous biosolids based fertilizers. A process of forming a fertilizer is also provided that includes tumbling dry, flowable biosolids pellets with powdered potassium salt grains to form a mixture. An aqueous spray is added to adhere the salt grains to the pellet surfaces. With the application of a dust control agent, the salt grains are retained. Potassium levels in NPK units of from 1 to 15 are routinely achieved with greater than 90 elemental % of the potassium is from the surface decorating potassium salt grains.
US08617283B2
A solid mineral composition including the following formula (I): Calcium carbonate from 4.58% to 77.8%, Dolomite from 3.85% to 69.29%, Rock salt from 5.7% to 12.4%, Lignosulphate from 4.25% to 8.49%, Potassium sulphate from 0.37% to 2.44%, Magnesium oxide from 0.01% to 0.07%, and Elemental sulphur from 0.009% to 0.066%, the above percentages consisting of the weight percentages of each of the compounds, relative to the total weight of the the mineral composition dry matter, for increasing the fertility of a soil by causing an increase in at least one enzymatic activity contained in the soil, selected from (i) phosphatase, (ii) β-xylosidase, (iii) α-glucosidase and (iv) β-glucosidase.
US08617274B2
The present invention relates to ultra-hard cutting elements, and in particular cutting elements or compacts formed by a pulsed electrical field assisted HPHT sintering process or a spark plasma HPHT sintering process. In an embodiment, a method of forming a polycrystalline ultra-hard material includes providing a mixture of ultra-hard particles, placing the mixture of ultra-hard particles into an enclosure, placing the enclosure into a press cell assembly having a heater, applying a repeated high-energy pulse of direct current to the heater to heat the ultra-hard particles, and pressing the enclosure at sufficient pressure to form a polycrystalline ultra-hard material.
US08617269B2
A catalytic combustor and a fuel reformer having the same. The catalytic combustor includes a housing having a cylindrical reaction portion and a second reaction portion surrounding the first reaction portion in a double tube shape. The housing has a first opening for supplying a first fuel and an oxidant to the first reaction portion and a second opening through which an exhaust in the second reaction portion is discharged. The first and second openings are disposed at first sides of the first and second reaction portions, respectively. The first and second reaction portions are connected with each other so that the fluid is communicated with the first and second reaction portions at second sides of the first and second reaction portions. A catalyst is disposed in the first reaction portion, and a mesh layer is inserted into the second reaction portion.
US08617267B2
A reformer having high durability and including a heating unit and a reforming unit. The heating unit has a hollow cylindrical shape or polygonal shape and a first combustor and a second combustor that receives and oxidizes heating unit fuel and anode off gas (AOG) at both ends thereof. The reforming unit includes a first reforming portion formed to surround the exterior of the heating unit, a second reforming portion formed to surround the exterior of the first reforming portion and a flow path portion connecting the first reforming portion and the second reforming portion to provide fluid communication therebetween. The flow path portion includes a pre-deformed portion extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the heating unit.
US08617255B2
The present invention relates to bleaching composition for keratin fibers, especially human hair, comprising at least one compound with bleaching and/or highlighting effect and a magnesium salt. Further object of the present invention is the use of at least one magnesium salt in a bleaching and/or highlighting composition for keratin fibers, especially for human hair, comprising at least one compound with bleaching and/or highlighting effect for preventing temperature increase going above 50° C., preferably above 45° C. and more preferably above 40° C. in a period of at least 60 min after mixing water free bleaching and/or highlighting composition and oxidizing lotion.
US08617252B2
Methods, devices and compositions for fusing adjacent vertebrae, and otherwise localizing bone growth, are provided. In one form of the invention, a method for fusing adjacent vertebrae includes preparing a disc space for receipt of an intervertebral disc implant in an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae, inserting the implant into the intervertebral disc space and providing an osteoinductive composition that includes an osteoinductive factor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The carrier is advantageously substantially impermeable to efflux of the osteoinductive factor and is released as the carrier is resorbed or biodegraded. Preferred carriers include a hardened, resorbable carrier, such as a calcium phosphate cement that retains at least about 50% of the osteoinductive factors greater than about 2 days. Preferred osteoinductive factors are growth factors and include bone morphogenetic proteins and LIM mineralization proteins. In alternative forms of the invention, the method may be performed without utilization of a load-bearing spinal implant by disposing the osteoinductive composition in the disc space. The method is advantageously performed on lumbar vertebrae by a posterior approach. Intervertebral fusion devices and methods for their preparation are also provided.
US08617246B2
Bone implantable devices and methodologies permit careful application of biologically active substances and management of bone growth processes. The device includes a body defining a carrier receiving area for locating adjacent bone. Carrier material is located in the carrier receiving area. Substance is delivered onto carrier material through a port. A pathway delivers substance from the carrier receiving area to the bone surface. The body may be in the form of a spinal fusion cage, facet fusion screw, artificial joint, bone fixation plate, interbody graft, IM nail, hip stem, or other bone-to-bone appliances or bone-to-device appliances. In use, carrier is installed in the carrier receiving area of the device. The device is then implanted adjacent a bone. The substance is applied to the carrier for subsequent delivery to the bone. By doping carrier material after device implantation, inadvertent contact of the substance with non-target bone is more easily eliminated.
US08617245B2
An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
US08617237B2
The invention relates to a tubular supporting prosthesis, comprising two terminal regions relative to the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis and a center region disposed between the two terminal regions, wherein every terminal region is provided with a mesh structure made of at least two structural rings, which are connected to each other via connecting members and are disposed point-symmetrically about the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis. The center region is formed by elongated connecting members, which are connected to the structural rings respectively disposed adjacent to the center of the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis. An aortic valve, which is produced by means of tissue engineering, is fastened and/or integrated in the center region.
US08617222B2
A spinal plate comprises a body portion and at least one locking mechanism for engaging the body portion. The body portion is made of a radiolucent material, such as a polymer or polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and includes a plurality of bone screw openings for receiving a plurality of bone screws, such as bone screws. The at least one locking mechanism is for securing at least one of the plurality of bone screws when received into the body portion.
US08617221B2
Apparatus and methods to facilitate fixation of a fracture are disclosed. These apparatus include a bone plate for the fixation of a fractured bone having a plurality of fastener openings so that the bone plate may be secured by a plurality of fasteners across a reduced fracture to fixate a reduced fracture. The bone plate is configured to flex in situ to conform to the surface of the bone while providing sufficient stiffness in the plane of the device to resist forces and moments in the plane. Methods of use of the present invention include fastening the bone plate to a first side of the fracture, flexing portions of the bone plate to bias against the bone surface on the second side of the fracture, fastening the portions of the bone plate so biased to the second side of the fracture, thereby fixating the fracture by fastening the bone plate to the second side of the fracture.
US08617206B2
Biocompatible wound closure devices including an elongate body and a plug member are useful for wound repair. A wound closure device includes an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plug member having a tissue facing surface and including a first shaped section and a second shaped section, each of the first and second shaped sections having an abutment surface. The first and second shaped sections are movable about a hinge between a collapsed position in which the abutment surfaces extend away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and a deployed position in which the abutment surfaces abut and are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, the abutment surfaces controlling a deployed angle of the tissue facing surface of the plug member with respect to the elongate body.
US08617189B2
Apparatus for reconfiguring tissue, the apparatus comprising a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; at least one effector mechanism movably mounted to the distal end of the shaft, each effector mechanism comprising at least one gripping element for gripping tissue to that effector mechanism, the at least one effector mechanism being configured to capture the gripped tissue against said shaft, at least one actuating mechanism mounted to the proximal end of the shaft, and at least one connection mechanism connecting the at least one actuating mechanism to the at least one effector mechanism, whereby a user may utilize the at least one actuating mechanism to actuate the at least one effector mechanism so as to reconfigure tissue.
US08617186B2
In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and/or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.
US08617185B2
A tissue fixation system is provided for dynamic and rigid fixation of tissue. A fastener connected with an elongate fastening member, such as a cable, wire, suture, rod, or tube, is moved through a passage between opposite sides of tissue. A medical device is used to secure the fastener to the elongate fastening member. The medical device includes a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the elongate fastening member. As crimping mechanism is used to secure the fastener to the elongated member, where a cutting mechanism cut the excess portion of the elongated member.
US08617181B2
The present invention generally relates to methods for preparing a skin graft. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve harvesting a plurality of skin grafts from a subject, applying the grafts to a first substrate, stretching the first substrate, and transferring the grafts from the first substrate to at least a second substrate for application to a patient recipient site.
US08617177B2
A wire basket includes a fixing disc element coupled with several wire strands. The wire strands extend between a front end of the wire basket and a rear end of the wire basket to define an orbital shape. The fixing disc element forms a front closure of the wire basket and has at least first and second through-openings. A first of the wire strands is formed from a first wire segment that is looped through the first of the through-openings of the fixing disc element along a path extending from the rear end of the wire basket forward through the fixing disc element to form a U-shaped deflection that is looped through a separate second of the through-openings of the fixing disc element along a path extending from the fixing disc element to the rear end of the wire basket.
US08617171B2
Methods of manufacturing a custom arthroplasty resection guide or jig are disclosed herein. For example, one method may include: generating MRI knee coil two dimensional images, wherein the knee coil images include a knee region of a patient; generating MRI body coil two dimensional images, wherein the body coil images include a hip region of the patient, the knee region of the patient and an ankle region of the patient; in the knee coil images, identifying first locations of knee landmarks; in the body coil images, identifying second locations of the knee landmarks; run a transformation with the first and second locations, causing the knee coil images and body coil images to generally correspond with each other with respect to location and orientation.
US08617162B2
A device for punching out tissue areas from bone has a blade whose circumferential cutting edge corresponds to the contour of a tissue area that is to be punched out. The blade is composed of a plurality of blade segments that are each movable in an axial direction counter to the force of a spring.
US08617151B2
A thermal surgical instrument having a system to control the delivery of power from an energy source to active element located on a tip. The system for controlling delivery to the tip may include a control algorithm which uses one or more measurements, such as tip current, SWR, and rapid changes in reflected power, to manage power without affecting cutting efficacy, and in a manner that may be imperceptible by a surgeon. The system may utilize a state machine to determine the current environment in which the tip may be in. Power delivered to the tip may be selectively managed according to a fixed power index or a repeatedly executed power profile.
US08617146B2
There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create precise predetermined clear corneal incisions that are capable of reducing induced astigmatism. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide laser systems that can provide these incisions at or below Bowman's membrane.
US08617128B2
An interventional medical device, for example, a chronic implantable medical electrical lead or drug delivery catheter, or an acute medical therapy delivery and/or diagnostic tool, such as a guide catheter, includes a label formed by laser marking a TiO2-loaded silicone medical adhesive, which is primarily employed for filling and bonding in the device. A laser marking apparatus is employed to form marks of the label in the cured adhesive that forms a backfill and bond in the device.
US08617127B2
A medicament injection device in which the time elapsed is calculated from the end of a predetermined period during which medicament is permitted to disperse subsequent to completion of an injection stroke. The medicament injection device is particularly suitable for use by those with diabetes in which once a desired dosage of medicament has been selected and expelled from the medicament cartridge into the body of the patient, the injected medicament is allowed to disperse locally from the injection site within the patient's body before the needle arrangement is removed from the patient's body.
US08617120B2
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides an integrated syringe-device which can store a volume of fluid for infusion, can connect via an air-tight connector to another device (such as a luer connector), can flush fluid through the connector into the other device, and can deliver a cap that forms an air-tight closure to the device connector.
US08617109B2
The present invention relates to a device for the delivery of predetermined doses of liquid medicament to a patient, which medicament is intended to be inhaled by the patient or intended to be injected into the body of the patient. The device is adapted to be in a medicament delivery state and in a medicament non-delivery state. When the device is in a medicament delivery state, said device is adapted to drive a piston into a cartridge containing the liquid medicament to be delivered, with a force that is above or equal to a predetermined minimum force value and below a predetermined maximum force value. The minimum force value is the lowest force value needed to deliver the predetermined dose and the maximum force value is the first force value at which it exists a risk of damaging the cartridge or the components of the device. Further, more of the spring force is brought to an efficient output torque ensuring that a predetermined volume of medicament is expelled from a cartridge.
US08617102B2
The apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a flexible sheath instrument, a flexible guide instrument, and a tool. The flexible sheath instrument comprises a first instrument base removably coupleable to an instrument driver and defines a sheath instrument working lumen. The flexible guide instrument comprises a second instrument base removably coupleable to the instrument driver and is threaded through the sheath instrument working lumen. The guide instrument also defines a guide instrument working lumen. The tool is threaded through the guide instrument working lumen. For this embodiment of the apparatus, the sheath instrument and guide instrument are independently controllable relative to each other.
US08617093B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring a fluid system of an extracorporeal blood treatment device. In the method according to the present invention and the device according to the present invention, the pressure in a ventilation line branching off the venous drip chamber in the venous blood line is measured, a hydrophobic filter being disposed in the ventilation line. A fault in the fluid system is determined in the absence of pressure variations in the segment of the ventilation line remote from the venous drip chamber. The pressure variations in the ventilation line can be generated downstream of the hydrophobic filter by alternately ventilating the ventilation line that is closed downstream of the hydrophobic filter during blood treatment.
US08617092B2
A stabilizing belt for use by a person in need of assisted mobility or in recreation, the stabilizing belt comprising a pad, a belt to secure the pad to a wearer, and a pair of handles attached to the pad. The pad may be uniquely contoured to provide support and comfort for the wearer. A strap may be provided for added security and comfort. The belt may further comprise handle supports for reinforcement, a cover for durability, and a pocket for versatility.
US08617087B2
A medical device has a distal member with a configuration that can be changed by means of a control handle with a control assembly employing a rotational cam, a shaft, and a pulley, where the rotational cam is rotationally mounted on a portion of the control handle for rotation by a user. The rotational cam operates on the shaft to move it proximally or distally depending on the direction of rotation which in turn rotates the pulley to draw or release a puller wire to change the configuration of the distal member of the medical device. The shaft is oriented along a diameter of the control handle. The shaft has two ends which extends through two axial guide slots in the portion of the control handle to sit two opposing helical tracks formed on inner surface of the rotational cam. The guide slots are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the control handle and therefore maintain the shaft's diametrical orientation as the rotational cam is rotated to move the shaft proximally or distally. Actuation of the puller wire by means of the control assembly can result in a change of the distal member's configuration, including deflection, contraction and/or expansion.
US08617086B2
A method for obtaining a full thickness biopsy of the wall of a hollow organ, comprising obtaining an apparatus comprising a cannula comprising a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring, the biased spring being coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising: a tip; a flange; a notch portion comprising a notch thickness; and a shaft comprising a shaft thickness; where the shaft thickness is greater than the notch thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle; obtaining a patient having skin, a first wall, and a second wall; creating an incision through the skin of the patient; inserting the apparatus into the incision; advancing the apparatus through the first wall and the second wall; withdrawing the cannula relative to the needle; locking the cannula with the releasable lock; aligning the notch portion such that the notch portion straddles the second wall; releasing the releasable lock such that the cutting edge of the cannula passes completely through the second wall creating a full-thickness biopsy; and withdrawing the apparatus from the patient.
US08617081B2
What is disclosed is a system and method for recovering a patient's cardiac pulse rate from a sequence of video images recording of that patient. In one embodiment, a reference signal of a particular frequency is generated at predetermined frequency intervals and a constrained source separation is performed on the source data to obtain an estimation of the source signal intended to be recovered. The reference signal is updated and constrained source separation is again performed. These operations are repeated for all frequencies of the reference signal. The frequency at which a minimum error is achieved is determined to be the subject's recovered cardiac pulse frequency. In such a manner, the source signal is extracted and recovered reliably from captured multi-channel RGB signals or multispectral signals. The teachings hereof find their uses in a variety of medical solutions including various military, security and telemedicine applications. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08617077B2
A high power ultrasound application device (1) is provided which comprises a hand-held applicator (3). The applicator comprises a converter element (5) for converting electric signals into ultrasound waves; a treatment head (6) configured to apply ultrasound waves from the converter element to a subject to be treated; a handle (8) for holding and manipulating the applicator; and an oscillator circuit (9) arranged in the applicator and comprising one or more electronic components (10A, 10B) configured to be energized by a power source and to generate an output signal to drive the converter element. The oscillator circuit is in thermal contact with the handle, and the handle comprises a heat conductivity and thermal coefficient such that, when manually held by an operator in normal use, a heat conductive channel is provided between at least a portion of the circuit and the operator.
US08617064B2
An adjustable surgical retractor clamping mechanism for attaching mechanism to an operating table. The mechanism includes an upper jaw, lower jaw, a drive member, an adjustable frame support post and a releasable clamp for adjusting the height of the surgical retracting frame. The upper portion of the lower jaw has a plurality of slots cut into the sidewalls of upper jaw to form at least one flexible finger. The clamp is in close sliding relationship to the upper portion of lower jaw member. The clamp includes a cam lever. Movement of the cam lever to its closed position compresses the clamp causing the flexible fingers to grip the adjustable post locking its longitudinal movement. Rotation of the cam lever to the open position releases the compressive force on the clamp, unlocking the adjustable post allowing the post to be longitudinally adjusted relative to the clamping mechanism.
US08617058B2
An ingestible image scanning pill captures high resolution images of the GI tract as it passes through. Images communicated externally have exact location determination. Image processing software discards duplicate information and stitches images together, line scan by line scan, to replicate a complete GI tract as if it were stretched out in a straight line. A fully linear image is displayed to a medical professional as if the GI tract had been stretched in a straight line, cut open, laid flat out on a bench for viewing—all without making any incisions in a live patient.
US08617049B2
An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A symmetrical drive system including a drive element associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct is further provided. In accordance with an alternate embodiment an apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct including an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. The tension element is composed of a flexible first member and a flexible second member, wherein the flexible first member is movable relative to the flexible second member. A drive element is associated with and engages the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct.
US08617045B2
A urinary control device for sealing off at a neck and along the inside wall of a bladder to prevent leaking and dislodging of the device from within the bladder is disclosed. The device includes an inner tubular member. The device also includes an expandable sealing member. A deployable stiffening member is positioned within the expandable sealing member. The stiffening member expands within the expandable sealing member to erect and shape the expandable sealing member. The deployable stiffening member strengthens the expandable sealing member, retaining the device within the bladder and sealing off the bladder against leaking.
US08617041B2
Illustrative embodiments of automated sample workcells and methods of operation are disclosed. The methods may include receiving a first plurality of samples, each of the first plurality of samples being linked to a requested analysis selected from among a plurality of analysis types; assigning at least one centrifugation parameter to each of the first plurality of samples in response to the requested analysis linked to that sample; loading a second plurality of samples into a centrifuge, the second plurality of samples being selected from among the first plurality of samples and comprising samples that have been assigned at least two different centrifugation parameters; determining a centrifugation parameter of highest centrifugation intensity from among the at least two different centrifugation parameters assigned to samples in the second plurality of samples; and centrifuging the second plurality of samples according to a centrifugation protocol comprising the centrifugation parameter of highest centrifugation intensity.
US08617040B2
An apparatus for folding products has a conveying member configured to hold a first portion and a second portion of the product and to release the first portion while continuing to hold the second portion. The conveying member is configured to convey the product at a conveying speed. A folding assembly is disposed adjacent the conveying member. The folding assembly is configured to receive the first portion of the product from the conveying member while moving generally at the conveying speed, to decelerate relative to the conveying member while holding the first portion thereto thereby causing the product to fold about the fold axis, and to place the first portion of the product into contact with the second portion such that the first portion overlies the second portion.
US08617039B2
A method of and a device for folding a bottom of a package, which includes a sleeve of packaging material with a transversal seal in the end of the bottom forming portion of the package, the portion having the shape of a fin. The method includes folding the fin and forming primary flaps, breaking corners on the folded fin between the primary flaps and the edge between the part of the sleeve forming the bottom and the rest of the sleeve, such that secondary flaps are folded in between the primary flaps and the fin, the secondary flaps thereby being folded essentially towards each other, folding the primary flaps towards each other, and pressing the primary flaps towards the remaining part of the bottom forming part of the sleeve.
US08617033B2
An exercise apparatus includes a pair of step-up apparatuses wearable on feet of a user. Each step-up apparatus is configurable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration to simulate a selected motion when the user wearing the pair of step-up apparatuses travels by foot. One of the step-up apparatuses moves towards the expanded configuration while the other step-up apparatus moves towards the compressed configuration.
US08617032B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness. In accordance with a first aspect, an apparatus is provided that is adapted to assist in weight loss and exercise. The apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) having computer program code adapted to assist in at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. The PDA also includes computer program code adapted to display historical data regarding at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. Numerous other embodiments are provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products.
US08617029B2
A shift control apparatus for continuously variable transmission includes: a pseudo accelerator opening degree generating section configured to generate a pseudo accelerator opening degree larger than the actual accelerator opening degree when the actual accelerator opening degree is decreased when the judging section judges that the vehicle runs the uphill; the target transmission gear ratio setting section being configured to set the target transmission gear ratio by the pseudo accelerator opening degree when the pseudo accelerator opening degree is inputted, and the shift control section being configured to control the shift toward the target transmission gear ratio set based on the pseudo accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed when the pseudo accelerator opening degree is generated, and to control the shift toward the target transmission gear ratio set based on the actual accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed when the pseudo accelerator opening degree is not generated.
US08617024B2
The invention relates to a final drive assembly. An axle final drive assembly includes an axle housing, and axially inner and outer axle bearings supported by the axle housing. An axle shaft has a flange and is supported for rotation by the outer axle bearing. A planetary transmission has a planet carrier fixed for rotation with the flange of the axle shaft. The planet carrier has a neck which is supported for rotation by the inner axle bearing. The planetary transmission also has a ring gear and a plurality of planet gears which are positioned axially between the inner and outer axle bearings.
US08617021B1
A family of transmissions produces at least eight forward and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of various combinations of three clutches or brakes. Each transmission includes two fixed gearing arrangements that establish fixed speed relationships between an input shaft, and output shaft, and four other elements. Specifically, the input shaft is constrained to rotate at a speed between that of the first and second elements while the output shaft is constrained to rotate at a speed between that of the third and fourth elements. Additional gearing, clutches, and brakes establish specified selective speed relationships among these elements.
US08617011B2
A sport ball may incorporate a casing that includes a plurality of joined panels. At least one of the panels may have a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The casing defines at least one indentation in the exterior surface, and the first layer is bonded to the third layer adjacent to the indentation. In some configurations, the casing may also define at least one indentations in a surface of the third layer, which may correspond in location with the indentation in the exterior surface. Additionally, the sport ball may include an intermediate structure and a bladder located within the casing.
US08617004B2
The present invention is directed a golf ball having at least a transparent or translucent cover and a core. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The transparent or translucent cover may comprise a plurality of dimples on its surface as well as depressions other than dimples, such as stripes, text, or logos. Both the cover and the core may comprise an amount of dye or dyes. The cover may additionally comprise an amount of reflective particulates. The core may include a plurality of projections and/or depressions on its surface to provide more surface area for the adhesion of the cover to the core.
US08616999B2
A golf club head with an increased moment of inertia (MOI) about the X axis and the Z axis. Generally, the MOI about the Z axis is at least about 4400 g·cm2 and the MOI about the X axis is at least about 2500 g·cm2. The radius of the bulge of the club face is increased while the radius of the roll is reduced to compensate for the gear effect produced by the increased MOIs. The bulge curvature is generally between about 0.016 cm−1 and about 0.028 cm−1, and the roll curvature is between about 0.033 cm−1 and about 0.066 cm−1. The roll curvature is greater than the bulge curvature.
US08616998B2
Embodiments of club heads with contoured back faces and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08616992B2
A putter includes a handle (2), a putter head (1) with a striking surface, and two alignment indicia (6) symmetrically arranged relative to a vertical plane (20) which is perpendicular to the striking surface and passes through a striking line. Wherein the visible part of the alignment indicia (6) are symmetrical to the vertical plane (20) when being viewed in the vertical plane (20), while not symmetrical to the vertical plane (20) when being viewed in a plane offsetting from the vertical plane (20).
US08616984B2
Wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment are provided, including between an RFID-enabled player tracking card (or “smart card”) and an electronic wagering token. Wireless communications between the smart card and a plurality of electronic wagering tokens may be periodically initiated. Electronic wagering tokens which are detected as being within possession or control of a patron in possession of the smart card may be tracked during various events. Electronic wagering tokens which are within possession or control of the patron of the may be detected and identified. Token-owner association information which includes information relating to an ownership association between the patron and the electronic wagering token may be generated.
US08616958B2
A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify game devices and other related activities. A services discovery system and method is provided for providing dynamic access to gaming resources, services, and other components.
US08616953B2
Gaming machines, systems and methods for sizing or resizing visible reel symbols are disclosed. Gaming machines include an exterior housing, master gaming controller, display device and mechanical or virtual reels. Reels include a plurality of reel stops, each containing a visible reel symbols or a blank or ghost region. Visible reel symbols are expanded into adjacent reel stops, which can be ghosts or blank reel stops, such that blank areas are reduced. A reel configurator sizes or resizes the visible reel symbols, which reel configurator can be located at a remote host or within the gaming machine itself. A remote host can provide downloadable virtual reel strips and visible reel symbols to gaming machines within a system including processor-based machines. Resizing of visible reel symbols can involve stretching the symbols in a direction that extends into one or both reel stops adjacent to the reel stop containing the stretched reel symbol.
US08616949B2
In the gaming machine according to the present invention, an attribute of a card to be compared with an attribute of a player additional card is determined. In a case where a side bet is placed, a result of the side game is determined by determining whether or not the attribute of the player additional card is same as the determined attribute. The additional payout is offered based on the determined result of the side game.
US08616947B1
A method and system for conducting concurrent multi-venue multi-race, multi-outcome, progressive pari-mutuel wagering allows players to pick the favorite in a prespecified number of races to win, place, and/or show. Players can pick manually, pick specific rows or columns, or utilize quick picks. Pools are seeded, wagers are pooled, and pool winners split pools. When pools aren't won, the amount in the pools transfer to the next pool. An operator interface allows specification of pool and pick types, pool size, ticket price, and pool distribution, including allocation of pool seed, progressive, and operator take.
US08616922B2
An audio jack connector adapted for soldering on a circuit board and engaging with an audio plug connector includes an insulating housing and a plurality of terminals. The insulating housing has a main body, and an insertion portion connecting with one side of the main body. The insertion portion defines an insertion hole for receiving the audio plug connector therein. The main body defines a plurality of terminal grooves with bottoms thereof passing through a bottom surface of the main body. The insulating housing defines a plurality of mouths communicating between the insertion hole and the terminal grooves. The terminals are disposed in the terminal grooves. Each terminal has a contact portion projecting into the insertion hole through the mouth to electrically contact with the audio plug connector, and a soldering portion received in the bottom of the terminal groove to be soldered on the circuit board.
US08616916B2
A fixing structure fixing a power input connector on a bracket is provided. The power input connector includes a socket body. The fixing structure includes a first fixing element and a second fixing element. The first fixing element has a first coupling portion and an opening, and is connected to the bracket. The second fixing element has a second coupling portion coupled to the first coupling portion. An accommodation is formed between the first fixing element and the second fixing element for accommodating the power input connector, the socket body passes through and protrudes out of the opening. The first fixing element provides a first supporting force to balance a first force pulling the power input connector away from the bracket. The second fixing element provides a second supporting force to balance a second force pressing the power input connector towards the bracket.
US08616909B2
A lock device includes a helical gear driven and rotated by a motor. The helical gear is connected to a hook stopper control member, which is moved to a projected position when the helical gear is rotated in a clockwise direction, and a lid latch, which is moved to a retracted position when the helical gear rotated in a clockwise direction. A coil spring constantly urges the lid latch to a projected position.
US08616905B2
A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable (e.g., while the cable is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cable tray). The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end.
US08616900B1
A disk drive, for electrical coupling to a host electrical connector of a host electronic system, includes a disk drive base. A top cover is attached to the disk drive base and a disk is rotably attached to the disk drive base. The top cover and the disk drive base together enclose the disk. A disk drive printed circuit board is also attached to the disk drive base. The disk drive printed circuit board includes a disk drive electrical connector. The disk drive electrical connector is configured to mate with the host electrical connector. The top cover includes a latching feature to retain the host electrical connector.
US08616892B2
A training system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The training system includes a method of training an athlete to use an article of footwear with a traction system to help enhance speed and agility. The method can be implemented on a computer, mobile device or as an instruction booklet. The training system provides a total training solution for an athlete that is designed to enhance specific athletic skills.
US08616891B2
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a system for delivering interactive relationship skills training with multiple feedback source types for the benefit of remote players who access the system via electronic communication networks. In an illustrative example, some systems may deliver relationship skills training content having restricted access to two or more types of feedback sources. Feedback sources that may be accessed at first, second, third and fourth tiers may respectively include, for example, predetermined expert responses, a virtual partner, a remote human partner, and a moderated group of remote players. Players may gain access to feedback sources at progressively higher tiers of psychological complexity by accumulating a sufficient relational skills score at each tier.
US08616886B2
Described herein is a color display for cosmetics. The color display has a partially transparent flap with color swatches placed thereon, which allows the user to view a color as it may appear on their body.
US08616883B2
A method and apparatus for managing a simulation. Information about the simulation is received over a wireless communications link with a computer system in an aircraft. The information is received during running of the simulation and identifies a performance of the computer system running the simulation. The running of the simulation is controlled based on the performance of the computer system.
US08616882B2
A method including measuring a physical quantity having a magnitude that changes in time as a result of a fire shot event so as to obtain a measurement signal, and comparing the measurement signal with a predetermined time-domain fingerprint for said quantity, which fingerprint is characteristic of the way the quantity varies in time upon a fire shot event, in order to confirm the occurrence of a fire shot event in case the measurement signal and the fingerprint match.
US08616876B2
The invention concerns a kit for a machine for the injection moulding of moulded parts, the moulding machine comprising a first platen and a second platen, the kit comprising: a first support plate intended to be fixed to the said first platen; a second support plate intended to be fixed to the said second platen, the two platens being designed to be able to move with respect to each other by sliding so as to adopt successively an open position and a closed position; for the first support plate, at least one barrel of a first type, mounted so as to able to move in rotation on the said first support plate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the said first support plate, and carrying at least two cavities; for the second support plate, at least one barrel of a second type, mounted so as to be able to move in rotation on said second support plate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the said second support plate, and carrying at least two cavities.
US08616869B2
An in-mold labeling apparatus for an injection-molded product includes a label magazine, a handling tool, an injection mold, and a controller. The injection mold has a suction port disposed in the mold cavity. A pin may be fixedly or movably disposed in the suction port. A method of in-mold labeling an injection-molded product includes applying a static charge to the label using the handling tool, activating the suction port in the mold cavity, deactivating a suction port of the handling tool, and activating the injection molding.
US08616859B2
The invention relates to a fan, particularly for cooling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, having an attachment unit, an electric drive motor, and a fan wheel rotating about the fan axis, wherein the attachment unit has a frame, from which bars protrude that cross through an air opening, said bars carrying an attachment element serving to attach the drive motor. The invention proposes that each of the bars (6) have a cross-sectional contour, wherein at least one cross bar (18) extending laterally in the direction of the fan axis (9) is configured between end regions (14, 15) of the bar (6) extending in the direction of the fan axis (9), defining a bar width (b).
US08616858B2
A hydraulic system, including fluid flow generated by a primary pump and a secondary pump, utilizes a regulator control assembly to control fluid flow from each of the primary and secondary pumps such that a desired fluid flow and pressure is maintained at the outlet for varying actuator demands. The regulator control assembly controls the transition from using only the primary pump, to using both the primary and secondary pumps to provide a desired fluid flow and pressure through the outlet to the actuator.
US08616857B2
An oil pump unit with a variable flow rate includes lubrication pumps and a control pump that are driven by rotation of a crankshaft of an engine, and changes an oil supply amount from the control pump to each part of the engine, in which the control pump includes a plurality of oil pumps that have different discharge rates.
US08616850B2
A mounting arrangement for a gas turbine engine blade having a root employs a lightweight, simple and economical leaf spring spacer which biases the blade root in a radially outward direction to minimize unwanted movement of the root within a conforming slot in a blade hub under conditions such as windmilling when centrifugal force alone is inadequate to tightly seal the root within the slot.
US08616847B2
A squealer tip preform having a coating including an abrasive is disclosed. The squealer tip may be separately formed from a generally elongated blade to which the squealer tip preform is configured to be attached. The squealer tip may be configured such that an outer surface of the squealer tip preform is generally aligned with an outer side surface of the turbine blade defining a cross-sectional profile of the turbine blade. Forming the squealer tip preform with an abrasive coating separate from the turbine blade greatly reduces costs and improves efficiency as compared with conventional systems.
US08616846B2
An active flow control system for use with a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes at least one blade. The active flow control system includes an air distribution system at least partially defined within said at least one blade. The air distribution system includes at least one aperture defined through the at least one blade. An aperture control system is in operational control communication with the air distribution system. The aperture control system includes an actuator at least partially positioned within the at least one blade and configured to control a flow of air discharged through the at least one aperture.
US08616845B1
A turbine rotor blade with a forward flowing serpentine flow cooling circuit in the airfoil and a serpentine flow cooling circuit formed within the blade tip formed in series to provide cooling air flow through the airfoil and then through the blade tip. Cooling air from the airfoil serpentine circuit is bled off to provide cooling of the trailing edge region through T/E exit slots. The tip serpentine cooling circuit includes legs on the pressure and suction side walls with tip edge cooling holes to provide layers of film cooling air for the blade tip rails. A separate cooling air circuit is used in the leading edge region to provide convection cooling, impingement cooling and film cooling for the leading edge region.
US08616836B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a plurality of detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes attached to a diffuser plate of a centrifugal compressor. In certain embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may be attached to the diffuser plate using threaded fasteners. In addition, dowel pins may be used to align the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes with respect to the diffuser plate. However, in other embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include a tab configured to fit securely within a groove in the diffuser plate. In addition, the tabs of the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include indentions that mate with extensions extending from the diffuser plate, wherein the tabs may slide into slots between the extensions and the grooves of the diffuser plate.
US08616833B2
A method and a device to counteract wear about a guide vane (16) from a particle bearing drive water, the guide vane (16) being arranged in a guide vane housing (14) in a water turbine (1), and where the method comprises: —routing a supply channel (36) for water cleaner than the drive water to the attachment point area between the guide vane (16) and the guide vane housing (14); and—leading water cleaner than the drive water to flow through a slit (28) where the slit (28) at least partly encircles the guide vane (16).
US08616832B2
A gas turbine engine assembly includes a housing including an annular duct wall that at least partially defines a mainstream hot gas flow path; a stator assembly with a stator vane extending into the mainstream gas flow; and a turbine rotor assembly upstream of the stator assembly and defining a turbine cavity with the stator assembly. The turbine rotor assembly includes a rotor disk having a forward side and an aft side, a rotor platform positioned on a periphery of the rotor disk, the rotor platform defining an aft flow discourager, a rotor blade mounted on the rotor platform extending into the mainstream gas flow, and an aft seal plate mounted on the aft side of the rotor disk. The aft seal plate has a radius such that the aft seal plate protects the rotor disk from hot gas ingestion.
US08616820B2
Provided herein is a double dual slot load lock chamber. The double dual slot load lock chamber includes two isolated load lock regions that are vertically stacked and share a common wall, wherein each isolated load lock region comprises two substrate slots.
US08616819B1
A lock system having a bolt wherein a plurality of locking tabs are along a length of the bolt spaced a distance apart, a first track is along a portion of the length of the bolt, an inner nut having an inner channel, wherein threading is on an outer surface of the inner nut and a first mating tab is in the inner channel, the first mating tab slides along the first track as the inner nut slides over the bolt and the first mating tab can slide between a pair of locking tabs on the bolt when the inner nut is rotated in a first or second direction to secure the inner nut in a position along the length of the bolt, and an outer nut having an inner channel with threading and is adapted to removably thread onto the inner nut.
US08616801B2
A gusset (40A-G) between two CMC walls (26, 28) has fibers (23) oriented to provide anisotropic strengthening of the wall intersection (34). The fibers (23) may be oriented diagonally to oppose in tension a wall-spreading moment of the walls (26, 28) about the intersection (34). Interlocking features (46, 48, 52, 56, 58) may be provided on the gusset to improve load sharing between the gusset and the walls. The gusset may have one or more diagonal edges (50, 51) that contact matching edges of a slot (42, 42D, 43D) to oppose wall-spreading (M1) and wall-closing (M2) bending of the walls (26, 28). The gusset may be installed in the slot after preparing the gusset and the walls to different temperatures. Then the assembly may be final-fired to produce differential shrinkage that causes compression of the gusset or the wall intersection.
US08616800B2
A ball joint and production method thereof that ensure that grease retainers are provided on the entire contact surface of a resin sheet between an outer surface of a round head of a ball stud and the contact surface to properly maintain lubrication between the round head and the resin sheet. Graphite particles are dispersed over an inner surface of the resin sheet, and the resin sheet and the round head of the ball stud are inserted in a housing. An open end portion of a housing body is swaged to be reduced in diameter. The graphite particles are pressed against the inner surface of the resin sheet, whereby portions of the inner surface of the resin sheet against which the graphite particles abut are depressed. Thus, gaps are formed around the respective graphite particles. Grease enters the gaps, which each function as a grease retainer.
US08616798B2
A cover (10) is disclosed for holding objects such as papers and reports. The cover (10) is formed of a member (20) having a front cover (22), a spine (24) and a back cover (26). A first portion (32) and a second portion (38) are folded over to encapsulate a prong fastener (12). The second portion (38) is then fastened to the back cover (26) with adhesive tape (58). The first and second portions (32, 38) can be part of a fastener assembly (70) having a third portion (72) that is secured to the inner surface (62) of the back cover (26). In a modification, a flap (128) can be hinged to the side of the back cover (126).
US08616793B2
The disclosure discloses a label producing apparatus comprising: a roll housing part that houses a roll winding a print-receiving tape into a roll shape; a feeding roller that feeds out and transports said print-receiving tape from said roll housed in said roll housing part; a printing device that prints desired print on said print-receiving tape fed out from said roll by the feeding of said feeding roller; and a guide device that guides said print-receiving tape fed out from said roll housed in said roll housing part; wherein: said guide device comprises either a first guide part capable of guiding said roll according to roll diameters of different sizes, or a second guide part capable of guiding said roll according to roll widths of different sizes.
US08616791B2
A method for making an actuator device includes forming a substantially planar structure, including an outer frame with a latch foot, a fixed frame coupled to the outer frame, a latch mass coupled to the fixed frame, a latch block coupled to the latch mass by a latch block flexure, a moveable frame coupled to the outer frame, and an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth alternately attached to the fixed and moving frames. For operation, the latch mass is rotated downward until an upper surface of the latch block is disposed below and held in latching contact with a lower surface of the latch foot by the latch block flexure.
US08616787B2
An optical connector comprising a housing (11) including a bottom wall, a plurality of side walls each of which stands from the bottom wall, and an opening defined by the side walls; a metal lead (21) mounted on the bottom wall; a photoelectric conversion element (23) mounted on the metal lead (21); a resin case (26) covering the photoelectric conversion element (23); a lens (25) corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element (23) and provided on the resin case (26); and an electromagnetic shield (12) provided on the resin case (26) and including a first through hole (12e) from which the lens (25) is exposed.
US08616784B2
An optical connector that is assembled onto a terminal of an optical fiber cable including tension bodies. The optical connector includes a housing, a ferrule that is provided in the housing, and a fixing cap that is mounted on the housing. The housing includes a fixing portion of which an outer peripheral surface is provided with a screw portion. While the tension bodies leading from the terminal of the optical fiber cable are interposed between the housing and the fixing cap, the fixing cap is screwed onto and fixed to the fixing portion.
US08616779B2
A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, which includes a driveshaft member with a shortened stem portion. The wheel assembly also includes a bearing arrangement with an asymmetric configuration. An outboard bearing row may be disposed radially further from a central axis of a hub member than an inboard bearing row, and may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the inboard bearing row. An outboard end of the stem portion may be generally aligned in the axial direction with the outboard bearing row. The stem portion length may approximately correspond to the bearing assembly length. Contact angles of a bearing assembly may be configured to distribute force over the wheel assembly. A fastening member may engage an outboard end of the stem portion and apply force to the hub member at a location inboard of the outboard bearing row.
US08616776B2
A guide piece projects from an outside surface of a cage bar of a cage so as to make sliding contact with a raceway surface of an outer ring. As the cage rotates, the guide piece operates to guide the rotation of the cage while removing an excess grease on the raceway surface and transferring the excess grease to axially opposite ends of the outer ring.
US08616774B2
A sliding bearing 1 is formed into a cylindrical shape by placing abutting surfaces 11A and 12A of a pair of half-bearings 11 and 12 so as to abut against each other. Two foreign substance discharging grooves 5 and 5′ inclined with respect to an axial direction of the sliding bearing 1 are formed on a sliding surface 3 adjacent to an inner circumferential edge 4 of the abutting surfaces 11A and 12A. When a lubricant is supplied to the sliding surface 3, a foreign substance 6 mixed in the lubricant is trapped by foreign substance discharging grooves 5 and 5′ and then discharged out of the sliding bearing 1 from ends 5A and 5B (5A′ and 5B′) open to end faces 7 and 8.
US08616773B2
An elastomeric bushing includes an inner component, first, second and third elastomeric or plastic members and an outer component. The first elastomeric or plastic member is disposed over the inner component. The second elastomeric or plastic member is disposed over the first elastomeric or plastic member. The third elastomeric or plastic member is disposed over the second elastomeric or plastic member. The outer component is disposed over the third elastomeric or plastic member.
US08616762B2
An automatic pot stirrer is provided that has a mount assembly. The mount assembly is mounted on a pot plate having slider clamps. The slider clamps engage the rim of the pot and are designed to accommodate differently dimensioned pots. The mount assembly supports a shaft that is operatively coupled to a motor at one end and threaded to a block at the other end. The block has opposed first and second block end walls and opposed first and second block paddle walls to which are connected paddles. The first and second block paddle walls may be disposed at about a forty-five degree angle to a second block end wall. The paddles are disposed at about a forty-five degree angle to the second block end wall such that the paddles lift food product from the bottom of the pot during operation of the automatic pot stirrer.
US08616759B2
In an ultrasonic treatment system for ultrasonically treating a substance, an elongate ultrasonic horn is positionable within the substance and excitable to vibrate ultrasonically to energize the substance. The horn has a longitudinal axis and an outer surface for contact with the substance. An agitating member of the system is disposed on the ultrasonic horn and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the horn during ultrasonic vibration of the horn to agitate the substance.
US08616750B2
A backlight module including a first casing, a light guiding member, a light source and a limiting structure is provided. The first casing has a top portion and a first side portion connected to the top portion. The light guiding member is located at an inner side of the first side portion and has a light incident surface and a top surface. The light source is located at the inner side of the first side portion and is disposed adjacent to the light guiding member. The light source has a light emitting surface facing the light incident surface. The limiting structure is protruded from a wall below the top portion and located above at least part of the light source and at least part of the top surface of the light guiding member.
US08616745B2
The electronic device includes a first cover, a second cover, a light guiding element, and a PCB. A first blocking rib is formed on a bottom of the first cover. A retaining panel extends from the bottom and includes a hook at a distal end thereof. The second cover includes a second blocking rib. The PCB is positioned between the two covers. A light source is mounted on the PCB. A light guiding element includes a flat panel and two sidewalls extending from the flat panel. The hook engages with the end surface of the first sidewall. The first blocking rib and the retaining panel abut against opposite sides of the light guiding element. The second blocking rib abuts against the end surface of the second sidewall. The light guiding element is coupled to the light source and configured to transmit the light from the light source.
US08616736B2
An oriented circular light-reflecting plate with triangular micro prisms having identical cross sections and a circular plate lamp made therefrom, wherein a plurality of annular micro prism bodies (111) are arranged on the prism surface (11) of the light-reflecting plate (1), the cross sections through the central axis are triangles, which have the same shapes, the same cross sectional areas and the same distances along the diameter direction, the apex of the triangle closest to the central axial line has the shortest distance away from the smooth surface (12) of the light-reflecting plate, and the apices of the triangles towards the periphery of the light-reflecting plate have the successively increasing distances away from the smooth surface 912) of the light-reflecting plate. The circular plate lamp comprises the light-reflecting plate (1), a heat-dissipating frame (3), a reflecting back plate (5), a heat-dissipating plate (4) and lamp bodies (2), wherein the heat-dissipating frame (3) is sleeved around the light-reflecting plate 91) so as to form a gap with the cylindrical surface of the light-reflecting plate 91) and consequently constitute a lamp groove (14) to receive the lamp bodies (2).
US08616735B2
A light emitter has a light surround about the emitter formed from silicone having internally encapsulated plant materials.
US08616734B2
Lens elements having a generally curved shape with a flat surface mounted adjacent an LED for improving the light transmission efficiency and the dispersal pattern of radiation emitted by the LED are disclosed.
US08616730B2
This invention provides a vapor-tight luminaire that maintains a moisture-proof, sealed lower housing for the light-producing lamps (fluorescent lights, LED arrays, etc.) while isolating the electronic components in a separate, upper housing that is spaced apart from, and largely thermally isolated from, the lamps. The lamp housing comprises a unitary non-penetrated tubular lens with one or more removable end caps, sealed by gaskets. The lamp assembly is slidably mounted within the lower housing so that it is readily removable and replaceable with another assembly of the same or different type. The electronics in the upper housing is readily accessible and replaceable by removing a top cover that encloses a three sided channel member. The upper housing is metal and desirably enhances heat exchange with the environment. The two housings are held together by a pair of opposing end cap structures that include a housing end and a removable end cap. The housing end includes an upper plate that is fastened against an adjacent end of the upper housing's channel member. This compresses gaskets that stand between the respective ends of the lens and a lower ring on each housing end. The electronics of the upper housing is interconnected via a wiring harness connector to an end connector in on the lamp assembly. The wiring harness passes between the two housings free of penetration of the lens.
US08616714B2
A solid-state lamp comprises: one or more solid-state light emitting devices (typically LEDs); a thermally conductive body; at least one duct; and a photoluminescence wavelength conversion component remote to the one or more LEDs. The lamp is configured such that the duct extends through the photoluminescence wavelength conversion component and defines a pathway for thermal airflow through the thermally conductive body to thereby provide cooling of the body and the one or more LEDs.
US08616712B2
A new family of truly nonsymmetric optical systems that exploit a new fabrication degree of freedom enabled by the introduction of slow-servos to diamond machining; surfaces whose departure from a sphere varies both radially and azimuthally in the aperture, and associated design method.
US08616698B2
An evaluation method for evaluating a pigment ink for ink-jet recording used together with a dye ink and containing a pigment and water includes an aggregation property evaluation method for the pigment in which 10 parts by weight of an aqueous sodium chloride solution is added to 100 parts by weight of the pigment ink; the evaluation method including first aggregation property evaluation adding an X wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution; and second aggregation property evaluation adding a Y wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution; wherein concentrations of the aqueous sodium chloride solutions are set to fulfill the following condition in the first and second aggregation property evaluations: 1.0≦X
US08616682B2
A liquid ejection head, comprises a pressure generation chamber communicating with a nozzle opening and a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer and an electrodes. The piezoelectric layer is a perovskite type complex oxide containing bismuth, iron, and cerium. The piezoelectric layer contains the cerium in a proportion of 0.01 molar ratio or more and 0.13 molar ratio or lower based on the total amount of the bismuth and the cerium.
US08616681B2
A recording head includes flange portions to which spacers are anchored on both sides of the recording head with a head case therebetween. Spacer attachment holes are provided in the flange portions in the center of the width direction orthogonal to a nozzle row in the recording head, and a round hole and an oblong hole relative to the spacers are provided in the flange portions in positions that are distanced from a center line in the width direction. Positioning holes for the flange portions are provided in the spacers in positions that correspond to the round hole and the oblong hole in the flange portions, and the spacers are anchored to the flange portions on both sides so as to be oriented symmetrically to each other, in a positioned state in which the positions of the positioning holes are aligned with the round hole and the oblong hole.
US08616679B2
An inkjet printer is provided. The inkjet printer includes: an inkjet head which ejects ink toward a surface of a recording medium; a platen provided opposed to the inkjet head to support the recording medium from an opposite side of the inkjet head; and an absorber provided opposed to the inkjet head at the same side as the platen with respect to the recording medium supported by the platen. The absorber includes a plurality of regions different in absorption rate from one another in a plan view observed from a normal direction of the recording medium supported by the platen.
US08616678B2
A color ink printing system, includes a plurality of print head cartridges, each extending across a direction of print media propagation and spaced apart along the direction of print media propagation; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges, the print head chassis actuable between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis actuable between a storage position and an operational position; and a platen on which the print media is supported and propagated. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated to effect printing on the print media. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining plurality of print head cartridges.
US08616675B2
Actuator ink chamber systems and methods of making the same and ink jet printheads. The actuator ink chamber systems and ink jet print heads having an ink chamber with a low-adhesion coating applied on at least one portion of the inner surface of the ink chamber to reduce or eliminate actuator membrane damage during ink freeze/thaw cycles.
US08616663B2
A representative adjustable cabinet includes a bottom section, a top section, a release mechanism, and a ladder component. The bottom section includes a top wall. The top section is positioned above the bottom section and includes at least one side wall. The release mechanism is placed at the top wall and includes at least one bar that extends horizontally along a plane of the top wall. The ladder component is placed at the at least one side wall of the top section and engages the at least one bar of the release mechanism to facilitate adjusting the top section downward and upward in relation to the bottom section.
US08616651B2
An ergonomic chair for promoting hip flexibility and strength and reducing lower back pain. The ergonomic chair includes a base, a first, lower platform, and a second, upper platform spaced above the first, lower platform. The user sits on the second platform and rests their legs on the first platform in various positions. Use of the ergonomic chair results in the user rotating their pelvis to a position that is comfortable and properly aligned.
US08616649B2
A pivotal device of a vehicle seat includes ratchet and guide mounted together to be rotatable relative to each other, and pawls supported by the guide in its circumferential direction and having external teeth adapted to mesh with internal teeth of the ratchet when an operating cam pushes the pawls radially outward, so as to inhibit relative rotation of the ratchet and the guide. One of the pawls is divided obliquely into two parts in the circumferential direction, and is pushed radially outward to mesh with the ratchet while increasing its width and eliminating clearances between the pawl and the guide. The rotating cam rides on a protrusion formed on the guide during rotation thereof, so as to largely push the pawls and press the ratchet radially against the guide.
US08616644B2
The invention relates to a vehicle seat with an upper part (2, 3, 7) comprising a seat part (2) and a backrest (3), and a lower part (11), wherein a vertically adjustable seat frame (4) with at least two scissor arms (5, 6) connected to each other in a rotatable manner is arranged between the upper seat part (2, 3, 7) and the lower seat part (11), wherein at least one first end (5a, 6a) of at least one of the scissor arms (5, 6) is connected to at least one slide element (12) for the displacement—sliding in at least one displacement direction (10)—of the first end (5a, 6a) along at least one guide rail (7, 11).
US08616626B2
Provided is a linkage mechanism for a recliner that includes a seat-mounting plate, a base plate vertically supported by high-legs, a footrest assembly adapted to extend ottoman(s) forward when the recliner is adjusted from a closed to an extended position, and a seat-adjustment assembly. The seat-adjustment assembly includes an ottoman drive link that has a front end pivotably coupled to the footrest assembly and a rear end pivotably coupled to a mid section of a connecting link. The connecting link further includes a front end rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the base plate and a rear end rotatably coupled to a lower end of a rear pivot link. The rear pivot link further includes an upper end that is pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the seat-mounting plate. The combined operation of three links above locates the seat-adjustment assembly above the base plate's lower edge during adjustment.
US08616625B2
A seat assembly having headrest that includes an expansion assembly that operates to expand the cushion when the headrest is in the lower position. As the headrest is raised, the expansion assembly retracts, removing the bulge and creating a more planar surface for comfortably resting the head of a seat occupant. The headrest is also configured to reduce expansion of flatten as the seatback is folded flat.
US08616621B2
A method of preparing and a finished panel and latch combination, wherein the panel and latch mounting combination are seamless and attractive.
US08616617B2
An armored cab comprises a top wall, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall. The cab has a longitudinal axis extending from the back wall to the front wall. The bottom wall includes a first downwardly facing convex wall, at least a second downwardly facing convex wall above the first convex wall, and a plurality of connecting members interconnecting the first convex wall and the at least a second convex wall.
