US08638634B2
A device includes a backup power supply configured to provide power to an external system upon loss of primary system power, the backup power provided by at least one capacitor; logic to create, while the capacitor is available as the backup power supply to the external system, a transient elevation of the capacitor's stored potential above a upper predetermined operating potential of the capacitor; logic to obtain measurements of the capacitor's output voltage during the transient elevation of the capacitor's stored potential; and logic to determine a capacitance of the capacitor from the measurements; the device comprising multiple capacitors in series; logic to discharge each capacitor in series individually from the others; and logic to monitor for overcharging of any of the capacitors in series, and, during charging of the capacitors in series, to operate the discharge logic for any capacitor in the series that is in danger of overcharging.
US08638630B2
A device includes a plurality of restoring circuits each provided for an associated one of local bit lines, remaining one or ones of the restoring circuits other than the restoring circuit provided for the selected one of the local bit lines being configured to receive, through remaining one or ones of the local bit lines, data that is or are read out from a memory cell or cells connected to the remaining one or ones of the local bit lines, and restore, through the remaining one or ones of the local bit lines, the data into the memory cell or cells connected to the remaining one or ones of the local bit lines.
US08638618B2
An integrated circuit device has multiple blocks of NAND memory cells, and a high voltage switch. The high voltage switch is coupled to a decoder output and the blocks of NAND memory cells. The high voltage switch has an output voltage range with positive and negative voltages.
US08638607B2
Apparatuses and methods for disturb verify for programming operations are described. Programming memory cells can include applying a number of programming pulses to a first memory cell, performing a disturb verify operation on a second memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell, and inhibiting the first memory cell from further programming in response to the second memory cell failing the disturb verify operation. Other apparatuses and methods are also disclosed.
US08638606B2
A programming technique which reduces program disturb in a non-volatile storage system is disclosed. A positive voltage may be applied to a substrate (e.g., p-well) during programming. Biasing the substrate may improve boosting of channels of unselected NAND strings, which may reduce program disturb. The substrate may be charged up during the programming operation, and discharged after programming. Therefore, for operations such as verify and read, the substrate may be grounded. In one embodiment, the substrate is charged just prior to applying a program pulse, then discharged prior to a program verify operation. In one embodiment, the substrate is charged while unselected word lines are ramped up to a pass voltage. The substrate bias may depend on program voltage, temperature, and/or hot count.
US08638602B1
A storage subsystem implements a background process for selecting voltage reference values to use for reading data from a non-volatile memory array, such as an array of multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory. The process involves performing background read operations using specific sets of voltage reference values while monitoring the resulting bit error counts. The selected voltage reference values for specific pages or other blocks of the array are stored in a table. Read operations requested by a host system are executed using the corresponding voltage reference values specified by the table.
US08638593B2
A semiconductor device having an SRAM macro which has a power-off function and facilitates a design associated with a change in storage capacity is provided. The semiconductor device has plural layout units each including a memory array having plural memory cells in an SRAM, a first peripheral circuit that writes data into the memory array and reads the data from the memory array, and a switch group that disconnects the memory array and the first peripheral circuit, and power wires.
US08638591B2
A four transistor (4T) memory device is provided. The device includes a first cell transistor and a second cell transistor, the first and second cell transistors coupled to each other and defining latch circuitry having at least one multi-stable node. The device further includes a first access transistor and a second access transistor, the first and second access transistors coupling the at least one multi-stable node to at least one bit-line. In the device, each of the first and second cell transistors and each of the first and second access transistors is a unidirectional field effect transistor configured for conducting current in a first direction and to be insubstantially incapable of conducting current in a second direction.
US08638583B2
An entry including multiple bits of unit cells each storing data bit is coupled to a match line. The match line is supplied with a charging current having a restricted current value smaller than a match line current flowing in a one-bit miss state in one entry, but larger than a match line current flowing in an all-bit match state in one entry. A precharge voltage level of a match line is restricted to a voltage level of half a power supply voltage or smaller. Power consumption in a search cycle of a content addressable memory can be reduced, and a search operation speed can be increased.
US08638582B1
A CAM cell is disclosed that can be selectively configured to store either base-2 data words or base-3 data words. When configured to store base-3 data words, the quaternary CAM cell compares 3 comparand bits representative of a base-3 comparand value with the base-3 data value stored in the CAM cell. Storing base-3 data words in such CAM cells increases the data storage density of associated CAM arrays.
US08638571B2
This invention relates to circuits and methods for controlling a resonant power converter. Control of the power converter may comprise comparing an output voltage or current of the converter to at least one reference voltage or current; enabling primary side switching signals based on a first selected result of the comparison; and disabling primary side switching signals based on a second selected result of the comparison; wherein a primary side switching signal for each primary side switch includes at least one off-on-off transition.
US08638551B2
The present invention relates to a card reader having communicating function which includes: a top cover; a bottom cover having a first open slot at one side; a printed circuit board; a first memory insertion slot allowing a first removable memory card to be inserted; a processor for controlling the access of first removable memory card; a wireless communication module; a card reader controller; a connector; a charging circuit; a rechargeable battery; and a voltage regulation circuit; such that a portable electronic device is able to access the data in the first removable memory card with a wireless means, or a mainframe is able to access the data in the first removable memory card through the connector.
US08638550B2
A media drive tray can include a front plate; a first rail extending from and perpendicular to the front plate where the first rail includes features for securing the first rail to a media drive and a first rail height; and a second rail extending from and perpendicular to the front plate, parallel to the first rail, where the second rail includes features for securing the second rail to a media drive and a second rail height that differs from the first rail height. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08638549B2
Electronic devices may have housings. A housing may contain a display on its front face and a rear plate such as a plate formed from glass on its rear face. A peripheral housing member may surround the display and rear plate. An antenna may be formed in the peripheral housing member. The rear plate may be formed from laminated layers including a light guide layer. Device hinges may include hinge structures that are integral to the peripheral housing member. A logo may be formed by coating the rear plate with a patterned masking layer. Display structures for the display and the rear plate may be mounted to opposing sides of a shelf portion of the peripheral housing member. The rear plate may be formed from electrochromic glass and may cover photovoltaic cells and touch sensors. Driver boards may be mounted within a clutch barrel perpendicular to the display.
US08638545B2
An electrode structure which provides adhesiveness between an aluminum material, as a base material, and a dielectric layer, and adhesiveness between the dielectric layers, and enables a high capacitance, even with a thick dielectric layer. An interposing layer is formed in at least one part of a region of the surface of the aluminum material between the aluminum material and the dielectric layer and includes aluminum and carbon. The dielectric layer includes dielectric particles including valve metal, and an organic substance layer formed on at least one part of a surface of the dielectric particle. A mixture layer of dielectric particles, including the valve metal and a binder, is formed on a surface of the aluminum material, and thereafter, the aluminum material is heated in a state where the aluminum material is placed in a space including a hydrocarbon-containing substance.
US08638541B2
An input device includes a movable electrode and a capacitance detection electrode provided on the upper and lower sides of the resin film substrate, respectively. The movable electrode includes a moving section, and an immobile section. The moving section includes a protrusion. The end of the protrusion comes in contact with the upper side of the resin film substrate in an initial state, or is bonded to the upper side of the resin film substrate. The protrusion has a curved shape so that the side surface of the protrusion is depressed relative to a straight line that connects the end and the base of the protrusion having an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, or at least one step is formed on the side surface of the protrusion, and the width of the protrusion increases stepwise from the end to the base of the protrusion.
US08638530B1
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetoresistive sensor structure includes at least an improved top shield structure and optionally also a similar bottom shield structure. The top shield structure includes an antiparallel structure (APS) of two ferromagnetic films and a nonmagnetic antiparallel coupling (APC) film between them. The APC film induces antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling between the two ferromagnetic films so that they have their respective magnetizations oriented antiparallel. An important aspect of the APS is that there is no antiferromagnetic layer adjacent the upper ferromagnetic film, so that the upper ferromagnetic film does not have its magnetization pinned by an antiferromagnetic layer. An electroplated shield layer is formed above the APS. A nonmagnetic decoupling layer is located between the APS and the electroplated shield layer to prevent domain wall movement in the electroplated shield from transferring to the ferromagnetic layers in the APS and thus possibly induce noise in the sensor.
US08638528B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a head slider for a magnetic disk drive. The head slider comprises a first recess on the air bearing surface of the head slider. The head slider further comprises a second recess on the air bearing surface, wherein the first recess is deeper than the second recess and is closer to the leading edge than the second recess and wherein the second recess is closer to the trailing edge than the first recess.
US08638519B1
A system including a monitoring module configured to monitor whether, during a first predetermined period, at least one of a read operation, a write operation, or a seek operation is performed on a platter of a storage device in response to the platter of the storage device rotating at a first speed. A speed control module is configured to rotate the platter of the storage device at a second speed in response to none of the read operation, the write operation, or the seek operation being performed on the platter of the storage device during the first predetermined period. The second speed is (i) less than the first speed, and (ii) greater than zero. None of the read operation, the write operation, or the seek operation is performed on the platter of the storage device in response to the platter of the storage device rotating at the second speed.
US08638517B2
A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.
US08638501B2
The present invention relates generally to a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of a conical frustum with at least a portion of the conical frustum convex toward the optical axis. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens.
US08638497B2
A light source for a stereoscopic display device that includes a plurality of lights arranged in parallel, each light corresponding to a pair of displays including at least a first display of a first image, and a second display of a second image, wherein the lights form a row in a horizontal direction arranged essentially in the same interval spacing and parallel to each other, with the lights in each row arranged with vertical stacked pitch patterns that differ by at least between the upper and lower positions.
US08638494B2
A reflective optical element e.g. for use in EUV lithography, configured for an operating wavelength in the range from 5 nm to 12 nm, includes a multilayer system with respective layers of at least two alternating materials having differing real parts of the refractive index at the operating wavelength. The material having the lower real part of the refractive index is a nitride or a carbide. “Alternatively, the material having the lower real part of the refractive index is thorium, uranium or barium and the material having the higher real part of the refractive index is boron or boron carbide.
US08638493B2
An optical coupler for coupling optical-pump power into a multimode fiber configured to transport an optical space-division-multiplexed (SDM) signal, the coupling being performed in a manner that enables amplification of the SDM signal in the multimode fiber via a stimulated-emission process or a stimulated Raman-scattering process. The optical coupler can be a part of an optical transmitter configured for co-directional pumping, an optical receiver configured for contra-directional pumping, or a relay station disposed within an optical communication link and configured for either type of pumping. The optical coupler can advantageously be used, e.g., to offset the different degrees of attenuation to which the SDM-signal components corresponding to different guided modes of the multimode fiber are subjected to therein.
US08638486B2
An optical modulator includes first and second modulation waveguides, a demultiplexer, first and second phase adjustment waveguides that changes phases of a light of the first and second modulation waveguides, a multiplexer that combines light outputs from the first and second phase adjustment waveguides, a gain controller and a modulator bias controller in which voltages of the first and second modulation signals are controlled so that a result of adding light from the first modulation waveguide to light from the second modulation waveguide where light from the first modulation waveguide has a predetermined phase is equal to a result of adding light from the first modulation waveguide to light from the second modulation waveguide where light from the second modulation waveguide has a predetermined phase. A phase-adjustment bias controller that controls phase amounts changed by the first and second phase adjustment waveguides so as to cancel phase errors.
US08638479B2
Improved scanner designs are provided to improve imaging and reduce errors during the scanning process. Embodiments disclosed include, for example, the use of dual cameras to improve imagery and reduce the scanner enclosure size, synchronized lighting techniques during the scanning sequence, shielded lens for the camera scanner, a scanner enclosed on at least three sides, adjustments to scanner lighting based on the levels of ambient lighting, a combined branding and scanner apparatus, a gimbaled scanner mount, and a tilted platen with stop for document alignment.
US08638477B2
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a conveyance unit configured to convey a document, a reading unit configured to read an image of the document line by line in a main scanning direction, a check unit configured to check a free space of the storage unit, a detection unit configured to generate detection processing data for determining a position of a portion of the image in the main scanning direction of the reading unit where the image cannot be read correctly and to detect the position using the detection processing data, both in response to the free space of the storage unit being sufficient to store the detection processing data, and a correction unit configured to correct a pixel value of the portion corresponding to the position detected by the detection unit in the image read by the reading unit.
US08638470B2
Disclosed is a method of band rendering an image. The method comprises receiving (201) object data of the image in the page description language. From this the method determines a plurality of buckets (bucket #1-#3, FIG. 14) by which the object data is to be divided. The method then assigns (FIG. 3, 350) object data of each object in the image to one of the buckets based on an initial visibility of the object in the image. Then, for each band of the image, in a band sequential fashion (900, 920), the method identifies (1016-1024) object data visible within a band from a subset of the buckets active for the band. Then, the method analysis (FIGS. 10(i)-(iii); 1028-1052) the identified object data within the band and selects at least one rendering method (RCCR, PCR) from a plurality of rendering methods by which the band is to be rendered. Then the method renders (960,970) the identified object data into the band from the object data using the selected at least one rendering method.
US08638468B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a reception unit that receives an image in gray-level representation with respect to a pixel; a determination unit that determines a deviation direction of a pixel value of the pixel in the image received by the reception unit; and a processing unit that performs processing on the image received by the reception unit based on the deviation direction determined by the determination unit.
US08638467B2
A designator is operable to designate image data indicative of an image. A setting provider is operable to provide a print size condition determining a print size of the image and a first image quality condition determining a first print image quality of the image. A first generator is operable to generate print data indicative of a printed image which is obtained by subjecting the image data to processing corresponding to 1) magnification of the image based on the print size condition, and 2) execution of image processing on the image based on the first image quality condition, which are executed in a predetermined order. A specifier is operable to specify at least one part of the image. A second generator is operable to generate trial print data indicative of at least one trial printed image which is obtained by subjecting the image data to processing corresponding to 1) trimming of the part of the image, 2) magnification of the image based on the print size condition, and 3) execution of image processing on the image based on the first image quality condition. An order that the magnification and the image processing are executed by the second generator is the same as the predetermined order.
US08638458B2
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes an image forming unit to output print data; a DLNA stack to create a job ID of a print job requested to be executed in response to a print job execution request received from a control point (CP) connected over the DLNA network, and to create a data sink address including a fixed portion and a variable portion to receive a print data of the print job, using the created job ID; a communication interface to transmit the created job ID and the created data sink address to the CP, and to receive print data corresponding to the data sink address from the CP; and a controller to assign the job ID to the received print data and to control the image forming unit to print the print data.
US08638436B2
[Problem to be Solved]To provide a smoke sensing system, a smoke sensor and a receiver that can accurately determine the type of smoke.[Solution]The smoke sensor includes: a light-projecting unit 13 for projecting detection light toward a monitored area; a first light-receiving unit 14a, a second light-receiving unit 14b and a third light-receiving unit 14c for receiving the detection light scattered by particles existing in the monitored area, the first light-receiving unit 14a, the second light-receiving unit 14b and the third light-receiving unit 14c being arranged such that the angle between the light-receiving axis of the first light-receiving unit 14a and the light-projecting axis of the light-projecting unit 13, the angle between the light-receiving axis of the second light-receiving unit 14b and the light-projecting axis of the light-projecting unit 13 and the angle between the light-receiving axis of the third light-receiving unit 14c and the light-projecting axis of the light-projecting unit 13 are different from one another; a smoke type determination unit 47 for determining the type of smoke generated in the monitored area based on the output values output from the first light-receiving unit 14a, the second light-receiving unit 14b and the third light-receiving unit 14c; and a fire determination unit 48 for determining whether or not a fire has occurred in the monitored area based on the output values output from the first light-receiving unit 14a, the second light-receiving unit 14b and the third light-receiving unit 14c.
US08638431B2
A microfluidic device comprising at least one microfluidic channel with an input and an output for allowing fluid flow; and at least one Raman fiber based probe having an excitation fiber probe and/or a collection fiber probe positioned so that one end of the probe is in the microfluidic channel.
US08638415B2
A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a liquid supply system provides a liquid between the projection system and the substrate. An active drying station is provided to actively remove the liquid from the substrate W or other objects after immersion of all or part of a surface of the substrate W or other objects.
US08638412B2
The present invention discloses a thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display device, a substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. The TFT substrate includes: a glass substrate and signal lines, scan lines, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, a common electrode, and the TFT. The first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode at least partially overlap each other. The second pixel electrode forms a plurality of horizontally arranged slits and the first pixel electrode forms a hollow structure in a portion overlapping the second pixel electrode. Through the above method, the present invention increases transmittance, improve view angle color shift, and improve the quality of image.
US08638411B2
Disclosed is a transparent liquid crystal display device provided with a compensation film of a liquid crystal panel to change the polarizing state of light in an image mode thereby enhancing a viewing angle characteristic, and the transparent liquid crystal display device may include a liquid crystal panel; a light source disposed at one side of a lower portion of the liquid crystal panel to emit light; a first polarizing plate for polarizing the light emitted from the light source; a light guide plate disposed at a lower portion of the liquid crystal panel to totally reflect the light polarized to an axis by the first polarizing plate to a lateral surface thereof and supply to the liquid crystal panel, and transmit natural light entered from a lower direction therethrough; a second polarizing plate disposed at an upper portion of the liquid crystal panel to control the amount of polarized light transmitting the liquid crystal panel; and a first positive A-film disposed at a lower portion of the liquid crystal panel to change the polarized state of the light outputted from the light guide plate and supplied to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the horizontal direction phase difference value (Re) is 120 nm.
US08638409B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The LCD includes at least one light source which provides light, a display panel which includes pixels reflecting the light from the light source, and at least one light guide plate (LGP) which is formed substantially parallel to a surface of the display panel and is separated from the display panel, wherein a predetermined space is defined between the LGP and the display panel, and the LGP guides the light emitted from the light source to the pixels and allows the light reflected by the pixels to pass through the LGP.
US08638408B2
An optical substrate having a structured prismatic surface and an opposing structured lenticular surface. The structured lenticular surface includes shallow-curved lens structures. Adjacent shallow-curved lens structure may be continuous or contiguous, or separated by a constant or variable spacing. The lens structure may have a longitudinal structure with a uniform or varying cross section. The lenticular lenses may have a laterally meandering structure. Sections of adjacent straight or meandering lenticular lenses may intersect or partially or completely overlap each other. The lenticular lenses may be in the form of discontinuous lenticular segments. The lenticular segments may have regular, symmetrical shapes, or irregular, asymmetrical shapes, which may be intersecting or overlapping, and may be textured. The lens structure may be provided with isolated ripples, in the form of a single knot, or a series of knots.
US08638394B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an information display module, a change instruction receiver, and an information display controller. The information display module is configured to display output information at start-up time of the electronic apparatus. The change instruction receiver is configured to receive an instruction to change the displayed output information. The information display controller is configured to control the information display module to change display of the output information in accordance with the change instruction when the electronic apparatus in a standby state receives the change instruction.
US08638380B2
Techniques for detecting one or more events are provided. The techniques include using multiple overlapping regions of interest on a video sequence to cover a location for one or more events, wherein each event is associated with at least one of the multiple overlapping regions of interest, applying multiple-instance learning to the video sequence to select one or more of the multiple overlapping regions of interest to construct one or more location-aware event models, and applying the models to the video sequence to detect the one or more events and to determine the one or more regions of interest that are associated with the one or more events.
US08638377B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array including pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion element and a detecting unit detecting an acquired electric signal, arranged in a matrix, a signal line provided for each column of the pixel array and connected to the detecting unit through a switching element, a selection line provided for each row of the pixel array and supplied with a selection pulse causing the switching element to conduct, a resetting unit provided in each pixel constituting the pixel array and applying a predetermined potential to the detecting unit of the pixel, and an output control unit provided in each pixel constituting the pixel array and causing the switching element of the pixel to conduct according to the selection pulse supplied to another selection line connected to another switching element of another pixel belonging to another row.
US08638368B2
A method for distributing sports entertainment includes the step of providing a plurality of video cameras positioned on vehicles or athletes that are participating in sporting events, transmitters for transmitting information from the plurality of cameras to a processing station, retransmission equipment for directing the camera feed from each of the plurality of cameras to separate channels for distribution and remote viewing at viewers' locations, and channel selectors that permit viewers to select from among the various channels, thereby allowing the viewers to select from the plurality of camera feeds. The cameras are simultaneously operated during the sporting event so as to generate a plurality of camera feeds during the event, each feed reflecting the perspective of an individual participant. The plurality of feeds is received by the retransmission equipment and retransmitted to selectable channels, each channel being associated with a respective camera feed. A viewer is thus allowed to select from the plurality of channels to thus enable his or her viewing of the sports event through the perspective of the participant of greatest interest to the viewer.
US08638356B2
A computer-implemented system and method are described for improving the QoE of real-time video sessions between mobile users. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: configuring one or more servers on the perimeter of a service provider network; receiving a request from a first mobile device to establish a real-time communication session with a second mobile device; providing the first and second mobile devices with networking information for connecting to the servers; and establishing the real-time communication session through the server.
US08638345B2
A program generation device (11) for generating a control program for causing a display device (30) to display an image in different display sizes comprises: a determination unit (116) that determines a conversion image size based on the different display sizes of the image; a conversion unit (117) that converts an item of image data representing the image into an item of image data having an image size equal to the conversion image size; and a generation unit (118) that generates a control program for causing the display device to display the image in different display sizes by using the item of image data converted by the conversion unit.
US08638343B2
Data visualization platform optimization may be provided. Applications may provide data values and request creation of a visualization from a data visualization platform (DVP). The DVP may composite a plurality of geometry records associated with a subset of the visualization's data values. The application may render the visualization by iterating through the geometry vectors and translating a subset of the vectors into drawing instructions for output to a display device.
US08638341B2
Described is a method of rendering an image. A transparency of a destination pixel and a transparency of a source pixel are determined at multiple sample positions in each pixel. A new pre-multiplied color is determined for the destination pixel in response to the transparencies of the destination pixel, the transparencies of the source pixel, a color of the source pixel and a pre-multiplied color of the destination pixel. New transparencies of the destination pixel are determined at the samples in the destination pixel in response to the transparencies of the source pixels and the transparencies of the destination pixel. The method of the present invention permits rendering of polygonal two-dimensional images while eliminating overdraw, therefore using less memory bandwidth than conventional methods for rendering typical two-dimensional vector images. Thus the method is suited for mobile computing and other applications with limited memory bandwidth.
US08638340B2
Color calibration of color image rendering devices, such as large color displays, which operate by either projection or emission of images, utilize internal color measurement instrument or external color measurement modules locatable on a wall or speaker. A dual use camera is provided for a portable or laptop computer, or a cellular phone, handset, personal digital assistant or other handheld device with a digital camera, in which one of the camera or a display is movable with respect to the other to enable the camera in a first mode to capture images of the display for enabling calibration of the display, and in a second mode for capturing image other than of the display. The displays may represent rendering devices for enabling virtual proofing in a network, or may be part of stand-alone systems and apparatuses for color calibration. Improved calibration is also provided for sensing and correcting for non-uniformities of rendering devices, such as color displays, printer, presses, or other color image rendering device.
US08638338B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide an image-editing process that non-uniformly adjusts at least one particular color attribute (e.g., saturation level) of pixels in an image. Specifically, the image-editing process of these embodiments uniformly adjusts the particular color attribute of pixels with a first set of values and non-uniformly adjusts the color attribute of pixels with a second set of values. In this manner, some embodiments provide a vibrancy process that non-uniformly adjusts saturation levels of an image in order to preserve saturation levels for skin tones appearing within the image.
US08638331B1
A method and system for progressively rendering radiance for a volumetric medium is provided. A photon simulation produces a representation of photon beams in a scene. The photon beams are rendered with respect to a camera viewpoint, by computing an estimated radiance associated with the photon beams. A global radius scaling factor is applied to the photon beams. Over multiple iterations of these steps, the global radius scaling factor is progressively decreased, thereby reducing overall error by facilitating convergence. This order can be mixed up. Finally, the renderer can be efficiently implemented on the GPU as a splatting operation, for use in interactive and real-time applications.
US08638327B2
A system and method that facilitates planar processing of round earth data by employing a tiled projection is provided. The tiled projection is a two-step projection from the surface of the earth to a common plane that preserves polygons and polygonal paths. During the first step, the system performs a gnomonic projection to the facets of a circumscribed platonic solid, which maps spherical polygons to spatial polygons on the facets of the solid. During the second step, the system performs a polygon-preserving projection from the facets of the platonic solid to tiles in common plane. Thus, projections from multiple facets of the platonic solid on the common plane are processed by employing a planar algorithm.
US08638321B2
A display apparatus including a display main body having a display part to display an image, a control part to control the display part and a power supplying part to supply power; a stand part to support the display main body and to accommodate a cable unit transmitting a signal from the power supplying part and the control part; a driving part electrically connected to the cable unit to perform a swivel mechanism of the stand part; and a base part to support the stand part and the driving part, the power supplying part supplying power to the driving part, and the control part controlling the driving part to perform the swivel mechanism.
US08638318B2
A touch panel includes a surface acoustic wave propagating substrate having top and bottom surfaces and a multi-layer coversheet that is positioned over the substrate. The coversheet includes a load-spreading layer, a compliant layer and an anti-sticking layer. The load-spreading layer has top and bottom surfaces, and the top surface receives touch input from an object. The compliant layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the compliant layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the load-spreading layer. The anti-sticking layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the anti-sticking layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the compliant layer. The bottom surface of the anti-sticking layer is positioned proximate to the top surface of the substrate.
US08638316B2
One embodiment of a capacitive sensor array may comprise a first plurality of sensor elements and a second sensor element capacitively coupled with each of the first plurality of sensor elements. The second sensor element may further comprise a first main trace and a second main trace, where the first main trace and the second main trace intersect each of the first plurality of sensor elements, and where each of the main traces cross at least one of a plurality of unit cells associated with the second sensor element. The second sensor element may also comprise a connecting subtrace electrically coupled to both the first main trace and the second main trace, and within each unit cell, at least one primary subtrace branching away from the first main trace or the second main trace.
US08638308B2
A method for interfacing a user with a computer running an application program, the computer generating a graphical environment comprising a graphical object and a graphical representation of at least a portion of a living body, comprises providing an object in communication with the computer, controlling the graphical object in relation to manipulation of at least a portion of the object by the user, and outputting a haptic sensation to the user when the graphical object interacts with a region within the graphical representation to provide the user with haptic feedback related to a simulated palpation of the region.
US08638307B2
A touch-sensitive input device includes a cover, a set of first conductors disposed between the cover and a substrate, the first conductors including at least two fingers connected at an end of the fingers, dummy conductors disposed between the first conductors and between the fingers of the first conductors, and a second set of conductors disposed on an opposite side of the substrate.
US08638306B2
A touch sensor employing capacitive sensing technology in which a series of conductive pads enabling the detection of levels of capacitance imparted to each of the conductive pads as a result of the close proximity of a tip of a digit of a user, in which adjacent pairs of the conductive pads form slider controls, in which one of the conductive pads is a corner-type conductive pad at which two adjacent slider controls formed by the corner-type conductive pad and each of two adjacent conductive pads forms a corner in the series of slider controls, and in which the series of slider controls perhaps forms a rectangular ring shape loop of slider controls in which there are four of the corner-type conductive pads at which four different pairs of slider controls meet at right angles.
US08638304B2
A touch screen includes an LCD panel; a display controller for processing a video signal to generate a panel control signal and a sensing control signal, with the panel control signal controlling the LCD panel so that the LCD panel displays images according to the panel control signal; a touch panel, for generating the sensing signal in response to a touch; and a sensing circuit, coupled to the touch panel and the display controller, for receiving the sensing signal and the sensing control signal to generate a position signal with reference to the sensing control signal.
US08638299B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with text disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device includes a number of non-alphabetic characters that are assigned to keys and that can be accessed directly by the text disambiguation software without the need to active a non-alphabetic input routine or to additionally actuate and
US08638298B2
A method for a mouse is provided. The mouse includes a housing, a timing unit. A container is secured in the housing. The container is full of insulated liquid. A sphere suspends in the liquid. First sensors and second sensors are attached to the container. Each first sensors is charged, each second sensors is uncharged. The first sensors are spaced from each other by one second sensor. When any adjacent first sensor and second sensor are simultaneously contacted by the sphere, the contacted second sensor is thus charged. The method includes: determining whether any second sensor is charged; generating a position signal, controlling the timing unit to time within the period the any second sensor being charged; determining the movement direction of the a cursor; determining the movement distance of the cursor; and generating cursor control signal for controlling movement of the cursor.
US08638297B2
An electronic device includes an object sensor for detecting motion of an object, such as a stylus or finger, relative to device and during a period of contactless object movement. A motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, detects device motion during the period of contactless object movement. A processor determines a gesture that corresponds to the movement of the object and to movement of the device. This device, and the associated method, results in a more accurate determination of an intended gesture, such as a three-dimensional gesture. For example, the processor, or gesture determinator, can compensate for movement of the device when determining the gesture corresponding to detected contactless movement of the object.
US08638294B2
A method of displaying a state of an apparatus having a user interface which includes generating state display information indicating the state of the apparatus and displaying the generated state display information in the user interface. The state display information indicates the state of the apparatus through a metaphorical indicator.
US08638290B2
A backlight apparatus and a display apparatus are provided. The backlight apparatus includes N first switch units to switch a plurality of currents flowing in respective N light emitting element arrays according to an input brightness control signal, N second switch units to switch a plurality of currents flowing in respective N capacitors according to the input brightness control signal, and a reference current generation unit to generate and output a reference current based on the input brightness control signal. An inverter unit adjusts a total current supplied to all of the light emitting element arrays in total to be equal to the reference current if the total current is different from the reference current.
US08638287B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display device that can improve the image quality of a moving image. The liquid crystal display device includes a driver, a backlight unit, a first lamp driver, a second lamp driver, and a lamp driving controller. The liquid crystal panel divided is into at least three regions, and has a plurality of lamps arranged to correspond to each of the divided regions. Lamps of the lamps arranged in upper and lower regions of the liquid crystal panel are connected to each other. The first lamp driver controls on/off times of the lamps in the upper and lower regions of the liquid crystal panel. The second lamp driver controls on/off times of the lamps in the region excluding the upper and lower regions of the liquid crystal panel. The lamp driving controller controls the first and second lamp drivers using signals supplied from the driver.
US08638286B2
An active matrix display device comprises a substrate having an insulating surface, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form over the substrate, and a plurality of switching elements operationally connected to the pixel electrodes. Each of the switching elements further comprise a thin film transistor. The display device further includes a display medium comprising an emissive material that is capable of electrically changing luminous strength disposed at each of the pixel electrodes, and a driver circuit that includes a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the plurality of switching elements. Each of the plurality of thin film transistors comprise a crystallized semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film adjacent to the crystallized semiconductor layer and a gate electrode adjacent to the gate insulating film.
US08638283B2
A timing controller is provided which is capable of achieving normal image display at a time of reverse scanning in upward and downward directions and right and left directions. In an image display device having a plurality of scanning line driving ICs (Integrated Circuits), a valid line counting section counts a count of valid driving lines based on a DE (Data Enable) signal and DCK (Dot Clock) signal. A cascade signal counting section counts up a total count of outputs from a count of VCK (Vertical Clock) signals including a VSP (Vertical Start Pulse) 2 output signal up to a VSP1 cascade outputting signal VSP1. A calculating section calculates an excessive output of a scanning line driving IC from a difference between the count of valid driving lines and the total count of outputs. A VSP generating section generates and outputs a VSP2 signal at a time shifted from a reference VSP generating time by time being equivalent to the excessive output calculated by the calculating section thus enabling reverse scanning.
US08638270B2
An apparatus has an improved antenna pattern for a cross dipole antenna. Such antennas desirably have an omnidirectional antenna pattern. Conventional cross dipole antennas exhibit nulls in their antenna patterns, which can cause antennas to deviate from a standard or specification. Applicant recognized and confirmed that the connection of a coaxial cable to the antenna arms is a cause of the nulls in the antenna pattern, and has devised techniques disclosed herein to compensate or cancel the effects of the connection. In one embodiment, the arms of the cross dipole antenna that are coupled to a center conductor of the coaxial cable remain of conventional length, but the arms of the cross dipole antenna that are coupled to a shield of the coaxial cable are lengthened by a fraction of the radius of the outer diameter of the coaxial cable.
US08638268B2
The disclosure describes a compact coil antenna that can operate even if the coil antenna is arranged closely to its conductor plate, and that has a high degree of coupling with a target antenna. A lower coil conductor part and an upper coil conductor part each have a substantially rectangular and spiral form, and the inner end of the lower coil conductor part connects to the inner end of the upper coil conductor part to be connected in series to the inner end of the upper coil conductor part. In the lower coil conductor part and the upper coil conductor part, the arrangement interval in parallel-to-axis parts including segments that are parallel to the direction of the axis of a magnetic-material core is shorter than the arrangement interval of segments in orthogonal-to-axis parts that are orthogonal to the axis of the magnetic-material core.
US08638267B2
Provided is a parabolic antenna that suppresses leakage of radio waves with a simpler configuration. The parabolic antenna includes a horn that transmits and receives signals; a feed that supports the horn and relays the signals the horn transmits and receives; a reflector that reflects the received signals to focus the received signals on the horn and reflects the signals from the horn to transmit the signals; a reflecting mirror supporting member that supports the reflector; and a feed fitting adapter that enables the feed to be fitted into the reflecting mirror supporting member. A choke groove is formed in at least one of a joint area between the reflecting mirror supporting member and the reflector and a joint area between the reflecting mirror supporting member and the feed fitting adapter, which suppresses propagation of radio waves traveling through the gap of the joint area.
US08638255B2
A reader device (110) for reading information transmitted from a transponder (130) via a backscatter signal (132) generated by the transponder (130) in response to a stimulus signal (112) generated by the reader device (110), the reader device (110) comprising a first power estimation unit (114) adapted for estimating a first power value indicative of the power of the stimulus signal (112) at a position of the transponder (130) by evaluating a power information included in the backscatter signal (132), a second power estimation unit (116) adapted for estimating a second power value indicative of the power of the backscatter signal (132) at a position of the reader device (110), and a distance estimation unit (118) adapted for estimating a distance (d1) between the reader device (110) and the transponder (130) based on the first power value and the second power value.
US08638252B2
An analog-to-digital converter comprises a first set of comparators configured for generating a coarse digital measurement of an analog input signal, and a second set of comparators for performing a fine digital measurement of the analog input signal. The second set comprises a plurality of dynamic comparators, wherein each dynamic comparator is configurable for being activated by a clock signal. An activation circuit processes the coarse measurement and an input clock signal for generating a set of activation signals, which activate a subset of the dynamic comparators to generate the fine digital measurement.
US08638248B2
A method and apparatus for correcting the offset and linearity error of a data acquisition system. A charge redistribution digital to analog convertor (CDAC) is connected to one of the differential inputs of a comparator whose second input comes from a function CDAC. The calibration algorithm is built into a digital control unit. The digital control unit detects the offset and capacitor mismatch errors sequentially, stores the calibration codes for each error in calibration mode and provides the input-dependent error correction signals synchronized with the binary search timing to adjust the differential input of the comparator and compensate the input-dependent errors present at the output of the non-ideal function CDAC during normal conversions.
US08638247B2
A method for encoding an input sequence of symbols. The method includes, sequentially, for each symbol in the input sequence, determining an estimated probability for that symbol based on a context model, identifying a codeword associated with a sequence of symbols resulting from appending that symbol to a previous sequence of symbols associated with that estimated probability, using an encoding tree associated with that estimated probability, and storing the codeword in a buffer element of a first-in-first-out buffer, wherein the buffer element is associated with the estimated probability. Stored codewords are output from the buffer in a first-in-first-out order.
US08638244B2
An encoding module comprises an inverse interleaving module arranged to: determine an initial location index within an interleaving matrix for a data bit; and perform bit reverse ordering (BRO) on a column index value for the initial location index for the data bit to obtain a BRO column index value for the data bit. The inverse interleaving module is further arranged to calculate a number of valid interleaving matrix addresses preceding a location index for the data bit following bit reverse ordering; and determine a position of the data bit within the interleaved data stream based on the calculated number of valid addresses.
US08638233B2
A cable connection component is receivable in a housing of a host information handling device for coupling to a circuit of the host device. The component has a status light and a light guide configured, in use with the component at least partially received in the host housing, to guide light from the status light to provide indications visible externally of the host housing. A connection device, a cable end connector and an SFP-type or SFF-type transceiver body are also disclosed.
US08638227B2
The invention provides an input device of the electronic combination lock and a corresponding input method thereof, wherein a signal device produces combination input information and converts said information into two groups of electrical pulse signals; a measurement and control device measures the electrical pulse signals, decides the order of the electrical pulse signals and calculates correspondingly such that said signals are converted into character sequences including the combination elements, and decides whether the current combination elements are confirmed to be inputted or not and decides whether the input of all the combination elements is completed or not; a confirmation device produces a conformation signal for inputting the combination elements; and a display device displays said character sequences and preset prompt information in a rolling and refreshing manner. The invention also provides a door lock handle and a panel of the combination lock for the chests and bags applying the above said input device of the electronic combination lock. In said input device of the electronic combination lock and the application thereof, the operation parts do not contact with the circuit, the reliability and the security protection performance have been improved significantly. Furthermore, the operation for inputting the combination and the operation for changing the combination are very convenient and intuitional.
US08638222B2
Controllable device selection based on controller location is described. In embodiments, a companion utility is executed by a portable device to interface the portable device with a selected one of multiple controllable devices via a wireless network. A location of the portable device can be determined based on a positioning unit that is integrated with the portable device. A controllable device can then be selected that is proximate the location of the portable device for input control of the controllable device via the wireless network.
US08638221B2
A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port. Life critical network software is executed in cooperation with an attached module to cause the communicator to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication.
US08638220B2
Method and apparatus for communicating with a sealed electronic device via the electronic device's existing data ports for programming, testing configuration or diagnosis of the electronic device such as a transmitter unit for use in a data monitoring and management system such as analyte monitoring and management system is provided.
US08638216B2
The systems and methods of the present invention provide for conductive emissions communication without requiring dedicated communications wires. The systems and methods have the capability to send digital messages over the same wires that are used to power DC systems. Hardware filter circuits are combined with advanced algorithms in a communications control chip to permit the elimination of the dedicated wires, thereby needing zero additional wires to accomplish the task of digital control.
US08638215B2
A sensor unit that includes at least one sensor configured to measure an ambient condition is described. The controller can be configured to receive instructions, to report a notice level when the controller determines that data measured by the at least one sensor fails a report threshold test corresponding to a report threshold value. The controller can also be configured to obtain a plurality of calibration measurements from the at least one sensor during a calibration period and to adjust the threshold based on the calibration measurements. The controller can be configured to compute a first threshold level corresponding to background noise and a second threshold level corresponding to sensor noise, and to compute the report threshold value from the second threshold. In one embodiment, the sensor unit adjusts one or more of the thresholds based on ambient temperature.
US08638213B2
Systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be used by the monitoring module and the remote site in generating the messages communicated during the registration process. The monitoring module may gather and generate various identification information to be included in the registration protocol messages. The registration information provided by the monitoring module may be stored at the remote site in a database server having a database. A confirmation message may be communicated from the remote site to the monitoring module that may either acknowledge successful registration or report that an error occurred during the registration process.
US08638212B2
The disclosure relates to a method and device for identification of correlations between alarm messages in an alarm system of a technical installation or a technical process and/or correlations between such alarm messages and operator actions, using a data processing device which has access to recorded historical data which relates to alarm messages and operator actions. The data processing device can use market basket analysis methods to deal with and analyze historical data, which occurs at defined intervals, as a market basket. Quality characteristics can be formed from a relationship between respective operator actions before and after an occurrence of a respective alarm message, and/or from correlations between alarm messages and operator actions, via the data processing device, which has access to the recorded historical data which relates to alarm messages and operator actions.
US08638206B2
The invention relates to a method for displaying a pointer on a display surface of a vehicle instrument panel, wherein: a first position (P1) of the pointer on the display surface (1) is computed according to a first measurement carried out by a sensor of the vehicle; the pointer (21) is displayed on the display surface (1) at said first position (P1); a second position (P2) of the pointer on the display surface (1) is computed according to a second measurement carried out by said sensor of the vehicle; the pointer (22) is displayed on the display surface (1) at said second position (P2); the method being characterized in that at least one of the physical characteristics of the pointer (22), displayed at said second position (P2), is modified according to the deviation between the first and second computed positions.
US08638193B2
The invention relates to electronic radiofrequency identification in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) range for marking an article (4) that is to be identified in a constraining environment. For this purpose, an electronic device (2) comprises: a dielectric substrate (12) having a peripheral edge face (13) and a ground face (15); an electronic chip (16); and a curved and short-circuited antenna (9) (PIFA) that presents a radiating area defined by at least two dipoles (19, 20). The antenna (9) on a transmission surface (14) of the substrate (12) is connected by a short-circuiting element (17) presenting a short-circuiting area presenting an area in projection on the edge face (13) that is of the order of 3% to 5% of the radiating area of the curved antenna (PIFA).
US08638192B2
A monitoring network system includes: a plurality of monitoring apparatuses; and a remote monitoring apparatus, connected to the plurality of monitoring apparatuses. At least one of the monitoring apparatuses is configured to acquire biological signals from a patient and includes: a first holder, configured to hold a first ID; and a transmitter, configured to transmit the biological signal to the remote monitoring apparatus. The remote monitoring apparatus includes: a second holder, configured to hold a second ID and association information for associating a screen area in a display with the second ID; a detector, configured to detect the at least one of the monitoring apparatuses, when the first ID is identical with the second ID; a receiver, configured to receive the biological signal from the at least one of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses detected by the detector; and a display controller, configured to display the biological signal on the screen area in the display based on the association information.
US08638190B1
In general, techniques and systems for defining a gesture with a computing device using short-range communication are described. In one example, a method includes obtaining position information from an array of position devices using near-field communication (NFC) during a movement of the computing device with respect to the array, wherein the position information identifies unique positions within the array for each position device from which position information was obtained. The method may also include determining sequence information associated with the position information, wherein the sequence information is representative of an order in which the position information was obtained from each position device, and performing, by the computing device, an action based at least in part on the position information and the sequence information, wherein the position information and the sequence information are representative of a gesture input associated with the movement of the computing device.
US08638186B1
A magnetic array with a bowl-shaped array of magnets oriented to induce a structured and oriented ionic flow towards a focal point. The magnets include a north pole and a south pole oriented to induce the ionic flow. Either poles face inwardly from the array to induce an ionic flow. Varying the size, dimensions, strength, and orientation of the magnets manipulates the ionic flow to a desired strength and velocity. The ionic flow increases in strength and concentration when in proximity to the narrow end. The ionic flow forces objects inside the array towards a hole in the narrow end.
US08638166B2
Apparatus and methods for notch filtering are provided. In certain implementations, an amplifier includes amplification stages for providing signal amplification, chopper circuitry for generating a chopped signal by chopping an amplified signal associated with the amplification stages at a chopping frequency, and a time-interleaved finite impulse response (FIR) notch filter for notching frequency components of the chopped signal near the chopping frequency. The time-interleaved FIR notch filter includes a plurality of FIR filters configured to sample the chopped signal at a sampling rate of about twice the chopping frequency. The FIR filters are interleaved in time to reduce sampling error. Additionally, the time-interleaved FIR notch filter includes an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter configured to average samples taken by respective ones of the FIR filters and to integrate the averaged samples to generate the time-interleaved FIR notch filter's output signal.
US08638162B2
A reference current generating circuit with high current mirror accuracy is provided by low power supply voltage operation. The reference current generating circuit includes a cascode current mirror circuit 1 outputting mirror currents I1 and I2, and a reference current Iref, a current-voltage converter circuit 2 converting the mirror current I1 into a voltage V1, a current-voltage converter circuit 3 converting the mirror current I2 into a voltage V2, a differential amplifier 4 in which the voltage V1 is input to a first input terminal and the voltage V2 is input to a second input terminal, a voltage-current converter circuit 5 converting a voltage V3 output from the differential amplifier 4 into currents I3 and I4, and a current-voltage converter circuit 6 converting the current I3 into a voltage V4 which is output to a gate of a transistor in the cascode current mirror circuit.
US08638156B2
A switch circuit can include an impedance selection switch and a multi-output-resistance switch driver. The impedance selection switch can electrically connect an impedance to an input of an amplifier in response to a driver output signal, and include at least one transistor. The multi-output-impedance switch driver may provide the driver output signal to the switch, and have a first, relatively higher output resistance when providing a first logic state of the driver output signal to turn on the switch, and a second, relatively lower output resistance when providing a second logic state of the driver output signal to turn off the switch. The ratio of the first output resistance to the second output resistance can be greater than a selected predetermined ratio value.
US08638152B2
A signal transmission circuit includes a first selection driver configured to generate a first drive signal in response to an input signal and a first selection signal and drive a transmission signal in response to the first drive signal, and a second selection driver configured to delay the input signal by a first delay time to generate a first delay signal. The second selection driver generates a second drive signal in response to the first delay signal and a second selection signal, generates a first code signal in response to the input signal and the second selection signal, and drives the transmission signal in response to the second drive signal and the first code signal.
US08638145B2
A method and apparatus for synchronizing a delay line to a reference clock includes a delay line that receives a clock input signal based on a reference clock and outputs a delay edge signal according to a control adjustment. An injector receives a first rise edge of the reference clock and in response to a first trigger, sends the clock input signal to the delay line. A synchronizer determines that the rise edge has passed through the delay line, and in response, sends the injector a second trigger to send a next single fall edge of the clock input signal to the delay line. A charge pump determines a timing difference between the delay edge signal and a reference edge signal sent from the injector. The charge pump sends the control signal to the delay line to adjust the delay setting of the delay line based on the timing difference.
US08638144B1
Systems and methods associated with control of clock signals are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a delay-lock-loop (DLL) and/or a delay/phase detection circuit. Moreover, such circuit may comprise digital phase detection circuitry, digital delay control circuitry, analog phase detection circuitry, and analog delay control circuitry. Implementations may include configurations that prevent transition back to the unlocked state due to jitter or noise.
US08638143B2
A phase locked loop frequency synthesizer comprises a voltage controlled oscillator; a loop filter for supplying a control voltage to the oscillator; a phase frequency detector arranged to detect a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal generated from the oscillator signal and generate pulses on detector signals (UP/DN) dependent on the sign of the phase difference; and a charge pump (61) comprising current generating means and controlled switches (64, 65) arranged to convert pulses on the detector signals to current pulses from a reference voltage (Vdd′) to a common terminal (Vloop) connected to the loop filter or to current pulses from the common terminal to ground. The current generating means comprises at least one resistor (62, 63) connected between the common terminal and the switches, and the charge pump comprises an operational amplifier (66) coupled to keep the reference voltage at twice the voltage at the common terminal.
US08638141B1
A phase-locked loop for generating an output signal including a signal generator arranged to generate an output, a comparison unit arranged to compare the output with a reference signal so as to provide a digital signal, and a loop filter arranged to generate a control signal for controlling the signal generator in dependence on the digital signal. The loop filter includes a proportional path having a digital filter arranged to generate a first component of the control signal for controlling the phase of the output generated by the signal generator, and an analogue integral path arranged to generate a second component of the control signal for controlling the frequency of the output generated by the signal generator.
US08638135B2
An integrated circuit includes first and second transistors, a switch, and a power-on reset (POR) circuit. The first transistor has a first current electrode, a second current electrode, and a control electrode. The second transistor has a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the first transistor, a second current electrode, and a control electrode. The switch is for coupling the first and second transistors to receive a power supply voltage in response to an asserted bias control signal. The POR circuit has a latch-up detection circuit coupled to receive the power supply voltage and to a control terminal of the switch. The latch-up detection circuit is for detecting a low voltage condition of the power supply voltage, and in response, deasserting the bias control signal to decouple the first and second transistors from the power supply voltage.
US08638132B2
A transmission channel includes at least one high voltage buffer block having buffer transistors and respective buffer diodes, being electrically coupled between respective voltage reference terminals, these buffer transistors being also coupled to a clamping block, in turn including clamping transistors connected to at least one output terminal of this transmission channel through diodes coupled to prevent the body diodes of the clamping transistors from conducting. The transmission channel includes at least one reset circuit having diodes and being electrically coupled between circuit nodes of the high voltage buffer block and of the clamping block, these circuit nodes being in correspondence with conduction terminals of the transistors comprised into the high voltage buffer block and into the clamping block.
US08638130B1
Low headroom line driver circuits are disclosed. In several embodiments, the line driver circuits include a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor, where the first transistor and second transistors; and the third and fourth transistors are matched, first and second matched impedances, first and second driver controls circuit configured to apply control signals to the gates of the first and second transistors; and the third and fourth transistors respectively. In addition, the first and third transistors; and the second and fourth transistors are configured as a pair of stacked transistors connected between the voltage supplies Vdd and Vss, the second and fourth transistors are configured as a pair of stacked transistors connected between the voltage supplies Vdd and Vss, the matched impedances are connected in series between nodes formed by the connection between the first and third transistors; and the second and fourth transistors.
US08638125B2
A low voltage differential signal (LVDS) driver circuit with reduced power consumption. A pre-driver stage, implemented as a differential current mode amplifier, is driven by the differential input signal and provides a corresponding differential drive signal, which drives the output stage, implemented as a differential voltage mode amplifier, which, in turn, provides the differential output signal for the load. Total current consumption equals the load current, which is provided by the output stage, plus a much smaller current used by the pre-driver stage.
US08638124B1
A clock phase shift detector circuit may include a phase detector for generating a phase signal based on a phase difference between first and second clock signals. A current mirror having a first, a second, and a third integrator may be coupled to the phase detector, whereby the first integrator integrates the first clock signal and generates a first voltage, the second integrator integrates the first clock signal and generates a second voltage, and the third integrator integrates the phase signal and generates a third voltage. A first comparator receives the first and the third voltage, and generates a first control signal. A second comparator receives the second and the third voltage, and generates a second control signal. The first and second control signals may detect a change between the phase difference of the first and the second clock signal and an optimized phase difference.
US08638119B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a logic circuit for receiving input data sets and configuration data sets and performing several functions on the input data sets. Each configuration data set specifies a particular function that the logic circuit has to perform on the input data set. The IC also includes a connection circuit for supplying sets of the configuration data to the logic circuit at a particular rate for at least a particular time period. At least two supplied configuration data sets are different and configure the logic circuit to perform two different functions on the input data.
US08638106B2
A microdischarge-based pressure sensor that includes an anode, two cathodes, a drive circuit connected to the electrodes, and a measurement circuit that permits sensing of transient current pulses flowing through at least one of the electrodes. One of the cathodes is interposed between the anode and other cathode, and it includes a central opening which permits a microdischarge to occur between the anode and each cathode in response to applied voltage pulses from the drive circuit. Changes in relative current between the two cathodes are indicative of changes in ambient pressure in the microdischarge chamber. In other embodiments, a sealed chamber can be used with one of the electrodes acting as a diaphragm which deflects based on external pressure and changes its inter-electrode spacing, thereby altering the relative cathode currents.
US08638101B2
In a method and device for compensating the insufficient homogeneity of a magnetic field in a magnetic resonance system, the spatial position and size of a basic magnetic field region and at least one additional magnetic field region in a field to be homogenized and determined. An optimization calculation is implemented on the basic magnetic field region and the at least one additional magnetic field region. A homogenized magnetic field at the main magnetic field region and the at least one additional magnetic field region is output according to the result of the optimization calculation.
US08638098B2
In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, a series of magnetic resonance exposures of an examination subject is generated by implementing multiple first measurements (data acquisitions) with variation of a measurement parameter from acquisition-to-acquisition, which strongly influences a contrast of the first material type excited in the first measurements, implementing multiple second measurements in which a second material type is essentially selectively imaged that is less contrast-dependent with regard to this measurement parameter in a processor calculating spatial correction values for image data of the first measurements based on spatial differences between image data of different second measurements, and, also in the processor, spatially correcting image data of the first measurements (Di) and/or registration of image data of different first measurements to one another on the basis of the correction values.
US08638097B2
A method for generating magnetic resonance (MR) images or MR spectra of at least one partial area of a moving object with at least one motion sequence that is repeated during consecutive motion states is proposed. In a learning measurement, a monitor signal of the repeating motion sequence is recorded, and MR test data of the partial area of the object are recorded under known measurement conditions, wherein the MR test data is associated with the motion states of the motion sequence. In an evaluation step, the MR test data of the motion states of the motion sequence are compared to each other with respect to at least one parameter, and the variation of the at least one parameter over the motion sequence is determined. The instantaneous motion state of the object in the motion sequence is constantly determined in a target measurement during recording of the MR images or MR spectra of the partial area via a monitor signal, and the associated variation of the at least one parameter is constantly compensated for by corresponding variation of the measurement conditions. The quality of MR measurements for recording moving objects is thereby improved, in particular, when retroactive calculation of disturbances in the measured MR data is not possible.
US08638089B2
A self-contained device intended to be carried by a wheel-tire assembly in order to locate whether the assembly is positioned on the right side or on the left side of a vehicle is described. The device includes two magnetic sensors with axes of maximum sensitivity, the sensors providing two periodic signals that are phase shifted relative to one another. Each signal is representative of variations in the magnitude of the magnetic field detected by the sensor during a revolution of the wheel-tire assembly. The device also includes a processing unit programmed to determine, from the phase shift between the two periodic signals, a direction in which the wheel-tire assembly is rotating and to deduce, from this direction of rotation and from a direction of travel of the vehicle, whether the wheel-tire assembly is located on the right side or on the left side. The two magnetic sensors are intended to be positioned on the wheel-tire assembly at distinct azimuthal locations. A filtering element of the device is designed to eliminate components of the two periodic signals having frequencies that are below or equal to a given frequency.
US08638088B2
In one embodiment, a method for detecting a load in a switched-mode power converter is provided. The switched-mode power converter includes high and low-side power switches which are configured to be driven respectively by high and low-side drive signals to provide a switching voltage. The high and low-side drive signals include a plurality of dead-time periods. The method includes monitoring a waveform of the switching voltage and at least one of the high and low-side drive signals. The monitored waveform of the switching voltage is compared to the monitored waveform of the at least one of the high and low-side drive signals to determine whether the switching voltage is high or low during at least one of the dead-time periods. A current measurement of the load is determined based on whether the switching voltage is high or low during the at least one of the dead-time periods.
US08638086B2
A handheld device providing an internal view through an obscuring wall or other obscuring surfaces of hidden structural or facilities elements (such as wooden studs, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC), or the absence thereof. A continuous and homogeneous luminescent gas or other visual display material whose optical characteristics change as a result of the applied electric field is used both to simultaneously detect capacitance changes associated with hidden objects and to display those detected those objects. Different types of chambers are disclosed for the gas as well as means to prevent fringing effects. The gas is held just at its ionization level at which point it becomes optically visible. Circuitry is disclosed for controlling the energy source based on current draw or light output of the gas and feedback circuitry is disclosed to neutralize the effects of ambient light. Also disclosed is a device and method for the detection and mapping of electric fields.
US08638077B2
A method for regulating the output voltage of a power supply. A boost PWM switching converter adjusts the gate drive signals to a switching transistor and a pass transistor so that the power supply has an operating frequency, Fs, based on a comparison between a parameter and a reference. The parameter may be a ratio of an input voltage to an output voltage, a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage, or the value of an input voltage. In accordance with the comparison between the parameter and the reference, the switching control circuit linearly decreases the operating frequency of the power supply. By changing the operating frequency, the output and input voltages of the power regulator may be almost equal to each other when operating with a control signal having a low duty cycle while maintaining a low output voltage ripple and a low inductor current ripple.
US08638073B2
A control device for a vehicle AC generator which restricts an upper limit of a field current to the maximum field current at a set voltage even when a power generation voltage becomes large, is obtained. In the control device for the vehicle AC generator, in which a DC voltage obtained by rectifying an AC output voltage of an armature coil in the AC generator with a rectifier is applied to a field coil to obtain a field current and the field current is controlled by ON/OFF of a switching element connected in series to the field coil, an upper limit restriction unit in which an upper limit of on-duty of the switching element is set to a set voltage/the DC voltage, is included.
US08638062B2
The present invention provides wireless power supply systems that wirelessly supply power to a remote device for rapidly charging a charge storage capacitor, which charges a battery with the power stored in the charge storage capacitor. This allows the remote device to be positioned near the inductive power supply for rapid charging of the charge storage capacitor and allows battery charging to continue even after the remote device is removed from the inductive power supply.
US08638041B2
A light-emitting element drive circuit system for driving a light-emitting element includes a current circuit section that drives the light-emitting element at a preset drive current value, and a current value setting section. The current value setting section sets the drive current value so that the drive current value is changed during a preset transition period from a first current value to a second current value that is not equal to the first current value, and changed during a preset transition period from the second current value to a third current value that is not equal to both the first current value and the second current value.
US08638037B2
Lead frames for light emitting device packages, light emitting device packages, and illumination apparatuses employing the light emitting device packages. The lead frame including a plurality of mounting portions on which a plurality of light emitting device chips are mounted; a plurality of connection portions for circuit connecting the plurality of light emitting device chips; a terminal portion extended from the plurality of connection portions. The light emitting device package is formed by directly mounting the plurality of light emitting device chips on the lead frame and packaging the mounted light emitting device chips on the lead frame. The lead frame includes a plurality of connection portions for circuit connecting the plurality of light emitting device chips and a terminal portion in which a part of a circuit thereof is exposed.
US08638029B2
A spark plug includes a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a noble metal tip. The noble metal tip is joined to an object member of at least one of two electrodes via a fusion zone. A projected overlap region of the noble metal tip and the fusion zone accounts for 70% or more of a projected region of the noble metal tip. The object member contains at least Si out of Al and Si such that the amount of Si is 0.4% by mass or higher and such that the total amount of Al and Si is 0.5% by mass. Multi-fusion spots exist on the surface of the fusion zone. Segments of a baseline which pass through the respective multi-fusion spots have a total length of a predetermined percentage of the length of the baseline. Joining strength to the noble metal tip can thereby be greatly improved when the member to be joined contains Si.
US08638023B2
An ultrasonic oscillating device with a detachable ultrasonic oscillating assembly is mounted inside a case having a detachable lid and applied in a humidifier. The ultrasonic oscillating device has a circuit board, a supporting board, a connecting structure and the ultrasonic oscillating assembly. The detachable ultrasonic oscillating assembly is placed between the supporting board and the lid. The connecting structure is mounted on a bottom of the lid and electrically connected to the ultrasonic oscillating assembly and the circuit board. When the ultrasonic oscillating assembly is broken, users easily replace the broken ultrasonic oscillating assembly by the detachable ultrasonic oscillating assembly and the detachable lid of the case, so other unbroken parts remain useful.
US08638014B2
A brushless DC motor including a rotor, a magnet provided to the rotor, a pair of bearings to rotatably support the rotor, a stator assembly that at least partly surrounds the rotor and magnet thereof and adapted to control movement of the rotor, and a bearing tube having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines a tube interior. The stator assembly is provided along the exterior surface of the tube and the bearings are provided along the interior surface of the tube to support the rotor and magnet within the tube interior. The motor has sample application for use in PAP devices for delivery of positive airway pressure therapy for users or patients.
US08638002B2
A Karman vortex street generator including a shell (1), permanent magnets (3, 6), a vortex generating body (4), and a metal winding (5). Both ends of the shell (1) are respectively provided with an inlet end (2) and an outlet end (7). The permanent magnets (3, 6) are respectively located on two corresponding surfaces inside the shell (1), and the N pole of the permanent magnet on one surface corresponds to the S pole of the permanent magnet on the other surface so as to form a magnet field in the shell (1). The vortex generating body (4) is provided in the vertical center position near the inlet end (2) in the shell (1) so as to generate a Karman vortex when a fluid flows. The metal winding (5) located in the magnet field is able to regularly cut magnetic lines of force under the action of the Karman vortex and makes magnetic flux passing through the metal winding (5) change so as to generate an induction current.
US08637997B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device with an improved yield ratio and reduced height and manufacturing cost; and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including a substrate, a semiconductor element that is flip-chip connected to the substrate, and a molding portion that seals the semiconductor element. The side surfaces of the semiconductor element are enclosed by the molding portion. An upper surface of the semiconductor element is not enclosed by the molding portion. Damage to the side surfaces of the semiconductor element caused by an external impact when the semiconductor device is stored is minimized, because the molding portion protects the side surfaces of the semiconductor element. Accordingly, the yield ratio of the semiconductor device is improved. The height of the semiconductor device can also be reduced since the upper surface of the semiconductor element is not enclosed with the molding portion.
US08637991B2
A package for a microelectronic element, such as a semiconductor chip, has a dielectric mass overlying the package substrate and microelectronic element and has top terminals exposed at the top surface of the dielectric mass. Traces extending along edge surfaces of the dielectric mass desirably connect the top terminals to bottom terminals on the package substrate. The dielectric mass can be formed, for example, by molding or by application of a conformal layer.
US08637989B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a via electrode. The via electrode has a first portion on the substrate and extends towards the substrate and has a plurality of spikes that extends from the first portion into the substrate, each of the spikes being spaced apart form one another.
US08637973B2
A microelectronic component package includes a plurality of electrical leads which are coupled to a microelectronic component and which have exposed lengths extending outwardly beyond a peripheral edge of an encapsulant. A plurality of terminals may be positioned proximate a terminal face of the encapsulant and these terminals may be electrically coupled to the same leads. This can facilitate connection of the microelectronic component to a substrate using the leads as a conventional leaded package. The terminals, however, can facilitate stacking of the leaded package with one or more additional microelectronic components, e.g., a BGA package.
US08637972B2
A semiconductor die substrate panel is disclosed including a minimum kerf width between adjoining semiconductor package outlines on the panel, while ensuring electrical isolation of plated electrical terminals. By reducing the width of a boundary between adjoining package outlines, additional space is gained on a substrate panel for semiconductor packages.
US08637971B2
A semiconductor device includes a housing made of a thermoplastic resin and having an internal space that is opened on one side and an inner wall portion that has an inner peripheral surface defining the internal space; and a core portion engaged in the internal space of the housing. The core portion includes a substrate, a semiconductor element mounted on the substrate, a wire electrically connecting the substrate and the semiconductor element, and a mold resin sealing the substrate, the semiconductor element and the wire. The core portion has a side surface provided with a convex portion that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner wall portion. Accordingly, a semiconductor device allowing a lengthened life and improved productivity, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device can be provided.
US08637968B2
A microelectronic assembly can include first and second microelectronic elements each embodying active semiconductor devices adjacent a front surface thereof, and having an electrically conductive pad exposed at the respective front surface. An interposer of material having a CTE less than 10 ppm/° C. has first and second surfaces attached to the front surfaces of the respective first and second microelectronic elements, the interposer having a second conductive element extending within an opening in the interposer. First and second conductive elements extend within openings extending from the rear surface of a respective microelectronic element of the first and second microelectronic elements towards the front surface of the respective microelectronic element. In one example, one or more of the first or second conductive elements extends through the respective first or second pad, and the conductive elements contact the exposed portions of the second conductive element to provide electrical connection therewith.
US08637967B2
A method includes structuring a semiconductor substrate to produce a number semiconductor chips. Each of the semiconductor chips includes a first main face and a number of side faces. An indentation is formed at a transition between the first main face and the side faces.
US08637966B2
In a QFP with a chip-stacked structure in which a lower surface of a die pad is exposed from a lower surface of a sealing member, a semiconductor chip having a BCB film, which is made of a polymeric material containing at least benzocyclobutene in its backbone as an organic monomer and formed on its surface, is mounted at a position (second stage) that is away from the die pad. As a result, even when moisture invades through the interface between the die pad and the sealing member, it is possible to prolong the time required for the moisture to reach the semiconductor chip, and subsequently to make moisture absorption defect less likely to occur.
US08637964B2
A power module includes a substrate including an insulating member and a patterned metallization on the insulating member. The patterned metallization is segmented into a plurality of spaced apart metallization regions. Adjacent ones of the metallization regions are separated by a groove which extends through the patterned metallization to the insulating member. A first power transistor circuit includes a first power switch attached to a first one of the metallization regions and a second power switch attached to a second one of the metallization regions adjacent a first side of the first metallization region. A second power transistor circuit includes a third power switch attached to the first metallization region and a fourth power switch attached to a third one of the metallization regions adjacent a second side of the first metallization region which opposes the first side. The second power transistor circuit mirrors the first power transistor circuit.
US08637960B2
A nitride semiconductor substrate is provided in which leak current reduction and improvement in current collapse are effectively attained when using Si single crystal as a base substrate. The nitride semiconductor substrate is such that an active layer of a nitride semiconductor is formed on one principal plane of a Si single crystal substrate through a plurality of buffer layers made of a nitride, in the buffer layers, a carbon concentration of a layer which is in contact with at least the active layer is from 1×1018 to 1×1020 atoms/cm3, a ratio of a screw dislocation density to the total dislocation density is from 0.15 to 0.3 in an interface region between the buffer layer and the active layer, and the total dislocation density in the interface region is 15×109 cm−2 or less.
US08637955B1
A semiconductor structure is formed with a NFET device and a PFET device. The NFET device is formed by masking the PFET device regions of a substrate, forming a screen layer through epitaxial growth and in-situ doping, and forming an undoped channel layer on the screen layer through epitaxial growth. The PFET device is similarly formed by masking the NFET regions of a substrate, forming a screen layer through epitaxial growth and in-situ doping, and forming an undoped channel layer on the screen layer through epitaxial growth. An isolation region is formed between the NFET and the PFET device areas to remove any facets occurring during the separate epitaxial growth phases. By forming the screen layer through in-situ doped epitaxial growth, a reduction in junction leakage is achieved versus forming the screen layer using ion, implantation.
US08637952B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity type region, a device isolation insulating film, a second conductivity type region, and a low concentration region. The first conductivity type region is formed in part of the semiconductor substrate. The device isolation insulating film is formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and includes an opening formed in part of an immediately overlying region of the first conductivity type region. The second conductivity type region is formed in the opening and is in contact with the first conductivity type region. The low concentration region is formed along a side surface of the opening, has second conductivity type, has an effective impurity concentration lower than an effective impurity concentration of the second conductivity type region, and separates an interface of the first conductivity type region and the second conductivity type region from the device isolation insulating film.
US08637944B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a metal shunt and a planar semiconductor material in electrical contact with the metal shunt, the metal shunt located on a surface of the semiconductor material, thereby defining a semiconductor/metal interface for passing a flow of current between the semiconductor material and the metal shunt in response to an application of an electrical bias to the apparatus, wherein a portion of that semiconductor material surface is not covered by the metal shunt, wherein the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie in different planes that are substantially parallel planes, the semiconductor/metal interface thereby being parallel to the plane of semiconductor material, and wherein, when under the electrical bias, the semiconductor/metal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance thereof in response to a perturbation. Such an apparatus can be used as a sensor and deployed as an array of sensors.
US08637936B2
A resistor is disclosed. The resistor is disposed on a substrate, in which the resistor includes: a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate; a polysilicon structure disposed on the dielectric layer; two primary resistance structures disposed on the dielectric layer and at two ends of the polysilicon structure; and a plurality of secondary resistance structures disposed on the dielectric layer and interlaced with the polysilicon structures.
US08637922B1
A manufacturing method provides a semiconductor device having a semiconductor body defining a source region, a body region, a drift region and a diode region. The drift region has a first drift region section and a second drift region section. The diode region is buried within the drift region, and has a semiconductor type opposite to the drift region to form a diode. The diode region is separated from the gate electrode by the first drift region section extending from the diode region in a vertical direction. The gate electrode is adjacent the body region and insulated from the body region by a gate dielectric. A source electrode is electrically connected to the source region, the body region and the diode region. A semiconductor region of a doping type opposite to the doping type of the drift region is arranged between the first drift region section and the source electrode.
US08637921B2
A method for forming a tunneling layer of a nonvolatile trapped-charge memory device and the article made thereby. The method includes multiple oxidation and nitridation operations to provide a dielectric constant higher than that of a pure silicon dioxide tunneling layer but with a fewer hydrogen and nitrogen traps than a tunneling layer having nitrogen at the substrate interface. The method provides for an improved memory window in a SONOS-type device. In one embodiment, the method includes an oxidation, a nitridation, a reoxidation and a renitridation. In one implementation, the first oxidation is performed with O2 and the reoxidation is performed with NO.
US08637920B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory device. In the semiconductor memory device, a lower selection gate controls a first channel region that is defined at a semiconductor substrate and a second channel region that is defined at the lower portion of an active pattern disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The first threshold voltage of the first channel region is different from the second threshold voltage of the second channel region.
US08637917B2
An insulating pattern is disposed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and includes a silicon oxynitride film. A conductive pattern is disposed on the insulating pattern. A data storage pattern and a vertical channel pattern are disposed within a channel hole formed to vertically penetrate the insulating pattern and the conductive pattern. The data storage pattern and the vertical channel pattern are conformally stacked along sidewalls of the insulating pattern and the conductive pattern. A concave portion is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the insulating pattern. The concave portion is recessed relative to a bottom surface of the insulating pattern.
US08637915B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes first and second memory cells having a floating gate and a control gate. The floating gate of the first and second memory cells is comprised a first part, and a second part arranged on the first part, and a width of the second part in an extending direction of the control gate is narrower than that of the first part. A first space between the first parts of the first and second memory cells is filled with one kind of an insulator. The control gate is arranged at a second space between the second parts of the first and second memory cells.
US08637909B1
Various aspects of the technology provide for a converter circuit such as a dc-dc voltage converter or buck converter. The circuit includes a enhancement mode control Field Effect Transistor (FET) fabricated using gallium arsenide and an depletion mode sync FET fabricated using gallium arsenide. A drain of the sync FET may be coupled to a source of the control FET and an inductor may be coupled to the source of the control FET and the drain of the sync FET.
US08637908B2
A method includes depositing a dummy fill material over exposed portions of a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate, removing portions of the dummy fill material to expose portions of the substrate, forming a layer of spacer material over the exposed portions of the substrate, the dummy fill material and the gate stack, removing portions of the layer of spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and the dummy fill material, depositing a dielectric layer over the exposed portions of the spacer material, the substrate, and the gate stack, removing portions of the dielectric layer to expose portions of the spacer material, removing exposed portions of the spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and define at least one cavity in the dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive material in the at least one cavity.
US08637907B2
A system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes one or more first optical sensors and one or more second optical sensors. The first optical sensor(s) each include a photodetector region and a plurality of first slats over the photodetector region. The second optical sensor(s) each include a photodetector region and a plurality of second slats over the photodetector region, wherein the second slats have a different configuration than the first slats. For example, the second slats can be orthogonal relative to the first slats. For another example, the first slats can slant in a first direction, and the second slats can slant in a second direction generally opposite the first direction. Currents produced by the first optical sensor(s) and the second optical sensor(s), which are indicative of light incident on the optical sensors, are useful for distinguishing between movement in at least two different directions.
US08637906B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a substrate, an oxide layer formed on an upper surface of the substrate, a plurality of polysilicon members arranged at constant intervals in a matrix on an upper surface of the oxide layer and including at least one first polysilicon member and a plurality of second polysilicon members, and a diffusion layer formed in the substrate under the first polysilicon member and electrically coupled to an interconnect for supplying a first power supply voltage, wherein the first polysilicon member is situated at an outermost periphery of the matrix and electrically coupled to an interconnect for supplying a second power supply voltage, and the plurality of second polysilicon members are situated inside the outermost periphery of the matrix.
US08637903B2
An AlN layer (2), a GaN buffer layer (3), a non-doped AlGaN layer (4a), an n-type AlGaN layer (4b), an n-type GaN layer (5), a non-doped AlN layer (6) and an SiN layer (7) are sequentially formed on an SiC substrate (1). At least three openings are formed in the non-doped AlN layer (6) and the SiN layer (7), and a source electrode (8a), a drain electrode (8b) and a gate electrode (19) are evaporated in these openings.
US08637899B2
A high voltage isolation protection device for low voltage communication interface systems in mixed-signal high voltage electronic circuit is disclosed. According to one aspect, the protection device includes a semiconductor structure configured to provide isolation between low voltage terminals and protection from transient events. The protection device includes a thyristor having an anode, a cathode, and a gate, and a thyristor cathode-gate control region that is built into the protection device. The protection device is configured to provide multiple built-in path-up to power-high terminals and path-down to power-low terminals at different voltage levels. The protection device also includes independently built-in discharge paths to the common substrate that is connected to a different power-low voltage reference. The conduction paths may be built into a single structure with dual isolation regions. As a result, the protection device enables superior robustness and compact protection solutions for smart power applications.
US08637897B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate and a plurality of light emitting cells arranged on the substrate. Each of the light emitting cells includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed therebetween to emit blue light. An interconnection structure electrically connects the first-conductivity-type and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor layers of one light emitting cell to the first-conductivity-type and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor layers of another light emitting cell. A light conversion part is formed in a light emitting region defined by the light emitting cells and includes a red and/or a green light conversion part respectively having a red and/or a green light conversion material.
US08637887B2
A chip package having a lead frame and a molded portion. The lead frame includes a thermal pad and at least one electrode. The molded portion partially encapsulates the at least one electrode such that it is exposed on a top surface but not on a bottom surface. A bottom surface of the thermal pad is exposed for direct securement to an external heat sink. The molded portion is disposed between the at least one electrode and the heat sink to prevent a short circuit.
US08637885B2
A light emitting device according to the embodiment includes a conductive support member; a light emitting structure on the conductive support member including a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first and second semiconductor layers; and a protective device on the light emitting structure.
US08637883B2
A light emitting diode (LED) device having a low index of refraction spacer layer separating the LED chip and a functional layer. The LED chip has a textured light emission surface to increase light extraction from the chip. The spacer layer has an index of refraction that is lower than both the LED chip and the functional layer. Most of the light generated in the LED chip passes easily into the spacer layer due to the textured surface of the chip. At the interface of the spacer layer and the functional layer the light sees a step-up in index of refraction which facilitates transmission. A portion of the light that has passed into the functional layer will be reflected or scattered back toward the spacer layer where some of it will experience total internal reflection. Total internal reflection at this interface may increase extraction efficiency by reducing the amount of light that re-enters the spacer layer and, ultimately, the LED chip where it may be absorbed. The spacer layer also provides a thermal buffer between the LED chip and the functional layer. Thus, the functional layer, which may be a wavelength conversion layer comprising phosphors, for example, is insulated from direct thermal transfer from the LED chip. The spacer layer can also function as a passivation layer.
US08637878B2
Disclosed herein is a display panel including a mounting substrate in which one or more light-emitting devices each including one or more light-emitting elements are mounted on a circuit substrate; and a transparent substrate disposed to face the light-emitting device side of the mounting substrate, wherein the transparent substrate has a transparent base material and a resin layer formed on the mounting substrate side of the transparent base material, and the resin layer is in contact with the light-emitting device and has, formed on an upper surface or a side surface of the light-emitting device, an inclined part which spreads from the light-emitting device side toward the transparent base material side.
US08637875B2
Apparatuses and systems for photon detection can include a first optical sensing structure structured to absorb light at a first optical wavelength; and a second optical sensing structure engaged with the first optical sensing structure to allow optical communication between the first and the second optical sensing structures. The second optical sensing structure can be structured to absorb light at a second optical wavelength longer than the first optical wavelength and to emit light at the first optical wavelength which is absorbed by the first optical sensing structure. Apparatuses and systems can include a bandgap grading region.
US08637874B2
A white LED lighting device driven by a pulse current is provided, which consists of blue, violet or ultraviolet LED chips, blue afterglow luminescence materials A and yellow luminescence materials B. Wherein the weight ratio of the blue afterglow luminescence materials A to the yellow luminescence materials B is 10-70 wt %:30-90 wt %. The white LED lighting device drives the LED chips with a pulse current having a frequency of not less than 50 Hz. Because of using the afterglow luminescence materials, the light can be sustained when an excitation light source disappears, thereby eliminating the influence of LED light output fluctuation caused by current variation on the illumination. At the same time, the pulse current can keep the LED chips being at an intermittent work state, so as to overcome the problem of chip heating.
US08637871B2
An asymmetric hetero-structure FET and method of manufacture is provided. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate and an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate. The epitaxially grown semiconductor layer includes an alloy having a band structure and thickness that confines inversion carriers in a channel region, and a thicker portion extending deeper into the semiconductor structure at a doped edge to avoid confinement of the inversion carriers at the doped edge.
US08637867B2
An electrostatic discharge device and an organic electro-luminescence display device having the same are provided. The organic electro-luminescence display device includes an electrostatic discharge device including a metal pattern having an island shape on a substrate, an insulating layer on the metal pattern, a semiconductor pattern on the insulating layer, the semiconductor pattern corresponding to the metal pattern, a first electrode overlapping one end of the semiconductor pattern, and a second electrode overlapping the other end of the semiconductor pattern, and spaced from the first electrode, thereby preventing a current leakage, a signal distortion and a signal cross-talk to improve the reliability.
US08637864B2
A miniaturized transistor is provided with high yield. Further, a semiconductor device which has high on-state characteristics and which is capable of high-speed response and high-speed operation is provided. In the semiconductor device, an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode layer, an insulating layer, a conductive film, and an interlayer insulating layer are stacked in this order. A source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are formed in a self-aligned manner by cutting the conductive film so that the conductive film over the gate electrode layer and the conductive layer is removed and the conductive film is divided. An electrode layer which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer and overlaps with a region in contact with the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer is provided.
US08637861B2
Provided is a semiconductor device for high power application including a novel semiconductor material with high productivity. Alternatively, provided is a semiconductor device having a novel structure in which the novel semiconductor material is used. Provided is a vertical transistor including a channel formation region formed using an oxide semiconductor which has a wider band gap than a silicon semiconductor and is an intrinsic semiconductor or a substantially intrinsic semiconductor with impurities that serve as electron donors (donors) in the oxide semiconductor removed. The thickness of the oxide semiconductor is greater than or equal to 1 micrometer, preferably greater than 3 micrometer, more preferably greater than or equal to 10 micrometer.
US08637847B2
Resistive memory cells having a plurality of heaters and methods of operating and forming the same are described herein. As an example, a resistive memory cell may include a resistance variable material located between a first electrode and a second electrode, a first heater coupled to a first portion of the resistance variable material, a second heater coupled to a second portion of the resistance variable material, a third heater coupled to a third portion of resistance variable material, and a conductive material coupled to the first, second, and third heaters.
US08637829B2
The invention relates to an image acquisition device enabling a dental radiological image to be obtained, the device comprising a matrix sensor (C) having integrated therein a plurality of image acquisition photodiodes (DA) sensitive to irradiation and at least one detection photodiode (DD) also sensitive to irradiation, the device also comprising a control module (M) for controlling the sensor (C) and suitable for periodically reading the detection photodiode (DD) and for causing the sensor (C) to change over (SBA) between at least two modes: a standby mode and an acquisition mode (ACQ). According to the invention, the detection photodiode (DD) is suitable for delivering a periodic output signal (NDD) to the control module (M), including during irradiation and image acquisition (ACQ) by the acquisition photodiodes (DA), which periodic output signal (NDD) has a value that is representative of the instantaneous received energy, and the control module (M) makes use of this periodic output signal (NDD) to analyze the energy received during acquisition (ACQ).
US08637827B2
A sensor section is provided with a detection element sensitive to light and radiation so that normal operation of the sensor section can be confirmed. The function for confirming operation of the sensor section using an optical pulse signal from a light emitting element is controlled from a monitor module section for connection with the sensor section. When the optical pulse for confirming operation of the detection element is generated, output from the sensor section is excluded from operation at the monitor module section so that confirmation of operation by an optical pulse is not affected. Furthermore, a configuration for stopping the sensor operation confirmation function when the output from the sensor section is high counting rate is provided over both the sensor section and the monitor module section.
US08637825B2
In a scintillator used for radiation detection, such as an X-ray CT scanner, a scintillation crystal body having a unidirectional phase separation structure is provided which has a light guide function for crosstalk prevention without using partitions. The phase separation structure includes a first crystal phase and a second crystal phase having a refractive index larger than that of the first crystal phase and which have a first principal surface and a second principal surface, these principal surfaces being not located on the same plane, the first principal surface and the second principal surface have portions to which the second crystal phase is exposed, and a portion of the second crystal phase exposed to the first principal surface and a portion of the second crystal phase exposed to the second principal surface are connected to each other.
US08637809B2
All data obtained from an A/D converter during a summation period with values exceeding a prescribed threshold is excluded from summation up to a prescribed maximum number of deletions, and the values of the remaining data are summed to find one piece of measurement data corresponding to that summation period. The number of pieces of noise data reflecting the influx of particles that cause spike-like noise is extremely small, so noise data is removed in a state in which there are no signals and no target ions are present. When target ions are present, legitimate data which is not noise data may be removed, but the number of pieces of removed data is small in comparison to the total number of pieces of data, so the effects of the removal of legitimate data essentially do not emerge in the summation results. It is therefore possible to effectively reduce spike-like noise.
US08637808B2
To provide a method that reduces an influence of dependence of an ionizing beam in an incident direction or uneven irradiation to a sample on a result of mass spectrometry, and can measure mass distribution with high reliability. A mass distribution measuring method according to the present invention includes: changing a direction of irradiating the ionizing beam to a sample surface; acquiring a plurality of mass distribution images in a plurality of incident directions; performing image transform of the mass distribution images according to an angle formed by an incident direction of the ionizing beam and a substrate surface; synthesizing the plurality of transformed images; and outputting the synthesized mass distribution images.
US08637799B2
An imaging apparatus is realized which enables a thin finger vein authentication apparatus having a thickness installable in a portable information device. A light beam emitted from an object passes through a visible light cut-off filter 20 and enters a pre-focus lens array 11. The pre-focus lens array 11 focuses the light beam on an opening of a micro aperture array 15. The light beam passed through the micro aperture array 15 diverges, but it is focused with the post-focus lens array 13 on the light detection device 30. With this structure, a thin imaging apparatus can be obtained with maintained resolution, and a finger authentication apparatus installable in a portable information device can be realized.
US08637787B1
Formation of an electrochemical device includes removing a layer of a metal oxide from battery components so as to define a weld region and an exposed region on the components. A surface of the weld region includes the metal oxide and a surface of the exposed region includes the metal oxide at a lower concentration than the weld region. The method also includes arranging the components such that a seam is defined between the components with weld regions positioned on opposing sides of the seams. The method further includes contacting at least one of the weld regions with a laser while laser welding the components together along the seam.
US08637775B2
Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board, including: a substrate; a first circuit layer formed on the substrate; a first insulation layer formed on the first circuit layer and having a pattern corresponding to that of the first circuit layer; and a second insulation layer formed on the substrate such that the second insulation layer surrounds the first circuit layer and the first insulation layer formed on the first circuit layer. The printed circuit board is advantageous in that process time and process cost can be reduced because a first insulation layer is used as an etching resist and is included as a part of a printed circuit board even after etching.
US08637772B2
An electric cord securing device includes an attaching member and a securing member coupled to a body. The attaching member, during use, attaches the body to a selected location on the exterior of a electric cord. The securing member, during use, secures the body to an external structure or at least one other portion of the electric cord. Additionally, an electric cord includes at least one flexible conductor encased by a insulating sheath. One or more securing members are disposed on the exterior of the sheath. The securing members secure the portion of the cord proximate the securing member to at least one other portion of the electric cord or an external structure.
US08637770B2
A step-shaped receptacle part 22 depressed in a step shape in a circumferential direction is provided in a middle part of an outer peripheral surface 21 of a core body 18 of a core 16 constituting a caulking die 5. Further, a part on a core insertion start side relative to the step-shaped receptacle part 22 is formed in a size smaller than that at the position of the step-shaped receptacle part 22. Caulking is performed by the caulking die 5 having this configuration, so that the fixing state viewed in a cross section in a connection and fixation target part is made such that a plurality of bent parts are formed in accordance with the sectional shape of the step-shaped receptacle part 22.
US08637764B2
The present invention provides a biaxially oriented polyester film for a backsheet of photovoltaics which exhibits an excellent hydrolysis resistance and a low shrinkage rate. The present invention relates to a biaxially oriented polyester film for a backsheet of photovoltaics, comprising a polyester having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.65 to 0.90 dL/g as measured in a mixed solvent comprising phenol and tetrachloroethane at a mass ratio of 50/50 at 23° C., a carboxyl end group content of 0 to 26 equivalents/t, and a phosphorus element content of 0 to 170 ppm, which biaxially oriented polyester film has a shrinkage rate of not more than 0.8% as measured in a longitudinal direction thereof after subjected to heat treatment at 150° C. for 30 min.
US08637759B2
A solar cell and method for producing same is disclosed. The solar cell includes a multijunction solar cell structure and a notch filter designed to reflect solar energy that does not contribute to the current output of the multijunction solar cell. By reflecting unused solar energy, the notch filter allows the solar cell to run cooler (and thus more efficiently) yet it still allows all junctions to fully realize their electrical current production capability.
US08637756B1
A multi-layered instrument cover protects an instrument against damage. The cover can encapsulate the instrument fully assembled, so that a user only has to remove the cover to utilize the instrument. The cover includes multiple layers that provide various functions. An inner layer is fabricated from a soft material suitable for contacting the instrument. An intermediate layer overlays the inner layer, and has sufficient rigidity to provide protection and a shape to the cover. The shape of the cover can conform to the instrument. An exterior layer provides an exterior surface that can be decorative and also help to identify the instrument. The exterior layer and the intermediate layer can be sewn onto the inner layer. Pouches on the exterior layer contain instrument components such as mouth pieces, tuners, and sheet music. A handle on the exterior layer orients and positions the cover on and/or off the instrument.
US08637753B2
Some or all, of the surface area of the back neck of a guitar is reduced to for a continuous geometric pattern, with spaced depressions or raised ridges, leaving less surface area for the palm of the hand and/or thumb to contact, thereby reducing or eliminating tackiness so that the grip on the neck can be better controlled.
US08637748B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV847814. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV847814, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV847814 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV847814 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV847814.
US08637747B1
A novel maize variety designated X08B813 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 X08B813 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B813 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B813, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B813. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B813.
US08637745B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026150. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026150. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026150 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026150 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08637737B2
This invention relates to the field of bolting and flowering time control in sugar beet, specifically to methods as well as nucleic acid molecules, chimeric constructs, and vectors for engineering bolting resistance in sugar beet by means of altering the expression of the Beta vulgaris homologues BvFT1 and BvFT2 of the FT gene. In particular, the present invention provides sugar beet plants having a phenotype of bolting resistance.
US08637736B2
A transgenic plant transformed by a Stress-Related Polypeptide (SRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in the plant's increased growth under normal or stress conditions and/or increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated SRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding SRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US08637730B1
A novel maize variety designated X05A935 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 X05A935 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05A935 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05A935, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05A935. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05A935.
US08637725B2
Apparatus and associated methods for a wound valve assembly provide an annular space extending radially around a central portion of a valve, which valve acts to substantially relieve pressure build up in a thoracic cavity when applied to a thoracic wound. In an illustrative example, the valve assembly may form an annular space that extends radially in all directions around a check valve. In some examples, gasses and exudates may flow substantially radially and/or parallel to the patient's local body. Various embodiments may advantageously provide open fluid communication for the gasses and exudates escaping from the wound when the valve assembly is partially covered (e.g., body armor, clothing, blankets), or when the patient may be lying down on the side of the body with the wound, for example.
US08637720B2
Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are discussed herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a first preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The first preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a Y zeolite. The systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
US08637718B2
A method and system of converting biomass to biochar in a hydrothermal carbonization apparatus wherein subcritical water at a temperature of 230-350° C. and 500-3000 psi is reacted with the biomass to form biochar, biocrude and gases. The method and system include recycling the biocrude back to the hydrothermal carbonization apparatus which improves biochar yield and provides water for the biomass reaction to occur.
US08637717B2
A municipal solid waste material is converted to a refuse derived fuel then to syngas which is processed to produce a liquid feedstream via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis. The Fischer-Tropsch liquid feedstream is combined with a triglyceride feedstream then hydroprocessed to produce a distillate fuel end product.
US08637706B2
The present invention relates to a novel class of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). The SERM compounds are applicable for use in the prevention and/or treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions including prevention and treatment of cancers such as prostate and breast cancer, osteoporosis, hormone-related diseases, hot flashes or vasomotor symptoms, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
US08637695B2
Disclosed herein is a catalytic process for the synthesis of organohalosilane monomers from tetraorganodihalodisilanes and other compounds that are not cleaved during the conventional hydrochlorination of Direct Process Residue. The process is characterized by the use of a catalyst containing (1) one or more heterocyclic amines and/or one or more heterocyclic ammonium halides, and (2) one or more quaternary Group 15 onium compounds.
US08637694B2
The invention relates to cationic siloxane derivatives for use especially as fungicides and/or antiadhesives. The cationic siloxane derivatives have the formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R4′, R5 and n are as defined in the description.
US08637688B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms for topical administration comprising a tri-substituted glycerol compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for preparing such dosage forms as well as to their use as medicaments for the treatment of cancer and immune diseases.
US08637680B2
Provided are a squarylium dye having a carboxyindolenine structure and an N-alkyl substituent, and a photoelectric conversion element having high photoelectric conversion efficiency in a near-infrared region and a dye-sensitized solar cell, both of which are produced using the squarylium dye. The photoelectric conversion element or dye-sensitized solar cell uses a compound represented by the formula (1) as the squarylium dye. In the formula (1), R1 and R2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted C5 to C30 alkyl group; X represents C(CH3)2; and A and B represent a carboxy group.
US08637673B2
Process for preparing 2,2-difluoroethylamine derivatives, wherein compounds of the general formula (IV) are hydrogenated to the corresponding 2,2-difluoroethylamine derivatives of the general formula (III), where the A, R1 and R2 radicals are each as defined in the description:
US08637672B2
The disclosed compounds are useful in the treatment of mammalian cancers and especially human cancers. Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of Formula I are disclosed: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, enantiomer, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof.
US08637652B2
The present invention provides screening kits, compositions, and diagnostic methods for determining whether a subject has a predisposition to, or likelihood of having, a substance use disorder by determining a nucleic acid methylation profile from a biological sample from the subject, wherein a given profile indicates that the subject has a predisposition to a substance use disorder.
US08637647B2
A method has for selectively acylating an amino group in a peptide or protein which has two or more reactive nucleophilic functional groups is described.
US08637641B2
The invention relates generally to compositions and methods for altering the isoelectric point of an antibody, and in some cases, resulting in improved plasma pharmacokinetics, e.g. increased serum half-life in vivo.
US08637640B2
The invention relates to materials and methods of conjugating a water soluble polymer to an oxidized carbohydrate moiety of a blood coagulation protein comprising contacting the oxidized carbohydrate moiety with an activated water soluble polymer under conditions that allow conjugation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the aforementioned materials and methods wherein the water soluble polymer contains an active aminooxy group and wherein an oxime linkage is formed between the oxidized carbohydrate moiety and the active aminooxy group on the water soluble polymer. In one embodiment of the invention the conjugation is carried out in the presence of the nucleophilic catalyst aniline. In addition the generated oxime linkage can be stabilized by reduction with NaCNBH3 to form an alkoxyamine linkage.
US08637635B2
The present invention provides a variety of isolated peptides and peptidomimetics, which can be useful, for example, in constructing the conjugates of the invention or, where the peptide itself has biological activity, in unconjugated form as a therapeutic for treating any of a varirty of cardiovascular diseases as described below. Thus, the present invention provides an isolated peptide or peptidomimetic which has a length of less than 60 residues and includes the amino acid sequence CRPPR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a peptidomimetic thereof. The invention further provides an isolated peptide or peptidomimetic which has a length of less than 60 residues and includes the amino acid sequence CARPAR (SEQ ID NO: 5) or a peptidomimetic thereof, or amino acid sequence CPKRPR (SEQ ID NO: 6) or a peptidomimtic thereof.
US08637634B2
Provided is preparation of poly(alkylene carbonate) by alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxide. To be specific, provided are a method for preparing block or graft copolymers of the polymer compound and poly(alkylene carbonate) by alternating-copolymerization of an epoxide compound and carbon dioxide by using a metal (III) compound prepared from salen-type ligand with a quaternary ammonium salt as a catalyst in the presence of a polymer compound having a functional group of hydroxyl or carboxylic acid, and block or graft copolymers prepared by the method.
US08637631B2
A polyphenylene ether which has a content of a metal magnetic material of 0.001 ppm or higher and lower than 1.000 ppm.
US08637628B2
One embodiment is related to a silicone composition for sealing a light emitting element, the composition comprising: (A) a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane having a three-dimensional network structure; (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane which has at least two hydrogen atoms, each hydrogen atom being bonded to a silicon atom per molecule; and (C) a hydrosilylation catalyst.
US08637627B2
A curable phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition is disclosed. A cured phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition is further disclosed, along with a method of making that cured phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane composition from the curable phenoxyphenyl silicon composition. An encapsulated semiconductor device, and a method of making that encapsulated semiconductor device by coating a semiconductor element of a semiconductor device with cured phenoxyphenyl polysiloxane are further disclosed.
US08637624B2
A monomer compound that contains at least one polymerizable functional group per molecule, and at least one bicycloheptyl-, bicycloheptenyl-, or branched (C5-C42)alkyl-polyether radical per molecule, wherein the bicycloheptyl- or bicycloheptenyl-polyether radical may optionally be substituted on one or more of the ring carbon atoms by one or two (C1-C6)alkyl groups per ring carbon atom is useful in making polymers, particularly pH responsive polymers.
US08637620B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a polymeric material doped with metal elements, comprising a step of polymerization of at least one monomer comprising at least one ethylenic function, said monomer being complexed with a metal element.Use of the materials obtained by means of this process as catalysts, or luminescent or magnetic materials, or as elements for laser targets.
US08637618B2
The field of the invention relates generally to a method for preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. More particularly, the present invention related to a method of preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and a metal-ligand complex, as well as the catalyst itself. The present invention additionally relates to a method of using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and co-supported metal-ligand complexes to obtain a bi-modal molecular weight distribution of polyethylene.
US08637617B2
The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4) (IV).
US08637615B2
Provided is a method for making a polyolefin comprising contacting one or more olefins in a reactor containing a catalyst; polymerizing the one or more olefins to produce an olefin polymer characterized by a first melt flow ratio (MFR) and a first haze; and altering the reaction temperature in the reactor to shift the first MFR to a MFR that is different than the first MFR and to shift the first haze to a haze that is different than the first haze.
US08637611B2
The invention is based on the discovery that a remarkable improvement in the performance of maleimide thermosets can be achieved by incorporating amide-extended maleimides into an adhesive formulation. Amide-extended maleimides described herein can be used to toughen bismaleimide thermosetting materials without sacrificing any thermal stability. Amide-extended maleimides are readily prepared by reacting a bismaleimide with an appropriate amine via the well-known Michael addition reaction. Acylation of the resulting secondary amines provides the amide-extended maleimide. The acylating agent can also be used to introduce polymerizable functional groups into the backbones of these thermoset monomers. Amide-extended acrylate and methacrylate monomers can also be prepared.
US08637610B2
Novel, crosslinked polymers using biomass derived materials, such as aldaric acids and derivatives, are provided. The polymers can be used as hydrogels and in antimicrobial compositions.
US08637609B1
A waterborne coating composition contains a film forming binder dispersed in an aqueous carrier; wherein the binder is an admixture including (A) about 40-60% by weight of an acrylic silane polymer derived from a monomer blend including alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers and at least one silane containing alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer; and (B) about 60-40% by weight of a polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersion. The composition is useful for plastic and metal substrates.
US08637602B2
A stable viscosity coating composition, a method of forming the stable viscosity coating composition and a method for using the stable viscosity coating composition in a micro-molding imprint lithographic process, such as Step and Flash Imprint Lithography is disclosed. The stable viscosity coating composition may include at least one vinyl ether having at least one vinyl ether group (—OCR═CR2), and a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer may be 9-anthracenemethanol, a substituted 9-anthracenemethanol, phenothiazine, or a substituted phenothiazine. The coating composition may include a radiation sensitive photoacid generator (PAG). The method of forming the coating composition comprises combining at least one vinyl ether having at least one vinyl ether group (—OCR═CR2), and at least one stabilizer.
US08637598B2
A long-fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic molding compound of plastics material has outstanding impact strength and notched impact strength if it contains 30 to 90% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polyolefin, 9 to 69% by weight of at least one glass-like reinforcing fiber and 1 to 30% by weight of at least one mineral filler of an average particle size in the range from 0.1 to 2 μm. The molding compound is produced by the pultrusion method and is used in the production of domestic appliances such as washing machines or washer-dryers or electrical appliances such as coffeemakers or toasters or refrigerators or in automobile construction.
US08637595B2
An aerosol is described comprising a composition comprising an acrylic block copolymer, a solvent, and a propellant. An article is described comprising the aerosol contained within a pressurized containment vessel comprising a valve. An aerosol mist is also described comprising droplets of an adhesive composition, wherein the adhesive composition comprises an acrylic block copolymer, a glass transition temperature modifier, and optionally an additive.
US08637593B2
The epoxy resin molding material of the invention comprises (A) an epoxy resin and (B) a curing agent, wherein the (B) curing agent contains a polyvalent carboxylic acid condensate. The thermosetting resin composition of the invention comprises (A) an epoxy resin and (B) a curing agent, wherein the viscosity of the (B) curing agent is 1.0-1000 mPa·s at 150° C., as measured with an ICI cone-plate Brookfield viscometer.
US08637584B2
An isocyanate reactive composition for making a polyurethane foam includes a tertiary amine urethane catalyst comprising a di(C1-C4)alkyl fatty alkyl amine and a polyester polyol. The use of one or more of fatty alkyl tertiary amine serves to reduce hydrolysis of the polyester polyol in the isocyanate reactive composition.
US08637581B2
The present invention relates to polyesters that can be prepared from renewable resources and/or recycled materials and the production process thereof. In particular, hydroxyl-functional or carboxyl-functional polyesters containing moieties of terephthalic acid and/or isophthalic acid, ethylene glycol, a dianhydrohexitol, and of one or more linear chain dicarboxylic acids are provided. Further, the polyesters have a number average molecular weight, as measured by gel permeation chromatography, of from 400 to 15000 daltons, more preferably from 550 to 15000 daltons. The polyesters of the invention can basically be prepared from recycled polyethylene terephthalate and from renewable polyacids and/or polyols. The present invention further provides a process to produce such polyesters via glycolysis of a polyethylene terepthalate and/or a polyethylene isophthalate with a dianhydrohexitol.
US08637565B2
The present invention is based on the discovery that certain fermentation products of the marine actinomycete strains CNB392 and CNB476 are effective inhibitors of hyperproliferative mammalian cells. The CNB392 and CNB476 strains lie within the family Micromonosporaceae, and the generic epithet Salinospora has been proposed for this obligate marine group. The reaction products produced by this strain are classified as salinosporamides, and are particularly advantageous in treating neoplastic disorders due to their low molecular weight, low IC50 values, high pharmaceutical potency, and selectivity for cancer cells over fungi.
US08637561B2
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08637557B2
A compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has a PI3 kinase γ inhibitory effect and is useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for articular rheumatism, Crohn's disease, irritable colitis, Sjoegren's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, asthma, atopic dermatitis, arteriosclerosis, organ transplant rejection, cancer, retinopathy, psoriasis, arthrosis deformans, age-related macular degeneration, type II diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hyperlipemia, etc.
US08637549B2
The present invention encompasses compounds of general formula (1) while the groups R4 to R7 and the units W, L, Qa and QH are defined as in claim 1, which are suitable for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation, and their use as medicaments having the above-mentioned properties.
US08637545B2
This invention is directed to derivatives of piperidine-2,6-dione, or their organic or inorganic salts thereof, a methods of synthesis of these derivatives, and their application as active pharmaceutical ingredient as inhibitors of TNFα releasing in cells, the derivative of piperidine-2,6-dione being of the general formula (I): wherein n represents 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; R1 represents from one to four of the same or different substituents selected from F, Cl, Br, C1-4 alkyl, OH, OC1-4 alkyl, NO2, NHC(O)C1-4 alkyl, NH2, NH(C1-4 alkyl), N(C1-4 alkyl)2; R2 represents OR3, NR3R4, N(R3)COR4, O2CR5; R3 and R4 represent independently and at each occurrence H or C1-4 alkyl; R5 represents CHR6NR7R8, CHR6NR9C(O)CHR10NR7R8, a heterocycle W or CHR6NR9C(O)W; R6, R9, R10 represent independently and at each occurrence H, or C1-4 alkyl; R7 and R8 represent independently and at each occurrence H, C1-4 alkyl, or R7 and R8 taken together represent 1,3-propylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, or 1,6-hexylene; W represents four-membered, five-membered, six-membered, seven-membered, or eight-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocycle.
US08637544B2
The invention provides an agent for promoting ocular tissue neuritogenesis, containing N-(1-acetylpiperidin-4-yl)-4-fluorobenzamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and an agent for promoting corneal neuritogenesis and retinal neuritogenesis, containing N-(1-acetylpiperidin-4-yl)-4-fluorobenzamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The corneal neuritogenesis promoter can be used for the improvement of corneal sensitivity, treatment of dry eye, or treatment of a corneal epithelial disorder. The retinal neuritogenesis promoter can be used for the improvement of a visual dysfunction.
US08637538B1
The present invention relates to methods for treating uremic pruritus with anti-pruritic compositions.
US08637537B2
Compounds having the formula I wherein A, Z, R1a, R1b, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R9, R10, Ra, Rb and n are as defined herein are inhibitors of PAK1. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for treating cancer and hyperproliferative disorders.
US08637535B2
Solid phases of (−)-cis-FTC, which are designated herein as amorphous (−)-FTC and Forms II and III (−)-cis-FTC) are provided that can be distinguished from Form I (−)-cis-FTC by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, thermal properties, and methods of manufacture. A hydrated crystalline form of (±)-cis-FTC (i.e. racemic cis-FTC), and a dehydrated form of the hydrate, are also provided, and can similarly be distinguished from other forms of FTC by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, thermal properties, and methods of manufacture. These FTC forms can be used in the manufacture of other forms of FTC, or in pharmaceutical compositions. Particularly preferred uses of these forms are in the treatment of HIV or hepatitis B.
US08637534B2
The novel active compound combinations comprising 2-[2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxypropyl]-2,4-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazole-3-thione of the formula and the active compound of groups (1) to (24) listed in the description have very good fungicidal properties.
US08637533B2
Methods of inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta isoform (PI3Kδ) activity, and methods of treating diseases, such as disorders of immunity and inflammation, in which PI3Kδ plays a role in leukocyte function are disclosed. Preferably, the methods employ active agents that selectively inhibit PI3Kδ, while not significantly inhibiting activity of other PI3K isoforms. Compounds are provided that inhibit PI3Kδ activity, including compounds that selectively inhibit PI3Kδ activity. Methods of using PI3Kδ inhibitory compounds to inhibit cancer cell growth or proliferation are also provided. Accordingly, the invention provides methods of using PI3Kδ inhibitory compounds to inhibit PI3Kδ-mediated processes in vitro and in vivo.
US08637528B2
A method of treating a movement abnormality associated with the pathology of a neurological movement disorder, such as Parkinson's disease or Restless Leg(s) Syndrome by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a PDE7 inhibitory agent. An aspect of the invention provides for the administration of a PDE& inhibitory agent in conjunction with a dopamine agonist or precursor, such as levodopa. In another aspect of the invention, the PDE7 inhibitory agent may be selective for PDE7 relative to other molecular targets (i) known to be involved with the pathology of Parkinson's disease or (ii) at which other drug(s) that are therapeutically effective to treat Parkinson's disease act.
US08637521B2
The present invention discloses multifunctional bioactive compounds of formula (I) constituted of an immunoregulatory portion linked to a stabilizer moiety and pharmaceutical compositions thereof useful in the treatment of immune disorders and hemopoietic disorders such as immune cytopema, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphoid leucosis, lymphocytic lymphomas, lymphosarcomas.
US08637520B2
Certain substituted pyridyl amide compounds are histamine H3 receptor modulators useful in the treatment of histamine H3 receptor-mediated diseases.
US08637519B2
Dihydrothienopyrimidinesulphoxides of formula 1 wherein X is SO or SO2, R1 is H or C1-6-alkyl, R2 is H or an organic group as disclosed herein, and R3 is an optionally substituted, mono- or bicyclic, unsaturated, partially saturated or saturated heterocycle or an optionally substituted, mono- or bicyclic heteroaryl, and the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which contain these compounds. These dihydrothienopyrimidinesulphoxides are suitable for the treatment of respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints or diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints, skin or eyes, diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system, or cancers.
US08637515B2
A polymorph of brimonidine pamoate having the formula exhibits characteristics disclosed herein. The polymorph is included in a composition, device, or implant for use in the treatment or control of elevated intraocular pressure or in the neuroprotection of components of a neurological tissue to prevent progressive degeneration of such components. In particular, such a composition, device, or implant can be used to provide neuroprotection to cells and components of the optic nerve system.
US08637511B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising those compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, and disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the invention.
US08637507B2
The present invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds as diacylglycerol acyltransferase (“DGAT”) inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the heterocyclic compounds and the use of the compounds for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disease, a metabolic disorder, obesity or an obesity-related disorder, diabetes, dyslipidemia, a diabetic complication, impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. An illustrative compound of the invention is shown below: formula (I).
US08637498B2
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds, and enantiomers, diastereomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are represented by Formula (Ia) and Formula (Ib) as follows: wherein Y, Z, and n are defined herein; and wherein Yb and Zb are as defined herein.
US08637491B2
A series of thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives, attached at the 2-position to a substituted anilino moiety, which are substituted in the 3-position by a carbonyl group linked to a pyrrolidin-1-yl ring which in turn forms part of a heteroatom-containing fused bicyclic ring system, being selective inhibitors of human MEK (MAPKK) enzymes, are accordingly of benefit in medicine, for example in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, cardiovascular, proliferative (including oncological) and nociceptive conditions.
US08637490B2
Described herein are compounds that may be selectively activated to produce active anti-cancer agents in tumor cells. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating cancer using the compounds.
US08637489B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising: (a) at least one alkoxylated silicone acid; (b) at least one amino compound chosen from polyamines, alkoxylated polyamines, alkyl monoamines, alkoxylated monoamines and mixtures thereof; (c) at least one lipophilic compound; and (d) at least one solvent comprising water. Such a composition is clear in appearance, and stable.The present invention also relates to a method of making such a clear composition, and to a method of cosmetic treatment of a keratinous substrate using such a composition.
US08637486B2
Compounds containing nucleic acid bases or their precursors modified by enrichment at specific sites with heavy stable isotopes of elements naturally present at those sites in minute amount are useful for the treatment of diseases characterized by altered gene expression and altered pattern of epigenomic control. These compounds, when used as nutrients or in other medicinal application methods, can alter the DNA methylation pattern in a simple way through the well-understood mechanism of kinetic isotope effect (KIE). This effect could also be useful for modifying methylation kinetics in stem cell technology, cloning and as disease therapeutics.
US08637485B2
The crystal structure of the complex of S-adenosylmethionine methyl ester with hΛdoMetDC F223A, a mutant where the stacking of the aromatic rings of F7, adenine and F223 would be eliminated. The structure of this mutant with the ester shows that the ligand still maintains a syn conformation aided by pi-pi interactions to F7, hydrogen bonds to the backbone of Glu67, and electrostatic interactions. Several series of AdoMet substrate analogues with a variety of substituents at the 8 position of adenine were synthesized and analyzed for their ability to inhibit hAdoMetDC. To understand these results, virtual modeling of the enzyme inhibitor complexes and the crystal structures of human AdoMetDC with 5′-deoxy-5′-[N-methyl-N-[2-(aminooxy)ethyl]amino-8-methyl]adenosine (MAOEMA) and 5′-deoxy-5′-[N-methyl-N-[4-(aminooxy)butyl]amino-8-ethyl]adenosine (MAOBEA) at the active site have been determined experimentally.
US08637483B2
An antisense molecule capable of binding to a selected target site to induce exon skipping in the dystrophin gene, as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to 59.
US08637482B2
The present invention relates to methods for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) including methods for preventing or delaying onset of CKD and methods for preventing exacerbation and progression of CKD. In particular embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating a subject at risk of developing CKD comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one oligonucleotide compound which inhibits the expression of a human target gene associated with the kidney disease; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier, or mixtures thereof, thereby reducing the risk of CKD in the subject.
US08637474B2
The present invention provides therapeutically active compounds and compositions as NMDA and MC receptor antagonists, which are useful in treating central nervous system disorders by over-activation of NMDA and/or MC receptors. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of enhancing brain's cognitive function and reducing neuronal cell death in mammals and humans.
US08637473B2
Synthetic molecule construct of the structure F—S1—S2-L where F is an O-linked mono-, di-, tri- or oligo-saccharide, S1 is 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl, 4-aminobutyl, or 5-aminopentyl, S2 is —CO(CH2)2CO—, —CO(CH2)3CO—, —CO(CH2)4CO— or —CO(CH2)5CO—, and L is a diacyl- or dialkyl-glycerophospholipid.
US08637472B2
The invention relates peptide entry inhibitors and methods of determining such inhibitors that are bindable to regions of viruses having class II E proteins, such as the dengue virus E protein, as candidates for in vivo anti-viral compounds.
US08637466B2
Among other aspects, provided herein are multi-armed polymer conjugates comprising an alkanoate-linker, compositions comprising such conjugates, and related methods of making and administering the same. Methods of treatment employing such conjugates and related uses are also provided. The conjugates are prepared with high drug loading efficiencies.
US08637464B2
The present invention provides a method to identify a test compounds capability to modulate p75.sup.NTR induced apoptosis, said method comprising: i. Transfecting a suspension of eukaryotic cells with a vector encoding SEQ ID No.4 OR SEQ ID No.6), ii. Contacting said cells with the compound to be tested, and iii. Determine the apoptotic response in said cells, wherein an alteration in apoptotic response in the presence of said test compound compared to the apoptotic response in the absence of the test compound is an indication of the ability of the test compound to modulate p75.sup.NTR induced apoptosis.
US08637462B2
This document relates to methods and materials for treating diseases or disorders associated with elevated platelet counts (e.g., essential thrombocythemia, secondary thrombocytosis, congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, sepsis, or asplenism) as well as methods and materials for treating diseases or disorders associated with elevated platelet adhesion to collagen (e.g., acute coronary syndromes, angina pectoris, chronic atherosclerosis, diabetes, or hypertension).
US08637452B2
The present invention is directed to water-soluble membrane proteins, methods for the preparation thereof and methods of use thereof.
US08637450B2
The invention relates to ALK7 soluble receptors and their uses as antagonists of the function of certain ligands such as GDF-8 (Myostatin) and GDF-11. The ALK7 soluble receptor of the invention is useful as antagonists of GDF-8 and GDF-11 in the treatment of neuronal diseases or conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and all peripheral nerve diseases. The ALK7 soluble receptor of the invention is also useful as GH (growth hormone) equivalent, and for increasing muscle mass.
US08637446B2
Perfume compositions having functional perfume components for aiding in perfume evaporation. The functional perfume components have a Kovat's index in the range of 900-1400 and an ODT of greater than about 1 ppb. In one embodiment, the functional perfume component may be present in an amount from at least about 10% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the composition containing a function perfume component is substantially free of a VOC.
US08637443B2
The invention provides solvent and cleaning compositions comprising an ionic surfactant, which preferably has a fluorinated portion thereof, and a solvent selected from hydrofluoro- and/or hydrochlorofluoro-olefins. Additionally, the invention provides drying, dry cleaning, and soil repellency compositions containing a hydrofluoro- or hydrochlorofluoro-olefin and said surfactant. Additionally, the invention provides drying compositions containing a hydrofluoro-olefin or hydrochlorofluoro-olefin and an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol or isopropanol.
US08637441B1
The present invention discloses a non-foaming detergent, including a sodium alginate, an amylum, a sodium silicate, a citric acid, a sodium citrate, a sea salt, a sodium peroxyborate, a TAED and a borax. Herein, the non-foaming detergent further includes a sodium bicarbonate and a soapnut saponin. The preparation method of the non-foaming detergent comprises the following steps: mixing a sodium silicate and a sodium peroxyborate under stirring, mixing a soapnut saponin, a sodium alginate, an amylum, a sodium citrate, a sea salt, a sodium bicarbonate, a TAED and a borax under stirring, mixing such two mixtures, adding a citric acid therein and further mixing to obtain the non-foaming detergent. In the present invention, the prepared detergent has good solubility, strong activity at low temperature, high washing power and thorough detergency. Besides, the detergent is non-foaming and non-flavoring and the exhaust water during washing can be bio-degraded effectively.
US08637437B2
The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity, an additive containing a polymeric backbone and at least one amino group. The invention further provides for the additive to have dispersant and/or dispersant viscosity modifying properties. The lubricating composition is suitable for lubricating an internal combustion engine.
US08637434B2
The present invention provides novel processes for the large scale preparation of arrays of polymer sequences wherein each array includes a plurality of different, positionally distinct polymer sequences having known monomer sequences. The methods of the invention combine high throughput process steps with high resolution photolithographic techniques in the manufacture of polymer arrays.
US08637431B2
A heat-sensitive recording material having a substrate that carries on its first side at least one heat-sensitive recording layer having at least one dye precursor and at least one color acceptor. The dye precursor and color acceptor react with one another in a color-forming manner under the action of heat. On its second side the substrate has a backcoat containing calcium carbonate. The backcoat is formed of at least two layers, a first layer is applied closer to the substrate and a second layer is applied farther from the substrate. The first layer contains a first calcium carbonate and the second layer contains a second calcium carbonate that differs from the first calcium carbonate.
US08637426B2
An oxidation catalyst composite, methods and systems for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions from an advanced combustion engine, such as the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) and the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from a diesel engine and an advanced combustion diesel engine are disclosed. More particularly, washcoat compositions are disclosed comprising at least two washcoat layers, a first washcoat comprising a palladium component and a second washcoat containing platinum and at least about 50% of the total platinum is located in the rear of the catalyst.
US08637416B2
There is provided a zeolite membrane which is thinner than a conventional membrane and which has improved permeability and a method for manufacturing the zeolite membrane. The method includes a surface layer forming step for forming a surface layer by attaching a low polar polymer on a first surface of a porous substrate to cover the surface, a filling step for filling a masking polymer into pores in the porous substrate from a surface different from the first surface of the porous substrate up to the surface layer by impregnating the porous substrate with the masking polymer and solidifying the masking polymer, and a surface layer removing step for removing the surface layer. After the surface layer removing step, a zeolite membrane is formed on the first surface of the porous substrate.
US08637413B2
A nonvolatile resistive memory element has a novel variable resistance layer that is passivated with non-metallic dopant atoms, such as nitrogen, either during or after deposition of the switching layer. The presence of the non-metallic dopant atoms in the variable resistance layer enables the switching layer to operate with reduced switching current while maintaining improved data retention properties.
US08637410B2
Methods for formation and treatment of pure metal layers using CVD and ALD techniques are provided. In one or more embodiments, the method includes forming a metal precursor layer and treating the metal precursor layer to a hydrogen plasma to reduce the metal precursor layer to form a metal layer. In one or more embodiments, treating the metal precursor layer includes exposing the metal precursor layer to a high frequency-generated hydrogen plasma. Methods of preventing a hydrogen plasma from penetrating a metal precursor layer are also provided.
US08637407B2
Methods of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a feature layer having a first region and a second region. The methods may also include forming a dual mask layer on the feature layer. The methods may further include forming a variable mask layer on the dual mask layer. The methods may additionally include forming a first structure on the feature layer in the first region and a second structure on the feature layer in the second region by patterning the variable mask layer and the dual mask layer. The methods may also include forming a first spacer on a sidewall of the first structure and a second spacer on a sidewall of the second structure. The methods may further include removing the first structure while maintaining at least a portion of the second structure.
US08637402B2
The conductive line structure of a semiconductor device including a base; at least one patterned conductive layer formed over the base; a conductive line formed over the at least one patterned conductive layer; a protection layer that encompasses the top surface and sidewall of the conductive line to prevent undercut generated by etching. The structure further comprises an underlying layer under the conductive line. The underlying layer includes Ni, Cu or Pt. The conductive line includes gold or copper. The at least one patterned conductive layer includes at least Ti/Cu. The protection layer includes electro-less plating Sn, Au, Ag or Ni.
US08637399B2
An etching composition for a copper-containing layer includes about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of ammonium persulfate, about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a sulfate, about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of an acetate and about 55% to about 99.79% by weight of water. The etching composition having improved stability during storage and an increased capacity for etching.
US08637385B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a high voltage durability transistor comprises forming a gate over a gate oxide layer formed over a substrate, aligning an exposure mask with the gate, and selectively blocking exposure of the gate during gate implant doping, by exposure shields formed in the exposure mask, thereby producing the high voltage durability transistor. In one embodiment, an exemplary high voltage durability transistor comprises a gate formed over a gate oxide layer, the gate oxide layer being situated over a semiconductor substrate, where the gate has a reduced doping implant due to selective implant blocking provided by exposure shields formed in an exposure mask. The selective implant blocking results in an enhanced dielectric barrier so as to produce a high voltage durability transistor. The enhanced dielectric barrier has a depletion region with an increased thickness.
US08637382B2
A method and system for cleaving a film of material utilizing thermal flux. The method includes providing a substrate having a face and an underlying cleave region including a prepared initiation region. Additionally, the method includes subjecting the initiation region to a first thermal flux to form a cleave front separating the cleave region of the substrate to a film portion and a bulk portion. The method further includes subjecting an area of the bulk portion substantially in the vicinity of the cleave front to a second thermal flux to cause a temperature difference above and below the cleave region for inducing a propagation of the cleave front expanding the film portion to the area at the expense of the bulk portion. Furthermore, the method includes determining a scan path for the second thermal flux based on the cleave front. Moreover, the method includes scanning the second thermal flux to follow the scan path to further propagate the cleave front.
US08637376B2
To reduce dent defects formed in interlayer CMP process on a capacitor array after forming an interlayer insulating film on the capacitor array thicker than the height of a capacitor, the interlayer insulating film on the capacitor array is subjected to a step height reduction etching to form an opening with etching depth Hd, while remaining a first region that is a distance Lr in a horizontal direction from a rising point of a projected portion of the interlayer insulating film periphery to the capacitor array onto a part of the capacitor array, wherein an aspect ratio (Hd/Lr) of the Hd to the Lr is equal to or less than 0.6.
US08637371B2
Non-planar Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) and methods for making non-planar MOSFETs with asymmetric, recessed source and drains having improved extrinsic resistance and fringing capacitance. The methods include a fin-last, replacement gate process to form the non-planar MOSFETs and employ a retrograde metal lift-off process to form the asymmetric source/drain recesses. The lift-off process creates one recess which is off-set from a gate structure while a second recess is aligned with the structure. Thus, source/drain asymmetry is achieved by the physical structure of the source/drains, and not merely by ion implantation. The resulting non-planar device has a first channel of a fin contacting a substantially undoped area on the drain side and a doped area on the source side, thus the first channel is asymmetric. A channel on atop surface of a fin is symmetric because it contacts doped areas on both the drain and source sides.
US08637370B2
A high voltage trench MOS and its integration with low voltage integrated circuits is provided. Embodiments include forming, in a substrate, a first trench with a first oxide layer on side surfaces, a narrower second trench, below the first trench with a second oxide layer on side and bottom surfaces, and spacers on sides of the first and second trenches; removing a portion of the second oxide layer from the bottom surface of the second trench between the spacers; filling the first and second trenches with a first poly-silicon to form a drain region; removing the spacers, exposing side surfaces of the first poly-silicon; forming a third oxide layer on side and top surfaces of the first poly-silicon; and filling a remainder of the first and second trenches with a second poly-silicon to form a gate region on each side of the drain region.
US08637355B2
Actuating a semiconductor device includes providing a transistor that includes a substrate and a first electrically conductive material layer, including a reentrant profile, positioned on the substrate. An electrically insulating material layer is conformally positioned over the first electrically conductive material layer and at least a portion of the substrate. A semiconductor material layer conforms to and is in contact with the electrically insulating material layer. A second electrically conductive material layer and third electrically conductive material layer are nonconformally positioned over and in contact with a first portion of the semiconductor material layer and a second portion of the semiconductor material layer, respectively. A voltage is applied between the second electrically conductive material layer and the third electrically conductive material layer and to the first electrically conductive material layer to electrically connect the second and the third electrically conductive material layers.
US08637339B2
An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an area that forms energy barriers of the desired height, a region associated with tailoring the boundary between semiconductor material and metal materials so that the junction does not tear apart, and a region associated with removing heat from the semiconductor.
US08637335B1
A semiconductor structure includes a photonic modulator and a field effect transistor on a same substrate. The photonic modulator includes a modulator semiconductor structure and a semiconductor contact structure employing a same semiconductor material as a gate electrode of a field effect transistor. The modulator semiconductor structure includes a lateral p-n junction, and the semiconductor contact structure includes another lateral p-n junction. To form this semiconductor structure, the modulator semiconductor structure in the shape of a waveguide and an active region of a field effect transistor region can be patterned in a semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the modulator semiconductor structure and the active region, and is subsequently removed from the modulator semiconductor structure. A semiconductor material layer is deposited, patterned, and doped with patterns to form a gate electrode for the field effect transistor and the semiconductor contact structure for the waveguide.
US08637324B2
The present invention relates to bead incubating and washing on a droplet actuator. Methods for incubating magnetically responsive beads that are labeled with primary antibody, a sample (i.e., analyte), and secondary reporter antibodies on a magnet, on and off a magnet, and completely off a magnet are provided. Also provided are methods for washing magnetically responsive beads using shape-assisted merging of droplets. Also provided are methods for shape-mediated splitting, transporting, and dispensing of a sample droplet that contains magnetically responsive beads. The apparatuses and methods of the invention provide for rapid time to result and optimum detection of an analyte in an immunoassay.
US08637321B2
The present invention has utilized the power of lipidomics to profile lipid metabolites and to characterize changes in lipid metabolism as they relate to CNS disorders. Lipidomic signatures can guide the development of diagnostic, prognostic and surrogate markers for CNS disorders; identification of new targets for drug design based on highlighted perturbed pathways; stratify patients with CNS disorders as to which pathways are impaired, and facilitate the determination of which patients with CNS disorders are candidates for a particular therapy, i.e. provide the tools for a personalized approach to therapy; identify which patients are responding or are developing side effects to a treatment; design of modified antipsychotics that have less metabolic side effects and enhanced activity; overcome the lag phase in response to some treatments; and find better combination therapies for CNS disorders that target the pathways that are impaired (e.g., impairments in lipid and/or carbohydrate metabolism).
US08637320B2
The present invention provides a method for determining at least one evaluation parameter of a blood sample, comprising the following steps: providing (S4) at least one blood gas parameter; providing (S5) at least one hemostasis parameter; and determining (S6 . . . S10″) the at least one evaluation parameter as a function of the blood gas parameter and/or the hemostasis parameter.
US08637318B2
A method for classifying particles according to one or more particle characteristics. The method includes operating multiple flow cytometer units to form separate fluid streams that each contain a mixture of particles and to classify particles in the mixtures by interrogating the streams with beams of electromagnetic radiation. A common processor receives and processes information from the units and sends a control signal in real time to adjust the unit's operation as a function of the information received by the common processor.
US08637313B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the production of viral vectors. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for faster, higher titer and higher purity production of viral vectors (e.g. adenoviral vectors). In some embodiments, the present invention provides gutted and helper viruses with identical or similar termini. In other embodiments, the present invention provides terminal protein linked adenoviral DNA. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides template extended adenoviral DNA.
US08637312B2
The present invention relates to an improved cell culture additive with a content of polyamines and iron, media containing it and processes for using it for an improved cell growth, cell viability or cellular productivity.
US08637311B2
This disclosure provides an improved system for culturing human pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a layer of feeder cells (such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts) to prevent them from differentiating. In the system described here, the role of feeder cells is replaced by components added to the culture environment that support rapid proliferation without differentiation. Effective features are a suitable support structure for the cells, and an effective medium that can be added fresh to the culture without being preconditioned by another cell type. Culturing human embryonic stem cells in fresh medium according to this invention causes the cells to expand surprisingly rapidly, while retaining the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three embryonic germ layers. This new culture system allows for bulk proliferation of pPS cells for commercial production of important products for use in drug screening and human therapy.
US08637298B2
Described are engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing an oil comprising greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, measured as a weight percent of total fatty acids [“% TFAs”] and having a ratio of at least 3.1 of EPA % TFAs, to linoleic acid, measured as % TFAs. These strains over-express at least one Δ9 elongase/Δ8 desaturase multizyme, in addition to other heterologous Δ9 elongases, Δ8 desaturases, Δ5 desaturases, Δ17 desaturases, Δ12 desaturases, C16/18 elongases, and optionally over-express diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferases, malonyl CoA synthetases and/or acyl-CoA lysophospholipid acyltransferases. The expression of at least one peroxisome biogenesis factor protein is down-regulated. Methods for producing EPA within said host cells, oils obtained from the cells, and products therefrom are claimed.
US08637294B2
Described herein are variants of H. jecorina CBH I, a Cel7 enzyme. The present invention provides novel cellobiohydrolases that have improved thermostability and reversibility.
US08637289B2
The invention relates to a recombinant host cell having (a) a modification in an endogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having dual-role hexokinase activity; (b) a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having hexose kinase activity; and optionally (c) a modification in an endogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having pyruvate decarboxylase activity. Additionally, the invention relates to methods of making and using such recombinant host cells including, for example, methods of increasing glucose consumption, methods of improving redox balance, and/or methods of increasing the production of a product of a pyruvate-utilizing pathway.
US08637287B2
The present invention generally relates to materials and methods for exploiting glycosyltransferase reversibility for nucleotide diphosphate (NDP) sugar synthesis. The present invention provides engineered glycosyltransferase enzymes characterized by improved reaction reversibility and expanded sugar donor specificity as compared to corresponding non-mutated glycosyltransferase enzymes. Such reagents provide advantageous routes to NDP sugars for subsequent use in a variety of biomedical applications, including enzymatic and chemoenzymatic glycorandomization.
US08637277B2
The present invention provides is a method for producing 3-mercaptopropionic acid from 3-mercaptopropionamide or a salt thereof with the use of an amidase. The method enables the production of 3-mercaptopropionic acid on an industrial scale through an enzymatic reaction.
US08637265B2
Elevated levels of cathepsin E (catE) are demonstrated to be diagnostic of intestinal forms of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. Elevated levels of cathepsin E (catE, monomeric forms) are demonstrated to be detectable in the urine of animals having colorectal cancer, and a diagnostic/screening method for identifying and/or detecting colorectal cancer in an animal from a urine sample is provided. Specific tissue immunohistochemcial staining for catE (monomeric forms) in dysplastic tissue is also disclosed, and is shown to correlate with the level of dysplastic lesion severity. Hence, a method for identifying and determining the level of dysplastic lesion severity is provided. Cathepsin E mRNA transcription and expression levels are also demonstrated to be upregulated in dysplastic tissue, relative to non-dysplastic tissue. Hence, a method for transcriptionally profiling an animal to monitor the progression of colorectal disease is provided.
US08637256B2
The invention relates to an immunodiagnostic method for determining the release of neurotensin into the circulation of mammals based on the selective determination of an immunoreactivity of the N-terminal portion of a mammal proneurotensin (PNT immunoreactivity) in a serum or plasma sample of a mammal; this immunoreactivity is not neurotensin or neuromedin immunoreactivity.
US08637252B2
This invention relates, in part, to methods and compositions for determining altered susceptibility of a human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) to the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (“NNRTIs”) efavirenz (“EFV”), nevirapine (“NVP”), and delavirdine (“DLV”), the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor AZT, and the integrase strand transfer inhibitors diketo acid 1, diketo acid 2, and L-870,810 by detecting the presence of a mutation or combinations of mutations in the gene encoding HIV reverse transcriptase that are associated with altered susceptibility to the anti-HIV drugs.
US08637246B2
The present invention relates to methods, compositions and kits concerning resistance to treatment with an anti-cancer agent, specifically an inhibitor of BRAF. In particular embodiments, the invention concerns mutations in a BRAF sequence that confer resistance to a BRAF inhibitor. Identification of such mutations in a BRAF sequence allows the identification and design of second-generation BRAF inhibitors. Methods and kits for detecting the presence of a mutant BRAF sequence in a sample are also provided.
US08637237B2
Ecdysteroid action in Drosophila melanogaster and other insects is mediated by the dimerization of two nuclear receptors, the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and Ultraspiracle (USP), which regulate the transcription of target genes. Disclosed are nucleic acid constructs to identify insecticides having the ability to modify insect development and growth in a developmental stage-specific and/or species-specific manner.
US08637235B2
The present invention concerns the V617F variant of the protein-tyrosine kinase JAK2, said variant being responsible for Vaquez Polyglobulia. The invention also relates to a first intention diagnostic method for erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis allowing their association with myeloproliferative disorders, or to the detection of the JAK2 V617F variant in myeloproliferative disorders allowing their reclassification in a new nosological group.
US08637230B2
The current invention provides a new organ preservation solution, suitable for machine perfusion, for maintaining viability of organs, parts of organs and tissues. This solution has been designed to overcome a number of problems associated with hypothermic machine perfusion of donor organs, in particular organs obtained from non-heart-beating donors. The solution prevents or minimizes the adverse affects caused by ischemia, hypoxia, energy and nutrient depletion, acidification, hypothermia and reperfusion injury. The preservation solutions according to the current invention are superior to current state of the art preservation solutions, in particular for preservation and perfusion of organs obtained from non-heart-bearing donors, by supplying increased concentrations and an optimized balance of amino acids, vitamins, anti-oxidants, high molecular weight additives and enhanced buffering capacity. In addition, the preservation solution according to the invention combines optimal physical and chemical properties with the use of readily available, inexpensive and pharmaceutically tested and acceptable compounds, reducing the cost of manufacturing and facilitating medical certification of solutions according to the current invention.
US08637215B2
The present invention provides a colored curable composition including a phthalocyanine pigment, a dioxazine pigment, a dye, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound and a solvent; and a colored curable composition including a phthalocyanine pigment, a dye multimer having a polymerizable group and a group derived from a dipyrromethene dye, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound and a solvent.
US08637212B2
A first reticle set designed for manufacturing dies with a limited number of cores is modified into a second reticle set suitable for manufacturing at least some dies with at least twice as many cores. The first reticle set defines scribe lines to separate the originally defined dies. At least one scribe line is removed from pairs of adjacent but originally distinctly defined dies. Inter-core communication wires are defined to connect the adjacent cores, which are configured to enable the adjacent cores to communicate during operation without connecting to any physical input/output landing pads of the resulting more numerously cored die, which will not carry signals through the inter-core communication wires off the P-core die. The inter-core communication wires may be used for power management coordination purposes or to bypass the external processor bus.
US08637209B2
Novel cathode, electrolyte and oxygen separation materials are disclosed that operate at intermediate temperatures for use in solid oxide fuel cells and ion transport membranes based on oxides with perovskite related structures and an ordered arrangement of A site cations. The materials have significantly faster oxygen kinetics than in corresponding disordered perovskites.
US08637204B2
In a solid polymer electrolyte membrane [film] type fuel cell of the invention, where a pair of electrodes are provided on opposite sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane [film], and the outside thereof is clamped by a pair of separators, and nonconductive picture frame-shaped members 61 are arranged at the outer edge portions of the separators, for allowing increase and decrease of a space between separators, while sealing a gap between the separators.
US08637191B2
The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery. The present invention provides the lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode includes a water-dispersible binder and a conduction agent. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution includes fluoroethylenecarbonate (FEC). The batteries of the present invention are advantageous in that they have a high efficiency charging lifespan characteristic and enable high capacity charging in a short time.
US08637190B2
A battery unit includes a battery assembly. The battery assembly includes a glass ceramic and a positive-side active material constituting a first composite layer, a glass ceramic and a negative-side active material constituting a second composite layer, and a solid-state electrolyte layer located between the first composite layer and the second composite layer. The battery unit also includes a case in which the battery unit is stored, a load sensor provided on the case, and a clamp member clamping the case and the load sensor.
US08637189B2
An electrode sheet includes a sheet of metal foil, at least one region coated with at least one active material layer subjected to working by rolling, the at least one coated region being provided in at least one central portion of the sheet of metal foil, at least one region uncoated with the at least one active material layer, the at least one uncoated region being provided in at least one edge portion of the sheet of metal foil, and at least one region subjected to working by drawing, the at least one drawn region being provided in at least a portion of the at least one uncoated region.
US08637187B2
A negative-electrode material is provided that can be produced at a low cost and yields a lithium secondary battery with an excellent balance of various battery characteristics even when used in high electrode densities.It has a graphite powder with a tap density of 0.80 g/cm3 or higher and 1.35 g/cm3 or lower, an amount of surface functional groups, O/C value, of 0 or larger and 0.01 or smaller, a BET specific surface area of 2.5 m2/g or larger and 70 m2/g or smaller, a Raman R value of 0.02 or larger and 0.05 or smaller.
US08637183B2
An expander formulation used in battery paste compositions. The expander formulation incorporates effective amounts, or elevated concentrations of up to 6% of graphite and mixtures of carbon black and graphite to lessen or minimize the accumulation of lead sulfate on the surface of the negative plate during high rate PSOC battery operation, and/or to increase the electrochemical efficiency, the reserve capacity, the cold cranking performance and the cycle life of lead-acid batteries.
US08637177B2
The electrochemical device of the present invention comprises a positive electrode (2), a negative electrode (1), a nonaqueous electrolyte and a separator (3). The separator (3) includes a porous layer (I) composed of a microporous film composed predominantly of a thermoplastic resin and a porous layer (II) containing a filler having a heat-resistant temperature of 150° C. or higher as the main component. The negative electrode (1) contains graphite having an R value of 0.1 to 0.5 and d002 of 0.338 nm or less as a negative electrode active material, where the R value is a ratio of a peak intensity at 1360 cm−1 to a peak intensity at 1580 cm−1 in an argon ion laser Raman spectrum and the d002 is a lattice spacing between 002 planes. The ratio of the graphite to the negative electrode active material is 30 mass % or more, and the nonaqueous electrolyte contains vinyl ethylene carbonate or a derivative thereof, or a dinitrile compound or acid anhydride.
US08637170B2
A magnetic sensor comprises a support; a nonmagnetic conductive layer disposed on the support; a fixed magnetization layer disposed on a first part of the nonmagnetic conductive layer and on the support; a free magnetization layer disposed on a second part of the nonmagnetic conductive layer different from the first part and on the support; and a nonmagnetic low resistance layer, disposed on a part overlapping the nonmagnetic conductive layer in at least one of the fixed magnetization layer and free magnetization layer, having an electrical resistivity lower than that of the one layer.
US08637165B2
A corrosion-resistant electrical connector is disclosed. A multi-layer nickel underplating is applied to the substrate material of the connector contacts. The three layers of nickel include a leveling nickel layer, a sulfumate nickel layer, and a high-phosphorous nickel layer. A layer of gold is applied to the nickel underplating in an embodiment.
US08637162B2
A method and class of bond coat is provided that physically and chemically bonds solid layer lubricants and other functional coatings to a substrate by burnishing, for example, selected soft materials, including oxides such as antimony trioxide, against the substrate. The new method and bond coat is a major improvement over conventional bonding or coating methods. The process is non-vacuum at ambient temperatures, requiring no binders, adhesives, curing or baking. Lubricant performance can be enhanced by orders of magnitude compared to when the bond coat and burnishing process are not applied. The method is inexpensive, environmentally friendly, applicable to any substrate material, and scalable.
US08637160B2
Described are aqueous polymer dispersions and methods of making them. The polymer dispersions are obtainable by free-radically initiated emulsion polymerization of 19.9 to 80 parts by weight of vinylaromatic compounds, 19.9 to 80 parts by weight of acrylate monomers selected from C1-C10 alkyl acrylates and C1-C10 alkyl methacrylates, 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of ethylenically unsaturated acids, and 0 to 20 parts by weight of other ethylenically unsaturated monomers, wherein the emulsion polymerization is effected in an aqueous medium in the presence of free-radical initiators, seed latex and also at least one carbohydrate compound in the form of a degraded starch. The polymer dispersions are particularly useful in the manufacture of paper coating slips.
US08637159B2
Graft compositions, useful for tie-layer adhesives, are disclosed. The graft compositions comprise the reaction product of a live, grafted polyolefin and an olefin elastomer. The grafted polyolefin is first made by heating a polyolefin and an unsaturated monomer. Further reaction of the live, grafted polyolefin with an olefin elastomer provides the graft composition. Grafting efficiency is boosted dramatically by the presence of the olefin elastomer and use of the additional reaction step. The graft composition, when formulated into a tie-layer adhesive at low concentration, affords multilayer structures with good adhesion and high clarity.
US08637152B2
Disclosed is a packaging material, wherein a barrier layer, an adhesive layer and a sealant layer are laminated in this order, and the adhesive layer includes an acid-modified polyolefin resin that contains a (meth)acrylic acid ester component. The packaging material is preferably produced by forming on the barrier layer the adhesive layer including the acid-modified polyolefin resin that contains a (meth)acrylic acid ester component, and by subsequently laminating a molten sealant resin on the adhesive layer by extrusion lamination.
US08637144B2
A process for the polymerization of a true tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer of the fine powder type is provided, wherein the copolymer contains polymerized comonomer units of at least one comonomer other than TFE in concentrations of at least or exceeding 1.0 weight percent, and which can exceed 5.0 weight percent, wherein the copolymer is expandable, that is, the copolymer may be expanded to produce strong, useful, expanded TFE copolymeric articles having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils.
US08637142B2
A coated article comprises a substrate; a bonding layer deposited on the substrate; and a composite layer deposited on the bonding layer. The composite layer includes an equal number of alternating chromium-nitride layers and aluminum-nitride layers.
US08637137B2
Microstructures and methods of fabricating microstructures are disclosed. One exemplary microstructure, among others, includes a substrate, an overcoat layer disposed upon the substrate, an air-region within at least a portion of the overcoat layer, and a framing material layer engaging at least a portion of the air-region on the inside of the framing material layer and engaging the overcoat layer on the outside of the framing material layer.
US08637136B2
Articles enabled by an injection molding process that molds parts on a carrier web located between mold halves and uses ultrasonic energy to assist flow of polymer melt into the mold cavity. One such article is a carrier web having a high density of molded parts, i.e., bearing an array of molded articles adhered to the web in rows and columns, the articles being spaced closer (center-to-center or edge-to-edge) than the diagonal spacing between articles in the next adjacent row and next adjacent column. Another such article is a microneedle array on a land no more than 250 μm thick on which at least 60% of the microneedles across the array are filled (i.e., completely formed).
US08637132B2
High radiopacity is achieved in a polymeric marker by combining a polymeric resin, a powdered radiopaque agent having uniformly shaped particles of a specific particle size distribution and a wetting agent. The method to produce the marker calls for the blending and pelletization of these materials followed by extrusion onto support beading. The resulting supported tubing is subsequently cut to length with the beading still in place. After ejection of the beading remnant the marker is slipped into place on the device to be marked and attached by melt bonding. Marking of a guidewire allows lesions to be measured while the marking of balloon catheters allow the balloon to be properly positioned relative to a lesion.
US08637131B1
Articles useful in the food packaging, food service, and healthcare industries are formed from a composition prepared by melt blending specific amounts of a poly(phenylene ether), a radial block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene, a polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene)-polystyrene triblock copolymer, a hydrogenated terpene resin, and benzoin. The composition provides optical clarity, heat resistance, and impact resistance to the articles.
US08637130B2
A molded part that is formed from a thermoplastic composition that contains a polylactic acid, propylene/α-olefin copolymer, and a polyolefin compatibilizer is provided. The propylene/α-olefin copolymer can be dispersed as discrete physical domains within a continuous matrix of the polylactic acid. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the discrete domains can help resist the expansion of the composition during a molding operation, which minimizes the degree of expansion experienced by the composition during molding in comparison to conventional polylactic acid compositions.
US08637128B2
A package for holding fluid material suitable for preserving a dental implant is disclosed. The package has a capsule and a cap. The capsule is formed exclusively of cyclic olefin copolymer with an impermeability to moisture of less than 5% fluid loss per year and the cap is formed of low density polyethylene.
US08637123B2
A method of radical-enhanced atomic layer deposition (REALD) involves alternating exposure of a substrate to a first precursor gas and to radicals, such as monatomic oxygen radicals (O.), generated from an oxygen-containing second precursor gas, while maintaining spatial or temporal separation of the radicals and the first precursor gas. Simplified reactor designs and process control are possible when the first and second precursor gases are nonreactive under normal processing conditions and can therefore be allowed to mix after the radicals recombine or otherwise abate. In some embodiments, the second precursor gas is an oxygen-containing compound, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrous oxide (N2O) for example, or a mixture of such oxygen-containing compounds, and does not contain significant amounts of normal oxygen (O2).
US08637109B2
The disclosure relates to a method for coating a target. The method includes providing a target and an electrospinning apparatus. The target comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface. The electrospinning apparatus comprises a mandrel, a mask including an aperture, a reservoir loaded with a solution, and an orifice fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The mandrel is located adjacent the target second surface. The orifice is located at a distance from the target first surface. The mask is located intermediate the orifice and the target first surface. The solution is electrospun through the mask aperture onto the target first surface. In one example the target is an endoluminal prosthesis.
US08637108B2
Compositions and methods for the treatment of asthma may be prepared by drilling a hole in a coconut, adding about 1/4 pound of brown sugar (piloncillo) to an inside of the coconut, plugging the hole, wrapping the coconut in plastic, and allowing the coconut water and its contents to ferment 12 inches underground for 40 days. The resulting composition may have anti-inflammatory properties that can treat inflammation and asthma in users.
US08637105B2
The invention provides batter-like compositions including flour or flour replacement ingredient, sweetener, a fat source, a chemical leavening system, and a setting agent. The resulting batter-like compositions are capable of being formed into discrete product pieces (such as pucks), and maintaining the discrete product form throughout storage and handling of the batter-like composition prior to baking. The invention further provides methods of preparing batter-like compositions having a discrete form, and methods of using such batter-like compositions to provide baked goods.
US08637096B2
A new treatment for individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes. The formulation used in the treatment includes a mixture of a thiazoleineione, an insulin, cinnamon bark extract, and at least one synergistic supplement selected from the group consisting of blueberry leaf extract, cranberry extract, kelp extract, sugar sea beet extract, acerola berry extract; ginger root extract, black cherry extract, green tea extract, Irish moss extract, aloe vera extract, and Stevia leaf extract. The thiazoleineione is preferably pioglitazone. The insulin is preferably an Insulin Aspart of rDNA origin. It is preferred that the cinnamon bark extract and synergistic supplement be in the form of a liquid concentrate.
US08637095B2
An alopecia prevention composition consists of 0.1˜3 weight % of salicylic acid, 0.1˜5 weight % of tocopherol acetate, 0.1˜3 weight % of nicotinic acid amide, 0.1˜1 weight % of polyvinylpyrrolidone, 8˜12 weight % of ethanol, 0.3˜0.5 weight % of polyoxyethylene hydrogenerated castor oil, 0.2˜0.4 weight % of Sophora Angustifolia root extract, 0.2˜0.4 weight % of peony root extract and a residual quantity of purified water.
US08637089B2
The present invention provides wood preservative compositions comprising micronized particles. In one embodiment, the composition comprises dispersions of micronized metal or metal compounds. In another embodiment, the wood preservative composition comprises an inorganic biocide comprising a metal or metal compound and organic biocide. When the composition comprises an inorganic biocide and an organic biocide, the inorganic biocide or the organic biocide or both are present as micronized particles. When compositions of the present invention are used for preservation of wood, there is minimal leaching of the metal and biocide from the wood.
US08637087B2
The present invention relates to non-psychoactive derivatives of tetrahydrocannabinol, which are useful in treating interstitial cystitis and relieving symptoms thereof. The invention uses (6aR,10aR)-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol-11-oic acids (hereinafter referred to as (6aR,10aR)-Δ8-THC-11-oic acid), as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the (6aR,10aR)-Δ8-THC-11-oic acids, for treatment of interstitial cystitis in a mammal. The invention further covers methods of formulating and administering the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions as therapeutic agents in the treatment of interstitial cystitis, with particularly preferred administration routes being oral and via intravesicular instillation.
US08637086B2
There is provided a skin rejuvenation composition which comprises at least one oxidant, at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant, and at least one healing factor chosen from hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and allantoin, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08637076B2
The present invention relates to tablets containing prednisolone salts and in particular prednisolone sodium phosphates. The dosage forms include ODTs and non-ODTs, effervescent tablets and noneffervescent tablets and tablets meeting certain performance criteria.
US08637075B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising colostrum and at least one agent selected from the group of hydrocolloids, wherein said colostrum and at least one agent are bioconjugated. The bioconjugated composition has improved properties compared to colstrum compositions that are not bioconjugated with a hydrocolloid agent. The composition may be used in a variety of settings, for example for topical application for treating skin diseases and skin conditions. The present invention thus also relates to use of the composition and to a method for the preparation of the composition.
US08637074B2
This invention is for an improved process to co-encapsulate hydrophobic drugs and hydrophilic drugs in phospholipid liposomes. Non-toxic supercritical or near-critical fluids with/without polar cosolvents are utilized to solubilize phospholipid materials and hydrophobic drugs, and form uniform liposomes to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs and hydrophilic drugs.
US08637063B2
The invention provides methods of making hydrolyzed cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels by polymerizing vinyl acetate (VAc) monomers to polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) polymer network by chemical-crosslinking and hydrolysis. The invention also provides methods for including pendant chains in the hydrogel during the polymerization process. Materials produced and use of the cross-linked hydrolyzed PVA hydrogels also are disclosed herein.
US08637057B2
Disclosed are cosmetic compositions in the form of an emulsion that contain an uncoated silicone elastomer, a solvent for the elastomer, a non-silicone treated pigment and an emulsifier, methods of making the compositions, and methods of applying the compositions to a keratinous substrate or tissue.
US08637056B2
Mixture comprising esters of saturated C16-C18 fatty acid and unsaturated C16-C18 fatty acids with 2-ethyl-hexyl alcohol, said esters being in an amount ranging from 90% to 100% by weight with respect to the total weight of the mixture. The cosmetic compositions containing such a mixture formulated in topical form have a moisturizing, emollient, elasticizing and skin compactness and smoothness improving action.
US08637050B2
This invention, in one aspect, relates to synthetic immunoreactive peptides. These peptides are approximately 20-25 amino acids in length which are portions of the N termini of the M proteins of the most prevalent United States (U.S.) Group A Streptococcus (GAS) serotypes. At least some of the synthetic peptides can be recognized by M type-specific antibodies and are capable of eliciting functional opsonic antibodies and/or anti-attachment antibodies without eliciting tissue cross-reactive antibodies. In another aspect, it relates to compositions or vaccines comprising these synthetic serotype-specific peptides, including polypeptides and proteins. The invention may also be isolated antibodies which are raised in response to the peptides, compositions or vaccines. The invention further relates to kits for using the peptides, compositions, or antibodies. In still further aspects, the invention also relates to methods for using the peptides, compositions, vaccines, or antibodies and methods for tailoring vaccines.
US08637047B2
The present invention provides a composition and an improved single dose vaccine against E. rhusiopathiae and an improved single dose vaccine against E. rhusiopathiae and H. parasuis which provides one or more of the following: 1) confers effective immunity against E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis; 2) decreases the risk of developing clinical signs of E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis infection; 3) induces an immune response against E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis; and 4) has a DOI against E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis of at least four months. The composition or E. rhusiopathiae vaccine as well as the combined E. rhusiopathiae-H. parasuis composition or vaccine each includes a bacterial component of inactivated E. rhusiopathiae bacteria and a suitable adjuvant. The combined E. rhusiopathiae-H. parasuis composition or vaccine further includes an amount of H. parasuis antigen. The vaccines can be administered to animals in any conventional manner. The amount of the dose for intramuscular administration is preferably less than 5 ml. The amount of E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis antigen in each dose should be enough to induce an immune response in the animal receiving the vaccine or composition and will preferably confer effective immunity against and decrease the risk of developing clinical signs resulting from E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis infection for a suitable duration of immunity.
US08637036B2
Monoclonal neutralizing antibodies are disclosed that specifically bind to the CD4 binding site of HIV-1 gp120. Monoclonal neutralizing antibodies also are disclosed that specifically bind to HIV-1 gp41. The identification of these antibodies, and the use of these antibodies are also disclosed. Methods are also provided for enhancing the binding and neutralizing activity of any antibody using epitope scaffold probes.
US08637031B2
Methods are disclosed for treating osteoarthritis in a human subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-human NGF antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein at least one symptom associated with osteoarthritis is prevented, ameliorated or improved.
US08637029B2
Disclosed are methods for the treatment and/or prevention of gout, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of anti-IL-1β antibody or fragment thereof.
US08637028B2
The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response in T cells and/or in B cells. The invention provides nanocarriers that comprise an immunofeature surface and an immunostimulatory moiety. In some embodiments, the immunostimulatory moiety is an adjuvant. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising inventive nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using inventive nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US08637012B2
The invention relates to the identification of genetic products expressed in association with tumors and to coding nucleic acids for the expressed products. An embodiment of the invention also relates to the therapy and diagnosis of disease in which the genetic products are aberrantly expressed in association with tumors, proteins, polypeptides and peptides which are expressed in association with tumors, and to the nucleic acids coding for the polypeptides, peptides and proteins.
US08637006B2
The present invention relates to fusion molecules of antigens, the nucleic acids coding therefor and the use of such fusion molecules and nucleic acids. In particular, said invention relates to fusion molecules, comprising an antigen and the trans-membrane region and cytoplasmic region of a MHC molecule and/or the cytoplasmic region of a MHC or a SNARE molecule.
US08636999B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for stable plasmid maintenance and protein expression in bacteria. Further provided are compositions and methods for promoting competence in bacteria that are otherwise not transformable.
US08636995B2
A device for altering the expression or activation of adhesion molecules on cells including endothelial cells, as well as methods for altering the expression or activation of adhesion molecules on cells including endothelial cells, are provided.
US08636993B2
Water-in-oil emulsions, compositions, and methods that include a vinyl polymer having a pKa of less than 4 that includes anionic group-containing side chains and alkyl-Y-containing side chains, wherein Y is O or NR, wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, and wherein the alkyl group of the alkyl-Y-containing side chain has at least 4 carbon atoms on average in a cyclic, branched-, or straight-chain configuration and optionally including one or more heteroatoms.
US08636984B2
The present invention is antibiotic compositions, ventilator-based systems and methods relating to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and ventilator-associated tracheal (VAT) bronchitis. Antibiotic combinations of fosfomycin and an aminoglycoside, preferably amikacin, are administered via an inline nebulizer within the airway of the ventilator. Humidified conditions create an improved aerosol mist to treat VAP and VAT.
US08636975B2
A method and a device for generating of hydrogen are provided with which an instantaneous release of hydrogen in considerable amounts is possible. The method comprises a one or two step mixing including injecting the fuel and an activator fluid into a reaction chamber. The device is adapted to be operated with such a method. Further, a fuel suitable for the use with such a method is provided, the fuel being based on a dry metal hydride or a dry metal borohydride being dispersed in a non-aqueous dispersion medium. Moreover, a method for (re-) fuelling the hydrogen generating device at a service station and a method for supplying a service station with fuel are provided.
US08636974B2
It is an object to provide a method for producing titanium dioxide superfine particles, which produces monodispersed titanium dioxide superfine particles depending on its purpose, causes no clogging with a product due to self-dischargeability, requires no great pressure, and is excellent in productivity. In the method for producing titanium dioxide superfine particles in a fluid containing a titanium compound by separation, the fluid is formed into a thin film fluid between two processing surfaces arranged so as to be able to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other, and the titanium dioxide superfine particles are separated in the thin film fluid.
US08636969B2
A method is provided for forming a zeolitic imidazolate framework composition using at least one reactant that is relatively insoluble in the reaction medium. Also provided herein is a material made according to the method, designated either as EMM-19 or as EMM-19*, and a method of using same to adsorb and/or separate gases, such as carbon dioxide.
US08636966B2
Compositions are provided that include nuclear fuel. Methods for treating nuclear fuel are provided which can include exposing the fuel to a carbonate-peroxide solution. Methods can also include exposing the fuel to an ammonium solution. Methods for acquiring molybdenum from a uranium comprising material are provided.
US08636954B2
The present invention relates to calibration slides for fluorescence detection instruments and processing method of making them. The aim of this invention is to disclose calibration slides with high photostability and long lifetime for fluorescence detection instruments. The calibration slides are fabricated by patterning calibration spot arrays of modified inorganic phosphors on the glass slide. The process for producing a calibration slide comprises the following procedure: 1) Dispersing the inorganic phosphors of rare-earth doped complex in water; 2) Patterning the array of the above suspension on the glass slide. The calibration slides in the present invention employ a very stable fluorescing material that is insensitive to photobleaching, has long lifetime and stability under mild storage condition. The calibration slides in the present invention can be used to calibrate and test for some fluorescence instruments, i.e. microarray scanner, fluorescent microscopy, fluorescence spectrometer, fluorescent multiwell-plate reader.
US08636951B2
A process and a system using a disinfecting atmosphere for deactivating Bacillus bacteria and its spores, such as Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and C Botulinum and its spores, commonly proposed as bioterrorism threats, are described. Said disinfecting atmosphere includes ozone at a concentration of 2-350 ppm by weight and hydrogen peroxide at an amount of 0.2-10 weight percent at a relative humidity of at least 60%.
US08636946B1
Thermal protective layer on metallic and/or ceramic substrate surfaces within/on an outer cover, an inner cover, a base/door, and/or a support member within a bell annealing furnace has from about 5% to about 30% of an inorganic adhesive, from about 45% to about 92% of a filler and from about 1% to about 20% of one or more emissivity agents, or from about 5% to about 35% of colloidal silica, colloidal alumina, or combinations thereof, from about 23% to about 79% of a filler, and from about 1% to about 20% of one or more emissivity agents.
US08636940B2
In a method for manufacturing a filter end disc (7), for example for a fluid filter (14) of a motor vehicle, a first plastic molding material (M1) and a second plastic molding material (M2) are injected in succession into a tool mold (1) in a monosandwich method or co-injection method in such a way that the second plastic molding material (M2) is substantially surrounded by the first plastic molding material (M1). To manufacture a fluid filter, the filter end disc (7) is further irradiated by a radiation beam (L) having pre-determined beam characteristics for melting the first plastic molding material (M1), and a filter material (15) is applied to the at least partially melted first plastic molding material (M1). A filter end disc (7), in particular for a fluid filter (14) of a motor vehicle, said disc being manufactured according to a monosandwich method or co-injection method, comprises a first outer plastic molding material (M1) and a second inner plastic molding material (M2). In the process, the second plastic molding material (M2) is surrounded by the first plastic molding material (M1) and the first plastic molding material (M1) is impermeable to water and/or water vapor.
US08636938B2
The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.
US08636932B2
The present invention relates to a process for the wet production of granules from powdered materials, in particular raw materials for the production of glass. The process of the invention comprises the following successive steps: (i) the powdered materials to be granulated are divided into at least two portions: a first portion and a second portion; (ii) a binder liquid is added to the first portion of powdered materials; (iii) the first mixture thus obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (a); (iv) the second portion of powdered materials is added to the granulator; and (v) the new mixture obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (b). This sequenced granulation process allows granules to be obtained that have a degree of moisture that assures their stability and their ease of handling eliminating the drying step.
US08636924B2
An anisotropic conductive adhesive includes an epoxy adhesive containing an epoxy compound and a curing agent and conducive particles dispersed in the epoxy adhesive. When elastic moduluses at 35° C., 55° C., 95° C., and 150° C. of a cured product of the anisotropic conductive adhesive are denoted by EM35, EM55, EM95, and EM150, respectively, and change rates in the elastic modulus between 55° C. and 95° C. and between 95° C. and 150° C. are denoted by ΔEM55-95 and ΔEM95-150, respectively, the following expressions (1) to (5) are satisfied. 700Mpa≦EM35≦3000MPa (1) EM150
US08636919B1
Material and methods are disclosed involving the generation and containment of solutions incorporating reactive precursors and reactive treatment agents. Formulations of these materials can be applied widely as disinfectants, odor control agents, decontamination and fumigation agents, liquid, gas, and air treatment materials, respiratory agents, food and beverage processing agents, neutralization agents, and in many industrial, residential, medical and military surface treatment operations.
US08636912B1
A method of forming a device is provided. A substrate having a component is provided and a sacrificial layer is formed over the component. The sacrificial layer includes a cavity portion disposed about the component and a tunnel portion adjacent to the cavity portion. In addition, an encapsulation layer having a cover portion and a perimeter portion is formed over the sacrificial layer. The cover portion encapsulates the cavity portion such that the cavity portion forms a cavity within the cover portion. The perimeter portion is disposed over the tunnel portion. Moreover, an access hole is formed in the perimeter portion of the encapsulation layer.
US08636911B2
Two methods of fabricating a MEMS scanning mirror having a tunable resonance frequency are described. The resonance frequency of the mirror is set to a particular value by mass removal from the backside of the mirror during fabrication.
US08636910B2
A system and method are provided in at least one embodiment to filter water through a vortex leading into a disk-pack turbine having an expansion chamber and outlets into a discharge chamber that leads to at least one discharge port. In a further embodiment, the system includes an intake module, a vortex module, a disk-pack turbine module, and a motor for driving the disk-pack turbine. The intake module brings water into the system and routes the water to the vortex module that speeds up the water into a vortex that flows into the disk-pack turbine that discharges into a discharge chamber that leads to at least one discharge port. The disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks that are spaced apart forming chambers between the disks that provide at least one passageway between the expansion chamber and the discharge chamber.
US08636904B2
A hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module unit, and a water treatment method. The module or the module unit enable the efficient contact of microorganisms on the surface of a membrane with a gas. The module and the unit have excellent durability. The hollow fiber membrane module is formed so that the end parts of sheet-form hollow fiber membranes are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and the end face of the anchoring member on a side where the hollow fiber membranes open is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow fiber membrane module unit is formed in such a manner that a plurality of modules is disposed. The water treatment method is used to purify treated water with the microorganisms adhered onto the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes by using the module or the unit.
US08636903B2
A hydraulic filter includes a canister extending along the longitudinal axis. A closed end cap is at one end of the canister for closing one end thereof. A removable filter element is contained within the canister and a modular one-piece input end cap is at an end of the canister. The one-piece input end cap includes a hydraulic input chamber and a hydraulic output chamber which can be positioned in any one of three mutually perpendicular directions. The one-piece input end cap also allows for sensors to be positioned in any one of three mutually perpendicular directions. In addition, the one-piece input end cap can be utilized in base-ported or top-ported configurations while also allowing for side-to-side or side-to-end configurations.
US08636902B2
The invention relates to an oil filter arrangement having a housing comprising a receiving space for a filter element, wherein a discharge opening is provided at the bottom of the receiving space and a discharge valve is provided in the discharge opening wherein the discharge valve comprises a valve body, which is movable between a closing position and an opening position in a displaceable manner and is moved to the locking position by a first spring element when the filter element is inserted, wherein the first spring element is disposed on the valve body on the side of the valve body facing away from the discharge opening and is configured as a compound spring having a flat, bent metal band. The metal band acts against the filter element or against an end disk of the filter element when the filter element is inserted.
US08636891B2
A coated article includes a substrate, and a coating deposited on the substrate by magnetron sputtering. The coating includes micropores, and each micropore is sealed by a sealing element.
US08636888B2
Disclosed is a process for the reduction of the electrical conductivity of a product mixture containing the oil and water phases resulting from the conversion of biomass to liquid products, including the at least partial breaking of any oil/water emulsion, which aids in the separation of the oil and water phases.
US08636883B2
A remotely readable hydrogen detector is in the form of a tag or card that can be worn on clothing or mounted on a variety of surfaces and can be monitored from a distance for the presence of hydrogen gas. It includes a hydrogen sensor device, which changes in electrical resistivity in response to being exposed to hydrogen gas, that is incorporated into an electric detector circuit, which detects changes in resistivity of the sensor device, and, when such change in resistivity indicates the presence of some predetermined concentration of hydrogen gas, the electric circuit outputs a signal or state that indicates the presence of hydrogen to a transceiver circuit, which can transmit that information to a remote receiver or interrogator/reader via an antenna in the sensor device.
US08636875B2
A process is disclosed for the production of paper with enhanced dry strength comprising adding to the wet end of a paper machine, (a) a glyoxalated acrylamide-containing polymer and (b) a cationic aqueous dispersion polymer. Guidelines for the properties of the polymers that make this coadditive system effective are established. Polymer properties discussed include molecular weight, cationic charge, polymer composition and functionalization, and relative additive amounts.
US08636862B2
The invention relates to a method for making a structure with at least a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer, each made from a polycarbonate polymer based on bisphenol A, between the polymer layers a component being arranged, comprising the following steps: a) the component is arranged on the first polymer layer or placed in a depression of the first polymer layer, b) the first polymer layer is coated on the side, on which or in which the component is arranged, at least in the region of the component with a liquid preparation comprising a solvent or a mixture of solvents and a polycarbonate derivative based on a geminally disubstituted dihydroxydiphenyl cycloalkane, c) optionally a drying step is made after step b), d) after step b) or step c), the second polymer layer is placed on the first polymer layer, covering the component, e) the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer are laminated with each other under pressure, at a temperature from 120° C. to 180° C. and for a defined time.
US08636861B1
Secondary crystalline high explosives are disclosed which are suitable for filling very small volume loading holes in micro-electric initiators for micro-electro-mechanical mechanisms (MEMS), used as safe and arm (S&A) devices. The explosives are prepared by adding the such a high explosive to an aqueous first volatile mobile phase, adding such a high explosive to a non-aqueous second volatile mobile phase, mixing the first and second volatile mobile phases and then loading the combined phases into the MEMS device and allowing the aqueous and non-aqueous solvents to evaporate depositing the high explosive. Enhanced adhesion between the deposited high explosive and enhanced rheological properties can be obtained by adding a polymeric binder to both mobile phases.
US08636858B2
In the production equipment for a precipitation hardened alloy strip, a solution treatment unit includes a heating chamber provided to heat the material alloy strip having a precipitation hardening alloy composition to a temperature of not lower than a recrystallization temperature but not higher than a melting point, a cooling chamber located adjacent to the heating chamber, and a pair of cooling rolls incorporated in the cooling chamber to hold therebetween and cool down the material alloy strip heated in the heating chamber. This production equipment can quench the material alloy strip to form a solid solution supersaturated with precipitation hardening elements and thereby forming a precipitation hardened alloy strip having a good shape and a favorable surface condition.
US08636857B2
A method to obtain a manganese steel alloy having a percentage weight of carbon varying from about 0.5% to about 2%, a percentage weight of manganese varying from about 10% to about 20%, and a percentage weight of titanium varying from about 0.01% to about 5%. The method comprises at lest a step wherein a determinate quantity of steel scarp with manganese or steel scarp with carbon is melted in order to define a metal bath, a step wherein, in order to deoxidize the metal bath a determinate percentage weight of aluminum is added, a step wherein a determinate percentage weight of nitrogen is added, a step wherein a determinate percentage weight of titanium is added, and a step wherein the metal bath is cast at a determinate temperature.
US08636856B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise carbon steels and methods of manufacture. In one embodiment, quenching and tempering procedure is performed in which a selected steel composition is formed and heat treated to yield a slightly tempered microstructure having a fine carbide distribution. In another embodiment, a double austenizing procedure is disclosed in which a selected steel composition is formed and subjected to heat treatment to refine the steel microstructure. In one embodiment, the heat treatment may comprise austenizing and quenching the formed steel composition a selected number of times (e.g., 2) prior to tempering. In another embodiment, the heat treatment may comprise subjecting the formed steel composition to austenizing, quenching, and tempering a selected number of times (e.g., 2). Steel products formed from embodiments of the steel composition in this manner (e.g., seamless tubular bars and pipes) will possess high yield strength, e.g., at least about 165 ksi, while maintaining good toughness.
US08636855B2
Methods of enhancing mechanical properties of aluminum alloy high pressure die castings are disclosed herein. An aluminum alloy composition forming a casting comprises, by weight of the composition, at least one of a magnesium concentration greater than about 0.2%, a copper concentration greater than about 1.5%, a silicon concentration greater than about 0.5%, and a zinc concentration greater than about 0.3%. After solidification, a casting is cooled to a quenching temperature between about 300° C. and about 500° C. Upon attainment of the quenching temperature, the casting is removed from the die and immediately quenched in a quench media. Following quenching, the casting is pre-aged at a reduced temperature between about room temperature and about 100° C. Thereafter, the casting is aged via at least one substantially isothermal aging at one or more elevated temperatures between about 150° C. and about 240° C.
US08636840B2
In a process for utilizing organic waste materials, in particular cellulose-containing, moist, organic waste materials, in a clinker production process in which the waste materials are introduced as fuel and burnt in the clinker production process, the waste materials are brought into contact with the hot exhaust gases of the clinker production process and dried in a drying step flowing in parallel therewith before they are introduced into the clinker production process. The drying step is carried out in a drying reactor in which the moist waste materials are passed together with the hot exhaust gases through a series of concentrically arranged tubes, with multiple changes in flow direction about 180°, and the temperature of the hot exhaust gases is set to a maximum value of 400° C. by mixing in of ambient air and/or air from the clinker production process before the drying step.
US08636835B2
An apparatus suitable for generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from a carbon based synthesis gas including a reaction chamber having a rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades mixing and circulating carbon based synthesis gas and particulate catalyst upwardly generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, a stripping chamber located above the reaction chamber having a second axial rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades driving hydrocarbon fuel radially outwardly, a source of hot stripping gas, an annular filter surrounding the stripping chamber and an annular gas collection chamber surrounding the filter. The blades in the stripping chamber are rotated independently at a greater velocity than the blades in the reaction chamber and the reaction is controlled by the temperature of the synthesis gas and the rotational velocity of the mixing blades in the reaction chamber.
US08636834B2
The invention relates to a safe hydrogen-storing tank that is easy to manufacture and enables the quick kinetic absorption of hydrogen, which reduces the variations in volume and has a low cost in terms of material and energy. The invention has the aim of providing a tank for storing hydrogen, including a hydrogen inlet (21) and a hydrogen outlet (22) in fluid communication with at least one solid body (10-11) capable of the exothermal absorption and endothermal desorption of hydrogen, wherein said at least one solid body (10-11) is made of a compacted material containing light metal hydride and a heat-conducting matrix, and wherein said at least one solid body (10-11) is in heat-transfer relation with at least one heat recovery material (42) free from salt or molten-salt compounds and capable of absorbing the heat generated by the hydrogen absorption and of releasing said absorbed heat so as to provide heat for hydrogen desorption.
US08636830B2
A composition of matter, and method to make same, for a nano-based material including a nanocarbon support to which is attached an aliphatic amine. In particular, the composition of matter is an aliphatic amine-nanocarbon material that includes a nanocarbon (NC) support, such as C60, nano-graphite, graphene, nanocarbon ribbons, graphite intercalation compounds, graphite oxide, nano-coal, nanohorns, and combinations thereof, and further includes an aliphatic amine, such as polyethyleneimine (PEI).
US08636825B2
One aspect relates to a method for producing an alloy characterized by grinding tantalum to form a tantalum powder and grinding tungsten to form a tungsten powder; mixing the tantalum powder and the tungsten powder to form a blended powder. The weight fraction of tungsten powder in the blended powder is larger than in the desired alloy. A blended body is produced from the blended powder by a powder metallurgical route. A pre-alloy is produced by a first melting of the blended body and at least a fraction of at least one further metal by a melt metallurgical route. The alloy is produced by a second melting of the pre-alloy and the remaining fraction of at least one metal by a melt metallurgical route.
US08636824B2
The present invention is directed to provide a production method for carbonaceous material-containing metal oxide briquettes, capable of ensuring sufficient strength of briquettes while using a metal oxide material containing a large amount of fine particles, such as steel mill dust. This method comprises a mixing step of mixing a metal oxide material A containing a large amount of fine particles with a carbonaceous material B in a mixer 15, to form a powdery mixture E, a compacting step of compacting the powdery mixture E using a briquette machine 17 to form compacts F, a classifying step of classifying the compacts F into an oversize fraction G and an undersize fraction H, using a sieve 18, and collecting the oversize fraction G as product briquettes, and a compact circulating step of returning a part of the compacts F to the mixer 15 or the briquette machine 17, as a recycle material.
US08636823B2
A silver salt solution and a reducing agent solution are added to an aqueous dispersing polymer solution to precipitate silver ribbons.
US08636820B2
An air cleaner arrangement is shown. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge comprising strips of media arranged in a stacked configuration. The strips of media each comprise a corrugated sheet secured to a facing sheet. A preferred filter cartridge positioned within the air cleaner arrangement, is depicted.
US08636818B2
An apparatus which includes: a carbonizer (1) which pyrolyzes a biomass to yield a pyrolysis gas and a carbonization product; a furnace (2) in which the carbonization product supplied from the carbonizer (1) is burned; a closed vessel (3) which is disposed in the furnace (2) and holds therein a carbonate (4) which has been melted by the heat generated by the carbonization product burned in the furnace (2); an introduction pipe (5) disposed so that the pyrolysis gas is introduced into the molten carbonate (4) in the closed vessel (3); and a fuel gas supply pipe (6) disposed so that a fuel gas, which is the pyrolysis gas sent through the introduction pipe (5), passed through the molten carbonate (4), and purified by reaction with the molten carbonate (4), is sent from the closed vessel (3) to the outside of the furnace (2).
US08636812B2
A two-part foam hair dye which comprises a first part comprising an alkali agent, a second part comprising hydrogen peroxide, and a non-aerosol foamer container, wherein the first part comprises the components (A) to (D), an equivalent ratio of a anion site of the component (A) to a cation site of the component (B) (anion/cation) is more than 1, a mass ratio of a content of the component (C) to content of the component (D) ((C)/(D)) is 5 or less, and the liquid mixture has a viscosity (25° C.) of 1 to 300 mPa·s: (A) a carboxylic acid anion surfactant, (B) a polymer or copolymer having a mole fraction of diallyldimethyl quaternary ammonium salt monomer of 70% or more, (C) 0.5 to 1.5% by mass of an oxidation dye having a meta-dihydroxybenzene structure, and (D) 0.1 to 9% by mass of polypropyleneglycol of Mw 200 to 1200.
US08636811B2
The drug eluting rolled stent and a stent delivery system, which includes a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes a rectangular metal foil sheet having a first side and a second side, the rectangular metal foil sheet being rolled to form a cylindrical tube having a central axis and a spiral cross section perpendicular to the central axis; a polymer drug coating disposed between and adhering the first side and the second side; and at least one opening formed through the cylindrical tube generally perpendicular to the central axis, the at least one opening being shaped to form at least one strut having in cross section polymer drug layers between metal foil layers, polymer drug layer edges of the polymer drug layers being in communication with the at least one opening.
US08636807B2
Exemplary embodiments include a mobile bearing tibial tray insert including a medial condyle receiver spaced apart from a lateral condyle receiver, the mobile bearing tibial tray insert also including a stabilizing post, where the mobile bearing tibial tray insert is adapted to rotate around a substantially vertical rotational axis offset laterally from the stabilizing post. In addition, the foregoing embodiments may be supplemented by a tibial tray and femoral component to comprise a total knee replacement system. The disclosure also includes exemplary methods for imparting axial rotation to a prosthetic joint, the method comprising shifting the axis of axial rotation between a tibial prosthesis and a femoral prosthesis of a prosthetic knee joint by providing at least one of offsetting a stabilization post associated with a medial-lateral midline of a tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis, increasing the radii of a medial receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis to a greater extent than the radii of a medial condyle of the femoral prosthesis, and increasing conformity between a medial receiver of the tibial insert of the tibial prosthesis and a medial condyle.
US08636802B2
An interspinous process having a general horseshoe shape, a cushion element within the horseshoe and a porous coating on its outer surface.
US08636800B2
A prosthesis humeral implant has a stem including a coupling element at a proximal end thereof and a head having a coupling element at a distal portion thereof for coupling to the stem portion coupling element. The head has a bearing surface portion for articulating on a prosthetic glenoid and a base portion. A soft tissue attachment element has an L-shape with a mounting flange portion of the L-shape extending and clamped between the bearing portion and base portion. The soft tissue attachment portion has a portion extending proximally from the mounting flange portion. The soft tissue attachment element mounting portion is captured between the head bearing portion and base portion preferably by clamping or being permanently attached to one of the base or bearing portions during manufacture.
US08636798B2
Apparatus and method for reconstructing a ligament.
US08636796B2
An intraocular lens (1) including an anterior surface (4) and a posterior surface (5) and having a substantially antero-posterior optical axis (6). In this lens, one of these anterior and posterior surfaces includes a first diffractive profile (9) forming at least one first diffractive focal point (11) of order +1 on said optical axis, and a second diffractive profile (10) forming a second diffractive focal point (12) of order +1 on said optical axis which is distinct from the first diffractive focal point of order +1. At least one portion of said second diffractive profile is superposed to at least one portion of the first diffractive profile.
US08636794B2
A graft device comprising a layer of synthetic non-metallic material having a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface. The device further, includes a radiopaque marker at least partially embedded in the layer.
US08636783B2
One embodiment provides a bone fastener including a collar, a fastener member, and a pin. The collar can have an upper portion with slot to receive an elongated member and a lower portion with a socket and an opening. The fastener member can have head and shank portions. The socket can receive the head portion and prevent movement of the head portion through the opening when the head portion is out of registration with the opening. The head portion and the socket can be configured to allow angulation of the fastener member within a defined range of motion within a selected plane. The head portion and the socket can define apertures which can be aligned with each other when the head portion is in the socket and which can receive the pin. One embodiment provides a generally spherical head portion with a flat.
US08636779B2
A single to multi-level spine plate has configured bone screw bores that cooperate with bone screws to retain a bone screw in a determinative position. In one form, the determinative position is a self-capture position wherein the bone screw is retained without the aid of any additional bone screw retention device. In another form, the determinative position is a limited angulation orientation of a bone screw relative to the spine plate. This limited angulation may be different for end plate bone screw bores than for middle plate bone screw bores. The bone screw bores may be configured to prohibit angulation once set. In another form, the determinative position is the reception of a cooperating bone screw at a centroid of the bone screw bore when installed.
US08636775B2
A spinal screw assembly providing an adjustable securement of a fixation rod across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion and a tool engagement surface in the head portion for use in driving the screw into a vertebrae. The head portion of the screw is positioned in a body member adjacent a curvilinear surface disposed about an aperture in the end of the body member such that the shaft portion of the screw extends therethrough and the curvilinear inner surface abuts and mates with the head portion of the screw so as to define a ball joint therewith. The body member additionally defines a pair of opposed parallel slots therein adapted to receive a portion of the fixation rod and a locking cap bears against the fixation rod to releasably secure the rod within the assembly.
US08636772B2
Systems for trauma and/or joint fusion implants and instruments include transarticular screw and intra-articular washer, polyaxial screw and plate, single- and multi-level polyaxial bone clamps, and minimally invasive adaptations.
US08636769B2
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body member having an upper portion with an internal drive and, alternatively, a laterally extending alignment rib or fin. The bone screw assembly also includes a lockable receiver coupling member, an open retainer ring member having a slit or gap and a compression insert member. An inset conical or cylindrical surface on the shank upper portion frictionally engages a similarly shaped inner surface of the retainer ring. The receiver includes a restrictive lower opening that allows for uploading the shank upper portion and compressed retainer ring into the receiver cavity, but prevents passage of the retainer ring out of the receiver once the ring inner surface engages the conical surface of the shank upper portion.
US08636767B2
The invention relates to increasing the strength of bio-absorbable surgical sutures. The invention allows for delayed bioabsorption of suture materials to allow maintenance of mechanical strength of the suture for example in ‘barbed’ form.
US08636766B2
A surgical stapling device particularly suited for endoscopic procedures is described. The device includes a handle assembly and an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly. The distal end of the elongated body is adapted to engage a disposable loading unit. A control rod having a proximal end operatively connected to the handle assembly includes a distal end extending through the elongated body. A control rod locking member is provided to prevent movement of the control rod until the disposable loading unit is fully secured to the elongated body of the stapling device.
US08636765B2
Delivery (and recovery) devices and techniques for delivering an implant into a desired location within the body and catch systems for such implants. The devices and techniques relate particularly to, but are not limited to, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder made from a polymer tube. A catch system maintains an occluder in a deployed configuration by holding it in a reduced axial length position. Some embodiments have a compressible tip. Some embodiments have temporary catching mechanisms.
US08636762B2
A surgical device is provided that includes a jaw portion with a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw. The surgical device also includes a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion. A driver is configured to cause relative movement of the jaw portion and the shaft portion. The driver may be configured to cause the jaw portion to pivot relative to the shaft portion about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to first and second longitudinal axes defined by the jaw portion and the shaft portion, respectively. The driver may also be configured to cause at least a portion of the jaw portion to rotate relative to the shaft portion about the first longitudinal axis. Advantageously, the surgical device includes a surgical member, e.g., a cutting element and/or a stapling element, disposed within the first jaw.
US08636749B2
A dermatome having a main body, a blade assembly and a blade guard, where the blade assembly has a blade edge and the blade guard has a base and a fence extending from the base toward the blade assembly so as to face the blade edge. The blade guard may include at least one blade assembly locator to facilitate the alignment of the blade guard with the blade assembly. A blade guard assembled on the blade assembly may operate so as to prevent unintended contact between the blade edge and objects.
US08636744B2
A positioning device for ankle joint replacement surgery.
US08636741B2
A femoral instrument for use in the intramedullary canal is described and includes an intramedullary rod having a tip at a free end. A body is attached to the intramedullary rod and has a face with a bone abutting portion. A centraliser mechanism is located within the rod and is operable to deploy and retract a plurality of members to engage and disengage an inner surface of the intramedullary canal.
US08636737B2
A system and associated method are provided for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine. A plate is provided to contact a region of a skull and be secured thereto. A spinal rod is configured to extend from a location adjacent the plate to a location adjacent at least one vertebra. An adjustable housing is provided to secure the rod to the plate, and has a first position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate can be adjusted and a second position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate is secured.
US08636735B2
An embodiment of the invention may include a medical device. The medical device may include a flexible tube, an elongate member configured to cut tissue and extend from the flexible tube, and a cauterizing member configured to cauterize tissue and to move relative to the elongate member and the flexible tube. The cauterizing member may substantially surround at least a portion of the elongate member.
US08636724B2
This invention is generally related to catheters for insertion into a body cavity, duct or vessel, and more particularly to a tip or plug for a catheter. The catheter tip is constructed and arranged to form a seal on the end portion of the catheter tube, while a sleeve secured or formed integrally to the tip cooperates with the catheter tube to form a first balloon that encapsulates the tip of the catheter and a second balloon that positions the catheter within the body cavity, duct or vessel.
US08636716B2
A medical device including a shaft having an elongated inner member and an elongated tubular reinforcing member disposed over at least a portion of the inner member. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner member is spaced from the inner surface of the reinforcing member, defining a space substantially free of any other structures of the device. In some embodiments, the shaft can include a tip structure disposed on a distal portion of the inner member. In some such embodiments, the reinforcing member has a distal end, and the tip structure is disposed on the distal portion of the inner member adjacent the distal end of the reinforcing member. Additionally, in some embodiments, the reinforcing member can include a plurality of apertures defined therein, for example, to enhance the flexibility or other such characteristics of all or portions of the reinforcing member.
US08636700B2
A catheter assembly includes a catheter, a tubular structure affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, and a stabilizing cuff affixed to, and at least partially embedded within, the tubular structure. The tubular structure may include a tapered surface extending from an end of the tubular structure to an exterior surface of the catheter. A method of manufacturing a catheter assembly may include positioning a tubular structure about a catheter, positioning a stabilizing cuff near the tubular structure, and partially embedding at least a portion of the stabilizing cuff within the tubular structure while shaping the tubular structure to form a tapered surface. A temporary sleeve may be positioned about the tubular structure prior to shaping the tubular structure. The tubular structure may also be preformed to include a tapered end prior to positioning the tubular structure about the catheter.
US08636696B2
The present invention includes a microneedle assembly having a support that includes a first surface and a second surface, the second surface further including a slanted surface. A plurality of microneedles are provided which project outwardly from the second surface of the support. A pathway through the microneedle assembly is formed and includes an aperture extending between the first surface of the support and the second surface of the support, a channel disposed on the exterior surface of at least one microneedle, the channel having a surface, the channel being in alignment with at least a portion of the aperture to form a junction through which fluids may pass.
US08636695B2
A system and method for assembling a catheter device, wherein a septum actuator is positioned within the lumen of a catheter adapter to provide a pathway through a septum component, an introducer needle being inserted through the septum via the septum actuator thereby preventing damage to the septum, the septum actuator thereafter being withdrawn from the septum and positioned within a rearward chamber of the catheter adapter lumen.
US08636693B2
A propellant pillow for use in an implantable pump is described herein. The propellant pillow generally includes a propellant bag having a septum attached thereto. In one embodiment, the pillow may further include a rigid member associated with the propellant bag to prevent piercing of the bag by an injection device inserted through the septum during a filling process. In another embodiment, the propellant pillow includes a propellant bag having a surrounding layer of resealable material encompassing the bag. The surrounding layer also serves to prevent piercing of the bag during filling of the pillow with a propellant. Methods of filling such propellant pillows with propellant as well as utilizing such pillows in connection with implantable pumps are also described herein.
US08636690B2
A catheter balloon with integral non-distending regions having a plurality of layers which wind around the balloon material and overlap to form an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees relative to each other upon inflation, and methods of making the non-distending regions are provided.
US08636686B2
The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. The devices of systems can also include a fluid remover in the form of a sorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof that is configured to remove fluid from a working channel of the device or system and/or from a surgical instrument inserted therethrough.
US08636685B2
An electrosurgical method for treating foot ulcer, including diabetic foot ulcer, comprising: positioning an active electrode in close proximity to the ulcer, the active electrode being disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical shaft; applying a high-frequency voltage potential difference across the active electrode and a return electrode in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, the voltage potential being sufficient to generate plasma at the active electrode; and stimulating the ulcer with the active electrode to increase blood flow, remove unhealthy tissue and induce the body's natural healing response.
US08636682B2
A catheter includes an elongated tubular body including a first wall and second wall defining first and second lumens, respectively. Each wall extends to a distal end and defines a distal opening. The first and second walls may each include one or more side openings disposed proximal of the distal end. The first and second lumens are separated by a septum. The septum includes a septum extension extending distally from the septum. The septum extension is adapted to articulate relative to the septum in response to fluid flow into and out of the distal openings of the first and second lumens. The septum extension is dimensioned to partially obstruct fluid flow into the catheter through one of the distal openings upon the articulation of the septum extension.
US08636680B2
A surgical positioning system includes a flexible air-impermeable shell filled with beads that is wrapped against the patient and subjected to a vacuum to hold the patient in place. The shell includes rounded shoulder portions, on either side of a separately inflatable pillow, to envelop portions of the patient's neck and shoulders, tapered waist portion to provide easy access to a patient's forearms and lower lateral abdomen, and expanded wrist hand portion to cradle the patient's hands and thighs.
US08636679B2
A compression device for a limb has a sleeve adapted to surround the limb. The sleeve has an inelastic layer and a cell constructed from an inner part joined to an outer part by one or more side walls. This construction provides a cell with a box-like configuration so that the inner part conforms to the shape of the limb, providing an even pressure to the limb, when the cell is inflated.
US08636678B2
A foot cuff that is inflatable to apply compression to the foot to promote blood flow has a bladder formed of two layers of material secured together. An outer layer includes a foot-underlying portion that has a greater thickness and rigidity that an opposing inner layer. The outer layer directs expansion of the bladder upon inflation in the direction of the inner layer and toward the foot for increasing compressive force applied to the foot.
US08636671B2
A wearable respiration measurement apparatus including: an eyeglass frame having a nose flap which is formed in such a manner as to cover a user's nose; and an induced current generation device attached to the nose flap and generating an induced current corresponding to an amount of air inhaled or exhaled through the user's nose.
US08636667B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing multiple scale bands in the scalogram of a physiological signal in order to obtain information about a physiological process. An analysis may be performed to identify multiple scale bands that are likely to contain the information sought. Each scale band may be assessed to determine a band quality, and multiple bands may be combined based on the band quality. Information about a physiological process may determined based on the combined band. In an embodiment, analyzing multiple scale bands in a scalogram arising from a wavelet transformation of a photoplethysmograph signal may yield clinically relevant information about, among other things, the blood oxygen saturation of a patient.
US08636663B2
In order to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a sound speed correction method capable of performing sound speed correction without affecting real-time efficiency, the present invention is characterized in that a reference sound speed image signal is acquired by setting a reference sound speed and a different sound speed image signal is acquired by setting a different sound speed from the reference sound speed and that sound speed correction information is acquired by correcting reference sound speed information based on the reference sound speed image signal using different items of sound speed information based on the different sound speed image signal.
US08636656B2
A retractor assembly for surgery in a patient includes at least one retractor member removably engageable to a support member. The retractor assembly includes a housing assembly engaged to the support member and to an arm that extends from a retraction portion of the retractor member. A drive mechanism in the housing assembly is coupled to the retractor member and is operable to rotate the retraction portion of the retractor member relative to the support member to a desired angular orientation.
US08636645B2
A method of treating erectile dysfunction includes providing a pump having a proximal tip communicating with a fluid reservoir, a bladder connected at a proximal end to the proximal tip and extending to a closed distal end, and a tube disposed in the bladder, the tube having a proximal end in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and a distal end that opens into the bladder. The method additionally includes implanting the pump into a corpora cavernosum of a penis.
US08636643B2
Described are methods and devices useful for supporting posterior vaginal tissue for various purposes such as treating or preventing vaginal prolapse or enterocele, especially in a patient not having a uterus, the devices including implants designed to contact the vaginal cuff and connect to sacral anatomy such as the sacrum or the uterosacral ligaments.
US08636642B2
The present invention is primarily directed towards an anatomically-compatible and physiologically-compatible in vivo device for improving diastolic function of either the left or right ventricle of the heart, wherein said device comprises at least one elastic component in the form of a lattice capable of being arranged in a curved conformation such that one surface of said lattice may be adapted to the curvature of the external ventricular surface of the heart, or a portion thereof, and wherein said at least one elastic component is capable of being operatively connected to the external ventricular surface of the heart by means of one or more connecting elements.
US08636641B2
The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.
US08636639B2
Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying a tensile member to bring a wall of the heart toward (optionally into contact with) a septum of the heart. The implant may include an electrode or other structure for applying pacing signals to one or both ventricles of the heart, for defibrillating the heart, for sensing beating of the heart or the like. A wireless telemetry and control system may allowing the implant to treat congestive heart failure, monitor the results of the treatment, and apply appropriate electrical stimulation.
US08636638B2
A controller for a heart pump, the controller including a processing system for determining movement of an impeller within a cavity in a first axial direction, the cavity including at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and the impeller including vanes for urging fluid from the inlet to the outlet, causing a magnetic bearing to move the impeller in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, the magnetic bearing including at least one coil for controlling an axial position of the impeller within the cavity, determining an indicator indicative of the power used by the magnetic bearing and causing the magnetic bearing to control the axial position of the impeller in accordance with the indicator to thereby control a fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet.
US08636637B2
The disclosure describes devices and methods for asymmetrical irradiation at a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or cancer. One device includes a lumen which is off-set or off-settable from a longitudinal axis to increase the intensity of radiation received from a radiation source by a first tissue portion surrounding the body cavity and to reduce or minimize radiation received by a second tissue portion (e.g. healthy tissue) surrounding the body cavity.
US08636633B2
A disc roll includes a plurality of annular disc members each defining a hole and having a peripheral surface; and a rotary shaft fitted into the holes of the annular disc members by insertion, whereby the peripheral surfaces of the disc members serve as a conveying surface of the disc roll. The disc members include an inorganic fiber, mica and a clay having a content of particle components that have a particle size of 5 μm or larger of not higher than 30% by weight based on the weight of the clay.
US08636631B2
A method is provided for exercising a human appendage that includes placing the appendage in contact with a user interface and placing a force on the user interface where the user interface based on a net user force becomes displace from an unbiased position to a biased position, where the user interface when moving from the unbiased position to the biased position moves about a path defined by a semispherical surface having defined by an origin, a radius and an angle of displacement.
US08636626B2
The inclined sand training apparatus includes a front, inclined surface that is sand-filled and lined with sand-filled steps. A walkway traverses across a ridge formed between the front, inclined surface and a rear, inclined surface that is covered in grass. The training apparatus is designed to resemble a sand dune and provide training and workout experiences that includes sand-filled steps, walkway, and a rear, inclined surface covered in grass. The sand-filled steps consist of a concrete riser capped off with a rubber edge that are both back-filled with sand. Lights and other accessories provide a gym-like environment to aid in the training and workout, and further comprise a pool, cycle hut, showers, seating, bathrooms, first aid, and storage.
US08636624B2
A cylindrical gear ring assembly is provided for use as a decorative wearable ornamental device useable as a ring or other piece of jewelry, a toy, and a therapy tool, and more specifically to a ring with a rotatable mechanism comprising movable cylinders which rotate against gear mechanisms and method of using the same.
US08636623B2
Folding hurdles are disclosed. Some example folding hurdles may include a generally horizontal bar. A first leg may be pivotably coupled to a first end of the generally horizontal bar. The first leg may include a generally horizontally extending first foot and/or may be pivotable between an erected position in which the first foot is oriented generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal bar and a folded position in which the first foot is substantially coplanar with the generally horizontal bar. A second leg may be pivotably coupled to a second end of the generally horizontal bar. The second leg may include a generally horizontally extending second foot and/or the second leg may be pivotable between an erected position in which the second foot is oriented generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal bar and a folded position in which the second foot is substantially coplanar with the generally horizontal bar.
US08636622B2
Methods and systems are provided for selectively increasing an amount of waste heat generated by an idling engine. An engine output is increased while a transmission output is locked to generate waste heat that may be used to heat the cabin of a stopped vehicle.
US08636610B2
A golf club head having at least two discrete weight members positioned on the sole to optimize moment of inertia is disclosed. A first weight member is located toward and substantially parallel with the face edge of the sole. A second member is located toward the back of the sole and substantially centered between the heel and toe edges of the sole. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a sole comprising four sections and wherein a rib of material connects two of said sections. In another embodiment, a golf club head includes a cavity formed between the crown and sole and having an opening at the back of the club head. In yet another embodiment, a golf club head is tapered to form a waist and has a back that has a bowed-shape.
US08636606B2
A golf club includes: a hosel of a head to which a leading end of a shaft is attached; a weight material for adjusting weight being provided in a lower end portion of a hosel hole; and a communication opening which communicates the lower end portion of the hosel hole with an inside of the head, wherein the weight material is detachably screwed into the communication opening.
US08636604B2
A golf club training aid for improving a golf swing, with the golf club including a club head, a club shaft attached to the club head that rotates within the club head, a stop that limits the rotational range of the club shaft in respect to the club head, and a tension actuator that attaches to the club shaft and club head and provides tension against the rotation of the club head about the club shaft. The tension provided by the tension actuator is overcome when the club shaft is rotated, by proper hand rotation, during a club swing to create a rotational force greater than the tension force, whereby the club head rotates to a rest position—the end of the rotational range of the stop—and the club face makes solid contact with a golf ball. If proper hand rotation does not occur during a swing, the club head and stop will remain in an open position upon contact with a golf ball and the club head will, at that point of contact, move backward and result in angled contact with a golf ball during the golf swing.
US08636600B2
Ride systems providing guest compartment(s) with a roll degree of freedom through radial mount(s) are described. The guest compartment of the vehicles is attached to a track via a chassis. The guest compartment and the chassis are configured such that the guest compartment has a roll degree of freedom relative to the chassis.
US08636598B2
Systems described herein include wagering game systems having a motion capable chair. The disclosure addresses example systems and methods to control the motion capable chair, including utilization of user preferences, applying output of a physic engine, and monitoring safety conditions for the motion capable chair. In addition, movement of chairs on multiple wagering game systems may be coordinated in response to events occurring on one or more machines in the system.
US08636595B2
A game system including a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, and a mobile game apparatus that can communicate with another game apparatus that exists within a communicable range by use of a radio communications unit. When a communicated state is established, exchanging conditions for exchanging game data are received and transmitted, and in a case the exchange conditions are coincident with each other, the game data are exchanged.
US08636594B2
A graphical user interface on a touch screen device detects, in a first region of the touch screen device, a selection of an option corresponding to a resource to be deployed to a second region of the touch screen device. The graphical user interface detects a selection of two or more areas of the second region by a selection device by determining that the selection includes a selection of multiple individual areas in the second region, a multi-point touch, or a swipe including a selection of multiple areas of the second region. The selected resource is then deployed to the selected areas in the second region.
US08636587B2
A gaming machine award system acts over a gaming machine network having a plurality of gaming devices coupled thereto. The award system includes a bonus server coupled to the network and having stored thereon a trigger condition. A game play tracker tracks game play across the network of gaming devices and detects an occurrence of the trigger condition. The bonus server sends out a selection signal over the network to a selected gaming machine responsive to the detected trigger condition. A printer associated with the selected gaming machine is structured to generate a mystery ticket printed output responsive to receipt of said selection signal including machine-readable indicia corresponding to a record of value stored at the bonus server, and human readable indicia that indicates only a range of possible values of the ticket but not a specific value. The printed ticket is a cashless instrument that may be redeemed or played per the nature and characteristics of the award given with the specific value awarded to the player.
US08636580B2
According to a slot machine of the present invention, a free game is executed when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In the free game, an amount of payout is determined based upon an amount of game media, which is obtained by dividing a total amount of the game media betted in the normal game by the number of BETs. Further, game media of the determined amount of payout are paid out.
US08636577B2
Systems and methods for configuring a gaming system. In one such gaming system, a plurality of real world engine modules are provided for a hybrid game, each real world engine module having a gambling game that is triggered by an element of an entertainment game of the hybrid game. A selection is received, from a player of the hybrid game, of a selected real world engine module of the plurality of real world engine modules, and triggering is enabled of the selected real world engine module's gambling game by the element of the entertainment game of the hybrid game.
US08636570B2
In some example embodiments, an apparatus that includes a wagering game chair for a wagering game machine that is configured to present a wagering game. The wagering game chair includes a seat having a seat bottom and a seat post that is part of a split-post configuration. The seat post has a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end of the seat post is coupled to the seat bottom. The wagering game chair also includes a first electrical connector positioned within and approximately at the bottom end of the seat post. The wagering game chair includes a first electrical cable is electrically coupled to the first electrical connector, wherein the first electrical cable runs approximately a length of the seat post within the seat post. The first electrical cable configured to communicate audio of the wagering game, from the wagering game machine to a speaker coupled to the wagering game chair.
US08636569B1
A threshing element includes a structure having an outside surface for threshing a crop material, and an inside surface. A body is operatively connected to a sensor. The body is secured to the inside surface of the structure, the body having a connecting feature for securing at least the body and the structure to each other. The structure is securable to a rotatable threshing rotor of a harvester threshing system. In response to operation of the threshing rotor of the harvester threshing system, the sensor outputs a signal corresponding to forces generated by contact between the outside surface of the structure and the crop material.
US08636566B2
In a ceiling-embedded air conditioner, a panel fastening screw that fastens a decorative panel to an indoor unit body embedded in a ceiling is previously mounted to the indoor unit body and has an intermediate portion having a small diameter with no threaded portion.
US08636558B2
An entertainment system comprises an entertainment device and an interactive toy. The entertainment device comprises a wireless receiver arranged in operation to receive data descriptive of the physical capabilities of an interactive toy from an interactive toy, processing means to generate interaction signals, and a wireless transmitter arranged in operation to transmit interaction signals to the interactive toy, and in which the generated interaction signals are responsive to the data descriptive of the physical capabilities of the interactive toy. The interactive toy comprises a wireless receiver arranged in operation to receive a query signal requesting information about physical capabilities of the interactive toy, data provision means for providing data descriptive of the capabilities of the interactive toy, and a wireless transmitter arranged in operation to transmit the data descriptive of the physical capabilities of the interactive toy in response to the query signal. The entertainment device is arranged in operation to transmit interactive control data to the interactive toy responsive to media content being played by the entertainment device, the interactive control data being further responsive to physical capabilities of the recipient interactive toy previously transmitted from the interactive toy to the entertainment system.
US08636555B2
Provided is a technique for limiting the radial displacement between a metal shell and an insulator in a spark plug. At the time of manufacturing a spark plug with a metal shell and an insulator, the metal shell and the insulator are assembled together by, while allowing relative positional displacement between the metal shell and the insulator in an axial direction (O-O), limiting relative positional displacement between the metal shell and the insulator in a radial direction intersecting with the axial direction in such a manner that the amount of deviation between an axis of the metal shell and an axis of the insulator becomes less than or equal to a predetermined level.
US08636548B2
A card edge connector includes an elongated housing extending along an elongated direction thereof, and having a first housing half, a second housing half being discrete from the first housing half, and a central slot formed between the first and the second housing halves. A plurality of contacts are retained in the housing, and each has a contact portion protruding into the central slot. A width of the central slot could be adjusted before mounting the card edge connector to a mother board for receiving different daughter boards with different thicknesses.
US08636541B2
Axially compressible, F-connectors for conventional installation tools for interconnection with coaxial cable include adaptations for establishing electrical continuity despite inadequate nut tightening. Each connector has a rigid nut, a post penetrating the nut, a tubular body, and an end cap. The conductive post coaxially extends through the connector, linking the nut and body. A post end penetrates the coaxial cable. The connector may have a circumferential groove defined in the end cap mounting an annular D-ring which tensions contact between the post and nut. The connector may comprise a continuity coil seated within a post groove in spring-loaded contact with the nut and the post for promoting continuity. The connector may comprise a pressure spring and an O-ring seated within a post groove in spring-loaded contact with the nut for promoting continuity.
US08636530B2
A contacting plug for contacting a contact carrier, in particular a circuit board, having two clamping claws able to be pivoted relative to each other, transversely to a plug-in direction, at least one of which is implemented as contact holder carrying at least one flexible contact element, which contact holder is implemented with a contact force for resting on the contact carrier, and a spring arrangement for generating a clamping force that is independent of the contact force. According to the invention, the spring arrangement is designed for bracing exclusively on the contacting plug for generating the clamping force.
US08636529B2
A coaxial interconnect and contact are provided. The coaxial contact is patterned to define a plurality of openings along its longitudinal length. An inner surface of the contact may circumferentially engage an outer surface of a mating contact, wherein such engagement causes at least a portion of the contact to flex radially outwardly. The contact may also flex in the longitudinal or axial direction.
US08636521B2
An apparatus for teaching concepts concerning equilibrium, symmetry of energy flow and spherical motion including a centrally located octagear with eight engaging bevel gears, each having a central axis at a 70° angle relative to its adjacent gears. Each gear has a central shaft extending outwardly from the octagear, with the shafts having identical lengths. Reciprocating motion delivered to a crank mechanism is translated into rotary motion of the shaft, this rotary motion being transmitted to the gear at the end of the shaft. Connecting the crank mechanisms of each shaft are a plurality of beams with each beam spanning the space between two crank mechanisms. Each beam is capable of flexing between a first curved position and a second curved position resulting in a change in the span length of the beam and generating reciprocatory motion transmitted to the crank mechanisms. A cube-shaped frame is also provided.
US08636516B2
An apparatus and a system comprise a plate device comprising a support structure and a plurality of compartments being configured to retain items. The compartments are supported by the support structure. A plurality of weighing devices is configured to weigh the compartments. A scale support structure is configured to support the plate device and the weighing devices. A processing device is in communication with the weighing devices and is operable to at least process weight information. A presentation device is in communication with the processing device. The presentation device is operable to at least display processed weight information of items in each of the compartments and to display a sum total of processed weight information of items retained in the plate device.
US08636514B1
A web-based stock market simulation educational tool provides a dynamic, interactive, stock market simulation educational tool. Participants create companies, research each other's companies, and manage their own portfolio as they perform bank transactions (loans and Certificates of Deposits) and buy and sell shares which influence the price of each company. Teachers also known as instructors and students also known as participants or investors participate in the educational process. The currant invention will include an investment option for students that mirrors or indexes the entire market within the overall simulation.
US08636508B2
Self-ligating bracket for orthodontics has a base, an occlusal wall extending from the base and occlusal ligature wing, a gingival wall extending from the base and gingival ligature wing, a slot, which separates the occlusal wall and the gingival wall from one another and extends continuously in the direction from mesial to distal, and a slide, which is held in a guide provided in the occlusal wall and/or in the gingival wall. The guide can be shifted in the gingival-occlusal direction, between a closed position, in which the slide bridges the slot, and a open position, in which the slot is open in labial direction. A structure holds the slide in its closed position as well as in its open position.
US08636480B2
A compressor is provided that includes a hermetically sealed container; a stator fixedly installed within the hermetically sealed container; a first rotary member that rotates, within the stator, around a first rotary shaft that extends concentrically with a center of the stator by a rotating electromagnetic field of the stator, and including first and second covers fixed to upper and lower parts thereof, respectively; a second rotary member that compresses a refrigerant in a compression space formed between the first and second rotary members while rotating, within the first rotary member, around a second rotary shaft; a vane that transmits the rotational force to the second rotary member from the first rotary member, and partitions the compression space into suction and compression regions; and first and second bearings fixed inside of the hermetically sealed container that rotatably support the first and second rotary members in an axial direction.
US08636476B2
A system is provided for the feeding of an inductive load, with electric power of continuous current, generated from an energy source and, more in particular, to a feeding system for a vibratory pump from solar or aeolic energy, which processes the electric power of continuous current supplied by a bank of solar cells or aeolic generator, in a compatible form, using a circuit of electronic command by digital micro controller, for the control and actuation of vibratory pump, independent of the electric power variations supplied by the sources as solar cells, due to the alterations in the level of solar radiation; or in aeolic generator, due to wind speed variations.
US08636475B2
A turbomachine includes a turbine stage having a plurality of blades including a first and a second blade disposed adjacent to each other, each blade having a radial longitudinal axis and a blade tip and configured to twist around the radial longitudinal axis in an operating state in a twist direction, wherein the first and the second blades are pretwisted in a direction of twist in a non-operating state, and wherein a connecting element interconnects the first and the second blades to each other in a circumferential direction in a region of the respective blade tip so as to maintain the pretwisting.
US08636474B2
A rotor assembly, for a gas turbine, has a plurality of rotor discs interconnected by an axially extending rim. The outside of the rim has a circumferential array of dovetail slots and the underside of the rim has a circumferential channel which extends radially part way into the slots, the respective discs thus being interconnected axially across the channel by an array of circumferentially spaced connecting portions. There is an array of blades, each blade having a blade root secured in a respective one of the dovetail slots.
US08636473B2
A rotor system for a rotorcraft having at least one rotor blade pair operably associated with a differential pitch assembly operably for controlling a pitch angle of an upper rotor blade and the lower rotor blade in the rotor blade pair. Operation of the differential pitch assembly changes the pitch of the upper rotor blade more severely than the pitch of the lower rotor blade. As such, the rotor system is configured to provide optimum pitch of the upper and lower rotor blades during a helicopter mode and an airplane mode.
US08636472B2
The present invention relates to a damper (10) provided with an inner end strength member (20) and an outer end strength member (30) that are tubular and coaxial, a return member (40) being arranged between the inner end strength member (20) and the outer end strength member (30). The return member (40) includes an intermediate strength member (43) coaxial with the inner and outer end strength members (20, 30), said return member (40) having first and second return means (41, 42), said first return means (41) being arranged between the outer end strength member (30) and said intermediate strength member (43), said second return means (42) being arranged between the inner end strength member (20) and said intermediate strength member (43).
US08636471B2
A configuration of cooling channels through the interior of a turbine rotor blade, the turbine rotor blade including a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root. In one embodiment, the configuration of cooling channels includes: an interior cooling passage that is configured to extend from a connection with a coolant source in the root to the interior of the airfoil; a platform cooling channel that traverses at least a portion of the platform; a turndown extension that includes a first section, which comprises a connection with the platform cooling channel, and a second section, which comprises a radially oriented cooling channel; and a connector that extends from a connector opening formed through an outer face of the root to a connection with the interior cooling passage and, therebetween, bisects the second section of the turndown extension.
US08636468B2
An arrangement with a nacelle and an instrument bar is provided. The instrument bar is arranged on top of the nacelle. A rotational axis interacts with the nacelle and with the instrument bar. The rotational axis is constructed and arranged such that the instrument bar is allowed to pivot between a first position and a second position in reference to the top side of the nacelle. The instrument bar projects above the top side of the nacelle when locked in the first position, while the instruments are operated. The instrument bar is locked close to the top side of the nacelle in the second position to allow access to the instruments.
US08636465B2
A thermal expansion joint apparatus includes an insert extending through respective first and second components to loosely restrain the first component between the second component and an enlarged head of the insert, thereby allowing thermal expansion of the respective first and second components relative to each other. The insert is secured to the second component by a fastener which can be removed, for example, when the insert is to be removed from the engine.
US08636462B2
A system for detecting defects in a turbine rotor blade of a combustion turbine engine. The system may include: a turbine rotor blade that includes an insulator coating; a first electrode that is electrically connected to the turbine rotor blade; a second electrode that resides in proximity to the turbine rotor blade; means for inducing a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode; and means for detecting current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08636460B1
The device pertains to a carriage which may be separate or integrated with a mobile, powered loading vehicle to load or unload railroad track materials to or from a gondola and a method thereof.
US08636454B2
There is provided a fastener which can be brought into firm engagement with a mounting hole without being affected by a change in thickness of a member in which the mounting hole is provided or a larger or smaller inside diameter of the mounting hole. This fastener 1 includes a pin 10, a metal plate spring member 30 and a grommet 50. The plate spring member 30 has a base portion 31 and a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 which are opened in their free state and which are closed when pressed against their elastic restoring force. The elastic engagement pieces 35 have engagement shoulder portions 37 which are brought into engagement with the mounting hole, and distal ends thereof are folded to constitute folded portions 40. The folded portions 40 are offset widthwise from each other, and engagement projecting pieces 43 are formed on inner sides thereof. Abutment pieces 45 are formed on the folded portions 40 in positions lying closer to the base portion 31 with which a distal end portion 15 of the pin 10 is brought into abutment to impart a driving force thereto. Abutment portions 45a are formed on the abutment pieces 45 which convert the driving force applied along an inserting direction of the pin 10 into a driving force applied widthwise outwards of the abutment pieces 45.
US08636451B2
A wheelchair securing device of the present invention is configured such that in a condition in which a plurality of cord-like retaining members having hooks are respectively drawn from reels and in which the hooks are hooked on a wheelchair, the retaining members are taken up by the reels to secure the wheelchair to a vehicle. The device includes a rotation restraining mechanism that is configured to restrict rotation of the reels using tensions of the retaining members when the retaining members are forced to be drawn from the reels due to an external force applied to the wheelchair.
US08636445B1
A hazardous spill ground containment system having a plurality portable metal frame sections. The frame sections are used to create an angular shaped containment frame received over various types of ground surfaces. The frame sections can be made to different lengths and heights and are used for holding in place a heavy duty liner on top of the ground surface. The liner is adapted for receiving various types of equipment, tanks and containers holding toxic chemicals and the like hazardous materials. The metal frame sections include an elongated, metal, A-shaped lower frame member and an elongated, metal, Z-shaped upper frame member for receiving and holding a side of the liner securely in place.
US08636444B2
A modular or integral appendage for a septic gallery or conduit has a first section for connected to a lateral side of the gallery with the first section having a number of apertures thereon. The first section has a first area. The lateral side of the septic gallery has a second area. The first area is greater than the second area for increased drainage and thus adds capacity to the gallery or conduit. The second area has protuberances thereon.
US08636441B2
A precast roadway slab is pre-tensioned longitudinally and transversely, and may also be post-tensioned. A casting bed has the capability of permitting pre-tensioning of a concrete cast to be carried out within the casting bed in both the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. Slots are provided at regular intervals within the side walls and jacking heads of the casting bed for tensioning wires to pass therethrough for pre-tensioning. The process utilizes a multilayer grid of pre-tensioning wires disposed within the casting bed, prior to pouring of the concrete. The cast concrete product can also be made with optional tubular ducts, laid parallel to the longitudinal wires, for post-tensioning subsequent to the cast of the concrete. The post-tensioning of the hardened cast, if called for, takes place at the job site.
US08636423B2
An optical fiber connector includes optical fibers, a connector body, and positioning members. The optical fibers are received in the respective through holes, and pass through the respective first recesses, the respective separating portions, and the respective second recesses, and aligned with the optical lenses. The three engagement posts of the positioning member are arranged above a through hole and surround a receiving room. The three engagement posts and a separating portion cooperatively retain an optical fiber in the connector body.
US08636417B2
In a wheel support structure for a motorcycle, a magnetic encoder 34 for detecting rotational speed is mounted and fastened to the inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical section 36a, which extends outward in the axial direction from the outer ring 22, of an encoder installation plate 35a that is attached to the end section in the axial direction of the outer ring 22 of the one of the rolling bearings 21a on the side toward the other rolling bearing 4, or is mounted and attached to the side surface toward the side of the other rolling bearing 4 of a slinger 73, which is attached to the end section in the axial direction of the outer ring 22b of the one of the rolling bearings 21a on the side toward the other rolling bearing 4 such that the end surface on the inner diameter side closely faces the outer surface of the inner ring 24 to form labyrinth space 42. Preferably, a rotation restraining member 86 is fastened to the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring 82a, which is the rotating ring, and there is engagement between this rotation restraining member 86 and the inner circumferential surface of the hub 6, which is the rotating member.
US08636407B2
A wireless temperature sensor includes an electrical conductor and a dielectric material on the conductor. The conductor is electrically unconnected and is shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency associated therewith. The material is selected such that it experiences changes in either dielectric or magnetic permeability attributes in the presence of a temperature change. Shifts from the sensor's baseline frequency response indicate that the material has experienced a temperature change.
US08636404B2
A wristwatch includes a case formed of a glass and a back lid attached to a case body that has an annular receiving portion on an inner peripheral surface thereof. An inner frame is integrated into the case body by engaging an engaging portion of the inner frame with the annular receiving portion from the side of the back lid. A movement is supported inside the inner frame, and a plurality of resilient bodies are attached to the inner frame and project from the outer peripheral surface of the inner frame. The resilient bodies are clamped between the inner peripheral surface of the case body and the outer peripheral surface of the inner frame, and are resiliently deformed so as to match a gap between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface.
US08636402B2
Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a fluid medium and a saccharifying agent.
US08636400B2
A display device includes first and second display panels, a first backlight assembly including a first light source that emits first light and a first reflective sheet that reflects the first light, and a second backlight assembly including a second light source that emits second light. A chromaticity coordinate region of the second light is different from a chromaticity coordinate region of the first light. The second backlight also assembly includes a second reflective sheet that reflects the second light and includes a second material different from a first material of the first reflective sheet. The first reflective sheet reflects the first light as third light toward the first display panel, and the second reflective sheet reflects the second light as fourth light toward the second display panel. A chromaticity coordinate region of the third light and a chromaticity coordinate region of the fourth light are substantially the same.
US08636398B2
A room lamp for a motor vehicle, including a lamp assembly having a resin clip; a vessel having an opening; and a reinforcing member. The resin clip is engaged with a peripheral edge of the reinforcing member through the opening of the vessel to integrally attach the lamp assembly, the vessel and the reinforcing member. The resin clip has an inverted U shape, is made of an elastic member and includes a base part, an inverted U shape part and a lock. The resin clip has a protruding piece in a lower part of the lock, a side protruding piece formed in a lower part side of the protruding piece which is located in an engaging recessed part of an opening peripheral edge of the vessel which has a clip abutting surface when the resin clip is engaged with the peripheral edge of the reinforcing member.
US08636396B2
In a vehicle body front structure, a positioning bracket including a hood-mounting reference, a headlight-mounting reference, and a front-bumper-mounting reference are fixed to a front bulkhead. A hood, a headlight, and an upper beam of a front bumper grille are positioned with respect to the hood-mounting reference, the headlight-mounting reference, and the front-bumper-mounting reference, respectively, of the positioning bracket and are fixed to a body of a motor vehicle.
US08636367B1
The power and response curves of one or more beams or primaries of beams of a laser projection system illuminating an image on a viewing surface are controlled to desired characteristics during exhibition by monitoring the scanning beams in real time by using at least part of the horizontal blanking time during the scanning of a motion or still image to project a test pattern with one or more of the beams onto a sensor or sensors. The system and method permits real-time balancing and maintenance of the response curves and power levels of each of the beams, and of primary beams of combined beams, to desired targets so as to produce a display field without artifacts and at desired brightness on the viewing surface.
US08636366B2
A lighting apparatus of the present invention includes light source (101), rod integrator (105), reflecting mirror (103), diffusion plate (104) disposed adjacently to reflection mirror (103), reflective polarizing plate (107), and wavelength plate (106). The lighting apparatus further includes curved mirror (102) disposed among light source (101), reflecting mirror (103), and diffusion plate (104). Reflecting mirror (103) and curved mirror (102) include apertures (102a and 103a) formed to allow at least light from light source (101) to pass. Curved mirror (102) reflects light leaked from the entrance plane side of rod integrator (105) toward aperture (103a) of reflecting mirror (103).
US08636363B2
Novel vision monitoring and diagnostic testing tools and help-seeking enablers that may be used individually or in combination as vision monitoring and diagnostic testing systems that improve patients' ability to recognize onset and progression of visual changes over time, so that the identification of acute or chronic visual conditions may be improved and accelerated, which drives earlier help-seeking behavior by the patient, which enables earlier clinical diagnosis by an eye care specialist and therefore earlier treatment and therefore reduced likelihood of severe vision loss.
US08636361B2
A learning-based visual attention prediction method is disclosed. The method includes a correlation relationship between the fixation density and at least one feature information being learned by training, followed by a test video sequence of test frames being received. Afterward, at least one tested feature map is generated for each test frame based on the feature information. Finally, the tested feature map is mapped into a saliency map, which indicates the fixation strength of the corresponding test frame, according to the correlation relationship.
US08636345B2
A connector for connecting to an ink container. In one embodiment, the connector includes a housing that defines an interior space, a latch lever pivotally mounted to the housing that is adapted to secure the connector to the ink container, and an internal switch provided within the interior space of the housing, the internal switch being configured to send a signal to a printer associated with the ink container when the switch is tripped, wherein the internal switch is tripped when the latch lever is pivoted by a user during disconnection of the connector from the ink container but before the connector is in fact disconnected.
US08636337B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a head having an ejection surface; a head holder; a capping mechanism for capping the ejection surface, having: a facing member with a facing surface to face the ejection surface; and a protrusion provided on the head holder for isolating, from an external space, an ejection space formed between the ejection surface and the facing surface when a tip of the protrusion contacts the facing surface; and a humidifying mechanism having: a circulation passage whose first and second ends are open to the ejection space through openings thereof provided in one of the head and the head holder; and a humidifier for humidifying an air in the passage, the humidifying mechanism being configured to collect an air in the ejection space from the opening of the first end and to supply an air humidified by the humidifier into the ejection space from the opening of the second end.
US08636333B2
In a printer for printing a recording material, a printer frame bears a printing unit with a plurality of print heads arranged substantially horizontal and transverse to a transport direction of the recording material. A distributor is provided for air and a coupling unit is arranged stationary in the printer frame and via which air is supplied to the distributor. The distributor comprises at least one cooling air segment to supply cooling air in a vertical direction to the print heads and at least one exhaust air segment to discharge heated air.
US08636331B2
A printer comprises an ink-jet head, and a control unit which has a judgment pattern printing control section. When a judgment pattern is printed, the judgment pattern printing control section allows the discharge of ink droplets of a second color to an area on which ink droplets of a first color are to be landed, before discharging the ink droplets of the first color having a small color difference with respect to a color of a medium. Accordingly, the ink discharge malfunction is reliably judged for the nozzle irrelevant to the color of the recording medium and the color of the ink discharged from the ink-jet head.
US08636330B2
A refrigerator having an installation configuration of a freezing compartment door to be opened or closed in a semi-automatic manner. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage compartment, a door to open or close the storage compartment, and a door control device to complete an opening/closing operation of the door by providing the door with a thrust force.
US08636322B1
A seat includes a back-up unit which includes a shaft fixed to the rear side of a backrest and the two ends of the shaft are pivotably connected to two armrests of the seat. A resilient member is mounted to the shaft and a restriction unit is connected to the shaft. The backrest tilts backward when a user sits in the seat and pivots forward to its upright position by the resilient member and the restriction unit when the user leaves from the seat.
US08636319B1
A stadium seat cup holder for use with a stadium seat having an upper seating panel and multiple other panels includes a bracket that is configured to form an attachment to a stadium seat wherein the bracket affixes to one or more seat panels of the stadium seat. At least one recess on the bracket receives a panel of the stadium seat. A cup holder is preferably movably mounted to the bracket, wherein the cup holder is movable between extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, the cup holder is placed in front of the stadium seat. In the retracted position, the cup holder is placed under the stadium seat. Fittings on the apparatus enable support of other optional items, such as a drink bottle, trash bag, and/or shaker.
US08636316B2
A cover for a sliding roof system comprises at least one reinforcing element which has a U-shaped cross-section and has its center leg attached to the cover such that the two side legs extend away from the cover. A sliding roof system provided with a cover of this type is distinguished in that it comprises a sliding/tilting mechanism including a fold-out sliding piece, the sliding piece being movably arranged on the guide rail.
US08636314B2
A frame structure is provided for a motor vehicle having at least two longitudinal girders, each having a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section, which are at an angle to one another, so that in the installed state of the frame structure in a motor vehicle, the first longitudinal section lies essentially horizontally below a floor plate of the vehicle body and the second longitudinal section extends essentially upward and, viewed in the forward travel direction, the first longitudinal section is arranged behind the second longitudinal section. It is provided that beginning in the area of the transition from the second longitudinal section to the first longitudinal section or an area adjacent thereto, the longitudinal girders extend at least partially away from one another in the direction of the first longitudinal section. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rear frame structure and a vehicle body.
US08636308B2
One embodiment of an improved gate latch pull cable of the type being made of metal for durability and having a one-piece clevis clip secured to one end for easy attachment to a gate latch, and a pull loop secured with a cable sleeve on the other end for securely grasping the cable. The clevis clip incorporates an integral clevis pin eliminating loose parts, and a fillet transition to the cable to prevent it from catching on edges. Surrounding the cable is a tapered return-spring which assists in gate latch closure, and a spring cup which fits in a gate post hole for centering the large diameter of the spring over the hole. The small diameter of the spring is proximal to the clevis clip, and lightly pushes against a gate latch cam. The tapered spring coils fit inside each other when compressed allowing the gate latch to fully open.
US08636301B1
An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first protection zone and a second protection zone that inflates forward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. The airbag assembly may have a restraint member that limits the ability of the second protection zone to unfold to a configuration parallel to the first protection zone, thereby keeping the second protection zone at an optimal location to protect the vehicle occupant from rollover and/or small overlap or oblique collisions. The restraint member may be a tether with ends secured proximate the top of the second protection zone and the top of the first protection zone.
US08636300B2
An attachment bracket for fastening an airbag to a vehicle structure includes an opening into which a strap connected to the airbag can be inserted, and a clamping surface provided for resting against the vehicle structure. The attachment bracket is formed from at least a first layer forming the clamping surface and a second layer spaced from the first layer in a spring elastic manner. The first and the second layers can be located on the same side of the vehicle structure. The attachment bracket can be fastened to the vehicle structure by a fastening means. The distance between the first and the second layer can be reduced by fastening the attachment bracket with the fastening means. A clamping force acting between the first layer and the vehicle structure can be generated by reducing the distance.
US08636298B2
A wheelchair has a car body of which rear and bottom wall portion are opened, a seat to be divided into right and left portions, a device for moving the right or left portion of the seat, and a holding plate provided on the car body for holding the device for moving the portion of the seat. The device has a link for connecting the seat portion to the car body, and an operation rod for operating the link so that the seat portion is moved between an opened position and a closed position, respectively. Wheels for supporting the car body, brake for the wheel, a brake operation device for operating the brake, a device is provided for synchronously driving the seat moving device and the brake operation device.
US08636295B2
A two-wheel vehicle for carrying out tire grip measurements. The vehicle is equipped with three spars fitted onto one side of the vehicle, the ends of the spars forming a plane approximately parallel to the circumferential plane of the rear wheel of the vehicle and the distance between said plane and the circumferential plane of the rear wheel of the vehicle being greater than 350 mm.
US08636289B2
A wheelbarrow includes a straw trapper for enclosing straw and debris in a bin of the wheelbarrow for shipment and storage. The straw trapper includes a dispenser of a panel of fabric or flexible plastic to cover the open top of the wheelbarrow bin. The dispenser is mounted on a first side wall of the wheelbarrow bin and includes an engagement member assembly mounted on a second, opposite side wall of the wheelbarrow which engages a free end of the panel. Fixed and adjustable handles mounted on both rear and front walls of the wheelbarrow bin to allow two users working together to unload straw from the bin over a side wall of the bin into a debris collection receptacle, such as a dumpster or compost container.
US08636288B2
The present invention relates to a street board comprising first and second footrests, a front pivot connection part, and first and second driving links. The first and second driving links are rotatably pivoted to the first and second footrests, respectively and the first and second driving links are rotatably pivoted to each other by the front pivot connection part. The front pivot connection part includes a front angle limit part that can limit an angle formed between the first and second driving links within a predetermined range. The above-described street board is easier to ride compared with conventional street boards.
US08636287B2
A tool-bit holder has a hub, wherein the hub has a longitudinally extending axial bore for receiving a tool-bit therein, a detent ball radially projecting into the bore to selectively engage the tool-bit, and a circumferential ramp that is longitudinally moveable over the detent ball to cause radial movement thereof. A longitudinally moveable member extends through a slot in the hub and radially into the bore. The circumferential ramp is moveable as a function of longitudinal movement of the moveable member relative to the hub.
US08636284B2
A sheet conveyer, including a first roller to rotate to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a separator arranged to be opposed to the first roller and configured to nip the sheet and to separate the sheet from other sheets; a multiple sheet sensor arranged in a downstream position with respect to the first roller and configured to sense presence of multiple sheets, the multiple sheet sensor including an emitter and a receiver; and a second roller arranged in a downstream position with respect to the multiple sheet sensor and configured to convey the separated sheet, is provided. A component being at least one of the emitter and the receiver is arranged in an outer side position with respect to the separator, and at least a part of the component is arranged in an inner side position with respect to the second roller.
US08636282B2
A sheet feed apparatus which includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction.
US08636275B2
An automatic document feeder includes a separating and feeding unit which has a separating member and a paper feeding member coming into contact with the separating member at a predetermined separating pressure, and separates and feeds an original sheet by sheet from a bundle of originals placed on an original placing table; a conveying unit which conveys the original separated by the separating and feeding unit toward a scanning position; a separating pressure switching unit which applies and releases the separating pressure and which is controlled by a control unit to release the separating pressure after a leading edge of a preceding sheet of the original has passed through the separating and feeding unit and to apply the separating pressure before a sheet of original separated and fed next to the preceding sheet of original is fed from the bundle of original to the separating and feeding unit.
US08636272B2
A one-piece multipole plate for a magnetic clamping apparatus, a process for making such plate and a magnetic apparatus having such plate. The magnetic apparatus has a plurality of pole pieces and the plurality of pole pieces extend from the plate and are formed of one piece with the plate.
US08636271B2
A damper is shown for damping the movements of a valve spring in an engine. The valve spring can be housed within the damper or the damper may be located inside of the valve spring. The damper is made from a suitable polymer and has one or more tabs or slots located radially to a central axis and one or more helical springs, rings or bands housed in the slots or between the tabs. The helical springs, rings or bands are located on the outer surface of the damper where the valve spring is housed within the damper. The cross section, number and location of the tabs, slots, helical springs, rings or bands can be adjusted depending on the particular application of the damper and the amount of damping that is desired for the particular application. The damper can also incorporate a hub or stem seal and ports for receiving oil.
US08636265B1
A motorized improved winch for raising and lowering, for example, theater scenery by means of cables and which incorporates a tubular support enclosure for supporting and housing a moving drum and the required components for emergency braking and for moving the drum in synchronization with relation to the cable guiding means, preferably mounted on the tubular support enclosure, and for driving the electrical sensors (limit switches and encoder) if desired. The winding and unwinding of the cables on or off the drum does not change the cable runs relative to the cable guiding means. The improved winch can be used in theaters and can be installed at the sides of the stage, up at the stage gridiron, or above the gridiron. With this improved winch counterweights are unnecessary. The improved winch is compact and can be easily manufactured.
US08636259B2
A carriage holder for support of an apparatus includes identical upper and lower support plates having on their outer edge a number of indentations corresponding to the number of apparatus to be supported, said indentations providing aligned radial horizontal grasping surfaces on one side of said apparatus. The carriage holder also includes a series of vertical spring pivot pins joining said upper and lower support plates, adjacent to each said indentation, each such pin bearing a torsion spring loaded retractable clamp member to provide grasping surfaces in retracted position opposite to the grasping surfaces of said indentations. The carriage holder also includes an unobstructed aperture in each of said aligned support plates for mounting said carriage holder on a shaft. The carriage holder further includes a locking mechanism to hold said carriage in a fixed position on the shaft.
US08636258B2
A stand for supporting an object, for example a human cranium, includes a base, rods, and a pivotal joint. The base contains a plurality of stabilizers, a plurality of mounting blocks, and a means for connecting said stabilizers to said mounting blocks. The rods connect to the base at one end and contact the supported object at the other end. The rods are bound together by a fastener at a point between the base and the supported object.
US08636253B1
A rollable and accordion foldable refractive lens concentrator flexible solar array blanket structure assembly for a spacecraft/satellite application consisting of at least one or more rows of electrically interconnected solar cells and at least one or more rows of deployable elongated refractive lenses elevated and aligned from the top surface of the solar cells. The entire blanket assembly, inclusive of lenses and solar cell substrates, kinematically deploys by unrolling or unfolding the assembly for its stowed package configuration, and the final tensioning of the blanket assembly produces an aligned assembly where the solar cell substrate subassembly and the lens subassembly are coplanar. Deployment of the integrated blanket assembly (with refractive lenses) is directly coupled through the unrolling or the accordion unfolding deployment kinematics of the concentrator blanket assembly.
